Church of God News

Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Iran

COGwriter

Iran has made a variety of threats against the USA. Now, it is believed that some actual cyber-attacks have been made:

September 30, 2012

Finance minister says Iran’s oil income losses will reach $45-50 billion by the end of the year due to international sanctions; believes US may delineate “red lines” on Tehran’s nuclear program in coming months.

Iran’s economy is edging towards collapse due to international sanctions over its controversial nuclear program, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told Israel Radio on Sunday…A Foreign Ministry document leaked last week said sanctions had caused more damage to Iran’s economy than at first thought and ordinary Iranians were suffering under soaring inflation…Parliamentary opponents of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say sanctions are not a major cause of Iran’s economic problems and accuse his government of mismanaging the economy.  http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=286152

If Iran’s economy is on the brink of collapse, it may take some actions itself.   And partially based upon its prophetic and religious views.  Notice something from earlier this year:

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei… has been heard to say that the coming of the last Islamic Messiah, the Shiites’ 12th Imam Mahdi, is near and that specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime for upcoming events. Mahdi, according to Shiite belief, will reappear at the time of Armageddon. Selected forces within the Revolutionary Guards and Basij reportedly have been trained under a task force called “Soldiers of Imam Mahdi” and they will bear the responsibility of security and protecting the regime against uprisings. Many in the Guards and Basij have been told that the 12th Imam is on earth, facilitated the victory of Hezbollah over Israel in the 2006 war and soon will announce publicly his presence after the needed environment is created. http://www.wnd.com/2012/01/iran-preparing-now-for-armageddon/, January 24, 2012)

Notice something from last week:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today called for the end of the “hegemonic” powers of the United States and Israel, whom he described as “the uncivilized Zionists.” He said the world would “soon” see new “global management” by the Twelfth Imam, also known as the “Mahdi,” and his deputy, Jesus Christ.

This was Ahmadinejad’s eighth and likely final annual address to the opening fall session of the United Nations General Assembly. http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/ahmadinejads-end-times-address-to-u-n/

Of course, the Bible is clear that JESUS, not the Imam Mahdi, is the ultimate Savior and will bring about world peace (Revelation 19-22).

But from an Islamic perspective, it may be important to realize that various of their prophecies of the Mahdi state that he would return in an even numbered year, like the one beginning with the end of 2012 (Zumwalt J.  Iran’s Dynamic Duo Dedicated to Global Destruction.  August 13, 2010. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38528), since the Islamic calendar runs differently than the Roman calendar). Iran may claim that Ahmadinejad received some other type of “appointment” that happened in 2006/2007 that counts, as opposed to being appointed president in 2005. And that would be consistent with a late 2012 (or sometime in 2013) Mahdi arrival (though according to my understanding of Iranian prophetic understanding, taking over Jerusalem anytime between now and late 2013 would probably fit). The Mahdi is supposed to be recognized in an even numbered year, and since Ahmadinejad’s term ends on November 3, 2013 (Islamic year 1434 runs from November 15, 2012 to November 3, 2013) or June 2013 (according to another source), and he indicated he wanted to cause the Mahdi to arrive before he leaves office (e.g Farah J. Iran Leader’s Messianic End Time’s Mission. World News Daily, January 6, 2006), he may cause enough chaos to try to cause this to happen soon (the Islamic year 1432 ended November 26, 2011; and year 1433 ends soon).

I suspect that if Iran has an unsuccessful attack on Jerusalem that a Caliph-type leader will rise up from elsewhere in the Middle East and that many in Iran will support him anyway (even if all the Mahdi predictions do not come to pass). Some Persian/Iranian peoples seem to be shown to support the final King of the South in Ezekiel 30:5.

I would add that the fact that many in Iran consider that the USA is the “great Satan,” plus USA and Israeli sabre-rattling against it are also factors for this attack (presuming that Iran is actually behind it). Various leaders in Iran want the USA out of the way (see, for example, Iranian Leader Calls for Vanishing USA and Israel from the Universe).

But Iran’s words tend to speak louder than its abilities in some areas–yet as its economy barely holds on, it may believe more in its hoped for Imam Mahdi–and this to its peril.

However, it will not only Iran that would suffer.  The reality is that the cost to the USA and/or Israel for a regional war involving Iran and/or Syria will be higher than many in the USA or Israel believe. Between terrorist acts, sustained resistance, chemical weapons, biological weapons, emp-type bombs, and/or even disruptions of the internet, Iran and/or Syria can inflict significant damage to their enemies. The possible cyber-attacks are just one more way Iran can cause consternation (it may be both on the receiving and sending end of that as well as emp attacks). Yet, the USA and the tiny of nation of Israel would not be eliminated by Iran or Syria–it will come later, by the King of the North (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Watch! (Mark 13:37)

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
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 in 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
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?
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?

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

COGwriter

While the US dollar is still the world’s primary reserve currency, it is having some issues:

30 September 2012…

According to the International Monetary Fund data, the dollar’s share of known global reserves held by central banks slipped in the year’s second quarter.

The dollar’s share of the roughly 5.8 trillion of known reserves was 61.9 percent in the second quarter compared with 62.1 percent during the first three months of the year, Reuters reported…Despite the euro zone debt crisis, the euro’s share of global reserves increased to 25 percent from 24.9 percent in the first quarter. The central banks’ allocation to euros increased by 45.5 billion in the second quarter, the IMF data showed…

“The US dollar is still the “reserve currency of choice” in spite of slight dip of its share. As for the euro and despite its debt crisis, it is still maintaining its share in global ranking in reserves. Having said that, emerging markets have slowed their reliance on the euro as a reserve currency,” according to Basil Al-Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Group…

Jarmo T. Kotilaine, a regional economist…According to Kotilaine, the euro is clearly the only real alternative to the dollar, even if it is lagging far behind…Asim Bukhtiar, vice president and head of research at Riyad Capital, said: “Some viable alternative to the dollar must emerge to displace the greenback from the reserve currency status and sustained declines in dollar holdings by the global central banks’ need to occur to establish a trend. Having said this, diversification is prudent which is driving the foray into alternative holdings and currencies.”  http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093564260/Is-dollar-still-reserve-currency-of-choice

Sept 29, 2012

The Dollar Index fell by the most since the first quarter of 2011 after the European Central Bank pledged to protect the euro from unraveling and the Federal Reserve committed to reduce unemployment via open-ended debt buying, which may debase the U.S. currency.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-29/dollar-falls-most-since-2011-as-central-banks-bump-up-stimulus.html

September 24, 2012

Goldman Sachs GS CEO Lloyd Blankfein said Monday the “fiscal cliff” the U.S. faces if Congress doesn’t reach a compromise on automatic spending cuts and tax increases before the end of the year is real.

Appearing on a panel at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City,  Blankfein said the country faces a “substantial risk”  if Congress doesn’t act.  Even worse, the U.S. could eventually risk its status as the reserve currency of the world if Washington lawmakers don’t manage to shake off the reputation of being dysfunctional. “That’s the real cliff,” he said.  http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2012/09/24/goldman-ceo-blankfein-fiscal-cliff-puts-dollars-reserve-currency-status-at-risk/

The economy, debt situation, and moral situation in the USA is serious. Notice the following quote from another news story:

Once the U.S. dollar loses reserve currency status, that will be a major turning point in the history of our country.  http://etfdailynews.com/2012/09/11/why-the-u-s-dollars-reign-as-world-reserve-currency-is-ending/

Current US monetary policy cannot continue indefinitely.  Printing money, borrowing money, and overall debasing the currency will lead to destruction (Habakkuk 2).  Eventually the USA dollar will be replaced as the world’s reserve currency.  At absolute minimum, this will cause significant inflation and a reduction in the standard of living for Americans.

But more than that, despite its problems (and it was prophesied to have them per Daniel 11:41-43), Europe is starting to rise up (and yes, it will have more problems).  The Bible shows that the nation at the end that seems to have the strongest military will be destroyed by the end time European power (Daniel 11:39).  A power that will also be considered a major economic power then as well (cf. Revelation 13, 17, and 18).

This will end in ways that most Americans really do not believe is possible as they have not put the scriptures together with what is really going on.

To learn more, please check out the following:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, 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?
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?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a new 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about Mitt Romney. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it: Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon’s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

Tonight at sunset, the faithful who are able will be observing the biblical Feast of Tabernacles in various locations around the world. The ”’Feast of Tabernacles”’ is an 8-day Biblical pilgrimage festival, also known as the “Feast of Booths,” the “Feast of Tabernacles,” or simply “Tabernacles.”

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

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

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

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

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

Paul taught Gentiles to follow him as he followed Jesus:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The faithful in the Church of God in the 21st century also believe that this Feast foreshadows the coming millennium.  Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.

Regarding the the Feast of Tabernacles, the latest commentary from the Living Church of God, states:

All around the world, faithful Christians are preparing to celebrate the great Feast that Jesus Christ and the apostles observed 2,000 years ago. This is the same Feast that all of the world will learn to celebrate in the coming Kingdom of God. The Feast of Tabernacles is a joyous celebration. It is also a commanded assembly that true Christians continue to observe…

Jesus observed the Feast of Tabernacles and that Christians are admonished to imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) and walk as He walked—the Feast of Tabernacles is also a joy to observe because it points to the wonderful reign of Jesus Christ on this earth which will be a time of great blessings:

• The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth “as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
• Perfect and righteous government will be established for all people. Christ will rule as King of kings, and His righteous saints will rule under Him for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6), and then forever (22:5)!
• God will restore Israel and will bless all nations that learn to worship Him. There will be peace and prosperity throughout the earth (Amos 9:11-15, Isaiah 19:24-25).
• There will be abundant food for all people and all nations (Micah 4:3-4, Ezekiel 36:33-37).
• Sickness and disease will be cured (Jeremiah 30:17; Malachi 4:2).
• Fear and anxiety will be removed from the earth (Isaiah 51:11-13; 35:4).
• Right worship of God will be taught throughout the world (Isaiah 30:21; Ezekiel 11:19-20, Hebrews 8:11-12; Revelation 20:1-6).

The Feast of Tabernacles pictures God’s kingdom on this earth, and faithful Christians emulate their Lord when they pray, “Thy Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). This will usher in the time when the promise described in Revelation 20:6 will be fulfilled: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in this first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be the priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

Of course, it is not only those in COG groups LCG that try to keep the Feast of Tabernacles as the following news item, apparently mainly referring to Protestant groups, shows:

As we approach the festival of Succot, thousands of Christians are already gathering in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration. John Black examines the significance of Succot for the gentiles – Succot being the only Jewish festival in which gentiles were also invited to participate – and traces how Tabernacles was celebrated throughout history. 

http://www.jpost.com/Features/MagazineFeatures/Article.aspx?id=286307

Out family should be arriving at the LCG Feast of Tabernacles site in Lihue, Kauai today to attend begin church services this evening.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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

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

LCG 2012 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this early October feast.

Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2017, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂

Occupy Madrid, May 20, 2011 (Kadellar)

COGwriter

Spain and Portugal had major protests:

29 September 2012Tens of thousands of Spaniards and Portuguese rallied in the streets of their countries’ capitals Saturday to protest enduring deep economic pain from austerity measure, and the demonstration in Madrid turned violent after Spaniards enraged over a long-lasting recession and sky-high unemployment clashed with riot police for the third time in less than a week near Parliament.

The latest violence came after thousands of Spaniards who had marched close to the Parliament building in downtown Madrid protested peacefully for hours. Police with batons later moved in just before midnight to clear out those who remained late because no permission had been obtained from authorities to hold the demonstration.

Some protesters responded by throwing bottles and rocks.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHLCe3WY5murGGymeA0BR0Y0t-cQ?docId=338152d31e8d415793ba5ca81ef654c4

This is not a surprise to me. Back in 2010 (see Civil War in Greece?), I warned, “Austerity measures in Europe will likely cause civil unrest.” As well later in December 2010 (see Civil Unrest in Greece (and it was predicted) where I warned:

Civil unrest in Europe is expected. Places such as France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Eastern Europe have potential for this occurrence. In addition to austerity measures, Islamic protests and immigration related issues will also likely be factors in flaming protests and devastating riots. Expanded civil unrest will have major impacts on the euro and on Europe itself.

And back in May 2012, I warned that more unrest was expected to come from Spain (see Over 100,000 Protest Austerity in Spain). And we are seeing that.

I expect more civil unrest in Europe, including Portugal.Notice what I wrote in my book Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States:

Revelation 13:3-4 also supports the idea that the Beast may rise up because of violent civil unrest in Europe.

Europe is prophesied to have problems (Daniel 2:41-43) and not all the problems have happened yet. Spain and other parts of Europe are likely to have even more significant civil unrest before a strong leader is granted power (cf. Revelation 17:12-13; Revelation 13:1-8).

World events are aligning with properly understood prophecy.   Europe is having unrest as well as economic issues.  There will be ups and downs in Europe until the final European beast power rises up.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about Mitt Romney. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link:  Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon’s Free Reader Apps.  After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition.)

COGwriter

The US drought remains in the news:

The nation’s worst drought in decades consumed a larger portion of the lower 48 states last week with the Midwest corn harvest in full swing, according to the latest update by a drought-tracking consortium released Thursday.The U.S. Drought Monitor’s new map shows 65.5 percent of the contiguous U.S. experiencing some form of drought as of Tuesday, creeping up from 64.8 percent a week earlier. The portion of the U.S. in extreme or exceptional drought — the two worst classifications — rose three-quarters of a percentage point to 21.5 percent…About 51 percent of the U.S. corn crop is classified as being in poor or very poor shape, essentially unchanged from a week earlier, the USDA said. A year ago, 20 percent of corn in the fields was listed that way.  http://www.fdlreporter.com/viewart/20120929/FON0101/309290034/Stubborn-drought-maintains-grip-lower-48-states?odyssey=nav|head

In our local paper the past week was a report that San Luis Obispo had not received any measurable rain in 150 days.

Notice what is happening in Spain:

29 September 2012

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — A tornado swept through a fair ground in a Spanish town, knocking down a Ferris wheel and injuring 35 people, while the death toll from flooding in the same southern part of the country rose to nine, authorities said Saturday…A spokeswoman for the regional government of Andalucia told The Associated Press on Saturday that the heavy downpours and resulting high waters had claimed the lives of five people in the province of Murcia, three in Almeria and one in Malaga.  http://www.boston.com/news/weather/2012/09/29/tornado-hits-fair-spain-flood-deaths-reach/wCtedX8CBEHDIaVhPHP8eL/story.html

The drought and flash flooding brought to mind the following from scripture:

7 “I also withheld rain from you,
When there were still three months to the harvest.
I made it rain on one city,
I withheld rain from another city.
One part was rained upon,
And where it did not rain the part withered.
8 So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water,
But they were not satisfied;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the Lord.  (Amos 4:7-8)

In 2012, weather problems, including flooding, drought, and heat have affected other areas as well (see, for example, Flooding in North Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and China, TW: Drought USA and Flooding UK; Russia Having Both, Quarter Million Affected by Flooding in Japan, Severely Cold Weather in South Africa and Australia, Drought in Mid-USA Affecting Grain, 2012 Drought Declared USA’s Largest Ever Natural Disaster, Drought Affecting India and Its Food Supply; Europe too, Drought Reducing Wheat Yields in US, Australia, Russia, and Ukraine, and Weather Extremes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK).

Flood, droughts, and weather problems contribute to food shortages, higher food prices (Heat Affecting USA Wheat Crop and USDA Slashes Corn and Soy Production Estimates Due to Drought; Canadian Farmers Expecting to Benefit), and sometimes famines.

Jesus taught:

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

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

The sorrows and troubles are just beginning and will get much worse.

Severe weather is consistent with the troubles that Jesus spoke of.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
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?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?

COGwriter

In his latest commentary, LCG’s Richard A. Wilson had the following:

Commentary: Weeds, Thistles, Thorns and Tares

Because of the summer drought that have hit the plains of the Midwest United States, I did something recently that I had not done in nearly two months. I mowed my yard. Although the grasses were still pretty dormant and yellowish, the reason I mowed my yard was because the weeds, thistles, thorns and the tares were growing tall and full–and green

Even without water, it seems that the one thing that has flourished in the drought has been the weeds, and thistles, the thorny, pesky invaders of our yards and fields. The bad seeds. The unwanted crops.

For Christians, the spiritual lesson is that without the continuous refreshing of the Holy Spirit of God, we can become weeds, thistles, thorns and tares at the human level. We need to always be able to drink deeply from the word of God (the Holy Bible) so as to not quench the power of God in our daily lives.

Where we should be drinking deeply of the Holy Spirit, Satan and his demons wants us to go thirsty, to dry up and turn into weeds, thistles, thorns and tares in a spiritual way so we will fail and become unacceptable to God.

In a drought, everything becomes stressed and dormant, and much can die. But, we as Christians must stay close to God understanding that a drought, a famine of the word of God is coming, soon, for the entire world. The prophet Amos tells us this in Amos 8:11-12. “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it.”

After hearing the parable of the tares in Matthew 13, the disciples in verse 36 asked Jesus to explain the parable of the tares. In verses 37-43, Jesus answered them, “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

True Christians need to be aware that Satan wants us to dry up, to fail, to wither and be burned in the fire. However, we have a protector (Jesus Christ, our High Priest) who sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. Keeping that always in mind, we must live a life worthy of being protected, being nurtured and well fed by the word of God.

God knows the way of the righteous. Psalm 1:6 says, “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

In times of drought, it seems the bad seeds flourish. Yet, we cannot allow them to overtake us—in our yards or in our hearts. Spiritually, let us always delight in the laws of God, and be like the trees planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth their fruit in due season.

To learn more about the process of developing God’s holy and righteous character in our own lives, read our powerful booklet, What Is a True Christian?

Some people are true Christians, some do not always act like Christians, and some who people think are Christian are not.  But Christians are to try to reach the whole world, including those that do not claim to have ties to Christ.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Is kindness involved? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
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?
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.
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?

Hillary Rodham Clinton

COGwriter

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made some comments about Syria and Iran today:

28 September 2012

Iran has left no doubt that it will do whatever it takes to protect the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Tehran’s staunch ally, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.

Clinton also said the United States was offering the Syrian opposition an additional $45 million in non-lethal and humanitarian aid – $30 million for humanitarian assistance and $15 million for non-lethal help, such as radios and training…

“Let’s be very frank here – the regime’s most important lifeline is Iran. Last week a senior Iranian official publicly acknowledged that members of the Iranian (Islamic) Revolutionary Guard Corps are operating inside Syria,” she told a group of foreign ministers at a meeting in New York.

“There is no longer any doubt that Tehran will do whatever it takes to protect its proxy and crony in Damascus,” Clinton said.  http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=286490

The USA is signally that it believes that conflict involving Syria must also involve Iran.  The Bible shows that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).  Iran’s defense will not prevent that.

Iran and Israel have been in the news as well with the drum beats of war:

28 September 2012

Netanyahu has repeatedly been at odds with world powers over Iran’s nuclear program. He has argued that time is running out to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power and that the threat of force must be seriously considered.

While the international community has pushed for diplomacy as a way to dislodge Iran, Netanyahu has prodded world powers to set a red line on Iran. Obama has vowed to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power but has rejected Netanyahu’s demands for setting an ultimatum past which the U.S. would attack. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.  http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/28/netanyahu-bomb-steals-show-in-his-un-speech/#ixzz27nGesf2f

28 September 2012

TEHRAN — Israel’s threats of military action against Iran over its nuclear programme only serve to boost the defiance of the Islamic republic, the head of the Revolutionary Guards said on Friday.

“The enemies want to stop us continuing our path… but these threats only reinforce our determination to continue in the same direction,” General Mohammad Ali Jafari said in a speech to thousands of members of the country’s Basij militia, according to the Guards’ Sepahnews website.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jU9lRDQxw78RA59EKXODysBDx8uA?docId=CNG.769e34f82b9f0da5582576802e07d10b.4e1

28 September 2012

WASHINGTON – The White House stressed Friday that the US and Israel are “in full agreement” on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, following a phone conversation between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.  http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=286503

28 September 2012

UNITED NATIONS: Iran and Israel stepped up their nuclear tensions on Friday with Iran’s foreign minister calling for UN Security Council action over the killings of nuclear scientists he blames on Israel…Iran sent a diplomat to the UN assembly to warn that it would “retaliate with full force” against any attack and to demand that the international community “exert pressure on this regime to end all this irresponsible behavior.”  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Iran-Israel-step-up-nuclear-showdown-at-UN/articleshow/16593278.cms

Since Iran is basically east, and not south, of Jerusalem, Iran will not be the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) of biblical prophecy. Hence, since Iran is currently is one the most important Islamic military power in the world and Syria’s strongest ally, its influence will somehow need to be eliminated or somehow neutralized (though I suspect it will likely still support the King of the South unless it is felt that too many Arab powers were involved in its neutralization). Trade sanctions, combined with a possible attack by Israel and/or the USA and/or internal unrest in Iran (and possibly all of those) will likely result in a change in Iran (and Syria). And according to Hillary Clinton’s current as well as earlier comments, such military attacks seem highly viable.

The situation in the Middle East is volatile and the USA may find that there will be a higher cost to engaging Syria and Iran militarily than it still thinks likely.  But, irrespective of whatever Iran may put forth, it will not prevent Syria’s capital from becoming a “ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1)

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? 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?
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about Mitt Romney. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link:  Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon’s Free Reader Apps.  After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–Amazon Kindle edition.)

Bas-relief at Angkor Wat depicting a demon performing an ancient abortion.

COGwriter

Abortion has been in the news a lot in Canada this week.  Here are some news reports related to that:

28 September 2012

Social and face-to-face networking vigor of pro-life Christians has been renewed in recent days as Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth (Kitchener Centre) sponsored a motion to create a committee with the purpose of reviewing Canada’s current declaration that a human being exists at the moment of complete birth, laid out in subsection 223 of the Criminal Code… The motion was voted down with 203 nays versus 91 yeas, in a move backed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and most of his cabinet who voted against it…This move has led politically vocal conservative Christians to declare Harper as a wimp…

A Gallup poll in late 2001 asked Canadians their opinion and only 14% thought that abortions should be illegal in all circumstances. A poll administered by the National Post in 2002 showed that 78% of those asked believed women should have complete freedom in their decision to have or not have an abortion. An EKOS poll in 2010 revealed that only 27% of people describe themselves as pro-life. The Christian approach of changing the law will not work. Most people are either strongly pro-choice or don’t care at all.  http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/editorial/2012/09/28/4513.html

27 September 2012

Canada often is described as being closer to Europe than to the United States in our attitude toward social policy. And this is true — but with two major exceptions: health care and abortion.

Unlike every European nation, Canada bans citizens from using their own money to pay privately for core health care needs. And unlike every European nation, our government places no gestational limits on abortion. There is no nation in Europe where a woman 24 weeks pregnant can walk into a medical clinic and demand an abortion for purely discretionary reasons. But in Canada, as far as our law goes, jaywalking is a more serious offence than is aborting a 39-week-old fetus.  http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/09/27/jonathan-kay-canadas-pro-choice-culture-warriors-have-lost-their-sanity/

Scientifically, there is absolutely no doubt that human life begins at conception (irrespective of how various politicians and certain scientists want to spin this).  Abortion is clearly the taking of a human life.  And certainly a 39-week-old “fetus” is a human baby.

Yet, basically, most Canadians will not support the view that abortion is wrong.  But, if they would look at and believe what the Bible says, they would realize that it is a sin to kill the unborn and that life begins at conception.  On that second point, the Bible also makes it clear that David and Jeremiah were human and known before to God while they were in the womb prior to being born:

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written,  The days fashioned for me,When as yet there were none of them (Psalm 139:13-16).

4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations”  (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

Furthermore, notice that the death penalty could come from an injury to a pregnant woman:

If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe (Exodus 21:22-25).

The expression “no harm follows” can be interpreted that both the mother and the baby live, and that the baby and mother are healthy. But, if they are not and somehow permanently harmed, punishment will follow, apparently including the death penalty if either die. God does not condone the killing of unborn infants.

In the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) a term translated about 26 times as infant(s) or child or little one is the Hebrew word ‘owlel.  That same word is used for unborn infants in Job 3:16 (and perhaps other verses), hence God considers unborn infants to be living human beings–children.

The Bible shows, that unlike humans, God does know how babies grow in the womb:

5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything (Ecclesiastes 11:5).

And in the New Testament, Elizabeth made a positive comment about her unborn baby John the Baptist leaping (Luke 1:41-44) and the statements that the Angel that appeared to Mary to tell her about her upcoming conception (Luke 1:31-35) also provide additional biblical support to the idea that the unborn are human.  And thus, should not be killed through abortion.

There are terrible consequences for sin, and instead of properly discouraging sexual immorality, abortion increases the tendency towards sin.  This does not bode well for Canada.  This is a more important issue than most Canadians realize.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? What do the Living Church of God and the Church of Rome teach?
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?
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.

The Feast of Tabernacles begins Sunday evening at sunset. Here is something that the Living Church of God wrote about travel to it last Feast:

God blesses Feast of Tabernacles travel…

Thousands of years ago, God gave His people the command to keep His annual festivals, including the Feast of Tabernacles (see Leviticus 23). These days were to be statutes “forever” and blessings were promised to those who keep them, and the rest of God’s laws (Deuteronomy 14:29).

The Feast of Tabernacles in New Testament Times

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

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

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

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

So, notice that the Apostle Paul mentioned that he would travel in order to keep the Feast in a particular location.

Paul also taught Gentiles to follow him as he followed Jesus:

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

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

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

The church in Judea kept the Feast of Tabernacles, etc. And those in Thessalonica were commended for receiving the word of God and imitating the practices of the church in Judea.

Others Have Kept the Feast of Tabernacles

Polycarp of Smyrna apparently taught this about the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day:

What must one say, when even He that was gentler than all men so appeals and cries out at the feast of Tabernacles? For it is written; And on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirsteth, let him come to Me and drink (Pionius. Life of Polycarp, Chapter 19. Translated by J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, 1889, pp.488-506).

The Greco-Roman Bishop & Saint Methodius of Olympus in the late 3rd or early 4th century taught that the Feast of Tabernacles was commanded and that it had lessons for Christians. And he tied it in with the teaching of the millennial reign of Christ:

…these things, being like air and phantom shadows, foretell the resurrection and the putting up of our tabernacle that had fallen upon the earth, which at length, in the seventh thousand of years, resuming again immortal, we shall celebrate the great feast of true tabernacles in the new and indissoluble creation , the fruits of the earth having been gathered in, and men no longer begetting and begotten, but God resting from the works of creation…

For since in six days God made the heaven and the earth, and finished the whole world, and rested on the seventh day from all His works which He had made, and blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, so by a figure in the seventh month, when the fruits of the earth have been gathered in, we are commanded to keep the feast to the Lord , which signifies that, when this world shall be terminated at the seventh thousand years, when God shall have completed the world, He shall rejoice in us. For now to this time all things are created by His all-sufficient will and inconceivable power; the earth still yielding its fruits, and the waters being gathered together in their receptacles; and the light still severed from darkness, and the allotted number of men not yet being complete; and the sun arising to rule the day, and the moon the night; and four-footed creatures, and beasts, and creeping things arising from the earth, and winged creatures, and creatures that swim, from the water. Then, when the appointed times shall have been accomplished, and God shall have ceased to form this creation , in the seventh month, the great resurrection-day, it is commanded that the Feast of our Tabernacles shall be celebrated to the Lord , of which the things said in Leviticus are symbols and figures, which things, carefully investigating, we should consider the naked truth itself, for He says, A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb , and the interpretation; the words Of the wise, and their dark sayings. (Methodius. Banquet of the Ten Virgins (Discourse 9, Chapter 1). Translated by William R. Clark. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 6. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/062309.htm>)

Comments by Epiphanius and others in the late fourth century concerning the Nazarene Christians would also seem to support that those who kept the Fall Holy Days were located in several areas at that time (see Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes?).

Notice the following report related to the Middle Ages:

Under the name of Passagini, we have the clearest sort of statement that these people, about 1200, observed the whole Old Testament law, including the Sabbath and FESTIVALS! People called Cathars at Cologne, Germany, kept a fall festival, called “Malilosa”, even before Waldo began to preach. Compare this unexplained name with Hebrew “melilah” (a harvested ear of grain — Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) and the Biblical title “Feast of Ingathering” (Ex. 23:16). How much more we might have known about these Middle Ages’ Feasts of Tabernacles had not the Inquisitors so zealously burned the records! The three-part division of tithes paid the Waldensian Church is significant. Even in the 1500’s the same division continued. “The money given us by the people is carried to the aforesaid general council, and is delivered in the presence of all, and there it is received by the most ancients (the elders), and part thereof is given to those that are wayfaring men, according to their necessities, and part unto the poor” (George Morel, Waldensian elder, quoted by Lennard, “History of the Waldenses”). 1. Compare this practice with Num. 18:21 and Deut. 14:22-25, 28-29. Isn’t it exactly what the Bible commands?… Most authors have ASSUMED the “wayfaring men” were the traveling “barbel.” But THEIR expenses would have been paid from the money given the elders, at EVERY time of year, for the direct conduct of the Work — “first” tithe and offerings. Notice that in Numbers 18:21. What Morel then mentions is a “second” tithe, for those traveling to and from the festivals — wayfaring men; and following it, the “third” to the poor. See the explanation in Deut. 14. Feast goers who had more “second tithe” than they needed shared their excess with those who had need, even as they do today! (LESSON 51 (1968) AMBASSADOR COLLEGE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place …” Rev. 12:6).

Furthermore, Sabbath-keepers in Transylvania in the 1500s (and probably later kept) the Fall Holy Days such as the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Trumpets (called Day of Remembrance below):

The Sabbatarians viewed themselves as converted Gentiles..They held to the biblical holidays. (Liechty D. Sabbatarianism in the Sixteenth Century. Andrews University Press, Berrien Springs (MI), 1993, pp. 61-62).

And the Fall Holidays are still observed into the 21sth century by Sabbath-keeping groups such as the Living Church of God.

Jesus and Paul observed the Feast of Tabernacles, do you?

Those who have more interest, may wish to study the following articles:

Michael’s Feasts and Fasts Quiz 15 questions, amusing wrong answer screens.
Michael’s Day of Atonement Quiz Another free on-line Bible quiz by my son Michael.
Spiritual Benefits of Fasting Jesus said, “But by Prayer and Fasting” and this article by Dr. Meredith focuses on fasting and provides his physical and spiritual fasting tips. Does fasting help prevent heart disease?
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Should you?
The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach?
LCG 2012 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this year.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2012, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂

Someone (perhaps the False Prophet) Bowing Before the Kalki

COGwriter

Will the over 800 million Hindus (most of whom who live in India) accept the final Beast power who is aligned with the final Antichrist?

Bible prophecy strongly suggests yes as the following points out:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:4-15)

Now, you may wondering why the Hindus may follow these leaders, who will be European.  There are several reasons, including economic, signs, and lying wonders.  But there also may be a theological one.

Within Hinduism there is the belief that a leader called the Kalki who is to rise up with the promise of bring peace–and while most views suggest he is Indian, that could be a matter of interpretation–Hinduism mainly is looking for a leader to rise up.  Related to that, here is a section of my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect that would like to quote:

A Hindu from India named Vijay Kumar (he refers to himself as “The Man who Realized God In 1993”) makes the following claims…:

For the society to climb back to its pristine glory of the golden era… even the meek would handle metal (pick arms). Whatever the poor and the downtrodden lay their hands upon would become their weapon. In the last phase of the Kali Yuga we are passing through… the complete society has been taken to ransom by about 6% corrupt population comprising of politicians, bureaucrats, judiciary and police force…people await with abated breath the coming of Bhagwan Kalki…one who delivers the mankind from the existing ills of today. Bhagwan Kalki would be a spiritual master of the highest order with the deadly combination of a wise dictator (Chanakya of the modern era)…(Kumar, Vijay. End of the World 2012. http://www.godrealized.com/2012.html)

Notice that Vijay Kumar’s writings  support a warring power—something the Bible warns against in Revelation 13:3–10.  This type of warring power will not bring in a true age of peace, even though many may proclaim that it will (cf. Ezekiel 13:10-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Also notice the following about the Avatar/Bhagwan Kalki:

Whenever there is a withering of the law
and an uprising of lawlessness on all sides,
then I manifest Myself.

For the salvation of the righteous
and the destruction of such as do evil,
for the firm establishing of the Law,
I come to birth, age after age.—Bhagavad Gita, Book IV, Sutra 5, 7, 8…

In all, the Hindu text of Kalki Purana is comprised of 6100 verses describing … Kalki, who is considered the last Avtar or incarnation of Vishnu or the Supreme Being, who will establish the Age of Truth or Age of Purity on Earth.…  As agreed by all the religious prophecies, the Awaited One will not be a man of peace like Jesus Christ or Buddha, but a man of war who will destroy evil and establish righteousness on the earth. (Hindu Prophecies: The Kalki Purana.  http://ww-iii.tripod.com/hindu.htm)

If views like these become predominant in the future, it may be that they will help lead to Hindus at least temporarily accepting a new religion of the coming False Prophet and the authority of the coming militaristic dictator known as Beast that the Bible warns will rise up at the end. (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  Nazarene Books, 2009, p. )

Some of the prophecies involving the Kalki also discuss a “White horse.”  The Bible warns of a rider of the white horse (the first of the four horsemen of the apocalypse) who is a deceptive religious leader, and at the end representing the False Prophet, the final Antichrist.  Around 1765, the illustration shown at the beginning of this article was put together.  Notice that it has a person with a white horse who is bowing down before the Kalki.  This is consistent with biblical prophecy that the false prophet will try to cause all to worship the Beast (who will be a European man, also called the King of the North in the Hebrew scriptures).  Other Hindu prophecies have the Kalki himself riding the white horse.  The Bible itself shows that the Beast and the False Prophet work together and more so after the final ride of the White Horseman of Revelation 6:2 who goes forth to conquer.

Satan knows God’s plan and has planted ideas throughout various “mystics” throughout history to confuse and deceive human kind (cf. Revelation 12:9). And even though those of India will be among those who will rebel against the final Beast power, it appears that they too will, for a while, somewhat accept him and what he advocates.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
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?
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What is the Book of Revelation trying to tell us about them? Does the first one deceive many?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
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?
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 24 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 24 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 24 já começaram a acontecer.