Church of God News

By COGWriter

A very popular link at the COGwriter website is to the Who Wants to be a Biblical Millionaire? quiz, developed by Michael Thiel.

It is an interesting game and Michael is always adding more questions to it.  The game now has well over 800 different questions.  Think of it as an entertaining way to assist your doctrinal memory.

While I believe that this and other quizzes at the site help people better learn the Bible, the major reason I have quizzes, animations, photos, and even news, as opposed to only doctrinal articles, is to attempt to better follow the Apostle Paul’s example which was:

22 I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

Besides, the Bible teaches that there is a “time for every purpose under heaven” (Eccl 3:1). Hence, there are new items, games, and other materials than simply doctrinal ones at the www.cogwriter.com website.

Michael’s Free Bible Quizzes and Public Domain Animations.

Self Grading Bible Quiz 15 questions and a report card when you finish.
The Good Samaritan A public domain claymation for younger people.
Paul in Damascus Not a quiz, but a Lego-animation.
John 21 Not a quiz, but (other than a Lego suggesting a long-haired Jesus) a biblical story for young people.
David vs. Goliath A higher level animation for older young people.
Solomon’s Temple This is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple.
Bible Crossword Puzzle
Who Wants to be a Biblical Millionaire? A sophisticated quiz.
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
Michael’s Feasts and Fasts Quiz 15 questions, amusing wrong answer screens.
The Ten Commandments Quiz Developed by my son Michael.
Michael’s Day of Atonement Quiz Another free on-line Bible quiz by my son Michael.
Bible Hangman Michael’s most interactive Bible game to date. Another one of his free online Bible games.
Michael’s Sabbath Quiz Test and learn a little more about the Sabbath.

COGwriter

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 two of three.

In 1990, our family went on the Mediterranean cruise for the Feast of Tabernacles.  Over one thousand attended.  This cruise began in Venice, Italy, went to Greece, and to several of the churches of Revelation 2 & 3.

Here are photos of Venice, the cruise ship, many there, and the isthmus of Corinth:

Additional photos at or related to that 1990 Feast are included in Joyce’s Photos of Corinth, Joyce’s Photos of Ephesus, Joyce’s Photos of Pergamos, and Joyce’s Photos of Smyrna.

In 1991, we went to Victoria, British Columbia (Canada).  Over 1,000 (perhaps 2,000 or more) attended.  Below is a picture of Victoria Harbor and the children’s choir at the Feast:

In 1992 was our first trip to the Caribbean and we went to the Bahamas.  Over 500 attended.  Below is the children’s choir, as well as the view from our hotel room of the tip of Paradise Island:

In 1993, we went to Eastbourne, England for the Feast of Tabernacles.  Around 1500 attended that year.  Below is a picture of Eastbourne, as well as a castle not too far from the city:

In 1994, we went to Eugene, Oregon for the Feast of Tabernacles.  Over 1000 seemed to be in attendance.  While there we visited 3-4 places of historical interest to the old Worldwide Church of God (some photos of two of those are included in the articles 6. The Philadelphia Church Era and The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians?)–what struck me was that no one other than us was ever at any of those places.  This was our last year at a Worldwide Church of God feast site.  The first picture is a welcome to Oregon, while the second is near Florence Oregon:

In 1995, we attended our first Feast of Tabernacles site outside the Worldwide Church of God.  The Global Church of God site we attended was in Del Mar, California.  Around 700 were in attendance.  It is near San Diego.  The first picture is in Del Mar, while the second is of San Diego:

In 1996, we attended the Feast of Tabernacles in Penang, Malaysia.  About 70 attended.  We were one of only 2 American families there.  This was the first feast site I spoke at (I gave two sermonettes).

In 1997, we attended the feast in Hengelhoef, Belgium.  Several hundred were in attendance.

In 1998, we attended the feast in Branson, Missouri.  At this site, Dr. Meredith and I became better acquainted, which helped when the Global Church of God crisis erupted the next month.  The second picture is from a place called “the Holy Land” and is a short drive away in Arkansas:

In 1999, we attended the feast in Anchorage, Alaska.  This was the first time my wife or I ever attended the same feast site more than once.  However, it was different than the previous time (1982) and there was a significant reduction in the sizes of the glaciers I remembered from the prior visit.

In the 1990s, there were over 100 feast sites pretty much every year, and thus we tended to have a lot of choices about where to attend.  Though even now, the Living Church of God has over 40 sites.  Perhaps I should add that leaders that Christians consider to be saints such as the Apostle Paul and Polycarp of Smyrna kept the Feast of Tabernacles.

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.

Dresden Codex Picturing a Flood

COGwriter

This month, Sony Films took great efforts to popularize its upcoming 2012 movie.  So, most Americans have heard of it (the movie is also planned to be released in Europe and elsewhere and in multiple languages).

I reviewed 2012 the Movie (by Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company) preview and also the trailer for it a few times. Thus far, it seems to perpetuate the non-biblical position that the world will be destroyed by a flood (cf. Genesis 9:11-17) in 2012. The trailer also has the following statements:

HOW WOULD THE GOVERNMENTS OF OUR PLANET PREPARE SIX BILLION PEOPLE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD?

THEY WOULDN’T

2012

FIND OUT THE TRUTH

Despite claims, Mayan writings (like the Dresden Codex shown at the beginning of today’s article), movie trailers, and movie reviews, the truth is that world will not end in 2012. (Though massive flooding, which Sony’s movie implies, is likely to occur just a few years later.)

It is simply not possible according to the Bible for this to happen in 2012 (please also see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?). Those who think it will, simply have been misled. And those looking for a place of protection, may wish to consult the Bible and not Patrick Geryl (for biblical information, please see the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra) nor Hollywood.

The Bible also teaches:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Wallace Smith of the Living Church of God reported the following after seeing a preview for the movie:

As my wife and I walked into the local cinema, before us stood one of the largest movie advertisement displays I’ve ever seen.  It depicted a coastal city being completely ripped apart by unprecedented seismic activity—tossing vast swaths of the city into the sky and dumping entire neighborhoods into a hungry ocean.  It was a scene of utter devastation that clearly would have taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.  And it was a fitting advertisement for the movie 2012, the new End-Of-The-World epic written and directed by Roland Emmerich, coming out this November. (Smith W. 2012: The Hype and the Truth. LCG Commentary, July 18, 2009)

Those who are convinced by Mayan and other non-biblical prophecies otherwise are not correct and simply are not being directed by God–they are leaning on their own inaccurate misunderstandings. But the end of the world (meaning the end of this age) will come soon–but it will not be until after 2012 for reasons that this article will indicate later.

A poster for Sony Picture’s  2012 movie stated the following:

Who Will Be Left Behind?

2012

This is apparently intended to be a twist on Tim LaHaye’s and Jim Jenkins’ Left Behind series of books.  Sony’s approach appears to be that most will be destroyed by a flood and only a few will be “left behind” to live.    The Left Behind series promotes the idea that “Christians” will be gone via a pre-tribulation “rapture” before the Great Tribulation and that those doomed to live under the reign of Antichrist will be “left behind”

Both ideas are in scriptural error.

But Sony has taken this a step further.  Notice what Wikipedia has written about one publicity stunt from Sony:

The studio also launched a viral marketing website operated by the fictional Institute for Human Continuity, where filmgoers could register for a lottery number to be part of a small population that would be rescued from the global destruction.

Sony Films’ registration, of course, will not save anybody.

Those truly interested in learning about the rapture hypothesis and who really will be protected during the coming Great Tribulation should study the article Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected?

And, it may be important to realize that the Bible does show that some type of flooding will occur and eliminate most of the islands of the world (please see Islands and Bible Prophecy), but I do not believe that this can occur until some years after December 21, 2012.  Nor does the Bible allow for a worldwide destruction of all flesh through a flood:

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11).

However, since the world cannot and will not be destroyed by a flood, I strongly suspect that many will decide that the Mayan prophecies should properly be interpreted to mean that the longed for age of peace is upon us–even though it will not be (Ezekiel 13:10).  Perhaps I should mention that the most specific Mayan prophecy about a flood at the end of the world ties it into the Bible–hence there would seem to be a contradiction there as the Bible is clear that there will not be another flood such as Noah experienced (Genesis 9:11-15), and while the movie does not go quite to that degree, what it shows simply will not happen then.  Other scriptures show that the Great Tribulation and the later great earthquake (Revelation 16:18) will not be that early (see Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? for more details).

Those who wish to learn more about 2012 may wish to check out 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 contains some concepts related to 2012 and a book.  This also has YouTube videos related to 2012.

Crown of Charlemagne

COGwriter

Some religious writers claim that Russia is the prophesied final “King of the North”.

They tend to base this upon the fact that Russia is a major military power and is located in the north.

And while that would seem to make some sense at first glance, this conclusion overlooks at least one very important point.

And that is that according to the 11th chapter of the Book of Daniel (which is the only place where the term “king of the north” is used in the Bible), the King of the North is disturbed by powers from the north and the east.

Notice the following verse where the “him” is the King of the North:

44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many (Daniel 11:44).

As there would be no power north of the Russia at that time, it would seem likely that Russia would not be the final King of the North.

However, since Russia is north (and east) of Europe, it would seem to make a lot more sense that a European power would be the final king of the north.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
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

The Churches of God normally have over one hundred  Feast of Tabernacles’ sites in various places around the world every year.

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.

I first began to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in 1977.   My first feast was at Squaw Valley, California, with an attendance of around 10,000 (all attendance figures will be from my memory of estimated attendance), and this was when I saw Garner Ted Armstrong in person.   In 1978, I went to Fresno, California, with an attendance of around 7,000.  In 1979, I went to Tucson, Arizona for the feast, with an attendance of nearly 12,000 and this is when I saw Herbert W. Armstrong in person and met Stan Radar.  In 1980, I attended the feast in Big Sandy, Texas and slept in a small tent–it rained a lot and this was quite wet–about 7,000 may have attended there that year.

In 1981, this was the first feast I did not drive to, it was Lihue, Hawaii, with about 1,500 in attendance–this was the first time my wife and I were married and attended the same Feast site.  In 1982, we went to Anchorage, Alaska with about 500 in attendance.

1983 was the first feast for either of us outside of the USA, as well as the first feast that we began to take slide pictures.  We went to Hoogeveen, Netherlands (all of my wife’s grandparents came to the USA from the Netherlands).  About 500 attended there that year.  We wrote a list of things that were different there compared to the USA. Here are two photos from that feast:

Windmill and canal near Hoogeveen, Netherlands, 1983

In 1984, we went to Sri Lanka for the feast.  About 100 or so attended.  Sri Lanka was so different from the USA that we thought that perhaps we should write a list of what was the same as in the USA as that would have been a fairly short list.  Here are two photos taken at that feast:

Below is the Riverina hotel where church services for the Feast of Tabernacles in 1984 was held:

In 1985, we went to Durban, South Africa.  About 1,000 were there.  Below is a South African village and a picture of the building services met at in Durban:

In 1986, we went to Pasadena, California for the Feast.  We did not take slides, but should we find the photos taken, perhaps they will be added.  One thing that puzzled me in 1986, was the fact that I learned that J. Tkach (Sr.) generally did not go anywhere for the Feast of Tabernacles.  Later, of course, he and his administration minimized the necessity to observe God’s festivals.

In 1987, we went to Rotorua, New Zealand for the Feast.  About 1200 of so attended there that year.  We stayed at the Geyserland Hotel where we saw geysers and boiling mud everyday.  The city has a sulfur smell, which when you are there a while, you get used to.  Below is the view from our hotel room as well as a countryside photo taken:

In 1989, we went to the south Pacific nation of Fiji.  About 200 or so attended that year, including Roderick C. Meredith, now of the Living Church of God:

In the 1980s, there were over 100 feast sites pretty much every year, and thus we tended to have a lot of choices about where to attend.  Though even now, the Living Church of God has over 40 sites.

Two 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?

COGwriter

Various people have suggested that USA President Barack Obama is the final Antichrist.  But this is not true.

Here are seven claims that supposedly indicate that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, along with brief explanations as to why each of them is in error.

CLAIM 1. The Beast is 666.  6+6+6=18, the number of letters in Barack Hussein Obama, whose Chicago power base includes the 60606 zip code.  On November 5 —the day after the election —in Obama’s home state of Illinois—the evening “Pick 3” lottery number was 6-6-6.

The Bible says that the number is six hundred, and sixty-six (Revelation 13:18), rather than three sixes (see also Chapter 10).  Thus, nothing in  that claim ties Barack Obama to 666.

CLAIM 2. False Prophets Will Precede.  Antichrist will be heralded by false prophets.  Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger, who claim to be in the prophetic tradition, compared Barack to Jesus.  Louis Farrakhan called Barack “the Messiah.

Actually, the Bible teaches that one called the false prophet will do miracles and cause people to worship the image of the Beast (Revelation 16:13-14; 13:12-15).  Neither Jeremiah Wright nor the other two mentioned above have thus far qualified according to the Bible.

CLAIM 3. Satanic Palindrome.  Sasha is only the nickname of Obama’s oldest daughter.  Her legal name is NATASHA—the reverse of AH SATAN.

Natasha is the Russian version of the name Natalie.  It is a female given name: from a Latin word meaning “birthday.”  Those who claim that putting his daughter’s name backwards has something to do with him being Antichrist is a low blow. She has enough concerns as a president’s daughter. She does not need to be picked on because of her name.  His daughter’s name is simply not relevant.

CLAIM 4. Antichrist is a Charismatic Speaker Worshipped By The Masses.  The Book of Daniel says the Beast will arise in a country made up of “diverse” people from “all kingdoms” [which could describe the USA] …

The charismatic Barack is conceited and is worshipped throughout the world, including in the European Union—the successor to the Roman Empire.

The Beast is not the final Antichrist (see Chapter 12).  The Beast will be the King of the North, and  a European. The United States is not the heir to the ancient Roman Empire—Europe is.

CLAIM 5. New Nostradamus Quatrains Scholars for the Smithsonian Institute have uncovered new interpretations that may relate to Barack Obama …

Professor Eugene Randell, Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution Archives has released information pertaining to the up and coming US elections. The Institute which holds some very rare Nostradamus manuscripts, believes that some of the quatrains written by the 16th century soothsayer are very close to describing the fight for the White House that is happening now…

243 The great empire will be torn from limb, The all-powerful one for more than four hundred years: Great power given to the dark one from slaves come, The Aryana will not be satisfied thereby. (Olsen, Andrew.  Nostradamus Obama Prophecies Revealed. Daily Squib, April 10th, 2008; http://www.dailysquib.co.uk/?c=117&a=1300)

The above story (though popular on the internet) is apparent a satirical hoax.  There does not appear to have ever been a Professor Eugene Randell who was Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Institution Archives; nor is this new Quatrain 243 legitimate.  The publisher of the above (The Daily Squib) also would not verify, nor respond at all, concerning its story, even after two requests were made.

CLAIM 6. Mayan 2012 Calendar.  The Beast/Antichrist will rule for 42 months of relative peace and prosperity…in the middle of the fourth year of his reign…{is the} the Battle of Armageddon.  The fourth year of Barack’s presidency will be 2012, the year the Mayan calendar comes to an end, the year of a rare planetary alignment…

While Barack Obama’s first term as president includes the year 2012, the end will not come then as some believe that the Mayan 2012 prophecies indicate.

As the seven-year deal in Daniel 9:27 has not happened yet, it is not possible that the so-called “Battle of Armageddon” could begin in Barack Obama’s first term (plus the Great Tribulation needs to start about 3 ½ years before the Armageddon related battle, see Chapter 14).  And it is almost impossible for this battle to occur in his second term (presuming his reelection to a consecutive term).

The next claim is based upon someone’s “personal vision”:

CLAIM 7. Fulfilled Daniel 9:27. Very early in the morning, on Thanksgiving Day, I could not get back to sleep…I was very, very confident that the Lord was giving me a BRAND NEW REVELATION, further confirmation that on OCT. 29, 2008, OBAMA CONFIRMED THE COVENANT OF DANIEL 9:27, thrusting the world into the Final Seven Years…The Lord had called me to be a watchman many years ago…We have in circulation almost 10,000,000 tracts…2520 days (360 days X 7 Jewish years), after the 30 MINUTES OF SILENCE IN HEAVEN on Oct. 29, 2008, is Feast of Atonement. This is by divine design, not happenstance, or coincidence…There may be a peace treaty with Israel and the Antichrist in the near future, but it will NOT be 7 years in length and it will NOT be the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27. THE FULFILLMENT OF DANIEL 9:27 HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ON OCT. 29, 2008, WITH THE CONFIRMING OF THE COVENANT. TRY CONVINCING ALL OF THAT AWESTRUCK AUDIENCE IN HEAVEN, WHO WERE COMPLETELY SILENT FOR EXACTLY 30 MINUTES AS OBAMA GAVE HIS HISTORIC SPEECH that this was not the confirming of the covenant of Daniel 9:27…(Reese, Ron . “FOUND IN BOOK OF REVELATION–OBAMA’S CONFIRMING OF COVENANT ON OCT. 29, 2008!!!”, December 1, 2008. http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/dec2008/ronr121.htm viewed 2/28/09)

Contrary to claims and visions, the deal in Daniel 9;27 has not been made (Barack Obama was not even elected president in October 2008).  The deal will be confirmed by a European as even most Protestant commentators recognize.  This deal still needs to be made.  It should also be noted that the Day of Atonement in 2015 will be on September 23rd, and therefore not 2520 days after October 29 as the above person claimed.  Hence, I would not wish to accept his vision as coming from God.

Barack Obama, contrary to various posts and emails floating around on the internet, is not the Antichrist.

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.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
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?

COGwriter

Catholics, Protestants, and the Eastern Orthodox tend to use the Roman calendar system for determining the holidays that they observe.

But we in the Living Church of God use the Hebrew calendar.

Jesus kept the biblical Holy Days from His youth and even until the day He died adulthood:

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast (Luke 2:41-42).

And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat”…When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:8,14-16).

Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles (which began last night) and preached about Himself on the Last Great Day,

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 waters’. (John 7:37-38).

Of course, since Jesus kept the Holy Days that are listed in the Bible, Jesus Himself clearly used the Hebrew calendar.

To learn more about the Holy Days and the Hebrew calendar, there are several article below that may be helpful:

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by Tkach’s WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Hebrew Calendar This John Ogywn writing explains why we in the Living Church of God use the calendar that we do and answers such questions as “Did Jesus Observe the Postponements?”
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? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach?
What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?

COGwriter

Tonight at sunset, nearly all members of the Living Church of God will be observing the biblical Feast of Tabernacles in over 40 locations around the world.  The ”’Feast of Tabernacles”’ is an 8-day Biblical pilgrimage festival, also known as the ”’Feast of Booths”’, the ”’Feast of Tabernacles”’, or ”’Tabernacles”’.

In the 7th day Church of God groups it is one of the most important holy days as it lasts the longest and normally requires a great deal of preparation and travel to be able to attend. But it is normally the physical and spiritual highlight of the year for those that do observe it.

Christians point out that Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles. This is discussed in detail in John chapter 7:10-26:

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

The Apostle Paul, after the Christ’s death and resurrection indicated that it was important to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. As it is noted in Acts 18:21,

I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.

Paul taught Gentiles to follow him as he followed Jesus:

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Jesus and Paul kept the Feast of Tabernacles. Are you following their example?

Notice that Paul does commend those in Thessalonica for initiating the church in Judea:

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

The church in Judea kept the Feast of Tabernacles, etc. And those in Thessalonica were commended for receiving the word of God and imitating the practices of the church in Judea.  People considered saints by the Greco-Roman churches, such as Polycarp of Smyrna, kept the Feast of Tabernacles in the second century.

The Feast of Tabernacles is significant for Christians. It pictures the reality of Christ’s reign on the earth and that this current world is simply temporal.

Perhaps it might be helpful to realize that Catholic scholars do admit that early Christians did observe the Feast:

St. Jerome (PL 25, 1529 & 1536-7) speaking of how the Judaeo-Christians celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles…tells us that they gave the feast a millenarian significance (Bagatti, Bellarmino.  Translated by Eugene Hoade.  The Church from the Circumcision.  Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970.  Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p.202).

We in the Living Church of God also believe that this Feast foreshadows the coming millennium.

Regarding the the Feast of Tabernacles, the Living Church of God, states:

…Old Testament meaning

…A seven-day celebration of the great fall harvest, observed by living in temporary dwellings for the duration of the Feast. (Leviticus 23:33-43)

…New Testament meaning

…Pictures the Millennium, when the earth will be ruled by Jesus Christ and His saints. [The Holy Days]

Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.

Out family should be arriving at the site in Lihue, Kauai today to attend begin church services this evening.

Some 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.

COGwriter

In the past week, hundreds have died in floods and tsunamis in three separate incidents in the Philippines, Samoa, and Indonesia.  And tonight, across America, many will see Sony film’s push to get people interested to watch its flood-related 2012 movie directed by Roland Emmerich.

This movie pictures most of the world being devastated by a flood that many believe that the ancient Mayans predicted would occur in 2012.  Specifically, the end of a particular calendar cycle (referred to as a katun, the last one which is believed to end on December 21, 2012) the end of the world was predicted in a 16th century document called the Chilam Balam.  Notice what it states:

But when the law of the katun has run its course, the God will bring about a great deluge again which will be the end of the world. When this is over, then our Lord Jesus Christ will descend over the valley of Jehoshaphat beside the town of Jerusalem where he redeemed us with his holy blood (José Hoíl J, Roys R. The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Roys Publisher, 1933. Reprint Forgotten Books, 1967, p. 62).

Of course, since the passage mentions Jesus Christ and alludes to the Bible, there is a problem here in that the Bible itself states, “never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11).  Thus, people should not rely on the Mayan prediction in the Chilam Balam to teach that a worldwide flood will really happen.

2012 itself is getting a lot of media attention.  Some feel that solar flares, chaos, and/or possibly world peace will mark the end that year.  Last week, the History Channel devoted an episode of its Nostradamus Effect series to 2012 and possible events that might occur.   There have also been recent YouTube videos on 2012, radio shows (such as Bobby Kendall’s program on WTXY), websites (such as 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect), books at Amazon.com, and articles on the internet.

Sony itself began its media blitz some time ago with an internet site encouraging people to sign up for a raffle in order to be possibly “left behind” (by which they apparently meant saved from the flood their movie portrays).

By the end of May 2009, Sony began to have large (approximately 12 foot by 8 foot) displays in movie theaters.  This display is much larger and was out much earlier than typical movie promotions.

Furthermore, Sony announced last month that the 2009 runner-up from American Idol, Adam Lambert, would have a new song in the movie called Time for Miracles.

Sony has a lot of money behind this film.  And now, to further promote “2012,” Sony has organized what may be the largest-ever preview of a movie. Two minutes of “2012,” (set for release on Nov. 13) will be shown on television on Thursday., Oct. 1, sometime between 10:50 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The footage will air on three of the major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS and NBC), 89 cable channels, local stations in 70 markets and Spanish-language networks. Afterward, people can see an extended sequence on fancast.com or Comcast On Demand.

It seems that perhaps it is doing this media blitz to not have the financial disaster that the 1995 movie Waterworld experienced.

Sony seems to be taking a lot of steps to insure the success of its 2012 movie.

An article of related interest may include:

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?

COGwriter

The latest issue (print date September 29, 2009) of The Journal just came out.

Some of the main items had to do with CGI’s Ian Boyne being nationally honored as a journalist by the government in Jamaica, long discussions of UCG’s “block voting” policy, Thailand, the “W” in the name Herbert W. Armstrong,  numerous personal stories/opinions, Sabbath translations, and a listing of Feast of Tabernacles’ locations.

This issue has several items for and against unitarianism.  The Journal, in my view, has given that heresy too much coverage in the past several years.  The primary good that I have seen come out of it is that I have been able to sometimes glean some quotes which better helps me dispel the inaccurate positions that the unitarians hold.  Those interested in learning more may wish to read the article Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church?

The back page of The Journal had this item related to CEM’s Ron Dart:

WHITEHOUSE, Texas—Ron and Allie Dart, founders of Christian Educational ministries, were injured on their way to the CEM’s Feast site in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in late September just before the festival, which begins the evening of Oct. 2. Mr. Dart, in an E-mail to friends, reported, “We will be fine.” He and Mrs. Dart visited a hospital emergency room and were quickly released. What happened?“I went to sleep at the wheel,” Mr. Dart reported, “and I hit a guard rail which spun the car around.” He said his sleep apnea could have been a contributing factor. He didn’t say where the accident occurred, but it must have been in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida.

The back page also mentioned the new book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.

While The Journal is available only by paid subscription (though some subscriptions are free to those who cannot afford it), you can view the pdf. of its front and back page is available at: www.thejournal.org/issues/issue136/jf092909.pdf