Church of God News

Anne Catherine Emmerich Claimed to See Purgatory

COGwriter

UCG sent out an email today related to purgatory titled “What is Purgatory”:

Does the Bible say anything about purgatory? If so, who goes to purgatory, and what happens to them there?

The Catholic Encyclopedia defines purgatory as “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” This concept is like a place for people not bad enough for hell, but not yet good enough for heaven. The Bible, however, does not speak of anything like purgatory at all.

The Bible is very explicit in what happens immediately after death: “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, emphasis added). According to the Bible, there is no immortal soul that is whisked off to an eternity in heaven, hell or purgatory—there is only unconsciousness until the resurrections following Jesus Christ’s return to the earth (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 20:12-13).

The concept of purgatory also clashes with biblical truth in its assertion that sins can be erased through punishing the sinner. No such idea exists in the pages of the Bible, which contends that only the death of our Savior pays the penalty for sin (Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8). Scripture also teaches that there are no minor sins (James 2:10). Sins cannot be purged by cruel punishment, but they can be forgiven and overcome with the help of a loving Creator.

What about those who die without ever having had an opportunity to repent of their sins? That is likely the reason some hope in the unbiblical doctrine of purgatory. God intends to give everyone an opportunity for salvation…

And that is true.

Actually, the doctrine of purgatory developed amongst Latin Catholics after they began to condemn certain ideas related to the offering of salvation to all (known as apocatastasis).   The Greek Catholics (now known as the Eastern Orthodox) never did accept the Latin idea of purgatory and still to this day have many who believe that God has some type of plan to offer salvation to those who did not intentionally reject salvation.

The Catholic Encyclopedia itself admits that early Christians did not teach its current concept of its purgatory doctrine:

Some stress too has been laid upon the objection that the ancient Christians had no clear conception of purgatory, and that they thought that the souls departed remained in uncertainty of salvation to the last day…There are several passages in the New Testament that point to a process of purification after death. Thus, Jesus Christ declares (Matthew 12:32): “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come”…(Hanna, Purgatory. The Catholic Encyclopedia).

So what was taught in the second century?

Essentially after the judgment, it was believed that unsaved humans (those who did not become saints in this life) who did not knowingly reject God’s way of life would have 100 hundred years to live (in accordance with Isaiah 65:20) and that nearly all would then accept God’s offer of salvation (apocatastasis).  Even Catholic saints, such as Irenaeus, taught this.

In the thirteenth century, the famed Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote the following:

Nothing is clearly stated in Scripture about the situation of Purgatory, nor is it possible to offer convincing arguments on this question…

Some say, however, that according to the common law the place of Purgatory is where man sins. This does not seem probable, since a man may be punished at the same time for sins committed in various places. And others say that according to the common law they are punished above us, because they are between us and God, as regards their state. But this is of no account, for they are not punished for being above us, but for that which is lowest in them, namely sin (Aquinas T. The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, Appendix II, Article 1. Second and Revised Edition, 1920. Nihil Obstat. F. Innocentius Apap, O.P., S.T.M., Censor. Theol. Imprimatur. Edus. Canonicus Surmont, Vicarius eneralis. Westmonasterii. APPROBATIO ORDINIS Nihil Obstat. F. Raphael Moss, O.P., S.T.L. and F. Leo Moore, O.P., S.T.L. Imprimatur. F. Beda Jarrett, O.P., S.T.L., A.M., Prior Provincialis Angliæ).

The above shows that even into the Middle Ages, the idea of purgatory was unclear, even amongst the leaders of the Church of Rome.

As I mentioned earlier, the Eastern Orthodox never accepted the Roman version of purgatory:

The modern Orthodox Church denies purgatory…(Hanna, Edward J. Transcribed by William G. Bilton, Ph.D. Purgatory. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII. Published 1911. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Here are statements from two Eastern Orthodox bishops:

Today most if not all Orthodox theologians reject the idea of Purgatory (Ware T. The Orthodox Church. Penguin Books, London, 1997, p.255).

Disavowing a belief in the Western “Purgatory,” our Church believes that a change is possible during this intermediate state and stage (Aghiorgoussis, Maximos. The Dogmatic Tradition of the Orthodox Church. Copyright:  © 1990-1996. http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8038.asp  viewed 12/25/07).

Purgatory was essentially adopted after certain teachings associated with Origen were condemned in the 6th century:

From the moment, however, that anti-Origenism prevailed, the doctrine of the apokatastasis was definitely abandoned. St. Augustine protests more strongly than any other writer against an error so contrary to the doctrine of the necessity of grace…(Batiffel, Apocatastassis. The Catholic Encyclopedia).

History suggests that after apocatastasis was condemned in the mid-6th century, something that resembles modern concepts of purgatory were being pronounced by the Roman Bishop Pope Gregory I around 600 A.D.

The Church of God originally taught apocatastasis, not purgatory.  And still does so today.  God is a God of love and does have a merciful plan of salvation.

Some articles for further inquiry may include:

Did the Early Church Teach Purgatory? Is there a place called purgatory? Does God have a plan to help those who did not become saints in this life?
What is Limbo? Is There Such a Place as Limbo? What Happens to Babies When They Die? When did Limbo start being taught? What is the truth about dead babies?
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
What Can We Learn from Private “Catholic” Prophecies? There have been those claiming Catholicism over the centuries that have accurately predicted many events, as well as have made many errors.  What might Catholic prophecies reveal about the future?  Will an antipope help take over the world?

Herman Van Rompuy

COGwriter

EU President Herman Van Rompuy declared the end of the individual “nation state” in Europe and suggested that those who want to pull out of the European Union will cause war:

Herman Van Rompuy: ‘Euroscepticism leads to war’

Euroscepticism leads to war and a rising tide of nationalism is the European Union’s “biggest enemy”, Herman Van Rompuy, the president of Europe has told a Berlin audience.

Telegraph – Nov 10, 2010 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8124189/Herman-Van-Rompuy-Euroscepticism-leads-to-war.html

The end of Britain as a nation state? Not on your life, Mr Van Rompuy

By Daniel Johnson
Last updated at 8:13 AM on 11th November 2010

The President of the European Council has ­finally revealed his true colours. ‘The time of the homogeneous nation state is over,’ declared Herman Van Rompuy in Berlin yesterday.

According to Mr Van Rompuy, the idea that a country can survive alone is not merely an illusion: ‘It is a lie!’…

The British public watched in dismay as, earlier this month, David Cameron was forced to back down from his promise to stop Brussels from increasing its already bloated budget…

Mr Van Rompuy’s Berlin speech appears to be the first shot in a new campaign to speed the transfer of sovereignty to Brussels…

Britain, by far the biggest player in Europe, stands to lose most if the EU has its way…Mr Van Rompuy would rather belong to a United States of Europe.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1328579/Herman-Van-Rompuy-The-end-Britain-nation-state.html

European Union | 10.11.2010

Van Rompuy urges EU expansion in first ‘Europe Address’

President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy warned against protectionism, nationalism and euroskepticism in the first annual “Europe Address” in Berlin on Tuesday…

Van Rompuy also focused on European unification, which he said was “not just a bureaucratic process from Brussels,” but rather a concrete validation of the idea that Europeans “belong together.”

Nationalism represents a threat to the continent, as it no longer creates “a positive feeling of pride of one’s own identity, but a negative feeling of apprehension of the others.”  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6210135,00.html

As the second headline shows, many in Britain have problems with Herman van Rompuy’s statements.  And the fact that its Prime Minister (David Cameron) declared himself a Euroskeptic this week suggests that Britain and the EU may at some point part ways.

And that has long been the position of the Living Church of God and its leadership. Notice something from LCG’s presiding evangelist, Roderick C. Meredith two years ago:

As we have warned in the past, Britain may eventually opt out—or be put out—of the EU. Even so, as God’s word makes clear, the coming takeover of Britain by a ten-nation confederation—which your Bible describes as the “Beast”—is absolutely certain unless there is real repentance! (Meredith RC. “Goodbye” to England?  Tomorrow’s World magazine, Jul-Aug 2008)

Prior to that, the late LCG evangelist John Ogwyn wrote:

A great supra-national union in Europe, even now shaping up, will become the seventh and final revival of the old Roman Empire. This system, according to Revelation 13 and 17, will come to dominate the entire world for a brief period of time. It is this powerful European superpower which will ultimately attack and subjugate the American and British peoples. It will also occupy the Jewish state, called Israel, in the Middle East.(Ogwyn J.  The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. LCG booklet).

As far back as the late 1940s, the late Herbert W. Armstrong taught that there would be an emerging, “United States of Europe” (Armstrong HW. Now It Can Be Told…The Plain Truth,December 1948, p. 5).  And while many in the UK are skeptical, many on the continent are working to make it happen.  And it is happening.

It was also interesting to note that Herman van Rompuy mainly seemed to be interested in Europe on the continent.  Many in Brussels have long been dismissive of the UK and apparently still are.

And according to both biblical and Catholic prophecies, the United Kingdom will be taken over by the final end time, King of the North, European Beast power.  A power that is forming right before our very eyes.  And this was something that I too warned about in Chapter 5 of my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  World events continue to align with Bible prophecy.

To learn more, please check out the following articles:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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.
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?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
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?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis

COGwriter

In the Nov-December 2010 issue of its Bible Advocate magazine, CG7-Denver is now reporting it got many complaints on its Sabbath article I covered a while back (see CG7 Allows Working on the Sabbath!).  Here are some comments about that from its former president, Calvin Burrell:

Mail regarding the issue of Sabbath work to meet basic needs (September-October, p. 7) is running about six-to-one against the answer proposed. For those who took it as an attack on Sabbath sanctity (I did not), your reproofs have been read with humility; several are published (pp. 22-24). I regret that the first line of the question and the first words of my note sent mixed signals about the Church’s position, which remains unchanged.

I thought this would cause CG7 problems.  And just like UCG, CG7 has decided to try to readdress the matter.

The fact that the letters about the article were only 6:1 against shows that there is a spirit of excessive compromise still in CG7.  I read over the published letters in that issue and while some see the problems in CG7, others do not.  I perhaps should also add that even though Elder Burrell says CG7’s position remains unchanged, he never did say what that position is.  That is disappointing.

Those in CG7-Denver really need to examine what church they really should be part of.

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.
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.
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.
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.

COGwriter

When I wrote the book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, my primary focus was on what would likely happen during the years 2012 through 2020.  But of course, for many of the events to occur, other world events need to align themselves for them to come to pass.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warned that,

“Because of domestic economic concerns and international pressures, Barack Obama is shifting priorities away from defense spending… This will help lead to the destruction of the United States, when the Europeans are ready and the U.S.A. is not” (Thiel Bob.  2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  Nazarene Books, 2009, p. 147).

Notice what the New York Times reported today:

Panel Weighs Deep Cuts in Tax Breaks and Spending

By JACKIE CALMES

Published: November 10, 2010

WASHINGTON — A draft proposal released Wednesday by the chairmen of President Obama’s bipartisan commission on reducing the federal debt calls for deep cuts in domestic and military spending starting in 2012…http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/us/politics/11fiscal.html?src=mv

The reality is that the highly indebted USA will not be able to stop itself from getting taken over in a just several years from now.

The defense cuts are another sign that the USA will be taken over.  By cutting spending, the USA may be able to stop the dollar from plunging in value in the near term, but ultimately the efforts to support the dollar will also prove futile. Short of massive national repentance the USA is doomed.  And all of this was predicted (cf. Daniel 11:39; Habakkuk 2).

Prophecy moves forward.

Some items of related interest may include:

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 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.
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?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  This is a lengthy article with many prophecies that Barack Obama may end up fulfilling.

Martin Luther

COGwriter

Regular readers of this page are aware that I do not consider that Martin Luther was a true or faithful Christian.  November 10th is observed by some as his birthday.

In addition to the fact that he did not truly believe the Bible (see Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible?), he hated Jews.

Martin Luther wrote:

My heart is fuller of these thoughts than my tongue can tell. I have come to the conclusion that the Jews will always curse and blaspheme God as all the prophets have predicted. He who neither reads nor understands this, as yet knows no theology, in my opinion. And so I presume the men of Cologne cannot understand the Scripture, because it is necessary that such things take place to fulfill prophecy. If they are trying to stop the Jews blaspheming, they are working to prove the Bible and God liars (“Martin Luther’s to George Spalatin,” from Luther’s Correspondence and Other Contemporan, Letters, trans. by P. Smith (1913), Vol. 1, pp. 28-29).

Furthermore he wrote:

I had made up my mind to write no more either about the Jews or against them. But since I learned that those miserable and accursed people do not cease to lure to themselves even us, that is, the Christians, I have published this little book, so that I might be found among those who opposed such poisonous activities of the Jews and who warned the Christians to be on their guard against them…They are so blind and stupid that they see neither the words found in Genesis 17 nor the whole of Scripture, which mightily and explicitly condemns this lie…They are real liars and bloodhounds who have not only continually perverted and falsified all of Scripture with their mendacious glosses from the beginning until the present day. Their heart’s most ardent sighing and yearning and hoping is set on the day on which they can deal with us Gentiles as they did with the Gentiles in Persia at the time of Esther…The worse a Jew is, the more arrogant he is, solely because he is a Jew — that is, a person descended from Abraham’s seed, circumcised, and under the law of Moses. David and other pious Jews were not as conceited as the present-day, incorrigible Jews…I wanted to present this to us Germans so that we might see what rascals the blind Jews are and how powerfully the truth of God in our midst stands with us and against them (Medieval Sourcebook: Martin Luther (1483-1546): On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543)

Martin Luther advised his followers,

…to burn down Jewish schools and synagogues, and to throw pitch and sulphur into the flames; to destroy their homes; to confiscate their ready money in gold and silver; to take from them their sacred books, even the whole Bible; and if that did not help matters, to hunt them of the country like mad dogs (Luther’s Works, vol. Xx, pp. 2230-2632 as quoted in Stoddard JL. Rebuilding a Lost Faith, 1922, p.99).

Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch (Martin Luther (1483-1546): On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543 as quoted from Luther’s Works, Volume 47: The Christian in Society IV, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971). pp 268­293).

Wikipedia has the following:

Bishop Martin Sasse, a leading Protestant churchman, published a compendium of Martin Luther’s writings shortly after the Kristallnacht; Sasse “applauded the burning of the synagogues” and the coincidence of the day, writing in the introduction, “On November 10, 1938, on Luther’s birthday, the synagogues are burning in Germany.” The German people, he urged, ought to heed these words “of the greatest anti-Semite of his time, the warner of his people against the Jews.” Diarmaid MacCulloch argued that Luther’s 1543 pamphlet On the Jews and Their Lies was a “blueprint” for the Kristallnacht.

The only celebration of birthdays in the New Testament resulted in the beheading of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:6-11).  The burning of synagogues on Martin Luther’s is consistent with the fact that there is no evidence that any early faithful Christian ever celebrated birthdays (see Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays?).

As many as 600 Jews sailed to California because of this to flee the results of Kristallnacht–and some ended up in Southern California.  Others died and/or suffered other losses.  Should practices of faithful Christians result in such persecution?

The reality is Martin Luther was an example for those who used religion to justify killing and persecution.  That is a horrible legacy to have.

The other horrible part of his legacy is to claim to be for sola Scriptura (the rallying cry of his reformation efforts), while primarily believing in prima Luther.  This has resulted in a Protestant world that cannot agree on very much about the Bible or morality or end time prophecy.  Furthermore, it has given the Catholics real ammunition against Protestantism.

Yet, if Martin Luther would have truly been converted and truly did believe in sola Scriptura, things perhaps could have been different.  He would not have written the terrible things he did about the Jews, nor would we have been responsible the murder of so many people.  He caused unneeded confusion in the religious world (though there were some benefits).

His legacy, however, fits somewhat into these Laodicean times as most modern Christians do not understand church governance and decide on their own how a church should be governed (and many do not even attend services of the same group on a weekly basis).

Martin Luther was not a true Christian leader and no one should follow him or the religion he tried to establish.

Those interested in learning more should consider studying the following articles:

The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the Living Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.

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

COGwriter

As I have been warning for years, the US has too much debt and this will have terrible consequences.  A less severe consequence that most Americans over age 40 probably never thought could possibly happen, happened today:

Leading Chinese credit rating agency downgrades USA government bonds

Telegraph – Nov 9, 2010 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/08/ap/business/main7035938.shtml

China’s Dagong Cuts U.S. Credit Rating to A+ on Fed’s Quantitative Easing

By Joshua Fellman and Ye Xie – Nov 9, 2010

China’s Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. reduced its credit rating for the U.S. to A+ from AA, citing a deteriorating intent and ability to repay debt obligations after the Federal Reserve announced more monetary easing.

The credit outlook for the U.S. is “negative,” as the Fed’s plan to buy government debt will erode the value of the dollar and “entirely encroaches” on the interests of creditors, analysts at Dagong, one of China’s five official ratings companies, said in a statement.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-09/china-s-dagong-downgrades-u-s-to-a-on-quantitative-easing-xinhua-says.html

China, the “poor” Asian country, is telling the world that the mighty USA has credit problems and is becoming a credit risk.  And while some may believe that part of the reasons for the downgrade are political or spiteful, the reality is that it is true that the USA is now a credit risk.  I actually believe that Dagong’s rating is much too high for the USA.

If others start to realize how risky the US government is, interest rates will skyrocket, and the national debt will be greatly increased.  This could be so bad that we could get to the point that if the US government took practically ALL THE INCOME OF ALL ITS PEOPLE it still would run a budget deficit.  We are getting closer and closer to a scenario that could get there.  The move by the Chinese credit agency is one step in that direction.

Of course, it is not just the Chinese who realize the risk with the USA.  Notice the following:

Interview With German Finance Minister Schäuble

‘The US Has Lived on Borrowed Money for Too Long’

Spiegel – Nov 8, 2010

In an interview with SPIEGEL, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, 68, criticizes US calls for Germany to reduce exports, outlines his plans for an insolvency framework for indebted European nations and the emphasizes the significance of the German-French axis for Europe…

Schäuble:…The United States lived on borrowed money for too long, inflating its financial sector unnecessarily and neglecting its small and mid-sized industrial companies. There are many reasons for America’s problems, but they don’t include German export surpluses. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,727801,00.html

The USA has lived on borrowed money too long, and this will end in catastrophe according to Bible prophecy (cf. Habakkuk 2).

There is an interesting prophecy in the Hebrew scriptures that the Chinese news item brought back to mind:

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

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

Notice that a curse for disobedience was to borrow from foreigners (which the USA does extensively) and that they would start to rise up.

This is being fulfilled.  Prophecy moves forward–significant personal repentance is probably the only way out (as national repentance for the USA seems highly unlikely).

To learn more, please check out the following articles:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  This is a lengthy article with many prophecies that Barack Obama may end up fulfilling.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled by him?
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
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?

Ancient Laodicea

COGwriter

UCG‘s President Luker made the following in an official announcement today:

The leadership of the Church has been accused of subtly watering down the observance of the Sabbath day. Papers have been written and circulated among the ministry and membership purporting this change, and Internet blogs and Web sites have run rampant with these write-ups and discussions. Some have assumed these claims must be true because the Church has not officially responded to these documents.

On October 15, in a President’s letter, I did address this subject. Quoting from my letter:

“A highly vocal few, particularly in online forums, have raised imaginary issues about the current administration and Council of Elders. These false issues center on recent letters published from Melvin Rhodes and me about the Sabbath day and about fasting. One of our letters, published shortly before the Festival season, confirmed the inviolate sacredness of the Sabbath day, but also discussed how one family in Chile was seeking counsel and resolution for a specific and non-routine issue regarding Sabbath observance…To be absolutely clear, nothing concerning the established teachings of the Church about the Sabbath has changed, nor is any change being considered. Further, given the established procedures set forth in the Church’s governing structure, it is impossible for the administration or the Council of Elders to make any doctrinal changes…”

Unfortunately, the inaccurate documents now circulating in some areas only selectively quote from either the original letter…

It is obvious that the title could be taken two different ways and would have been clearer if it had stated: “Facts Concerning a Chilean Family’s Personal Sabbath Situation.” The family from Chile was hammered, slandered and vilified over a period of weeks on the Internet concerning how they had handled this situation with the observance of the Sabbath. The implication on the Internet was that the leadership of the Church had given approval of how they handled the family’s situation. Consequently, the leadership was likewise being attacked on this issue.

Our letter went to great lengths to explain that no attempt is being made to change doctrine; yet, this is the charge.

UCG has had many problems.  Some believe that the letter to the family highlights a change, whereas Dennis Luker seems to believe it is not.  While I do not intend to get into the details of this, I will simply state that UCG has made various doctrinal changes that its official system supposedly was intended to prevent.  And that is partially related to its form and style of governance.

UCG’s form of governance has gotten strained and tested quite a bit in 2010.

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.
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.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

COGwriter

US President Barack Obama is in Indonesia today.

‘Building bridges’: Obama courts Muslims

In Indonesia, president says that he can’t ‘completely eliminate some of the … mistrust’

JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that Washington’s effort to reach out to the Muslim world was earnest…

Obama arrived in Indonesia  — his home for four years of his youth…using the most populous Muslim nation to reach out to the Islamic world.

Obama called his administration’s efforts to repair relations with Muslims “earnest, sustained.”…

Obama’s stepfather was Muslim, and during his time in Indonesia Obama occasionally studied the Quran and visited a local mosque. Although Obama is Christian, that background helped foster enduring rumors in the U.S. about the president’s religion.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40082730/ns/politics-white_house/

US President Obama is a professor of Christ at times, but unlike the above article, I could not categorize him as a Christian.  It also seems strange that while his administration claims that they are allies of the nation of Israel, that he publicly chastised Israel in a public speech in Indonesia today (Obama, in Indonesia, Criticizes Israel on Housing).  This type of behavior makes many wonder about his sincerity as far as supporting Israel goes.

There was another news item about him and Indonesia that readers might find of interest:

Barack Obama joined Muslim prayers at school, teacher says

The Australian – Nov 8, 2010

AS a schoolboy in Jakarta, Barack Obama attended Muslim prayer sessions with his classmates against the wishes of his mother. The US President’s former grade three teacher said that Mr Obama – who was known as “Barry” when he attended the Menteng One school in Jakarta – studied the Koran and went to classes on Islam, despite the objections of Ann Dunham, a Catholic. (The Times. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/barack-obama-joined-muslim-prayers-at-school-teacher-says/story-e6frg6so-1225949239614)

Whether he attended prayer sessions to learn about Islam or to fit in, apparently Barack Obama was more involved in Islam that his mother wanted him to be.

What religion is Barack Obama?

Barack Obama seems to be a supporter of a Constantinian religion (comes out of the Greco-Roman tradition, not the Church of God) which claims Christ. Yet, he does not seem to be highly involved with it. For example, in the first few weeks after the election, he did not attend any church service according to an AP story (Obama skips church, heads to gym. November 23, 2008).  He ended up not joining any church, but makes public church appearances on occasion (a couple times a year).  Whether he makes the public appearances to give the impression he is Christian or this is what he believes is not clear to me.

Irrespective of that, because his religion is of the Constantinian variety, Barack Obama will likely not understand end-time prophecies and this will lead him to be more accommodating to the rise of the Beast (the King of the North) and the final King of the South (an Islamic power) than one who understands end-time prophecy would likely be.

Is Barack Obama a Muslim sympathizer?

The answer to that question is that he seems to be. Since he did grow up in Muslim Indonesia and had more early Muslim contacts than anyone else ever elected as President of the United States, he seemingly has more reasons than most U.S. presidents to have sympathy for Muslim perspectives. Here is some of what Barack Obama’s “Fight the Smears” website quotes about this:

Newsweek…Obama’s only personal contact with Islam came as a boy when he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, with a stepfather who mixed his Islam with Hindu and Animist traditions…

Boston Globe…His Kenyan paternal grandfather and Indonesian stepfather were Muslim…

Thus, while the selected quotes seem to have been intended by the Obama campaign to minimize his ties to Islam, Barack Obama had more early ties to Islam than any ever elected to becoming President of the United States. He also repeated his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, the 2 times I heard him on his inauguration as USA president (he seemed to want everyone to hear him say Hussein).

But irrespective of that, it seems that his policies may lead to greater cooperation between the Arabic and non-Arabic Muslim nations which at some point in time must end up with a leader (which the Shiites call a Mahdi) that the Bible shows will be the Future King of the South.  And once again, today, he seemed to be doing that.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God Unlike some of the odd stories about Barack Obama, this one is apparently true.
Obamas Celebrate Diwali in India Hindus celebrate Hindu holidays, and the Obamas joined them in that in 2010.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article at the COGwriter website on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
Several More Reasons American’s Question Obama’s Religion Is Barack Obama a Christian?  He claims to be.  Others question that.
Many Americans Believe that Barack Obama is Muslim Is Barack Obama Muslim?  Many feel that he is?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? 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?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands like those in Indonesia? What does the Bible prophesy about them?

Philadelphia Trumpet, December 2010

COGwriter

As shown above, the December 2010 edition of the Philadelphia Church of God’s Trumpet magazine features a photograph of its new Armstrong Auditorium.

An article in the magazine by Stephen Flurry (son of the self-appointed “prophet” Gerald Flurry) includes the following comments:

Armstrong Auditorium may not rise to the level of excellence of Solomon’s house, but judging by the initial wave of reviews, it will take your breath away…

At a Pasadena auction in July 2004, we purchased one of our two Steinway pianos, a concert grand that  Mr. Armstrong had originally ordered for Ambassador in 1983. We also bought the two candelabras commissioned by the shah in 1971. Mr. Armstrong originally purchased the pair from a London  department store in 1973 and placed them inside the main lobby of Ambassador Auditorium…

In 2006, we contacted the same acoustical firm that helped design Ambassador Auditorium’s near-perfect acoustics…

In 2009, we landed yet another piece from the Armstrong era: the beautiful Swans in Flight. Mr.  Armstrong assigned David Wynne to the task in 1968. Upon completion, it was placed at the entrance of  the Ambassador College campus in Big Sandy, Texas. After we purchased the work of art from the  campus’s new owners in May 2009, we disassembled the 1,200-pound sculpture and moved it to Norman, Oklahoma, where it was refurbished and stored until January of this year. It was installed on our campus in March.

Finally, there are the gold-plated bronze letters affixed to the onyx wall featured in the center of the grand  lobby. They read, “Armstrong Auditorium: Made possible by gifts from the Philadelphia Church of God. Dedicated to the honor and glory of the Great God.” Except for where the names are different, these are the original letters that used to be on the feature wall inside the Ambassador Auditorium lobby, generously given to us by the current owners of Ambassador!…

Breathtaking!

Now, I do not doubt that with a lot of money, that PCG did get a beautiful building.  But it seems focused a lot on the physical.

Yet, as I have mentioned before, it seems to me at least, that PCG may be a bit too much into the collection of what could be considered as relics.  With the reported cost of the auditorium project in the $20,000,000 range, and PCG’s attendance in the 4,000-7,000 range, this auditorium seems to be a very costly priority for PCG.

Jesus taught:

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

And while most in PCG will likely say that the same could be true of the Ambassador Auditorium of the old WCG, the reality is that the old WCG had closer ten to twenty times the number of attendees than PCG has.  Thus, the relative cost was quite different.  Furthermore, and while PCG members would tend to disagree, the late Herbert W. Armstrong had gospel-proclaiming goals that Ambassador Auditorium did help him attain.  And that simply will not be true the to same degree for PCG.

Like many groups that came out of the old WCG, I have long believed that PCG had the wrong priorities.  And while having a “Breathtaking!” building is nice, there is more to a church than a nice ornate building with great acoustics.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which claims to be faithful.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?
The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong as PCG teaches?
What is a True Philadelphian? Many claim to be part of the Philadelphia era of the Church, but is claiming enough? This article has biblical and historical evidence about who really are the Philadelphians.
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.
Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains who he was and how he should be viewed today.

Benjamin Netanyahu

COGwriter

Speaking in New Orleans today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned about Iran:

Netanyahu warns that world must take action against Iran

By GIL SHEFLER
11/08/2010 21:03…

NEW ORLEANS – Iran is the greatest threat to the world and its nuclear program must be stopped…

“The greatest danger facing the world is the prospect of a nuclear Iran,” he said. “It sponsors terror in Lebanon and Gaza, confronts the US in Iraq and Afghanistan, establishes beachheads in Saudi Arabia. Its influence has spread even to this hemisphere in South America. It has done all this without nuclear weapons. Imagine what it will do with them. http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=194512

The Israeli prime minister probably does not expect the world to do very much.  He may be making these statements to justify Israel taking future military actions against Iran on its own.

Much of the leadership in Iran is looking forward to war as its current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, feels that a war may result in the rise of a religious figure known as the Imam Mahdi.  The Imam Mahdi (who sounds like he could be the final King of the South in Bible prophecy) is supposed to lead the Islamic world to various victories according to most Shi’a and some Sunni Muslims.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already gone on record that he is opposed to the current Middle East peace talks (see Iran’s Ahmadinejad Does Not Want Peace).  He apparently wants war.

It may take one or more wars in the Middle East to end up with the peace deal that the Bible seems to be referring to in Daniel 9:27.  But that deal may happen as soon as 2011 or 2012.

Some items 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?
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.