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Is the Kingdom Here, or Is It Still Coming? Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

An infographic titled 'Is the Kingdom Here... or Is It Still Coming?' illustrating the Bible's four phases of God's Kingdom. It features sections on 'The Kingdom Within,' 'The Kingdom Growing,' 'The Kingdom Coming,' 'The Final Test,' and 'The Eternal Kingdom,' accompanied by relevant scripture citations and descriptions.

Many believers assume the Kingdom of God is either entirely present or entirely future. Scripture presents a richer picture.

Jesus reigns today. Yet Satan is still called “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Christ sits at the Father’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3), yet wars continue, nations rage, and creation groans under the curse (Romans 8:22).

How can both be true?

The answer is that the Kingdom unfolds in stages. What Cotton Mather observed centuries ago is still worth considering today: the Kingdom is not a single moment in history but a divine program moving toward its climax in the reign of Messiah.

❖ The Kingdom Within

The Kingdom first appears in the hearts of those who trust Christ. Jesus declared, “The kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). Paul wrote that believers have been transferred “into the kingdom of the Son” (Colossians 1:13).

Every conversion is a kingdom victory. Every transformed life demonstrates the authority of the King. Yet no one could honestly look at today’s world and conclude that God’s will is being done on earth as perfectly as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Something more remains ahead.

❖ The Kingdom Growing

Jesus compared the Kingdom to a mustard seed that grows from small beginnings into something far larger (Matthew 13:31-32). Through the spread of the gospel, Christ is gathering people from every tribe, language, and nation (Revelation 5:9).

Yet this present phase exists alongside rebellion. Peter warns that the devil prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). John says “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). The King reigns, but His enemies have not yet been publicly subdued.

As Paul explains, Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). The word until points forward to a future manifestation of His rule.

❖ The Kingdom Coming

The prophets consistently describe a future earthly reign of Messiah.

Isaiah foresaw a day when the nations would stream to Jerusalem and learn God’s ways, while weapons of war would be transformed into tools of peace (Isaiah 2:2-4). Zechariah declared, “The LORD will be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9). Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would receive “the throne of his father David” and reign over the house of Jacob forever (Luke 1:32-33).

David’s throne was never located in heaven.

It was in Jerusalem.

Daniel saw the same future. After the succession of Gentile empires represented by the great statue, a stone cut without human hands strikes the kingdoms of this world and becomes a mountain filling the entire earth (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45). The stone does not gradually improve the kingdoms of men.

It crushes them.

John describes the fulfillment after Christ’s return: “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

The Millennium is necessary because God’s covenant promises require it. Abraham was promised a land forever (Genesis 17:8). David was promised an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7:16). Israel was promised a future national restoration (Ezekiel 36:24-28; Amos 9:14-15). The Millennial Kingdom is where these promises become visible history.

As John Walvoord observed: “The premillennial interpretation is the only one that provides a literal fulfillment of the Old Testament promises concerning the kingdom.”

❖ The Common Objection

Amillennialists often ask: “Why would there need to be a future earthly kingdom if Christ already won the victory at the cross?”

Because victory and implementation are not the same thing.

Christ defeated Satan at the cross (Colossians 2:15), yet Satan still deceives the nations (Revelation 12:9). Christ conquered death through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:54-57), yet people still die. Christ is King today, yet the kingdoms of this world have not yet become His visible kingdom (Revelation 11:15).

Others argue that Revelation 20 is symbolic. Yet the sequence remains remarkably straightforward: Christ returns in Revelation 19, Satan is bound, the saints reign, Satan is released, final judgment occurs, and then the New Heaven and New Earth appear. The burden of proof falls on those who would collapse these events into a purely symbolic present age.

❖ Why Is Satan Released?

Perhaps the most fascinating question in prophecy concerns Satan’s release after a thousand years (Revelation 20:7-10).

Why allow one final rebellion?

Because God demonstrates forever that humanity’s deepest problem is not environment, politics, education, wealth, or government. During the Millennium, the world experiences perfect justice under the direct rule of Christ (Isaiah 11:1-9). Yet when Satan is released, countless people still choose rebellion.

As Jeremiah wrote: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

The final revolt proves that the problem has always been the human heart. Even paradise cannot save a person. Only regeneration can (John 3:3).

❖ The Kingdom Consummated

After the final rebellion comes the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Death itself is abolished (1 Corinthians 15:26), Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10), and God creates a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

The Kingdom reaches its eternal form. No curse. No death. No rebellion. No tears. God dwells with His people forever:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” Revelation 21:4

The Kingdom began in hearts. It grows through the gospel. It comes in glory when Christ returns. It endures forever in the new creation.

The prayer Jesus taught His disciples has not yet been fully realized: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

But the day is coming when it will be.

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Debunking Replacement Theology: Church Origins & Shavuot 5786/2026/5951

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks, Replacement Theology with tags , , , , , , on May 19, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 6 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, Feast of the Harvest, and Pentecost are synonymous. Shavuot is often associated with God giving the Torah, the birth of Judaism. Pentecost is often associated with God giving the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church. God chose His appointed holiday to reveal aspects of who He is.

Same holiday… A Historical event for nation Israel and the giving of the Law. A Historical event for the birth of the church and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

On a Gregorian calendar, we are in the year of 2026, the holiday of Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins at sunset on Thursday, May 21. The God Appointed holiday ends at sunset Saturday, May 23.

The Feast takes place in the month of Sivan on the 6th and 7th of a Hebrew calendar. This is the Hebrew year 5786 on the traditional lunar calendar.

On the solar Essene calendar, Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins on what is Sunday, Sivan 15th, 5951 or May 31, 2026. Yes, the Counting of the Omer is calculated differently by the Essenes as compared to how the Pharisees and others mark time.

Other calendars have the Appointment on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

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The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: an assembly, congregation; the whole body of Christian believers. People called out from the world and to God, the mystical body of Christ; the universal body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. -Strong’s Concordance

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words breaks down the word εκκλεσια/ekklesia. The following definition and contexts are provided by the dictionary.

εκκλεσια/ekklesia: from ek, “out of;” and klesis, “a calling” (kaleo, “to call”). The word is used in many different ways in the New Testament. Below are some examples of contexts and usage of the word.

In Acts 19:39, ekklesia was used among the Greeks of a body of citizens “gathered” to discuss the affairs of state. In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) it is used to designate the “gathering” of Israel, summoned for any definite purpose, or a “gathering” regarded as representative of the whole nation.

Acts 19:39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.

In Acts 7:38 ekklesia is used of the nation Israel. Here the word is translated as “congregation”.

Acts 7:38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

The example below presents the term ekklesia as a mob in Ephesus. Here the word is translated “assembly”.

Acts 19:32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.

The focus of the term ekklesia in this book is on the body of believers in Jesus Christ. The term is used at least 111 occurrences in the New Testament. The majority of the instances, it is translated as “church”.

The first time the word ekklesia is used in the New Testament is by Jesus Himself.

Matthew 16:18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

www.mf.no/bibelprog/vines?word=%AFt0000173

People dressed in historical robes standing and talking around a fire pit in an old stone courtyard lit by torches at dusk

Jesus uses the word ekklesia. Christ states He is the person doing the construction. He also claims the church is His. “I will build My church.” -Jesus.

Embedded in this verse, “…and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” -Jesus.

Some would argue this as a pre tribulation rapture statement. Hell and the antichrist are not going to win against the church or the body of Christ. Hell is not stronger and will not prevail against the church.

Compare this statement by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 against Revelation 13:7 and Daniel 7:21.

Revelation 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him…

The reference to “him” is the antichrist. He is allowed to “overcome”. Conquer is the idea expressed in the Greek language. The antichrist is given authority to do whatever he wants. This guy is a universal dictator and acts with a heavy hand over the tribulation saints.

Daniel 7:21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them…

In the Bible, horns are equated with kings, kingdoms, and leaders. This was the case in the writings of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7 is consistent with verses in Revelation 13 and 17. The language regarding beasts and horns is consistent.

This section of Daniel 7 is in the Aramaic language. Interesting observation, this section of Daniel that focuses on gentile worldly kingdoms is in Aramaic and not the original Hebrew. The Aramaic states the antichrist is making war. He is winning and prevailing against the saints.

The church is in Heaven as of Revelation 4 before the tribulation starts. The context of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7:21 is on Earth.

People are being persecuted and killed by the antichrist. These are the people who did not believe in Jesus Christ at the time of the resurrection and rapture. They were left behind and came to understand the truth about Christ later. The Tribulation saints are a different group of people than the church.

The church or the body of Jesus Christ is not overcome by Hell, Satan, the beast, or false prophet. Jesus said.

The term ekklesia is generally translated as the church, the body of Jesus Christ. Scripture does the best job of defining the idea. See the three examples below.

Colossians 1:18a He is also head of the body, the church…

He is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:22b-23 and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

There are many other examples in the New Testament where the church is described as a body of believers in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5).

The church is not a building. The church is not nation Israel. The church is a body of believers attached to the head, Jesus Christ.

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This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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In the Beginning… A Phil Kulis Series

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Creation, Phil Kulis with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 5, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to Part 2 of Phil’s series.

𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓, 𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋, 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄, 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇, 𝐁𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐌

𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠…

God created the Heaven and the Earth. God also created the plants and animals.

Then God created Man and put him in a garden. He called the man Adam. God put a tree in the midst of the Garden and told Adam not to eat from it, because in the day he eats from it he will surely die. This is a covenant between God and Adam: The Covenant of Sin and Death. So long as Adam remained obedient and didn’t eat from that tree he would live.

God brought all the animals to Adam and Adam named them. However, no suitable helper for Adam was found among the animals, so God put Adam into a deep sleep, took from the side of Adam a rib, and formed it into the Woman Eve. Eve was the downstream offspring of Adam and God. Adam said, “this is bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh”. This is why a husband and wife are considered one flesh.

Some time later in the Garden the Serpent asked Eve, “Has God really said you shall not eat of every tree?”

Eve replied, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒕, lest you die.'”

But that is NOT what God said! There was no prohibition on touching it. That was most likely added by Adam. I can imagine Adam saying, “Look Eve, don’t even touch it!” Adam’s added regulation was a misrepresentation of the covenant.

It was this added regulation, the first “religion” through which the deceiver gained a foothold. Eve bundled her answers about eating and touching together.

So the Serpent addressed the two points as if they were one. The unspoken part of the serpent’s reply in parentheses was (if you touch it) “you will not surely die.” It was a very subtle and cunning attack. And it worked.

Eve ate.

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𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐞…𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆!

It wasn’t until she gave it to Adam and he ate then BOTH of their eyes were opened.

Why?

It was Adam’s disobedience of eating that broke his covenant with God. Eve’s disobedience had no power to break that covenant. This is because she was the offspring of God and Adam. She was downstream of the Covenant. She was not a party to the Covenant made before she was created. She was not the Covenant Representative, Adam was.

So long as the Covenant between God and Adam remained intact, even though she transgressed, sinned, it was not accounted to her. After she ate, the Covenant between God and Adam still remained intact. She was protected by Adam’s obedience. His obedience maintained the Covenant. It was one man’s act of disobedience that broke the covenant.

Why did Adam choose to eat knowing it would bring death? It was because seeing nothing happen to Eve caused him to disbelieve God’s word. It’s the result of his choosing to act on his disbelief which led to disobedience resulting in death.

Understanding what happened leads to the realization that Eve is not to be blamed for the fall of mankind. It’s all too common for people, especially men to have animus towards Eve, and women in general. But understand that God placed enmity between her and the serpent. If you find yourself having animosity towards Eve or women in general, then be careful, you’re playing the role of the serpent.

The story of Adam and Eve is the very first model of Christ and the Church. This is a very important model upon which the whole Bible is based.

All who are offspring, downstream of the covenant between God and Adam are now subject to the conditions of a broken covenant. The consequence of that broken covenant is separation from God who is Life Itself and therefore that separation is Death.

Eve is the “mother of all living” our greatest grandmother. In this very first model of Christ she represents us, the Church. We should therefore have forgiveness towards Her and others in the Church. We’re no better than her.

That brief interval between Eve eating and Adam eating which is the unbroken covenant between God and Man in the face of sin is the fulcrum around which all of human history pivots.

When you begin to get your mind around what happened there in the Garden, the entire Bible begins to make sense.

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Statement of Faith

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 22, 2026 by paulthepoke

The Bible, ALL of it, is the Word of God. ALL of it is for our benefit. God’s Word finishes us as humans and makes us whole. God is the source of knowledge and revelation.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.

God exists in three eternal, individual personalities: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Each is equally God. They are one essence, perfect harmony.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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Jesus Christ is the central figure and person in human history.

Jesus is God in human form. His Hebrew name, Yeshua, means “He saves.”

Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

Jesus is eternal.

1 Peter 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.

John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Jesus, born of a virgin

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).

Fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23

Jesus is the “Good News”, the Gospel message.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…

Jesus is currently alive and at the right hand of God the Father.

Psalm 110:1 A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

1 Peter 3:22 Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him.

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

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The church is not a physical building. The church is a body of believers in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. -Jesus

Romans 12:4-6a For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

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All of humanity who has physically died, all of the bodies will ultimately be resurrected. The question is the destination.

Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

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Pre Tribulation Rapture: At a designated point in time before the beginning of the seven year Tribulation or the Day of the Lord, the entire body of the church of Jesus Christ will be caught up into the clouds to meet Him in the air.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

https://www.amazon.com/Rapture-Bride-Redeemed-Paul-Lehr-ebook/dp/B073Q4Z1RL

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The church will physically return to earth to rule and reign with Jesus Christ during the Millennial Kingdom.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us…

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

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Believers can respectfully proclaim God’s truth and love people who disagree with or live outside of God’s laws and precepts.

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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Human life is sacred from conception to its natural end. God is the Creator of life from before time.

Psalm 139:13-16 For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.

Job 31:15 Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?

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God sovereignly and purposefully creates each person biologically male or biologically female.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Matthew 19:4 Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

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Marriage is between a biological man and a biological woman.

Mark 10:6-9 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. -Jesus

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

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Humanity has inherited a sin nature from the fall of Adam. We are all in need of forgiveness and redemption from our individual sins.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned…

1 John 4:9-10 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

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Salvation is by Faith alone apart from works. One cannot work, earn, or buy their way into eternity with God. He will not accept the fallen individual’s effort or payment.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law.

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Satan is a real personality and angelic being.

Jesus personally encountered Satan in Matthew 4:1-11.

1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.

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Hell is a real physical place. No one in the Bible teaches more about Hell than Jesus.

Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

~

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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This MONTH in Prophecy: Rainbows & Pride

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Fake News???, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 15, 2023 by paulthepoke

Luke 17:2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Instagram’s algorithms promote pedophilia according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive. And nobody really cared. No fall out. People continue to buy the parent company’s stock, META. No Congressional investigation or concern until a week later with Senator Ted Cruz from Texas. No real heat on Mark Zuckerberg. Society is getting closer to normalizing this behavior. How much is enough???

https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2023/6/sen-cruz-demands-answers-from-meta-regarding-promotion-of-pedophile-network-on-instagram

Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli advisor to Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum, rejects the Bible as truth. He sees the Bible as a book of “myths” and “just stories.” Harari is an openly gay professor and best-selling author. He sees the resurrection of Jesus Christ as “fake news”.

“In a few years, there might be religions that are actually correct. Just think about a religion whose holy book is written by an AI. That could be a reality in a few years.”

https://www.christianpost.com/news/israeli-futurist-predicts-ai-will-soon-write-a-new-bible.html

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Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Humanity is dedicating a month to the celebration of Pride. And the point of this section is not to shake a finger at anybody. We all sin and we are all guilty. One sin is not more sinful than another. You break one of God’s laws, you break them all.

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

But, is it really a good idea to celebrate and promote a destructive mental attitude as God sees it? After all, pride is the same attitude that lead to Satan’s fall.

Isaiah 14:12-14 How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”

Let’s take an in-depth look at the rainbow. First we are going to look at this from God’s perspective. Genesis 9 is dedicated to the rainbow. It is a covenant between God and His creation that survived the flood on the ark. It is a promise to never destroy the earth with a flood again, a promise between God and the earth. The rainbow is a symbol of mercy and grace. God gave humanity another chance.

Genesis 9:16 …And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.” -God

Kudos to author TW Tramm for the following observation. God’s rainbow has 7 colors. Man’s rainbow has 6 colors. The numerology is not lost. Seven is the number of completeness and perfection. Six is the number of man. The ultimate expression of the numeral is in the antichrist and his number 666.

As we know, June is Pride month. So what is the symbolism behind the six colored flag? What does it represent? But there is more than one flag. There are at least 20 plus different Pride flags according to Volvo Group. The link below breaks it down and defines what each color on each flag means.

https://www.volvogroup.com/en/news-and-media/news/2021/jun/lgbtq-pride-flags-and-what-they-stand-for.html

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This will come as a surprise to many. These alternative lifestyles are nothing new. Cross dressing and transgenderism were taking place at least in the time of Moses approximately 3,600 years ago. Arguably, this was likely happening in Noah’s time as well.

Today’s social experts tell us these new, complex, gender issues should have us leave the traditions of religion in the past. Times have changed. The Bible is outdated they say. What we are witnessing is not the evolution and progression of society.

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.

The Hebrew word for “abomination” is tow`ebah. God sees crossdressing as tow`ebah or detestable or disgusting. God was not impressed back in the day and He is not impressed in the 21st Century.

As I have stated in the past on this blog, these are God’s words. It is acknowledged, His words are offensive to segments of society. Eventually, His words are offensive to all of us if we are honest with ourselves. Please take your complaints and comments directly to Him. He will listen. He is a big boy. He can handle it.

Turn on the news. Get on the internet. Check out a social media outlet of your choosing. Today’s culture is on display as noted by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 3:9 For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

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God will keep His promise in regards to the Rainbow Covenant. He will not destroy the Earth with a flood. God is not sitting around waiting to crush people like a little bug with His thumb. His desire is that people will change their minds and return to Him via the Son who died for all of us.

But eventually a time is coming. And He will use fire the next time. This will offend many. Judgment is coming…

2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Knowing Truth From Lies

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2022 by paulthepoke

Scripture: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude

Memory Verse: 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than this, to hear my children walking in the truth.

Key Theme: These four epistles offer concepts of contrasts. Ultimately, what is the truth and what is a lie?

God is the source of truth. All three persons of the Trinity are truth as a source. May God be found true (Romans 3:4). The Spirit is stated as truth in 1 John 5:7. Jesus proclaimed He is the truth in John 14:6. Jesus is the representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

Truth can be learned from many sources. Some of these include the apostles. The apostles saw, touched, and heard the truth in Jesus for themselves (1 John 1:1-3). Truth can be learned from members of the church. A positive example would be Demetrius who received a good testimony from the truth itself (3 John 1:12). Truth can be learned from the spirits. But it is important to test the spirits to determine if they are from God (1 John 4:1). A teacher of the church can teach the truth for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Practically, the truth can be learned by reading the Word, our Bible.

There are consequences when choosing or rejecting the truth. Choices lead to practicing righteousness or sin (1 John 3:7-10). There is the choice of light (God) or darkness (lies), (1 John 1:5-6).

How do we handle the issue of sin? Are sins confessed or is personal sin denied? Confession of sins can lead to forgiveness and cleansing. Denying sin results in making Christ a liar (1 John 1:8-10). There are considerations of obedience and practice in regards to God’s commandments. Application of teaching determines whether or not one has God (2 John 1:6-9). Choose good over evil (3 John 1:11). The choice to love leads to life. He who does not love abides in death (1 John 3:14). Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). It is important to practice what one believes. Ultimately, your eternity hinges on whether or not you believe the truth that Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that truth is not found in Satan. He is the father of lies. It is his nature to lie. It is his desire to lie. Satan does not stand for the truth. He is a liar. Satan is a sinner from the beginning (1 John 3:8). Satan has many instruments at his disposal to dispatch lies. The antichrist of the future is noted in 1 John 2:18. Even now the spirit of the antichrist is at work (1 John 4:3). In Revelation 13 the beast from the earth or the false prophet dispenses lies. He calls for the worship of the antichrist. False spirits are called to be tested in 1 John 4:1. False prophets (1 John 4:1) are at work in the world. Satan also has demons at his disposal. He is the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24). Members of the church are noted. Characteristics of these men are described in Jude 1:12, 13, and 16. A specific example of a man in the church would be Diotrephes. He rejected the authority of the apostles and was singled out with condemnation (3 John 1:9-10). Satan also has the world at his disposal. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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This Week In Prophecy: Shofar & Elul, Cultural Rot, Railroad Strike?, China & Russia, Caucuses

Posted in #PaulthePoke, China, Culture, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 14, 2022 by paulthepoke

On This Week in Prophecy… It is the month of Elul. Blow the shofar! Yehuda Glick is blowing his shofar on the Mount of Olives. He was arrested for a recording of a shofar blast on the Temple Mount.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

FX parent company Disney has released a new cartoon, Little Demon. Satan’s Teen Daughter is the antichrist. The “reluctant” mother is a practicing witch. They are just trying to live a normal life.

“Don’t let other people’s moral laws make you think what you did was wrong,” Satan said sweetly. “Together, you and I can create a future without rules, call your own shots, live the life you wanna live.”

Hell is not real. Satan comes from a place the cool kids like, the “metaphysical realm”.

The you heroine antichrist goes to a woke school. “We’re not racist anymore!” 

Satan is played by Danny DeVito. “I think you’re gonna find that in the show Satan is really a good guy. The guy was deprived of his spawn— who is a girl— but of course, I thought it was gonna be a boy. But the future is female.”

Aubrey Plaza plays the antichrist. “I love that we are normalizing paganism. Laura is a pagan. She’s a witch. She’s jacked.” 

https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/little-demon

https://www.israel365news.com/274610/new-disney-animated-series-features-satans-daughter-as-the-heroine/

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United States railway workers are threatening to strike? How would this affect us? Supply chain disruptions across the economy could cause up to $2 billion per day. Inflation would likely increase and inflict more pain to an already stressed consumer. Energy, food, transportation, and manufacturing would take direct hits.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/14/economy/railroad-strike-economic-impact/index.html

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China and Russia announce China can pay for Russian gas in rubles and the yuan. Economic consequences ripple around the globe.

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/9/6/china-agrees-to-pay-for-russian-gazprom-gas-in-rubles-and-yuan

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Armenia and Azerbaijan are fighting again. Who supports who is mind-bending and confusing.

There are religious implications. Azerbaijan is viewed as a secular country by the Muslim world. Nearly a quarter of the population identifies itself as Muslim. Of that group, Azerbaijan is mostly a Shia Muslim country.

Armenia is a predominantly Christian nation. As of 2011, 97% of the country identified as Christian and members of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Wikipedia).

The conflict has nations quickly aligning with one of the two nations.

Countries supporting Azerbaijan include: Turkey, Pakistan, and Israel.

Countries supporting Armenia include: Russia, India, and Iran.

https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-announces-cease-fire-agreement-with-azerbaijan/a-63124495

All of this and more on TWIP. Click the YouTube link below for news, analysis, and commentary.

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Why I Changed My Mind About Evil! (I Was WRONG)… JP Sears

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2022 by paulthepoke
https://awakenwithjp.com/

For those of you who are not familiar, this is JP Sears.

JP Sears is a comedian who tours the country extensively doing stand-up comedy and publishing weekly online videos. His videos have been viewed more than 500 million times. In addition to inspiring laughter in a weird world, JP’s work takes an unapologetic stand for freedom, free speech, and encouraging people to free themselves from fear.

CAUTION! JP will use very adult language and he is not afraid to engage in controversial topics. Some of you will likely be offended. Warning completed…

JP will openly admit. He is not a Biblical scholar.

But JP does understand fundamental truth about a few Bible verses and concepts.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Click on the link below and look what happens when these verses are applied in today’s world…

http://www.facebook.com/AwakenWithJP

http://www.Instagram.com/AwakenWithJP

https://rumble.com/AwakenWithJP

http://www.twitter.com/AwakenWithJP

https://mewe.com/p/awakenwithjp

https://parler.com/profile/AwakenWithJP

http://www.AwakenWithJP.com

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Gog of Magog… Ezekiel 38-39 vs. Revelation 20

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Ezekiel 38-39, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 6, 2022 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him…

Revelation 20:7-8 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

photo: wikimedia

There is plenty of discussion about these two sets of Bible verses. Some would say this is the same scenario and is to take place after Jesus Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.

Others would say these are two different events in history. The Ezekiel scenario takes place before the Millennial Kingdom and the Revelation scenario takes place after the Millennial Kingdom.

Full disclosure, it is the website’s position these are two different events in history.

The first difference is the calling of Gog of Magog. In Ezekiel, it is God Himself who calls Gog. The good Lord is going fishing.

Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.

In Revelation, Gog and Magog are manipulated and tricked by Satan.

Revelation 20:8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

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A second observation is the audience. In Ezekiel 38-39, it is stated multiple times that Gog of Magog will come from the north. All things are relative to the center of the earth (Ezekiel 38:12), Israel. What are the uttermost parts of the north, modern day Russia.

Ezekiel 38:15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army.

For other references to the north, see Ezekiel 38:6, 39:2.

In Revelation, Satan deceives the nations or ἔθνος/ethnos in the Greek from the entirety of the earth, the four corners of the earth.

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The third consideration is the time point.

The Revelation reference is straight forward. It is post Millennial Kingdom, 1,000 years after Jesus Christ has returned to earth to establish the Kingdom.

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison…

In Ezekiel 38-39, there are a couple of references to “the latter years“. The Hebrew term acharith could also be translated “end“. This is often a time referred to as prior to the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of the Kingdom.

Ezekiel 38:8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them.

See also Ezekiel 38:16 for latter or end years reference.

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Personally, the most compelling evidence lies in the geographical differences. The Revelation reference refers to the broad plain of the earth.

Revelation 20:9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them…

…the broad plain of the earth… Notice the term is singular, one land mass. Mountains and islands are not mentioned. They have been removed. The Greek word for “broad plain” is platos (πλάτος). Per Strong’s Concordance, the term suggests great extent. The Greek word for “earth” is ge (γῆ). The term is defined as: arable land; the ground, the earth as a standing place.

As of today in the 21st century, the “beloved city” is Jerusalem. And it sits on a mountain top. At some point in the future, geography will change.

Prior to the physical return of Jesus Christ to earth and at least another 1,000 years to the events in Revelation 20 with Gog and Magog, this takes place.

Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.

The idea of no more mountains and changed geography is noted in multiple places in the Bible. Revelation is not the only source of this concept.

Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

Psalm 46:6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants.

Isaiah 24:19 The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken.

Micah 1:4 And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.

The level of destruction is unimaginable. We cannot comprehend. It says what it says.

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In the Ezekiel 38-39 scenario there are multiple references to the mountains of Israel. Notice the context of the verse below is a great earthquake. The result speaks for itself.

Ezekiel 38:20b …And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground.

See also Ezekiel 38:8, 21, 39:2, 4 for Israel mountain references.

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It stands to reason, these are two separate events which are separated by at least 1,000 years.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/millennial-kingdom/

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Stand Firm, It’s an Attitude

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Freedom in Christ with tags , , , , , , , , , on January 23, 2022 by paulthepoke

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ESV

stand firm… In the Greek, this is the word στήκω/stékó. The word is defined as to stand firm and fast, persevere.

Satan is observed to “stand firm” in Revelation. He is locked in with resolution and purpose. He wants to kill Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:4b And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

As people, we are conflicted with our human nature. There is a battle raging. There is what the flesh wants. And there is what the Spirit of God calls on us to do. Who are we going to serve?

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

This is a matter of life and death. This choice has spiritual and eternal consequences.

Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

As believers, we are called to “stand firm” in many things. We are to stand firm in prayer. The result should be forgiveness.

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

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There are consequences for not “standing firm” in the truth. Satan does not stand firm or persevere in truth.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

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Believers are called to stand firm in the faith.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

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Many times, those who believe in Jesus Christ are called to stand firm in Him.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

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We are called to stand firm in the teaching of the Word of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

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And in the case of Galatians 5:1 and our freedom in Christ, we are called to have this attitude of “standing firm” against sin.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. NKJV

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