Church of God News

COGwriter 

In his commentary last week, CEM’s  Ron Dart wrote:

To those of us who have been keeping the holydays for years – in some cases, for all of our lives – the practice seems so natural, so right. The Scriptures supporting the practice seem so obvious. Why, we wonder, doesn’t everyone observe the holydays?
     Of course, the most obvious reason is that most Christians know little or nothing about the holydays, and the Old Testament is uncharted territory. For those who have more familiarity, the practice of religion in the Old Testament is viewed as essentially Jewish and irrelevant to the Christian.     There are Christians, however, who have studied the holydays carefully, and have arrived at a conscious decision not to observe them. Why? What is the rational, philosophic, theological or scriptural basis for this decision?
     There are two broad categories of people who believe it is not necessary to keep the holydays: those who keep the Sabbath, and those who do not. Among those who do not keep the Sabbath, there are various other categories. There are some who believe that all the Old Testament was abolished and is irrelevant to Christians. There are others who believe the ceremonial law was abolished but the moral law was retained. Some believe none of the law was abolished, but it is the right of the church to interpret the law and even change the law if necessary.
     This latter group recognizes that the early church kept the Sabbath, and even the holydays, but they chronicle the change that took place in the church from Sabbath to Sunday and from the holydays to Easter and Christmas and conclude that the church had the right to make those changes.
     The arguments on this subject fall into certain identifiable patterns, and it is quite instructive to examine them.

Actually, the basics of the arguments against the Holy Days are the fact that many are so comfortable with traditions of men that they ignore the commandments of God.

Jesus had that same problem with the religious of His day (please see the article The Bible and Tradition).

In 2008, the biblical holy days begin in April.

Several 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.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well.
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? This article supplies some biblical answers.
Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits.
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Should you?
The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not?
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement”. Does it have any relevance for Christians today?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
LCG 2007 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for last year.
Last Great Day study paper Was Jesus speaking about the 7th or 8th day of the Feast in John 7:37? UCG says the 7th, but what does the Bible teach? This extensive paper reviews UCG’s LGD study paper and includes comments as to where it erred.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2012, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂

  Pope Benedict XVI  

COGwriter

While I have long felt that the United States and the Vatican would overlook certain agreements with Taiwan as China gains prominence–but I had thought that the Vatican would have waited a bit longer to agree to this.

However, apparently the Vatican is getting close to this as a news item today shows:

AFP – Feb 21, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — China said Wednesday it had learned that the Vatican was prepared to sever all relations with Taiwan in order to forge long-suspended diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Ye Xiaowen, China’s minister of state administration of religious affairs, said after talks with the Vatican’s envoy in Washington that Pope Benedict XVI was also prepared to discuss Beijing’s insistence that the administration of the Catholic Church in China is an internal matter.

Beijing has imposed two conditions — recognition of the one-China policy that precludes independence for Taiwan, and of religious affairs as an internal Chinese matter — for any diplomatic ties with the Vatican.

“First the Pope must recognize that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole representative government of both Chinas, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory,” Ye told reporters. (http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gCN9zL6DyJ3m5-hgppIEEXCFgdcA)

The Bible shows that the world will all worship the Beast (Revelation 13:3-4) and the kings of the east will apparently come together (16:12)–I believe that this annoucement is another step to prepare for this.  I also believe that Taiwan and China will increase cooperation and may end up in an agreement similar to China and Hong Kong.

The Chinese, themselves, do have biblical ties. They were involved with many of the events in the Book of Genesis up until the Tower of Babel when they mainly left and went east.

It may be of interest to note that a Chinese symbol for Prohibition is the combination of the symbols for two trees (mù) and command:

Prohibition To Prohibit	= Tree	+ (Divine) Command

It should be noted that God, while He originally prohibited one tree, later prohibited access to the second tree (see Genesis 3:22-24).   And thus this, along with other ancient Chinese writings, seems to show that the Chinese were involved in the early events of the Book of Genesis, as the Bible itself indicates.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
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”?

Patriarch Alexius II of Russia (also known as Alexy II)

COGwriter

Zenit.org (a Vatican news source) reported the following:

ROME, FEB. 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The ice is melting in relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, and there is good will for cooperation, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Promotion Christian Unity.

In an interview with Gerard O’Connell for Our Sunday Visitor, Cardinal Walter Kasper said relations with the Russian Orthodox Church are much better than when he began as president of that Vatican dicastery. And he discussed what lies ahead on the path toward unity.

Cardinal Kasper explained…”We are of the opinion that a personal encounter between the Pope and Patriarch Alexy II would be very helpful for the further development of our relations. The Moscow Patriarchate has never in principle excluded such an encounter, but it claims that some problems have to be resolved beforehand, i.e., the problem of what they call proselytism and uniatism.

“We are working to solve these problems and we hope we are able to do so even though there are different approaches and concerns. At this moment the Moscow Patriarchate is interested in cooperating on the questions relating to the Christian roots and values of Europe”…

Cardinal Kasper clarified: “This problem is linked with the Russian Orthodox understanding of their canonical territory. The Catholic Church recognizes that Russia has a longstanding Christian tradition and culture. We recognize all the sacraments, the episcopate and the priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Church.

“Thus, while Catholic Christians living in Russia may clearly give witness of their Catholic faith, there cannot be an evangelization as such, as this can only be undertaken in a pagan context. Therefore, it is not our policy or strategy to convert the Orthodox to the Catholic Church…”

Solving problems

But despite work to clarify the terms, Cardinal Kasper said he has the “impression that doubts still remain, because I feel they think that there is a discrepancy between what we are saying and what we are doing”…

Still, the cardinal confirmed, the problem of uniatism still remains.

“We say that ‘uniatism,’ understood as a method, today and in the future, is no longer a means of achieving Church unity,” Cardinal Kasper said. “But the so-called uniate Churches, which emerged in the past under circumstances very different from today, are a historical reality and have a right to exist.

“But they must open themselves to ecumenical relations with the Orthodox mother Churches. As I see it, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is ready to do so, and has a good ecumenical program in the academy of Leopoli. Finally, we agreed that both sides should recognize the religious freedom of individual Christians who by reason of their conscience want to join another Church.”

While I believe that there will be increased cooperation between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholics, and that various prophecies indicate that some type of unity will occur between the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholics, it seems to be less likely that the Russian Orthodox will get quite as close to Rome as the other branches of the Orthodox churches.

Several articles of related interest may include:

Orthodox Should Pray For Truth, Not Roman Unity The Catholics want the Orthodox, but the Bible warns against this.
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The Orthodox may be surprised to learn of several doctrines they hold that the Roman Catholics do not, but that the Living Church of God does.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living 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 Living Church of God  Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia?
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”?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia?

Pantheon of Rome: A Symbol of Unity Among Religious Error

COGwriter

I have received a couple of emails asking about Johnny Harrell one of the two “evangelists” ordained by Ronald Weinland.

Basically people have been concerned because there was a man with the same name who was involved in some type of militia group back in the 1970s.

However, this is not the same person.  Nor had that ever been reported at the COGwriter.com website.

This afternoon I received an email from one who wrote to Johnny Harrell at CGPFK who stated the following about himself:

Yes, I came from worldwide, and a short stay in united.

So although I do not believe that Ronald Weinland is one of the two witnesses, his top American aid is a different Johnny Harrell (and both of them were once part of UCG).

Later, I received an email from someone else who wrote CGPFK.  This email stated that CGPFK responded with:

This has only come to our attention concerning what someone with affiliation to Ambassador Watch wrote about Johnny Harrell, who was recently ordained as an evangelist in the Church of God – PKG. We are indeed looking into the material recently posted by this individual who is fully in error, and what he has written is fully slanderous in nature. There has certainly been no effort on their part to find anything factual about Mr. Harrell, but only a flimsy attempt to twist and distort an association with first and last names in an effort to slander the Church and Johnny Harrell, who is an evangelist in the Church.

There is absolutely no association between these two people and they are clearly different people (which wouldn’t be too hard to verify if someone put the slightest effort into their fact gathering). Johnny Harrell has been in the construction business for 30 years with his own company in the construction of homes in the Macon, GA area. He has no political background at all and was a member of the Worldwide Church of God for many years before that church organization moved away from the teachings it had embraced for decades. Mr. Harrell then associated himself with the current Church of God organization that splintered from the WCG in 1995.

So, thus two of the leaders of CGPFK came from WCG and then the United Church of God (which is the 1995 organization indicated above).  When Johnny Harrell came to be part of CGPFK was not made clear in either of the emails.

Two articles of related interest may include: 

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008. Is he a false prophet? He has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the COG.

Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?

COGwriter 

The January 2008 edition of Dixon Cartwright’s The Journal is now out.

The main stories include Legacy’s visit to King Bhumibol of Thailand’s 80th birthday, UCG’s pending move to Texas (see also United Church of God Buys Texas Property), that the Big Sandy COG expelled a board member (see also Church of God Big Sandy Reports Board Problem), Tom Kerry, the two witnesses, doors, Feast of Tabernacles reports, Chuck Dickerson, and various letters to the editor.

FWIW, my writings were mentioned in one article and two letters to the editor.

Related to Tom Kerry, The Journal reported:

Chuck Dickerson dies
MINDEN, Nev.—Chuck Dickerson, 64, former WCG minister, died Jan. 13, 2008, of a heart attack after several years of deteriorating health. Mr. Dickerson was a 1969 graduate of Ambassador College in Pasadena, Calif. He served as a minister for 11 years and then  pursued other interests in Nevada, mainly operating a smallaircraft-repair business and flying charter planes. He is survived by his wife, Terri; his brother John of Fayetteville, Ark.; his son hris of Minden; his daughter Jo Lynn of Las Vegas, Nev.; his daughter Kelly of Denver, Colo.; nd several grandchildren. Mrs. Dickerson receives mail at 2618 Gordon Ave, Minden, Nev. 89423, U.S.A.

Further information information on several of these news stories is available at the following pdf link:

Front and Back Pages of The Journal, January 2008.

Some related articles may include:

Teachings and Practices of Legacy Institute Works mainly in Asia and is led by Leon Sexton.
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
LCG 2007 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for last year.

COGwriter

Ronald Weinland is continuing to claim that he is God’s prophet and one of the two witnesses.

In the next week or two he plans to spread his false prophecies in Texas and Europe according to his public schedule:

Feb. 23 Dallas, TX

Feb. 24 Houston, TX

…………

Mar. 1 BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS

…………

Mar. 8 Orlando, FL (Johnny Harrell)

Mar. 8 London, UNITED KINGDOM (Ronald Weinland)

But it needs to be clear that according to the Bible, Ronald Weinland cannot be one of God’s prophetic witnesses.

Yesterday, during my normal Bible study, I read the following:

If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream (Numbers 12:6).

Yet Ronald Weinland made no such claim. Although elsewhere he has claimed to have “direct revelation” from God, he has not (as far as I have seen) claimed a specific vision or a dream from God. Nor did he do that when specifically asked in the interview on The EdgeDecember 15, 2007–Ron Weinland indicates that he is led by the Spirit through study–thus this is even further evidence that Ronald Weinland is NOT one of the two witnesses, nor God’s prophet.

As discussed previously, on February 7, 2008 (please see the item Ronald Weinland Announced When He Claims Jesus Will Return), Ronald Weinland announced the following in a posted letter:

We are now feverishly trying to simply plan for the burst of activity that is coming our way over the next couple of months. We are there! As it was mentioned in this past Sabbath’s sermon, the final countdown has begun, as the 1335 days before the actual day Jesus Christ returns began on February 2, 2008…

Based upon February 2, 2008 allegedly beginning the 1335 days, this would mean that the 1290 days would begin on March 18, 2008 and the 1260 days on April 17, 2008. The abomination spoken of in Daniel 11:31 would need to be set up on March 18, 2008 as that begins the 1290 days (please see the article Who is the King of the North?) and the Great Tribulation would need to begin on April 17, 2008 to begin the 1260 days (which it will not, please see article Great Tribulation Will Not Begin in 2008). These two events are not yet ready to occur (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details).

Those following Ronald Weinland are being misled and need to open their eyes right now!

Also, as mentioned in another post (please see the item, The Two Witnesses Wear at Least Some Black), the Bible shows that the two witnesses will wear sackcloth and send forth fire. Yet Ronald Weinland apparently does not intend to wear any type of sackcloth or send forth fire as he wrote:

Notice: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). The symbolism of “sackcloth” is given because these two will be filled with humility (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 – God’s Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, pp.21-22).

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. They have power to shut heaven so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:5-6)…

The fire proceeding out of their mouth is symbolic of the power to pronounce exacting judgments upon anyone who would do them harm (2008 – God’s Final Witness, p. 89).

The Bible shows that Ronald Weinland is NOT one of God’s final two witnesses.

Several articles of related interest may include:

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008. Is he a false prophet? He has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the COG.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
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? What is prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples? What happens at the beginning of the 1335 days?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say? Does there not need to be a King of the South before the tribulation begins?

Fidel Castro of Cuba 

COGwriter

The following AP news item was of interest:

HAVANA (Feb. 19) – An ailing Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba’s president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he was retiring and will not accept a new term when the new parliament meets Sunday…

“I will not aspire to nor accept – I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept – the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief,” read a letter signed by Castro published early Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma…

Raul Castro had long been his brother’s designated successor. The longtime defense minister had been in his brother’s rebel movements since 1953 and spent decades as No. 2 in Cuba’s power structure.

The United States, bent on ensuring neither brother is in power, built a detailed plan in 2005 for American assistance to ensure a democratic transition on the island of 11.2 million people after Fidel Castro’s death. But Cuban officials insisted there would be no transition, saying the island’s socialist political and economic systems would outlive Castro…

Fidel Castro Ruz was born in eastern Cuba, where his Spanish immigrant father ran a prosperous plantation. His official birthday is Aug. 13, 1926, although some say he was born a year later.

He attended Roman Catholic schools and the University of Havana, where he received law and social science degrees.

Not surprisingly, the European Union announced:

A spokesman for the European Union says the international body hopes to find common ground with Cuba after President Fidel Castro’s resignation.

As I have written elsewhere, I believe that the European Union will make deals with all of Latin America as both areas are Roman Catholic inclined.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

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? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin?

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”?

A “straight and narrow way” in Tobago

COGwriter

John the Baptist taught:

The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough ways smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:5-6). 

Jesus taught:

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

Most who profess Christ do seem to understand that the vast majority of humans in this age have not found the way that leads to life.

But does that mean that most who ever lived are doomed to destruction?  Since God is all knowing and all powerful (please see article How is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient?) and God is love (1 John 4:8,16), would God have predestined most who ever lived to eternal torment?

Of course not!

Isn’t God smart enough to have a plan that will result in salvation being offered to everyone? 

Surely God is wise enough to have a plan that works, that is fair, and one that reflects His love.

And that truth is that God does have such a plan–and this plan is laid out in His Holy Days (Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible?).  The biblical holy days show how all that ever lived will be offered salvation.  That includes all who have ever lived.  Sadly, nearly all of those who keep non-biblical days (like Christmas, Lent, Valentine’s, Easter, etc.) simply do not understand God’s plan.

Jesus taught that an opportunity for forgiveness will occur happen “in the age to come” (Matthew 12:32).  And remember:

“all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:5-6). 

Salvation will be offered to all who ever lived, a few in this age, and everyone else in the age to come. 

Three articles of related interest may include:

Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account? Is there eternal torment?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

COGwriter

Although many act like they think otherwise, history and the Bible shows that there was no requirement for celibacy for bishops, presbyters, or other church leaders in the first or second centuries.

Actually, bishops and elders were supposed to have a wife and children to demonstrate they could handle a church as Paul wrote (Roman Catholic approved Rheims New Testament throughout except as otherwise noted):

1.FAITHFUL saying. If a man desire a Bishops office, he desireth a good work.
2. It behoveth therefore a Bishop to be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife,
sober, wise, comely, chaste, a man of hospitality, a teacher,
3. Not given to wine, no fighter, but modest, no quarreler, not covetous,
4. Well ruling his own house, chaving his children subject with all charity.
5. But if a man know not to rule his own house: how shall he have care of the Church of
God? (1 Timothy 3:1-5).

5. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest reform the things that are
wanting, and shouldst ordain priests by cities, as I also appointed thee:
6. If any be without crime, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not in the
accusations of riot, or not obedient.
7. For a Bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not angry, nor
given to wine, no striker, nor covetous of filthy lucre (Titus 1:5-7).

Note that the term translated as priest in verse 4, presbyter, simply means elder. Also notice that the Bishop is also allowed to be married.

Perhaps I should mention that the Fuller Theological Seminary historian and scholar Nathan Feldmeth believes that since Paul stated that he was a Pharisee, and that Pharisees had to be married, that Paul probably was married once.

Paul specifically confirmed that the apostles had a wife and that he had a right to have a wife in the first century when he wrote:

4. Have not we power to eat and drink?
5. Have we not power to lead about a woman a sister, as also the rest of the Apostles, and our Lords brethren, and Cephas?
6. Or I only and Barnabas have not we power to do this? (1 Corinthians 9:4-6).

While Polycrates confirmed this for the second century when he wrote

Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus…All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord (Eusebius. Church History. Book V, Chapter 25).

Polycrates probably would not have been one of a line of bishops if all bishops and church leaders practiced celibacy. Note that since the Apostle Philip had at least three daughters, he could not have practiced celibacy.

Now everyone is aware that Peter had a wife (see Matthew 8:14), but did you know that even Judas had a wife (cf. Acts 1:20, Psalm 109:8-9)?

The Roman Hippolytus notes that in the third century, celibacy was not required for the clergy (and least not by his rival, Roman Bishop Callistus):

About the time of this man, bishops, priests, and deacons, who had been twice married, and thrice married, began to be allowed to retain their place among the clergy (Hippolytus. Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, Chapter VII. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1886. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight).

However, over time this changed with the Greco-Roman churches when many who seemed to have a problem with women (with Origen and Tertullian laying the foundation).  And still continues, especially with the Roman Catholic Church (although the Eastern Orthodox require celibacy for bishops, they do not require it for priests).

Articles of possibly related interest may include:

Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Women and the New Testament Church Were women important in the New Testament Church? Which women and how were they involved?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living 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 Living Church of God Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?

Artist’s depicition of a man in black

COGwriter

Did you know that the Bible teaches that the two witnesses will wear at least some black?

Notice the following:

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth (Revelation 11:3). 

Furthermore, notice the following, also from the Bible:

I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering (Isaiah 50:3).

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood (Revelation 6:12).

The implication in the above scriptures is that biblical sackcloth is black–thus it seems that the two witnesses wear some cloth that is black.  

The following is one of few places in Catholic prophecies that it seems that there is an objection to two specific individuals towards the time of the end that I believe is most likely a reference to the two witnesses (it also refers to others):

Anne Catherine Emmerich (October 1, 1822) “The Church,” she groaned, “is in great danger. I must ask every one who comes to see me to say an Our Father for that intention. We must pray that the Pope may not leave Rome, for unheard-of evils would result from such a step. We must pray the Holy Ghost to enlighten him, for they are even now trying to exact something of him. The Protestant doctrine, as also that of the Greeks, is spreading everywhere. Two men live at this time who long to ruin the Church, but they have lost one who used to help them with his pen. He was killed by a young man about a year ago, and one of the two men of whom I speak left Germany at the same time. They have their employees everywhere. The little black man in Rome, whom I see so often, has many working for him without their clearly knowing for what end. He has his agents in the new black church also. If the Pope leaves Rome, the enemies of the Church will get the upper hand. I see the little black man in his own country committing many thefts and falsifying things generally. Religion is there so skillfully undermined and stifled that there are scarcely one hundred faithful priests. I cannot say how it is, but I see fog and darkness increasing. There are however, three churches that they cannot seize: St. Peter’s, St. Mary-Major’s and St. Michael’s. Although they are constantly trying to undermine them, they will not succeed. I help not. All must be rebuilt soon for every one, even ecclesiastics are laboring to destroy–ruin is at hand. The two enemies of the Churchwho have lost their accomplice are firmly resolved to destroy the pious and learned men that stand in their way.” (Schmöger Carl E. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Volume 2. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourgh Peter Joseph. TAN Books, reprint 1976, p.298).

I am not convinced that the “little black man in Rome” (which is not “his own country”) is actually Negroid in race (nor were the one or two Catholic commentators I have read who discussed this matter–they indicated some type of Caucasian). This is because a dark/black church is spoken about there and in other places (i.e. Schmöger, pp.279-280,283-284,292), and in Catholic writings, the term black (as shown in some other Catholic writings, i.e. Hildegard of Bingen. Scivias. Paulist Press, Mahwah (NJ), pp. 173-174,299) appears to mean one contrary to or outside of the Roman Church.  Furthermore since the two witnesses seem to wear some black cloth and many Catholic prophecies are warning against biblical prophecies (a related article of interest may include Do Catholic Prophecies Warn Against Jesus or Antichrist?), this warning may be directed against the actual two witnesses.

However, it should be noted that the Bible shows that there will be false prophets (2 Peter 2:1-3) and lately one has been getting a lot of attention.

Ronald Weinland is a self-appointed prophet and claimer to be one of the two witness.  He claims certain events must occur this month and that the great tribulation will begin in April 2008 (but it will not, please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).  Anyway, apparently Ronald Weinland is also into a bit of allegory regarding the two witnesses (and although I may have misunderstood him, he apparently does not intend to wear any type of sackcloth) as he wrote:

Notice: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). The symbolism of “sackcloth” is given because these two will be filled with humility (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 – God’s Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, pp.21-22).

While it is remotely possible that the two witnesses will not wear actual physical sackcloth, Revelation 11:13 is not speaking of just humility, but specifically that the clothing of the two witnesses will not be fancy–probably in contrast to the beast, who is likely to be flashy/wealthy in appearance. And in particular, I also suspect that the two witnesses actually will sometimes wear some literal sackcloth, at least at times.  And that they will wear at least some black while they are publicly warning the world.

Two articles of related interest may include:

Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008. Is he a false prophet? He has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the COG.