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COGwriter

On April 3, 2010, CGPFK’s Ronald Weinland’s once again blasted his critics as “naysayers”.  He seems to really despise those that point out his errors.  He declared himself a “prophet” over four years ago, then began to claim he was one of the two witnesses.

Two years ago, in April, he made a lot of statement, some of which I would like to quote here.:

Mike McConnell (MM): Right then when would the second trumpet come following the first?

Ronald Weinland (RW): Well there’s a period of forty-five days to ninety days that God hasn’t revealed yet and that could very well depend upon people’s response. To what’s taking place. Whether they listen whether they don’t how they respond to things that begins taking place in the first trumpet uh blast takes place so. Uh there’s a period of forty-five days uh that takes us up to about uh the beginning of June and the second trumpet could go at that time or it could take us up to uh a little bit later. Mid-July or even later than that.

MM: Likely June or July.

RW: Uh very likely very likely June or July.

MM: We should see we’ll see dramatic changes between now, now and June or July.

RW:Absolutely. Yeah there’s there’s not gonna be a question in people’s minds when these things begin. These are not gonna be normal things that just happen as a uh consequence of what normal weather patterns or things of that nature there that uh this is going to be of…intensity. It’s not’s going to be a small thing. These are going to be very widespread things that begin to take place.

MM: Well what’s likely to happen and I know this sounds facetious but I’m not. But if anything were to happen they’d just blame it on global warming.

RW: Well the first time they will but when uh nuclear weapons go off they can’t blame that on uh global warming. During this first stage the forty-five days to ninety days that’s exactly what people will do. You’re exactly right . But after that period of time it’s going to it’s going to change dramatically as things of terrorism begin to take place in this country because we have four trumpets that are going to take place here over six months to a year’s period of time and as they take place it’s going to bring this, the United States here to demise. We are we are not we are at our end as far as our country is concerned. I’ve made many comments on different interviews here that we may be able to scrounge together having elections in November but there will not be a new president take office in January…

RW: If it doesn’t pan out the only thing I would do is uh . So if I responded to anything at all was to explain to people I was a false prophet that’s the only answer. That I’m no longer a minister.

MM: So if by Labour Day we’re still having a picnic.

RW: Well then I’m I’m through.

MM: Then you would find a different line of work.

RW: Absolutely…

MM: And do you know which cities are going to be nuked?

RW: Well uh, I’ve said many a time here I wouldn’t want to live in New York city or Chicago or LA and uh Houston Texas especially some of those areas uh the larger cities uh those are the primary targets.

MM: And this is something going on between us and Russia? Or us and who?

Instead of keeping his word, he changed his dates.  He declared that the Great Tribulation would begin on December 14, 2008 and he keeps teaching that it actually started then.  However, if the final 3 1/2 years, the time, times, and half a time, began in December 2008, massive Church of God persecution would have began on an unprecedented scale in late 2008 and continued throughout 2009 according to Daniel 7:25, but it did not.  Thus, the Great Tribulation did not begin in 2008, nor 2009.

He declared himself as an apostle on November 14, 2009 (see Ronald Weinland Apostle? Another False Declaration).  On December 19, 2009, he declared himself to the final “Elijah” (see Ronald Weinland Now Also Claims to Be the Elijah).

In addition to originally teaching that the Great Tribulation begins in April 2008, notice what else Ronald Weinland claims on the last page of one of his books:

By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power (2008 – God’s Final Witness, p. 244).

And while the United States will eventually fall, it was still a world power at the end of 2008.

He has made many declarations, but has proven himself to be a false prophet and one who often contradicts himself and the Bible.  He and his followers need to realize that and change.

Some articles of related interest may include the following:

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008 (first April 17th, then June 2008, now December 14, 2008). Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong?

RW: No, this is uh, some of it’s going to be a matter of terrorism. But even after the terrorism uh actually Europe’s going to uh send a few our way as well. They’re uh we’re gonna be conquered that’s a part of the processes. By the time the fifth trumpet sounds we are going to be conquered by Europe…

COGwriter

Many are probably not aware the currency of India continues to rise compared to the US dollar:

By MUKESH JAGOTA

NEW DELHI — The Indian government isn’t concerned as of now over the gain in the rupee against the U.S. dollar, the finance secretary said Monday, signaling the government’s growing tolerance for a stronger currency given that the unit is poised to firm up more through the year on the back of higher capital inflows.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303666304575165331613503348.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The USA appears prophesied to NOT get its fiscal deficits in order–hence other currencies will tend to strengthen as the US dollar weakens.

And while India and other parts of Asia will flourish, the most vibrant economy and the area that according to the Bible will temporarily dominate the world will be based in Europe, and not Asia.

However, that does not mean that India will not prosper more than it now does.

Those in North America should ask themselves why the US dollar is dropping against currencies such as the rupee of India.  Is it not because of moral issues that the USA is losing its lead in many areas?  And if the USA is losing its lead, where do Americans think this will end?

Some articles of related interest may include:

India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
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?
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?

COGwriter

Although he and his family attended church until he was elected USA president, Barack Obama no longer intends to join any particular church.  Nicole Neroulias reported:

Monday April 5, 2010

The First Family has decided not to join a church — President Obama says they decided their presence, and the security required, is too disruptive and distracting to the others on a weekly basis — but they did attend Easter Sunday services again, this time choosing a historically black Methodist Church in Southeast Washington, a neighborhood struggling with poverty and crime…

http://blog.beliefnet.com/beliefbeat/2010/04/obama-family-finds-a-church-for-easter.html

Now, I personally never did not consider that Barack Obama was particularly dedicated to Christianity.  And his latest decisions simply confirm what I have long suspected.

If he is, as one of his websites claimed, ” a committed Christian”, he may wish to consider more of what the Bible says.  The Apostle Paul warned Christians:

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Dedicated Christians would heed the warnings about not attending with believers in these end times.  But the USA President does not apparently believe that applies to him.

Of course, I am not the only one who doubted the depth of USA President Obama’s commitment to Christianity.

One named Kim Clement allegedly “prophesied” the following in Memphis, Tennessee on October 26, 2009:

“For there has been a scheme and a plan against the President of this nation, to suffocate him.” God says, “The enemy has planned in 2010 to bring shame to the first African President. So that they will say, ‘Never again shall an African American be the President of the United States.’ This will not happen,” says the Lord. “This will not happen. This will not happen.

“There shall come a change in the early part of 2010 and many will say, ‘Look, things are not quite as bad as what it seemed,’ and those who have murmured and those who have spoken evil, those who have spread words out to bring shame to this race will not be satisfied.”…

God says, “Your President shall have a great conversion in 2010 which will bring about changes to this nation and because I have spoken.

“Your prayers and your praise shall bring about a change in the atmosphere; your praise and your shouts bring about a change, for you don’t understand the significance of these sounds. I’m not listening to the journalists or the prognosticators. I’m not listening to CBS or NBC or ABC or FOX.” God says, “I’m not listening!…

God says, “I will honor the prayer in the Easter of 2010. I will break the cycle.

“For they have predicted another one shall die in office. It shall not be so. For this President shall leave this office bringing honor to the African American people.”  Source: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/8184

Now, while it is always possible that the USA President could convert, I absolutely never did not accept the aforementioned “prophecy” as true for many reasons.  So, once again I will go on record and state in advance that I do not believe that the one who made this claim is God’s prophet.  And since no notable “conversion” occurred with Barack Obama yesterday, we should all be able to conclude that the “conversion” aspect of the above “prophecy” was false.

Again attending an Easter service, like he did last year, simply shows that Barack Obama is into photo ops related to religion and demonstrates that he is not intending to pursue biblical Christianity.  And while anyone can repent, I will not hold my breath.  But, I will continue to pray for him.

For more information, please check out the following:

Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  This is a lengthy article with many prophecies that Barack Obama may end up fulfilling.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled by him?
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.
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?

“Orthodox” 16th Century Representation of the “Apocalypse”

COGwriter

Certain “experts” apparently believe that WWIII will start in 2014 and at least one Russian believes that the preliminaries have began:

Russian Geopolitical Analyst: “World War III Has Already Begun”

NJP – March 28, 2010  By Gilbert Mercier

…The man expressing the idea is Konstantin Sivkov, he is Russian and the Vice President of the Academy for Geopolitical Issues. Sivkov thinks that “World War III will start 100 years after WWI (2014) and will take lives of hundreds of millions people worldwide”. http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/03/28/russian-geopolitical-analyst-world-war-iii-has-already-begun/

World War III Has Already Begun

Pravda, Russia – March 25, 2010

Some experts believe that World War III will start 100 years after the first one and will take lives of hundreds of millions of people. Some scientists think that the war is already going on, nareing the completion of its first stage.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/25-03-2010/112718-world_war_three-0

If WWIII is defined as a “hot war” that Russia is also engaged in, then 2014 is too early for that to occur.

At this instant, 2013 is the earliest possible date for the Great Tribulation to begin, but that is almost impossible as it would require a seven-year (prophetic “week”) Middle East peace deal to be confirmed by a European “prince” (Daniel 9:26-27) within the next 86 days (the Great Tribulation will begin about 3 1/2 years after such a deal and 3 1/2 years after July 1, 2010 would be a date of 2014).  2014-2017 are more likely start dates.

But when the Great Tribulation begins, it will be “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) and will not directly involve a “hot world war” with Russia.

Russia and her allies are prophesied to be at war around the time of Armageddon, but the earliest that could be would be 2017 (one needs to add almost 1290 days to the 3 1/2 years), with 2018 or so perhaps more likely.  Thus, the Russian prediction of a WWIII involving Russia and hundreds of millions dying in 2014 is premature.

The end will come, but not quite that soon–but it could possibly come that early for the USA and its Anglo-allies.  The “experts” that “believe that World War III will start 100 years after the first one ” are in error–if they are referring to a Russian war.  All need to compare their predictions with the Bible.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? 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?
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 has a chapter titled Barack Obama, the Future Islamic King of the South, and the End of America.
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? Do they experience the time of “Jacob’s trouble”?  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?

The Miracle of Holy Fire painting

COGwriter

Yesterday, many of the Eastern Orthodox believe a miracle involving fire occurred:

Thousands of Orthodox Christians celebrate holy fire ritual

Associated Press – April 3, 2010   By Yaniv Zohar

JERUSALEM …Orthodox Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried at the site where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher now stands and that a flame appears spontaneously from his tomb on the day before Easter to show he has not forgotten his followers…

The holy fire ritual dates back at least 1,200 years. The precise details of the flame’s source are a closely guarded secret. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700021817/Thousands-of-Orthodox-Christians-celebrate-holy-fire-ritual.html

Holy Fire arrives in Moscow, taken to main cathedral

RIA Novosti – April 3, 2010

The Holy Fire from Jerusalem arrived at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Saturday evening and was taken to Christ the Savior Cathedral, the Foundation of St. Andrew the First-Called said on Saturday.

A special flight with a delegation of Russian religious, government and public figures landed at 22:30 Moscow time….

The Holy Fire that is lit every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on the day preceding Orthodox Easter is believed by Orthodox Christians to be a miracle. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100403/158424998.html

Holy Fire

The Holy Fire (Greek Ἃγιον Φῶς, “Holy Light“) is described by Christians as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter. It is considered by many to be the longest-attested annual miracle in the Christian world. (Holy Fire.  Wikipedia, April 4, 2010).

Some however question it and understand that this is not a miracle:

Holy Fire brings Jerusalem Easter to joyful climax

By Alastair Macdonald

Reuters
Saturday, April 3, 2010; 2:47 PM

JERUSALEM (Reuters)…Roman Catholics and Protestants, however, eschew the Holy Fire rite; Western visitors have for centuries scoffed at the ceremony in which the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem produces a lighted candle from the sealed and empty tomb — without the aid of matches or other, visible, terrestrial aids.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/03/AR2010040301634.html

Mystery of Jerusalem’s Holy Fire comes to light

Telegraph, London – April 16, 2001   By Alan Philps in Jerusalem

… one Armenian torch-bearer, Soukias Tchilingirian, felt the truth had to be told. He said: “It’s not a miracle. The Greek priests bring in a lamp – one that has been kept burning for 1,500 years – to produce the Holy Fire. For pilgrims full of faith who come from abroad, it is a fire from Heaven, a true miracle. But not for us. Of course the source of the fire is ancient and symbolic. I heard this from my father and I think he knew the truth.”  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/1311064/Mystery-of-Jerusalems-Holy-Fire-comes-to-light.html

Why is this important?

The Bible warns that someone will come with signs and lying wonders to mislead the world:

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Furthermore, “fire from heaven” will be one of those signs:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:11-15)

By currently believing in “holy fire” many Orthodox are unknowingly setting themselves up to accept the signs and lying wonders that the Bible warns about.  All, including the non-Orthodox, need to understand that signs and wonders are NOT of themselves proof that something is of God, including the annual ritual of “holy fire”.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
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.
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.

COGwriter

Scholars have raised concerns about the secularization of Easter:

Is the meaning of Easter being lost?

Some scholars fear the story of resurrection has gone far astray

By KATE SHELLNUTT
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

April 3, 2010, 6:22AM…

Fewer than half of Americans mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection when asked about the significance of Easter, according to a survey released last month by Christian researchers the Barna Group. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6942155.html

But the apparent assumption above that Easter was originally observed as a Christian resurrection holiday is in error.  Easter is the name of a pagan goddess.  It was observed as a pagan fertility holiday with eggs and rabbits as symbols.  It was something that compromisers adopted over time as a tool to reach pagans.  Easter was not observed by the Apostles or their immediate successors.

Notice another report from another scholar:

The first Christians celebrated the death of Jesus with a Pascha meal (eucharist) on the lunar date of the Jewish Passover (note 1 Cor. 5:7-8).

At first there was no annual celebration of the resurrection. Eventually, in the gentile world, the day of resurrection was added to the Pascha festival. That day was Sunday. At the Council of Nicea (325) it was ruled that Easter Sunday would be celebrated on the Sunday immediately following that full moon which came after the vernal equinox. At the same time the Council decided that the vernal equinox would be March 21 in the Julian calendar (Eusebius, Vit. Const. 3.18). (Synder GF. Irish Jesus, Roman Jesus: the formation of early Irish Christianity. Trinity Press International, 2002, p. 183)

The truth is that the original Christians all observed Passover, and that on the 14th of Nisan.  However, because of compromise and fear, some in Rome, Alexandria, and elsewhere adopted Sunday to be observed as Passover.  SDA scholar Samuele Bacchiocchi noted that the change to Easter-Sunday and to a weekly Sunday observance was due to persecution (the new Gentile hierarchy he is referring to are Greek bishops in Jerusalem, which took over after the rebellion was crushed in 135 A.D.):

The actual introduction of Easter-Sunday appears to have occurred earlier in Palestine after Emperor Hadrian ruthlessly crushed the Barkokeba revolt (A.D. 132-135)…

The fact that the Passover controversy arose when Emperor Hadrian adopted new repressive measures against Jewish religious practices suggests that such measures influenced the new Gentile hierarchy to change the date of Passover from Nisan 14 to the following Sunday (Easter-Sunday) in order to show separation and differentiation from the Jews and the Jewish Christians…

A whole body of Against the Jews literature was produced by leading Fathers who defamed the Jews as a people and emptied their religious beliefs and practices of any historical value. Two major causalities of the anti-Jewish campaign were Sabbath and Passover. The Sabbath was changed to Sunday and Passover was transferred to Easter-Sunday.

Scholars usually recognize the anti-Judaic motivation for the repudiation of the Jewish reckoning of Passover and adoption of Easter-Sunday instead. Joachim Jeremias attributes such a development to “the inclination to break away from Judaism.” In a similar vein, J.B. Lightfoot explains that Rome and Alexandria adopted Easter-Sunday to avoid “even the semblance of Judaism” (Bacchiocchi S. God’s Festival in Scripture and History. Biblical Perspectives. Befriend Springs (MI), 1995, pp. 101,102,103).

J.B. Lightfoot himself specifically wrote:

But the Church of Ælia Capitolina was very differently constituted from the Church of Pella and the Church of Jerusalem…not a few doubtless accepted the conqueror’s terms, content to live henceforth as Gentiles…in the new city of Hadrian.  But there were others who hung to the law of their forefathers…

…the Churches of Asia Minor…regulated their Easter festival by the Jewish Passover without regard to the day of the week, but…those of Rome and Alexandria and Gaul observed another rule; thus avoiding even the semblance of Judaism (Lightfoot, Joseph Barber.  Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians: A Revised Text with Introduction, Notes and Dissertations. Published by Macmillan, 1881. Original from Harvard University. Digitized Oct 16, 2006, pp. 317, 331).

It is likely that if Telesphorus made this change at the time to attempt to distance himself from the Jews in Rome. If he was the one who did it, and if he thought that this would spare his life, he was wrong as he was later killed by the Roman authorities (circa 136 A.D.). On the other hand, it is perhaps more likely that Hyginus, who was also Greek decided to introduce the Passover Sunday tradition, perhaps to decrease the wrath of the anti-Jewish Roman authorities.

As the compromisers expanded, those in pagan cultures with fertility holidays (which were predominant in many parts of Europe) encouraged the adoption of symbols such rabbits, eggs, etc.  And as reported here yesterday, even some 21st century Catholics realize that this is a problem (see Catholic Register: “Easter Bunny Must Die”).

Easter itself is not a Christian term, and its celebration is known by scholars to contain pagan elements. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes:

The English term, according to the Ven. Bede (De temporum ratione, I, v), relates to Estre, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring…Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year. Leo I (Sermo xlvii in Exodum) calls it the greatest feast (festum festorum), and says that Christmas is celebrated only in preparation for Easter…The connection between the Jewish and the Christian Pasch explains the movable character of this feast. Easter has no fixed date, like Christmas, because the 15th of Nisan of the Semitic calendar was shifting from date to date on the Julian calendar. Since Christ, the true Paschal Lamb, had been slain on the very day when the Jews, in celebration of their Passover, immolated the figurative lamb, the Jewish Christians in the Orient followed the Jewish method…For this observance they claimed the authority of St. John and St. Philip.

In the rest of the empire another consideration predominated. Every Sunday of the year was a commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, which had occurred on a Sunday. Because the Sunday after 14 Nisan was the historical day of the Resurrection, at Rome this Sunday became the Christian feast of Easter…

Men and women…In the Neumark (Germany) on Easter Day the men servants whip the maid servants with switches; on Monday the maids whip the men. They secure their release with Easter eggs. These customs are probably of pre-Christian origin (Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Das festliche Jahr, 118)…

The Easter Rabbit The Easter Rabbit lays the eggs, for which reason they are hidden in a nest or in the garden. The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility (Simrock, Mythologie, 551)…

The Easter Fire The Easter Fire is lit on the top of mountains (Easter mountain, Osterberg) and must be kindled from new fire, drawn from wood by friction (nodfyr); this is a custom of pagan origin in vogue all over Europe, signifying the victory of spring over winter

(Holweck F. G. Transcribed by John Wagner and Michael T. Barrett. Easter. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume V. Copyright © 1909 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, May 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Thus, the Roman scholars admit that the name Easter is the name of a pagan goddess, many of its practices are of pagan origin, and that the churches in Asia Minor (which they call the Orient) continued to observe Passover on the date that the Jews did, Nisan 14.

Even news sources are aware of the pagan connections and compromises amongst some who professed Christ related to the Spring festivals:

The pagan roots of Easter

From Ishtar to Eostre, the roots of the resurrection story go deep. We should embrace the pagan symbolism of Easter

The Guardian, UK – April 3, 2010     by Heather McDougall

Easter is a pagan festival. If Easter isn’t really about Jesus, then what is it about? Today, we see a secular culture celebrating the spring equinox, whilst religious culture celebrates the resurrection. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practises, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism

The Bible itself specifically condemns certain practices, now associated with Easter, such as hot Easter buns/cakes (Jeremiah 7:14), the worship towards the sun in the east (Ezekiel 8:15-18), and the worship of Astarte/Ishtar/Ashtaroth (other spellings of the word Easter).  Those who followed the practices of the original apostles never have observed it.

Even Protestant scholars note that the Bible specifically condemns some of the pagan practices:

Jeremiah 7…Cakes to the queen of heaven (v. 18). Probably a reference to the Babylonian fertility-goddess Ishtar, goddess of the planet Venus (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press).

Jeremiah 7… What the sin is with which they are here charged-it is idolatry, v. 18. Their idolatrous respects are paid to the queen of heaven, the moon, either in an image or in the original, or both. They worshipped it probably under the name of Ashtaroth, or some other of their goddesses (from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.).

Thus, both Catholic and Protestant scholars acknowledge that Easter/Ishtar/Ashtaroth worship contains pagan elements.

Notice what the Encyclopedia Britannica stated in 1910:

There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers…The first Christians continued to observe the Jewish festivals, though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed. Thus the Passover, with a new conception added to it of Christ as the true Paschal Lamb and the first fruits from the dead, continued to be observed (Easter. In: The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information Edition: 11 Published by Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1910 Item notes: v. 8 Original from Harvard University Digitized Jul 24, 2008, p. 828).

The biblical Passover has to do with the Lamb of God being killed for our sins–and early Christians kept that, not Easter.

Easter, which is named after the pagan goddess Ishtar, has to do with a fertility festival involving rabbits and looking to the east in early morning as pagans did. Those who actually keep Passover can have a much better understanding of the plan of God than those who follow supposedly “Christianized” pagan holidays.

But despite what scholars do and/or should know, most who profess Christ tend to ignore the fact that early Christians kept Passover on the 14th, but instead tend to observe a compromised Sunday holiday with elements of paganism called Easter.  I have seen various advertisements in the newspaper that many groups in Southern California will hold special services for Easter.  But those groups who hold to the beliefs and practices of the earliest Christians were not among them.

Those who wish to learn more should also study the following articles:

Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?
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 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?

Ambassador Auditorium (in center)

COGwriter

Ambassador Auditorium again made the news:

Pasadena Star News – April 2, 2010

PASADENA – …”I think they’ll have a major reaction” to the interior, said Roman Borek, the auditorium’s former long-time general manager, who will give a final round of guided tours from 9 a.m. to noon today at the auditorium, 131 S. St. John Ave.  http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_14810626

I met Roman Borek a few times and believe he gave my wife and I a tour of Ambassador Auditorium over 25 years years ago.  As I reported before, the Pasadena Symphony intends to move to Ambassador Auditorium (see Ambassador Auditorium to be Home of Pasadena Symphony).

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains how he is and should be viewed today.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.

The Above Map Show the Number of Internet Users By Country

COGwriter

CNN reported:

By John D. Sutter, CNN

March 31, 2010 11:00 p.m. EDT

…17 countries have faster Internet connections than the United States…

Broadband Internet speeds in the United States are only about one-fourth as fast as those in South Korea, the world leader, according to the Internet monitoring firm Akamai.

And, as if to add insult to injury, U.S. Internet connections are more expensive than those in South Korea, too.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/31/broadband.south.korea/?hpt=C2

So (according to the above) partially because the USA has less competitors (odd for a country that historically was capitalistic), places less importance apparently on education and family, has too complicated of a legal system, and lacked an in-depth plan, South Korea has internet connections that are four times as fast at much lower cost than that of the USA.

Now population density is important, but that is not the only factor.  In accordance with biblical prophecies, the USA will no longer be “the head” but is on its way to be becoming “the tail” (which includes being indebted to foreigners–the USA is more indebted to foreigners now than any nation on the planet):

43 “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

45 “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.  (Deuteronomy 28:43-45)

South Korea is one of 17 countries with faster internet connections than the USA.  While this may change, overall it appears that the USA is losing its edge in many technologies.

Without national repentance, Bible prophecy reveals that the USA will be overtaken within a relatively few number of years.  And while slower internet connection will not be the cause, it is simply another sign that the USA is somewhat losing its lead in another area that it should dominate.

Some articles of 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?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
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?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?

Chinese Soldiers

COGwriter

Russia and China are getting closer together:

China buys air defense systems from Russia

Reuters – April 2, 2010

. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100402/wl_nm/us_russia_china_arms_3MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has delivered 15 batteries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to China, Interfax news agency reported on Friday, under a contract analysts said could be worth as much as $2.25 billion.China is a major buyer of Russian weapons, and the two countries say they are trying to forge a strategic partnership, …

Notice that Russia and China are trying to “forge a strategic partnership”.

The Bible (e.g. Daniel 11:44) tells of a time when a power in Europe (called the “King of the North“) will be troubled by news from the east (like China) and the north (like Russia).

Russia and China are both dedicated to upgrading and strengthening their military power.  They are likely to fulfill several prophecies in Daniel, Revelation, and other portions of the Bible within the next ten years.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? 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?
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?

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

The following was interesting and timely:

The Easter Bunny Must Die

National Catholic Register – March 25, 2010

by Pat Archbold

Among the peeves I keep as pets, chief is my loathing of the Easter Bunny…

The Bunny must die. http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the_easter_bunny_must_die/

The New Testament does not mention anything at all about rabbits.  And the only thing that the Old Testament mentions is that hares (a type of rabbit) are unclean to eat (see The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats).

They should not be a symbol for Christians.  Nor should Cupid, leprechauns, or Santa.

Of course, it is not just the Living Church of God (which was reported here yesterday, see LCG Asks: Passover or Easter?) and some Catholics who understand the pagan connections.  Here is an article from South Africa:

Why we celebrate easter

IOL, South Africa – April 1, 2010   by Warda Salvester…

The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of fertility and spring, Eastre…Some aspects of modern Easter celebrations, however, pre-date Christianity.Some Christians even refuse to celebrate Easter because of these pagan customs that they say have nothing to do with Christianity.In fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival.Clever missionaries altered this festival to make it a Christian celebration as converts were slowly won over.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=nw20100401103757548C754259

Many tend to ignore the pagan connections and celebrate Easter anyway.  And many, do not seem to realize that early Christians did NOT celebrate the resurrection per se as a holiday.  That was a later development.

All early Christians kept Passover, and over time, many who profess Christ changed the date to a Sunday and allowed pre-Christian practices to be incorporated in the observance of that day.  The compromise apparently helped the compromising churches gain members.  The adoption of practices such as eating ham was apparently also adopted to distance the day from its connection to Passover.

But Jesus did not eat pigs.  Nor advocate that for His followers.

Those who wish to learn more should also study the following articles:

Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?
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?