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Resurrection Sunday, 2026

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel, Prophecy, Resurrection with tags , , , , , , on April 4, 2026 by paulthepoke

What does a rabbit have to do with Jesus, why are eggs involved, and why did Jesus have to die?”

There are many traditions as to how “Easter” gets its name. Ishtar (Easter) is the Babylonian queen of heaven. She is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex.

Astarte (Easter) is the Syrian sun goddess, known as the queen of heaven. According to legend, she allegedly laid a golden egg which became the sun.

There is also a pagan tradition concerning a bird who wanted to be a rabbit. The goddess Oestre (Easter) turned the bird into a rabbit. According to legend, this rabbit could still lay eggs. From this, the egg became a symbol of the start of new life, rebirth, and fertility. A rabbit became a symbol of fertility and new life.

What does any of this nonsense have to do with Jesus? Absolutely Nothing!!!

One small problem, the early Christian church joined the fun and adopted the egg as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. This has done nothing but add to the confusion to the point and purpose of Jesus’ death.

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Why did Jesus have to die? This point is specific and clear according to the Bible. At this time, I will let the Bible speak for itself.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

Hebrews 9:26b …but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

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Some would say the idea of a “resurrection” is only noted in the New Testament. Resurrection is not a New Testament only concept. There are many examples of the idea of resurrection in the Old Testament.

Resurrection events are promised and noted from the arguably the oldest book of the Bible, Job, to the end of the Bible in the Book of Revelation. We will all be resurrected one way or another. At issue is the eternal destination of our individual resurrected body.

Job 14:13-15 “Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, that You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, that You would set a limit for me and remember me! If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes. You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.”

Job is aware of the concept of resurrection and being brought back to life. He is pleading with God. Will I live again? Job expresses awareness of his bodily change to come. Job knows that God will call before this change.

Job 19:25-27a “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!”

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Just in case anyone is wondering, the message of a sacrificial death for sin rings loud and clear in the Old Testament in Isaiah. Look at the detail of these verses. This was written approximately 700 years before Christ. It reads as a narrative of the events along with the accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Isaiah 53:3-12 He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

See also Psalm 22

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

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The Problem of Sin, A Phil Kulis Series

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Phil Kulis with tags , , , , , , , , on February 19, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to Part 4 of Phil’s series.

𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓, 𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋, 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄, 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇, 𝐁𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐌

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐧

So why is the arrival of the God/Man such good news? The kingdom of God has come. God and Man are rejoined. God has come in person to accomplish it. But the barrier of sin must be dealt with.

The Greek philosopher Socrates made a very insightful observation. He said to his student Plato, “It may be that the Deity can forgive sins, but I do not see how.”

A bullseye target with red concentric circles, surrounded by arrows that have landed close to it, depicting an aiming or archery theme.

The problem of sin is, how can God forgive it? If God just dismisses it, then it’s not really sin and God would be a liar. If God forgave some people and not others then God is unfair and playing favorites therefore a hypocrite. Sin must be justly dealt with.

If someone is punished for sin, then they suffer for themselves. That’s not forgiveness. Neither can forgiveness come by another person taking someone else’s punishment because “all have sinned, fall short of the glory of God” and deserve their own punishment. For forgiveness to happen, there must be a sinless substitute to accept the judgment and condemnation of death.

Everyone is born under the broken covenant of Adam. So there is no suitable sinless substitute, even among all the animals. Remember what happened when God brought all the animals to Adam? “But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” This is why animal sacrifice is insufficient and not permanent. But it did point to what would come.

The God/man is different and unique, yet at the same time a comparable helper. He was not born under the broken covenant of a man, because he was fathered from outside the covenant of Adam. He was the only other man directly begotten by God, yet unlike Adam He was also God. Because the Woman Eve was not the representative of the first covenant, her Seed “the Seed of the Woman” would be qualified, but the seed of the Man would not. Because Jesus is born of a woman, He is related to us. He is the Kinsman Redeemer.

Jesus lived a sinless life. His only purpose was to remain obedient to doing His Father’s will. God’s will is known by His Ten Commandments which are summarized as “Love God, Love One Another.” Jesus’s only desire was to remain obedient to His Father.

Jesus remained obedient to all the Law to demonstrate His humanity, and performed miracles to demonstrate His divinity.

As with Adam, the forces of darkness tried to get Jesus to fail in remaining obedient. He was tempted. (The devil tried to get Him to eat while He was fasting, to commit the same sin as Adam). He was ridiculed and falsely accused. He was arrested and tortured. They eventually killed Him with an excruciating death on the cross. But through it all He remained obedient to His Father. They couldn’t get Him to disobey God. He kept the terms of the Covenant even unto the exit, which is death. This is why He declared with His dying breath “It is finished”.

The punishment for breaking covenant is separation from God and that separation is death. The exit from the covenant is death. Because Jesus remained obedient to God until death He didn’t deserve death. He was the only one to ever accomplish this. Therefore death has no legal claim on Him. Ever. It’s why He was resurrected.

Romans 6:9 …knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

His perfect obedience can’t be undone. He fulfilled the covenant of obedience to God and exited the covenant. It was the path which was known only by Him that “To conquer death you only have to die.”

If Adam hadn’t eaten the forbidden fruit he would have been the Savior because nothing happened to Eve and Eve is the mother of all living. Adam could have interceded for her and God could forgive her. All downstream from them would have been protected by Adam’s obedience. However, there would always remain the possibility of Adam disobeying. Mankind would be eternally vulnerable, totally dependent on his obedience. The words “It is finished” could never have been spoken so long as Adam remained alive.

Jesus was killed for His obedience. His perfect obedience is permanently sealed in His blood. There is now no risk or vulnerability of disobedience by the New Covenant Representative.

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death

He alone paid the price of death which was undeserved. He completed the covenant and exited it. Because His death, which is separation from God is undeserved, He has conquered death not just for Himself but all who are under the New Covenant.

Romans 5:18-19 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

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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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Teshuvah 5785/5950/2025

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Teshuvah/Repent with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on August 19, 2025 by paulthepoke

The Hebrew month of Elul initiates a 40 day period called Teshuvah. The point of the season is to prepare for the civil Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. This God appointed feast day is also referred to as Yom Teruah by Jews. Christians may refer to the day as the Feast of Trumpets. The season of Teshuvah concludes on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

Teshuvah is a time to turn toward God. People are called to turn away from their sin, repent, and change course. Let go of the ways of the world. 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. Return to God and His ways. This is not a warm and fuzzy spiritual word that causes your stomach to flutter or hair to stand on your neck. There should be some conviction. Be honest. Right is right and wrong is wrong. We can all do better. Prepare and turn to God with a joyful heart. The 40 day period starts on Elul 1 and ends on Tishri 10, Yom Kippur.

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

The ultimate expression of the Teshuvah likely results in Revelation 22 when believers in Christ meet God the Father Himself. Will that event occur on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement?

Revelation 22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

Elul is the last month of the civic calendar in Judaism. Elul is the sixth month of God’s 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 directly 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. 

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Of course there is disagreement on when the month of Elul actually begins. On our western Gregorian calendar in the year 2025, this would be at sunset Saturday, August 23rd or Monday, August 25th, as calculated by 21st century time keeping. And then there are those who are waiting on the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of the month. Jewish time keepers cannot agree.

The Essenes followed a solar calendar. A solar calendar has a leap week as compared to a leap month with a lunar calendar. On the Essene calendar, Elul 1st took place on what was Sunday, August 17th, 2025. It is the year 5950 AM. In other words, 5,950 years since creation.

The Essenes also marked the beginning of the year in the spring with the month of Nisan or Abib as described in Exodus.

Exodus 12:1-2 Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you…”

Incidentally, this is a jubilee year on the Essene calendar. There are some who think the resurrection of believers and the rapture will occur during a jubilee year.

Jubilee Q&A, Is the Year of Redemption Upon Us??? T.W. Tramm

https://paulthepoke.com/category/jubilee

One Jewish custom of Elul is to visit a cemetery. This is quite interesting in light of the Jewish belief that the resurrection of the dead will occur during the period of Teshuvah. Specifically, the resurrection is to occur on the new moon holiday of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Christians refer to this as the Feast of Trumpets. Orthodox Jews do not believe in Christ let alone the New Testament. Apostle Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and Colossians would confirm their tradition. 

1 Corinthians 15:52b at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Resurrection first, then the rapture occurs. The question is the amount of time between the two events.

Am I saying the resurrection of the dead and the rapture is in approximately one month from Elul 1st per identification of the new moon of Tishri? No, but it is possible.

As believers, should we be ready for Christ to gather us into the clouds? Yes, just like any other day.

There is only one New Moon festival, Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets. The Apostle Paul tells us Jesus has big plans for the Feast of Trumpets at some point in the future.

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/teshuvahrepent

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

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Tisha B`Av/9th of Av, 5784/2024, Talking Red Heifer & Third Holy Temple

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Sanhedrin, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , on August 10, 2024 by paulthepoke

Exodus 25:8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

Tisha b’Av:  to the Jew, this is a date, the 9th of the Hebrew month Av. It is the 11th month of the civil calendar or the 5th month of the religious calendar. The month is not named in the Bible. Av usually occurs during July or August on the Gregorian calendar.

This year, the 9th of Av begins at sunset on Monday, August 12, 2024 on our western Gregorian calendar.

The Temple Institute in Jerusalem continues to look forward to the construction of the 3rd Holy Temple on the 9th of Av…

Temple Institute…

The three weeks of mourning which stretch from the fast of the 17th of Tammuz to the fast of the 9th of Av may be a time for some people to look backward and dream about the Holy Temple that was. Not so for the people that make up the Temple Institute. The Temple Institute is forever looking forward and working tirelessly to educate Israel and the world about the importance of the Holy Temple in our future, while always training and preparing in every way possible for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple and the renewal of the Divine service, soon, and in our days!

The Temple Institute is talking about the red heifers, Temple service, priestly garments, the Levitical choir, Yeshiva, Law study, Holy Temple study.

And lastly… Build the Temple!

http://www.templeinstitute.org/

The 9th of Av is a day of mourning in Israel. Tragedy came about because of the account of Numbers 13-14. This event occurred immediately after God had delivered Israel out of bondage in Egypt. The short story is the Lord told Moses to send a group of spies to go scout the Promised Land. The spies came back and proclaimed the Jews could not take the land because of the inhabitants of the land were too big and too strong. The people rebelled against Moses. The people stated they would rather go back to Egypt. The nation (except Caleb and Joshua) did not believe God to give them the Promised Land. We know it occurred during the grape harvest per the text (Numbers 13:20). This event is said to have occurred on the 9th of Av. God pronounced judgment on the nation at that time. And this date is said to be a reminder of nation Israel’s lack of faith in God.

Here is a list of Jewish history on the 9th of Av.

  1. 586 BC, the first Temple was destroyed.
  2. 70 AD, the second Temple was destroyed.
  3. 135 AD, Betar fell. It was the last fortress to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt.
  4. 136 AD, one year after the fall of Betar, the Temple area was plowed.
  5. 1290 AD, Jews were expelled from England.
  6. 1492 AD, King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tisha B’Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.
  7. 1914 AD, World War I began the downward slide to the Holocaust.
  8. 2005 AD, Israel turns over the Gaza Strip.

References for dates courtesy of (http://www.jewfaq.org, http://www.chabad.org, https://templeinstitute.org/

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And…

Jesus prophesied there would be a third temple. There has to be a third temple. The antichrist will stand there and declare himself to be God.

Mark 13:14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” -Jesus

See also Matthew 24:15-25, Luke 21:20-24.

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

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Sacrificial System REJECTED!!! Crimson Strap

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Sacrificial System with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 17, 2023 by paulthepoke

The framework for this series was from an article that was posted by Yehuda Frank at https://allisrael.com/forgiveness-yom-kippur-and-the-messiah-s-atoning-sacrifice .

There are 4 proofs that support God rejecting Israel’s Yom Kippur sacrifice.

  1. The lot of the Lord was in the left hand.
  2. The crimson strap remained crimson.
  3. The western light was not lit.
  4. The doors of the Temple were open in the morning.

Let’s take an in-depth look at the crimson strap. The Biblical reference comes from the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool…”

God is looking to have a sensible conversation with His people, Israel. Effectively, they have a sin problem. The context of Isaiah 1 is the complete and total depravity of the nation. Their attitude and actions were poor. They were bodily sick from head to toe. Medical care was not going to help their condition. They have no relationship with God.

The land of Israel was desolate. Cities were being burned. The land was over run by foreigners… This is the pattern of history. Israel, Roman Empire, today’s 21st century United States and Europe, sound familiar?

Now as tradition has it, a sacrificial ceremony was performed and the crimson strap would miraculously turn white. Symbolically, sin was forgiven.

According to the historical documents in the Talmud…

…the last 40 years before the Temple’s destruction, the crimson-colored wool never turned white, signaling a troubling development.

Israel was expecting a miracle. The strap was supposed to turn white and symbolically, sin was to be forgiven. After all, this was Yom Kippur and the High Priest was intervening on behalf of the people. But, there would be no miracle for 40 years and eventually the Temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed in 70 AD.

What Israel did not realize was sin had been forgiven. Israel understood the Mosaic Law. Innocent blood is the price for the pardoning of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

There was no need for the crimson strap to turn white. The work was finished.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The blood of Christ is the bleach that washes away the crimson stain of sin.

Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

~

A point of consideration… Was the 40 consecutive years of a crimson strap a foreshadowing of the Messiah to come? Isaiah 63 says there is One coming in crimson stained clothes who is going to clean house, pillage and judge the nations. He is going to do it all by Himself.

By the way, the meaning of Bozrah is “grape gathering”. The crushing of grapes is equated with flowing blood. This theme is also consistent with the return of the Lord in Revelation 19.

Isaiah 63:1-6 Who is this who comes from Edom, with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, this One who is majestic in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, the One who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine trough alone, and from the peoples there was no one with Me. I also trod them in My anger and trampled them in My wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, and I stained all My clothes. “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. “I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; so My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me. “I trampled down the peoples in My anger and made them drunk with My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

Revelation 19:13-15 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is The Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

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

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Tisha B`Av/9th of Av, 5783/2023

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , on July 23, 2023 by paulthepoke

Tisha B`Av or the 9th of Av…

Av is a Hebrew month. It is the 11th month of the civil calendar or the 5th month of the religious calendar. It usually occurs during July or August on the Gregorian calendar. This year, the 9th of Av is observed on sundown of Wednesday, July 27th and ends at sundown on Thursday, July 28th, 5783/2023. The month of Av is not named in the Bible.

Historically, the date has resulted in heartache for the Jewish people. Here is a list of Jewish history on the 9th of Av/Tisha B `Av.

  1. 586 BC, the first Temple was destroyed.
  2. 70 AD, the second Temple was destroyed.
  3. 135 AD, Betar fell. It was the last fortress to hold out against the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt.
  4. 136 AD, one year after the fall of Betar, the Temple area was plowed.
  5. 1290 AD, Jews were expelled from England.
  6. 1492 AD, King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tisha B’Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.
  7. 1914 AD, World War I began the downward slide to the Holocaust.
  8. 2005 AD, Israel turns over the Gaza Strip.

References for dates courtesy of (http://www.jewfaq.org, http://www.chabad.org, https://templeinstitute.org/

The 9th of Av

Every time there is talk of the third temple, there is a population of believers in Jesus Christ who accurately point out that believers in Christ are the temple. There are multiple verses that support this truth. Yes, this is true. Settled.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

See also 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5.

And…

Jesus prophesied there would be a third temple. The antichrist will stand there and declare himself to be God.

Mark 13:14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” -Jesus

See also Matthew 24:15-25, Luke 21:20-24.

~

Currently, there are five red heifers under observation. The sacrifice of a red heifer is coming.

And…

Also correct, there is no more need for the sacrificial system. Jesus is the sacrifice for sin once and for all.

Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The third temple will be built. The Word of God, the Logos, the HaShem says.

And…

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

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

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Independence Day, July 4th, 2023

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Freedom in Christ, Jubilee, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 4, 2023 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.

Our foundation as a country in the United States draws its concept of freedom and liberty from Leviticus 25:10. The verse is written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Abolitionists during the Civil War turned to the Liberty Bell and the verse from Leviticus 25 as a reason to end slavery. Cultures and societies can change when people take God’s word to heart and decide to follow His statutes.

The State House bell became a herald of liberty in the 19th century. “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof,” the bell’s inscription, provided a rallying cry for abolitionists wishing to end slavery. The Anti-Slavery Record, an abolitionist publication, first referred to the bell as the Liberty Bell in 1835, but that name was not widely adopted until years later. Millions of Americans became familiar with the bell in popular culture through George Lippard’s 1847 fictional story “Ring, Grandfather, Ring”, when the bell came to symbolize pride in a new nation. Beginning in the late 1800s, the Liberty Bell traveled across the country for display at expositions and fairs, stopping in towns small and large along the way. For a nation recovering from wounds of the Civil War, the bell served to remind Americans of a time when they fought together for independence. Movements from Women’s Suffrage to Civil Rights embraced the Liberty Bell for both protest and celebration. Pennsylvania suffragists commissioned a replica of the Liberty Bell. Their “Justice Bell” traveled across Pennsylvania in 1915 to encourage support for women’s voting rights legislation. It then sat chained in silence until the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Now a worldwide symbol, the bell’s message of liberty remains just as relevant and powerful today: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof”

https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/stories-libertybell.htm

Can you believe it? The ideas of freedom and liberty come from the Old Testament Mosaic Law!

~

This passage and context in Leviticus 25 are loaded with prophetic implications regarding Christ’s first and second coming. Click on the link below if interested in the prophecy related to the concept of Jubilee.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/jubilee/

Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The concepts of freedom and liberty are captured by the prophet Isaiah as it is reflected in the Mosaic Law and the Jubilee. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in this communication. The “Me” is the Son. The Spirit is upon Him (the Son). The Father is represented by the title Lord GOD or Adonai Yahweh in the original Hebrew.

Jesus read and spoke these words in the synagogue of His home town Nazareth (Luke 4:16). Jesus is reading from Isaiah 61:1-2a. He reads verse 1 completely.

Jesus then stops reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2. By reading these words, He was claiming to be the Messiah. In other words, “Here I am!!” Jesus is also arguably proclaiming a Jubilee year. This has significant prophetic implications in regards to the timing of His second coming.

Take a look at Isaiah 61:2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD (Jesus stops here.) and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The stoppage of reading in the verse has lasted close to 2,000 years. At His first coming, Jesus was a suffering servant who died for our sins. His sacrificial death on the cross freed humanity from the bondage of sin.

Christ did not come in vengeance and judgment the first time, hence the pause. And we wait for the remainder of Isaiah 61:2b-11. It describes the future conditions of the nation Israel under the leadership of the Messiah, Jesus.

Jesus returns the second time in wrath and judgment to set the stage for an everlasting peace…

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

~

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

~

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.

~

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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Four Men Tear Up a Roof… Forgiveness

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 5, 2023 by paulthepoke

Memory Verse: Mark 2:10-11 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”

Scripture: Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:18-26

Object Lesson: Imagine a world where if you break any traffic law that you have to pay a ten million dollar ($10,000,000) fine. If you are unable to pay the fine, you are sentenced to death. Regardless of the infraction, this is the just punishment.

Even if you run a stop sign, drive under the influence, or go two miles per hour over the speed limit, enforcement and punishment are consistent and there are no exceptions. The system is absolutely just.

If this were really the case, the roads would be empty. So you run a stop sign and the camera takes a picture of your infraction. The police come and haul you away to jail. You are waiting for trial and pending sentence. You know you did it. As you are cuffed and transferred to the judge in the court, a complete stranger comes in on your behalf and pays your fine. He plops down $10,000,000 on your behalf. Your debt has been paid.

Justice has been served in that the fine has been paid. You could not afford the fine, but the judge accepts the payment of the fine by this gentleman on your behalf. You are spared death and your life has been pardoned.

Doctrinal Emphasis: Forgiveness

Key Theme: Sin is forgiven once and for all.

The primary word for forgiveness in the New Testament is aphiemi/ἀφίημι. It means to remit or forgive debts or sins. It involves the complete removal of the cause or offence. This remission is based upon the vicarious and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ. Jesus took our place. Definition provided by Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

Only God can forgive sins. The Pharisees and scribes of the day knew this all too well in Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:18-26, Matthew 9:2-8. This is the reason they took such offence when Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic. As far as they were concerned, this was a blasphemous act and speech by Jesus. In their eyes, He was an ordinary man and not God. He was not even a member of the religious structures of the day. No mere man can forgive sins.

Jesus is not just an ordinary man. Jesus is God and He has the ability to forgive sins.

On an individual level, the forgiveness of sins is complete and distant. Psalm 103:12 states “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Nations and individuals are forgiven of their sins. Israel’s sins corporately are forgiven in Psalm 85:2, “Thou didst forgive the iniquity of Thy people; thou didst cover all their sin.” This is also stated in Jeremiah 36:3b in reference to the house of Judah, “…then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Personally, we have to be forgiven because we are all born sinners. Ephesians 2:1 tells us that we are all spiritually dead. This is part of our family tree passed down by Adam.

Fortunately, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of trespasses and sins, for His name’s sake (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, 1 John 2:12).

The same concept is articulated in the Old Testament on personal level in…

Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

The forgiveness of sins does not mean that we are free to do whatever we want without consequence.  We should not choose to abuse the work of the cross. Paul shuts down this argument in Romans 6:1b-2. “…Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Jesus’ work on the cross is clearly an act of grace and mercy towards sinful man. Honestly, is this any way to respond to a Man who suffered and died a horrible death on our behalf because of all of our sins?

What if the roles were reversed in the sense that you had bailed someone out of deep trouble? What if that person (the one you bailed out of trouble) chose to continue the behavior that landed them in trouble? What would you think if the person you spared continued to live in a sinful manner? After all, you were willing to pay the fine with your life for the sinner.

Have some empathy, put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. Try to look at this issue from His view…

There are consequences for our bodily actions. Physically, we die. The wage of sin is death. If God did not punish sin, He would fail to be just.

Give the Man His due respect…

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

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