Church of God News

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis

COGwriter

CG7-Denver has published the following in its Sep-Oct 2010 Bible Advocate magazine:

Some 170 people were present in Marion, Iowa, on Sabbath, June 26, to celebrate that congregation’s  150th anniversary…The oldest active CoG7 congregation, Marion church dates to 1860 when a group of Sabbathkeeping Adventists called themselves the Church of Jesus Christ and adopted a covenant that pledged “the Bible and the Bible alone” as its rule for faith and discipline.

The article following the above one was titled “150 More Years?”

However, that article did not even attempt to really answer that question, but I will.

CG7 does not have 150 years left.

God’s six thousand year allowance for humans to rule themselves is almost over and it certainly will be over in less than 150 years.

Most of those who professed Christ in the first few centuries A.D. all believed in a six-thousand year plan followed by the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth.  This was even accepted by certain Catholics leaders in the latter half of the 20th century.  And according to biblical and historical chronology, that 6,000 years is almost up.  There is less than 150 years left, and probably less than a decade.

For more information about CG7 and other subjects in this post, please prayerfully study the following:

Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
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?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
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?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

COGwriter

Iranian President Ahmadinejad upset the American President Obama this week with comments about 9/11:

President Barack Obama called Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remarks at the United Nations yesterday “offensive” and “hateful.” (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-24/obama-calls-ahmadinejad-s-united-nations-remarks-offensive-hateful-.html)

President Obama said remarks made by Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suggesting that the American government was responsible for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were “inexcusable.” (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/obama-ahmadinejads-911-comments-inexcusable/)

But the comments from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are not a surprise.  The President of Iran does not wish to promote peace, as that is not his agenda.  Notice, for example, what he said last week:

Iran’s president said Saturday that Middle Eastern countries will “disrupt” U.S. and Israeli plans for the region, appearing to dismiss U.S. efforts to forge a regional peace deal between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the comments during a brief stop in Syria…

The meeting came two days after Assad sat down in Damascus with the Obama administration’s special Middle East envoy, George J. Mitchell, to discuss starting separate Syria-Israel peace talks. (Aji A.   Iranian president disparages peace talks. 18 September 2010.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/18/AR2010091803487.html)

The reality is that the President of Iran believes that it is his special calling to create enough chaos in order to stimulate the arrival of an Islamic leader, known as the Imam Mahdi.  This leader is supposed to unite Islam and root out problems within its religion.

And because of this, the President of Iran has no real interest in peace–only in delays to allow various Islamic nations to have enough arms to deal militarily with the non-Islamic nations.  Especially the Western nations (specifically Europe).

For various reasons, the Imam Mahdi sounds a lot like the final King of the South that the Bible foretells (Daniel 11:40-43).  And he may be part of a deal that will affect the USA and its Anglo-allies (Psalm 83).  And this will not be good.

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?  What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
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? Is he the Imam Mahdi?  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?

COGwriter

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

As many who are readers of this page at this time are not at the Feast of Tabernacles now, I thought a series on the sites we attended might be of interest.

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

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

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

Windmill and canal near Hoogeveen, Netherlands, 1983

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

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

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

Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg

COGwriter

As I wrote a while back, it may be that German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor Guttenberg might become the final King of the North (see Statfor’s Caesar; Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg a Prince of the North?)

Since I wrote that, I have done additional research into Catholic and Orthodox prophecies and noted that Baron Guttenberg seems to fit several of the criteria that mystics from those faiths have proclaimed about one they tend to refer to as “the Great Monarch”.

Germany’s Defense Minister has been in the news making defense cuts:

The defence minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, is planning to slash the number of active-duty soldiers from 250,000 to 150,000. He will also argue that a professional army will provide a more efficient military when €1bn (£840m) worth of cuts are needed to the annual defence budget. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/03/defence-chief-ponders-end-to-citizens-in-uniform

Some will likely feel that this is a sign that he is a peacemaker, and not truly a militaristic leader.   And that may be so.  But there are biblical and Catholic prophecies concerning false peace, a false peace deal, and leaders associated with those occurrences.

Notice two (one from each):

LaSalette Prophecy (1846): There will be a kind of false peace before the advent of Antichrist. (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, Reprint TAN Books, Rockford, IL, 1974, p. 163)

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them…(1 Thessalonians 5:3).

There are many Catholic private prophecies that seem to possibly be supportive of the idea that Karl Theodor Maria Nikolaus Johann Jakob Philipp Franz Joseph Sylvester Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg may be the Great Monarch.

The following private Catholic prophecies either are false, guesses, and/or perhaps God somehow allowed certain demons to see vision and/or what some prophets (like John) saw in vision as many may be correct:

1. He will be a descendant of Charlemagne’s (his mother is a Habsburg and the Habsburg line descends from Charlemagne).
2. His name “begins with the letter K of the alphabet” (Karl does).
3. “Of the blood of the Emperor Charles the Great…shall arise an Emperor named Charles, who shall rule in Europe” (Charles is the French and English version of the name Karl).
4. One of his names will be Joseph (this is one of his many names).
5. The “Great Philip” will be “with an army of people composed of 18 different languages {and} will get together in the Seventh-Hilled City” (the Baron is currently defense minister, and one of his names is Philipp).
6. His name will be like the Sabbath (this does not seem to apply to the Baron, however, since Israel is associated with the Sabbath, some may interpret that the name Jakob fulfills this).
7. “[T]he king has a name 80 characters long”. If this means exactly 80 characters and includes the name as I listed it above, then he exceeds this (as there are 88 characters).  However, if the prophecy means at least 80 characters or if his eight-character title (Freiherr, which means Baron in English) or the eight character descriptor (von und zu) is not counted, it may be he could possibly be considered a fulfillment of this prediction.
8. He will be educated since birth (he was).
9. He will speak English to those in his empire (he is fluent in English, but has no empire yet).
10. He will have “dark hair” (he does).
11. He will be balding in the front (he is).
12. He will have an eagle/aquiline nose (he seems to).
13. He will be handsome (it has been suggested that he is).
14. He will be a knight/duke, for “a valiant duke will arise from the ancient German house”. [A German Baron who is a military leader seems to fit this.  In 1700, the family rose from Reichsritter (Imperial Knights) to Reichsfreiherr (Barons of the Holy Roman Empire). After the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, they were made ‘’Freiherr’‘ (Barons) of Bavaria (1814 & 1817).]
15. He will be ecumenically-oriented (the Baron married a Lutheran who did not convert).
16. He is supposed to rise up when the Catholic Church has been humiliated (he has been rising up and the Catholic Church is being humiliated by sex scandals; see Might Vatican Sex Scandals Fulfill Catholic Prophecy?).
17. He will gain more power around age 40 (the Baron is 38).
18. His supporters will don red crosses (the coat of arms for the municipality of Guttenberg has a red cross on it; though his family’s coat of arms, while having a lot of red, is not a red cross per se, though it is in a type of cross-like shape).

There are many Catholic private prophecies that could be considered as pointing to the Baron as the final leader (for specific detailed prophecies, see the new article Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?).  Many are also consistent with biblical prophecies about the Beast/final King of the North.

Now I am not saying that Baron Guttenberg must be the final Beast, only that he is a person of interest and I believe that we should come out and at least give an indication that we are watching him.   The fact that he can appoint his local parish priest (as opposed to having a Catholic bishop do that) and the fact that his wife has made statements that the State should be above the Church in certain matters, these both would be consistent with the attitude of the Beast of Revelation (as opposed to a truly “devout Catholic” family).

Now, I should add that there are other items from Catholic prophecies such as about number of children that the Baron currently does not at all fit (he has too few, which also suggests that he is not truly a devout Catholic, and instead has succumbed to societal or other pressures) .  And some of the private prophecies contradict other ones. Some are different (some say the Great Monarch is French, some say German, at least one says not German, one says Spanish, etc.).

However, based upon biblical prophecy and what the late Herbert Armstrong taught about the Habsburgs, the Baron does seem to be a person of interest. If Baron Guttenberg is the one, I am convinced that some of his supporters will point to Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholic prophecies as part of the proof—these private prophecies are logically part of the signs and lying wonders associated with him.

Because of Afghanistan and certain statements he made about it, the Baron lost some credibility in Germany and has had losses in his popularity–but that changed, as he regained his popularity after that.

However, even become unpopular for a time may have been predicted by at least one Catholic private prophecy:

Josefa von Bourg (d. 1807): God will choose a descendant of Constantine, Pepin, and St. Louis, who has been tried by a long period of exile to rule over Europe. He will have the sign of the cross on his breast (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.37).

For many reasons, I, Bob Thiel, consider that Baron Guttenberg is one to watch.

If Karl Guttenberg is part of a major Middle East peace deal, if he establishes armies (or a great army), and if he establishes something like a new religious order within his version of the “Catholic” faith, he hopefully will get more people’s attention.  And if Karl Guttenberg ultimately does gain the top job in a restructured Europe (especially if there are various signs and wonders at and after that time, cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ), all would be wise to realize that he pretty much is the one who will be the final King of the North (despite the type of denials that would be expected).

As LCG’s Dr. Winnail reported, it is important to remember that there are more than a dozen New Testament admonitions to watch and be alert to the signs of the times in the last days (see Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20).

Although Karl Guttenberg may not become the Beast leader, at this time, it seems that the Baron is one to watch.

Some items for further related study may include:

Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Could He Become “the Beast”? What makes the German Defense Minister a candidate?
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.
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?

COGwriter

Since Jesus and the Apostles kept the Sabbaths and the Holy Days, why do most who profess Christ not observe them?

While social pressure, tradition, and twisted interpretation of scripture all play a role, one role that is overlooked by many is the fact that there are a few passages in the New Testament that have normally been mistranslated.

Colossians 2:16-17 and Galatians 4:8-10

The most common portion of the Bible that I have heard cited as “proof” that the bibical holy days are done away with is Colossian 2:16-17.

Here is one popular mistranslation of it:

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.  (Colossians 2:16-17, NKJV)

The above gives a rendering that suggests that the holy days are not important, like they have no substance.  But that is not what the Apostle Paul was actually saying.

So, let’s examine two other translations of those passages:

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17, KJV)

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths, 17 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17, Douay-Rheims)

The above translations are closer than the NKJV.  However, they both added word that is not in the original Greek.

The word added is “is”. Truly literal translation leave it out as it is not in there. Notice the Strong’s words for verse 17:

3739. 2076 4639… 3588……. 3195 3588…… 1161 4983 9999 3588 5547
Which are a shadow of things to come; the…. but.. body ….is…. of… Christ.
(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright (c) 1994 by Biblesoft).

It should be noted that 9999 means that there was no word in the biblical text–so oddly, even though they knew there was no word, even the Interlinear added something that the verse in Greek did not say.  It should also be noted that #3588 is most often translated as “the”.

Because the same three Strong’s words (#4983, 3588, & 5547) are used four other times in the New Testament and in those times the KJV translates it as “the body of Christ” (Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12)–as does the NKJV (The Douay-Rheims translates it that way in three of those verses; in the one that it does not, 1 Corinthians 10:16, it translates it as “blood of Christ”).

Therefore, if all the translators were simply consistent with themselves, they would have translated Colossians 2:16-17 to state:

16 Therefore let NO MAN JUDGE YOU in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; 17 for those things are a shadow of the things to come, BUT THE BODY OF CHRIST.

Or in other word, do not let those outside the body of Christ (the church, Colossians 1:18) judge you regarding holy days, but only the church itself. Colossians 2:16-17 is not saying that the holy days are done away.

It is sad, but most in the Protestant and Catholic worlds have misunderstood Colossians 2:16-17 because translators who know better MISTRANSLATED it.

It is poor exegesis (biblical interpretation) to rely on a mistranslation to claim that the holy days are done away with.

Another common objection is to keeping the Holy Days is Galatians 4:8-10. Protestants, and some Catholics, tend to use this to say that no biblical dates are to be observed, so let’s look at that:

8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.  (Galatians 4:8-10, NKJV)

8 But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods. 9 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?  10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years. (Galatians 4:8-10, Douay-Rheims)

There are two problems with using these passages as part of an anti-holy day argument.

The first is that the Galatians were Gentiles (although there were apparently some Jews addressed in later verses) and were NOT keeping the biblical Holy Days (plus, there is no way that the Bible would call biblical requirements as “beggarly elements”) .

The second is that Catholics/Protestants/Orthodox do observe various days and years (Sunday, Easter, Christmas, New Years), so they should not observe anything if they feel that no religious days are to be observed.

Galatians 4:8-10 is not doing away with the biblical Holy Days.

A Wrong Sabbath Argument

The NKJV improperly translates Hebrews 4:9 as follows:

9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9, NKJV)

Because of this (as well as similar mistranslations by others), many do not realize that the New Testament specifically enjoins keeping the Sabbath.

Decades ago, a Protestant told me that he did not keep the Sabbath because he claimed that “the ten commandments were nailed to the cross” (they weren’t, for scriptural proof please see Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross?) and that all the other commandments were repeated in the New Testament after the resurrection, except the Sabbath commandment, hence it was done away and not intended to be observed.

I informed him that the second commandment against bowing down before graven images was not explicitly so stated after the resurrection in the New Testament.  So, I asked him if he should bow down before graven images, and he said no.  I asked why.  He said because it was wrong.  And when I asked him based on what, he had nothing to say.

Since he claimed that the Sabbath commandment was not repeated in the New Testament after the resurrection, I had him read the following:

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” 4 And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience…9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, NIV).

This clearly shows that the command to keep the seventh day Sabbath is in the New Testament. It also shows that only those who will not observe it because of their disobedience argue otherwise. And that is why Paul observed it. Despite the fact that the New Testament stated that the Sabbath was to be kept, he who claimed to believe the Bible, would not do it.

Greek word in Hebrews 4:9 that the KJV/NKJV/Douay Rheims translates simply as “rest” is the word sabbatismós.  It means keeping of the sabbath or sabbath-rest.  The Greek word commonly translated as “rest” (meaning taking a break) a dozen times throughout of the New Testament is “anapaúsasthe”.   Yet, that was not the inspired word in Hebrews 4:9.  And Hebrews 4:9 should mention that a sabbath-rest or observance of the sabbath is being discussed.

Even the ancient Orthodox scholar Origen understood some of what Paul wrote in Hebrews as he wrote:

But what is the feast of the Sabbath except that which the apostle speaks, “There remaineth therefore a Sabbatism,” that is, the observance of the Sabbath, by the people of God…let us see how the Sabbath ought to be observed by a Christian. On the Sabbath-day all worldly labors ought to be abstained from…give yourselves up to spiritual exercises, repairing to church, attending to sacred reading and instruction…this is the observance of the Christian Sabbath (Translated from Origen’s Opera 2, Paris, 1733, Andrews J.N. in History of the Sabbath, 3rd editon, 1887. Reprint Teach Services, Brushton (NY), 1998, pp. 324-325).

Now I should add that although certain “modern” translators put their own word in instead (usually “rest”), the reality is that Origen began writing relatively close to when the New Testament was written and lived in a time when he should have been able to understood what the Greek word sabbatismós actually meant.

Acts 13:42-44 shows what Paul did,

…the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

Also Acts 18:4 states,

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Hence the New Testament is clear that Paul kept the Sabbath, regularly preached on the Sabbath, and that he wrote that there remains “a Sabbath-rest for the people of God”.

The Apostle Peter warned:

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation — as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:14-16)

Many rely on mistranslations, and thus can be considered as part of the “untaught” that Peter warned about.  And many have not only twisted what the Apostle Paul wrote, several scholars have likely intentionally mistranslated what he wrote, which results in even more inaccurate twisting of scriptures.  But those that are diligent can see through this if they are willing to submit to the truth of God’s word and His plan.

Another verse whose meaning has sometimes been twisted is Revelation 1:10, but I will not make this article longer for it–details on it can be found in the article Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord?

The following is normally not mistranslated, but seems to be misunderstood, especially within the Protestant world:

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15, NKJV)

Believing and relying on mistranslations instead of the actual word of God is consistent with loving and practicing a lie.  True Christians would not want to do that.

Both the seventh-day Sabbath and the biblical Holy Days were kept by Jesus and His disciples.  And they should be kept by those who wish to be faithful today.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach 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.
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Should you?
Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? Most Protestant scholars say Sunday is the Lord’s Day, but is that what the Bible teaches?
Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? Who clearly endorsed Sunday?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Another Look at the Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath Did Ignatius write against the Sabbath and for Sunday? What about the Didache? What does the actual Greek reveal?  Are mistranslations of these early writings relied on for false doctrinal positions?

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis

COGwriter

CG7-Denver has announced in its Sep-Oct 2010 Bible Advocate magazine that it is trying to affiliate with another 250 congregations in India:

With more than 250 congregations spread over the states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Mizoram, West  Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, we have been striving since the formation of the Association of the Churches of God (Seventh Day) in India (February 2001) to bring unity among the brethren here. Supported by a team of dedicated servants like Elders George Hnamte, P. Kennedy, T. V. Rao, and other ordained ministers and evangelists, we have taken the initiative to preach the gospel of Christ to millions of souls and bring people to receive the Creator’s blessings — in part, by honoring Sabbath.

Those in India would do well by checking out what CG7-Denver teaches and comparing it to the Bible.

No doubt Sabbathkeepers in India have faced economic and social pressures to not fully observe the Sabbath.  They would do well to realize that in the same edition of the Bible Advocate magazine, CG7 is allowing deacons and others to violate the Sabbath (for some details, please also see CG7 Allows Working on the Sabbath!).

Sabbathkeepers in India should be very careful about affiliating with a group that holds such compromising views on the Sabbath and other matters (CG7 has greatly discounted prophecy in articles in the past year and likely does not have the same view that most Sabbathkeepers in India hold to).

Indians need to be warned about considering affiliating with CG7 for many reasons.

Indians who wish to follow the true faith of the Bible should consider checking out the Living Church of God and seeing what it teaches compared to the Bible and CG7.  LCG already has members in India and is open to those who wish to follow biblical teachings.

Several articles of related interest may include:

Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
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).
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
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.

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

COGwriter

A secular writer has a list of 30 ways he claims the world could end:

30 Ways the World Could End

Crank up the gloom and doom: Global apocalypse could be just around the corner, and you might never see it coming—unless you read this article.

Discover magazine – October 2010 issue by Corey S. Powell…

For DISCOVER’s 30th anniversary, the time seemed right to revisit the science of doomsday. http://discovermagazine.com/2010/oct/30-ways-the-world-could-end

Here is part of one of the 30 items he listed previously:

19 Divine intervention Judaism has the Book of Daniel; Christianity has the Book of Revelation; Islam has the coming of the Mahdi; Zoroastrianism has the countdown to the arrival of the third son of Zoroaster. The stories and their interpretations vary widely, but the underlying concept is similar: God intervenes in the world, bringing history to an end and ushering in a new moral order. (http://discovermagazine.com/2000/oct/featworld)

And while some of the items in his list could not cause the world to end, the reality is that the prophecies of the Bible are being fulfilled and events that need to occur for others in the Books of Daniel and Revelation are starting to come to pass.

For one small example, notice what Daniel was told:

4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”  (Daniel 12:4)

Certainly, with the advent of airline travel and the internet, two unheard of concepts in Daniel’s time (over 2500 years ago), this biblical prophecy is now capable of being fulfilled.

Other events, leading to the end, are as well.  But the end (meaning the Great Tribulation) is still not yet (cf. Matthew 24:6).  But there will be religious deception, wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes prior to the Great Tribulation (cf. Matthew 24:4-7) and some of these seem to have been happening.  These “are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8) and are followed by a worse time known as the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).

Perhaps I should add that despite the claims of certain false prophets, the Great Tribulation has not began and Jesus will not return May 2011 nor May 2012.

Some articles of related interest may include the following:

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 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?
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 Jesus will come on May 27, 2012. 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.
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. What does the Bible show?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book 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.

Palace of Westminster in London

COGwriter

In its latest update, LCG reported:

Britain’s Broken Power. A London newspaper recently reported, “Brussels has broken our power to rule.” Author Christopher Booker points out how Britain’s chancellor has granted the EU rights to “supervise” national budgets—a function controlled by the British Parliament for centuries. In addition, a new financial transaction tax being proposed by the EU would hit London especially hard as a world financial center (Telegraph, September 11, 2010). Mr. Booker also states that the EU’s new Worldwide Diplomatic Service will spend more than 800 million pounds (about one trillion dollars) to set up its new operations with high salaries for top executives. The rising cost of membership in the EU worries many Europeans. EU polls show only 19% of Europeans see the EU as a democratic system—the number was as low as 10% in Britain, Finland, and Latvia. God promised that the descendants of Ephraim (modern Britain) would become a multitude of nations (Genesis 48:19). In the last few centuries those prophecies have been fulfilled. However, God also promised the Israelite-descended nations that if they turned away from Him, He “will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19). It is sobering to see these very words making headlines in the modern Israelite nation of Britain today!

The sun sat on the British Empire, and is actually getting close to symbolically doing that to the British nation.

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?
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?
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”?
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? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?

VS.

COGwriter

In 2007, I once commented that probably by the Fall Holy Days in 2008, Ronald Weinland would change his dates and predictions related to 2008.

And he did.  For those unfamiliar with him, I should probably mention that Ronald Weinland is a former UCG minister who claims to be one of the two witnesses.  He has made various false prophecies and is now also unitarian.

Ronald Weinland once claimed that the 1335 days of Daniel 12 began on February 2, 2008 (see Ronald Weinland Announced When He Claims Jesus Will Return).   Because of this, in his 3/15/08 sermon  he taught, “September 29, 2011, Jesus Christ returns”.  He later said that those people had not seen the start of the countdown of days, such as his statements that the Great Tribulation began on April 17, 2008, did not have proper spiritual discernment as the events were more of a spiritual nature (see Ronald Weinland Does an Interview Again and Ronald Weinland Changes and Delays, But Without Apology).  And he stuck with those dates (though not all the details as he originally portrayed them) until the Summer of 2008.

In the Summer of 2008, he changed his dates claiming that the 1335 days started on September 30, 2008, and the 1260 days on December 14, 2008.

Now supposedly, the “Great Tribulation”, according to Ronald Weinland’s church began on December 14, 2008.  Based upon that start date, the Great Tribulation is supposedly over 1/2 over–this is nonsense.

Yet, his church website teaches:

1260 Days: The blowing of the first Trumpet will occur/occurred on the 14th of December, 2008. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation and 3 1/2 years until the return of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost. The beginning of the fall of the USA and other Israelite countries begins from the start of the 1260 days (FAQ–Timeline Questions Answered.  viewed 2/25/09).

To seemingly distance himself from the Bible, Ronald Weinland tried to use a different term:

We’re not calling it the great tribulation, it is the great tribulation, but it is not great, yet…We do set dates (Weinland R. Our Commission, Pt. 3. Sermon, February 21, 2009).

How can Ronald Weinland disagree with Jesus’ words and say that the Great Tribulation was not “great” while Ronald Weinland claims that it already is in progress?

And while there has been certain economic concerns and natural disasters, the period since December 14, 2008 does not qualify as the time Jesus talked about:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

Since the events required during the 1260 days (like the persecution of the saints per Daniel 7:25) have not happened yet, eventually Ronald Weinland will likely make more adjustments.

While we could be at the time that Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8, see also Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012?), the persecution that is to occur between that (vs. 9) and the Great Tribulation (vs. 21) did not happen. Thus it is NOT possible that the 1260s which starts with the Great Tribulation began when Ronald Weinland claimed that it did–despite the fact that he wants to indicate that it is not “great” yet.

Ronald Weinland clearly is in contradiction with the Bible when he claims that the Great Tribulation began then claims that it is not “Great”.  Can he not see that?

Anyway, supposedly during the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles this month, Ronald Weinland will reveal what he calls “new truths”, which I believe will be intended to try to keep people following him despite the fact that he has proven to be a false prophet.

Ronald Weinland currently claims that Jesus will return in 2012 and that this is one of the “new truths” he revealed:

And so because of the 50th Truth and the understanding that God has given us of Christ’s return on Pentecost, May 27, 2012…  (Weinland R.  CGPFK Sermon transcript, June 10, 2010).

Jesus, however, will not return on that date.  It is too soon as certain biblically-required events have not occurred yet.

Somewhere between now and May 28, 2010, Ronald Weinland’s followers will once again realize that he has misled them.  When he will admit it or at least change his dates again is unclear, but it is possible that the “new truths” he supposedly will reveal later this month will help give him some “cover” with his followers for some time.

But as Ronald Weinland has already proven to be a false prophet and the Great Tribulation clearly did not start on December 14, 2008, hopefully his followers will wake up now.

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?
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.

Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople

COGwriter

Many Eastern Orthodox are determined to get closer to the Vatican:

Local Catholics and Greek Orthodox joined their leaders Wednesday on a pilgrimage that is a first – but a continuation of history.

Bishop McManus and Metropolitan Methodios, of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, are leading 25 other pilgrims on a Sept. 15-26 trip to Rome, for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, and to Constantinople, for Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Bartholomew. Patriarch Bartholomew is the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, in modern day Istanbul, Turkey.

Worcester is believed to be the site of the first official dialog between Catholic and Greek Orthodox leaders in the United States. They met Sept. 9, 1965 at St. Spyridon Church, now St. Spyridon Cathedral, in Worcester…

In 1054 the first major division in Christianity occurred when the patriarch of Constantinople and a papal delegation from Rome excommunicated each other in a dispute over papal primacy. Orthodox churches, generally defined by their region of origin, give special honor to the patriarch of Constantinople. He is considered the “first among equals” among Orthodox patriarchs; his primacy does not entail ultimate jurisdiction over other Orthodox churches. Over the centuries the schism hardened, but in recent decades both sides have made efforts toward reconciliation.  (http://www.catholicfreepress.org/_Pages/_This%20Week/0917Bishop.html)

This trend towards unity is dangerous and is warned against in biblical, Eastern Orthodox, and even certain Roman Catholic prophecies.  While the Catholic press seems to endorse it (almost all the time), this will be dangerous for the Eastern and Roman Catholics in general, and American Catholics in particular according to various prophecies.

Yet, within the Orthodox and Catholic world, many seem to be determined to make it happen.  Here is a link to several events in the past year that suggest it.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.