Archive for June, 2012

Germany Approves FAIR Particle Accelerator Project

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

Supercollider

COGwriter

Apparently desiring to build upon and surpass what has been discovered with CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), Germany has decided on its own particle accelerator project:

Plans to build a €1.6 billion particle accelerator in Germany cleared the first main hurdle on Tuesday when authorities gave the go-ahead for construction to begin…

“With it, Germany has secured a leading place in field of fundamental physics research,” said Education Minister Annette Schavan on Tuesday.

In what is being described as one of the biggest research projects in the world, more than 3,000 scientists from more than 50 countries will work at FAIR from 2018, studying the nature and origins of the universe.   http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20120613-43113.html

FAIR stands for the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research.

I believe that it (FAIR), along with the LHC, will help the Europeans produce military weaponry to fulfill certain end time prophecies (e.g. Revelation 13:4).  They (FAIR and the LHC) are also likely to spin-off economic benefits that may help propel Europe to be (for a short while) the economic leader of the world (cf. Revelation 18).

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 still appears, to me at least, possible that the past and likely future successes of the CERN LHC and also Germany’s FAIR 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?
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 23 predictions in the book (including about the Large Hadron Collider) 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.
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?

CGPFKG’s Ron Weinland Found Guilty of Income Tax Evasion

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

VS.

COGwriter

CGPFK/CGPKG’s Ronald Weinland, the once again recently proven false prophet, was just found guilty of tax fraud:

Cincinnati.com – ‎13 June 2012
The end of the world didn’t come quick enough for doomsday prophet Ronald Weinland. He was found guilty Wednesday of federal tax evasion…

Prosecutors argued the teachings of Weinland’s ministry were no excuse for not reporting the foreign accounts to tax collectors. Prosecutors also alleged Weinland illegally wrote off personal expenses as church expenses to evade $357,065 in taxes from 2005 through 2010.

A jury deliberated about three hours and 45 minutes before finding Weinland guilty on all five counts. The 63-year-old Union resident was placed on home detention with electronic monitoring and ordered to post a $300,000 bond to stay out of prison. Weinland faces up to five years in prison when U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves sentences him on Sept. 24…

The verdict came a day after Weinland took the stand in his own defense. The defense team, led by lawyer John D. Cline of San Francisco, appeared to be trying to justify many of the questionable deductions to lessen the amount of back taxes owed by Weinland. Cline’s clients have included Oliver North and Scooter Libby.

But under cross examination by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McBride, Weinland began to appear ill at ease as he tried to explain why he deducted such expenses as a stay at The Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas, tickets to the Blue Man Group, and shopping trips to Nordstrom.

Ron Weinland is one who has at least partially fulfilled the following:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Ron Weinland who denied the true deity of Jesus Christ, claimed that Jesus would return at sunset Jerusalem time on May 26, 2012, and whose conviction seems to be part of “swift destruction,” should have paid more attention to scripture.

For those unfamiliar with him, Ronald Weinland was a former WCG then UCG minister who falsely claimed to be one of the two witnesses, Elijah, etc.  He was again proven wrong last month when Jesus did not return as he has claimed He would.

The main point of COGwriter posts about him is to warn all not to let false prophets and false apostles like Ron Weinland turn people away from the God of the Bible.   The income tax matter is another one where his vision of the future apparently did not match reality.

Some 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?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
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? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2019 or 202x?
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.

COG News: COGWA, PCG, & UCG

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

COGwriter

The improperly named Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) posted the following:

The Trumpet recently established a bureau in Jerusalem.

The old CG7 had an office (and claimed it for a time as its world headquarters) in Jerusalem.  PCG has not done that, just opened an office there at this stage.  The Trumpet is basically PCG’s “public proclamation” magazine and website.

(I was unable to post some of the items in this COG News update a little earlier as I did not have full internet access for about a week this month.)

The Church of God, a Worldwide Association (COGWA) posted the following:

As I write this letter, I am preparing to leave for Nassau, the Bahamas, for the funeral of Kingsley Mather.

My wife and I met Kingsley Mather at the FOT in the Bahamas back in the WCG days in 1992.  On other matters, COGWA’s new Life, Hope & Truth website is now live.  It has taken COGWA 1 1/2 years to get to this point.  The Life, Hope & Truth website is supposed to be COGWA’s prime “public proclamation” tool.

And speaking of public proclamation, the United Church of God (UCG) reported:

We’re approaching seven years of Beyond Today television production and have almost 200 programs recorded.

Historically, UCG has not had a great response to its Beyond Today television program, though the response increased after the COGWA split and UCG went on WGN.

Also, speaking about public proclamation, Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God (LCG) reported the following:

This past year we added over 120,000 new Tomorrow’s World magazine subscribers in countries around the world. Our international telecasts were watched by 2.7 million brand new viewers in 2011, and our TomorrowsWorld.org Web site drew 1.4 million new visitors around the world.

Thanks to member and co-worker support, the Tomorrow’s World TV programs were carried on 232 TV stations or networks around the world.

The different groups have differing focuses, governments, teachings, and priorities, though all have significant doctrinal similarities as well.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association This seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it.
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

U.N. Official: Syria Now in Civil War

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012


Damascus, Capital of Syria

COGwriter

The situation in Syria may now be at a new level of violence:

13 June 2012

The U.N. peacekeeping chief says Syria is now in a civil war. Some experts agree with U.N. official Herve Ladsous that the war-torn country has reached that chilling milestone. Others say the country is hurtling in that direction. http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/13/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html

And make no mistake, the longer Syria’s war goes on, the greater the likelihood that President Assad will follow in his father’s footsteps with a truly horrific massacre. In 1982, Assad the elder had at least 10,000 residents of the city of Hama killed in an atrocity that ended an Islamist uprising against his Baath regime.  http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2012/0613/Syria-war-drumbeat-builds-but-where-is-it-leading

Syria keeps making the international news, with many in the West calling for more direct intervention, while Russia and others advise caution.

The Bible shows that Syria’s capital city Damascus will be destroyed:

7 thus says the Lord God:  “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.   8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8)

3 Thus says the Lord:  “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus.  “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

Whether this destruction will happen because of what is now considered by some to be an internal civil war or an attack involving Israel remains to be seen.  And both could happen (and Israel would seem to be involved if Amos 1:3 is also applicable for the end time–Isaiah 17:1 most definitely is a future prophecy as it has not been fulfilled since written).

Syria will change, now or later.

Much is going on in the Middle East. The King of the South will rise up (Daniel 11:40) and Syria (directly or indirectly) is likely to play a role in that occurrence. As well as end up being a supporter of that king–thus the situation in Syria must change.

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?

Karl Guttenberg Interviewed and Lays Out Some of His Vision for European Union

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012


Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg

COGwriter

Karl Guttenberg is somewhat in the news again.  A reader sent me a link to a Youtube.  On June 11, 2012, Johns Hopkins posted a YouTube interview of Herr Guttenberg (AICGS At Issue Interview: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. Jun 11, 2012 by JohnsHopkins. http://youtu.be/f_97yILE5Bw)–which was completely done in English and which I watched this morning.

Karl-Theodor Guttenberg started out, after being asked about what he has learned more since moving to the USA, explaining that it seems to him that Americans are using Europe as a scapegoat for their (USA’s) own economic problems. He also discussed trying to unify Europe, which he calls a “wonderful thing” and a necessity to act to get closer together. Herr Guttenberg also stated “We have had a Europe of different needs since the beginning… a multiple speed of Europe will require a certain vision…changes…the European Union needs to prevail.” When asked if there could be a two or three Euro system, Herr Guttenberg indicated that it is not the plan. He also stated that he does not see countries leaving the Euro, though he could imagine that step.

He also indicated that Europe needs to do more for its own unification as well as its international role.  Karl-Guttenberg also said, “We need to reshape” international institutions related to trans-Atlantic and Asian issues.

I believe that when circumstances are right for him, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg will end his self-imposed exile and may rise up again to ultimately lead Europe.

As regular readers know, I have wondered for a couple of years if former German Defense Minister Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was a candidate to possibly be the final King of the North of Daniel 11 and Beast of Revelation. The fact that he actually fulfilled 4 or 5 speculative predictions I made about him, after I posted them, suggests to me that he is still a candidate–despite his falling out of favor (Winston Churchill was not always popular, nor was Adolf Hitler).

Of course, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg could simply be a somewhat politician with many ups and downs. And all his intentions could be fine. But Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg does seem, to me at least, to be taking the types of steps that one who could possibly be the final King of the North would actually take.

We will see.

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”?
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? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, 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? How will Europeans be involved in this?

LCG: Canada, Britain, and the USA and the War of 1812

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012


Douglas Coupland’s ‘Monument to the War of 1812’ (2008) Toronto

COGwriter

The current issue of Tomorrow’s World magazine from the Living Church of God has the following from its Stuart Wachowicz:

This year marks the 200th anniversary of a largely forgotten, but very bitter war between the United States and the British territory that would become Canada. Many historians describe it as a useless war, one fought over reasons not even mentioned in the treaty that ended it. Though its story has interested many, few realize that the outcome was guided by an unseen hand working to fulfill an ancient prophecy.

By 1812, Canada was populated by citizens of French descent, various native tribes, and more than 100,000 English-speaking “Loyalists” who had fled north from the 13 American colonies, after choosing not to support a rebellion against the British government.

Britain in 1812 was embroiled in a series of global conflicts known as the Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815). Britain, along with allies Prussia and Portugal, was hard-pressed. Its major line of defence was a 978-ship Royal Navy, with which it enforced a near-total economic blockade of France. The British Cabinet in 1806 issued an Order in Council establishing a full blockade of European ports. As former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill described it, “The British blockade wrapped the French Empire and Napoleon’s Europe in a clammy shroud. No trade, no coffee, no sugar, no contact with the East, or with the Americans!” (A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Vol. 3, p. 314).

Napoleon retaliated with the “Berlin Decrees”—shutting out all British products from Europe, causing losses for many British and American merchants. Americans challenged the British decision as a violation of freedom of the seas, and continued to conduct commerce with French-controlled Europe. In response, the British seized American ships on the high seas, identified men who had left the Royal Navy to serve on U.S. ships (where conditions were considered better), and pressed them back into service in the Royal Navy. It was this action that provided some in the U.S. Congress with the motivation for war.

Britain wanted to avoid an additional war. Under pressure from its merchants, Britain’s Cabinet repealed the offending Orders of Council two days before the U.S. Congress declared war on June 18, 1812. Yet, even after U.S. lawmakers learned of the repeal, no order to stop the war was given.

The Invasion of Canada

Canadian historian Pierre Berton shares a common perspective that the U.S. Congress’s real motivation was to acquire Canada and First Nation (“American Indian”) lands to the west (The Invasion of Canada, p. 27). Doing so would enable a westward expansion of settlement. Indian tribes were uniting under the dynamic leadership of the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. The native population of the region was fighting to retain its ancestral land. Tecumseh allied his confederacy with the British once the war began, and became a decisive factor in the war’s outcome, only to be betrayed in the treaty negotiations.

Although invading U.S. forces greatly outnumbered the Canadian opponents, in some cases by 10 to 1 (e.g. the Battle of Chrysler’s Farm in 1813), it was usually the Canadians who were victorious. American forces found British regulars, English and French-Canadian militias and Indian allies standing solidly together. Every American intrusion into Canada ended in failure, despite the numbers. Yet when experienced British troops—men who had taken part in the destruction of Napoleon’s “Grande Armée”—crossed into the U.S. for battle, their efforts, too, ended in failure, even against inexperienced American forces.

On the lakes and sea, Britain’s Royal Navy—widely seen as invincible at the time—struggled to overcome opposition by a smaller American naval fleet. In 1813 alone, American ships inflicted more damage on the Royal Navy than the French and Spanish had managed in two decades (Churchill, p. 361). Each side seemed able to mount a successful defence, but unable to invade the other—regardless of the odds.

As war raged on, negotiators from Britain and the U.S. had been meeting for months in the Belgian town of Ghent. Finally, in December 1814, they signed a treaty. Ironically, the Treaty of Ghent fails to address any of the supposed initial reasons for the war…

Guided by God

From Scripture, we find that two nations, millennia ago, were destined to rise to prominence on the world stage, fulfilling promises made to biblical patriarchs. “And God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.… Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body’” (Genesis 35:10–11). The modern descendants of Jacob’s grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh—the British-descended nations and the United States—were to reap blessings prophesied in Scripture. God reveals in Genesis 49:22–26 a series of prophetic statements about the wealth, power and territory that were to be delivered into the hands of the descendants of Joseph, their boundaries set by God and no power on earth able to undo what God determined (Deuteronomy 32:8–9).

To learn more about these prophecies and their importance to the English-speaking peoples of our day, please request our free booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. Understanding these ancient prophecies will help you understand the fulfillment of prophecy in these end-times.

June 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812—the last war between Canada and the United States. Historian Berton astutely observes: “Thus the war that was supposed to attach the British North American colonies to the United States accomplished exactly the opposite. It ensured Canada would never become a part of the Union to the south…The Canadian ‘way’… has its roots in the invasion of 1812–1814, the last American invasion of Canada”(ibid., p. 27).

Truly, the Almighty had determined the outcome of the War of 1812.

Probably the aspect of the war that those in the USA are most likely to remember is that the war of 1812 resulted in the burning of Washington, D.C.  This ended up requiring new buildings, etc. there.

The Living Church of God believes that the following has applications for the USA and the Anglo-descended nations:

10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”  (Genesis 48:10-19)

Specifically, that the USA descended from Manasseh and the British peoples from Ephraim.  In fulfillment of the above prophecies, the USA became “great” while the British peoples became the “multitude of nations.”  The “multitude of nations” includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (as well as for a time ruling over the entire Commonwealth).

To learn more about their prophesied futures, please check out the following articles:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? 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?

Sardis Era Leaders on Anglo/British Israelism

Monday, June 11th, 2012

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis

COGwriter

Mainly in the early 20th century, a portion of the Sardis era of the Church of God held to doctrines sometimes called British Israelism or Anglo-Israelism.  Sardis-era related Church of God leaders such as G.G. Rupert, R.K. Walker, Frank Walker, and J.W. Rich had “Anglo-Israel” (also known as “British-Israelism”) beliefs and teachings in the 20th century:

In 1920, R.K. Walker moved to Finley, Oklahoma, and soon met Elder M.W. Unzicker at Sardis, Oklahoma. This was the first Church of God man he had met. At the behest of Walker, Unzicker held meetings at Finley, and baptized Frank Walker to be a Church of God evangelist for the Oklahoma Conference, and Walker began his first meeting for the Church of God on May 19, 1923. Frank Walker began preaching at Crowder, Oklahoma in 1924. In 1987, Elder Frank Walker was independent and still publishing a paper, Hope of Israel, from St. Maries, Idaho.

It is interesting that the Walkers, Rupert and Rich held to “Anglo-Israel” beliefs. So did an Elder Ziegler, who put out a paper, The Torch of Israel, published in Washington, D.C. Ziegler tried unsuccessfully to work with Eyler.

G.G. Rupert established his own paper, the Remnant of Israel, published in Britton, Oklahoma, beginning in 1915. Rupert, a former Seventh Day Adventist minister, taught and practiced the keeping of all the annual sabbaths, or holy days. He also had a form of “British Israelism”…Rupert’s article on the holy days was printed in the Bible Advocates of 1913, and two of Rupert’s most popular books were the Yellow Peril and Inspired History of the Nations. (Nickels R.C. History of the Seventh Day Church of God. Giving & Sharing, Neck City (MO), 1988, p.76).

In December, 1919, Merritt Dickinson of Longdale, Oklahoma wrote a series of articles in the Advocate…Dickinson stated in the article that England is Ephraim and America is Manasseh, and presumably the rest of the Ten Lost Tribes are in northwestern Europe. (Ibid, p. 142)

Although the Bible Advocate was an official publication of the main Sardis group at the time, the Bible Advocate allowed teachings back then (and still somewhat does to this day) that the Church of God, Seventh Day did not actually accept.

And while versions of this Anglo-Israel view are still held by groups such as the Living Church of God, the main CG7 group, never would teach it.  But that does not mean that all the old leadership disagreed with it.    Notice what A.N. Dugger, a major CG7, wrote back in 1920:

Dear Brother Armstrong:

I…have just finished the manuscript on the Third Angel’s Message and British Israel…You are surely right…I cannot use it…May the Lord bless you…

(A photocopy of the signed letter from A.N. Dugger, dated July 28, 1929 in Autobiography, 1973 edition, p.372–note that this letter was removed from the 1986 ed. that was produced after his death).

So, while various leaders associated with the Sardis-era understood some of the truth on “British-Israelism,”  this was not a doctrine that the main body of Sardis at the time would publicly teach.  A.N. Dugger also admitted the truth of the Anglo-Israelism doctrine to Merritt Dickinson in 1912, but A.N. Dugger would not teach it (Nickels, p. 143).  Herbert W. Armstrong (the one the above letter was addressed to) considered that CG7 was the group in Revelation 3:1-10, the representatives of the Sardis era of the Church of God.

Now, as we appear to be in the time that Jesus referred to as the “beginning of sorrows” and so near the start of the Great Tribulation, understanding the truth about the identity of the Anglo-descended nations is critical to appreciate various aspects of end time prophecy.

For more information about CG7, Anglo-Israelism, and other subjects in this post, please prayerfully study the following:

Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains who he was and how he should be viewed today.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
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?
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?
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?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

The Two Faces of Technology

Monday, June 11th, 2012

COGwriter

The current edition of Tomorrow’s World magazine from the Living Church of God has the following article by Jonathan McNair:

The Two Faces of Technology

Researchers in recent years have observed that young people are spending large amounts of their time using electronic media—to a degree unprecedented in prior generations. Some estimates put young people’s daily use of electronic media in the 7–8 hour range (“Young people spend 7 hours, 38 minutes a day on TV, video games, computer,” Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2010). One survey found that 38 percent of students could not wait ten minutes without switching on some sort of electronic device.

Sadly, these devices often transmit destructive and dangerous values to their users. Consider that some of the most popular video games have titles like, “Grand Theft Auto,” “Modern Warfare,” “Mortal Kombat,” “Street Fighter” and “Resident Evil.” Some studies suggest that video games can increase aggression and reduce students’ ability to concentrate on schoolwork. And because these games are more popular with young men than young women, some blame them for the growing disparity in academic achievement between men and women.

For older people who grew up in a world where “face time” was the norm (see our article “Face Time” on page 10 of this issue), the phenomenon of “texting” can be mystifying. While texting is not unique to young people, they use it far more than adults. Market research firm Lab 42 reported, “71 percent of teens prefer texting to talking and 45 percent of teens sends at least 30 text messages a day.” Girls are more likely to text. While the average adult over 18 texts 10 times a day, and boys 14–17 text 30 times per day, girls 14–17 send 100 texts per day, according to the Lab 42 study.

Shockingly, texting sometimes turns into “sexting.” Estimates suggest that 15 percent of teens have received a sexually suggestive multimedia message showing someone nude or nearly nude. In their popular duet, “Dirty Picture,” Kesha and Taio Cruz sing “take a dirty picture for me,” as if this would be a normal part of romantic courtship. A 2010 Super Bowl advertisement showed actress Megan Fox in a bubble bath, taking a cell phone picture of herself and thinking about sending it while two men gawk. No wonder teens now think of “sexting” as normal and even “cool.”

Apart from sexual messaging, no review of the risks of contemporary media use would be complete without considering the scourge of pornography. The worldwide “Internet porn” industry has been estimated as pulling in $4.9 billion per year in profits. About 12 percent of all Web sites are pornographic, and 25 percent of all search engine requests are pornography-related. As many as 40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites, and their first exposure often came early—93 percent of boys and 62 percent of girls were exposed to online pornography during adolescence.

Yes, technology plays a role in doing great harm to our modern society in general, and to young people in particular. Yet there is another face to technology.

Because of modern technology, my children can speak with their grandparents on the telephone, though they live miles away. Through modern technology, many of us, through a simple Google search, can view photographs of the most beautiful locations on earth. We can view the splendor of distant galaxies and the innermost workings of the smallest cells. Like a king at court, we can summon the finest musicians in the land and listen to them perform—in stereo. And we can fly through the air, faster than any bird in the sky.

In countless ways, our world is made better by “technology.” Consider Jesus Christ’s instruction to His disciples to “Watch” world events (Luke 21:36). Through the Internet, television, printed media and radio, we are able to grasp the scope of world affairs as no other humans before us. Prophecies written in the pages of the Bible come alive for us through the tools of modern technology. And that same technology allows us to preach the Good News recorded in those pages. We can follow Christ’s instructions today in ways that the first-century apostles could not have imagined (Matthew 24:14).

Since technology can be used both for good and for evil, what should we do? We read in Scripture that “the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). So, here are some biblically based principles to help us use technology with wisdom:

Set Rules. It is parents’ responsibility to make rules. Parents are commanded to teach and train their children (Deuteronomy 6:7), which involves setting boundaries. Rules should reflect individual family values, which should reflect God’s values. Our family technology rules should include where we allow Internet access, when we allow computer access, and how much time—on the computer, the game console, or the phone (whether texting or talking)—is appropriate. For example, a family rule might be that we do not “plug in” to a headset when we are together with other family members. Another might be that Internet access is only allowed in common family areas. Another helpful rule might be that all of a child’s passwords (to social media sites, e-mail accounts, computer logins and mobile phones, etc.) be known to the parents. Children will develop a relationship of trust with parents as they demonstrate their wisdom in communicating with others, and parents will not want to “micro-manage” a responsible young person’s communication. But if your children demanded the “privacy” to walk into an unknown dark alley unattended, would you let them do so unless they had shown themselves well able to fend for themselves? Parents need to be unafraid to exercise balanced parental responsibility.

Resist Peer Pressure. This point is for parents. Adults can be pressured into adopting technology of the wrong type, and for the wrong reasons. Our own use of technology may be part of the problem. Do we really need large-screen TVs in the living room and the bedroom? Do our children really need private TVs in their bedrooms? And are we ourselves becoming so entranced by the latest smartphone or tablet, the latest cable TV plan or movie streaming service, that we pay less attention to our children than we should? Our children need our face-to-face time, and they notice our example. Consider Christ’s admonition: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”(Matthew 5:16).

Consider Cause and Effect. “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Our actions have consequences. Do we want video games to occupy hours of our children’s time? No! Then, is it wise to buy a game console for our children? Do we want our sons to become addicted to pornography? Of course not! Then should we set them up with a computer they can use in the privacy of their bedrooms late at night? Do we care if our daughters receive “sexting” messages? Absolutely! So we should be able to monitor their smartphone use when necessary. Parents need to remember that technology is not a “right” that our children can demand. As parents, we must recognize that oversight of our children is our responsibility, as part of our parental duty.

Technology has two faces. The inventions of man can be used for good or evil. May God give us the wisdom to choose the good and reject the evil.

As far as computer/internet technology being a gospel proclaiming tool, it may be of interest to note that contacts from every nation on earth have been verified as viewing LCG’s official websites and/or cogwriter.com with the one exception of North Korea (and because people in places like North Korea sometimes use proxy addresses, it is highly likely that nation has been reached as well as well).    In 2011 alone, www.cogwriter.com (which is not an official LCG website, but the website of this author) reached at least 215 nations or territories as measured by AWstats–COGwriter gets millions of article views each year.

As far as more modern technology, notice the following from LCG’s internet department:

We have been blessed with a couple big developments of late. 1. Roku Internet tv release. The first cog to do so and currently the only Roku channel carrying the True Gospel. 2. Release to lcg membership of our TW apps for Android and Windows phone. Apple should be available in about a month. This is major. We want to give our membership a chance to review and give us feedback before we release to the world over the marketplaces….probably in 2 weeks…

We are very happy to announce Tomorrow’s World Mobile Apps! Why develop mobile apps? Because this is a huge opportunity to reach millions with the True Gospel!

According to research studies, by the end of 2011 there were 1.2 billion active mobile-broadband subscriptions worldwide! China and India are the top mobile phone subscriber markets with the USA third. We are very excited to now announce a limited release of our new Tomorrow’s World Mobile Apps for LCG membership for the Android and Windows platforms! iPhone and Blackberry coming soon! LCG membership should log in to your MyLCG account (go to www.cogl.org) to download. We know you will enjoy the apps, and we welcome your feedback over the coming few weeks before we launch these apps from their respective marketplaces to potentially millions and millions of people around the world! This is a truly revolutionary opportunity to make a huge impact and reach even more people with the true gospel of the coming Kingdom of God.

The Living Church of God, of course, has also reached millions through its television and radio broadcasts.  COGwriter also has had radio reach by being interviewed about 60 times on matters related to end time prophecy.  LCG has also reached at least of hundreds of thousands (and probably, millions),  and COGwriter tens of thousands, through some YouTube videos.

Technology can be abused, but it is helpful in proclaiming the gospel.  Children should be encouraged to use technology properly.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel?
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?
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.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
How Much Did You Cost? Some have complained that the total costs spent to proclaim the gospel as a witness is too high since it does not (in their opinion) result in enough conversions. Is that how God sees it?
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?
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?
Christian Soldiers How are Christians to be like soldiers? How are they to be different?
Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?

Temple Institute Pushing Building Temple in Jerusalem

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

The Ark of the Covenant
Depiction of Levites Carrying the Ark of the Covenant

COGwriter

A leader from the Temple Institute is planning on promoting the construction of a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem starting tomorrow:

Rabbi Chaim Richman in the USA, June 2012…

What is holding back the people of Israel from rebuilding the Temple today? How close are we? How will the nations of the world be affected? Are the obstacles really that insurmountable… or could we overcome them if we only try? Are we waiting for G-d to step in and perform a miracle… or is He waiting for us to take the initiative? How can this dream become a reality in our life time? What is the relationship between the promise of the Holy Temple, and major issues such as the peace process, Palestinian terror, America’s relationship with Israel and the Iranian nuclear threat? If you build it, he will come. With G-d’s help Rabbi Richman will be visiting the United States this coming June to share the Torah’s message of the immediate rebuilding of the Holy Temple, the source of blessing for the whole world.  http://www.templeinstitute.org/if-you-build-it.htm

His presentations have been scheduled to start tomorrow in West Texas and he is expecting to speak most nights in the next ten days in a variety of cities (listed as being in Texas and New Mexico).

While the Temple Institute is essentially correct that if one only believes the Torah and not the New Testament, then the Jews need to immediately build a physical temple.  However, although many misunderstand various aspects of end time Bible prophecy, including what is in the New Testament, a new physical temple does NOT have to be built in Jerusalem for the end to come.

Animal sacrifices, however, seem to be required by scripture to be resumed by the Jews, and that is something that the Temple Institute and the Sanhedrin that is somewhat associated with it are physically able to do right now.   And they can do that without a new rebuilt Temple.  All that physically is needed for animal sacrifices are Levitical priests (which they claim to have), animals (which they basically claim they have), various implements (which they claim to have), and a sacrificial altar (which they finished a few years ago).

The reality is that all the Temple Institute is waiting for is Israeli government permission to begin the sacrifices at any time–including without having a physical temple.

Until Solomon built the first temple (1 Kings 6:14), the Bible shows that the Jews sacrificed on altars. David, Solomon’s father, for example sacrificed on an altar (2 Samuel 24:25), as did Aaron and his descendants (Exodus 20:24; Leviticus 1:10-11). And prior to all of that, Abel (Genesis 4:4), Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 22:9-13), and others sacrificed animals to God.

So for over 3,000 years, animal sacrifices were offered without a Jewish temple. Notice an interesting scripture from Ezekiel:

12 This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple. (Ezekiel 43:12)

Biblically, all that is required are Jewish religious leaders willing to sacrifice in Israel, and anywhere on or sufficiently near the Temple Mount would apparently do.

Even after the first Jerusalem temple was built and left in ruins, the Bible itself specifically shows that sacrifices were made in the time of Ezra BEFORE the second temple was ready (but apparently on the temple mount area):

6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. (Ezra 3:6)

One may argue that since it takes the participation of Jewish religious leaders in order for Jewish animal sacrifices to be resumed, that the above scripture is a moot point.

And it might be if there were no Jewish religious leaders that thought that they could not sacrifice without a temple.

But the fact is, that although they are in the minority, there are significant numbers of Jewish religious leaders who are intent on starting animal sacrifices as soon as possible. And these Jewish leaders do not believe that they have to wait in order for a temple to rebuilt in order to do so.

Some years ago, a group of Jewish religious leaders got together and formed a new Sanhedrin:

The 71 members of the “Re-established Sanhedrin” say they want to begin sacrificing animals again, despite the absence of the Temple, the ritual altar and all the required implements listed in the Bible. Rabbi Dov Stein of the group admitted…

“We want to do the sacrifice, but we have political problems,” Stein said. “We hope there will come a time when the government will agree. We will push for that to happen.” (Rabbis aim to renew animal sacrifices. Associated Press. Feb 28, 2007. http://www.jpost.com)

The “Sanhedrin” group referred to above began to form in 2004 and claims to have “the consent of hundreds of rabbis, scholars and leaders” (http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php/The_Sanhedrin_Initiative viewed 09/11/08). It also has been working on implements, including those related to having an altar.

For further clarification of the position of the reconstituted Sanhedrin, I (COGwriter) contacted that group and asked why it felt that sacrifices can be started before a temple is rebuilt. The response received was:

Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander wrote:

רמב”ם, מעשה הקרבנות, פרק יט , הלכה טז והלכה יז:

טז [טו] מִי שֶׁשָּׁחַט קֳדָשִׁים בַּזְּמָן הַזֶּה, וְהֶעֱלָה חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה–חַיָּב: מִפְּנֵי שְׁהוּא רָאוּי לִקָּרֵב בִּפְנִים–שֶׁהֲרֵי מֻתָּר לְהַקְרִיב, אַף עַל פִּי שְׁאֵין בַּיִת, שֶׁקְּדֻשָּׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה קִדְּשָׁה לְשָׁעָתָהּ וְקִדְּשָׁה לָעֲתִיד לָבוֹא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ.
יז [טז] הַשּׁוֹחֵט קָדְשֵׁי גּוֹיִים בַּחוּץ, חַיָּב; וְכֵן הַמַּעֲלֶה אוֹתָן בַּחוּץ. וְהַגּוֹיִים מֻתָּרִין לְהַקְרִיב עוֹלוֹת לַה’, בְּכָל מָקוֹם–וְהוּא, שֶׁיַּקְרִיבוּ בַּבָּמָה שֶׁיִּבְנוּ. וְאָסוּר לְסַיְּעָן, וְלַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁלִיחוּתָן–שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱסַר עָלֵינוּ לְהַקְרִיב בַּחוּץ; וּמֻתָּר לְהוֹרוֹת לָהֶם, וּלְלַמְּדָם הֵיאַךְ יַקְרִיבוּ לְשֵׁם הָאֵל בָּרוּךְ הוּא.

Translation:

Hichot Maasei HaKorbanot [The Procedures of Offering Sacrifices]

Chapter 19

Paragraph 17:

He who slaughters a Sacrifice in this period [when we have no Temple], and offered the sacrifice outside the Azara [the alloted area of the Temple] – is culpable, because the offering must be performed in the Azara, SINCE IT IS PERMITTED TO PERFORM SACRIFICES despite having no Temple, since the sanctity of the Temple is eternal.

Paragraph 18:

He who slaughters the sacrifice of a gentile outside the Azara is culpable, as is one who performs the offering. NON JEWS are permitted to offer burnt-offerings anywhere, on an alkter which they built. Jews may not help them in the performance of this sacrifice, since Jews may not offer sacrifices outside the Azara. But we may instruct them and teach them how to perform sacrificesto the ASlmighty God, Blessed be He.

Additionally, it is worth noting that on 5766, Rabbi Benyamin Fuss published a 445 page book on Sacrifices of non-jews, of which the text proper is of 372 pages [the rest are indices, etc.] called Torat Habamah: Regarding sacrifices on an Altar outside the Temple. (Email from the Sanhedrin webmaster Abrahamson to Bob Thiel September 17, 2008).

Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander is the English language spokesman for the nascent Sanhedrin.

Thus, it appears to be a longstanding position of some Jewish scholars that Jewish sacrifices can be started on an altar and, as long as it is in the area of the old temple, that a physical temple is not first required.

This is consistent with Ezra’s previously quoted practice as well as what was recorded by Ezekiel.

For many of the past several years (mainly in the Spring), one or more Jews have petitioned Israeli courts to get permission for animal sacrifices for Passover. And, the Israeli courts have repeatedly ruled that although Jews have this right, that the political situation does not yet allow that, so they are denied.

However, the time is coming when those sacrifices will once again be started as they will be stopped by a prince (Daniel 9:26-27) who will become the end time King of the North (Daniel 11:31-40).

The tour to promote the building of the Temple will likely help the Temple Institute raise money, but the politics of Israel and its Islamic neighbors tends to prohibit the rebuilding.  For one reasons, the Muslims tend to claim that this will affect some of their current holy places (some dispute the facts of this, but enough believe this is so that it is a political problem).

Despite Islamic or other complaints, according to Bible prophecy, sacrifices will be resumed.  Some time after a deal (probably a peace deal per Daniel 8:25 and Daniel 11:23-24) that Daniel 9:27 refers to is confirmed, one or more Jewish leaders will likely feel politically safe enough to allow the sacrifices to resume.

Of course, it might take a regional war involving Israel for such a deal to take place. But with all the concerns about Iran and Syria, etc. it could happen this type of war could happen this year, with a peace deal following shortly thereafter.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? What does the Bible teach about the temple in the end-times?
Solomon’s TempleThis is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple.
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?
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? Why might Daniel 9:27 be referring to a peace deal? 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?

Spain Accepts Bailout, But Calls it a “Line of Credit” Instead

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

European Union Tower of Babel Poster

COGwriter By Michael

Spain’s Prime Minister attempted to emphasize that they are not being bailed out as many assume; it’s really a “line of credit.”

Spain Accepts Bailout for Its Banks as Leader Warns of Tough Year Ahead
June 10, 2012

“Nobody pressured me, I was the one who pressured to get credit,” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy [of Spain] said at a news conference here. The aid, worth up to €100 billion… for its cash-starved banks, is a deal, he said, that ensured “the credibility of the European project, the future of the euro, the solidity of our financial system and the possibility that credit will flow again.” …

Spain and its European partners still need to finalize in coming weeks the exact amount of the credit line, and any conditions attached to it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/business/global/spain-accepts-bailout-for-its-banks-as-leader-warns-of-tough-year-ahead.html

The exact conditions tied to this deal are important to know. The article emphasized the importance of this deal — not only for Spain, but it also helps the future of the euro.

Here’s some of what I wrote yesterday regarding this deal:

By reading more into the 3 hour video conference that discussed Spain’s bailout, it brings up an interesting change. It appears that the eurozone is going to try to help but be less politically “controlling.” There’s still “strings attached.” However, because of the negative outlooks on Germany taking charge, this bailout may officially have less conditions for Spain.

Taking financial control, slowly and monetarily, is a peaceful move.

And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. (Daniel 11:21)

This is how a nation (lender) gains control (servants):

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

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”?
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? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich? Who are the German peoples and where did they come from? What is Germany’s role in end time prophecy?
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?
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?