Archive for Olivet Discourse

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Trend Update: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, May 2016

Posted in Prophecy, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 24, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 6:13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

The verse in Revelation 6 is not an isolated reference to stars falling out of the sky. The concept is noted throughout Scripture. Falling stars are a piece of the puzzle indicating the Tribulation. Revelation 6:13 is the beginning of a progression. Eventually, all stars will be covered and not give off their light. There are other significant happenings with the sky, sun, and moon during this time. The focus of this post, the stars.

Jesus refers to falling stars in the Olivet Discourse. Christ is quoting the prophet Isaiah 34:4 in Mark 13:25 and Matthew 24:29. Note the consistency of the events in the verses. Isaiah, Jesus, and John are in complete agreement. The events: 1) sky rolled up like a scroll; 2) stars fall to earth.

Isaiah 34:4 And all the host of heaven will wear away, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; all their hosts will also wither away as a leaf withers from the vine, or as one withers from the fig tree.

Joel 3:15 The sun and moon grow dark and the stars lose their brightness.

Conditions deteriorate in Revelation 8:12 when a third of the heavenly bodies are affected. This is the fourth of the seven trumpets, the middle third of the Tribulation. Revelation 8:12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

In Revelation 12:4a another third of the stars are removed from the sky. Revelation 12:4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth…His tail is in reference to the dragon or Satan.

Look into the night time sky. Eventually, there will be literal darkness upon the earth.

Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light.

Ezekiel 32:7-8 “And when I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you and will set darkness on your land,” Declares the Lord GOD.

There have been recorded incidents of meteors and falling star over the past few years. Recently in May 2016, we have seen events in Mexico and the northeast part of the United States. Are these events increasing? Or are we more aware because of people who have video recorded such events?

The chart from NASA and the American Meteor Society will speak for itself.

The trend is increasing. What we are seeing now is nothing.

Planet earth is going to get stoned in a major way from its Creator.

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Trend Update: Quakes in Various Places, May 2016

Posted in Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , on May 17, 2016 by paulthepoke

Luke 21:11 …and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.    –Jesus

There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Mark 13:8. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).

There are at least 7 references to earthquakes in the book of Revelation alone. The beast of all historical earthquakes is to take place in Revelation 16:18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.

The end result of this earthquake is Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. These passages are suggestive of significant, changed geography of planet Earth. No more islands, no more mountains! What we are seeing now is a starter kit.

Earthquake activity has recently picked up in the Holy Land. Starting May 15, 2016, quakes have been noted on the fault line running through the Red Sea north towards Israel. Earthquakes were noted in Egypt (5.1) and southern Israel (4.8).

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Light-earthquake-measuring-48-hits-southern-Israel-No-injuries-reported-454087?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Seismic and volcanic activity is picking up around the globe. New activity/unrest was observed at 4 volcanoes between May 4 and 10, 2016. Continued activity was reported for 19 volcanoes. On May 16, 2016, five volcanoes erupted on the same day.

http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2016/05/12/active-volcanoes-in-the-world-may-4-10-2016/

The US Federal Government has a preparedness exercise scheduled for June 7-10, 2016 called Cascadia Rising. The focus is the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Here is the opening paragraph from FEMA.

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) and the resulting tsunami is the most complex disaster scenario that emergency management and public safety officials in the Pacific Northwest could face. Cascadia Rising is an exercise to address that disaster.

https://www.fema.gov/cascadia-rising-2016

By the way, Oklahoma continues to be the most earthquake prone in the United States…

 

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Temple Geography…Not One Stone

Posted in Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on November 18, 2015 by paulthepoke

Matthew 24:1-2 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.  And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

Now wait a minute…Modern day (November 2015) Jews go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem and pray. Jews are not allowed to ascend and pray atop the Temple Mount. There are stones stacked one upon another forming a wall. This is the site claimed as the Temple Mount.

If this wall is the site of the Temple, is Jesus wrong? There are clearly stones left upon another. Jesus said, “not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

westernwall

Or, was the Temple located in a different area?

What if the Temple was located where the Bible says, near the Gihon Spring?

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/11/temple-geography-water-please/

Looking at a picture of the modern day city of David, there is NOTHING present near the Gihon Spring.

Amos 9:11 In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old…

The context of the verse in Amos 9 is the restoration of Israel under the lineage of King David. The Hebrew word for “booth” is succoth. This is the word for the Tabernacle. This is the word used for the Temple, God’s dwelling place.

Amos 9:14-15 Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; they will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, and make gardens and eat their fruit. I will also plant them on their land, and they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God.

Israel is back in the land and a country since 1948. Cities have been rebuilt. God says they are not going anywhere.

Just waiting on the Temple…

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Trend Update: Roaring Sea and Waves, Halloween 2015

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 1, 2015 by paulthepoke

Luke 21:25 There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves…

wave

The passage above is one verse from Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (see also Mark 13, Matthew 24, Luke 21).

Look at the context of this verse, signs in sun and moon and stars. Recently (2014 and 2015), we have experienced a unique series of solar eclipses and a blood red moon tetrad. Two solar eclipses (one in the spring and one in the fall) are scheduled for 2016 on God’s appointed holidays. There was also the Star of Bethlehem phenomenon in the summer of 2014. A sign in the stars is scheduled for Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah in the fall of 2017.

…at the roaring of the sea and the waves…

Hurricane Patricia (weekend of 10/24/15): Patricia was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere. Patricia had the lowest atmospheric pressure on record at 880 millibars. Sustained winds of the hurricane were similar to an EF5 tornado. Winds were at least 200 mph.

http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/things-to-know-hurricane-patricia

Arabian Sea Tropical Cyclone Chapala (weekend of 10/31/15): Currently, the storm is at high category 4 level. It is scheduled to make landfall in Yemen in the first week of November 2015. Up to 20” of rain are possible in a 48 hour period. This is how much rain the region receives in 8-10 years! There is no record of a category 4 cyclone or stronger tracking as far south as Chapala in the Arabian Sea.

http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/cyclone-chapala-yemen-oman-arabian-peninsula

Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal (week ending 10/31/15): This year’s conditions are producing 100’ waves. Of course, surfer dude wants the ultimate thrill. The previous record wave ride was at 78’. Be careful. These crashing waves have been known to knock surfer dude unconscious…Again, these are record setting waves.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3294639/That-s-high-tide-Crowds-watch-surfers-tackle-massive-swells-season-Portuguese-beach-daredevil-rode-100ft-wave-regarded-biggest-year.html

Am I suggesting the weather events of the past week are the fulfillment of Jesus’ words???…NO!

I am stating the events discussed are the strongest and most powerful in recorded history as we know it. The fact they have all occurred in the last week of October 2015 is thought provoking.

If we are in the time period Jesus is discussing, the trend will increase in regards to intensity and frequency. This may be the beginning of the party.

Matthew 24:8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. –Jesus, Olivet Discourse

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

But when these things begin to take place… Are these “the things” taking place? If so, His return may be right around the corner.

The Greek word for “redemption” in Luke 21:28 is apolutrosis. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: redemption, deliverance, release, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom.

Believers in Christ are redeemed, released, and liberated from the prison of eternal hell at the cross. The cross work of Jesus is a legal and binding transaction for all time. The criminal broke the law and was found guilty. The criminal was sentenced with unpayable fine. The criminal could not afford the payment of the fine. The fine of the criminal was paid for and with the blood currency of Jesus.

He is currently alive at the right hand of the Father. And He is coming back…

…your redemption is drawing near. –Jesus

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Trend Update: Earthquakes in Various Places, February 2015

Posted in Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 11, 2015 by paulthepoke

Mark 13:7-8 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.    –Jesus

There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).

What state had the most earthquakes in 2014? Alaska or California? Wrong answer, Oklahoma! Ten years ago, would anyone have predicted Oklahoma would have the most earthquakes in the United States, Right?!? Recent trends have shown a significant increase in seismic activity in the Sooner state. Are these acts of God? Is it because of fracking in the oil and gas industry?

quakesOK

Does humanity have a history of impacting the environment? Absolutely, from the beginning of time. Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.”

Isaiah 24:5-6 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.

Romans 8:19-22 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

There is clearly an increased trend of earthquake activity on planet earth. The numbers tell the story. See post link for more details.

http://wp.me/p10YyV-fP

Earthquake-chart

Check Mark 13:7-8 against today’s world. Are there wars and rumors of wars? Are nations and kingdoms threatening each other? Are there earthquakes in various places? Are there places of famine in today’s world?

The point of the blog is this. The claim is NOT being made that now (February 2015) is this time. The point is; the conditions of the Mark 13:7-8 are noted in today’s world.

If now (February 2015) is the time Jesus is referring to, this is only the beginning…

Just a reminder, we are still waiting on a temple to be rebuilt.

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Trend Update: Earthquakes, July 2014

Posted in Earthquakes/Volcanoes, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , on July 9, 2014 by paulthepoke

Luke 21:11 …and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.    –Jesus

There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Mark 13:8. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).

There are at least 7 references to earthquakes in the book of Revelation alone. The beast of all historical earthquakes is to take place in Revelation 16:18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.

The end result of this earthquake is Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. These passages are suggestive of significant, changed geography of planet Earth. No more islands, no more mountains! What we are seeing now (July 2014) is a starter kit.

Are there actually more earthquakes taking place as time goes by? Or does it just seem like it? It seems like earthquakes 5.0 or greater on the Richter Scale are becoming common place. At times, they seem like white noise. What do the numbers indicate? Here are two graphs noted below. The source for the information is the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Draw your own conclusions.

 

Earthquake-chart earthquake2000-2014

 

 

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Revelation 8:10-11 Wormwood and Meteors

Posted in Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 27, 2013 by paulthepoke

Revelation 8:10-11 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

This is the second event noted. The event takes place during the tribulation. God’s word leaves no doubt, this is a falling star. The star is described as a great star. The Greek word for great is mega. Again, this is a mega star. It is a huge, large object. This time it hits land and affects rivers and springs. Again, there is fire associated with the star as noted in verse 8-9 and as recently noted with the videos of the Russian meteor. These objects explode in midair.  Balls of fire with trails of smoke are visible for people to see. Parts of the star impact the rivers. Parts of the star are large enough to penetrate the earth’s crust and impact the water springs underground. In total, one third of the rivers and springs are affected.

Remember this book of Revelation was written by an old, elderly man, John, on the island of Patmos as a prisoner on a labor camp. He did not have the benefit of cable TV in the first century to see these events over and over. He did not have the benefit of the scientific community to explain what he saw. John had to take and believe God’s word. John’s written description looks exactly like what we have seen in February 2013 on TV, Youtube, or the Internet with our own eyes here in the 21st century.

The water supply of humanity is impacted by this mega falling star. According to multiple sources, less than 1% of all the water in the world is fresh water for human consumption. Pray this falling star does not impact the Great Lakes area. These lakes account for 84% of the fresh water in North America according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Wormwood is a bitter herb that was used to kill intestinal worms (NET Bible). The bitter star taints the water supply and people die.

Matthew 24:8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” –Jesus, Olivet Discourse.

We see and read the end result in Revelation. But these birth pangs have to start somewhere in time. Birth pangs have a beginning. They become more frequent and more intense as the time draws near. Have the birth pangs started???

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Isaiah 17:12-14 Burden of Damascus: Raging Waters

Posted in Burden of Damascus, Isaiah, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , on January 27, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 17:12 Alas, the uproar of many peoples who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rumbling of nations who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters!

The verse starts with a comment in the original Hebrew that should gain attention. “Hey, you are as good as dead!” Others have taken this to be a funeral cry. Either way, our translators have obviously softened this. This point is emphasized twice in the verse. Essentially God is telling them they can make all the noise they want, they are still going down. The nations can shout louder and longer, but it does not matter.

At this point, many people from many nations are now involved. There is irony and symmetry to these events in the future. People are acting like rushing and rumbling waters. God gives them rushing and rumbling waters.

Luke 21:25 “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves…” These are the words of Jesus. He is referring to a time coming where people will be freaking out because of the physical waves of the ocean. We can think of the possibilities: hurricanes, tsunamis, Noreaster. Do people freak out in today’s world when these events happen? Just watch the news. We have reporters on site to show you “Live!” These are not your garden variety events. The events appear to be global in nature. The text says nations, plural. The description in the Greek indicates the nations responses to the magnitude of the events: dire straits, anguish, dismay, anxiousness, and perplexity. The MSG translates this verse as “It will seem like all hell has broken loose–sun, moon, stars, earth, sea…”

Isaiah 17:13 The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, but He will rebuke them and they will flee far away, and be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, or like whirling dust before a gale.

Chaff is the husk, stalk, and other light weighted material that is separated from the grain. In those days grain and chaff were separated on a threshing floor. A person would beat and whip the stalks of the plant to separate out the grain. The wind would blow away the lighter material and the heavier grain would fall to the floor for collection.

Whirling dust, sounds like a tornado. This is how God will address them. They will be beaten to the point of separation and blown away by a powerful and destructive wind.

Isaiah 17:14 At evening time, behold, there is terror! Before morning they are no more. Such will be the portion of those who plunder us and the lot of those who pillage us.

These events will take place suddenly and within the scope of a few hours. The anxiety happens as the sun is setting. There is a period of darkness and calamity over the night. When the sun comes up, it is over and they are gone. A reminder that Genesis 12:3 still applies, “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.”

There is good news after all of this destruction.

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Isaiah 5:26 A Distant Nation, Prophetic Implications?

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , on September 23, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 5:26 He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, and will whistle for it from the ends of the earth; and behold, it will come with speed swiftly.

The nation is not specifically named. There is a hint in the language. The first is with the term distant. It is the Hebrew word rachowq. In the Hebrew it means: remote, far, distant, distant lands, distant ones, of distance. The text also states this nation will come from “the ends of the earth”. The extremity of the earth is the idea (Strong’s Concordance).

There are many ideas about this nation. Some think this was fulfilled with Babylon lead by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 605BC (Wycliffe Bible Commentary). Charles Ryrie commented that the nation could be Assyria or Babylon. History tells us the Romans stormed Israel in 70 AD. All of these events would be future to the time of Isaiah and his writing. These are all factors of consideration.

Another point of consideration is the future. Daniel 9:27 speaks of a man who will form a peace covenant with the Jewish people in a day that is future to us in 2012. “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Jesus quotes this same verse of Daniel when he refers to difficult times to come in Matthew 24:15-28. The context of Jesus’ words is in regards to His return.  These events will initiate when the events of Daniel 9:27 occur. Jesus talks of a great tribulation that has never occurred since the beginning of the world. His directions are specific. Get out of Judea and go to the mountains. Do not hesitate and go immediately. Jesus warns of false prophets claiming to be Him, signs and wonders. Guard against being deceived.

This nation is like an obedient dog being called and whistled to come here. God gives them a signal and a hiss to get their attention. The nation is as hostile as it can be toward the Jewish people. This nation wastes no time and comes in haste. They are fleet and eager. Yet, God has complete control of them.

History does repeat itself.

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