Archive for Joel 3

Trend Update: Paris Middle East Peace Conference, January 2017

Posted in Peace Plan, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 15, 2017 by paulthepoke

Zechariah 12:3 It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.

January 15, 2017: Dateline Paris, France. Today the French hosted a Middle East Peace Conference with the expressed goal of a two state solution. Leaked information indicated the conference is looking to divide the land of Israel for a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The city of Jerusalem would be divided. The division of Jerusalem includes the real estate of the Temple Mount. The region of the Golan Heights would be handed over to Syria as part of the deal. The result of the conference was tough talk for incoming President Trump. For now, the land and Jerusalem were not divided.

Seventy nations gathered in Paris for the event. Representatives from Israel and a future Palestine are not participating in the discussions and process. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault stated the French have “no intention other than promoting peace”.

The backdrop of the event is the pending inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States on Friday, January 20, 2017. The conference is intended to send a strong message to President Trump. World leaders are very uncomfortable with the proposed move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Many have stated a potential move would only complicate matters and increase the risk for further violence. A potential embassy move would interrupt and discourage an opportunity for peace in the Middle East per critics of Trump. This topic appears to be the focus of today’s meeting. The drum beat coming out of today’s conference is a potential US Embassy move to Jerusalem is a threat to peace.

Current Secretary of State John Kerry, “an explosion, an absolute explosion in the region, not just in the West Bank, and perhaps even in Israel itself, but throughout the region.”

The Palestinian Authority’s supreme Sharia judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash stated an embassy move to Jerusalem would be a “declaration of war.”

The Palestinians are asking the Russians and Vladimir Putin to help stop a potential US Embassy move.

The French are threatening President elect Trump with “serious consequences” with a move to Jerusalem. These actions would be deemed a “provocation”.

http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2017/01/15/france-trumps-embassy-move-provocation-serious-consequences/

For those interested, see the link below for the official closing statement of the conference.

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.765207

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the meeting “useless” and “futile” and “rigged”. “Tomorrow’s world will be different, and it is very near.”

Scripture says the land will ultimately be divided. Frankly this process has already begun when the Gaza Strip was given to the Palestinians in 2006. We were told peace will come in exchange for land…

Joel 3:2b Israel…and they have divided up My land.

A little food for speculative thought…was the antichrist in the shadows in Paris??? Are we that close??? Geopolitical events could get very Biblically real in a hurry. Get concerned when humanity is talking peace and security.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Have you looked into the biography of Jesus? You may want to read it. If you are not familiar with Him, I would recommend the Book of John or 1 John. They are straight forward and easy to read, no tricks.

 

 

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Trend Update: UN Votes to Divide Israel, Jerusalem, and Golan Heights, December 2016

Posted in Peace Plan, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2016 by paulthepoke

Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land..

Israel…and they have divided up My land. 

November 29, 2016: The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed by the United Nations each year. This is the anniversary of the General Assembly’s 1947 adoption of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine.

December 1, 2016: The United Nations (UN) has passed six resolutions regarding Israel, the city of Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and Palestine. Only six countries voted against the passage of these resolutions. They include: Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, the United States, and Israel. Six countries (Australia, Cameroon, Honduras, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, and Vanuatu) abstained in voting. And the rest of the world voted for the passage of the resolutions.

The focus of the post is on three of the resolutions regarding Israel, Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.

Israel: The UN indicated Israel “immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures” and “a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.” In other words, stop building settlements in the west bank area.

Jerusalem: The UN stated actions taken by Israel, “the occupying Power,” to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem “were illegal and therefore null and void and had no validity whatsoever”. Translation, the Jewish nation has no legal authority in their capital.

Golan Heights: The UN referred to the region as “Syrian Golan”. The UN believes the Golan Heights region should be handed over to Syria and the Assad regime. Language of the resolution stated, “Israel withdraw from all the occupied territory to the line of June 4, 1967 and called on all parties concerned to exert the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process.”

Because a majority of the nations voted for these resolutions, this is “a reflection of the longstanding international consensus in favor of achieving a just, lasting and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine,” and “a clear reaffirmation of the international community’s consensus on the two-State solution.”

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/UN-General-Assembly-supports-resolution-ignoring-Jewish-ties-to-the-Temple-Mount-474107

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/stunning-world-un-passes-6-resolutions-confirming-everything-is-israels-fault/2016/12/01/

President Mahmoud President Abbas of Palestine has made one item very clear. He wants the UN to make it happen.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/gaza-abbas-wants-israel-dares-un/

Zechariah 2:8-9 For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.”

Israel is the apple of His eye. The apple is also known as the pupil of the eye.

The pupil is a vulnerable and important part of the body. Israel is more valuable to God than any other nation. The country is His favorite nation. God’s people are priceless.

Don’t mess with Israel…consequences. God will slap you around and it is going to hurt.

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Trend Update: Israel Land Division, Military Implications, June 2016

Posted in Peace Plan, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , on May 31, 2016 by paulthepoke

Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land..

Israel… and they have divided up My land. It is a foregone conclusion as to the result of God’s land Israel. The nations have and will further divide the land. Humanity is a serial offender of dividing God’s land. Peace talks (2016) will ultimately result in the division of the land per Joel 3:2. The timing remains to be seen.

Here is a brief video regarding the military implications of dividing the land of Israel.

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Trend Update: Golan Heights/God’s Spring Appointed Feasts, 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Spring Feasts, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 21, 2016 by paulthepoke

Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.

Momentum is gathering for dividing the land of Israel. This time (April 2016), there is no promise of land for peace. Now, the world is claiming the Golan Heights is not part of Israel.

In Israel, the Golan is in the far northeast part of the country. The Golan Heights is bordered by Syria to the east. Lebanon borders the Golan on the north. The Sea of Galilee is to the southwest. Jordan is on the southern border.

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

The chorus was started on April 19, 2016 with the United States and Germany. The US State Department openly states the Golan Heights is not part of Israel. “This position was maintained by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Those territories are not part of Israel and the status of those territories should be determined through negotiations.”

The German Foreign Ministry stated, “It’s a basic principle of international law and the UN charter that no state can claim the right to annex another state’s territory just like that.”

http://www.jta.org/2016/04/18/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/us-germany-golan-heights-not-part-of-israel

On April 20, 2016, the European Union has thrown in their two cents. “The EU recognizes Israel within its pre-1967 boundaries, regardless of the (Israeli) government’s claims on other areas, until a final settlement is reached,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4793821,00.html

The United Nations Security Council has weighed in on the topic as of April 21, 2016. They are opposed to Israel in the Golan Heights and are quoting Security Council resolutions.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/World-unconvinced-by-Natanyahus-claim-Golan-will-remain-part-of-Israel-451748

Yes, the Arab League and Syria are upset…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “The Golan will forever remain in Israel’s hands.”

My money is ultimately on Israel. Amos 9:15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God. The Jewish people have been replanted in the land as of 1917. Israel became a nation again in 1948. Jerusalem became the capital again in 1967. It has been about 50 years since something big happened…Jubilee???

By the way, God’s Spring Appointed Feasts are about to begin. Passover begins at sundown on Friday, 4/22/2016 on our Gregorian calendar, Nisan 14 if you are on Hebrew time.

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Temple Geography…Water Please!

Posted in Prophecy, Temple with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 11, 2015 by paulthepoke

1 Kings 1:33 The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon…”

1 Kings 1:38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

1 Kings 1:45a “Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon…”

gihon1

photo: snipview.com

The context of the story is King David naming his successor. King David is announcing the successor to be his son Solomon. Three times in the story, Solomon is taken to Gihon. Granted, the temple was yet to be built. The text is clear. The Tabernacle or Tent is located at Gihon. There is only one water source in the area, the Gihon Spring. The spring is located in the city of David south of the modern day Temple Mount.

Note the phrase …and bring him down to Gihon… in 1 Kings 1:33. The Hebrew word for “bring him down” is yarad. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.

In other words, the Tabernacle was located in an area of lower elevation from David’s place.

Moving forward in time. Solomon built the Temple. He commissioned the Temple to be built in the area of the city of David (2 Chronicles 3:1). See the link below with specifics.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/04/trend-update-temple-city-of-david-november-2015/

Both the Tabernacle and the Temple were built on the only source of water in the area.

1 Kings 7:13 Now King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. Hiram’s job…he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work (1 Kings 7:14b).

In regards to water containers, the following items were fashioned by Hiram in the Temple.

The most prominent item made was called the Molten Sea or the Brazen Sea. The dimensions of the item are noted below.

1 Kings 7:23 Now he made “the sea” of cast metal ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits, and thirty cubits in circumference.

2 Chronicles 4:2 Also he made the cast metal sea, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits and its circumference thirty cubits.

One cubit is equal to 1.5 feet. The container was 15 feet across, 7.5 feet in height, with a circumference of 45 feet. Scripture says the object could hold 12,000-18,000 gallons (1 Kings 7:26, 2 Chronicles 4:5).

1 Kings 7:38 He made ten basins of bronze, one basin held forty baths; each basin was four cubits, and on each of the ten stands was one basin.

One bath is equal to roughly 9 gallons.

40 baths X 9 gallons = 360 gallons per basin X 10 basins = 3,600 gallons of water.

All told, water requirements are exceeding 21,000 gallons. The volume of water was necessary for ritual cleaning and to clean up after the sacrifices, daily.

Massive amounts of water were observed in the Temple by the Egyptian Aristeas in approximate 275 BC. The Roman Tacitus confirmed a water source inside the Jewish Temple in roughly 100 AD. The Jewish historian Josephus discussed the need for spring water for purification and cleansing at the Temple. Documents from rabbinical priests indicated a ritual bath was necessary before entering the Temple.  www.baseinstitute.org

There is only one source of spring water in Jerusalem. Specifically, it is located in the city of David. It is the Gihon Spring.

By the way, there are future implications… Ezekiel 47:1-2 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.

Joel 3:18b …And a spring will go out from the house of the LORD To water the valley of Shittim.

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Trend Update: Land for Peace/Palestine, September 2015

Posted in Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , on September 8, 2015 by paulthepoke

Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.

Joel 3:12 Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

Israel… and they have divided up My land. It is a foregone conclusion as to the result of God’s land Israel. The nations have and will further divide the land. Humanity is a serial offender of dividing God’s land.

UN

France is expected to present a plan to the United Nations (UN) that would call for a nation, Palestine. The plan is to be presented in September 2015. It appears likely to be passed. Last year, the vote failed by one nation. Take it to the bank. Eventually, the land will be further divided.

http://www.ibtimes.com/israel-palestine-conflict-french-un-security-council-resolution-table-favor-2059816

The start of the UN’s General Assembly is Tuesday, September 15, 2015. It is likely to be a who’s who of world leaders. Obama, Putin, Xi, and Rouhani are scheduled to speak.

The Palestinians are asking to fly their flag at UN headquarters prior to the arrival of the Pope’s visit in late September, 2015. Typically, only member states are allowed to fly their flag. The United States and Israel are opposed. They say the flying of the Palestinian flag will undermine the “peace process”.

http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/08/26/palestinians-vatican-could-raise-un-flags-before-pope-visit

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel…

The consequences of scattering God’s people and dividing His land are clear. He will gather the “nations” or goyim in the original Hebrew. Per Strong’s Concordance, the goyim are the nations or non-Hebrew people.

The meeting place of the nations is defined, the valley of Jehoshaphat. The Hebrew meaning of the valley is “Jehovah has judged” (Strong’s Concordance). Some take this to be the valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives to the east. It is also known as the Kidron Valley. At first glance, it would appear this modern day valley is not large enough to allow for the nations of the world to fit in such a small place (September 2015).

Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, has an excellent observation in light of 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. When Jesus returns, the size of the valley is going to increase significantly. Geography of the land will change.

…a very large valley… The Hebrew words for “very large” are m@`od (muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly, to a great degree) and gadowl (great and large in magnitude and extent). Definitions provided by Strong’s Concordance.

I will enter into judgment… God will bring them to the “Jehovah has judged” and He is going to judge or shaphat in the Hebrew. Shaphat means judge, govern, vindicate, punish. The grammar in the Hebrew language indicates God will enter into judgment with the nations (Strong’s Concordance).

The United Nations will not be consulted.

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Trend Update: Land for Peace/January 2015

Posted in Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 4, 2015 by paulthepoke

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

Joel 3:2b …My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.

Foreign policy decisions around the globe are being made in light of God’s chosen people. What will countries do with the land (Israel) that God gave to His people? God says He will have a response.

On December 30, 2014 the United Nations Security Council presented a resolution for Palestinian statehood by 2017. The vote was to force Israel to divide Jerusalem. Palestine is to be established based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Below is a copy of the proposed resolution.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/reported-text-of-draft-un-resolution-on-palestinian-statehood/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

6daywar

The resolution did not pass. It failed by one vote. Eight countries (Russia, Argentina, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Luxembourg) voted in favor of a Palestinian state, two voted against (United States, Australia), and five abstained (Nigeria, United Kingdom, Lithuania, South Korea, Rwanda). Nigeria was expected to vote for but changed its stance and abstained at this time.

After the vote, Russia was critical of the vote and called this a “strategic mistake”.

One day later, 12/31/14, the Palestinians joined the International Criminal Court. Speculation is the Palestinians will use this position to file charges of war crimes against Israel.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20141231/ml–israel-palestinians-5d8c0d79ba.html

God has promised many times over that He will bring His people back to their land, Israel. There are tens of examples. The regathering of Israel is a theme of the Bible, both the Old Testament and New Testament. Here are a few examples.

Jeremiah 32:37 “Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety.”

Ezekiel 11:17 “Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’

Psalms 107:2-3 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary and gathered from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Deuteronomy 30:3 then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.

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.” See Romans 11 for details of Israel’s future. God has not forgotten His people.As background to these verses, 2014 marked the year with the greatest amount of immigration to Israel since 2002. “Aliyah” is the term Jews refer to immigration to Israel. The Jews are going up to Jerusalem, “Aliyah”. France was the country with the greatest number of immigrants. The country with the second largest number of immigrants was Ukraine.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4609941,00.html

http://www.timesofisrael.com/immigration-to-israel-hits-10-year-high-with-record-french-influx/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

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Trend Update: Land for Peace/Abrahamic Covenant, December 2014

Posted in Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 10, 2014 by paulthepoke

Genesis 15:18-21 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

This is the original land grant from God to Abram (later renamed Abraham by God). These are the land boundaries of Israel’s future. This configuration has never been realized. This calls for the geography of Israel to stretch from the Nile River to Euphrates River. One could argue rather this implies the Arabian Peninsula or not. Now this sounds impossible in today’s world and geo-political climate. Can you imagine the uproar if this was proposed at the United Nations? But, there will be a land for peace deal when Jesus returns. It will look something like this. Two maps are included as possibilities.

israels_borders_future FutureIsrael

In today’s world (December 2014), there are all kinds of discussion for a two state solution. Israel will achieve peace when they give land to the Palestinians, so the template goes. Turning over the Gaza Strip (2005) to the Palestinians has not resulted in peace. But we move forward any way.

According to Scripture, the division of the land is a foregone conclusion in the book of Joel. Israel’s people were scattered in 70 AD with the diaspora at the hands of the Roman Empire. Israel’s land will be divided. The process has begun with the Gaza Strip. Are we on the verge of seeing this prophecy fulfilled in our time? Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.

The United States, along with the rest of the world, continues to pressure Israel. The concern is building Israeli settlements in West Bank is only adding to the tension. The Obama Administration has even gone to the lengths of considering sanctions on Israel. The consideration reached press outlets on 12/6/14. This policy position is at odds with God’s proclamation in the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 12:3 “…And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

This would appear to be bad personal and foreign policy towards God’s chosen people when compared to Genesis 12:3. Incidentally, President Obama went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a sore throat. The President was diagnosed with acid reflux the same day 12/6/14…

http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/obama-makes-1st-move-toward-sanctions-on-israel/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/obama-visits-military-hospital-for-sore-throat.html?_r=0

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