Archive for Matthew 4

Jubilee, Part 6, Satan in Control…For Now

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 21, 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.

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 previous post, humanity was originally placed in charge of the Earth in Genesis 1 at the creation. Mankind failed and dominion was transferred by God.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/22/jubilee-part-5-humanity-falls/

Click on the link below for audio/video and additional commentary.

Reality is… Satan is currently in charge of the world. God has given him authority since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

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

2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Galatians 1:4a who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age…

Look at Satan’s temptation of Christ.

Luke 4:5-7 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” See also Matthew 4:8-9.

Notice, Jesus does not dispute Satan’s statement. Satan is telling the truth in this case. The kingdoms of the earth are under his authority. Satan is trying to get Jesus to take the easy way out. He knows Jesus is tired, hungry, and thirsty after fasting 40 days in the desert. Jesus, You can have it all now. No need to wait thousands of years. You don’t have to suffer. No need for the floggings. Skip the cross. “If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” -Satan

Let’s face it. Satan’s way is easier than the path of God the Father. Satan wants to bypass the consequence and payment of sin.

~

Jesus Himself would later confirm Satan has authority and dominion over the Earth.

John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Satan’s rule will not last forever. His kingdom is not eternal. He is due a 1,000 year time out in the abyss or prison. Satan will not be rehabilitated when he is let out of jail. He will return to his ways and deceive the nations. His rebellion will fail. And he will be escorted to his retirement community, the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20).

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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.

~

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).

~

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).

~

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.

~

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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Tribulation: Temple or Tabernacle Tent

Posted in Prophecy, Temple with tags , , , , , , , , , , on May 12, 2016 by paulthepoke

Is a “temple” necessary for the tribulation? Would a tent of meeting structure or tabernacle work? After all, the antichrist needs something to defile.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 …who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Daniel 11:31 Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

See also Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-16, Mark 13:14.

There are two Greek words in the New Testament used for the term “temple”. The meanings of the two terms are distinct and different from each other. The two Greek words are hieron and naos.

The focus of this post is the Greek term hieron.

Hieron: A sacred place, temple. Strong’s Concordance

The temple of Jerusalem consisted of the whole of the sacred enclosure, embracing the entire aggregate of buildings, balconies, porticos, courts (that is that of the men of Israel, that of the women, and that of the priests), belonging to the temple. This would be the term hieron.

 

The courts are the location for the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. All people had access to the court where Jesus taught. John 7:14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.

Luke 21:38 And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

 

This is where confrontations with adversaries occurred “in the temple”. Matthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple…

John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

 

The hieron is where Jesus drove the buyers and sellers and the money changers out of the temple.    Mark 11:15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves…

It is also the location of the court of the women or the middle court. Luke 21:1-2 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.

 

Hieron is used as a noun: a sacred place, a temple; signifying the entire building with its precincts, or some part thereof, as distinct from the naos: the inner sanctuary. Hieron is never used figuratively.

The term hieron is the primary context of Jesus and the apostles. The antichrist is not observed in the context of the term hieron.

http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=2411

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Jubilee, Part 6, Satan in Control…For Now

Posted in Jubilee, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 29, 2015 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.

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 previous post, humanity was originally placed in charge of the Earth in Genesis 1 at the creation. Mankind failed and dominion was transferred by God.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/22/jubilee-part-5-humanity-falls/

Reality is…Satan is currently in charge of the world. God has given him authority since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

angel_of_light

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

2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Galatians 1:4a who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age…

Look at Satan’s temptation of Christ in Luke 4:5-7 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” See also Matthew 4:8-9.

Notice, Jesus does not dispute Satan’s statement. Satan is telling the truth in this case. The kingdoms of the earth are under his authority. Satan is trying to get Jesus to take the easy way out. He knows Jesus is tired, hungry, and thirsty after fasting 40 days in the desert. Jesus, You can have it all now. No need to wait thousands of years. You don’t have to suffer. No need for the floggings. Skip the cross. “If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” -Satan

Let’s face it. Satan’s way is easier than the path of God the Father. Satan wants to bypass the consequence and payment of sin.

Jesus Himself would later confirm Satan has authority and dominion over the Earth.

John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Satan’s rule will not last forever. His kingdom is not eternal. He is due a 1,000 year time out in the abyss or prison. Satan will not be rehabilitated when he is let out of jail. He will return to his ways and deceive the nations. His rebellion will fail. And he will be escorted to his retirement community, the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20).

2 Comments »

Elul…40 Days and 40 Nights, Teshuvah

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Teshuvah/Repent with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2014 by paulthepoke

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. Cultural customs per http://www.jewfaq.org, http://www.myjewishlearning.com .

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 turn 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.

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).

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).

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.

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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Isaiah 9:1-2 A Prince is Coming

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , on June 1, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 9:1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

The “her” is Israel. This area was invaded and plundered by Assyria and Tiglath-pileser. This is the land in anguish and contempt.

“He” is God. Later in the verse, “He” is Jesus, who is God.

The eastern border of Naphtali is the Jordan River north of the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Galilee itself. The northern border is the Leontes River.  The western border of Naphtali is Asher and in the southwest corner is bordered by Zebulun.  Zebulun is due west of the Sea of Galilee.

This area was Jesus’ Ministry headquarters. Matthew confirmed this was fulfilled prophecy when he quoted Isaiah 9:1.

Matthew 4:13-15 … and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—

In today’s world (June 2013), this northern region appointed to Naphtali is occupied to some degree by Lebanon.  There are prophetic considerations to this verse. These lands will be restored to Israel in the future.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

Matthew 4:16 quotes this verse from Isaiah.

This is the region where Jesus recruited His disciples. From this point forward, Jesus taught the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Good news is coming.

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Isaiah 7:15 Refuses Evil and Chooses Good

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 24, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 7:15 “He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good,

Curds and honey were foods of the common person. These foods were staples in the diet of the time. Typically, they are symbols of abundance. God referred to the land of Israel as a land flowing with milk and honey in Exodus 3:8a “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey… At this point in history with Ahaz as king, curds and honey are the only foods remaining. The food supply had been decimated.

The “He” in verse 15 is Jesus. These are the credentials of the One who was born of a virgin and named Immanuel in verse 14. He will eat the food, curds and honey, of the common man. He does not have the diet of royalty.

Christ was tempted by Satan in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus was tempted with food when He was hungry. Satan tempted Him with His life. Jesus was tempted with absolute power if He would submit to Satan. The tempter tried to entice the Son to reject the words of the Father and follow him. He chose good and refused evil.

It is stated two times. He will refuse evil and choose good. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Isaiah 7:16 “For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.

In other words, Ahaz relax. Syria and the northern kingdom are toast. You all will be okay. Historically, Syria and the northern kingdom alliance get theirs way before the birth of the One who refused evil and chose good.

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