Church of God News

COGwriter

The following church news item in China was of interest:

Christianity is flourishing in China

Sadly, it will be difficult for the Chinese to get much information about the true Christianity, but throughout history it appears that true Christianity did get to China.

Historically, there have been Sabbath-keepers in China and others who simply did not accept the mainstream “brands” that pass for Christianity.

The Bible states that the whole world will become involved in worship, hence this will also include the Chinese–and though many will be deceived at the end, the Bible shows that the Chinese will see through this religious deception before the Europeans will (details are in the article China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 3: China in Prophecy).

The Chinese have long had biblical ties. For example, notice what a Chinese character meaning righteous is made of:

Righteous(ness)	= Sheep	+ Hand	+ Lance

The New Testament account of Abel refers to:

…the blood of righteous Abel (Matthew 23:35).

And the Bible refers to Christ as the lamb of God who was slain by the hand of a man who forced a sword of some type into Him. Hence, even some Chinese symbolism has some ties to the Bible (please see the article China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters ).

Hopefully, many in China will pray, study their Bibles, and study the History of Early Christianity so that they will be able to practice what the Bible calls “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and not be subject to the religious deception that will come further upon the world.

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?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.

The Strength of Dollars Have Long Been Part of the “Pride of the Power” of the USA (which will be broken per Leviticus 26:19)

COGwriter

The US dollar is in the news in China:

Avoid Dollar `At All Costs,’ Investor Rogers Say

Bloomberg – June 30, 2008

Jim Rogers, who in April 2006 correctly predicted oil would reach $100 a barrel and gold $1,000 an ounce, said investors should steer clear of the dollar as the U.S. economy slows and favor commodities this year.

The dollar has slipped 7.7 percent against the euro and 5.9 percent versus the yen in 2008 as the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to stave off a U.S. recession. Oil prices have doubled in the past 12 months, while gold is up 44 percent.

Avoid the dollar “at all costs,” Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, said in a speech in Shanghai today. “The best investments in 2008 are commodities and natural resources. Agricultural prices have much higher to go over the next decade. We have a shortage of everything, including seeds.” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aLr71mSZqOLI

Beijing voices new concerns on dollar

Financial Times, London – June 30, 2008

The US dollar will ultimately be worthless, but not yet.  It is still not in the interest of the Chinese to dump their dollars yet.

But that time will come.

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 of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin?  When will the US dollar be worthless?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?

Barack Obama Carries a Hindu Idol

COGwriter

The following was in the news recently:

Indian Americans Take Note of Obama, Thanks to Hanuman

Washington Post – June 27, 2008

At a town hall meeting, a woman asked Obama what kept him grounded, and in response he emptied his pockets. “People are so generous to me, investing their hopes in me,” he said, holding up a cupped hand full of trinkets. “This I usually don’t show in these town hall meetings. I have all these things that people give me — all these different little good luck charms.”

One of the trinkets, it turns out, was a tiny figurine of Hanuman — the Hindu monkey god.

“It’s a big deal,” said Bhavna Pandit, 28, a political fundraising consultant based in Washington who thinks the revelations will lead to new interest in Obama among Indian American donors.

Pandit said news of the Obama trinket has swept across Indian American living rooms and through Indian newspapers and TV networks. She said the people she knows as “aunties and uncles” — women and men from her parents’ generation — are suddenly taking note of Obama in a way they had not done before. “They think it’s kind of neat. They rarely see our religion played out in the mainstream media in America.” http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/27/indian_americans_take_note_of.html

India monkey god idol for Obama

BBC – June 23, 2008

A group of Indians are planning to present a statue of the revered Indian monkey God, Hanuman, to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The group decided to order the idol after they read a magazine report saying that Mr Obama carried a good luck ‘monkey king’ charm.

They say that a Barack Obama victory would be good for India.

Hindus revere monkeys which they believe are descendents of the monkey God Hanuman.

The two-foot tall, 15kg gold-polished, brass idol has been made as a present for Mr Obama because “he will be good for India if he becomes the next president,” according to Brij Mohan Bhama, leader of the group.

Mr Bhama belongs to the ruling Congress party and also runs a textile mill in the western city of Mumbai.

‘Monkey charm’

“We have heard that he carries a small monkey charm in his pocket. So he is a devotee of Hanuman. That’s why we want to present him with this idol,” he said.

Mr Bhama and his friends have also invited Carolyn Sauvage-Mar, chairwoman of the group, Democrats Abroad-India, to a meeting they are holding on Tuesday to pray for Mr Obama’s success. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7468662.stm

While carrying idols is not acceptable for true Christians (please see What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? ), I doubt that John McCain is any more of a real “Christian” than Barack Obama (although B. Obama’s abortion position should be untenable, even for the world’s “Christianity”).

But apparently, many in India have been impressed by Barack Obama carrying a Hindu idol (more information on India can be found in the article India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness?).

If you have not already done so, you may wish to read a purported Kenyan prophecy about Barack Obama, in the news item Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States.

VS.
Ronald Weinland Says His Books and His Interpretations of the Bible Are What He Wants Potential Supporters to Study. The COGwriter Site Instead Urges Those Interested in Him and End-Time Prophecies to Spend More Time Checking His Writings with the Bible.

COGwriter

As regular readers of this page are aware, I have long considered Ronald Weinland a false prophet.

Unlike his followers, I did not need to wait for his prophecies to start to fail to know that he was false. I simply checked what he “prophesied” against the Bible to see that what he claimed would not come to pass.

Yesterday, Ronald Weinland changed his dates and his mind again.

This time, instead of listening to his false prophecies myself (I have heard more than my share of his false and misleading sermons), I thought I would share what the “Don’t Drink the Flavor Aid” site posted about it:

The Insane Lying False Prophet Ron Weinland has made it official. My speculated timeline is his new revised timeline. Jesus Christ is to return on Pentecost of 2012. September 30, the Feast of Trumpets, is to be when his return is announced. But Ronnie violated that by announcing it today. Hanging on to his membership is more important than making the announcement on the required day. Maybe he’ll buy time on national TV to announce it to the world on that day.

He went beyond my speculation, tying in the “son of perdition” to Joe Tkach who dyed (sic) 40 weeks or 280 days after his infamous sermon of December 17, 1994. And from Christmas 2007 to Trumpets 2008 is 280 days.

FWIW, I do not believe that any of the Tkachs were or can be, the son of perdition in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

Perhaps I should once again state that, SINCE THE GREAT TRIBULATION CANNOT BEGIN PRIOR TO 2012, JESUS WILL NOT RETURN PRIOR TO 2015–and most likely not for 1-3 years or so later. Certain biblically-required events have not yet happened and prevent this from being sooner.

It matters not how many false prophets, like Ronald Weinland, rise up and say otherwise.

Notice some of Ronald Weinland’s prophecies that did not come to pass:

1) 1335 days of Daniel 12 began 2/2/08
2) 1290 days of Daniel 12 began 3/18/08
3) 1260 Daniel 12 began 4/17/08
4) Various Church of God leaders would die by now
5) “A little after April…a dollar bill won’t be worth anything…We’re going to be brought down the tubes, very quickly, starting in April…If we come to the point in time where what I’ve said doesn’t come to pass, the reality is that I’m just a false prophet”.
6) “Over the weeks and few months that follow, God will begin drawing millions to His truth and to repentance.” (see March post titled Ronald Weinland Prophesied Millions & Is Spending to Accomplish That)
7) If a nuclear attack/massive destruction of 1/3rd of plant life did not occur in the USA by 6/8/08, he would admit he is a false prophet and stop preaching.

Ronald Weinland instead of keeping his word, for a while taught that the first three events did occur and that the problem was that his critics simply could not see this as the fulfillments were not physical (like the Bible teaches), but spiritual (like he told everyone). Then once less and less accepted that, Ronald Weinland declared on June 21 (see Ronald Weinland: Nothing will happen between now and July 16) that although he was wrong, he would keep on preaching any way.

Does he not even realize that one of the ten commandments says to not bear false witness? Jesus also taught against it (Matthew 19:18)–for more details, please see What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments?

Jesus also warned against false prophets (Matthew 24:11). Here is part of how the Bible teaches about self-appointed false prophets:

…when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:22).

What Ronald Weinland has been predicting for years simply has not come to pass. Ronald Weinland is a false prophet and needs to repent and not continue to be a false leader.

No one should follow him nor believe his revised dates.

Some 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 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 ofthe United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
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?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–and Ronald Weinland is one of them–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

A few weeks ago, WCG joined into a lawsuit in order to prove its opinion on whether a group can break from its parent religious group. For obvious reasons (WCG renounced most of its original doctrines yet retained all the assets accumulated when it believed those original doctrines), WCG opposed that:

Protestant groups join Episcopal fight over church properties

The Christian Century – June 17, 2008

Sixteen Protestant denominations and regional districts have joined a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in contesting a Reconstruction-era state law that governs church splits.

The post-Civil War splintering of Methodist and Presbyterian churches in 1867 prompted the Virginia law, which allows congregations to keep their property when seceding from a church or “religious society” that’s dividing. But the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), two of the largest U.S. mainline Protestant denominations, say the law is unconstitutional.

On May 16, a judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, ruled that the UMC, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and the Worldwide Church of God may participate in oral arguments May 28 over the law’s constitutionality.

The amicus curiae brief is a sign of how closely some Protestants are following the multimillion-dollar battle between the Episcopal Church and 11 conservative congregations that left to join a branch of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=4856

Today, the press reported that the court ruled in favor of the breakaway group:

While I generally do not favor break away groups, the truth is that when the “parent” church radically changes doctrines, those that have proven the original doctrines as biblically correct and who then wish to hold to the original doctrines certainly should be able to split.

All should “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

For information about what that actually is, the following articles may be of assistance:

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?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 Do they matter? Most say they must, but act like they do not. This article contains some history about the Church of God (sometimes referred to as the continuation of Primitive Christianity) over the past 2000 years.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
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!
Another Look at the Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath Did Ignatius write against the Sabbath and for Sunday? What about the Didache? What does the actual Greek reveal?
Ancient “Christian” Sermon This is believed to be the oldest complete surviving post-New Testament sermon. Have you ever read it?
Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians This is Roberts and Donaldson’s translation, corrected by me in one place, where they made a small error in translating Latin by omitting one word.
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?

Flag of the European Union and Jerusalem

COGwriter

ICG’s Mark Armstrong sent out the following comments on a variety of world news items last night:

Our domestic news could hardly be more frustrating. The future price of fuel is being talked and speculated to dizzying heights as the stock market falls and the U.S. dollar continues to lose value against other currencies. Investors fleeing the securities markets are reportedly putting their money into commodities, specifically oil, driving the price ever higher according to a business writer with the Associated Press. This must be music to the ears of the so-called environmentalists. Stuck with CNN over the weekend, I watched one analyst commentator after another warn against new drilling and refinery construction because it might lower the price of energy so that fervor for alternative (and so far, unavailable) energy might abate. It’s enough to drive you crazy.

In European news, Spain just “overwhelmingly approved” the EU’s Lisbon Treaty that was rejected by a referendum in Ireland just last week. Ireland is the only country to date where citizens have been asked their opinion. If you have the time or the patience, you might want to check out an article in Germany’s Der Spiegle describing how EU politicians are gradually, slowly implementing their policies without the consent of national constituencies.

Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s pro-American president is in line to be the next president of the EU. He is a proponent of a “common European defense,” and is linked to proposals that France team up with the British Royal Navy toward that end. This is not exactly what you might have expected in terms of an EU military, and we’ll have to see where it leads. We’ve carried several articles on our website on this subject, and Murray Allatt also addressed these matters in his update this week.

The truce hailed as a breakthrough in Israel/Gaza relations has already been violated repeatedly by the usual indiscriminate rocket fire out of Gaza into Israel. How utterly predictable! But, as always, the “peace process” must continue.

Observers have been unnerved by some recent Israeli air maneuvers, fearing that it constituted a rehearsal for an attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. Israel denies it. The latest round of sanctions, including the freezing of Iranian accounts in European banks has brought the usual defiance from Ahmadinejad. How long before we wake up to the news that Iran has completed work on a nuclear warhead? Let’s hope we wake up to a different kind of headline regarding Iran’s nuclear facilities!

Domestic economic news is bad, and predictions are worse. The energy news is bad, and beyond pie in the sky about future alternatives, many mainstream reporters and commentators seem to hope it stays bad. It seems as if maybe the bad news may be somewhat overplayed in the media in order to attach blame and disgust to the current administration and emphasize the need for “change.”

It is certainly a serious time in our domestic history, and it would behoove us all to take wise precautions with regard to our preparedness for potential disasters and/or shortages. But we (organizationally) simply will not “merchandize” the bad news, or claim that the “great tribulation” of Bible Prophecy is at hand while several key aspects of the scenario are missing.

Mark Armstrong is correct that the several key aspects are missing before the Great Tribulation can begin. As I have been posting for a while, the Great Tribulation cannot begin BEFORE 2012 and is most likely going to start 1-3 years after that.

Mark Armstrong’s comments about the media and change seems to be a hint that he believes that the mass media in the USA is trying to assist the Barack Obama campaign (to read a purported Kenyan prophecy about him, please see Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States).

As far as the Middle East, there was enough news this week that indicates that Israel probably will do something about Iran with the tacit support of other nations (nations who while applauding such actions privately are likely to condemn them publicly–the term hypocrite comes to mind here).

An as far as the European Union goes, as I reported here before, its leadership is determined to get together, no matter what any group of voters decides. And that is something that will happen some how, prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

There is one other news item though, that I would add here that Mark Armstrong did not. It is not just the USA economy that has debt, higher gasoline prices, etc. Notice the following about the UK:

British household debt is highest in history

The UK is going to experience the beginning of the Great Tribulation just like the USA will. And since both of them have massive debt, the following statements from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk seem to apply to them:

6 Woe to him who increases
What is not his–how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:6-8).

“Pledges” is another word for debt in this context.

Only massive national repentance and the acceptance of the Christ of the Bible, which is not likely, by both nations can change the path away from the destruction and slavery that the Anglo-American powers are heading down.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans and the Hindu Indians (who were not even on the same continent). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
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? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin?

The Strength of Dollars Have Long Been Part of the “Pride of the Power” of the USA (which will be broken per Leviticus 26:19)

COGwriter

Here are two financial news items of interest:

Barclays warns of a financial storm as Federal Reserve’s credibility crumbles

Telegraph, London – June 27, 2008

Barclays Capital has advised clients to batten down the hatches for a worldwide financial storm, warning that the US Federal Reserve has allowed the inflation genie out of the bottle and let its credibility fall “below zero”.

“We’re in a nasty environment,” said Tim Bond, the bank’s chief equity strategist. “There is an inflation shock underway. This is going to be very negative for financial assets. We are going into tortoise mood and are retreating into our shell. Investors will do well if they can preserve their wealth.”

Barclays Capital said in its closely-watched Global Outlook that US headline inflation would hit 5.5pc by August and the Fed will have to raise interest rates six times by the end of next year to prevent a wage-spiral.

If it hesitates, the bond markets will take matters into their own hands. “This is the first test for central banks in 30 years and they have fluffed it. They have zero credibility, and the Fed is negative if that’s possible. It has lost all credibility,” said Mr Bond.

The grim verdict on Ben Bernanke’s Fed was underscored by the markets yesterday as the dollar fell against the euro following the bank’s dovish policy statement on Wednesday.

Traders said the Fed seemed to be rowing back from rate rises. The effect was to propel oil to $138 a barrel, confirming its role as a sort of “anti-dollar” and as a market reproach to Washington’s easy-money policies. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/06/27/cnbarclays127.xml

The Shrinking Influence of the US Federal Reserve

Spiegel – June 26, 2008

By Gabor Steingart in Washington

Humiliation for Mr. Dollar: Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the United States Federal Reserve Bank, faces a general investigation by the International Monetary Fund. Just one more example of the Fed losing its power.

The truth is that the USA is starting to learn what happens when one tries to borrow too much. As the Bible teaches:

43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you (Deuteronomy 28:43-45).

And, I should add here that other biblical prophecies show that much worse is in store for the largest debtor nation of all time (for details, see The King of the North).

The USA dollar and the US economy will struggle for a while, but without nation-wide repentance, ultimately both will collapse.

The good news is that Jesus will return and establish His Kingdom. The bad news is that there will be a lot of bad news before then.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Were the Ten Commandments in Effect Before Mount Sinai? Some have said not. This article provides biblical quotes to answer this important question.
Job and the Ten Commandments Was Job written prior to Mount Sinai? Did Job know about the ten commandments? This article provides biblical answers to those questions.
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.

Pope Benedictus XVI

COGwriter

The following item was in the news:

This certainly does not seem to suggest that the Pope wishes to be seen as a humble servant. Perhaps it should be mentioned here that early Christian leaders, including Catholic ones, did not dress like the Catholic priests and bishops now do–this did not happen until the 4th century (for more details please see What Were the Early Duties and Dress of Elders/Pastors?).

The dress of the Roman clergy WAS not part of early Christianity.

Furthermore, the Bible shows that every knee is to bow before Christ:

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9-10)

But what about the leading servants of Christ? What did Peter do?

25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man” (Acts 10:25-26).

Thus, the Pope does not seem to be following Peter’s example in humility nor dress.

The Bible shows that people are to bow before Jesus:

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10).

But the Pope is NOT Jesus, he is simply a man who falsely claims apostolic succession (and even IF he had apostolic succession, no one should have to kneel before him).

Perhaps, it should be mentioned that angels (other than Satan or fallen ones, see Matthew 4:9-10) will not allow themselves to be worshiped (Revelation 19:10,22:8-9)–nor should they be (Colossians 2:18).

Of course, Antichrist will want to be worshiped. Requiring kneeling, once again now, may make that easier for people to worship Antichrist.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final “Anti-Christ” be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?
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”?
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.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is the Two-Horned Beast? This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
What Were the Early Duties and Dress of Elders/Pastors? Were the duties of the clergy primarily pastoral or sacramental? Did they dress with special liturgical vestments? Can “bishops” be disqualified as ministers of Christ based on their head coverings?

Although it is no longer owned by any COG, those who were once affiliated with the old WCG were familiar with the old Ambassador campus. My wife and I were married in one of the buildings shown above.

COGwriter

An item related to the old WCG Ambassador Auditorium made the news:

Honoring the history makers

Pasadena Star-News – June 24, 2008      excerpt…

The recently restored egret fountain, on the grounds of Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium, was the centerpiece for “Raise the Roof under the Tuscan Stars,” a benefit for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity on June 14. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church, the new owner of the auditorium, were on hand for the unveiling of the landmark, created by British sculptor David Wynne in the late 1960s on the former Ambassador College campus.

Market City Caffe provided the Italian-style supper served to nearly 400 guests at tables surrounding the fountain. Former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian emceed – Glendale Galleria was a signature sponsor of the event – and Jim Ciccolo presided over the live auction. Benefit committee chairman, Cynthia Heydt, of San Marino, reports that the event raised more than $80,000.  source: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_9688262

The physical assets of the old WCG helped the church reach world leaders with the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

An article of related interest may be The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church.

Salvation Will, in the Future, Be Offered to All Who Ever Lived

COGwriter

Did you know that it is not just the New Testament, but also the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) that shows that God will offer salvation to all that ever lived?

As part of my normal Bible study, this week, I have been reading Isaiah  And I noticed that Isaiah has a lot to say about people not able to be called now and that people will be called later.

Isaiah 59:1 shows:

1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

Thus, God certainly can save!

After a section in Isaiah (30:8-17) that Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition calls “Doom of incorrigible sinners”, notice what God has recorded in Isaiah 30:18:

Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.

So, no, this section in Isaiah is NOT about the ultimate doom of sinners, but instead shows that God will have that He may have mercy on them.

Isaiah 46:10, God states:

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

Notice that God had a plan from the very beginning. Also notice that God says that He will do all His pleasure–is not His pleasure to share His love to all?

Isaiah 6:9-11, God teaches,

“Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate”.

In other words, the bulk of the people are not to understand until after a time of utter desolation.

Isaiah 29:9-10, God teaches that He has closed the eyes of many:

Pause and wonder!
Blind yourselves and be blind!
They are drunk, but not with wine;
They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.
For the LORD has poured out on you
The spirit of deep sleep,
And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets;
And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.

And because of that they cannot understand, even when they try, as the verses that immediately follow (Isaiah 29:11-12) show:

The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.”

Perhaps I should add here that because of the above, Isaiah 29:14 and 24 teach that:

I will again do a marvelous work Among this people…

These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.

If you are a Protestant, please ask yourself when and how the above prophecy is going to be fulfilled unless God has a plan to offer salvation after the resurrection?

Isaiah 44:17-18 reveals that God has prohibited idolaters to have proper understanding:

And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

Thus, is God going to permanently condemn those who worship idols for what He has not let them understand?

Protestant theology tends to say yes.

Those in the Church of God say no. Unless the idolater has committed the unpardonable sin (which is unlikely) they will be judged as other uncalled people are.

Isaiah 45:20 teaches:

They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save.

Notice that the Bible is clearly teaching that idolaters do not have knowledge. They are blind.

Hence, the billions throughout history in Asia and Africa (and elsewhere) are not condemned to suffer forever for following practices they really do not understand.

Isaiah 64:7-9, Isaiah states:

7 For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities. 8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. 9 Do not be furious, O LORD, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look–we all are Your people!

In Isaiah 25:7, Isaiah wrote:

7 And He will destroy on this mountain
The surface of the covering cast over all people,
And the veil that is spread over all nations.

Notice that even though people have been blinded to those things which were hidden, God is going to remove the veil that is spread over all the nations. The removal of this veil will allow them to see. Can you now see this or do you wish to have the veil remain over you?

Isaiah 48:5-9 has these words of God:

5 Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, Lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them,
And my carved image and my molded image Have commanded them.’ 6 “You have heard; See all this. And will you not declare it? I have made you hear new things from this time, Even hidden things, and you did not know them. 7 They are created now and not from the beginning; And before this day you have not heard them, Lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.’ 8 Surely you did not hear, Surely you did not know; Surely from long ago your ear was not opened. For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, And were called a transgressor from the womb. 9 “For My name’s sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off.

Notice that in the above, God is saying that He had many things hidden from those who worship idols or other false gods so that in the future He would not have to cut them off.

That is why God has not made it clear to everyone now. God knew that if He did, many would be unfaithful so that is why God’s plan included allowing most who have thus far lived to not understand the full truth of God.

In Isaiah 52:10 God also teaches that they shall see:

10 The LORD has made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of our God.

Since this is referring to the eyes of all the nations, the same nations that are now blinded, certainly God is teaching that all WILL have an opportunity for salvation.

Isaiah 29:13-14, teaches:

13 Therefore the LORD said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

Thus, those who have been deceived by human traditions can be saved!

Isaiah 28:10-13 shows that the Bible is only understood by looking here a little and there a little and that the way the God speaks to most people was intended for them to NOT understand:

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,”
And, “This is the refreshing”;
Yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was to them,
“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little,”
That they might go and fall backward, and be broken
And snared and caught.

How does your church explain the above? Do they understand that people were not supposed to easily be able to understand the plan of God now?

Furthermore, notice this passage in Isaiah 49:13-15:

13 Sing, O heavens!
Be joyful, O earth!
And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the LORD has comforted His people,
And will have mercy on His afflicted.

14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you…”

God will not forget, though many act like He does.

Isaiah 55:1-5 teaches:

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you–
The sure mercies of David.
4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,
A leader and commander for the people.
5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,
And nations who do not know you shall run to you,
Because of the LORD your God,
And the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”

The above is not simply a reference to Gentiles becoming Christians as most Protestant commentators think. It is David that is the witness to the people. This is the same David that is prophecied to rule over the nations of Israel in the future (Ezekiel 37:24; Jeremiah 30:9). Thus, this is a prophecy for a later time. The simple truth is that even after Jesus came, the statement “nations who do not know you shall run to you” has simply not been fulfilled. I know of not one nation, let alone nations, that have run to become true Christians. What has happened is that after Greco-Roman “Christianity” became the religion of the empire, many were forced to become “Christians” and those that have followed them have almost never followed the Christianity of the Bible.

If some of that confuses you, recall that in Isaiah 55:8-11 God teaches that even though we think different than God that His word will not return void:

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Furthermore, notice what Isaiah 56:1-2 teaches:

1. Thus says the LORD:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who lays hold on it;
Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

If the salvation to come is simply the first coming of Jesus, then should not all Christians keep the Sabbath as both salvation and the Sabbath are part of the same quote? Does your church teach that one is “blessed” who does not defile the Sabbath? (You may also wish to read the verses that follow it, like Isaiah 56:3-8 as it makes it clear that foreigners-Gentiles-also are to keep the Sabbath.)

Notice that in Isaiah 57:16-18 that God will not always be angry and that He will heal the souls He has made:

16 For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.
17 For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him
And to his mourners.

Thus, even those who sinned that God punished (struck) and hid from, God will lead them back! Does your minister proclaim this?

Isaiah 62:1-5 shows:

1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.
3 You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God.
4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.

Notice that salvation is being discussed and that includes Gentiles and lands that were desolate and that God will delight in them. This is not simply a reference to Gentiles who accept Christ in this age, as they were not referred to in the Hebrew scriptures as “Forsaken”. Versions of the Hebrew term “azuwbah” translated as “Forsaken” are used many times in the Old Testament to refer to Israelites (NOT Gentiles)–God is apparently using that term because most seem to feel that the Gentiles prior to Jesus’ first coming were forsaken–which, however, they were not. Most also seem to feel that most people dwelling in lands that basically do not accept any version of Christ today are in that forsaken category. But again, recall that God states that they are not forsaken. Which means, according to Isaiah 62, that God has a plan of salvation for them.

Also notice that in Isaiah 65:1-5, God declares that even those who eat unclean meat and did not seek God will be called:

1″I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ To a nation that was not called by My name.
2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts;
3 A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick; 4 Who sit among the graves,
And spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
5 Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.

Notice that these people were not originally called. They even provoked God to anger by eating swine (a biblically unclean animal), but notice that they will find God even though they did not seek Him!

Isaiah 66:17-19 teaches:

17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
To go to the gardens
After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall be consumed together,” says the LORD.
18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.
19 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.

Even though He will punish those who eat unclean meat, notice that they will be gathered and declared God’s glory among the Gentiles. God’s glory among the Gentiles is when He calls them all and offers them salvation. Those who believe in the elitist approach that God is only going to save “good” Roman Catholics and/or Protestants and condemn the vast majority of eaters of unclean meats to fry in torment forever are in clear error.

Isaiah 25:9 teaches:

9 And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

Notice that these people are not yet saved. This is a time in the future. When is the time? Actually it is the time the veil over then nations will be destroyed (Isaiah 25:7) and God will give 100 years (Isaiah 65).

Isaiah 65:17-20, teaches when the hundred year period will occur:

17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,
And her people a joy.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,
Nor the voice of crying.

20 “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days,
Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;
For the child shall die one hundred years old,
But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.

Notice that the above shows that there will be some who after everything is restored will be accursed. Thus while most will accept the offer of salvation, some few sadly will wish to remain in their sins (“sin is the transgression of the law”, 1 John 3:4, KJV).

Perhaps it should be pointed out here, that it has been documented as far back as the second and fourteenth centuries, that some who professed Christ did understand that there was a one hundred year time period where those that had not been called would have an opportunity for salvation (please see article Hope of Salvation: How the Church of God Differs from Protestantism).

Isaiah 45:25 shows:

25 In the LORD all the descendants of Israel
Shall be justified, and shall glory.

Does your church teach that all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified? Most churches teach that the descendants of Israel are Jews and that only a few of them will be saved. But is that what the Bible, not traditions of men, teaches?

Perhaps this would be a good time to quote the Apostle Paul who also quoted Isaiah. Notice what Paul wrote in Romans:

25 As He says also in Hosea:

“I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”
26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved.
28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” (Romans 9:25-28).

10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved (Romans 10:1).

20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:

“I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

21 But to Israel he says:

“All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”

11:1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! (Romans 10:20-11:1.)

7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written:

“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.” (Romans 11:7-8).

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:26-27.)

This is a frequent problem with Protestant scholars–many take verses/chapters out-of-context and fail to understand what they really mean. Many simply do not understand about mercy or salvation

Isaiah 25:6-8 teaches:

6 And in this mountain
The LORD of hosts will make for all people
A feast of choice pieces,
A feast of wines on the lees,
Of fat things full of marrow,
Of well-refined wines on the lees.
7 And He will destroy on this mountain
The surface of the covering cast over all people,
And the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the LORD has spoken.

Notice that this feast is for all people, that the veil over people will be destroyed, and death will no longer occur.

I realize that this is a fairly lengthy post.  But it is mainly made up of quote from the Bible.

The fact is that the idea that God will in the future offer salvation to all who really did not have a chance in this age is a biblical doctrine.  Did you know that There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis?

Several 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?
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.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.