Church of God News

Beast Portrayal

COGwriter

When is the earliest year that the Great Tribulation can?

Various ones seem to feel that it can begin in 2014 or 2015 or that it already started some time ago.

Those who believed and understand what the Bible actually teaches realize that the Great Tribulation cannot begin before 2018.

Jesus gave a variety of signs/events that had to happen prior the start of the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24. Not only have many not happened, 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 6, 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 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.

The Great Tribulation is coming, but it will not begin in 2014. And, as I announced within days after Barack Obama was re-elected, I did not believe that it would can begin until after his second term ended.  And as of July 7, 2014, I do not believe that it can begin prior to 2018.

That being said, I posted a news item last month which showed why the COGs associated with the Sardis and Laodicean churches could not possibly know when the Great Tribulation will begin unless they change (see Is there a need for a prophet now?).

CG7, for one example, believes that most events in the Book of Revelation have already been fulfilled, so they are not officially looking for it.  And the Laodicean churches have added extra, non-biblical events/requirements to precede the Great Tribulation, that are not necessary and hence those who believe them will NOT believe that the Great Tribulation will start until it is too late (see also The Laodicean Church Era).

The Great Tribulation will, of course, come some day per Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:21.  And those that will listen and truly understand what Jesus taught in Matthew 24 and what He referred to in the Book of Daniel, can understand.

Yet, according to Jesus’ words to the churches in Revelation 2 & 3, relatively few (the remnant of the Philadelphia Church Era only).  Will you truly listen and truly understand?

German and Soviet-Russian Troops Shaking Hands After Poland Was Invaded in 1939

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link that contained the following:

The USA has abused its political and economic position in the world.  Many in the world have noticed that, and some have taken steps to try to figure out how limit USA influence (e.g. Russians, Chinese, Europeans) and/or live with less of it (Japanese, Europeans).

Prior to WWII, Adolph Hitler made various deals with Russia (then called the Soviet Union).  The purpose of those deals was to give Germany a chance to takeover Europe without also having to fight Russia.  Those deals were ultimately broken and Germany and its allies ended up losing WWII.

What about WWIII?

Cooperation between Germany and Russia may well be part of the behind the scenes moves that will embolden Germany to attack the USA/UK and begin WWIII.

Russia wants the USA out-of-the-way and wants its dollar to lose its position as the world’s reserve currency.  Russia is much more likely to support something that Europe puts forth, whether the Euro or some type of modification or replacement in the future than the USA dollar.  Many in Russia still want Alaska back from the USA and they even have predictions that this will happen.

Apparently, even Joseph Stalin may have wanted to regain it according to the following story:

Atlanta Journal Constitution – Aug 7, 2010   excerpt…

Nearly 60 years ago, Alexander Vitebsky was a young Soviet officer stationed in Siberia, part of a massive force assembled to try to fulfill Joseph Stalin’s dream of invading Alaska.

“It was very secretive,” said Vitebsky, who, for decades afterward, also carried a secret — he dreamed of coming to America. “We didn’t buy what we were told about America.” (http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlantas-public-housing-is-587310.html)

In more recent times, a Russian Professor has forecast it:

MOSCOW — For a decade, Russian academic Igor Panarin has been predicting the U.S. will fall apart…Prof. Panarin, 50 years old, is not a fringe figure. A former KGB analyst, he is dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s academy for future diplomats…

When the going gets tough, he says, wealthier states will withhold funds from the federal government and effectively secede from the union. Social unrest up to and including a civil war will follow. The U.S. will then split along ethnic lines, and foreign powers will move in…

“It would be reasonable for Russia to lay claim to Alaska; it was part of the Russian Empire for a long time.” A framed satellite image of the Bering Strait that separates Alaska from Russia like a thread hangs from his office wall. “It’s not there for no reason,” he says with a sly grin.

(Osborn A. As if Things Weren’t Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S.  Wall Street Journal, Dec 29, 2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html).

It is certainly possible that if Russia makes a deal with the rising European Beast power that it may end up with Alaska. Bible prophecy indicates that the Anglo-lands will be divided (for details see Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?).

The Bible does not tell of a specific deal between the Germans and Russians leading to WWIII.  But scriptures in Daniel 11 are consistent with such a deal being made, because there is a change of relations between German and Russian led confederations in the time of the end (Daniel 11:44-45) that will not end well for the Germans.

But before that, it will not end up well for the USA nor its Anglo-Saxon allies like the UK (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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.
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?
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach?
Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming Beast power use technology to fulfill passages in Revelation 13? What will this mean for the USA, its Anglo-Saxon allies, as well as a coming Arabic-Turkish confederation? What will Russia, China, and others do about this? Who is developing ‘Beast’ military technology now? What might Galileo, ELI, and supercolliders have to do with this?
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?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

“Sunday Church” in Naxos, Greece

COGwriter

A reader sent me the following:

Pope: No-work Sundays good, not just for faithful

July 5, 2014, p.m.

CAMPOBASSO, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis has lamented the abandoning of the traditionally Christian practice of not working on Sundays, saying it has a negative impact on families and friendships.

Francis on Saturday traveled to Molise, an agricultural region in the heart of southern Italy where unemployment is chronically high. While he said poor people need jobs to have dignity, he indicated that opening stores and other businesses on Sundays as a way to create jobs wasn’t beneficial for society.

Francis said the priority should be “not economic but human,” and that the stress should be on families and friendships, not commercial relationships. He added: “Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves if working on Sundays is true freedom.”

He said that spending Sundays with family and friends is an “ethical choice” for faithful and non-faithful alike.  http://news.yahoo.com/pope-no-sundays-good-not-just-faithful-130300599.html

While Sunday was never the true weekly day of rest for true Christians, the Pope’s pushing of Sunday is not a surprising move. Future Sunday laws have long been considered likely by those of us who observe the seventh-day Sabbath.

Many countries have or have had ‘Sunday’ laws, including the USA.  There have been periodic calls in Europe over the past several years for tougher Sunday laws, and Germany has increased the enforcement of at least one Sunday law within the past year or so.

Sunday has been considered as “the mark of the Beast” by many Sabbath-keepers, and is related to at least part of it.  The Bible tells of persecution coming to those who keep God’s commandments, and that is specifically including those who keep the Fourth one related to the seventh-day Sabbath.

Sunday was not the day of rest for Jesus, His disciples, the original apostles, or the early faithful Christians–they all rested on Saturday.  So, while I do not believe that Sunday should be pushed.  The truth is that faithful Christians do not keep Sunday as the weekly day of rest.

Here is something that the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about it:

Now, they call the Sabbath “The Lord’s Day.” They say the church changed it. And the church did change it, the Roman Catholic Church; but GOD DID NOT.

Cardinal Gibbons of the Roman Catholic Church wrote in my earlier life… He’s dead now, but I remember when he did. You see, he wrote this: “You may search the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you cannot find one word in the Bible authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Bible everywhere enforces the sanctification of Saturday, the 7th day of the week.” But he said, “You Protestants have to admit the AUTHORITY of the Roman Catholic Church that is BRANDED ON YOU WHEN YOU OBSERVE SUNDAY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO OTHER AUTHORITY FOR SUNDAY BUT THAT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.”

And it came out of the sun worship that they brought in. The so-called Christianity, they put the name of Christ on it. It has to affect one of the commandments of God. Now what commandment affects your business? How many of our people have had to change their jobs (that has affected their job and their earning of a living and the buying or selling) because of the Sabbath?

Now the Roman Catholic Council of Laodicea, that was 363 AD, they passed this. “Christians must not Judaise by resting on the Sabbath.” They called it “the Sabbath.” They didn’t try to say… It’s the Protestants that began to call Sunday ‘the Sabbath.’ The Roman Catholic Church never did. Rather they said, at this Council of Laodicea: “Christians must not Judaise by resting on the Sabbath (That, they said, is Jewish.), but must work on that day, resting rather on Sunday. But if any be found to be Judaising, let them be declared anathema from Christ.” AND WHEN THE CHURCH CALLED THEM “ANATHEMA FROM CHRIST,” THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE TORTURED THEM OR PUT THEM TO DEATH if they didn’t obey and start to worship on Sunday. …

Now I’d like to have you notice back in Daniel the 7th chapter and verse 25. And this is speaking of the Roman Catholic Church, among Daniel’s four beasts here. And there was to be a small horn that was to come among them, which was the papacy.

Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High [Isn’t that just like I read in Revelation?], and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws… You change the law in respect of time, and they changed the Sabbath into Sunday. And they changed the day from beginning at sunset, to beginning at midnight. And they changed the months from the new moons to the way it is. They’ve changed times all along, and it all came through the Roman Catholic Church.

Daniel 7:25 …think to change time and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. In other words, 1260 years. And they did that, carry it on for 1260 years.

SABBATH A SIGN, NOT A MARK

Now I want you to notice that the Sabbath is NOT a mark. It is a sign. And I want to show you there is a difference between a sign and a mark. A sign is something that a man hangs out in front of his business. “Jones & Company Furniture.” Now that identifies it, tells who owns it, tells what it is. It’s not a drug store. It is not a men’s clothing store. It’s a furniture store. A sign identifies. But a merchant hangs it out of his own accord. It is not branded on him. He takes that himself and puts it out. A sign is always something that you hang up yourself to identify. Or even a doctor would have a little neat sign outside of his door; but it identifies who is in there, who is in that room.

Let’s turn back for a moment to Exodus 31, beginning with verse 12. Exodus 31:12 And the Eternal spake unto Moses, saying, I want you to notice that this is something. It is a covenant, and it’s eternal. And it has nothing to do with the Old Covenant. This is made after the Old Covenant was made. That means set apart for holy use and purpose. It IDENTIFIES WHO ARE GOD’S PEOPLE. IT IDENTIFIES GOD. Now, let’s read on. I’ll show you how. Exodus 31:14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you… The world doesn’t want to put any difference between the holy and the profane.

This one Church is one Church that does, brethren; and you’ll have to begin to put a difference between the holy and the profane. The Sabbath Day is holy. Your first tithe, which is God’s tithe, is holy to Him. You are stealing if you use it. You are stealing if you use the Sabbath Day that belongs to God. It’s not your time. It’s God’s. Exodus 31:14-15 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore for it is holy unto you; every one that defileth it shall (surely) be put to death: [Now that was, of course, in the nation Israel. It was a death penalty.] for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. (15) Six days may work be done; but (in) the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the [Eternal]; whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Now there is a death penalty in Israel if you don’t keep the Sabbath. The beast now says there is a death penalty in THEIR law if you don’t break the Sabbath. You see how Satan wants to contradict, and yet he wants to counterfeit and let a lot of people think it is the Sabbath. Exodus 31:16-17 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. [A PERPETUAL COVENANT. This is a COVENANT.] (17) It is a sign between me and the children of Israel

That is, it identifies them as God’s people. It identifies God. Why? forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. It doesn’t say He created. He “made.” And you’ll find that many… He did create a few things. He created the land animals and people on that day. But He didn’t “make” the earth at that time. He was remaking its surface, as you find in the 103rd Psalm and verse 30. Oh, there is so many of these little things that so many people in the churches of this world just don’t understand in the Bible. But a sign identifies…

THE SABBATH QUESTION

You can’t come to love God unless you love less your own children, your father and mother, or those closest to you. Not that you have to “hate” them, as it says in the King James translation of the Bible. But the world doesn’t realize that it makes any difference whether we love God or not. God’s law is love. It’s love divided into two divisions. The two great commandments: Love towards God (That’s the first four of the Ten Commandments). Love toward neighbor (That’s the last six.).

The Sabbath is the one that shows love towards God, and there is NO REASON IN THE WORLD to keep the Sabbath except it’s holy to God and you are obeying God and keeping your foot off of the Sabbath (as He says I believe…. Let’s see, is that the 56th chapter of Isaiah? It’s one of the chapters of Isaiah). Keep your foot off of it from polluting it, mudding it all up. (Armstrong HW. Mark of the Beast, sermon)

Sunday basically started to be implemented as a compromise with the Romans and Mithraism in the second century. Sunday was finally codified in the fourth century first by a law and then later by a council called by the Roman Emperor Constantine. He in 331 A.D. then issued his famous Edict Against Heretics and persecuted those who held to the original Christian faith.

The sun-god worshiping Emperor Constantine got the first Sunday law.  Various Greco-Roman leaders have supported this through laws, regulation, enforcement, and various forms of persecution since. Pope Francis seems to be pushing for another Sunday law.  The words of the gentle-appearing Pope Francis are not biblical (cf. Revelation 13:11).

Is the Seventh-day Sabbath for Christians?

Why should Christians keep Saturday instead of Sunday?  Other than the fact that Jesus, the original Apostles, the Apostle Paul, and early Christians all kept the seventh-day Sabbath, the New Testament says to keep it.

Jesus taught:

4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4)

The Apostle Paul taught:

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

So, does the portion of scripture known as the New Testament enjoin keeping the Sabbath for Christians?

Notice that the New Testament Book of Hebrews teaches (note: one Protestant and two 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 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)

Thus, the New Testament clearly shows that the command to rest and keep the seventh day Sabbath is in the New Testament. It also shows that it is the disobedient who will not observe it.

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 this 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.

Although the Sabbath is refreshing rest, many ignore that and consider it a burden. Notice the following prophecy that seems to apply to those who do not keep the Sabbath:

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,”
And, “This is the refreshing”;
Yet they would not hear. (Isaiah 28:11-12)

Will you hear?

The New Testament never endorses Sunday as the day of rest, nor does the Old Testament.  The Bible endorses the day commonly called Saturday.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? How clearly endorsed Sunday?
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?
Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? Most Protestant scholars say Sunday is the Lord’s Day, but is that what the Bible teaches?
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？
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
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.
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
The Last Pope Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Why might Pope Francis be the last pope? What happens if he is? Biblical and other prophecies help explain what to expect.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roman”? This 186 page book provides information and answers.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of the printed book which 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 The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.

Red Angus Heifer

COGwriter

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

Here is a link to a related article titled The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple?
Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle on Mt. Zion, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building? Might it contain stones from the Jerusalem Temple?
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 the ‘Cenacle’ deal have prophetic ramifications? After a 20 year negotiation, the Church of Rome has negotiated the right to have Catholic mass in the building known as the Cenacle. It is in the area where the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill once stood. This is believed to be the location of the earliest Christian church building. How does the Bible define the ‘temple of God’ in the New Testament? Could this be the area where the ‘man of sin’ will sit in the “temple of God’ that Bible prophecy discusses in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4? This is a YouTube video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编： 谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
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.
Bible News Prophecy channel. Dr. Thiel has produced many YouTube videos for the BibleNewsProphecy channel. And you can find them at that channel.

Tri-colored Blackbird in California (Tsuru8)

COGwriter

California reportedly has had a major drop in the number of blackbird that live there:

July 5, 2014

Bob Meese…has spent the last decade studying the tri-colored blackbird, which once numbered in the millions.

The decline, Meese says, is unprecedented based on surveys coordinated by him and his team at the University of California, Davis.

In 2008, the state was home to 400,000 tri-colored blackbirds. Today, there are only 145,000 – a 64 percent loss in just six years.

“There are parts of the state where the birds seem to be disappearing altogether,” Meese said.

Meese is now catching the birds so he can tag them and track their movements. He believes the birds’ natural habitats are being increasingly turned into farmland and vineyards, which rely on pesticides that kill off the very insects they feast on.

“If they do not have enough insects in their diet, they simply cannot form eggs,” Meese said.

So Meese is trying to convince growers to give up pesticides

“The blackbirds could act as a natural insecticide,” Meese said. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-blackbird-population-at-grave-risk/

The tri-colored blackbird population was noted as being in decline in the 1980s, and steps were taken in the 1990s.  The population started to go back up, but according to the report above, they have declined significantly in the past six years.  Dramatic drops in bird populations should be a concern.

There are also concerns about the loss of bees in certain parts of the world.  Last month, US President Obama ordered an investigation into that.  Bees are necessary for many foods that humans eat to become pollinated.

Humans do get affected by other life forms on this planet.

God made birds and other creatures:

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:20-28)

Having birds and other creatures is good.  Having dominion over them does not mean contributing to near extinction.

Notice something that the Bible teaches:

15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15).

19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.  (Genesis 2:19-20)

The concept of tending and keeping a garden suggests proper environmental stewardship.  Including animals, like birds which Adam was told to name.

However, Bible prophecy tells of the following:

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

Thus, God is not pleased when humans destroy the earth.

And the time for God’s judgment is coming. The time to turn to God is now, for whosoever will respond to God’s calling.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? A YouTube video is available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy.
Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true? Here is a link to a YouTube sermon titled Is it logical to believe in God?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge. Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Quickly Disprove Evolution as the Origin of Life.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done?
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Does the Bible allow for the creation of the universe and earth billions of years ago? Why do some believe they are no older than 6,000 years old? What is the gap theory? Where the days of creation in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3 24 hours long?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
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.
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.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 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.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?

Germany’s Angela Merkel and China’s Xi Jinping

COGwriter

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is again on her way to China to meet with various leaders there:

July 5, 2014

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will embark on her seventh visit to China this weekend, accompanied by top business leaders and officials, who continue to remain optimistic about boosting bilateral economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

Chancellor Merkel, according to the New York Times, will first visit Chengdu, capital of western Sichuan Province, where she will meet the provincial leadership and visit a joint venture operated by the German automaker Volkswagen and a social center designed to help the children of migrant workers. From there, she will fly to Chinese capital Beijing, where she will be received with military honours by Prime Minister Li Keqiang and attend a dinner hosted by President Xi Jinping.

She will also meet film directors and address students at Tsinghua University. During the visit, matters related to the protection of human rights could come up for discussions.

Merkel has been in power since 2005, making her one of the longer-serving heads of government in Europe. Under her leadership, Germany and China have forged strong business and political ties.  http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-angel-merkel-to-visit-china-for-the-seventh-time-on-july-6-1999813

German Chancellor Angela Merkel heads to China this weekend for her seventh visit, eager to deepen trade and investment ties between the export powerhouses of Europe and Asia…

Merkel is set to travel with a high-powered business delegation including top executives of Siemens, VW, Airbus, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bank, the Bild daily reported this week…

China is Germany’s number-two export market outside Europe after the United States. It sold goods worth €67 billion to China last year, while imports from the Asian giant topped €73 billion.

“Over the last decade or so German exports to China have grown exponentially,” said Hans Kundnani, research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations…

Premier Li Keqiang will Monday receive Merkel with full military honours for what under Chinese protocol is considered a state visit, despite the fact the chancellor is Germany’s head of government.

When she meets President Xi Jinping, it will be the second out of three scheduled meetings this year – the third being a joint cabinet session in October in Berlin, a unique format for Beijing.

Merkel starts her three-day trip on Sunday in Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern Sichuan province, which at over 80 million people has about the same population as Germany.  http://www.thelocal.de/20140704/china-to-receive-merkel-with-military-honours

Germany is pushing both its economic and political interests in China.  Chancellor Merkel seems to promote her countries economic interests more than most leaders of other western nations.  Germany wishes to dominate the world economically and working with China is one way to help accomplish that goal.

Back in 2009, I came across some interesting Chinese prophecies from the Tang Dynasty (7-10th century).  Notice one Chinese prophecy might hint that it involves dividing Australia and New Zealand with Europe.   It states:

Population mouth takes territories south of the Yangtze river.  The capital is moved again.  The two divide up the territories, of which each maintains and defends (Pui-Hua R.  Ancient Chinese Prophecies Till the End of the World.  AuthorHouse, Bloomington (IN), 2008, p. 164).

This may be related to a deal that perhaps the Chinese will make in the future with Europe (there are some ancient Chinese prophecies that discuss arrangements with some from the West), as opposed to military conquest.  It also may not be related to the taking of Australia or New Zealand, but perhaps might be.  Notice the following additional Chinese prophecies which tie China in with some from the West.

Beautiful people come from the West. Korea, China and Japan are gradually at peace (Pui-Hua R.  Ancient Chinese Prophecies Till the End of the World.  AuthorHouse, Bloomington (IN), 2008, p. 85).

All negative forces are subservient…China now has a saint.  Even if he is not that great a hero (ibid, p. 89).

Germany and all of Europe are west of China.  The “beautiful people” mentioned may be from the Beast and his false prophet which apparently will impress peoples in places including Asia. The “saint” will likely be “the false prophet” also known as the final Antichrist. I suspect that Satan may have inspired these Chinese prophecies so that the Chinese will one day point to them for their justification for getting involved with the Beast power of Revelation 13 (see also Satan’s Plan).  The Bible says that the whole world will worship that Beast power (Revelation 13:4,8) and that would thus have to include China.

Perhaps of prophetic interest, China dropped a hint in late 2011 that it may attack Australia militarily because of its military relationship with the U.S.A. (Calmes J. Obama Addresses Troops at Final Stop in Australia. November 17, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/world/asia/obama-addresses-troops-at-final-stop-in-australia.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1). Furthermore, in 2012, China took this a step further and told Australia to choose between it and the USA (Wen P. Chinese official: it’s us or America. National Times, May 16, 2012. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/chinese-official-its-us-or-america-20120515-1yp5f.html). For many reasons, Australia will mainly remain an ally of the USA, and this will continue to upset the Chinese.

Scripturally, Asians seem to be involved with the dividing up and selling of people in the future (Ezekiel 27:12-14). Since Australia and New Zealand are the closest of the Anglo-Saxon descended nations to Asia, they seem to be possible candidates to be taken over by the Asians.

Furthermore, notice the following Catholic prophecy:

American Catholic Prophecy (c. early 20th century): The yellow hordes of the Rising Sun and the middle kingdom will pour out their wrath on the people of the island kingdom which had gathered riches through trade (Dupont, Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 78).

Australia and New Zealand are island nations that have gained riches through trade. Since the USA owes Japan (the “land of the rising sun”) and China (the “middle kingdom”) massive amounts of money, it may be since Australia and New Zealand will be allies of the USA and UK, that Europe will give Australia over to China (and/or others in Asia) and New Zealand over to Japan (and/or others in Asia) to help satisfy the USA/UK debt. Both China and Japan have longed for more land and the proximity of the island nations of Australia and New Zealand to the Asian powers seems to make this a likely scenario. The fact that Australia has about 78% as much land as China and New Zealand about 71% of the land of Japan make them interesting candidates for takeover.

Interestingly, Australians wonder about problems with China:

“ALMOST half of Australians believe that China will become a military threat to Australia within 20 years,” according to a recent Lowy Institute poll. While most Australians appreciate the economic benefits of a relationship with China, most believe that their government has allowed too much Chinese investment in Australia. A majority also feel China’s goal is to dominate the Asian region. The survey revealed that Australians “were positive about China’s economic growth but fearful of its military aims” (The Courier-Mail, May 31, 2010).

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, “China has detonated an economic bombshell on the eve of the Prime Minister’s drive to sell the carbon tax, warning Australia has a ‘dual-speed and patchwork economy’ and relies too heavily on Beijing’s demand for minerals.” (July 7, 2011, p.2).

The Australians themselves have had various concerns about China. In late 2011, the Australians made a deal to allow the USA to station “permanent troops” in their country (see Obama Putting ‘Permanent’ Troops in Australia Because of China, But…). The presence of US troops in China may also be used as part of China’s possible future justification for taking the land of Australia.  The Chinese may claim something to the effect that Australia is really a military pawn/representative of the USA and thus, since the USA owes them money, taking over Australia will help settle that debt. But like the other Anglo-lands, those of Australia will experience captivity by gentile nations at the end of the age (Amos 5:3; Deuteronomy 28:41-50).

Not completely satisfied with only USA protection (which will fail), the Australians have tried to make deals with India (which will also fail; cf. Lamentations 1:1-2):

July 1, 2014

Australia and India are deepening military ties and reviving the spirit of a controversial four-way democratic coalition with Japan and the United States, in response to growing concerns about China. http://www.smh.com.au/world/australia-and-india-to-strengthen-military-ties-20140701-zss9o.html#ixzz36d6ll20

Australians are concerned about China. But its military steps will not be adequate–it would need to nationally repent.

Since it is a European-led force with major Germanic involvement that will take over the USA, the continued ties with China as consistent with the view that perhaps Europe may be inclined to give China something (like land) in the future.  Anglo-Saxon captivity is foretold of in the Bible and various scriptures show that this involves both Europeans and Asians (for details, please see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

Angela Merkel, herself, has been upset by the USA’s espionage of her nation and herself personally.  As I reported yesterday, Germany has claimed that the USA has conducted additional espionage against it (see The Fourth of July and the USA).  While I would not say that Germany trusts China, Germany is increasingly trying to figure out how to rise and dominate the world apart from the USA.  Her new trip to China seems to be consistent with that.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? China is the world’s most populace nation. China has the world’s largest standing military. China is a major economic power and it holds a lot of U.S. debt. China also has problems with corruption, pollution, and its hukou registration system. Will China face civil unrest? Is China prophesied to be wealthy in the end times? Will China takeover the U.S.A. or will it be another power? What does Bible prophecy reveal?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Could He Become “the Beast”? What makes the German Defense Minister a candidate?
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”?
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people?
Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power? Various allegations have surfaced about the United States government spying on its own citizens as well as its supposed allies in the European Union. Whether or not all the espionage allegations are true, and the main ones have not been publicly denied by the government of the USA, the reality is that this does have prophetic ramifications and will help the Beast of Revelation. This video provides quotes from the Bible showing how this is so. The USA is placing itself in a position to be taken over and its response to the allegations will make it easier for the Europeans to do so.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Do Prophets Cite False Prophecies? What does the Bible teach? What has traditionally been understood about this?
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here is a link to a related video: Satan’s Plan A Brief Introduction.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?

10th Century Representation of Gospel Writer Luke

COGwriter

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

Luke 3-6: John the Baptist, Jesus’ Genealogy, Satan’s Influence and the Sermon on the Mount

This is the second of a multi-part sermon series by Dr. Thiel covering the Gospel account credited to Luke. This sermon covers chapters 3 through 6. Dr.Thiel explains some of John Baptist’s teachings, controversies related to Jesus’ genealogy, Satan’s influences, past issues that are present today, points about Peter and the other Apostles, and goes over Jesus’ teachings on many points including the Sermon on the Mount version in Luke.

Written details related to the genealogy are in the article titled Why Does Jesus Have Two Different Genealogies listed in Matthew 1 and Luke 3?

Additional information about Jesus is discussed in the article titled “Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour.

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.

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.
Why Does Jesus Have Two Different Genealogies listed in Matthew 1 and Luke 3? Matthew Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38 seemingly list two different genealogies for Jesus. Why?
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?
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.

VS.

COGwriter

Ronald Weinland of the Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CGPFKF) has added another ‘final’ period of time in something that was posted yesterday:

God is charging His leadership (His government for Church administration) to weigh the spiritual condition of His Church (that will be explained more fully in the next post). Before His Son returns, His Church will be HIS Church – submitted to God in spirit and in truth. This process must be completed before the final phase of the work of His two witnesses begins. (Weinland R. Planning and Misc. Matters, July 3, 2014)

While I have been using the term final phase of the work for at least seven years, unlike Ronald Weinland, I did not put out a book saying that 2008 was God’s final witness and all would be over by 2011.  Actually, I in 2009 I put out a book saying that the end could not come until some time after 2012 and that the end could not happen until certain biblically-required signs (which still have not happened) will take place.  I have long said that the final phase was began during the time of the beginning of sorrows and runs until the return of Jesus Christ.  And I have not claimed that the two witnesses have yet started their 3 /12 year long job (see also Who Are the Two Witnesses?).

Ron Weinland, however, published different (and wrong) views, including the following which contradicts what he posted yesterday:

At this point, our job is done. Our work has come to an end as God’s witnesses. This is the final posting for this site and it is the final admonition to God’s scattered people. The Church is about to be reunited—just not in a manner that anyone scattered can conceive. The end-time is nearly over and the long awaited millennial reign of Jesus Christ is now nearly here. (Weinland R. Post, May 23, 2012)

As it has already been made clear in sermons, the work of fulfilling a role as God’s two witnesses ended on May 26, once the prophesied 1260 days was complete. However, their witness continues on into the “Day of the Lord.” These two continue on as prophets and an apostle doing the work that God has given them to accomplish in this final period. (Weinland R. Post, June 15, 2014)

So now in 2014,  Ron Weinland claims that there is a final phase of the work that remains for the two witnesses, yet in 2012, he said that the time for  the work of the witnesses had ended.  For some reason, he still has misled followers.

Here are other erroneous predictions related to the final work from Ron Weinland:

2008…It’s important to understand that WAS God’s final witness…And when the book came out, we couldn’t make uh really fit to day is WAS God’s final witness because of the timing it came out. (Weinland R. Faith, Pt. 3 Sermon, August 8, 2009)

But as the last apostle in this age, and as God’s end-time prophet, I am still telling people that this is true and that a short-lived WWIII is now at our doorstep. Due to this strong conviction, the Church of God – PKG is putting all its resources into promoting this final message of Christ’s impending return in order to complete the “work” that God has given us to do. This “work” is nearly complete. As my previous post was written over two months ago, this may well prove to be my final one, since there are only four weeks remaining in this age. (Weinland R. Post, April 29, 2012.

I am to announce, through God’s direct revelation, that I am one of those two witnesses. The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation—within the final three and one-half years of man’s era (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 – God’s Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.16).

When this book is published at the end of summer of 2006,
(with distribution in full swing in the fall), there will be a
maximum time of two years remaining before the world will be
plunged into the worst time of all human history.
By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a
world power, or it will have begun its collapse and no longer
exist as an independent nation within six months after that time.
There is a marginal, six-month window of time that God has not
yet revealed concerning this specific moment of time. This will
be revealed some time soon after the distribution of this book
begins.

As the spokesman of God’s two end-time witnesses and as His
end-time prophet, I have fulfilled my responsibility in placing the
contents of this book before you. What you do with it is up to
you. (2008 – God’s Final Witness, p. 244).

the end has come…Indeed the end-time has come upon the world, and the six prophetic seals of revelation have been opened.  The end-time did come, once the gospel was preached into all the world as a witness (Weinland R. The Prophesied END-TIME, p.95).

1260 Days: The blowing of the first Trumpet will occur/occurred on the 14th of December, 2008. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation and 3 1/2 years until the return of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost. The beginning of the fall of the USA and other Israelite countries begins from the start of the 1260 days. God will reveal this period of time for the first Four Trumpets of 6 to 12 months. God will reveal this information to His two end-time prophets (and two end-time witnesses) whose job begins on this same date.

The only way a person can understand this timeline is by revelation given by God. The Church of God knows the date of Jesus Christ’s return because of the timing of the opening of the seals and the revealed truths contained in the annual Holy Days. (http://www.cog-pkg.org/faq/topics.aspx viewed 11/11/08)

TIME HAS RUN OUT…on May 27th God revealed we had entered the “day” of Christ’s return, but that it was a “prophetic day” which is a literal year in length, from God’s Holy Day of Pentecost of 2012 to Pentecost of 2013. We now have 35 weeks remaining before the coming of the King of kings to reign over all the nations of this world. We are in the prophetic “Day of the Lord,”…We now find ourselves in God’s Day that has only 35 more weeks to be completely fulfilled. All that the world has been warned would come, but would not listen, is now at hand. As God’s final witness given to mankind, the world is about to enter its final world war and it is coming as the product of a clash in the three major religions that have evolved from the descendants of Abraham…God will bring an end to man’s governments and man’s religions, as He commands the “Trumpets” to sound that bring about this final end and opens the way for the true Messiah of this world to come on Pentecost of 2013. (Weinland R. Post, September 15, 2012)

No More Warning:
In the future, any post that might possibly be written on this site will no longer be warnings, but only explanation of the realities that are taking place in the light of the day of Christ’s return as King of kings. God is not going to give any more warnings to this world or to the Church that was scattered. The time for warning has ended because the time for fulfillment is at hand—it has arrived! (Weinland R. Post, December 12, 2012)

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.

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.

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?
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.

Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Imagined Depiction of Hosea

COGwriter

Some observe a memorial to the death of the Prophet Hosea on July 21st of each year.  Hosea was believed to have lived in the 8th century B.C.  The name “Hosea”, meaning “salvation”, or “He saves”, or “He helps.”

Here is how the Book of Hosea starts:

1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. (Hosea 1:1)

Hosea is shown to have a difficult time and is told to take as wives, harlots.  But he also had difficult messages for the children of Israel, then and now.

The Book of Hosea specifically shows that there will be problems with Israel, Ephraim, and Judah.  And these are problems that seem to coincide to the sequence in Daniel 11:39-42.

Notice what Hosea 5:5 teaches will be fulfilled:

5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them.

Hosea is showing that Israel/U.S.A., Ephraim/Great Britain, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand, and Judah (the nation now called Israel) having problems.  This may be because of an attack by the King of the North on the U.S.A. and some of its English-speaking allies.  The U.S.A. probably had pride in its military power which was then broken and its cities made desolate (cf. Leviticus 26:19, 28-33).

Hosea 8:14 discusses the cities being devoured by fire.  Sodom and Gomorrah were partially destroyed to be examples to those who would go for “sexual immorality” and “strange flesh” (Jude 7)—truly those sins are becoming more prevalent in the Anglo-lands (see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality).  Those who do not believe that these words apply to the modern descendants of Jacob will not apparently understand this (cf. Deuteronomy 29:29).

Those who trust in oppression and perversity will have sudden destruction come about them (Isaiah 30:12-13).  The Anglo-nations should know better, but will not repent, and Hosea was inspired to write:

5… the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. (Hosea 11:5)

This is not to say that non-Anglo peoples do not have sin or that they will not be punished.   But, the Bible is clear that Assyria will be an end time northern power that God will punish per Zephaniah 2:13-15, which seems to go along with Revelation 18:1-10.  Many will be made slaves (see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

Since by this time, the Philadelphia remnant will have fled (Revelation 12:14-16), the following also comes about:

 6 “With their flocks and herds

They shall go to seek the Lord,

But they will not find Him;

He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7 They have dealt treacherously with the Lord,

For they have begotten pagan children.

Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage.   (Hosea 5:6-7)

Because of the “sin of Samaria” (Amos 8:14; which may be a reference to the modern U.S.A.) there will be a famine of the word that God will have happen (Amos 8:11-12) to at least the North Americans—the place where much of the Philadelphia remnant would have fled from (between Daniel 11:30-39).

Hosea continues to record terrible distresses for these people, then notice what follows in Hosea 5:13-14.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah saw his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria And sent to King Jareb; Yet he cannot cure you, Nor heal you of your wound. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.

So then Ephraim tries to make a deal with Assyria.

Hosea also warns about whirlwinds and a coming massive tornado:

6 For from Israel is even this:
A workman made it, and it is not God;
But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

7 “They sow the wind,
And reap the whirlwind.
The stalk has no bud;
It shall never produce meal.
If it should produce,
Aliens would swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up;
Now they are among the Gentiles
Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.
(Hosea 8:6-8)

5 Even though Ephraim ran wild,
the black sheep of the family.

“God’s tornado is on its way,
roaring out of the desert.
It will devastate the country,
leaving a trail of ruin and wreckage.
The cities will be gutted,
dear possessions gone for good.
16 Now Samaria has to face the charges
because she has rebelled against her God:
Her people will be killed, babies smashed on the rocks,
pregnant women ripped open.
(Hosea 13:15-16, THE MESSAGE)

In the above, notice that Samaria is also affected in both of the above sections. This seems to be a referring to the ‘melting pot’ of the USA (Samaria was a melting pot mixture of Babylonians and Israelites; see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Also notice Hosea 8:8-9 where Ephraim apparently tries to pay for help while Israel (perhaps the U.S.A. or the U.S.A. and Judah) is essentially gone:

 8 Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles, Like a vessel in which is no pleasure. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.

In Hosea 12:1 Ephraim tries to make a deal with the Assyrians:

 1 Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation.  Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians. And oil is carried to Egypt.

And in Hosea 7:11-12 Ephraim also tries to make a deal with Egypt and Assyria.  These deal seem to be made after the USA has been eliminated or is on its way out.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense—They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria. 12 Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them;  I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them, According to what their congregation has heard.

There would seem to be no point in going to Egypt if the King of the South has already been overwhelmed by the King of the North, so this attempt to make deals might happen fairly early in the Great Tribulation.

There is nothing that I am aware of in world history that shows that Ephraim calls to Egypt after Hosea was written in a manner to fulfill that prophecy. Since this is a prophecy that must come to pass, this is one more reason why I believe the Bible supports the concept that the King of the North invades the U.S.A. and its English-speaking allies before it invades the King of the South.

Notice that Ephraim will eat unclean things in Assyria:

3 They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean things in Assyria. (Hosea 9:3)

These verses in Hosea suggest that the Ephraimites (United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and the Jews (modern Israel) think they should get some protection from Assyria (Germany), probably because the U.S.A. (Manasseh, Israel?) was the primary reason the King of the North attacked the strongest fortresses and/or because they have made various treaties.

Furthermore, it shows that one of the reasons that Israel, including Ephraim, is swallowed up is because they trusted Assyria.  Assyria is a people who Isaiah 10 shows will destroy nations.

Interestingly, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah are also prophesied to turn on each other to some degree (Isaiah 9:21).

This seems to be consistent also with a Catholic prophecy:

St. Senanus (died 560): They (English) themselves will betray each other… (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 128)

Hosea 10:9-11 suggests that Ephraim and Judah will be forced into hard labor, perhaps around this time as well; while 11:1-8 says that Assyria will be the king of Ephraim and Israel, because they refused to repent, and that the sword will devour their cities.

The last verse in Hosea (14:9) begins with:

9 Who is wise? Let him understand these things.  Who is prudent? Let him know them.

Note that the word translated as “prudent” above is the same Hebrew biyn that is in Daniel 11:33/35 as understanding.  Since I believe that the Philadelphian portion of the Church is to have the wise and prudent, I believe that Hosea is giving more insight as to why it may be tied into Daniel 11.

Very few in the Church of God have tried to connect the prophecies of Hosea together.  Most will not know when it is time to flee and when the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
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.
Does God Use Weather? Are weather calamities totally random? Does God control the weather? What does the Bible say? Are there biblical prophecies for weather blessings and weather curses? Are those affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, droughts, and floods necessarily worse sinners than those not as affect? Does God use weather to try to get people to change or repent?
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?  Can homosexuals change?
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.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. There is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
Elijah: Past and Prophesied Information about the original Elijah and some information about the Elijah-related prophecies.
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, yet many overlook what the Bible teaches about how to recognize a true one. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? This article contains a scripture-based checklist to assist with this determination.
How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God This is a sermon on YouTube addressing a subject that most in the Church of God do not seem to have looked into very much. It discusses scriptures and dispels some improper assertions that some associated with the COG have made about prophets in this time.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.

Massoud Barzani, President of Kurdish Iraq

COGwriter

On USA Independence Day, Voice of America, a US government supported news source, reported the following:

July 4, 2014

The president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region has asked his parliament to prepare for a referendum on independence, a measure that drew the United States’ swift objection.

Massoud Barzani told the region’s legislature in a speech Thursday that it is “time to decide about our self-determination and not to wait for other people to decide for us.”

And in an interview with VOA, he called self-rule “a natural right that must be achieved. Independence must be achieved. I believe now the conditions are also favorable for independence.”

Barzani asked the lawmakers to form a committee to organize the referendum and pick an election date.

The Obama administration reacted quickly, saying Iraq must remain unified as it battles the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Sunni-led militant group has taken over large swaths of western and central Iraq in its quest to establish an Islamic state.

“The best way for Iraq to confront the threat that’s posed by ISIL is to unify the country in the face of that existential threat,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Barzani’s request to the Kurdish legislature comes days after Iraq’s new parliament ended its first session since April’s election without selecting a new leader. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is in the process of forming a new government, so far has ignored growing demands for him to step down.  http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqs-kurds-push-for-independence-vote-us-objects/1950548.html