Church of God News

COGwriter

Yesterday, USA President Obama announced that he may reach out to the Taliban and various fundamentalist Muslims (apparently including some that may be considered as terrorists):

AP posted: 3 HOURS 27 MINUTES AGO

This is no real surprise as it is consistent with various comments he made while campaigning.

However, I would like to remind readers of something that was reported in Forbes last October:

Is Barack Obama the “promised warrior” coming to help the Hidden Imam of Shiite Muslims conquer the world?…

According to the tradition, Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law) prophesied that at the End of Times and just before the return of the Mahdi, the Ultimate Saviour, a “tall black man will assume the reins of government in the West.” (for more details see Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? )

This Mahdi may be the prophesied final King of the South, and hence it has been my belief since November 2008 that in a sense, President Obama would be an enabler–one who will help lead to the rise of the Islamic King of the South, as well as the ecumenical “Catholic claiming” King of the North.

Thus far, many of the actions that I have seen from the new administration (including expanding the debt policies of the previous administration) seem to point to the direction of fulfilling certain devastating end-time prophecies.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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 does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies (Catholic,  Shi’ite, and Kenyan) about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here related to prophecy and Barack Obama.
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?

Chinese Soldiers

COGwriter

China is calling for increased cooperation between itself  & Russia, as well as India and Brazil in order to provide “multi-polarity in the world”:

China, Russia should strengthen cooperation – Chinese FM

RIA Novosti, Russia – March 7, 2009

While the Bible shows that Russia, China, and India will essentially unite militarily in order to take on the future European Beast power, I will again go on record and state that Brazil will support Europe.

While I have never been to any of the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), I believe because of religious, cultural, trade, and biblical reasons (such as geographic location) that Brazil will not become part of an end-time alliance against Europe.  Though it may increase some ties with the other BRIC nations.

However, the call today from the Chinese leader does show that there certainly is interest among those in China, Russia, and India for those nations to cooperate together against the West.

Interestingly, after I posted this today, the following news item was read at our local LCG church services today:

Russian and China Strengthen Ties. Russia and China just signed an important deal—China will lend Russia $25 billion, and Russia will build an oil pipeline to northern China and supply the Chinese with 300,000 barrels of oil per day for the next 20 years. After interest is figured in, this works out to be about $11.40 per barrel at a fixed rate for China. The results of this deal show how desperate the Russians are for business and how willing they are to strategically align with China for many years to come. In addition, the new pipeline will diversify China’s energy sources which come predominantly from the Middle East and are subject to the whim of the current world naval power (Stratfor.com, February 18, 2009). God prophesied that at the end of the age, just prior to the return of Christ, the greatest army the world has ever known will bear down on Jerusalem from the north and east. This army will be a compilation of nations, comprising 200 million men, and will ultimately destroy the Beast power (Daniel 11: 44-45, Joel 2:1-2, Revelation 9:13-21). Russia already has military alliances and building programs shared with China. Now they have an important, long-term energy alliance. These growing connections between two very populous nations could set the stage for future prophesied military action.

Truly, the stage for the 200 million man army of Revelation to be formed is being set even today.  Prophesy continues to be fulfilled all over the world.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Will it become a major economic player? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?  Will God save the Asians?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them.
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?
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”? What is ahead for Europe?

COGwriter

Despite the fact that no biblically required events have occurred, last night Ronald Weinland of  CGPFK posted the following at his website:

“IN” THE FINAL THREE & ONE-HALF YEARS:

March 6, 2009

As regular readers/listeners are aware, on December 14, 2008, the world entered the final 3 1/2 years spoken of throughout prophecy as the end-time of man’s rule on earth. On Pentecost of 2012, the world will experience a final transition from mankind ruling himself to that of God’s government ruling over all nations.

Much of the world of traditional Christianity, and even God’s Church, have long believed that this final time would begin with great destructive events that would immediately lead to the death of tens of thousands of people and then continue to escalate throughout the final 3 1/2 years. This period of time has often been referred to as “the great tribulation,” although the Bible makes no such statement regarding this final 3 1/2 years.

The reality is that the Seventh Seal of Revelation was opened on November 14, 2008, and then 30 days later the First Trumpet sounded. This trumpet is prophetic in nature, yet it will also prove to be very physical in its complete fulfillment. It is prophetic in that it reveals the kind of literal, physical destructiveness that will follow in the fulfillment of the six trumpets that are yet to sound.

We now find ourselves three months into that final 3 1/2 year period of time, but thank God that these massive powers of end-time destruction have not yet been unleashed. The kind of suffering that will finally come to pass is horrific beyond comprehension. God is being merciful by temporarily holding back the day when the Second Trumpet sounds and massive physical destruction begins. As always, it needs to be understood that God is not bringing that destruction upon mankind, but mankind is bringing it upon himself (it will be caused by man). God is now holding back that time of massive physical destruction by not allowing man to start this process for a few more months.

This “holding back” is in large part due to the result of God answering the prayers of His people who set aside a time of fasting, similar to that of Esther, whose results are remembered to this day in what is called the Feast of Purim.

On January 31, the Church of God entered a prolonged fast (a fast that lasts beyond the normal one day), and God’s people petitioned God, humbling themselves in the process, seeking that God would humble more people, and thereby deliver many more than He initially revealed would be saved. This is all the result of God’s will and His purpose that is being worked out for this world, and although God has granted to offer mercy to more people in this end-time by bringing more to humility, the choice of repentance is still in the hands of those whom God humbles and grants mercy. It is sad that there will be many who will still refuse God’s mercy and His offer to save them physically through this final end-time.

The petitions that went up before God were not for the purpose that the destructive power be lessened (as this cannot be changed), but that the period of time of the actual physical suffering from it will be lessened, and that through this very process more people will potentially be able to be saved (who can indeed live on into the millennial period that is rapidly approaching). This not only includes the possibility of many more people of different nations being saved, but it also includes an offer of saving many more who were part of the scattering in the Church after the apostasy in 1994 (who otherwise would not have been given such opportunity and blessing).

Mocking continues:
Sadly, the world, and even the Church that was scattered, is unaware that God’s Church fasted for them and has been praying for them. God is answering those prayers by extending the time before the Second Trumpet sounds and actual massive physical destruction begins in the United States. With this change of timing for the Second Trumpet and with the change of timing that occurred in the revelation of the “50 Truth” to God’s people, all others who are without this knowledge or that are unbelieving of such matters often turn to mocking that which they do not see.

We understand the inability of people to “see” what God is doing during the timing of this First Trumpet, so we recognize the need to endure more ridicule and skepticism for a longer period of time. It really doesn’t matter that people don’t yet accept what is true, but what is important is that more of them can be saved through what is coming. Those who are saved through all this will one day be very thankful to God and to His Church for what they did on their behalf.

Foolishly there are those who are quick to find fault by saying we are wrong or that I am a false prophet since physical destruction did not come at a time I had previously stated. It is easy to see, that without the understanding of “why” some matters of timing have changed, that some would doubt or ridicule what is true. Yet the time for the final 3 1/2 years has not changed at all. We are in it! We are in the countdown before the actual day Jesus Christ returns to this earth as King of kings. There are those who unwittingly and ignorantly seem to wish that destruction was already occurring and that great suffering was already here. But that will come soon enough!

Many do not “get it” concerning the title of the last book that was published. It is 2008 – God’s Final Witness. That was the final and the last year for a witness to be given to mankind at the end of 6,000 years of man’s self-rule. At the end of 2008, the final 3 1/2 years commenced. Mankind has already received his last warning and it was God’s final witness.

Before the Second Trumpet is blown, God is giving more time for people to be humbled before actual physical destruction begins on a massive scale (whereby more can be saved). Rather than physical destruction beginning immediately, more people can actually be brought to humility through the prolonged process we are now experiencing, which will then be followed by massive physical destruction.

It is Ronald Weinland and his followers that don’t get it.  They remain delusional.  Their fasting did not lessen physical effects of the Great Tribulation, for it had not began on December 14, 2008 as Ronald Weinland claimed.

Furthermore, notice the backpedalling that Ronald Weinland is now engaging in.  He is implying that the Bible does not refer to this final 3 1/2 year time period as “the great tribulation”, yet notice that this is exactly what one of his other website’s calls it:

1260 Days: The blowing of the first Trumpet will occur/occurred on the 14th of December, 2008. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation and 3 1/2 years until the return of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost. The beginning of the fall of the USA and other Israelite countries begins from the start of the 1260 days (FAQ–Timeline Questions Answered.  viewed 2/25/09).

Even in his sermon two weeks ago,  Ronald Weinland claims it is the great tribulation:

We’re not calling it the great tribulation, it is the great tribulation, but it is not great, yet…We do set dates (Weinland R. Our Commission, Pt. 3. Sermon, February 21, 2009).

Also his book stated:

Therefore, on this last day of the three and one-half years of great tribulation, God will intervene in the affairs of all mankind, thus, saving mankind from destroying himself  (Weinland R. 2008: God’s Final Witness, p. 129).

Cannot Ronald Weinland’s followers see the obvious contradictions here?

Ronald Weinland clearly claimed that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008, now is trying to teach that the Great Tribulation has not yet began, but that “the final 3 1/2 years” started last year.   He and his followers are ignoring reality and apparently overlooking these blatant contradictions.  Perhaps I should point out that the Bible does not use his newly adopted expression “the final 3 1/2 years”, though it does use the term “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).

While we could be at the time that Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8, for more details see also Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011?), the persecution that is to occur between that (vs. 9) and the Great Tribulation (vs. 21) in Matthew 24 did not happen (see also Persecutions by Church and State). Thus, it is NOT possible that the 1260 days which starts with the Great Tribulation began when Ronald Weinland claimed that it did–despite the fact that he wants to indicate that it is not “great” yet.

While Ronald Weinland wishes to call his critics “mockers”, I remain committed to telling people to compare his false claims with the Bible.  I have been doing this for over three years now, and in every case have been correct and he has been wrong.  What kind of “prophet and witness” does that make him (cf. Deuteronomy 18:21-22)?

Contrary to his “more time for repentance” angle, the Jesus was clear that massive physical signs are supposed to be occurring during the Great Tribulation:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:20-21).

17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days (Mark 13:17-20).

23…For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:23-24).

This is simply NOT the case now.  The world economic crisis is still not as bad as during the Great Depression.  Nor have many other outwardly required signs become evident.  Furthermore, Jerusalem is specifically to be trampled by Gentiles for 1260 days (42 months, Revelation 11:2), and this has not happened.

Notice also what is supposed to have happened to Christians during this 3 1/2 years (which is a time, times, and half a time) according to the Bible:

23…’The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.  24 The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.  25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:23-25).

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:13-17).

Christians have not fled (to learn possibly where, please see There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra), nor have the rest of the saints been given into the hand of the Beast power under Satan.  The beast power in Daniel 7:23-25 has not yet even arisen up yet, hence this is NOT the Great Tribulation.

The Great Tribulation has not began.  Ronald Weinland and his followers remain delusional.  Hopefully they will open their eyes and compare what Ronald Weinland claims against what the Bible really teaches–sooner than later.

There seems to be another twist and change in Ronald Weinland’s latest letter, so here is more from it:

Today’s predominating and sustaining financial system that the global economy has been woven from originated in the United States and it is now coming unraveled! There is no mending that will save it. It is doomed to complete destruction. That is prophetic and the truth of it is from God. Such a system cannot stand because it is against the laws of God. Yet the world has established itself upon this false Babylonish System, whether they know it or not. Initially, some nations believed they were immune from what has been happening in the collapsing global economy originating out of the United States, but they are quickly learning that they are very deeply tied into it. They are now finding just how attached they really are. Through time, they have become part of the same Babylonish System.

We are witnessing the collapse of the United States, followed by the complete collapse of all governments of mankind. It has already begun. Nothing can change the course of what is happening. The merchants of the earth are beginning to mourn for what they see collapsing before them.

In the past, Ronald Weinland (correctly on this one point) seemed to teach that the revived European power was to be Babylon (Weinland R. 2008: God’s Final Witness, p. 137).  Now (presumably because there is no European beast power yet), he is indicating that the financial system of the United States is Babylon (Revelation 18:2-19).  This is yet another, not to subtle, change that he is trying to foist upon his followers so that they will feel that he may be right.

He is not.

While Ronald Weinland has not yet claimed that Barack Obama is the Beast, this could possibly be coming next as if the USA is Babylon than its leader would seem to have to fulfill that role.  And while some feel that Barack Obama is, that simply is not the case (see also Prophecies of Barack Obama?).

Followers of Ronald Weinland need to ask themselves if the USA is the prophesied Babylon (Revelation 18:4), who do they claim that the Beast now is as the Beast must exist for the entire final 3 1/2 years (Daniel 7:23-25)?

The Great Tribulation is coming, and the United States will be destroyed–probably next decade.  However, people should not believe any who claim that the final 3 1/2 years and the Great Tribulation has already began.

While we are in economically challenging times, it is disgraceful that Ronald Weinland is taking advantage of people’s fears instead of teaching what the Bible teaches.  Ronald Weinland sadly is fulfilling the following prophecy:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).

While Bible prophecy is being fulfilled, Ronald Weinland is a false prophet and is causing many to blaspheme the way of truth.  No one should heed his false explanations.

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.
Why Prophecy? Because the World Will Not End Next Week Some question or downplay the role of prophecy. This article gives some of the biblical reasons what it is important and explains why the world cannot end for at least 3 1/2 years from now.
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”? What is ahead for Europe?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
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.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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 does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
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?
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What is the Book of Revelation trying to tell us about them? Does the first one deceive many?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
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.

Jerusalem

COGwriter

CGG had the following as its latest world news item post:

Binyamin Netanyahu has just become prime minister of Israel. He is determined to take action before – not after – Iran achieves its nuclear potential. This creates a volatile, hair-trigger situation that could explode at any moment. Hence, the endgame is now vastly closer than it was in mid-January, when many believed Israel might take action during the lame-duck interregnum.
From “Jerusalem Post”

If Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu does in fact take out Iran’s nuclear capabilities, this will greatly diminish the stature of Iran in the eyes of the other Muslim nations.

Since, contrary to the claims of groups like PCG, Iran is NOT the future King of the South, then it is likely that it will either be attacked externally or have some internal problems to weaken its attempts at the leadership of the Islamic world.

Of course, if there simply is an Arab leader who rises up and is perceived to be the Mahdi (a leader that Shi’ite Muslims, like most Iranians are) that some expect, then Iran may simply follow, even if there is no major external or internal problems provoking that.

As Jesus said,

35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming–in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning– 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:35-37)

Although Iran is not the final King of the South it is likely to take actions that will help lead to the rising up of that Islamic power.  The Bible also shows that the USA and Israel will not have too long to survive after that happens as the King of the South will make a deadly deal with the coming King of the North (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?  What will happen to the nation of Israel?
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 does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here related to prophecy and Barack Obama.
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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

COGwriter

While there are many things that the Asians have done right with their economies, they too are having significant drops in the values of their stock markets:

Friday, 6 March 2009

Asian shares slide as fears grow

Asian stocks have fallen, taking their lead from weaker US shares, which have hit a fresh 12-year low.

In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei index dropped 3.5%, with markets in Australia and South Korea also lower.

Markets were hit by disappointment that China did not unveil new stimulus measures on Thursday and fears that General Motors might not survive…

Zhou Xiaochuan, China’s central bank chief, said on Friday that he saw signs of a recovery and that officials would act sooner rather than later to revive the economy.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 289.7 points, or 2.4%, to 11,921.5.

In Australia, the ASX 200 index 43.0 points, or 1.4%, to close at 3,145.5, which was its lowest close since August 2003.

South Korea’s Kospi index recovered from falling as much as 2% during the day to close down only 0.3% at 1,055.0.

The Sensex in Mumbai also recovered from a 1.8% early drop to trade up 134.9 points, or 1.7%, at 8,332.8. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7927519.stm

And while Asia and much of the rest of the world seems to be looking to China to solve the economic/banking crises, the reality that the Bible shows that ultimately it will instead be the Europeans (though the Chinese are likely to have some involvement and may be significant contributors).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Will it become a major economic player? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?  Will God save the Asians?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? This is a draft of an in-process article about Japan. Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan. Will God save the Japanese?
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them.
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?
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”? What is ahead for Europe?

Internet Users By Country

COGwriter

Various Catholic bishops in Italy have urged their followers to give up technology, including the use of the internet for Lent:

Italian faithful told to take high-tech break

Bishops urge them to give up cars, MP3 players and more for Lent

ROME – Roman Catholic bishops in Italy are urging the faithful to go on a high-tech fast for Lent, switching off modern appliances from cars to MP3 players and abstaining from surfing the Web or text messaging until Easter.

The suggestion gives a modern twist to traditional forms of abstinence in the period Christians set aside for fasting and prayer ahead of Easter…

“What does giving up mean? If the use is capricious then abstinence is welcome, but if technology is needed for work it makes no sense,” said the Rev. Giancarlo Angelo Andreis, a priest at a Rome basilica.

Wariness, appreciation
And where could many of these appeals for abstinence be found? On the Web sites of various dioceses, highlighting the Church’s increasing appreciation of the reach of modern communication even as it remains wary of new media. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29510016/?gt1=43001

However, if you are Catholic, before you possibly stop using the internet, please study into Lent and find out whether or not it is a biblical practice.

If you do, you will find that there is quite a lot that the Church of Rome changed from apostolic Christianity that the Church of God has not changed.

For example, did you know that the early Church kept Passover on the 14th of Nisan and not Easter Sunday?

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is Lent a Christian Holiday? When did it originate? What about Ash Wednesday? If you observe them, do you know why?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
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?
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. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
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?

American and British Aircraft Carriers in a Joint Exercise

COGwriter

As regular readers are aware, the USA and the UK are prophetically supposed to experience many of the same events.  Notice that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom made it clear that he feels that the two countries will continue remain united in many ways:

22:20 GMT, Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Gordon Brown has urged the US to renew the “special relationship for our generation” in a speech to Congress

Mr Brown, the fifth UK prime minister in history to address both houses on Capitol Hill, urged the US and UK to push for “essential” economic changes.

Neither nation should “succumb” to protectionism “which protects no-one”, but “seize the moment”, he said.

Mr Brown also announced that veteran Senator Edward Kennedy would receive an honorary UK knighthood.

The prime minister paid tribute to the work of US troops in Afghanistan and said terrorists could “not ever destroy the American spirit”.

The partnership between the UK and the US is “unbreakable” and that “no power on earth can ever draw us apart”, he also said.

‘Standards’

The speech began and ended to standing ovations and was frequently interrupted for applause – with 17 such pauses counted.

Mr Brown called for agreed “rules and standards for accountability, transparency and reward” in banking.

On the recession, he said: “America and a few countries cannot be expected to bear the burden of the fiscal and interest rate stimulus alone. We must share it globally.

“So let us work together for the worldwide reduction of interest rates and a scale of stimulus round the world equal to the depth of the recession and the dimensions of the recovery we must make.”

Mr Brown added: “An economic hurricane has swept the world, creating a crisis of credit and of confidence.

“History has brought us now to a point where change is essential. We are summoned not just to manage our times but to transform them.”

In addressing Congress, Mr Brown follows in the footsteps of Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

‘Pro-American’

He said: “Now more than ever the rest of the world wants to work with you…

“And let me say that you now have the most pro-American European leadership in living memory. A leadership that wants to cooperate more closely together, in order to cooperate more closely with you.

“There is no old Europe, no new Europe. There is only your friend Europe…

‘Common interest’

After Mr Brown’s meeting with Mr Obama on Tuesday, the US president said the “special relationship” between the countries would “only grow stronger”.

After about an hour of talks at the White House, Mr Brown and Mr Obama said they agreed that improvements were needed to the regulation of the global banking system.

Mr Obama warned that countries should not “project inwards” by encouraging protectionism during the economic crisis.

Mr Brown said the two countries were pursuing a “common interest” in a “global new deal”. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7922426.stm

He is correct that there is a special relationship between the USA and UK.

Yet, contrary to his implications, the “friend Europe” is prophesied to change.  Notice the following:

5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations (Isaiah 10:5-7).

And when Europe changes, it will ultimately have devastating effects on the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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 does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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”? What is ahead for Europe?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here related to prophecy and Barack Obama.
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 (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

Labarum Cross

COGwriter

Did you know that the “cross” became a military symbol after a sun-worshiping Emperor claimed to have a vision and a dream:

In 312, the Roman Emperor Constantine I the Great was in Trier, Germany where he had an unexpected vision of a cross that appeared in the sky..Constantine’s soldiers, the majority of whom were pagans, placed the sacred image of the cross on their shields (Mangan C.M. In This Sign You Conquer, 10/15/03 Copyright © 2004 Catholic Online).

He {Constantine} said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens , above the sun, and bearing the inscription , Conquer by this…in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens , and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens , and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies….At dawn of day he arose, and communicated the marvel to his friends: and then, calling together the workers in gold and precious stones, he sat in the midst of them, and described to them the figure of the sign he had seen, bidding them represent it in gold and precious stones…

Now it was made in the following manner. A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour’s name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre…

The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies. (Eusebius. The Life of Constantine, Book I, Chapters 28,30,31).

This type of cross is known as a labarum:

The Labarum (☧) was a vexillum (military standard) that displayed the first two Greek letters of the word “Christ” (Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) — Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ).It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine I…

Though modern representations of the chi-rho sign represent the two lines crossing at ninety degree angles, the early examples of the Chi-Rho cross at an angle that is more vividly representative of the chi formed by the solar ecliptic path and the celestial equator. This image is most familiar in Plato’s Timaeus…Of Plato’s image in Timaeus, Justin Martyr, the Christian apologist writing in the second century, found a prefiguration of the Cross (Labarum. Wikipedia, viewed 03/04/09).

So, the Chi-Rho existed from at least the time of Plato (a pagan philosopher), but was adopted by Constantine centuries after Christ died.  The heretic Justin was probably one who originally encouraged its adoption, and he apparently got it from Plato.

There is also a Catholic writer who indicates that the image or perhaps mark of the beast may be something that resembles that Constantinian cross:

Priest P. Huchedé (19th century): Antichrist will further make all men, great and small, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, bear a sign on their right arm or their forehead. (Apoc. 13:16). What this sign shall be time alone will reveal. Yet there are some {Catholic} commentators of the Holt Writ, who, according to a special revelation pretend to say that it shall be formed out of the Greek letters X and P, interlaced…which resembles the number of Christ. (Cornelius a Lapide in Epis. 2 to Thes.). No one can either buy or sell without this mark, as specified in the Apocalypse (13:17). (Huchedé, P.  Translated by JBD. History of Antichrist.  Imprimatur: Edward Charles Fabre, Bishop of Montreal.  English edition 1884, Reprint 1976.  TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 24).

If the cross is a symbol of the future Antichrist/Beast power as Priest P. Huchedé indicates it will be (and it is in a book with an official imprimatur), perhaps those who come from faiths descended from Emperor Constantine should be concerned about their religion now–before it becomes even further removed from the original faith. The Bible indicates that the true Christians will NOT have the symbol/mark needed to buy or sell when the two beasts of Revelation 13 are in power, but only those that will follow those beasts will (Revelation 13:16-17)–and while crosses may not necessarily be required everywhere, other Catholic writings suggest that in certain places, they will be.

Although all real scholars admit that the original Christians would not kill or intentionally participate in military service, after Emperor Constantine claimed to see a spear in the sky with a traverse bar (see Constantine is Why “Christians” War), the group that accepted his authority then allowed him to convene what is known as the Council of Nicea in 325. A.D.

Astoundingly, there are writings that indicate that those wear crosses will be persecuters:

St. Francis de Paul (1470): These holy Cross-bearers shall reign and dominate holily over the whole world until the end of time…(Culleton, G. The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin. Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL),p. 157-161).

St. Bridget of Sweden (died 1373): …war shall end when an emperor of Spanish origin will be elected, who will, in a wonderful manner, be victorious through the sign of the Cross. He shall destroy the Jewish and Mahometan sects… (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times , p. 154).

Anne Catherine Emmerich (October, 1820): citizens and peasants, many of whom were marked on the forehead with a red cross. As this army drew near, the captives and oppressed were delivered and swelled the ranks whilst the demolishers and conspirators were put to flight on all sides (Emmerich AC. The Life of Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations. Schmöger edition, Vol. IV. Nihil Obstat: D. Jaegher, 14 Februari 1914. Imprimatur: A.C. De Schrevel, Brugis, 14 Februari 1914. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 2004, pp. 290-291).

Notice what one claimed to be “Mary” allegedly stated in an apparition Pfaffenhofen, Germany on June 25, 1946:

I am the great Mediatrix of Grace. The Father wants the world to recognize His handmaid…My sign is about to appear. God wills it…I cannot reveal my power to the world as yet…Then I will be able to reveal myself…Chose a sign for yourself so that the Trinity may soon be adored by all! Pray and sacrifice through me!…I will impose crosses on my children that will be as heavy and as deep as the sea because I love them in my sacrificed Son. I pray, be prepared to bear the cross in order that the Trinity may be honored (Culleton, Reign of Antichrist, pp. 217-218).

Real Christians would not pray and sacrifice through Mary.

In 1958, Matous Losuta of Czechoslovakia claimed that “Mary” stated:

All my children will receive and carry the sign of the cross on their foreheads (Flynn, Ted & Flynn, Maureen. Thunder of Justice: The Warning, the Miracle, the Chastisement, the Era of Peace. Signs of the Times Illustrated by Kaleidoscope Graphics Staff Contributor Malachi Martin Published by Maxkol Communications, 1992, p. 331).

But this is not something that the Bible advocates. (More on Mary can be found in the article Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions.)

Thus, according to various Catholic mystics and writers, those that follow a persecuting power will wear some type of cross.  And according to at least one Catholic priest, it is similar to the type of cross that Emperor Constantine used, and according to that same priest, it may be an important symbol for the beasts of Revelation 13 and their followers.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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”? What is ahead for Europe?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What might they mean? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How might Mary view them?
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?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
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 does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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?
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 Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the Living Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
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. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev

COGwriter

In an interesting move to attempt to promote unity between the Russian Orthodox and the Catholics of Rome, the Vatican gave a church in Italy back to the President of Russia:

Pope hopes return of Russian Orthodox church in Italy helps ecumenism

CNS – March 2, 2009

BARI, Italy (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has expressed support for the return of a historic Southern Italian church to its former Russian Orthodox owners.

At a ceremony March 1, the little Church of St. Nicholas in Bari was formally handed over to the Russian Orthodox. Built by Czar Nicholas II, the church became the property of the Italian government after Russia’s 1917 revolution.

As Italian President Giorgio Napolitano passed the church keys to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a papal representative said the pope hoped Bari, a seaport on the Adriatic, would continue to be a city of peaceful encounters between the Orthodox and Catholic faithful.

Since 1087, the tomb of St. Nicholas of Myra — one of Russia’s patron saints — has been housed in the Catholic Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari. Czar Nicholas had a Russian Orthodox church built near the basilica to provide services to Russians who traveled to Bari on pilgrimage.

Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, the retired archbishop of Palermo who was Pope Benedict’s representative at the ceremony March 1, told the politicians and faithful present that the little Russian church “reawakens in us the yearning for full unity” between Catholics and Orthodox and encourages both to work more seriously to unite all who believe in Christ.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900956.htm

Pope Benedict XVI is determined to attempt to get the Orthodox to become more accepting on the authority of Rome.  This latest step may slightly thaw out the rather chilled relationship between the Russian Orthodox and the Vatican.

I have long warned against the Orthodox accepting the authority of Rome (see Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics), but Vatican sees itself as having to get them back in full alignment.  An alignment that both the Bible and even various Catholic writers have warned about.

Perhaps I should mention that a Roman Catholic priest has warned that this unity will be at the cost of Catholics compromising with the Orthodox (and the Protestants) and that this will happen under the reign of an antipope (who may be the Anti-Christ, see Some Doctrines of Antichrist):

Priest Paul Kramer:  “The errors of Orthodoxy and of Protestantism will be embraced by that false church, it will be an ecumenical church because the Anti-Pope will be recognized by the world — not by the faithful, but by the world — by the secular world and the secular governments. The Anti-Pope will be recognized as the legitimate Pope of the “church,” and the legitimate head of the Vatican State. That “church” will be united with all the false religions…In that motley ecumenical union will be the established religion of the so-called civilized world. This is how we will get into the time of great persecution such as the world has never seen. (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady’s Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004.THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 4/15/08).

The Orthodox and the Catholics each individually need to reject this unity that the Vatican seems determined to make happen soon.  Both the Bible and various writings have warned against it.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The Bible warns the Orthodox against this unity as do some Catholic prophecies.  The Orthodox need to heed these warnings now.
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. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
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!

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

COGwriter

PCG had the following news item:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is different. Given the opportunity, he has no compunction about standing before world leaders, bowing his head, and praying for the personal strength to usher in the return of the Promised One.

The belief of a returning Mahdi, or 12th imam, is a defining doctrine within the most populous group of Shiites (known as Ithna Ashari, or “Twelvers”), to which Ahmadinejad belongs. Iran’s president—who pines for the extermination of the Jewish state and is gunning for a nuclear arsenal—is a staunch adherent to the mahdaviat, which is “belief in and efforts to prepare for the Mahdi,” according to the Encyclopaedia of Islam.

Iran’s leader doesn’t just believe the Mahdi is about to return—he considers it his responsibility to cause the apocalyptic conditions that he believes will surround his return!

Think about this. Russia’s foreign policy is built around resurrecting the “glory” days of the Soviet empire; the Chinese are working to compete with and marginalize the United States; European states are vying for more of the spotlight. America is seeking to find its niche in a multipolar world. Japan, India and other powers are positioning themselves relative to broad geopolitical trends. Each of these goals, while motivated by self-interest, is based on real-world realities, not spiritual beliefs.

Meanwhile, the supreme goal and current policies of the Iranian government are designed to create Armageddon in preparation for the return of the 12th imam!

As Joel Rosenburg, former aide to Benjamin Netanyahu, put it recently, “[I]n order to bring about this Islamic messiah, the Mahdi, the 12th imam, Islamic leaders need to hasten his coming by destroying little Satan, Israel, and the great Satan, the United States. … [T]he leaders actually believe they need to create bloody carnage, the death of millions of people in order to create the conditions for the Mahdi to bring peace”…

The fact that Ahmadinejad’s candid and highly public display of loyalty to the quest for Armageddon is so widely ignored by world leaders is a testament to the degraded state of leadership in America and much of the West. The Obama administration, among others, seeks to harness the power of negotiation, diplomacy and appeasement with Iran. It won’t work. It can’t work…

To learn more about Iran, and specifically where its apocalyptic ambitions will lead, read The King of the South.

Various Shi’ite leaders would like to see the Madhi return soon, as well as see the soon destruction of Israel and the United States.

Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had some control over the press in Iran, he may have helped spread the impression that Barack Obama would lead the the Madhi that he and the other Shit’ites hope for.  Notice the following from a Forbes article I reported on several months ago:

Is Barack Obama the “promised warrior” coming to help the Hidden Imam of Shiite Muslims conquer the world?

The question has made the rounds in Iran since last month, when a pro-government Web site published a Hadith (or tradition) from a Shiite text of the 17th century. The tradition comes from Bahar al-Anvar (meaning Oceans of Light) by Mullah Majlisi, a magnum opus in 132 volumes and the basis of modern Shiite Islam.

According to the tradition, Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law) prophesied that at the End of Times and just before the return of the Mahdi, the Ultimate Saviour, a “tall black man will assume the reins of government in the West.” Commanding “the strongest army on earth,” the new ruler in the West will carry “a clear sign” from the third imam, whose name was Hussein Ibn Ali. The tradition concludes: “Shiites should have no doubt that he is with us.”

In a curious coincidence Obama’s first and second names–Barack Hussein–mean “the blessing of Hussein” in Arabic and Persian. His family name, Obama, written in the Persian alphabet, reads O Ba Ma, which means “he is with us,” the magic formula in Majlisi’s tradition…

Obama has abandoned claims by all U.S. administrations in the past 30 years that Iran is “a state sponsor of terrorism.” Instead, he uses the term “violent groups” to describe Iran-financed outfits such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Obama has also promised to attend a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference within the first 100 days of his presidency. Such a move would please the mullahs, who have always demanded that Islam be treated differently, and that Muslim nations act as a bloc in dealings with Infidel nations. Ahmadinejad has described the U.S. as a “sunset” (ofuli) power as opposed to Islam, which he says is a “sunrise” (toluee) power. (see Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy?)

Now what does any of this have to do with Bible prophecy?

The Bible foretells a time where leader known as the King of the South will rise up.  For decades, the true Church has believed that this person may be the Mahdi that some of the Muslims have waited for. In a December 1979 Plain Truth article by Keith Stump titled The Arab World in Prophecy it states

But who is the “king of the south”?…in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end”…The verse undoubtedly found partial fulfillment in the offensive of 1896…But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”…there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi……a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations…But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion.

Now even though PCG feels that Iran is the King of the South and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants Iran to lead the final resurgent Islamic power, that is not the way the Bible shows it.

The King of the South from a biblical perspective should be based more south of Jerusalem than Iran is.  Furthermore, the nations in Psalm 83 are mainly Arabic ones and while Iran may possibly be supportive, it will not lead the final King of the South.

Iran is not the final King of the South despite the fact that it is likely to take actions that will help lead to the rise of that Islamic power.  The Bible also shows that the USA will not have too long to survive after that happens as the King of the South will make a deadly deal with the coming King of the North (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
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 does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here related to prophecy and Barack Obama.