Church of God News

Anne Catherine Emmerich gave many “prophecies”

COGwriter

Several years ago, after visiting the Vatican in Rome, I wondered why Catholics did not seem to be able to understand the Book of Revelation (which they normally call the Apocalypse).  This led me to acquire at least two dozen books on Catholic prophecies.  Essentially I concluded that even though they do not have to accept “private prophecies”, Rome’s understanding of these “prophecies” has led to misunderstanding much of the Book of Revelation.

Now this is not to say that many “prophecies” have not come to pass (there is a list of those that have in the article Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies?).  It is just that many “prophecies” seem to lead to the conclusion that a militaristic leader rising up in Europe who will destroy all opposition (specifically listed are the English, the Protestants, the Muslims, as well as “all) is a good thing, in contradiction to the Bible which warns against such a leader.

Now it does need to be understood that even The Catholic Encyclopedia teaches that the acceptance of private prophecies is optional:

The Church allows freedom in accepting or rejecting particular or private prophecies according to the evidence for or against them…The minatory prophecies which announce calamities, being for the most part conditional, may or may not be fulfilled. Many private prophecies have been verified by subsequent events, some have not; others have given rise to a good deal of discussion as to their genuineness. Most of the private prophecies of the saints and servants of God were concerned with individuals, their death, recovery from illness, or vocations. Some foretold things which would affect the fate of nations, as France, England, and Ireland. A great number have reference to popes and to the papacy; and finally we have many such prophecies relating to the end of the world and the approach of the Day of Judgment (Devine, Arthur. Transcribed by Marie Jutras. Prophecy. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII. Published 1911. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Hence, Catholics do not need to be looking forward to the one that the Bible refers to as the King of the North.

Yet, it needs to be understood that Roman Catholics believe that their private prophecies are highly important:

Private revelations (i.e. apparitions and locutions with or without prophecies) are those which have been recorded since the days of Christ. Revelations which were recorded up to the days of Christ are known as public, biblical, or scriptural revelations…

Many Catholic devotions are based solely on private revelations: the Rosary, the Sacred Heart, and the Scapular are cases in point. More recently, devotion to Our Lady of Fatima was accepted and encouraged by the Church. (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.9).

In other words, even the rosary, one of the foundations of current-day Catholic living, is admitted to have entered the Catholic world through “private revelation” (this particular “revelation” was supposedly given to “St. Dominic” the inquisitor in the early 13th century “as an antidote to heresy and sin”).

Now the following is my own understanding of certain relevant supportive Catholic prophecies in a relatively chronological sequence (some are concurrent) with my comments in italics as to where they are accurate in the sense that they appear to mirror (they are the opposite/reverse) biblical prophecy:

1. There will be a reduction in active Catholics truly practicing the Catholic religion, especially in Europe.

This has occurred to a degree already.

2. This will lead to what some Catholics call the “minor chastisement”. Essentially this chastisement will include serious civil turmoil in Europe.

This possibly may have started with the small riots in Paris in 2005, in Denmark in 2006, Greece in 2008, Latvia in 2009–but much much more devastating riots are expected according to their “prophets”–and biblically this is possible.

3. This will lead to military leaders putting down the riots and minimizing Moslem influence in Europe.

This seems to be biblically essential for certain biblical prophecies to be fulfilled.

4. The one who ultimately emerges as the main military leader will not be widely accepted at first and will probably offend some of the clergy as this new leader will promote a different religious order and claim that it is within Catholicism.

I would tend to consider that this religious order may fulfill Daniel 11:37-39 as it will combine the god of fortresses (the god of the Roman Empire, who is the god of those professing Christian religions that endorse, and often encourage, carnal warfare as acceptable for their followers) and the foreign god that his fathers did not know (probably the new, probably more ecumenical and changed, religious order the King of the North will honor).

5. A pope, who will later do miracles, will crown the military leader as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (most Catholic prophecies consider this pope to be some type of “Holy Pontiff”, while a few consider him to be a false pope). This pope or perhaps his immediate predecessor (who may die in exile while old) is prophesied to bring the Eastern Orthodox back into some communion with Rome. There are Catholic prophecies warning against a future antipope.

We in the Living Church of God would likely call the miracle performing pope the false prophet or final Antichrist. I (and several respected Catholic writers) consider him to be an antipope in the sense that unlike most other pontiffs (who I, and certain respected Catholic scholars, still do not believe are the continuous successors of Peter, see Apostolic Succession and What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History?) this one is in direct and close league with the demons. Catholics generally consider that a pontiff in direct/close league with demons would be an antipope. But although there are Catholic prophecies warning against a future antipope, many Catholic will not realize that this miracle performing pontiff is the antipope that some of their writers/prophets have apparently warned about.

6. Many Catholic prophecies refer to the military leader as the “Great Monarch” and be crowned as head of the new Holy Roman Empire. He will put down all then considered by “Catholics” as heresies, including the “secret sect”– a group that denies “the unity of God” and whose plans undermine the revised “Catholic” Church. The Great Monarch will uproot Islam and invade various Arab lands. This time under the Great Monarch certain Catholics indicate will be their “time of peace”.

We in LCG would likely call the military leader the Beast (as well as the King of the North). As discussed throughout this article, we in LCG are probably the group that some Catholics will later claim is the “secret sect” that they have been concerned about rising up. Some Catholic prophecies indicate that the secret sect will cause some clergy and other Catholics to leave the Catholic Church. About the time of the Great Monarch we in LCG will have gotten the Gospel out to more completely fulfill Matthew 24:14, which will lead to persecution from the Beast (which persecution they seem to call putting down heresies) then the end of the Philadelphia church efforts come as the Philadelphians will go to the place of safety. The Catholics suggest that the trinity that they adopted in 381 A.D., which we in LCG deny as they define it (although we do believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and accept a certain threeness about God, see Theophilus of Antioch), expresses “the unity of God”. I also believe that carrying out LCG’s plans to restore apostolic Christianity and to proclaim the truth about God’s plan of salvation will be interpreted as undermining Catholicism.

The claimed “time of peace” (when it is not really peace, cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3) is actually probably just before and after the start of the Great Tribulation that will begin with the destruction of the Anglo-American nations (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel), followed by a “retaliatory” invasion of an Arab-Muslim block (see The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy), and ultimately the destruction Europe itself (see Europa, the Beast, and Revelation).

7. The combination of the Great Monarch and “Holy Pope” with this new religious order will convert the world to this new brand of Catholicism (false apparitions claiming to be Mary may also play a role, see Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions). This will be the last true Roman Empire (one 12th century Catholic leader also called this Empire “Babylon” in a positive light) in which “there will be on earth twelve Kings, one Emperor, one Pope and a few Princes”. Some Roman Catholics believe that this will lead to the final fulfillment Matthew 24:14 as much of the world will then hold to this new order within the name Catholicism.

The Bible teaches that ten kings will give their power to the Beast–I suspect that it starts with 10, but that one or two other kings join later in order to make 12 and/or one or two kingdoms become subdivided into two each).

8. During this time two will preach, one of whom certain “Catholics” will refer to as the false prophet. This “false prophet” will announce that one many Catholics consider to be the Antichrist to come is Christ.

We in LCG will apparently consider that the two who will preach are the two witnesses who will announce that Jesus will come and that there will be a millennial reign of Christ followed by the second resurrection. The one whom we call Jesus, some of the false prophets seem to call the Antichrist (see Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? ).

9. Prior to the coming of the son of perdition, a group of pious people will live in caves and be miraculously taken care of. They are considered servants of the devil as well as his viscera. The mystic Hildegard warned end-time “Catholic” people, over 800 years ago, to stay away from them.

We consider that during the time of the son of perdition, the Philadelphians will be protected in the wilderness and be fed by God–for various reasons, it appears that an area with caves is likely. It is possible that those protected may provide some assistance to the two witnesses.

10. Catholic leaders now denounce the idea of a future millennial reign as well as all other ideas that salvation can come to humans after Jesus returns as heretical doctrines of Antichrist. They will likely claim that ones that they call the “false prophets” cannot be the two witnesses because they normally contend that the two witnesses are Enoch and Elijah (which they sometimes spell as Henoch and Elias) who are still waiting in Paradise to come down to earth.

Since we in LCG teach that Enoch and Elijah are dead, and thus believe that the two witnesses would deny that they came down from Paradise as Enoch and Elijah–this will likely confirm to the Catholics that those that we refer to as the two witnesses will be to them as “false prophets”. This will also be consistent with the improper Catholic view that the millennial teaching is a doctrine of Antichrist. However, certain other Catholics have correctly indicated that the two witnesses can be some other than Enoch and Elijah.

11. Some Catholics seem to believe that many Catholics will fall away from Catholicism (their “great apostasy”) during the end of time of the Great Monarch and this will lead to a “major chastisement” that will result in the destruction of the final Roman Empire and usher in the reign of Antichrist. The Antichrist is specifically prophesied by various Catholics to come immediately at end of the time of the Great Monarch and Holy Pontiff.

The so-called “major chastisement” seems to be what we in LCG call “the day of the Lord”. The one several of their prophets call the Antichrist is the one whom we call Jesus (Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?). Those Catholics that “fall away” from the new ecumenical Catholicism will be likely part of the great multitude that converts to true Christianity during the great tribulation (cf. Revelation 7:9).

12. Although the “Antichrist” may be considered as an antipope (a minority view within Catholicism), certain writings indicate that he may be Jewish. He will either try to establish a new Roman Empire (possibly a minority view within Catholicism) or some type of Jewish Empire. He will insist on a seventh-day Sabbath, eliminate Catholic mass, change (perhaps put back in their original numbering and meaning) the ten commandments, and eliminate all idols. This “Antichrist” will raise the dead, read people’s minds, be able to fly, and will usher in a prosperous age. Determined revisionist end-time Catholics will not accept this one and will wait and fight him and ultimately hope to triumph as Jesus will come.

We in LCG believe that the one some “Catholic” writers teach is Antichrist is really Jesus (Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?), hence this is why they will fight Him upon His return. The prosperous age would then be the millennium, an original doctrine of the early Church that the ecumenically-minded Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly denounced (see Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism?).

Since at the time of the end, from a religious perspective it will essentially be God’s Church verses the Church of Antichrist (a changed religion that will likely call itself “Catholic”), I believe that better understanding the Catholics’ past and their prophecies helps LCG better tailor our message so that we will better be able to properly fulfill the first part of Matthew 24:14. I also suspect that our improved future effectiveness in getting the Gospel out (perhaps a very “short work”, see Romans 9:28) will trigger persecution from the Beast and that this causes the end to come (the second part of Matthew 24:14).

Here is a Catholic prophecy that seems to predict that:

Priest Nectou S.J. (d. 1772): They indeed shall conspire for the destruction of the Church; but the time shall not be allowed them, because this frightful crisis shall be for a short duration. When all will be considered lost, all shall be found safe…The triumph of the Church will then be so complete that nothing like it shall ever be seen…A man disliked by France will be placed on the throne…(Culleton, p. 176; cf. Dupont, p. 48).

Perhaps another, semi-official, view of these prophecies by another Catholic, who is Vice President for Theology at EWTN (a Catholic broadcasting organization) might also help show that my understanding of some of these events is consistent with the generally accepted order by some of the Catholics:

The term “endtimes” applies both to the era of Christ’s first coming (Heb 1:2, 1 Cor 10:11, Heb 9:26) and to the events immediately before his return and the end of the ages (Mt 24:13, 2 Tim 2:1, 2 Peter 3:3). The definitive Catholic teaching on the endtimes is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church under the discussion of the article of the Creed, “From thence He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” [CCC 668-682]…The Catechism provides us with a general order of events at the End [CCC 673-677]…

Approved Catholic mystics (Venerables, Blessed and Saints, approved apparitions) throw considerable light on this order, by prophesying a minor apostasy and tribulation toward the end of the world, after which will occur the reunion of Christians. Only later will the entire world fall away from Christ (the great apostasy) and the personal Antichrist arise and the Tribulation of the End occur.

Although this is not Catholic doctrine, arising as it does from private revelation, it conforms to what is occurring in our time, especially in light of Our Lady of Fátima’s promise of an “Era of Peace.” This “Triumph of the Immaculate Heart” (other saints have spoken of a social reign of Jesus Christ when Jesus will reign in the hearts of men) would seem to occur prior to the rise of the Antichrist. The optimism of the Pope for the “New Evangelization” and a “Civilization of Love” in the Third Millennium of Christianity fits here, as well. This would place us, therefore, in the period just before the events spoken of in the Catechism, that is, on the verge of the evangelization of the entire world. Other interpretations are possible, but none seem to fit the facts as well, especially when approved mystics are studied, instead of merely alleged ones. (Colin B. Donovan, STL. Endtimes, Millennium, Rapture. http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/endtimes.htm viewed 09/27/08)

Thus, even The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) teaches that Catholics have approved mystics that suggest that a minor apostasy and tribulation (which D. Birch called the “minor chastisement”) will happen that will lead to an “era of peace” (the time dominated by the Great Monarch, which may also be related to the immaculate or sacred heart doctrine) and that shortly thereafter then the one some writers falsely call Antichrist (who is likely Jesus, see Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?) will come.

Yet, we in LCG expect to get Christ’s Gospel of the Kingdom to the world as a witness, suffer persecution, flee during the time that some claim is “the era of peace”, The King of the North/The Beast will reign with the final Antichrist, and Jesus will return to establish His kingdom on earth for a thousand years.

Both views cannot be right. Yet, while we in LCG rely primarily upon the Bible for our understanding of end-time events, most Catholics appear to rely on visions/utterances that seem to take essentially the opposite view of many end-time events (even though some Catholic writings are supportive of the LCG position).

Anyway, I have put together what might be the most extensive article on Catholic prophecies which includes many quotes from mystics, etc. about what many believe will come to pass.  It is an eye opening article for those interested in learning some of what will likely be pointed to as the religion of Antichrist rises up.  The article is titled Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies?

Ireland as Seen From Space

COGwriter

A bishop in Ireland (Noel Treanor) is offering his apologies for the rampant sexual abuse of children (mainly boys) by Catholic institutions in Ireland:

24 May 2009 13:00 UK

Bishop apology for ‘evil’ abuse

The Bishop of Down and Connor has apologised to all victims of child sex abuse by the Catholic church.

Dr Noel Treanor was speaking after a report last week said thousands had been abused over 60 years.

He said the report was “heartbreaking” and had recorded cruelty and abuses which were “criminal and sinful.”

But Dr Treanor said the church was addressing the “evil”, adding that the Down and Connor diocese now had robust child protection measures in place.

“I state my sorrow, shame and visceral pain in the face of these and all abuses inflicted on children and vulnerable adults, whenever they took place, wherever they are perpetrated,” he told a congregation in Carryduff on Sunday.

“I apologise on behalf of the church to all who are victims of abuse on the part of those who professed to care for them, or minister to them, in the name of Christ.

“I apologise, too, for the failure of those in positions of leadership in the Church to deal with the abusers.”

The victims of child abuse by religious orders were among 35,000 children who were placed in a network of reformatories, industrial schools and workhouses until the early 1990s.

More than 2,000 people told the Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse they suffered physical and sexual abuse as children in the institutions.

The commission found that sexual abuse was “endemic” in boys’ institutions, and church leaders knew what was going on. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8065797.stm

The fact that leaders of the Catholic Church knew what was going on and tolerated strongly demonstrates that they did not love their neighbors as themselves (amongst other things).

A significant factor in this type of abuse is a change that the Church of Rome adopted centuries ago requiring celibacy for its priesthood. This is a documented CHANGE of doctrine as even the Church of Rome realizes that the Apostle Peter was married.

Celibacy is one of the many changes that the Church of Rome has adopted that the true Church of God has not.

The fruits of this change for the Church of Rome have not been good (cf. Matthew 7:13-20).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Celibacy for Bishops/Presbyters/Elders was not a requirement in the early Church.
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?

COGwriter

Despite his recent comment that current US deficit spending is “unsustainable” ( <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Runningen R, Nichols H. Obama Says U.S. Long-Term Debt Load ‘Unsustainable’. Bloomberg.com May 14, 2009 19:40 EDT. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aJsSb4qtILhg viewed 05/16/09), President Obama decided that it was necessary to provide billions more to General Motors to prevent a depression:

Obama Says GM to Revive; Collapse Might Have Led to Depression

By Kim Chipman

May 23 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama said General Motors Corp. will reemerge from financial turmoil a “strong company” and that permitting it and Chrysler LLC to collapse could have triggered an economic depression.

GM got $4 billion in additional assistance to continue operations, the U.S. Treasury Department said yesterday. The assistance brings to $19.4 billion the total GM has received from the government so far, according to a Treasury Department document.

Allowing either automaker to liquidate would have been a “huge anti-stimulus on the economy as a whole and could have dragged us deeper into recession or even depression,” Obama told C-SPAN in an interview.

“Ultimately, I think GM is going to be a strong company and we are going to be pulling out as soon as the economy recovers and they’ve completed their restructuring,” Obama said in the interview. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aA2bEvRvgZsg&refer=news

Obviously no one in the USA wants a repeat of the Great Depression, but whether GM and Chrysler would be the tipping point is somewhat uncertain.

The President continues to make short term gambles that he hopes will keep the economy of the USA from completely collapsing.  And in the short run this approach seems to be effective.

However, the Bible is clear that in the long run, deficit spending is more than simply “unsustainable”, it will lead to destruction.  Thousands of years ago, God inspired the Prophet Habakkuk to write:

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…
6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘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 2:3,6-8)

The above prophecy will be fulfilled at the time of the end. This will be worse than any depression scenario the President and his staff have ever seriously considered as the result of US debt accumulation.

No nation has gotten itself into as much total debt as the USA.  And no other nation seems to be determined to increase their debt by an amount close to that which the USA seems to be intent to increase its debt (though the percentage by the UK is even higher overall).

And while GM may stay around for a time, the entire USA is doomed towards not just depression, but total destruction as a nation, without deep national repentance.  The time is getting closer.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article gives eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled if he is elected president?
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?
Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God Although there are some strange and false stories about Barack Obama, this one seems to be true.
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?
ny of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.

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. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here?  How might world leaders be involved?  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?

India

COGwriter

India has declared a winner in its latest election:

India has chosen the middle path

Kapil Komireddi
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 23 May 2009 16.00 BST

In giving a near-majority to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, Indian voters have sent a sharp message: that they reject the communalism of the right, represented by the Hindu-chauvinist BJP, and they repudiate the self-righteous isolationism of the left led by the CPI(M). Indians have chosen the middle path…

The setback suffered by the BJP in this election is largely because middle-class India, once the party’s base, has abandoned it. During its time in power (1999-2004), the BJP opened up India’s markets (building on the legacy of Manmohan Singh who was finance minister in the previous government), welcomed foreign investment, strengthened India militarily (although it capitulated to Pakistani terrorists who hijacked an Indian airliner, and was caught unawares as Pakistan’s army infiltrated Indian territory in Kargil in 1999), and, following 9/11, turned India into a staunch ally of the west, inaugurating its arrival as a big power.

All of these successes – which suppressed too many failures – turned the BJP into an idée fixe of the Indian middle class, which after decades of marginalisation by the west, began to glory in the sudden adulation showered upon it.

The Indian middle class was once largely dominated by Congress-minded liberals who, despite a stagnant economy, rarely wavered on the question of secularism. But to the expanded middle class, its newfound affluence became linked to the idea of resurgent Hindutva: they saw India as emerging not just from the ashes of British colonial exploitation and the stygian pit of Congress socialism, but also from the “dark ages” of Islamic rule which had emasculated India. This made it possible for them to tolerate the BJP’s Muslim-baiting and even positively acquiesce in it.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/23/india-election-congress

This represents a shift in India away from the trend towards a more extremist Hindu position for that country.

The government of Sri Lanka (essentially Buddhist) declared victory in its 26 year civil war against the Hindu Tamils there:

Sri Lanka Leader Rejects War Crimes Investigation

By Emily Wax

Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, May 23, 2009

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, May 22 — As hundreds of thousands of supporters cheered outside Parliament, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday dismissed calls for an international investigation into alleged war crimes by government troops in their victorious offensive against the Tamil Tiger rebels…

Both sides in Sri Lanka’s 26-year-long conflict have been accused of war crimes, especially during the past few months, when government troops cornered the Tamil Tigers on a narrow ribbon of land on the northeastern coast. Aid agencies say that the Tigers used terrified civilians, including children, as human shields, and that the government indiscriminately shelled hospitals and areas where civilians huddled in trenches…

The Tamil Tigers had fought to create a separate state it called Eelam, the Tamil word for homeland, in northern Sri Lanka.

More than 6,200 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and nearly 30,000 wounded in the final two years of fighting, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the president’s brother, said Friday.

Also Friday, a ceremony was held to honor the government’s war dead. Prayers were offered by Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian clergy representing this multiethnic island of 21 million people. Rajapaksa has been reaching out to the minority Tamils, although many here say they want to see him translate words into action. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/22/AR2009052202336.html

If this truly leads to peace in Sri Lanka (a big question still), this may result in increasing cooperation between both Sri Lanka and India (India has a lot of Tamil Hindus in the southern part of that country).

The Bible indicates that towards the end, there will develop a major power-block in Asia.  These latest events seem to be supportive of that.

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

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 (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
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. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradaumus prophecies have any value here? 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?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?

Giant Tarantula

COGwriter

In today’s announcements, LCG reported a spider problem in Australia:

End-Time Invasion by Beasts. Giant poisonous spiders are invading a coastal town in northeast Australia. These palm-sized spiders carry enough venom to kill a dog and make a human very sick. Usually residents of the wilderness, these spiders live under logs and rocks but are being driven into town by recent torrential rains. Residents are being warned to take precautions when gardening, lest they suffer a bite (The Times, May 6, 2009). Although this is not a “plague of biblical proportions,” the spider situation in Queensland may shed light on how God will fulfill one of His end-time prophecies. Leviticus 26:22 warns of how God will “send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number…” because of disobedience. Ezekiel 14:15 reiterates this warning. How and why various animals will become a pestilence in the last days (Luke 21:11) is not clearly known. However, it is possible that God will use changes in weather patterns to bring about some of these prophesied end-time events.

It remains to be seen precisely how the biblically-prophesied pestilences will ultimately be manifest.  However, in the U.S.A. brown recluse spiders have been able to infect people with a sometimes deadly form of MRSA (a type of staph bacteria).

Ticks from deer also transmit Lyme disease, which while normally not fatal, most often causes long-term misery for those so infected.

Without national repentance, those of the Anglo-descended nations are doomed to experience a variety of horrendous events.

Two 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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

Tehran, Iran

COGwriter

In his commentary last night, ICG’s Mark Armstrong wrote:

Whether or not mainstream media recognize it, the Iranian nuclear issue is the most urgent conundrum facing mankind. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made his scheduled visit to Washington D.C. this week, and the meetings went virtually unreported. What little was available on the subject simply reiterated the U.S. administration’s adamant intention to follow the diplomatic route, planning to reward Iran with status in the “international community” if they’ll only allow UN inspectors to supervise their nuclear facilities. You’ll remember the great dividends this strategy has yielded recently, in North Korea for example.

Asked to comment on his visit to D.C., Netanyahu said simply, “We will defend ourselves.” As was pointed out last week, Israel’s best hope for moral and/or monetary support for any move to deprive Iran of the ability to wipe Israel off the face of the map may be in relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the oil producing nations of the Gulf. Our Dept. of State has already showed its hand by letting it be known that if the diplomacy tactic fails, we’ll just have to get used to a nuclear Iran. How does Israel just get used to a nuclear Iran? The head of the Iranian army blustered recently that Iran would need just 11 days to obliterate the Jewish state. One of four Israelis say they’ll consider moving elsewhere if Iran gets to finish its bomb.

While Iran is considered to be an international concern, I disagree with Mark Armstrong that it is the most urgent conundrum facing the world right now.

However, the situation in Iran may have significant prophetic implications–especially if Israel decides that it needs to take unilateral actions to reduce Iran’s military capabilities.

The recent test launch of an Iranian long-range missile probably did not set well with the EU leadership.  It is possible that Israel is waiting for Iran to make one more major public move that Israel will decide is sufficiently offensive to the rest of the world (or at least the USA) that Israel will feel is enough of an excuse to allow it to attack some of Iran’s nuclear capabilities with relatively minimal international criticism.

Since, contrary to the claims of PCG’s Gerald Flurry, Iran is NOT the future King of the South, it certainly may be that its military capabilities will be reduced soon (although that is NOT the only possible resolution of the Iranian nuclear situation).

Two 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?

Bas-relief at Angkor Wat depicting a demon performing an ancient abortion.

COGwriter

In his latest commentary, UCG’s Robin Weber wrote:

Abortion vs. a Culture of Life

This week two major news items collided to push once again the abortion controversy front and center in the American consciousness.

President Barrack Obama—a “pro-choice” advocate—spoke about abortion at the well-known Catholic University of Notre Dame. At the same time amazing new Gallup poll results on abortion were released.

Both items made Americans take note that this open wound continues to fester.

The Notre Dame surprise

What surprised many people was that Notre Dame—sponsored by a church with a strong and clear systematic theology on life issues—would welcome a speaker known for his counter views. Many Catholic officials publicly denounced the event, boycotted the speech or joined in demonstrations leading up to the commencement address.

At the same time the venerable Gallup organization released a new poll showing—for the first time since 1995—that 51% of Americans consider themselves “pro-life” when it comes to the issue of infants in the womb having rights. The percentages have swung upward by 6% in just a year.

Like a vanishing city

Perhaps people are beginning to finally take notice of the grim statistics that—in the United States alone—3,700 babies are aborted every day. That grim statistic multiplies to 1.3 million a year.

While various Catholics protested that the pro-abortion President was speaking at one of their schools, I suspect few of them realize that some “Bishops of Rome” have, from the third century and beyond, sometimes allowed abortion.

But of course, we in the true Church of God, have never had true leaders that would have allowed this.

You-Tube

Eight days ago, someone I know sent me a You-Tube link urging President Obama to speak out against abortion at the Notre Dame speech.  The bizarre part of that You-Tube was that the narrator, who so passionately opposed abortion, also had apparently voted for Barack Obama.

Any who think that President Obama was apt to change his position on this apparently did not pay attention to the fact that while campaigning, he made it clear that strengthening laws to allow abortions was going to be one of his first priorities.  And if fact, that is what he did (e.g. Obama’s Abortion Changes).

Abortion is one of the many national sins of America that helps tell the world that it is not truly a “Christian nation”.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this?
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.
“Pope” Callistus (217-222) He is the first bishop known to have been a criminal prior to his election. He was also accused of a variety of corrupt acts, including allowing indulgences and infanticide (abortion).
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?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.

COGwriter

A 2,900 year old handle that appears to bear the name Menachem was recently discovered and announced:

Ancient handle with Hebrew text found in Jerusalem

Associated Press – May 20, 2009

by JOSEPH MARKS

JERUSALEM – Archaeologists digging on Jerusalem‘s Mount of Olives have discovered a nearly 3,000-year-old jar handle bearing ancient Hebrew script, a find significantly older than most inscribed artifacts unearthed in the ancient city, an archaeologist said.

The Iron Age handle is inscribed with the Hebrew name Menachem, which was the name of an Israelite king and is still common among Jews.

The inscription also includes a partly intact letter, the Hebrew character “lamed,” meaning “to.” That suggests the jar was a gift to someone named Menachem, said Ron Beeri, who directed the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority. There is no indication the inscription refers to the king himself.

The name and similar variants have been found on Egyptian pottery dating back 3,500 years, and the Bible lists Menachem Ben Gadi as an ancient king of Israel. But this is the first time an artifact bearing the name has been unearthed in Jerusalem, Beeri said.

“It’s important because it shows that they actually used the name Menachem during that period,” Beeri said. “It’s not just from the Bible, but it’s also in the archaeological record.”

Based on the style of the inscription, he dated the handle to around 900 B.C., the time of the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as recounted in the Bible. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090520/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_ancient_inscription

Menachem is normally spelled as “Menahem” in English versions of the Bible, such as the NKJV.

Menahem is mentioned in in II Kings 15:14-23.  Here is some of what the Hebrew scripture recorded about him:

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin (2 Kings 15:17-18).

But even though he was evil, Menahem is now being used to provide additional confirmation of the Old Testament.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge.
Where Did God Come From? Any ideas? And how has God been able to exist? Who is God?
How is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient? Here is a biblical article by Wallace Smith which answers what many really wonder about it.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.

EU Flag

COGwriter

Last year, the Irish voted against the Lisbon treaty.  Now they are apparently in favor of a modified version of it:

EU states ask Ireland to set referendum date

Irish Times – May 19, 2009

JAMIE SMYTH in Brussels

IRELAND’S EUROPEAN partners have asked the Government to set a date for the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty at next month’s EU leaders’ summit in Brussels.

The request was made at an EU foreign ministers meeting yesterday, where member states agreed to provide “robust” legal guarantees to try to persuade Irish voters to back the treaty.

“We understand how these guarantees are important for the Irish . . . should be robust enough to dispel the concerns of Irish citizens,” said Czech European affairs minister Stefan Fule, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

He said he thought the Government should announce the date of a second Lisbon referendum at the June council, provided the necessary guarantees were in place.

The Government wants its EU partners to sign up to texts providing legal guarantees that the Lisbon Treaty does not affect its sovereignty over tax, defence and ethical issues such as abortion and family life. It also wants them to agree to a declaration – which does not have the same legal standing as the guarantees – on the importance of workers’ rights.

Research conducted by the Government after the No vote in the first Lisbon referendum last June indicated these were the issues of primary concern to the Irish electorate. The texts of the guarantees are almost complete and will be finalised before the EU summit…

Mr Roche also welcomed yesterday’s Irish Times opinion poll which showed that 52 per cent of the public now back the Lisbon Treaty. “I’ve always been of the view when we get the guarantees completed and we resolve all the concerns that the Irish people had that we would get a positive result . . . It’s a good poll and it’s very welcome.”  http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0519/1224246880293.html

Prior to the Irish vote last year, I wrote the following (see The Pope, the Irish, the English, and the Libson Treaty):

Both Bible prophecy and recent EU history suggest that the EU will still try to move forward no matter how people vote (this Treaty of Lisbon essentially replaced the EU constitution that voters in France and the Netherlands rejected a while back).  Europe is destined to become a superstate no matter how often any vote against it.

And after the election, I wrote (see UCG, PCG, & LCG on the Irish Lisbon Treaty Rejection):

The European Beast power will form. The treaty rejection simply means that some modifications will need to occur before it goes forward to fruition.

The reality is that according to Bible prophecy, a European superstate must form, hence any minor impediments (like the will of the voters) will not stop “things which must shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1, KJV).  Even if the Irish reject the modified treaty.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur.
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?

COGwriter

Leon Sexton’s Thailand Legacy Institute was in the news:

MSU grad’s on a mission

The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus Mississippi – May 11, 2009

STARKVILLE — The city of Chiang Mai is a sprawling metropolitan area in the northern mountains of Thailand. The climate is hot and humid, the food is spicy and fresh, and for much of the past year, a former Mississippi State University student has called the region home.

Nathan Kimmons, 23, graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in marketing, but instead of going into a related field, Kimmons decided to move to Thailand, where he teaches and preaches in a town right outside of Chiang Mai.

Kimmons is originally from Brookhaven and has been back in the U.S. for the past two months while his students are on break, but he will be leaving for Thailand again before the end of May to prepare for the upcoming school year. He spent some of his time in the U.S. this spring visiting Starkville, where he still has friends who attend Mississippi State.

How did you end up in Thailand?

I went to MSU for four years and got a degree in marketing, which has nothing to do with teaching, obviously. But I had offers to go to Thailand probably three years ago for a church out of Big Sandy, Texas. So last year they asked me and I was like, “Yeah. Why not? I’ll go to Thailand.” I didn’t know a whole lot about what the program was. It’s called Legacy Foundation. It’s a Christian outreach thing where we teach English and we teach the Bible and we teach leadership, several different things. It’s a three-year school, so the students are about the junior college level. We require a high school equivalent or so. It’s kind of different over in that part of the world. It’s all free to them and they come and live at the compound for about three years and they cook, they do all the laundry, they work on the farm, stuff like that.

How big is this place?

It’s pretty small. It’s only like 20 students or so. We only have three teachers...

How is the local food?

That’s all I eat and I never got sick one time in nine months. It’s really spicy for the most part. They like to laugh at foreigners who come in and think they can eat spicy food. I mean, I really like spicy food so I don’t mind. It’s also a lot of rice and noodles and stuff. There’s not much cheese or milk. They have it, but it’s really expensive because they don’t really eat cheese on any of their foods. They know the people who are going to buy it are foreigners and they can afford it.

Have you tried anything exotic or something you had never heard of before?

I don’t eat pork or any kind of seafood, pretty much, except for fish, so I didn’t try a whole lot. I had some fried grasshoppers and I did have some bee eggs that I didn’t know about until after I ate them, or bee larva.

What religion are you affiliated with?

It’s no particular organization. It’s just like the Church of God where people accept the Sabbath and all the holy days and stuff. The guy who runs it used to be with the Worldwide Church of God long ago. It’s pretty much his brainchild. It’s called Legacy and him and his wife have been running the show for seven years. http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=1391

Leon Sexton runs Legacy, but he has a couple of unusual ideas regarding the mission of the Church.

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

Teachings and Practices of Legacy Institute Works mainly in Asia and is led by Leon Sexton. It has various misunderstandings.
The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Are the Asians the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all in Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?