Church of God News

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (World Economic Forum)

COGwriter

Former German Defense Minister, Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg made the news today for being secretive.  The following was basically machine-translated (I do not speak German) from Der Speigel:

Hamburg – For a while, he was not without pomp, and Spotlight once posed Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg as a movie star in New York’s Times Square. Then the ex-defense minister went to visit the troops in Afghanistan in combat and in Tarnmontur scene. Later a guest appearance on “Wetten, dass.”.

Rarely did the CSU politician from a chance for self-promotion, as he could not {thrive} without publicity. The motto of the former public relations strategy: the large Guttenberg show. Even as he was because of the plagiarism scandal forced to resign for his doctoral thesis, Guttenberg shortly thereafter tried in the media whitewash, published a discussion group called “For the time being failed” – and hinted at a political comeback. Sometime later.But for some time it has been quiet around Guttenberg . No press releases, no more speeches, no show stunts. A year ago, he was {appointed by} the EU Vice Commissioner Neelie Kroes, the EU commissioner for Internet freedom. What {does} Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg {do} as Internet representative of the European Commission?

The answer from Guttenberg’s office falls to very short, he worked with on the “No Disconnect Strategy” of the EU Commission. This strategy is the worldwide Internet censorship to be fought. His own description of the job are, however, not as that of an ordinary authorities consultant, but as a man who must work in secret.

His “understanding of the activities of an independent consultant is to discreetly and without publicity to act as efficiently as possible in the background,” tells his office. This command and the “sensitivity of the matter” and the “protection of persons involved.” Should read: his job requires secrecy.  http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/karl-theodor-zu-guttenberg-will-diskreter-werden-a-874329.html

Why could this be of prophetic interest?

Bible prophecy warns about a leader who was rejected and seemingly comes out of nowhere who will rise up and lead Europe per Daniel 11:21-44. One verse to focus on is verse 21. Here are four translations of it from Catholic and Protestant sources:

21 And there shall stand up in his place one despised, and the kingly honour shall not be given him: and he shall come privately, and shall obtain the kingdom by fraud. (Daniel 11:21, Douay-Rheims)

21 “‘His place will be taken by a reject, a man spurned and passed over for advancement. He’ll surprise everyone, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and will seize the kingdom. (Daniel 11:21 from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

21 And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (Daniel 11:21, ASV)

21 ‘And stood up on his station hath a despicable one, and they have not given unto him the honour of the kingdom, and he hath come in quietly, and hath strengthened the kingdom by flatteries. (Daniel 11:21, Young’s Literal Translation)

As regular readers know, I have wondered 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 has had problems, is out of the limelight, and has been rejected by various ones is consistent with biblical and other predictions.  He has confirmed  seven speculative predictions after I posted them (for details see Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?).  It should be understood that just because he fulfilled various predictions does not prove that he must be the final King of the North. But they certainly give me reason, combined with biblical and other prophetic sources to consider that he could fulfill that role or at least aid the one who will have it.

So, he remains one to watch.

Of course, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg could simply be a somewhat politician with many ups and downs. And all his intentions could be fine, despite him being repeatedly insulted. We will see.

While others may question whether or not a European leader could be the final King of the North, looking at various scriptures demonstrates that he will lead Europe and not Russia as some have insisted (see for example, Is Russia the King of the North? ), Europe keeps making the news for its difficult attempts at integration (which is consistent with Daniel 2:41-43) and becoming a military power (Revelation 13:1-4).  Related to the military power, notice the following, that came out a week ago:

Britain will be expected to plan national defence with the rest of the European Union after David Cameron agreed to accelerate joint military operations.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9746517/David-Cameron-signs-up-to-more-joint-military-operations-with-Europe.html

The above article further states that the Europeans have agreed to more military cooperation and some believe that this will lead to a European army–and Europe will have its own army (currently it mainly has a collection of many national armies).  Consistent with biblical prophecy (Revelation 13:4; Daniel 11:39-43) a military power is starting to rise up in Europe.

Interestingly, Catholic prophecy suggests that someone with one of the Baron Guttenberg’s many names (which includes the name Philip, spelled in German-style Philipp) will lead a multilingual army:

St. Methodius of Patara (4th century): …the nations that are located in the North will be moved into action with great speed and fierce anger…Then the nations that are located in the southern corner will be roused into action and the Great Philip with an army of people composed of 18 different languages will get together in the Seventh-Hilled City (Tzima Otto, H.  The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenika Press, Rock City (SC), 2000, p. 109).

The European Union currently “has 23 official and working languages” (ec.europa.eu/languages/languages-of-europe/eu-languages_en.htm), hence part of a European army that gets together in the “Seventh-Hilled City” could have people speaking 18 languages.

FWIW, I believe that Satan knows a lot about God’s plan and has inspired his ministers (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) to make “private prophecies” throughout history to be part of a major deception in the end that those who do not really have the “love of the truth” will follow (2 Corinthians 2:9-12).  Christians should not be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11) as many will be deceived in the end by “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Perhaps it should be noted that Europe has a population that is roughly the same size as the USA and Russia combined.  Europe has probably the most cutting edge physics and other researchers in the world, and has (on a combined basis) the largest economy in the world (by some measures it is second, but others show it first)–and the final King of the North/Beast power will be a military (Revelation 13:4; Daniel 11:39-43) and economic (Revelation 13:16-18) power.

Might Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg later rise up out of his current state of semi-obscurity and lead it, or at least assist in the process?

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

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 former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?

COGwriter

It was two years ago today, on December 23, 2010, that the Church of God, a Worldwide Association (COGWA) reported the following:

Announcing the

Church of God, a Worldwide Association

Today we are announcing the formation of a new international congregation of believers, the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. Our church organization incorporated on December 23, 2010 and has members, congregations and ministers around the world.

The formation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, results from several fundamental disagreements within United Church of God, an International Association. After numerous efforts to engage in biblical resolutions and reconciliation, all efforts failed, and a separation became inevitable.

There was a report from COGWA (titled Timeline for the Establishment of Church of God, a Worldwide Association, dated about January 3, 2011) where it basically states that it did not decide to form until after UCG essentially rejected a 12/4/10 letter and that various discussions did not happen until the week of December 13, 2010. It also says that it was not until 12/20/10 that it was proposed that COGWA be formed, and that this was somewhat based on a 12/17/10 letter from Dennis Luker, where he indicated to certain ministers that they resign and have a “peaceful separation.”  Apparently, some at COGWA were concerned how UCG was portraying this.  UCG, on the other hand, had been indicating that it has information that suggests that those who left it were part of some long running conspiracy.

What is the truth?

Probably a little of both.  There probably are some in COGWA who had long hoped to break-away from UCG, while many there probably only recently made a decision to do so.  And UCG probably has some information on the former. But in my view, they are likely to be the two sides of the same ditch. There was also controversy about how a Sabbath matter was handled in Latin America. UCG lost most of its Latin American elders in the summer of 2010, because of that and apparently governance concerns.

Although the name Church of God, a Worldwide Association was possibly only going to be temporary, on January 11, 2011, that name was formally adopted to be continued by its voting elders:

January 11, 2011 – The meetings began as Interim Board President Mike Hanisko called upon Kevin Epps for the opening prayer. Mr.Hanisko then announced the result of the ballot for our church name. Of the 118 ballots cast, 78 chose “Church of God, a Worldwide Association.” So our temporary name has now become our official name.

Since essentially all the top ministry of COGWA was originally ordained by the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG), the selection of COGWA seems logical on its surface.

COGWA made a couple of pronouncements which suggest that it should proclaim the gospel:

(December 23, 2010) Our mission is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations and make disciples from among those whom God calls. Our doctrines are based in the first century teachings of Jesus Christ as practiced by the apostles. Our values are grounded in the biblical record. We will strive to humbly follow this example.

——-

January 10, 2011 – …Ken Treybig then gave a presentation on preaching the gospel. We want to assure everyone that we are committed to doing this he said. Continuing, he noted that we must fulfill the commission Christ gave the Church. How we can do this with a smaller group? Perhaps it will have to be done in a measured way, most likely with an Internet focus, but also with print…

But the priority of gospel proclamation in reality, as opposed to theoretically, has been an issue for COGWA.

In its member letter of 12/06/12, COGWA’s Jim Franks wrote:

We have seen many good things happen in the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, during the past 12 months. Personally, I don’t believe for a moment that any of them happened because of our great planning, wisdom or ability…in 2013 we will be investing more funds into our media efforts for preaching the gospel and into Ministerial Services to provide care for the brethren. Our media budget was increased by 70 percent over the 2012 figure…

That is his take on it.

It took COGWA until late Spring of 2012 to put up a public proclamation website, LifeHopeandTruth.com.  As of 12/22/2012, it had an Alexa ranking of 1,468,196, while COGWA.org had a ranking of 696,027. On 12/22/12, COGwriter.com had an Alexa ranking of 220,974.  The lower the number, the better the reach.

So, nearly two years after it officially formed, COGwriter seems to have 2-10 times the effectiveness of COGWA in public proclamation. And this does not count the radio interviews that I have done (COGWA does not seem to do radio interviews, at least not often).

COGWA’s main eight accomplishments since it formed seems to have been:

1. Getting much of the paid US based ministry of the United Church of God to leave and support it.
2. Holding the Feast of Tabernacles in many locations for two years.
3. Getting thousands of former UCG members to support it.
4. Accumulating, at least for a time, over one million dollars as an extra reserve.
5. Finding and moving to an office in Texas.
6. Not falling into the type of apostasy that happened in the Tkach WCG/GCI.
7. Announcing a ministerial training program (called Focused Mentoring Program).
8. Starting three websites, including Foundation Institute.

Although COGWA has claimed that public gospel proclamation was to be its top priority, it still has not been particularly effective with that. Perhaps it will start to do more in its next two years as Jim Franks suggested.

UCG itself has had issues since the COGWA split.  For a while, it got by on the financial reserves it had accumulated over a decade, and now it is trying to cope with the reality of its incoming revenues without having that type of cushion (see, for example UCG priorities, finances, and cutbacks).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association This seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

COGwriter

The USA has now stationed troops in Australia essentially to try to deal with China’s growing influence:

Sea floor next to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef ‘close to collapse’

Scientists have discovered a giant slab of collapsing sea floor near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef which is starting to break and could eventually trigger a tsunami.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9760762/Sea-floor-next-to-Australias-Great-Barrier-Reef-close-to-collapse.html

An enormous slab of sea floor is in the early stages of collapse off north Queensland, and could generate a tsunami when it finally breaks off, researchers warn. The one cubic kilometer slab – dubbed the Noggin Block – is the remains of an ancient underwater landslide, and sits perched on the edge of the continental shelf. Researchers discovered it while mapping the sea floor around the Great Barrier Reef. James Cook University marine biologist Robin Beaman says the slab will eventually break away from the Great Barrier Reef and when that happens it could generate a huge tsunami. “It’s actually up on the top of the continental slope in about 350 meters of water,” Dr. Beaman told ABC radio. “It’s a pretty big chunk of sea floor (and) is in the very slow, early stages of starting to break away from the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. If it were to break away catastrophically, that is break away really quickly … it would actually cause a tsunami. “That tsunami would travel across the Great Barrier Reef, it’s about 70 kilometers offshore, and it would impact the local area, the North Queensland area. It’s estimated it would take about an hour for any tsunami to hit coastal areas such as Mourilyan Harbour and Clump Point, south of Cairns. But Dr. Beaman says it’s still very stable, and something like a very large earthquake near the site would be needed to trigger a catastrophic collapse any time soon. “That is very unlikely. But we should be aware that these things exist. We don’t really know when such a block might collapse. All I can say is sometime it eventually will.”  http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/

Jesus said:

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)

As the above shows, Jesus foretold on a time of natural disasters and “troubles” as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8)–and the sorrows seem to have begun.  And a massive tsunami coming from the Great Barrier Reef at some point in time would seem to be consistent with Jesus’ telling of a time of troubles.

Without national repentance, the Australia is doomed. Period. So is the USA and its other Anglo-allies. Details are in the Bible and various articles explain the connection at COGwriter.com.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? Might military alliances be part of the reason that non-US Anglo-nations get 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?
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?
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?

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

Got an email from GCI (Grace Communion International, essentially the group that originally ran the new Worldwide Church of God) about their offices being closed starting today, also with a link to message from its J. Tkach about the incarnation:

Due to the upcoming holidays, GCI’s offices are closeed {sic} from Saturday, December 22 till Wednesday, January 2.

Speaking of Life, with Dr. Joseph Tkach…

As we celebrate our Savior’s birth…When theologians refer to the second person of the Trinity becoming human, they sometimes use the word “incarnation.” You’ve probably heard that word before, although most of us probably wouldn’t use it in everyday conversation…we celebrate his birth.

I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.

No, most people do not use the term “incarnation” to refer to the December celebration of Saturnalia that most people now call “Christmas.”  Partially because of sensitivities of some of its members, J. Tkach has tended not often use the term Christmas. (I will not, at this stage, go into J. Tkach’s Godhead and related errors in his latest Speaking of Life).

But ignoring Christmas/incarnation semantics, while Jesus was born, the real evidence is that He was not born in December.  Nor did early followers of Christ either celebrate the day of His birth, nor, when the compromisers got more influence, did those that did originally celebrate it in December.

By the end of the second century, some of the compromisers did celebrate something in the late December time period, but it had nothing to do with Jesus’ birth.

Notice what Tertullian wrote (late 2nd early 3rd century) about winter celebrations, such as Saturnalia (from a pagan deity whose name meant plentiful):

The Minervalia are as much Minerva’s, as the Saturnalia Saturn’s; Saturn’s, which must necessarily be celebrated even by little slaves at the time of the Saturnalia. New-year’s gifts likewise must be caught at, and the Septimontium kept; and all the presents of Midwinter and the feast of Dear Kinsmanship must be exacted; the schools must be wreathed with flowers; the flamens’ wives and the aediles sacrifice; the school is honoured on the appointed holy-days. The same thing takes place on an idol’s birthday; every pomp of the devil is frequented. Who will think that these things are befitting to a Christian master, unless it be he who shall think them suitable likewise to one who is not a master? (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter X. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

But, however, the majority (of Christians) have by this time induced the belief in their mind that it is pardonable if at any time they do what the heathen do, for fear “the Name be blasphemed”…To live with heathens is lawful, to die with them is not. Let us live with all; let us be glad with them, out of community of nature, not of superstition. We are peers in soul, not in discipline; fellow-possessors of the world, not of error. But if we have no right of communion in matters of this kind with strangers, how far more wicked to celebrate them among brethren! Who can maintain or defend this?…By us,…the Saturnalia and New-year’s and Midwinter’s festivals and Matronalia are frequented–presents come and go–New-year’s gifts–games join their noise–banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself!…Not the Lord’s day, not Pentecost, even it they had known them, would they have shared with us; for they would fear lest they should seem to be Christians. We are not apprehensive lest we seem to be heathens! (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XIV. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

But “let your works shine,” saith He; but now all our shops and gates shine! You will now-a-days find more doors of heathens without lamps and laurel-wreaths than of Christians. What does the case seem to be with regard to that species (of ceremony) also? If it is an idol’s honour, without doubt an idol’s honour is idolatry. If it is for a man’s sake, let us again consider that all idolatry is for man’s sake; let us again consider that all idolatry is a worship done to men, since it is generally agreed even among their worshippers that aforetime the gods themselves of the nations were men; and so it makes no difference whether that superstitious homage be rendered to men of a former age or of this. Idolatry is condemned, not on account of the persons which are set up for worship, but on account of those its observances, which pertain to demons (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XV. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

What Tertullian seems to be saying is that observing mid-winter celebrations make Christians appear to be followers of pagan gods, and since the pagans would not intentionally celebrate days considered by many to be Christian, Christians should not celebrate days that are honored by the heathen. Specifically, he felt that those who profess Christ should not celebrate Saturnalia, New Year’s, or other pagan days, as even the observance is a form of idolatry (click here for an article titled Is January 1st a Date for Christians Celebrate?).  He also suggested that his type of “Christian” was more pagan than the average pagan.  Interesting.

Since the modern Christmas celebration is at the same time as the old Gentile Saturnalia holiday (and with many of the same elements, like wreaths and gift-giving), it is clear that Tertullian is condemning these practices by stating that those that keep it are of the pagan god Saturn. He also wrote against winter giving:

…gifts like those you have in the Saturnalia! (Tertullian. De Fuga in Persecutione, Chapter 13. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 4. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

So basically, those who teach “Jesus is the reason for the season” are in error. The reason for the season appears to be that those who professed wanted to have a party. And did not care if the party was related to pagan gods.

It is interesting to note that Tertullian objected to keeping a celebration lasting until the Roman New Years, putting up wreaths, and giving gifts.  Since most of these quotes come from his writing titles “On Idolatry” apparently he considered those practices as idolatrous.

It seems to me that no true Christians would do this, only those who were somewhat nominal, but who had been accepted, to some degree, by part of the Greco-Roman confederation.  His complaints apparently did not stop this from happening, though his objections certainly have biblical support.

Oddly, although he endorsed Christmas (which included traces of pagan worship), Archbishop of Constantinople John Chrysostom (who condemned people for keeping God’s Holy Days in the fourth century) wrote the following in the late fourth century:

And what, pray you, is that Minerva of theirs, and Apollo, and Juno ? They are different kinds of demons among them. (Chrysostom J. The homilies of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople: on the Acts of the Apostles, Volume 1, Homily IV. John Henry Parker, 1851. Original from Harvard University. Digitized, Apr 12, 2008, p. 66)

Venerable Cesare Baronius, a Catholic of the 16th century, wrote:

If the candles which were formerly distributed at the Saturnalia are now identified with the feast of the Purification of our Lady? What, I ask, is there so surprising if holy bishops have allowed certain customs firmly rooted among pagan peoples, and so tenaciously adhered to by them that even after their conversion to Christianity they could not be induced to surrender them, to be transferred to the worship of the true God?” (Baronius, “Annales”, ad ann. 58, n. 77). (as cited in Thurston, Herbert. “Lights.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09244b.htm>)

Thus, Baronius seems to be saying that Saturnalia lights are a pagan practice, yet using them is acceptable.

But even the Rheims‘ version of the New Testament (a Catholic approved translation) states the following:

15. And what agreement with Christ and Belial? or what part hath the faithful with the
infidel?
16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with Idols? For you are the temple of the
living God. as God saith, Then I will dwell, and walk in them, and will be their God: and
they shall be my people.
17. For the which cause, Go out of the midst of them, and separate yourselves. saith our
Lord, and touch not the unclean: and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:15-17, The Original And True Rheims New Testament Of Anno Domini 1582. Prepared and Edited by Dr. William von Peters, Ph.D. Copyright © 1998, Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2004, copyright assigned to VSC Corp.).

So unclean practices associated with idols are prohibited by God. Does not that include celebrating as the idolaters celebrate?

The Catholic Encyclopedia teaches that:

Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church (Martindale C. Transcribed by Susanti A. Suastika. Christmas. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Copyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

The above is true.

Why did Christmas end up on December 25th?

Probably because that was the day of celebration of the birthday of the sun-god Mithra. December 25th also took place during the Saturnalia, hence it was acceptable to at least two groups of pagans. Followers of Mithra represented an influential group in the Roman Empire. Other practices associated with Mithraism have become part of the Roman and Orthodox Catholic churches (such as their communion services) (for more details, please check out the documented article Do You Practice Mithraism?).

Notice the following:

Mithraism A pagan religion consisting mainly of the cult of the ancient Indo-Iranian Sun-god Mithra. It entered Europe from Asia Minor after Alexander’s conquest, spread rapidly over the whole Roman Empire at the beginning of our era, reached its zenith during the third century, and vanished under the repressive regulations of Theodosius at the end of the fourth century…Helios Mithras is one god…Sunday was kept holy in honour of Mithra, and the sixteenth of each month was sacred to him as mediator. The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigours of the season (Arendzen. J.P. Transcribed by John Looby. Mithraism. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X. Published 1911. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Until the Council of Nicea, the December 25th Christmas holiday was not even accepted by the Roman Catholics.

The World Book Encyclopedia notes,

In 354 A.D., Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate on December 25. He probably chose this date because the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun (Sechrist E.H. Christmas. World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3. Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, Chicago, 1966, pp. 408-417).

It needs to be understood that some scholarly sources believe that the celebration in Rome of Christmas may have began 2-3 decades earlier (by Constantine), but none I am aware of suggest it was prior Constantine in the fourth century.

There have been scholars who believe that Constantine was involved as tradition claims a certain church in Rome as the first site of a December 25th “Christmas” celebration as the following 2007 news account indicates:

The church where the tradition of celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 may have begun was built near a pagan shrine as part of an effort to spread Christianity, a leading Italian scholar says.

Italian archaeologists last month revealed an underground grotto that they believe ancient Romans revered as the place where a wolf nursed Rome’s legendary founder, Romulus, and his twin brother, Remus. A few feet from the grotto, or “Lupercale,” the Emperor Constantine built the Basilica of St. Anastasia, where some believe Christmas was first celebrated on Dec. 25…

It opted to mark Christmas, then celebrated at varying dates, on Dec. 25 to coincide with the Roman festival celebrating the birth of the sun god, Andrea Carandini, a professor of archaeology at Rome’s La Sapienza University, told reporters Friday. The Basilica of St. Anastasia was built as soon as a year after the Nicaean Council. It probably was where Christmas was first marked on Dec. 25, part of broader efforts to link pagan practices to Christian celebrations in the early days of the new religion, Mr. Carandini said. “The church was built to Christianize these pagan places of worship,” he said. “It was normal to put a church near these places to try to ‘save’ them.” Rome’s archaeological superintendent, Angelo Bottini, who did not take part in Mr. Carandini’s research, said that hypothesis was “evocative and coherent” and “helps us understand the mechanisms of the passage from paganism to Christianity.” (Scholars link 1st yule church to pagan shrine. Washington Times – Dec 23, 2007 ROME (AP). http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071223/FOREIGN/924350661/1001 viewed 12/24/07).

And the December 25th date was adopted apparently because the Greco-Roman church was filled with people who did not care that this was the Saturnalis/Mithra birthday (see also Do You Practice Mithraism?), so calling it by the name of Christ somehow was believed to make the sun rebirth activities more acceptable.

And the December 25th Christmas did not become part of the observations in Constantinople until the famous hater of Jews, John Chrysostum, introduced it there:

We may take it as certain that the feast of Christ’s Nativity was kept in Rome on 25 December…It was introduced by St. John Chrysostom into Constantinople and definitively adopted in 395 (Thurston. H. Transcribed by Rick McCarty. Christian Calendar. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Published 1908. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York ).

Furthermore, here is even more that The Catholic Encyclopedia admits this about Christmas:

Christmas…Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen, glancing perhaps at the discreditable imperial Natalitia, asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday; Arnobius (VII, 32 in P.L., V, 1264) can still ridicule the “birthdays” of the gods.

Alexandria. The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt. About A.D. 200, Clement of Alexandria (Strom., I, xxi in P.G., VIII, 888) says that certain Egyptian theologians “over curiously” assign, not the year alone, but the day of Christ’s birth, placing it on 25 Pachon (20 May) in the twenty-eighth year of Augustus…

Cyprus, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Asia Minor. In Cyprus, at the end of the fourth century, Epiphanius asserts against the Alogi (Hær., li, 16, 24 in P. G., XLI, 919, 931) that Christ was born on 6 January…

Rome. At Rome the earliest evidence is in the Philocalian Calendar (P. L., XIII, 675; it can be seen as a whole in J. Strzygowski, Kalenderbilder des Chron. von Jahre 354, Berlin, 1888), compiled in 354, which contains three important entries. In the civil calendar 25 December is marked “Natalis Invicti”…

By the time of Jerome and Augustine, the December feast is established, though the latter (Epp., II, liv, 12, in P.L., XXXIII, 200) omits it from a list of first-class festivals. From the fourth century every Western calendar assigns it to 25 December…

The Gospels. Concerning the date of Christ’s birth the Gospels give no help; upon their data contradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter: a whole population could not then be put in motion…

Natalis Invicti. The well-known solar feast, however, of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date. For the history of the solar cult, its position in the Roman Empire, and syncretism with Mithraism, see Cumont’s epoch-making “Textes et Monuments” etc., I, ii, 4, 6, p. 355…The earliest rapprochement of the births of Christ and the sun is in Cypr., “De pasch. Comp.”, xix, “O quam præclare providentia ut illo die quo natus est Sol . . . nasceretur Christus.” – “O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born . . . Christ should be born.”…

Cards and presents. Pagan customs centering round the January calends gravitated to Christmas…

The yule log. The calend fires were a scandal even to Rome, and St. Boniface obtained from Pope Zachary their abolition (Martindale C. Christmas, 1908).

Hence it is clear that even early Roman writers such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen did not endorse Christmas, nor did Augustine even list it as an important holiday. And that even later Catholic sources recognize that it is not likely that a census (as shown in Luke 2:1) would be done during the winter–making a December 25th date of birth unlikely (it was also too cold for shepherds to spend the night with their flocks out in an open field, as shown in Luke 2:8, making a December 25th birth basically impossible).

It appears that towards the beginning of the third century, there were some in Alexandria (not Asia Minor, or even Rome) who began to feel that Jesus’ birth should be celebrated, and that it would be on May 25th. But later, in the fourth century, Christmas began to be celebrated with January 6th or December 25 being the dates observed (and that is believed to be because the sun-worshiping Emperor Constantine, or one of his successors, wanted to have a Sun holiday at the time of Saturnalia and Brumalia to placate the Gentiles.

The simple fact is that early Christians did not have a holiday to observe the “incarnation.”  If God wanted it celebrated, perhaps the date, as well as some admonition to observe it, would be in the New Testament.  Compromisers who claimed to be Christian could not pass up a December party called Saturnalia.  Those who had ties to the sun god Mithras wanted to keep observing his day.  And so, in the fourth century, something like Christmas was officially observed in Rome and Constantinople.

But, history suggests that there were actual Christians who would not follow Rome or Constantinople.  And there still are today.  What about you?

Some articles of related interest may include:

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Was Jesus Born in the Grotto of the Nativity? Was Jesus born in a below ground cave? Was Jesus born below the “Church of the Nativity”? Were the wise men there?
Is Keeping Christmas a Sin? Is keeping Christmas acceptable for true Christians? What are some scriptures to consider?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

Mohamed Morsi, Official Photograph

COGwriter

Voters in Egypt are voting on a second part of a highly Islamic constitution today.  Although there are still protests in Egypt, its President Morsi is still trying to insure it becomes a more Islamist state:

12/22/12

CAIRO – An Egyptian constitution drafted by Islamists is expected to be approved in a referendum on Saturday after the charter, which opponents say will create deeper turmoil, won approval in a first wave of voting a week ago…

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Islamist supporters of President Mohamed Morsi, who was elected in June, say the constitution is vital to moving Egypt towards democracy two years after Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in a popular uprising. They say it will help restore the stability needed to fix an economy that is on the ropes…

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The opposition says the constitution is divisive and accuses Morsi of pushing through a document that leans towards his Islamist allies and ignores the rights of Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the population, as well as women…

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Opponents also say Saturday’s vote could well go in Morsi’s favor…Islamists, who have won successive ballots since Mubarak’s overthrow although by narrowing margins, dismiss charges that they are exploiting religion and say the document reflects the will of a majority in the country where most people are Muslim.  http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=296933

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The constitution, fast-tracked to a referendum by President Mohamed Mursi, has exposed the deep rifts between Egypt’s Islamists and a rival camp of leftists, liberals, Christians and more moderate Muslims, at odds about how to shape the new nation…

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Islamists, who have won every vote since Mubarak was ousted in February 2011, although by shrinking margins, say the constitution must be passed to complete the transition to democracy and Egypt’s laws and codes should be based on Islamic principles to reflect the wishes of a Muslim-majority nation…

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The document has a distinctly Islamist flavor. While the source of legislation remains “the principles” of Islamic sharia as in the old text, a new provision adds further details on what that would mean. Another article says Al-Azhar mosque and university, a seat of Sunni Muslim learning, must be consulted on “matters related to the Islamic sharia”.

“Under the shadow of the Brotherhood and extremist groups the future of all Egyptians will no doubt be dark,” said Fatma Naoot, 48, a poet and columnist, who often speaks out on women’s issues and defends the arts against censorship.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/22/us-egypt-politics-liberals-idUSBRE8BL06H20121222

Today’s referendum, if approved, it will give the Islamists a stronger basis for taking over more and more aspects of Egypt’s government (like parliament) and increase the international influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. Yet, if it is approved, there will be some who protest in the streets. And this is consistent with Bible prophecy for Egypt.

There will be a greater fulfillment of the following verses in Isaiah 19 in Egypt than we have seen so far:

1 The burden against Egypt.

Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud,
And will come into Egypt;
The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,
And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.

2 “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;
Everyone will fight against his brother,
And everyone against his neighbor,
City against city, kingdom against kingdom.
3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst;
I will destroy their counsel,
And they will consult the idols and the charmers,
The mediums and the sorcerers.
4 And the Egyptians I will give
Into the hand of a cruel master,
And a fierce king will rule over them,”
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4)

What Dr. Morsi is working for is a pan-national Islamic state.  He has long been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and is a member of it political party.  The constitution that he wants is consistent with the goals of the Muslim Brotherhood.  The constitution would also seems to be a step towards Egypt becoming part of a coming confederation that the Bible shows will be led by the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-42).

When Dr. Morsi was responsible for the official website of the Muslim Brotherhood, it put up an article that stated the following:

The Muslim Brethren…believe that the caliphate is a symbol of Islamic Union and an indication of the bonds between the nations of Islam. They see the caliphate and its re-establishment as a top priority, subsequently; an association of Muslims people should be set up, which would elect the imam”. (zhyntativ. HASAN AL-BANNA AND HIS POLITICAL THOUGHT OF ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD. IkhwanWeb, May 13, 2008. http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=17065 viewed 09/22/11)

What is the Muslim Brotherhood?
The world’s largest and most influential Islamist movement…“The Islamic nation,” its charter states, “must be fully prepared to fight the tyrants and the enemies of Allah as a prelude to establishing an Islamic state”—ideally a re-established caliphate, stretching from Spain across the Middle East and Central Asia to Indonesia, to be governed according to Islamic sharia law. (Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood. February 14, 2011. © The Muslim Brotherhood. http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=28019 viewed 11/21/2011)

The Muslim Brotherhood apparently wants as its top priority a pan-national Islamic caliphate ruled by an Imam/Caliph. And while it will not get all the territory it wants, it is likely to end up in some type of confederation with at least most of North Africa and the Middle East.

Part of the reason I state that is because the type of Islamic confederation that the Muslim Brotherhood wants is consistent with one prophesied in the Bible (Ezekiel 30:1-8) that is to be led by one it calls the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-42). The Bible ties a coming North African/Middle East confederation to Egypt, and Egypt will ultimately not do well because of it:

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“‘Wail and say, “Alas for that day!” 3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush. When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.

5 Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.

6 “‘This is what the LORD says:

“‘The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Sovereign LORD. 7 “‘They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities. 8 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.

9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come (Ezekiel 30:1-9, NIV).

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together. (Isaiah 31:3)

40 At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40-42).

The protesters in Egypt are correct that what the Islamists want will not turn out to be good for Egypt. But Bible prophecy shows that a pan-national Arabic power will rise up, and it is highly logical that there will be an Islamic religious component to this as most of the Arab nations are predominantly Muslim.

And although this King of the South confederation will happen, because of Isaiah 19 and human nature, I expect more protests in Egypt and other part of North Africa and the Middle East before the final King of the South actually has his confederation.

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?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.

Evangelical Church Service (Gateway, by Jared Stump)

COGwriter

Do evangelicals face extinction or at least decline?  Notice the following:

Is the Death of Evangelical Christianity Imminent?…

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Pastor John S. Dickerson, {is} a 30-year-old evangelical leader who is sounding the alarm to his fellow believers… the pastor outlines his views on current societal trends and what they could mean for the future of Christianity in America. Of 2012, he wrote, “It hasn’t been a good year for evangelicals. I should know. I’m one of them.” To understand what he means in making this statement, here’s a recap of how Dickerson views the current scenario:

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In 2012 we witnessed a collapse in American evangelicalism. The old religious right largely failed to affect the Republican primaries, much less the presidential election. Last month, Americans voted in favor of same-sex marriage in four states, while Florida voters rejected an amendment to restrict abortion…

As for the reason for this decline, the preacher is able to narrow it down in a few simple words: “Structural supports of evangelicalism are quivering as a result of ground-shaking changes in American culture.”

Rather than failing as an institution based on its core tenets, evangelicalism has simply not adjusted to the quickly-shifting societal sands, Dickerson argues…Among the challenges facing evangelical churches, Dickerson notes five monumentally-important issues: declining church attendance, a donation crisis (older evangelicals who once gave large sums are aging), failure to adopt to social changes on issues like gay marriage, a dearth in the ability to use its power to achieve conversions and a youth that is decreasingly interested in faith and church… http://www.theblaze.com/stories/is-the-death-of-evangelical-christianity-imminent-5-monumental-issues-facing-the-movement/

Evangelicals claim to believe the Bible, and their position on subjects like homosexual marriage and abortion should be consistent with the Bible.  Otherwise, those of that persuasion will find that their members will leave and that some will be absorbed in other groups, including the Roman and Orthodox Catholics.

Notice something that was recently in an email newsletter:

The ecumenical movement continues to seek the unity of apostate churches in fulfillment of the prophesied one-world religion. In a recent article by former protestant, Keith Fournier, who has been ordained as a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, he said the two lungs of Christ’s Church must breathe together again in the Third millennium as they did in the First Millennium. On November 12, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of St Josaphat, a 17th century Eastern Catholic Bishop who poured himself out in imitation of Christ so that the Church would once again be one. Josaphat has been referred to as the “thief of souls”. Fournier said this about Josaphat: “I propose that heroic man was in fact plundering hell itself! He said, “I pray daily for the full communion of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches because I believe it is the will of God that ‘All May be One'” (John 17: 21). (pro-gospel.org, November 30, 2012)

As far as evangelicals going away, notice something that I wrote and published back in the Summer of 2009:

Various events around the globe suggest that people of many faiths are getting to the point where they are likely to accept some type of ecumenical religion.

Notice that one evangelical Protestant has predicted that there will be a collapse of evangelicals within a decade because of compromise and limited biblical confidence—and that many will join the Catholics and/or Orthodox:

Michael Spencer (2009): We are on the verge—within 10 years—of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West… Millions of Evangelicals will quit…massive majorities of Evangelicals can’t articulate the Gospel with any coherence…Even in areas where Evangelicals imagine themselves strong (like the Bible Belt), we will find a great inability to pass on to our children a vital evangelical confidence in the Bible and the importance of the faith… Two of the beneficiaries will be the Roman Catholic and Orthodox communions. Evangelicals have been entering these churches in recent decades and that trend will continue, with more efforts aimed at the “conversion” of Evangelicals to the Catholic and Orthodox traditions…

And the above is not even including the fact that those “Catholic and Orthodox communions” will themselves likely come together and change under the guise of the ecumenical movement that will strengthen in Europe—an ecumenical movement that news events show is occurring. (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  Nazarene Books, 2009, pp. 176-177).

Despite having a lot of “megachurches,” overall, the evangelical movement continues its decline and movement towards absorption and extinction.

The Bible shows that an ecumenical unity for the world is coming our of Europe (cf. Revelation 13:3-4,8) and it will not be faithful to the early and true apostolic traditions or sacred scripture.  Ecumenical unity will be a disaster for the world (cf. Revelation 13, 17, & 18). Catholics and Protestants will find such unity with the Eastern Orthodox especially disturbing if they understood the plan of the Orthodox in this area.

Ultimately, the evangelical movement as it is now known in the USA will be no more.

More details can be found in the following:

Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?
Hope of Salvation: How the Genuine Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Do Protestants realize what the goal of the ecumenical Catholics is?
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Hope of Salvation: How the Genuine Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Genuine Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a verdadeira igreja do deus? Tambien Español: ¿Que es fiel: La Iglesia Católica Romana o la Iglesia verdadera de Dios? Auch: Deutsch: Welches ist treu: Die römisch-katholische Kirche oder die Kirche Gottes Original?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?

COGwriter

Despite the interpretations of Mayan writings and artifacts by some, the world did not end in a catastrophic flood last night (although in California we are supposed to get some rain today, but that is normal for this time of year), nor did the earth get excessively scorched with high heat as some thought it might.  Nor was the bulk of the world’s power grid hit with a devastating solar flare (or something similar) to cause long-term damage (as some suggested on The History Channel less than 30 hours ago).

As author of 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, Sony Pictures invited me to attend the press screening of its 2012 movie before it was released in November 2009. The movie itself was about 2 1/2 hours long.  It, while consistent with one Mayan prediction (that may not have been for this date), pushes the non-biblical position that the world would be destroyed by a flood in 2012. The trailer also has the following statements:

HOW WOULD THE GOVERNMENTS OF OUR PLANET PREPARE SIX BILLION PEOPLE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD?

THEY WOULDN’T

2012

FIND OUT THE TRUTH

The above was, biblically, a false claim. 2012 was not the end of the world. That Sony 2012 movie prediction was wrong.

There is also an interesting Mayan writing from the 16th century, called the Chilam Balam, which has the following:

But when the law of the katun has run its course, the God will bring about a great deluge again which will be the end of the world. When this is over, then our Lord Jesus Christ will descend over the valley of Jehoshaphat beside the town of Jerusalem where he redeemed us with his holy blood (José Hoíl J, Roys R. The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Roys Publisher, 1933. Reprint Forgotten Books, 1967, p. 62).

The Mayan flood prophecy, presuming that it applied to 2012 (there is debate about that) was be proven false.

Although the Bible does show that some type of flooding will occur and eliminate most of the islands of the world (please see Islands and Bible Prophecy), but I do not believe that this can occur until some years 2017. Nor does the Bible allow for a worldwide destruction of all flesh through a flood:

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11).

My book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Secttaught that many things would not happen on December 21, 2012 and some that will.  As it turns out on that date, the world did not end in a flood, Jesus did not return, the world was not destroyed by a solar storm, the world was not be destroyed by high heat, the Great Tribulation did not start, and December 21, 2012 did not mark the end of civilization, but some did at least partially interpret the lack of the apocalypse and the calendar change on December 21, 2012 as verification that a “golden age of peace” or era of peace was beginning.  While some others discounted ‘end of the world’ prophecies, and even suggested that the Bible does not contain them.

The accuracy of the related predictions was confirmed by numerous news sources (Alper A. World survives as Maya ‘end of days’ marked in Mexico.  Reuters, December 21, 2012.  http://news.yahoo.com/maya-end-days-fever-reaches-climax-mexico-060919391.html; Mosbergen D. Evo Morales, Bolivia’s President, Celebrates Mayan ‘Apocalypse’ With Tradition, Ushers In Era Of Love. Huffington Post, December 21, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21/evo-morales-bolivia-president-mayan-apocalypse-era-of-love_n_2346367.html; Bragg R. Doomsdayers have fun planning world’s end.  San Antonio Express-News, December 20, 2012. http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/article/Doomsdayers-have-fun-planning-world-s-end-4131826.php; AS I SEE IT — Congrats, it appears we survived. Brandon Sun, December 22, 2012. http://www.brandonsun.com/opinion/columns/as-i-see-it—-congrats-it-appears-we-survived-184520651.html?thx=y).  Even the expression “golden age of peace” was used (Harden KD.  ‘The world is always ending one day at a time — so you’ve got to celebrate every one.’  The Advocate, December 22, 2012.  http://theadvocate.com/news/4742888-123/the-world-is-always-ending) to describe what was happening.

FWIW, news reported world events have aligned with at least 32 biblically-understood predictions in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect (a listing is at the beginning of the article End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?).  And more will as well after 2012.

Those interested in the truth should check out the following:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?  What are the 32 predictions in the book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect that were at least partially confirmed by news sources by 12/22/2012?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 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?

Vatican City (photo by Joyce Thiel)

COGwriter

The European Union gave the Vatican a rather large “gift”:

The Vatican has received a generous early Christmas present from European Union chiefs with the announcement that illegal tax exemption from 2006 to 2011, which saved the Catholic Church billions of euros, will not have to be paid back.

Europe’s Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, said two years ago that the Vatican’s exemption from Italian property tax, or ICI, payments, on thousands of buildings, including 4,714 hospitals and clinics, breached EU competition law. He suggested that the Church would have to cough up the missing payments.

But now the European Commission has said that the Italian government had demonstrated that clawing back the missed payments “would be absolutely impossible” given how hard it would be to decide which properties in that period were being used exclusively for commercial purposes.  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-lets-catholic-church-off-its-billioneuro-tax-bill-8426163.html#

The Bible talks about various arrangements that the “city of seven-hills” will have with the final European power (Revelation 17-18).

The Vatican itself has been taking a few additional security steps.  FWIW, my wife and I have visited Vatican City many times since the late 1980s and can attest that security is annoyingly tight now.

The announcement that thousands of Vatican clergy and employees will be issued an identification card with an RFID tracking device comes as no surprise following the Vatileaks scandal. Even the Pope needs to be concerned about confidentiality and security. However, His Holiness seems to be following the Prophecy of the Popes and bringing us one step closer to Armageddon.

Sound far fetched? The fact that the last 111 popes were all named in a 900-year-old prophecy is thought provoking enough. But the idea that Pope Benedict XVI may be the Last Pope before the Apocalypse, he’s issuing tracking devices to the masses, and he’s one of the most politically influential men in the world should make you sit up and take notice. Because according to the Prophecy of the Popes, the next pope will be the last, and he’ll usher in the Antichrist.  http://www.infowars.com/rfid-tracking-chips-at-the-vatican-fulfilling-the-prophecy-of-the-popes/

The “Prophecy of the Popes” is based upon a vision that the Catholic saint and bishop Malachy claimed to have in 12th century.  It is a bit odd that the report about the RFIDs mentioned it.

While some have distanced themselves from the Malachy prophecies, various Catholics believe in it, and if it is correct, the next pope would be the last one.  And according to various Catholic and other writings, possibly the final Antichrist.  The next pope will be one to watch.

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”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible? Did you know that Catholic scholars really do not believe that several of the claimed “apostolic sees” of the Orthodox have apostolic succession–despite the fact that the current pontiff himself seems to wish to ignore this view? Is there actually a true church that has ties to any of the apostles that is not part of the Catholic or Orthodox churches? Read this article if you truly are interested in the truth on this matter!
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Genuine Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a verdadeira igreja do deus? Tambien Español: ¿Que es fiel: La Iglesia Católica Romana o la Iglesia verdadera de Dios? Auch: Deutsch: Welches ist treu: Die römisch-katholische Kirche oder die Kirche Gottes Original?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

COGwriter

Just in time for today, last night UCG sent out an email about its latest video titled Will the World End on December 21, 2012?   Here are some quotes from it:

[Darris McNeely] You’ve probably seen on the internet this weather chart of the weather that’s coming up this Friday, December 21st. A lot of people are looking at this date as the end of the world. Another empty, vain prediction about the world coming to a cataclysmic end with fire, meteors, high temperatures – all because of a supposed Mayan prediction that December 21, 2012 will mark the end of the world.

[Steve Myers] That’s right. It looks like it could be a really hot day. But when you see these kinds of things, it does make you laugh…

[Darris McNeely] Unfortunately, it appears to have caught on though, and a lot of people are taking it seriously. There is at least one report of someone who has committed suicide. People have called into NASA asking whether they should kill themselves. Is there something really to this? And again, it has just caught up a lot of attention and pointed to once again just the vanity of making predictions like this and getting caught up in these obscure prophecies that come from many parts of the world.

So far, at least two non-biblical predictions for today have proven to be false.  A couple of days ago, I reported that some in China believed that the sun would rise in the West instead of the East today (Chinese church protesters point to the Mayan 12/21/12 date, and, despite name, they are not truly COG).  And it “rose” from the East here and there are no reports that I have seen that say it rose from the West in China.  Notice also something else related to China:

On Dec. 17, police detained almost 1000 members of a religious group for spreading doomsday messages. (The group believes Jesus Christ has returned in the form of a woman from Henan province and that Friday will bring on three days of total darkness).  http://qz.com/37958/in-china-governments-denial-of-mayan-apocalypse-is-only-fueling-the-paranoia/

Even though biblical prophecy talks about the time that the sun is darkened (Revelation 6:12) and Catholic prophecy tells of a time of three days of darkness (see Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies?), it is still light in China without massive power outages, Jesus is not a woman, and Jesus has not yet returned (and will not prior to 2020).

Many more false prophecies for today will be proven false (here is a link to ten: Ten ‘End of the World Predictions’ That Will Be Proven False This Month).

It is true that high heat is prophesied in the Bible and the Mayans wrote about something like that, yet notice the time period as mentioned as I mentioned in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect:

There also seems to be a couple of Mayan predictions recorded in the 16^th century that suggest some type of solar flare-up will affect the earth:

Chilam Balam (Mayan priest): Heaven and earth shall burn…It is the holy judgment, the holy judgment.

Napuctun (Mayan priest): It shall burn on earth; there shall be a circle in the sky.

Another N.A.S.A./N.O.A.A. report has indicated that the next solar cycle peak may be later, like May 2013… The Bible itself warns of a time of scorching solar heat (Revelation 16:8-9…)…

that flood and other prophecies are expected before 2030 (but after 2012)…

Whether or not one believes secular scientists who assert that humans are causing “global warming,” and islands will be submerged, the Bible is clear that a time of high heat will happen, probably worsened by a solar flare-up of some type.  It also mentions the islands being gone:

⁸ Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹ And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory…every island fled away (Revelation 16:8-9, 20).

The signs will be powerful.  And the Babylonian power will fall during the Day of the Lord (Revelation 18:2).

This biblical period of high heat cannot happen until the Day of the Lord.  Which, at this time, is at least seven years away by my calculations (it begins 2 1/2 years after the start of the Great Tribulation).

Speaking of items from my book, when I wrote 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect my primary focus was on what would likely happen during the years 2012 through 2020 and beyond.  But of course, for many of the events to occur, other world events need to align themselves for them to come to pass.  At least 24 have so far, and very soon it will be 27.

The 25th, for those who want to know it know, is that the world will not end by tomorrow.

Those who wish to learn more about end-time prophecies may wish to check out the following book and compare what it teaches with Bible prophecy and world events:

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 (2 ª Edição em português do Brasil): Um Guia Revolucionário de Sobrevivência Espiritual e Física para 2012-2020 (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel. 2 ª 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.2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (KINDLE Edição em português do Brasil) 2 ª edição.-Kindle.

Here are some article for those who prefer to look things up online:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012?  Have predictions written by Bob Thiel related to Barack Obama and Julia Gillard began to come to pass?
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?

COGwriter

Later today, currently I have three radio interviews scheduled to explain why the end of the world is not happening today, despite what some believe about the Mayan calendar.  Some readers of this page may wish to listen.

The first is with Lindsey Green at Rocket 99.5 FM, Las Cruses, New Mexico at 8:00 am Mountain Time (7:00 am Pacific).  She and I will likely discuss information related to world events and prophecies related to one or more of my books and why the world will not be ending on December 21/22 2012, including that a prediction related to the sun will have been proven wrong by then.

The second is that I am scheduled to be on the Nutri-Medical Report at 2:15 pm Pacific time on the Genesis Communications Network.  Some updates about what did not happen, and perhaps some that did, will be discussed briefly.

The third, like the first today, is also at Rocket 99.5 FM, Las Cruses, New Mexico at 4:15 pm Mountain Time (3:15 pm Pacific).  Rick Mardigras and I are likely (I have not spoken to him at all) discuss information related to the fact that the world has not yet ended and what some seem to expect to happen.

Since my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect came out in 2009, I have been able to reach millions via radio (presuming audience size estimates I have been told are correct)–world events already have confirmed at least 24 predictions in it, and by the end of this month, apparently at least 27.  Interestingly, my online article End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? has had between 500,000-600,000 page views on the internet since it first came out.

While Satan seemingly has plans for 2012 related to false declarations of peace (cf. Ezekiel 13) and getting people to scoff about prophecy (cf. 2 Peter 3), as COGwriter, I have tried to explain to people interested in end time matters that Bible prophecy can be trusted and that it is not possible for today to be TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it).

Some links of essentially related interest could include:

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 (2 ª Edição em português do Brasil): Um Guia Revolucionário de Sobrevivência Espiritual e Física para 2012-2020 (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel. 2 ª 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.2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (KINDLE Edição em português do Brasil) 2 ª edição.-Kindle.
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012?  Have predictions written by Bob Thiel related to Barack Obama and Julia Gillard began to come to pass?
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?
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?
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.)