Church of God News

Map of the Donetsk Oblast with ‘Russia’ Written Over It (Андрей Бутко)

COGwriter

The vote for secession from Ukraine is happening in its eastern region today:

May 11, 2014 6:11 AM

DONETSK, UKRAINE — Eastern Ukrainians began voting early Sunday in a referendum on secession – with most voters saying they were voting for a break because of the military campaign by Kyiv against Pro-Russian separatists. Other voters cited an expectation for a better life if their region is annexed by Russia.

Voting was brisk this morning at polling stations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions abutting Russia.

In Mariupol, scene of fierce fighting last week, there were only eight polling centers for a half-million people. Queues grew to hundreds of meters in bright sunshine, the event taking on an almost festive atmosphere as one polling station overflowed and ballot boxes were brought out onto the street, Reuters reported.

The interim government in Kyiv has denounced the referendum as illegal and a sham.  Only one question is on the ballot: Should the regions form independent republics?   Most residents against secession say they won’t cast a vote.

But those who did file into polling stations said the recent violence in the east was reason enough to secede.

There is deep anger towards the interim government for its military campaign to restore order in eastern Ukraine and to clear out armed separatists from the dozens of government buildings they have seized in towns across the region…

Most voters in Donetsk and Luhansk say they hope that if the referendum approves the regions’ status as independent republics, Russia will quickly agree to annex them.

Interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov has warned secession supporters that independence for the regions would be “a step into the abyss.” He has appealed to the rebels to join talks on greater autonomy in the east.

US will not recognize results

Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said late Saturday the U.S. will not recognize the results. She said the polls “violate international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”  http://www.voanews.com/content/independence-referenda-open-in-ukraine/1912131.html

May 11, 2014

Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk … are to hold separate votes on Sunday, asking its residents to answer the question on whether they want an independent republic or not.

In Donetsk, about 1,200 polling stations have been set up in schools, hospitals, and government buildings across the region, according to Roman Lyahin, elections chief of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.

Denis Pushilin, the head of pro-Russia activists in Donetsk, said the referendum will be held in 90 percent of the towns in the two regions and that the turnout is expected to be 60 percent.

In Luhansk, the vote is set to be held in a number of towns and cities, where activists have formed the Luhansk People’s Republic.

The results from the two referendums are expected to be announced later on Sunday…

The two regions…are home to about 7.3 million of the 46 million population of Ukraine http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/11/362169/donetsk-luhansk-set-for-referendum/

So, it appears that a lot of people are voting, despite the misgivings of the interim government in Kiev.  This, despite what the West or Kiev government may say, will give legitimacy to the outcome.   The USA claimed that it would not consider the vote in Crimea legitimate either, but it is now part of Russia.  The same thing is likely to happen again with Donetsk and possibly Luhansk.

As I wrote previously, Russia will likely rely on this vote as justification for some of its future actions.

If portions of eastern Ukraine do vote to be independent of Kiev, then they probably will not allow the Ukraine-wide election that the West has counted on for May 25, 2014 to take place in their newly ‘independent’ and/or Russian-aligned state.  This seems to what Russia would want as it probably could not win an overall election for all of Ukraine at this time.

Notice what Russia’s Dmitry Peskov said about the May 25th election about a week ago:

Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, said it would be “absurd” for Ukrainian authorities to push forward with the May 25 presidential vote following the violence in the southern port city of Odessa and Kiev’s military operations to dislodge pro-Russian separatists from towns in the east.  http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dec0a1f2-d3a9-11e3-b0be-00144feabdc0.html#axzz31Q7jO7Cz

Having the vote today in eastern Ukraine is further reason for Russia to not support the May 25th elections in that region.

Breaking Ukraine into smaller pieces, several of which seem to be close to Russia, would seem to be consistent with some of the strategic objectives that Russia has for the region.  Although Russia wants all of Ukraine, it would rather see parts of Ukraine under its control/influence then all of it in the European Union (which is what the interim Kiev government advocates).

The Bible tells of a time when the “kings of the Medes” will get together for a military battle and attack the end time Babylonian power (Jeremiah 51:11), which will be based in Europe.  Various of the Medes ended up in parts of Ukraine and Russia.  And while this Mede military battle is a future event, the that more portions of lands that were considered part of Ukraine, such as Crimea (which voted for and then was annexed by Russia in March of this year), align with Russia, the closer we are to the fulfillment of that prophecy (though it is at least 7 years away from now).

Individually, those in Ukraine and elsewhere need to turn to God. Neither Russia, independence, nor the European Union, is the best solution for Ukraine.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their 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? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy.
Ukraine in Prophecy? What is happening in Ukraine? What is known and what is unsure about its future? What is the origin of those who live in Ukraine? What does the Bible teach about the role of the Medes in the end times? Will Ukraine split? Why might part of Ukraine end up in the European Union? Why might part of Ukraine end up in the Eurasian Union? Is war in the prophesied future for Ukraine? What is the ultimate destiny for nearly all Ukrainians?
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.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
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.
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?
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.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

A reader sent me the following

Church of God a Worldwide Association President Jim Franks writes: “Richard Pinelli formally retired from the employed ministry on April 30. Mr. Pinelli and his wife, Mary, have served in the ministry for 51 years. Once he is no longer pastoring a congregation, Richard and Mary plan to move from St. Louis to California to be closer to their daughter and granddaughter. Mr. Pinelli will continue to speak and serve as an elder wherever needed.”

The reader who sent me the above had personally dealings with Richard Pinelli. Richard Pinelli had been with the old Worldwide Church of God and then went with the United Church of God.   There was a split from the United Church of God which resulted in the formation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association (COGWA).

COGWA is a group with a lot of ministers, but one that has not been particularly effective in public proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association This seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The 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.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 teaches “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 ” will be fulfilled and RCG is not the group doing this. 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.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted toward Europe. It has materials in more than one language (currently it has English, Dutch, and Serbian, with links also to Spanish) and it is intended to have additional language materials added.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.

COGwriter

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

14:04

Gambling: A Covetous Sin?

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

COGwriter

The rate of deaths of bees has increased in the USA and is putting the food supply at risk of decimation:

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health report they’ve found two widely utilized insecticides, of a class known as neonicotinoids, apparently cause significant harm to the colonies during the winter, and the colder the winter the greater the harm.

The phenomenon of dying bees in their hives has been given the name CCD, for Colony Collapse Disorder

The insecticides can cause bees to forsake their hives in winter, leading to their eventual death, the researchers said in their study published in the Bulletin of Insectology.

The researchers focused on honeybee colonies at locations in Massachusetts in the winter of 2012-13, monitoring 18 colonies for exposure to the insecticides and the eventual fate of each.

“We demonstrated again in this study that neonicotinoids are highly likely to be responsible for triggering CCD in honeybee hives that were healthy prior to the arrival of winter,” said lead author Chensheng (Alex) Lu, an expert on environmental exposure effects in biology.

Bees are the prime pollinators for around a third of most crops around the world, with some estimates putting that figure at 80 percent for crops in the United States, making CCD and its resulting significant depletion of honeybees a concern, the researchers say.  http://www.techtimes.com/articles/6798/20140510/pesticides-and-colder-winters-triggered-collapse-of-honeybee-colonies.htm

The UK has a similar problem and some of the chemicals that have been implicated in killing bees are produced by Syngenta, a company big in the production of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).

The USA and UK are at risk of food shortages if the bee situation gets much worse. The effects of GMOs, pesticides, and agricultural chemicals are more complicated than many realize, and this study related to bees helps demonstrate this.

Some have called this decimation a ‘bee apocalypse’–and that could very well be a step towards the real apocalypse and the start of the Great Tribulation of Matthew 24:21.

But, why be so concerned about bees? Basically because bees are necessary for the pollenization of many plants that humans eat. Losing bees could be devastating.

Overall, humans need bees much more that bees physically need humans.

Jesus warned that one of the “signs” of the end of the age would be famine:

7…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:6-8)

We seem to be in the time Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows.”

Between the widespread and growing use of genetically modified (GMO) “foods,” pesticides, herbicides, and synthesized sweeteners, countries like the USA and UK are putting themselves at risk for the famines which are certain to come. Losing bees perhaps should be a sign that things are beginning to worsen.

At some time, famine will come to the USA and UK and many will die from it:

15 ‘So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. 17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ (Ezekiel 5:15-17)

As Jesus said:

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)

Some items of related interest may include:

GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here is a related YouTube video GMO Risks and the Bible.
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras?  Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues?
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

COGwriter

A county judge in Arkansas has decided to attempt to overturn a law against homosexual marriage:

May 10, 2014

EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — About 10 gay couples lined up Saturday morning outside of a county courthouse in northwest Arkansas, one day after a judge ruled that the state’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional.

It isn’t clear whether any same-sex marriage licenses will be issued Saturday, because couples must find a clerk willing to do so.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza ruled Friday that Arkansas’ 2004 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution violates the rights of gay couples. He didn’t put his ruling on hold as some judges in other states have done.  http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Gay-couples-in-Arkansas-line-up-outside-courthouse-5467956.php

A county judge in Arkansas struck down his state’s constitutional bans on gay marriage, saying in a ruling Friday night that they did not advance “any conceivable legitimate state interest.”

In finding the ban unconstitutional, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Christopher Piazza cited the series of federal court rulings, including those in Utah and Virginia, that have been issued since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. That landmark ruling has led to a spate of lawsuits in about a dozen states seeking to topple bans on same-sex marriage…

Piazza said the measures illegally “narrowed the definition of equality.”

“The exclusion of a minority for no rational reason is a dangerous precedent,” he wrote.  http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-arkansas-gay-marriage-ban-struck-down-20140509-story.html

One would think that a county judge could not overturn a state law, but the trend in the USA is for judges at nearly all levels to attempt to legalize homosexual marriages. The USA is becoming more of a judgocracy than a democracy.

But the two points I wish to discuss are his comment about a ‘dangerous precedent’ and that homosexual marriage bans do not have “any conceivable legitimate state interest.”

The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a dangerous.  Encouraging the homosexual agenda is a ‘dangerous precedent’ that the Bible warns against:

9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. (Isaiah 3:9)

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7)

6…the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly (2 Peter 2:6)

So the Bible shows that Sodom was destroyed for many things including its pride and the committing of abominations. Homosexuality is an abomination. Sodom and Gomorrah were turned into ashes making them an example–but many leaders in the UK, USA, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere do not wish to consider the ramifications of what they are doing. Much of the ‘extreme weather’ that has been going on lately appears related to the increasing acceptance of the homosexual agenda (cf. Amos 4:7-12).

The survival of many in Arkansas and the United States is at risk!  To claim that there is not “any conceivable legitimate state interest,” apparently means that the judge in Arkansas does not believe the fact that the Bible warns about this is at all ‘conceivable.’  This is arrogance of a grand scale, and this judge personally needs repentance now.  Certainly he can read English–and certainly he has access to a Bible.

The Bible specifically warns against accepting and condoning practices such as homosexuality and lesbianism:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18,24-32)

The promotion of sexual immorality, including the ‘gay’ agenda, will end in destruction.  Ignoring the warnings in the Bible has meant that countries like the USA and UK have also been adding debt that will also contribute to their destruction (Habakkuk 2:6-8; see also yesterday’s post Marketwatch speculates why USA interest rates will remain low–is a disaster truly in the making?).

No one should be ignoring the warnings of the Bible.  No one should be pushing the homosexual agenda.  Yet, many in the West foolishly are–and this will be to their peril.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
Love, Marriage, and Sex It is important to get them in the right order.
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? Here is a link to a YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
British and American Moral Decay Public nudity is becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-Saxon lands. What are some of the consequences?
Can those in the USA/UK see the Handwriting on the Wall? Is everything fine in the USA/UK or is it like the days of Noah? Can we learn from the handwriting that appeared on a wall thousands of years ago? Here is a link to a related YouTube video Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies. Watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.

Fatima Plaza and Sanctuary

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce its latest suggested sermon: Why Learn About Fatima?, which is at its ContinuingCOG channel.

Fatima was the name of Muhammed’s favorite daughter as well as the location of a town in Portugual that had six monthly visits from a ‘Lady’ in 1917. What was really seen at Fatima? Why is Fatima important? What really appeared in Fatima, Portugal. Are their ecumenical plans and concerns related to this? How does any of this tie in with biblical and other prophecy? What type of sign or wonder was Fatima? Why do Christians need to know about this?

An article of related interest is titled Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions.

Here is a link to the sermon: Why Learn About Fatima?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy.
Do you understand the ramifications of the ‘Lady of Guadalupe’? It is claimed that a female apparition appeared near Mexico City on December 12, 1531. How has it affected the world? What might it suggest about the future?
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Did early Christians teach Mary had an immaculate conception and led a sinless life?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
Women and the New Testament Church What roles did women play in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles? Did Jesus and the Apostle Paul violate Jewish traditions regarding their dealings with women? Do women have any biblical limitations on their role in the Church? Were there female prophets? Do women have any special responsibilities in terms of how they dress? What does the New Testament really teach about women? Here is a related sermon titled: New Testament Women.
ContinuingCOG channel. Dr. Thiel has produced YouTube video sermons for this channel. Note: Since these are sermon-length, they can take a little longer to load than other YouTube videos.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Vatican City’s Pope Francis

COGwriter

The head of the UN met with Pope Francis in Vatican City today:

May 09, 2014

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis told U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday that the world body must do more to help the poor and should encourage the “legitimate redistribution” of wealth.

Francis, who since his election last year has often called for significant changes to economic systems, made his comments in an address to Ban and heads of many U.N. agencies meeting in Rome…

A contribution to equitable development could be made “both by international activity aimed at the integral human development of all the world’s peoples and by the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the State …,” he said…

In the past 14 months since his election, Francis has issued several strong attacks on the global economic system…

Ban also renewed an invitation for the pope to address the United Nations in New York.  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-pope-un-20140509,0,5167939.story

A couple of days ago, the UN Secretary General claimed that the UN and the Vatican had the “same goals” (see UN states it has the ‘same goals’ as the Vatican).  This seemed to be a reference to the Pope’s inter-faith and ecumenical agendas as well as his wealth distribution calls.

What does Pope Francis want?

Well shortly after becoming pontiff he declared:

“Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor” (see Pope Francis: Do his comments about the poor show that he intend to fulfill biblical and Catholic prophecies about the final Antichrist?).

Is it possible that he is suggesting that since his church hold enormous wealth in bank accounts, land, art, and jewels, that perhaps he intends to distribute some of this wealth (see Pope Francis claims he wants his church to be poor and help the poor)?

Perhaps.

However the Vatican still has its vast wealth (and I have visited Vatican City twice since he became pontiff) and has not actually walked the pontiff’s talk.

But this may well change.

What if Pope Francis sells off some of the vast treasures (such as jewels and land) of the Vatican and/or give significant amounts of money/land away to the poor?  If he does that, this will likely greatly enhance the pedophile-damaged image of the Church of Rome for the media and many others around the world. This will enhance the appeal of the religion that Rome will promote.

Could it be that the Antichrist use some of the wealth of the Vatican to support certain nations/leaders in the world? I expect this, as it seems to be likely and is consistent with the following scriptures:

1…”Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”…9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits…18:3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 17:1-2,9; 18:3)

The Church of Rome has a lot of worldly wealth–it is a version of that church that is being discussed above in Revelation.  For my Catholic readers, I want to make it clear that consistent with biblical AND Roman Catholic prophecies, I believe that the final pontiff will be a type of antipope who will betray the Church of Rome (Revelation 17) and be the final antichrist (cf. 1 John 4:1-3; Revelation 13:11-15).

The Bible tells of two ‘new world orders.’  One, that it condemns as part of the end time Babylonian system (Revelation 13:16-18; 17; 18) and the true one that occurs after the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the millennial reign on earth (something that Pope Francis’ church has declared is a doctrine of antichrist).

While the world seems to be at least a little bit impressed by their cooperation, what Pope Francis and Ban Ki-moon are seemingly trying to do is repeatedly warned against in the Bible (Revelation 13:1-18, 14:12, 18:4; Zechariah 2:6-7).

The Bible is clear that financial pressures will be something that the Antichrist is associated with:

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17)

The “He” above is the two-horned beast (Revelation 13:11), also known as the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13), and Antichrist (1 John 4:1-3).

The Bible also says that the merchants of the world will have gotten wealthy from the system that the Antichrist will promote:

2 Babylon the great…has become a dwelling place of demons…a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3…and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:2a,b,d, 3c)

So, there are several biblical prophecies that tie the power that the Antichrist supports with a type of deceitful prosperity. Did you notice the connection to a cage of birds above? Well, then notice then also the following:

27 As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit.
Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
28 They have grown fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.
29 Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord.
‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’

30 “An astonishing and horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:27-31)

So, the supporters of the Beast and Antichrist/False Prophet will prosper for a time, then God will punish.

Furthermore, notice three Catholic writings/prophecies about the final Antichrist:

Saint Mechtilda (died 1299): Antichrist will, through base and false strategem, and with presents of gold and gems, attain influence over the worldly princes. They will look up to him as their Lord and God (Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist, pp. 133-134).

Saint Ephrem (died 375): Antichrist will use worldly goods as bait. He will entice many Christians with money and goods to apostatize…The devil will help him find all the hidden treasures of the world, even those at the bottom of the ocean. With those treasures he will attain greater success for the reign of Satan than at any other time in past centuries (Connor, pp.73.74).

Saint Jerome (died 420): Antichrist…will gain support with many gifts and money. He will sell himself to the devil…(Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 74).

The Bible, by the way, does mention that the King of the North will end up with a lot of gold, silver, and precious stones (Daniel 11:38,43) and that a seven-hilled/mountain-based power will have “gold and precious stones and pearls” (Revelation 17:4).  Catholic writers have identified that seven-hilled power as Rome.

But, seriously, is it possible that before the Beast rises up that the Antichrist will use material items for bait?  The more Pope Francis proposes wealth distribution, the closer the time may come when the Vatican takes concrete action and does just that.

The Bible clear warns about this Babylonian arrangement (Zechariah 2:7) and teaches that the only true unity will come after that system is destroyed (Revelation 18) and Jesus returns (Revelation 19; Zechariah 2:8-12). But as the UN and the Vatican do not seem to understand those scriptures, they are working towards something that the Bible warns against.

However, if you will believe the Bible and truly live as a faithful elect Christian, the Bible shows that you will not have to be deceived as the rest of the world will be (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Janet Yellen

COGwriter

Might USA interest rates remain low?  Here is a view from Marketwatch:

May 09, 2014

2 reasons the Fed may keep interest rates at zero

Opinion: Yellen highlights risks from weak housing and emerging markets

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Everyone assumes the Federal Reserve will finally raise interest rates sometime next year. That’s what the Fed’s “dot plot” is forecasting, that’s what the markets are pricing in, and that’s what almost every Fed watcher believes.

But what if they are wrong? What if the Fed delays that first rate hike? What if the U.S. economy isn’t ready for higher rates in 2015?

In her testimony to Congress this week, Fed Chair Janet Yellen didn’t steer anyone away from the assumption that the Fed will probably raise rates next year. But she did flag two risks to the economy that could delay higher rates: the U.S. housing market and the fragile condition of foreign economies.  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/2-reasons-the-fed-may-keep-interest-rates-at-zero-2014-05-09

Let me provide another reason to consider: interest cost for the USA debt.

The USA is currently over $17,000,000,000,000 in admitted debt.

The USA’s federal expenditures are around $3.9 trillion per year, with $230 billion or so for interest costs.  If interest rates went back up to, say, 10%, this would make the total expenditures rise to around $5.4 trillion.  As the USA brings in about $3 trillion in taxes, this would be a huge increase in the deficit.  That in turn would accelerate the borrowing by the USA, and if that continued, the debt would rise so fast that foreigners would decide that holding USA federal debt was unsafe.  This would result in many dumping USA debt and effectively destroying much of what would be left of the economy of the USA.

Sound far fetched?

Perhaps to some, but the Bible prophesies something like that:

 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say,’Woe to him who increases What is not his — how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. ( Habakkuk 2:6-8)

The above prophecy will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. “The message was true, but the appointed time was long…in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come”, Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 use same the Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently. Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. The most indebted nation of all time is the USA, and it has greatly increased its borrowing from foreign creditors in the past several years.

Even Janet Yellen herself has said that the current debt projections for the USA are unsustainable:

May 8, 2014

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, taking a page from her predecessor, urged the U.S. Congress on Thursday to address the nation’s long-term budget challenges, warning that the current course was unsustainable.

“We can see that going out 20, 30, 50 years without some further shifts in fiscal policy, it’s projected that the ratio of debt to GDP will rise to unsustainable levels,” Yellen told the Senate Budget Committee…“I do want to agree with my predecessor in emphasizing, though, that long-run sustainability of fiscal policy and the debt is something that is very important.”  http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-yellen-urges-congress-to-act-on-long-term-budget-challenges/1910512.html

IF SOMETHING IS TRULY UNSUSTAINABLE, IT CANNOT CONTINUE.  The USA is in a position that will require it to pay down debt, or at least greatly slow the rate of accumulation down.  Yet, if interest rates go up to more historically ‘normal’ levels, that of itself will guarantee the unsustainability.  The situation is that bad.

Even secular sources, including the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), realize that a disaster like I have been laying out is in the making:

In the words of a veteran investor, watching the U.S. bond market today is like sitting in a packed theater and smelling smoke. You look around for signs of other nervous sniffers. But everyone else seems oblivious…

As the CBO noted…in its 2013 “Long-Term Budget Outlook,” echoing the work of Harvard economists Carmen Reinhart and Ken Rogoff : “The increase in debt relative to the size of the economy, combined with an increase in marginal tax rates (the rates that would apply to an additional dollar of income), would reduce output and raise interest rates relative to the benchmark economic projections that CBO used in producing the extended baseline. Those economic differences would lead to lower federal revenues and higher interest payments. . . .

“At some point, investors would begin to doubt the government’s willingness or ability to pay U.S. debt obligations, making it more difficult or more expensive for the government to borrow money. Moreover, even before that point was reached, the high and rising amount of debt that CBO projects under the extended baseline would have significant negative consequences for both the economy and the federal budget.”  http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304906704579113661593684356

The problem is known, but most are not paying attention.

As far as people being oblivious, notice also the following:

2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

3 “Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, (Ezekiel 12:2-3)

Many events aligning with properly understood biblical prophecy are coming to pass that relatively few understand. And the USA is definitely on its way down and out.

Do you really have eyes to see and ears to hear?

Will you truly pay attention?

Federal Reserve officials and others may wish to consider studying the following prophetically-oriented writings:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Hillary Clinton in Prophecy Prophecy, Hillary Clinton? Are there prophecies that Hillary Clinton may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that she has already helped fulfill? Could Hillary Clinton be apocalyptic? Could Hillary Clinton be the final Antichrist?
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?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos.
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?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
The 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.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

The Bible does say to confess sins, but has the Church of Rome has taken this beyond the practices recorded in the Bible or any found in early Christian documents? What do the Bible and the Continuing Church of God teach?

Let’s start by reading a passage from the Douay-Rheims Bible (a Catholic version, abbreviated herein as DRB):

16 Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much. (James 5:16, DRB)

Notice that this was not a command to confess sins to the clergy.

For those who prefer a more modern version, the following is the same verse from the New Jerusalem Bible (another Catholic version, abbreviated herein as NJB):

16 So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be cured; the heartfelt prayer of someone upright works very powerfully. (James 5:16, NJB)

Both versions teach confession of sins to lay members of the church as opposed to auricular (essentially audible) confession to a priest.

Here is the other time the Bible specifically talks about confessing sins:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:7-10, DRB)

The above says that Christians are to confess sins, and Jesus will forgive them. There is no discussion of penance here or in James 5:16.

According to other scriptures, God/Jesus again is the one we are to confess to:

11 For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 Therefore every one of us shall render account to God for himself. (Romans 14:11-12, DRB)

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus (Hebrews 3:1, DRB)

14 Having therefore a great high priest that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin. 16 Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid. (Hebrews 4:14-16, DRB)

Notice also the following:

18 And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds. 19 And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. (Acts 19:18-19, DRB)

The above people apparently repented of their sins and destroyed certain wicked books, but this was not penance in the sense that the Church of Rome now advocates.

Since the Bible has a different view, than Rome now has, has the Roman Catholic Church changed its position? Well, yes it has that it has suggested otherwise in the past.

The Council of Trent in the 16th century made a variety of statements about auricular confession. Perhaps the first one to deal with is the following:

CANON VI.–If any one denieth, either that sacramental confession was instituted, or is necessary to salvation, of divine right; or saith, that the manner of confessing secretly to a priest alone, which the Church hath ever observed from the beginning, and doth observe, is alien from the institution and command of Christ, and is a human invention; let him be anathema. (The Council of Trent The Fourteenth Session The canons and decrees of the sacred and oecumenical Council of Trent, Ed. and trans. J. Waterworth (London: Dolman, 1848), 92-121. Hanover Historical Texts Project Scanned by Hanover College students in 1995. http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct14.html 05/19/12)

Of course, the above is wrong as this most certainly was not the practice of the early Christians nor the Church of Rome from the beginning. And lest someone claim that I am “anathema” for teaching this, the reality is that even the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the “sacrament of forgiveness” was changed:

1447 Over the centuries the concrete form in which the Church has exercised this power received from the Lord has varied considerably. During the first centuries the reconciliation of Christians who had committed particularly grave sins after their Baptism (for example, idolatry, murder, or adultery) was tied to a very rigorous discipline, according to which penitents had to do public penance for their sins, often for years, before receiving reconciliation. To this “order of penitents” (which concerned only certain grave sins), one was only rarely admitted and in certain regions only once in a lifetime.  During the seventh century Irish missionaries, inspired by the Eastern monastic tradition, took to continental Europe the “private” practice of penance, which does not require public and prolonged completion of penitential works before reconciliation with the Church. From that time on, the sacrament has been performed in secret between penitent and priest. This new practice envisioned the possibility of repetition and so opened the way to a regular frequenting of this sacrament.  It allowed the forgiveness of grave sins and venial sins to be integrated into one sacramental celebration. In its main lines this is the form of penance that the Church has practiced down to our day. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1447. Imprimi Potest + Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Image Books by Doubleday, NY 2003)

So, it took until the 7th century for the modern practice to develop widely, but it seems to have been related to Callistus’ actions combined with a syncretic adaptation of scripture and non-biblical practices that took time to develop (along with the general acceptance of the Greco-Romans to be willing to utilize practices of non-Christian religions with theirs). But the fact is that the Council of Trent was wrong–and this Council put forth many dogmas, all of which had papal approval–thus the Council of Trent disproves the idea of papal infallibility. Catholics really need to realize that.

So, it took until the 7th century for the modern practice to develop widely.

Of course, repentance was taught for becoming a Christian, and acknowledging our sins to God is taught for remaining one:

8 If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and truth has no place in us; 9 if we acknowledge our sins, he is trustworthy and upright, so that he will forgive our sins and will cleanse us from all evil. (1 John 1:9, NJB)

And while the Bible advocates repentance, penance is from outside of sacred scripture as well as the earliest traditions of the true Church of God.

While some Catholics believe that sins cannot be forgiven without the “sacrament of confession,” this is not the case. And, as the Catechism admits (#1447) the current “sacrament of confession” was not an original apostolic practice.

Penance vs. Repentance

The true Church of God which existed since the beginning (see, for example, the page The History of Early Christianity) is not Protestant (see, for example, the article Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants). It bases its beliefs primarily upon the Bible, which teaches:

38 ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered, ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, NJB)

Repentance was taught for becoming a Christian, and acknowledging our sins to God is taught for remaining one:

8 If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and truth has no place in us; 9 if we acknowledge our sins, he is trustworthy and upright, so that he will forgive our sins and will cleanse us from all evil. (1 John 1:9, NJB)

Christians are not to inflict punishment on ourselves, thinking that this will force God to hear our prayers (Isaiah 58:2-7). God is not interested in penance, but repentance and change. We should not be like certain Muslims and whip our backs, while effectively saying, “Look at our suffering, God, so hear us.”

And while the Bible advocates repentance, penance is from outside of sacred scripture as well as the earliest traditions of the true Church of God. While the Church of Rome tends to claim that its beliefs come from sacred scripture or the traditions of the original apostles, the idea of auricular confession and penance did not come from either source–they are late heresies, essentially adopted from non-Christian sources.

The Bible teaches against a worldly repentance:

10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Here is something that the late Herbert Armstrong wrote related to that:

Admit Your Sins

Prayer and fasting aren’t the only requirements in seeking God. If you will read back over the examples of Daniel and Nehemiah as well as any of the other prophets of God, you will notice that in every case they FREELY ACKNOWLEDGED their own sins and shortcomings. It takes a deeply sincere man to say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).

If we are earnestly seeking God and His way, this is the attitude we will be reflecting. We will freely admit our own sins and shortcomings and be earnestly importuning God to show us the right way. Jeremiah said, “O Lord, I know that THE WAY OF MAN IS NOT IN HIMSELF: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing” (Jer. 10: 23-24).

We as individuals do not know how to live. Once we begin to learn that lesson, and look to God to show us how to live and how to change our lives, we are on our way to real repentance.

The steps are simple. Yet it is not easy to completely give of yourself, to admit your own faults and sincerely ask for God’s forgiveness.

Turn From Own Ways

The people of this world outwardly follow many of these steps and yet fall short in the final, most important of all the steps — TURNING FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS. That is why it is so hard to distinguish between the believer and the non-believer. That is why the “distance between our professed faith and our daily performance is astronomical.” So many people of this day and age profess to be repentant — profess Christianity and yet still live in all the wretchedness of their sinful ways. So, finally, one of the most important of all the steps in coming to true repentance is to STOP SINNING! Millions CLAIM membership in a church. They loudly proclaim their belief in Jesus Christ. They testify for Christ, BUT THE FRUIT IS NOT THERE.

All too often our repentance is the worldly repentance spoken of in II Corinthians 7:10. What we really need to come to see and understand is the kind of repentance God speaks of. “Therefore also now, saith the Eternal, Turn ye even to me WITH ALL YOUR HEART, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and REND YOUR HEART, and not your garments, and turn to the Eternal your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil”. (Joel 2:12-13).

No, God doesn’t want the worldly kind of repentance which is manifested by a trip down the sawdust trail. No, He doesn’t just want your name on the membership rolls of some church. What God wants and what you should come to deeply desire is to SINCERELY acknowledge your sins and ask forgiveness. God wants you to say, “I’M SORRY” — and mean it! He wants you to repent of breaking and to begin obeying His LAW. (Armstrong HW. Just What Do You Mean — Repentance?)

Notice, he taught that sins are to be acknowledged and behavior changed. More on this subject is also covered in the article When You Sin: Do You Really Repent?

All Sins that Are Repented of Can Be Forgiven

While some Catholics believe that sins cannot be forgiven without the “sacrament of confession,” this is not the case. And, as the Catechism admits (#1447) the current “sacrament of confession” was not an original apostolic practice.

While some people erroneously believe that God could not forgive them and that they have possibly committed the “unpardonable sin,” those who feel that way pretty much can be assured that they have not committed it–recall that scripture teaches:

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. (1 John 1:9, DRB)

For more details about the “unpardonable sin,” please see the article What is the Unpardonable Sin?

The Bible, like the Continuing Church of God, says to confess sins to one another but mainly to Jesus Christ. Scripture does not say to do so to a priest, nor does the Bible ever authorize penance for sin. For more details, check out the new article History of Auricular Confession and the ‘Sacrament of Confession’

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

History of Auricular Confession and the ‘Sacrament of Confession’ Did early Christians confess their sins to priests?
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
What is the Unpardonable Sin? What is it? Can you repent of it? Do you know what it is and how to avoid it?
Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
Did the Early Christian Church Practice Monasticism? Does God expect or endorse living in a monastery or nunnery?
Were the Early Duties of Elders/Pastors Mainly Sacramental? What was there Dress? Were the duties of the clergy primarily pastoral or sacramental? Did the clergy dress with special liturgical vestments? Can “bishops” be disqualified as ministers of Christ based on their head coverings?
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?

COGwriter

The latest issue of The Philadelphia Trumpet of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) has an article from its Gerald Flurry which stated the following:

A MESSAGE TO THE PRINCE OF RUSSIA— FROM GOD

Russia’s President Putin is making some bold, dangerous moves. Does God have a specific message for him?…

Ezekiel 38:2 describes a vivid personality to appear on the scene in this end time: “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” (New King James Version). In modern terms, this is the prince of Russia (article, page 10; see also my February cover story, “Is Vladimir Putin the Prophesied ‘Prince of Rosh’?” theTrumpet.com/go/11228). There is also another personality in these verses that we have not talked about as much. Yet this man has a stronger message with more power behind it than Vladimir Putin can even imagine! Notice who that same passage in Ezekiel 38 addresses: “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man ….” This shows that God uses a man.

There is a latter-day fulfillment as well. This person, a type of Ezekiel, is receiving a message, and God commissions him to prophesy against the prince of Russia in this end time. God doesn’t come down and deliver this message Himself. He has a man do it…

Also, Ezekiel’s book is for this end time. Only a type of Ezekiel could deliver his message today…

Who is the “chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”? (Ezekiel 38:2). Someone must know. And who is the “son of man” that God says must prophesy against this prince in the end time?…

Another indication that this is a specific individual is God’s command to “prophesy against him.”

This is critical information. God commissions a specific individual to speak against this prince of Russia, another specific individual. To do that job, this “son of man” must know who that man is—or at least have a very strong idea of who he is—and what he is going to do. How could a son of man even do the job unless he has that information?

Can you think of a politician who could fulfill the role of the prince of Russia? One, and only one, comes to mind: Vladimir Putin…

Vladimir Putin is a sign, literally a SIGN that Jesus Christ is about to return! This is one of the most inspiring messages in the Bible…

Ezekiel concludes this part in Ezekiel 40:4: “And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.” God says, Declare it all! God sends this son of man to declare His message and all these wonderful prophecies that are about to come to pass.

(BTW, someone sent me the magazine and I have not ever agreed to PCG’s statement to electronically review their materials and not quote them.  I still have proper public comment ability on this, in case any in PCG have wondered.)

Gerald Flurry did not deliver a direct message from the God of the Bible to Vladimir Putin.  Also, Ezekiel 38:2 shows that Ezekiel was to prophesy against the “prince of Rosh.”  It does not say that someone would personally, in the end times, speak to this “prince of Rosh.”  But that is how Gerald Flurry has interpreted this.

Now, it should be mentioned that  Gerald Flurry did not absolutely and directly state he as the “son of man” in that article, he just made many statements indicating that he or possibly someone else in PCG was.  He previously has taught that God gave him the specific information about Vladimir Putin a few months ago, hence he would seem to have to be referring to himself as his claimed “son of man.”  Gerald Flurry reportedly had a fainting spell after receiving and/or teaching this new error of his.  For details, please check out the post PCG’s Gerald Flurry points to Russia’s Putin as the ‘Prince of Rosh’ of Ezekiel 38:2.

Gerald Flurry is also wrong on other prophetic matters, such as about the King of the South, (see PCG on Daniel, yet Gerald Flurry is in error on two important ‘King of the South’ matters) and the “man of sin” (see Who is the ‘man of sin’? What do claimed COG groups teach?).  He has also imposed various non-biblical requirements on people (see Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God).

Now we are seeing that PCG’s leader has again added another title or two for himself or someone else in his church: ‘son of man’ and ‘type of Ezekiel.’  It is not that it is inappropriate for church leaders to sometimes have certain titles, but Gerald Flurry has taken more inappropriately than any other claimed COG leader that I am aware of.

In the July/August 2000 edition of Royal Vision, Gerald Flurry specifically calls or refers to himself the following variety of titles (listed in the order they occur in that issue): that prophet, the last voice, a third voice, the physical head of God’s work, the last and final voice, a prophet, God’s man, one that was prophesied by Jeremiah and Ezekiel, this watchman, end-time watchman, a prophet to the nations, Christ’s man, a breaker, a modern type of Micah, this king, this counselor, the breaker whom God has chosen, God’s watchman, prophesied by Habakkuk, a lawgiver, His lawgiver, God’s leader, an end-time Malachi-type prophet, the one who fulfills Zechariah’s role in the end-time, ruler over His household, a type of Elisha, the conduit, God’s true prophet, the voice, that voice, type of Joel, a preacher of righteousness, this man (of God), an end-time Obadiah, a warrior for God, the one God actually wants us to focus on, and only a messenger–at least one of those titles he is taking refers to Jesus. The titles of the articles, all of which were written by Gerald Flurry were (in order of appearance, all CAPS from G. Flurry), THAT PROPHET PART ONE: WHO IS ‘THAT PROPHET’?, THAT PROPHET PART TWO: A NEW THING, THAT PROPHET PART THREE: GOD’S WATCHMAN, THAT PROPHET PART FOUR: THE THRONE AND LAWGIVER, GOD’S COMMAND, ZECHARIAH’S FLYING SCROLL, THAT PROPHET PART FIVE: THE ELISHA WORK, and THAT PROPHET PART SIX: THE VOICE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD. He also calls PCG “God’s greatest gift” (p.12).

Furthermore, Gerald Flurry wrote:

And I have been the conduit for revelation from all the major and minor prophets, Colossians, Lamentations, Daniel, Revelation, the former prophets and other books. All this prophetic revelation has come from God through THAT PROPHET (p.33).

Gerald Flurry also stated:

THERE IS A SPIRITUAL THRONE OF DAVID IN GOD’S CHURCH TODAY”(p.5)

And then he essentially implies he sits on it; he also said,

I have to make ‘kingly’ decisions at times (p.12).

When commenting about other COGs, Gerald Flurry wrote:

Almost every book or booklet which I have written is filled with prophecy…Do they even have a smattering of the abundance of new revelation which God has rained down on His people through me? (p.15).

I have the authority of of God’s watchman–THAT PROPHET…God sets ONE WATCHMAN at a time (p.17).

Since Ezekiel was made a ‘watchman’ (Ezekiel 33:7), this is further indication that Gerald Flurry is referring to himself as the “son of man.”

Gerald Flurry also wrote:

This verse indicates a NEW COMMISSION for the PCG…This trumpet-blowing commission is directed towards me personally (p.18).

The Sept-Oct 2003 edition of the Philadelphia News lists these titles under Gerald Flurry’s name:

Pastor General of the Philadelphia Church of God; Imperial College Chancellor; Philadelphia Foundation Founder and Chairman.

In November 2010, Gerald Flurry decided he also needed to be an apostle, so he added yet another title. For part of his justification he wrote wrote “the office of apostle is a sign that God wants us to do still a GREATER WORK than what we have done” (Flurry G. Member and Co-worker letter. Philadelphia Church of God, November 8, 2010, p. 10).

I consider that Gerald Flurry is a false apostle and a false prophet.  The Apostles Paul and Peter warned:

12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.  (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)

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)

Because of relying on Gerald Flurry’s improper prophecies and error-prone prophetic interpretations, those in PCG will not understand world events at the end.

Will you?

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” or a variety of other titles make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
Russia and Ukraine: Their 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? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
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?
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.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
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?
What is a True Philadelphian? Many claim to be part of the Philadelphia era of the Church, but is claiming enough? This article has biblical and historical evidence about who really are the Philadelphians.
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.
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.
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?