Church of God News

Cross of Ashes

COGwriter

Today is sometimes called Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”).  In certain cities there will be parties, parades of of people masked as demons, and general revelry.  Some few of the participants believe that they should “over indulge” because tomorrow night, some will observe Ash Wednesday and Lent–considered to be a time of self-imposed abstinence by millions.

Ash Wednesday’s true origins are considered to be a mystery.  It was not observed by Jesus, the original apostles, nor any in the early Church.

The Catholic Encyclopedia reports:

Ash Wednesday
The Wednesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, which is the first day of the Lenten fast.

The name dies cinerum (day of ashes) which it bears in the Roman Missal is found in the earliest existing copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary and probably dates from at least the eighth century. On this day all the faithful according to ancient custom are exhorted to approach the altar before the beginning of Mass, and there the priest, dipping his thumb into ashes previously blessed, marks the forehead…There can be no doubt that the custom of distributing the ashes to all the faithful arose from a devotional imitation of the practice observed in the case of public penitents. (Ash Wednesday. The Catholic Encyclopedia).

Thus, Ash Wednesday is believed by the Church of Rome to be related to following some type of public penance, though precisely from where is not clear.

The Catholic Saint Abbot John Cassian (also known as Cassianus, monk of Marseilles) in the fifth century admitted:

Howbeit you should know that as long as the primitive church retained its perfection unbroken, this observance of Lent did not exist (Cassian John. Conference 21, THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF ABBOT THEONAS. ON THE RELAXATION DURING THE FIFTY DAYS. Chapter 30).

The historian A. Hislop wrote:

Among the Pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz, which was celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing (Hislop A. Two Babylons. pp. 104-106).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia states:

Ash Wednesday, in the Western Church, the first day of Lent, being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the sorrow they should feel for their sins, and of the necessity of changing their lives. The practice, which dates from the early Middle Ages, is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Episcopalians, and many Lutherans; it was also adopted by some Methodists and Presbyterians in the 1990s (The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press).

Notice that Ash Wednesday was not an original observance of even the Church of Rome.  Perhaps I should also mention that the Eastern Orthodox Church does not celebrate Ash Wednesday.

The Bible never uses the terms Lent or Ash Wednesday. Nor does it seem to positively describe the marking of anyone’s head with ashes.  But the Bible does condemn practices associated with Tammuz ((Ezekiel 8:13-14) which may be related to the origins of Lent and/or Ash Wednesday.  Here is one commentary on that:

Ezekiel 8:14-15

Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Tammuz. This god can be traced back to the Sumerian Dumuzi, the god of the subterranean ocean and a shepherd deity, whose sister-consort, Inanna-Ishtar, descended into the lower world to bring him back to life. In his worship are similarities to that of Egyptian Osiris, the Canaanite Baal, and the Syrian Adonis. Gebal or Byblos, twenty-one miles north of Beirut, was the great seat of Adonis worship. The nightly death of the god, the god’s dying before the touch of winter, or the vernal god’s dying with the parched summer are variations on the theme of death and resurrection. Mourning for the god was followed by a celebration of resurrection (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press).

Notice that the mourning ended with the resurrection for Tammuz. This is essentially the same as fasting for forty days which ends with the Easter.

Since Ash Wednesday involves receiving ashes on one’s forehead to begin the forty-day period of Lent, this may be related to the beginning of the mourning for the death of Tammuz. It may or not be relevant to note that Ishtar is also spelled as Ash-tar. An interesting coincidence.

Speaking of coincidences, some have wondered if Ash Wednesday had any relationship to the ancient Sun-god Mithras.

Here is what Tertullian of Carthage (in eastern Egypt) noted near the beginning of the third century:

Mithra there, (in the kingdom of Satan,) sets his marks on the foreheads of his soldiers (Tertullian. The Prescription against Heretics, Chapter 40. Translated by Peter Holmes, D.D., F.R.A.S.)

Payam Nabarz wrote in the 21st century:

Tertullian certainly writes that Mithras marks (signat) his soldiers on the forehead, but what ‘sign’? Some writers have even speculated that this mark was the mark of the “Beast of Revelations,” as the numerological value of the Sun is 666!…

Mithratic…initiates…would henceforth have the Sun Cross on their foreheads. The similarity to the cross of ashes made on the forehead on the Christian Ash Wednesday is striking. Some have suggested this to be an example of the early Christians borrowing from the Mithratic cult; others suggest that both cults were drawing upon the same prototype (Nabarz P. The mysteries of Mithras: the pagan belief that shaped the Christian world. Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, 2005, p. 36).

The 20th century writer Manly Hall wrote:

Candidates who successfully passed the Mithraic initiations were called Lions and were marked upon their foreheads with the Egyptian cross. (Manly P. Hall Manly P. Hall (Author), J. Augustus Knapp (Illustrator) The Secret Teachings of all Ages. Originally published 1926, reprint Wilder Publications, 2009, p. 45)

It appears that the idea of a cross on the forehead probably came from Egypt initially. Mithraism probably picked it up (there is some question about the exact mark on the forehead, but a type of cross seems to be the most likely). And sometime after the Church of Rome absobed some aspects of Mithraism, Ash Wednesday appeared–but not officially for some time. Mithraism itself was a major force in the Roman world until at least the fourth century A.D., but it seemed to die out by the end of that century.  On the other hand, the Egyptian cults seemed to exist until a later time.

Others have felt, however, that Ash Wednesday was adopted from India, and then made it to Rome. Notice what Barbara Walker reported:

Ash Wednesday This allegedly Christian festival came from Roman paganism, which in turn took it from Vedic India. Ashes were considered the seed of the fire god Agni, with the power to absolve all sins…

At Rome’s New Year Feast of Atonement in March, people wore sackcloth and bathed in ashes to atone for their sins. Then as now, New Year’s Eve was a festival for eating, drinking, and sinning, on the theory that all sins would be wiped out the following day. As the dying god of March, Mars took his worshippers’ sins in with him into death. Therefore the carnival fell on dies martis, the Day of Mars. In English, this was Tuesday, because Mars was associated with the Saxon god Tiw. In French the carnival day was called Mardis Gras, “Fat Tuesday,” the merrymaking day before Ash Wednesday. (Walker B. The woman’s encyclopedia of myths and secrets. HarperCollins, 1983, pp. 66-67).

And although Ash Wednesday is now normally in February, the aspect of penance from sins is still tied in with Ash Wednesday. And the merrymaking still exists in places that observe Mardi Gras or “Carnaval”.

Whether from Egypt, Roman paganism, or India, the one place it did not come from was the Bible. Nor did it come from early traditions of the first followers of Jesus.

Thus Ash Wednesday does not seem to have a strictly biblical origin.   It appears to have been adopted from ancient Egypt and/or India.  Because of the relatively late acceptance of it by the Church of Rome (about 700 years after Christ), it appears that it may have entered Rome as a remnant of the Sun-cult Mithras or possibly was absorbed through the introduction of some others who had practices once associated with parts of ancient Egypt or India.  But precisely how it became prevalent in the Church of Rome remains a mystery.

For additional information, please see the article Is Lent an Original Christian Holiday or Absorbed from Elsewhere?

Viktor Yanukovich

COGwriter

Ukraine elected a new president and he has ties to Russia:

Medvedev Invites Ukraine President – Elect to Moscow

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/02/15/world/international-uk-ukraine-election-russia.html

It has been unclear to most in the media if Ukraine would lean more towards the EU as its current president seemed to want or to Moscow as its new president seems to want.

Understanding the origins of the Ukrainians may provide a partial clue.

In the first century, Josephus wrote:

Japhet, the son of Noah, had seven sons: they inhabited so, that, beginning at the mountains Taurus and Amanus, they proceeded along Asia…they called the nations by their own names…Now as to Javan and Madai, the sons of Japhet; from Madai came the Madeans, who are called Medes, by the Greeks… Thobel founded the Thobelites, who are now called Iberes; and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch…And so many were the countries that had the children of Japhet for their inhabitants. (Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. VI, 1).

The late John Ogwyn wrote:

The tribes who traced their descent from the ancient Medes moved a little north and west to lay claim to the rich farmland of Little Russia, the Ukraine. From Meshech and Tubal came the Great Russians, who spread north and east, eventually establishing Moscow and the principality of Muscovy. The River Moskva, named for the people of Meshech (called Mushki or Moschi anciently), gave its name to the city and principality (Ogwyn J. What’s Ahead for Russia? Tomorrow’s World Magazine, May-June 2000).

Some of the Russians themselves appear to have been from the Medes. Notice the following account by the late W. Morfill:

But how are we to explain the name Russia? The old-fashioned view was to derive the word from the Rhoxolani. This, however, has long been abandoned. One thing is certain, namely, that these Rhoxolani were of Oriental descent, a Medic or Iranic tribe. They disappear from history, having, like so many other tribes — as, for instance, the Pechenegs and the Khozars—been swallowed up by the huge waves of immigration which overflowed the country (Morfill WR. Russia. Published 1890 by T.F. Unwin, London).

There are many disputes among academics as to who derived from whom, thus it is not completely clear, for example, that the Rhoxolani were Medes who went to Russia.

However, if the Rhoxolani were Medes, then it would seem to be consistent with certain biblical prophecies that they will destroy the final end-time European Babylon power.  Notice two prophecies for example:

1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw…
17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
Who will not regard silver;
And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
Their eye will not spare children.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19)

11 Make the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)

Biblically (because of prophecies involving the Medes and some in the “north and east” in Daniel 11:44), it would seem that Russia would be closer to Ukraine in the end.  The election of Viktor Yanukovich may be a step in that direction.  But it should also be mentioned that Bible prophecy indicates that there will be some type of cooperation between Russia and its allies and Europe for a while after the European Beast power has risen up (Revelation 13:3-4).

However, Bible prophecy shows that ultimately Russia and its allies (likely to include Ukraine) will turn against the European Beast power.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? Is Ukraine in prophecy? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they 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?
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”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? 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?

Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg

COGwriter

A slightly difficult uphill and narrow way in Tobago

COGwriter

Although most Protestants believe that if you do not accept Christ in this age you cannot be saved, many Presbyterians have a more open view:

Some Presbyterians see salvation by other…

Associated Press – Feb 10, 2010

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Presbyterian Church USA’s statement of faith says God through Jesus Christ delivers followers “from death to life eternal.”

But one in three members of the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination seem to believe there’s some wiggle room for non-Christians…according to a recent poll…

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i7tADnxuR79MJPcf7h0C8jxGSMGQD9DPE4DO0

And while the Bible itself is clear that salvation is only available through Christ, many people do not realize that Jesus spoke of a time of salvation in a future “age to come”.  And while that may not be specifically what many Presbyterians believe, those who believe that the God of love loves all are correct to conclude that God has a plan to take into account what has happened to all of humankind.

The idea that God has always had a plan to offer salvation to all is taught in both the Old and New Testaments and was taught by various professors of Christ throughout history.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?

Gerald Flurry

COGwriter

Gerald Flurry, the self-appointed prophet of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God, wrote the following in the February 2010 edition of the Philadelphia Trumpet:

The EU is now comprised of 27 nations. But your Bible says it will have 10 kings. That means this political-religious union is about to be radically reduced. Perhaps another financial crisis, or some other disaster, will produce that result.

Making the EU smaller will make it much less democratic, more unified, and more powerful—so powerful that it will start World War iii!

It is high time people understand what is happening in Europe!

Here is what the passage Gerald Flurry alluded to about “10 kings” actually states:

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)

The above passage tells of ten kings who had no kingdom, but they each apparently get one and pass their authority on to the Beast leader.

The word for kingdom does not need to mean an individual country.  And while some countries might leave the EU, it is not likely that it will pare down to only ten.  Instead, there is likely to be a structural change in the EU that will group certain nations (and/or parts of them) together into some type of configuration of ten (which ultimately, since the EU flag has 12 stars on it, will likely be considered as a group of 12 by the Europeans).

The idea that the 10 nations may be regions or groups of nations is not unique to me.  Notice the following comments from the old WCG Bible Correspondence Course (bolding mine):

COMMENT: Notice that the “ten horns” pictured on the seventh “head” of the Beast of Rev. 17 “are ten kings” who have no kingdom as yet — therefore they are political and military rulers who will receive ruling power “one hour (a very short time) with the Beast.”

They will all be of one mind, one purpose…

These ten nations, or groups of nations, comprising the modern revived Beast, are to fight Christ at His coming. This shows the time for the fulfillment of this prophecy…

Remember that there must be TEN NATIONS or groups of nations to comprise the final resurrection of the modern “Holy Roman Empire”! (AMBASSADOR COLLEGE, BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE. LESSON 32 (1963, 1965, 1967, 1969)).

So, even decades ago, the old WCG realized that it may be 10 groups of nations, or perhaps even regional groups.

Furthermore, while Europe will become more unified, this unity will not be total.  Notice what Daniel wrote:

41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:41-44)

Now even though Gerald Flurry is correct to indicate that Europe will have some type of crisis that will result in a structural change, if Gerald Flurry is concluding that the number of countries must be “radically reduced” for the sake of unity, this  is not consistent with what the Bible seems to be teaching in Daniel or the Book of Revelation.

The Bible teaches about some type of consolidation.  Yet, it is highly likely that most of the countries now in the EU will become part of the final Beast power (some are likely to leave, though).

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
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”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?

Labarum (Chi Rho) Cross

COGwriter

Government authorities in Virginia have been affected by their constituents fears of “the mark of the Beast”:

Va. House OKs ban on implanted tracking devices

Associated Press – Feb 11, 2010

RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill that would ban the forced implantation of tracking devices in people, with supporters citing both privacy concerns and religious prophecy.

Del. Mark Cole said…some had religious objections, including those rooted in Christian teachings of an Antichrist who would compel followers to wear “the mark of the beast.”

Del. David Englin, who’s Jewish, also noted that some Orthodox Jews would consider the implants a defiling of the body.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Business/Default.aspx?id=893054

Now while some implant device is possible, it is extremely unlikely that they could be “the mark of the Beast”.  Why?  Well amongst other reasons there would be complaints about this for many reasons–and it would be too obvious to be above suspicion.  No matter what laws are passed, the following prophecy will be fulfilled:

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:15-17).

The “He” above is also known as the false prophet.

Perhaps it should also be mentioned that even though some believe that bar codes are to be “the mark of the Beast” because they contain three individual sixes for what is sometimes called a parity check (which adds up to 18), the “666” in the Bible is NOT simply three sixes (as bar codes have them) lining up, but six hundred, sixty, and six according to the Bible.  Here is a literal translation of Revelation 13:18:

18 5602 3588 4678    2076 3588 2192              3563          5585  3588
Here      wisdom. is        Let him that hath understanding count the
706    3588   2342   9999 706    1063 444       2076  2532 3588
number of the beast: the  number for  of a man;           it is and
706    846 9999    1812             1835       9999 1803
number his is   Six hundred threescore and  six.
(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright (c) 1994 by Biblesoft)

Thus, bar codes per se are not “the mark of the Beast” (though the Beast power certainly could employ bar codes and other technologies to track), as their sixes do NOT add up to more than 18.

Historian Philip Schaff understood that there were many groups considered to be Cathari and he indicates that some of the doctrines they held we would consider to be Church of God doctrines:

Agreed as the Cathari were in opposing many customs and doctrines of the established Church, they were divided among themselves and broken up into sects. According to one document seventy-two existed.

There are two Churches they held; one of the wicked and one of the righteous. They themselves constituted the Church of the righteous, outside of which there is no salvation, having received the imposition of hands and done penance according to the teaching of Christ and the Apostles. Its fruits proved that the established Church was not the true Church. The true Church endures persecution, does not prescribe it…The depositions at their trials indicate that the Cathari made much use of the Scriptures…the Cathari called the cross the mark of the beast, and declared it had no more virtue than a ribbon for binding the hair. It was the instrument of Christ’s shame and death, and therefore not to be used.  (Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Chapter X).

(More on the doctrine of the later Cathari can be found in the article The Thyatira Church Era.)

Notice what a Catholic priest taught:

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

A Catholic mystic taught of an army with a red cross at the time of the end; while another taught of those wearing a type of cross (crucifix) supporting a future new religious order:

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

St. Francis de Paul (d. 1507): A new order will be founded, that of the Cruciferi, because its members will carry the cross on their banners…The Crusaders will lead the Mohammedans, the teachers of heretical doctrines and bad Christians back to Christ…the power of Islam {was} destroyed by the Great Monarch. (Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist, p. 142).

The late evangelist John Ogwyn wrote:

All will be required to give their devotion to the great false church and its hierarchy, labeled in Revelation 13:15 the “image of the beast.” An outward sign of conformity called the “mark of the beast” will identify those whom Scripture labels as the children of disobedience…In the closing verses of Revelation 13, and the opening verses of Revelation 14, we see a contrast drawn between those who accept the mark of the Beast in their foreheads and the 144,000 who have the Father’s name in their foreheads. The forehead is the seat of intellect, and this pictures our choice of obedience to God or to Satan. (Ogwyn JH.  Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled! Living Church of God, 2006).

Now, I am not saying that, based upon Catholic and other writings, that “the image of the beast” or the “mark of the beast” (Revelation 13:16-16) must be a cross of some type (day of worship seems to be involved, cf. Daniel 7:25 for the mark; also consider this since Sunday was a sign or mark of Mithraism).  But, since so many people accept the cross as a valid religious symbol (including in certain Asian religions), it would be logical that it could be a major symbol for the coming ecumenical religion.

Thus, while those in Virginia may be very well intentioned, there is no way that a piece of legislation like that can possibly stop the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

There will be an image of the beast (perhaps involving some type of cross) and mark of the beast (which involves disobedience to God).  The fact that Catholic and non-Catholic sources suggest that a cross may be involved may be more than a coincidence.

Some articles for further study may include:

Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012.  And it discusses more about the Beast, the mark, the image, cross-bearers, etc.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta Nuevo libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 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”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?

Carnaval is Not Endorsed in the Bible

COGwriter

Next Tuesday marks Mardi Gras and the end of the season known as “carnaval” (which is several days to many weeks long depending upon the culture).  Essentially the “carnival season” is a time of having parties and indulging in practices that certain Catholics believe that they should give up on Ash Wednesday for the duration of Lent.

Here is one report about it:

Although the origins of Carnaval are shrouded in mystery, some believe the fest began as a pagan celebrationof spring’s arrival sometime during the Middle Ages. The Portuguese brought the celebration to Brazil in the 1500s, but it took on a decidedly local flavor by adopting Indian costumes and African rhythms. The word itself probably derives from the Latin “carne vale,” or “goodbye meat,” a reference to the Catholic tradition of giving up meat (and other fleshly temptations) during Lent…(http://www.sltrib.com/travel/ci_7883824).

The origens of this are not a complete mystery as the sixth edition of the Columbia Encyclopedia:

Carnival communal celebration, especially the religious celebration in Catholic countries that takes place just before Lent…

One of the first recorded instances of an annual spring festival is the festival of Osiris in Egypt; it commemorated the renewal of life brought about by the yearly flooding of the Nile. In Athens, during the 6th cent. BC, a yearly celebration in honor of the god Dionysus was the first recorded instance of the use of a float.

It was during the Roman Empire that carnivals reached an unparalleled peak of civil disorder and licentiousness. The major Roman carnivals were the Bacchanalia, the Saturnalia, and the Lupercalia. In Europe the tradition of spring fertility celebrations persisted well into Christian times, where carnivals reached their peak during the 14th and 15th cent.

Because carnivals are deeply rooted in pagan superstitions and the folklore of Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was unable to stamp them out and finally accepted many of them as part of church activity (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-carnival.html).

Essentially, this is a pagan holiday that some Catholics originally adopted as a compromise to keep members in certain areas.

Despite its origins, many Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and others will participate in the revelries associated with carnival.

Essentially Carnaval is a time when some believe that they can indulge to excess as they will need to give up some of those excesses if they observe a time called Lent.

Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” and is the day before Ash Wednesday.  Some seem to believe that they need to excessively indulge prior to a religious season of some type of abstinence.

The popularity of carnaval has spread from outside of Brazil, Venice, and New Orleans as many look for any excuse for a party.  And it would seem that most who attend such parties are not that interested in actually its “religious” connection.

As an example of its growth, here are just two news items of carnaval parties from other areas in the USA:

Ready for blastoff! San Diego Brazil Carnival

A raucous party promises to be even hotter this year

By Beth Wood, SPECIAL TO THE UNION-TRIBUNE

Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

Whether or not you observe Lent — the six weeks of fasting and penitence before Easter — you can join in the revelry that ushers it in.

Kicking off the lineup of local events is the San Diego Brazil Carnival at 4th&B…http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/11/ready-for-blastoff/

It’s time to party like you’re in Rio

By Jenny Elig

Posted: February 11, 2010

Blame this one on Rio: From 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, the Jazz Kitchen will host the biggest Brazilian Carnaval the city has ever seen.Artur Silva, a native of Brazil who grew up with Carnaval in Rio, is organizing the Indy Brazilian Carnaval.

“It’s just a fun, liberating festivity,” he said. “It actually has its basis in Europe.”Portuguese settlers brought the pre-Lenten celebration to Brazil. There, the event took on a South American flavor.  http://www.indystar.com/article/20100211/LIVING17/2110404/It-s-time-to-party-like-you-re-in-Rio

Lent, which also is not of biblical origin, is becoming an excuse essentially for loud and wild parties all over.

And although carnaval is popular in Brazil, Latin America, and elsewhere, it tends to be associated with drunkenness, lust, and other practices that the Bible condemns.

It really should not be considered as something that real Christians would participate in.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Mexico, Central America, South America, and Brazil in Prophecy [Español: México, America Central, Suramérica, y el Brasil en profecíal] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What rule might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
Is Lent a Christian Holiday? When did it originate? What about Ash Wednesday? If you observe them, do you know why?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Mardi Gras: The Devil’s Carnival? Do you know that in Bolivia the carnival/Mardi Gras time is part of a celebration known as the Devil’s Carnival?

Herman Van Rompuy

COGwriter

It was reported today that a secret memo from EU President Herman Van Rompuy is advocating European Union control over the individual national economies:

EU President’s secret bid for economic power

The Independent, UK – Feb 10, 2010

The new President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, is using the financial crisis sweeping the eurozone to launch an audacious grab for power over national budgets, leaked documents reveal.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-presidents-secret-bid-for-economic-power-1894549.html

This plan should not be a surprise to the readers of the COGwriter news page as I have been stating for many months that the signing of the Lisbon Treaty meant that all 27 nations of the EU had voluntarily surrendered their sovereignty.  And in a crisis, more sovereignty tends to be lost as well.

Thus, since the EU is essentially the largest peacefully formed empire of all time, it makes sense that its president would want an EU-wide solution.

But caution is advised.  Even though the EU is more and more starting to act like it is a unified empire, Bible prophecy suggests that its unification will always be a bit fragile:

41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:41-44)

And even though its union will be fragile, the EU is taking steps to tell the individual European nations, and the outside world, that it intends to start acting like a unified political entity.  And Bible prophecy indicates it will become a powerful force (Revelation 13:3-4)–though it will only last a relatively few years.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
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?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012.  The book contains documented prophecies as well as an end time sequence of events that Christians should study and understand.  Including the role of Europe and how it is pivotal to end time biblical prophecy.

COGwriter

Sunday, February 14, 2010 will be observed by multiple millions around the world as “Valentine’s Day”.   One news report late yesterday made the following claim:

Women love Valentine’s Day because it is an excuse for them to get dressed up and be doted upon.  The Catholic Church loves Valentine’s Day because they invented it.  It’s safe to say that people get stoked for Feb. 14, but does anyone know why?The history of Valentine’s Day is cloaked in mystery.

Nobody can pinpoint precisely where the holiday originated or who is to blame for the shrouds of pink and red that adorn storefronts and classrooms in February.  February, however, has been a month for romance, dating back to the Roman Empire.  http://www.thenorthernlight.org/2010/02/09/history-of-valentines-day-is-cloaked-in-mystery/

The author of that article is correct that Valentine’s Day actually has its origins in the old Roman Empire.  And while it is true that the Church of Rome actually came up with the name “Valentine’s Day”, to say that it loves it now seems to be a stretch.

Notice what the Roman Catholics teach,

The roots of St. Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year (The Origins of St. Valentine’s Day. http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/ValentinesDay/, January 31, 2004).

That the same Catholic source states,

The Catholic Church no longer officially honors St. Valentine, but the holiday has both Roman and Catholic roots.

It is good that the Church of Rome no longer officially honors Valentine or the holiday.  Yet, despite that, I saw advertisements for Valentine’s Day gifts at the (private, not official, Catholic) newadvent.org website at the end of the article in The Catholic Encyclopedia article on Valentine.  So, apparently at least one Catholic webmaster probably hopes that some will celebrate it

And this is sadly the case for many Protestants.  Even though it recognizes certain pagan practices were the root of Valentine’s Day, the falsely labeled Christianity Today is still promoting some jewelry purchases on its “Valentine’s Day” page.

Of course, there is no evidence that Valentine’s Day was ever adopted by any COG throughout the ages (for some specific beliefs/practices during the church age, please see the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3)–and that would make sense as it is not a biblical holy day.

So, if it is not from the Bible, what are the origins of Valentine’s Day?

The old World Book Encyclopedia (Valentine’s Day. Volume 19. 1966, pp.205-206) states,

…the customs of the day have nothing to do with the lives of the saints. They probably come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature…The Romans celebrated their feast of Lupercalia as a lovers’ festival for young people. Young men and women chose partners for the festival by drawing names from a box…After the spread of Christianity, churchmen tried to give Christian meaning to the pagan festival. In 496, Pope Gelasius changed the Lupercalia festival of February 15 to Saint Valentine’s Day February 14. But the sentimental meaning of the old festival has remained to the present time. Historians disagree about the identity of St. Valentine”.

Furthermore it also states,

“LUPERCALIA…was celebrated on February 15 in honor of Faunus, a rural Italian god. Faunus was later identified with Pan, the god of herds and fertility…Priests…ran around striking all the women the met (Lupercalia. Volume 12. 1966, p.456).

The pagan being named Cupid (a supposed son of Venus) was also involved. According to pagan mythology, anyone being hit by Cupid’s arrow falls in love with the first person he/she sees. One source was bold enough to state,

The church replaced elements of various love-gods (Juno Februata, Eros, Cupid, Kama, Priapus) with St. Valentine, an imaginary Christian. A number of contradictory biographies were created for him…By taking over some of the features of the Pagan gods and goddesses, St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers…St. Valentine’s Day can be traced back to Lupercalia, the Roman “festival of sexual license” (ST. VALENTINE AND VALENTINE’S DAY, http://www.religioustolerance.org/valentine1.htm, February 6, 2004).

Does Valentine’s Day sound like a holy festival of love or a pagan holiday of lust?

Notice also the following:

The Feast of Lubercus The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. The God Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Every February the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks. Also during Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of young women were put into a box and names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year, which began in March. This celebration continued long after wolves were a problem to Rome. — St. Valentine’s Day As Christianity became prevalent, priests attempted to replace old heathen practices. To Christianize the ancient pagan celebration of the Feast of Lubercus, the church officials changed the name to St. Valentine’s Day. To give the celebration further meaning and eliminate pagan traditions, priests substituted the drawing of Saints names for the names of the girls. On St. Valentine’s Day the priest placed saint’s names into an urn or box. The young people then drew a name from the container. In the following year, the youth was supposed to emulate the life of the saint whose name he had drawn. By the fourteenth century they reverted back to the use of girl’s names. In the sixteenth century they once again tried to have saintly valentines but it was as unsuccessful as the first attempt. While it can’t be proved historically, there were seven men named Valentine who were honored with feasts on February 14th. Of these men, two stories link incidents that could have given our present day meaning to St. Valentine’s Day…—-February 14th – The Day the Birds Began to Mate The Europeans also believed that on February 14th the birds began to choose their mates. In fact Chaucer, in his “Parlement of Foules,” wrote: “For this was Seynt Valentine’s Day when every foul cometh ther to choose his mate”…The tradition of birds choosing their mates on St. Valentine’s Day led to the idea that boys and girls would do the same. Now when a youth drew a girl’s name, he wore it on his sleeve, and attended and protected her during the following year. This made the girl his valentine and they exchanged love tokens throughout the year. Later this was changed to only men giving love tokens to females, usually without names but signed “with St. Valentine’s Love.” Later, in France, both sexes drew from the valentine box. A booked called Travels in England, written in 1698, gives an account of the way it was done: On St. Valentine’s Eve an equal number of Maids and Bachelors get together, each writes their true or some feigned name upon separate billets, which they roll up and draw by way of lots, the Maids taking the Men’s billets, and the Men the Maids’; so that each of the young Men lights upon a Girl that he calls his Valentine, and each of the Girls upon a young Man which she calls hers. By this means each has two Valentines–but the Man sticks faster to the Valentine that is fallen to him than to the Valentine to whom he is fallen. Fortune having thus divided the company into so many couples, the valentines give balls and treats to their mistresses, wear their billets several days upon their bosoms or sleeves, and this little sport often ends in Love. This ceremony is practised differently in different Countries, and according to the freedom or severity of Madame Valentine. This is another kind of Valentine, which is the first young Man or Woman chance throws in your way in the street, or elsewhere . . . (The Origins of Valentine’s Day. http://www.techdirect.com/valentine/origin.html, January 31, 2004).

Anyway, the preceding article mentions those three as the possible origins of Valentine’s day. Actually all three of those are to some degree correct (and World Book Online, in its article Valentine’s Day–which I checked on February 6, 2004–says that some believe that all three played a role in the origins)–Valentine’s day was a pagan holiday that the Catholic Church modified and that most Protestants embrace, which is probably why some Europeans also declared that to be the day the birds mated (birds mate pretty much every day in some part of Europe, so its seems disingenuous to coincidentally declare it on February 14).

Another source adds,

The roots of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to pagan festivals of third century Rome. February 14th was set aside as a day to honor the goddess Juno, who was the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses and was the goddess of women and marriage. This day was also the eve of the Feast of Lupercalia. This festival was in honor of the god Lubercus (The History of Valentine’s. http://www.christinescyberuniverse.com/VDay/VdayHistory.html, January 31, 2004).

And who was Juno?

JUNO was the queen of heaven and wife of Jupiter (Zeus)…The ancient Greeks called her HERA (Juno. World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 11. 1966, pp.162-163).

A holiday for the queen of heaven!

What does God say about that?

…the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?” says the LORD. “Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?” (Jeremiah 7:18-20, NKJV)

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, “We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!’ “Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, I have sworn by My great name,’ says the LORD, ‘that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “The Lord GOD lives.”‘Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end to them” (Jeremiah 44:25-28, NKJV).

In other words, God was not happy that people wanted to worship the queen of heaven and He would punish them for it.

Does God Approve of Using Pagan Practices to Worship Him?

Notice that the Bible repeatedly warns against using pagan practices to worship God:

29 When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31 “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it (Deuteronomy 12:29-32, NKJV).

2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe (Jeremiah 10:2-3, KJV).

…abstain from things offered to idols (Acts 15:29, NKJV).

But because most who profess Christianity do not heed these warnings, they are disobeying God’s instructions.

Look at some of what the Muslims say about Valentine’s Day,

Celebrating the Valentine Day is not permissible because: Firstly, it is an innovated holiday that has no basis in the Sharee`ah…Christians were aware of the Pagan roots of Valentine’s Day. The way the Christians adopted St. Valentine’s Day should be a lesson for Muslims. In fact, the failure to fully separate Valentine’s Day from its pagan roots explains why Islamic scholars and a number of Muslims avoid adopting traditions of non-Muslims, even though they could possibly be Islamicized…We should avoid anything associated with pagan immoral practices – We do not need to honour or celebrate the death of a Christian “saint” – Islam does not encourage flirting or suggestions of romantic relationships before marriage – Love between families, friends and married people does not need to be celebrated on a day with such un-Islamic origins (Ruling on Celebrating Valentine’s Day. http://www.contactpakistan.com/news/news144.htm, January 31, 2004).

In other words, Valentine’s Day causes the name of Christ (through the term ‘Christianity’) to be blasphemed among the Gentiles (Romans 2:24; Isaiah 52:5)!

Even the Muslims can see that the hypocrisy in this.

How does this pagan holiday help get the true gospel out?

It does not.

And that is the point.

The Bible never indicates that Christians should celebrate anything like St. Valentine’s Day. Thus, the celebration of Valentine’s Day is not enjoined on believers–even if there is some controversy associated with some of the history of it.

The Bible is clear that God is not pleased with activities that honor the ‘Queen of Heaven’.

Valentine’s Day began as a pagan courtship and sex holiday. Valentine’s Day does not honor God nor does its current observance actually honor any saint.

No real Christian should take any part in such celebrations.

For more information, please consider studying the following articles:

Valentine’s Day: Its Real Origins Christianity Today suggests that Valentine’s Day is good for Christians to observe. Is this true?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The 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?

Chinese Soldiers

COGwriter

China seems to be putting the USA on notice that it expects to be listened to or the USA may pay a price:

China PLA officers urge economic punch against U.S.

Reuters – Feb 9, 2010

BEIJING (Reuters) – Senior Chinese military officers have proposed that their country boost defense spending, adjust PLA deployments, and possibly sell some U.S. bonds to punish Washington for its latest round of arms sales to Taiwan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6183KG20100209

This should come as no surprise to regular readers of the COGwriter news page.  Nearly two years ago, I reported that China called this its “nuclear option” (see China Has Major US Dollar Reserves That It Can Cash In) and now is publicly suggesting that it might use it.

While the USA will likely publicly downplay this threat, those in the Chinese military realize that China does have enough economic power to affect USA foreign policy.  This threat may be to discourage the USA from making further arm sales in the future, as well as putting the Americans on notice that China expects its views to be given higher weight in Washington.

The world order is changing, and without national repentance very soon the USA will NOT remain on top.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? 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”, based up an early 20th century writing.
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?