Church of God News

Kurt Koch

COGwriter

Vatican Radio released the following which I machine-translated into English:

December 17, 2013

This Wednesday that Cardinal Kurt Koch will meet Patriarch Kirill in Moscow. The meeting between the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity should focus on the situation of Christians in the Middle East, especially in Syria, as well as dialogue theological, with the backdrop of an unprecedented intensification of contacts between the two Churches.

Cardinal Koch is the fourth Catholic representative to visit Moscow in the space of a month and a half after Cardinal Paul Poupard, Cardinal Angelo Scola and Bishop Vincenzo Paglia. For its part, Metropolitan Hilarion, for External Affairs in the Moscow Patriarchate, was received by Pope Francis in November at the Vatican. During a press conference, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity acknowledged that relations had improved and joint actions were considered.

To a meeting between Francis and Kirill?

Cardinal Koch, whose remarks were reported by the Italian news agency ANSA, himself said he would discuss with the Patriarch Kirill of how to deepen bilateral relations. His priority: understand the point of view of the Patriarch of Moscow on the follow-up to ecumenical dialogue. Asked about a possible meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch, the first since the schism of 1054, Cardinal Koch merely stated that these exchanges in head-to-head also used to prepare the ground for the purpose of an event of this scope.  (link to the original source: http://fr.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/17/rencontre_entre_le_cardinal_koch_et_le_patriarche_kirill_%C3%A0_moscou/fr1-756463)

Actually, the Bible warns against the type of ecumenism that Cardinal Koch is advocating and those who are Catholic or Eastern Orthodox truly should fear what this will develop into.

Even if he is a truly faithful Roman Catholic, Cardinal Kurt Koch’s job, from a prophetic perspective, is dangerous. The Bible shows that an ecumenical unity for the world is coming out of Europe (cf. Revelation 13:3-4,8) and it will not be faithful to the early and true apostolic traditions or sacred scripture.

American Catholics will find such unity with the Eastern Orthodox and Protestants especially disturbing if they understood what will really happen. Notice some Catholic prophecies about the coming ecumenical unity:

Frederick William Faber (died 1863):…Antichrist…Many believe in a demonical incarnation—this will not be so—but he will be utterly possessed…His doctrine as apparent contradiction of no religion, yet a new religion…He has an attending pontiff, so separating regal and prophetic office (Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 87).

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (17th century): …there will be an ecumenical council which will be the greatest of all councils by the power of the Great Monarch, and by the authority of the Holy Pontiff, and by the union of the most devout princes, atheism and every heresy will be banished from the earth. The Council will…be believed and accepted by everyone (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 40).

(April 22, 1823): I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great, strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was admitted in it in order to be united and to have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, sects of every description. Such was to be the new Church (Dupont, p. 71).

Priest Paul Kramer (21st century): The errors of Orthodoxy and of Protestantism will be embraced by that false church, it will be an ecumenical church because the Anti-Pope will be recognized by the world—not by the faithful, but by the world—by the secular world and the secular governments. (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady’s Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004.THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 4/15/08)

Jeanne le Royer (died 1798): One day I heard a voice which said, ‘The new Constitution will appear to many other than what it really is. They will bless it as a gift from heaven; whereas it is really a gift from {haydes} and permitted by God in His just wrath. It will only be by its effects that people will be led to recognize the Dragon who wanted to destroy all and devour all (Dupont, p. 53).

Whether this is last item a reference to some type of power agreement with the Beast (Revelation 17:12-13) or the ecumenical council (cf. Revelation 13:1-4), notice that it is expected to be satanic (Satan is the Dragon, per Revelation 12:9).

Either way, it is clear that even some Catholic prophecies suggest danger involved with ecumenism (see also Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox?).

Notice also some Eastern Orthodox prophecies about the coming ecumenical unity:

Many Catholic prophecies speak of the victory of the ‘true Catholic faith’, while Orthodox prophecies, although they agree on everything else, predict a victory of the ‘true Orthodox faith’…When we speak of the future Council, it is bound to be ecumenical…there will come a true re-unification of the Christian Churches…This Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is not going to be Roman Catholic as understood today…The error-free Orthodox faith…The Orthodox did not experience a Vatican II, they did not begin to rewrite Scriptures…Hence, error-free in the sense that it has not been contaminated by satan…(Tzima Otto, pp. 120-122)

Saint Nelios the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics…(Tzima Otto H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenikia Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, p. 111).

By satisfying “heretics,” clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic.” If heretics are truly heretics, should their complaints be satisfied?

The Bible teaches that a worldwide ecumenical religion will develop and mislead the world (Revelation 13:4,8).

While proper cooperation with various church groups should be encouraged, Cardinal Koch’s real goals of unity (the way I think he wants it) should not be. Do not enough Protestants and Catholics see what is really going on?

As far as Cardinal Koch himself goes, he is one that I have long wondered if he would be the final Antichrist of biblical prophecy, who is the final antipope of Catholic private prophecies.  I still feel that he will assist in the objectives of the final Antichrist.  What he intends to do with Russian Patriarch Kirill is consistent with that.

On Saturday, 30 November 2013, Pope Francis named Cardinal Koch a Member of the Congregation for Catholic Education.  Both Pope Francis and Cardinal Koch are ones to watch as far as movement towards the objectives of the final Antichrist.  Patriarch Kirill, though not a candidate himself, also is having influence with some of this.

More details can be found in the following:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Do Protestants realize what the goal of the ecumenical Catholics is?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
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?
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? This documented article answers those questions.
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?
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.
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?

Harold Egbert Camping

COGwriter

Harold Camping died:

Harold Camping, radio evangelist who predicted doomsday, dies at 92

By T. Rees Shapiro, Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Harold Camping, a Christian radio evangelist whose brimstone-ridden sermons stoked an international media frenzy in 2011 after his Armageddon prophecies coursed through the Internet and social media, died Dec. 15 at his home in Alameda, Calif. He was 92.

The death was confirmed by Family Radio, his Oakland, Calif.-based broadcasting company. He suffered a stroke in 2011…

A civil engineer by training, he was a self-taught and self-described Bible scholar who ordained his world-ending prophecies through complex mathematical calculations and, he said, “clues sprinkled throughout the Bible.”

“It is going to happen,” Mr. Camping told NPR in early May 2011. “There is no Plan B.”

He reportedly spent tens of millions of dollars to spread his doomsday message. His May 21 prediction was plastered on more than 5,000 billboards across the country. He had 100 million pamphlets printed in 61 languages, including some that read, “The End of the World is Almost Here!”..

Awaiting their salvation, many of Mr. Camping’s followers sold their homes, quit their jobs and depleted their savings accounts to help finance his end-of-the-world campaign.

After May 21 came and went, Mr. Camping emerged from his California home in the following days “flabbergasted.” He called May 21 an “invisible Judgment Day” and said his calculations had been off by six months. The real Armageddon, he said, would come on Oct. 21, 2011.

According to a Reuters’ report, Harold Camping died on Sunday, but the announcement was made today.  I knew various ones that Harold Camping misled.  His calculations and logic were so, so wrong, that I knew he could not have possibly been right for his 2011 predictions (for some details, please see Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible).

According to Harold Camping, Jesus was to return on May 21, 2011 as well as October 21, 2011 (he also had other dates previously). All of his dates were proven false.

Later, his group (Family Radio), presumably with his approval, posted the following letter:

Harold Camping’s pronouncements were sinful. And while he and his group want to claim that they did good by making false prophecies, the is not something that the God of the Bible would advocate.

Notice a couple of warnings about false prophets:

22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22).

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3).

I did not consider that Harold Camping was a real Christian and he repeatedly proved to be a false prophet.

The fact is that there are many false prophets who claim to be Christian cause the Bible to be blasphemed. Another who claims to be in the Church of God also was proven wrong on many dates.

Ronald Weinland never publicly admitted that his false prophecies were sinful (he had made promises to do something similar in the past and failed to do so).  He currently is in federal prison for a convictions related to tax evasion.

People like Harold Camping and Ron Weinland have given scoffers ammunition to argue against Bible prophecy.

Remember that the Apostle Peter warned:

…scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:3-9)

Despite false prophets and scoffers, the Bible is true, God does use prophets (see How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God), and Jesus will return–just not for at least seven more years.

There will be other false prophets will rise up until then.

Those who are interested in the truth about Harold Camping, Ronald Weinland (who even claims to be one of the two witnesses), prophets, and more may wish to study the following item:

Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible Harold Camping taught that the rapture would be on May 21, 2011 and the world will end on October 21, 2011. What does the Bible show?
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
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.
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?
Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008 (first April 17th, then June 2008, now December 14, 2008). Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 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? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here? Here is a related link in Spanish/español:¿Quiénes son los dos testigos?

COGwriter

Angela Merkel was re-elected today:

December 17, 2013

BERLIN—Germany’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday formally re-elected Angela Merkel as chancellor with 74% of the vote, clearing the last hurdle for a new government to take power nearly three months after September’s elections. Mrs. Merkel received the votes of 462 members of parliament, far more than the 316 she needed. http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-407622/

Angela Merkel is a big backer of the European Union.  She has encouraged Germany to use its economic wealth to attempt to keep the EU together and mold it more into a type of confederation that Germany would like to manage.

I wrote an article titled Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History which explains why from a biblical and historical perspective, that many in the German-speaking lands in Central Europe seem to have descended from ancient Assyria.

So what is ahead for Assyria’s German descendants?

Eventually it will help lead a power known as the Beast of the sea from Revelation 13.  This will be a power with massive economic control.

As far as prophecies that mention Assyria, the longest prophecy involving Assyria in the Bible seems to be Isaiah 10:5-27. And this seems to be directed towards the modern Germanic and perhaps other peoples in Europe (note: since it is the “king of Assyria” who is specifically mentioned in certain portions of Isaiah 10, it may be that many of the specifics are directed towards this end time king himself–while other parts of it are related to the peoples that support him–which are expected to include also non-Germanic ones).

Here is the first portion of it:

5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation. 6 I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, 11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'”

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.” (Isaiah 10:5-12)

In the above passages, we learn that God will use Assyria to punish Jerusalem and Samaria. Other than the German tendency to cut off various nations in WWI and WWII, there are certain specifics that tie this in with the end time European power that God is going to use.

Interestingly, Global Research recently published a report consistent with Isaiah 10:5-11:

Germany is making intensive preparations to conduct new wars to secure resources. This was the unmistakable message of a lead article in Germany’s business newspaper Handelsblatt, “Expedition Resources: Germany’s new course.”

The very same business circles that financed Hitler are again banging the war drums. The article cites an interview with Dierk Paskert, the manager of the Resource Alliance founded in 2011. Members of the alliance include Volkswagen, ThyssenKrupp, Bayer and BASF—firms that either directly supported Nazi war plans, or whose predecessors did.…Paskert makes clear that the German bourgeoisie is willing to use military force to secure such resources against its rivals…

The return of aggressive German imperialism initiates a new stage of inter-imperialist conflict, raising the threat of a Third World War…

The Handelsblatt bluntly states that the German army will be rebuilt “in order to be used all over the world.” The vast majority of the German population is vehemently opposed to militarism. The fact that the Handelsblatt can so publicly formulate the goals of the German bourgeoisie is above all a devastating indictment of the Green Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Left Party. (Stern J. The Return of German Imperialism. Global Research, 21 February 2013 http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-return-of-german-imperialism/5323719)

Notice that the above states that the vast majority of Germans do not want to be militaristic, but that voices are calling for that anyway–just like Isaiah 10:7 prophecies.  Notice that some suspect that this could lead to WWIII.

As Isaiah 10:10-11 suggests, one aspect of this is that Assyria is going to invade Jerusalem.

Now notice that someone that appears to be involved in doing the same thing:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

The ‘he’ above is the final King of the North, since he and an Assyrian group takeover Jerusalem (where the future “daily sacrifices” are expected to take place), this suggests an important tie.  This leader, thus, is male.

Next notice, someone that appears to be involved in the same acts:

26…And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:26-27)

The ‘prince’ that is originally involved in the covenant in vs. 27, is the one who later becomes a ‘king’ and breaks it in Daniel 9:27 and 11:31.

With the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the offering of the previously prescribed sanctuary sacrifices ceased in Judaism. The people that caused this to happen were the armies of the old Roman Empire. The soldiers in the Roman Empire were mainly European, with many of Germanic heritage (at that time in history, many of the leaders were from South Germany: Bavaria and probably Austria). Since the ‘prince’ comes from a people that destroyed the city of Jerusalem and stop its sanctuary practices, the prince must have come from one of the soldiering peoples of the old Roman Empire. This would be a European individual, probably from central Europe, possibly consisting of multiple European ethnicities (for more details, also view the YouTube video Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

This does not absolutely prove that the individual must be German, but this certainly seems to be supportive of that view.

Notice comments about some the beasts in Daniel:

40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Daniel 2:40-43)

It is recognized by most theological scholars that the fourth beast was historically the ancient Roman Empire, apparently something that forms a union that appears to be unstable is the final end time empire. This sounds a lot like what is developing in Europe right now–and that is highly dependent on the economic wealth of Germany.

In Revelation 17 there is a passage of interest:

10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. (Revelation 17:10-11)

The Philadelphia portion of the Church of God historically has pointed mainly to Franco-German leaders (sometimes referred to as Holy Roman Emperors) representing each of those horns. Hence, since European (mainly Germanic) leaders/empires seem to have been the first five/six of these kings historically, it would be logical to conclude that a likely Germanic leader would be the final one (the King of the North) as well.

Other biblical passages, such as Isaiah 10:12, 24-26, indicate that the rule of the king of Assyria will only be temporary; while scriptures in Daniel (11:40-44) show that the King of the North’s reign will also be temporary.

And while Angela Merkel is not and cannot be him, she has, and probably will continue, to help pave the way for his rising up.

That being said, all is NOT negative about what will happen to the descendants of Assyria.  Notice the following:

24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:24-25)

God has a plan for the Germanic people, and that plan includes them being an important part of His Kingdom.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Could He Become “the Beast”? What makes the German Defense Minister a candidate?
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”?
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account? Related sermon videos include Universal Offer of Salvation I: God is love  and Universal Offer of Salvation II: The Age to Come and the ‘Little Flock’ and Universal Offer of Salvation: All Are to Know Jesus, But When? and Universal Offer of Salvation IV: Will the Guilty be Pardoned?
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
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 nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Saxon 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?
Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? Spain wants Gibraltar and Argentina wants the Falklands (also known as the Malvinas). Does the Bible give clues as to what will happen with these ‘sea gates’? A related video would be Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? A version in Spanish is ¿Perderá el Reino Unido a Gibraltar y las Islas Falkland (Malvinas)?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy Is the USA mentioned in Bible prophecy? Some Protestants say yes, while others say no. What does the Bible really teach? Learn the truth about this. There is also a video available: Is The United States Mentioned In Bible Prophecy?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?

Worldwide Internet Users in 2012. (Jeff Ogden)

COGwriter

A reader sent me an email last week which mentioned that Wallace Smith of the Living Church of God had posted statements attempting to discredit the internet reach of COGwriter and the Continuing Church of God.  After responding to the reader, I decided to post a response on the News of Those Once Affiliated with GCG page.

Here is what I posted:

12/14/13 p.m. In another thinly veiled and improper attack against me, Wallace Smith of the Living Church of God posted the following:

This particular fellow likes Alexa, and for good reason. It is the only “measuring” instrument that I know of that makes his internet efforts look so decent. I explained why that is in my post. However, this time he has trotted out a quote from a source that seems supportive: a website called “seomastering.com.”

Before looking at what the website actually says, it’s worth noting two things. One is that I’ve read that many “SEO” folks like Alexa because it is so easily manipulated to make websites seem better than they are…

“Alexa ranking is deeply tilted towards web sites which have many webmaster viewers. This is because web masters are much more likely to have Alexa toolbar installed.” (page: http://www.seomastering.com/seo-articales/alexa-ranking.php)

Note: The last comment is under the section of their page titled “Troubles with the Alexa Rank.”

Ha! Convenient, huh? Maybe our Alexa fan should check out his sources better. Could have been too busy patting himself on the back. Admittedly, it’s hard to do type on your blog and pat yourself on the back at the same time. (I know. I’m currently having the same difficulty. )

Actually, the hits keep on coming.

That last webpage talks about how to increase your Alexa rankings. If your Alexa ranking was a good read of your site’s actual popularity, then the way to increase your ranking should be “improve your popularity.” (Duh.) However, check out the list: It is full of all sorts of “cheats” and “shortcuts” that, with one exception, have absolutely nothing to do with having a truly popular website. Rather, they are exactly the sort of things that I explained in my post would impact a website that has a perverse appeal to COGers, who are known to have a disproportionate number of Alexa toolbars installed…

In the case of our Alexa fan, the users with an unusually high are COGers…

Again: If someone is aware of these things and he continues to use Alexa as evidence of the “greatness” of his personal work, he is either being dishonest or he is self-deluded.

Thus, in addition to passing on insults, Wallace Smith is flatly accusing me of being dishonest or self-deluded. He also later in his post claims my use of (verifiable) numbers is deceitful.

The facts prove that neither of those accusations against me are true.

Wallace Smith also posted:

And as for the “flag draping” Alexa fan I mentioned parenthetically up there who keeps beating the same drum–no matter how tattered and torn that drum gets–forgive me as I mix my metaphors by recommending a prescription: (1) Read Proverbs 20:10 & 23, (2) consider what you’ve claimed of others concerning having (ahem) a “love of the truth”, and (3) prayerfully study Matthew 7:3-5.

My apologies for those who find all of this minutia boring. Frankly, I do too. But when minutia is used to deceive (even self-deceive) and accuse, it’s helpful to get some honest perspective. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be convincing anyone, as I have heard of literally zero people who find such figures convincing. But in the event that anyone ever does get confused by such nonsense and “horn tooting”, hopefully this can be a resource for them.

Wallace Smith’s “perspective” on this is not, in my view, honest. I am also not ‘flag draping.’ Yet, if he is saying that most of the people he knows prefer to believe a lie than the facts, that is sad, though probably true. LCG simply does not have the Philadelphia mantle anymore, so it is little surprise that most there will accept these improper attacks against me as valid and will choose not to believe the truths I try to report. And the truths about CCOG’s and LCG’s Alexa rankings are so easy to demonstrate.

Notice that Wallace Smith did not deny the truth that LCG’s Alexa popularity is less than COGwriter and CCOG. Instead, he resorts to attacks, false claims, and improper insinuations. If you are in LCG, you might want to ask yourself what LCG is so afraid of related to me that it again has to resort to making improper assertions and hoping that people will not believe the facts? If I were Wallace Smith, I would be ashamed to report that those I and apparently got along with would not be moved by the truth–but that is what he has done.

Furthermore, it was only because someone else associated with LCG seemed to believe what Wallace Smith posted and mentioned that post in an email yesterday, which is where I learned of them (I long ago learned not to trust Wallace Smith’s judgment on many matters, hence do not tend to frequent his website–back when I was in LCG, I attempted to follow Matthew 18 and on various occasions had others try to dispel his misinformation from him about matters, include me and my writings–so apparently now is the time to “tell it to the church”), that I decided to respond to Wallace Smith’s post with the facts.

What are the facts?

1. We in the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) do not have an Alexa tool bar attached to anything. Not COGwriter.com, not CCOG.org, not anything.
2. We do not use Alexa cheats, etc. as until I read the post from Wallace Smith today, I was unaware that any existed (nor have I yet looked into any of them) as I only quoted a paragraph from a particular article and had not read it in its entirety (and, yes, Wallace Smith might again criticize me for that).
3. The vast majority of people (over 90-95%) who visit COGwriter.com do not have a Church of God (COG) background.
4. For Wallace Smith to suggest that people who have an Alexa toolbar and who are part of a COG is somehow perverse is wrong.
5. LCG has a large staff and budget, yet according to the independent assessment from Alexa, its websites are nowhere near as popular as the COGwriter.com website. All of the official LCG websites combined do not have as much popularity as COGwriter.com and the official CCOG websites do. These are facts anyone can look up, yet apparently Wallace Smith and some others do not want this to be believed.
6. Alexa ranking IS NOT the only measure that makes the internet efforts of the Continuing Church of God “look decent.” According to other sources, such as AWStats, we have reached people in over 220 countries and territories. According to YouTube, our videos have been viewed by people in over 200 countries and territories. According to AWStats multiple millions of our articles are being accessed. We have reached people in multiple languages (we have many websites) and we currently may also be reaching more people in lands such as China than any COG ever has in the same time period.
7. Instead of accepting reality, LCG is having minions like Wallace Smith attempt to discredit the results that the Continuing Church of God has attained.

Anyone can check out the Alexa rankings by simply going to Alexa.com and entering a website URL. Sadly, others seem to want to dissuade people from accepting the facts. Do you wish to believe the truth or are you more comfortable accepting thinly veiled accusations?

Of course, that is a problem with many in LCG. For additional examples, please see my Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012 (note: the information is now also available in the Spanish language, see Respuesta a una carta del Dr. Roderick C. Meredith fechada el 28 de diciembre, 2012). Those who believe many of the things that people in LCG have said about me and/or the Alexa results of the Continuing Church of God have sadly chosen to believe a lie.

Philadelphians are to love their brother as well as love the truth. Those who believe these type of attacks against me and CCOG have sadly chosen to believe a lie.

Sadly, most in the COGs have become complacent in many areas and will not recognize their Laodicean condition (cf. Revelation 3:14-22).

I was not going to post about it at this Church of God News page as I hoped that the GCG post would suffice, yet Wallace Smith again (apparently for at least the third time) decided to improperly attack and malign me with a post dated 12/16/13.  So, I decided that perhaps this may be a subject of wider interest that I should address.

While there is little point in addressing all of his direct and indirect accusations against me, I will state that it is not Philadelphian to do what he and others in LCG have done related to me (see Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012), Matthew 18 (see What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God?), falling away (see The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings), man of sin (see Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?), etc.

As far as a technical point that he raised, he asked why I do not use, for example, ranking sites such as Quantcast?

That is easy.

Quantcast data for COGwriter is statistically-flawed and easy to prove wrong.  Its estimated measure of USA audience reach is many times too low–and I again verified that this morning.  I have, on several occasions, compared our results from AWStats to it and concluded that Quantcast data is completely wrong.

Why would someone intentionally choose to use a measurement which is always wrong?

Well, since it is normally completely wrong for at least it is for COGwriter.com, I do not use it.

Furthermore as Wikipedia reports, “Quantcast is a digital advertising company, specializing in audience measurement and real-time advertising.”  Quantcast’s focus is on the USA market and consumer advertising, whereas the focus of COGwriter and the Continuing Church of God is on reaching the world with the witness of Christ’s gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20).

Anyway, after Wallace Smith mentioned places like Quantcast and stated that using inaccurate internet measures is deceptive (so, why he mentioned Quantcast is odd as its results, for COGwriter.com at least, are deceptive), he posted:

In other-but-related news, the same fellow says that I am writing what he construes as “thinly veiled attacks” at times. It is, indeed, true that I sometimes write things on this blog with certain individuals or groups in mind, and I have tried to say as much from time to time (like I am doing now).

Furthermore in his post, he makes more attacks, and much less thinly veiled, such as:

I heartily invite anyone interested to do their own research on all of this instead of listening to either self-appointed prophets or sleepy-minded, math-loving bloggers…So, in the end, yes, there are times I will comment on deception and self-deception, on the use of “dishonest weights” like Alexa, on the falsehood-of-the-day from blathering, peyote-using, rumormongers, on the wax fruit of prophet-wannabes, and on the hypocrisy of claiming to carry the banner of truth while simultaneously demonstrating in ones actions that the banner is a lie.

I am NOT a self-appointed prophet.  It always amazes me how people who once had a WCG background can so easily dismiss the New Testament criteria for a prophet, as well as what the old Radio and Worldwide Church of God used to teach on the topic.  Those interested in that should carefully and prayfully study the article How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God.

Anyway, those who do read what Wallace Smith writes should pay attention to the attitude he is conveying–it reminds me a lot of how David Pack of the Restored Church of God comes across.  Severely disappointing and not certainly not Philadelphian.

As far as Alexa rankings go between CCOG and LCG, here are two of its rankings today:

113,824 COGwriter.com (CCOG)
335,751 Tomorrowsworld.org (LCG)

The lower the ranking, the better the worldwide popularity and reach.

The truth is that Wallace Smith and various other ones associated with the Living Church of God have repeatedly apparently felt it was necessary to cast aspersions on me and the work of the Continuing Church of God.  It was the lack of character of the leadership of that organization that forced me to conclude that it could not hold the Philadelphia mantle and that the Continuing Church of God had to be formed on 12-28-12.

As I have mentioned before, although the leadership in some COG groups prefer to believe their internet impact is higher than it is, I like to use a source such as Alexa to give a relative impact on how websites compare to the multiple millions of sites out there (one page suggested that there are about 500,000,000 websites).

Recall that Jesus taught:

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 24:14)

Notice that the gospel of the kingdom will reach the world as a witness, then the end will come. And I believe that the internet will be a major factor in this.

Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God to the world as a witness over the internet (as well as through printed literature, radio, personal contact, etc.) is something that we in the Continuing Church of God are serious about. There is a difference between the groups that once had connections to WCG. Only one can lead The Final Phase of the Work.

If those in the Living Church of God truly have the love of the truth, they too will realize that several of their leaders have put forth improper information against me.  Of course, Laodiceans are chastised by Jesus for not even realizing what their problems are (Revelation 3:14-22).  Most will ignore the truth and prefer ‘smooth things’ (Isaiah 30:10), so they will not need to repent or change.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Revelation 3:22)

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work.
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled. Who is leading the final phase of the work? What did Herbert Armstrong and the old WCG teach about that and about prophets? Does Bob Thiel meet the criteria that the Bible and the old WCG set? What is the proof? What has the Continuing Church of God been doing? This is a sermonette length video.
The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: La Apostasía: Enseñanzas de la Biblia y de la WCG. There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编： 谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
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?.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012 In violation of Matthew 18, Dr. Meredith publicly sent out a letter that forced Dr. Thiel to conclude that the Continuing Church of God must be formed. Here is that letter and some of Bob Thiel’s comments about it. Here is a version in the Spanish language Respuesta a una carta del Dr. Roderick C. Meredith fechada el 28 de diciembre, 2012.
What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God? This article explains some information and doctrines of the Living Church of God as led by Roderick C. Meredith and some concerns about them. (En el idioma español: ¿Qué hay acerca de la Iglesia de Dios Viviente? ¿Hay diferencias doctrinales con la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios?)
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like the beliefs held of the Continuing Church of God.
Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God Several have speculated reasons, but here is the truth. (En el idioma español: ¿Por qué Bob Thiel dejó la Iglesia del Dios Viviente?)
Journal Report on Continuing Church of God Leader Bob Thiel Bob Thiel was interviewed by The Journal News of the Churches of God related to him being a prophet, the proclamation goals of the Continuing Church of God, and why he left LCG.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.

COGwriter

Several hours ago, a US federal judge ruled against some of the NSA’s espionage:

December 16, 2013

WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Monday that the National Security Agency’s controversial surveillance program that collects millions of Americans’ telephone records may be unconstitutional.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled in a lawsuit brought by conservative activist Larry Klayman that the legal challenge to the massive surveillance program — disclosed in full earlier this year by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden — would likely succeed.  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/16/judge-nsa-surveillance-fourth-amendment/4041995/

December 16, 2013

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government’s gathering of Americans’ phone records is likely unlawful, a judge ruled on Monday, raising “serious doubts” about the value of the National Security Agency’s so-called metadata counterterrorism program.

“I cannot imagine a more ‘indiscriminate’ and ‘arbitrary invasion’ than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen,”  U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002, wrote in a 68-page ruling.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it was reviewing the ruling in a case brought by Larry Klayman, a conservative lawyer, and Charles Strange, described in court documents as the father of a cryptologist technician for the NSA who was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. The judge ordered the government to stop collecting data about the two plaintiffs, who were Verizon Communications Inc customers. Verizon declined comment…

Gen. Michael Hayden, former director of both NSA and the Central Intelligence Agency, said the metadata made a contribution to weaving the “tapestry of intelligence” and that judges “are not really in a good position to judge the merits of intelligence collection programs.”

An Obama administration official said that on 35 occasions  in the past, 15 separate judges assigned to the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court had declared bulk communications of telephone metadata lawful.

Judge Leon has issued headline-making rulings before. In 2011 he blocked cigarette-warning labels that showed graphic images such as a man with a hole in his throat, saying they were unlawful compelled speech, and this year he ruled that the Federal Reserve ignored the intent of Congress in a case about debit card swipe fees.

Greg Nojeim, senior counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit group in Washington, said the ruling “means that the NSA bulk collection program is skating on thin constitutional ice.”

In defending the data collection, U.S. Justice Department lawyers have relied in part on a 1979 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that said people have little privacy interest when it comes to records held by a third party such as a phone company.

Leon wrote that the latest circumstances were different.

“The government, in its understandable zeal to protect our homeland, has crafted a counterterrorism program with respect to telephone metadata that strikes the balance based in large part on a 34-year-old Supreme Court precedent, the relevance of which has been eclipsed by technological advances and a cell phone-centric lifestyle heretofore inconceivable,” he wrote.  http://www.voanews.com/content/us-judge-governments-phone-data-collection-likely-unconstitutional/1811634.html

The reality is that the USA’s National Security Agency has repeatedly violated rules and agreements with USA courts according to other documents (see NSA found repeatedly violating privacy rules, revealed documents black-out reason why all American telephone records were collected).

Even if the NSA is ordered to stop all of it, it will be too little too late.  The reality is that because of the Snowden disclosures, the USA has agreed to share intelligence, espionage, and data collection techniques with the Europeans.  As well intentioned as that MIGHT be from the USA and Europe, the reality is that this will be a disaster for the world.

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:15-18)

Because of what the USA and UK have done, and the fact that USA President Obama has declared that he would share espionage secrets, techniques, and findings with the Europeans in general and the Germans in particular, this is setting the stage for even greater surveillance which will come from the emerging Beast power in Europe (Revelation 13:16-18).

A few hours ago, one local radio personality commented that he felt that because of his long-term impact, that Edward Snowden should have been named “person of the year.”  Not because the radio commentator necessarily backed what Edward Snowden did, but what will likely develop because of Edward Snowden.  And even though Pope Francis may have more long-term impact (and was so-named by Time, see ), Edward Snowden’s disclosures have pointed out USA government hypocrisy and constitutional violations than any one else in some time.

But, as I mentioned, I believe that the biggest impacts will be how the Europeans and others react to the USA, at least partially because of the disclosures.

“I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19)

COGwriter

A reader sent the following:

2014: The First Year of the 21st Century Dark Age

Money & Markets – Dec 16, 2013   excerpt…

• The financial crisis that started in 2007 is not over. Not by a long shot.
• Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is not over either. To the contrary, it’s about to explode back on the scene.
• Washington has done nothing to solve its problems either. The debt can was merely kicked down the road and will resurface in 2014, despite the recent budget agreement.
• The war cycles are turning up dramatically. From 2014 to 2020, they will wreak total havoc on Europe and the U.S.

And in Europe and Washington, our leaders are becoming more and more dictatorial, more fascist, more authoritarian.

Why? Because big Western socialist governments are dying and our leaders know it. So they are acting like caged animals and fighting back the only way they know how: By attacking their own citizens.

This is how Rome died. This is how the Byzantine empire fell. It’s how the maritime merchant-based Venetian times ended. And many other civilizations throughout history that have often been at the core of the global economy…

We are about to enter a period that I call “The 21st Century Dark Age.”A period where everything you thought you knew, everything you worked hard to create and save, will be turned upside down…

First, question everything and anything the government is telling you. They will be lying to your face more than ever before.

Second, question everything and anything you hear about the markets, no mater what market it is, and do your homework…

Third, be as emotionally disciplined and as objective as possible. Don’t fall victim to crowd hysteria…Right now, gold, your best barometer — not of inflation, but of mass human behavior — is completing its three-year transition period. When it bottoms, watch out. It will be your sign that we are about to enter the beginning of the “21st Century Dark Age.”   http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/2014-the-first-year-of-the-21st-century-dark-age-56957

The pride of the USA’s power is being broken. That pride has long been associated with its military and economic strength. Various sins and increasing debt is weakening the USA in many ways.

Without national repentance the USA is doomed. Electronically printing up more money to aid Wall Street is not the solution. Since the USA seems to be going more into sin nationally, that type of national repentance seems unlikely. Yet, personal repentance is still possible. Do you understand what is happening to the USA and how all will be affected by it?

The US dollar will one day collapse and the USA will be no more.

What do you plan to do about it?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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?
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
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?
Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy Is the USA mentioned in Bible prophecy? Some Protestants say yes, while others say no. What does the Bible really teach? Learn the truth about this. Is The United States Mentioned In Bible Prophecy?
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.

Jerusalem

COGwriter

A reader sent the following report from World News Daily (WND):

TEL AVIV – Secretary of State John Kerry quietly presented a U.S. plan for eastern Jerusalem that calls for an international administrative mandate to control holy sites in the area, according to informed Palestinian and Israeli diplomatic sources.

The exact composition of the international mandate is up for discussion, the sources said, but Kerry’s plan recommended a coalition that includes the Vatican, together with a group of Muslim countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The international arrangement is being proposed as a temporary solution for about two to three years while security arrangements in Jerusalem between Israelis and Palestinians are finalized, said the sources.

Israel, the sources said, was not receptive to the particulars of Kerry’s plan, especially the concept of Turkish participation in Jerusalem. http://www.wnd.com/2013/12/u-s-plan-gives-jerusalem-holy-sites-to-vatican/#zOtUZfVTsckfdrYL.99

Essentially, this plan divides Jerusalem in a way that Israel does not care for, gets the Muslims involved, and gets the Vatican what it wants.

Israel is also now being subject to a new pressure to make a deal that it does not want.  Notice the following:

December 16, 2013

An association of American professors with almost 5,000 members has voted to endorse an academic boycott of Israeli colleges and universities, the group announced Monday, making it the largest academic group in the United States to back a growing movement to isolate Israel over its treatment of Palestinians…

“The resolution is in solidarity with scholars and students deprived of their academic freedom and it aspires to enlarge that freedom for all, including Palestinians,” the American Studies Association said in a statement released Monday…attempts in the West to isolate Israel have received close attention in that country. The greatest danger to Israel may lie in calls for an economic boycott — an idea that has gained much more traction in Europe, where Israel has close trade ties — which resulted last week in a Dutch company, Vitens, announcing that it would no longer do business with Israel’s national water company. Israelis are also accustomed to sharp criticism from Europe and unstinting support from the United States, and are sensitive signs that support may be waning.  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/education/scholars-group-endorses-an-academic-boycott-of-israel.html?_r=0

So more pressure from various sources.

Getting back to pressure from the Vatican, what does the Vatican want?

Well, the Vatican wants to control a building that is often called the Cenacle.  And a few months ago, a deal was announced that gave the Vatican access, but not control, of it.  This building was built on the remains of the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill, the hill commonly called Mt. Zion.

Below is a picture of the side of the building that I took when visiting it several weeks ago:

John Kerry claims that some type of a deal is expected to be wrapped up by April 2014 (http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Kerry-and-Netanyahu-meet-in-a-Jerusalem-winter-wonderland-334932).  If it involves the above building, then this may be problematic.

The Vatican has attempted to get it for decades.  Some in Israel have other ideas (see also Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill).

While attempting to take some photos and to video some of the remains of the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill, I was approached by a Jewish rabbi named Avraham Goldstein of the Diaspora Yeshiva. He asked why I was there, so I explained it. He then asked me if the Continuing Church of God would like to be involved in an archaeological project related to that general area. He mentioned doing excavations related to what some believe is David’s tomb, located below. Many consider that only a legend and not the real location–though the actual location of David’s tomb has not been verified in many centuries. However a Jewish rabbi who claimed to visit it in 1163 A.D. stated it was below this particular Mt. Zion.

Avraham Goldstein also believes that the ark of the covenant may be directly below or near it via tunnels. I have reported to the brethren of the Continuing Church of God that we are considering having some possible involvement, because of various aspects of this project (see Letter: October 25, 2013).

Avraham Goldstein basically stated that his group once controlled the building and allowed Israeli government to have it under the condition that it would not be just given to a group like the Catholics of Rome.

So, I asked him to put that in writing in an email. So he sent me one on November 3, 2013:

1. Concerning the Cenacle (The Last Supper Room). Originally it belonged to the Yeshiva, but the Yeshiva gave it over to the Israel Ministry of Religions to administer.

2. The condition upon which the Cenacle was given over to the Israel Ministry of Religions was that the status quo would be upheld ;- that it is open to all religions and is not the specific property of any one faith. The Catholic Pope would like to have it exclusively at the disposal of the Catholic faith and to hold mass there. As things stand today this is the only building that is open to Jews, Christians and Moslems. We do not want it to be assigned to just one faith which could create problems with the Palestinians – which is certainly unecessary…

With thanks for your kind consideration of all these matters and with best wishes to you and blessings from Mount Zion,

Rabbi Avraham Goldstein
Diaspora Yeshiva
Mount Zion

He also telephoned me from Jerusalem last Monday.  His group, the Diaspora Yeshiva, has a plan that the Vatican does not care for.  They want to keep the building open to Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Catholics, and do not want the Vatican to get it.

Yet, ultimately, I suspect that the Vatican may well get its way.

Currently I am doing some research related to the building, its location, and its possible role in end time prophecy.  I have attempted to contact various scholars about it and keep updating a paper I am writing on it as I put together more information (see also Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill).

Here is a close up of some of the original bricks of the building (most of the bricks shown in the previous photo were added, as are the smaller ones below):

It is believed that the original bricks (the large ones above, also called ashlars) were not only part of the first Christian church building (which was called a synagogue then), but that they also may have come from the second temple in Jerusalem.

Anyway, the Vatican has wanted this building and the USA may be trying to put it under Vatican control.

Notice something else about what some in the USA want:

Kerry said his talks over the past two days, played out against a backdrop of fierce winter snow storms, had focused on security, with retired US General John Allen joining him for the discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

GUARANTEES

Palestinian sources said Allen, a former commander of US troops in Afghanistan, had drawn up plans to allow a continued Israeli military presence for the next 10 years in the Jordan Valley – along the eastern border of any new Palestinian state.

Israel says its troops have to remain there to prevent arms and militants from entering the West Bank and launching attacks. Abbas has rejected the idea, but said he would accept seeing US troops deployed along the border.

“We are working on an approach that both guarantees Israel’s security and fully respects Palestinian sovereignty,” Kerry said, without giving further details. http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Kerry-and-Netanyahu-meet-in-a-Jerusalem-winter-wonderland-334932

What is interesting is that both the WND and other report are taking about a temporary deal.  With the hope of a permanent one to follow.

The Bible itself tells about a temporary deal in Daniel 9:27–but also shows that it will not end up well for Israel.

And while we may not yet be to the point that the temporary deal that the Bible speaks of will be in place, nor to the point when the Vatican may end up with the building it calls the Cenacle, a temporary deal will come to pass as Daniel 9:27 teaches and it may well be that the Vatican will end up with the remains of the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill (the hill is usually referred to as Mt. Zion) as this may be consistent with 2 Thessalonians 2.

The Bible seems to teach that the son of perdition will sit in some type of place that Christians worshipped at:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

If this is referring to an ancient site, then perhaps it could be referring to one the “Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill” (though only a relatively few original bricks remain).  And it is possible that the deal that the USA is working on will at least set the stage for the Vatican to end up with sites in Jerusalem that it should not have.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle, which is located on a Mount Zion, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building? There is also a video titled Does the ‘Cenacle’ deal have prophetic ramifications?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén?
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? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
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.

T

COGwriter

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

16:33

WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power 

Today, the third rounds of the USA and EU’s Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade talks are scheduled to begin.  And recently (December 7, 2013), the first ever trade agreement for the World Trade Organization (WTO) was reached.

The European Union has also been working with Canada, Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific Islands on trade agreements.

Did Jesus endorse trade? Will trade bring wealth. Are trading arrangements warned about? Does the Bible teach human beings will once again ‘legally’ be bought and sold? Will the Anglo-Saxon people possibly be bought and sold?

Our latest video is titled: WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.

Kiev, Capital of Ukraine

COGwriter

The European Union is getting frustrated with Ukraine:

December 15, 2013

The European Union says it is suspending work with Ukraine on a trade and cooperation agreement after President Viktor Yanukovych failed to make commit to a sign the deal he had rejected late last month.

Brussels said Sunday that it had told Ukraine that further discussions require a “clear commitment” to sign the deal…

McCain is the latest in a string of Western dignitaries to tour the huge makeshift protest encampment since demonstrations erupted last month over a presidential decision to back away from the key trade deal with the European Union. Kyiv says it will instead focus on repairing and strengthening economic ties with Russia.

Moscow had not directly commented on the McCain visit. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking Saturday, said Western governments had, in his words, “apparently lost the sense of reality” in opposing Ukraine’s turn toward Moscow.

Earlier Saturday, President Yanukovych – in a bid to ease tensions in the capital – suspended key government officials for their suspected roles in a violent November 30 police crackdown on demonstrators.

Ukraine’s opposition leaders are calling for a new mass protest in Kyiv on Sunday, while supporters of Mr. Yanukovych are also planning a demonstration just a kilometer away.

A poll by Ukraine’s non-governmental Research & Branding group released earlier this month shows 46 percent of Ukrainians favoring the EU trade pact. Thirty-six percent were shown favoring a rival trade bloc of former Soviet republics and satellite countries that is being pushed by Moscow. http://www.voanews.com/content/eu-suspends-work-on-trade-deal-with-ukraine/1810652.html

The EU is actually very dedicated to making trade deals (see also WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast and/or watch WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power).

Many are confused about Ukraine.  Part of the reason is that there are two regions and two clashing attitudes in Ukraine as the above article, and the one below indicate:

KYIV — To understand what is happening in Kyiv today, remember that Ukraine has a larger landmass in Europe than France, the largest nation of the European Union.

From East to West, Ukraine is longer than Italy, from the Alps to the heel of the boot.

In Northern Italy, people look to Switzerland and Germany. In Southern Italy, people look to Greece, Malta and Libya.

Similarly, Western Ukrainians look to Poland, Austria and Germany. People consider themselves European to the core. City halls in Western Ukraine now fly European Union flags. In schools, children study German and Polish. This new post-Soviet generation speaks Russian poorly, if at all.

Travel 1,200 kilometers to the East, and Ukrainians look to Russia. They produce goods that are exported to Russia. They speak Russian. The Soviet generation often has a hard time speaking Ukrainian, the national language.

For three years as President, Viktor Yanukovch has tried to balance these two sides, roughly comparable to the way pre-Civil War U.S. presidents tried to keep America’s house together by waffling on slavery.

Now, the European Union and the Kremlin are telling Ukraine: make your choice!…

Pressure is mounting on President Yanukovych to take make the choice for Europe.

In Kyiv, the capital, people are responding overwhelmingly in favor of the “Euromaidan.”…

The Interior Ministry no longer views Kyiv police as politically reliable. Repressive actions are carried out by riot police trucked in from Russian speaking areas of Ukraine. But, in general, policemen are known to be fans of Vitaly Klitschko, the 2-meter tall boxing prize fighter who is the opposition’s rising star.

Ukraine’s Army leadership has publicly stated that the Army is politically neutral…

Ducking responsibility, the President blames the police violence on rogue policemen and the fact that he did not sign a EU trade and political association on his own negotiators. The policemen should be tried and the negotiators fired, the President said Friday.

On Monday, he travels to Moscow to sign economic agreements in Moscow.

Although Ukraine’s battle lines are hardening, mainstream analysts do not see secession on the horizon…

For three centuries, much of what is modern day Ukraine was ruled from the Kremlin. Under the Czars, it was called “Little Russia.”

In 2008, at a NATO meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Bush: “Ukraine is not a real country.”

Time will tell if President Yanukovych can keep Ukraine’s two nations under one roof. http://blogs.voanews.com/russia-watch/2013/12/14/can-ukraines-two-nations-stay-under-one-roof/

What will happen to Ukraine?

Well, despite the EU suspension of talks, it is truly interested in Ukraine.

As I have mentioned before, in the Book of Daniel, it is prophesied that a little horn would develop into what apparently is becoming a European entity (Daniel 8:9-12). Actually what is now the EU began as a small organization involving three small countries located in the northern and western regions of Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, called the Benelux nations)–they then helped form the European Economic Community. Which expanded into the European Union.

Daniel 8:9-12 prophesied that a little horn would mainly expand South and East.  While the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-39). The European Union has mainly expanded south and east of the Benelux nations.  Ukraine is south and mainly east of the nations that once were part of Benelux. So it, for a while at least, may end up supporting Europe.

Yet ultimately, at least part of the destruction of the Babylonian European power will come from forces associated with Russia (Jeremiah 50:41-43) and will likely involve Ukraine. Most of the Ukrainians are Eastern or Russian Orthodox, which makes them closer (in professed religion at least) to the Russians that the Western Europeans–though many of the Eastern Europeans have some version of the Eastern Orthodox faith.

But the Ukrainians, like many others, are impressed with economic interests.  The EU is more economically impressive than Russia or its agreed to Eurasian Union is.

Many in Ukraine are signally that they wish to be part of Europe.

Maybe, for a time, Ukraine will be.  But there still is a divide in Ukraine and I believe that ultimately it will side with Russia and turn against Europe (see Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
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?

COGwriter

In a move that does not come as a surprise, a judge has essentially made provision for polygamy and other ‘group’ relationships:

12/15/13

(CNN) — A federal judge in Utah has struck down part of that state’s law banning polygamy, after a lawsuit was brought by the stars of the television reality series “Sister Wives.”

The ruling late Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups threw out the law’s section prohibiting “cohabitation,” saying it violates constitutional guarantees of due process and religious freedom.

But the judge said he would keep in place the ban on bigamy “in the literal sense — the fraudulent or otherwise impermissible possession of two purportedly valid marriage licenses for the purpose of entering into more than one purportedly legal marriage.”

The 91-page decision comes months after the Supreme Court struck down a separate federal law that defined marriage as between only one man and one woman, a major legal, political, and social victory for homosexual couples seeking recognition of their same-sex unions.

Some religious groups criticized the ruling.

“This is what happens when marriage becomes about the emotional and sexual wants of adults, divorced from the needs of children for a mother and a father committed to each other for life,” said Russell Moore, of the Southern Baptist Convention. “Polygamy was outlawed in this country because it was demonstrated, again and again, to hurt women and children. Sadly, when marriage is elastic enough to mean anything, in due time it comes to mean nothing.”  http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/14/justice/utah-polygamy-law/

I agree with those who state that this is not good–it is not good for society or those directly involved with it.  But with massive legalization of homosexual ‘marriage’ this is not unexpected.

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

The late Herbert W. Armstrong had an article about polygamy. Here are some passages from it:

GOD DID NOT sanction polygamy in Old Testament times. Contrary to the suppositions many have accepted, God FORBADE IT — and PUNISHED for it!..

Also Israelites practiced what God had forbidden — divorce and remarriage. On this, Jesus said: “Moses (NOT GOD) because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matt. 19:8-9) GOD has NEVER legalized divorce and remarriage. It is not allowable today…

Jesus thus put us straight on monogamous marriage.God made ONE wife for Adam — not a harem! He started the human family out as He ordained they SHOULD go — a family of ONE man and ONE wife!

And, remember, God gave this absolute COMMAND regarding future kings of Israel — telling them they must not do as the pagan nations around them (whose kings had their harems): “NEITHER SHALL HE MULTIPLY WIVES TO HIMSELF!” Saul, Israel’s first king, DISOBEYED that command. He let demons take hold of him.

God deposed him, and put David in his place. David started out in polygamy, but God punished him. HE REPENTED thoroughly, and he finished his reign with his ONLY living wife. Solomon finished his life in polygamy and idolatry — and God, in punishment, rended the KINGDOM away from his son, Rehoboam.

GOD DID NOT CONDONE POLYGAMY! He PUNISHED those who practised it! It was ALWAYS SIN! It is SIN today!

Polygamy is not God’s way.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

God Created Marriage Some falsely claim that God did not create marriage and that fornication is fine. What does the Bible really teach?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children.  What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on?  There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?  Can homosexuals change?
Why Marriage? Soon Obsolete? This is a booklet from Herbert Armstrong on this important topic.
Here’s the Plain Truth About OLD TESTAMENT POLYGAMY by Herbert Armstrong. He explains various passages in the Old Testament and New about why polygamy is not God’s way.
Love, Marriage, and Sex It is important to get them in the right order.
Five Rules for Effective Parenting Do you know that there are five simple rules that can make you a more effective parent? There is also a 12 1/2 minute YouTube video on this, also titled Five Rules for Effective Parenting.
What Psychologists do not Know About Child Rearing This is an article by Herbert Armstrong that was used as the introduction to the pdf booklet The Plain Truth About Child Rearing.
The Plain Truth About Child Rearing This is a pdf booklet that the old WCG put out.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.
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?