Church of God News

14th Century Tapestry of the Third Horseman of the Apocalypse

COGwriter

The Bible is tells of a time that there will be food shortages and serious food inflation:

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

Is this now starting to happen?

Some time back, Wyatt Ciesielka of the Living Church of God wrote:

Is the nation that was once “breadbasket to the world” now seeing its very ability to feed itself erode? Are food shortages and food riots in the USA and other “wealthy nations” looming? Food scarcity is a very real problem that will become much more severe in the years ahead and is a harbinger of the severe famine that will affect every nation, when the third seal of Revelation is opened, and the third horseman rides!

Revelation 6:5-6 reads, “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” A denarius was worth about one day’s wages during Christ’s time. Converted to US 2008 dollars, a denarius would be worth approximately $100 to $150! So, we see Scripture warning us that food prices will increase significantly prior to the Great Tribulation.

The third horseman’s ride will soon tear apart the very fabric of our society. Do you fear for your own and your family’s safety, or do you trust in God? If we truly repent and seek God, then He promises us eternal life (I John 5:10–12) and promises to provide for us, even in the midst of global famine – even during the ride of the third horseman of the Apocalypse! Notice Psalm 33:18 and 19 – which is especially clear in the Moffatt translation – “the Eternal’s eye rests on His worshippers, who rest their hopes upon His kindness, that He may rescue them from death, and during famine-days keep them alive.”

God promises to provide for us if we obey Him and seek His Kingdom (Matthew 6:31-33), so do not fear the rising food prices. Do not fear the third horseman! Instead, humbly submit to and obey God. God’s kind eye will then indeed rest on you and your family now and in the days to come.

While some time back, LCG Evangelist Dr. D. Winnail wrote:

Warnings about famine may sound absurd to affluent overfed nations in Western Europe, North America and other parts of the world, where obesity is a growing problem! However, large segments of the human family experience daily hunger and starvation as agonizing facts of life.

Warnings about famine may sound absurd to affluent overfed nations in Western Europe, North America and other parts of the world, where obesity is a growing problem! However, large segments of the human family experience daily hunger and starvation as agonizing facts of life. Remarkably, many religious leaders talk about love, peace and tolerance, yet ignore ancient prophecies about literal events that are coming alive today!

Jesus warned that one of the prominent signs that would precede His Second Coming would be increasingly severe famines on a global scale (Matthew 24:3–8; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11). He used the symbol of the Third Horseman of the Apocalypse—a rider on a black horse carrying scales (balances)—to depict an era of famines that would mark the end of this age (Revelation 6:5–8). These prophecies reveal that, before Christ returns, warfare, widespread famines, disease epidemics and a string of natural disasters will bring death to one quarter of the earth.

To modern ears, this sounds like morbid science fiction or the scare tactics of an alarmist. This is a subject that trendy, “feel-good Christianity” does not like to talk about. But actual global conditions show that the world is beginning to resemble what the Bible has long predicted. According to the World Health Organization, one third of the world’s population is starving and another third is malnourished. Only one third is considered well fed. Each year, millions die from starvation—including 100 million children in the 1990s alone. Every minute, 23 children die of malnutrition and preventable diseases. Drought-induced famines threaten the lives of 15 million people in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia and Eritrea) and in Mauritania (in northwest Africa). In nations of southern Africa, 14 million struggle to get enough food. These are facts of life today!

Though most of the world’s current famine-induced suffering affects developing countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, Bible prophecies indicate that a similar situation will develop in more affluent Western countries. Long ago, God told the rebellious house of Israel that “one third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one third shall fall by the sword [war] all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds” (Ezekiel 5:12). The lack of rain and ensuing drought will be major factors contributing to this dire situation (Leviticus 26:19–20; Deuteronomy 28:23–24).

The situation we are now in will get worse (see, for example, TW: Food Prices May Cause Riots Within a Year).

Notice something that Ezekiel was inspired to write:

15 ‘So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. 17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.'” (Ezekiel 5:15-17)

Notice that this shows famine, then pestilence, and then the sword. The above sequence seems to be slightly different than that Jesus listed as part of the “beginning of sorrows” (Mathew 24:7-8) as the sword comes afterwards. But since the sword should begin the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), this may be part of how the beginning of sorrows ties into the Great Tribulation–this also may suggest hunger and disease problems for the Anglo-nations prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.

We in the Living Church of God teach that the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand are essentially descendants of the biblical tribe of Joseph. And while those nations have connections to him, it does not appear that they want to live like he did, nor is it likely that they will be able to store enough grain before it is too late.

The sons of Joseph were named Ephraim (Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand) and Manasseh (USA). In a recent co-worker letter, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God wrote:

So it seems that the “beginning of sorrows” has certainly been escalating in Ephraim and Manasseh! Maybe it will help some few people to actually “wake up”! (Meredith RC. LCG Co-worker letter, August 15, 2011)

The sorrows and troubles are just beginning and will get much worse. Hopefully, people will wake up.

As Jesus said:

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(Matthew 24:7-8)

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)

Tougher times are coming. And for some parts of the world these tougher time may be here now. People who can prepare, should: both spiritually and physically. Westerners need to realize that this will not only affect people in places like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East–the Anglo-descended nations of the West will themselves suffer hunger, civil unrest, famine, and worse. Super wheat will not be the solution–it is much more likely to contribute to a disaster.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011 or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? 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 and Have People Taken as Slaves? 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?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?

COGwriter

Here is some of a commentary today from the Living Church of God:

Commentary: Proclaim Liberty

By Rod Reynolds | Thursday, October 13, 2011

The common condition of the majority of mankind down through history has been one of bondage. For example, in the mid-nineteenth century, out of some 60 million Russians, about 50 million were serfs–enduring a form of bondage little better than abject slavery. The word “serf” comes from a Latin word meaning “slave.” Adding several million who were conscripted into the army and others in prison or other forms of bondage, fewer than 10 percent of the Russian population had anything like what we would consider personal freedom.

In the whole of Europe during the Middle Ages, fewer than 10 percent of the population were free men. Yet, liberty seems to be an innate desire in human beings. The quest for liberty is what drove many of the early colonists to North American shores, even many of those who began their quest as indentured servants. The nation was forged and established on ideals of individual liberty that had largely been denied in places from which the immigrants had come…

But the liberty that was instrumental in forming the basis for the remarkable blessings and prosperity its peoples have enjoyed for some 200 years is fast slipping away. The English-speaking peoples have turned their backs on the Creator who is the author of every blessing, including liberty.

Scripture warns us where our sins will lead if we do not repent. “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you…” (Deuteronomy 28:47-48). Other scriptures give more details of the slavery that awaits our peoples unless we repent.

After a brief period of punishment, mercifully, God will redeem our peoples out of captivity and restore their freedom. The fall festivals of God, the Feast of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day, picture in various ways the ultimate liberty—not only of physical Israel, but of all peoples and nations who are willing to learn God’s way of life. “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land” is one of the themes of these festivals (Leviticus 25:10).

For more information about the remarkable and exciting future awaiting our planet, read our informative booklets The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy and The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan.

Read more

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

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

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

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 🙂

COGwriter

The Churches of God normally have over one hundred Feast of Tabernacles’ sites in various places around the world every year.  Today is the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles in 2011.

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

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

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

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

Windmill and canal near Hoogeveen, Netherlands, 1983

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the 1980s, there were over 100 feast sites pretty much every year, and thus we tended to have a lot of choices about where to attend. Though even now, the Living Church of God has over 40 sites (other COGs also have sites, so there are probably closer to 200 in total, though many are quite small).

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

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

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

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 🙂

COGwriter

In its latest Tomorrow’s World magazine, LCG has the following from Evangelist Richard Ames:

Thirty-five years ago, many considered the television series Bewitched controversial. Today, it seems tame compared to such popular television fare as The Vampire Diaries and True Blood, which glamorize the occult.

Yet, for many, the occult is more than fiction. A CBS News poll in February found that 48 percent of those surveyed believed in the existence of ghosts, with 22 percent reporting that they had personally seen or felt the presence of a ghost. That figure mirrors the results of a 2006 Ipsos Reid poll that found 47 percent of Canadians reporting a belief in ghosts, with 18 percent saying they had been in the presence of a ghost. Similarly, a British research firm found that more than 40 percent of Britons reported belief in ghosts. This is quite a change from the 1950s, when a Gallup poll found that just about one out of ten Britons believed in ghosts (“Four out of ten Britons believe in ghosts,” The Sunday Times of London, April 13, 2009)…

Scripture reveals the source of occult deception. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). Satan deceives the whole world, not just a part of this world. And he also has spirit helpers, called demons.

How does Satan deceive the whole world? He does it through the occult, false religion and false education—and through a social system that seeks licentious pleasure rather than God! The prophet Isaiah wrote: “And when they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19). Whom are people seeking today: mediums, wizards or the true God? Isaiah wrote: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

We need to understand that there is a real spirit world! Notice this warning: “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead” (Deuteronomy 18:9–11).

God Almighty condemns sorcery and witchcraft. If you are “playing around” with such darkness, then you need to reject that underworld of evil! Seek the true God of your Bible! God’s warning continues: “For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you” (Deuteronomy 18:12–14).

Can anything be more clear concerning the evils of witchcraft and sorcery?…

Astrology and False Prophecy

Satan also deceives mankind through astrology. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica: “Astrology originated in Mesopotamia, perhaps in the 3rd millennium bc, but attained its full development in the Western world much later, within the orbit of Greek civilization of the Hellenistic period. It spread to India in its older Mesopotamian form. Islamic culture absorbed it as part of the Greek heritage; and in the Middle Ages, when Western Europe was strongly affected by Islamic science, European astrology also felt the influence of the Orient…. Although various Christian councils condemned astrology, the belief in the worldview it implies was not seriously shaken. In the late European Middle Ages, a number of universities, among them Paris, Padua, Bologna, and Florence, had chairs of astrology.”

Even though all true Christians have condemned astrology over the years, it has persisted. In our modern time, astrologers admit that the newspaper variety of horoscope advice is mainly entertainment. But when world leaders consult astrologers for guidance, they are seeking the wrong god! Listen to God’s warning through the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them” (Jeremiah 10:2).

We have already seen that Jesus predicted that signs and wonders would deceive the many. The book of Revelation reveals dramatic events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ. There will be a great false prophet and religious system that will perform miracles, signs and wonders. The Apostle John writes this about the great false prophet. “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Revelation 13:13). Millions, if not billions, of people will be deceived by these impressive miracles. “And he [the false prophet] deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast” (Revelation 13:14).

How can you tell whether someone is truly a minister of God, and not someone controlled by the occult world? Deuteronomy gives us a key. “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’; which you have not known; ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him” (Deuteronomy 13:1–4).

A false minister or prophet may even prophesy accurately concerning some sign or wonder. But God says that if he leads you after other gods—if he leads you away from the God of the Bible and the true Jesus Christ of your Bible—then he is a false prophet. Notice also that God may be testing you, to see if you will be faithful to His word and to His way of life!

Be on Guard!

Satan has deceived the whole world. He has many methods of deception, including witches, wizardry, channeling, sorcery, astrology, spiritism and false religion. You need to be on guard against the dangers of the occult.

The Apostle Peter gave us this instruction: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8–9).

God promises us protection from evil. Jesus taught us to pray: “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). Paul exhorted Christians: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11–12). You can overcome the wicked one by knowing the word of God—the Bible—and living by it. You can overcome the temptations and deceptions of the occult and false religion. As the Apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” May God empower you to go forward in faith. May you live not by the dark deceptions of this world, but by the light of truth, God’s word.

There are many false prophecies and predictions these days.  Some from demons, some from astrology, and some from imagination.  But many have occult connections.  Many will be deceived from false prophecies claimed to be related to 2012 (including those who will prophecy peace dawning–see End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?).

Speaking of occult connections, while birthdays would not seem to related to the occult, occultists tend to view them as highly important.

Back in 1969 Anton Lavey wrote The Satanic Bible. On page 96 (in the 1976 version) it mentions birthdays:

THE highest of all holidays in the Satanic religion is the date of one’s own birth. This is in direct contradiction to the holy of holy days of other religions, which deify a particular god who has been created in an anthropomorphic form of their own image, thereby showing that the ego is not really buried.

The Satanist feels: “Why not really be honest and if you are going to create a god in your image, why not create that god as yourself.” Every man is a god if he chooses to recognize himself as one. So, the Satanist celebrates his own birthday as the most important holiday of the year. After all, aren’t you happier about the fact that you were born than you are about the birth of someone you have never even met? Or for that matter, aside from religious holidays, why pay higher tribute to the birthday of a president or to a date in history than we do to the day we were brought into this greatest of all worlds?

After one’s own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween (or All Hallows’ Eve). (Lavey A, Gilmore P. The Satanic Bible. Avon, September 1, 1976, p. 96–note it is on page 53 of an online version I found also).

It is interesting that birthdays are considered one of the three the most important holiday to these Satan worshipers (the founding of their “church”, called Walpurgisnacht, and Halloween are the other ones of importance to them).

The Bible never encourages the celebration of birthdays or pagan worship practices. Instead, it tends to speak in a negative manner concerning them (cf. Matthew 14:6-11; Jeremiah 10; 20:14-18).

While the Bible does specify holy days, relatively few people observe them–most people seem to prefer those with pagan ties. Hence, it is little wonder to me that Wiccan holidays are being recognized more and more.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Mardi Gras: The Devil’s Carnival? Do you know that in Bolivia the carnival/Mardi Gras time is part of a celebration known as the Devil’s Carnival? Did Jesus celebrate Carnaval? Where did it come from?
Milvian Bridge Day, Constantine, and St. Jude Milvian Bridge Day and St. Jude’s day are observed by some on October 28. Yet, do these two events point to a contradiction?
Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
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?
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 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?

COGwriter

This morning on CNN and yesterday in the Wall Street Journal there were warnings against taking vitamins as multi-vitamins appear to cause elderly white women to die earlier than those who do not take them.  Basically, synthetic vitamins like folic acid and rock forms of minerals were reviewed (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-10/vitamins-may-boost-death-risks-in-older-women-study-suggests.html).

Since in Genesis 1:31 God said that everything He made was “good”, what gives with multi-vitamins?

Well, nearly all multiple vitamins sold in the world are a combination of synthetic USP isolated vitamin analogues and rock minerals.  None of these were created by God to be human food.  Instead they are attempts by scientists to by-pass real food nutrition with human-made substitutes.

And when I say that nearly all multi-vitamins sold are synthetic, yes, I mean nearly all sold in health food stores and through multi-level marketing groups.  Those that buy them are normally deceived,  FWIW, I am the first scientist since WWII to have a paper published in a major medical journal explaining why food vitamins are superior to the synthetics that the mainstream supports (this can be found at www.healthresearch.com).  What the recent news items about vitamins (and minerals) have not emphasized is that vitamins (and minerals) in the form found in foods never killed anybody.  Yet, substances like folic acid can (a paper on this can be found at www.healthresearch.com).

Of course, most of what passes for Christianity by the mainstream is also human-developed.  If you are not about to (or actually) observing the Feast of Tabernacles now, you are not following the practices of the Bible and early Christians, but instead relying on human-developed alternatives to biblical Christianity.  And while synthetic vitamins are dangerous physically, false religion is more dangerous spiritually.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

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 doctrines the early Christians actually had? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?

COGwriter

Tonight at sunset, nearly all members of the Living Church of God will be observing the biblical Feast of Tabernacles in over 40 locations around the world. The ”’Feast of Tabernacles”’ is an 8-day Biblical pilgrimage festival, also known as the “Feast of Booths,” the “Feast of Tabernacles,” or simply “Tabernacles.”

In the 7th day Church of God groups it is one of the most important holy days as it lasts the longest and normally requires a great deal of preparation and travel to be able to attend. But it is normally the physical and spiritual highlight of the year for those that do observe it.

Christians point out that Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles. This is discussed in detail in John chapter 7:10-26:

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

The Apostle Paul, after the Christ’s death and resurrection indicated that it was important to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. As it is noted in Acts 18:21,

I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.

Paul taught Gentiles to follow him as he followed Jesus:

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Jesus and Paul kept the Feast of Tabernacles. Are you following their example?

Notice that Paul does commend those in Thessalonica for initiating the church in Judea:

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

The church in Judea kept the Feast of Tabernacles, etc. And those in Thessalonica were commended for receiving the word of God and imitating the practices of the church in Judea. People considered saints by the Greco-Roman churches, such as Polycarp of Smyrna, kept the Feast of Tabernacles in the second century.

The Feast of Tabernacles is significant for Christians. It pictures the reality of Christ’s reign on the earth and that this current world is simply temporal.

Perhaps it might be helpful to realize that Catholic scholars do admit that early Christians did observe the Feast:

St. Jerome (PL 25, 1529 & 1536-7) speaking of how the Judaeo-Christians celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles…tells us that they gave the feast a millenarian significance (Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970. Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p.202).

We in the Living Church of God also believe that this Feast foreshadows the coming millennium.

Regarding the the Feast of Tabernacles, the Living Church of God, states:

…Old Testament meaning

…A seven-day celebration of the great fall harvest, observed by living in temporary dwellings for the duration of the Feast. (Leviticus 23:33-43)

…New Testament meaning

…Pictures the Millennium, when the earth will be ruled by Jesus Christ and His saints. [The Holy Days]

Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.

Out family should be arriving at the site in Glenwood Springs, Colorado today to attend begin church services this evening.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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

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

LCG 2011 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this October feast.

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 🙂

COGwriter

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

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

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

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

Here is one popular mistranslation of it:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Wrong Sabbath Argument

The NKJV improperly translates Hebrews 4:9 as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acts 13:42-44 shows what Paul did,

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

Also Acts 18:4 states,

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

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

The Apostle Peter warned:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perhaps it should be mentioned that non-biblical days that many who profess Christ observe, such as Christmas and Lent, were NOT original traditions of the church and were NOT kept by the apostles or earliest follower of Christ according to Catholic and Protestant scholars.  So, any who keep them because of “tradition” should realize that these traditions developed centuries after Jesus died.

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

Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
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 🙂
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Should you?
Is Lent a Christian Holiday? When did it originate? What about Ash Wednesday? If you observe them, do you know why?
What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god?
Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? Most Protestant scholars say Sunday is the Lord’s Day, but is that what the Bible teaches?
Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? Who clearly endorsed Sunday?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Another Look at the Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath Did Ignatius write against the Sabbath and for Sunday? What about the Didache? What does the actual Greek reveal? Are mistranslations of these early writings relied on for false doctrinal positions?

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)
بشار الأسد

COGwriter

Syria still seems to wish to try to prevent what the West did to Libya from affecting it:

Top Syria cleric threatens attacks on U.S.

CBS – ‎11 October 2011

(AP) BEIRUT – Syria’s top Sunni Muslim cleric has warned Western countries against military intervention in Syria and threatened to retaliate with suicide bombings in the United States and Europe if his country comes under attack.Western countries have shown no willingness to open a Libyan-style military campaign against the regime of President Bashar Assad, who has launched a bloody crackdown on the seven-month uprising against his rule, and NATO’s chief said last week the alliance has “no intention whatsoever” of intervening in Syria…Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, a state-appointed cleric and Assad loyalist, issued a clear warning to the West. “I say to all of Europe, I say to America, we will set up suicide bombers who are now in your countries, if you bomb Syria or Lebanon,” Hassoun said… http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/11/501364/main20118550.shtml?tag=stack

Of course, Libya made similar threats against the West, but did not carry them out.

Yet, if Syria does carry them out, it may regret doing so for the Bible shows that the Syrian capital of Damascus is doomed:

1 An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid. 3 The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,and royal power from Damascus;the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the LORD Almighty. (Isaiah 17:1-3)

If “rogue” supporters of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad decide to take action against the West for economic sanctions or other reasons, this may upset the West enough that it may directly (through the USA) or indirectly (through Israel) allow massive retaliation against Damascus (although I believe it would likely take more than one or two suicide bombers to trigger this–but even one or two would put the West in more of a mood to militarily confront Syria).

For some time I have felt that Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad may decide that working closer with Iran and supporting its objectives may be the way he feels he can best retain power.   The statements by its chief cleric against the West seem, to me at least, supportive of that.

Much is going on in the Middle East.

As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should watch.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?

COGwriter

100 or so protesters in ‘Occupy Boston’ got arrested:

We are living in the last days and at least some of the protesters seemed to be fulfilling much of the above.  The London riots and the flash mobs in the USA this past summer also brought these verses to mind.  And as I reported Sunday, Canada is expecting its own protests later this week (see Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Seattle, Occupy Vancouver, etc.).

The sorrows and troubles are just beginning (Matthew 24:5-8) and will get much worse (Matthew 24:21-22).  I believe that class warfare and other protests will help weaken the USA and other Anglo-nations and may also be a factor in them being vulnerable to real warfare: invasion by the Beast.

As Jesus said:

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011 or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
Is Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? 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 and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? If so, what does that really mean for the USA and its Anglo allies.
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?

Jerusalem

COGwriter

Israel is somewhat warning Syria for warning it:

Israel ready to strike Syria, Lebanon, Gaza

Israeli officials have reportedly warned Syrian dictator Bashar Assad that if he uses the downfall of his regime as an excuse to launch missiles at Tel Aviv, Israel will respond with a massive assault against Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.

Unnamed Israeli government sources told News First Class that the threat was relayed to Assad via European intelligence agencies.

The Israeli counter-threat came just days after Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Assad telling Turkey’s foreign minister that he would launch hundreds of ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv if the West interferes in his violent crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Syria.

“If a crazy measure is taken against Damascus, I will need not more than six hours to transfer hundreds of rockets and missiles to the Golan Heights to fire them at Tel Aviv,” Assad reportedly said.  http://www.israeltoday.co.il/News/tabid/178/nid/22971/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Many events are happening in the Middle East. And they are setting the stage for the rising up a the final King of the South that Daniel wrote about (Daniel 11:27;40). Daniel 11:27 and Psalm 83:1-8 suggest that this leader will make some deals with the King of the North. Bible prophecy suggests a seven-year peace deal will be confirmed by a European leader (for scriptural details, please see Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013?)

Yet, as I have written many times lately, while it is possible that the future King of the South may for a time be in Damascus, it may be that Syria might support decide to more closely support Iran and perhaps be involved in an invasion of Jerusalem and Israel.  If so, this might be how Isaiah 17:1 is fulfilled:

1 An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid. 3 The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,and royal power from Damascus;the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the LORD Almighty. (Isaiah 17:1-3).

Israels’ willingness to strike Syria may well fulfill Isaiah 17:1.

I suspect that as Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad notices the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and others opposed to him (as well as the impact of the recent economic sanctions from the EU against Syria), he may decide that working closer with Iran and supporting its objectives may be the way he feels he can best retain power.  Since Iran has repeatedly indicated that it wants to invade Israel (and last month at the UN stated that it will not recognize Israel as a state even if the UN recognizes Palestine as a state), the idea on an actual Iranian invasion with Syrian support seems plausible.

Additionally, as I have reported before, Iran is getting close to having its own nuclear weapons (Nuclear Iran in 2012? If So, Saudis May Want Pakistani Nuclear Support)–and since Israel has indicated that this would be unacceptable, Israel itself may launch a strike against Iran that could lead to a regional war–such a war may also involve Syria.  And FWIW, perhaps I should mention that technically, Syria is still at war with Israel as it never did sign a peace deal with Israel.  So an actual war involving Syria and Israel is quite feasible.  If so, Israel may hit back so hard that it might eliminate Damascus as Isaiah 17:1 says will happen.

As Jesus said,

35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming–in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning– 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:35-37)

And the goings on in Israel and the Middle East are certainly areas that He was referring to (cf. Mark 13:14).

Prophetic events continue to line up.

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?
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? What will happen to the nation of Israel?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Why do some believe that a seven-year peace deal must come first?