Church of God News

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Pvasiliadis)

COGwriter

Pope Francis reached out to the first among equals of the Eastern Orthodox, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew:

2013-11-30

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in order to mark the Patronal feast of the Church the Patriarch leads – the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle.  http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-patriarch-bartholomew-world-needs

Here is some of what Pope Francis wrote:

To His Holiness Bartholomaios I
Archbishop of ConstantinopleEcumenical Patriarch
“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph 6:23)
After welcoming with joy the delegation which Your Holiness sent to Rome for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, it is with the same joy that I convey, through this message entrusted to Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, my spiritual closeness on the feast of Saint Andrew, Peter’s brother and the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. With the heartfelt affection reserved for beloved brothers, I offer my prayerful best wishes to Your Holiness, to the members of the Holy Synod, to the clergy, monks and all the faithful, and – together with my Catholic brothers and sisters – join your own prayer on this festive occasion.
Your Holiness, beloved brother in Christ, this is the first time that I address you on the occasion of the feast of the Apostle Andrew, the first-called. I take this opportunity to assure you of my intention to pursue fraternal relations between the Church of Rome and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is for me a source of great reassurance to reflect on the depth and the authenticity of our existing bonds, the fruit of a grace-filled journey along which the Lord has guided our Churches since the historic encounter in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, the fiftieth anniversary of which we will celebrate shortly…

We are presently marking the 1700th anniversary of Constantine’s Edict, which put an end to religious persecution in the Roman Empire in both East and West, and opened new channels for the dissemination of the Gospel. Today, as then, Christians of East and West must give common witness so that, strengthened by the Spirit of the risen Christ, they may disseminate the message of salvation to the entire world. There is likewise an urgent need for effective and committed cooperation among Christians in order to safeguard everywhere the right to express publicly one’s faith and to be treated fairly when promoting the contribution which Christianity continues to offer to contemporary society and culture.
It is with sentiments of profound esteem and warm friendship in Christ that I invoke abundant blessings on Your Holiness and on all the faithful of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, asking the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and of the holy apostles and martyrs Peter and Andrew. With the same sentiments I renew my best wishes and exchange with you a fraternal embrace of peace.  http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-patriarch-bartholomew-world-needs

Of course, Mary is dead and the Bible teaches that Jesus is the only intercessor/mediator, not Mary:

5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human (1Timothy 2:5,  NET)

⁵ For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and humanity, himself a human being, Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2:5,  NJB)

The NJB is a Catholic-accepted translation of scripture into the English language.

Although the Bible warns of a coming ecumenical religion (Revelation 13:4,8) based out of the city of seven-hills (Revelation 17), the Pope and Patriarch want to make this happen.  Patriarch Bartholomew has gone so far as to strongly denounce those who warn against unity with Rome (see Bartholomew I Patriarch of Constantinople Opposes Those Who Warn Against Catholic Unity).

Tbilisi Capital of Georgia (Vladimer Shioshvili)

COGwriter

Expansion plans continue for the European Union (EU).  It gained two more countries, but for now at least, not a third:

European Union Signs Up Moldova and Georgia, but Loses the Big Prize, Ukraine

November 30, 2013

MOSCOW — Pressured by street demonstrations at home, Ukraine’s president reluctantly traveled to a European Union summit in Lithuania. But he frustrated five years of negotiations by failing to sign on Friday a long-awaited free trade pact and political association treaty with the EU.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel summed up European frustration when she was caught on camera bluntly lecturing President Viktor Yanukovych: “We expected more.”

In the video, Yanukovych responds to the German leader: “The economic situation in Ukraine is very hard. And we have big difficulties with Moscow.”

Moscow exerted heavy economic pressure on two other former Soviet republics, Moldova and Georgia. But they both initialed similar pacts with the EU on Friday. To shore up Moldova’s resolve, the EU offered the impoverished country’s 3.5 million citizens visa-free travel entry within the 28-nation bloc.  http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-european-union/1800767.html

Georgian and Moldovan leaders were all smiles as they finished initialing their Association Agreements with the European Union, a key milestone in their bid for membership of the 28-nation bloc…

Hours after the November 29 initialing ceremony, Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca called on Moscow not to shut down the communication line with Chisinau.

“We hope to continue to have a good dialogue with our colleagues in Moscow, in the same way as I talked just recently with Russian Prime Minister [Dmitry] Medvedev, to discuss all the problems and try to find solutions,” Leanca said…

Russian sanctions could nonetheless have devastating effects on Georgia’s and Moldova’s still-fragile economies.

Russia is an important export market for both countries.

And while Georgian imports most of its natural gas from Azerbaijan, Moldova relies almost exclusively on gas from Russia — which has been known to tighten the tap on its neighbors during politically sensitive times.  http://www.rferl.org/content/feature/25184812.html

While Ukraine, at least for the time being, succumbed to Russian pressures to not join the EU yet, Moldova and Georgia have not.  The addition of Moldova and Georgia seem consistent with biblical prophecy, though one or both ultimately may leave the European empire at a later date.

It is for reasons of geography that the Bible indicates that countries like Moldova and Georgia would be part of the European power.  In the Book of Daniel, it is prophesied that a little horn would develop into what apparently is becoming a European entity. Actually 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. Which expanded into the European Union.

Notice that the Bible prophesied that a little horn would mainly expand South and East:

9 And 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). Anyway, the European Union has mainly expanded south and east of the Benelux nations.

Both Moldova and Georgia are south and east of the nations that once were part of Benelux. And so is Ukraine, so it, for a while at least, may end up supporting Europe.

A powerful union is rising up in Europe.  For a while, the world will cooperate with it and will prosper, but it will later fall (Revelation 18).

Part of the destruction of the Babylonian European power will come from forces associated with Russia (Jeremiah 50:41-43). And although Georgia is currently moving to support the European Union, eventually, it will likely align with Russia.  The same may be true for Moldova.

But currently, we are seeing additional expansion of the European power.  The EU is already the world’s largest economy and number 1 exporter.  Gaining additional supporters will have its problems (cf. Daniel 2:41-43), but will also give it the appearance of strength for a time–till it is destroyed (Daniel 2:44).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? 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 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.
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?
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?
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?

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce its latest suggested sermon: Universal Offer of Salvation: All Are to Know Jesus, But When?, which is at its ContinuingCOG channel.

Universal Offer of Salvation: All Are to Know Jesus, But When?

The Bible teaches that there is only one name under heaven given by which humans can be saved.  Yet, most of humanity never heard the name of Jesus in days past, and even less have ever heard the true gospel.  Did God blind any?  If so, why? Will “all flesh see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6)? This is the third part of a scripture-based series of sermons by Dr. Thiel that reveal various ‘mysteries’ concerning salvation that most who claim to be Christian simply do not understand.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account? Related sermon videos include Universal Offer of Salvation I: God is love and Universal Offer of Salvation: The Age to Come and the ‘Little Flock’.
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.
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Bible News Prophecy channel. Dr. Thiel has produced several YouTube videos for the BibleNewsProphecy channel.
ContinuingCOG channel. Dr. Thiel has produced YouTube video sermons for this channel. Note: Since these are sermon-length, they can take a little longer to load than other YouTube videos.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (World Economic Forum)

COGwriter

A lot about former German Defense Minister, Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was reported about:

November 29, 2013

BERLIN – No German politician of the post-war era has had such a meteoric rise, and precipitous fall from grace, as Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the Bavarian baron who fled Berlin for New York in 2011, his career in tatters over accusations of plagiarism.At his peak in 2009, when he served as economy and then defense minister, Guttenberg was seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel...

Germany had never seen a politician like him. A descendant of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor in the late 18th century, Guttenberg attended AC/DC concerts at night, had a glamorous wife, and could point to a family of Nazi resisters — his grandfather is said to have narrowly escaped execution after saying that he’d rather kill SS officers than Jews…

Since leaving Germany two years ago, Guttenberg has lived with his wife Stephanie — a great-great grand daughter of the first German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck — and two daughters in the wealthy New York suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut.He is a non-resident “distinguished statesman” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington and serves as ambassador for a European Commission initiative to promote internet freedom.But until recently, he had kept a relatively low profile in Germany, returning home “rather frequently but very silently”, he told Reuters in a recent telephone interview.That changed earlier this month when Merkel received him in the Chancellery for a one hour “secret” meeting that was leaked to the media. What the two discussed remains a mystery, but the encounter was seen by some as a test of the public mood for a Guttenberg comeback….

Can he rehabilitate himself?One problem is that Guttenberg has never really accepted the plagiarism charge, even after the University of Bayreuth, which awarded him a Ph.D. in 2006, ruled he had “extensively violated academic standards and intentionally cheated.”In Germany, politicians are expected to be above reproach and Guttenberg would have a tough time winning back the support of a German media that feels burned and betrayed by the man they made a star.But time has a way of healing old wounds, and Guttenberg is only 41 years old…

He can’t return now — the memory of the mother of all plagiarisms is still too sharp in people’s minds,” said Juergen Falter, a political scientist at Mainz University.”But could it happen in a few years from now? Sure, it’s possible. Guttenberg is still very popular, even among some Social Democrats. You have to go back to a young Helmut Schmidt to find a German politician with his charisma.”  http://mobilebeta.reuters.com/fallen-baron-fuels-debate-in-germany-from-ny-exile

Baron Guttenberg was embarrassed by a plagiarism scandal in 2011, then voluntarily resigned (Angela Merkel had said that he did not have to leave or resign) and went on a self-imposed exile to the USA. He is one who, however, could possibly be the final Beast of biblical prophecy or at least one who may be involved in his rise.

I personally started to notice him in 2009.  Back in late 2009, a Canadian writer reported:

Given the realities of geoeconomics it is not inconceivable that a far more dynamic leader such as German Economics Minister Karl Theodor von und zu Guttenberg might one day be in charge.

Is the past key to the future? If one goes back five centuries China and India ruled the global economy. Turkey dominated the world of Islam. Europe suddenly came together under the leadership of the young dynamic Habsburg Charles V, who ruled from Belgium. Charles sought to halt the expansion of Islam, defend European civilization, unite the continent and forge a Latin American empire. Europe enjoyed a global reach under his reign, not only by military might but by “soft power” and diplomacy.

If America declines, will Europe fill the vacuum, partly in response to the Chinese challenge? To some this seems unlikely but think back to the world of only a scant 10 years ago when the Anglo-American model of stakeholder capitalism stood triumphantly (and perhaps a tad arrogantly) and practically alone on the top of the heap, and how much has changed since then. (Moore K, Lewis D. The decline of America. Ottawa Citizen, Canada – Dec 24, 2009. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/decline+America/2377175/story.html)

In 2010, a writer for Die Tageszeitung concluded:

Europe needs a directly elected leader with charisma (‘Europe Needs a Directly Elected Leader with Charisma’. Spiegel, 8 September, 2010. http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,716361,00.html)

The Bible warns of a strong leader who will rise up in the area north of Jerusalem (like Europe; see also (see also Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future) that will apparently be charismatic (cf. Daniel 7:20,11:21-24,31; Revelation 13:3-5) and lead a confederation that does not stick well together (Daniel 2:42-43), like many of the nations of the European Union.

Another wrote this about him and his family:

Baron zu Guttenberg’s grandfather (his mother’s father) was the late German winemaker & Croatian politician the Count of Vukovar. From the Count, Baron zu Guttenberg is descended from the noble house of Eltz…At the ripe age of 70, the Count of Vukovar took up arms in defence of the town of Vukovar during the Yugoslav Wars of 1991…

The Baron’s wife, meanwhile, is Stephanie, Countess of Bismarck-Schönhausen, great-great-granddaughter of the “Iron Chancellor”, Otto von Bismarck. A portent of this economics minister’s future? (Cusack A. The Freiherr of Finance. October 5th, 2009, http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/10/05/guttenberg-germany/ viewed 04/25/10).

So, even in 2009, some started to wonder if the Baron (who was economics minister in mid-2009, and until March 2011 defense minister) might wind up in a much more influential role.

In 2011, the then 97 year-old former WWII codebreaker for the UK, Harry Beckhough put together a video where he stated he wanted:

…to introduce to you the man that may well become the new Führer of Germany…Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg…here is my man to watch as future Führer…more educated, more aristocratic…than Hitler (Europes New Fuhrer – by Harry Beckhough WW II Codebreaker, uploaded February 9, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LplCcxyPo4 viewed 20120501)

Notice what his wife mentioned the following in an interview (machined translated from German to English):

When we got married, I knew that he wanted to get involved politically.(Und plötzlich ist dein Mann Minister. Bild, 15 02 2009. http://www.bild.de/BILD/politik/2009/02/15/bundeswirtschaftsminister-guttenberg-ehefrau/stephanie-im-interview.html)

So, the Baron has long had political ambitions.

He is considered to be focused perhaps more than he should be on his public image according to certain German-language news sources (Ramelsberger A. Guttenberg’s Ground Zero show. 13 September 2011 http://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/ex-minister-in-new-york-guttenbergs-ground-zero-show-1.1142531; Comeback at Ground Zero. 12 September 2011 http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/die-guttenbergs-in-der-bild-zeitung-comeback-am-ground-zero-1726942.html). The final Beast likely will be as well (cf. Daniel 8:25).

Now while it is not absolutely sure at this date who will be the final Beast leader (AKA King of the North), Baron zu Guttenberg is a candidate of interest. He even has referred to himself as a type of a beast:

“There’s no doubt whatsoever that I’m a political animal, a ‘zoon politicon’,” he told Die Zeit newspaper in what appeared to be a carefully orchestrated comeback after eight months away from the spotlight.   http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/24/idINIndia-60716820111124

“For Aristotle’s zoon politikon there are no persons beyond the walls of the city; outside the city there exist only beasts or gods.”

page 169, Urbanization and values, CRVP, 1991, By George F. McLean, John Kromkowski

If Karl zu Guttenberg becomes the King of the North (Daniel 11:40), he would also be the final Beast of Revelation. Interestingly, a comedic spoof of Karl zu Guttenberg was premiered on March 4, 2013 (see Baron Guttenberg does not show up for premier spoofing him). A line that was supposed to be in it was as follows:

“I carry myself with the thought, a zoon politikon to be,” says the film-Guttenberg, who is here from Franz Ferdinand and Thunder Mountain and in Berlin shaking the fence of the Chancellery.

„Ich trage mich mit dem Gedanken, ein Zoon Politikon zu werden“, verkündet der Film-Guttenberg, der hier Franz Ferdinand von und zu Donnersberg heißt und in Berlin am Zaun des Kanzleramts rüttelt.

http://www.focus.de/kultur/diverses/komoedie-ueber-kapitel-der-deutschen-politik-guttenberg-film-auf-den-spuren-von-schtonk_aid_824451.html

Thus, various ones in Germany, at least, realize that the Baron called himself a type of political Beast. Many will be surprised if he does turn out to be the Beast warned against in biblical prophecy.

Currently, Baron Guttenberg is involved in certain policy positions in various groups, including one that is part of the European Union.  He has also partially-fulfilled at least seven speculative predictions I posted about him (see Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?).

It is important to remember that there are more than a dozen New Testament admonitions to watch and be alert to the signs of the times in the last days (see Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20).

Although Karl Guttenberg is not about to become the Beast leader at this time, it still seems that the Baron is one to watch. His meeting with Angela Merkel proves that he still has political connections and influence.

Some links of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
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?
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?
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.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
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?
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.

Dr. Meredith,  Mrs. Meredith (orange top), Joyce & David Thiel, Brian Thiel, and Bob Thiel (2010)

COGwriter

Dexter Wakefield of the Living Church of God sent out the following announcement:

Subject: Important Announcement

We are very sad to announce that Mrs. Sheryl Meredith, wife of Dr. Roderick C. Meredith passed away the morning of November 29, 2013 after a long and courageous fight with cancer.  She was at home, surrounded by loving family members.  We will see her again when Christ returns, may that time be soon!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Meredith family, and our hearts go out to them in this great loss.

Funeral arrangements are planned for Wednesday, December 4 at 2:30 PM at Forest Lawn.  More details will be forthcoming.

We have known Sheryl Meredith for many years and are saddened to hear of the loss.

Pro-Morsi Demonstrators (Photo by Mohamed Elsayed)

COGwriter

There were more protest demonstrations in Egypt today:

November 29, 2013

Egypt Islamists Rally Despite Protest Law

Egyptian security forces fired tear gas Friday to disperse hundreds of Islamist demonstrators defying a new protest law that has drawn widespread criticism from the international community and democracy advocates…

In an effort to quash rallies Morsi supporters have managed to sustain despite a sharp security crackdown, authorities adopted the law Sunday, restricting the right to protest. Among other rules, it requires organizers to notify the Interior Ministry three days before holding a protest, while also setting prison terms and high fines for violators. Since the law was enacted, security forces forcefully dispersed several protests, including one organized by non-Islamist activists.  http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-islamists-rally-protest-law-21047087

November 29, 2013

Egyptians Defiant Over Use of ‘Rabaa’ Symbol

CAIRO — Shortly after Egyptian security forces violently dispersed two sit-ins by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in August, killing hundreds, Morsi’s supporters began raising the four-fingered ‘Rabaa’ salute to show solidarity with the victims.

Rabaa means ‘fourth’ in Arabic, and the symbol was named after the Rabaa al-Adawiya square, where the larger of the two sit-ins took place…

While rights activists describe the killings in the Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares as a “massacre”, the interim government contends that there were armed men in the camps which they say were used as detention and torture centers.

The government has said it is waging a “war on terrorism” and has accused the Brotherhood of inciting violence and backing illegitimate groups, including militants in Sinai waging war on the Egyptian military…

Activist Ronny Habib says the three fingered icon symbolizes opposition to the Brotherhood, the old government of former President Hosni Mubarak and military rule.

“This symbol says down with all traitors: military, remnants of the old regime and Brotherhood. The remnants of the old regime said on January 25, 2011 that these people [the protesters] were funded by America and got free Kentucky Fried Chicken meals. Then the Brotherhood came and hijacked the revolution and they betrayed the revolution and conspired with the military so that Mohamed Morsi could win the elections. The military has always been against the revolution, they have been there for 60 years. Down with everyone that betrayed us, the military, remnants of the old regime and the Brotherhood,” he said during a recent rally to commemorate the killing of protesters in central Cairo’s Mohamed Mahmoud street two years ago.

In Egypt’s sharply divided political landscape, symbols have taken on enormous importance.

How many fingers you hold up at a protest or even sporting event can earn you applause or scorn depending on the affiliation of your audience.

And the debate over the iconic Rabaa symbol has laid bare the divisions that continue to deepen during Egypt’s tumultuous political transition. http://www.voanews.com/content/egyptians-defiant-over-rabaa-symbol/1800249.html

The Muslim Brotherhood held power in Egypt before the military coup last July.  As I have written before, the militarily-installed 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.

The Bible tells of a time when the region of North Africa and the Middle East (including the Arab peninsula) will change when the King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:27,40-43) rises up.  Egypt will lead or at least support this King, and Egypt will not fare well as various scriptures show (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9).

Isaiah 31 lists the destruction of “the Egyptians” (1-3) ahead of “Assyria” (vss. 8-9), just like the Book of Daniel places the destruction of the king of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) ahead of the king of the North (11:45).

Notice some of the scriptures in Isaiah as they point to a time of chaos and then destruction in Egypt:

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

1 The burden against Egypt.

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

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

Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4)

It will likely be a religious, Islamic-oriented, government that will help create the coming confederation which is doomed to failure. Egypt is not prophesied to remain an isolated nation as it currently is. Change will come. Today’s protests, despite tear gas, show that there are those in Egypt who still want that change.  But that change will not end well.

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.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.

US Vice President Biden

COGwriter

To show its determination to control air space that it claims, China sent fighter jets, while US VP Biden is planning on meeting with the Chinese:

November 29, 2013

BEIJING — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden travels to China next week as part of a regional tour that includes stops in South Korea and Japan. While the trip to Beijing was expected to focus on economic issues and other areas of cooperation, analysts say China’s controversial new air defense zone in the East China Sea is likely to be a major topic.

Senior U.S. administration officials say Biden will directly raise the issue of the newly established air defense zone and seek to lower tensions, but will not be delivering a formal diplomatic protest over Beijing’s decision.

They say the trip will be an opportunity to speak directly with leaders in China about the decision, to voice Washington’s concerns and seek clarity about why Beijing made the move…

China’s neighbors have strongly protested the decision to establish the zone in the East China Sea and militaries from the U.S., Japan and South Korea have flown flights through the zone without notifying Chinese authorities. China has warned that flights that enter the zone that fail to identify themselves could face military action.

In response, Beijing has begun its own patrol flights into the zone. Both Japan and South Korea say they are considering expanding their own air defense zones.

Pollack says that behind the rhetoric, the real concern is how the Chinese military implements its establishment of the zone.  http://www.voanews.com/content/china-air-defese-zone-hangs-over-vp-biden-visit/1800160.html

November 29, 2013

(CNN) — China sent fighter jets into its newly claimed air defense zone Thursday, as Japan and South Korea sounded notes of defiance by declaring they would continue to fly through disputed airspace without notifying Beijing.

South Korea announced yesterday it had already sent a military flight into China’s newly claimed “air defense identification zone” (ADIZ) on Tuesday without alerting China, while Japan appeared to claim it had also flown into the territory since China’s announcement Saturday that it was unilaterally establishing the zone.

The flights have raised the stakes in a rapidly escalating dispute over contested territory in and above the East China Sea. They follow U.S. flights into the territory earlier in the week, when two unarmed B-52 bombers passed uncontested through the zone, in what the Pentagon described as a pre-planned military exercise…

China has grown more assertive beyond its recognized borders since Chinese President Xi Jinping took office in March this year — creating a delicate situation for Washington, which has promised to focus more on Asia and uphold commitments to its allies in the region.

“Unlike his predecessors, Xi is making foreign policy with the mindset of a great power, increasingly probing U.S. commitments to its allies in the region and exploiting opportunities to change the status quo,” Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, director of Asia-Pacific programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace, wrote in a commentary for CNN.com this week.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/29/world/asia/china-japan-south-korea-tensions/

So, the USA would like to discuss China’s new policy of assertion, the USA, South Korea, and Japan do not like it, and some believe that China’s President Xi Jinping is testing the USA to see how committed it is to defending Asia.

Xi Jinping

What does this mean?

It likely means that the USA will decide that it has to confront China diplomatically on this and put on its own show of force.  Even greater than what it did a few days ago.  There will likely be incidents that will embarrass China.  There will likely be incidents that embarrass the USA.

But from a prophetic standpoint, what it likely means is that the USA will conclude that it must relocate military resources away from other potential threats and move them to dealing with the potential threat from China.

This also will likely make the USA decide that it can further trust the Europeans, while it encourages Europe to develop more of its own military capabilities.

Because of USA debt, priorities, immorality, and distancing itself away from the Bible, it simply will not have the military resources to be ready for both China and Europe, as well as other threats it faces.  Top US military leaders have basically come out and stated because of certain actual and expected budget cuts that the USA can no longer be able to win a couple of large military conflicts at the same time.  Thus, the USA will have to prioritize, and it is considering the threat from Europe a very low priority, despite WWI and WWII.  And while the USA does still consider that Russia is a threat, that will encourage the USA to assist Europe in its defenses, so that too will likely benefit the military power of Europe.

Let me clearly state that according to Bible prophecy, China will have an end-time militaristic role, but is not destined to rule the world either economically nor militarily. And, according to Bible prophecy, there will be some type of confederation of the “kings of the sunrise,” translated as “kings from the east” (Revelation 16:12-16).

But that does not happen until well after the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), which coincides with the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

Hence, while China does and will have a certain amount of military power, it will not be the primary power that will takeover the USA.  The Bible is clear that the nation with the ‘strongest fortresses’ will be taken over by a European power (Daniel 11:39), biblically referred to as the King of the North (Daniel 11:40).  And that is not China.

That being said, some of the USA’s Anglo-Saxon allies like Australia and New Zealand may end up being dominated by China, Japan, and/or other Asians.

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters 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.
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?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, with some in items in the Tagalog language in progress that are intended to be added.
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel? Here is a version in Korean 복음이란 무엇인가?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
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?
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? A video of possible interest may be Will 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.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.
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.

Comet ISON (ESA/Hubble Telescope Photo)

COGwriter

Comet ISON was supposed to have been its brightest yesterday, depending upon the weather and location one was at.  I was unable to see it.  First, I though it was because it cloudy.  But it looks like parts of it have disintegrated.  Notice the following:

November 29, 2013

(CNN) — Hold the obituary. Experts now think Comet ISON — or at least part of it — survived its close encounter with the sun.

Karl Battams, a comet scientist for the Naval Research Laboratory, said it is believed some parts of ISON’s nucleus survived perihelion.

“It now looks like some chunk of ISON’s nucleus has indeed made it through the solar corona, and re-emerged,” he said. “It’s throwing off dust and (probably) gas, but we don’t know how long it can sustain that.”

However, he said, its fate is uncertain.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/29/us/ison-comet/

November 28, 2013

Comet ISON Disintegrates in Sun Flyby, Disappointing Scientists

It great battle of “Fire vs. ISON,” it seems Fire won.

The comet ISON, named after the International Scientific Optical Network that discovered it last year, made its closest approach to the sun today at 1:37 p.m. ET, and against all hope did not seem to make it out the other side.  http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/comet-ison-disintegrate-passes-sun-today/story?id=21041610

Some believe Comet ISON was a sign that the world will somewhat end on December 16, 2013 (see Comet ISON & 2013 Mayan calendar claims for destruction).  But it was not, even though it looks like some of it may still exist.

A few pointed to Comet ISON as a sign that Jesus will return next month or that all humanity will be destroyed the month after:

When is a comet not just a comet, but a divine warning sign like Jesus spoke of coming in the end times? If you do not know how to answer that, Comet “ISON” may test you with fear and in 2013. Doomsday watchers are already predicting that Comet ISON is Planet X, Nibiru, Wormwood, or a gravitational earthquake/deep impact threat. Alternatively, some predict it will make a spectacular daytime visible sign in the sky one month before Christ’s return (yes, on Christmas, 2013).  http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/comet-ison-nibiru.htm viewed 11/07/13

According to this just released video from CourageousNerd z, the approaching Comet ISON IS Nibiru! The videographer also goes on to claim that human life will not exist after January of 2014 and that NASA knows it and is lying to all of us and knows that the ‘end is near’.  http://vaticproject.blogspot.com/2013/08/it-turns-out-comet-ison-is-nibiru-thats.html viewed 11/07/13

What do you think of when you hear the word Nibiru or one of its other names like; Planet X, Wormwood, Hercolubus, Nemesis, Tyche, Marduk, Great Red Dragon, Black Sun, Destroyer, Doom shape, Dark Star, Dark Companion, Dark Twin? Some think farce, some think pole shift and hiding underground, I think rapture…So assuming Nibiru exists let’s consider the question from a Biblical perspective; when will Nibiru arrive? Answer; after the Sixth Seal is opened, which is when the rapture occurs. When might the rapture occur? Based on the assumption that the Second Coming will be in 2016 and the 70th week began in 2009 then I would expect the rapture to occur 2013 to 2015. http://endtimesforecaster.blogspot.com/2012/10/looking-up-for-nibiru-and-jesus-too.html

Jesus is not returning next month and life on Earth will continue after January 2014.  Comet ISON is not and cannot possibly be Wormwood of biblical prophecy.

In January of 2013, one or more were upset with me that I did not then warn about Comet ISON.  I did not warn about it then as I did not believe that it could possibly have been the biblical Wormwood.

So, why bother with it now?  Well, because now that many have heard of it, it makes a certain amount of sense to explain that those who consider it a sign of the imminent return of Jesus Christ or the destruction of all human life now are wrong.

The ‘great tribulation’ does not begin (Matthew 24:21) until after other events (Matthew 24:14-20) which are not possible to happen in 2013.  And as far as Wormwood goes, the fifth, sixth, and seventh seals of Revelation have to be opened first, and none of those have happened–and cannot prior to 2017 at the earliest.

That being said, the end will come and civilization faces more risks than most people realize. But Comet ISON was and is not Wormwood.

Some items that might be of assistance in understanding end-time events may include:

Comet ISON, Wormwood, and Planet Nibiru Is Comet ISON really Planet X? Will the Earth be devastated by this in 2014? Here is a related YouTube video Could Comet ISON be Wormwood of Bible Prophecy?
Blood Moons and Prophecy There are four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.
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? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
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? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.

Edward Snowden (Laura Poitras /Praxis Films)

COGwriter

There are fears in the UK and USA that Edward Snowden has more damaging materials he some day may release:

WASHINGTON – British and U.S. intelligence officials say they are worried about a “doomsday” cache of highly classified, heavily encrypted material they believe former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has stored on a data cloud.

The cache contains documents generated by the NSA and other agencies and includes names of U.S. and allied intelligence personnel, said seven current and former U.S. officials and other sources briefed on the matter.

The data is protected with sophisticated encryption, and multiple passwords are needed to open it, said two of the sources, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

The passwords are in the possession of at least three different people and are valid for only a brief time window each day, they said. The identities of persons who might have the passwords are unknown.

Spokespeople for both NSA and the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

One source described the cache of still unpublished material as Snowden’s “insurance policy” against arrest or physical harm.

U.S. officials and other sources said only a small proportion of the classified material Snowden downloaded during stints as a contract systems administrator for NSA has been made public. Some Obama Administration officials have said privately that Snowden downloaded enough material to fuel two more years of news stories.

“The worst is yet to come,” said one former U.S. official who follows the investigation closely. http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/26/21625542-spies-fear-nsa-leaker-snowden-has-doomsday-cache-of-classified-data?lite

Former Pope Benedict XVI

COGwriter

BBC is running something today about why Pope Benedict XVI resigned.  Here are some related information:

Benedict XVI shocked the world in February when he became the first pope to resign in almost 600 years. But attention shifted quickly to the succession, and the election of the new Pope, Francis. Amid the drama, one question was never fully answered – why did Benedict quit?

Pope Benedict’s official resignation statement offered his waning physical and mental powers as the explanation, but it’s long been suspected there was more to it. And my inquiries have confirmed that…

I raised the subject of the scandals that had preceded the Pope’s bombshell decision and, in particular the Vatileaks affair in which the Pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, had leaked confidential documents exposing Vatican power struggles. Could that have been a factor in his resignation? His answer was unexpected.

“It is legitimate for a person to speculate and say ‘Maybe,’ because some of his documents were taken secretly. It could be one of the reasons,” he told me.

“Maybe he was so pained that his own butler leaked out so many letters that a journalist was able to write a book. It can be one of the reasons. I don’t expect him to be enjoying that event.”…

Essentially, Pope Benedict was a teaching Pope, a theologian and intellectual…His misfortune was to accede to the papacy at a time that there was a power vacuum, in which a number of middle-ranking members of the Roman curia, the Church’s civil service, had turned into “little Borgias” as another clerical official put it.

Don’t take my word for it, this assessment comes from the highest source – the current leader of the Church. And Pope Francis does not mince his words. “The court is the leprosy of the papacy,” he has said. He has described the curia as “narcissistic” and “self-referential”. This is what Joseph Ratzinger had to deal with…

One of the most eyebrow-raising stories we encountered involved an annual Nativity scene in St Peter’s Square. For years, deals were struck in which the Vatican paid several times the market rate. When a whistleblower tried to reform the system, officials in the papal court persuaded a hapless Pope Benedict to promote him to a role 4,000 miles from Rome.

Similar antics occurred at the Vatican Bank, for years a source of unwelcome headlines for the Catholic Church…Did all this prove too much for the ageing Pope Benedict?

Examine the precise words of the papal press spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi: “The Church needed someone with more physical and spiritual energy who would be able to overcome the problems and challenges of governing the church in this ever-changing modern world.” Maybe that is as near as you are ever going to get from a senior official that the church had become ungovernable and needed someone else at the helm to stop the rot.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25121121

Here is something from former Pope Benedict XVI:

21 August 2013

The former pope Benedict has claimed that his resignation in February was prompted by God, who told him to do it during a “mystical experience”.

Breaking his silence for the first time since he became the first pope to step down in 600 years, the 86-year-old reportedly said: “God told me to” when asked what had pushed him to retire to a secluded residence in the Vatican gardens.

Benedict denied he had been visited by an apparition or had heard God’s voice, but said he had undergone a “mystical experience” during which God had inspired in him an “absolute desire” to dedicate his life to prayer rather than push on as pope…Benedict said his mystical experience had lasted months…Benedict’s reported remarks contrast with the explanation he gave to cardinals when he announced his resignation on 11 February. “My strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” he said then. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/21/pope-benedict-god-resign-mystical-experience

In the past several years, I have noticed that a lot of the reason why people somewhat follow the Church of Rome is because of ‘mystical experiences,’ apparitions, eucharistic ‘miracles,’ and other signs and wonders. This differs from what he originally said about why he resigned and suggests that it was the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and not the God of the Bible who gave him the message. Could this be because Satan wanted Pope Francis in office?

Compared to others, in the eyes of the world Pope Francis looks like a reformer.

But may he be more than that (Revelation 13:11)?

Some have even claimed that the current Pope Francis may have performed miraculous exorcism a few months ago (see Pope Francis calls for new economic order and is alleged to have performed a public exorcism: Could these be signs of the final Antichrist?).

The Bible warns that the false prophet, who is also called the beast of the earth and THE Antichrist (although there have been antichrists since the time of the Apostle John), will perform signs and wonders:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 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. (Revelation 13:11-17)

He and his then claimed religion will also be involved with the following:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

And while the mystery of iniquity/lawlessness has been present since the time of the Apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:7), as he and Jesus taught, it will get worse at the end:

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25)

Pontiffs consider themselves ‘the vicar of Christ,’ amongst other titles, yet they are imposters.

Consider that the news reported that the former Pope Benedict XVI is claiming a ‘mystical experience’ and Francis may have been involved in an exorcism. The news also has reported that Pope Francis has also promoted the apparition of Fatima by dedicating his pontificate to the ‘Lady of Fatima’ (Pope Francis’ pontificate consecrated to ‘Lady of Fatima’) amongst other things.

More signs and lying wonders are expected to occur and be promoted. We are simply seeing a very small foretaste of that now.