Church of God News

10th Century Representation of Gospel Writer Luke

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce its latest sermon which is at its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:09:50

Luke 10-11: The 70, Doing the Work, the Good Samaritan, Prayer, and Signs

This is the fourth of a multi-part sermon series by Dr. Thiel covering the Gospel account credited to Luke. This sermon covers chapters 10 through 11. Dr.Thiel discusses ‘the 70,’ doing the work of proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom as a witness, the opportunity for salvation, the parable of the good Samaritan, prayer, various signs, and letting your light shine.

Here is a link to part one of this sermon series: Luke 1-2: John the Baptist, Mary, and the Census.

Here is a link to part two of this sermon series: Luke 3-6: John the Baptist, Jesus’ genealogy, Satan’s Influence, and the Sermon on the Mount.

Here is a link to part three of this sermon series: Luke 7-9: Miracles, Purpose of Parables, Kingdom of God, and Women Supporting the Ministry

Here is a link to part four of this sermon series: Luke 10-11: The 70, Doing the Work, the Good Samaritan, Prayer, and Signs

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
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.
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. Here is a link to a sermon video: Why Learn About Fatima?
What Should I Pray About? An old article by Lynn Torrance on prayer. Here is a link to it in Mandarin Chinese 我应该祷告什么？
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account? Related sermon videos include Universal Offer of Salvation I: God is love  and Universal Offer of Salvation II: The Age to Come and the ‘Little Flock’ and Universal Offer of Salvation III: All Are to Know Jesus, But When? and Universal Offer of Salvation IV: Will the Guilty be Pardoned? and Universal Offer of Salvation V: All Israel Will be Saved? A version of the main article was also translated in the Spanish language: Oferta universal de salvación: Hay cientos de versículos en la Biblia que apoyan la verdadera doctrina de la Apocatastasis.
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong?
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?
ContinuingCOG channel. Dr. Thiel has produced scores of YouTube video sermons for this channel. Note: Since these are sermon-length, they can take a little longer to load than other YouTube videos.

(Choo photo)

COGwriter

A recent study has included that at least 42 US states are at risk for significant earthquakes:

July 18, 2014

A new study by the U.S. geological society suggests 42 states have a reasonable chance of experiencing damaging ground shaking from an earthquake in the next 50 years.

The 8 states that did not have significant hazard levels are Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The 16 states at highest risk are Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.  http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/07/18/new-study-suggests-42-states-at-risk-for-earthquakes/

There have always been serious known areas of risk like the San Andreas fault in California, the New Madrid fault in the Midwest and South, as well as the Yellowstone area.

But, while any of those areas has devastating potential (and with Yellowstone that is not limited to earthquakes), the reality is that nearly all USA states are at known risk, and the 8 that are not considered to be a risk may very well be as well.

Jesus warned about a time earthquakes and troubles:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be…troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

Having a significant risk in 42 USA states certainly is consistent with the warning from Jesus that there will be earthquakes in diverse places.

The USA and many other parts of the world are at greater risk for earthquakes than most imagine.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy Contains a cool up-to-the-hour update of earthquakes around the world from USGS. It also explains what did Jesus teach about earthquakes and how the Bible describes “the big one” (as well as when it is expected).
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.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather?
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? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?

Aedes Mosquito (Muhammad Mahdi Karim)

COGwriter

The Chikungunya virus is now in Florida:

July 18, 2014

CDC Reports First Chikungunya Case Acquired in the U.S.

Seven months after the mosquito-borne virus chikungunya was recognized in the Western Hemisphere, the first locally acquired case of the disease has surfaced in the continental United States. The case was reported in Florida in a male who had not recently traveled outside the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working closely with the Florida Department of Health to investigate how the patient contracted the virus; CDC will also monitor for additional locally acquired U.S. cases in the coming weeks and months.

Since 2006, the United States has averaged 28 imported cases of chikungunya (chik-un-GUHN-ya) per year in travelers returning from countries where the virus is common. To date this year, 243 travel-associated cases have been reported in 31 states and two territories. However, the newly reported case represents the first time that mosquitoes in the continental United States are thought to have spread the virus to a non-traveler. This year, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported 121 and two cases of locally acquired chikungunya respectively.

“The arrival of chikungunya virus, first in the tropical Americas and now in the United States, underscores the risks posed by this and other exotic pathogens,” said Roger Nasci, chief of CDC’s Arboviral Diseases Branch. “This emphasizes the importance of CDC’s health security initiatives designed to maintain effective surveillance networks, diagnostic laboratories and mosquito control programs both in the United States and around the world.”  http://www.dddmag.com/news/2014/07/cdc-reports-first-chikungunya-case-acquired-us

I first warned about the potential threat from this virus back on 2009 (see Chikungunya Virus: The Next Pestilence?).

Here is some of what the CDC says about it:

Chikungunya (pronunciation: \chik-en-gun-ye click to hear pronunciation) virus is transmitted to people by mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of chikungunya virus infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, chikungunya virus was found for the first time in the Americas on islands in the Caribbean… There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection. http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/

The old WCG published the following:

Parallel prophecies found in the Old Testament clearly indicate why man will continue to suffer from the ravages of disease. Notice this cause-and­effect relationship as outlined in the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy: “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God,” warns man’s Creator, “the Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from off the land, which you go to possess. The Lord will smite you with consumption [wasting, degenerative disease], with fever and inflammation [possibly infectious contagions)…. and the tumors, the scurvy [deficiency disease] and the itch, of which you cannot be healed. The Lord will smite you with madness [mental disorders] and blind-ness and dismay of heart [emotional trauma]” (verses 15, 21-22, 27-28, The Amplified Bible).

Misgovernment, greed and oppression over the course of nearly 6000 years of history have saddled the human race with the unwanted burden of disease. For instance, man’s proclivity to crowd into disease — prone cities is indicative of this problem. And it is interesting to note that Bible prophecy seems to indicate that this crowd-at­all-costs policy will eventually backfire on the human race. Notice Leviticus 26:25: “… And when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you… .” Also Ezekiel 7:15: “The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.”

Jesus Himself warned that the “signs” of the end of the age would be include pestilences

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

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

The Chikungunya virus is certainly a type of pestilence and it appears to be spreading.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.
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.
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.
Blood Moons and Prophecy There are four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.

Iron Dome system intercepts Gaza rockets per the Israel Defense Forces

COGwriter

Israel continued its offensive in Gaza today, while Hamas has vowed  Gaza apparently bombed Israel yesterday:

July 18, 2014

Israel’s Gaza Offensive Continues; World Leaders Urge Restraint

Thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks, aircraft and navy ships continued what appears to be a limited advance into the Gaza Strip on Friday, the second day of a ground invasion into the Palestinian territory…

Overnight, the Israeli army said via Twitter that it killed 14 militants, destroyed 20 rocket launchers, carried out nine strikes on tunnels and hit a total of 103 “terror targets.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday he was prepared to “significantly widen” the offensive…

“The Israeli government is hoping that with this initial operation and by destroying a lot of the tunnels in open areas, destroying more targets in some of the urban settings, that if they bloody Hamas’ nose up enough, they’ll be willing to settle for cease fire terms closer to what Israel wants,” said Bob.

Hamas in recent days has proposed a multi-year truce that includes demands such as the lifting of the long-standing Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, opening air, sea and land entries into Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners arrested by Israel last month in the West Bank.

Cease-fire talks

Israel has instead been pushing for an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that calls for a “cessation of hostilities” in exchange for an increased movement of people and goods between Gaza and Israel. Hamas has rejected the plan, saying the offer amounts to a surrender.

In total, more than 260 Palestinians have died since July 8, when Israel expanded its airstrikes in Gaza in what it said was an attempt to stop rocket fire into Israel. The United Nations says about four out of five of those killed have been civilians, including dozens of children. Two Israelis have died.

Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, told VOA that the fighting has made conditions intolerable for the 1.8 million Palestinians who live in the impoverished Gaza Strip.  http://www.voanews.com/content/israel-continues-gaza-offensive-world-leaders-urge-restraint/1960155.html

July 18, 2014

Gaza City (CNN) — As Israeli tanks and soldiers plunged deeper into Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Friday that the military is prepared to further expand its offensive against Hamas militants.

The Israel Defense Forces sent a large force into Gaza on Thursday — infantry, tanks, artillery, combat engineers and intelligence units backed by aerial and naval support.

Their primary target: Tunnels used by Hamas fighters and others to slip into Israel and to smuggle in weaponry and supplies.

Netanyahu did not explain what would spark a wider offensive, or what it would entail. But he said Israel had no choice but to take the fight to Gaza to protect its own people…

The Israeli operation set off some protests around the world, including in Turkey — where violent demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy prompted Israel’s Foreign Ministry to send diplomats’ families home and reduce staffing to a minimum.

Jordan called for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council, expected Friday.

And Hamas condemned the incursion. “The beginning of the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza is a dangerous step with unknown consequences. Israel will pay a heavy price for it,” spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told CNN.

Barhoum said Hamas military forces are “far stronger” than during previous conflicts with Israel in 2009 and 2012. Militants are prepared to capture Israel soldiers and use them to trade for some of the 5,000 prisoners in Israeli jails, Barhoum said.  http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/18/world/meast/mideast-crisis/

Hamas seems to be threatening terrorism, and that may not be limited to the borders of the tiny nation of Israel.

It appears that Israel believes that because the peace talks broke down this part Spring and because of actions against Israelis, that Israel has close to free reign to do what it wants.  Technically, Gaza is within the territory of Israel as Palestine is not a separate nation, though most Palestinians want it separate.

It seems that partially because of the situation with Ukraine, including the incident of the Malaysian jet apparently being shot down yesterday, that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu likely believes that US President Barack Obama has additionally international priorities that will reduce his focus on pressuring Israel at this time.

Of course, US Secretary of State John Kerry as well as Barack Obama, would love to be responsible for being involved in getting a lasting peace agreement in the Middle East.  But the biblical deal of Daniel 9:27 will also have some type of European involvement.

As I have written many times, it will likely take some type of regional war for the deal of Daniel 9:27 to take place (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27). The current actions between Israel and Hamas will likely be a factor. At minimum, the actions are enraging much of the Arab world.  But the violence would likely have to escalate for the deal in Daniel 9:27 to take place (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

At some point in time, the Bible shows that the nations of North Africa and the Middle East will form a confederation, involving Egypt (Ezekiel 30:1-9), under the leadership of one the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). The dislike that many of the Arab states have for each other is sometimes less than the hatred that they (or their people) tend to have for the nation of Israel.

Thus, conflicts like this (as well as what is going on now in Iraq and Syria) that lead to destruction (cf. Isaiah 17:1) may be the motivating force for both a “peace deal” as well directly or indirectly for the formation of the North African/Middle East confederation that the Bible shows will happen in the end time (cf. Daniel 11:40-43).

The Great Tribulation will begin after the King of the South confederation is formed and before the King of the North empire (which still has not formed) invades and eliminates the King of the South.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
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.
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.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
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.
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the seven-year deal? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

VS.

COGwriter

Not content to not put out another false date for Jesus’ return, Ronald Weinland of the Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CGPFKF) has done it again (all bolding below in source document from his website):

A Third Date
As God’s end-time apostle and prophet, I am now going to begin proclaiming a third date for the expected coming of Jesus Christ. At this time, this is obviously only for the Church. No one else will receive it yet, unless they are being called by God.
Does it matter that others do not believe now? No! But it does matter for God’s Church, as this has everything to do with following God wherever He leads His Church. It is for the learning, training, transforming, and greater growth of His people.

In God’s time, many in the world and the Church that has been scattered will begin to see, hear, fear, and change.

So what is this new date? It is necessary to properly set the stage for this, which concerns what God has revealed to me as a prophet. He has revealed that His purpose and design, beginning when the First Seal was opened on the day of the Apostasy (Dec. 17, 1994) to the coming of His Son to reign, contains “seven periods of 1260 days.”

The basis for establishing a third date is a matter of my function as an apostle, as I am utilizing all knowledge, clarification, and truth that God has given us to this moment in time. Since Pentecost of 2012, God has poured out upon us vast amounts of new, clarified, and needful knowledge, which has made it possible to teach and proclaim an incredibly beautiful, inspiring, and truly the clearest picture ever of what God has designed, purposed, and is now more fully bringing to pass concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, coming on Pentecost of 2019. The time from the Apostasy to the Messiah’s coming does contain 7 periods of 1260 days, plus some specific additional time that God has given as “signs” to accompany His design, revelation, and deep meaning in all that He is bringing to pass.

As a result of focusing on two previous dates, those in God’s Church have been mightily matured and strengthened through that experience, and we have consequently grown in greater wisdom and have been far more fully prepared for where we are now and where we are headed – far more than what we were before Pentecost of 2012. As a matter of faith and of seeing a clear, clarified, and completed picture of God’s purpose from the Apostasy to Christ’s return, I do not believe it is possible that this new date has any error or lack of understanding in its calculation (which will be addressed a little later). Having said that, if for any reason the timing were to go beyond this new date in 2019, then we can be certain that God will reveal much more to us in order to give us even greater understanding, just as He has in the past. If indeed this proved to be the case, we would simply continue moving forward, following Him wherever He leads His Church.   (Weinland R. Measuring the Temple Pt. 2, July 17, 2014)

This is actually his fourth or fifth date, depending on how you count them.  Three previous wrong dates Ron Weinland had for Jesus’ return were September 29, 2011; May 27, 2012; and May 19, 2013. He also had indicated June 8, 2014, yet unlike those previous dates that he fairly strongly insisted upon, he was not as certain about his June 8, 2014 date. Which did not happen.

He now is insisting on June 9, 2019 which is Pentecost in 2019 (dates for the Holy Days until 2024 are in the link Holy Day Calendar).

But irrespective of how many times he has been wrong in the past, he will also be wrong about 2019.  It is NOT  POSSIBLE for Jesus to return in 2019.

Despite errors in his writings, Ronald Weinland has made such bold and false statements about his books such as:

Everything stated in the books are going to come to pass…they are absolute (Weinland R.  Ordinations and Baptisms, pt. 4.  Sermon, Dallas, Texas, January 23, 2010).

But the reality is that much of what he has taught has not come to pass–and certainly not when he claimed it would.  His writings simply are not absolute in terms of truth and prophecies. The Bible is absolutely accurate, while Ronald Weinland’s writings have repeatedly proven not to be.

I have seen no attendance figures, but suspect those that actually consider themselves part of CG-PKG and no other group are less than about 200 –but this is only my personal guess (and he seems to have lost many since his May 27, 2012 date was proven to be false).

Ronald Weinland is too into allegory and simply does not understand much of what the Books of Revelation, Matthew, and Daniel teach on many matters. He also seems to misunderstand salvation and other issues.  These were all also issues with Harold Camping, who had perhaps millions of listeners who were disappointed when Jesus did not return on May 21, 2011–see Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible).  Notice also something else that Ronald Weinland posted:

Beginning with Pentecost 2012, the combined period of 42 months along with the final seventh cycle of 1260 days ends during the Days of Unleavened Bread in 2019. Not only that, but more importantly, it ends on the day of the “wave-sheaf offering” from when the count for Pentecost begins.

Again, the mathematical probability of this alone, along with the absolute impossibility of the combined previous 5 numerical fulfillments all working together in harmony and unison of purpose as they do, giving such exacting times and dates, simply magnifies the glory and power of God to purpose, design, and fulfill such a thing.

7) The time from Pentecost 2012 to the wave-sheaf offering in 2019 is 2,520 days (1260 plus 1260). There are 2,570 days from Pentecost 2012 to the Day of Pentecost in 2019. This leaves exactly “50 days” that God has established as a final numerical sign of His work to establish His Son as King of kings.  (Weinland R. Measuring the Temple Pt. 2, July 17, 2014)

Harold Camping also made a variety of supposed mathematical proofs for Jesus’ return, yet he (like Ronald Weinland) ignored the sequence that Jesus Himself laid out in Matthew 24.  Harold Camping was proven wrong for each of his 3 or 4 dates of Jesus’ return (see Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible).

Ronald Weinland has been repeatedly proven wrong about his claims about the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ. What he has claimed would happen as “God’s prophet” simply has NOT come to pass!

I have denounced Ronald Weinland since 2005/2006 and while his predictions have repeatedly proven to have been wrong, every denouncement of his predictions that I posted here have been correct. I have long written that I believed that the following was applicable to Ronald Weinland:

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).

Destruction has been occurring related to Ronald Weinland’s reputation, organizational influence, personal finances, and his living conditions. Now, while I believe that Ronald Weinland was more guilty of ignorance of tax law than being criminally guilty of evasion, I believe that God allowed him to be imprisoned because of his repeated false prophecies and insistence that he was speaking for God when he was not.

For those unfamiliar with him, Ronald Weinland was a former WCG then UCG minister who falsely claimed to be a prophet and one of the two witnesses (he claimed that his wife was the second of the witnesses), Elijah, an Apostle, etc. He wrote about book claiming that 2008 would be the start of the Great Tribulation, with Jesus supposedly to have returned on September 29, 2011. He has long demonstrated a tendency to believe his own false writings above the Bible. Ron Weinland was convicted of multiple counts of income tax fraud in June 2012 (see CGPFKG’s Ron Weinland Found Guilty of Income Tax Evasion) and went to prison for in on February 1, 2013 (see CGPFKG’s Ronald Weinland to report to prison today). He is currently in prison.

Ronald Weinland’s latest post included the following statement:

It is an incredible coincidence where the “50th Truth” has led us!

This falsehood related to 2019 is NOT TRUTH.

Now, why MUST RONALD WEINLAND BE WRONG ABOUT JESUS RETURNING IN 2019?

First of all, Jesus gave a variety of signs/events that had to happen prior the start of the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24 and taught that He would not come until AFTER the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31). The Great Tribulation itself has not yet started.

Not only have many of the preceding signs Jesus told of not happened yet, a preceding event in Daniel 9:27 involving the confirmation of a seven-year deal still has not happened. Since it did not happen as of July 17, 2014, this means that it is not possible for the Great Tribulation to begin for at least 3 1/2 years (half of a biblically-prophetic week).

Additional reasons are in the article When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? and The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 (here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation).

At this instant, unless we see even more major conflict in the Middle East between now and the end of the Summer, it is unlikely that the Great Tribulation can begin prior to 2019.  And Jesus will not come until 3 1/2 years after it begins.

Since the Great Tribulation cannot happen yet, what are some specific events to look for which occur prior to the Great Tribulation?

The basic sequence is that certain sorrows and troubles will continue (Mark 13:7-8).

The ‘peace’ deal of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed.

A King of the North and a King of the South (Daniel 11:27) will arise.

Animal sacrifices will begin (cf. Daniel 9:27; see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27). (Note: It is possible that the King of the South could arise up prior to Daniel 9:27 or even after the sacrifices resume as could the King of the North as this part of the prophetic sequence is not as explicit).

The gospel of the kingdom then will have been preached enough to the world as a witness for the end to come (Matthew 24:14). This seems to be related to the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28.

Jewish sacrifices will be stopped (Daniel 9:27).

The abomination of desolation will then be set up (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14) because of actions of the King of the North (Daniel 9:27; 11:31).  The most faithful expect to continue to tell what is happening until they are somehow stopped (cf. Amos 8:11-12; see also The Final Phase of the Work).

A decree is to be issued (Zephaniah 2:1-3) and then the most faithful Philadelphians will flee per Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24:15-19 and Mark 13:15-18 (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

Bolstered by the Antichrist, then the Great Tribulation will begin (Matthew 24:21-22; Mark 13:19-20; Daniel 11:39, 12:1b; see also
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).

About a month or so less than 2 ½ years later, the sixth seal will be opened, there will be a ‘blood moon’ and a darkened sun (Revelation 6:12; Joel 2:30-31; see also Blood Moons and Prophecy), then the 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-8 will be sealed.

Shortly thereafter, the seventh seal will be opened (Revelation 8:1-6) and year long Day of the Lord (Isaiah 34:8) will begin with trumpet blasts, plagues, etc. (Revelation 8-7-13; 9:1-21; 11”13-14).  Then at the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15) Jesus will return to establish the millennial kingdom.

Ronald Weinland neglects much of that in his false pronouncements.

The main point of COGwriter posts about him is to warn all not to let false prophets and false apostles like Ron Weinland turn people away from the God of the Bible. Sadly, because of false prophets like Ronald Weinland, many who hope that they are Philadelphian Christians have discounted the fact that prophets are an office that should be in the end time Church of God. But overlooking what the Bible says (and the Bible does warn of false prophets, and also tells how to determine a true one in Matthew 7:15-23), they, like the people of ancient Israel, truly cannot discern a true prophet. All should read and study the article How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God.

It is my hope and prayer by pointing out WHY people like Ronald Weinland are wrong, that those who have love of the truth will not be misled by those who are not God’s prophets based upon what the Bible actually teaches.

Some items of possible interest related to prophecy may include:

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), and later pointed to June 8, 2014. 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? 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?
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?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 202x?
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.
Blood Moons and Prophecy There are four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.
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.
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.

COGwriter

Someone showed me a UCG related advertisement that asked the question:

Why is the Sabbath Commandment Not Repeated in the New Testament?

Here is the answer that was given:

Jesus Christ and the apostles lived and taught in a Sabbath-keeping society.

Some people believe that, since the Sabbath commandment isn’t explicitly repeated in the New Testament, it is no longer binding. But is this true?

The Sabbath commandment did not have to be repeated in the New Testament, simply because the people to whom Jesus Christ and the apostles preached would never have imagined that it needed to be repeated!

The Scriptures that would later be called the Old Testament were their Bible, their guide for living (Romans:15:4). Paul described them as being “given by inspiration of God, and . . . profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy:3:16-17). The Holy Scriptures clearly commanded them to keep the Sabbath, and the common people accepted that as God’s inspired instruction.

While it is true that early Christians realized that they should keep the seventh-day Sabbath, it should be added that the New Testament makes it clear that Christians were to continue to observe the Sabbath.

Notice that the New Testament Book of Hebrews teaches (note: two Protestant and three Catholic translations are shown):

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience…9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, NIV).

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 5 and again in this passage, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,.. 9So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, NASB)

3 We, however, who have faith, are entering a place of rest, as in the text: And then in my anger I swore that they would never enter my place of rest. Now God’s work was all finished at the beginning of the world; 4 as one text says, referring to the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing. 5 And, again, the passage above says: They will never reach my place of rest. 6 It remains the case, then, that there would be some people who would reach it, and since those who first heard the good news were prevented from entering by their refusal to believe…9 There must still be, therefore, a seventh-day rest reserved for God’s people,  10 since to enter the place of rest is to rest after your work, as God did after his.  11 Let us, then, press forward to enter this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of refusal to believe and be lost. (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, NJB)

3 For we, that have believed, shall enter into their rest; as he said: As I sware in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: and truly the works from the foundation of the world being perfected. 4 For he said in a certain place of the seventh day thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works…9 Therefore there is left a sabbatisme for the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his.  11 Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest; lest any man fall into the same example of incredulity. (Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, The Original and True Rheims New Testament of Anno Domini 1582)

3For we who believed enter into [that] rest, just as he has said: “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter into my rest,’” and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world. 4For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works”; 5and again, in the previously mentioned place, “They shall not enter into my rest.” 6Therefore, since it remains that some will enter into it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,… 9 Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. 10And whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his own works as God did from his. 11 Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.(Hebrews 4:3-6,9-11, New American Bible)

While that is not worded the same way as the Old Testament lists the Sabbath commandment, the same can also be said of the second commandment against graven images.  Although the term graven images is not shown in the New Testament, other verses show that Christians were not to violate that commandment either (cf. 1 John 5:21).

Thus, those willing to believe what it actually teaches, the New Testament clearly shows that the command to keep the seventh day Sabbath is in the New Testament. It also shows that only those who will not observe it because of their disobedience argue otherwise.

Even Origen understood some of this as he wrote:

But what is the feast of the Sabbath except that which the apostle speaks, “There remaineth therefore a Sabbatism,” that is, the observance of the Sabbath, by the people of God…let us see how the Sabbath ought to be observed by a Christian. On the Sabbath-day all worldly labors ought to be abstained from…give yourselves up to spiritual exercises, repairing to church, attending to sacred reading and instruction…this is the observance of the Christian Sabbath (Translated from Origen’s Opera 2, Paris, 1733, Andrews J.N. in History of the Sabbath, 3rd editon, 1887. Reprint Teach Services, Brushton (NY), 1998, pp. 324-325).

One reason that many today do not understand the truth about the Sabbath is that certain translators have intentionally mistranslated the Greek term sabbatismos (ςαββατισμóς) found in Hebrews 4:9. The Protestant KJV and NKJV mistranslate it as does the CHANGED version of the Rheims New Testament, also known as the Challoner version (changes in the 18th century)–all three mistranslate the word as ‘rest,’ whereas there is a different Greek term (katapausin), translated as ‘rest’ in the New Testament. Sabbatismos clearly refers to a ‘sabbath-rest’ and honest scholars will all admit that. Because of the mistranslations, most today do not realize that the seventh-day Sabbath was specifically enjoined for Christians in the New Testament.

Decades ago, a Protestant told me that the reason he did not keep the seventh-day Sabbath was because it was not taught for Christians in the New Testament. I handed him a Bible and read him Hebrews 4. He then looked at the verses himself. After doing so, he said because his grandmother was a good Christian in his view, and because she did not keep it, he felt that he did not. He failed to truly rely on the Bible, but instead on false tradition (see also Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings). Sadly most who profess Christianity do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath and rely mainly on improper traditions, whether they realize it or not.

It was proven heretics/apostates who attempted to do away with the Sabbath.  But according to the New Testament, a seventh-day Sabbath remains for the people of God (Hebrews 4).

Hebrews 4 clearly teaches that Christians are still be be keeping the seventh-day Sabbath.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
How to Observe the Sabbath? How should you keep the Sabbath? This is an old article by Raymond Cole, with updated information for the 21st century.
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true? Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 一个不合理的神？
Marcion: The First Protestant? Considered to have been an organized heretic, he taught against the Old Testament, the law, and the Sabbath. Some have considered him to be the first Protestant reformer. But was he?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Another Look at the Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath Did Ignatius write against the Sabbath and for Sunday? What about the Didache? What does the actual Greek reveal?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D.
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

A reader sent me a link to the following:

July 17, 2014

A new film set for release on July 18 is a political thriller that pits modern government against a basic constitutional right and highlights the fundamental conflicts between the main character’s Christian beliefs and the “religious reforms” as envisioned by statists…

According to actor and former U.S. senator from Tennessee Fred Thompson, who co-stars in the film, Americans should be increasingly “mindful” of a federal government growing in power that undermines religious freedoms, noting that the film depicts just how dangerous an overzealous government can be.

The movie is a takeoff of governmental power

According to a review of the film by WorldNetDaily news editor Drew Zahn, Persecuted is a dramatic fictional thriller about a popular preacher who dares to resist a new “religious unity” bill that is being pushed by powerful Washington legislators and interests.

The preacher soon finds himself “toppled from the pulpit and a fugitive on the run for his life, all for refusing to compromise his freedoms of speech and religion,” Zahn writes…

Thompson told WND in an exclusive interview. “It is a takeoff on governmental power and those in government who legislate what they feel like is a good idea — on how people ought to conduct themselves, promote their religion and the message they should be delivering.

“Whether you’re talking about on the airwaves and ‘equal time’ or Obamacare or things of that nature, we’re in that territory now,” Thompson continued. “So again, this is not a documentary; it shows what can happen.

“That’s what all good art does: If it’s not possible, it’s not entertaining,” Thompson said. “But there’s an awful lot out there that is possible.”

Added Carlson: “‘Persecuted’ is about freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and if anyone has watched me on Fox News over the last nine years, they will know that those are issues I speak about and am very open about.”  http://www.naturalnews.com/046032_Persecuted_movie_religious_freedom_government_power.html#ixzz37jLJo6qv

The time will come with religiously-oriented legislation, that those who oppose the ecumenical religion will be persecuted for that.  Here is some information from the film’s website:

The new movie Persecuted opening in July 2014 depicts evangelist John Luther as the last obstacle in the way of sweeping religious reform. When a Senator frames Luther for the murder of an innocent teenage girl, an unprecedented era of persecution is unleashed. An evangelist turned fugitive, Luther’s mission brings him face-to-face with the coming storm of persecution… http://www.persecutedmovie.com/about

Many are rightly concerned that places like the USA are losing true freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  While the Persecuted film is is a fictional account, a form of persecution known as ‘political correctness’ already exists.  This ‘political correctness’ has actually contributed to some Christian groups pulling back on their message.

The time is soon coming when the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God will be persecuted for refusing to keep silent as it proclaims the gospel of the kingdom:

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

9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.  10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.  11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.  12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.  13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  (Mark 13:9-13)

It will be the  Philadelphia portion of the Church of God that will fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10.  We will not be silent and may also be subject to governmental misinformation.  Notice also that fulfilling Matthew 24:14 leads to the end.  Notice that persecution is associated with this.  That is also consistent with the pre-Great Tribulation persecution shown in Daniel 11:29-36.

On other persecution news, it is reported that the group calling itself the Islamic State (formerly known as ISIS and previously ISIL) has allegedly unearthed the remains of the prophet Jonah as well as torched churches in Iraq:

July 17, 2014

Jihadists Claim to Have Destroyed Jonah’s Tomb

BAGHDAD (Worthy News)– Muslim jihadists claim to have destroyed the tomb of the Old Testament prophet Jonah in Nineveh as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria destroys ancient shrines and anything else that offends them.

And jihadists Muslims are easily offended.

According to Christian Headlines, ISIS even intends to march on Mecca to destroy Islam’s most sacred shrine. Mecca is home to the Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque, which contains a cube called the Kaaba that Muslims claim contains a cornerstone laid by Muhammad, their prophet…ISIS is content to distribute a video of a hooded figure swinging a sledgehammer onto a row of concrete tombs. However, the video looks nothing like the interior of the Tomb of Jonah, according to Columbia University historian Christopher Jones. So the video is either fake, or shows ISIS destroying something else.  http://www.worthynews.com/17084-jihadists-claim-to-have-destroyed-jonahs-tomb

ISIL dug up grave of Prophet Younis (biblical Jonah) in Mosul

Al-Chalabi added that “there is almost certain information stating the fact that the elements of ISIL dug up the grave of the Prophet Younis.”

In just one day, ISIL members committed a series of horrific crimes which illustrate their hostile nature, said Iraqi police in Ninawa spokesman Maj. Ahmed al-Obaidi.

“They torched 11 churches and monasteries out of 35 scattered across the city of Mosul, and hours later destroyed statues of poets, literary and historical figures of which Mosul has long been proud,” he said.  http://www.iraqinews.com/features/urgent-isil-dug-grave-prophet-younis-mosul/

The prophet Jonah preached in Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-3) which is believed to be in modern Iraq.  While it is not certain whether or not Jonah’s tomb was destroyed, the reality is that the Islamic State uses terrorism to persecute.  It persecutes those who believe in other types of Islam, as well as those in the Greco-Roman churches.  It also imposes its own horrific ‘political correctness’ on those who live in the area it controls.

Yet, even more persecution will be coming.  And the Bible shows that it will come from an end-time European power (Daniel 7:25).  This warring power, will for a time, endorse a worldwide religious unity that many will sadly fall for and persecute for (Revelation 13:4-15).  The seeds for that are being sown now as people as diverse as Pope Francis, UN Secretary General Moon, US President Barack Obama, and Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, and Charismatic Ken Copeland have all called for that type of unity this year.

Yet, the Bible teaches that the only true unity of the faith will happen AFTER the false ecumenical movement is eliminated which happens with the return of Jesus Christ (e.g. Zechariah 2:6-11).  Persecution for refusing to be silent and/or refusing to go along with what is coming will happen (Revelation 13:10-17; Daniel 7:24; 11:29-25).

Russian SU-25 jet

COGwriter

The Ukrainian government in Kiev is claiming that one of its jets was shot down today:

July 17, 2104

In the latest escalation of the conflict on the Ukrainian-Russian border, Kyiv said a Russian jet shot down one of its warplanes, its strongest accusation yet of direct Russian military involvement in the war.

A Ukrainian military spokesman said the pilot of the SU-25 fighter ejected to safety.

On the ground in eastern Ukraine, fierce fighting between government forces and pro-Moscow rebels has intensified in recent days with some 55 civilians killed since the weekend alone.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council on Thursday accused a Russian air force plane of downing its jet over Ukrainian territory the day before with an air-to-air missile strike.

Russia has not responded to the claim.

The fighting even forced a group of more than a dozen Ukrainian border guards to flee into Russia seeking medical help for their injuries, the Russian authorities said.

Andrey Lysenko also said Ukrainian troops had been fired upon by missiles from a village just inside Russia.

Accusations

Officials in Kyiv have recently accused Russia’s armed forces of being directly implicated in attacks on Ukrainian troops battling an insurgency near the border.  http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-claims-air-force-jet-downed-by-russian-missile/1959420.html

Kiev, the European Union, and the USA believe that Russia has been more involved in stirring up actions in the east of Ukraine.  Enough so, that new sanctions were imposed against Russia.  Russia calls the new sanction blackmail from the USA:

July 17, 2014

The United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions Wednesday, striking at the heart of Vladimir Putin’s powerbase by targeting companies closest to him over Moscow’s failure to curb violence in Ukraine…

Several U.S. senators praised the Obama administration move.

“Timing is everything in foreign policy. Sanctions are part of an overall strategy,” Senator Johnny Isakson told the VOA.

“We have to let Russia know that we fully expect them to withdraw from Ukraine, we expect them to be a better partner with the rest of the free world. And, as time goes by, if they do not do that, then sanctions will ratchet up,” Isakson added.

Senator Lindsay Graham agreed, saying the sanctions are a ‘good step in the right direction. I hope Europe will follow. We need more [sanctions].”

Russian reaction

The Russian foreign ministry reacted to sanctions in a furious statement: “We do not intend to tolerate blackmail and reserve the right to take retaliatory measures” against the U.S.

Moscow denounced what it called primitive revenge for events in Ukraine and pledged to retaliate.

Putin said the U.S. sanctions would hurt U.S. energy companies and warned that sanctions would inflict “very serious damage” on the already tattered U.S-Russia relationship.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the sanctions evil, said they would not “bring anyone to their knees.”

Medvedev in televised remarks said the sanctions are throwing Russia’s relations with the West “back to the 1980s” and added that Russia “will have to pay more attention to military and security spending.”  http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-calls-latest-us-sanctions-blackmail/1959339.html

July 17, 2014

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on July 17 said it was disappointed that the European Union “succumbed to the blackmail of the U.S. administration and, contradicting its own interests, followed the path of sanctions” against Moscow.  http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/reuters-russia-says-eu-blackmailed-by-washington-into-tougher-sanctions-356393.html

July 17, 2014

The Obama administration’s newest sanctions against Russia for its continued aggression in the Ukraine could prompt retaliation against U.S. business interests around the world, analysts said Thursday.

If that happens, economic recoveries in Russia, the U.S. and Europe could suffer to consequences.

Nomura analyst Dmitri Petrov said in a note to clients that Russia could decide to “retaliate asymmetrically, creating a separate tit-for-tat spiral between the U.S. and Russia that could be damaging to the Russian but also European economies.”

In other words, if Russia decides to retaliate by freezing out U.S. companies while also failing to tone down its entanglement in the Ukraine, the U.S. will be forced to fight back with more sanctions against additional Russian companies. http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy-policy/2014/07/17/retaliation-may-follow-latest-russian-sanctions/

The situation in Ukraine remains volatile and tense. Vladimir Putin has long wanted to restore his version of a new Soviet Union which he calls the Eurasian Union. Bible prophecy does show that a Russian-led Eurasian confederation will ultimately form (for details, see The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy).  While, based upon past statements, I believe that the Russian leadership has wanted to increase its military spending, I believe that the sanctions are giving it better political cover to do so.

As far as the USA goes, the sanctions will not hurt its economy very much.  The European Union that has much closer economic ties to Russia than the USA does.

Russia wants all of Ukraine.  It has Crimea and reportedly is helping those in the east of Ukraine who want to be independent of Kiev.  Since the USA has repeatedly stated that it will not engage in actual war with Russia over Ukraine and the fact that the European Union does not want to harm its economy more than the current sanctions might, it may well be that Russia will conclude that it has little further to lose if it supports the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The leaders of peoples that are the descendants of the Medes are prophesied to get together (Jeremiah 51:11, 28-29).  The events in Ukraine, Crimea, and Russia seem to be leading towards that direction.

UPDATE:  The following was reported today after I wrote the above:

A Malaysian Airlines passenger plane with 295 aboard was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in Ukraine near the Russian border, according to multiple reports.

The airline, which saw one of its fleet disappear over the Indian Ocean in March, confirmed only that “an incident” had occurred involving the Boeing 777, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.

“Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam,” read a tweet from the airline. “The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow,” read a tweet from Malaysia Airlines’ account.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he has directed the country’s Ministry of Defense to investigate the incident, according to a message on his Twitter account. He said he could not confirm that the plane was shot down.

But multiple reports, including from Russia’s Interfax news agency, said the plane was shot down at cruising altitude. Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Minister told The Associated press that the plane, carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew people onboard, was shot down.  http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/17/malaysia-airlines-jet-reportedly-crashes-in-ukraine/

GRABOVO, Ukraine — A passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, a Ukrainian official said. Both the government and the pro-Russia separatists who have been fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane…

Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, said on his Facebook page the plane was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet. He said it was hit by a missile fired from a Buk launcher, which can fire missiles up to an altitude of 72,000 feet.

A rebel leader, Donetsk Prime Minister Alexander Borodai, told Kommersant FM radio that the rebels don’t have the Buk system and said that the Ukrainians brought down the plane.    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/malaysia-airlines-flight-17-hit-denied-by-ukraine-pro-russian-rebels/

Whether it crashed or was shot down, this is horrible.  And the second major incident involving a Malaysian jetliner this year.  Those affected are in my prayers.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
Bible News Prophecy July-Sept. 2014: The Coming Eurasian Union Here is the latest magazine from the Continuing Church of God. The cover of which shows Vladimir Putin and features an article about the coming Eurasian Union.
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.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
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?
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?
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 search for Noah’s ark continues:

July 9, 2014

By the end of March 2014, a team consisting of Turkish, Dutch and Belgian members launched an expedition on Mount Ararat, Turkey and found at an altitude of 4.000 meters remains of a possible wooden structure and also pottery. Jeroen Rensen, a Dutch archaeologist from the team, was pleased with the success of the expedition. He says, “It was very tough. Heavy winds and snowstorms made the first two attempts to reach the site fail. The third and last all-or-nothing attempt succeeded and the team reached the location. There, in a fissure within the icecap under 10 meters of rock, ice and snow we found well-preserved wooden remains and pottery too.” Later this year a major scientific expedition will conduct a follow-up investigation to determine what the artifacts and wooden remains constitute.

Another witness is a Belgian physician, Dr. Marcel Verheyen. In response to the critics that wood and artifacts were deliberately planted, he says, “That is absolutely impossible. The mountain’s terrible terrain is rather inaccessible, let alone to carry beams of wood. You need to be there and see it with your own eyes, before you put forward any hypothesis. I am 100% sure that it is impossible to plant such a structure there.”

Recent reports of discovery of wood remains on Mount Ararat were made in 2010 by a Hong Kong based Christian group, NAMI (Noah’s Ark Ministries International), yet the finding has been overshadowed by lot of criticisms. The site documented by Rensen and Verheyen in March is in the vicinity of the claim made a few years back. Participating in the expedition as independent investigators, Rensen and Verheyen do not want to engage into the controversy, but conduct a step-by-step scientific exploration with a multi-disciplinary scientific team. Rensen says, “The question of whether there are any wooden remains at all on Mount Ararat has been answered. But so many questions still remain. The main question to be answered now is: What type of site do the remains at this location represent?”  http://popefrancis.einnews.com/pr_news/212962036/remains-of-wooden-structure-and-pottery-found-on-mount-ararat-turkey?n=1&code=oxPopNDvaPkLwTjA

I have long felt that the day may come when Noah’s ark is conclusively found.  Some hope to make a trip in 2015 to try to possibly confirm it.

However, because both biblical (e.g. Revelation 13:4,8) and non-biblical prophecy warn of a time when an ecumenical religion will take over much of the world. If Noah’s Ark is ever conclusively accepted, this could represent part of a major turning point in getting more of humanity to accept a coming world religion that claims to be Christian. The movie Noah may get more interest in the ark and finding it. Since many cultures have a tale of the flood (see 300 Versions of the Flood), this will make the coming ecumenical religion acceptable even to certain cultures that do not normally refer to the Bible for their beliefs.

Jesus warned that the end times would be like the time PRIOR to the flood of Noah’s time:

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36-44)

Many will not understand end time prophecies. And not pay sufficient attention (see also Is there a need for a prophet now?).

We know the great flood happened.  Perhaps Noah’s Ark will be found.  But if it is, its finding may be used by the forces of Satan to put forth his end time agenda.

Some items of potentially related interest may include:

Have the Turks and Chinese Just Found Noah’s Ark? Some have so claimed. If true, this could change how much of the world views events from the Bible.
The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.

Bashar Hafez al-Assad

COGwriter

Syria’s President Assad began his third term today:

July 16, 2014

Syria’s Assad says foreign states will pay for supporting ‘terrorism’

(Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad, who was sworn in for a new term on Wednesday, said Western and Arab states that have supported “terrorism” will pay a “high price” and that he would fight insurgents until security was restored to the whole country.

“Soon we will see that the Arab, regional and Western states that supported terrorism will pay a high price,” he told his supporters at the presidential palace.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/16/us-syria-crisis-assad-speech-idUSKBN0FL0ZP20140716

July 16, 2014

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been sworn in for a new seven-year term, a month after winning a landslide election held only in government-controlled areas.

He took the oath of office Wednesday during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Damascus attended by members of the country’s parliament.

He gave an address warning that Western and Arab nations that supported what he called “terrorists” would pay a high price.

The Syrian government routinely refers to rebels opposed to Assad as terrorists.  Western and Arab nations have given money and equipment to help opposition fighters during Syria’s nearly three and a half year civil war…

More than 170,000 people have been killed and 2.9 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries since the Syrian conflict began as peaceful protests in March 2011.  The fighting has forced another 6.5 million people from their homes within Syria.  http://www.voanews.com/content/syrias-assad-sworn-in-for-new-seven-year-term/1958492.html

Syria’s President Assad is correctly hinting that terrorism will affect various regions.  He may also be hinting that his government will contribute to the price the West and Arab states will pay for opposing him.

The USA has supported the opposition to Bashar al-Assad, and a breakaway group from the Assad opposition has made major gains in Iraq.  That group, formerly known as ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is considered to be a terrorist group that many believe will attack the West once it gets an opportunity.  It is already terrorizing parts of Iraq.  It has renamed itself the Islamic State.  Western analysts have stated that it will cause terrorism outside of Iraq if it can hold on to power in the regions it is now dominating.

The Bible itself warns of terrorism:

14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. (Leviticus 26:14-17)

25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25)

12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)

12 Behold, these are the ungodly,Who are always at ease; They increase in riches…19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalms 73:12,19)

25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27)

5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way (Ecclesiastes 12:5).

The USA, UK, and other places will be hit by more terrorism.  It will be worse than 9/11 some time in the future.

That being said, the Bible also warns about destruction coming to Syria’s capital Damascus.

Actually, both biblical and Islamic prophecy foretell of the destruction of at least parts of Syria. Here is some of what Bible prophecies teach:

7 thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8).

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

23 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, For they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; There is trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus has grown feeble; She turns to flee, And fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. 25 Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy? 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord of hosts. 27 “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

Damascus has been claimed to be the “oldest continuously inhabited city” in the world.  And while some have questioned that, the reality is that Damascus has not been destroyed to the point of becoming the “ruinous heap” since God inspired Isaiah to record that.

This destruction could come as the result of the current civil war.  And if the Assad regime broadly uses chemical weapons and/or becomes engaged in a conflict with Israel, that could also fulfill the above.

Furthermore, because the Bible suggests that Syria will be involved in a confederation of North African and Middle Eastern nations (Ezekiel 30:1-9; Psalm 83:4-8) who will support a leader that the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43), this likely means that the Assad regime will have to at least change, if not completely fall, and that whatever regime replaces it, it will most likely agree to be in this prophesied confederation.  A confederation that is also prophesied to fail (which is something that all in the Middle East and North Africa will be better off realizing).  Various Islamic groups have long pushed for the type of confederation that the Bible warns will involve many Arabic nations and end in the destruction of this confederation (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9).

The situation for Arab world will have ups and downs.  The Bible tells of a time of a peace deal that will affect the region, but that deal will not last (Daniel 9:27) and more war will later come (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8).

While few wish to believe it, it will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God to truly solve the conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.  The third term of Bashar Hafez al-Assad will not result in real peace.  Those in Syria are in my prayers.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? Here is a link to a related video video: Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
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.between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
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.
Blood Moons and Prophecy There are four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.
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.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
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?
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
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.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-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.
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.