Church of God News

In its update last night, UCG stated the following:

Additionally, there was an AP article featuring a UCG pastor in the news yesterday:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — As Christmas draws near, Pastor John Foster won’t be decorating a tree, shopping for last-minute gifts or working on a holiday sermon for his flock. After all, it’s been 50 years since Christmas was anything more than a day of the week to him…

People don’t think of it this way, but it’s really a secular holiday,” said Foster, a Princeton-based pastor in the United Church of God. He last celebrated Christmas when he was 8…

…Christians like the United Church of God reject the holiday: They say divine instruction, rather than culture and society, should determine whether the holiday is appropriate.

“It’s common knowledge that Christmas and its customs have nothing to do with the Bible,” said Clyde Kilough, president of the United Church of God, which has branches all over the world. “The theological question is quite simple: Is it acceptable to God for humans to choose to worship him by adopting paganism’s most popular celebrations and calling them Christian?”  http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gq7KQubcoZYlyDvdQtL1eVU3fEzQD8TGMBAO0
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Comments by COGwriter 

Interestingly, even The Catholic Encyclopedia recognizes that many practices associated with Christmas are pagan and not originally accepted by the Catholics:

Christmas…Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen, glancing perhaps at the discreditable imperial Natalitia, asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday; Arnobius (VII, 32 in P.L., V, 1264) can still ridicule the “birthdays” of the gods…

Rome. At Rome the earliest evidence is in the Philocalian Calendar (P. L., XIII, 675; it can be seen as a whole in J. Strzygowski, Kalenderbilder des Chron. von Jahre 354, Berlin, 1888), compiled in 354, which contains three important entries. In the civil calendar 25 December is marked “Natalis Invicti”…Natalis Invicti. The well-known solar feast, however, of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date. For the history of the solar cult, its position in the Roman Empire, and syncretism with Mithraism, see Cumont’s epoch-making “Textes et Monuments” etc., I, ii, 4, 6, p. 355…The earliest rapprochement of the births of Christ and the sun is in Cypr., “De pasch. Comp.”, xix, “O quam præclare providentia ut illo die quo natus est Sol . . . nasceretur Christus.” – “O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born . . . Christ should be born.”…

Cards and presents. Pagan customs centering round the January calends gravitated to Christmas…

The yule log. The calend fires were a scandal even to Rome, and St. Boniface obtained from Pope Zachary their abolition (Martindale C. Christmas, 1908).  

More information can be found in the following articles:

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?

Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.

PCG reported:

EU leaders are worried that Russia exerts a lopsided degree of power against Europe and are calling for a more unified front against Moscow’s tactics, according to a Washington Times report from Brussels.

“While EU leaders believe that peace and stability are built through interdependence, Russia’s leaders are working to create a situation where the EU needs Russia more than Russia needs the EU, particularly in the energy sector,” a recent report by the new European Council on Foreign Relations said.

The following two news items related to EU unity and symbols was of interest:

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 3, 2007 (Zenit) – Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today to the bishops of the Korean episcopal conference and Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in Rome for their five-yearly visit.

Dear Brother Bishops,

As servants of the Gospel, you have come to see Peter (cf. Gal 1:18) and to strengthen the bonds of collegiality which express the Church’s unity in diversity and safeguard the tradition handed down by the Apostles (Benedict XVI’s Address to Korean Bishops. http://www.zenit.org/article-21179?l=english).

Germany seeks to enshrine EU flag

Telegraph – Dec 12, 2007

Germany has mounted a last-ditch effort to get the European Union flag, anthem, motto and single currency recognised in the new EU Reform Treaty.

Along with 15 other nations, Germany is attempting to add a new clause that enshrines those symbols of the EU that were not included in the original treaty. Gordon Brown had specifically been against them being included.

It comes just days before the controversial treaty – which is almost identical to the rejected EU Constitution – is signed in Lisbon…

Germany wants the document to support the EU “Stars” flag, the anthem Ode to Joy, and its motto “United in Diversity“.

The single European currency – the euro – would also be formally recognised. Opponents of the treaty seized on the German move as further evidence that the document was the same as the rejected constitution.

The other countries backing the plan are Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic.

The Prime Minister is still to decide whether he will attend the official treaty signing in Lisbon on Thursday. British officials are expected to resist the late German moves.

Mr Brown has refused to give Britain a vote on the treaty. The Daily Telegraph campaign for a referendum, which was promised in Labour’s 2005 election manifesto, has attracted more than 100,000 backers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/11/wflag111.xml
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Comments by COGwriter

The EU is determined to go ahead for its version of unity irrespective of what many people in Europe want.  And while the United Kingdom will ultimately not be in it, it may remain part of the EU for a while. 

(Belgium, on the other hand, is having a lot of problems itself and even if it splits in two–something that seems to actually be possible now–its parts, unlike the UK, will likely remain committed to the EU.)

Regarding the flag symbol, did you realize that although there were 15 nations in 1953 involved in the Council of Europe, a twelve star flag was adopted in 1955?

But why use twelve stars? Why hasn’t the Council of Europe (which has 45 member states, including the EU–which has 27 member nations) used another number or changed it?

There seem to be two reasons.

The first is that Mary is prominent in an unusual way in the new European Union as she was the “inspiration” for its flag. According to the Times Online (November 16, 2005),

“The chosen flag was designed by Arsene Heitz, a German Roman Catholic who said that he had been inspired by a line in the Book of Revelation about the Virgin Mary wearing a crown of 12 stars, a common depiction in Christian iconography.”

Hence we see a clear tie between Mary (called the “Queen of Heaven” by the Roman Catholics) and the flag for the European Union.

Note: Catholics now believe that the reason that Mary has been shown with the twelve stars is that she is the one specifically mentioned in Revelation 12:1. However, this interpretation of Revelation 12:1 is a change of Catholic tradition as in the third century,

“Victorinus said this is “the ancient church of fathers, and prophets, and saints, and apostles” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, VII, 355).

Mary worship, etc. was not a major factor in the Roman Catholic Church for quite some time as even The Catholic Encyclopedia even admits “we do not meet with any clear traces of the cultus of the Blessed Virgin in the first Christian centuries“.  But it has been now for centuries and it apparently has ties to the EU.

The second reason for 12 stars may be because of private Catholic prophecies concerning 12 kings at the end.

Notice:

Francis of Paola (Born in Italy, 15th century). “By the grace of the Almighty, the Great Monarch will annihilate heretics and unbelievers. He will have a great army, and angels will fight at his side. He will be like the sun among the stars. His influence will spread over the whole earth. All in all, there will be on earth twelve Kings, one Emperor, one Pope and a few Princes. They will all lead holy lives.” (Dupont, p.38)

The above shows that Roman Catholics will believe that God is on the side of the one the Book of Revelation calls the beast–who they call “the Great Monarch” (additional specific prophecies are listed in the article Who is the King of the North?).

Hence the flag seems to tie Roman Catholic symbols in with a “Queen of Heaven” and a the future European Emperor.  Both the flag and the expression “united in diversity” are interesting ways to bring Catholicism (which means universalism) into the EU officially, without actually mentioning religion.

A peculiar part of the Francis of Paola prophecy is that the Roman Catholics believe that there will be twelve kings associated with the beast (who they often seem to look forward to as “the Great Monarch”), yet the Bible states that there are ten kings (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12). However, this is not necessarily a contradiction.

Daniel 7:24 says the last kingdom arises from ten kings, while Revelation 17:12 states that ten kings will give their power to the beast. However, it may be that after the beast power is fully formed, that he may add two additional kings and perhaps some princes.

The Bible itself does more than just warn against the “queen of heaven”. Revelation 17:9,18 states,

Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits…And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.

It is universally recognized that Rome is the city of seven mountains. This fact is also noted by various Protestant and even Catholic theologians. One such Catholic writer would be Yves Dupont who wrote in his book Catholic Prophecies,

The seven headed city is probably Rome (septicolis— seven hills) (Dupont Yves. Catholic Prophecy. TAN Books, 1973, p.24).

Other than Ammon Jordan, Rome is apparently also the only great city in the world to have precisely seven hills/mountains (though there may be some less important cities with seven mountains, and there may be seven near Constantinople/Istanbul).

While Rome itself was the ruling city of the Western world for several centuries, the Roman Catholic Church, whose headquarters is completely within the boundaries of Rome, has maintained tremendous influence over kings and governments of the earth for even more centuries. And still does today. Furthermore notice that the Bible specifically warns about a certain city ruling–Vatican City is the only city that appears to have possibly had such rule since John penned the Book of Revelation.

The above and more is in the article Europa, the Beast, and Revelation  

The following news item was late last night was of interest:

AP (From AOL) WASHINGTON (Dec. 11) – An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.

Greenland’s ice sheet melted nearly 19 billion tons more than the previous high mark, and the volume of Arctic sea ice at summer’s end was half what it was just four years earlier, according to new NASA satellite data obtained by The Associated Press…

Just last year, two top scientists surprised their colleagues by projecting that the Arctic sea ice was melting so rapidly that it could disappear entirely by the summer of 2040.

This week, after reviewing his own new data, NASA climate scientist Jay Zwally said: “At this rate, the Arctic Ocean could be nearly ice-free at the end of summer by 2012, much faster than previous predictions.”

So scientists in recent days have been asking themselves these questions: Was the record melt seen all over the Arctic in 2007 a blip amid relentless and steady warming? Or has everything sped up to a new climate cycle that goes beyond the worst case scenarios presented by computer models? 
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Comments by COGwriter

Whether or not humans believe they are causing this current melting, the Bible shows that sea levels will rise to apparently cover the islands (Revelation 16:20) and that humans will be afflicted by great heat in the future (Revelation 16:9) (more information is in the article Islands and Bible Prophecy).

While I suspect that 2012 may be just a little too early for this to happen as the Bible first shows the rise of the final Babylonian Beast first (which while beginning to arise is not likely to both rise and fall prior to 2012), it may not be too many years afterwards. 

Interestingly, December 21, 2012 is when the Maya’s “Long Count” calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era. 

While most people believe nothing other than some astronomical occurrences will happen then (and the Mayans were apparently correct about that according to astronomers), some believe that the Mayan date may mark the end of civilization or perhaps the beginning of a time of great tribulation. 

A few others seem to believe that December 22, 2012 may mark the beginning of a new and better era for humanity.

Personally, I suspect that the European King of the North may become more obvious around that time and in retrospect may even claim that he is bringing in the positive era that the Mayan calendar may indicate (for more information please see the article Mayan Calendar 2012–What is the value of this prophecy?).

However, the Bible shows that although people in many places will at first prosper because of this King of the North (Daniel 11:39; Revelation 18:3), that God will punish those who follow him or have his mark (666).

Several articles of related interest may include:

Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11?
The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 3: China in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan. Will God save the Japanese?
SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The COG is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White.

“Bas relief decorating the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, dated circa 1150, depicting a demon performing an abortion upon a woman by pounding a mallet into her belly”

CEM’s Ron Dart recently posted the following:

There was a time when the Democratic Party was called “the Catholic party” while the Republicans were called “the Protestant party.” Ted Kennedy, back before Roe v. Wade, was opposed to abortion and felt society had a responsibility to children from the moment of conception. As late as three years after Roe, Kennedy wrote that “abortion is morally wrong. It is not a legitimate or acceptable response to any problem of society. And if our country wishes to remain true to its basic moral strength, then unwanted as well as wanted children must be unfailingly protected.”

Back in pre-Roe days, many leading Republicans felt that government subsidized abortion was necessary and important…

Concern about back alley abortions still informs the pro-choice arguments to this day, and it is based on invented statistics..

Comments by COGwriter  

In addition to that back alley smokescreen, the rape/incest and the woman’s health statistics are also blown way out of proportion.

Politicians now seem to chose sides on this based upon votes.  It seems to me that in the USA to be part of one party the politician must be willing to supporting killing of the unborn, but to be in the other party the politician often seems willing to lie about their beliefs on the subject.

Although I do not consider that any running for president in the USA have been part of the true faith, the following scripture pretty much sums up how I view many of them on the abortion issue:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:1-2, NKJV). 

Lying and abortion are wrong.  It is not right to murder unborn babies or to lie about one’s position on this. 

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this?

Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject.

The Slovenian version of Santa, Ded Moroz or Father Frost

In the latest issue of COGaIC’s Vision online the following is asked:

Although many Christians are aware of the connections between Christmas and various pagan winter festivals, they continue to celebrate the day as a joyous, tradition-filled festival in honor of Christ. Is that a problem?

COGaIC’s Brian Orchard answers in an article as follows:

An excellent summary of God’s attitude in this regard is found in Deuteronomy 12:29–32. Moses instructed the nation of Israel prior to their inheriting the Promised Land. He said, “When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, . . . and that you do not enquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way. . . . Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”

The festival observed on December 25 was a part of religious celebrations long before the term Christ-Mass was applied to it. Many people today keep it as a secular, commercial holiday, giving little thought to the fact that the central symbolism of the season has roots in the pagan religions of antiquity. Others likewise overlook any pagan connections, celebrating the day on the basis of its relatively recent application to the birth of Jesus Christ. But according to the Bible’s teachings, a pious veneer does not nullify the pagan nature of the celebration and make it acceptable.

The Bible nowhere identifies exactly when Christ was born, nor does it give any instructions for celebrating the day of His birth. However, it is clear and unambiguous in prohibiting the celebration of traditions and customs whose origins lie in heathen or pagan practices that run counter to Scripture. According to John 4:23–24, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Comments by COGwriter

So whether it is observed in Rome, Slovenia, Europe, the islands, Africa, Asia, North or South America, since “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) true Christians realize that Christmas celebrations are not okay as far as God is concerned.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.

Is January 1st a Date for Christians Celebrate? Historical and biblical answers to this question about the world’s New Year’s day.

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?

Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?

The following news item was of interest:

The book they used to burn now fires new revolution of faith in China

The Times – Dec 8, 2007

In China it is known as the “sacred doctrine” and it has become one of the country’s bestselling books. Yet it has nothing to do with the thoughts of Chairman Mao and its teachings have been in conflict with the forces of Communism for generations.

Demand for the Bible is soaring in China, at a time when meteoric economic growth is testing the country’s allegiance to Communist doctrine. Today the 50 millionth Bible will roll off the presses of China’s only authorised publisher, Amity Printing, amid public fanfare and celebration.

In the past, foreign visitors were discouraged from bringing Bibles into the country in case they received some heavy-handed treatment from zealous Customs officials.

Such is the demand in China for Bibles that Amity Printing can scarcely keep pace. Early next year it will move into a new, much larger factory on the edge of the eastern city of Nanjing to become the world’s single-biggest producer of Bibles.

One book a second glides off the production line at this joint venture between a Chinese Christian charity and the United Bible Societies, a Protestant organisation. Amity has been printing Bibles since 1986. The new factory will have a capacity of one million Bibles a month, increasing the current output by one third…

Of the 50 million Bibles Amity has printed, 41 million were for the faithful in Chinese and eight minority languages. The rest have been for export to Russia and Africa. Sales surged from 505,000 in 1988 to a high of 6.5 million in 2005…

In the ultra-leftist Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976, Bibles were burnt as tomes of superstition. Much has altered since the 1980s when government policy required tourists and visitors not to bring in Bibles “in excess of personal use”…

Cases of Bible smuggling are still reported and some people have been deported and locals even jailed.  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3019026.ece 

Comments by COGwriter

Although China officially became atheist in 1949, there are estimated to be 40,000,000 people in China who make some profession of Christ.  And some of them are Sabbatarian.

Up until the time of the Tower of Babel, the Chinese had knowledge of many of the biblical events recorded in the Book of Genesis.  Notice that the Chinese symbol for a tower appears to have been related to the confusing of languages by God at the Tower of Babel–as humans had one mouth (one language) prior (see Genesis 11:5-7):

Tower	= Grass	+ Clay	+ Mankind	+ 1	+ Mouth

The tower of Babel was built with bricks (grass and clay) and humans originally had one language (or mouth). It is possible that this symbol is showing that the ancient Chinese recognized a connection to the biblical tower of Babel.

Interestingly, as I reported earlier (see Christian Biblical Church of God Finishes its Translation of the Bible) CBCG is getting its new translation of the Bible printed in China.

The Bible warns that false religion, which claims to be the true one, will be accepted by all the peoples of the world.

It is my hope and prayer that the Chinese will actually read and study their Bibles enough so that they accept only true doctrine and will accept “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Several articles of related interest may include:

Read the Bible Christians should read the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
Bible and Historical Resources on the Internet Electronic bibles, Two Babylons, early Christian literature, photos, and even links to old Herbert W. Armstrong materials.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 3: China in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese?

Yesterday, at the News of those Once Affiliated with the Global Church of God page, I posted several quotes from an 11/03/07 sermon from RCG’s David Pack.

One item he said that I did not quote was that those in international areas (he mentioned Europe, Canada, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand if I recall correctly) should realize that since their currencies have increased in value against the US dollar, that their contributions will now help RCG more than ever.

 Here are a couple of the quotes from David Pack:

“Go get a big chunk out of your home. And put your money where your mouth is and send it here. And I’m not talking about one, two, three thousand either. How about ten, twenty, thirty, fifty, or one hundred thousand dollars? Go do it”

“Go get those assets and get them here”

More information is available at the News of those Once Affiliated with the Global Church of God page

Of course, I have long warned against RCG, never believed that David Pack was an apostle, and even question whether RCG is actually a COG (though it most likely has quite a few confused members who are).  People can do what they want with their assets, but I, of course, will not be one to send RCG any.

Hopefully, people in RCG will wake up.  And David Pack basically states in that sermon that those who are faithful in RCG will send him their assets and that the others are not faithful.  While David Pack can say what he wants, I consider his statements to be irresponsible at best.  Sadly, I also believe his position will reflect poorly on the COGs.

An article of related interest (which now includes many quotes from the 11/03/07 sermon) would be:

Why Not the Restored Church of God? This group, led by David Pack, claims to be the most faithful. The information in this article suggests otherwise.  

The December 2007 United News was just posted late yesterday.  The following appears to be its lead article:

Council Approves Purchase of Texas Property

The 81.5-acre parcel north of Denton considered a “very good value” at $1.6 million. Closing likely in early January. Further discussions of development plans set for December Council meetings.

by Clyde Kilough

We have been working for several months on finding suitable land, and the process gradually narrowed from several good options to one that is very suitable for filling our short-term needs, and also offering flexibility for yet unforeseen long-term options.

Here are the details:

• Property: 81.5 acres.

• Location: South side of FM 3163 (Milam Road), just east of Milam Ridge Road, Denton, Texas, one-half mile east of Interstate 35 (visible from the freeway), approximately 3 miles north of loop 288 and 7.5 miles from downtown Denton.

• Cost: $1,599,784, or $19,610 per acre.

• Appraised value: $1,710,000.

• Description: The property is outside of the Denton city limits (which simplifies the development process somewhat), with vacant land to the north, east and south, and a small subdivision adjoining to the west. The property is gently sloping to the south.

Very Good Value

We consider this to be a very good value, not only for the specific site and price but for the surrounding area and future potential. It is, by the way, 15 more acres, for $100,000 less, than the Kings Row acreage we originally considered.

The future growth in the Denton area is moving in this direction, with four major commercial/residential developments all planned for the north and west sides of town, including a 2,000-acre project between Loop 288 and the Milam Road property.

Already under construction is a major, 412-acre mixed-use commercial/residential development approximately five miles south on I-35 that will include major department stores, Sam’s Club, theater complex, restaurants, a 280-room hotel and a 90,000-square-foot convention center…

Of course, purchasing land is just a first step, and much work lies ahead. Further discussions about where we go from here with development plans will take place at the December Council of Elders meeting (which is scheduled for Dec. 11 to 13 at the home office). 

Comments by COGwriter

UCG had originally wanted another piece of property by Kings Row in Texas but various complaints (toxicity was one) made them reconsider.

An 81 acre property is fairly large for simply their office needs, so perhaps some type of educational facility will also be there?

Acccording to its latest financial statements, UCG had $8,394,090 in cash, plus $3,160,628 in property and equipment as of 6/30/07.

Thus it appears that UCG has the cash for the land and probably enough to construct whatever facilities that it probably will want.  And, if it sells its present facilities in Ohio, it will probably have a large cash reserve remaining.

 TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

In his latest monthly letter, WCG’s Joseph Tkach wrote:

December 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What is it that makes Christmas a sacred season instead of just a holiday?…

Someone once said, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” That’s certainly true, and in fact, Jesus is the reason for every season… 

May your Christmas be blessed and meaningful!

Comments by COGwriter 

No, Jesus is NOT the actual reason for what is now called the Christmas season. 

Partying is the reason.

Jesus’ name was simply added to this party to discourage direct worship of pagan deities which was happening among those that were becoming affiliated with the emerging Greco-Roman confederation of churches.

By the beginning of the third century a lot of complaints that Greco-Roman professors of Christ could not resist the pagan celebrations held for Saturn and New Year’s were recorded.

Notice what Tertullian wrote around 200 A.D.:

The Minervalia are as much Minerva’s, as the Saturnalia Saturn’s; Saturn’s, which must necessarily be celebrated even by little slaves at the time of the Saturnalia. New-year’s gifts likewise must be caught at, and the Septimontium kept; and all the presents of Midwinter and the feast of Dear Kinsmanship must be exacted; the schools must be wreathed with flowers; the flamens’ wives and the aediles sacrifice; the school is honoured on the appointed holy-days. The same thing takes place on an idol’s birthday; every pomp of the devil is frequented. Who will think that these things are befitting to a Christian master, unless it be he who shall think them suitable likewise to one who is not a master? (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter X).

But, however, the majority (of so-called Christians) have by this time induced the belief in their mind that it is pardonable if at any time they do what the heathen do, for fear “the Name be blasphemed”…To live with heathens is lawful, to die with them is not. Let us live with all; let us be glad with them, out of community of nature, not of superstition. We are peers in soul, not in discipline; fellow-possessors of the world, not of error. But if we have no right of communion in matters of this kind with strangers, how far more wicked to celebrate them among brethren! Who can maintain or defend this?…By us,…the Saturnalia and New-year’s and Midwinter’s festivals and Matronalia are frequented–presents come and go–New-year’s gifts–games join their noise–banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself! (Chapter XIV).

But “let your works shine,” saith He; but now all our shops and gates shine! You will now-a-days find more doors of heathens without lamps and laurel-wreaths than of Christians. What does the case seem to be with regard to that species (of ceremony) also? If it is an idol’s honour, without doubt an idol’s honour is idolatry. If it is for a man’s sake, let us again consider that all idolatry is for man’s sake; let us again consider that all idolatry is a worship done to men, since it is generally agreed even among their worshippers that aforetime the gods themselves of the nations were men; and so it makes no difference whether that superstitious homage be rendered to men of a former age or of this. Idolatry is condemned, not on account of the persons which are set up for worship, but on account of those its observances, which pertain to demons (Chapter XV).

What Tertullian seems to be saying is that observing mid-winter celebrations make Christians appear to be followers of pagan gods, and since the pagans would not intentionally celebrate days considered by many to be Christian, Christians should not celebrate days that are honored by the heathen. Specifically, he felt that those who profess Christ should not celebrate Saturnalia, New Year’s, or other pagan days, as even the observance is a form of idolatry (click here for an article titled Is January 1st a Date for Christians Celebrate?).

Since the modern Christmas celebration is at the same time as the old Gentile Saturnalia holiday (and with many of the same elements, like wreaths and gift-giving), it is clear that Tertullian is condemning these practices by stating that those that keep it are of the pagan god Saturn. He also wrote against winter giving:

…gifts like those you have in the Saturnalia! (Tertullian. De Fuga in Persecutione, Chapter 13).

The truth is that the partying could not be controlled because these so-called Christians were never truly followers of Christ. 

In the fourth century both Rome (354 A.D.) and Constantinople (395) decided to formally recognize December 25th (the date of the sun-god Mithra’s birthday) as the day to celebrate Christ’s birth. 

And the Saturnalia festivities were simply continued with wreaths, gift giving, and sadly, now the name of Christ. 

And that is really why people celebrate the Christmas season.

The above and more is documented in the article What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days?

Perhaps another article that may be of interest would be Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays?

Born as Dimitrios Arhondonis, he has been known as the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I since 1991 

COGwriter 

As biblical prophecy indicates, the Orthodox will apparently unify or at least more strongly cooperate with the Catholics of Rome.

Notice portions of a letter posted yesterday at zenit.org (a pro-Vatican news source) from the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I (whose “official title” is His All Holiness, Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch):

The Patriarch of Constantinople is generally considered the first among equals within the Eastern Orthodox “sees”. 

The “schism” he is referring to occurred in 1054 A.D.  Basically what he appears to want is to be treated as an equal with Rome while acknowledging it as the “apostolic see with primacy”

Apparently, he and the Orthodox will agree to the inaccurate position that Peter was the primary apostle who established apostolic succession in Rome and hence Rome is entitled to more honor than the other “sees” (Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem) as long as Rome does not now insist upon subservience from the Patriarchs of the other “sees”. 

Does Bartholomew I not realize that Roman Catholic scholars do not believe that his church has apostolic succession?

Notice this from The Catholic Encyclopedia:

In the fifth century we meet with a spurious document attributed to a certain Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre at the end of the third century, according to which the Church of Byzantium was founded by the Apostle St. Andrew, its first bishop being his disciple Stachys (cf. Romans 16:9). The intention of the forger is plain: in this way the Church of Rome is made inferior to that of Constantinople, St. Andrew having been chosen an Apostle by Jesus before his brother St. Peter, the founder of the Roman Church.

The first historically known Bishop of Byzantium is St. Metrophanes (306-314), though the see had perhaps been occupied during the third century. It was at first subject to the metropolitan authority of Heraclea, and remained so, at least canonically, until 381, when the Second Ecumenical Council (can. iii) gave the Bishop of Constantinople the first place after the Bishop of Rome (Vailhé S. Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter. Constantinople. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV. Published 1908. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Thus the idea that Constantinople clearly has apostolic succession has been discounted by Catholic scholars and even to a degree by Orthodox scholars (for additional documentation, please see the article Apostolic Succession ).

It should also be noted that Roman Catholic scholars do not believe that Alexandria nor Jerusalem has apostolic succession either–also there are problems with Antioch’s claims as well (for additional documentation, please see the article Apostolic Succession).

The fact is that Rome wants cooperation with the Orthodox so that it can eventually control them.  Notice the following “private prophecy” written by a Catholic saint and mystic known as Abbot Joachim over 800 years ago:

A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels. Holy and full of gentleness, he shall undo all wrong, he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church…This holy Pope shall be both pastor and reformer. Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world. Rome, weakened in temporal power, shall forever preserve her spiritual dominion, and shall enjoy great peace…

(Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp. 31-32).

The Bible warns against becoming part of Babylon (e.g. Revelation 17:5).   Certainly Bartholomew I must have read its warnings.

As I have written many times (and also had published in The Journal: News of the Churches of God) the Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics.  This current movement, which sadly will probably include most of the Orthodox, will not be good. 

But not all the Orthodox have to go along with unity with the Romans. 

Individually, the Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics.

Additional articles of related interest may include:

Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.

Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Churches of God  Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?

Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible? Did you know that Catholic scholars really do not believe that several of the claimed “apostolic sees” of the Orthodox have apostolic succession–despite the fact that the current pontiff himself seems to wish to ignore this view?  Is there actually a true church that has ties to any of the apostles that is not part of the Catholic or Orthodox churches?  Read this article if you truly are interested in the truth on this matter!