Church of God News

Chinese Soldiers

COGwriter

Russia and China signed 12 agreements today:

China, Russia sign 12 agreements during Putin’s visit

BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) — China and Russia signed 12 agreements, including agreements on natural gas and oil, as the government heads of the two countries held their 14th regular meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. The signing ceremony was overseen by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after their talks in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing…

The level of political mutual trust, strategic and practical cooperation between the two countries has been improved continuously and yielded many achievements, which effectively advances the development of bilateral ties and positively influences world peace and development, he said. The Sino-Russian relations are role models of relations between neighboring countries and relations between big powers, said Wen, adding that China is willing to work with Russia to make greater achievements in the future. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/13/content_12225202.htm

The reality is that Russia and China are prophesied to cooperate more in the future.  Specifically, it appears that China will supply a lot of the troops for the prophesied 200 million man army when it, Russia, and their allies finally turn on the European Beast power that they will to a degree originally support.

Those interested in more details, should study the following:

Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King 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?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
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?
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?

VS.

COGwriter

Ronald Weinland of CGPFK is a self-appointed “prophet” who claims to be one of the two witnesses and who also claims that the Great Tribulation began in 2008.  Recently he had indicated that on October 10, 2009 he would report new information (an expansion of some of his so-called “new truth”).

Mike at the Don’t Drink the Flavor Aid site reported about that 10/10/09 sermon:

Ron said that the European beast power might not arise until August of 2011, and China might not become prominent in his prophecy until 2012.

This, of course, is another change from Ronald Weinland who originally taught that Europe would rise up and takeover the USA in 2008.  Here is some of what he said in 2007 and 2008:

Next year will see the Dollar collapse and the Euro become the new strength for the world’s economy. The thunders of Revelation are now going to begin to increase in intensity and frequency. Beginning in February, those thunders will increase dramatically, and by April this world will begin to be shaken to its foundations. (November 24, 2007).

And God gave an outline for various things he was very you know there were things very specific there about 2008 uh dates and so forth when things beginning the process uh just like by the time we get to the fifth trumpet we know exactly what’s going to happen that’s when Europe arises. That’s when Europe is given the power they’re given. They fill a vacuum that the United States leaves because we’re going to have an economic collapse here…But even after the terrorism uh actually Europe’s going to uh send a few our way as well. They’re uh we’re gonna be conquered that’s a part of the processes. By the time the fifth trumpet sounds we are going to be conquered by Europe… (April 7, 2008)

Of course, the USA dollar has still not yet collapsed nor has it been taken over (though both will eventually happen).

This is part of why Ronald Weinland is an issue.  Because he has a COG background, he correctly understands that Europe will eventually become THE premier economic and military power and conquer the USA and its Anglo-allies.  However, since he rejected proper church governance and appointed himself as a prophet, he has gone off course and in my opinion is discrediting the Church of God message by making false predictions and statements–and people have been misled by him (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).

At this stage, it appears to me at least that Ronald Weinland is trying to give his followers some reason to accept that the Great Tribulation has begun without the obvious signs.  And he might figure that holding out a 2011/2012 date may work for a while.  However, the Great Tribulation has not begun, Europe will NOT invade the USA prior to 2013, and nothing that Ronald Weinland can say can change that.

Those interested in learning more about what the Bible shows about these matters may wish to consider studying the following articles:

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 (first April 17th, then June 2008, now December 14, 2008). Why is he a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.
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?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood?
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?

COGwriter leaving the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople ‘s Administrative Building May 2008

COGwriter

Pope Benedict XVI seems to be determined to have unity with the Eastern Orthodox.

But at what cost?

When I was in Istanbul in May 2008, I was specifically told by a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople that when Pope Benedict XVI visited there, a papal representative of Benedict XVI told the Patriarch (Bartholomew I) that Rome would change all doctrines necessary to attain full unity with the Orthodox, if the Orthodox would accept papal authority.  And this definitely included changing Rome’s position on the doctrines such as the Filioque clause (a clause which contains a biblically supportable position).

Hence, those associated with the Church of Rome need to understand that this means that the Vatican’s current (and likely future) leadership is willing to compromise on something that it has long held as being of “great dogmatic and historical importance.”

Since Vatican II (a major Catholic ecumenical council that ran from 1962–1965), many Catholics have been justifiably concerned that doctrinal compromise for the sake of ecumenical unity with those outside of fellowship of Rome was inevitable.

The Orthodox have long taught that the Church of Rome (known sometimes as Latins) will change doctrines to those of the Orthodox.  A document known as the Anonymou Prophecy of 1053 refers to this as the:

“Deferring of the Latins to the error-free faith of the Orthodox”…

It then claims:

“The Orthodox Faith will expand from East to West” (Tzima Otto, p. 116).

Here is an explanation from Orthodox scholar H. Tzima-Otto (bolding in original):

Many Catholic prophecies speak of the victory of the ‘true Catholic faith’, while Orthodox prophecies, although they agree on everything else, predict a victory of the ‘true Orthodox faith’…When we speak of the future Council, it is bound to be ecumenical…there will come a true re-unification of the Christian Churches…This Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is not going to be Roman Catholic as understood today…

The error-free Orthodox faith…The Orthodox did not experience a Vatican II, they did not begin to rewrite Scriptures…Hence, error-free in the sense that it has not been contaminated by satan…(Tzima Otto, pp. 120-122)

Thus, the Orthodox expect Rome to change its doctrines, because they feel that the Roman Catholic Church adopted errors from satan.

Lest any think that Dr. Tzima-Otto is simply a rogue Orthodox scholar, it perhaps should be pointed out that the Orthodox, who generally make less pronouncements than the Vatican tends to, condemned the papacy as a major heresy in an encyclical in 1848:

4. Of these heresies widely-diffused was formerly Arianism, and now is the Papacy, which, though still flourishing, shall, like the former, pass away and be cast down, and a great voice from Heaven shall cry, ‘ It is cast down.’—Rev. xii. 10…Encyclical Letter of the Eastern Orthodox, 1848. As cited in The Benares magazine, No. 31, 1851.  W.H. Haycock, 1851. Original from Oxford University Digitized, Nov 24, 2006, pp. 370-371,373)

Perhaps it should be mentioned that “Rev. xii. 10” teaches about the “accuser of the brethren” (a reference to Satan in verse 9) being cast down. Thus the Orthodox officially seem to have condemned the papacy as Satan the devil.

Notice that according to another Byzantine prophet, the final (the Orthodox recognize seven previous ones) ecumenical council satisfies what “heretics” want:

Saint Nelios the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics…(Tzima Otto, p. 111).

By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic”.  If heretics are truly heretics, should their complaints be satisfied?

A Catholic prophecy shows that after its church is changed (reformed below), the Orthodox will come back:

Roger Bacon (died 1294): There shall arise a…priest to reform the Church.  The Greeks will return (to the Church)…there will be one fold, one shepherd (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 149).

Furthermore, it appears that other Catholic writings suggest that it is an antipope who is involved in the imposition of a changed church:

Oba Prophecy: It will come when the Church authorities issue directives to support a new cult, when priests are forbidden to celebrate in any other, when the highest positions in the Church are given to perjurers and hypocrites, when only the renegades are admitted to occupy those positions.

Nun Anna-Katarina Emmerick (19th century): I saw again a new and odd-looking Church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it…

Yves Dupont (writer interpreting A. Emmerick above), They wanted to make a new Church, a Church of human manufacture, but God had other designs…The Holy Father shall have to leave Rome, and he shall die a cruel death. An anti-pope shall be set up in Rome. (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, pp. 115,116).

Priest O’Connor (20th century?): This final false prophet will be a bishop of the church and will lead all religions into becoming one. (The False Prophet.  Living in the Final Generation. http://www.geocities.com/rebornempowered/ApparitionsofMary.htm 10/12/07)

Priest H. Kramer (20th century): In the vision of the Seer now appears a second beast rising out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon…In other places he is called the false prophet…This prophet may re-establish the pagan Roman Empire and build the “Great Harlot”, Babylon… The False Prophet…will persuade all infidels, apostates and apostate nations to worship and adore him…Antichrist “sitteth in the temple of God” (I Thes. II. 4). This is not the ancient Temple in Jerusalem…this temple is shown to be a Catholic Church…The False Prophet will proclaim the resurrection of the Roman Empire. (Kramer H., p. 318,320-323)

All (Catholic or otherwise) should be careful, compare their teachings with the Bible, pray to God, and not accept doctrines that are unbiblical for the sake of this coming ecumenical unity.

Thus, Catholics indicate that a new type of “Catholicism” will be false to that religion. This also seems to be consistent with an Orthodox understanding of the last false religious power coming from Rome:

Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos (20th century): The army of Antichrist is made up of the worldly powers, mainly the Roman Empire, symbolized by the two beasts and the harlot woman (Rev. 11:7; 13:1-17; cf. Dan. 7:11-12)… The final confrontation with evil is presented in chapters 19 and 20…The war is waged by the beast and the false prophet. Both of these are organs of Satan, representing the political and religious authority of Rome (Rev. 13:1-18). (Gerasimos, Bishop. At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church. Holy Cross Orthodox Press. October 5, 2004, pp. 28-29).

To learn more specifically why American Catholics should be concerned, there is a new article on this subject is available below:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?

Hillary Rodham Clinton

COGwriter

Although there were some recent strains between the special relationship between the USA and the UK since the Obama administration came to power, the US Secretary of State says that relationship still exists:

U.S. and U.K. Say ‘Special Relationship’ Is Still Going Strong

By Mary Beth Sheridan and Karla Adam

Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, October 12, 2009

LONDON, Oct. 11  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton came to Britain over the weekend with a message about the two countries’ alliance: It is special. Very special.

“It’s a special relationship,” Clinton said before meeting Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday. “I have a special personal relationship with the prime minister. And of course, I think it can’t be said often enough, we have a special relationship between our countries.”

Earlier in the day, she thanked Foreign Secretary David Miliband for “the opportunity to reaffirm the historic importance of the special relationship.”

The Times of London rushed the big story to the top of its Web site: “Hillary Clinton Hails Special Relationship.”…

A senior State Department official traveling with Clinton told reporters, “There’s not a country in the world with which we have such regular and deep conversations on foreign policy.” Just days ago, he noted, Obama had a lengthy videoconference with Brown. And the U.S. president did meet with Brown in New York, he said. (Although the British press said the encounter took place in the U.N. kitchen.)

The term “special relationship” was coined by Winston Churchill to refer to the cooperation between the allies. But over the years, British politicians have sometimes whipped themselves into a frenzy over perceived fluctuations in their country’s ties to its former colony.

Focus on the relationship has been particularly intense since President Obama came to office. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton had extremely warm relations with Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101673.html

This relationship will likely be strained, get much closer, and eventually essentially dissolve, but Bible prophecy ties the destiny of these nations (along with Canada, New Zealand, and Australia) to a great degree.

To learn more, please consider reading the following articles:

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?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and 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”, based up an early 20th century writing.

Ancient Mayan City of Palenque

COGwriter

UCG published the following in World News & Prophecy by its Gary Petty:

The predictions are of total devastation! According to some forecasts, entire cities will be destroyed by enormous tsunamis, earthquakes and Category 5 hurricanes; meteors will rain down fiery death from heaven; and human history will come to a violent end.

The hype is based on a mixture of speculation about Mayan calendars, the book The Bible Code, some ancient Eastern prophecies, the writings of Nostradamus and passages from the biblical book of Revelation.

Other 2012 scenarios picture a wonderful change in human consciousness and the ushering in of the New Age of Aquarius. John Major Jenkins, author of Maya Cosmogenesis, describes the coming New Age this way: “Around the year we call 2012 a large chapter in human history will be coming to an end. All the values and assumptions of the previous World Age will expire, and a new phase of human growth will commence.”

While movie special effects of a tsunami crashing into the Himalayas can be visually spectacular, the answers to your future can’t be found in speculations about Mayan calendars, or in the writings of Nostradamus or a New Age guru. The real answers to the questions about the end of the world are found in the only true source of prophecy—the Bible…

While humanity will not be destroyed in 2012, the Bible also reveals that the New Age scenario is not your destiny. The solutions to human problems will not come from mysticism but from the Creator of life.

And Gary Petty is correct that the world will not end in 2012.  However, it may end shortly thereafter and people inside and outside of the COGs need to heed Jesus’ multiple admonitions to watch, such as the following one:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Those interested in learning more about 2012 and when the end is expected should study the following articles:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus 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? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book. This also has YouTube videos related to 2012.
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? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

A slightly difficult uphill and narrow way in Tobago

COGwriter

Today is known as the Last Great Day.  The seven day Feast of Tabernacles is immediately followed by the eighth day, which began last night at sunset.

Christians normally call this the ”Last Great Day” based on these statement from Jesus in John 7:37-38,

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

It is on that last day that those predestined in this age will be the praise to Christ’s glory to those on the earth in a way that has not happened before.

Jesus was clear that only a few will find this way in this age:

23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:23-24).

14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:14).

So only some few will be called in this age. And there is an “age to come” (Matthew 12:32) where even infamous sinners will have an opportunity (cf. Matthew 10:15;11:22).

According to an old, but probably modified in the 4th century document, it seems that Polycarp observed the Feast of Tabernacles in the second century including the Last Great Day:

I will give the narration in order, thus coming down to the history of the blessed Polycarp…

So also he pursued the reading of the Scriptures from childhood to old age, himself reading in church; and he recommended it to others, saying that the reading of the law and the prophets was the forerunner of grace, preparing and making straight the ways of the Lord, that is the hearts, which are like tablets whereon certain harsh beliefs and conceptions that were written before perfect knowledge came, are through the inculcation of the Old Testament, and the correct interpretation following thereupon, first smoothed and levelled, that, when the Holy Spirit comes as a pen, the grace and joy of the voice of the Gospel and of the doctrine of the immortal and heavenly Christ may be inscribed on them. And he said that they could not otherwise receive the impression of the seal which is given by baptism and engrave and exhibit the form conveyed in it, unless the wax were first softened and filled the deep parts. So also he thought that the hearts of the hearers ought to be softened and yield to the impress of the Word. For he said that it unfolded and opened, like closed doors, the minds of recent comers; and accordingly the prophet was bidden by God, Cry out mightily and spare not, Raise thy voice as a trumpet. What must one say, when even He that was gentler than all men so appeals and cries out at the feast of Tabernacles? For it is written; And on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirsteth, let him come to Me and drink. (Pionius, Life of Polycarp (1889) from J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, pp.488-506.)

The Living Church of God states this about the eighth day of the feast:

…Old Testament meaning

…Adjacent to the Feast of Tabernacles, this eighth day is considered a separate Feast.
(Leviticus 23:36, 39)

…New Testament meaning

…Pictures the coming “Great White Throne Judgment” at which all of humanity not previously called will have the chance to hear the True Gospel and accept salvation. [The Holy Days]

Most of the small groups that observe the Feast of Tabernacles and the eight day that follows it are in basic agreement with the statements quoted from the Living Church of God.

Here is some of what the late Herbert W. Armstrong taught about the Last Great Day:

This eighth day, technically a separate feast, is called “the last day, that great day of the feast” (John 7:37).

What does this final holy day represent?

Notice what Jesus preached about on that day: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink . . . out of his belly [innermost being] shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive . . .)” (John 7:37-39).

This was Jesus’ sermon giving the meaning of the last great day!

Now turn to Revelation 20. After the Millennium, what happens? A resurrection! The dead stand before God. This couldn’t include true Christians today, as they will appear before the judgment seat when Christ returns. It couldn’t refer to those converted during the Millennium. They have already inherited the Kingdom during the Millennium, after living out a normal life-span. Those in this resurrection must be those who died in ignorance in past ages! They are not brought to life until after the Millennium (Revelation 20:5).

This is that judgment day mentioned in Matthew 10: 15. It is a time when Gentiles who died in ignorance will be given an opportunity to receive salvation. Ezekiel 16:53-55 makes this very plain. Even those in Israel who died in their sins will be given their first opportunity to understand the truth of God and His way (Ezekiel 37). The prophet wrote that God would pour out His Spirit on those resurrected (verse 14). This is precisely the salvation that Jesus mentioned in His sermon on that great day of the feast in the autumn of AD 30.

This eighth day, which immediately follows the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, pictures the completion of the plan of redemption. It is just prior to the new heaven and the new earth. All parents and children, young and old will be resurrected. Notice that the “book of life” typifying salvation is opened (Revelation 20:12). Revelation presents the final view of the “judgment day” as the present material heaven and earth are perishing and the faithful are receiving their eternal reward at the throne of Christ. The wicked those who disobey are seen perishing in the lake of fire! What a marvelous plan! All will have an equal opportunity (Armstrong HW. Pagan Holidays–or God’s Holy Days—Which?, booklet).

Isaiah prophesied how long the White Throne Judgment period would last. During this time Christ and the resurrected saints will rule. It is the time of the second resurrection. The earth will be as peaceful and productive as the Millennium itself. Children who died will live again for one hundred years, building character through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Older people who had died without knowing God’s plan for them will also be resurrected to live for one hundred years. The close of the one-hundred-year White Throne Judgment is pictured by John in Revelation 20:11-12…100 years of testing…Isa. 65:20. (Bible Correspondence Course, Lesson 39. 1954, 1965 Edition).

A major reason that I became part of the old Worldwide Church of God and now the Living Church of God is that in addition to proving all things from the Bible, I truly believe that since “God is love” (1 John 4:16) that He has a plan of salvation that will ultimately result in everyone being called and nearly every one who ever lived being saved.

Two must read articles to demonstrate the truth of those doctrines are Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants and Universal Salvation? There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis.

Superconducting quadrupole electromagnets are used in the LHC to direct the beams to four intersection points where interactions between protons will take place.

COGwriter

Later this month, the European Large Hadron Collider is hoped to be tested:

BBC – …

Officials aim to re-start the collider, known as the LHC, in mid-November.

A low-intensity beam could be injected into the LHC in the second half of October, officials told the BBC.

This beam test would involve only parts of the collider, rather than the whole “ring”. If all goes to plan, the first beam collisions could occur before the end of the year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8270427.stm

The Large Hadron Collider (the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator) appears to be the world’s leading-edge physics project.  Almost all massive physics projects have had military applications in the past.

The LHC was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (also referred to as CERN), and is apt to provide the Europeans with unique military capabilities in several years.   No other nation or group of nations will have complete access to what will develop from the Large Hadron Collider.

All need to understand that the Bible is clear that the final “Beast power” (which will be primarily European) will have such unique military capabilities that the entire world will marvel (cf. Revelation 13:3–4).

It appears that these capabilities may be being developed now.

Two 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?
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?

COGwriter

It was announced today that USA President Barack Obama won the Nobel peace prize.  He said today he would accept the award as a call to action.

And while he believes that he will work for peace, the reality is that it appears that President Obama will likely enable the rise of certain biblically prophesied military leaders.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and 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”, 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.

COGwriter

Today is the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles for 2009.

As most who are readers of this page at this time are not at the Feast of Tabernacles now, I thought a series on the sites we attended might be of interest.  This is part three of the three-part series.

In 2000, my family went to Jamaica for the Feast of Tabernacles.  This was the first year that the Living Church of God (with that name) had a feast site there.  About 100 attended that year.  Although we took a lot of pictures, I only found the following one:

In 2001, we went to Tugan, Australia for the feast.  Probably around 300 attended that year.  This may have been the favorite feast site for our older two sons (they hope the Feast in Australia will be in this area again).  Below is the building services were at, and a park photo.

In 2002, we went to Barbados for the feast.  70-100 attended.  A hurricane almost hit and added additional excitement to this feast site.

In 2003 and 2004, we went to Kauai, Hawaii for the feast.  About 200-500 attended.  We stayed in different places each time.  There was teen bowling activity (1st photo) and Dr. Jeff Fall spoke (2nd photo).

In 2005, we went to Clearwater Beach, Florida.  Around 800 attended.  A hurricane threatened, but did not cause problems until the day after the feast ended.  That resulted in a hotel we were to stay being closed and caused a variety of problems, but we got through them.

In 2006, we went to Antigua, Guatemala for the feast.  We were the only non-Latin family to attend, so translations were provided for us.  Also, since I do not speak Spanish, my two sermons (the only live sermons not in Spanish there) were translated for the attendees.

In 2007, we went to Crown Point, Tobago.  Tobago is a small island and is part of the country known as Trinidad and Tobago.  At family day, two of our sons joined with the local church brethren to play cricket.  I gave two or three sermonettes there.

In 2008, we went to Evian, France and I gave one sermonette (in English of course).  In Evian, most LCG members stayed in the same complex and normally had our meals together.

In 2009, we are to be in Lihue, Kauai (again) for the feast–which is where we should be today.

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Should you?

The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?

LCG 2009 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this year.

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis

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In the 12/08 edition of its Bible Advocate magazine, CG7 published:

Israel in Bible Prophecy

W esley Walker of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, has served CoG7 as a pastor and in other capacities for more than forty years. He recently published his first book, Answers to Bible Questions. Elder Walker’s answers here reflect the Church’s historic views on Israel.

BA: What’s the big picture of land ownership in the Middle East, as you see it?

The present problems there began with Abraham. In Genesis 12 God speaks to Abraham and tells him to leave his father’s house and go into a land that He would show him. Abraham obeyed and left his homeland.  Then God gives Abraham the boundaries of his inheritance in Genesis 15:18. Check a Bible
map; you will notice the river of Egypt is to the south of Israel and the Euphrates River is to the north. The great sea would be the western border. We do not know exactly how far east it extended, but it may have been into modern Jordan and Syria, east of the river Jordan.

For more than sixty years now Israel has been in the news be-cause of land disputes between her and her Arab neighbors, especially the Palestinians. This conflict will continue until true ownership of the land is estab-lished…

BA: What prophecies were ful-filled for Israel in the past cen-tury?

The Zionist movement began in 1897, and a few Jews went home. In 1922, when the League of Nations approved a British mandate over Palestine, the British government appointed a Zionist board, and more went home. By the end of World War II and the Jewish Holocaust, six hundred thousand more Jews had returned to their homeland. Today, again, Israel is alive in her own land, with these prophecies fulfilled: Isaiah 11:11, 12; Jeremiah 31:7-12; 32:37-44; and Ezekiel 36:6, 7, 21-24; 37:21-28.

The most convincing prophecy of Israel’s ultimate return may be in Amos 9:14, 15. Through the prophet, God spoke a permanent presence of His people in the land of Israel. They would build, plant, eat, and no one would uproot them again! I believe this has happened in my lifetime...

Israel has not yet gotten all the land that was promised to Abra-ham, but she will. She did not get it all at once in the beginning, nor is she getting it all at once to-day. But little by little, Israel will, and there will be more violent events before she does.

CG7-Denver fails to understand that the prophecies to Israel in the Bible were NOT limited to the tribe of Judah.  Furthermore, I do not think that it is at all possible that the current nation of Israel will increase its size to end up with all the land that God promised the descendants of Abraham.

If that is one of the signs that CG7-Denver is looking for prior to the return of Jesus Christ, then it will sadly not know what is happening when the Great Tribulation begins.

Anyway, what about Wesley Walker’s point about Amos 9:14-15 as the most convincing proof of his position (which according to the Bible Advocate reflects CG7-Denver’s historical view)?  Let us look at what the Bible actually says here:

14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
15 I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,”
Says the LORD your God (Amos 9:14-15)

Notice that the above indicates that Israel will not be pulled up from the land.  Well, there are two significant problems with the nation of Israel and that prophecy applying now:

1. The current nation of Israel still has not received all the promised land.  Hence, until it does so, the above truly is not being fulfilled.
2. The current nation of Israel returned some of the land it did receive to Egypt some years ago as part of a peace deal.  Hence, it allowed itself to be “pulled up” from the land.

CG7-Denver may wish to re-think its position here, because the modern nation of Israel has not received all the land and in fact has given some back.

Additionally, Wesley Walker cited Jeremiah 32:37-41 (I left out verses 42-44 for space) which states:

37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’ (Jeremiah 32:37-41)

Does anyone really think that the modern nation of Israel has one mind to fear God today?  Israel is essentially a secular state that is divided politically.  It simply does not fulfill Jeremiah 32.

Perhaps I should add that while Wesley Walker also cited Jeremiah 31:7-12, this is referring to Ephraim and hence is not limited to Judah.  But since CG7-Denver refuses to acknowledge the true identity of Israel in prophecy, it overlooked that critically important point.

FWIW, I also looked up Ezekiel 36:6, 7, 21-24; 37:21-28 and disagree that the current nation of Israel has necessarily fulfilled any of these.  One of the reason why is that Ezekiel 36:21-24 specifically leads into verses 25-28:

24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God (Ezekiel 36:24-28)

Of course, this simply has not happened.  And notice that until it does, the prophesied dwelling in the land promised to fathers (like Abraham) will not happen.  Also, we in the Living Church of God believe that the prophecies in Ezekiel 37:21-28, do not happen until after the resurrection in mentioned in Ezekiel 37:12-14.

The fact is that CG7-Denver does not properly understand prophecy.  It is no place of safety.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
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?
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.
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.