Church of God News

Hillary Clinton

COGwriter

Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her candidacy for the office of US President:

April 12, 2015

Hillary Clinton formally launched her second presidential bid today, with a different approach from 2008 aimed at convincing voters through small-group settings that she has ideas for helping the middle class and the skills to govern.

“Everyday Americans need a champion. I want to be that champion,” Clinton says in a video posted on her new campaign website, hillaryclinton.com.

The long-awaited announcement came first via an email from campaign chairman John Podesta to supporters, according to the Associated Press and New York Times. Podesta says Clinton will talk to Iowa voters and hold a formal campaign kickoff next month.  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/04/12/hillary-clinton-president-announcement-2016/22018067/

This move has long been expected (see Hillary Clinton in Prophecy).

Hillary Rodham Clinton wants to become president of the United States.  She was the first Lady while her husband Bill was president, she also was a US Senator from New York and was the previous US Secretary of State.

Are there prophecies that could involve her?

I believe so, but first, some additional background may be helpful.

Hillary Clinton was born of parents who were basically of English, Welsh, Scottish, and French descent.  Her heritage is of interest biblically. A reading of the Book of Genesis shows that Israel specifically placed his name on the two sons of Joseph named Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:14-16), neither of which were Jewish.

What does any of this have to do with Hillary Clinton?

Well as it turns out, since everyone had to descend from someone, ultimately their progenitors are somewhere listed in the Bible.  Hence, biblical writings and prophecies can often be tied to descendants of those progenitors the Bible discusses.

Certain Jewish sages and others have recognized that the British peoples descended from the tribe of Ephraim (Davidiy Y. The Tribes, 4th edition. Russell-David Publishers, 2011, p. 384; Allen JH. Jacob’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, 19th edition. Destiny Publishers, 1902, pp. 315-317). Some also felt that by the time the U.S.A. formed, a high amount of the people who went to the land that the U.S. dominates had descended from the ancient tribe of Manasseh (Davidiy, p. 424-426).

In the Bible, the descendants of Joseph’s sons (Genesis 49:22-26) were promised prosperity and blessings,  which the U.S.A. and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies have enjoyed. Yet, Jesus warned that “to whom much is given” from such “much will be required” (Luke 12:48).  And the Bible also warns of curses for those who forsake God’s laws (Deuteronomy 28:15-57).  So, blessings and cursings are in prophecies.

Without going into all the historical details here (many of which can be found in the article Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel), the connection with Mrs. Clinton’s heritage is of interest.

Why?

As it turns out, the four remaining predominantly British-descended nations (the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) all have had not only queens (they shared the same ones), but all have already had a woman in the office of prime minister.  The prime minister is the chief executive official in a parliamentary system of governance.

Since the physical territorial and other blessings affected the descendents of Ephraim first, it would seem that certain passages of scripture, such as Isaiah 3:12 discussing female rule, would also affect them first.

While the U.S. does not have a parliamentary form of governance with a prime minister, it does have a chief executive official who fills the office of president.  And the U.S. has never had a female president.

Now, because the U.S. has already had women rule in high positions such as U.S. Supreme Court justices, senators, Chair of the Federal Reserve, and U.S. Secretary of State, it may not be prophetically required that a woman be its president to fulfill part of the prophecy in Isaiah 3:12.  But since the Anglo-Saxon nations have all had females as their top executive, it would follow that the U.S.A. likely could as well.  Could that be Hillary Rodham Clinton?

A 9/11 Prophecy?

It has been suggested that the following is a prophecy related to the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 (‘The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment’: U.S. in crosshairs. WND, February 20, 2012):

9 All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 10 ‘The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, But we will replace them with cedars.” (Isaiah 9:9-10)

Essentially the leaders of ancient Ephraim and Manasseh declared that they would rebuild. A few prophecy-watchers have stated that Isaiah 9:9-10 seems to be related to what happened in the U.S.A. because of the 9/11/2001 attacks.

How could this be related to Hillary Clinton?

Notice some of what Mrs. Clinton stated in 2007:

More than five years after 9/11, we still have not secured our borders, our railways, our mass transit systems, our ports, our chemical plants, our nuclear facilities and more…You know, one of the most discouraging aspects of the Bush-Cheney Administration is the way they have talked down America. They have been fatalistic. I reject that out of hand. We can do whatever we set our minds to. We can roll up our sleeves. We can be problem solvers again. And I have faith that we will answer that call. With your help we will rebuild America. (Clinton, Hillary: “Remarks on Infrastructure,” August 8, 2007. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.)

At least one prophecy-watcher has believed that American politicians making statements like “we will rebuild” are taking defiance types of positions that Isaiah warned against (‘The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment’: U.S. in crosshairs. WND, February 2012).  Like ancient Ephraim and Manasseh, God was left out of the equation.

Since certain prophecies about Samaria appear to be directed towards the U.S.A. of the 21st century (e.g. Isaiah 10:4-11; Hosea 7:1-3), and this makes those ties to Isaiah 9 potentially stronger.

Hillary Clinton has been one of several leaders to at least partially fulfill this because of how she has called for rebuilding.  And she may do more along this line.

And lest anyone consider this version ‘Anglo-Israelism’ somehow racist, let me clearly state that I am physically not primarily a descendant of any of the children of Israel, I am of predominantly Gentile heritage, and I and our church believe that ethnicity is not a factor in salvation:

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13)

Warning About Female Leadership

Notice also that the Bible itself warns that if the children of Israel sinned and did not repent, the following would happen:

¹² As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths. (Isaiah 3:12)

So, we see a specific biblical prophecy warning of a time where there will be female rulers.  And, as this has happened to descendants of Ephraim having a female in the top office, this would be expected to affect descendents and Manasseh. (Information on the roles of Christian women is in the article Women and the New Testament Church.)

Anyway, getting back to Hillary Clinton herself, the Bible warns:

¹⁶ For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed. (Isaiah 9:16)

Since multiple millions of the physical descendants of Israel reside in the United States and we are getting close to the end, it is interesting to note that the above prophecy has been fulfilled, to a degree, during administrations of recent U.S. presidents (with issues such as abortion), and potentially will also be during a possible Hillary Clinton presidency.

Hilary Clinton herself has worked on many issues of political, economic, and social significance during her adult life; not all of which are biblically good.

She has long also been a promoter of abortion. Abortion is not good for the U.S.A.  Here some of she has stated:

I strongly support Roe v. Wade. I also believe that abortion should be safe, legal and rare and that the government should do much more to support women so that the right guaranteed in our constitution is exercised in rare circumstances. (Clinton, Hillary; reported by Stacey D. Campaign 2008: Meet the Democratic Presidential Candidates. About Health, updated January 1, 2014)

Since the ‘legalization of abortion’ and the Roe vs. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that Hillary Clinton has repeatedly publicly endorsed, the U.S.A. has shifted from a creditor nation to a debtor nation (Howard J. Sherman, E. K. Hunt, Reynold F. Nesiba, Phillip Anthony O’Hara. Economics: An Introduction to Traditional and Progressive Views, 7th edition. M.E. Sharpe, 2008, p. 175).

The Bible teaches the following:

16… The Lord hates …. are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, (Proverbs 6:16-17)

The shedding of innocent blood is what abortion does.

Furthermore, the Bible teaches that debt is a curse for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-44). The total amount of federal debt greatly increased under the Obama Administration while Hillary Clinton was U.S. Secretary of State. Although she did not directly cause it, she has not laid out a plan in her political life that will truly reverse this.

And while she at some point in time may change on this, the fact is that Hillary Clinton has taken steps to encourage the production and use of genetically-modified “foods” (cf. Isaiah 55:2) (Paul K, Cummins R. Hillary Clinton is Just Plain Wrong on GMOs. Organic Consumers Association, August 28, 2014). Increased reliance on genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) by the United States puts the nation at major risk for nearly complete crop failures.  The Bible warns that famines (Matthew 24:7) and food shortages (Revelation 6:5-6) are coming and Hillary Clinton has helped set the stage for this.

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was a staunch promoter of what she refers to as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) rights.  So much so, that she listed pushing for LGBT issues in a list she wrote of four of her priorities as Secretary of State (Clinton HR. Hard Choices. Simon & Schuster, 2014).

The Bible warns of those:

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie…

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

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

Amongst other sins, the above scripture is clearly condemning lesbianism, homosexuality, and other forms of sexual immorality. Hillary Clinton has clearly approved many behaviors which the Bible says leads to death (see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality).

These are factors that will lead to the death and destruction of the United States.  In response to the freedom of religious conscience law passed in Indiana in the Spring of 2015, Hillary Clinton tweeted:

“Sad this new Indiana law can happen in America today. We shouldn’t discriminate against ppl bc of who they love #LGBT” (Hillary Clinton tweet as reported by Kelly A. What The 2016 Hopefuls Are Saying About Indiana’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Law. NPR, March 31, 2015).

Mrs. Clinton considers her understanding of the homosexual agenda more important than the rights of people to act according to their religious beliefs in commercial settings.   This is wrong and prophetically disastrous.

Speaking of religion, her religious views hint that she is somewhat ‘ecumenical’ (e.g. Clinton, Hard Choices, p. 217). An ecumenical power is warned about in the Bible and is expected to rise up in the end times (Zechariah 2:6-8; Revelation 17; 18). I expect her to make inter-faith/ecumenical supporting statements (see also Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction!).

International Matters

She has made direct statements related to various international matters that have prophetic implications.

Hillary Clinton is considered to have been an early promoter of what has been called the pivot strategy towards Asia (Clinton, Hillary. America’s Pacific Century. Foreign Policy, November 2011; Clinton, Hard Choices, pp. 41-46). This ‘pivot’ has partially been responsible for a decreased USA military presence in Europe.  Aspects of this will hurt the U.S.A. later as it will be taken over by a European power called the King of the North (Daniel 11:39).

In her book, Hard Choices, Hillary Clinton glowingly writes about how well the Obama Administration restored relations with Europe (Clinton, Hard Choices, p. 206). Yet, the Europeans are incensed about U.S.A. espionage to the point that various Europeans believe this has caused irreparable damage to relations with the U.S.A. (see also The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA).  Hillary Clinton is believed to have approved many of the spying actions that the Europeans are incensed over (Clyne M. Dick Morris: Hillary Surely Knew About Govt Eavesdropping. Newsmax.com, April 6, 2015).

Hillary Clinton has encouraged the formation of international coalitions, including predominantly Islamic ones. The Bible tells of this type of coalition happening.  One that plans to destroy places like the U.S.A. in Psalm 83:3-8 and another (led by the King of the South) which will have a failed attempt to attack Europe (Daniel 11:40-43) after Europe is able to take over the U.S.A. and some of its Anglo-Saxon descended allies.

Hillary Clinton seems to be the type of person who would support the ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27 (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:2), which precedes the start of the Great Tribulation (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? and/or watch Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2015?).

Furthermore, the Bible tells of having the gates of enemies as a blessing (Genesis 24:60).  Losing sea gates would be consistent with being an end time curse (e.g. Deuteronomy 28:58-63). The Obama Administration, while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, seemed to be the first in U.S. history to significantly support the idea of giving the “sea gate” of the Falkland Islands to Argentina, which is a position in dramatic opposition to the residents of the Falklands (Drury I. With friends like these: Hillary Clinton wades into the Falklands row… and backs the Argentineans. DailyMail, March 2, 2010; Berger J. Obama Administration Backs Argentina Over U.K. in Falklands Dispute. FoxNews.com, June 10, 2011).  Prophetically, I believe the Falklands will one day end up with Argentina (see also Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands?).

Does any of this mean that Hillary Clinton MUST win and become President of the United States?

No.

Yet, by virtue of her timing and certain policies, if she does become President of the U.S.A., Hillary Clinton will likely implement policies that will move toward the fulfillment of many prophecies.

Lest some of you discount all this, recall that the Bible teaches:

20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22)

Related to end time prophetic events, notice what Jesus said:

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)

Pray and do not despise prophecies.

Let me also say that Hillary Rodham Clinton IS NOT the final Antichrist.

Of course, none of the expected candidates for USA president will turn the nation back to God, thus none will truly fix the problems in the USA. It will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God to do that.

Royal Saudi Air Defense Force logo (Ameen Mohammad)

COGwriter

Saudi Arabia has been leading air attacks in Yemen:

40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. (Daniel 11:40-43, ESV)

The peoples listed above are mainly located in North Africa and the Middle East. They are in Muslim-dominated lands and include the Arabs and some of the Turks.

Those in Yemen and Saudi Arabia are expected to be part of this.  As will Egypt, Libya, and others.  Notice:

4  A sword shall come upon Egypt,
and anguish shall be in Cush,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
and her wealth is carried away,
and her foundations are torn down.

5  Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword. (Ezekiel 30:4-5, ESV)

While Saudi Arabia and some in Yemen have great hopes for what is going on, although a temporal peace may come, war is in their future.  The Saudi-led airstrikes seem to be a prelude for the coalition that the Bible tells of.  And the Bible shows that a coalition of Arab nations, which will include Egypt (which is currently somewhat supporting the Saudi-led action), will not end well (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:3-8).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Others have many misunderstandings about him. 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
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show? 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.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Who were the Nazarene Christians? What did they believe? Should 21st century Christians be modern Nazarenes? Is there a group that exists now that traces its history through the Nazarenes and holds the same beliefs today? Here is a link to a related video sermon Nazarene Christians: Were the early Christians “Nazarenes”?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? A related sermon is titled The Millennium.
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? 2023 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? 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 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?

COGwriter

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

16:16

Are Americans & Asians setting themselves up for destruction from antibiotic use?

In the Spring of 2015, a study came out highlighting the increasing use of antibiotics fed to livestock in order to decrease production costs. This was mainly affecting livestock in the Americas and Asia, but not in Europe. Excessive antibiotic use increases the risks of ‘super bugs’ and presents health risks to humans and livestock. Could those in the USA, Canada, UK, Russia, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa be setting themselves up for pestilence and/or famine?  Could Europe miss some plague because of this? What does the Bible prophesy?

A written article of related interest is: Antibiotic use in livestock is a threat to humans (and livestock).

Here is a link to our video: Are Americans & Asians setting themselves up for destruction from antibiotic use?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather?
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here is a related YouTube video GMO Risks and the Bible.
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras? Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues?
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? 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 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
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? 2022 or 20xx?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
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.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?
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. Two related sermon links would include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. In Spanish: Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。 Here 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.
CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and other British-descended dominated lands.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God and has articles in español/castellano.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.
Bible News Prophecy channel. Dr. Thiel has produced many YouTube videos for the BibleNewsProphecy channel. And you can find them at that channel.

COGwriter

A reader sent me the following two news items:

Wheat prices predicted to double but weather will be determining factor

Southwest Farm Press – April 2, 2015

Two sentences in a wheat article published in Barron’s (Shawn Hackett, Hackett Money Flow Report) recently read: “Get ready for wheat prices to reach for the sky. In fact, depending on the weather, they could more than double from current levels.” The key words are, “…depending on the weather.”

If U.S. winter wheat production is significantly less than expected (say, 1.3 billion bushels), wheat prices could increase 25 percent or more ($1.25+). Additional production losses in major exporting countries could result in another $1.00 or more increase. However, the odds of an increase from $5.75 to $11.50 are “slim to none.”  http://southwestfarmpress.com/wheat/wheat-prices-predicted-double-weather-will-be-determining-factor

Bad crops in Russia, and Ukraine, together with a rising U.S. dollar, could cut inventories further, pushing prices sharply higher.

Barrons – March 27, 2015

Get ready for wheat prices to reach for the sky. In fact, depending on the weather, they could more than double from current levels. How so? “Wheat supplies relative to global demand and relative to global trade are the lowest they have been in 50 years,” writes Shawn Hackett, author of the Hackett Money Flow…  http://online.barrons.com/articles/wheat-prices-headed-sharply-higher-1427509299

However, weather problems, like droughts, are not the only factor.

Greed sometimes is another factor:

Food companies charged with wheat price rigging…

Kraft Foods Group Inc and Mondelz International Inc are being sued in a proposed class action on behalf of wheat futures and options traders for allegedly manipulating the grain’s price.

In that case, the CFTC alleged that the former Kraft Foods Inc in late 2011 bought $90 million of wheat futures despite never intending to take possession of the grain.

The regulator said it did this to depress prices in the cash wheat market, where sellers might believe the companies needed less wheat, and inflate futures prices. Kraft’s strategy led to more than $5.4 million of illegal gains, the CFTC said.                http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/10/kraft-mondelez-wheat-lawsuit-idUSL2N0X715920150410

Irrespective of price rigging, the the Bible warns of food shortages and pestilences. Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus taught:

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

We seem to be in the time Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows.” Notice a message related to the third horseman of Revelation and the price of wheat:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

Wheat prices are prophesied to go even higher in the future. Will wheat price cause people to turn to God? Or will they be determined to continue to turn further away from biblical morality?

The sorrows and troubles are just beginning and will get much worse. Hopefully, people will wake up. While God may end the droughts, the Bible shows that He sometimes does use weather as a warning. Various lands, in my view, are being warned.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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? This is a video.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done?
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.
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.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here is a related YouTube video GMO Risks and the Bible.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? 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 2014 o 2015? ¿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?
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 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?
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.
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.

COGwriter

The latest issue (says #171, print date March 31, 2015) of The Journal was sent out electronically and received.

Some items covered included a continuation of historical views of the 1990s, the tenth anniversary of a shooting, an Ambassador College reunion, governance, and the canon.

There was additional information related to a series of information about WCG history related to East Texas and attempts at accreditation in the 1990s for the Ambassador College campus there, as well as upheavals there in the 1990s.

Another lead article had to do with the shooting at an LCG service in Brookfield, Wisconsin ten years ago.

Here is some information related to the AC reunion from Dixon Cartwright:

Hundreds meet and greet at Pasadena AC reunion

Ambassador College students from the school’s “first 30 years”—1947 to 1977—met for a reunion in Pasadena, Calif., Feb. 27 through March 2, 1915. This writer for THE JOURNAL spoke with one of the organizers, Bob Gerringer of Altadena, Calif., a few days later, on March 10, and asked him how it went. “Everyone seemed to enjoy it immensely,” Mr. Gerringer said by phone, “and the many comments since the reunion ended have certainly confirmed that impression.”

There was another article by David Havir on governance (he tends to write about that relatively often).  The following may be helpful for those interested in that subject:

The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had? What are some of the scriptural limits on ecclesiastical authority? Do some commit organizational idolatry? Here is a Spanish language version La Biblia, Policarpo, Herbert W. Armstrong, y Roderick C. Meredith sobre el gobierno de la Iglesia. Here is a link to a sermon titled Church Governance.

The ‘canon’ article was by former UCG member Mike Baran who wrote:

When we start doubting Scripture and the canon we step onto the slip- pery slope that can only lead us to apostasy and the practice of what Bonhoffer called a “religionless Christianity,” or what others describe as being a religion of no religion.

There are many in the world who do not accept the biblical canon for many reasons.  Those who would like more information about it may find the following to be helpful:

The Old Testament Canon This article shows from Catholic accepted writings, that the Old Testament used by non-Roman Catholics and non-Orthodox churches is the correct version.
The New Testament Canon – From the Bible and History This article, shows from the Bible and supporting historical sources, why the early Church knew which books were part of the Bible and which ones were not.

The Journal also had the usual letters to the editor and other advertisements, various comments, and opinion articles.

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

The Miracle of Holy Fire painting

COGwriter

Tomorrow is celebrated as Pascha by the Eastern/Greek Orthodox (which is the Greek word for Passover) and is known as ‘Easter‘ to Protestants and Catholics. The day before (which is today this year) they believe a miracle occurs.  And they believe that ‘Holy Fire’ arrived again today:

April 11, 2015

Thousands of Christian pilgrims filled Jerusalem’s ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday for the “Holy Fire” ceremony on the eve of Orthodox Easter.

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians flocked to the church and surrounding streets in the annexed east Jerusalem’s Old City for the ceremony, held under a heavy police presence.

The pilgrims, mostly from eastern Europe but also Christian Arabs living in the Holy Land, swiftly passed the light on from candle to candle as it emerged from the church.  http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Apr-11/294166-orthodox-christians-mark-holy-fire-rite-in-jerusalem.ashx

April 11, 2015

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians flocked to the church and surrounding streets in the annexed east Jerusalem’s Old City for the ceremony, held under a heavy police presence.

The pilgrims, mostly from eastern Europe but also Christian Arabs living in the Holy Land, swiftly passed the light on from candle to candle as it emerged from the church.

The flame is also flown out to Greece and other Orthodox countries.

Believers hold that a divine fire from heaven ignites candles held by the Greek Orthodox patriarch, in an annual rite dating back to the 4th century symbolising the resurrection of Christ. http://news.yahoo.com/orthodox-christians-mark-holy-fire-rite-jerusalem-132325255.html

Here is more information about it:

Where and when does the miracle occur?

The ceremony, which awes the souls of Christians, takes place in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. The date for Pascha is determined anew for every year. It must be a first Sunday after the spring equinox and Jewish Passover. Therefore, most of the time it differs from the date of Catholic and Protestant Easter, which is determined using different criteria. The Holy Fire is the most renowned miracle in the world of Eastern Orthodoxy. It has taken place at the same time, in the same manner, in the same place every single year for centuries. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. No other miracle is known to occur so regularly and so steadily over time. It happens in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth[2], where Christ was crucified, entombed, and where He finally rose from the dead. …

Typically they wait from the afternoon of Holy Friday in anticipation of the miracle on Holy Saturday. Beginning at around 11:00 in the morning the Christian Arabs chant traditional hymns in a loud voice. These chants date back to the Turkish occupation of Jerusalem in the 13th century, a period in which the Christians were not allowed to chant anywhere but in the churches. “We are the Christians, we have been Christians for centuries, and we shall be forever and ever. Amen!” – they chant at the top of their voices accompanied by the sound of drums. The drummers sit on the shoulders of others who dance vigorously around the Holy Ciborium. But at 1:00 pm the chants fade out, and then there is a silence. A tense silence, charged from the anticipation of the great demonstration of God’s power for all to witness. Shortly thereafter, a delegation from the local authorities elbows its way through the crowd. At the time of the Turkish occupation of Palestine they were Muslim Turks; today they are Israelis. Their function is to represent the Romans at the time of Jesus. The Gospels speak of the Romans that went to seal the tomb of Jesus, so that his disciples would not steal his body and claim he had risen. In the same way the Israeli authorities on this Holy Saturday come and seal the tomb with wax. Before they seal the door, they follow a custom to enter the tomb, and to check for any hidden source of fire, which would make a fraud of the miracle.(http://www.holyfire.org/eng/, viewed 04/11/15)

Irrespective of where Jesus was killed, entombed, and rose from the dead, the Bible does not endorse that the possibility that leaders of the Eastern/Greek Orthodox could be involved in regular true miracles from Him.

Of course, real Christians do not believe that the above ceremony is a God-ordained miracle. The Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem should have the integrity to tell people the truth about this, but never does. The Bible itself warns about deceivers and forms of deception (2 Timothy 3:13).

Here are a couple of Wikipedia comments related to it:

Holy Fire

The Holy Fire (Greek Ἃγιον Φῶς, “Holy Light“) is described by Christians as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter. It is considered by many to be the longest-attested annual miracle in the Christian world. (Holy Fire. Wikipedia, April 4, 2010).

Some, however, who have been associated with it question it and understand that this is not a miracle of God. Furthermore, I noticed that Wikipedia removed the statement ” It is considered by many to be the longest-attested annual miracle in the Christian world” from the above article. In 2013, Wikipedia had the following statements:

Holy Fire

The Holy Fire (Greek Ἃγιον Φῶς, “Holy Light“) is described by Christians as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter.

Description

Orthodox tradition holds that the Holy Fire is a miracle that happens annually on the day preceding Orthodox Easter, in which a blue light emanates either from the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or from the slab believed to be the “Stone of Anointing” upon which Jesus’ body was prepared for burial, which eventually forms a column containing a form of fire, from which candles are lit, which are then used to light the candles of the clergy and pilgrims in attendance. Pilgrims and clergy claim that the Holy Fire does not burn them.

The Holy Fire is brought to certain Orthodox countries, such as in Georgia, Greece, Russia, Belarus, Cyprus, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Macedonia, every year by special flights, being received with honors by state leaders at the respective airports.

History

The Holy Fire is first mentioned by the pilgrim Bernard the Monk, in 870 AD.[5] A detailed description of this phenomenon is contained in the travelogue of the Russian hegumen Daniil (Daniel), who was present at the ceremony in 1106 AD…

Criticism

As with all alleged miracles, many question the validity of the Holy Fire, noting, for instance, that cold-handed pilgrims generally withstand the fire for the same very brief periods of time as can be achieved with any fire.

Criticism dates at least to the days of Islamic rule of Jerusalem, but the pilgrims were never stopped, because of the significant revenue they brought to local governments even at the end of the first millennium. When the apparently uninitiated Crusaders took over the Orthodox clergy in charge of the fire, it failed to appear, increasing the skepticism among Western Christians. But feeling the lack of pilgrim revenues, Baldwin I of Jerusalem reinstated the Orthodox priests in charge, and the fire, as well as the stream of revenues, returned.

In 1238, Pope Gregory IX denounced the Holy Fire as a fraud and forbade Franciscans from participating in the ceremony.

The Ottoman traveller, Evliya Celebi, claimed that a hidden zinc jar of naphtha was dripped down a chain by a hidden monk…

Dobrokhotov and other critics, including Russian Orthodox researcher Nikolay Uspensky,Dr. Aleksandr Musin of Sorbonne, and some Old Believers quote excerpts from the diaries of Bishop Porphyrius (Uspensky) (1804–1885) which told that the clergy in Jerusalem knew that the Holy Fire was fraudulent. (Holy Fire. Wikipedia, May 5, 2013)

So, this ‘holy fire’ event supposedly began over eight centuries after the resurrection of Jesus. Hence, it is certainly not an original Christian practice, and I (and many others) do not believe that it is a miracle from God.

Why is there any importance of this at this Church of God News page?

Because the Bible warns that someone will come with signs and lying wonders to mislead the world:

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Furthermore, “fire from heaven” will be one of those signs:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:11-15)

By currently believing in “holy fire” many Orthodox are unknowingly setting themselves up to accept the signs and lying wonders that the Bible warns about.  The acceptance of signs and lying wonders over the truth of the Bible is part of  Satan’s Plan. All, including the non-Orthodox, need to understand that signs and wonders are NOT of themselves proof that something is of God, including the annual ritual of “holy fire.”

So, when reports come out about this, please realize that just because fire is shown, does not mean that God caused it.

I should also add that while it is good that unlike many American Catholics and Protestants, the Eastern Orthodox realize that what is called ‘Easter’ is really supposed to be Passover. However, like the Catholics and the Protestants, the Orthodox do not observe Passover like the early Christians did (and the faithful still do) or even when they did (Nisan 14, and the Orthodox realize that this was the original date that many that they claimed to descend from observed).

Easter was NOT celebrated by early Christians. They observed actual Passover which occurs in the evening. Notice that even the Eastern Orthodox realize this:

Pascha is the feast of universal redemption. Our earliest sources for the an­nual celebration of the Christian Pascha come to us from the second century…The feast, however, must have originated in the apostolic period…According to the earliest documents, Pascha is described as a nocturnal celebration…(Calivas, Alkiviadis C. The Origins of Pascha and Great Week – Part I. Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1992. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith8504 viewed 11/04/2011)

Yet, they and others do not observe it when or how the early Christians did.

In addition, notice what a respected Protestant scholar reported about the second century:

The most important in this festival was the passover day, the 14th of Nisan…In it they ate unleavened bread, probably like the Jews, eight days through…there is no trace of a yearly festival of the resurrection among them…the Christians of Asia Minor appealed in favor of their passover solemnity on the 14th Nisan to John (Gieseler, Johann Karl Ludwig. A Text-book of Church History. Translated by Samuel Davidson, John Winstanley Hull, Mary A. Robinson. Harper & brothers, 1857, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Feb 17, 2006, p. 166).

Notice also:

The first Christians celebrated the death of Jesus with a Pascha meal (eucharist) on the lunar date of the Jewish Passover (note 1 Cor. 5:7-8).

At first there was no annual celebration of the resurrection. Eventually, in the gentile world, the day of resurrection was added to the Pascha festival. That day was Sunday. At the Council of Nicea (325) it was ruled that Easter Sunday would be celebrated on the Sunday immediately following that full moon which came after the vernal equinox. At the same time the Council decided that the vernal equinox would be March 21 in the Julian calendar (Eusebius, Vit. Const. 3.18). (Synder GF. Irish Jesus, Roman Jesus: the formation of early Irish Christianity. Trinity Press International, 2002, p. 183)

While some will make excuses, early Christians did not celebrate an Easter morning resurrection holiday.

Samuele Bacchiocchi noted that the change to Easter-Sunday and to a weekly Sunday was due to persecution (the new Gentile hierarchy he is referring to are Greek bishops in Jerusalem, which took over after the rebellion was crushed):

The actual introduction of Easter-Sunday appears to have occurred earlier in Palestine after Emperor Hadrian ruthlessly crushed the Barkokeba revolt (A.D. 132-135)…

The fact that the Passover controversy arose when Emperor Hadrian adopted new repressive measures against Jewish religious practices suggests that such measures influenced the new Gentile hierarchy to change the date of Passover from Nisan 14 to the following Sunday (Easter-Sunday) in order to show separation and differentiation from the Jews and the Jewish Christians…

A whole body of Against the Jews literature was produced by leading Fathers who defamed the Jews as a people and emptied their religious beliefs and practices of any historical value. Two major causalities of the anti-Jewish campaign were Sabbath and Passover. The Sabbath was changed to Sunday and Passover was transferred to Easter-Sunday.

Scholars usually recognize the anti-Judaic motivation for the repudiation of the Jewish reckoning of Passover and adoption of Easter-Sunday instead. Joachim Jeremias attributes such a development to “the inclination to break away from Judaism.” In a similar vein, J.B. Lightfoot explains that Rome and Alexandria adopted Easter-Sunday to avoid “even the semblance of Judaism” (Bacchiocchi S. God’s Festival in Scripture and History. Biblical Perspectives. Befriend Springs (MI), 1995, pp. 101,102,103).

Other compromises also occurred, which is why the date is named in English after the Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar.

Anyway, God DID NOT PROVIDE HOLY FIRE TODAY.  Those who believe that He did are deceived.  Partially, because of that deception, they accept a compromised religion that IS NOT the “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Of course, even if you are not Eastern Orthodox, you need to consider whether or not you believe and practice the original faith that is laid out in the Bible (see Continuing History of the Church of God), and even if you somewhat do, if you are supporting the truest Christian church (see Where is the True Christian Church Today?).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here are links to a two-part sermon series: What are Some of the Parts of Satan’s Plan? and Satan’s Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins? There is also a detailed YouTube video available titled History of the Christian Passover.
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? Where did Easter come from? What do scholars and the Bible reveal? Here is a link to a video titled Why Easter?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the CCOG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
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.
Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? There is also a video: Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?
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. Two related sermon links would include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. In Spanish: Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.

Proposed Routes of the Exodus

COGwriter

COGwriter

Iraq is considered to be a failed state according to the following:

April 10, 2015

The state of Iraq has descended into fractured sectarian madness that is unlikely to get better any time soon, according to a top adviser during the country’s reconstruction post-2003.Emma Sky, a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute and former Iraq adviser to Army Gen. Ray Odierno, expressed optimism just a year ago about the Obama administration’s potential role in brokering a political solution by promoting the formation of a new Iraqi government.

Since then, the Yale scholar’s view has changed. Writes Sky in an article for The Atlantic:

The state of Iraq has indeed failed. It no longer has the legitimacy or the power to extend control over its whole territory, and the power vacuum is being filled by a multitude of non-state actors, increasingly extreme and sectarian, who will likely continue to fight each other for years to come, supported by regional powers.

Since the Shiite-led Iraqi government lost control of territories to the Sunni Islamic State – Iraqi security forces, Iraqi Shiite militias supported by Iran, the Kurdish Peshmerga, Sunni tribes and various other players have battled to regain territory. http://dailycaller.com/2015/04/10/iraq-is-a-failed-state-increasingly-sectarian-and-extremist-says-scholar/

While Emma Sky changed her view to that position, I have long doubted the success of USA plans there.  The rise of the so-called “Islamic State” was greatly assisted by USA actions and inactions.

In late 2011, US President Obama declared an end to the USA’s combat mission in Iraq. Around that time I wrote:

The US and its allies attempted to do the best that they humanly can, but overall, things will change in the Middle East and will NOT be as the US, etc. hopes.

Civil unrest is likely for Iraq, and it may break out with civil war. Ultimately, I expect much of Iraq to align with the soon coming Islamic King of the South, and that may somewhat minimize Iraq’s disintegration–but such disintegration may happen prior to this leader being accepted.

Eventually Iraq, and others in the Middle East and North Africa, will plot to eliminate the USA based upon the 83rd Psalm. The modern national identities shown in [ ] mainly come from an article titled The Arab World in Prophecy from the Plain Truth magazine dated December 1979:

4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation] and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia];
Moab [part of Jordan] and the Hagrites [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today];
7 Gebal [Lebanon], Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks];
Philistia [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon];
8 Assyria [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]. (Psalms 83:4-8, NKJV)

It probably should also be mentioned that some others consider that the Iraqis are better identified as Ishmaelites or being Hagarenes. Some consider that the Hagarenes are better identified with Iraq–yet since Ishmael’s mother was Hagar–Genesis 16:15–they would all tend to be related). Whether they are identified better as Hagarenes or Ishmaelites or descendants of Lot, Iraqis and other Arabic peoples are prophesied (along with others) to be part of a confederation that will decide to eliminate Israel (and not just the area in the Middle East).

The Bible thus is showing that despite the differences and issues in Iraq, most there will coalesce around a coming confederation. Those in the Middle East and North Africa are also expected to support a coming group led by one that the Bible refers to as the King of the South (Daniel 11:40), and that will not end well for the confederation or those in Iraq (cf. Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8).

As I have been writing for some time, the current violence and other problems in Iraq will not end well.

However, the time will come when God will call all people in the world, including the Iraqis and the Kurds. That will be a time of peace (Isaiah 2:3-4; Revelation 21), but until then war and destruction appear to be part of the expected fate of that region of the world for some time.

Some items of possibly-related interest may include:

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.
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 Bible and the Arab World In 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?
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.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
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?
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.

By COGWriter

You have two holy days in a row.

Are you interested in a fun way to add to your knowledge of the Bible?

A very popular link at the COGwriter website is to the Who Wants to be a Biblical Millionaire? quiz, developed by Michael Thiel.

It is an interesting game and Michael is always adding more questions to it. The game has over 1,100 different questions. Think of it as an entertaining way to assist your doctrinal memory.

While I believe that this and other quizzes at the site help people better learn the Bible, the major reason I have quizzes, animations, photos, and even news, as opposed to only doctrinal articles, is to attempt to better follow the Apostle Paul’s example which was:

22 I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

Besides, the Bible teaches that there is a “time for every purpose under heaven” (Eccl 3:1). Hence, there are new items, games, and other materials than simply doctrinal and prophetic ones at the www.cogwriter.com website.

Michael’s Free Bible Quizzes and Public Domain Animations.

Self Grading Bible Quiz 15 questions and a report card when you finish.
The Good Samaritan A public domain claymation for younger people.
Paul in Damascus Not a quiz, but a Lego-animation.
John 21 Not a quiz, but (other than a Lego suggesting a long-haired Jesus) a biblical story for young people.
David vs. Goliath A higher level animation for older young people.
Solomon’s Temple This is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple.
Bible Crossword Puzzle
Who Wants to be a Biblical Millionaire? A sophisticated quiz.
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
Michael’s Feasts and Fasts Quiz 15 questions, amusing wrong answer screens.
The Ten Commandments Quiz Developed by my son Michael.
Michael’s Day of Atonement Quiz Another free on-line Bible quiz by my son Michael.
Bible Hangman Michael’s most interactive Bible game to date. Another one of his free online Bible games.

Ukrainian BM-30 Smerch Rocket Launcher (Michael)

COGwriter

The Kiev government of Ukraine and separatist forces were fighting today despite the ‘ceasefire’ deal in February of 2015:

April 10, 2015

KYIV—Ukraine’s military and pro-Russian rebels accused each other on Friday of intensifying attacks in separatist eastern territories despite a two-month-old cease-fire deal.

The conflict has reached stalemate in recent weeks with the truce, brokered in the Belarussian capital of Minsk in mid-February, still technically in force though casualties are reported almost daily.

“The enemy has significantly intensified firing on our positions from weapons that according to the Minsk agreement are meant to have been withdrawn,” Kyiv’s military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said in a televised briefing, adding that the majority of attacks had taken place around the airport of rebel-held Donetsk.

He said in the past 24 hours rebels had fired at government troops 18 times with weapons of between 120 mm and 122 mm calibre.

According to the Minsk deal, weapons bigger than 100 mm caliber, including large artillery, heavy mortar and powerful rocket systems, are meant to have been withdrawn from the frontline.

The conflict erupted a year ago when rebels opposed to a new pro-Western leadership in Kiev and the ousting of a Moscow-backed president occupied state buildings in two big cities of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east, Donetsk and Luhansk.

More than 6,000 civilians, rebels and Ukrainian servicemen have been killed since then in a crisis in which Kiev has accused its former Soviet master of arming and supporting the rebels, a charge Moscow denies On the rebel side, separatist forces accused government troops in the town of Avdiivka of firing from tanks at rebel positions near Donetsk airport about 7 km (4.4 miles) away, rebel news agency DAN reported early on Friday.

Ukrainian military spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said it was not possible for government troops to fire tank rounds that distance.

“For that … heavy artillery systems would be needed and we have withdrawn them,” he told Reuters by phone. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-military-revels-accuse-each-other-of-increased-attacks/2713886.html

Russia has been involved in a semi-proxy war with the West in Ukraine.  Russia wants Ukraine.  Many in the eastern portion of Ukraine want to be part of Russia, or at least separate from Kiev.  Most in western Ukraine wish to be separate from Russia as well as part of the European Union.

When the ‘ceasefire’ was agreed to about two months back, I cast doubts on it (see Cease fire deal reached for Ukraine: Will it really bring peace?).

So, since there is still fighting, Europe is trying to figure out what to do.  Some want tougher sanctions.

Yet, many in Europe do not want to increase sanctions against Russia as Russia is important to the economies of many of the nations there.  Some wish to try to get closer to Russia for various reasons.

Earlier this week, Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited Russia, to the consternation of some in Europe:

April 11, 2015 (Print edition date)

Before setting out from Athens on April 8th, Alexis Tsipras swore that he would not be asking Vladimir Putin, the current president, for cash, even though his country’s finances are in a more parlous state now than they were in 2010.

In the end, the two leaders’ meeting produced little beyond a warm atmosphere and pledges to “restart and revive” relations. Mr Tsipras welcomed a proposed Russian gas pipeline across Greece’s territory and criticised European Union sanctions, as he has before. Mr Putin pledged (not entirely credibly) to refrain from using relations with Greece to divide the EU.  http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21648036-greek-gets-no-gifts-moscow-desperate-times

April 10, 2015

Spain has criticised Greece over Russia sanctions as the EU moves toward renewing economic restrictions.

The Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, said in Barcelona on Thursday (9 April) that the Greek PM, Alexis Tsipras, was wrong to speak out against EU measures whe he visited Moscow earlier this week.

“I can’t share the opinion of the Greek prime minister”, he said.

“The key condition to lift the sanctions is that Russia respects international law. Respecting international law means respecting the Minsk [ceasefire] accords, stopping intervention to help the separatists in Donbas and giving up the Crimean peninsula [which Russia annexed from Ukraine]”, he added.

“Once international law is re-established, the time will come to look for a formula to end this state of latent tension between Russia and the European Union”.

Tsipras in Moscow on Wednesday (8 April) had denounced “the vicious circle” of EU sanctions and Russia counter-sanctions.

But he also linked lifting the EU measures to Minsk compliance.  https://euobserver.com/foreign/128283

April 8, 2015

So far, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ has not yet been proved anything in his dealings with the European Union – above all, that he is capable of learning. Since taking office in January, he shows the same blend of stubbornness, denial of reality and aggression towards his benefactors.

Perhaps the visit with Vladimir Putin will finally lead him to some self-knowledge. The stakes were high as Tsipras lay down his last political card on the table – only to go home with an empty wallet. The Greek Prime Minister was willing to gamble away his consent to the extension EU’s Russia sanctions and jeopardize solidarity with the EU to gain a new friend and helper in Moscow. He wanted to show the Europeans that he has options other than the excruciating negotiations with Brussels on reforms and regulations, which are supposed to put an end to his acute financial problems.

As a consequence, he was publicly outmaneuvered by old fox in the Kremlin. …

Alexis Tsipras somehow seems eager to have all the bad experiences possible and to get into the nitty-gritty of them. So he smashed the plates is the customary Greek way, angered European Commission President Juncker, European Parliament President Schulz and all European partners with this mistimed visit to Moscow, just so he could get nothing out Putin for this bold act except some warm words and vague promises. …

Vladimir Putin cunningly undermined the Greeks’ advances in terms of EU sanctions by expressing that it is understandable that Greece had to support the European sanctions resolution, unfortunately, there are no exceptions for an individual EU country in the countermeasures. However, more cooperation in agriculture through joint Russian-Greek companies is possible – this is, at best, an ambiguous promise of a type of joint venture collective farms.  http://www.dw.de/opinion-tsipras-visit-to-moscow-was-a-flop/a-18370929

Hungary, Greece, and some other parts of Europe want more trade with Russia.

While Greece did not yet get much from Russia this week, the fact its Prime Minister went to Moscow to discuss economic matters shows that EU nations are trying to figure out how to help their economic situations and many would prefer to not have strong sanctions against Russia.

Of course, Russia’s Vladimir Putin knows this and hopes to exploit it to eventually get some or all of Ukraine.  However, EU leaders like Angela Merkel want all of Ukraine in the European Union and will not be pleased to lose more of it (Crimea has already been lost and is now part of Russia).

While Russia does have some concerns about the West and sanctions, it really is trying to figure out how to get the public in eastern Ukraine on its side. If Kiev keeps fighting and upsetting those in Donetsk and Luhansk, they may want more Russian help and intervention.

Russia wants more nations to support its upcoming Eurasian Union while those in Brussels want more nations to support its European Union.

The Bible itself tells of a type of Eurasian confederation (Jeremiah 50:41-42; Revelation 16:12-14) as well as a confederation of Europeans (Daniel 11:21-40; Revelation 13).

Ukraine is basically between both.   Peoples from the ancient Median empire ended up in parts of Russia and Ukraine (see Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future).

Since the Bible tells of a future (at least 4 years from now) joining of the “kings of the Medes” (Jeremiah 51:11-32), this means whichever peoples are more from a Median background in place like Ukraine will ultimately support Russia against Europe.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power?
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.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? 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 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
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?
Bible News Prophecy July-Sept. 2014: The Coming Eurasian Union Here is the latest magazine from the Continuing Church of God. The cover of which shows Vladimir Putin and features an article about the coming Eurasian Union.
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? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
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?
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.