Church of God News

COGwriter

In something that should not come as a shock to most of us, a new study shows that students in other countries are passing those on the USA and UK and Australia:

December 3, 2013

The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) ranks 65 countries. The UK was rated 26th for maths, 23rd for reading and 21st for science.

It is the first time the UK average score has not been ranked in the top 20 in any subject…

Scotland scored 513 points for science, behind England, which scored 516.

Wales performs worst across the three subjects, the research shows.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25198792

December 3, 2013

The average estimated score in math was 494. Canada had 518. Shanghai, China topped the list in math with an average of 613. Canada was also outperformed by Singapore, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Macau, Japan, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.  http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/03/pisa-results-canada-student-rankings_n_4376190.html

AUSTRALIAN teenagers’ reading and maths skills have fallen so far in a decade that nearly half lack basic maths skills and a third are practically illiterate.

The dumbing down of a generation of Australian teenagers is exposed in the latest global report card on 15-year-olds’ academic performance…

Poland has now leapfrogged Australia in maths, helping push Australia from 11th place 2003 to 19th in 2012.

Australian teens came fourth in PISA’s world literacy rankings in 2003, trailing only Finland, Korea and Canada.

But they now rank an equal 13th with New Zealand.

The ranking for science fell from 6th place in 2006, to 16th place in 2012.  http://www.news.com.au/national/pisa-report-finds-australian-teenagers-education-worse-than-10-years-ago/story-fncynjr2-1226774541525

December 3, 2013

The results show that New Zealand 15-year-olds who came through the education system from 2001-2012 are continuing to score above the OECD average in all three topics. However, New Zealand’s ranking on the OECD scale is lower than the last PISA report, particularly for maths and science.   http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1312/S00063/pisa-results-confirm-education-challenge.htm

Scores in math, reading and science posted by 15-year-olds in the United States were flat while their counterparts elsewhere — particularly in Shanghai, Singapore and other Asian provinces or countries — soared ahead…

Our scores are stagnant. We’re not seeing any improvement for our 15-year-olds,” said Jack Buckley, commissioner at the National Center for Education Statistics, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. “But our ranking is flipping because a lot of these other countries are improving.”The test scores offer fresh evidence for those who argue that the United States is losing ground to competitors in the global market and others who say a decade’s worth of school reform has done little to improve educational outcomes. “While the intentions may have been good, a decade of top-down, test-based schooling created by No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top — focused on hyper-testing students, sanctioning teachers and closing schools — has failed to improve the quality of American public education,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement…

Shanghai dominated the exam, occupying the top slot in all three subjects. The Chinese province has catapulted to the top in PISA over the past decade after focusing on teacher preparation and investing in its most challenging classrooms, among other things.

Germany, Poland and Vietnam were among several countries that made significant improvements in their test scores…On the math portion, 28 countries tested better than the United States. Aside from the Asia powerhouses of Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Korea, Japan, the United States was outscored by a string of European countries including Latvia, the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Germany and Slovenia.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/us-students-lag-around-average-on-international-science-math-and-reading-test/2013/12/02/2e510f26-5b92-11e3-a49b-90a0e156254b_story.html

The “Race to the Top” program was announced by USA President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on July 24, 2009.  The “no child left behind” law was signed by then USA President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002.  And at least Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, does not feel that they have been effective.

Here is the list of the top 36 according to the PISA report:

Pisa results 2012

Source: OECD, PISA  http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/dec/03/pisa-results-country-best-reading-maths-science

Ranking	Country name	Maths, mean score Pisa 2012	Reading, mean score Pisa 2012	Science, mean score in PISA 2012
0	OECD average	494	496	501
1	Shanghai-China	613	570	580
2	Singapore	573	542	551
3	Hong Kong-China	561	545	555
4	Taiwan	560	523	523
5	S.Korea	554	536	538
6	Macau-China	538	509	521
7	Japan	536	538	547
8	Liechtenstein	535	516	525
9	Switzerland	531	509	515
10	Netherlands	523	511	522
11	Estonia	521	516	541
12	Finland	519	524	545
13	Canada	518	523	525
14	Poland	518	518	526
15	Belgium	515	509	505
16	Germany	514	508	524
17	Vietnam	511	508	528
18	Austria	506	490	506
19	Australia	504	512	521
20	Ireland	501	523	522
21	Slovenia	501	481	514
22	Denmark	500	496	498
23	New Zealand	500	512	516
24	Czech Republic	499	493	508
25	France	495	505	499
26	UK	494	499	514
27	Iceland	493	483	478
28	Latvia	491	489	502
29	Luxembourg	490	488	491
30	Norway	489	504	495
31	Portugal	487	488	489
32	Italy	485	490	494
33	Spain	484	488	496
34	Russian Federation	482	475	486
35	Slovak Republic	482	463	471
36	USA	481	498	497

Having students improve, of course, is good.  Yet, for the USA & UK & Australia, since its students are not truly improving, other nations will be able to develop technological and economic advances because of this.  This will not bode well for the USA, nor its Anglo-Saxon allies, including Canada and New Zealand (both of which did relatively well on the test).  But, the basic message of the report is that the Anglo-Saxon nations are being passed up academically.

Education is important, and should be important to everybody.  And not just for economic reasons.

In the last century, in his The Seven Laws of Success booklet, the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

The Vital Second Law

And so, if you are to arrive at SUCCESS in LIFE, you must first set the right goal, and then comes the PREPARATION to achieve that goal.

So, the SECOND law of success in time sequence, is EDUCATION, or PREPARATION.

How can one expect to accomplish his purpose unless he acquires the know-how?

One thing we need to know about life—and many do not—is that humans do not come equipped with instinct.

To this extent, the dumb animals have a certain advantage over us. They do not have to learn. They never need weary their brains with book learning.

The new born calf does not have to be taught how to walk. It starts immediately to get up on its somewhat infirm and uncertain legs. It may fall down on the first or second attempt, but in a matter of a few moments it stands, even if a little unsteady at first. It does not require a year or two—not even an hour or two—the little calf starts walking in a few minutes! It does not need to reason out any goals. It requires no textbooks, nor teaching. It instinctively knows its goal—dinner! And it knows, also instinctively, the way. On its own four legs it proceeds immediately to the first meal!

I have repeated so many times: birds build nests—by instinct. No one teaches them how. Five generations of weaver birds, isolated from nests or nest-building materials, never saw a nest. When nest-building materials were made accessible, the sixth generation, without any instruction, proceeded to build nests! They were not crows’ nests or eagles’ nests. They were the same kind of nests weaver birds have built since creation. They had no minds to think out, imagine, design, and construct a different kind of nest.

Of course dogs, horses, elephants, dolphins, and some other animals can be taught and trained to do certain tricks. But they cannot reason, imagine, think, plan, design and construct new and different things. They do not acquire knowledge, perceive truth from error, make decisions, and employ WILL to exercise self-discipline according to their own reasoned wisdom and decisions. THEY CANNOT DEVELOP MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CHARACTER.

But humans have it not quite so easy. Humans have to learn, or be taught. Humans have to learn to walk, to talk, to eat or drink.

We don’t come to these basic accomplishments instinctively and immediately like the dumb animals. It may take a little more time. It may come a little harder. But we can go on to learn reading, writing, and “rithmetic”!

Then we can go further, and learn to appreciate literature, music, art. We can learn to think and reason, to conceive a new idea, to plan, design, construct.

We can investigate, experiment, invent telescopes and learn something about outer space and far-off planets, stars, and galaxies. We invent microscopes and learn about infinitesimal particles of matter.

We learn about electricity, laws of physics and chemistry. We learn to use the wheel, construct highways, and roll over ground faster than any animal. We learn to fly higher, farther and faster than any bird. We learn how to take nature apart and make it work for us. We discover and utilize nuclear energy.

But we have to LEARN—to STUDY—to be EDUCATED—to be PREPARED for what we propose to do.

One if the first things we need to learn is –that we need to learn!

Once you have learned enough to CHOOSE A GOAL, the second step toward successfully accomplishing that goal is to LEARN THE WAY—to acquire the additional education, training, experience, to give you the know-how to achieve your goal.

Most people fail to set any definite goals. Having no specific aims, they neglect the specialized EDUCATION to make possible the attainment of their purpose.

Now all these men whose case histories I have recounted had goals. They had the overall purpose of acquiring possessions, attaining status, and enjoying the passing moments. As a means to this objective, they had the specialized goals of succeeding in banking, industry, politics, acting, writing, or whatever. They all EDUCATED THEMSELVES for their particular profession or calling.

They were broad enough to realize that education included not only book learning, but personality development, leadership, experience, knowledge form contacts and associations, and from observation.

Yet these “successful” people were not really successful. They not only chose an overall goal that led them in the way of false values, they also failed to equip themselves with the RIGHT education to make possible that REAL LASTING success—fulfilling the PURPOSE of life.

There is, then, a right and a false education.

These successful people were not lastingly successful. Their education failed to teach them the TRUE VALUES. They chose goals that led them in the way of false values that didn’t last.

The entire system of education in this world neglects to recapture the true values. Even the scholarly educators themselves too often devote themselves to arduous years of research into non-essential and useless channels.

The basic and most essential knowledge—the true values, the meaning and purpose of life, the WAY to peace, to happiness and abundant well-being—these basics are never taught. Because I was given to see this decadence in modern education—to recognize this tragic knowledge gap—I was led to found a college that fills this need.

Right education must teach that all things are a matter of cause and effect—that for every result, whether good or evil, there is a cause. True education will teach the CAUSE of this world’s evils—of personal or collective troubles—so that they may be avoided. Also it much instruct in the CAUSE of this world’s evils—of personal or collective troubles—so that they may be avoided. Also it must instruct in the CAUSE of the GOOD results, that we may know how to win them instead of the troubles. Right education must not stop at teaching TO LIVE! It must know, and teach, the PURPOSE of human life, and how to fulfill it.

Decadent education has spawned student revolt, which has, on occasion, plunged many colleges and universities into states of violence and chaos!

It’s another significant tragedy of our time!

This world is dissemination false education that has come down to us from the thinking, philosophizing, yet misguided pagans who lacked a knowledge of the true values and purposes of life! The true history of education is an eye-opening story in itself!

Not only can the right education “open doors,” it helps many people become more productive.  It helps people live up to more of their potential, physical, and for some, spiritual as well.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
The Seven Laws of Success Herbert W. Armstrong had seven laws that he felt could help people become successful. And the second “law” has to do with health.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (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-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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

Israel’s Prime Minister gave Pope Francis a book when they met on Monday:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given Pope Francis a book about the Inquisition in Spain that was written by his late father.

Netanyahu presented a Spanish translation of the 1995 book, “The Origins of the Inquisition,” to Francis during their 25-minute private audience Monday.

Netanyahu’s father, Ben-Zion Netanyahu, was an Israeli historian who died last year. A Zionist activist who opposed partitioning Palestine between Arabs and Jews, he was best known in academic circles for his research into the Catholic Church’s medieval inquisition against the Jews of Spain.  http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/netanyahu-pope-book-father-inquisition-21067788

I would like to add here that it was not just against actual Jews in Spain, but of Christians who had practices that the Church of Rome considered to be Jewish.  The Inquisition was also against pretty much anyone that was opposed to the Church of Rome, which would include all truly in the Church of God.

Back in 1968, the old WCG published:

The infamous INQUISITION was then set up to complete the job by eliminating religious objections. Papal bull decreed severe punishment against any person suspected of even sympathizing with “heretics.” Confiscations, imprisonments, burnings and every imaginable form of persecution continued for more than a hundred years. Thousands died. In the city of Montsegur alone, 200 persons were burned in one day…

Gregory IX issued another bull against the Waldenses in 1231. From 1231 to 1233 a general persecution raged in Germany, cutting short the Work in Holland. By 1235, persecution on a large scale began at Milan, original seat of the Lombard Waldenses. The archbishop “razed their school” — apparently the College — but LEFT THE PEOPLE FREE! On the French side of the Alps, killing and burning reached the Valley Louise in 1238. (LESSON 51 (1968) AMBASSADOR COLLEGE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place …” Rev. 12:6).

One Protestant scholar noted:

The next major step in the establishment of the Inquisition was taken by Innocent III…In the West, the same pope launched a “Crusade” against the Cathars, or Albigenses, of Southern France in 1208…In the second century of the Christian Era, most Christians refused to take up arms at all.. One millennium later, Christians were not only fighting for the church against “infidels” who had conquered ancient biblical lands, but against other Christians, heretical ones, who only asked to be able to live in peace on their ancestral soil...No matter how dreadful the use of violence against the dualistic Albigenses was, it must be acknowledged that their heresy is incompatible with Christianity, indeed with biblical religion as such…Perhaps for medieval popes the crucial factor that caused them to condemn dissidents was really the dissidents’ rejection of papal authority (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, p. 260-261).

Notice that the Protestant scholar seems to feel that murdering Cathars and Albigenses who simply wanted to live in peace (but were not Greco-Roman trinitarian) is more compatible with Catholic/Protestant “Christianity” than being faithful to the teachings of Christ and the early Christians who were against warfare. Are the real heretics those who were faithful to New Testament teachings against warfare or those who changed those teachings and killed?

And from the Catholic side, notice some of what Canon 3 of the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 decreed:

Secular authorities, whatever office they may hold, shall be admonished and induced and if necessary compelled by ecclesiastical censure, that as they wish to be esteemed and numbered among the faithful, so for the defense of the faith they ought publicly to take an oath that they will strive in good faith and to the best of their ability to exterminate in the territories subject to their jurisdiction all heretics pointed out by the Church; so that whenever anyone shall have assumed authority, whether spiritual or temporal, let him be bound to confirm this decree by oath (Twelfth Ecumenical Council: Lateran IV 1215, Canon 3.  From H. J. Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils: Text, Translation and Commentary, (St. Louis: B. Herder, 1937). pp. 236-296. as cited in: Medieval Sourcebook.  http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html viewed 04/08/10).

Hence, persecution has been justified by many Greco-Romans.

Later, the famous inquisition, also in southern France, began in earnest in 1231/1233 when Pope Gregory IX charged the Dominican order with wiping out Cathari (their name mean Puritan, and that is where the Puritan developed from) and others they considered to be heretics.

Orthodox seers and writers have also taken positions against those with original Judeo-Christian practices.  One example would be a 1249 A.D. vision of “Blessed Hieronymus Agathaghelos” which claimed that “the blasphemies of the Sabbatians have stained and soiled for many centuries” (Cited in Tzima Otto, p. 135; Dr. Otto herself refers to those with Nazarene/Judeo-Christian beliefs as “Christian traitors” on p. 240)–Hieronymus Agathaghelos also predicted their public execution (Tzima Otto, 134,135,240).

There is a long history of Greco-Roman church leaders attempting to eliminate those part of, or sympathetic to, the Church of God.

The Albigneses were condemned by various councils. And one, the Council of Albi (sometimes spelled Alby) in 1254 apparently stated:

They savour of Judaism…they observe the Jewish sabbath, but say that the holy Dominical day is no better than any other day; let them be accursed (Quoted in Davis, Tamar. A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches. 1851; Reprinted 1995 by Commonwealth Publishing, Salt Lake City, p. 64).

Notice what a former Roman Catholic priest reported:

It has been reckoned that in the last and most savage persecution under Emperor Diocletian about two thousand Christians perished, worldwide. In the first incident of Pope Innocent’s Crusade ten times that number of people were slaughtered. Not all were Albigensians. It comes as a shock to discover that, at a stroke, a pope killed far more Christians than Diocletian (De Rosa, Peter. Vicars of Christ. Poolberg Press, Dublin, 2000, pp. 160-161).

(The entire persecution that Roman Emperor Diocletian unleashed lasted from 303-313 A.D; the inquisition-persecution that Innocent III unleashed lasted hundreds of years.)

The Catholic Encyclopedia notes this about one of its inquisitors:

Bernard Guidonis
Inquisitor of Toulouse against the Albigenses and Bishop of Lodève, b. at Royères (Limousin) in 1261, d. at Lauroux (Hérault), 30 December, 1331. He was one of the most prolific writers of the Middle Ages.

Here are some of the beliefs he found that those he persecuted held:

Nevertheless, attention should be called to the fact that among the Beguins are found some who know, accept and believe many or all of the errors listed below. These are more steeped and hardened in them. Others can say less about these errors yet are sometimes found to be worse in holding and believing them than are others. Still others have heard or remember less and yield to valid reason and saner counsel. Others obstinately persist and refuse to recant, choosing to die rather than abjure their errors, saying that in this matter they defend the gospel truth, the life of Christ, and evangelical and apostolic poverty…

Again, they say that the prelates and inquisitors who judged and condemned them as heretics – and indeed all those who consented or now consent knowingly to their condemnations – have by this action become heretics (if they persevere in it), and by this action have lost the ecclesiastical power to bind, loose and administer the ecclesiastical sacraments…

Again, they say that prelates and members of religious orders whose clothing is too abundant or too costly violate gospel perfection and Christ’s precept, according instead with the precept of Antichrist. Such clerics who go around in pompous fashion are of the family of Antichrist…

Again, they say they are not required to take oaths, nor should they be made to reveal under oath the names of their fellow believers, accomplices and associates, because, as they say, this would violate the command to love one’s neighbor and would on the contrary injure one’s neighbor…

they say the carnal church (by which they mean the Roman church as it exists, not only in the city of Rome, but throughout the whole area under Roman jurisdiction) is Babylon, the great whore of whom John spoke in the Apocalypse. Thus they apply these passages to the Roman Church and attribute to the church all the evil things written there, such as that it is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus Christ…

Again, they distinguish between two churches, the carnal church which they say is the Roman church which contains the multitude of rebrobate, and the spiritual church which contains those people they describe as spiritual and evangelical, who emulate the life of Christ and the apostles. They say the latter is their church…

Again, some of them claim that on those elect spiritual and evangelical individuals through whom a spiritual and benign church will be founded in the seventh and last period, the Holy Spirit will be poured out in greater or at least in equal abundance as on the apostles, the disciples of Jesus Christ, on the day of Pentecost during the time of the primitive church. And they say the Holy Spirit will descend on them like a fiery flame in a furnace, and they take this to mean that, not only will their souls be filled with the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit will live in their bodies as well.

Again, they claim that there is a double Antichrist, one spiritual or mystical and the other the real, greater Antichrist…

Again, they say that both in the time of persecution by Antichrist and in that of the aforesaid war carnal Christians will be so afflicted that, despairing, they will say, “If Christ were God, he would not permit Christians to suffer so much and such intense evil.” Thus despairing, they will apostatize from the faith and die. But God will hide the elect spiritual individuals so that they cannot be found by Antichrist and his ministers. Then the church will be reduced to the same size as the primitive church when it was first founded…

Again, they say that after Antichrist’s death these spiritual individuals will convert the entire world to the faith of Christ; and the whole world will be so good and benign that there will be no malice or sin in people of that period, except perhaps for venial sins in a few of them; and all things will be common as far as use is concerned; and there will be no one who offends anyone else or encourages another to sin. For there will be the greatest love among them, and there will be one flock and one pastor. According to some of them this period and condition will last for one hundred years. Then, as love fails, malice will creep back in and slowly increase until Christ is, as it were, compelled to come in universal judgment because of it.

Again, these insane heretics seriously and ignominiously rail against the Lord Pope, the vicar of Jesus Christ, calling him the mystical Antichrist, precursor of the greater Antichrist, preparing the way for his life (BERNARD GUI: INQUISITOR’S MANUAL, Chapter 5. Translated by David Burr, History Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. http://phi.kenyon.edu/Projects/Margin/inquisit.htm 04/09/07).

It should be noted that Albigenses and Waldenses were sometimes arrested with the Beguins. Now while most that were killed in the Inquisition were not in the Church of God, nor were the Franciscan Beguins, it is obvious that Church of God doctrines such as that ministers should not dress like the Roman clerics, Christians are not to swear oaths, and that God will offer salvation to all, were clearly condemned by the Roman Catholics during the time of Thyatira.

Before going further, it is odd that Bernard Guidonis considered the heretics as insane for railing against the pope for his allowance of torture.  He obviously knew of the tortures he and his fellow inquisitors inflicted upon people.

Notice two brief Protestant-leaning accounts of the Inquisition:

torture…That it should be used by the Inquisition was a matter of course, for the crime of heresy was often one peculiarly difficult to prove; confession was sought in all cases and, from the middle of the thirteenth century, the habitual employment of torture by the Holy Office had been the most efficient factor in spreading its use throughout Christendom… In Aragon, Pefia tells us that, although it was forbidden in secular jurisprudence, it was freely permitted in matters of faith (Lea HC.  A history of the Inquisition of Spain, Volume 3.  The Macmillan company, 1922. Original from Harvard University.  Digitized, Apr 11, 2008, p. 2).

Now any of the Popes could have stopped the horrible Inquisition by merely affixing his name and seal to a piece of paper.  But did they?  No.  Some of the popes that are today acclaimed to be “great” by the Romish Church, lived and thrived during those bloody days.  Not one of them made a serious attempt to open the dungeon doors, to stop the slaughter of dripping blades, or quench the murderous fires that blackened the skies of Europe for decades!  And now I ask you: Could such a system that instituted this horrible Inquisition of the dark ages be the true Church? (Woodrow R.  Babylon Mystery Religion.  Ralph Woodrow Evangelistic Association, 1998, p. 110)

Does anyone think torture is what Jesus would advise?

Also notice the following as it points out that most of the ‘Jews’ that supposedly killed were not actual Jews but Sabbath keepers:

“Of the many who were burned and otherwise destroyed for Judaism,” observes a Spanish author of the sixteenth century, “it is not probable that one-tenth were of the race of Israel, but heretics, who, for persisting in saying that the law of Moses was still binding, were accused of Jewish practices, such as circumcision and sabbatizing, to the latter of which they uniformly plead guilty” (Quoted in Davis, Tamar. A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches. 1851; Reprinted 1995 by Commonwealth Publishing, Salt Lake City, p. 88).

Notice that it was the supposed Jewish practice of keeping the Sabbath, and not circumcision, that they uniformly plead guilty to (Jews would always have been “guilty” of circumcision, while not all the that profess Christ would participate in that practice).

This actually seemed to upset one inquisitor named Gregory. Notice the following account:

On the 14th of September, 1492, about thirty persons were committed to the inquisitional dungeons of Toulouse upon a charge of Judaism…Of there was Anthony Ferrar, who had been a pastor or teacher in the Sabbatarian church of that city. After remaining in prison ten days, he received a visit from an Italian monk named Gregory…

Greg.–But Anthony, you must be a liar and a deceiver, for I have been credibly informed that yourself, and all of your friends, were of the cursed race of Israel.

An.–It is false, we were honest Frenchmen, and Christians, followers of Jesus.

Greg.–Nay! but you were Jews, for instead of baptizing your infant children, you have all the males circumcised.

An.–You were very wrong to accuse us of that practice ; for it is something of which we are entirely innocent.

Greg.–Hey ! do you then baptize your children?

An.–We do not, neither do we circumcise them.

Greg.–Nevertheless, you must be Jews, since you say the law of Moses is still binding.

An.–We say that the ten commandments are still binding.

Greg.–Yes, and instead of observing the festivals of the Holy Church, and honouring the holy day of the Lord, on which he rose from the dead, you were accustomed to meet for worship upon the old Sabbath, or Saturday.

An.–We did, indeed, rest and attend divine worship upon the seventh day, even as God commanded…

Anthony, with his associates in misfortune, were subsequently burned in the marketplace in Toulouse, and all died praising God that they were worthy to suffer for his name (Quoted in Davis, Tamar. A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches. 1851; Reprinted 1995 by Commonwealth Publishing, Salt Lake City, pp. 87-88).

Persecutions are not over.  And more intense ones are coming.

The Book of Daniel shows a two-part persecution coming (I added the a and b below for emphasis):

25 a He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand b For a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

First of all (a), he shall persecute certain of the saints, which is consistent with what Jesus said was coming:

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14)

Much of the above will affect the Philadelphian Christians (cf. Revelation 12:13), but they will later be protected (Revelation 3:8-10) in the wilderness for a time, times, and half a time (Revelation 12:14-16; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra). Part of why they will be persecuted is for proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and probably also for identifying the coming King of the North, who will not wish to be identified that way. This will likely result in internet and other restrictions on getting the truth of God out to the world (cf. Amos 8:11-12).

Second of all (b), the remaining saints will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. This is the portion of the COG, the non-Philadelphians, who are NOT protested in the wilderness as Revelation 12:17 shows this separation:

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)

While many in the Church of God have experienced economic and social persecution in their walk with Christ, future severe persecution, beginning first with the Philadelphia remnant of Christians, is expected.  The famous Inquisition should serve as a warning of what those that claim to support the Church of Rome will do.

Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu giving Pope Francis a book his father wrote about the Spanish Inquisition, this will not change the fact that more persecution is coming.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated Many want Jerusalem. Who does the Bible teach will control Jerusalem? Will the Jews be forced out of Jerusalem and many made captive? What did Jesus teach about this? Are nations even now considering providing the prophesied armies to surround Jerusalem? What is Jerusalem Day? What is Nakba Day? What events should Christians watch in Jerusalem as signs that the Great Tribulation will begin? What is the solution to Jerusalem? This is a video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem?
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? Former Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now Pope Francis. According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? Could a Jesuit be “the black pope”?
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
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?
Can those in the USA/UK see the Handwriting on the Wall? Is everything fine in the USA/UK or is it like the days of Noah? Can we learn from the handwriting that appeared on a wall thousands of years ago? Here is a link to a related YouTube video Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’?

COGwriter

The latest issue (#156, print date November 30, 2013) of The Journal was sent out electronically and just received.

There were the usual letters to the editor and advertisements, various comments and complaints about a sex article and related matters, articles about church structure, an article about prophets, winter weekends, and Feast reports.

Church Structure

The issue had a lot about legal church structures in the USA, with articles by Dixon Cartwright and Norman Edwards. Norman Edwards has some points about that it is simpler to not have a corporation, but for those few states which allow churches to be set up as ‘corporation soles,’ in the long-run there are advantages to that over being a regular non-profit corporation or an unincorporated church (which he tends to advocate).

Here is an excerpt from what Dixon Cartwright wrote:

If you’re organizing a new congregation or network of congregations in the United States, you might want to consider this before you set up as a 501(c)(3) corporation: You are not required to operate as a 501(c)(3) corporation to be legal and to be tax-exempt and able to accept tax-deductible contributions. The immediately preceding para-graph states a fact that’s little known among people organizing religious groups that could accurately be described as churches or congregations. Apparently it’s even little known by attorneys-at-law. (Cartwright D.)

While that is basically accurate, in the State of California, there are other requirements, and those are independent upon whether the church is a corporation or not.  That being said, the ‘best of all worlds’ from a limited regulatory perspective is for the church to be formed as a ‘corporation sole’ and not as a 501(c)(3).  That is what we have done in the Continuing Church of God.  And, because of a one-time review by the State of California, our tax-deductibility has been specifically approved by the State.

Prophets

David Havir had an article about prophets, etc. Here is some of what he wrote:

Have you ever considered how your preoccupation with seeking out dogmatic opinions about prophecy may actually influence the false prophet to continue his folly?

You might say: I don’t listen to people who claim to be a prophet. I could respond: Do you listen to people who give their dogmatic proclamations about prophecy? Maybe the charlatan is too wise to actually call himself a prophet. Maybe the snake-oil salesman actually knows that he can dogmatically pronounce imaginations of his heart, as long as he doesn’t call himself a prophet.

Actually, the man who avoids claiming to be a prophet may do more damage to religious people than those who insist on a title of prophet. Subtle behavior can be dangerous. For the record, I think it would be good to mention a truth from one of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. “Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

Sadly, most today do despise prophets and will not heed.  For more information on this topic, please study the article How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God.

Winter Weekends

There were two news items related to Winter weekends:

UCG’s Winter Family Weekend

MASON, Ohio—The United Church of God’s Winter Family W eekend for 2013 will happen at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area Dec. 20- 24, 2013. Events will include sports, a huge water park, swimming pools. F or more information from event coordinators Gary Antion and Roy Holladay, go to wfw.ucg.org.

Lexington Winter Family Weekend update

WEST CHESTER, Ohio—The Winter Family Weekend, Dec. 24-29, sponsored by the Church of God Cincinnati and Church of God Lexington at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington, Ky., is offering a low flat rate for attendees this year Call (877) 901-6632 to make a reservation. “This annual family event has been a huge success since 1997, when it was created as a weekend where friends can meet as equals to worship, fellowship, play, grow and learn, organizer Jim O’Brien said. For more information write Mr. O’Brien at jimobri@gmail.com

Those with Jim O’Brien seemingly split from UCG years ago because of matters related to the Winter Family Weekend, so now there are two of them in the same general area.

Feast Reports

The Journal had some Feast of Tabernacles’ reports.  Here is one from Lazum Brang from Kachinland (located in the northern territory claimed by Myanmar.  Here is what he wrote:

LAKE INDAWGYI REGION, Kachinland—From June up to the end of September 2013, the terrible fightings between the Kachin armies and the Burma government armies were going on in northern and eastern Kachinland. Though Kachinland has seven local home churches, and this year we decided to choose our Feast site in the Lake Indawgyi Region, the scattered members could not come and partici- pate in our Feast because of the terrible fightings. The Feast was successfully celebrated in our hometown, Na Mawn. The participants are only 12 persons. Even though we were a small group this year, we were all very much happy to be gathered together. Every day we praised God much for His merciful protections. We sang many hymnal songs. We earnestly studied the Bible truths, and we all prayed together. During the Feast we spent only US$20 for our daily food. Our main foods are rice and vegetables. Even though our foods are not all that delicious, we thank You, God, so much for providing us for our daily foods abundantly. We have had many spiritual meals of manna, and we all have had many spiritual strengths of faith. T oday we stand alone on our feet by the guidances of our Almighty God in Kachinland. But we are willing to contact the Churches of God from around the world. Please remember us in your prayers constantly. The mail service between Kachin- land and Burma is running regularly. On Sept. 6, 2013, we received THE JOURNAL , the issue of July 22. We thank you for your kind sending and generous support. I plan to leave for China’s border one week from to- day (I’m writing this on Oct. 11, 2013). I must try to come in Yunnan Province, China, firstly. Then I must try to come back to the borderlines from east side to west side. I will stay at the refugee camps from Oct. 21-25 for ministry and Christian education. I need your special prayers for my long journey between my hometown and China. Lazum Brang

Lazum Brand has written me a few times and I need to write him back later this week.

The Journal itself is available by paid subscription (though Dixon Cartwright says some subscriptions are free to those who cannot afford it) and often tends to take a non-Philadelphian era view of certain church matters.

Nagasaki Nuclear Bomb (1945)

COGwriter

Various analysts, including some generally favorable to the Obama Administration, have concluded that Iran was (or at least seems to be) the real winner in the interim nuclear deal that was reached last week:

December 2, 2013

The six-month deal is a mixed bag. On the positive side it stems the tide of Iranian nuclearisation by setting its clock slightly back, temporarily capping Iran’s nuclear facilities, array of centrifuges and stockpile of low-enriched uranium, and improving the monitoring regime. On the other hand, Iranian enrichment has been accepted as part of the endgame; the clock in the uranium and plutonium tracks continues to tick, albeit at a slower pace; Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium (enough for at least five bombs) remains intact; Iranian concessions are all reversible; and International Atomic Energy Agency concerns about military dimensions have not been addressed. It remains to be seen whether the sanctions relief will entice Iran to make further concessions in the final deal or will erode the sanctions regime as a whole.  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/01/israel-new-focus-iran-nuclear-endgame

The Washington Post has come out against the deal that was signed between Iran and the West in Geneva last weekend…

“What the White House didn’t report is that the text of the accord makes several major concessions to Tehran on the terms of a planned second-stage agreement,” said The Washington Post.

“Though White House officials and Secretary of State John F. Kerry repeatedly said that Iran’s assertion of a ‘right to enrich’ uranium would not be recognized in an interim deal, the text says the ‘comprehensive solution’ will ‘involve a mutually defined enrichment program with mutually agreed parameters.’

“In other words,” warned the newspaper, “the United States and its partners have already agreed that Iranian enrichment activity will continue indefinitely. In contrast, a long-standing U.S. demand that an underground enrichment facility be closed is not mentioned.”

Furthermore, the editorial pointed out, “Obama and other U.S. officials have spoken about a six-month time frame for completing negotiations, but the agreement says the six-month arrangement can be renewed ‘by mutual consent’ and that ‘the parties aim to conclude negotiating and commence implementing [in] no more than one year.’  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/174656#.Up0UQyfrsx0

In Geneva, the participants came to the talks with different goals: The Americans and Europeans wanted an agreement; the Iranians wanted nukes. Each party got what it came for. Before the deal, the mullahs’ existing facilities were said to be within four to seven weeks of nuclear “breakout”; under the new constraints, they’ll be eight to nine weeks from breakout. In return, they get formal international recognition of their enrichment program, and the gutting of sanctions — and everything they already have is, as they say over at Obamacare, grandfathered in.

Many pundits reached for the obvious appeasement analogies, but Bret Stephens in the Wall Street Journal argued that Geneva is actually worse than Munich. In 1938, facing a German seizure of the Sudetenland, the French and British prime ministers were negotiating with Berlin from a position of profound military weakness: It’s easy to despise Chamberlain with the benefit of hindsight, less easy to give an honest answer as to what one would have done differently playing a weak hand across the table from Hitler 75 years ago. This time round, a superpower and its allies accounting for over 50 percent of the planet’s military spending was facing a militarily insignificant country with a ruined economy and no more than two to three months’ worth of hard currency — and they gave it everything it wanted. http://nationalreview.com/article/365132/surrender-geneva-mark-steyn

Israel is very upset with the deal.  Its Prime Minister even complained to Pope Francis about it:

December 2, 2013

Israeli PM warns Pope over Iran nuclear deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Pope Francis as part of visit to Rome during which he restated his firm opposition to a nuclear deal with Iran  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10488875/Israeli-PM-warns-Pope-over-Iran-nuclear-deal.html

After the deal was announced on 11/24/13, I wrote a post that stated:

US President Obama mentioned that some validly have concerns about Iran, despite the deal it agreed to.  And that is correct.  What this deal really does is give Iran some economic relief and time to upgrade its technology, while it agrees to get rid of some of its underdeveloped nuclear waste and centrifuges.  This, in theory at least, will give Iran more money and more time to work on its nuclear technology, and at some point it time, it will likely not allow (officially or surreptitiously) inspectors to see some of what will be its newer, more advanced nuclear capacity. (Iran makes nuclear deal that Obama praises: Israel and Saudi Arabia are not pleased)

I also wrote an article titled Iran in Prophecy, and put together a related YouTube video also titled Iran In Prophecy.

We will see how this current ‘interim’ deal will play out.  So, far it appears to be (carnally-speaking) a good deal for Iran.  However, in the long-run, Iran will likely suffer for decisions it will make, at least partially because of this deal.

That being said, parts of this deal put the USA itself at risk for terrorist attacks from ‘dirty bombs’ (bombs that have radioactive components) and possibly nuclear bombs in the future.

Iran is not truly placated.  The top leadership of Iran has a Shi’ite Muslim agenda, which they have concluded includes causing chaos and war.  I, for one, do not believe that Iran’s leaders have given up on their goals of Islamic domination.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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 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? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
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. Another article related to Iran translated into the Spanish language is: Irán y líderes israelíes discuten las intenciones nucleares de Irán.
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.
Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated Many want Jerusalem. Who does the Bible teach will control Jerusalem? Will the Jews be forced out of Jerusalem and many made captive? What did Jesus teach about this? Are nations even now considering providing the prophesied armies to surround Jerusalem? What is Jerusalem Day? What is Nakba Day? What events should Christians watch in Jerusalem as signs that the Great Tribulation will begin? What is the solution to Jerusalem? This is a video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem?
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?
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the seven-year deal? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-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.

Indian Mangalyaan PSLV-C25 (http://pib.nic.in/newsite/photo.aspx?photoid=50447)

COGwriter

India launched a mission to Mars and China launched a probe to the moon:

December 2, 2013

India’s first mission to Mars left Earth’s orbit early on Sunday, clearing a critical hurdle in its journey to the red planet and overtaking the efforts in space of rival Asian giant China.
The success of the spacecraft, scheduled to orbit Mars by next September, would carry India into a small club, which includes the United States, Europe, and Russia, whose probes have orbited or landed on Mars.
India’s venture, called Mangalyaan, faces further more hurdles on its journey to Mars. Fewer than half of missions to the planet are successful.
“While Mangalyaan takes 1.2 billion dreams to Mars, we wish you sweet dreams!” India’s space agency said in a tweet soon after the event, referring to the citizens of the world’s second-most populous country.
China, a keen competitor in the space race, has considered the possibility of putting a man on the moon sometime after 2020 and aims to land its first probe on the moon on Monday…Beijing says its space programme is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S. Defence Department has highlighted China’s increasing space capabilities, saying it was pursuing ways to keep adversaries from using space-based assets during a crisis.   http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1202/India-s-Mars-mission-leaves-Earth-s-orbit-surpasses-Chinese-ambitions

.

December 2, 2013

China has launched its first robotic expedition to the Moon’s surface, the latest step in an ambitious space program seen to reflect the country’s rising global stature.

The Chang’e-3 lunar probe, which includes the “Jade Rabbit” rover buggy, blasted off early Monday morning (1730 GMT Sunday) on board an enhanced carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China’s southwestern Sichuan province.

Chinese state television showed a live broadcast of the rocket lifting off.

The probe is due to land on the Moon in mid-December to explore its surface and look for natural resources. It is the world’s third lunar rover mission following ones from the United States and former Soviet Union decades earlier…

President Xi Jinping has said he wants China to establish itself as a space superpower, and the mission has inspired widespread pride in China’s growing technological prowess.

Online reactions to the launch from the Chinese public were mixed, ranging from expressions of pride of country to criticism that the accomplishment was done without the consent of the people and did nothing to help clothe and feed the population.

Beijing aims to establish a permanent space station by 2020 and eventually send someone to the Moon.

Reaction from Weibo microblog site

曾大头猫：Salute to Chang’e. Salute to “Jade Rabbit”. Salute to Chinese space engineers. Salute to China Dream.
#嫦娥三号登月# “足迹已至星旗影，碧海仍是夜夜心。长征淬火送玉兔，银河不落追辰星！”向我最爱的偶像李商隐致敬，向伟大的中国航天人致敬，向每一位抱着“大国梦”说过“我们的征途是星辰大海”的爱国者致敬！！！

竹之风01：It is an exciting news that China successfully launched Chang’e 3. I still remember the launch of China’s first satellite Dongfanghong. It has been fifty years and China has been greatly transformed. I am proud of my country.
今天嫦娥三号发射成功了，令人高兴令人骄傲，回想1970年第一颗东方红卫星发射升空的时候，举国上下人们欢呼奔走相告的情景还历历在目，如今在五十年不到的时间里祖国又发生了翻天覆地的变化，哪能不让人激动，自豪并为此骄傲呢？我期待玉兔发回动人的消息。

NEUTRAL
haiou1957：The U.S. has sent two men to the moon in 1969. We have a long way to go.
美国69年，已经载人登月了，我们落后了很多。 【”玉兔”月球车将永留月球】 http://t.cn/8kG1bbp

CRITICAL

章奇-2012The Jade Rabbit was launched into space and China’s deep-sea submersible, the Jiaolong has plumbed the depths of the sea. China has donated billions in aid to Africa, North Korea, Vietnam and Brunei. But did you do any of this with the consent of the people? What does the launch of a moon rover or deep-sea submersible accomplish? Does it make China a more responsible country? Does it help to cloth and feed its people or make its citizens more healthy?…..

玉兔再上天，蛟龙又下水，援助非洲捐赠5000亿美金、援助朝鲜3670亿美金？援助越南130亿美金、文莱40亿美金，请问，这些你经过你的国民同意了吗？还有脸自己“负责任大国”玉龙上天能怎样？国民能丰衣足食？蛟龙下海又如何？百姓能身体健康？国内局势依旧如此；人民公仆就是人民公敌……

渔夫以琳：China’s successful launch of Chang’e and “Jade Rabbit” makes me confident that China is capable of making best-quality milk powder and safest food.
嫦娥携玉兔奔月，感受到的喜悦竞是：中国高科技制造赶超世界先进水平中。那么我们一定能造出世界一流的奶粉，食品安全有高科技后盾也一定有保证。转基因作物安全否也一定能解答。

c川小川c：I don’t care about Chang’e 3, 2 or 1. What I care about is whether I can afford to go to doctor when I am sick.
我不关心什么嫦娥几号的、我关心的是我有病了能不能看起病、我以后会不会住拐棍去上班、 (60分钟前)  http://www.voanews.com/content/china-lauches-moon-rover-mission/1801373.html

Xi Jinping

The USA used to be a major leader in space, but now countries that were considered too poor in the 1960s to do anything as ambitious as launch to the Moon or Mars are now doing so.

What about the USA?  Here is what Wikipedia reports:

On December 4, 2006, NASA announced it was planning a permanent moon base. The goal was to start building the moon base by 2020, and by 2024, have a fully functional base that would allow for crew rotations and in-situ resource utilization. However in 2009, the Augustine Committee found the program to be on a “unsustainable trajectory.” In 2010, President Barack Obama halted existing plans, including the Moon base, and directed a generic focus on manned missions to asteroids and Mars, as well as extending support for the International Space Station.

…In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Charles Bolden as NASA’s twelfth administrator. (NASA, viewed 12/02/13)

Perhaps it also should be mentioned that Wikipedia reported no actual NASA mission since the Summer of 2012.  This does not mean that NASA has not done anything, but it appears that NASA is less and less in the forefront of space exploration.

It may be of interest to note what US President Barack Obama told Charles Bolden (who is currently the head of NASA):

Barack Obama told Charles Bolden, the head of the National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA), to set as one of his top priorities trying to make Muslims feel good about their historic contributions to science (Harnden T.  Barack Obama: Nasa must try to make Muslims ‘fee good.’  The Telegraph, July 6, 2010). This is an unusual top priority for NASA (space exploration and U.S. interests always presumably had been its historic top priorities).  (Thiel B. Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term. Nazarene Books, 2013, p. 33)

What does this mean?

It likely means that the USA has decided to shift its priorities as have India and China.  India and China plan to explore more and hence develop more technology.  They hope to become world leaders, while the USA relishes in past accomplishments.  This does not mean that the USA will not have any other space or technological accomplishments, but it is showing the world that the USA is not the leader like it once was.

Furthermore, 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.

Let me clearly state that according to Bible prophecy, China and apparently India, will have an end-time militaristic role, but neither is 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 nor India.

That being said, some of the USA’s Anglo-Saxon allies like Australia and New Zealand may end up being dominated by China and/or other Asians (see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? ).

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

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).
India and the Beast of Revelation 13 Do biblical, Catholic, and even Hindu prophecies suggest that many in India will follow, for a while, the Beast and False Prophet/Antichrist? Here is link to a related YouTube video Will People in India Worship the Beast of Revelation 13?
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?
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 other Asian languages in progress that are intended to be added. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
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.
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.
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? 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.

An Originally Female Statue Transformed to Allegedly Represent Hippolytus (found in 1551)

COGwriter

December 2nd is one of the three “saints days” for Hippolytus (August 13th is the other date that Catholics of Rome set apart to honor Hippolytus and the Eastern Orthodox use January 30). He was a Bishop of Rome in the third century. He was believed to have been “scourged to death” c. 258 (http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-hippolytus-2-december/).

Although known as the first “antipope,” The Catholic Encyclopedia claims that Hippolytus is a Catholic saint and was “the most important theologian…of the Roman Church in the pre-Constantinian era” (Kirsch, Johann Peter. “St. Hippolytus of Rome.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 18 Jul. 2012 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07360c.htm>).

Despite being a Catholic saint and important theologian, Hippolytus apparently held a binitarian, not trinitarian, view of the Godhead:

He did not say, “I and the Father am one, but are one.” For the word are is not said of one person, but it refers to two persons, and one power…(Hippolytus. Against Noetus: Against the Heresy of One Noetus, Chapter 7. from The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus: Dogmatical and Historical. Roberts-Donaldson English Translators. Copyright © 2001 Peter Kirby)

Hippolytus also taught that God has a 6000-7000 year plan, like those of us in the Continuing Church of God do (see Does God Have a 6,000-7,000 Year Plan?):

And 6,000 years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day “on which God rested from all His works.” For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they “shall reign with Christ,” when He comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse: for “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years. “Since, then, in six days God made all things”, it follows that 6,000 years must be fulfilled. (Hippolytus. On the HexaËmeron, Or Six Days’ Work. From Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0502.htm viewed 9/17/07)

Hippolytus thus taught the 7,000 year plan (6,000 for humankind, followed by 1,000 from God).

Hippolytus also noted that in the third century celibacy was not required for the clergy (nor was it required by his rival, Roman Bishop Callistus) including bishops, and he condemned the clergy who had multiple marriages:

About the time of this man, bishops, priests, and deacons, who had been twice married, and thrice married, began to be allowed to retain their place among the clergy. (Hippolytus. Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, Chapter VII. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1886)

The Catholic Encyclopedia teaches that the 3^rd century Bishop of Rome, “Callistus allowed the lower clergy to marry.” (Chapman J. Transcribed by Benjamin F. Hull. Pope Callistus I. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Published 1908. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Hippolytus also wrote about idol or icon makers:

If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. (Hippolytus. The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome, Chapter 16, Verse 3)

Idols and icons were not even part of the early worship practices of the Church of Rome (see also What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons?).

Hippolytus noted:

That it is not meet for Christians to bear arms…(Hippolytus. Heads of the Canons of Abulides or Hippolytus, Which Are Used by the Ethiopian Christians. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1886.)

16:6 A charioteer, likewise, or one who takes part in the games, or one who goes to the games, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 7 If someone is a gladiator, or one who teaches those among the gladiators how to fight, or a hunter who is in the wild beast shows in the arena, or a public official who is concerned with gladiator shows, either he shall cease, or he shall be rejected. 8 If someone is a priest of idols, or an attendant of idols, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 9 A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. 10 If someone is a military governor, or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. 11 The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God. (Hippolytus. The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome. From the work of Bernard Botte (La Tradition Apostolique. Sources Chretiennes, 11 bis. Paris, Editions du Cerf, 1984) and of Gregory Dix (The Treatise on the Apostolic Tradition of St. Hippolytus of Rome, Bishop and Martyr. London: Alban Press, 1992) as translated by Kevin P. Edgecomb http://www.bombaxo.com/hippolytus.html viewed 08/06/09)

All legitimate scholars realize that until the late third/early fourth centuries, even Greco-Roman professors of Christ were generally opposed to Christians being in the military (for more information, please see Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence?).

Hippolytus wrote the following about Zephyrinus (who is believed to have been Bishop of Rome from 199-217):

Zephyrinus, an ignorant and illiterate individual, and one unskilled in ecclesiastical definitions. (Hippolytus. Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, Chapter VI)

Perhaps it should be noted that Callistus (Bishop of Rome from 217-222) was considered to have been corrupt. Callistus was condemned by Hippolytus for his corruption, allowing abortion/infanticide, and for instituting a Saturday fast.

In circa 217 A.D., Callistus became bishop of Rome and somehow succeeded Zephyrinus. After he did, as Hippolytus reports, Callistus lowered standards and many who professed Christ liked that:

Callistus…a man cunning in wickedness, and subtle where deceit was concerned, (and) who was impelled by restless ambition to mount the episcopal throne. Now this man moulded to his purpose Zephyrinus, an ignorant and illiterate individual, and one unskilled in ecclesiastical definitions. And inasmuch as Zephyrinus was accessible to bribes, and covetous, Callistus, by luring him through presents, and by illicit demands, was enabled to seduce him into whatever course of action he pleased. And so it was that Callistus succeeded in inducing Zephyrinus to create continually disturbances among the brethren, while he himself took care subsequently, by knavish words, to attach both factions in good-will to himself. (Hippolytus. Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, Chapter VI)

The impostor Callistus … And the hearers of Callistus being delighted with his tenets, continue with him, thus mocking both themselves as well as many others, and crowds of these dupes stream together into his school. Wherefore also his pupils are multiplied, and they plume themselves upon the crowds (attending the school) for the sake of pleasures which Christ did not permit. But in contempt of Him, they place restraint on the commission of no sin, alleging that they pardon those who acquiesce (in Callistus’ opinions). For even also he permitted females, if they were unwedded, and burned with passion at an age at all events unbecoming, or if they were not disposed to overturn their own dignity through a legal marriage, that they might have whomsoever they would choose as a bedfellow, whether a slave or free, and that a woman, though not legally married, might consider such a companion as a husband. Whence women, reputed believers, began to resort to drugs for producing sterility, and to gird themselves round, so to expel what was being conceived on account of their not wishing to have a child either by a slave or by any paltry fellow, for the sake of their family and excessive wealth. Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time! And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church! And some, under the supposition that they will attain prosperity, concur with them. (Hippolytus. Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, Chapter VII)

Notice that Callistus’ allowance of biblically condemned sin led to an increase in Roman Church attendance, and that Callistus allowed (or at least permited) abortion and adultery. Callistus apparently thus caused many pagans to become part of the Church of Rome.

Note that even The Catholic Encyclopedia admitted this about Callistus and Zephyrinus:

Callistus…Our chief knowledge of this pope is from his bitter enemies…He obtained great influence over the ignorant, illiterate, and grasping Zephyrinus by bribes. We are not told how it came about that the runaway slave (now free by Roman law from his master, who had lost his rights when Callistus was condemned to penal servitude to the State) became archdeacon and then pope…Again Callistus…permitted noble ladies to marry low persons and slaves, which by the Roman law was forbidden; he had thus given occasion for infanticide. (Chapman , Pope Callistus I)

Here is Hippolytus’ condemnation of Callistus’ Sabbath fast:

Even today some allow themselves the same audacities: they order fasting on the Sabbath of which Christ has not spoken, dishonoring even the Gospel of Christ. (Hippolytus. In Danielem commentarius, 4, 20, 3 as Cited in Bacchiocchi Anti-Judaism and the Origin of Sunday, p. 65)

Hippolytus also wrote about nude baptism, which apparently was a practice in Alexandria, and possibly for a while in Rome (see Did Real Christians Practice Nude Baptism?) . But neither the Alexandrian Orthodox nor Roman Catholics currently teach that.

Hippolytus was the first to be labeled as an “antipope” partially because he and his followers refused to accept that Callistus could morally qualify for apostolic succession. Unlike Callistus (who some claim was elected, but may not have been), Hippolytus was actually elected “Bishop of Rome” right after Zephyrinus’ death (Kirsch. St. Hippolytus of Rome. Catholic Encyclopedia). But because of Callistus’ ‘liberal’ views, many chose to follow Zephyrinus’ archdeacon Callistus instead of Hippolytus. If the Roman Church truly had apostolic succession how could they trace their church through the bribe-taking Zephyrinus and the abortion-allowing Callistus than Hippolytus?

Those who associate with the Church of Rome should ask themselves if Hippolytus was elected as the Bishop of Rome in the 3^rd century and Callistus was considered a corrupt “imposter” who somehow wrestled control, would it not make sense from a Roman Catholic perspective that it was Callistus who should be considered the first antipope and not Hippolytus?

Yet, most of those associated with Rome tend to ignore this.

Despite having some views consistent with genuine Church of God positions, Hippolytus condemned others. Notice some complaints from Hippolytus concerning beliefs of those he considered to be heretics:

…a passover of the Lord God kept unto our generations, by those who are able to discern (this mystery), at the commencement of the fourteenth day…

And certain other (heretics), contentious by nature, (and) wholly uniformed as regards knowledge, as well as in their manner more (than usually) quarrelsome, combine (in maintaining) that Easter {Passover} should be kept on the fourteenth day of the first month, according to the commandment of the law, on whatever day (of the week) it should occur. (But in this) they only regard what has been written in the law, that he will be accursed who does not so keep (the commandment) as it is enjoined… In other respects, however, these consent to all the traditions delivered to the Church by the Apostles. ( Hippolytus. Refutation of All Heresies, Book 8, Chapters 7 and 11)

So sadly, Hippolytus of Rome clearly is condemning the views and practices of those who kept Passover on the 14^th as heretical (a term he referred to them as in the verse that followed the one above), even though he seemingly otherwise considers them to be faithful.

Hippolytus also wrote about Simon Magus (Simon Magus, What Did He Teach?), prophetic matters (When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?, Some Doctrines of Antichrist, and Who Are The Two Witnesses?) and is one who also attempted to put together the locations that the original apostles went to (see Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome).

Yet, while he was not truly part of the genuine Church of God, his writings show that many practices that the Church of Rome and the Eastern Orthodox now hold were simply not even the practices of those churches in the third century. They changed, but the genuine Church of God has not.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Hippolytus of Rome A third century Catholic saint and one elected to be Bishop of Rome who condemned others for taking bribes and allowing abortions. Why was he considered to be the first antipope?
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?
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.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
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?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
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? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2019 or 202x?
Did Real Christians Practice Nude Baptism? This is not a joke. Find out what was taught in the second and later centuries.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? What about the use of the cross, by the early Church?
Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians?
“Pope” Zephyrinus (199-217) He was the first bishop publicly accused of accepting bribes (and this was by one now recognized as a saint by Roman Catholics). He refused to condemn the Montanists and seemed to have had a confused view of the Godhead.
“Pope” Callistus (217-222) He is the first bishop known to have been a criminal prior to his election. He was also accused of a variety of corrupt acts, including allowing indulgences and infanticide (abortion).
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?

COGwriter

There are at least three ‘end time’ predictions that will be proven false this month.  Here are three:

1. The Great Tribulation will begin before the end of 2013.
2. On or near December 16, 2013, the world will have a massive destructive flood or other events many believed would happen in December 2012 based upon an interpretation of the Mayan calendar.
3. Jesus will return on December 25th.

In December of 2012, I provided a list of ten ‘predictions’ related to the world ending that month and the truth about why they were all wrong as follows:

1. PREDICTION: The Chilam Balam (the 16th century Mayan ‘book of the Jaguar priest’) actually states God will destroy the world with a flood at the end of one of a Mayan calendar katuns AND that Jesus will then return.
   TRUTH: Yet, the main source of information about Jesus comes from the Bible. And the Bible says that God will not destroy the world with a flood (Genesis 9:11,15). While December 21, 2012 is the end of the current Mayan cycle of 13 ‘baktuns’ (roughly 5,125 years), the reference to the ‘katun’ (a shorter time period, less than 20 years) may be for another time. There will be no massive worldwide flood on December 21/22, 2012. For more details, please check out End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?
2. PREDICTION: A Hindu in India, Vijay Kumar claims that Hindu writings show that a bloody disaster has to come in 2012 related to a warring figure known as the Bhagwan Kalki.
   TRUTH: Yet, other Hindu writers have correctly concluded that this type of event must come later than 2012. For additional details, please see Hindu in India Wrong: The ‘Reckoning’ is Not in 2012.
3. PREDICTION: A Western interpretation of the I Ching claims that the cosmos may dissolve on December 21/22, 2012.
   TRUTH: The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is a common source for both Confucianist and Taoist philosophy in parts of Asia and the way Westerners have tried to use it is different than how it is normally used by believers in those Asian-based faiths. The cosmos is not truly being predicted as dissolving by the I Ching. For additional details, please see I Ching: By Now or 31 Days for Doom?
4. PREDICTION: The last page of the Mayan Dresden Codex show two figures getting water poured on them from a serpent. This was interpreted by a Western researcher, over a century ago, to mean that the world would end in a flood when the Mayan long-count calendar ended on 12/21/12.
   TRUTH: Although there is a flood coming from a serpent in scripture, the Book of Revelation (12:15-16) shows that the group targeted by the flood will be protected. Even if the Dresden Codex is referring to December 21, 2012, a worldwide destructive flood will not happen (cf. Genesis 9:11,15). For more details, please check out End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?
5. PREDICTION: Some have claimed that a massive solar storm could happen in 2012 and essentially end Western civilization as we know it.
   TRUTH: According to NASA scientists, while a solar flare could cause massive problems, such a flare will not happen in December 2012. For some additional details, please see NASA Says Peak Solar Flare to be After 2012.
6. PREDICTION: Some claim that the galaxy will be in perfect alignment and cause massive disruptions on December 21/22, 2012 or that planet Nibiru will hit.
   TRUTH: Yet astronomers do not believe that the alignment (which is not galaxy-wide nor perfect) could possibly generate enough gravitational flow to cause massive disruption nor do they believe in destruction via an invented planet called Nibiru. For more details, see also CG7 Reports CGOM’s J. McBride’s Take on 2012 ‘Day of Doom’.
7. PREDICTION: Some believe that Nostradamus saw that a type of galactic alignment would cause destruction and that he drew paintings related to this.
   TRUTH: Yet the book that this is based upon is not likely to have even been written by him, as it is a series of pictures, not quatrains, like he normally wrote. But even if Nostradamus did paint this, the world will not end in December 2012. For more details, please check out End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?
8. PREDICTION: Muslim’s have a prophecy that an Islamic leader called the Imam Mahdi is supposed to rise up in an even numbered year. The latest Islamic year 1434 began on November 15, 2012 and runs until November 3, 2013. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Shi’ite Muslim, has claimed that this leader will arise before he leaves office (which is supposed to be during this Islamic year 1434) and suggested that is do arise after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad first takes over Jerusalem. Shi’Ite Muslims believe that he will be Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī, a relative of Muhammad, who was born on July 29, 869.
   TRUTH: Sunni Muslims, while accepting the view that there will be an Imam Mahdi, do not believe that he can be the leader that the Shi’ites expect–and they are correct–the one born on July 29, 869 will not truly rise up and unite all the Muslims. Hence we are not going to see the taking over of Jerusalem in year 1434–the events needed for Jerusalem to be surrounded by armies in Matthew 24, etc. have not yet happened. For additional details, please check out Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012 or 2013? and The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy.
9. PREDICTION: The Hopi Indians have prophecies of gloom that some believe point to the world ending in 2012–which some have interpreted as the world ending in 2012.
   TRUTH: However, as some have noticed, the Hopi prophecies tend to be discussing that the world will be in a “berserk transition,” not that the world will actually end then. And although we seem to be in a time of sorrows and transition (cf. Matthew 24:4-8), the world will not end in 2012. Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012 or 2013?
10. PREDICTION: Bruce McKerras claims that the sixth seal of the Book of Revelation will be opened on December 2012. In a book/article that he posted online titled ALETHOS TELOS: The Truth About the End Times he states the following: “2012 December The great and terrible day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath, a CME sunstrike. Isaiah 30:26. It is the Sixth seal. Worldwide devastation and the Middle East is completely cleared, Psalm 83, a small Jewish remnant survive in Jerusalem. Isaiah 4:3 Many will die elsewhere, such as America: Isaiah 17:4-10, but most will survive…”
    TRUTH: Biblically that is not possible. The sixth seal follows the fifth seal and the fifth seal will not be opened prior to 2017. There will not be devastation to the degree that the sixth seal calls for in December 2012. For more biblical details, please check out Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012 or 2013?

I should add that the Bible does not allow for the possibility that the world will end this month.  However, that does not mean that there could not be problems. There very well could be storms, earthquakes, floods, solar problems, regional conflicts, violence, etc. in December 2013, it is just that it will not possibly be the end of the world as we know it.

Nor can Jesus possibly return this month.

There have not been enough of the biblically-required signs (see, for example, Matthew 24 and Daniel 11:27-39) fulfilled for it to be this early. Too many biblically-required events must happen first.  Since some have time periods associated with them (like the start of the Great Tribulation and the timing from that until Jesus’ return), the three predictions listed at the beginning of this article will all be proven false by January 1, 2014.

Now, I want to make it perfectly clear that at least some Mayans did predict the end of the world. Here, for example, is a quote from one or more Mayan priests in the 16th century:

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

However, this does not mean that ALL Mayans believed in the end of the world (and records suggest that many prior to the 10th century did not) nor does it mean that the world will end this month. Nor is it biblically-possible that a great deluge will be the end of the world (Genesis 9:11,15).

Despite at least three false predictions, the truth is that the world will continue into 2014.

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

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.
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.
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?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012? Have predictions written by Bob Thiel related to Barack Obama and Julia Gillard began to come to pass?

Mummers Parade (Tyler McHenry)

COGwriter

Are you familiar with Mummers parades?  Here is some information about them:

Dec 1, 2013 – National Geographic lists Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day atop its list and writes:

The costumed revelers of this unique New Year’s Day tradition have paraded the streets of Philadelphia since the 1800s and trace their roots back to even older European traditions. Elaborately costumed dancers, drillers, and musicians entertain onlookers en route to City Hall, where judges select the best Fancies, Wenches, Comics, and String Bands…

The Philadelphia Beginnings…

In the late 1700’s. When the Swedes came to Tinicum, just outside of Philadelphia, they brought there custom of visiting friends on “Second Day Christmas”, December 26. Later they extended their period of celebration to include New Year’s day, and welcomed the new year with masquerades and parades of noisy revelers. The traditions of other nationalities were also present. The use of masks and different costumes were carried over from the Greek celebrations of King Momus, the Italian-feast of saturnalia [Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deity Saturn held on December 17 of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23], and the British Mummery Play.  http://www.philly.com/philly/living/travel/20131201_Fall_in_line_for_nation_s_best_parades.html

Christmas “Mummer’s Festival”…the 5th Annual Mummer’s Festival in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a festival based on English and Irish traditions that involve people dressing in disguises and visiting homes in their communities during the 12 days of Christmas…Davis, who said this year’s festival will include costume workshops, history lectures and a Dec. 14 Mummer’s Parade… http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2013/11/29/Canadian-Mummers-Festival-seeks-bra-donations/UPI-95791385759253/#ixzz2mEffoqEu

Though it looks more like a scene from a horror movie than the age old Christmas tradition it is, mummering is coming to Fort McMurray, but rest assured, the seemingly maligned masses are filled only with lumpy pillows, grain alcohol and the holiday spirit.

Shaun Majumder, a Newfoundland-born comedian and veteran cast member of This Hour has 22 Minutes, will hit the ground running Saturday in Fort McMurray, camera crew in tow, as he films a segment for the CBC-based sketch news show’s hour-long holiday special, set to air Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.

The Christmas tradition, sometimes known as “janneying,” dates back to the 1800s in England and Ireland. It was, and still is, embraced in parts of Newfoundland.  http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2013/11/27/going-mummering-with-22-minutes

“Mummers and “guisers” (performers in disguise) can be traced back at least to the Middle Ages, though when the term “mummer” appears in medieval manuscripts it is rarely clear what sort of performance was involved. A key element was visiting people in disguise at Christmas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Play

From what I have been able to tell, the Mummers event is becoming a big deal in Philadelphia.  Many practices associated with the pagan Saturnalia are retained in modern ‘Christmas’ celebrations.

While researching Mummers today, I ran across an article titled Christmas’ Pagan Origins that had the following:

In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born. In northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born… http://www.essortment.com/christmas-pagan-origins-42543.html

Of course, those who have looked into the whole ‘Christmas/New Years’ season realize that Jesus was not born on December 25th and that the dates and many observances were modifications from pagan practices.  Mummers parades seem to be an offshoot of that.

Those who have looked into the Bible realize that neither Saturnalia, Mummers, Mithras, or Christmas observances are biblical.  Because of their connections to paganism and distortions to God’s plan as revealed in His Holy Days, they should not be kept by Christians.

Early Christians did not even celebrate birthdays of any type, and certainly none to honor sun-gods or other pagan deities.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god?
How did December 25th become Christmas? Was Jesus born then? If not, why December 25? Here is the article translated into Mandarin Chinese 12月25日最后是怎么被许多基督的信仰者采纳的.
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Was Jesus Born in the Grotto of the Nativity? Was Jesus born in a below ground cave? Was Jesus born below the “Church of the Nativity”? Were the wise men there?
Is Keeping Christmas a Sin? Is keeping Christmas acceptable for true Christians? What are some scriptures to consider?
Mardi Gras: The Devil’s Carnival? Is Mardi Gras Christian? Do you know that in Bolivia the carnival/Mardi Gras time is part of a celebration known as the Devil’s Carnival? Where did it come from?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days. (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Calendario Anual de Adoración –Una crítica basada en la Biblia y en la Historia: ¿Hay un Calendario Anual de Adoración en la Biblia?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
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?

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Pvasiliadis)

COGwriter

Yesterday, Vatican Radio reported that Pope Francis reached out to Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (see Pope Francis reaches out to Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew). Patriarch Bartholomew has responded:

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I’s messages to Rome on the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, were clear: the 264^th successor of the 1^st Apostle, expressed the hope that Pope Francis’ pontificate would bring “renewed inspiration” to the common journey of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches toward full communion. The meeting between the two religious leaders in Jerusalem expected to take place next spring will be a great chance to begin a new season of ecumenical dialogue, which the Ecumenical Patriarchate considers “especially significant and for many reasons decisive.”

Addressing Cardinal Kurt Koch and other members of the Delegation of the Church of Rome who are in Istanbul for the Feast of St. Andrew, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Bartholomew said he trusted Francis’ election “will constitute a renewed inspiration for the common journey of our two Churches toward the world in order that we may assume social and moral initiatives for the consolation of humanity, which is suffering from diverse global crises.”

Bartholomew expressed his sadness at the fact that the two Churches still do not “[eat] of the same Bread and [drink] of the same Cup” and defined the lack of sacramental communion between Catholics and Orthodox as “the most painful separation of all.” “We consider especially significant and for many reasons decisive the newly commenced period of our dialogue,” Bartholomew went on to say. The Patriarchate therefore “deem[s] it absolutely mandatory to avoid every action and decision, which might be perceived as an impediment in these final days.”

…The Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople are clearly both keen for theological dialogue to progress.  http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/ecumenismo-ecumenism-ecumenism-30309/

The Bible and Roman Catholic writings warn against the type of ecumenical unity that Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis want.  The Orthodox actually look forward to a time of a new Babylon:

Monk Leontios (died 543): Rejoice, oh most unhappy one, oh New Babylon!…You, who are the New Babylon rejoice now on behalf of Zion! New Babylon, dance, bounce and leap greatly, make known even those in Haydes what a Grace you have received. Because that peace which was yours to enjoy in times past, and which God has deprived you of in course of battles, receive it once more from the hand of an Angel…oh, the City of Seven Hills the dominion will be yours. (Tzima Otto, H.  The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Scriptural Prophecies.  Verenikia Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, pp. 82-83).

This is something that the Bible and at least one Catholic priest have warned against:

2…Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:2-5)

Priest H. Kramer (20th century): In the vision of the Seer now appears a second beast rising out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon…In other places he is called the false prophet…This prophet may re-establish the pagan Roman Empire and build the “Great Harlot”, Babylon… The False Prophet…will persuade all infidels, apostates and apostate nations to worship and adore him…Antichrist “sitteth in the temple of God” (I Thes. II. 4). This is not the ancient Temple in Jerusalem…this temple is shown to be a Catholic Church…The False Prophet will proclaim the resurrection of the Roman Empire. (Kramer H., p. 318,320-323)

T

COGwriter

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

24:26

Iran In Prophecy 

The situation with Iran has been in the news a lot this week (e.g. Iran makes nuclear deal that Obama praises: Israel and Saudi Arabia are not pleased).  An ‘interim’ deal is in place that apparently will allow Iran to tap into some of its foreign bank accounts and/or lift some of the economic sanctions against it.  The deal will mean that Iran will give up some of its older nuclear centrifuges and enriched uranium.  And if you believe Iran and the USA government, it also means that Iran will not be developing nuclear weapons at this time.  In my view, this agreement will allow Iran to continue to perfect its technology so that it will be better able to produce nuclear weapons over time.

Since the Bible does not mention the term ‘Iran,’ is Iran mentioned in the Bible? If so, by what name or names is it identified? How might Iranian religious beliefs affect its nation’s military actions related to Jerusalem. Are the nuclear negotiations and lifting of sanctions against Iran dangerous? Is Iran the King of the South of Bible prophecy? Might Iran be involved in Ezekiel 30:1-9 or Isaiah 22? Might Iran somehow be neutralized?

This week’s suggested sermonette is titled: Iran In Prophecy.