Church of God News

Depiction of solar particles interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere

COGwriter

Is the earth going to heat or cool?

Last year, while many reported that it would heat up, some reported that cooling was first expected:

The New Scientist has given weight to the prediction that the planet is in for a cool 20 years – defying the computer models and contemporary climate theory. It’s “bad timing”, admits the magazine’s environmental correspondent, Fred Pearce.

Mojib Latif of the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at Kiel University, quoted by the magazine, attributes much of the recent warming to naturally occurring ocean cycles. Scientific study of the periodic ocean climate variability is in its infancy; for example the PDO or Pacific Decadal Oscillation, was only described in the late 1990s. It’s the Leibniz team which predicted a forthcoming cooling earlier this year – causing a bullying outbreak at the BBC.

“We have to ask the nasty questions ourselves or other people will do it,” Latif told the magazine.

A historical comparison of recent warming contrasts the UN IPCC accounts of Thermageddon – based on climate models – with the post-1800 trend which shows a gradual warming.  (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/09/climate_change_not_warmer/)

The term “Thermageddon was popularized in a 2003 book by Robert Hunter titled Thermageddon: Countdown to 2030.  Here is what a reviewer at Amazon wrote about it:

In Thermageddon Hunter persuasively argues that around 2030 the climate change will be irreversible – what he calls “thermageddon” – and reviews evidence to support this theory.

Others will disagree.

But what really will happen?  What have others predicted?  What does the Bible say?

Here are some quotes from my 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect book:

“Russian geophysicists believe that the Solar System has entered an interstellar energy cloud…Their predictions for catastrophe resulting from the Earth’s encounter with this energy cloud range from 2010 to 2020.”

There also seems to be a couple of Mayan predictions recorded in the 16^th century that suggest some type of solar flare-up will affect the earth:

Chilam Balam (Mayan priest): Heaven and earth shall burn…It is the holy judgment, the holy judgment.

Napuctun (Mayan priest): It shall burn on earth; there shall be a circle in the sky.

The Bible itself warns of a time of scorching solar heat (Revelation 16: 8-9…)…

John Ogwyn wrote:

John records a vision of seven angels, with seven golden bowls that pour out seven final plagues, one after another. This pouring occurs rather quickly, as we see when we examine the nature of the plagues. If the second and third plagues, for instance, lasted more than a few days, all life would perish from the planet.

When the first bowl is poured out, a grievous sore comes upon those who had disregarded the third angel’s message and were still loyal to the Beast system. Then, when the second angel pours out his bowl, all the oceans become like “the blood of a dead man” (16:3). All sea life dies. With the pouring out of the third bowl, all the fresh water turns to blood, and sources of drinking water are destroyed. Then, the fourth angel pours his bowl, and scorching heat from the sun punishes rebellious mankind. Next, great darkness comes upon Europe (“the seat of the Beast”) and its people are in agonizing pain and heat, engulfed in total darkness and lacking usable water all at the same time. The darkness results from the bowl poured out by the fifth angel.

After this, John sees the sixth angel pour his bowl upon the Euphrates. Demon spirits go forth to bring all the armies together north of Jerusalem. The huge Asiatic army that had previously been massed on the east bank of the Euphrates pours into the land of Israel, and converges in the area of Armageddon (Hebrew for “mount of Megiddo”). Megiddo is a hill that stands overlooking the Valley of Jezreel, about 55 miles north of Jerusalem.Whether or not one believes secular scientists who assert that humans are causing “global warming,” and islands will be submerged, the Bible is clear that a time of high heat will happen, probably worsened by a solar flare-up of some type.  It also mentions the islands being gone:

⁸ Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹ And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory…every island fled away (Revelation 16:8-9, 20).

The reality is that, according to the Bible, some version of “Thermageddon” is coming (John Ogwyn, who was quoted above, was an evangelist in the Living Church of God prior to his death).  And it will be very hot and worse than most people now imagine.

Of course, at this time, no one knows when there will be solar flareups or other events that could trigger massive devastation on the earth.  While the Bible seems to be clear that the Great Tribulation cannot begin before 2014 and the prophesied high heat will scorch people a couple of years later, various “sorrows” and “troubles” are predicted prior to then.

And although they often disagree, the fact that scientists, more and more, are recognizing that the planet faces severe problems in the future, should drive Christians to their knees and into their Bibles to study, watch (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20), and pray.

Some articles that might be of assistance in understanding end-time events may include:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradaumus 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?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
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?
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. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, many have already started to come to pass.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta Nuevo libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg

COGwriter

Karl Guttenberg made the news again today:

Germany’s armed forces are in need of a radical overhaul, while the country’s civilian defence bureaucracy is “substantially ineffectual,” a long-awaited official report has found.

The recommendations, released by Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Tuesday, confirmed what was already widely thought – that Germany’s military, as well as the ministerial defence apparatus, is inefficient and desperately needs modernising.

Civilian administration should be slashed by more than half to fewer than 1,500 officials, the expert panel said. The report will provide useful ammunition to Guttenberg, who is eager to reform the forces.

The expert panel backed Guttenberg’s plan to cut the number of troops from 250,000 to 180,000, and his push to suspend conscription. Universal military service was “no longer necessary for the foreseeable future,” it concluded.  http://www.thelocal.de/national/20101026-30755.html

The military cuts that Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg has proposed will make him look like a peacemaker and not a warmonger.  Modernizing the military, however, will mean that he has interesting insight on military matters of many sorts.

As regular readers of this page are aware, I have had my eye on Karl Guttenberg since late 2009.  And he may be one to watch to rise up as the final “King of the North”.

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 likely will get more people’s attention.

On the other hand, he could simply be a rising politician, like many others.  And all his intentions could be fine.  We will see.  But Karl Guttenberg does seem, to me at least, to be taking the types of steps that one who could possibly be the final King of the North would actually take.

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?
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?

جامعة الدول العربية
Jāmaʻat ad-Duwwal al-ʻArabiyya Arab League Flag

COGwriter

There have been several interesting Islamic developments in the news.  The first to mention is that Egypt and Saudi Arabia had their first ever joint military exercise:

First joint Saudi-Egyptian maneuver ever was geared to Iranian threat

DEBKA – Oct 22, 2010

Egypt and Saudi Arabia secretly carried out their first ever joint exercise this week with the participation of their special operations, marine, armored, missile, air and naval forces, debkafile‘s military sources reveal.

Exercise Tabuk-2 was programmed to repulse a potential Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia by taking the battle over to Islamic Republican territory. Our sources note that a new chapter was written in Middle East military history this week: The two largest Arab nations deployed their military strength in position for combating the Iranian army and its Revolutionary Guards Corps and showed they were willing to counter Iranian belligerence by invading the aggressor.  http://www.debka.com/article/9100/

So, while Iran is trying to whip up support in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, others in the Islamic world have decided to put on their own demonstration of unity in opposition to Iran.  I suspect that if Iran does provoke conflict that this will help lead to the rise of the prophesied King of the South (Daniel 11:27-43) who will fill, to a degree, the role of the Imam Mahdi that many within Islam are looking for.  And while the idea of the Imam Mahdi is promoted heavily by Iran, the idea is believed in much of the Islamic world and it would not be a surprise if a successor to the current president of Egypt might fill or at least assist in that role.  Of course, that is not quite how they view that matter in Iran, at least not yet.

Speaking of Iran, the Los Angeles Times reported the following:

Iran begins fueling nuclear reactor

By Borzou Daragahi, Los Angeles TimesOctober 26, 2010
The start of the weeks-long process brings the controversial Bushehr plant another step closer to operation. Iran says the facility will generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity, but Western nations fear it is to be used to produce atomic weapons.  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-iran-nuclear-20101027,0,1194581.story

Iran is hoping to be the big player in the Islamic world, and having nuclear capacity is a step towards that goal.  But Bible prophecy indicates that Iran will not be the dominant player in the age.

Another item related to Islam that just made the news is the following report:

Report: Blair’s sister-in-law converts to Islam

By JONNY PAUL
10/25/2010 05:12…

LONDON – The sister-in-law of Quartet envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair has reportedly converted to Islam after “a holy experience” while on a visit to Iran.

Anti-Israel activist and journalist Lauren Booth said she made the decision after visiting the Fatima al-Masumeh Shrine in Qom, the second most holy city in Iran after Mashhad, leading her to convert immediately on returning to the UK. http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=192572

This is interesting for many reasons.  Including the fact that Tony Blair himself converted to Catholicism some years ago.  Having a prominent UK woman publicly converting to Islam will likely cause a lot of debate and discussion in the UK.  And it may give Tony Blair some credibility if he needs to assist in future negotiations with Islamic leaders (cf. Daniel 11:27).

Events lining up with biblical prophecy keep being reported.  And at this page, many will be highlighted.

Three 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?
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?

COGwriter

Many will be observing “Halloween” is less than a week.  Many consider that it is a holiday appropriate for “Christians”.

One article at the mislabeled Christianity Today starts out with the statement, “I love Halloween” (Mendenhall D. A Halloween Solution.  Christianity Today, October 31, 2005.  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/novemberweb-only/13.0.html).

But the origins of today’s Halloween are not biblical.

Do Halloween and Christianity belong together?

Halloween is an old English word which means ” hallowed evening”. It is the night before the Roman Catholic holiday that they claim to have adopted from the Eastern Orthodox now called All Saints Day (which in Mexico is celebrated as “the Day of the Dead”). Part of the public Catholic rationale for All Saints Day is that they have so many saints they wish to honor that they decided to lump all those without a specific day into this one.  While some Catholics support Halloween, others oppose it.

Origins

It is believed that Halloween contains many of the remnants of an autumn holiday celebrated by the Druids called Samhain (apparently pronounced “sah-van” though some say SAH win or SOW in–and apparently meaning “summers end”). There historically have been pagan figures with names that are similar to this. For example, there was a Celtic hero named Samain or Sawan who supposedly owned a magical cow. In other pagan religions, there was Samana (“the leveler”) the name of an Aryan God of Death (a.k.a. Yama, Sradhadeva, Antaka, or Kritanta) according to the ancient Veda scriptures of Hinduism and Shamash was the Sun God of the Assyrians and Babylonians. Some of the idea for modern costumes came via France.

Essentially, the timing of Halloween seems to be related to certain movements of the sun. Notice the following:

Halloween is date of astronomical interest. It has to do with seasons: Halloween is a cross-quarter date, approximately midway between an equinox and a solstice. There are four cross-quarter dates throughout the year, and each is a minor holiday: Groundhog Day (Feb. 2nd), May Day (May 1st), Lammas Day (Aug. 1st), and Halloween (Oct. 31st).

“Long ago, the Celts of the British Isles used cross-quarter days to mark the beginnings of seasons. Winter began with Halloween, or as they called it, Samhain,” says John Mosley of the Griffith Observatory.

“Halloween marked the transition between summer and winter, light and dark — and life and death. On that one night, according to folklore, those who had died during the previous year returned for a final visit to their former homes. People set out food and lit fires to aid them on their journey — but remained on guard for mischief the spirits might do.” (Spooky Astronomy. http://spaceweather.com/ present 10/31/07).

Notice that in Asia, versions of this day, somewhat like the Celts and the pre-Hispanic Mexicans, it is celebrated near the first of August:

Japan has its own Halloween-type celebration known as “O-bon,” an old Buddhist holiday meant to honor ancestors. It takes place in mid-August or July. Graves are visited and cleaned, food offerings are made, lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide spirits, and a ritualized dance called “bon-odori” takes place to welcome them. On the last day of O-bon, to guide spirits on their journey, the Japanese partake in a ceremony called “Toro nagashi,” in which paper lanterns are floated down a river.

O-bon originates from the Chinese Buddhist celebration of “Ullambana,” which has the same notion that during this time, spirits are able to move among us.

The Ullambana Sutra, a traditionally Indian story, is the scripture that addresses this day, with the story of Mahamaudgalyayana, a disciple of Buddha, whose mother had been reborn into a lower realm. Though interpretations of the story vary, Buddha’s instructions to his student mirror modern practices of the day, which is to offer food and pray for the souls of both living and dead relatives. People also would give donations to monks.

The current celebration in Taiwan and China of the Ghost Festival pays homage to this Buddhist holiday, but includes the practices of burning money, clothes and goods, which are believed to then make it to the spirit world in full, as well as the release of paper boats and lanterns into rivers (Meaning, sanctity of Halloween is lost in translation St. Cloud Times, MN – Oct 21, 2007  http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/OPINION/110210041/1006/NEWS01).

Hence, the foundations of Halloween are not only Western, and certainly not of Christian origin.

Satan has successfully gotten many of his holidays endorsed by many cultures and religions of the world.

Druids and Bone Fires

Growing up I was familiar with bonfires, and simply thought that they were warm and provided light. But later I learned that there origins were related to Halloween.

Notice that:

The Druids, and order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain, believed that on Halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out to harm people. They thought the cat was sacred and believed that cats had once been human beings but were changed for punishment for their evil deeds. From these Druid beliefs come the present-day use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween festivities…The custom of using leaves, pumpkins, and corn stalks as Halloween decorations comes from the Druids. The early peoples of Europe also had a festival similar to the Druid holiday…In the 700s, the Roman Catholic Church named November 1 as All Saints’ Day. The old pagan customs and the Christian feast day were combined into the Halloween festival [Halloween. World Book, vol 9. Chicago, 1966: 25-26].

The origins of Halloween specifically can be traced back to the ancient Celts (who lived in what is now known as Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern France) and their Druid priests. The end of October commemerated their festival of the waning year…Druids believed that during this season spirits walked, and evil held power over the souls of men. On October 31, their New Year’s Eve, great bonfires were kindled, which were thought to simulate the sun to procure blessings for the entire succeeding year. The fires remained burning as a means to frighten away evil spirits. The Druids held these early Halloween celebrations in honor of Samhain, also known as Lord of the Dead, whose festival fell on November 1. There bonfires, or “bone fires”, were also used in animal and human sacrifice–thus the name. The tradition of lighting a bonfire has continued to modern times (Coulter F.R. Occult Holiday–or–God’s Holy Days–Which? York Publishing Company, Hollister (CA) 2006).

bonfire…late M.E. bone fire, i.e. a fire with bones for fuel (Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. Gramercy Books, New York. 1989, p. 168).

Growing up, no one I knew ever mentioned that bonfires originally were bone fires.

Jack-O-Lanterns

The origin of jack-o-lanterns is somewhat amusing.

The Irish have a story that a man named Jack died who was too much of a miser to be with God and was not allowed to be with the devil since he had played practical jokes on him. Since Jack had nowhere to go, he was to walk the earth carrying a lantern until Judgment Day.

The Bible

In Leviticus chapter 23, it lists

“The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts” (vs.2).

All Saints’ Day is not listed as one of them. All Saints’ Day is not a biblically enjoined feast day for Christians (there is not any hint of it in the Bible; it may even be warned against in Deut 4:15-24). Actually the Bible warns against worshipping God the way the pagans, etc. did (Leviticus 18:3; Deuteronomy 12:31, Jeremiah 10:2-3).

The Bible repeatedly warns against the practices of witches (Exodus 22:18; Deuteronomy 18:10, Galatians 5:20) and dealing with ghosts/etc. (Deuteronomy 18:11, I Chronicles 10:13).

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?

World Currencies

COGwriter

With the following IMF news report, we are seeing further decline of US financial strength and additional power given to “Gentile” nations:

A G20 agreement to give emerging market countries more power in the International Monetary Fund opens the door for breakthroughs on easing global tensions over trade imbalances.The surprise deal reached at weekend meetings of finance ministers from the Group of 20 in South Korea shifts IMF voting power to under-represented emerging countries like China, India, Brazil and Turkey…

G20 officials said the breakthrough IMF deal came during a separate meeting of BRIC countries — China, Russia, India and Brazil — and the Group of Seven industrial nations made up of the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Germany.

One official said Russia and Brazil argued the deal did not go far enough in shifting power to emerging economies…(IMF power shift opens way for more breakthroughs. Reuters – Oct 24, 2010 http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69N1WR20101024)

While Russia claimed it did not get what it fully wanted, Russia continues to make strides in breaking the Anglo-nations’ domination over international financial matters.  This was a victory for Russia, Brazil, China, India, and even Turkey.

Jesus taught:

24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)

Those in the Anglo-descended nations of the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand do not seem to realize that their influence is being minimized.  And while those in resource exporting nations like Australia may feel that this will not harm them, they have reason to fear what the rise of Chinese and other Gentile nations will mean to them.

The “trend” will not be a “friend” for the Anglo-descended nations.  A financial shift has already started to occur.

Some prophetic 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?
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.
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
Mexico, Central America, South America, and Brazil in Prophecy [Español: México, America Central, Suramérica, y el Brasil en profecíal] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What rule might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
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?  Where is the nation of Israel in all of this?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?  Does the Bible give any indication about 2018?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

COGwriter

The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) continues to create buzz in the scientific community:

Optimism among the hundreds of scientists working at CERN — in the foothills of the Jura mountains along the border of France and Switzerland — has grown as the initially troubled $10 billion experiment hit its targets this year…

Despite centuries of increasingly sophisticated observation from planet Earth, only 4 per cent of that universe is known — because the rest is made up of what have been called, because they are invisible, dark matter and dark energy

Billions of particles flying off from each LHC collision are tracked at four CERN detectors — and then in collaborating laboratories around the globe — to establish when and how they come together and what shapes they take.

The CERN theoreticians say this could give clear signs of dimensions beyond length, breadth, depth and time because at such high energy particles could be tracked disappearing — presumably into them — and then back into the classical four. (Evans R.  CERN scientists eye parallel universe breakthrough.  Reuters.  GENEVA | Wed Oct 20, 2010)

Since nearly all major breakthroughs in the field of physics have led to the development of at least some military applications, I suspect the LHC will as well.

Furthermore, because of how far along we are in God’s 6000 year plan for human to rule themselves, it has been my view for some time that the LHC may spin off technology that the coming Beast power will exploit.  LHC could possibly give a European leader the ability to fulfill prophecies such as those in Revelation 13:3-4:

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?

My book, which came out in 2009, points that the Large Hadron Collider may be used to give the future European military power that the entire world will marvel at:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect

Bob Thiel
…the Large Hadron Collider…is apt to provide the Europeans with unique military capabilities in several years…The Bible is clear that the final “Beast power” (which will be primarily European) will have such unique military capabilities that the entire world will marvel (Revelation 13:3-4). 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  Nazarene Books, 2009, p. 85

My book also discusses the destruction of the USA and certain others by the Europeans sometime after 2012. The Large Hadron Collider is discussed as one of the items that may provide the Europeans with the ability to overcome the USA’s military might.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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?
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?
Large Hadron Collider may result in military applications The Europeans have the largest physics project on the planet. Some scoff, but might it result in military applications? May the Large Hadron Collider help fulfill Revelation 13:4?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This page contains some concepts and prophecies related to 2012 and a book.  This also has YouTube videos related to 2012 and beyond.

Righteous(ness)	= Sheep	+ I, Us

COGwriter

One of my prayers was answered.  The following was announced at LCG services yesterday:

Mr. Gerald Weston and several staff from the Canadian Office were in Charlotte to film new programs for future airings in China.

Gerald Weston is an evangelist of the Living Church of God and he is based out of Canada.

Now, there was a reason to believe that this would happen as LCG previously announced:

Mr. Gerald Weston reports on his and Mr. Stuart Wachowicz’s recent visit to China: The trip was most helpful as we were able to meet face to face with individuals who can put us on the air in a number of Asian markets. We were also able to view some television firsthand to see what techniques are being employed for news programs and what religious programming is currently on the air in Hong Kong and Guangdong province. We were encouraged by the assistance we would be given and by the opportunities currently available to us in several Asian countries…. both Mr. Wachowicz and I were very much encouraged by the potential we have to reach such a large portion of the human race. There are opportunities open to us that we could not have imagined six months ago. Your continued prayers for God to keep open these doors and His guidance and assistance in walking through them are appreciated (Living Church of God, World Ahead, Weekly Update, August 26, 2010)

But, I have been praying for years that we would be better able to reach China (and other Gentile-dominated lands).  The fact that the telecast for China has moved this far forward is fantastic.  As Jesus said:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled to the degree that Christ expects it to be.  The China move is a step in that direction.  We need to pray that the forces of Satan (cf. Ephesians 6:12) do not prevent this.

In addition to being the COG with by far the most effective telecast reach, LCG also has had many public Bible lectures (called Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations or TWSP) to reach interested listeners in person.  It should be mentioned that these Bible lectures were held in various countries and there have been well over 3,000 people who attended them that were not in LCG.

Some TWSP lectures were also held in Canada and Switzerland last week, and I believe one is being held in Louisiana tonight.

The recent developments related to China hopefully show all with ears to hear and eyes to see that LCG is serious about trying to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20).  This is really good news.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
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?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
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.

Ancient Laodicea

COGwriter

This week I was forwarded a couple of emails related to the UCG crisis.  As one was anonymous and the other was not, I decided to post something here that was at Abigail Cartwright’s site a few days ago as I have received confirmation from various sources (including often, UCG itself) for various parts of it:

All Regional Pastors removed to be replaced by Ministerial Team October 2010.  These Regional Pastors were: Bruce Gore, Todd Carey, Greg Sargent, Jim Haeffle, Jim Servidio, Larry Grieder, Lyle Welty, Larry Neff and Mike Hanisko. Denny Luker was an RP when he was made president; he was not replaced.

Mr Hendren  – August 2010 – removed from ministry

Mr. Mendez – August 2010 – removed from ministry

Mr. Garcia – July 2010 – removed as Deacon

Mr. Lovelady – July 2010 – resigned as Treasurer / HR Director

Mr. Walker – June 2010 removed as Director of Spanish Work, removed from the ministry

Mr. Roybal – June 2010 – removed from UCG ministry

Mr. S Langarica – June 2010 – removed from UCG ministry

The following ministers have been removed from the church website in June of 2010 but remain in limbo as an official announcement has not been made

Mr. Dimakis

Mr. Sanchez

Mr A. Lanarica

Mr. Gonzalez

Mr. Mundo Tello

Mr. Ortiz

Mr. Avila

Mr. Hernandez

Mr. Quijano

Mr. Nain

Mr. Gomez

Mr. Arboleas

The following individuals while removed/resigned or asked to resign continue to be employed as paid elders

Mr. Johnson – May 2010 – not reconfirmed as Corporate Secretary

Mr. Horchak – May 2010 – position on the Ministerial Services team was eliminated when Vic Kubik came in as interim operations manager.

Mr. Thompson – May 2010 – position on the Ministerial Services team was eliminated when Vic Kubik came in as interim operations manager.

Mr. Register – May 2010 – resigned as Director of Educational Services, his position on the Ministerial Services team was eliminated when Vic Kubik came in as interim operations manager.

Mr. Kilough – April 2010 – asked to resign as President

Mr. Franks – April 2010 – asked to resign as Operations Manger of Ministerial services

Mr. Salyer – April 2010 – resigned as Operations Manager of Media

Mr. Kilough – July 2009 – resigned from CoE

Mr. Thompson – July 2009 – resigned from CoE

Mr. Foster – July 2009 – removed as Council Reporter

There may be one or two others, if I recall correctly, who also left, but may have just prior to the current crisis (which may be why they are not listed above).  UCG has always had some changes, but these are more than normal.

The elimination of Regional Pastors, in my view, is a major organizational change.  We will see what those fruits are.  Some suspect a collapse or at least some additional split will happen.

It is my understanding that UCG has seen its income drop, but how much is not yet clear.  UCG should be releasing its income statement for the period of July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010 in the next two weeks if it keeps with prior practices. It is possible that some comment on the income from July 1, 2010 to a later date may also be mentioned.

UCG has been urging its members to no longer support having a telecast on public access stations in a cost-cutting move.  The fact that this has been asked for twice within the last month seemed odd to me, but again I am not part of UCG.

The listed circulation of the Sep-Oct 2010 edition of its flagship Good News magazine is 362,2000.  It once listed a circulation of over 500,000.

UCG has always had governance issues, but more since the Spring of 2010 than almost any other period since its formation in 1995.  UCG was formed by WCG ministers who decided against continuing with the form of governance they had publicly advocated prior to forming UCG.

I disagreed with its chosen form of governance in 1995 (and still do), as I believed that it would doom public proclamation of the gospel to a lower priority than I believe that Jesus intended.  And my review of all its published financial statements since then (and I am a former Certified Management Accountant and former Vice President of Finance) convinced me that my initial assessment was correct.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
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?
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
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.

View in Vatican City (photo by Joyce Thiel)

COGwriter

The following was announced today:

Vatican meeting of Mideast bishops demands Israel

end occupation of Palestinian lands

Canadian Press – Oct 23, 2010

VATICAN CITY — Bishops from the Middle East who were summoned to Rome by the pope demanded Saturday that Israel accept U.N. resolutions calling for an end to its “occupation” of Arab lands.

In a final joint communique, the bishops also told Israel it shouldn’t use the Bible to justify “injustices” against the Palestinians…

They said they had “reflected” on the suffering and insecurity in which Israelis live and on the status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims.

“We are anxious about the unilateral initiatives that threaten its composition and risk to change its demographic balance,” they said. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ihKo35KChWChQy8Uj89zyLzFKOkA?docId=4918559.

The Bible tells of a time where Jerusalem will be trouble for those involved with it, and a time that Jerusalem will be divided.

Biblical (cf. Revelation 11:2) and Catholic also prophecies tell of a time where a Vatican-supported Gentile power will go to Jerusalem and essentially have it occupied for 3 1/2 years.

Here are some of the Catholic ones:

Brother Louis Rocco (19th century): Terrible wars will rage all over Europe. God has long been patient with the corruption of morals; half of mankind He will destroy. Russia will witness many outrages. Great cities and small towns alike will be destroyed in a bloody revolution that will cause the death of half the population. In Istanbul (Constantinople) the Cross will replace the half-moon of Islamism, and Jerusalem will be the seat of a King. The southern Slavs will form a great Catholic Empire and drive out of Europe the Turks (Mohammedans), who will withdraw to North Africa and subsequently embrace the Catholic faith. (Dupont, Catholic Prophecy, p.76)

Bl. Rabanus Maurus (died 856): Our principal doctors agree in announcing to us, that towards the end of time one of the descendants of France shall reign over all the Roman Empire; that he shall be the greatest of the Empire; and that he shall be the greatest of the French monarch, and the last of his race. After happily governed his kingdom, he will go to Jerusalem, and depose on Mount of Olives his sceptre and crown. This shall be the end and conclusion of the Roman… Empire (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 136).

Monk Adso (died 992): Some of our Teachers say that a King of the Franks will possess the entire Roman Empire. This King will be the greatest and the last of all Monarchs, and after having prosperously governed his kingdom, he will come in the end to Jerusalem and he will lay down his sceptre and his crown upon the Mount of Olives and immediately afterwards, Anti-Christ will come. (ibid, p. 137)

Thus, Catholic leaders, at least some of whom must be familiar with Catholic prophecies, are trying to set the stage for intervention in Jerusalem.

Additionally, however, it should be noted some Catholic writers clearly have understood that the two-horned beast in Revelation 13 is likely to be an antipope and that a negative power will be established in Jerusalem:

Priest E. Sylvester Berry (published 1920):  The two horns denote a twofold authority – spiritual and temporal.  As indicated by the resemblance to a lamb, the prophet will probably set himself up in Rome as a sort of anti-pope…Antichrist will establish himself in Jerusalem…with his ‘lying wonders’… (Berry ES.  The Apocalypse of St. John, 1920.  Quoted in Culleton RG.  The Reign of Antichrist.  Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 199-200).

Thus, the bishops need to be cautious and understand where all of this is headed.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
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.
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

Swine flu again? Not exactly, but notice the following:

Virus warning over undercooked pork after three die

Britons were warned not to eat undercooked pork after three people died from a rare virus.

Telegraph, London – Oct 22, 2010 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8081387/Virus-warning-over-undercooked-pork-after-three-die.html

At least 55 others were made ill from it.

Of course, since we in the Living Church of God do not eat pork, we are less likely than pork eaters to be affected by diseases in it.  However, once people get infections, they can often pass them on to others.

The Bible warns of pestilences in the end times (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11).  It is possible that a pork-transmitted illness might be one of them.

If humans quit eating pigs, they would not be subject to getting the many diseases that pigs can pass on. But since many still do, it is possible that something may happen with this.

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?
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?