Church of God News

Edward Snowden

COGwriter

The Germans have questions that they do not feel that the USA has adequately answered and have stated that they wish to talk with Edward Snowden:

May 8, 2014

(Reuters) – German lawmakers decided on Thursday they want to question former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden as part of a parliamentary inquiry into the mass surveillance of German citizens, which he exposed.

“A majority of the committee has decided that we want to hear Mr. Snowden,” said Roderich Kiesewetter, the conservative head of the committee set up to investigate the activities in Germany of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).

It has not yet been decided whether Snowden, who was granted asylum in Russia, should be invited to testify in person about the NSA surveillance that has soured ties between Washington and Berlin. Snowden risks being arrested and extradited if he sets foot in any U.S.-allied country…

An option would be for him to testify from abroad but the German opposition argues that Snowden would only be able to express himself freely if he were in Germany.

Angela Merkel’s conservatives have so far rejected this, fearing that bringing Snowden to Berlin could further damage relations with Washington which have suffered from revelations that U.S. spies had tapped the German chancellor’s own phone.

The center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who share power with Merkel’s conservatives in a ‘grand coalition’, have said they are open to questioning Snowden in Germany or Russia.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/08/us-germany-spying-snowden-idUSBREA470FV20140508

May 2, 2014

Ruling out a “no-spy agreement” with any country, President Obama acknowledged Friday that the United States had not reached a deal with Germany to limit U.S. surveillance on its territory.

The U.S. and Germany have been negotiating over mutual rules for intelligence-gathering aimed at each other, but “there are still some gaps that need to be worked through,” Obama said during a White House news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel…

The conflict between the two allies stems from revelations last year by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden that exposed U.S. spying on Germany, including the monitoring of Merkel’s personal cellphone…

Last month, Der Spiegel reported that NSA documents showed 300 references to Merkel in a database of targeted foreign leaders. In recent weeks, a German member of parliament said Merkel had asked to see the fruits of the NSA’s spying on her, but the request had been denied by American officials, according to a representative for the German Interior Ministry. U.S. officials declined to comment.  http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-us-germany-spy-20140503-story.html

May 5, 2014

Merkel insists that the NSA activities are illegal in Germany and taken for unsuccessful trading in a sort of non-aggression pact with Washington on espionage.

Obama and Merkel are calling including Barack and Angela – an example of familiarity for a huge German – but any emphatic expression of friendship has disappeared. http://www.newspakistan.pk/2014/05/05/obama-merkel-preserve-transatlantic-unity-russia/#sthash.TNrdG7oQ.dpuf

Flag of Declared ‘Peoples Republic of Donetsk’

COGwriter

It appears that some type of vote for secession from Ukraine will happen this Sunday in at least parts of eastern Ukraine:

May 08, 2014

Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they voted unanimously on Thursday in favor of holding a referendum on independence on Sunday as planned.

“We have just voted in the People’s Council. … The date of the referendum was endorsed 100 percent. The referendum will take place on May 11,” separatist leader Denis Pushilin said.

The announcement came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the vote’s postponement saying the move could open the way for dialogue with Kyiv authorities.

Some political analysts say Putin’s referendum postponement call and the separatists’ refusal to heed it might have been staged so as to portray the Russian president as having little influence over secessionists engaged in an armed rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

The crisis that has led to dozens of deaths in clashes between Ukrainian troops and separatists in eastern Ukraine and rival groups in the southern port of Odessa.

The planned plebiscite seems to mimick a Crimea scenario where a similar vote, denounced by Kyiv and the West as having been orchestrated by Moscow, led to the Ukrainian peninsula’s annexation by Russia in March.

According to media reports, three million paper ballots – have been printed for Sunday’s poll, which separatists plan to hold in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s top security official, Andriy Parubiy, said on Thursday that Kyiv would press on with a campaign to regain control of the country’s east.

Kyiv condems vote, dismisses Putin’s call

Kyiv has rejected the referendum planned for Sunday as illegitimate, with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk dismissed Putin’s call for its postponement with a Ukrainian expression equivalent in meaning to “hot air.”

“There is no point in trading air, especially for the president of a big country…I think the Russian president needs to be informed that there was no referendum planned on 11th of May. But if terrorists and separatists supported by Russia got an order to postpone something that doesn’t exist, this is an internal matter for them,” Yatsenyuk said.

Yatsenyuk said Putin’s suggestion was proof that Moscow was behind an uprising across Ukraine’s east. Russia has denied playing any role in the upheaval, with Putin saying it was Kyiv’s “irresponsible politics” that had caused the crisis.

Commentig on tensions in Ukraine, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said that Russia was heading down a “dangerous and irresponsible path” and that the situation in Ukraine was “extremely combustible.”

Putin’s words met with caution

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he was treating conciliatory comments from Putin on the Ukraine crisis with caution.

“The NATO assessment, in line with ours, is that we should approach President Putin’s statement with great caution,” Tusk said at a joint news conference with the visiting NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

“This is not yet the moment when we can announce with enthusiasm that the crisis is over. We both hope that perhaps Putin’s words indicate some kind of a more optimistic scenario, but today it is too early for us to confirm that,” Tusk continued.

Rasmussen, commenting on assertions from Putin that Russian troops had pulled back from the border with Ukraine, said: “We noted the Russian statement, but up to now we have not seen any signs that the troops are actually withdrawing.”

Asked about a Russian foreign ministry statement that Rasmussen must be blind if he could not see signs of the Russian troops pullback, Rasmussen quipped: “I have very good vision.”  http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-militant-group-to-discuss-putin-request/1910173.html

As far as the likely outcome of Sunday’s planned vote goes, if mainly the ones that vote are those that favor separation from Kiev, then it is likely that this vote will allegedly show overwhelming sentiment to break away from Ukraine.  Russia will likely rely on this vote as justification for some of its future actions.

It was just last month that activists in Donetsk declared it is a sovereign state and proposed this Sunday’s date for an election to vote to join Russia:

April 07, 2014

Pro-Russia activists occupying the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk’s have proclaimed a sovereign “People’s Republic of Donetsk” and called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to send a “temporary peacekeeping contingent.”

Activists came out of the seized government building on Monday to announce the decision to a crowd of a few thousand people assembled in front of the building.

They also said a referendum on the region’s future will be held by May 11 at the latest.http://www.voanews.com/content/prorussian-gunmen-seize-ukrainian-police-headquarters-in-luhansk/1887724.html

Vladimir Putin wants as much of Ukraine as he can get (he wants all of it), and despite some of his public statements, will be pleased if Donetsk and vote to either become independent or ask to somehow be aligned with Russia.

The situation in Ukraine, particularly in the eastern portions, is tense.  Notice the following:

Ukraine economy choked by political unrest

Now, eastern Ukraine is in turmoil as pro-Russian protesters demand independence. Violence has spread to the south in Odessa where at least 42 people died in clashes on Friday, increasing fears of a civil war…

While the country’s economy has been weak since Ukraine’s independence, recent instability has exacerbated the situation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Ukraine would need more funding if the east was annexed after the organisation already agreed to a $17bn bailout.

Adrian Karatnycky, a senior fellow at The Atlantic Council, who advises investors in Ukraine, says fears of a Russian invasion or continued instability will frighten investors…

Widespread corruption has limited Ukraine’s economic growth and the country could not adapt to capitalism as well as countries like Poland which had similar economic traits yet grew at a much quicker pace following the collapse of communism, according to Karatnycky.  http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/05/ukraine-economy-choked-political-unrest-20145513919803862.html

DONETSK — An appeal from Ukraine’s prime minister for unity is being ignored in the country’s troubled southeast, which is fast plunging into general disorder and lawlessness.

Police in towns and cities across the region are withdrawing from the streets, leaving local residents fearful and unprotected. The rule of gunmen and thugs is for the most part currently the only law.

“This is not a good time for us,” said salesman Sergey Layrih. “There are no police. They have just disappeared and crime is on the rise.”…

Ukrainian security forces lost Monday another military helicopter – their third to be shot down by Moscow-backed pro-Russian separatists in the last week.

Residents upset

The military moves do little to gain public trust.

And for little territorial gain so far, the government’s campaign is deepening the anger of local residents, including 24-year-old secretary Nadin.

“They had a lot of guns, machine guns, they shoot like this (mimicking gunfire) to all house, to all people, and my house is fully damaged, all windows,” she said.

A short distance away a truck burned, choking people with acrid black smoke.

It was hit in the crossfire in the Slovyansk suburb of Semenovka where a two hour-hour battle raged Monday.   http://www.voanews.com/content/despite-unity-calls-lawlessness-rules-in-ukraines-east/1907734.html

What is the state of Ukraine’s economy?

In a nutshell: heavily indebted.

Ukraine’s new government has said it needs $35bn (£21bn) to pay its bills over the next two years, which the new loans should mostly cover. It owes the Russian gas company Gazprom $1.9bn.

The Ukrainian economy shrank 0.3% in 2013, the IMF estimates. And the months of street protests, when the barricades were up on the streets of the capital, Kiev, will also have had an effect…

The currency, the hryvnia, lost nearly a fifth of its value in February alone. It now stands at 11 to the US dollar, down from eight in January.

The economy is struggling to recover from a recession and has been shaken by capital flight, as worried investors move their money abroad.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26767864

Many in Ukraine are scared and frightened and need our prayers. Some, especially in the eastern portions, are looking to Russia.

Also many, especially in the western areas, seem to be placing their hope in the European Union, that will not turn out well according to many biblical prophecies (e.g. Revelation 18-19).

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.

Artist Depiction of Pentecost (Cadetgray)

COGwriter

The Day of Pentecost for 2014 is approaching, and is June 8 in 2014.  Unlike other biblical holy days, some version of the Day of Pentecost is observed by a lot of mainstream churches, both Catholic and Protestant. And of course, since Pentecost is a biblical holy day, it is observed by Church of God groups like the Continuing Church of God. Pentecost is the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in the shape of fire (Acts 2:3-4).

Most groups that profess Christ consider that Pentecost marked the formal beginning of the New Testament church.

The term Pentecost is a Greek term meaning 50th. That term is derived from the following Hebrew description of calculating the date:

And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (Leviticus 23:15-16).

Early Christians believed that they were supposed to observe Pentecost. And they probably understood this from the Bible and the practices of the early apostles.

For example, the Apostle Paul continued to keep Pentecost decades after the Pentecost mentioned in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Notice what he wrote, about 56 A.D.:

For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (1 Corinthians 16:8).

This shows that Paul knew when Pentecost was, that he felt that the Corinthians must know when Pentecost was, and that the Ephesians would have known when Pentecost was. Thus, it apparently was being observed by Paul and the Gentiles in Ephesus and Corinth.

In another year, the Apostle Paul also wished to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost, around 60 A.D.:

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16).

Thus, Christians in Jerusalem were still observing Pentecost and Paul was observing it too. Otherwise, there would be no obvious reason why Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

This was clearly understood by second century writers such as Irenaeus who wrote (circa 180):

Paul taught with simplicity what he knew, not only to those who were [employed] with him, but to those that heard him, he does himself make manifest. For when the bishops and presbyters who came from Ephesus and the other cities adjoining had assembled in Miletus, since he was himself hastening to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost (Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book III, Chapter 14, Verse 2). Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

An old document that was probably altered in the 4th century, titled The Life of Polycarp, specifically mentions the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost. And it records that the Apostle Paul said that they should be kept:

In the days of unleavened bread Paul, coming down from Galatia, arrived in Asia, considering the repose among the faithful in Smyrna to be a great refreshment in Christ Jesus after his severe toil, and intending afterwards to depart to Jerusalem. So in Smyrna he went to visit Strataeas, who had been his hearer in Pamphylia, being a son of Eunice the daughter of Lois. These are they of whom he makes mention when writing to Timothy, saying; Of the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice; whence we find that Strataeas was a brother of Timothy. Paul then, entering his house and gathering together the faithful there, speaks to them concerning the Passover and the Pentecost, reminding them of the New Covenant of the offering of bread and the cup; how that they ought most assuredly to celebrate it during the days of unleavened bread, but to hold fast the new mystery of the Passion and Resurrection. For here the Apostle plainly teaches that we ought neither to keep it outside the season of unleavened bread, as the heretics do, especially the Phrygians…but named the days of unleavened bread, the Passover, and the Pentecost, thus ratifying the Gospel (Pionius. Life of Polycarp, Chapter 2. Translated by J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, 1889, pp.488-506).

Notice that Paul is shown to have taught Gentiles to keep the biblical Holy Days, including Pentecost. Polycarp, himself, was a faithful early Christian leader who was apparently ordained by the Apostle John and was believed to be a Gentile.

Since the Apostle Paul and other faithful Christians kept Pentecost, shouldn’t you?

Two More Things: Spanish Language Article and Ronald Weinland:

Two more items to mention are that there is now a translation of into Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? into Spanish/español that I was able to upload a few hours ago: Pentecostés: ¿Es más que Hechos 2?. As I do not write or speak Spanish, it has been great to have one volunteer to assist in this way.

Something, indirectly related to Pentecost that is both new and old is that Ronald Weinland of the Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God continues to teach that Jesus will return on Pentecost. He, who claims that he and his wife are the two witnesses, taught Jesus would return last Pentecost. Here is some from a post dated 4/16/13:

We know and believe that we are now nearing the very last phase of this end-time. We believe we are about to witness man’s last war World War III…the world is about to plunge into WW III…

I know what I have witnessed, and that witness is from God, and it is true.

Ronald Weinland has made many false predictions, his witness does not come from God, and it is often not true. Nor is it possible that “World War III” will soon start (it will not begin before 2018, though steps are being taken now), nor was it over by Pentecost 2013.  He also has made false speculations about Pentecost in 2014 that will not come to pass.  His witness is false.

But that does not mean that you should not observe the Day of Pentecost, which will be June 8, 2014. (The actual observation begins the evening before at sunset on June 7th and runs through sunset June 8th.)

Pentecost is a biblical holy day.  It was observed in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits. What about “speaking in tongues” and led by the Holy Spirit? (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Pentecostés: ¿Es más que Hechos 2?)
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.
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, that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008, that Jesus would return on May 27, 2012, and then claimed that Jesus would return on May 19, 2013 (he originally had Jesus returning on September 28/29 2011). Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? Why do Ronald Weinland’s own statements prove that he is a false prophet? Additionally, he has other views which show he is not truly part of the Church of God.
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? What does the New Testament actually teach on this subject? There is also a YouTube video about this which is also titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God .
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?
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

The US Bill of Rights

COGwriter

The US Federal government wants to change rules to allow more governmental involvement in the First Amendment to its Constitution:

May 7, 2014

The chairman of the Federal Election Commission warned Wednesday that officials at the agency want to start regulating the media, despite a longstanding congressional ban on doing so.

“The impulse to regulate the media within the FEC is alive and well,” Chairman Lee E. Goodman told FoxNews.com in an interview…

Further, comments from retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens – in which he suggested the Constitution be amended to allow for “reasonable limits” on money to campaigns under the First Amendment — raised additional red flags. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/07/fec-chairman-warns-agency-desire-to-regulate-media-alive-and-well/

Since we in the Continuing Church of God do not vote nor endorse political candidates, why is this of any concern?

Because it is part of a disturbing trend.

The USA used to value freedom of speech. Now, while I have no problem with the FEC going against politicians who lie about their opponents, the fact that even the US Supreme Court is wondering about making amendments to the first amendment to the US Constitution (which is part of what is called the “Bill of Rights”) is disturbing.  This combined with early statements from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and certain other governmental officials suggest the desire to control speech not deemed politically-acceptable is growing.

The USA used to value religious freedom more than it now does. I am very concerned that speaking out for biblical morality on subjects such as homosexuality and abortion will be considered to be a type of ‘hate speech.’  I am concerned that when the King of the North getrs publicly identified by a group like the Continuing Church of God, this will result in some excuse (like feigning national security or ‘hate speech’ or treason, etc.) to get that message stopped from being spread.

Here is what the First Amendment to the US Constitution says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The so-called “Bill of Rights” is more and more becoming a “bill of goods.” And while the political views of the judges have always affected its interpretation, there is no longer much semblance in what those that founded the USA claimed that they wanted and what is in place now.

Perhaps under the guise of “neutrality,” perhaps under the guise of “The Patriot Act,” perhaps under the guise of “public welfare,” perhaps because of alleged “intolerance,” calling parts of the message “hate speech” and/or national security threats/issues, something will be done to stop perhaps all of the organized media efforts to proclaim biblical truths. A famine of the word is coming (Amos 8:11-12; cf. Romans 10:14-15)–and it would seem that it must entail governmental interference for this to take place.

Others should ask themselves, if this is what is happening in the USA now, what will later happen in their lands? A worse time, known as the Great Tribulation is coming (Matthew 24:21)–and even more will be controlled (cf. Revelation 13:15-18).

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. 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.
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
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.
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.
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.
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.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon   (World Economic Forum)

COGwriter

Zenit, a pro-Vatican news agency, reported the following:

May 07, 2014

In an interview published Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said the United Nations and the Holy See have the “same goals and ideas”.

The UN chief, who is to meet Pope Francis on Friday, said he was grateful to be able to meet the Holy Father for a second time (the two first met in April last year). This year, he noted they will meet “in the context” of a summit of heads of UN agencies taking place this week in Rome.

“I thank him for the time that he will dedicate to us,” he said, according to the Italian newspaper Il Velino. “The United Nations and the Holy See have the same goals and the same ideas,” he added.  http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/ban-ki-moon-says-un-and-holy-see-have-same-goals-and-ideas

I wondered if that meant that the United Nations not only shared the goal of peace through human efforts, but other ones as well, such as the ecumenical goals of the Vatican.  So, I did a search on the United Nations’ website and found the following:

Secretary-General, at New York Ecumenical Service, Stresses Special Role of Religious Leaders as Standard-bearers of Reason, Respect

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the Church of the Holy Family in New York…:…

Whether priest or lama, rabbi or imam, you are all standard-bearers of reason and respect within and among religious traditions.

People everywhere look to religious leaders for guidance, support and direction.  We need religious leaders in all parts of the world to help lead the way in promoting tolerance, seeking forgiveness, healing divisions and building mutual understanding and mutual respect.  This pursuit is rooted in all faith traditions and it is needed now more than ever.  We need voices of moderation and calm everywhere to make themselves heard…

Almost 50 years ago, Pope Paul VI delivered a sermon here at this very ecumenical service.  He said, “The work of peace is not restricted to one religious belief, it is the work and duty of every human person, regardless of…religious conviction.”

That remains our mission — our obligation — and our calling.  Lastly, I sincerely hope that under the leadership of the President of the General Assembly, Vuk Jeremić, we will be united and able to address all the challenges we are facing.  Let us strive together to advance our common humanity and shared future.  http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sgsm14516.doc.htm

Faith-based Organizations Can Help Deliver United Nations Message for Renewed Cooperation to Tackle Climate Change, Other Crises, Secretary-General Says

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Under-Secretary-General Vijay Nambiar, Chef de Cabinet, to the Ninth Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations Community, presided over by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in New York, today, 26 October:

I send greetings to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and to all the participants in this annual prayer service.

As a secular organization, the United Nations has no common religion.  But as humanitarians we, too, like all major faiths, work on behalf of the weak, the disadvantaged, and those who are vulnerable to violence, disease and disaster.  And we share the same ethical foundation:  a belief in the inherent dignity of all individuals.

If ever there were a time for unity among religions and peoples, it is now.  We must be united in purpose, united in action…

Let us work together for a safer, healthier more equitable future for all.  http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/sgsm12567.doc.htm

Few people realize how fast the ecumenical movement is moving and how much support it has.   The fact that the United Nations also seems to share Pope Francis’ views on wealth distribution (e.g. Pope Francis speaks against current economic order and proposes changes) also suggests that there may be some cooperation on this as well.  It should be noted that it is not just ecumenical dialogue between professors of Christianity that the Vatican and UN want, they also want an inter-faith acceptance and cooperation–essentially a final Babylonian type cooperation (cf. Genesis 11:1-9)–and the Bible shows this will happen in the end times (Revelation 17, 18).

While some, even amongst the Eastern Orthodox have publicly opposed it (see Greek Orthodox Bishops denounce Pope Francis, Church of Rome, and Ecumenism as Antichrist Plan of Freemasons), others, like Patriarch Bartholomew, have embraced it. So much so, that the Eastern Orthodox agreed to their first “ecumenical council” in over a thousand years earlier this year (see Orthodox agree to eighth ecumenical council: If Orthodox prophecy is correct on it, this council marks a major step towards the end!), which is to take place in 2016.

Earlier this year, Charismatic Kenneth Copeland agreed to it (see Protestant endorsement of the ecumenical agenda: Kenneth Copeland do you not understand? and/or watch Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!).

The Bible clearly warns against the final Babylonian system which the ecumenical movement and the United Nations is trying to form:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast…
6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:6-9)

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

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 13:11-18)

3 And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:3-6, 9, 18).

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:2-5)

That is the system that the ecumenical movement and the United Nations is trying to prop up.

Well there have been many signs and lying wonders throughout history, the time will come when they will become even worse (2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12). The world will be deceived (Revelation 12:9, Mark 13:22).

The time to stand up for the truth is now.  While peace is a fine goal (Psalm 122:6; Matthew 5:9), the Bible warns of a time when false declarations of peace will be indicated and also made:

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.  (Daniel 11:21-24)

10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace (Ezekiel 13:10).

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  (1 Thessalonians 5:3-6)

In the future, the Vatican (Revelation 13,17), United Nations, certain ones in Europe (it is the European King of the North who comes in peaceably in Daniel 11), and elsewhere will be talking peace (Ezekiel 13:10), yet war and destruction will come.  The ‘same goals’ that the United Nations and Vatican have related to the ecumenical movement and financial controls.

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).

Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Iran

COGwriter

Some in Iran apparently think that they have a plan that will discredit all of Christianity:

Iran’s Basij Press is claiming that a version of the Gospel of Barnabas, found in 2000, will prove that Islam is the final and righteous religion and the revelation will cause the collapse worldwide of Christianity…

This version of the Barnabas Gospel was written in the 5th or 6th century and it predicted the coming of the Prophet Mohammad and the religion of Islam, the Basij Press claims.

The Christian world, it says, denies the existence of such a gospel.

However, religious scholars have said another version of the Barnabas Gospel, discovered a century ago, was written less than 500 years ago, which would post-date Mohammad.

In Chapter 41 of the Barnabas Gospel, Basij claims, is this statement: “God has hidden himself as Archangel Michael ran them (Adam and Eve) out of heaven, (and) when Adam turned, he noticed that at top of the gateway to heaven, it was written ‘La elah ela Allah, Mohamad rasool Allah,’” meaning Allah is the only God and Mohammad his prophet…

“The discovery of the original Barnabas Bible will now undermine the Christian Church and its authority and will revolutionize the religion in the world,” the Basij report says. “The most significant fact, though, is that this Bible has predicted the coming of Prophet Mohammad and in itself has verified the religion of Islam, and this alone will unbalance the powers of the world and create instability in the Christian world.” http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/iran-discovery-will-collapse-christianity/

The above article came out two years ago, and thus far if this is Iran’s plan, it has failed.  On the other hand, a study that came out last month shows that less Americans do believe the Bible now (see Americans increasingly do not trust the Bible–to the peril of the USA!), but this is not related to Iran and Barnabas.

The biblical Barnabas, who knew the Apostle Paul (Acts 13:43), did not write this Gospel of Barnabas. Now, other versions of this false Gospel of Barnabas have been around for a while and it has long been discredited. So, the reporting of an additional “prophecy” from another version of it about Mohammed (other versions have other prophecies allegedly about him) in it is of little consequence.

Additionally, it should be pointed out that there is another writing falsely attributed to Barnabas called the Epistle of Barnabas, and that is not the same book as the falsely named Gospel of Barnabas. The Epistle of Barnabas is believed to have came from Egypt. Here are some comments from the Handbook of Patrology about the so-called Epistle of Barnabas:

PSEUDO-BARNABAS

Under the name of St. Barnabas we have a letter preserved in two principal codices, the Sinaiticus (IVth century) and the Hierosolymitanus (1056). With one voice Christian antiquity indicated as the author of this letter Barnabas, the companion of St. Paul, although it placed it among the antilegomenai grafai, that is to say, contested its canonicity. Modern critics unanimously deny the genuineness of the letter. When the Epistle was written, St. Barnabas was certainly no longer alive and, even if he had been, he would not have adopted the violent and severe attitude evinced throughout this document.

Let’s go over a few points. First of all, there are no writings by “Barnabas” that are accepted by those that profess Christ as other than false and not actually written by Barnabas. Second it was only certain false professors of Christ that gave any writing allegedly by Barnabas credibility in the 2nd and later centuries–the NT canon had already been known by the faithful (see The New Testament Canon – From the Bible and History). Third, if the biblical Barnabas actually wrote any book, it would have been written in the first century–and since the falsely named Gospel of Barnabas seems to have been written later than that, or a least after Barnabas had died, no one will accept its teachings as valid.

Fourthly, the so-called Gospel of Barnabas teaches a variety of non-Christian doctrines which contradict scripture. It teaches, for example, that Jesus denied His Messiahship, “I am not the Messiah” (Gospel of Barnabas 42:6) and that Jesus sent Mohammed for the “salvation of the world” (Gospel of Barnabas 97:9-10). Yet, the Bible teaches that Jesus did claim to be the Messiah (John 4:25-26) and it also teaches that other than Jesus “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The Bible, itself, also teaches that there will be true (like the two witnesses of Revelation 11:2-12), and false, prophets (Matthew 24:11). But Mohammed is not named in scripture, nor did he teach the message of true biblical Christianity.

It is most likely that since the false Gospel of Barnabas has various Mohammed statements in it, they were written in by Islamic supporters. Now, I am not denying that Satan could not have that written in a document prior to the actual emergence of Mohammed–it just seems unlikely, especially for books that already had long been discredited by those who profess Jesus.

So why might some in Iran make a big deal about the false Gospel of Barnabas now?

It seems to fit with an Iranian political agenda.

Iran, itself, has long wished to become the leader of the Islamic world. Iran’s government basically claims that the purpose of its revolution in the 1970s (that over-through the Shaw of Iran) was intended to set the stage for the emergence of an Islamic leader, the Imam Mahdi, to rise up and have the rest of the Islamic world unite behind Iran. This is simply not going to happen. It is likely that the appeal to another version of the false Gospel of Barnabas is intended to rally Iran’s people (and other Muslims) behind Iran’s goal of Islamic conquest. A goal that will not happen as the leadership of Iran currently hopes for.

Yet, while scripture shows that much of the Islamic world will unite, this confederation will not be uniting behind Iran. The final prophesied King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will be from the Middle East or North Africa, but not Iran.

Watch (Mark 13:37).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
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?
Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians?
The Old Testament Canon This article shows from Catholic accepted writings, that the Old Testament used by non-Roman Catholics and non-Orthodox churches is the correct version.
The New Testament Canon – From the Bible and History This article, shows from the Bible and supporting historical sources, why the early Church knew which books were part of the Bible and which ones were not.
Study the Bible Course Want to learn more about the Bible? This new course is for you! It is also available in French (Leçon 1 En francés), Kiswahili (Somo 1 Katika Kiswahili), Mandarin Chinese (首页 › 中国), Tagalog (KURSO SA PAG-ARAL NG BIBLYA), and Spanish (Lección 1 En castellano).
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading. Here is a link in Mandarin Chinese: 读圣经 Here is a link in the Spanish language: Lea la Biblia.
Bible: Superstition or Authority? Should you rely on the Bible? Is it reliable? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel?
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?

Vladimir Putin (www.kremlin.ru)

COGwriter

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed in a new law against foul language:

May 6, 2014

The Russian President has just signed legislation that bans foul language in movies, television, theatre and other media. The law “bans the use of obscene language while ensuring the rights of Russian citizens to the use of the state language, and protecting and developing language culture.”

The new law will be enforced starting at the beginning of July 2014. Fines for offenders can reach 2,500 roubles ($70) for individuals and 50,000 roubles ($1,400) for organisations.

The ban will include “four colloquial words, including terms for male and female genitalia, as well as a term for a promiscuous female.”

Books with foul language will have to include a special warning on the cover.  http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Vladimir-Putin-Sign-Russian-Law-Banning-Foul-Language-in-Movies-TV-and-Theatre-20140506#

May 6, 2014

Thinking about making a film? Better leave out the foul language if you want it to be seen in Russia. The same goes for plays. Even rock stars will need to leave their potty mouths at home.Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on a new law Monday that bans swearing at arts, cultural and entertainment events in the country.

Any new film containing obscene language won’t be granted a distribution certificate, so there’s no chance of seeing it at the movie theater.

And copies of books, CDs or films containing swearing can only be distributed in a sealed package labeled “Contains obscene language,” a Kremlin statement said.

According to state news agency ITAR-Tass, individuals caught using foul language face a fine of up to $70, while officials can be fined up to $40 and businesses nearly $1,400. They face a higher fine and a three-month suspension of business for repeated offenses.

Determination of what counts as profane language will be done through “an independent examination,” the news agency said.

According to the Kremlin, the legislation “bans the use of obscene language when ensuring the rights of Russian citizens to the use of the state language, and protecting and developing language culture.”  http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/06/world/europe/russia-swearing-law/

Vladimir Putin is in pretty tight with the Russian Orthodox Church and gets along well with Pope Francis.

It has been reported by some that he sees himself as the leader of a new “Holy Roman Empire” and is the political leader who is standing up for Orthodox Christianity and against the moral decline of the West.  He has publicly denounced aspects of the homosexual agenda, and other matters, and is probably the most powerful political leader to do so in the past year or two.

As far as foul language goes, it should not be used by Christians.  Notice scriptures from the Old and New Testaments:

11 ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.  (Deuteronomy 5:11)

28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.  (Exodus 22:28)

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  (Romans 12:14)

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33, KJV)

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Foul language is unnecessary and should not be used.

While I do not believe that Vladimir Putin will lead the final revival of the “Holy Roman Empire,” I do believe that his public ‘moral’ statements are helping set the stage for the Beast who will lead it.

The amount of foul language tolerated in Western and other societies is excessive and should not be done.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的 .
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: Their 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?
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?
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?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach?
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 latest issue (#161, print date April 30, 2014) of The Journal was sent out electronically and just received.

Its lead articles had to do with the takeover of Waco, Texas in 1993 and thoughts about the founding of the USA, its constitution, and Bill of Rights.

Perhaps because The Journal is printed in Texas, it considered the Waco matter worthy of the amount of coverage it was given this issue.

There was an advertisement in The Journal that tried to indicate that Matthew 28:19 was not authentic.  However, it is.  Those interested in this may wish to study the article Is Matthew 28:19 in the Bible?

The Journal began to list some Feast of Tabernacles’ sites for 2014. For information on those affiliated with the Continuing Church of God check out Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2014.

Also in The Journal there were the usual letters to the editor and advertisements, various comments, and opinion articles (including something about the date of Passover–an article of related interest may be TPM: Passover on the 14th or 15th?).

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

Black Flag of Jihad

COGwriter

The USA has agreed to help Nigeria try to thwart a major terrorist threat against schoolgirls:

May 6, 2014

ABUJA, NIGERIA — U.S. intelligence officials will head to Nigeria to help with the search for 276 schoolgirls abducted last month by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Secretary of State John Kerry announced Tuesday.

Kerry, who discussed the coordinated approach with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan by phone Tuesday, said the two countries would move immediately to establish a task force at the U.S. embassy in the capital city to provide more expertise on intelligence, investigations and hostage negotiations, as well as information sharing and victim assistance.

“We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of these young girls and we want to provide whatever assistance is possible in order to help for their safe return to their families,” Kerry said at a news conference at the State Department in Washington.

He was joined by European Union foreign policy chief Cathy Ashton, with whom he’d met earlier in the day.

The young women represent Nigeria’s future, Ashton said.

“They are teachers, dancers, politicians. They are scientists. They are mothers.  They are women in the making who have a right to play their full part in their society.  And what has happened to them is devastating for all of us. And we must do, like you, everything possible to try and reunite them with their families and to prevent this ever, ever happening again.”

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the team heading to the U.S. embassy in Nigeria’s capital city would include U.S. military personnel and law enforcement officials trained in investigations and hostage negotiations.

The announcement follows widespread condemnation and anger inside Nigeria and abroad that Jonathan’s government has not done enough to rescue the girls, who were kidnapped April 14 from a secondary school…

Meanwhile, suspected Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped eight more girls between the ages of 12 and 15 from a village near one of their strongholds in northeastern Nigeria overnight, police and residents said earlier Tuesday.

Lazarus Musa, a resident of the village of Warabe, told Reuters that armed men had opened fire during the raid.

“They were many, and all of them carried guns. They came in two vehicles painted in army color. They started shooting in our village,” Musa said by telephone from the village in the hilly Gwoza area, Boko Haram’s main base.

A police source, who could not be named, said the girls were taken away on trucks, along with looted livestock and food.

Militants threaten to sell girls

On Tuesday, analysts said an announcement by the terrorist group Boko Haram earlier this week may have been timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum on Africa, a three-day event that begins Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria.

On Monday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau threatened in a video released to the media to sell the abducted girls “on the market.” No girls appeared in the video.  http://www.voanews.com/content/suspected-boko-haram-gunmen-kidnap-eight-more-girls-in-nigeria/1908567.html

COGwriter

In the USA, the White House has issued warnings about climate change:

White House climate change report unveils dire warning, calls for action

May 6, 2014

WASHINGTON—

The Obama administration on Tuesday released an updated report on how climate change requires urgent action to counter impacts that touch every corner of the country, from oyster growers in Washington State to maple syrup producers in Vermont.

“Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” the report said.

Some environmental and public health groups hailed the National Climate Assessment as a possible “game changer” for efforts to address climate change, in part because it makes the impact less abstract to many Americans.

“It will help put their own experiences in context, and we think that is important in generating interest and action on the issue,” said Lyndsay Moseley, director of the American Lung Association’s Healthy Air campaign.

The extensive report detailed how consequences of climate change are hitting on several fronts, including health, infrastructure, water supply, agriculture and especially in more frequent severe weather such as floods and droughts.

The impacts are also broken down by region–from storm surges in the Northeast to wildfires and water shortages in the southwestern United States.  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-climate-change-report-20140506,0,6309904.story

May 6, 2014

The warming of Earth, with human consumption of fossil fuels as the main cause, will have severe consequences for every region of the United States, according to the Third National Climate Assessment released Tuesday morning by the Obama administration.

Mandated by Congress and published every four years, the report is a science-based resource that is meant to inform public policy and private sector decisions. http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-na-climate-change-assessment-20140505-story.html

May 6, 2014

The administration hopes to use the report to shore up public support for the president’s climate policies as he attempts to put new regulations in place to limit emissions. A major political battle over the rules is expected this summer, with Republicans already accusing Mr. Obama of plotting a “war on coal.”

Some Republican members of Congress have contended that the science of global warming is a hoax perpetrated by a global conspiracy of climate scientists, a point of view Mr. Obama has mocked as comparable to belief in a flat earth. Other Republicans concede that climate change caused by human activity is real, but nonetheless fear — as do some Democrats — that the president’s policies will destroy jobs for miners and hurt the broader economy.  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/science/earth/climate-change-report.html?_r=0

Here is a report related to the UN and the global community:

May 04, 2014 8:07 AM

ABU DHABI — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday he was hopeful that a goal of limiting global temperature rises to a maximum 2° Celsius could be achieved, but urged governments to take practical action before it was too late.

“We have to ask the leaders to commit to bold ambitious targets and we will ask them to accelerate their actions on the ground,” Ban told a two-day conference on climate change in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi.

Ban said both meetings would be “solution shops” for an urgent problem.

Many developing nations want a one-day summit in New York on September 23 to be the deadline for rich countries to outline planned cuts in greenhouse gases beyond 2020, seen as a key step towards securing a global climate deal in 2015.

Governments have promised to limit temperature rises to a maximum 2 degrees Celsius (3.6° Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times to avert ever more heatwaves, floods, droughts and rising sea levels that the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says are linked to man-made warming.  http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-uns-ban-urges-climate-action-ahead-of-new-york-summit/1907207.html

Pollution, which tends to be caused by greed and/or ignorance (which is not always intentional), is destroying the Earth. It should be noted that not all scientists believe that burning fossil fuels is causing global warming and some scientists believe that the data supports that the planet is cooling.

That being said, yes, I do agree with the assessment that human activity contributes to climate change. While I do not wish to now get in the debate about the impact of fossil fuels of the climate, I will state that the Bible is clear that God does use ‘climate change’ as a warning.  The call to action from the White House should be for Americans (and others) to repent of their sins.

Yet, by pushing the homosexual agenda, abortion, and other sins, as the White House and others have been doing, this results in ‘climate change.’ But that is not something that people like Barack Obama wish to seriously consider.

Notice the following scriptures from the Old Testament:

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” (Haggai 1:7-11)

12 O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths. (Isaiah 3:12)

23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’ 24 All nations would say, ‘Why has the Lord done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?’ 25 Then people would say: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers…(Deuteronomy 29:23-25)

38 A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images, And they are insane with their idols. 39 “Therefore the wild desert beasts shall dwell there with the jackals, And the ostriches shall dwell in it. It shall be inhabited no more forever, Nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah And their neighbors,” says the Lord, “So no one shall reside there, Nor son of man dwell in it. (Jeremiah 50:38-40)

6 And it shall be at an instant suddenly. A visitation shall come from the Lord of hosts in thunder, and with earthquake, and with a great noise of whirlwind and tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire. (Isaiah 29:6, DRB)

Furthermore, notice some of what the New Testament teaches:

18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18)

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory…every island fled away (Revelation 16:8-9)

21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:21)

18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (Revelation 16:18-20)

Notice that the above earthquake is so big that the cities of the nations will fall. Mountains will be leveled and islands “fled away” (more on this can be found in the article Islands and Bible Prophecy).

The Bible is clear that various aspects of weather will be used by God prior to Jesus’ return. As warnings and as punishments.

Back in 2009, my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, I wrote that the following was about to happen:

Odd weather patterns result in food shortages and natural disasters.

Matthew 24:7

The world is actually in a berserk transition, as the real age of peace is not yet here. It may be a period of chaos. It is the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:8

Droughts and odd weather patterns should serve as a wake-up call.

Weather problems were prophesied to come as the result of sin:

15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. 17 “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 19 “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20 “The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22 The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. 24 The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:15-24)

10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace — and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar — 11 say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’” 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. 14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 13:10-14)

Notice that the Bible shows that God uses weather to warn people to turn to Him, but many ignore this:

17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord.  (Haggai 2:17)

7 “I also withheld rain from you,
When there were still three months to the harvest.
I made it rain on one city,
I withheld rain from another city.
One part was rained upon,
And where it did not rain the part withered.
8 So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water,
But they were not satisfied;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the Lord.

9 “I blasted you with blight and mildew.
When your gardens increased,
Your vineyards,
Your fig trees,
And your olive trees,
The locust devoured them;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the Lord. (Amos 4:7-9)

21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.  (Revelation 16:21)

The Bible shows:

30 God…commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)

And weather-problems are one way that God uses to urge people to repent (cf. Haggai 2:17; Amos 4:7-12).

Now, does this mean that those most affected by weather are necessarily worse sinners than those less affected?

The biblical answer is no.

Notice the words of Jesus:

45…He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4-5)

God uses weather and other events to warn people.

Of course there is good news, as ultimately God’s kingdom will come and those issues will be gone (Revelation 7:16).  But until then, we can expect rough weather.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? A YouTube video is available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy.
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel? Who is preaching the gospel? Here is a version in Korean 복음이란 무엇인가?
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.
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
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.