Church of God News

Beast Portrayal

COGwriter

When is the earliest year that the Great Tribulation can?

While a false prophet has apparently taught that now is the time to now get pregnant as the end supposedly is near (see PCG allegedly going further over the edge, plus proclaiming time to flee is imminent and pregnancy should now be avoided), how near is the Great Tribulation?

Well, the recommended sermon from the Continuing Church of  God this week (and it was recorded within the past week) is titled The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.

Various ones seem to feel that it can begin in 2013 or 2014 or that it already started some time ago.

Those who believed and understand what the Bible actually teaches realize that the Great Tribulation cannot begin before 2017.

Reasons are in the sermon Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017 as well as the article When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?

Jesus gave a variety of signs/events that had to happen prior the start of the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24.   Not only have many not happened, a preceding event in Daniel 9:27 involving the confirmation of a seven-year deal still has not happened.  Since it did not happen as of July 2013, this means that it is not possible for the Great Tribulation to begin for at least 3 1/2 years (half of a biblically-prophetic week).

At this instant, unless we see more major conflict in the Middle East between now and the end of the Summer, it is unlikely that the Great Tribulation can begin prior to 2018.

The Great Tribulation is coming, but it will not begin in 2013. And, as I announced shortly after Barack Obama was re-elected, I do not believe that it can begin prior to 2017.

Laodicea has many ineffective structures

COGwriter

For several months, David Pack of the improperly named Restored Church of God (RCG) has been writing weekly letters to those he tends to call “the splinters.”   He basically is teaching that he is the prophesied Joshua from the Book of Haggai and that all those in the Church of God will reunify with his group on August 30, 2013.  I have been covering this at the News of Those Once Affiliated with GCG page and have once mentioned it on this page once.

Anyway, here is some of what David Pack wrote that was just posted late today, which has more emphasis towards ministers he wants to gain:

The group this announcement addresses should most be able to recognize the fingerprints of God working in His Church. It was the ministry—1,855 ministers and elders the day I was terminated in March 1993…(A note to ministers under 40: You have not really seen what God’s Church is supposed to look like. Those under 30 have never seen it. GRASP THIS before proceeding!)…

First some review from previous announcements. We saw God’s people will soon be reinstated into His Church after having been disfellowshipped for about 20 years. Recall what Mr. Armstrong taught YOU about the status of the disfellowshipped. None of the WCG ministry ever believed that a disfellowshipped person was still a member of the Body of Christ…

If you want your ministry to continue, think carefully about the men you currently support. To pooh-pooh this announcement is to risk your calling. Think it through. The leaders of your organization cannot give you eternal life. They will soon be unable to even continue your employment as a pastor or associate pastor…

You may soon find yourself pastoring larger or much larger numbers of brethren after reunification. God’s Church will again enjoy more and larger congregations around the world…

Be careful you do not quickly dismiss a complex prophecy, one you are no longer equipped to readily grasp. Just think about how you probably could not even remember that Mr. Armstrong was the Zerubbabel of Haggai and Zechariah 4—never mind WHAT THIS MEANT.

Some or many ministers may be torn over these announcements, wondering if I could be right. Haggai is a book in your Bible! His prophecy WILL soon come to pass. No other explanation of it fits—and none but Gerald Flurry is even offering an explanation. (When has that man gotten ANYTHING about prophecy right?) The only thing you could question is whether the timing of this year is correct. Last Friday’s announcement made this plain, revealing many reasons (there are almost 40 more) that the prophecy is “on” for 2013.

Your leaders once claimed to be searching for God’s servant. One was sent. Yet humanly I am no more special than any of you. God’s pattern of government starts with one leader. You once believed this. You also once professed to know an apostle when you saw one—meaning by the fruits. Just like you did not ask to become a minister of Jesus Christ, I did not ask for my responsibilities. Who would? But God’s flock is before us, along with the greatest Work the world has ever seen.

Will you rise to the challenge?

You may soon find yourself pastoring larger or much larger numbers of brethren after reunification…

God’s people can again experience the peace that existed during the Worldwide Church of God while it was on track. Realize a wonderful place—an awesome future opportunity—awaits you. We all look forward to thousands of people returning to God’s Church. Brethren will again “dwell together in unity” (Pas. 133:1), walking together in the “bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). The I Corinthians 1:10 picture of complete unity will again be the case for ALL God’s people. These verses will be fulfilled a second time in this age, and your role will be crucial.

David Pack often makes bold and inaccurate statements.  His latest post is no exception. While some ministers may join him (some have in the past, and some of them later left), few real ministers could be comfortable with the spiritual error in RCG.  He will not get the thousands that he is claiming.

To address another of his inaccurate statements, I am a COG leader and I clearly wrote that Haggai is not predicting David Pack, but may be referring to one of the two witnesses as a potential “Joshua,” yet David Pack says only PCG’s Gerald Flurry offered an explanation–that is not true.   Furthermore, since David Pack claimed to have read my article on the two witnesses, he should have seen it.  Additionally, since he had previously written that he was not one of the two witnesses, but supposed would train them, he is not “Joshua.”

But, he has a tendency to be dismissive and not be careful enough about the facts, the truth, or the mission of the Church, which is a big part of why I have long had serious doubts that RCG is truly a Church of God (though, I have believed that some of its members were, though misled by David Pack).

Notice, for another example, something he wrote and had posted last Friday:

Why Reunification THIS YEAR!

…all brethren will be reunited this summer, in time to attend the Feast of Tabernacles together in 2013… the prophecy is “on” for August 2013.

God’s people are not all about to join RCG and attend their Feast of Tabernacles’ sites.  While his numbers seem to be up in 2013, David Pack will not have the majority of those that are truly converted and have God’s Holy Spirit become part of his organization.  His organization is not truly of God.

In the past David Pack claimed that he was an apostle because he wrote a lot.  Interestingly, someone once affiliated with RCG wrote me years ago and informed me that he, and not David Pack, really did most of the booklets and that David Pack claimed too much credit for what little he actually did.

Be that as it may, RCG has always been about the person of David Pack.  I personally do not believe that he is an actual Christian, based upon various statements and actions he has taken in the past.

Why mention this here and now?

Basically, I want it clear to everyone that there is no possible why that the vast majority of God’s people are going to become part of RCG by August 30, 2013 nor go to RCG’s Feast of Tabernacles’ sites.  David Pack is one of many false and heretical leaders.  His bullying and name-calling tactics have not stopped me for calling attention to several of his inaccurate statements.

Just because someone makes bold statements in with an air of confidence, does not mean that he is right or that he speaks for God.  David Pack is NOT God’s apostle and is wrong about what he is predicting.

Will he repent when he is proven wrong?  That would be interesting.  Or will he make up excuses and explanations like CGPFKG’s Ronald Weinland mostly has?

We will see.

Please, readers, understand that the dictatorial David Pack is completely wrong, yet he is likely to try to come up with an explanation that will keep a lot of his followers.  The same thing happened with Ron Weinland a couple of times, but eventually more people saw the truth about him.  David Pack is wrong about what he is teaching, and also he is NOT the apparently prophesied Joshua of Haggai.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why Not the Restored Church of God? This group, led by David Pack, claims to be the most faithful. The information in this article suggests otherwise. Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Por qué no la Iglesia de Dios Restaurada?
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.
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here? Here is a related link in Spanish/español:¿Quiénes son los dos testigos?
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel 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? What are some of the scriptural limits on ecclesiastical authority? Do some commit organizational idolatry? Here is a Spanish language version La Biblia, Policarpo, Herbert W. Armstrong, y Roderick C. Meredith sobre el gobierno de la Iglesia.
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?
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.
Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claimed to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up, that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008, Jesus would return late September 2011, that Jesus would return on May 27, 2012, then that Jesus will return on May 19, 2013, and now some future Day of Pentecost. Why else does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? He has other views which show he is not part of the Church of God?
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.

COGwriter

More and more is coming out about the massive data collection and espionage of the government of the USA:

July 12, 2013

You are not paranoid

At last year’s Black Hat hacking conference in Las Vegas this hack asked a former government investigator if the US was spying on US citizens. He seemed enraged by the idea that the media were trying to make out that the US government would spy on its own citizens and any such suggestion was paranoia in action…

At congressional hearings in March the US director of national intelligence James Clapper was asked directly by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) if the NSA was collecting data on millions of Americans – a question Wyden had cleared with Clapper 24 hours beforehand. Clapper replied “No,” which he later said depended on how you interpreted the word “collect,” after Snowden started releasing documents.

The news broke for people in the US when Snowden released documents showing that Verizon Business was routinely handling over full user metadata to the NSA thanks to a secret court order. This includes who is called, for how long, and where you are when doing so, and it’s all legal under section 215 of the Patriot Act (according to the government) so long as the content of the calls isn’t directly monitored…

After the Verizon court documents Snowden showed poorly designed PowerPoint slides about PRISM; a system that is designed to harvest the data from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and others, to give the NSA access to users of corporate servers. The details of the system are still in doubt but from what we know some of the biggest names in IT were handing over user’s data for storage and analysis…

On Thursday Microsoft’s problems got even bigger when Snowden released documentsshowing quite how closely Redmond is working with the NSA to slurp customer’s data. Redmond has installed a backdoor into Outlook encryption for the Feds, Skydrive is wide open to the NSA and Skype calls are increasingly under scrutiny…After Snowden fled to Hong Kong he told the Chinese authorities about the efforts of the NSA to hack not just Middle Kingdom military servers, but also civilian networks such as mobile providers. There was a listening station not too far from his hotel room he said.   http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/12/forget_snowden_what_have_we_learned_about_the_nsa_in_the_last_month/

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. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.  (Revelation 13:15-18)

Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power? Various allegations have surfaced about the United States government spying on its own citizens as well as its supposed allies in the European Union. Whether or not all the espionage allegations are true, and the main ones have not been publicly denied by the government of the USA, the reality is that this does have prophetic ramifications and will help the Beast of Revelation. This video provides quotes from the Bible showing how this is so. The USA is placing itself in a position to be taken over and its response to the allegations will make it easier for the Europeans to do so.
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? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. There is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety?
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? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
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? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编： 谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
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. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
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-Second Edition for Second Obama Term 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 a Republican choice. 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 Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-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-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

Pigs are being affected in the USA and elsewhere by a deadly virus:

Pork prices may be on the rise in the next few months because of a new virus that has migrated to the U.S., killing piglets in 15 states at an alarming rate in facilities where it has been reported.Nick Striegel, assistant state veterinarian for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, said Wednesday the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, or PED, was thought to exist only in Europe and China, but Colorado and 14 other states began reporting the virus in April, and officials confirmed its presence in May. The virus causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration in pigs. It can be fatal.

“It has been devastating for those producers where it has been diagnosed. It affects nursing pigs, and in some places, there has been 100 percent mortality,” he said.  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57593163/pig-virus-migrates-to-u.s-threatens-pork-prices/

While this particular virus does not seem to harm humans, pork routinely contains dangerous bacteria (see Consumer Reports: Most Pork Contaminated with Bacteria) and other pathogenic organisms (see Pigs May Spread Deadly Ebola Virus) that can.

The Bible teaches that humans should not eat pigs.  Here is one example:

3 “You shall not eat any detestable thing…7 Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. 8 Also the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses (Deuteronomy 14:3,7-8).

No one called of God is shown to have eaten unclean animals in either the Old or New Testaments.

Pigs transmit a variety of diseases to humans, including potentially deadly ones (for more details, please see The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats and Pigs May Spread Deadly Ebola Virus). They may be a factor in some of the pestilences to come.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous?
Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when?

Vladimir Putin, Official Photograph

COGwriter

A reader sent me the following:

The prominent European diplomatic source reports that in his statement, the Russian President addressed the leaders participating in the G8 meeting, saying:“You want President Bashshar al-Asad to step down? Look at the leaders you’ve made in the Middle East in the course of what you have dubbed the “Arab Spring.” Now the peoples of the region are rejecting those leaders. The revolution against Muhammad Mursi in Egypt continues and anybody who knows the character of Egyptian society is aware of the fact that it is a deeply rooted secular society of varied cultures and civilizations with a history of advanced political activity. It will never accept attempts to impose things upon it by force. As to Receb Tayyib Erdoğan [in Turkey], the street is moving against him and his star is beginning to wane. In Tunisia the Muslim Brotherhood-Salafi rule that you formed there is no longer stable and the fate of Tunisia won’t be very far from the army seizing power, because Europe will never accept chaos on its borders and Tunisia is an entry way to Europe.” (Putin said this before the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Tunisia resigned to declare his candidacy for president of the republic. Note by as-Safir.)Putin went on: “You have spread anarchy in Libya after Mu‘ammar al-Qadhdhafi. Nobody can put together an authority capable of working to rebuild the state there. Yemen after the departure of ‘Ali ‘Abdallah Salih lacks stability in government and there is no peace in the streets. Military and security unrest continues to prevail in all the regions of the country. As to the Persian Gulf, the whole area from Bahrain to the rest of the states there is sitting atop a volcano,” Putin said.

The diplomatic source reported the Russian President as saying: “You want Russia to abandon Asad and his regime and go along with an Opposition whose leaders don’t know anything except issuing fatwas declaring people heretics, and whose members – who come from a bunch of different countries and have multiple orientations – don’t know anything except how to slaughter people and eat human flesh. You use double standards and approach the crisis in Syria using summer and winter styles under one roof. You lie to your own peoples so as to further your interests. This is none of our business. But it is impermissible for you to lie to us and to the countries and peoples of the world, because the international stage is no longer yours alone. Your ability to monopolize it the way you did two decades ago is now gone for good.”

 http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2013/07/10/putin-dresses-down-the-group-of-eight/

The Bible teaches that Syria will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1; a related video is Damascus and Syria in Prophecy).

While I do not intend to go through all of Vladimir Putin’s charges or claims, the reality is that the West has taken steps that have caused problems in the Middle East and North Africa.  And ultimately, the Arabs and some other followers of Islam are going to support a leader (the final King of the South) who will put together a confederation that will take steps to destroy the USA and Israel (see Psalm 83) and later attack Europe itself (Daniel 11:40-43).

Whether or not Vladmir Putin is aware of those prophecies is uncertain.  But what is certain is that the situation in much of the Arab world is volatile.

The same reader also sent the following, this time from Pravda:

If you ever wonder why the weasel west media always calls Putin a dictator or demonizes him, just look at what has been happening recently. By watching the US news last week one would think all of America has turned gay with the Supreme Court ruling on married same-sex couples.  The New York Times called it a, “major victories for the gay rights movement”.  Some even compare it to racial equality.  If Putin was the dictator the West claims, the new law that defends Christianity would have been in effect immediately after the pussy riot blasphemy which happened last year. Recently President Putin signed a ‘gay propaganda’ ban and law criminalizing insult of religious feelings.

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Oddly enough the West is the only place where some Christian leaders are gay. Their Christian churches omit certain biblical teachings against homosexuality. Yes, Russia’s Christianity and anyone who defends it rain on the gay parade and their upside down world. In the past they demonized Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann and ridiculed Christians in America as crazed right-wingers. They danced when President Reagan, Jerry Falwell and Charlton Heston died. There is no longer a real powerful conservative in the West the liberals fear.

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In the East there is someone that causes the western liberal’s maniacal laughter to stop.  Vladimir Putin.  He has real world power, which causes the liberal media to fearfully ignore or warp his image.

The Bible clearly teaches against homosexuality and no leader who is truly Christian in the West (or elsewhere) can teach otherwise.

Russia’s President Putin, himself, is a believer in the Russian Orthodox faith.  A compromised faith, but one that at least still recognizes that homosexuals are not supposed to marry each other.

It may be, as the news item implied, that Russia’s Putin  is the most powerful political world leader to openly denounce the homosexual agenda in the West.  So, it is little surprise that he would be criticized for that.

The media in the West seems to be moving towards a time that they can (directly or indirectly) squelch the voices of those of us who still recognize that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin and that marriage is between one man and one woman (see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term 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 a Republican choice. 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 Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-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-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

Symbol of European “Babylon”

COGwriter

The European Union and USA are engaged in trade talks this week.  While there are potential benefits, there are also huge dangers:

Updated July 11 2013

A comprehensive trade agreement between the EU and United States would result in higher employment rates in the economies that are part of the agreement, argue Samuel George, Thieß Petersen and Ulrich Schoof. Southern European countries would experience an above-average positive effect on employment, which is then reflected in a corresponding reduction in the unemployment rate…

With a broad free trade agreement that abolishes not only tariffs, but also all non-tariff trade barriers such as quality standards, labeling or technical requirements for imported products and more, the long-term real GDP per capita would grow in every single EU member state.

And it would bring an important gain for economic cohesion: The crisis-ridden southern European countries – Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Italy – are among the top winners from TTIP in terms of gains in real income.

Thus, TTIP would not widen the gap between the crisis-ridden southern European countries and other EU member states. In general, the study determines that this agreement does not increase income differences within the EU.

A comprehensive trade agreement between the US and EU would result in higher employment rates in the economies that are part of the agreement… TTIP might also have one implication which could weaken economic cohesion within the EU because TTIP redirects trade activities. Thus, increased trade activities between the EU and US comes along with a reduction of trade activities among the 27 EU member states. For example, in a broad free trade agreement, trade activities between Great Britain and Sweden as well as between Great Britain and Spain are expected to drop by about 45%. Likewise, Sweden’s imports and exports with Spain and Finland will decline by 40%, and Irish-Dutch trade relations will shrink by 35%. http://www.euractiv.com/trade/transatlantic-free-trade-boon-ba-analysis-529218

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Transatlantic Danger: U.S.-EU Merger Talks Underway in D.C.

The first round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations has been proceeding this week (July 8 through 12) in Washington, D.C. largely under the radar. Although there has been relatively little coverage of the confab thus far, European and American officials and privileged “stakeholders” are busily negotiating agreements on a host of issues that would, if adopted, radically transform America.

The TTIP is being billed as a trade agreement and marketed by the Obama administration and corporate sponsors as an initiative that will almost magically create millions of jobs and usher in wave after wave of innovation and prosperity. But as we have reported in our in-depth look at TTIP, “Secretly Trading Away Our Independence,” there is a stealth agenda behind this “trade” agreement; the ultimate aim of the TTIP promoters is the economic and political merger of the United States with the European Union. They say so in their own words, though usually not in forums for the general public…

As we have reported previously, the clear goal of the architects of the TTIP is to ensnare the United States in the same ever-tightening process of economic and political integration and convergence that has transformed Europe from a continent of independent nation-states into a supranational federation ruled by unelected and unaccountable oligarchs in Brussels, unrestrained by any constitutional impediments. When this process began in Europe decades ago, following World War II, wise observers warned that the promised trade benefits were a ruse to hide the real fact that every step forward along this path was a step for centralizing and concentrating power, while simultaneously stripping away local autonomy and national sovereignty.  http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/transatlantic-danger-u-s-eu-merger-talks-underway-in-d-c/49362/

The USA is going to find itself in a position that it is more tied to the EU than its citizens want and this will make things difficult for leaders in the USA to be able to deal with the military threat that is starting to rise up in Europe.  This combined with the fact that the USA has basically agreed to release most of its espionage tactics and details to the EU and is likely pledging to do less spying on the EU is putting the USA in a position that it will ultimately be able to be taken over by the EU.  The Bible is clear that the nation with the strongest fortresses (strongest military) will be taken over by the final European King of the North.  Here are several translations of the passage that shows that in Daniel 11:39:

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

39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (ESV)

39 He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.. (NASB)

39 Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward. (NLT)

39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price. (NIV)

39 He’ll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he’ll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he’ll parcel out the land for a profit. (ISB of 2012)

For at least two decades, I have believed that a split would happen between the USA and the Europeans partially because of how the Europeans will view how the USA handles/mishandles bilateral trade issues (there are also other factors like USA debt, GMOs, etc.).

As far as loss of USA sovereignty goes, I have long warned that the Europeans will insist on setting a lot of international standards which they already have and this will be a negative for the USA as it is less the nation that leads, but is now becoming more one that follows.  Notice something I added to my Europa article back in 2007 and 2008:

It was reported that it is the EU’s intent to make its standards the standards that the rest of the world should follow:

EU wants rest of world to adopt its rules

Financial Times – Feb 18, 2007

Brussels wants the rest of the world to adopt the European Union’s regulations, the European Commission will say this week . A Commission policy paper that examines the future of the Union’s single market says European single market rules have inspired global standard-setting in areas such as product safety, the environment, securities and corporate governance.“Increasingly the world is looking to Europe and adopts the standards that are set here,” the paper, seen by the Financial Times, says.

The paper calls on the EU to encourage other jurisdictions to follow suit – for example by “promoting European standards internationally through international organisation and bilateral agreements.”

This strategy, it claims, will help European businesses beat their rivals abroad since it “works to the advantage of those already geared up to meet these standards”.

The EU’s drive to establish itself as the pacesetter for worldwide business regulation could well lead the bloc into conflict with the US and other trading partners…

Some critics of the European approach argue that the Union’s stance on issues such as GM foods may also reflect a desire to protect the region’s commercial interests.

However, as the Commission paper points out, the sheer size and wealth of the Union’s single market mean that few corporations can afford to ignore it. By harmonising the rules for a market boasting 500m consumers, the Union has set standards “which partners then have to meet if they are to benefit from the single market”, it says.

“[The single market] gives the EU the potential to shape global norms and to ensure that fair rules are applied to worldwide trade and investment. The single market of the future should be the launch pad of an ambitious global agenda.” The Commission paper forms part of an ambitious review of the Union’s single market – widely seen as one of the proudest achievement of European integration. Thanks to product harmonisation, common business rules and the erosion of national trade barriers, the single market means that goods, services, capital and people can move freely among the EU’s 27 member states.http://www.ft.com/cms/s/af609b2c-bf72-11db-9ac2-000b5df10621.html 

The above standards and developments will help the stage for the EU to fulfill many prophecies. Notice the following that this type of system may help fulfill:

“Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4)

17 … that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:17).

3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury (Revelation 18:3)…

Many of the “standards” of the European Union will be adopted by nearly all of the countries of the world.

However, over time, it will become increasingly clear that the British will be in more agreement with the Canadians and Americans and that the European Union in more agreement with the Mexicans than the EU will have with the English-speaking nations.

Trade wars and/or serious trade disputes will most likely arise.

Having the USA accept more European standards will also increase the world’s acceptance of European standards.  This increase acceptance of European standards is something that very well could come from the current trade talks.

Speaking of the EU, with the addition of Croatia on July 1, 2013 (something that Germany has wanted for some time), there are now 28 nations in the EU.  As I wrote back in 2009 in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, the European Union was prophesied to expand mainly to the south and east, and it has:

Millennia ago, Daniel wrote a prophecy that discussed a little horn that would mainly expand to the south and east:

⁸And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. ¹⁰ And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. ¹¹ He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. ¹² Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered (Daniel 8:9-12).

And while the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-–39)—and seems to be for our time.

What is now the EU began as a small organization involving three small countries located in the northern and western regions of Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, called the Benelux nations)—they then helped form the European Economic Community. This European Economic Community expanded mainly south and east of the Benelux nations, into what had become the expanded European Union. (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect. Nazarene Books, 2009, pp. 78-79)

Croatia is another example of that expansion towards the south and east.

In general, trade agreements benefit both parties involved. Yet as I warned about the current trade talks last month (see Possible USA-EU trade deal: A prelude to the end?), ultimately, the deal with the EU will not be good for the United States of America nor the British (nor their Anglo-allies like Canada, Australia, or New Zealand).

I suspect that there will a few areas of major disagreement that will happen in such a trade deal, and that to hide their disappointment, some representing end-time Europe will declare that all is basically fine before they end up taking over the USA, which is prophesied in such scriptures as Daniel 11:39, 8:24-25, etc.  The results are more than the loss of normal sovereignty–the USA will be no more.

More on that is also in the Europa article and several others, as well as the book Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term.

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”? What is ahead for Europe?
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people?
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?
Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? The Book of Revelation tells of a beast power that will rise up. Some think that this must be Russia or could be Islamic, while others say that this power is European. The Book of Daniel tells of the rise of an end time King of the North that some think must be referring to a Russian leader, while others say that this power is European. How can you be sure? This YouTube video has all the scriptural proofs that you should need to prove that this power must be a European one.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term 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 a Republican choice. 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 Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-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-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

A poster at Camp Pendleton’s 21-Area Health Promotion Center describes the effects of junk food that many Marines and sailors consume.

COGwriter

A new study is suggesting that the junk food that various diabetics and obese people tend to rely on is dangerous:

Many people feel that using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar is the healthier choice. But, researchers are now saying the opposite may be true.

The American Heart Association suggests that people should avoid added sugars, which are sugars and syrups put in foods during preparation, processing or right before consumption. Sugar intake has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which includes risk factors for heat disease and stroke.

The AHA and American Diabetes Association said in July 2012 that artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners could be a good option to help people reduce calories and added sugars from their diets. In turn, you may even lose some pounds with these kinds of sweeteners — as long as you weren’t making up for it later in the day by eating more sweets, which some studies have showed.

However, an opinion article published on July 10 in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism reveals that artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and saccharin may not be as good for you as you might have thought.

“It is not uncommon for people to be given messages that artificially-sweetened products are healthy, will help them lose weight or will help prevent weight gain,” author Susan E. Swithers, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., said in a press release. “The data to support those claims are not very strong, and although it seems like common sense that diet sodas would not be as problematic as regular sodas, common sense is not always right.”…

The study, which reviewed recent research papers, revealed that artificial sweeteners were linked to an increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Just drinking one diet a drink a day was enough to create a significantly heightened chance of developing one of these disorders, the researchers found.

Artificial sweeteners were also shown to activate different patterns in the brain’s pleasure centers that normally correspond to sweet tastes. This may mean that these products do not satisfy our sweet tooth as much as natural sugar. One study found non-caloric sweeteners made animals eat increased amounts of calorie-rich sweet tasting food. In the end, the animals exposed to artificial sweeteners gained more weight.

Other evidence showed that consuming artificial sweeteners often leads to weight gain. The authors believed the artificial products confused the body’s ability to regulate calories based on tasting something sweet.

Another study revealed a link between diet soda drinking and weight gain over time. For each diet drink the subjects consumed per day, they were 65 percent more likely to become overweight during the next seven to eight years.  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57593133/artificial-sweeteners-could-lead-to-obesity-diabetes/

Background information from the research shows that people who regularly consume artificial sweetners show abnormal activation patterns in the pleasure centers of the brain in response to sweet taste. This suggests that these products may not satisfy desires related to sweet cravings. Animal studies previously conducted also showed that mice and rats given non-caloric sweetners have dampened psyiological responses to sweet taste. This desensitization can cause rodents to overindulge in calorie-rich, sweet-tasting food and gain weight.

Recent findings even suggest that artificial sweetners increase the risk for health problems to an extent similar to sugar products and may exacerbate the negative effects of sugar.

“These studies suggest that telling people to drink diet sodas could backfire as a public health message,” said Swithers, according to the release. “So the current public health message to limit the intake of sugars needs to be expanded to limit intake of all sweeteners, not just sugars.”  http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/8065/20130710/artificial-sweeteners-really-healthier-sugar.htm

It has been my experience that artificial sweeteners are not healthy.  The more people eat of them, generally speaking, the less they tend to eat real foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Oddly, years ago, the USA banned cyclamates (a type of sweetener) because it was considered carcinogenic (could cause cancer), but allowed saccharin (another artificial sweetener). About the same time, Canada banned saccharin as a carcinogen, but allowed cyclamates.

The Bible warns about obesity, getting fat, and excessive eating.

But it also warns about eating things that are not really food:

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good (Isaiah 55:2).

Refined processed “breads,” artificial sweeteners, chemical additives, and some other items commonly associated with junk foods could be consistent with that warning.

People should try to eat real, not artificial, foods.

Some prophetic articles of possibly related interest may include:

GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here is a related YouTube video GMO Risks and the Bible.
Obesity and Prophecy Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned?
Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.
Does God Heal Today? What does the Bible teach? Herbert Armstrong tries to explain this.
UK Study Supports Daniel Diet Daniel and his companions looked better eating more vegetables and avoiding strange meats. Has modern science confirmed this?
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?

Muslim Brotherhood

COGwriter

In a move that will make certain supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood appear to be martyrs, Egypt’s military-backed government decided to arrest leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood:

July 10, 2013

Egypt’s top prosecutor has ordered the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood leaders, even as the country’s interim prime minister prepares to reach out to the group to form a transitional government.

A prosecutor’s office statement says arrest warrants have been issued for the Brotherhood’s supreme guide, Mohammed Badie, as well as for one of his deputies, and eight others. The statement said they are suspected of inciting violence that left more than 50 people dead earlier this week outside the Republican Guard headquarters.

A Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, Gehad El-Haddad, via Twitter called it “the same old police-state tactics,” adding he is being charged with treason.

Separately, a foreign ministry spokesman said President Mohamed Morsi is being detained for his own safety and is being treated with dignity.  He also said no charges have been filed against him…

The Muslim Brotherhood and other Morsi supporters have repeatedly rejected calls to join talks and transition Egypt back to a democratically-elected government.

On Wednesday, Brotherhood spokesman Ahmed Aref said despite the new arrest warrants for senior leaders, they will not back off their demands.

“The issue is not about these icons [of the Muslim Brotherhood, who were ordered arrested]. Those who died in cold blood are much more important to us than the icons,” he said. “Every Egyptian that is being arrested right now or those who were killed are more important to us than the political icons. However, we are present in the squares, we are present in the Egyptian provinces. If they [Brotherhood leaders] wanted to flee, they would have travelled abroad before all these events of 30 June and when it became apparent that there would be a military coup.”

Despite the start of Ramadan, some Morsi supporters remain camped out in Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo, demanding his return.

One protester, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed, says they will not leave.

”We are going to continue our sit-in throughout Ramadan, we will pray here and eat here until Morsi is released and returns to his position and we carry him once again on our shoulders,” he said.

Both the White House and the U.S. State Department have urged all aides to take part in a peaceful return to democracy.  White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday that Washington was “cautiously encouraged” by the interim government’s road map but also urged all sides to refrain from violence.

London-based Amnesty International says evidence it gathered suggests security forces used “excessive force” against protesters during Monday’s clashes which left 51 people dead.  The group said protesters may have used violence, but that the military’s response was “disproportionate.” http://www.voanews.com/content/egypt-orders-arrest-of-muslim-brotherhood-leaders/1699159.html

.

July 10, 2013

CAIRO — Egypt’s new military-led government took further steps on Wednesday to cripple the Muslim Brotherhood in the week since the country’s Islamist president was deposed and detained, issuing formal arrest warrants for the group’s top spiritual leader and at least nine other senior figures accused of inciting deadly protests…

Soldiers and police officers killed at least 51 people and wounded hundreds early Monday near the headquarters, most of them unarmed demonstrators who had been demanding the release and reinstatement of Mr. Morsi, the first freely elected president in Egypt. The military said armed protesters instigated the violence, the deadliest since the 2011 Egyptian revolution, which overthrew Mr. Morsi’s autocratic predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.

The Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates have called Mr. Morsi’s ouster a military coup that has reinvigorated the security apparatus of the Mubarak era. They have rejected as lies the military’s claims that it wants to return quickly to full civilian control and create an inclusive government.  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/world/middleeast/egypt-prosecutors-order-arrests-of-islamist-leaders.html?_r=0

So, the group that killed at least 51 people is arresting people in the other group and blaming them for inciting the violence.

Anyway, the Muslim Brotherhood is a Sunni Muslim group (countries such as Iran and Iraq are mainly Shi’ite Muslims). A few weeks ago, Egypt’s President Morsi called for Egyptian fighters to begin a war against three Shi’ite ruled nations, including Syria (see Egypt’s Morsi taking ‘King of the South’ steps, but…). This did not set well with the military in Egypt and it decided that it wanted to see certain changes from President Morsi or it would support the unelected opposition. When the changes the military wanted did not quickly materialize, after mob protests, it removed President Morsi from office and declared the Chief Justice of its Supreme Court, Adly Mansour, as interim president (Adly Mansour installed as Egypt’s interim president).

So, the Muslim Brotherhood called for protests.  Now, its leaders are being arrested for that.

Despite the changes in Egypt this week, there is still going to be a rise of a pan-national Arabic power (with likely support from Turkey and others) similar to what the Muslim Brotherhood wants.  This is what the Bible prophesies (Daniel 11:40-434; Ezekiel 30:1-9).

The situation in Egypt will change as this will come to pass.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Future King of the South is Rising Does the Bible teach that there will be a future King of the South in Daniel 11? Is this kingdom rising up now? Did the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) teach that there would be another one? And who is the King of the South? How will this involve Egypt? Is the final King of the South some type of Arab-Muslim confederation? Can Iran be involved? Is there a group that seems to be supporting the goals of the King of the South? Has the Obama Administration supported the rise of this power? This sermon video answers those questions.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
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?
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
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.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term 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 a Republican choice. 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 Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-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-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

A new report says that governmental corruption is up worldwide and that the Anglo-nations are included:

LONDON — Corruption and bribery are perceived to be getting worse in many countries, and trust in governments is falling worldwide, according to a survey by the group Transparency International.

The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 paints a bleak picture. One in every four people paid a bribe in the last 12 months when accessing public institutions and services, according to Transparency International’s report.

Robert Barrington is Executive Director.

“In terms of bribe paying, there are a couple of countries where three in four people say they have had to pay bribes in the past year. That’s Sierra Leone and Liberia,” said Barrington.

Transparency International interviewed 114,000 people in 107 countries and found that more than half believe corruption and bribery has worsened in the last two years. http://www.voanews.com/content/corruption-on-the-rise-global-survey-shows/1697914.html

The survey asked respondents to rate the corruption level of their countries’ institutions on a one-to-five scale, in which five meant “extremely corrupt.”

Political parties were considered to be the most corrupt globally, with an average score of 3.8 out of 5.

“As political parties require money in order to run their campaigns, one of the big corruption risks for political parties is how they are funded,” Transparency International wrote in its report. “The interests of the people and organizations that fund political parties can have a large influence on the actions of those parties.”

Political parties fared worse in the United States, where the 1,000 respondents surveyed gave them a corruption score of 4.1.

Globally, police came in a close second, with a corruption score of 3.7. Nearly a third of respondents who came into contact with police reported having paid a bribe.

On the other end of the scale, religious organizations were considered the least corrupt of the institutions in the survey, with a corruption score of 2.6. That varies from country to country, however, and in Israel, Japan, Sudan and South Sudan, religious organizations ranked among the most corrupt institutions.

According to the report, the media industry had an average global corruption score of 3.1, making it the ninth most corrupt of the 12 institutions in the survey. In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Egypt, it ranked number one.

And while 53 percent of respondents felt corruption had increased in the last two years, a majority also believed that their governments couldn’t fix the problem. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57592915/global-survey-majority-feel-corruption-has-worsened-think-governments-cant-fix-it/

While governmental corruption may be more obvious in certain African than Anglo countries, the reality is that countries such as the USA have “legal” bribery in the form of financial contributions to political parties.  There are reasons that companies such as General Electric pay almost no federal income tax in the USA and there are reasons that certain laws get passed: various ones give enough money to politicians that they get a certain amount of legislative influence that those that do not give this type of bribe to the politicians simply do not have.  And while this has long been the case, it seems to be getting more blatant and worse in countries like the USA.

The Bible teaches that bribes are not to be taken:

8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.  (Exodus 23:8)

19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.  (Deuteronomy 16:19)

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back  To pervert the ways of justice. (Proverbs 17:23)

23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! (Isaiah 5:23)

Notice that perversion is tied into accepting bribes.

And of course, there is massive moral corruption in countries like the USA.  A reader sent me a link to the following related to US President  Barack Obama’s recent trip to Africa:

(CNSNews.com) – Remarks by President Barack Obama during his recent Africa trip concerning sexual orientation and discrimination were rebuked by several Kenyan leaders as contrary to the laws of God, who also emphasized that Kenya “is a God-fearing nation.”

It is illegal to engage in homosexual practices in 37 African states, including Kenya and Senegal. In a press conference with Senegal President Macky Small on June 27, Obama said, “My basic view is that regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation, when it comes to the law, people should be treated equally, and that’s a principle that I think applies universally.”

Those comments spread quickly and on Sunday, June 30, Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto responded at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Kenya, saying, “Those who believe in other things, that is their business. We believe in God.”

“This country, the nation of Kenya, is a God-fearing nation,” he said. “We believe in God.”   http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/kenya-leader-rejects-obama-s-pro-gay-views-we-believe-god#

Although Barack Obama has popularity in Kenya and other parts of Africa (his father was born in Kenya), even various leaders there realize that he has advocated biblically immoral positions.

The reality is that playing up to the homosexual lobby in the USA gets politicians such as Barack Obama campaign contributions and votes.  Has that type of bribe affected leaders in the Anglo-nations?  Certainly it appears so.

The Bible warns:

12…Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths. (Isaiah 3:12)

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).

Leaders that ignore what the Bible teaches are leading others toward destruction.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
British and American Moral Decay Public nudity is becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-lands. What are some of the consequences?
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? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term 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 a Republican choice. 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 Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-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-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

 
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COGwriter

Last week, I was sent a link to a then free Kindle 2012 edition Anthony Buzzard’s book, Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian.

While Anthony Buzzard’s book title is correct that Jesus was not a trinitarian, unlike Anthony Buzzard, Jesus was also not unitarian.  Anthony Buzzard holds to a unitarian view of the Godhead, which essentially means he denies the deity of Jesus.  Anthony Buzzard graduated from, and taught at, the old Ambassador College of the Radio, then Worldwide, Church of God.

I would like to address some of the statements in his book.

Let’s begin with the following that Anthony Buzzard wrote:

Two Is Not One

At the simplest level, the unwarranted promotion of Jesus to the status of the One God created confusion. Two cannot be made into one.  (Buzzard, Anthony (2012-04-15). Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian (Kindle Locations 894-895). Restoration Fellowship. Kindle Edition.)

At various times in his book he makes some version of that argument.

But this conclusion is not true according to Jesus.  Two can be one and the Bible shows that they can be so in God’s eyes.  Notice what Jesus taught:

30 I and My Father are one. (John 10:30)

4 Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’  5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  (Matthew 19:4-6)

10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.  11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (John 17:10-11)

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  (John 17:20-23)

Thus, the Bible disagrees with Anthony Buzzards assertion here.

He also wrote:

Bible writers never mean a triune God when they say “God.” Since the words “God,” “Lord God,” and LORD appear over twelve thousand times, they had about twelve thousand opportunities to make that equation “God = God in three Persons,” but they never did. They constantly say that God is a single Person and in the New Testament they equate that divine Individual with the Father of Jesus, who is everywhere said to be the Father’s Son.
(Kindle Locations 1467-1471).

The first sentence above is true, but the end of the second one, not so much.  While Jesus is the Father’s Son, that is not the term used “everywhere” in the Bible.  Jesus is sometimes referred to something other than the Father’s Son in the New Testament. The term “God” is used related to Jesus as well (cf. John 1:1, 20:28; Hebrews 1:8).  In the Book of Revelation, it appears the term “Lord God” is used of Jesus eight times (NKJV search).

Anthony Buzzard also wrote:

While “God” in the New Testament describes the Father over 1300 times, the same word “God” is used of Jesus on two occasions for certain in the New Testament.

There are a few verses where Jesus may be referred to as “God,” but because of grammatical ambiguity this cannot be maintained with certainty. (Kindle Locations 1477-1479)

We may say with certainty that Jesus is called “God” twice, in Hebrews 1: 8   and John 20: 28. The few other passages cannot be produced as firm evidence. (Kindle Locations 5335-5336)

First of all, it is more than two times that the same Greek word is translated as God and related to Jesus in the New Testament.  It appears that terms such as “kingdom of God” and “Lord God Almighty” are not counted as possibly being related to Jesus by Anthony Buzzard (I will address the alleged “grammatical ambiguity” later).

Second of all, one of the biggest problems that I have had with unitarians and the New Testament is that they tend to not believe what the Bible actually teaches and discount certain passages etc.  And Anthony Buzzard has started to do that here.

Anthony Buzzard correctly wrote:

Theological writings frequently tell us that the right definition of Jesus and his relationship to God was discovered only after centuries of painful intellectual struggle. The Bible however seems much more straightforward. It says nothing about a “mystery of the Trinity.” This came much later. (Kindle Locations 4025-4027)

But I would add that although it took until the Council of Constantinople of 381 to get the Greco-Roman world to force the adoption of the trinity on who they could, the reality is that even the majority of Greco-Romans prior to around 360 A.D. held more of a binitarian, not trinitarian view of the Godhead.  This is a documented fact.

He also wrote:

We have seen that the personal God of Israel and the Hebrew Bible is known by various titles. He is first of all the God (Elohim) who created the heavens and earth, an activity in which He was entirely unaccompanied.(Kindle Locations 4876-4877)

Yet, the above statement is in severe biblical error.  First of all, the term Elohim is plural in the Hebrew scriptures.  And second of all, Jesus was involved in the entire creation:

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;  10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 3:8-10)

Thus, for Anthony Buzzard to claim that God the Father created everything entirely “unaccompanied” is in error.

Anthony Buzzard also wrote:

Why if Jesus is God did he isolate his Father as the only one who is absolutely good? (Kindle Locations 7191-7192)

Let’s look at the verse he was referring to:

17 So He said to him,  “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.  (Matthew 19:17

There are a few possibilities, and I will offer up two.  The first is that the “him” who asked the question was not a true disciple and basically only using the term as it was culturally used as a sign of respect that Jesus felt was inappropriate.  He never said that he called Jesus “good” because he believed that Jesus was God or the Son of God.  And the second, is that Jesus was not “fully God” at this stage as He emptied Himself of His divinity to become human (Philippians 2:7).  There may be other reasons, but for Anthony Buzzard to conclude that Jesus was teaching that He had no Divinity based upon that is an improper conclusion.

Anthony Buzzard’s book contained the following citation from the Bulletin of the John Rylands Library:

“When [first-century Christians] assigned Jesus such honorific titles as Christ, Son of Man, Son of God and Lord, these were ways of saying not that he was God but that he did God’s work.” (Kindle Locations 7437-7439)

But the Apostle John was a first century Christian and he clearly did (John 1:1) and quoted the Apostle Thomas doing the same (John 20:28).  Furthermore, spiritual descendants of John, such as Polycarp of Smyra who knew John as well as Ignatius, clearly taught that Jesus was God.  Notice:

But may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Son of God, and our everlasting High Priest, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord and God Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who “raised Him from the dead (Polycarp. Letter to the Philippians. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1as edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Chapter 12 modified by B. Thiel to correct omission in translation).

…God appeared in human form to bring newness of eternal life (Ignatius. Letter the Ephesians, 19,3. In Holmes: The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations. Baker Books, Grand Rapids (MI), 2004, p. 149).

Thus, early followers of Jesus did refer to Him as God.

Anthony Buzzard also took exception to passages such as John 1:1, 20:28, etc.  Although throughout his book he cites a lot of theologians of various persuasions, the reality is that the Bible does teach the deity of Jesus and that deity was understood by His original apostles and their faithful successors.

Although unitarians attempt to discredit various translations of certain passages of the New Testament (Anthony Buzzard also referred to some as having “grammatical ambiguity”), the reality is that those who would have best understood what the New Testament was teaching would have been those who knew the original Apostles and/or their spiritual descendants in the late first century/early second century.

And those writers DID understand that the Bible taught that Jesus was God.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
Jesus is God, But Became Flesh Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
What is the Holy Spirit? This is an article by Rod Reynolds.
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.
Is Matthew 28:19 in the Bible? Some have claimed that Matthew 28:19 has added words as part of a trinitarian plot. Is that true or sometimes a unitarian assertion?