Church of God News

Hiroshima After the Atomic Bomb Was Detonated

COGwriter

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to discuss military cooperation:

Zardari, Al Waqdani discuss defence ties

Zee News – April 25, 2011

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and visiting head of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces today held a meeting here in which they “emphasised upon further augmenting socio-economic, trade and defence ties between the two countries”.

“Pak-Saudi bilateral relations including defence cooperation between the two countries were discussed during the meeting,” the President’s office said in a statement.

Zardari hailed the contributions of Vice Admiral Dakheel Allah Bin Ahmed Al Waqdani, the commander Royal Saudi Naval Forces, in promoting and giving further impetus to existing the relationship between the defence forces of the two countries, the statement said.

The president said Pakistan values its cordial and friendly equation with the brotherly Muslim country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. http://www.zeenews.com/news702301.html

The “brotherly Muslim” comment sounds a bit like “the  Muslim Brotherhood” to me (though right now that is not what Saudi Arabia seems to want).

Pakistan is the only Islamic nation that clearly has nuclear weapons. It has been reported that Pakistan may have made some type of clandestine deal with Saudi Arabia concerning nuclear weapons (see Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons, Saudi Arabia, and the King of the South and More on Saudi Nuclear Ambitions).  With all the issues regarding Iran and others attempting to get them, it would not surprise me if the Saudis have taken steps to have possible access to them themselves (though to claim so publicly would likely upset the USA and certain other nations).

Since it appears that the final King of the South will be an Islamic power, it would seem reasonable that Pakistan may somehow cooperate with and/or support it for a while at least.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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?
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).

Altas Shrugged

COGwriter

A few days ago, I saw a discussion of the new movie, Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, on a news program.  Atlas Shrugged, Part 1 is a movie based upon an old book by Ayn Rand with that title.  Although I have read three or so books from her, I never actually read Atlas Shrugged.  But I knew about it as someone I knew (a roommate) had to read and report on it in college many years ago–it is a very long book and he told me bits and pieces about it for many weeks.

My roommate was interested in what the book taught, which, if I understood him correctly, was that the book essentially tries to show that the alliance between large corporations, big unions, and an excessively controlling government is inefficient and survives only because productive people allow it to.  In the book, apparently, someone goes to many of the carnally most “productive people” and gets them to leave mainstream society and support a freer, more independent, society.  Apparently, by leaving the mainstream, they have shrugged off the world/atlas, hence the title.  My old roommate told me that because the productive were leaving, that the book showed that the government and its accomplices were trying to track them down as society was breaking down without the carnally productive being part of it.  If I recall correctly, there are “productive people” who keep believing in the system that take longer to persuade, according to the book.  Reviewers indicate that the movie itself displays certain Hollywood morals in the area of adultery.

Without going into the specifics of the impact of the economically more productive, the reality is that the Bible tells of a time that the most faithful (many of the most spiritually productive) will depart from mainstream society.   In a sense, this will be the real “atlas shrugged”.  It will be a terrible time for the earth, spiritually (though many will prosper at first physically, though it will also end in disaster, cf. Revelation 18).

The Bible shows that after experiencing persecution (Revelation 12:13), these faithful Christians end up being protected in a wilderness for 3 1/2 years .

Who is protected?

These people are remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God (Revelation 3:7) and promised physical and spiritual protection from the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10) that will affect the whole world.  The non-Philadelphia Christians (apparently those with traits more like Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) do not receive the same protection, and thus will have to endure the Great Tribulation and the wrath of Satan (Revelation 12:17).  A 3 1/2 separation will happen.

As there will be an “atlas shrugged” spiritually, this may be a good time to decide where you wish to be.  According to Zephaniah, the decision needs to be made early and not put off until too late:

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,
O undesirable nation,
2 Before the decree is issued,
Or the day passes like chaff,
Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!
3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger.  (Zephaniah 2:1-3)

So waiting until it is time to be protected, hidden if you will, is not really a good option as it seems to need to be done well before the time to go to the wilderness is obvious to more.  Scripture says to be ready prior to the time to flee.

What will you do?  Will you wait too long or will you become part of God’s “atlas shrugged” plan?

For more details on several of the subjects in the commentary, please check out the following articles:

There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Who really is left behind?
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?
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.
Do You Believe God Used Herbert W. Armstrong to Raise Up the Philadelphia Era of the Church of God? Nearly everyone while in WCG used to believe this, most do not seem to anymore.
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?
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.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Old Testament Church Eras Are there seven church eras in the Old Testament? Do they parallel those in Revelation 2 &3?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 from 31 A.D. to present: information on all of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3.
The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
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 Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
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.

Devil	= Secret	+ Person	+ Garden

COGwriter

China is publicly considering a different direction:

China should reduce its excessive foreign exchange reserves and further diversify its holdings, Tang Shuangning, chairman of China Everbright Group, said on Saturday.The amount of foreign exchange reserves should be restricted to between 800 billion to 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars, Tang told a forum in Beijing, saying that the current reserve amount is too high.

China’s foreign exchange reserves increased by 197.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first three months of this year to 3.04 trillion U.S. dollars by the end of March.

Tang’s remarks echoed the stance of Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of China’s central bank, who said on Monday that China’s foreign exchange reserves “exceed our reasonable requirement” and that the government should upgrade and diversify its foreign exchange management using the excessive reserves. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-04/23/c_13842843.htm

Well, China will exercise some caution here because in the short run, moving further away from the US dollar risks internal problems (like civil unrest) for China itself.  Yet, if China really were to stop buying USA debt and instead shift most of its holdings away from the USA dollar, this would cause economic chaos for the USA.

Some Chinese officials have also stated that the debt is being used as a threat. Chinese-run state media have called it their “nuclear option” (China Has Major US Dollar Reserves That It Can Cash In).  Last summer, at least one Chinese official said that the “debt will not be used as a threat” (China Claims Debt Will Not Be Used as a Threat).

Of course, this “debt will not be used as a threat” statement by the Chinese is nonsense–the Chinese have used the debt as a threat.  The reality is that much of what China itself appears to be doing is consistent with what the late Deng Xiaoping once expressed,

China must hide brightness and nourish obscurity . . . to bide our time and build up our capabilities (Source: Times Online).

China expects to continue to use the debt as a political weapon. However, it is likely to hold on to it for too long and lose somewhat because of it (though it may end up with Australia as partial repayment as part of a European-brokered deal) as the USA will not pay it all back (and if it does, it would be in almost worthlessly devalued dollars).  According to the Bible, “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

Of course, the dollar is having trouble:

John Hummel, chief investment officer with AIS Futures Management LLC, which oversees $500 million in assets, said he is “extremely bullish on gold.”…

His primary argument: Central banks and private investors are increasingly turning to gold as an alternative store of value as paper currencies continue to fall…”At some point, foreign holders will refuse to accept greater amounts of U.S. debt or the dollar as reserve currency,” Mr. Hummel said in a note to investors. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704889404576277361924031364.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

No matter what the Chinese say or do, the Bible is clear that in the time of the end, a great indebted power will fall after its creditors rise up against it:

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…5 Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man… 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:3,5,6-8).

The USA is insane if it believes that it is safe for it to continue to increase its debt with world powers like China and not face consequences from it. The USA needs national repentance–it would be nice if some were motivated by it by the Chinese statements.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters 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 China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where?
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 and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? 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?

Unleavened Bread

COGwriter

Last night began the last day feast of unleavened bread, and it continues until sunset today.

Early faithful Christians believed that they were supposed to keep it and other days that many today think of as Jewish, not Christian, Holy Days.

Notice what a respected Protestant scholar reported about the second century:

The most important in this festival was the passover day, the 14th of Nisan…In it they ate unleavened bread, probably like the Jews, eight days through…there is no trace of a yearly festival of the resurrection among them…the Christians of Asia Minor appealed in favor of their passover solemnity on the 14th Nisan to John (Gieseler, Johann Karl Ludwig. A Text-book of Church History. Translated by Samuel Davidson, John Winstanley Hull, Mary A. Robinson. Harper & brothers, 1857, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Feb 17, 2006, p. 166).

So, like the Apostle John (the last of the original apostles to die), the early faithful Christians observed Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

In the late third century, Anatolius of Alexandria wrote the following:

I am aware that very many other matters were discussed by them, some of them with considerable probability, and others of them as matters of the clearest demonstration, by which they endeavour to prove that the festival of the Passover and unleavened bread ought by all means to be kept after the equinox…

But nothing was difficult to them with whom it was lawful to celebrate the Passover on any day when the fourteenth of the moon happened after the equinox. Following their example up to the present time all the bishops of Asia—as themselves also receiving the rule from an unimpeachable authority, to wit, the evangelist John, who leant on the Lord’s breast, and drank in instructions spiritual without doubt—were in the way of celebrating the Paschal feast, without question, every year, whenever the fourteenth day of the moon had come, and the lamb was sacrificed by the Jews after the equinox was past; not acquiescing, so far as regards this matter, with the authority of some…(THE PASCHAL CANON OF ANATOLIUS OF ALEXANDRIA. Chapters V,X, p. 415, 419).

This should be proof to any with “eyes to see and ears to hear” that some who professed Christ were keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread centuries after Jesus died.

Leaven

In the world, leaven is all around. Not only is it in baked goods, it is now in many other products. Leaven spreads and most of the items it becomes part of crumble. In the Bible, leaven normally pictures malice, wickedness, and hypocrisy (I Corinthians 5:8; Mat 16:6,12; Luke 12:1), while unleavened bread pictures sincerity and truth (I Corinthians 5:8). The Old Testament states, “no leaven shall be seen among you” (Deut 16:3), whereas the New Testament states, “His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7) and that “sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4).

Leaven pictures the teachings of the Pharisees (Mat 16:6,12; Luke 12:1) whom Jesus called hypocrites (Mat 23:23,25,27,29). According to Strong’s, the Greek word Jesus used that was translated as hypocrite means, “an actor under an assumed role”. The Pharisees were false religious leaders who pretended to keep God’s law, but really did not (Mat 15:3-9).

Jesus further described the Pharisees by saying, “you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Mat 23:28). Jesus thus tied leaven (the Pharisees teachings, Mat 16:12) to false religion (being hypocrites) and sin (since “sin is lawlessness”, I John 3:4).

Those who attempt to obey God follow this and remove most breads, crackers, etc. from their houses, clean out their toasters, and otherwise remove physical leaven from their lives just prior to the start of the Days of Unleavened Bread each year. Since the removal involves work, and the term for day in Exodus 12:15 is Miyowm (Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.) which is different than the Hebrew term for day, Uwbayowm, in Exodus 12:16 (despite the fact that Strong’s uses the same number, 3117, for both words)–this suggests that the removal perhaps should be done before the start of the first day, which is a holy convocation. And this is consistent with other statements in Exodus such as for all of the “seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses” (Exodus 12:19) and “U nleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters” (Exodus 13:7). The only way for no leavened bread to be seen in one’s quarters for those seven days is if it is gone prior to the start of those seven days.

In Exodus it states that the Days of Unleavened Bread, “shall be a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth” (13:9). Keeping seven days of unleavened bread pictures that we are to live in sincerity and truth by keeping God’s law–that we are not continue in false religion, not to continue in sin.

Why seven days?

In the Bible God seems to use the number seven to show completeness. There are seven days in a week (Exodus 20:6), seven days of creation (Genesis1), seven Churches in Rev 2&3, seven candlesticks (Rev 1:20), seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), etc. The seven Days of Unleavened Bread seem to picture that after our sins have been forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus (Rom 3:25, I Corinthians 5:7)), that we are to no longer continue in the old ways but to walk in the true ways of the Bible (I Corinthians 5:8). The Days of Unleavened Bread help us to understand that sin is to put out of our lives; throughout the year it reminds us that false religion is all around and needs to be avoided.

A Warning

Now it is interesting to note that Jude warned that, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

This is interesting because in the next verse he ties this problem with deliverance (from Egypt) during the Days of Unleavened Bread (which should be kept as an annual reminder of sin and deliverance, Exodus 13:3-10, I Corinthians 5:8).

“But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude 5). In like manner, just because of the sacrifice of Jesus “God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Rom 3:25), he may afterward destroy “those who did not believe”. How do you know if you truly have faith and believe? By doing what God says.

James warned, “You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:19-20). In a similar way Paul wrote, “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Rom 2:13). Paul also warned, “For if we sin willfully after we have received knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation” (Heb 10:26-27).

Like the Old Testament (Exodus 12:15,19), the New Testament teaches us “Therefore purge out the old leaven” I Corinthians 5:7. From a physical standpoint it is easy to not obey these teachings. Physically it is easier not to purge or remove all the leaven from our dwellings. But spiritually, by not keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread, many fail to understand that they have to live the way of life that Jesus taught–many accept a false outward religion! Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). By not keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread, many have fallen for a religion based upon traditions of men instead of God’s commands!

People who do not keep the Days of Unleavened Bread are not reminded about false religion and sin through this leaven symbol during the year; maybe they do not want to be.

Something to think about.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers.
UCG and Its Unleavened Bread Study Paper What does the Bible say about eating unleavened bread for seven days? What has UCG officially said about it?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

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

COGwriter

In his latest update, ICG’s Mark Armstrong wrote, “the top priority of the current administration appears to be ever higher energy prices and the destruction of the U.S. dollar.  You’ve seen the warnings about the enormity of U.S. debt, and they are growing more shrill by the day. It turns out that the government is spending $38,000 per second, and nearly half of that is money that doesn’t exist until they print it. The number of articles warning of an impending collapse of the dollar is staggering. But it is apparent that the spending will continue unabated.”

The Bible teaches:

15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses…19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off  (Exodus 12:15a,19a).

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.  8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

So what does the inflation of the US dollar supply and putting out leaven have to do with each other?

Well, during these Days of Unleavened Bread, in my Bible study, I began thinking about the following scriptures:

4 Take away the dross from silver (Proverbs 25:4a).

22 Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water.  (Isaiah 1:22)

25 I will turn My hand against you,
And thoroughly purge away your dross,
And take away all your alloy.  (Isaiah 1:25)

18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. 21 Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury on you.'”  (Ezekiel 22:18-22)

In the USA, its “silver” became “dross” in 1965.

What is dross?

Dross is a cheaper metal that is normally placed inside a covering of a precious metal like silver.  Governments began to do this thousands of years ago when they had financial problems.  Putting dross into silver cheapens currency.  Dross, like leaven, puffs up and makes something appear different than it is.

Also notice:

9 I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.  (Zechariah 13:9)

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  (Revelation 3:18)

It seems obvious, to me at least, that God in addition to telling people to try to be pure, He was specifically warning against cheapening the money supply with dross/impurities in the Old Testament and our spiritual lives with leaven/impurities in the New Testament.

This is something that Christians may wish to think about during these final days of unleavened bread (the last day of which, this year, is April 25th).

Interestingly, the USA being not satisfied with simply making its silver dross, has taken so many steps the past three years (and it essentially started near the time of its Roe vs. Wade pro-abortion ruling) to make its currency dross, through debt, “quantitative easing”, and politically-motivated spending, that it pays no attentions to God’s warnings about cheapening the money supply.

The increased debt is what the USA is experiencing and will mostly likely continue to have happen.  Yet, turning its currency into dross is not the answer.

Notice what God inspired the Prophet Habakkuk to write thousands of years ago:

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…5 Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man… 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:3,5,6-8).

It is the the United States and its Anglo-allies (like the UK) that have loaded pledges of debt in these end times that they really do not expect to pay back–they are turning their currencies into dross. Deficit spending will cause bigger problems than even the experts who see it coming normally understand.

Increased Anglo-debt, dross, and leaven, all seem to be related.  As do biblical warnings against such things.  Perhaps this is something to think about during these trying times?

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?
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers.
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?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?

COGwriter

At one of the United Church of God (UCG) official websites, there was a link that had the following:

What Really Happened in Latin America – The Facts – Part 5

April 23, 2011 by shortfriction

This is my sixth post examining arguments presented by ex-members of the United Church of God GCE to explain their criticisms of the Council of Elders. The previous posts can be found via the links below:

1. ex-GCE members’ “letter of explanation” – The Facts
2. What Really Happened in Latin America – The Facts – Part 1
3. What Really Happened in Latin America – The Facts – Part 2
4. What Really Happened in Latin America – The Facts – Part 3
5. What Really Happened in Latin America – The Facts – Part 4

I have also posted a critical analysis of one of the UCG documents: Background to the Situation with Leon Walker and Latin America – The Facts

My plans have been to provide an in-depth critique of documents produced by both sides of the controversy that led to the UCG/COGWA split. However, this is a far more painful, slow process than I ever imagined.

This is the fifth of my posts examining the document What Really Happened in Latin America

I have tended to not be involved in the details surrounding the claimed causes for the split from UCG, in which most of its Latin American ministry ended up with a new group that formed which called itself Church of God a Worldwide Association (COGWA).  But, I have seen a lot from people in COGWA explaining why they believe there side on the split is right and I knew that UCG had their own side.  Yet, in my view, ego and internal focus were big factors.

For most people, the “dust has settled” and unless there is a new crisis in UCG or COGWA, it would seem that most will stay where they now are irrespective of efforts by supporters of both sides to attempt to explain why they still feel that they are right.  Of course, I really have not seen either side say that the split was really about doing a better job in proclaiming the gospel, but different ones have differing priorities.

Why are You Where You Are?

Irrespective of what happens in or between the various groups, when was the last time you asked yourself why you affiliate with who you do (or don’t in many cases)?

Since the Bible is to be the source of doctrine (II Timothy 3:16), it is from the Bible that information to help deciding where one should fellowship can be found.

Perhaps the most fundamental is what Paul wrote:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? (II Corinthians 6:14).

Jesus similarly taught that,

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:22-23).

The Bible clearly indicates that one should not make their religious decisions on the basis of what family members decide (Luke 14:26).

Jesus also taught, And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:27)

Thus one probably should not chose one fellowship over another because one seems ‘easier’ to bear..

The Bible indicates that financial reasons are also unacceptable (Matt 13:22). Family reasons are also unacceptable according to Jesus (Matthew 10:34-37). The fact that one likes the preaching style of one minister (or group) more than another also does not seem to be biblically sanctioned (I Cor 1:12-13), nor does the fact that one does not like aspects of the leading minister (II Cor 10:10).

Where Should One Be?

Other than avoiding churches that practice lawlessness, there are other biblical guidelines that give information on where one should be. Does the group “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)? If so, great, but is this the only criteria?

Jesus taught:

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples…You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit (John 15:7,8,16).

Thus individual members are to bear fruit. And,

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them (Matthew 7:15-20).

Thus groups should be judged by their fruits! The next verse says,

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21).

What is the will of the Father regarding fruit? That we bear much of it! Thus, whatever group you are affiliated with should be trying to bear fruit.

Jesus clearly indicates that this is not just talking about an individual improving one’s own life as He said,

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:35)

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).

Therefore, it appears clear that one should be affiliated with a group that places a high priority of developing fruit through proclaiming the gospel! Even though this author has heard some say that this is the job of the two witnesses (Rev 11:3,7) or the ‘third angel’ (Rev 14:6), here is what Jesus says this to those who want to wait for someone else,

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35).

Of course, I clearly feel that the LCG has done the best job of publicly proclaiming the Gospel (and this is documented in the article There are Many COGS: Why the Living Church of God?) and remaining faithful to doctrine of any of the groups, this does not mean that the efforts of others have gone unnoticed. Perhaps, if doctrinal differences can be resolved, we could combine together.

Attendance in Other Fellowships

So let us assume you have examined the teachings of the various groups. You have determined which group best contends for the the faith once delivered (Jude 3), is true to the Bible (II Tim 3:16), bears fruit (Matt 7:15-20), and is proclaiming the gospel (Matthew 24:14;28:19-20; Mark 8:35).

So are there times it is proper to attend services of another fellowship?

The biblical answer is yes. The apostles often attended Jewish services when Christian churches were not around (e.g. Act 14:1). They also attended Christian church services when they were available (Acts 14:27;15:4).

I have attended with several other fellowships at various times primarily because I do not wish to, “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some” (Hebrews 10:25). Yet, however, I do not believe that one should regularly fellowship with a group other than the one’s primary group if the opportunity to fellowship with one’s primary group exists. If one is truly in the group that is most appropriate, Ecclesiastes 9:10 would seem to apply, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might”.

Those in COGWA believe that they have done the right thing making and supporting that break-away organization, while those who remain in UCG apparently believe the same about staying with UCG.  I, as most regular readers are aware, believe that LCG was (and remains) a better choice.  And that choice can still be made by those in COGWA and UCG.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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.
Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association This seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns 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?
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

Many people are observing Easter today.  Is it an original holiday of the Church?  What was it supposed to be?  What does the Catholic Church teach about it?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

1170 At the Council of Nicea in 325, all the Churches agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 332).

From this, notice that it is taught that what is now called Easter was originally observed as a change in the date of Passover.  It originally was not a Christian resurrection holiday.

Easter itself is not a Christian term, and its celebration contains pagan elements. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bible itself also condemns certain practices, now associated with Easter, such as hot Easter buns/cakes (Jeremiah 7:14), the worship towards the sun in the east (Ezekiel 8:15-18), and the worship of Astarte/Ishtar/Ashtaroth (other spellings of the word Easter).

Notice a report from the Catholic historian Eusebius:

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

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

So, according to Catholic history (which is correct on this point) Christians did not observe a resurrection holiday, instead they kept Passover–and the lunar date was only rarely (probably about once every seven years) on a Sunday.

A writing from the Roman Catholic supporting Epiphanius may be of interest here. Epiphanius wrote:

The Quartodecimans contentiously keep Passover on the one day, once per year…They keep the Passover on whichever day the fourteenth of the month falls…Christ had to be slain on the fourteenth of the month in accordance with the law (Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section IV, Verses 1,3;1,6;2,6. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, pp. 23-25).

It is of interest to note that Epiphanius recognized that Jesus HAD to be slain on the 14th of the month. It is sad that he and others did not believe they needed to observe it when and how Jesus taught.

But you may be saying to yourself, so what? What does that have to do with Easter Sunday? Well in order to try to justify the Sunday observance, that noted Catholic leader claimed the following:

We observe the fourteenth day, then, but we wait until after the equinox and bring the end of our full observance to the sacred Lord’s day…we will miss no one of the observances of this life-giving <festival> of the Passover as the whole truth prescribes them (Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section IV, Verses 3,4. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, p. 25).

Now this should cause major concern for people who observe Easter Sunday.

First, it truly is supposed to be some type of Passover observation. Thus this holiday really is supposed to have its “Jewish” name, instead of the pagan one it now is commonly called in English and German.

Second, Epiphanius is admitting that none of the Passover observances are to be missed. So why don’t Protestants, Orthodox, and Roman Catholics wash feet? Why do they generally not take wine as part of their observances?

Thirdly, any who observe Easter Sunday are truly submitting to the authority of the Roman Church as this change of date, emphasis, and observation is due to the decisions of Roman Catholic supporting leaders–it in no way comes from the Bible.  And while Catholics may see no problem with that, even they should understand that Easter is a change and not an original tradition of their church.

I perhaps should also add here that Sunday IS NOT the Lord’s day according to the Bible (an article of related interest may be Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord?).

Furthermore, contrary to the insistence of many who rely on a misunderstanding of the Bible and/or traditions of men, Jesus was not and could not have been resurrected on a Sunday. For biblical and historical proof, please read the article What Happened in the Crucifixion Week?

Notice also the following report (written by a Catholic priest and scholar):

Pope Vitalin…supported efforts of the king of Northumbria, following the Synod of Whitby (664), to establish in England the Roman, as opposed to the Celtic, date for Easter (that is the Sunday after the Jewish Passover, rather than the Passover itself) and other Roman practices as well (McBrien, Richard P. Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. Harper, San Francisco, 2005 updated ed., p. 109).

Notice that the above account acknowledges that Rome changed Passover in Britian from the biblical date (which apparently the Celts observed into the 7th century) to the Roman date.

But despite what scholars do and/or should know, most who profess Christ tend to ignore the fact that early Christians kept Passover on the 14th, but instead tend to observe a compromised Sunday holiday with elements of paganism called Easter.  Catholics realize that Easter was a change from Passover and that the change included the adoption of pagan elements.

Since Easter was not the practice of the original church, should you be observing it?

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

Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What about footwashing? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2017, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂
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?

Harold Egbert Camping

COGwriter

In his commentary today, LCG’s Wyatt Ciesielka had the following:

A growing movement claims that Christ will return on May 21, 2011.  Some are so convinced of this date that they have left their families and their jobs to embark on evangelistic campaigns to proclaim “the awesome news” that this date marks “the end of the world” and “the rapture” of God’s saints!  Could they be right?

One of the more vocal advocates of the May 21, 2011 date asserts: “I know it’s absolutely true, because the Bible is always absolutely true” (CNN.com, “Road trip to the end of the world”, March 7, 2011).  However, the May 21, 2011 claim is not true.  It is a false conclusion based on ignoring clear Scripture, coupled with faulty mathematical calculations relating to the timing of Noah’s flood.

In Matthew 24:11, 23-26, Jesus reveals that at the end of the age “false prophets” will deceive many.  Some of these false prophets will claim to know the date of Christ’s return.  Others will claim that He already has returned.  Many will teach His secret return and a rapture of the saints to heaven before the Great Tribulation.

However, in Matthew 24 Christ notes specific end-time events that must happen before His return.  These major events will be clear road-marks revealing where we are within the panorama of end-time prophecy.  Three of these events are:

1. the abomination of desolation (v. 15), which will be a cessation and a desecration of yet-future Jewish alter sacrifices, immediately followed by
2. the Great Tribulation, which is a time of war and death more terrible than any time ever before in the history of humanity (v. 21), followed by
3. the Day of the Lord when Christ will return as conquering King to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth (vv. 27-31; Revelation 19:11-16)

The Bible does teach a flight of the saints prior to the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:20), and their protection for 3 ½ years (Revelation 12:14) in “the wilderness,” or eremos in the Greek.  Eremos refers to a rocky, harsh, desert landscape on this earth – not in heaven!  (Please watch the Tomorrow’s World television programs, “Secret Rapture or Place of Safety?” and “Will You Be Left Behind?”).

Far from a secret return or a secret rapture that can happen in mere months, Christ will return at the end of these events … and His return will be awesome! It will be “as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west” (Matthew 24:27).  It is at Christ’s triumphant return at the last trumpet that both the dead in Christ and those saints who remain alive will be raised incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

It should give pause to those who attempt to predict the exact day of Christ’s return to consider that Jesus plainly stated, “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36).  Those who attempt mathematical calculations to predict Christ’s return, based on their suppositions of the timing of the Noachian flood, should remember Jesus’ words, and should also consider that the righteous angels would have been very capable of their own mathematical calculations, if that were the measurement to be used!  Yet in 2011, people are caravanning across North America proclaiming that they know the exact day of Christ’s return, in part based on this premise (CBS4, Miami Florida, February 25, 2011, NBC10, Rochester New York, February 9, 2011)!

To claim that Christ will return any time in 2011 or even in 2012 is a serious misunderstanding of Bible prophecy.  Instead of letting our imaginations run away with us, we should heed and trust the plain word of God.

The leading proponent of the May 21, 2011 date is Harold Camping.  He claims that  Jesus will return on Pentecost May 21, 2011 and the world will end on October 21, 2011. Of course, that is not possible, so in less than one month (which will be May 22, 2011), his remaining followers will again see that his prediction was wrong.

Here is one of the predictions Harold Camping wrote in his We are Almost There! book:

The church age embraced, to the very day, exactly 1,955 years in that it began on Pentecost day, May 22, A.D. 33, and ended the day before Pentecost on May 21, 1988 (A.D.). (p. 29)

Of course, PENTECOST IS ON JUNE 12, 2011 AND NOT MAY 21, 2011 (see Holy Day Calendar). Harold Camping does not even understand what Pentecost is all about (to learn more, see Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2?). Because he prefers his own imaginations to the truth of the Bible, Harold Camping seems to load one misleading calculation onto other misleading information to get to the wrong answer. He should not be listened to by those that actually believe the Bible.  If he and others actually kept the biblical Holy Days, they may have been less likely to be deceived by his prediction.

Of course, there are other false prophets and false prophecies, it is just that the world will definitively prove that Harold Camping is wrong before some of the others.  It has been my experience that Harold Camping, and others like him, ignore literal prophecies and allegorize away too many (which is why he feels his date of Christ’s return can be right).

Those who are interested in the truth about Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland (who also claims to be one of the two witnesses and that Jesus will return in 2012), Mayan prophecies, and when the Bible shows that Jesus can return, may wish to study the following articles:

Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible Harold Camping teaches that the rapture will be on May 21, 2011 and the world will end on October 21, 2011. What does the Bible show?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind?
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
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.
Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008 (first April 17th, then June 2008, now December 14, 2008). Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? 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?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might the next pope be involved in 2012?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?

COGwriter

The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) continues to have major success:

Swiss Atom Smasher Breaks World Record

FOX News – April 22, 2011

The world’s largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, has set a new world record for colliding two beams of more particles together than ever before.

“Beam intensity is key to the success of the LHC, so this is a very important step,” CERN director general Rolf Heuer said in a statement. “Higher intensity means more data, and more data means greater discovery potential.”

The LHC set the new beam intensity world record around midnight Geneva time on April 22. It reached a luminosity of 4.67 x 10³² cm^-2s^-1, greater than the previous world record of 4.024 x 10³²cm^-2s^-1, which was set by the world’s second-largest atom smasher, the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s Tevatron collider in Batavia, Ill., in 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/04/22/swiss-atom-smasher-breaks-world-record/

The CERN project continues to rapidly advance.  Notice that the record it just broke was an American one–the Europeans are moving faster on developing this technology than the Americans.

Perhaps I should mention that I have long suspected that CERN projects may give the EU a unique type of military weapon to empower it to become what will be perceived as the the premier military power in the world (for more about CERN, please see Why Prophecy? Because the World Will NOT End Next Week).

No other nation or group of nations will have the type of access to what will develop from the Large Hadron Collider than the Europeans. 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 (cf. Revelation 13:3-4).  It appears that these capabilities are starting to be becoming developed now.

It might be worth mentioning that scientists working with the LHC “may have detected a long-sought subatomic particle called the Higgs boson, also known as the “God particle”” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42724482/ns/technology_and_science-science/); then again they may not as it has not been officially confirmed.  The reason I decided to mention this possible particle find is that it is possible, and even likely, that scientists at CERN may discover particles and/or other things that are not officially acknowledged that could have military applications.

Now if the Large Hadron Collider does have military potential, which I have long indicated that it does, all should understand that it is likely that the Europeans and not the Americans will benefit from it:

Collider Sets Record, and Europe Takes U.S.’s Lead

By DENNIS OVERBYE

Published: December 9, 2009…

Those spinoffs now will invigorate the careers and labs of Europe, not the United States, pointed out Steven Weinberg, a physicist at the University of Texas in Austin, who won the Nobel Prize for work that will be tested in the new collider. Americans will work at CERN, but not as leaders, he said in an e-mail interview.

“There is also a depressing symbolism,” he added, “in the fact that the hottest new results in fundamental physics will for decades not be coming from our country.”  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/science/10collide.html

So, whatever technologies are spun-off from this project are expected to primarily benefit the Europeans and not the Americans.

The understanding of the Living Church of God that the Europeans will be able to attack and takeover the United States and its Anglo-descended allies (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11; Daniel 11:39) is correct and will come to pass. And it appears possible that the successes of the CERN LHC may assist in the fulfillment of those prophecies.

The fact that the Europeans (and not just the Swiss) have the Large Hadron Collider which will likely enable them to develop unique military capabilities to fulfill Revelation 13:3-4.  This is the leading physics project in the entire world and leading-edge military weaponry tends to come out of such projects (it may also help the Europeans locate gold, rare earth, and/or other precious metals).

World events are moving forward and many simply either do not watch or do not understand what is happening.

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 role might the Large Hadron Collider play? 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?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood?
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?

COGwriter

Eash year. scholars have raised concerns about the secularization of Easter:

Is the meaning of Easter being lost?

Some scholars fear the story of resurrection has gone far astray

By KATE SHELLNUTT
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

April 3, 2010, 6:22AM…

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

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

Notice another report from another scholar:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

J.B. Lightfoot himself specifically wrote:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The pagan roots of Easter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notice what the Encyclopedia Britannica stated in 1910:

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

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

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

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

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

Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2017, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂
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?