Church of God News

“I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19)

COGwriter

The problems in the USA are severe and the politicians and citizens there basically do not get it.  Notice some of the quotes from the following news items:

Debt crisis just beginning, Morgan Stanley says

CNN Money – Aug 25, 2010…

That can’t go on forever, analyst Arnaud Mares writes in the firm’s first Sovereign Subjects report…While Morgan Stanley said it doesn’t expect the biggest governments to stop making payments outright – currency issuers such as the United States and United Kingdom can, after all, simply print money if the need arises – it does believe buyers at current prices leave themselves scant defense against other tools policymakers might use to chip away at the their burdens, such as inflation, tax increases and regulatory restrictions..

“Debt/GDP ratios are too backward-looking and considerably underestimate the fiscal challenge faced by advanced economies’ governments,” Mares writes..

The big question now, he continues, is what form this exciting new round of walking-away will take. For bondholders, he concludes, “History is not so reassuring after all.”

http://wallstreet.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/08/25/debt-crisis-just-beginning-morgan-stanley-says/

Can we pride ourselves on the resilience of our democracy? Isn’t it true that in our case, unlike those others, when the chips are down and our backs are to the wall, the necessary compromises will be made? Really?

Actuarially, existing entitlements have already bankrupted us. Mighty and exceptional as we think we are, demography and arithmetic are mightier still. Everyone knows it. They have known it for some time. Yet none of these programs has ever been cut back in a material way, so powerful and tenacious are the attending lobbies. http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052970203651904575437540656904972.html?mod=googlenews_barrons

Intel CEO: U.S. faces looming tech decline

Cnet – Aug 24, 2010

ASPEN, Colo.–Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini offered a depressing set of observations about the economy and the Obama administration…unless government policies are altered, he predicted, “the next big thing will not be invented here. Jobs will not be created here.”

The U.S. legal environment has become so hostile to business, Otellini said…Not long ago…, “our research centers were without peer. No country was more attractive for start-up capital…We seemed a generation ahead of the rest of the world in information technology. That simply is no longer the case.”…Otellini singled out the political state of affairs in Democrat-dominated Washington, saying: “I think this group does not understand what it takes to create jobs. And I think they’re flummoxed by their experiment in Keynesian economics not working.”…if politicians make decisions “the wrong way, people will not invest in the United States. They’ll invest elsewhere.”

Take factories…Ninety percent of that additional cost of a $4 billion factory is not labor but the cost to comply with taxes and regulations that other nations don’t impose…

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20014563-38.html?tag=mncol;1n

The debt crisis will worsen, the job creation mechanisms are no longer world leading, and the situation will worsen as calls for more regulations and taxes keep coming out of the mouths of the leading politicians and their supporters in the mainstream media.  Americans, as a rule, still do not get it.

LCG reported this recently in its weekly update:

Mistaken Assumptions About Democracy. Thomas Jefferson penned one of the great assumptions underlying modern democracies, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government”—yet this assumption appears to be highly suspect. The Boston Globe (July 11, 2010) reports a number of recent studies that found, “when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they often became even more strongly set in their ways.” This is because “we often base our opinions on our beliefs… [and] our beliefs can dictate the facts we chose to accept.” Another reason we reject some factual information is that it is often difficult and threatening to admit that we are wrong. Another study revealed, “the political ignorance of the American voter is one of the best documented data in political science” and that “misinformed people often have some of the strongest political opinions.” In fact, “the ones who were the most confident they were right were by and large the ones who knew the least about a topic.” Researchers conducting these studies see the assumption—that more information will ensure that people will change their minds—as “a potentially formidable problem” in a democratic system. In light of this research, it should come as no surprise that when Jesus Christ returns to set up the Kingdom of God, He will not come with more facts and pleasant words, but “with a strong hand” (Isaiah 40:10; Revelation 11:15-18).

So, having the facts does not change most Americans.  Most Americans don’t get it, and those that do often want to ignore what is obviously happening.

The USA is declining, its institutions are stifling, its debt is overpowering, its decline will be massive.

Do you have mistaken assumptions?  Will you change them?

To learn more, please check out the following articles:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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?
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

Wheat

COGwriter

Because of its drought, food prices in Russia continue to rise:

Food prices soar in Russia after drought

By Stuart Williams (AFP)…

MOSCOW — Prices of basic foodstuffs like buckwheat and flour have soared in Russia over the past month as the effects of its worst ever drought hit supplies, statistics showed Wednesday…The drought, caused by the hottest summer in Russia on record, destroyed one quarter of the country’s crops…http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i7Mm6VDUrF2oRg1Q9y3SwNE9nPhA

Russia halted wheat (which is not buckwheat) exports a few weeks ago in order to try to prevent shortages (see Russia Halts Grain Exports), but food prices continue to rise.

Russia’s soaring food prices should send a wake-up call to those who do not believe that things can change dramatically for the worse.  Because, things will ultimately get much worse in the USA, UK, and their Anglo-allies, even if there are some improvements first.

In addition to individual repentance for disasterss, the presiding evangelist of the Living Church of God (LCG), R.C. Meredith of the Living Church of God publicly has taught:

Put aside some food and store some water…Bad times are coming, have some supplies (Meredith RC. Prophecy Overview. Sermon, July 19, 2008).

Get extra food, dried food, and water…When these things happen, maybe God’s people can survive longer…It’s good to be prudent (Meredith RC. Do you actually live by faith? Sermon, April 25, 2009).

Tougher times are coming.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”?  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?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
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?

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

COGwriter

Because a judge has ruled that the Obama Administration is to obey the law and not fund the destruction of fertilized human embryos, certain “scientists” are upset per the following from ABC:

Scientists Outraged By Block on Stem Cell Research

The U.S. District Court’s freeze on federally funded embryonic stem cell research has sparked a firestorm of controversy as scientists in the field cope with the devastating blow this ruling deals to their work.

“If the ruling cannot be lifted soon, this will do irreparable harm to the field,” says Sam Morrison, director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology at the University of Michigan.

What about the fact that destroying embryos does irreparable harm to the embryos?

If it was their embryos that were being destroyed the “scientists” would likely be more upset by that.  But since the unborn cannot speak for themselves, it is up to us who can speak to express outrage against those who would kill the unborn.

1 Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

As a scientist, I have written for years that there are other (cheaper and in my opinion simpler) ways to accomplish much of the stem cell goals without human stem cells at all (animal parts work).  Furthermore, umbilical cord stem cells have always been available and do not have the moral problems. Thus, I have long believed that the “science” argument for why embryonic stem cell research is “necessary” has been hypocritical: there never was any real need for it.

It has long been my belief that the real reason that the stem cell issue has been floated around is so that the abortion industry wants to use it to try to pretend that abortion is morally acceptable.  It is not, nor is the type of stem cell research that President Obama approved morally acceptable.

Without massive national repentance the USA is doomed relatively soon (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy).  The stem cell issue is just one more area of the national sins of the USA.  It is nice that at least one judge realizes that it is also against the law, but sad that certain so-called scientists are insistent upon it.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? What do the Living Church of God and the Church of Rome teach?
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?

VS.

COGwriter

Last week I got an email that stated the following (shown in its entirety):

Hello,Just thought I’d let you know that it really amazes me that Mr. Tkach died exactly 1260 days before Pentecost 1998 from December 17th 1994, the day Mr. Tkach betrayed God and Mr Armstrong.  Pentecost 1998 was the beginning of the 7th and the last of Gods church era, the Laodicean Era which ended on September 29th 2008 at sun down at which on the same day the Dow fell of a record 777 points at sun down. The next day is the Jewish Holiday, Feast of Trumpets 2008 which is exactly 1335 days before Pentecost 2012. Between this these two times Seal Number 7 of Revelation will soon be opened and the 7 trupmets will sound along with the 7 last plagues of Revelation before the 1335 days are up. Awsome!!!!

I responded with:

Dear ?

The Laodicean era likely began prior to the date you have selected.  Church eras absolutely did not end on September 29, 2008.

The scriptures are clear that the Philadelphians are protected, and others not, during the Great Tribulation.  And obviously that has not happened yet.

Are you with CGPFK?

I waited until today for a response from the emailer, but none was ever received.  So, I thought I would post it.

The seventh seal will not be opened up in 2012, nor will the seven last plagues begin by then.

The email reminds me of the type of logic that Harold Camping’s supporters also point to.

When we these delusional people wake up?

If the 1335 days began of the Feast of Trumpets in 2008, then the 1260 days began on December 14, 2008.  We should have seen at least something related to the following occurrences take place then according to the Bible:

25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:25).

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished (Daniel 12:7).

But none of the biblically required signs occurred (see also Matthew 24:3-20, which precede the Great Tribulation, which CGPFK followers say began in late 2008; and Harold Camping followers even earlier than that).

Instead these followers seem to wish to believe that a repeatedly false prophet is correct because a few dates supposedly line up with some other dates.  Those are not the signs that the Bible says to look for, yet the followers of the false prophets seem to comfort themselves with statements and beliefs that are not from the Bible, but the imaginations of their leaders.

Ronald Weinland is not God’s prophet or one of His two witnesses. Eventually, more of his followers will wake up and see this. Hopefully, they will not wait until after the Feast of Trumpets or the Feast of Tabernacles in 2010 to do this.  But some will apparently wait for him to reveal “additional truths” which likely are intended to keep the followers paying attention to him instead of the Bible.

This is not awesome, but sad.

(BTW, two readers correctly pointed out that the statement about Tkach and the dates was inaccurate.  One of them stated, “Mr. Tkach Sr. died on Sept 23, 1995…981 days before Pentecost 1998.“)

It is sad that the Weinland followers and others of similar ilk do not rely on the Bible for their doctrine.

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?
SDA/LCG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The Living Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make clear prophetic errors?
Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible Harold Camping teaches that the rapture will be on May 21, 2011 and the world will end on October 21, 2011. Like Ronald Weinland, he allegorizes too many scriptures. What does the Bible show?
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 is for those truly interested in understanding how prophecies inter-relate and who want to see a real sequence of end time events. Unlike the false statements in Ronald Weinland’s books, events aligning with this one are actually coming to pass.

COGwriter

In the USA, over 550,000,000 eggs have been recalled because of the bacteria Salmonella.  Now, a recall for certain ham/sausage products was announced via CNN:

Zemco Industries in Buffalo, New York, has recalled approximately 380,000 pounds of deli meat that may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause a potentially fatal disease…The meats may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes…

The products subject to recall are:

— 25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM..

— 28.49-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS”…

— 32.67-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS”…

— 25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color”…

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/24/meat.recall/?hpt=Sbin

Pork having disease is nothing new.  And the Bible, including the New Testament is opposed to the consumption of unclean animals (see The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats).

But Salmonella in eggs?

I was watching CNN last night and a California professor who was interviewed said Salmonella was unheard of in eggs until more industrial forms of egg-producing agricultural were developed in the 1970s and 1980s.  By cramming chickens too close together, keeping them indoors, etc., he believed that this was the cause of the egg recall.  He commented that he ate more naturally produced eggs, and that even though they cost more, they were not only safer, he felt that it was the right thing to do.  And I agree.

So, the root cause of the egg recall problem?

Greed.

While becoming efficient is not of itself bad, “efficiencies” gained at the price of the environment, animals, and quality of the actual food are not truly efficient.  Greed results in compromise.

Although the USA can still afford to eat, the time is coming that more and more problems will become devastating because of certain USA agricultural practices.  Practices based upon greed and practices that go against nature.

Jesus warned of a time of famine and pestilence coming (Matthew 24:7-8) as part of “the beginning of sorrows”.

Food prices will also go up because of the black horse of famine:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”  (Revelation 6:5-6)

The huge American dependence on genetically-modified grain production (like most of its corn) are putting the USA at risk for losing all of its corn within perhaps weeks some year–perhaps as early as 2011.  And almost the same will be able to occur with wheat and other grains in the future if current trends toward relying on genetically-modified forms of grains continue.

The current “ham and egg” dangers will pale behind how devastated that the USA will be when its genetically-modified crops fail, as it appears from various prophecies that they will (Isaiah 55:22; 32:10; Habakkuk 3:16-17).

Some Americans will starve (Lamentations 1:19; 4:4,10; Deuteronomy 28:48).

Yes, it will get that serious.

Some articles 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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
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?
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? What will happen to the Jews in 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.
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?

Julia Gillard

COGwriter

Australia’s latest election seemed to vote in nobody yet on top, but its current PM expects victory:

JULIA Gillard has declared Labor better-placed than the Coalition to form a stable government after Saturday’s election. She believes Labor is more likely to win Greens support for its policies in the Senate.  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julia-gillards-green-path-forward/story-fn59niix-1225909144872

What will be the ultimate outcome of Australia’s divided election is actually uncertain.

Now there are biblical, Chinese, and other prophecies that discuss how Australia itself may become taken over.  As an Anglo-descended ally of the USA, Australia is not expected to become exempted from problems during the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).  It too will come under fire.

As mentioned when she took office a little over two months ago (Australia Now Has a Female Prime Minister: Prophetic Ramifications?), by virtue of her timing, Julia Gillard may inadvertently pursue policies that will lead to the fulfillment of various end time prophecies.  Of course, she may little influence if she does not remain as Prime Minister.  But she thinks she will.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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?
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?
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

In his latest Prophecy Flash, TPM’s William Dankenbring makes many statements indicating that Barack Obama should be considered to be a candidate for the role of the final Antichrist.  Here are a few:

In Luke 10:18, Jesus Christ may have identified the Antichrist – the coming “beast” of Revelation. He declared, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” In the original Hebrew language the word for lightning is barack. We read in Isaiah 14:12 -14—“how are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! You are cut down to the ground, you who did weaken the nations. You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit also on the Mount of the Congregation on the farthest sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds and be like the Most High.”

The Hebrew word for heights/heavens is bama. The conjunction letter that joins the thoughts of lightning and heights is pronounced “u “ or “o” and is thus read as “barrack o’bama”.
Does that prove U.S. President Obama is the Antichrist? Not necessarily…

Who is this strange new President, who was raised as a Moslem, and upon coming to Chicago, joined a so-called “Christian” church that does not require a Moslem to renounce his faith to be a member, and which is led by Jeremiah Wright, a notorious firebrand anti-white, anti-American racist bigot of the extreme left wing?

Who is this President who has read every Harry Potter book?

Who is this strange one who was raised on dog meat and snake meat, and who used many drugs as a teenager, including marijuana and cocaine?

Why was he given the code name “Renegade” by the Secret Service?. The noun “renegade” means by definition “one who denies or gives up his faith,” “especially an apostate.” It means “one who denies or deserts from a cause, principle, party or the like – especially one who turns to a hostile one – a turncoat, deserter.” (Winston Dictionary). Says the Worldbook Dictionary, “a deserter, such as from a religious faith . . . traitor; one who abandons his principles or his people. Synonym: APOSTATE, recreant, backslider.” In other words, a REBEL – JUST LIKE ANCIENT NIMROD – JUST LIKE LUCIFER OR SATAN THE DEVIL!

Now, I have heard certain Protestants try to claim that Luke 10:18 is a prophecy of the current USA President, and felt that they also were in error.

And, again, to make my position perfectly clear, Barack Obama is not the final Antichrist, nor will he become that individual.  Nor is Barack Obama Lucifer.

That does not mean that the USA President has not done things to set the USA up for its end time destruction (not intentionally, BTW, in my opinion).  It is just that the scriptures in the Bible that use the terms “antichrist” and/or “antichrists” are referring to religious, not political leaders.  Prophecy Flash has a history of making speculative statements that have been in error.  Barack Obama is not the Antichrist.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist?Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It 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 at the COGwriter website on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

COGwriter

Iran’s President continues his pattern of tough talk:

TEHRAN, Iran (Aug. 22) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday inaugurated the country’s first domestically built unmanned bomber aircraft, calling it an “ambassador of death” to Iran’s enemies.  http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/iran-inaugurates-nations-first-unmanned-bomber/19603272?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fworld%2Farticle%2Firan-inaugurates-nations-first-unmanned-bomber%2F19603272

“This jet is a messenger of honour and human generosity and a saviour of mankind, before being a messenger of death for enemies of mankind,” President Ahmadinejad said after unveiling the Karrar at a ceremony with defence officials.  “The key message is friendship,” he added. “We must make efforts to render all the enemy’s weapons useless with our defence potential.”  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11052023

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s plan has been, and remains, to provoke a big enough battle that Islamic prophecies concerning the rise of an Islamic leader, known as the Imam Madhi will rise up.

One does not develop new weapons for the purposes of actual “friendship”.

What could happen is, as soon as next month, that Israel may decide it must greatly reduce the military threat from Iran.  And at this stage, many of the Sunni nations (Iran is mainly Shi’ite) consider Iran a threat that they do not want to deal with, thus may tolerate (for a while and to a degree) Israeli intervention.

However, for Israel to really be “successful”, it may have to cause a lot of military damage to Iran.  So much so, that this could lead to outrage within the Islamic world.  Enough outrage that it could change the political landscape and lead to some form of unification amongst the Islamic nations in the Middle East and Northern Africa.  The Bible suggests something like this will happen as it predicts the rise of a final King of the South (Daniel 11:40).  Thus, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may get his plan accomplished as the “Imam Mahdi” may be the same individual as the King of the South (though this individual is not expected to Iranian from a biblical perspective–and does not have to be from a strictly Islamic perspective either).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?

COGwriter

The following news item keeps popping up:

What will it take for Obama to convince the world that he’s a Christian, or at least not a Muslim?  (Christian Science Monitor – Brad Knickerbocker 21 Aug 2010)

CNN had several segments the past few days somewhat asking the same thing.  And I covered some of this when the story first came out (see Many Americans Believe that Barack Obama is Muslim).  But I would like to address the question above as the mainstream media does not seem to really understand the facts.

Here are some reasons that thinking, biblically-oriented people, do not believe that Barack Obama is a real Christian:

1. He stopped regularly attending outside church services after becoming elected President of the United States (except for some public events)–so his sincerity is doubted.
2. He has made it clear that he greatly supports the homosexual “agenda”, unless such pushing may get in the way of his other political objectives.
3. One of his first acts after taking office was to increase international funding for abortions.
4. On an international trip, he referred to the Muslim book as “the Holy Quran”.  Real Christians do not consider the Quran as holy.
5. He essentially eliminated the “National Day of Prayer”.  Which, while I did not consider to truly be “Christian”, most Americans did.
6. He attended the first “feeding” for Ramadan this year.  Christians are not supposed to observe holy days of other religions.
7. He has been found to carry a Hindu monkey god.  No Christian intentionally carries around pagan idols.
8. His initial, fairly clear sounding support, for the “ground-zero” mosque.
9. His two US Supreme Court appointees are both believed to be supporters of on-demand abortion.

His “We’re not a Christian nation” comment earlier this year before Muslim leaders while technically accurate, was offensive to many Americans (it also differed from the views of most who helped found the USA).

It is basically because Barack Obama’s own statements and practices that have caused many to think he not a real Christian.  Furthermore, his relatively close relationships with Muslims (having a Muslim father/grandfather and growing up in predominantly Muslim Indonesia) in his early years, his statements in Cairo and elsewhere, and his distancing himself from the State of Israel have had some wonder if he had remained a Muslim despite public denials.

Those who are not biblically-oriented, those who do not believe that they have to live their lives by what the Bible says, etc. seem confused, that many doubt the President’s claimed faith.

Now, I have never reported that Barack Obama was a Muslim.  Actually, when I first reported on this during his campaign, I reported that he claimed Christianity.

Yet, those of us who do take the Bible literally do not understand how one can support abortion on demand and expect others to believe that they are Christian.

In my view, an unrepentant abortionist, is simply that.  One cannot be an unrepentant abortionist and a real Christian.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God Unlike some of the odd stories about Barack Obama, this one is apparently true.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It 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 at the COGwriter website on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this?

Jerusalem

COGwriter

“Peace talks” between the Palestians and Israelis are expected to begin in less than two weeks:

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas not to “waste”  the chance for peace constituted by upcoming talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Washington, AFP reported…

Clinton said she had invited Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to Washington on September 2 “to re-launch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues, which we believe can be completed within one year.”

She acknowledged that the goal would be a challenging one. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=185505

A “peace deal” could come about by next Fall or perhaps the one past it.  But probably not as Mrs. Clinton currently hopes.  Any deal prior to the one in Daniel 9:27 will ultimately be overridden.

Ultimately, and probably after more armed conflict involving Israel (and likely Iran), a “comprehensive” peace treaty will be agreed to for the area by a rising European leader (probably with USA involvement).

Notice that in the book of Daniel there is a prophecy related to the end times that states:

26 And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate (Daniel 9:26-27).

There are several reasons that this “prince” is referring to the leader of the developing European empire (see King of the North and Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

But perhaps the main one is that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. And it is the “prince” coming from that people that verse 27 is referring to. Hence, this prophecy tells us that a leader will start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the great tribulation (and yes, according to Jesus, some “tribulation” does happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation), when he (the European leader) violates terms of the deal (cf. Daniel 11:31).

So while current peace talks are of interest, the peace deal that will happen per Daniel 9:27 will ultimately result in changes that those in Israel will not care for.

More details about Daniel 9:26-27 are contained in the article:

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?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple?