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Teshuvah, Nineveh’s Solar Eclipse

Posted in Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Teshuvah/Repent, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2017 by paulthepoke

Jonah 3:3-4 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

The Jewish season of Teshuvah is upon us with the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul. The season begins at sunset on August 21, 2017 on a Gregorian calendar. Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of the religious calendar. The 40 day period of Teshuvah ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

Ancient Nineveh had their season of repentance with their introduction to the prophet Jonah. Nineveh heeded the call of the prophet from the top down. The prophet’s text speaks for itself.

Jonah 3:5-9 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

Doorway of a building, Nineveh, Mosul, Ira

Prior to Jonah’s arrival, Nineveh may have received a message from above.

“The path of totality of the Bur-Sagle Eclipse, which is one of the most famous solar eclipses in ancient history, occurred just north of Nineveh on 14th June, 763 BC during the reign of King Ashur-Dan III of Assyria, and was recorded for posterity in the Assyrian Eponym Canon – a series of cuneiform tablets discovered in the 19th century. We know that the Prophet Jonah was a contemporary of King Ashur-Dan III because of a brief mention of him in the Second Book of Kings, which places his prophetic ministry during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel.” – Emmett O’Regan

http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/solar-eclipse-across-u-s-called-a-sign-from-god/

Jonah apparently stayed in Nineveh. The prophet was respected by the gentiles in the ancient city. He was buried there. Jonah rested peacefully until ISIS in 2014. ISIS destroyed Jonah’s tomb with sledgehammers and explosives.

https://paulthepoke.com/2014/07/16/trend-update-assyrian-empireninevehjonah-july-2014/

Judgment is not automatic. God is merciful, compassionate, gracious, and forgiving (even in the Old Testament). Keep in mind, these characteristics were demonstrated towards an evil, gentile Assyrian kingdom. Assyria was a historical nemesis to Israel.

Jonah 3:10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

 

 

Rapture Promo

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160

Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rapture+Bride+Redeemed

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Teshuvah, Solar Eclipse, 2017/5777

Posted in Prophecy, Signs: Sun, Moon, Stars..., Teshuvah/Repent, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , on August 16, 2017 by paulthepoke

The Hebrew month of Elul initiates a 40 day period called Teshuvah. This is the Hebrew word for “repent”. 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. This is the season is to prepare for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. The 40 day period of Teshuvah ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur.

On a Gregorian calendar in the year 2017, Teshuvah begins at sunset on August 21 or depending on when the new moon is confirmed. On a Hebrew calendar, this is the year 5777.

This season of Teshuvah is unique. The 40 day period will be ushered in with a solar eclipse. The eclipse will cross the United States from the northwest coast to the southeast shore. 99 years have passed since the last time a solar eclipse crossed the whole of America.

A second solar eclipse is scheduled for seven years in April 2024 from south to northeast in the United States. The two eclipse paths…“X” marks the spot over the Midwest near St. Louis, MO.

Solar_eclipse_1999_4_NR

God stated from the beginning He will communicate via the sun, moon, and stars.

Genesis 1:14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years…”

The celestial bodies are God’s clock. This is His daytime planner and calendar.

There are multiple purposes for these lights and they are stated clearly. One, the lights are to separate day and night. Two, they are signs. Three, they are time markers (seasons, holidays, appointments, days, and years).

…let them be for signs and for seasons…

The Hebrew word for “signs” is ‘owth. It means: sign, signal, a distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, warning; token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof.

The Hebrew word for “seasons” is mow`ed (singular); mow`edim (plural). It means: appointed place, appointed time, meeting; sacred season, set feast, appointed season; appointed meeting; appointed sign or signal; tent of meeting (definitions provided by Strong’s Concordance).

Ancient Jewish rabbis have taught the moon represents Israel. The Hebrew calendar follows the cycle of the moon.  The sun represents the gentile nations. Gentile calendars follow the cycle of the sun. In the case of solar eclipses, the nation experiencing the phenomenon is the nation under consideration.

These symbols were created in their place from the beginning for a country and people on Earth in the future at their appointed time. The message is simple. It is a warning. The United States from coast to coast is being called to repent of their ways. Change their hearts and return to God. If not, judgment is coming.

This is not fatalistic. God is watching actions and listening. Judgment does not have to be. We are all free will beings with the capacity to change our ways.

 

Rapture Promo

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160

Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rapture+Bride+Redeemed

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Revelation: Sardis, “Remember Me.” -Jesus

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , on July 30, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 3:3a Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.

Remember, then, what you received and heard. There are three verbs in the initial part of the verse.

 

This is an appeal to mental faculties. One, remember or keep this information in your brain. Don’t forget it.

Second, the believer in Sardis received or λαμβανο/lambano in the Greek. Per Strong’s Concordance lambano means: to take without the notion of violence; to take what is one’s own, to take to one’s self, to make one’s own; to claim, procure, for one’s self; to associate with one’s self as companion, attendant.

The idea is a person has taken possession for themselves and it does not need to be done again. The item belongs to the individual. The procurement has binding results moving forward into the future. What is claimed is eternal.

Lastly, the information was heard. The person understood what was being said. There was consideration of the message. The message was perceived and comprehended.

What is the focus for the folks at Sardis? It is salvation through Jesus Christ. He is offering the gift of eternal life. Jesus is telling the church He is the object of their attention. The order of the verbs in the verse above is the opposite of their introduction to Jesus. Typically at first, a person hears the good news of Jesus. Second, they have an option to reject or receive the free gift of salvation. Lastly, a believer in Christ is to remember what they have taken as their possession.

 

What are people to do with the gospel message of Jesus Christ? Keep it, and repent.

Keep or τερεο/tereo in the Greek. It means: to attend to carefully, take care of, to guard. This is a consistent mental attitude. Keep or tereo is a present tense verb. It means to continually keep. This is a matter of lifestyle. Always protect and pay attention to our eternal salvation.

And if there are some sins hanging around in your life…Repent. This is the seventh of eight times the word “repent” is used to the churches in Revelation. Change your mind and make a change. Get the junk out of your life and stop it.

 

Rapture Promo

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160

Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rapture+Bride+Redeemed

Also available online at Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Inktera

 

 

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Straight Talk…Applied Kindness, Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags , , , , on June 13, 2017 by paulthepoke

Rodna

Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

A real application of NOT loving our enemy is: to lash out when we are wronged, defend yourself, yell, or be aggressive in some way. Then go talk about it to people and justify our innocence and their guilt. Speaking trash to the hearer causes more hate to spread.

A real application of loving our enemy would be to let them do or say whatever, then immediately give them a response they do not expect, such as “I can see how you might feel that way, and I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Sometimes I’m terrible with communication but let me try again please.”

Then we should almost always use OURSELVES as the example in the situation: of where we have been weak and how God made us stronger. This will allow that person to let down their guard and their anger will dissipate. It disarms them. They may not admit to guilt right away or ever. But they will think about it later and not feel judged. Possibly it opens up their hearts to a loving God who isn’t trying to judge them.

Defending ourselves and trying to prove ourselves right or justify our actions is a defense mechanism that we all struggle with. But choosing to do good and be kind in response to an assassination on our character will disallow the root of bitterness and anger to take hold.

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Revelation: Thyatira, Lead Me Not Into Temptation

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 23, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Jezebel, she calls herself a prophetess. There is absolutely nothing that is divinely inspired about this woman. She does not have a clue about the future. She is only thinking about the here and now. She wants her way.

Jezebel is a bad influence. She could care less about others. She leads others into temptation.

…commit acts of immorality…This is an example of the translators providing a sanitary, politically correct interpretation. The Greek word is πορνευο/porneo. It is where the English term “pornography” comes.

Strong’s defines porneo as: to prostitute one’s body to the lust of another; to give one’s self to unlawful sexual intercourse; to commit fornication. Metaphorically: to be given to idolatry, to worship idols; to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry.

 

…and eat things sacrificed to idols. This would be the case of food or animals killed in the name of other false gods.

A modern day example for the believer would be the Muslim holiday of Eid. Eid al-Adha is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice. This is a memorial of the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to Allah. As contrasted to the Bible in Genesis 22 where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac to Yahweh (God).

During Eid thousands of sheep, goats, and cows are sacrificed. This event marks the end of what is called Dhu al-Hiijah. The sacrificed meat is given to the poor. Jesus is stating, “Do not eat foods sacrificed to idols or other gods.”

As a reminder…Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

 

Revelation 2:21 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.

God the Father, Son, and Spirit is patient. The message to Jezebel is a message for all of us today. We have a free will choice. He is not making any of us change our behavior. He wants us to change our ways. There is time NOW to change our minds and ways. But there will come a time, when time runs out.

Revelation 2:22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.

Jezebel loved the bed and to the bed she will go…not exactly what she is expecting. In this case, the bed is effectively a hospital bed. It is the Greek word κλινε/kline; a couch on which a sick man is carried.

God is not interested in lip service. He wants abstinence instead of prostitution and other forms of unlawful fornication. If not, trouble is coming in the form of seven years of hell on Earth.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

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Revelation: Ephesus & Repent

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , on November 27, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

What was the first love of the local body in Ephesus? Jesus Christ. This was established in Revelation 2:3. They had “endured for My name’s sake.”

The Greek language of the verse is consistent with divorce in a marriage. The word for “left” is απηιεμι/aphiemi. It means: to send away; to bid going away or depart; of a husband divorcing his wife; to let go, let alone, let be; to disregard; to omit, neglect; to give up, keep no longer. –Strong’s Concordance

The church at Ephesus had essentially divorced itself from the head of the body, Jesus Christ. The irony is the Apostle Paul had written the Ephesians regarding this very topic in Ephesians 5:22-23. The passages discuss how the body of believers should submit to Christ because He died for her. His death allows believers to be free and cleansed of sin. The body is to be the pure and blameless bride. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the body.

Where does the body of Christ stand today in the 21st century. Are we any different than the church at Ephesus?

Revelation 2:5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

The word “repent” is stated twice in the verse. “Repent” is not a mystical, spiritual word that has some deep theological meaning. The Greek word for repent is μετανοεο/metanoeo. It means: to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins.

One should be ashamed of their actions. There should be some conviction. Be honest. Right is right and wrong is wrong. We can all do better.

This verse is not discussing eternal salvation. Salvation was not lost for the individual believer. The individual’s position in Christ would not change. The issue is the local church at Ephesus. The church can be taken away.

Jesus gives the solution first. Get back to the basics as they were doing previously. Revelation 2:2-3.

https://paulthepoke.com/2016/11/21/revelation-ephesus-perserverance/

Jesus stated the consequence. There was accountability. The lampstand or the church would be removed.

The church at Ephesus had fallen and it did not get up. History tells and shows what happened. Today, the church and the city of Ephesus are ruins.

It did not have to be for Ephesus. And it does not have to be for us.

Change your heart. Change your mind. Rethink. Refocus…Jesus Christ.

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Teshuvah 2015

Posted in Fall Feasts, Prophecy, Teshuvah/Repent, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 16, 2015 by paulthepoke

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 of Teshuvah ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur.

Elul 1 marks the beginning of Teshuvah. In a Gregorian calendar in the year 2015, this would be August 15 or 16 depending on when the new moon is confirmed. It is Jewish custom to blow a shofar (ram’s horn) one time every day during the season of Teshuvah. The trumpet is blown every day after the morning service except Shabbat or the Sabbath (Saturday for us in western culture) and the last day of month of Elul.

shofar-web

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 .

This year, 2015, the season of Teshuvah is unique and exceptional.

The end of the month of Elul marks the end of a sabbatical or shemitah year. On a western Gregorian calendar, that is Sunday, September 13, 2015. Historically, God releases debt on the last year of a seven year cycle. 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. Historically, this is not a good omen for economic markets.

A solar eclipse is also scheduled on Sunday, September 13, 2015. As God sees it, the solar eclipse is a time marker (Genesis 1:14, day four of the creation week). The Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah (take your pick of names) takes place when the new moon is observed. This begins a new civic year.

A lunar eclipse or a blood red moon is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2015 on “The Feast” or Tabernacles (aka as Succot). The lunar eclipse will be a Super Moon and appear larger because it is closer to the Earth. The best view of the eclipse will take place in Jerusalem, Israel.

Per Jewish tradition, these celestial events take on additional significance when they occur on God’s Appointed Holidays.

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/09/01/elul-blow-the-horn/

http://paulthepoke.com/2014/08/24/elul-40-days-and-40-nights-teshuva/

If history is any indicator, fasten your seat belts. The land completes its rest on September 13, 2015. God is going back into action. Planet Earth is likely to get interesting.

Time will tell…

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Trend Update: Assyrian Empire/Nineveh/Jonah, July 2014

Posted in Gospel, Mosul/Nineveh, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 16, 2014 by paulthepoke

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2685923/Shocking-moment-ISIS-militants-sledgehammers-Mosul-tomb-Prophet-Jonah-50-blindfolded-bodies-massacred-south-Baghdad.html

To the critic who says Jonah was not a real person, ISIS and Muslims disagree with you. Jonah was a prophet and a real human being in the Old Testament who died. This is what ISIS thinks of Jonah. They are destroying his remains. They want to remove and delete as though he never happened or existed. ISIS militants believe giving special veneration to tombs and relics is against the teachings of Islam. The Book of Jonah is about a prophet who was called to warn a foreign country, an enemy of Israel, of God’s coming judgment. The people of Nineveh responded to the prophet’s call during their day and changed their minds and ways as a nation. God’s judgment was spared on that generation in Nineveh. The Book of Jonah demonstrates God’s mercy and grace to a nation who was behaving in a destructive and brutal nature.

Jesus Himself points to Jonah as a sign or a shadow of His death, burial, and resurrection. Matthew 12:39-41 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREENIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

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

That “any” includes terrorists. Even terrorists can avoid eternal judgment in Christ. We are all made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26).

What does it mean to repent? It is the Greek word “metanoia”. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: to change one’s mind, compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal of decision.

Things do not have to continue on their current path. We have the capacity to change our minds as individuals and corporately as humanity.

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