Church of God News

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce its latest video about Halloween on our YouTube channel called Bible New Prophecy.

Statue Intended to be Habakkuk by Donatello (15th century)

COGwriter

What would a USA default look like?  Here are some secular opinions:

What follows is a timeline that shows what a default might look like, based on daily Treasury statements from October and November of 2012.

October 17

The Treasury Department exhausts all available tools to stay under the cap on borrowing and can no longer add to the national debt. Treasury expects it would still have about $30 billion cash on hand to cover its bills. Among the many inflows and outflows that day, it takes in $6.75 billion in taxes but pays out $10.9 billion in Social Security retirement checks. By the end of the day, its cushion has eroded to $27.5 billion.

October 18 – October 29

Treasury’s cash reserve quickly dwindles. Washington only takes in about 70 cents for every dollar it spends and is now unable to issue new debt to cover the difference.

The tide turns briefly on Oct. 22, when the government takes in $3.5 billion more than it spends.

But that temporary gain is soon erased. Oct. 24 is an especially rough day: Treasury pays $1.8 billion to defense contractors, $2.2 billion to doctors and hospitals that treat elderly patients through the Medicare program, and $11.1 billion in Social Security, while taking in only $9.6 billion in taxes and other income.

One possible wild card: Treasury could lose the trust of the bond market.

Even though the government cannot add to the national debt at this point, it can legally roll over expiring debt. Investors have the opportunity to cash out about $100 billion worth of U.S. debt every week but choose to reinvest it. If fear of default causes investors to steer clear of new debt offerings, Treasury’s finances could unravel almost overnight.

“It’s very hard to predict,” said Brian Collins, an analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center, which helped Reuters with this analysis. “It’s the same thing that causes (bank) runs or credit markets to freeze.”

October 30

Default happens. By the end of the day, the government is $7 billion short of what it needs to pay all of its bills.

So who gets stiffed?

Everybody, according to the Obama administration.

Treasury says it doesn’t have the ability to pick and choose who gets paid. The last time the government faced this situation in 2011, they planned to wait until public coffers were full enough to pay a full day’s bills before cutting any checks, according to a Treasury Department watchdog report from 2012.

That would mean delays for everybody: the local schools that are owed $680 million, welfare recipients owed $553 million and defense contractors owed $972 million.

Some companies that count the government as a major customer would take a big hit. “If you’re Lockheed Martin … it’s a big deal,” said R. Bruce Josten, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s top lobbyist.

Payment delays would grow longer as the default continues, sapping billions of dollars out of the economy within days.

October 31

Things get really spooky on Halloween when a $6 billion interest payment to bondholders comes due.

U.S. Treasury bills are the foundation of the global financial system, a supposed risk-free investment that underpins everything from retirement portfolios to China’s export-driven economy.

A missed payment could shake that foundation. The United States currently pays some of the lowest interest rates in the world due to a strong history of repayment; those borrowing costs would almost certainly rise. Stock markets could tumble and nervous consumers could spend less of their money, further damaging the economy.

For the Treasury Department, this is where the truly tough decisions begin. Does the government pay bondholders in China or troops in Afghanistan? The Obama administration says it doesn’t have the ability to prioritize payments, but analysts are convinced it would at least try.

“Not making an interest payment on time is probably a worse way to default than not making other payments,” Collins said.

November 1

At this point, the United States goes into truly unchartered territory.

In theory, the government could keep bondholders whole indefinitely because tax revenues are more than enough to cover interest payments, and Treasury pays creditors through a separate system than other obligations.

That would mean longer delays for everybody else. U.S. troops could fall behind on their rent payments, and seniors who rely on Social Security may have trouble buying groceries.

If, on the other hand, the Treasury missed the Halloween interest payment and Washington shows no sign of resolving the crisis, the creditworthiness of the country could suffer. That would throw the value of almost every financial instrument into question: the U.S. dollar, bank loans in Asia, the cost of crop insurance in Illinois.  http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-what-would-a-us-default-look-like/1762950.html

So, the above is a 21st century view of what could happen within the next several weeks.

Habakkuk was a Hebrew prophet.  Around 605-625 B.C. Habakkuk wrote a short book of the Bible that has a lot of implications for the t21st century.

Here are some passages from it (italics are not inspired but were headings in the translation):

1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

The Prophet’s Question

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!”And You will not save. 3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me;There is strife, and contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

The Lord’s Reply

5 “Look among the nations and watch — Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. 6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth,To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful;Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards,And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 9 “They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. 10 They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold,For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. 11 Then his mind changes, and he transgresses;He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.” ( Habakkuk 1:1-11)

Notice that the above states that the end time work will not believed by many even though God will reveal it through–which He does through His prophets, like Habakkuk.

The Prophet’s Second Question

12 Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. 13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? 14 Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity? ( Habakkuk 1:12-17)

Notice that in the above the one getting punished will be punished by someone who in certain ways is worse than the one who will be punished. So while some believe that in certain ways that the USA and its Anglo-allies are more “righteous” than the Beast power that will destroy it, the reality is that this is part of God’s plan.

2:1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

The Just Live by Faith

2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets,That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.( Habakkuk 2:1-4)

Notice that the prophecy that is being discussed is for the appointed time of the end. It is a prophecy for our time–and will affect the proud.

Woe to the Wicked

5 “Indeed, because he transgresses by wine,He is a proud man,And he does not stay at home.Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nationsAnd heaps up for himself all peoples. 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say,’Woe to him who increases What is not his — how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. ( Habakkuk 2:5-8)

Actually, the USA has increased pledges more than any nation in the history of the planet–and it hopes to continue to increase them for a long time to come. And on a per capita basis, the United Kingdom is one of the most indebted nations on the earth itself.

Since the above prophecy in Habakkuk will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. “The message was true, but the appointed time was long…in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come”, Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 use same the Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently. Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end. As far as “violence of the land” as a contributing factor, this would seem to include crime, military missions, and perhaps riots/civil unrest, but might it also include promotion of violent sports?

The end result, according to the Bible, of what will happen when creditors believe that the USA will not truly repay its debts is much worse than the secular analysts tend to believe.  The USA will be taken over and plundered.  The creditors will not be satisfied with less.  And despite the USA having a strong military, the Bible shows it will be taken over (Daniel 11:39).

Do you believe the words that God inspired Habakkuk to write? If so, do you really understand what is going to happen to the USA, UK, and their Anglo-descended allies relatively soon?

To learn more, please, with your Bible, check out the following:

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? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy Is the USA mentioned in Bible prophecy? Some Protestants say yes, while others say no. What does the Bible really teach? Learn the truth about this. There is also a video available: Is The United States Mentioned In Bible Prophecy?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
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: The Future King of the North.
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?

John Kerry, Official Portrait

COGwriter

The US Secretary of State claims that the USA, despite its government ‘shutdown’ remains committed to Asia, though many believe this past week has show USA weakness and is helping increase China’s influence:

October 5, 2013

The US commitment to Asia remains undiminished despite President Barack Obama’s absence from regional summits, Secretary of State John Kerry has said.

Mr Kerry was speaking at the start of the Apec summit in Indonesia.

Mr Obama cancelled his Asia trip after the partial US government shutdown…Mr Obama had been due to begin a four-nation Asian trip on Saturday, heading to Bali and Brunei before travelling on to Malaysia and the Philippines.

The White House said Mr Obama’s decision to cancel his Asia trip was made due to the “difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown”.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24410208

October 5, 2013

The top U.S. diplomat warned Saturday a prolonged political crisis in Washington could weaken the U.S. globally.

However, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he does not think that will happen. Kerry said if the shutdown “were prolonged or repeated,” people would begin to question the country’s ability to “stay the course.”

Kerry, speaking at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum at Nusa Dua on the island of Bali in Indonesia, said the U.S. government shutdown is a “momentary episode.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. political stalemate over a partial government shutdown enters its fifth day Saturday.  http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-prolonged-political-crisis-in-washington-could-weaken-us/1763537.html

President Barack Obama’s decision to scrap his Asia trip is a setback for his much-advertised pledge to shift the focus of foreign policy to the Pacific and a boost for China’s attempt to gain influence in the region.

By staying home because of the partial government shutdown, Obama hands new Chinese leader Xi Jinping a chance to fill the void at two Asian summits Obama had planned to attend. It’s the third time since 2010 that Obama has cancelled an Asia trip, all because of domestic political crises…

The situation works for China, which is rapidly modernizing its armed forces and boosting its regional influence. Xi has been visiting Indonesia and Malaysia this week to improve Beijing’s reputation at a time when its aggressive stance on territorial issues has strained ties with some countries in southeast Asia. Washington’s acute political paralysis gives Xi a freer hand to become the big presence in the room.

“It shows that China has a functional government and America doesn’t at the moment,” said Kerry Brown, a China expert at the University of Sydney in Australia. “It’s just another sign that America is kind of losing its luster, losing its status.”…

Experts in Asia said Obama’s no-show weakens U.S. leadership globally.    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-cancels-asia-trip-shutdown-20466485

Many believe that actions speak louder than words and many in Asia are more and more concerned about whether they can rely on the USA.  Since they have doubts, various ones have decided that they need to be more conciliatory with China.

I will add that another news item basically said that once certain Asian leaders saw how the USA backed off from attacking the Syrian government over its chemical weapons use, that they feel this shows that the USA may not defend them when they need it.

So, what will the USA do?

In my view, events that happened this week will convince some in the USA government that they have to devote even more military resources to Asia to attempt to reassure allies of the USA’s that its commitment to the region is sincere.  In doing so, the USA will more and more somewhat conclude that Europe will have to defend itself, that Europe must be trusted as an ally, and that Europe will have to increase its arms (and the USA will probably give Europe more technology, etc. to do so).  And while some of that has been happening, this trend will likely accelerate.  The Bible shows that at the time of the end that Europe will astound the world with its military abilities (Revelation 13:4) and even be able to go against those with what appeared to be the strongest military (like the USA) and defeat it (Daniel 11:39).  Australia will learn that the USA will not ultimately be able to defend that land either.

While most of the mainstream press in the USA seems to be focusing on the domestic impact of the ‘shutdown,’ it is the international ramifications that will matter more in the long run.  And the USA continues to embarrass itself and expose weaknesses in its international leadership with its numerous budget issues.  It is showing the world that the USA’s governmental system is not currently capable of truly dealing with various important matters.  This is causing a loss of respect of the USA around the world.

Unlike the USA which has to borrow to keep its government afloat, China can lend.  China does not need to shut down its government because of debt or the type of squabbling that the USA politicians are involved in.  This does not mean that China will not have other problems, but that some issues that the USA faces are not only embarrassing, they are telling the world that the USA is a declining power.  This does not bode well for the USA.

Some items of 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? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy Is the USA mentioned in Bible prophecy? Some Protestants say yes, while others say no. What does the Bible really teach? Learn the truth about this. There is also a video available: Is The United States Mentioned In Bible Prophecy?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
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?
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.
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?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness?The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage.  This article quotes the Bible and also discusses some of the witness to India throughout history and what is happening in the 21st century (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
Might Hindus Unknowingly Be Looking for the Arrival of the Beast and False Prophet? Do biblical and even Hindu prophecies suggest that many in India will follow, for a while, the Beast and False Prophet/Antichrist?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? Here is a machine-translated link to that article in Korean: 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?; here is a link to that article in Mandarin Chinese: 在预言中的韩国：有任何证人吗？
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. 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?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce its suggested sermon for today which is at its ContinuingCOG channel.

1:12:02

Nazarene Christians: Were the early Christians “Nazarenes”?

The Apostle Paul was called the ‘ringleader of a sect called the Nazarenes.’ Who were the Nazarene Christians? What did they believe? Should 21st century Christians be modern Nazarenes? Is there a group that exists now that traces its history through the Nazarenes and holds the same beliefs today?

Here is another link to the sermon:  Nazarene Christians: Were the early Christians “Nazarenes”?

Some articles for future interest may include the following:

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?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.  This documented article has answers to these questions and more.
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 Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 Do they matter? Most say they must, but act like they do not. This article contains some history about the Church of God (sometimes referred to as the continuation of Primitive Christianity) over the past 2000 years. It also discusses the concept of church eras.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
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!
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?

Pro-Morsi Demonstrators (Photo by Mohamed Elsayed)

COGwriter

All is not over in Egypt as there are still some associated with the Muslim Brotherhood that protest the coup that led to the current ‘interim’ government:

October 4, 2013

CAIRO — Five people were killed in clashes on Friday as supporters of deposed President President Mohamed Morsi took to the streets of Cairo and other cities to demand the end of army-backed rule.

The marches were the most ambitious attempt by the Muslim Brotherhood to press its demands since August 14, when authorities smashed two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and then declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew.

An Egyptian army vehicle fired live rounds in the direction of Brotherhood supporters who had been pushed away from Cairo’s Tahrir Square by security forces, a Reuters witness said.

Four people were shot dead in clashes in the southern city of Assuit, medical and health sources said. It was not clear which side they were on.

Medical sources in Cairo said a Brotherhood supporter had died from a gunshot wound in clashes in the capital.

Onlookers threw rocks at the pro-Morsi protesters, who hurled them back. Riot police earlier fired tear gas to push back the march.

Thousands of protesters headed toward the site of a former Brotherhood protest camp in northeast Cairo which was crushed by security forces in August. By late afternoon, protesters had retreated from the area.

Members of the Brotherhood, which has been banned by court order, tried to reach the presidential palace but were turned back by police…

Efforts at reconciliation

Friday’s violence came a day after European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton held talks in Cairo with top government officials, Sisi, and two Brotherhood politicians and urged both sides to pursue reconciliation.

There was no sign either side was prepared to heed her call.

Hundreds of people were killed in mid-August when the security forces broke up Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo. Many of the Brotherhood’s top leaders have been arrested since.

“They [the government] want a country without religion,” said protester Rasha al-Malky. http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-thousands-of-muslim-brotherhood-protesters-march-in-cairo/1762926.html

All is not normal in Egypt.  The government that removed Egypt’s President Morsi (of the Muslim Brotherhood) from power would like to think it can control everything through the military, but it cannot do that forever.  Most in Egypt are Muslim and many favor a more Islamic government.

Despite being outlawed by a court there (seeEgyptian court bans Muslim Brotherhood! or in the Spanish language Corte egipcia prohibe la Hermandad Musulmana!), the Muslim Brotherhood still wants an Islamic Empire which include Western Africa and running as East as Indonesia. They also want Spain as it once was dominated by Muslims. The Bible itself teaches that a confederation of nations from North Africa to the Middle East will form and have a leader called the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). The Muslim Brotherhood’s credo was and is, “Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.”

The whole region of North Africa and the Middle East (including the Arab peninsula) will change. A dictatorial leader will ultimately emerge and turn the region of North Africa and the Middle East into a massive state that will profess loyalty to Islam while also making deceptive deals with the Europeans (cf. Daniel 11:27; 9:27). Someone such as Mohamed Ezzat could be that leader.

The Bible is clear that a King of the South will rise up in the areas of North Africa and the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-43). Egypt will lead or at least support this King, and Egypt will not fare well (Daniel 11:42).

An Egyptian-related confederation is also discussed in Ezekiel:

4 The sword shall come upon Egypt,And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia, When the slain fall in Egypt, And they take away her wealth, And her foundations are broken down.

5 “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”

6 ‘Thus says the Lord:

“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall,And the pride of her power shall come down.From Migdol to Syene Those within her shall fall by the sword,” Says the Lord God. 7 “They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries, And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste. 8 Then they will know that I am the Lord, When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are destroyed. 9 On that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships To make the careless Ethiopians afraid, And great anguish shall come upon them, As on the day of Egypt; For indeed it is coming!” (Ezekiel 30:4-9)

It will likely be a religious, Islamic-oriented, government that will help create the coming confederation. And the Bible shows that Egypt will not fare well in the future. Events in Egypt are setting the stage for these and other prophecies to be fulfilled.

As far as Egypt itself goes, Bible prophecy shows that it will ultimately be a major part of an empire that will be defeated.  Yet, there are still protestors being killed and arrested who want to make the empire happen.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt?
Egypt and End Time Prophecy What will happen in Egypt? Might the Muslim Brotherhood have some type of role? Could the final ‘King of the South’ on Daniel 11 come from Egypt? What does the Bible teach? Will the Islamists get the type of caliphate confederation that they have longed for? Will there be a confederation of North African and Middle Eastern nations? If so, how will this end up? What does the Bible specifically teach about what will happen to Egypt and the Egyptians? Might the Nubians also be affected? What about others? This is a YouTube video.
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?
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.
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.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Syria’s President Assad was interviewed for Turkish television:

October 04, 2013

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is warning neighboring Turkey will pay a “heavy price” for supporting what he referred to as “terrorists” in his country.

Turkey-Syria ties were once close, but have deteriorated over Ankara’s staunch support for rebels fighting to overthrow Assad’s government.

In an interview aired Friday on Turkey’s Halk TV, Assad accused Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of allowing extremists from over 80 countries to cross the border. He said this resulted in the deaths of “tens of thousands” of Syrians.

The comments come after Turkey’s parliament extended authorization for troops to be sent to Syria, if necessary. The mandate was originally passed last year after a Syrian mortar shell crossed into Turkey and killed five Turkish citizens.

President Assad’s government is fighting a divided rebel force that analysts say is increasingly being infiltrated by Muslim extremists. Last month, al-Qaida-linked fighters seized the town of Azaz, just five kilometers from the border with Turkey.

Meanwhile, international inspectors in Syria are pressing ahead with their fourth day of efforts to oversee the destruction of the Syrian governments’ chemical weapons arsenal.  http://www.voanews.com/content/assad-turkey-will-pay-for-supporting-terrorists/1762820.html
October 4, 2013

Syrian President Bashar Assad says it’s still too early to say whether he’ll run for re-election in next year’s presidential vote.Assad says “the picture will be clearer” in the next four to five months because Syria is going though “rapid” changes on the ground.

He spoke in an interview with Turkish television channel Halk TV, aired late Thursday…Assad has been president since 2000; his second seven-year-term ends in mid-2014…

Despite the deaths of more than 110,000 people in his country during the last two-and-a-half years, however, Assad still enjoys wide support among minorities, including Christians and Alawites, members of the Shiite Islam sect.

Assad said that if he feels Syrians don’t want him, he “will not run.”  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57606012/syria-president-bashar-assad-says-too-early-to-say-whether-hell-seek-re-election-next-year/

Turkey may very well be impacted, but it would be unusual if Bashar Assad did not run for re-election.

As far as both Turkey and Syria go, the Bible prophesies an alliance involving Arab, Turkish, and European nations.  And this alliance will make a destructive deal:

3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. (Psalms 83:3-8)

Notice that the Bible indicates that the Turks (who are not Arabs, but seem to be Edom in scripture) will make a deal with the rising European power (Assyria above), along with the Arabs and Turkey (Psalm 83). But since Edom seems to escape what happens to the King of the South in Daniel 11:40-43, despite a deal with the Arabs, Turkey is apparently not a going to be a strong supporter of the final King of the South for very long.  But apparently it will be for a short while.

Here are some assessments from others about some of these prophecies:

Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).

“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…

But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion.  (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)

The Bible, and some who have written about it, put Turkey and Syria in a coming alliance.  Since they are not currently aligned, change is expected.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
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? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say?
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 is a YouTube video.
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.
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

The following, sadly, is not a surprise:

A new report says Internet freedom has deteriorated worldwide in the past year, while activists are finding new ways to counter repressive measures.

Freedom House says new laws controlling web content and increased arrests of social-media users led to a decline in Internet freedom.

In its report, “Freedom on the Net 2013,” the U.S.-based non-governmental organization looked at trends in Internet freedom in 60 countries and studied obstacles to Internet access, limits on content and violations of user rights.

The project director for Freedom on the Net, Sanja Kelly, said governments are increasingly looking at who is saying what online and finding ways to punish them.

Freedom House says an increase in surveillance is the most significant new trend, finding that more than half the countries studied have broadened technical or legal surveillance programs. The report also says many governments have passed laws to limit expression online, in an effort to control social media.

The yearly report listed 34 countries as having a decline in Internet freedom, including Vietnam, Ethiopia, India, the United States and Brazil.

The United States slipped on the list of countries with the greatest degree of Internet freedom, largely due to surveillance activities revealed by Edward Snowden. But the U.S. remains among the top five countries for Internet freedom.

The report also lists the most commonly used types of Internet controls, which range from blocking and filtering to physical attacks on people. Freedom House says people were beaten, attacked or tortured in 26 countries, often in retaliation for exposing human rights abuses.

Several countries employ commentators to post online and manipulate discussions by discrediting government opponents, spreading propaganda and defending government policies while not disclosing that they work for the government.  http://www.voanews.com/content/report-internet-freedom-declines-worldwide/1762235.html

I looked over this 888 page report and basically it points to a trend to reduce internet freedom.  I, would however, add that because of its outrage over the spying by the National Security Agency by the USA government, the government of Brazil seems to have taken many steps to increase internet freedom, or at least privacy rights, in the past couple of months.  But there is more going on than that.

Here are some quotes from the 888 page report:

October 3, 2013…

Of the 60 countries assessed , 34 have experienced a negative trajectory since May 2012. Further policy deterioration was seen in authoritarian states such as Vietnam and Ethiopia, where the downgrades reflected new government measures to restrict free speech, new arrests, and harsh prison sentences imposed on bloggers for posting articles that were critical of the authorities.

Pakistan’s downgrade reflected the blocking o f thousands of websites and pronounced violence against users of information and communication technologies (ICT s). In Venezuela, the decline was caused by a substantial increase in censorship surrounding politically sensitive events : the death of P resident Hugo Chávez and the presidential elections that preceded and followed it.

Deterioration was also observed in a number of democracies, often as a result of struggles to balance freedom of expression with security. The most significant year- on -year decline was seen in India, which suffered from deliberate interruptions of mobile and internet service to limit unrest, excessive blocks on content during rioting in northeastern states, and an uptick in the filing of criminal charges against ordinary users for posts on social-media sites. The United States experienced a significant decline as well, in large part due to reports of extensive surveillance tied to intelligence gathering and counterterrorism. And in Brazil, declines resulted from increasing limitations on online content, particularly in the context of the country’s stringent electoral laws; cases of intermediary liability; and increasing violence against online journalists…restrictions on internet freedom continue to expand across a wide range of countries. Over the past year, the global number of censored websites has increased, while internet users in various countries have been arrested, tortured, and killed over the information they posted online. (Kelly S, et al, editors. Freedom on the Net, 2013.  October 3, 2013.  http://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202013_Full%20Report_0.pdf)

In a sermon on November 27, 1982 titled “U.S. of Europe is Coming,” Herbert Armstrong stated:

“Anyway this whole United States of Europe, when it goes together, is going to trigger nuclear World War III. Now let me tell you what else it’s going to do. It’s going to END OUR WORK! OUR WORK WILL BE THROUGH of getting the gospel to the world. That is, very shortly after it goes into force and effect; because they will move in such a way that it will end it. And then I’ll tell you what will happen. As you read here in Amos, the 8th chapter and verse 11 of Amos. Amos 8:11 ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread …but of hearing the word of the LORD.’ ”  (http://cog-ff.com/html/pcomments_07_04_08.html)

In a November 22, 1982 co-worker letter, he wrote:

“… brethren and co-workers, the prophesied Great Tribulation (nuclear World War III) will start soon after the European unification. That means OUR WORK OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE FINISHED! We have not now much more time. Soon shall come a FAMINE of hearing the Word of the Lord (Amos 8:11). God says, work while it is day, for the night is coming when no man can work – in the Work of God! Nothing else is important in our lives, now, but this all-important Work of God.” (http://cog-ff.com/html/pcomments_07_04_08.html)

So, the Bible teaches that the time will come when the word of God will not be found. And that would seem to be because it will be taken off the internet. In the 21st century, the internet is accessed by people in every country, and thus some type of internet restriction/suspension/site removal is coming.

Amos 8:12 will apparently happen after Daniel 11:33 and Matthew 24:14 are fulfilled, but portions may begin as early as Daniel 11:28. With FCC “net neutrality” rules (they were approved to start to use in late 2010), we are getting close to that time when governments will be too offended by the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom so that some will take steps to stop it from being proclaimed. Perhaps under the guise of “neutrality,” perhaps under the guise of “The Patriot Act,” perhaps under the guise of “public welfare” or national security, something will be done to stop perhaps all of the organized media efforts to proclaim biblical truths.

Furthermore, on August 11, 2011, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom stated that he wanted Scotland Yard to consider stopping suspected rioters from having the ability to utilize “social media” that involved the internet (see UK’s Cameron May Call Out the Troops and Restrict Social Media)–thus the idea of interference with the ability to proclaim the gospel that way may fulfill what the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong understood, just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.

The work (in the Amos 8:12 sense) may be stopped by government officials (like on the internet, radio, etc.) and persecutions began because people of the holy covenant are warning the world of the results of their sins (which they will not want pointed out) and teaching that the King of the North is fulfilling these prophecies in Daniel 11. The faithful may be saying things that are not “politically correct” to the point that one or more governments will take action (especially if we are saying, and I expect to help do this, that a certain individual is the King of the North and that he will invade and destroy the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, etc.). Yet, God’s work still will be accomplished and the final phase of the work completed.

Have no misunderstandings, more internet restrictions are coming, but Matthew 24:14 still will be fulfilled.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde

COGwriter

Many are concerned about the USA debt and the political game that is now being played:

October 3, 2013…

Failing to raise the debt limit would be a serious blow to the world economy, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde warned Thursday in a speech in Washington.

“The (federal) government shutdown is bad enough, but failure to raise the debt ceiling would be far worse, and could very seriously damage not only the U.S. economy, but the entire global economy,” she said. “So it is ‘mission-critical’ that this be resolved as soon as possible.”

Lagarde’s warning echoed those of private-sector economists as worries grow over the ability of Congress and President Barack Obama to figure out some agreement that would permit the $16.7 trillion limit to be raised and allow the government to keep borrowing money.

Meanwhile the Treasury Department issued a report Thursday detailing the economic damage of the debt limit impasse in the summer of 2011 and predicting that worse would occur if Congress doesn’t take action to raise the borrowing limit before Oct. 17, the date on which the Treasury says it will have exhausted all extraordinary measures to stay within the current borrowing limit.  http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/03/20804048-new-alarms-sounded-on-debt-impasse-harm-to-us-and-global-economy

October 3, 2013…

“The devastation to the United States would be so severe that it would take decades to recover from the Depression caused by a default and the attendant dumping of trillions of dollars of U.S. Treasury securities on the global financial markets,” said Bove, vice president of equity research at Rafferty Capital Markets.  http://www.cnbc.com/id/101084623

October 3, 2013

Some investors in the $11.6 trillion U.S. Treasury debt market are anxious about a potential default by the U.S. government even as many traders and analysts deem the risk remote.

Corporate treasurers, money-market fund managers, some foreign central banks and financial firms that buy and sell government securities have been unloading very short-term Treasury bills, known as T-bills, due on Oct. 17, 24 and 31, traders and investor said. The bills they are unloading mature on or around Oct. 17, which is the deadline for U.S. lawmakers to boost the nation’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling and avoid defaulting on Treasury debt payments.  http://stream.wsj.com/story/markets/SS-2-5/SS-2-345554/

October 3, 2013

WASHINGTON — The fight over the government shutdown, which entered its third day Thursday, turned toward heightened concern over the need to raise the nation’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling and avoid a potentially catastrophic default on its bills.

President Obama emphasized the stakes at an event at a construction company in Rockville, Md., Thursday, saying Washington’s inability to deal with the looming debt ceiling would be worse than the government shutdown. Distribution of Social Security and disability benefits would be delayed, and pensions would be decimated and interest rates would skyrocket, Obama said.

“As reckless as a government shutdown is, as many people are being hurt by a government shutdown, an economic shutdown that results from default would be dramatically worse,” Obama said.

A Treasury Department report released Thursday spelled out the consequences of failing to raise the debt ceiling: “Even the prospect of a default can be disruptive to financial markets and American businesses and families.”  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/03/shutdown-day-three/2915259/

As far as the IMF’s Largarde goes, this is not her first warning about this, notice what she said about a similar ‘crisis’ earlier this year:

IMF’s Lagarde: US Debt-Ceiling Delay Could Be ‘Catastrophic’…

In an interview with Reuters Insider television, Lagarde warned that a fight in the United States over raising the nation’s $16.4 trillion borrowing limit could be “catastrophic” for the global economy if it is not raised in time.

“I very, very strongly hope that all parties, all views will converge in the national interest of the U.S. economy and in the international interest of the global economy,” she said. “To imagine that the U.S. economy would be in default, would not honor the payments that it owes, is just unthinkable.”

http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/IMF-Lagarde-US-Debt-Ceiling/2013/01/17/id/471951#ixzz2J1HbH8sM

And while many want to consider that a USA default on its debt is “unthinkable,” clearly more are noticing that the political gridlock, etc. in the USA is putting the future of the USA dollar at risk. And, I would add, that it is much worse than that. But also is giving nations reasons to think about the “unthinkable,” and some are trying to take steps related to that.

Notice something else the IMF’s Largarde said earlier this year:

2013 a “make or break year” for U.S. economy

International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde speaks with Anthony Mason at the 2013 Davos about what she calls a “make or break year” for the U.S. economy.

Suspending debt ceiling hurts U.S. “tremendously”

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50139680n

The USA is sending signals to the rest of the world and the end results will be worse than the politicians in Washington, D.C. seem to realize.

While they are not ready yet, the Bible tells of a time when a European power will rise up and rule (Revelation 13; for more details you can read The King of the North will arise or watch a YouTube video titled Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?). Notice that this power will exert economic control:

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 13:16-18)

Though many Americans (including Canadians) realize the above scriptures are true, few have probably given much thought as how the USA itself is going to help make this happen.

How is it doing that?

Well, amongst other reasons, mismanaging its economy and greatly increasing its debt.

For a long time, the debt and budget issues have been kicked further down the road–and the IMF’s Director continues to  warn that this hurts tremendously. The USA is going to, and probably not intentionally, compel other power in the world to take steps to replace the USA dollar as the world’s reserve currency and replace it with something else.

While the USA will NOT have a total massive default on its debts this month, it is worrying parts of the world and this will ultimately not be good for the USA.

Notice some prophecies:

16 The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them (Lamentations 4:16, KJV).

2 And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. They have also cast lots for my people…(Joel 3:2-3).

17… Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land (Amos 7:17)

13 “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. (Ezekiel 22:13-15)

1 “Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord,Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. 2 Israel will cry to Me,’My God, we know You!’ 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 “They set up kings, but not by Me;They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.From their silver and goldThey made idols for themselves — That they might be cut off. 5 Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! My anger is aroused against them — How long until they attain to innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this: A workman made it, and it is not God; But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.  7 “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce,Aliens would swallow it up.  (Hosea 8:1-7)

By having massive debt that they will not pay back, the peoples of the USA and UK make a “dishonest profit” and they will be scattered among nations and countries–via “all the winds.” Following “all the winds” means that not all will end up in the same place.  And having a variety of ‘debt crises’ is a type of wind that the USA should not be sowing.

Immoral policies, including certain economic policies, of the USA are putting that nation at great risk. And while the American politicians can act like they believe that they are taking the proper steps, many in the world are noticing that these steps are not proper for a nation that wishes to have the greatest single control over the world economy.

Some think such things will not happen, but notice:

3 Woe to you who put far off the day of doom,
Who cause the seat of violence to come near;
4 Who lie on beds of ivory,
Stretch out on your couches,
Eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall;
5 Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments,
And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
6 Who drink wine from bowls,
And anoint yourselves with the best ointments,
But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives,
And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.

8 The Lord God has sworn by Himself,
The Lord God of hosts says:

“I abhor the pride of Jacob,
And hate his palaces;
Therefore I will deliver up the city
And all that is in it.” (Amos 6:3-8, NKJV)

And when the USA does lose its economic control, the problems in the USA will be more massive than nearly all politicians in the USA have probably realized is possible.

Several 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? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
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?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
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?
Does God Have a 6,000/7,000 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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013, 2014, or 2015? 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?
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.

Bitcoin

COGwriter

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shut down a website yesterday and arrested someone today related to Bitcoin:

October 3, 2013

Visitors trying to access the Silk Road are now presented with a seizure notice.

The value of bitcoins has dropped after the closure of the clandestine Silk Road online marketplace.

The FBI seized bitcoins worth approximately $3.6m (£2.2m) on Tuesday.

The price of a bitcoin, a virtual currency for use online, fell steeply after the arrest of suspected website administrator Ross Ulbricht.

Investor confidence may have been shaken by the association of bitcoins with illegal activity, according to a security expert.

“When there’s a big bust, that’s going to knock people’s confidence in investing,” said Rik Ferguson, a senior researcher at security company Trend Micro.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24381847

October 3, 2013

Wednesday’s arrest of alleged Silk Road founder Ross William Ulbricht appears to be having a negative effect on the Bitcoin market. The value of the virtual currency began to plummet in the minutes after the FBI announced that it had shut down the online marketplace where it said anonymous users bought and sold illegal drugs and engaged in other criminal activity funded by bitcoins.

One immediate effect of Silk Road’s closure, according to the nonprofit Digital Citizens Alliance, is that some users’ bitcoins have simply vanished. That includes about $300 that DCA had purchased for use in its own investigations of the industry.

“We just lost them; they’re gone,” Adam Benson, the group’s communications director, said.

DCA has been tracking Silk Road activities for months, and the marketplace was featured heavily in a paper the group published in July on Bitcoin’s impact on Internet safety. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/10/02/losing-its-reputation-for-secrecy-could-be-good-for-bitcoin/

3 October 2013…

Anyone who imagines that Bitcoin is somehow a refuge from government surveillance has to get a chill reading that in a space of about five and a half months there were “146,946 unique buyer accounts and 3,877 unique seller accounts.” Identify some of those seller accounts and guess what — you’re well on your way to identifying the buyer accounts…

Bitcoin invites scrutiny from authorities. It lets third parties gather public data to trace the parties you do business with. It is subject to an unreliable market that doesn’t seem to set consistent or reliable values. The only point left in its defense might be that you don’t like central banks or national currency. If so, for those left holding a bunch of Bitcoins, this can turn out to be a very expensive protest.  http://go.bloomberg.com/market-now/2013/10/02/if-this-isnt-the-end-of-bitcoin-what-is/

Here is some of what Bitcoin’s website says about it (viewed today):

Bitcoin is an innovative payment network and a new kind of money.

Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer technology to operate with no central authority or banks; managing transactions and the issuing of bitcoins is carried out collectively by the network. Bitcoin is open-source; its design is public, nobody owns or controls Bitcoin and everyone can take part. Through many of its unique properties, Bitcoin allows exciting uses that could not be covered by any previous payment system.

But, its value is now dropping because of an FBI raid.

While I am not saying that the FBI did not properly do its job, the recent history of the USA suggests that it is against most financial privacy and alternatives to trade in other than the USA dollar.

FWIW, I have never had or traded in Bitcoins or other alternatives like that.  But I will mention that if because of the plummeting value of Bitcoins that some may conclude that the USA dollar is truly safe, that would be a major error.

The USA continues to take steps to devalue its currency and ultimately the USA dollar will be worthless.  Notice also something I wrote earlier in one of my books:

It seems since many are now questioning the role of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency, more are looking into other currencies as well as gold. Gold will set records in U.S. dollar terms. When the U.S. dollar totally collapses people all around the world will consider that even if the Euro (or something similar) is strong, having a more gold-backed currency would be safer. The collapse of the U.S.A. dollar will shake a lot of the world’s confidence in non-gold backed currencies.

Having the European power acquiring a lot more gold to back the Euro (even if the backing is only implied) or possibly other future European currency (that might potentially replace the Euro or even a basket of currencies) may greatly increase European credibility, prosperity, and influence around the globe (and will happen, to a degree, before that King arises).

The financial policies of the Obama Administration (which are a massive acceleration of the previous policies of the Bush Administration) are heading the world into the direction that something other than the U.S. dollar will be valued as its reserve currency.  (Thiel B. Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term. Nazarene Books, 2013, pp. 132-133)

The time is coming that the USA dollar will be worthless. And yes, the Bible tells that for a time gold will be worthless, but that does not happen until years after the demise of the US dollar.  But placing too much confidence in gold, currencies, or alternatives like Bitcoin will not truly save anyone (cf. 1 Peter 1:7).  Yet, true repentance and turning to the Jesus of the Bible can.

Although the USA is not likely to repent to prevent this nationally, personally you can repent as well as physically take steps before the dollar-based economic systems collapses.

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.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
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?  Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
Just What Do You Mean Conversion? Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
False Conversion Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this article on this important subject.
All About Water Baptism What is baptism? Would you like to know more about it. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. As far as early history, see also Baptism and the Early Church.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hinderance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach?
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?
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?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
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? 2021 or 20xx?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? 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? See also the video Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013?
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.

The Continuing Church of God is serious about fulfilling Matthew 24:14 and 28:19-20. Bible News Prophecy magazine is one more way that we reach out to fulfill the Great Commission. We have reached millions over radio and millions over the internet since our official formation on 12/28/12. We are leading the what I have long referred to as the final phase of the work.

Please pray as Jesus said:

37…”The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Teaching the truth and love of the word of God to the world in general (Matthew 24:14) and those called in this age in particular (Matthew 28:19-20) is the mission of the Continuing Church of God. You can click here for Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

The official English language website of the Continuing Church of God is www.ccog.org

If you want to learn more about the group that is striving to be the most faithful, you may find some of the following links of interest:

Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. Here is a link to its website in Mandarin Chinese: http://www.ccog.asia (0ther language sites are in progress).
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now essentially the most faithful in the Church of God, and is best represented by the Continuing Church of God.
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. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? Spain wants Gibraltar and Argentina wants the Falklands (also known as the Malvinas). Does the Bible give clues as to what will happen with these ‘sea gates’? A related video would be Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? A version in Spanish ¿Perderá el Reino Unido a Gibraltar y las Islas Falkland (Malvinas)?
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?
All Saints’ Day, the Day of the Dead, and All Souls’ Day When did “All Saints Day” and the “Day of the Dead” begin? “What about All Soul’s Day”?
Five Rules for Effective Parenting Do you know that there are five simple rules that can make you a more effective parent? There is also a 12 1/2 minute YouTube video on this, also titled Five Rules for Effective Parenting.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God Several have speculated reasons, but here is the truth.
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 lower level leaders?
The Bible, 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?
Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, NKJV), “Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue” (Hebrews 13:1) “…continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles” (Acts 2:42 YLT). So, what does that really mean in terms of specific beliefs?