Church of God News

Ansar al-Sharia Logo

COGwriter

The Libyan portion of the group called Ansar al-Sharia declared Benghazi an ‘Islamic emirate,’ while fighting continues there:

August 2, 2014

Tripoli, Libya – Libya’s newly elected parliament is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the dwindling security situation threatening to tear the country apart.

The House of Representatives (HoR), elected in May, will hold a meeting on Saturday morning in an attempt to set a political framework, and guide Libya out of the pit of violence that has raged for weeks in certain parts of the country. The first official HoR session in scheduled for August 4…

With militia fighting raging in most of the country’s main cities, Saturday’s meeting will be held in Tubruk, 1,300km east of the capital, Tripoli. Tubruk is considered to be one of the few cities where all 188 HoR members could meet safely…

Meanwhile, the Ansar al-Sharia armed group, thought to be responsible for the 2012 attack on the US consulate, has declared Benghazi an Islamic Emirate, a move that resulted in hundreds of people taking to the streets on Wednesday night in an attempt to reclaim their city.  https://uk.news.yahoo.com/libya-parliament-hold-emergency-meeting-082729784.html#tRGobXW

Libya’s Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia has said that it seized complete control of Benghazi late on Wednesday, declaring the city an “Islamic emirate,” the group’s representative said.

Ansar al-Sharia is blacklisted by the United States over its alleged role in an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, eastern Libya.

An official representative for the armed group told a local radio channel that Benghazi is now under its control.

“Benghazi has now become an Islamic emirate,” said Mohammed al-Zahawi, the spokesman, to Radio Tawhid.

However, Khalifa Haftar, a retired, renegade former army general who earlier this year launched a self-declared campaign to clear the city of Islamist militants, denied the group’s claims.

“The national Libyan army is in control of Benghazi and only withdrew from certain positions for tactical reasons,” Haftar told Al Arabiya News Channel.

“The claim that Benghazi is under the control of militias is a lie,” he said.

Ansar al-Sharia’s declaration comes a month after jihadist militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) announced an “Islamic caliphate” over their territory.  http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/07/31/Libya-s-Ansar-al-Sharia-declares-Islamic-state-in-Benghazi.html

August 2, 2014

The weekslong violence in Tripoli and in Libya’s second-largest city of Benghazi have killed more than 200 people and wounded almost 900. The violence has forced diplomats to flee and close their embassies while foreign nationals and Libyan citizens streamed into neighboring Tunisia searching for safety.

A Libyan official at the National Safety Agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to journalists, said the oil depots caught fire Saturday after three others caught fire last month. http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Oil-depots-again-catch-fire-in-fighting-in-Libya-5664202.php

August 2, 2014

Libya is on the brink of collapse and becoming a failed state as the security situation has severely deteriorated due to ongoing deadly clashes between rival militias that threaten to tear the country apart. In the vacuum of Libya’s political chaos, major armed militia groups have tried to seize control of vast areas.

After Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) militants declared their plan to establish a caliphate over territories stretching from northern Syria to Iraq, Ansar al-Sharia, a Libyan militant group also declared an “Islamic caliphate” and claimed complete control of the restive eastern city of Benghazi after defeating army units loyal to renegade army general Khalifa Belqasim Haftar. “Benghazi has now become an Islamic emirate,” said Mohammed al-Zahawi, the spokesman of the Ansar al-Sharia militia, according to Al Arabiya news.  http://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2014/08/02/libya-on-the-brink-of-becoming-a-failed-state

The situation in Libya is one that the USA helped create as the Obama Administration bombed Libya a few of years ago as part of its efforts to overthrow the ‘elected’ government of Muammar al-Gaddafi back in 2011 and support a group with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.  It has had a lot of violence since, and there are various factions controlling different parts of it.

Notice also the following:

Citizens of the West have little understanding of the depth of the sufferings unleashed on the peoples of North Africa, Palestine, Syria and Iraq since the United States and NATO launched wars against the peoples of this region…

It was three years ago when NATO had declared the end of the NATO mission, loudly announcing that the NATO mission to Libya had been ‘one of the most successful in NATO history.’ Despite this declaration of success there were clear signs of the remnants of the NATO suborned militias fighting for control of Libya. Today, that fighting has engulfed all of Libyan society to the point that the militias that had been deployed by NATO are now out of control while the funders of the militias are caught in the wider disputations over the future of the Africa, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula. Calls for the United Nations and for the African Union to militarily intervene in Libya must now be accompanied by the call for ensuring that none of the current  members of the UN Security Council who were participants in the NATO intervention can be part of any UN force to demilitarize Libya to disarm the out of control militias. …

Despite the best efforts of the United States’ State Department and NATO to present a so called ‘transition’ process with the procedural democratic rituals such as elections, the role of the militias has been the dominant feature of the warfare and destruction. When the Libyan human rights activist Salwa Bugaighis was slain in Benghazi last month, both Samantha Powers (US Permanent Representative to the United Nations) and Hilary Clinton (former Secretary of State) issued statements denouncing her murder but these two architects of the destruction of Libya remain indicted in the court of public opinion for their roles in creating the present conflagration. http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/08/01/the-united-states-nato-and-the-destruction-of-libya/

Americans tend to remember Benghazi because of the deaths caused at its embassy there in 2011 (see also Benghazi, American General Lovell, and Hillary Clinton).

The Obama Administration is spending $500 million more to oppose Syria’s Assad this year, while it is trying to support Iraq’s Malaki who is fighting ISIS, while ISIS is also fighting the Assad regime. Some of the money to oppose Assad may end up with supporters of ISIL/ISIS (which has renamed itself the Islamic State). This has put the USA in a difficult situation at best.  Yet, those in Libya, Iraq, etc. have truly been suffering.  ISIS, the remainder of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Ansar al-Sharia are all attempting to install a Sunni Muslim empire that seems similar to what the Bible tells of, in several places, such as Daniel 11:40-43, Psalm 83:2-8, and Ezekiel 30:2-8.

As far as Libya goes, there are various references to that word in the Bible.  However, many of the translations are questionable as sometimes a word for an old area of Persia (Phut) is translated as Libya. Basically Strong’s (from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) words 3864, 3865, & 3866 means people from the interior of Africa and seems to include the areas west of Egypt.  Here are three prophetic passages that refer to it with Strong’s words 3864, 3865 & 3866, respectively:

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.  (Daniel 11:40-43)

2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’ 3 For the day is near,Even the day of the Lord is near;It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles. 4 The sword shall come upon Egypt,And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia,When the slain fall in Egypt,And they take away her wealth,And her foundations are broken down.
5 “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”
6 ‘Thus says the Lord:
“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall,And the pride of her power shall come down.From Migdol to Syene Those within her shall fall by the sword,”Says the Lord God.
7 “They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries,And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste. 8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are destroyed. 9 On that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships To make the careless Ethiopians afraid,And great anguish shall come upon them,As on the day of Egypt;For indeed it is coming!”  (Ezekiel 30:2-9)

1 The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations…
9 Come up, O horses, and rage, O chariots!
And let the mighty men come forth:
The Ethiopians and the Libyans who handle the shield,
And the Lydians who handle and bend the bow.
10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts,
A day of vengeance,
That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.
The sword shall devour;
It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood;
For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice
In the north country by the River Euphrates. (Jeremiah 46:1,9-10)

In Ezekiel 30:5 and Jeremiah 46:9 it is the words translated as Lydia and Lydians, not those translated as Libya and Libyans, that appear to be referring to the people in the area of modern Libya.

All the wars and fighting in the Arabic regions will ultimately result in a leader rising up that the Bible refers to as the final King of the South. And that will not end well for those who truly support his end time confederation per Daniel 11:40-43. Yet, it likely will take even more war, as well as at least one peace treaty (cf. Daniel 9:27), for that leader to rise up.  That being said, there is war and destruction prophesied for those associated with Libya in the Bible.

Jesus told His followers to watch, related to prophetic events, in Mark 13.

Watch the Middle East.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in Prophecy What is ahead for North Africa? What does the Bible teach?
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.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians?
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.
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.
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.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies. Watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.

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:

This is the sixth of a multi-part sermon series by Dr. Thiel covering the Gospel account credited to Luke. This sermon covers chapters 14 through 16. Dr.Thiel discusses the Sabbath, the invited, salt and the unpardonable sin, being willing to truly follow God, mammon, the parable of ‘the lost sheep,’ and the Rich man and Lazarus.

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.

Here is a link to part five of this sermon series: Luke 12-13: Priorities, Delayed Fruit Bearing, Little Flock, Prophecy, and the Narrow Way.

Here is a link to part six of this sermon series : Luke 14-16: The Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus.

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.
What is the Unpardonable Sin? What is it? Can you repent of it? Do you know what it is and how to avoid it? Here is a link to a related sermon video The Unpardonable Sin and the Prodigal Son.
The Rich Man and Lazarus What was Jesus teaching in Luke 16?
Parable of the Mustard Seed Jesus told many parables. Why? What might this one mean?
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.
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.

The ‘Mary’ in the Basilica of Mary Major That Pope Francis Prays Before (Photo by Joyce Thiel, June 2013)

COGwriter

Received a newsletter today from a former Catholic turned Protestant, named Mike Gendron, who wrote about reaching Catholics:

Many of the 70 million Catholics in America were born into their religion and have never examined their faith through the lens of Scripture. From infancy they are taught that salvation comes through their church as they merit saving grace through the sacraments and perform religious rituals and good works to be justified and re-justified. Roman Catholicism is often called the “plus” religion because of what it has added to the Gospel of grace. Catholic salvation is based on Jesus plus Mary,… Scripture plus tradition and the blood of Jesus plus purgatory…

As we witness to Catholics, we must persevere with patience to untangle the sticky web of religious indoctrination that holds them captive (Col. 2:8). Let us follow the instructions of Paul and “not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, and correcting opponents with gentleness.” We must pray for God to “grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth”, that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who holds them captive to do his will (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

The two most important biblical principles to remember as you witness are to: 1) establish Scripture as the supreme authority for truth (2 Tim. 3:15-17) and 2) proclaim the Lord Jesus as the all-sufficient Savior (Heb. 7:25; Acts 4:12).

Ukrainian poster (Борис У.)

COGwriter

Notice the following:

August 1, 2014

A new law has gone into effect in Russia that requires bloggers with more than 3,000 daily visitors to register with the government — a development critics say will place undue pressure on independent web authors.

The law that took effect on Friday requires such bloggers to register as mass media organizations and thereby subjects them to regulations that forbid publishing false information, hate speech, or obscenities.

Bloggers must provide the state media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, with their personal information, and they will be responsible even for the content of readers’ comments published on their blogs.

An individual blogger who refuses to comply can be fined up to $1,400 and have their content blocked on Russian territory. A non-compliant organization can be fined up to $14,000.  http://www.voanews.com/content/russian-blogger-law-takes-effect/1969828.html

I suspect that the penalties may raise there in the future for this or for posting information that the Russian government does not care for.

If COGwriter was based in Russia, I would be one who would be required by law to register.  Many governments in the world are afraid of freedom of speech.  Although all should tell the truth, governments sometimes define truth in ways that differ from facts and/or the Bible.

In January 2014, a reader of this page that sent me a link to another ‘Big Brother’ article wrote the following:

Big Brother is watching – maybe YOU!

Is this an indicator that the “first beast” is about to come on the scene?

My response was:

I have done many posts and even one or two YouTube videos related to this. I believe this is setting the stage for the Beast.

How is this setting the stage for the Beast?

First, what the United States NSA and FCC have tried to do, and what the Attorney General of the USA has stated he wants to do (see USA creating thought and speech crimes: A prelude to the ‘famine of the word’?), shows me that the type of surveillance that the Bible warned about nearly 2,000 years (Revelation 13:15-18), ago now exists.

Notice Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14:

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.

Notice that the end comes right after the Gospel of the Kingdom reaches the world as a witness. This ties in with the final phase of the work, the short work (Roman 9:27-29), and the coming famine of the word (Amos 8:11-12). Some of which will likely be impacted by USA surveillance and restrictions on speech.  Perhaps the USA will use a version of Russia’s law as a model for the future.

We in the Continuing Church of God are preparing for the ‘short work’ by establishing multiple websites in multiple languages, while researching and making available information on church history, doctrine, and prophecy, while also proclaiming Christ’s Gospel of the Kingdom to the world as a witness. It is possible that this short work will temporarily swell the ranks of the Church of God (including some Philadelphians, but perhaps with many Laodiceans and many others not truly faithful—many may well fall away—though some of the first will be last and the last first, cf. Mark 10:31). Some will be faithful and bear fruit, while many others may leave (cf. Matthew 13:18 -23; 2 Thessalonians 2:3) once the persecuting tribulation that seems prophesied to occur prior to the Great Tribulation hits (cf. Matthew 24:9-10;21). Then the end will come.

Partially because the message of the Continuing Church of God, the people of the holy covenant will enrage the upcoming prince/king of the North (Daniel 11:28-30). One or more associated with the Continuing Church of God will be identifying that the European “prince” (Daniel 9:26-27) who is rising up to become a king, will not be able to truly bring peace, but instead about bring war and will be in league with the final Antichrist. This will likely trigger major media coverage. Scrutiny of real, as well as claimed, COG literature will likely happen and various aspects of real and incorrect COG doctrines will likely be ridiculed. Media coverage would then be expected to cover more the COG message and this may be associated with the “short work” of Romans 9:28.

Since the true COG is so small, it is highly likely that it getting significant media coverage will help fulfill Matthew 24:14. Some of the Philadelphia remnant will be explaining that it is Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God and not the rise of a militaristic leader that the world needs. According to Daniel 11:32 it is “the people who know their God [that] shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Hundreds of millions, if not billions, will receive at least a partial witness. All of that will likely trigger the King of the North to take actions that lead to the end–this includes the persecutions, pre- (Daniel 7:25a, 11:29-36) and post-tribulation (Daniel 7:25b).

Since “Catholic” leaders have renounced the millennial portion of the gospel message, some of them will not want it to be broadcast into all the world in the 21st century. They will support the King of the North’s efforts to stifle the message. The King of the North will likely have the USA contacted to encourage the stifling of the COG message.

It has long been my view that perhaps under the guise of “neutrality,” perhaps under the guise of “The Patriot Act,” perhaps under the guise of “public welfare,” perhaps because of alleged “intolerance,” calling parts of the message “hate speech” and/or national security threats/issues, something will be done to stop perhaps all of the organized media efforts to proclaim biblical truths–and the USA is expected to be complicit in this. A famine of the word is coming (Amos 8:11-12; cf. Romans 10:14-15).

In the past I have warned:

Various governments (like that of the USA and those in Europe) may secretly work to come up with reasons to pull us off the internet.

Russia’s actions indicate that this is in the process of happening–not that they are currently intentionally targeting COG groups, but that the result of what they are working on may someday cause that to happen. At this stage it will take at least 3 1/2 years for us to actually be stopped (and likely more than that).

Notice also something that the Bible warns about:

2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words,
4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. (Psalms 64:2-4)

Attacking those speaking the truth is expected.

In a sermon on November 27, 1982 titled “U.S. of Europe is Coming,” Herbert Armstrong stated:

“Anyway this whole United States of Europe, when it goes together, is going to trigger nuclear World War III. Now let me tell you what else it’s going to do. It’s going to END OUR WORK! OUR WORK WILL BE THROUGH of getting the gospel to the world. That is, very shortly after it goes into force and effect; because they will move in such a way that it will end it. And then I’ll tell you what will happen. As you read here in Amos, the 8th chapter and verse 11 of Amos. Amos 8:11 ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread … but of hearing the word of the LORD.’ ”

In a Nov. 22, 1982 co-worker letter, he wrote: “… brethren and co-workers, the prophesied Great Tribulation (nuclear World War III) will start soon after the European unification. That means OUR WORK OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE FINISHED! … Soon shall come a FAMINE of hearing the Word of the Lord (Amos 8:11). God says, work while it is day, for the night is coming when no man can work – in the Work of God! Nothing else is important in our lives, now, but this all-important Work of God.” (http://cog-ff.com/html/pcomments_07_04_08.html)

The work (in the Amos 8:12 sense), as I indicted, is likely to be stopped by government officials (like on the internet, radio, etc.) and persecutions began because people of the holy covenant are warning the world of the results of their sins (which they will not want pointed out) and teaching that the King of the North is fulfilling these prophecies in Daniel 11. The faithful will likely be saying things that are not “politically correct” to the point that one or more governments will take action (especially if we are saying, and I expect to help do this, that a certain individual is the King of the North and that he will invade and destroy the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, etc.). Yet, God’s work still will be accomplished and the final phase of the work completed..

The Bible tells of a time, which to a degree we are now in, when a certain amount of self-censorship will be needed:

2 For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate. 13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time. (Amos 5:12-13)

And while some COG groups overly “keep silent,” hence pull too many punches in proclamation, the reality is that there is not truly full freedom of truthful speech in countries like the USA without consequences. However, the work will be done and it will trigger persecution. Until the work is done the most faithful will:

1 Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1) .

The actual and intended monitoring by government entities does not bode well for the world.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 teaches “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come ” will be fulfilled and RCG is not the group doing this. Who is leading the final phase of the work? What did Herbert Armstrong and the old WCG teach about that and about prophets? Does Bob Thiel meet the criteria that the Bible and the old WCG set? What is the proof? What has the Continuing Church of God been doing? This is a sermonette length video>
The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA Can what happened with the leaks of what the NSA has done help the USA to be taken over? What does the Bible teach that seems to be related to this? Here is a related YouTube video titled Are the Snowden NSA leaks leading to the destruction of the USA? .
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting.
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.
Can those in the USA/UK see the Handwriting on the Wall? Is everything fine in the USA/UK or is it like the days of Noah? Can we learn from the handwriting that appeared on a wall thousands of years ago? Here is a link to a related YouTube video Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’?
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.
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fufilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
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.
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?
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 Continuing Church of God continues to get additional materials translated into the Spanish language.

Our first two booklets have now been printed in Spanish.  Thus, we now have both printed and online versions of the English language booklet Continuing History of the Church of God  and the Spanish version of the booklet: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.

And so, we also now have both printed and online versions of the English language booklet Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen the Spanish version of the booklet Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido.

Having materials translated into various languages helps us to go through all the ‘doors’ (cf.2 Corinthians 2:12).

Also, in addition to getting every edition of its Bible News Prophecy magazine translated into Spanish, more and more articles have been as well. Here are links to some of them I was sent earlier today:

BRICS take another step to reduce USA dollar dominance
BRICS toman otro paso para reducir la dominación del dólar de los EE.UU.
http://www.cdlidd.es/brics-toman-otro-paso-para-reducir-la-dominacion-del-dolar-de-los-ee-uu-2/

Ukrainian jet shot down; Russia claims USA is using blackmail; Malaysian flight crashed in Ukraine, was it shot down?
Derribado jet ucraniano; Rusia dice que los EE.UU. están usando chantaje; vuelo malayo estrellado en Ucrania, fue derribado?
http://www.cdlidd.es/derribado-jet-ucraniano-rusia-dice-que-los-ee-uu-estan-usando-chantaje-vuelo-malayo-estrellado-en-ucrania-fue-derribado/

Airlines and FAA Suspend Flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, while John Kerry want Hamas and Israel to agree to a cease fire
Aerolíneas y FFA suspenden vuelos a aeropuerto Ben Gurión de Israel, mientras John Kerry desea que Hamas e Israel acuerden un cese al fuego
http://www.cdlidd.es/aerolineas-y-faa-suspenden-vuelos-a-aeropuerto-ben-gurion-de-israel-mientras-john-kerry-desea-que-hamas-e-israel-acuerden-un-cese-al-fuego/

FAO warns of Ebola virus risk from eating fruit bats
FAO advierte de riesgo de virus ébola por comer murciélagos de las frutas
http://www.cdlidd.es/fao-advierte-de-riesgo-de-virus-ebola-por-comer-murcielagos-de-las-frutas/

Vast majority of obese American children do not recognize that they are obsese
Vasta mayoría de niños americanos obess no reconoce que ellos estén obesos
http://www.cdlidd.es/vasta-mayoria-de-ninos-americanos-obesos-no-reconoce-que-ellos-esten-obesos/

Typhoon Matmo and plague hit China; record heat California, record fires in Washington–blame the Polar Vortex?
Tifón Matmo y plaga golpean a China; récord de calor en California, fuegos récord en Washington –¿culpa del Vórtice Polar?
http://www.cdlidd.es/tifon-matmo-y-plaga-golpean-a-china-record-de-calor-en-california-fuegos-record-en-washington-culpa-del-vortice-polar/

‘Islamic State’ terrorizing, killing, and persecuting
‘Estado Islámico’ aterrorizando, matando, y persiguiendo
http://www.cdlidd.es/estado-islamico-aterrorizando-matando-y-persiguiendo/

The Prophet Daniel: Many COGs do not understand important parts of his writings
El profeta Daniel: Muchas COGs no entienden partes importantes de sus escritos
http://www.cdlidd.es/el-profeta-daniel-muchas-cogs-no-entienden-partes-importantes-de-sus-escritos/

Elijah: Twice in the Past and One Prophesied
Elías: Dos veces en el pasado, y una profetizada
http://www.cdlidd.es/elias-dos-veces-en-el-pasado-y-una-profetizada/

Brit defends Israel and Israel hits UN-school in Gaza
Británico defiende a Israel y Israel golpea escuela de la ONU en Gaza
http://www.cdlidd.es/britanico-defiende-a-israel-e-israel-golpea-escuela-de-la-onu-en-gaza/

Protesting ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
Protestando ‘Cincuenta sombras de Grey [gris]’
http://www.cdlidd.es/protestando-cincuenta-sombras-de-grey-gris/

NASA claims solar ‘Apocalypse’ just missed, and NASA also has its own problems
NASA dice que ‘Apocalipsis’ solar casi ocurrió, y NASA también tiene sus propios problemas
http://www.cdlidd.es/nasa-dice-que-apocalipsis-solar-casi-ocurrio-y-nasa-tambien-tiene-sus-propios-problemas/

Evangelical morality unsustainable?
¿Insostenible moralidad evangélica?
http://www.cdlidd.es/insostenible-moralidad-evangelica/

Forbes: Fed policies “have explicitly failed.” COGwriter: It is worse than Forbes portrays.
Forbes: Políticas de la Fed “han fracasado explícitamente”. COGwriter: Es peor de lo que Forbes describe.
http://www.cdlidd.es/forbes-politicas-de-la-fed-han-fracasado-explicitamente-cogwriter-es-peor-de-lo-que-forbes-describe/

Ukrainians boycotting Russians may further split that nation; Russia warning the international community about sanctions
Boicot de los ucranianos a los rusos puede dividir más a esa nación; Rusia advirtiendo a la comunidad internacional acerca de las sanciones
http://www.cdlidd.es/boicot-de-los-ucranianos-a-los-rusos-puede-dividir-mas-a-esa-nacion-rusia-advirtiendo-a-la-comunidad-internacional-acerca-de-las-sanciones/

Pentagon: Russia moving more missile launchers to Ukrainian separatists
Pentágono: Rusia moviendo más lanzadores de misiles a separatistas ucranianos
http://www.cdlidd.es/pentagono-rusia-moviendo-mas-lanzadores-de-misiles-a-separatistas-ucranianos/

Violence closes US Embassy in Libya; more Syrians support ISIS
Violencia cierra embajada de los EE.UU. en Libia; más sirios apoyan a ISIS
http://www.cdlidd.es/violencia-cierra-embajada-de-los-ee-uu-en-libia-mas-sirios-apoyan-a-isis/

Earthquake risk in 42 US states: earthquakes in diverse places?
Riesgo de terremoto en 42 estados de los EE.UU.: ¿Terremotos en diversos lugares?
http://www.cdlidd.es/riesgo-de-terremoto-en-42-estados-de-los-ee-uu-terremotos-en-diversos-lugares/

President Obama again pushes homosexual agenda with LGBT order
Presidente Obama de nuevo impulsa agenda homosexual con orden LGBT
http://www.cdlidd.es/presidente-obama-de-nuevo-impulsa-agenda-homosexual-con-orden-lgbt/

The Continuing Church of God has a separate Spanish language website http://www.cdlidd.es.  The term Continuing Church of God translates into La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios in the Spanish language.

Spanish has the second highest number of native speakers of any other language (Mandarin Chinese is number one, and the Continuing Church of God has a website primarily focused on those speakers at www.ccog.asia; English is number 3).

As far as the internet goes, the http://www.cdlidd.es  website seemed to have its best month ever according to a somewhat incomplete report from AWstats I was able to review today.

The Continuing Church of God is reaching people around the world in multiple languages via the internet, printed literature, and human church leads around the world. We also reach people over the radio and through videos in the English language.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy [Español: México, América central, Suramérica, Brasil y el Caribe en la profecía] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What role might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. And the one that is leading the final phase of the work. That written article has also been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。 HHere is a link to our Statement of Beliefs in Mandarin Chinese 继续神的教会的信仰声明.
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted toward Europe. It has materials in more than one language (currently it has English, Dutch, and Serbian, with links also to Spanish) and it is intended to have additional language materials added.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God.

Peshmerga Troops on a T-55 Tank (Boris Niehaus)

COGwriter

The situation in Iraq remains tense and the Kurds have requested US arms to better fight ISIS, now calling itself the Islamic State:

August 1, 2014

The semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq is pressing the Obama administration for sophisticated weapons it says Kurdish fighters need to push back Islamist militants threatening their region, Kurdish and U.S. officials said.

A Kurdish official said the request was discussed during a Kurdish delegation’s visit to Washington in early July, and U.S. officials said Washington was considering ways to bolster the Kurdish defenses.

The Kurds said U.S. help is critical to enable the Peshmerga, the Kurds’ paramilitary force, to repel fighters from the Islamic State, an al-Qaida spinoff that seized a wide swath of Iraqi territory in a stunning advance in the last few months.

Military supplies

The requested military supplies include tanks, sniper equipment, armored personnel carriers, artillery and ammunition, and also body armor, helmets, fuel trucks and ambulances.

Kurdish officials said the Peshmerga need the weapons to guard the borders of the rugged mountainous region and to protect hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees sheltering there after fleeing the Islamist rebels’ onslaught.

U.S. officials said they are considering ways to help the Kurds defend themselves, but direct provision of arms to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in the way Washington arms  Iraq’s central government in Baghdad, appears highly unlikely.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shi’ite Arab, has clashed repeatedly with Kurdish leaders over budgets, land and oil. U.S. weapons supplies could set a potentially troublesome precedent for circumventing an allied government to provide U.S. arms to a regional force.

“The provision of security assistance via Foreign Military Sales and Foreign Military Financing must be coordinated with central government authorities, in Iraq and elsewhere,” a State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

“We provided some direct assistance in the past to Kurdish security forces in coordination with the central government,” the official said. “Given the threat that Iraq faces by (the Islamic State), the United States will continue to engage with Baghdad and Arbil (the Kurdish region’s capital) to enhance cooperation on the security front and other issues.”

Delicate US position

The U.S. caution reflects Washington’s delicate position as it seeks to help Iraq stave off collapse to a rag-tag, extremist army less than three years after the U.S. war there concluded.

In the weeks since the Islamist rebel assault exposed the Iraqi army’s weakness and the effects of years of sectarian squabbles, U.S. officials have scrambled to bring Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds together to confront militants.

At the same time, the long-running Iraqi Kurdish ambition for independence has been strengthened by the Peshmerga’s stronger showing against militants, by Kurdish territorial gains, and by the fact that Maliki has fallen out of favor in Washington.

The Peshmerga, whose name means ‘those who face death,’ gained a reputation for toughness during years of fighting former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and, in recent years, occasional standoffs with soldiers loyal to Maliki.

Held Islamists at bay

While Iraq soldiers deserted their posts en masse in northern Iraq before the Islamic State offensive last month, the Peshmerga kept Islamists at bay while also seizing the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which was previously under Iraqi army control.

That new dynamic shaped U.S.-Kurdish talks in early July, when a delegation including President Masoud Barzani’s chief of staff and his foreign relations chief visited Washington.

While Iraq’s Kurds have long been a reliable U.S. ally, especially since U.S. air power helped them secure self-governance after the 1991 Gulf War, Washington has never thrown its support behind the notion of an independent state. Instead, the United States has urged Kurds to share power with Shi’ite and Sunni Arabs within a federal Iraq.

During the Kurdish officials’ visit to Washington, Barzani asked the region’s parliament to make preparations for a referendum on independence.

The Obama administration, which sent hundreds of soldiers to Iraq last month to protect diplomats and to analyze Iraq’s military capabilities, has said it is considering what military actions it might take against the Islamic State…

Since 2003, the United States has spent over $25 billion to train and outfit Iraq’s national army. Very little U.S. training and equipment, most of which has been non-lethal assistance, went to the Peshmerga.

Acquired military gear

Over the years the Peshmerga have acquired Russian-made weaponry, including some tanks, and a few rescue helicopters. They also captured some weapons last month when they commandeered facilities abandoned by Iraqi soldiers in Kirkuk.

But Kurdish officials said much of what they have is outdated and will be no match for the sophisticated weaponry captured by Islamic State fighters when they swept through northern Iraq.  http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqi-kurds-battling-islamic-state-press-us-for-weapons/1969380.html

COGwriter

The Bible refers to Jesus by various names and titles. And although the first chronological references written about Him are in the Hebrew scriptures, the ones that seem to most discuss Him prior to that are in the New Testament.

In response to a statement about His age made by some of the Jews:

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58, NKJV throughout unless otherwise specified)

The term “I AM” was part of the Divine Name in the Old Testament. When Jesus said He was “I AM,” He was telling people that He predated creation.

Notice also the following:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-4).

While some unitarians do not like the above passage (and some of their objections are dealt with in the article ), the simply truth is that Jesus was called the Word and He became flesh.

The New Testament is clear that Jesus predated the physical creations:

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18)

While some trinitarians improperly claim that Jesus was fully human and fully divine while on the earth in the flesh (see Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity?), this is not what the Bible teaches. Notice two passages that should make that clear for those willing to believe the Bible over traditions of men:

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

5 For, let this mind be in you that [is] also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, thought [it] not robbery to be equal to God, 7 but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made, 8 and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself…(Philippians 2:5-8a, Young’s Literal Translation)

Jesus emptied Himself of His divinity when He physically came into the womb Mary. An article of related interest may be Jesus is God, But Became Flesh.

The Apostle Paul makes clear that Jesus was God in the Old Testament as well as the New:

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:1-5)

7 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7).

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9).

It is only through the name of Jesus that we can be saved:

10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)

4 And you shall know no God but Me; For there is no savior besides Me. (Hosea 13:4)

Jesus is the Saviour.

Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Did Jesus teach and keep the Ten Commandments? Why is the kingdom of God mystery? Why did Jesus speak in parables? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? What did Josephus, Tactitus, and Suetonius write? How will Jesus return? Could the Beast be a ‘false christ’?

There is sermon by the Continuing Church of God titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour. and it addresses those questions and more.

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.
Jesus is God, But Became Flesh Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
What is the Holy Spirit? This is an article by Rod Reynolds.
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.