Church of God News

US F-22 Stealth Jet

COGwriter

The USA has increased its military presence in the Middle East and Iran seems concerned:

May 1, 2012

US strikes a military pose for Iran
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi

For all the talk of the United States’ long-standing hegemony in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, its military superiority is not without shortfalls that, in turn, show significant flaws in its ability to maintain a “credible military threat” against Iran…

Tehran to be beware that, should the Baghdad talks fail, the wrath of Uncle Sam is likely to fall.

This is in light of the widely-disseminated news over the weekend that the US has deployed its latest generation of stealth bombers at “Iran’s doorway”, possibly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)…The United States has deployed a number of stealth jets, its most modern, fifth-generation fighter bomber…F-22 Raptors…http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NE01Ak02.html

Iran opposes presence of foreign forces in Persian Gulf

30 April 2012

TEHRAN, April 30 (Xinhua) — Senior Iranian military commanders said the Islamic republic opposes the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf which undermines regional stability, the English-language satellite Press TV reported Monday…a deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, Rear Admiral Ali-Reza Tangsiri, said the Iranian forces are currently at the highest level of preparedness in the Persian Gulf…This means there is no justification for the presence of outsiders in the area, Tangsiri was quoted as saying.  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/30/c_131561215.htm

Iran is concerned and should be.  In a conflict involving the USA at this time, Iran (along with likely allies such as Syria and some in Lebanon) will not win.

Because Iranian leaders believe that the purpose of their revolution was to prepare the way of the leader they call the Imam Mahdi, and that they believe that chaos is first needed for this to happen, they may decide that Allah is on their side against the USA (they have suggested that in the past).  This will be a mistake for Iran.

This does not mean that the USA itself could not be hit hard.  Possible terrorist incidents, chemical weapons, biological weapons, dirty bombs, emp bombs, and/or other moves could hurt the USA.

Yet, since Iran will not be the final King of the South of Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:4-43), I have tended to believe that Iran may somehow get “neutralized” before this final king rises up.  A serious regional conflict in the Middle East may neutralize Iran and neutralize much of its influence. And Syria (Isaiah 17:1) and parts of Lebanon and others, possibly even part of Iraq, may be involved, and not do well themselves.

The King of the South that the Bible foretells (Daniel 11:40) must rise up. And since it will not be Iran, the drum beats of war in the Middle East and/or as possible revolution within Iran may be what eliminates Iran from the leadership role it wants for the Islamic world.  The move of US stealth-fighters and other weapons in the area could be a step towards neutralizing Iran.

Jesus said to “watch” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of 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? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic 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 about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? 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? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) 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 Jerusalem and 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?

United Airlines’ Flight 175 Hitting South Tower, 9/11/2001

COGwriter

New York City has a new tallest building again:

30 April 2012

One World Trade Center, the giant monolith being built to replace the twin towers destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks, will lay claim to the title of New York City’s tallest skyscraper on Monday. Workers will erect steel columns that will make its unfinished skeleton a little over 1,250 feet high, just enough to peak over the roof of the observation deck on the Empire State Building.  http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0430/World-Trade-Center-back-as-tallest-building-in-New-York-City

Although our family visited the Empire State Building when it was NYC’s tallest building a few years back, we had not visited the old World Trade Center Towers and am unsure if we will visit this new one.

As far as “freedom” goes, notice the following interesting headline for the UK:

The TSA’s mission creep is making the US a police state

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/18/tsa-mission-creep-us-police-state

A “police state” is not know for freedom.

And just building a tall building does not provide the USA will new protection, mainly just new risks that somehow this building may be destroyed in the future (cf. Psalm 83:3-8; Daniel 11:39; Leviticus 26:16).

The new building is often called the “Freedom Tower.”  Which is somewhat ironic as residents of the USA have lost a lot freedom since the 9/11/2001 attacks, and have increased the committal of various sins.

Notice some of the words of Jesus:

34…Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (John 8:34-35)

LCG had the following commentary last September:

Commentary: 9/11/11: Ten Years After Terror

.

By William Bowmer | Saturday, September 10, 2011…

And what of the “War on Terror” declared by U.S. President George W. Bush? Earlier this year, U.S. Navy SEALs in Afghanistan proudly proclaimed the death of Osama bin Laden, yet the West after a decade seems unable to win a decisive war against ragtag crews of Muslim extremists. Meanwhile, at home, millions of Americans’ main experience of the war is literally at the hands of the Transportation Safety Administration, a powerful new government agency that treats every air traveler as a terrorist suspect, subjected to scanning and poking and prodding in what some derisively call “security theater.”

As we go about our daily business, we might at first not recognize just how much the world around us has changed since September 11, 2001. But consider the analogy of the frog and the pot of boiling water. If you drop a frog into the pot, it will jump right out, unable to bear the heat. But if you put the frog in a pot of lukewarm water, you can raise the temperature slowly—and soon you will boil the frog to death!

In September 2001, the U.S. unemployment rate had risen to 5.4 percent. Ten years later, that rate stands at 9.1 percent, with unofficial figures (including “discouraged workers” and the underemployed) at nearly double that number.

In September 2001, “same-sex marriage” was a fringe issue, firmly opposed by the vast majority of Americans. Ten years later, six U.S. states allow same-sex marriages to be performed, while another dozen states allow “civil unions” granting essentially all the privileges of marriage to same-sex couples.

In September 2001, U.S. public debt was just over $5.7 trillion. In September 2011 it stands just over $14.7 trillion.

Since September 2001, more than 14.5 million unborn babies have been aborted in the United States.

One could go on and on pointing out so many changes over the last decade—often occurring gradually, in small-but-steady increments, day by day. So, how is the temperature in our pot? At this somber anniversary, Americans might do well to look at the world around them, then look back a decade and ask: “Ten years ago, is this what you thought your nation would become?”

The sins and debt of the USA will catch up with it. The sins of the other Anglo-nations such as Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand will affect them as well. The Israelite-descended Anglo-nations will be those that experience the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), which is the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) and final time of the Gentiles that Jesus spoke of (Luke 21:20-24; cf. Revelation 11:2).

What is going to happen to the USA relatively soon will be so much worse than 9/11/2001 ever was. Do not wait until it is too late to respond spiritually, so that you may be protected physically.

The terrorists have gotten people terrified–and this seems to have been prophesied:

14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments,
15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant,
16 I also will do this to you:
I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart.
And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies.
Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. (Leviticus 26:14-17)

Without national repentance, the USA is doomed. Building the “Freedom Tower” simply does not change that.

Since the USA seems to be going more into sin nationally, massive national repentance seems unlikely. Yet, personal repentance is still possible. Do you see the winds of change in the USA and elsewhere?

If so, what do you plan to do about it?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
True vs. False Conversion Are you really converted or willing to be? What is true conversion? What is false conversion? What are the dangers of false conversion? Evangelist Roderick Meredith provides information on those important questions.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
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?
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?
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.
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.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ from the ‘hour of trial”. It includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, showing that there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Is American Football Evil? Is the most popular spectator sport in the USA something that Christians should watch? What do the Bible and early writings show?
LCG: Pornography, Who’s Tempting Whom? This is some information about the prevalence and dangers of pornography from the Living Church of God.
CG7 on Pornography This is an article excerpt from the Church of God, 7th Day-Denver about pornography.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the Living Church of God?
LCG: Homosexuals Gaining Ground “Same-sex marriage” is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?

Pope Pius V

COGwriter

April 30th is the Catholic “Feast day” for one who has been designated as “St. Pope Pius V.”

Here is some of what Catholic.org says about him:

Pope from 1566-1572 and one of the foremost leaders of the Catholic Reformation…As pope, Pius saw his main objective as the continuation of the massive program of reform for the Church, in particular the full implementation of the decrees of the Council of Trent. He published the Roman Catechism, the revised Roman Breviary, and the Roman Missal…

In 1571, Pius created the Congregation of the Index to give strength to the Church’s resistance to Protestant and heretical writings, and he used the Inquisition to prevent any Protestant ideas from gaining a foot hold in Italy…His reign was blemished only by the continuing oppression of the Inquisition; the often brutal treatment of the Jews of Rome; and the ill advised decision to excommunicate Queen Elizabeth I  http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5515

The Inquisition and brutal treatment of Jews are more than blemishes, they help demonstrate that Pius V was not a successor of Peter or the other apostles.

Here is something about him and Protestantism:

Priest P. Kramer (21^st century): Pope St. Pius V teaches in his Catechism, the Roman Catechism — also known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent — that all of the Protestant religions are false religions, they’re inspired by the devil; and therefore their fruits are evil…The Protestant religions, as such, are inspired by the devil, as Pope St. Pius V teaches in his catechism.  (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady’s Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004. THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 4/15/08)

While the Living Church of God is not Protestant, likely Pius V including our spiritual ancestors in the above as the general Catholic position is that those who profess Christ that are not Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholic are some type of Protestant.  The Church of God preceded the confederation that became the Church of Rome.

Notice that Pope Pius V’s late 16^th century Catechism says only the Catholic church is faithful and has salvation, with others (like Protestants) part of the “false Church”:

The third mark of the Church is that she is Catholic…To this Church, “built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets”, belong all the faithful who have existed from Adam to the present day, or who shall exist…She is, also, called universal, because all who desire eternal salvation must cling to and embrace her, like those who entered the ark, to escape perishing in the flood…This, therefore, is to be taught as a most reliable criterion, by which to distinguish the true from a false Church…

The true Church is also to be recognised from her origin, which can be traced back under the law of grace to the Apostles; for her doctrines are neither novel nor of recent origin, but were delivered, of old, by the Apostles, and disseminated throughout the world. Hence, no one can, for a moment, doubt that the impious opinions which heresy invents, opposed, as they are, to the doctrines taught by the Church from the days of the Apostles to the present time, are very different from the faith of the true Church…But as this one Church, because governed by the Holy Ghost, cannot err in faith or morals, it necessarily follows, that all other societies arrogating to themselves the name of Church, because guided by the spirit of darkness, are sunk in the most pernicious errors both doctrinal and moral. (The Catechism of the Council of Trent: published by command of Pope Pius the fifth , pp. 77-78)

Related to that last paragraph above, it needs to be understood that by making those claims, Pope Pius V seems to be saying that the true Church should not have changed the doctrines of the Apostles.  And while that is true of the Living Church of God, it cannot be said of the Church of Rome.

In the 16^th century, the Pope Pius V’s Catechism claimed:

…the Church of God has in her wisdom ordained that the celebration of the Sabbath should be transferred to “the Lord’s day:” as on that day light first shone on the world…(The Catechism of the Council of Trent: published by command of Pope Pius the fifth.  Translated by Jeremiah Donovan.  F. Lucas, Publisher.  Original from Harvard University, Digitized, Apr 26, 2006, p. 267)

Of course, the true and faithful “Church of God” did no such thing, it was the Church of Rome that made this change (nor did any of the original Apostles authorize it in scripture or elsewhere).

Catholics, and others, may find the following three translations of some passages in the New Testament book of Hebrews of interest (note this using one Protestant and two Catholic translations):

4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”…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 (NIV).

4 as one text says, referring to the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing…9 There must still be, therefore, a seventh-day rest reserved for God’s people,  10 since to enter the place of rest is to rest after your work, as God did after his.  11 Let us, then, press forward to enter this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of refusal to believe and be lost. (NJB)

4 For he said in a certain place of the seventh day thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works…9 Therefore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his. 11 Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest; lest any man fall into the same example of incredulity. (Original Douay-Rheims of 1582)

When Pius V wrote of changing the Sabbath, he and those that followed him apparently wanted to reinterpret the above to not mean what they literally state (note: the more “modern” Douay-Rheims that many use no longer uses the term “sabbatisme” so many modern Catholics are unaware of what that verse really says–also most Protestants are unaware as most Protestant translators have chosen to mistranslate the verse).

Protestants, who claim not to follow Rome, may wish to ask themselves why they tend to observe Sunday as this is a day that Rome claims it adopted and changed the Sabbath to.

Those interested in learning more about early Christianity, who is faithful and who is not, and changes that many have adopted may wish to carefully study the following articles:

Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
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?
Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible? Did you know that Catholic scholars really do not believe that several of the claimed “apostolic sees” of the Orthodox have apostolic succession–despite the fact that the current pontiff himself seems to wish to ignore this view?  Is there actually a true church that has ties to any of the apostles that is not part of the Catholic or Orthodox churches?  Read this article if you truly are interested in the truth on this matter!
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the Living Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?
Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? Who clearly endorsed Sunday? What relevance is the first or the “eighth” day?
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?
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?
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?

Carl XVI Gustaf, the King of Sweden

COGwriter

The latest announcements from the Living Church of God had the following:

Sweden’s Gender Equality Push: In Sweden, “gender equality” begins in preschool. Sweden’s national preschool curriculum states, “Preschools should counteract traditional gender patterns and gender roles. In preschools, girls and boys should have the same opportunities to test and develop abilities and interests without being limited by stereotypical gender roles.” Gender neutrality proponents claim identifying girls and boys by their birth genders forces them into a role that will limit them. One preschool director noted, “Children ought to be allowed to be children, but we should not cement them in roles that we carry with us from the past.” Opponents state, “It is important to have your gender confirmed to you as a child. This does not limit children; it makes t hem confident about their identity…. Children ought to be allowed to mature slowly and naturally.” Said one author, in regard to those pushing gender neutrality, “… they clearly despise traditional people—that is, the… heterosexuals living in nuclear families” (Christian Science Monitor, April 7, 2012). The Bible instructs parents to rear their children in the “training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Older men are to be examples and older women are instructed to specifically instruct younger women in their gender-roles related to home and family (Titus 2:1-5). The Bible reveals that God “created [human beings] male and female” (Genesis 5:2), with roles designed to bring about true fulfillment—a truth that some today increasingly hate and reject.

Sadly, parts of the Swedish language have been somewhat modified in preparation for of this:

At a preschool in Sweden, there are no boys or girls. Only genderless “friends”

Even the Swedish equivalent of pronouns such as “him,” her,” “he” and “she” have been replaced. However, new words have been made up just for the preschool and don’t appear in any Swedish dictionary.  http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/27/preschool-sweden-gender/

Men and women, boys and girls, however, are not the same.

As it turns out, I watched something last night about Sweden and preschool (CBN News, 4/28/12).  Basically, parents in Sweden are somewhat forced to send their children to preschool when they are over one year of age.  Some Swedish parents are outraged by this.  Thus, some parents have left Sweden to move to a Finnish island near Sweden where Swedish is spoken and preschool, etc. is not forced upon them.  Sweden also has effectively banned homeschooling and homeschooling parents are subject to high fines from the government.

The television program last night basically stated that Swedish children now have more psychological and other problems than those in comparable countries and the the Swedish government’s interference in parental rights was the probable cause.

Earlier this month, CBN’s website had the following (which the telecast seems to have been based upon):

“The Swedish government believes that [the] state takes better care of children than parents,” said Jonas Himmelstrand, president of ROHUS, the Swedish Homeschool Association…

Before 2010, it was possible to home-school in Sweden. But new laws now ban the practice in almost all cases and forces private schools to teach the state curriculum.

Swedish human rights lawyer Ruby Harrold-Claesson calls what’s happening in Sweden a “parental inquisition.”

“Sweden’s treatment of parents in the area of education is totalitarian, essentially. They want to take children from birth to graduation and control them,” said Michael Donnelly, director of international relations at the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

Donnelly claims Sweden’s treatment of parents violates established standards of human rights.

“In fact, the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights signed in 1947 actually says … that parents have a ‘prior right’ to decide the kind of education their children should have,” he explained.

But Sweden’s ambassador to the United States said, “The [Swedish] government does not find that home schooling is necessary for religious or philosophical reasons.”

Fear of ‘Indoctrination’

Parents are pressured to put their children in daycare at age one…Sweden’s experiment with state control of children and families does not seem to be going so well. The Swedish government’s own report shows the psychological health of Swedish youth is declining faster than in 11 comparable European countries.  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/April/Swedish-Home-Schoolers-Flee-Parental-Inquisition/

While I do not wish to get into the homeschool debate, I believe that parents should not be forced to send their little children to preschool nor be taught the false notion of gender neutrality.

Now as far as parental involvement in education, here is some of what the Bible teaches:

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-8)

18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.  (Ephesians 6:4)

Parents are supposed to teach their children.  And the Bible clearly does not teach gender neutrality (cf. 2 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 11:3-15).

It is sad that Sweden has taken its anti-parenting and anti-gender actions.

Some articles of possible interest may include:

Successful Parenting: God’s Way This is an LCG booklet by Dr. J. Fall on properly parenting children for the right type of family.
LCG: Fathers Raising Sons An LCG commentary with Malachi 4:4-6 added.
Girls Are Girls No More  A TW article by James Ginn decrying certain secular influences.
The Cherished Christian Woman: Duty and destiny This is an article by LCG’s Wyatt Ciesielka on women and their potential.
God’s Plan for Happy Marriage This is an LCG booklet by Dr. R. Meredith.
LCG: Homosexuals Gaining Ground “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
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?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel?  What biblical tribe seems to be Sweden?

COGwriter

CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) scientists announced a new discovery:

Super-collider team discovers new subatomic particle

MSNBC – April 29, 2012

The CERN project continues to advance and is apparently the biggest physics project in the world.  LHC is, of course, a European, not American, project.  Large physics projects tend to produce military weaponry–and we will ultimately see what the discovery the neutral Xi-b baryon particle leads to.  The LHC has already captured antimatter for periods of time thought longer than possible as late as last year (CERN Makes Major Strides with Antimatter), and in my view the project has prophetic military potential (Revelation 13:4).

My speculation is that through a combination of technologies that may be spun off from projects like the Large Hadron Collider, the USA’s reliance on Europe’s upcoming Galileo system for part of its satellite defenses (see Galileo Moving Forward), cutbacks in US defense spending, the USA sharing too much of its military secrets with Europe, errors that the USA will make, support against the USA by others including Latin America and likely Islamic terrorists, combined with the element of surprise, and possibly under the guise of a NATO exercise, Europe will be able to surprise and takeover the USA, and ultimately its Anglo-allies.  These concepts are not foreign to prior Germany military practices.

After the USA is defeated, the Islamic King of the South, who will have earlier entered one (Daniel 11:27) or two (Psalm 83:4-8) deals with the European King of the North, will suspect that the depth of the European Beast’s military is not that strong (especially if it is partially built upon unstable technologies that the LHC may produce), and hence push against him (Daniel 11:40), yet to the peril of the King of the South (Daniel 11:41-43).

The Beast power will rule for a few years, then the massive Eurasian forces (Revelation 9:13-21), apparently led by Russia, will devastate the European forces (Jeremiah 50:41-43; Daniel 11:44-45).  This would tend to confirm the idea that Europe basically had been able to conquer the USA based upon technology and that the depth of Europe’s military was not much better than the King of the South had thought.

While many still doubt that the Europeans can succeed against the militarily powerful USA, notice that in the following prophecy that the King of the North wins:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.  (Daniel 11:39)

The “he” above is the King of the North (Daniel 11:40) and he beats the land with the strongest fortresses–that would be the USA!  This must happen and having a new technological ability may be part of how this is accomplished.

Today’s LCH particle discovery is not a surprise, in a sense, to me as as book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect has pointed out that the Large Hadron Collider may be used to give the future European unique capabilities:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect

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

My book also discusses the destruction of the USA and certain others by the Europeans sometime after 2012. In 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect the Large Hadron Collider is discussed as one of the items that after 2012 may provide the Europeans with the ability to overcome the USA’s military might. And while many think that this would be impossible, as the Europeans continue to uncover “impossible” aspects of physics, it is getting more and more technology that could be developed in that direction.

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, to me at least, possible that the successes and new discoveries at the CERN LHC may assist in the fulfillment of those prophecies.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 21 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass.  Those who purchase the book at the www.thesecretsect.com website receive a lengthy bonus report documenting world events that aligned with the book.
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect (English Kindle edition).  This is the 2nd edition of the book, released in January 2012, and includes a summary of many of the predictions that world events have aligned with since the book originally came out in September 2009.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache. 2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Kindle Edition)
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel em português. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 21 já começaram a acontecer.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Brazilian Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel.  Edição em português do Brasil. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 21 já começaram a acontecer.

VS.

COGwriter

Today CGPFK/CGPKG’s Ronald Weinland posted some statements trying to justify the unjustifiable:

April 29, 2012

As readers of this site know, May 27, 2012, is the time that I have stated as being the date Jesus Christ will return as King of kings over all government on this earth. For such an event to come to pass, the Trumpets of Revelation must all sound, the United States and dollar collapse, the ten nations of Europe arise to fulfill the final revival of the Holy Roman Empire, and Russia with China must unite against Europe in WWIII…

How is it possible or even conceivable that all these things can happen in such a short time? And what if none of these events have occurred as late as five, four, or even three days before Jesus Christ is to return? Is it truly reasonable that Christ is coming on May 27th? No, it is not reasonable, not within the parameters of man’s thinking. When this date was given just over three and a half years ago, it was not reasonable to people then, and now it has simply become that much more unreasonable.

Ronald Weinland’s prophecies are false and he now seems to be delusional (presuming he believes what he wrote, which maybe he does not).  It is not only unreasonable to conclude that Jesus will return four weeks from today, it is impossible–Ronald Weinland simply does not understand what Jesus taught in Matthew 24.

Furthermore, the Great Tribulation did NOT begin on December 14, 2008 as Ronald Weinland declared–the issues the world has faced since then are somewhat consistent with what Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8), but not the Great Tribulation nor the imminent return of Jesus:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.  (Matthew 24:15-22)

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  (Matthew 24:29-30).

Based upon this late insistence that he is still right, I would not be surprised if Ronald Weinland later claims that Jesus did return spiritually somehow on May 27, 2012 to give more time since enough did not repent or something to that affect or possibly to enlighten him or test Ron’s people, etc.  Ronald Weinland will have to do something like that or admit he is wrong, and so far he has been hesitant about admitting error–but maybe he will this time.

His followers seem to forget that Ronald Weinland said that 2008 would be the final witness:

2008…It’s important to understand that WAS God’s final witness…And when the book came out, we couldn’t make uh really fit to day is WAS God’s final witness because of the timing it came out. (Weinland R. Faith, Pt. 3 Sermon, August 8, 2009)

If that is the case (which from God’s perspective it was not), why would Ron Weinland’s 4/29/12 post state:

But as the last apostle in this age, and as God’s end-time prophet, I am still telling people that this is true and that a short-lived WWIII is now at our doorstep. Due to this strong conviction, the Church of God – PKG is putting all its resources into promoting this final message of Christ’s impending return in order to complete the “work” that God has given us to do. This “work” is nearly complete. As my previous post was written over two months ago, this may well prove to be my final one, since there are only four weeks remaining in this age.

Why put all its resources into promoting this FINAL MESSAGE if 2008 was God’s FINAL WINTESS?  Well, obviously, relatively few have heard of the false witness Ron Weinland, so apparently he hopes more will pay some attention to him.  But how many FINAL ones will Ron Weinland claim?

In his 4/29/12 post, Ronald Weinland also basically states that God has been merciful and the planet could not handle a 3 1/2 nuclear war, plus by not allowing that, God has given people more time.  But, God of course, would have foreseen all of that and if the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord were really only going to be 3 1/2 days or so, He would not have indicated 3 1/2 years.  But God did.  Notice that Ronald Weinland’s post also included the following:

The world could not endure a nuclear war that would last for 3 ½ years. Long before such a period of time would elapse, mankind would not exist on earth. A nuclear war cannot last for three months, nor for three weeks. God, in all His mercy, is controlling the final time before He will allow mankind to begin such a war—a war of man’s own doing.

God’s timing is based on the day He has set for the return of His Son as world ruler. God will allow mankind to begin his final war, but He will also quickly stop it. The reason should be obvious! “Why” massive destruction from end-time events has not yet begun is due to the reality of how massive such a war will become as soon as it starts. Once a single nuclear device is detonated, and it will happen very soon now, who will refrain themselves from retaliating? Who will be the first to limit the response of their attack once the cycle begins?

It is because of such destructive power in the hands of mankind that God has shown that if He did not intervene quickly, once such a conflagration begins, mankind would destroy itself. That is exactly what God is going to do. He will cut short the war that man begins, and He will do so on May 27th, which is also the day Jesus Christ returns.

Jesus cannot and will not return on May 27, 2012.  While it is remotely possible that there could be nuclear devices used in the next four weeks, as far as this being the end or Jesus’ return in 2012, Ronald Weinland is wrong.

If his followers paid attention to his words, they too would realize he was a false prophet as he said that the US dollar would be worthless about 4 years ago, there would be no US President after George Bush, and the USA would be nuked by the Summer of 2008.  Also, notice what he stated over a year:

So, if I’m not a prophet I’ll reason with you accordingly and be open with you about it…

So often for those who do not believe that I’m a prophet, the question is asked, “What will you do if these things do not come to pass?” And I’m going to answer that more fully in this particular sermon today…

So again, some cannot wait for me to say that I am not a prophet, or to say that I am a false prophet. Indeed, no one has long to wait do they? Isn’t that amazing? May 27, 2012 is not too far away and if Europe hasn’t risen by early 2012 and if China does not begin destroying the earth before that date, then the reality would be manifest much sooner, obviously. You don’t have to wait until 2012.

As far as the question they ask; what would I do? Well, first I’d repent before God and the Church. I’d acknowledge my sin and pray that God have mercy upon me for being so horribly  presumptuous.  Candidly (and some are going to really hate hearing this), I’d deeply repent of all those things that concern prophecies that I have given in the office of a prophet BUT I’d seek to hold fast to all that I believe with all my being to be true concerning the word of God. I would begin to go back through all 57 Truths (and I’d hope others would do exactly the same thing), IF… just to be open about it. I’d go back through all 57 Truths and eliminate those that are shown to be untrue, repenting as I did so; but I would hold fast to all that I believed to be true. (Weinland R. A Final Plea, With Judgment – Pt. 1. March 12, 2011)

Those events did not happen, so it is bizarre that any one would still be following him–but he still has followers.

For those unfamiliar with him, Ronald Weinland was a minister in the old old Worldwide Church of God, then he was in the United Church of God for a while. Since then, he has been on his own.

Like Harold Camping last year, Ronald Weinland has repeatedly spiritualized away literal scriptures and has repeatedly been wrong.

I have denounced Ronald Weinland as a false prophet for over six years. And for every detail I have denounced, I have been right and he wrong. Cannot his followers see that he is a false prophet and not one of God’s two witnesses?

A few articles of possible interest related to prophecy may include:

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, that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008, and that Jesus will return on May 27, 2012. Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? Why do Ronald Weinland’s own statements prove that he is a false prophet? Additionally, he has other views which show he is not truly part of the Church of God.?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? 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? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
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.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible Harold Camping taught that the rapture will be on May 21, 2011 and the world would end on October 21, 2011. What does the Bible show?
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.
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 and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012?

Cow with BSE

COGwriter

South Korea has raised concerns about importing US beef because of “mad cow” disease:

S. Korea’s main opposition party calls for US beef import ban

‎

Yonhap News –

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s main opposition party on Saturday called on the government to ban U.S. beef imports following the discovery of a new mad cow case.

Democratic United Party (DUP) chief policymaker Lee Yong-sup said in a news conference that the government broke its promise to the people to stop imports if another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is discovered in the United States. BSE is the official name for brain-wasting mad cow disease that can be transmitted to humans and cause the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

.

S. Korea grocery chain curbs US beef sales amid mad cow scare‎ CNN

The first U.S. case of mad cow disease in six years sparked fears of illness that prompted two South Korean retailers to suspend the sale of American beef.

I have long considered that there were a lot of discerning people in Korea and hope that the moves in Korea will get the USA to re-examine its agricultural practices.

In the past, the USA has tried assure the world and its own consumers years ago that it erected “fire walls” to prevent recurrence–I never believed that the USA’s regulations would be completely effective–and still do not at this time.  Apparently, the South Koreans are realizing that the USA cannot always be trusted

In the USA, only 40,000 out of about 34,000,000 cows per year are tested for BSE (mad cow disease), which is a very low percentage of the cattle slaughtered in the USA.  “The disease may be most easily transmitted to human beings by eating food contaminated with the brain, spinal cord or digestive tract of infected carcasses.” (Wikipedia, viewed 04/25/12).

BSE is dangerous in even very in small quantities and it seems unlikely that there is only one cow with it in the USA. The Anglo-nations of the UK, Canada, and USA have had BSE problems.

On other Korea related matters, the Living Church of God had the following in its update to be read a services today:

Korean Peninsula Heats Up.  Last week, North Korea celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the nation’s founding president, Kim Il-Sung. The centerpiece of the celebrations was a rocket launch to put a satellite into orbit. However, the rocket disintegrated a few minutes after lift-off. South Korean president Lee criticized the launch, and “said the estimated $850 million cost of a rocket launch… could have bought 2.5 million tons of corn” for the starving, food-aid dependent nation. The South also unveiled a “new cruise missile said to be able to reach any target in the North.” In retaliation for what it called “defamation of its leadership,” “North Korea’s military Monday threatened ‘special actions’ soon to turn parts of the South Korean capital to ashes&hellip ; It said the actions ‘will reduce all… to ashes in three or four minutes… by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style’” (Agence France-Presse, April 23, 2012). Whether tensions on the Korean peninsula escalate to the highest level remains to be seen. Bible prophecy indicates that at the time of the end, a 200-million-man Asiatic army will advance on Jerusalem from the East (Daniel 11:44; Revelation 9:13-19; 16:12). To support such an army, there must be a certain level of unity among Asiatic nations—including Russia and China—a situation that currently does not exist. We need to watch where the dynamic events in Asia are going to lead. (World Ahead Weekly Update, April 26, 2012)

And it is certainly likely that by the end, both Koreas would be involved in those prophecies.  Korea apparently part of the “kings from the east” or more literally “kings of the sunrise” of Revelation 16:12)

However, war is not the ultimate destiny for most Koreans. Deification is.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?
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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What happens in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the Day of the Lord?
Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilence? What will it bring and when?
Deification: Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? What does the Bible teach? Is deification only a weird or cultic idea?

COGwriter

The USA is increasing its naval presence in Australia:

More US access to naval base

West Australian – April 28, 2012

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says big numbers of US troops and sailors could fly in and out of Perth to crew warships based at Rockingham.

Giving new details of plans for an increased US involvement in WA, Mr Smith said yesterday it was anticipated US naval vessels would have more access through HMAS Stirling naval base at Garden Island.

“We have a significant amount of potential for inter-operability here,” Mr Smith said…

The Government has so far given only vague details of what an increased US presence at Rockingham would mean.  http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/13544120/more-us-access-to-naval-base/

Allow me to state what the Australian government does not seem to realize.  The decision announced in the Fall of 2011 to allow US Marines to be stationed in Darwin (Australia), combined with this move announced in 2012 for increased US naval presence in Australia is sending a clear signal to China that Australia is militarily linked to the USA.

Not surprisingly, China does not like that.  For allowing the US Marines, a Chinese government-controlled newspaper said Australia risked “caught in the cross-fire” (see Australia accepts US troops, China not pleased for more information).

I have been warning for years that I suspect that because of biblical prophecies concerning the dividing of the Anglo-lands by the forces of King of the North (e.g. Daniel 11:39), that China is likely to end up with Australia.  Since reporting on the announcement that Julia Gillard became Australia’s Prime Minister (see Australia Now Has a Female Prime Minister: Prophetic Ramifications?), on June 24, 2010, I warned:

Certain biblical, Chinese, and other prophecies, mentioned…discuss that how Australia itself may become taken over.

By virtue of her timing, Julia Gillard may inadvertently pursue policies that will lead to the fulfillment of various end time prophecies.  Her role as Australia’s new prime minister will have prophetic ramifications.

Julia Gillard, who approved the stationing of US troops in Darwin, etc. has already set the stage for China to decide that ultimately it expects to get Australia.  I am not saying that Julia Gillard made a carnally bad decision, only that her timing and policies have to align with end time prophecy, and her encouragement of increasing US military presence in Australia is doing that.

The USA, itself, is so concerned about China as a threat, that it will overlook (and continue to support to its peril) the rise of the military power in Europe.  The move of US naval forces into Australia is another step in that direction.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? 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?

F-22 Stealth Jet

COGwriter

The USA is making some moves that suggest it it sending war preparation signals to the Middle East:

U.S. Amasses Stealth Jet Armada Near Iran

‎Wired News – 27 April 2012

By David Axe The US Air Force is quietly assembling the world’s most powerful air-to-air fighting team at bases near Iran. Stealthy F-22 Raptors on their first front-line deployment have joined a potent mix of active-duty and Air National Guard F-15 Eagles, including some fitted with the latest advanced radars.

The Raptor-Eagle team has been honing special tactics for clearing the air of Iranian fighters in the event of war. The fighters join a growing naval armada that includes Navy carriers, submarines, cruisers and destroyers plus patrol boats and minesweepers enhanced with the latest close-in weaponry. It’s been years since the Air Force has maintained a significant dogfighting presence in the Middle East.

New US Stealth Fighters Now at Iran’s Back Door‎ ABC News

By LEE FERRAN

April 27, 2012

America’s most sophisticated stealth jet fighters have been quietly deployed to an allied base less than 200 miles from Iran’s mainland, according to an industry report, but the Air Force adamantly denied the jets’ presence is a threat to the Middle East nation.

Multiple stealth F-22 Raptors, which have never been combat-tested, are in hangars at the United Arab Emirates’ Al Dafra Air Base, just a short hop over the Persian Gulf from Iran’s southern border, the trade publication Aviation Week reported.

Moving those jets near Iran certainly sends a signal, and despite not necessarily trying to publicize it, the USA probably is getting its point across.

And while many feel that Iran is clearly getting the message based upon moves from the USA and Israel related to its nuclear ambitions, Iran seems to be involved in something else that the USA, at least, would be concerned about:

Photo brings Iran’s plans for Iraq into sharp focus

‎

Sydney Morning Herald…

A PUBLIC relations stumble between Tehran and Baghdad has intensified speculation that one of Iran’s most senior clerics is about to extend his power – and Iran’s theocratic system – into Iraq.

Despite a Baghdad blackout on what is understood to have been their third meeting in recent months, Iran’s government-run news agency IRNA released a photograph of Mr Maliki and Ayatollah Shahroudi – who is Iraqi by birth – greeting each other warmly…

Ayatollah Shahroudi, a powerful member of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s inner circle, is positioning himself to become the next spiritual leader of Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority, a move observers say would be impossible without Tehran’s blessing and funding.

The military of USA, which has spent a lot of the 21st century in Iraq, probably does not want that too happen, so the above might be a factor in what the USA may ultimately do with the current Iranian nuclear issues.

Because I do not believe that Iran will be the final King of the South of Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:4-43), I have tended to believe that Iran may somehow get “neutralized” before this final king rises up. A serious regional conflict in the Middle East may neutralize Iran and neutralize much of its influence. And Syria (Isaiah 17:1) and parts of Lebanon and others, possibly even part of Iraq, may be involved.

The King of the South that the Bible foretells (Daniel 11:40) must rise up. And since it will not be Iran, the drum beats of war in the Middle East (as well as possible revolution within Iran) may be what eliminates Iran from the leadership role it wants for the Islamic world.  The move of US stealth-fighters in the area could be a step towards neutralizing Iran.

Jesus said to “watch” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of 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? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic 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 about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? 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? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) 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 Jerusalem and 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?

Artist Facundus Beatus’ Depiction of Harlot of Revelation Cooperating with the Beast

COGwriter

Last night, I listened to the sermon by RCG”s David Pack titled “The “Synagogue of Satan” Identified—and Marked!”  (see RCG’s David Pack Says COGwriter, Dr. Meredith, COGs, etc. ‘Part of Synagogue of Satan’ for more details).

One point that I want to go into in more depth is what actually is the ‘synagogue of Satan.’   Here are the only two passages of scripture that use that expression:

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,  ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:  9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  (Revelation 2:8-10)

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,  ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:  8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.  9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.  10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  (Revelation 3:7-11)

Basically, those in the synagogue of Satan pretend to be Christians, but are apostates.  Here is what the late LCG evangelist John Ogwyn wrote about this in relation to the Church of God in Smyrna:

The great test of the Smyrna era lay in two areas. One was their ability to distinguish between the continuation of the true Church of God and what was, in reality, the emerging Synagogue of Satan. The other lay in their willingness to endure persecution and even death in order to remain faithful to God (Revelation 2:9–10). (GCA, LCG Booklet)

Back in the time of Smyrna, there were two groups.  The faithful and a group that apostatized–the apostates were not truly in the Church of God (for details, see Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries?).

Here are some of David Pack’s comments about who he considers to be “Synagogue of Satan” (note: I have tried to get his quotes verbatim, but as this is not from a written transcript, some specific words may be approximate):

The Synagogue of Satan…A blaspheming group of liars…that belong to Satan…it is really an evil, murderous group…They are utterly of the Devil…This is not talking about the Catholics affecting our time…This is not talking about the Catholics like we taught in the 60s…they are against Christ…they are antichrist.

Basically to justify this, David Pack states:

For Smyrna…the Synagogue of Satan meant death…to that group…The Smyrnaeans knew what was coming…The Smyrnaeans were absolutely unique.

Since David Pack brought about what “we taught in the 60s,” perhaps the following quotes from the late Dr. Hoeh will give some insight into this matter as a version of this is what would seemed to have been taught then:

They were the SCATTERED ones of whom John said: “Therefore the world knoweth us not,” I John 3:1.

But that did not mean the scattered individuals were not part of the Church. They WERE the Church because they were joined to Christ through the Holy Spirit. Those who drove them out became the FALSE church “the church of the god of THIS world” “the synagogue of Satan.”…

The prophesied “Church at Smyrna” arises next. Its people appeared physically poverty-stricken, yet it was spiritually rich and alive, though SUFFERING through PERSECUTION. This pictures God’s Church during the next three centuries under the persecuting power of the Catholic-dominated Roman Empire. Besides the true Church there was also a “Synagogue of Satan,” Revelation 2:9, dominating during this period.

The “Synagogue of Satan”: What Is It?

Now read Revelation 2:9. “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

Notice, this is a SYNAGOGUE of Satan. A synagogue is merely the Hebrew word for church. Then Jesus is not speaking of a RACE, but of a CHURCH that belongs to the devil!

This church claims that they are spiritually Jews…

So here was a church made up of Gentiles, claiming salvation, claiming to be Jews inwardly, masquerading as a “Christian” church, yet the very tool of Satan himself!

This synagogue of Satan is the great apostate church which developed after 70 A.D. and ultimately became recognized as the State Religion of the Roman Empire. That Church has had many Protestant daughters which are also Satan’s churches, Revelation 17. (Hoeh H. A True History of the True Church.  1959 edition)

While I do not agree with everything that Dr. Hoeh ever wrote, he was basically correct about the above (though he left out various comments related to Philadelphia that I will try to address here).  Herbert Armstrong’s Personal Correspondence Department taught:

But the synagogue of Satan — the church that follows the teachings of antichrist…The “synagogue of Satan” is not referring to a race but to that great church and her daughter churches, who falsely profess to be “Christian” — Jews inwardly!

The old WCG essentially taught that the Catholic Church and its final revision would be that church.

Just because COGs differ from RCG, does not mean that they are following the teachings of Antichrist.  David Pack misunderstands this as well as the term ‘Jew.’

David Pack says the term “Jew” (which is mentioned in the two “synagogue of Satan” scriptures in Revelation 2:9; 3:9) does not now mean Catholics or apparently their end time supporters, but in modern times those leaders actually in the COGs (which differs from what he believes happened to Smyrna) that are separate from RCG–David Pack is in error.

David Pack seemed to me to indicate that currently it is those who David Pack considers to be Laodiceans that are part of the ‘synagogue of Satan.’  But according to his Director of Public Communications, Jeffrey Ambrose, “It is not possible for even a single Laodicean to be in this synagogue—not one!” and the following is what David Pack was trying to state:

The synagogue of Satan is comprised of leaders—primarily senior ministers, such as the ones marked within Mr. Pack’s sermon. Some lower-ranking ministers may be a part of this “assembly,” but many are not. And Mr. Pack also carefully qualifies certain others who are involved. As he stated clearly in this message, these individuals are “not lukewarm”—not part of the ekklesia, or called-out ones, of the Laodicean era of God’s people.

The above is most clearly a shift from what the old WCG/Radio Church of God taught.

In the sermon, David Pack also indicated that the COGs leaders have persecuted him and his church and that more intense persecution from the Laodicean groups and/or their leaders to the followers of RCG is expected.  And that is where David has a partially correct and somewhat incorrect understanding about the ‘synagogue of Satan.’

First, David Pack is correct that those in the ‘synagogue of Satan’ will play a role in end time persecution–they will betray many true believers (cf. Revelation 3:9; Daniel 11:32-34; Matthew 24:9-10).  Second, David Pack is correct when he indicates that those who were once part of the old Worldwide Church of God (or later COG groups) will be part of the ‘synagogue of Satan’ (cf. Daniel 11:32-34; Matthew 24:9-10)–yet, these would be apostates, as opposed to believers (though some believers could sin and do things that they should not and support that ‘synagogue’)–but apparently he is claiming that the leadership of the other COGs is sufficiently apostate so this applies to them.

Where he also gets this wrong is that he believes that the Laodiceans and/or their leaders are “murderous” (hinting apparently that they will persecute to the point of murder)–yet in his sermon he admits that the Laodiceans are Christians who keep the commandments as he alluded to Revelation 12:17.   And although he seems to hint otherwise in his sermon, the Laodiceans are part of the Church as Jesus stated the following:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —   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.  19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  (Revelation 3:14-19)

If the Laodiceans were intense persecutors, Jesus would likely have said that they were cold and not lukewarm.

David Pack is wrong in suggesting that the bulk of Philadelphians are with RCG as opposed to LCG.   He was also wrong for teaching that the leaders of the COGs are “antichrist” (though the self-ordained “prophets” and “apostles” claiming to be COG could, however, somewhat qualify–David Pack perhaps should use a mirror).   The Laodicean leaders are for Christ as they are part of His churches, but are not as zealous, etc. as they should be.  David Pack apparently does not understand well what truly are the Doctrines of Antichrist.

Now, the Bible teaches that prior to fleeing to a place of protection, the Philadelphian Christians are going to be persecuted.  And some of those doing the persecution will be people who once were as well as those who pretend to be in the actual Church of God.  Here are some passages in Daniel related to that:

32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.  33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.  (Daniel 11:32-35)

In the above passage, apostates will cooperate with the King of the North and betray true Christians.  This intense short period of persecution happens prior to the time the Philadelphians flee, which is around the end of Daniel 11:35 (this is discussed in more depth in the article Who is the King of the North?).

This pre-fleeing persecution seems to occur for a relatively short period of time.  It needs to be understood that the expression “for many” in the NKJV is not in the Hebrew before the word “days.”   The MKJV (Modern King James Version), the LITV (Literal Translation of the Holy Bible), and even Douay OT did a better job with that part of this verse as shown below:

33 And those who understand among the people shall teach many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by exile, and spoil, for days. (Daniel 11:33, MKJV).

33 And those who understand among the people will instruct many, yet they will stumble by the sword and by flame, by exile and spoil for days (Daniel 11:33, LITV).

33 And the learned in the people shall teach very many: and they shall fall by sword, and by flame, and by captivity, and by spoil of days (Daniel 11:33, DOT).

There will be some days where intense persecution of the Philadelphian Christians will occur before they flee and receive supernatural protection.  Regarding falling by the flame, there is a Catholic prophecy that indicates members of a small sect will be burnt, possibly in fulfillment of this verse.  There is small group that gets protected during the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10), but not completely before.

Revelation seems to show that those that flee will be persecuted just before they flee, and those that do not flee will later be persecuted:

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:13-17).

The presiding evangelist of the Living Church of God (LCG), R.C. Meredith of the Living Church of God publicly has taught:

We will be persecuted before the Great Tribulation…We will be persecuted from time to time…But the Laodiceans will have it worse during the Great Tribulation (Meredith RC. Prophecy Overview. Sermon, July 19, 2008).

By “We” Dr. Meredith is referring to those who he believes are the Philadelphia Christians as they are the ones who will primarily bear the brunt of the 21st century persecutions which occur up until getting to a place of safety. The Laodiceans (see The Laodicean Church Era), who basically will have almost no intense persecution prior to that time (though historically, Satan is not real picky and does not seem to mind when others not specifically targeted are killed), will be then thrown into a period of intense persecution for three and one half years:

25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:25).

The “He” above is an ally of the King of the North. This leader will press for terrible persecution, and normally attempting to kill, the Laodicean and other Christians that are not then in a place of protection (see also the article There is a Place of Protection for the Philadelphians).

The ‘synagogue of Satan’ will be composed of those who support the religion and political aspirations of the final Beast, the final King of the North.  Although David Pack hints otherwise, this is NOT a reference to the Laodicean leaders as many of them will be killed by that Beast power (Daniel 7:25) as they and others will strive to be faithful during the time of his reign (Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:9-13).

David Pack’s new teaching on the ‘synagogue of Satan’ is false.  And hopefully those who follow David Pack will open their Bibles and believe it over him.

Some articles of related interest could include:

Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?
The Smyrna Church Era was predominant circa 135 A.D. to circa 450 A.D. The Church led by Polycarp, Melito, Polycrates, etc.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.
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.
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?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist?Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
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.
Why Not the Restored Church of God? This group, led by David Pack, claims to be the most faithful. The information in this article suggests otherwise.
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
There are Many COGs: What About  the Living Church of God?  Some comments about this group.