Archive for John 2

Church in the 21st Century… Beer Please!

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Fake News???, Gospel, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , on March 5, 2019 by paulthepoke

March 2019: Welcome to Castle Church Brewing Community in Orlando, Florida.

Castle Church Brewing Community

https://www.castlechurchbrewing.com

We are a community that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.  This faith comes through the good news of Jesus Christ and gives us the freedom and the courage to wonder, discover and boldly participate in what God is up to in the world.  We welcome you to participate in this community of faith –regardless of your age, race, gender, life experience, complexities and questions. You have a unique story that can only add to the richness of the larger story that makes up Castle Church. There is a place for you here!

The point of this post is not to bash and shame this local church. It is not all bad. It is not all right by Christ either.

I am not opposed to drinking. I have been known to drink an adult beverage or two. Can a person come to know the saving power of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ over an alcoholic beverage? Sure they can.

John 2:6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

For all the teetotalers out there, Jesus is throwing one hell of a party. Jesus subjected a wedding party to 120-180 gallons of wine. And He kept the good stuff (120-180 gallons) for the end of the party after the people have drunk freely. See John 2 for the complete story.

Colossians 3:9-11 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The church claims to be a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation. By their definition… Castle Church openly and unambiguously affirms persons and couples of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

It is one thing to welcome people from all social, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identification, and diverse backgrounds. It is another to condone sinful behavior. The culture has it wrong when they equate sexual behavior (regardless of the age, orientation, and context) apart from Biblical marriage as “love”.

Matthew 19:4-5 He (Jesus) answered, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?…

God loves the sinner; but He does not condone or love the sinful behavior. Do not kid yourself. We are called to change our behavior as a new creation in Jesus Christ. He died and paid the fine for all deviant sin. Yes, any sin is deviant regardless of how small we humans view it. His resurrection demonstrates He has power over sin and death. Christ’s efforts for sin are not to be twisted or mocked.

https://www.castlechurchbrewing.com

Would it be a good idea to bring a non believer or a brother or sister in Christ who struggles with alcohol or chemical addiction to this local body? One can study the Bible over a beer. Will anyone be accountable to another if somebody is drinking too much? They have “connect groups”. They have a great selection of draughts. How much is too much? And who decides? Look forward to deep theological discussions over a beer(s).

Is this group building up the body of Christ? One can participate in yoga and share a beer later. They have volunteer groups participating in the community. Wear trendy “swag” while representing the church. A calendar of events is on display for all to join.

https://www.castlechurchbrewing.com/

Everyone is encouraged to check out their website. Read and discern very carefully for yourself.


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Where’s Cana? Water to Wine

Posted in Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on October 23, 2018 by paulthepoke

water-to-wineJohn 2:9-11 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in Him.

August 2018: Tradition has Jesus’ water to wine miracle at Kafr Kanna. The “Wedding Church” is located in this town in northern Israel. Archaeology may be providing a new location five miles north.

Tunnels have been located with references to “Kyrie Iesou” in the ancient Greek. Translated to English, this would be Lord Jesus.

This is the location of Khirbet Qana. This was a Jewish village from 323 BC to 324 AD.

Located in the tunnels were an altar, shelf and the remains of a stone vessel. There was space for five additional vessels.

John 2:6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

For all the teetotalers out there, Jesus is throwing one hell of a party. Jesus subjected a wedding party to 120-180 gallons of wine. And He kept the good stuff (120-180 gallons) for the end of the party after the people have drunk freely. 

I conjecture this event is a foreshadowing to His wedding party when He marries His bride the church. You want to be invited to this party! Any one out there want to wag their finger and lecture Jesus?

Dr Tom McCollough who leads the dig had the following observations.

“We have uncovered a large Christian veneration cave complex that was used by Christian pilgrims who came to venerate the water-to-wine miracle. This complex was used beginning in the late fifth or early sixth century and continued to be used by pilgrims into the 12th-century Crusader period. The pilgrim texts we have from this period that describe what pilgrims did and saw when they came to Cana of Galilee match very closely what we have exposed as the veneration complex.”

Dr. McCollough also pointed to the Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus.

khirbet qana daily mail

Image: Daily Mail

“His references to Cana align geographically with the location of Khirbet Qana and align logically with his movements. The reference to Cana in Josephus, the New Testament and in the rabbinic texts would argue the village was a Jewish village, near the Sea of Galilee and in the region of lower Galilee. Khirbet Qana fulfills all of these criteria.”

As for today’s tourist trips to  Kafr Kanna, McCollough had the following observations.

“When tourists visiting Israel today are taken to Cana, they are taken to Kafr Kanna. However, this site was not recognized as a pilgrimage site for those seeking Cana until the 1700s. At this point the Franciscans were managing Christian pilgrimage and facilitating easy passage rather than historical accuracy.”

“I would argue our excavations warrant at least a reconsideration of the historical value of John’s references to Cana and Jesus.”

For more in depth research, pictures of the site, artifacts, see the link below provided.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6114063/Experts-Israel-uncover-tunnels-say-spot-Jesus-turned-water-wine.html

 

 

 

 

 

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Trend Update: Wine & Oil Ready for Temple, January 2017

Posted in Prophecy, Sanhedrin, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on January 26, 2017 by paulthepoke

Exodus 29:38, 40 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each day, continuously… and there shall be one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with one lamb.”

January 2017: Thirty bottles of wine have been delivered to the Sanhedrin. This is another example that shows the Sanhedrin is gearing up for Temple service. They believe the readiness and availability of Temple wine is a forerunner to the arrival of the Messiah.

The procedures for kosher wine are the most strident of any food or beverage. The entire process from the grapes being grown on the ground, to the harvest, to the crushing of grapes, to bottling wine must be completed by Sabbath observant Jews. This is a very strict process.

A wine libation and oil are required for the daily sacrifice. Scripture says “a quarter hin” is needed. This amounts to about one quart. One hin is essentially equal to one gallon. The wine is poured on the altar.

Wine libations and sacrifices were part of other celebrations such as the Sabbath and the Passover. If one has participated in a Passover Seder, recall four cups of wine are utilized in the service.

Wine plays a role in Jewish cultural events and celebrations such as circumcisions and weddings. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Christ knew how to throw a party with over 120 gallons of wine.

John 2:9-10 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/82239/rare-temple-quality-wine-anticipates-messiah-prophecy-paves-way-third-temple/#l3iBZTXtrMdGiLxr.99

 

Oil for the Temple Menorah is now available. Harvesting and processing standards of olives are now in place thanks to the Sanhedrin.

Exodus 27:20 “You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.”

The key word in the verse above is “beaten”. The process is done completely by hand. Machines and metal implements are not allowed. The olives are pounded with rubber and wooden mallets. Crushing the olive is not allowed.

“Since pressing the olives is not permitted for this special olive oil, the yield is very low. Once the menorah oil was produced, the remaining olives were made into 700 tins of this unique oil which are now available to the public,” stated Rabbi Shmuel Veffer, owner of Galilee Green which produced the oil.

Leviticus 2:4 “Now when you bring an offering of a grain offering baked in an oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers spread with oil.”

“This oil was specially harvested through hand-picking of the olives that were used to make the menorah oil for the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which we all pray will be rebuilt very soon,” Rabbi Veffer.

https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/82172/prepare-third-temple-ritual-olive-oil-produced-holy-offerings/#DwYSPgJtMlQwEKh5.99

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Trend Update: “Third Wall” Found in Jerusalem, October 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 20, 2016 by paulthepoke

John 2:20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day were confused. In the context of these verses, Jesus was referring to His body the Temple. The Jewish leaders were referring to the house of worship, the Temple. Thankfully adversarial confusion confirms there was a real, physical Temple during the days of Jesus. This is the Temple during Jesus Christ’s time on earth. It was Herod’s reconstructed Temple.

October 20, 2016: Reports out of Jerusalem indicate remains of the “Third Wall” have been unearthed. The Third Wall surrounded the city of Jerusalem prior to the Roman destruction of the city and Temple in 70 AD.

The archeological dig was completed by Dr. Rena Avner and Kfir Arviv of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The findings were located in the Russian Compound of Jerusalem where the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design is to be built.

Relics from the Roman attack on Jerusalem have been discovered. The Romans were led by Titus during this era. Multiple ancient ballista and sling stones were used to bomb Jerusalem were discovered. These rocks were launched from catapults in the assault.

These findings confirm the writings of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. See the attached article for boundaries of the wall per Josephus.

The findings will be presented on October 27, 2016 at the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The title of the presentation is New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219155

October 13, 2016: The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to deny recognition of religious sites on the Temple Mount to the Jewish people. The UN stated the Temple Mount belongs to the Muslims.

https://paulthepoke.com/2016/10/14/trend-update-unesco-rejects-jewish-ties-to-temple-mount-october-2016/

UNESCO clearly did not heed the warning from the Jewish Sanhedrin in early August 2016.

https://paulthepoke.com/2016/08/09/trend-update-sanhedrin-takes-on-un-over-temple-mount-august-2016/

In light of this discovery, one would hope UNESCO would reconsider their recent vote. After all, this is the international body who oversees education, scientific, and cultural issues. Surely, accuracy is important to UNESCO…

 

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Millennial Kingdom: Massive Crops

Posted in Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on August 7, 2016 by paulthepoke

Amos 9:13 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved.

This verse is in reference to the agricultural cycle in Israel. It speaks to the volume of workers necessary to manage the harvest of crops.

When the plowman will overtake the reaper… In Israel, plowing and tilling of the ground takes place in October and November. The harvest of the grain crops occurs in April and May. The point is the bounty of the crops. Grain will be so plentiful, the reapers will take all summer to harvest. It will be time to work the ground again before the harvest is finished.

…the treader of grapes him who sows seed…To make juice and wine, workers stomped on the grapes in bare feet to crush. It is going to take a lot of folks to manage the volume of grapes. The grape harvest occurs in August and September. Planting is done in November and December. The number of clusters will be ridiculous. The workers who stomp grapes for juice will still be working until November and December.

…when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved. The idea is the grape juice and wine will be so abundant the hills will melt.

The man in charge during the Millennial Kingdom who will oversee the volumes of grape juice has a history of generosity when it comes to wine.

Bumper crops will be year around whether it is grain or fruit.

Agricultural cycles and related information provided by NET Bible.

John 2:6 Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. So there were 120-180 gallons of water…

John 2:9-10 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus serves and gives freely and abundantly to all. He always gives His best. He does not hold back. It does not matter if one is rich or poor. Christ has done it in the past. He continues in the present. And Yeshua will do it again in the future.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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