Church of God News

From FOEEUROPE

COGwriter

US President Barack Obama expressed his disappointment he was not able to get the type of authority he would like to have in order to negotiate two international trade deals:

June 13 2015

CAPITOL HILL—President Barack Obama says the failure of the House of Representatives to pass a measure to help American workers affected by global trade pacts will “directly hurt about 100,000 workers and their communities.”

“For the sake of those workers, their families, and their communities, I urge those members of Congress who voted against Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to reconsider and stand up for American workers,” the president said Saturday in his weekly address.  http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-trrade-agenda-faces-key-house-vote/2818908.html

Politico posted the following related to the vote last evening:

June 12, 2015

Japan, the European Union and other countries have been waiting years for a clear signal that President Barack Obama had the political muscle to get trade deals through Congress.

They got the opposite on Friday, when Obama trekked up to Capitol Hill to plead for his trade agenda and got smacked down by fellow Democrats. That spells trouble for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive pact covering about 40 percent of world economic output. The failure of the trade bill also casts doubt on the sprawling European trade negotiations, and will make other nations less likely to trust the Obama administration’s ability to negotiate everything from auto tariffs to currency rules around the world. …

For Japan, there’s little incentive to agree to tough U.S. demands to eliminate agricultural tariffs on rice and a long list of other farm products if Obama can’t get the agreement through Congress in one piece. The same for Vietnam, which is under pressure to strengthen its labor and environmental practices in exchange for increased access to the U.S. shoe and clothing market.

And while U.S. union groups made the proposed trans-Pacific trade pact public enemy No. 1 in their effort to defeat the fast track trade bill, today’s action also endangers the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks with Europe, negotiations aimed at eliminating tariffs on environmentally friendly goods and promising recent efforts to revive long-stalled world trade talks.

“It’s clear the TTIP negotiations are going to take more time than anyone hoped” when they were launched in mid-2013, said Linda Dempsey, vice president for international economic affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers. But fast track approval would provide some momentum and “take an excuse off the table” for European negotiators not to engage more seriously, she said. …

The transatlantic talks with the European Union are not as far along as the TPP. But spurred partly by the hope of House approval of the trade bill, Obama and European leaders this week pledged to aim for “the outline of an agreement as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the year.”

Many consider that an ambitious target because of concerns in Europe about investment provisions of the agreement that opponents argue could undermine the ability of governments to regulate in the public interest. In addition, revelations of National Security Agency spying still hang over the pact and add to public suspicion. Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/barack-obama-trade-agenda-faces-world-of-doubt-118956.html#ixzz3cwtpB0KV

The Europeans, and others, are frustrated with the USA about this.  Furthermore as the above indicates, the Europeans still have not gotten over the Snowden leaks that the US National Security Agency repeatedly spied on them.

Perhaps I should add that many in Europe fear that TTIP will force them to have to import genetically modified foods as well as antibiotic laden beef. Some in the USA have food concerns about TPP. Notice the following:

For example, the TTIP could potentially lead to reducing EU requirements for labeling food containing genetically engineered ingredients and nanomaterials. It could also relax rules for meat produced with certain antibiotics and hormones, poultry raised on feed additives that contain arsenic, and meat produced with a growth-promoting drug called ractopamine.  …

In the U.S., consumer advocates are concerned that the TPP will mean less safe food imported into the U.S. In Europe, there’s concern that the TTIP will relax the EU’s more stringent standards for meat, pesticides, and GMOs.

Overall, the EU’s approach to food safety and chemicals is considered more precautionary than the United States’. But what’s allowed, say, in Asian aquaculture, is considered less stringent than what’s allowed in the U.S. Yet there are also countries in the TPP with policies that could restrict imports of U.S. products — such as Peru, which requires labeling of food containing GMOs and Japan, which has stringent food additive standards.

It’s likely that both agreements will lower the standards for food safety across the board, simply to allow more food to be imported and exported between the partner nations.  http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2015/05/20/what-do-international-trade-agreements-have-to-do-with-dinner/

Currently, there appears to be more concerns in Europe about these agreement related to food quality/safety than in the USA.  I perhaps should add that I agree with many of the European concerns  (see GMOs and Bible Prophecy and/or watch Are Americans & Asians setting themselves up for destruction from antibiotic use?).

Apparently the main issues for the Democrats in the USA have to do with job loss and perceptions of unfair trade.  Other opposers tend to have concerns about loss of USA sovereignty and that these type of agreements are leading to some type of new world order.

Notice the following:

June 13, 2015

The newest issue of The New American features an article explaining ten reasons why American citizens should oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). …

Ten Reasons Why You Should Oppose the TPP & TTIP

1: Sovereignty will be lost.

2: The TPP and TTIP are “living,” “evolving” agreements.

3: It’s being planned in secret.

4: The TPP and TTIP are not about “free trade.”

5: It is an immigration Trojan Horse.

6: It merges America with China/Russia.

7: Could the TPP/TTIP be used to foist gun control on Americans?

8: The jobs and prosperity myth

9: The TPP and TTIP are corporatist schemes.

10: The TPP and TTIP are regional transitions in the push toward a world government.  http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pearland/opinion/new-american-ten-reasons-why-you-should-oppose-the-tpp/article_f7fd2887-0229-517d-b9c5-95e5bf50d619.html

ICG’s Mark Armstrong made the following comments in his newsletter last night about the trade deal situation:

What on earth is Obamatrade? No one knows, save the handful of Washington legislators with sufficient Top Secret clearances to be able to attend private meetings behind locked doors. However some details have leaked out, and while not widely available, they include some of the most stunning developments imaginable.

Congressmen, including several who style themselves as conservative, unbelievably are campaigning for quick passage. According to some who have had access to the proposed law, it creates an international commission which will have the power to enact regulations in the United States along with other signatory nations. Global warming/energy usage regulations, immigration regulations, and who knows what kind of rules and regulations the citizens and businesses of America might be subjected to by some international commission?

Thank goodness it failed in a sound defeat today, Friday. And that after the president himself had run all over the place insisting he had to have it. Unbelievably, several of those considered to be solid conservatives were themselves campaigning to pass this unknown measure into law even though no one seems able to clearly articulate what it would mean. Given the record of the past six years and all the executive actions, many of which appear to be blatantly illegal and in direct contravention of Federal and State law (and certainly not in the interests of preserving the integrity of the United States or its position of leadership in the world), if Obama wants it that bad, how good could it be?

They tell us that passage is crucial to the president’s second term legacy. As far as we’re concerned, the president’s legacy has already been cemented in the policies and actions of the past six years. They’ve been nothing but destructive to the demographic makeup of the population; they’ve seen race relations plummet; people have been encouraged to defy and disrespect police; criminals are running amok and shooting it out in the nation’s big cities; there is no end to the mandates they’ve tried to impose upon us; they’re systematically destroying the dollar, spending America into the poorhouse with social programs, welfare, food-stamps, housing programs and disability for all who claim it. But they haven’t given up trying to grant the president “fast track international treaty authority.” Apparently there will be more arm-twisting over the weekend and early next week, and they intend to bring this secret monstrosity to another vote sometime next week. Regardless of some of the big-name conservatives backing its passage, I personally hope it goes down in flames.

Having placed a calls to several House representatives’ and Senators’ offices, I told them that giving an international body regulatory powers over many nations including the United States sounds to me like the stinking Mark of the Beast! After that it was so quiet I had to make sure they hadn’t hung up on me. (They hadn’t.)

Mark Armstrong has tended to be more directly political than most COG-related leaders. As far as the mark of the beast goes, check out the article the Mark of the Beast . That being said, even if something else happens in US Congress related to trade next week, the vote yesterday is showing the Europeans that they cannot count on USA leadership like they had hoped.

Irrespective of warnings and votes, the Bible tells of a time when a Babylonian European Beast power will control buying and selling and dominate world trade:

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18)

19 Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (Revelation 18:19)

The Bible shows that this will make merchants of the world wealthy (cf. Revelation 18; Ezekiel 27:12-16).

Could TTIP be a prelude to Revelation 13:16-18?  It seems like it very well may be (although the name of it could be changed to assuage public protest).  The failure in the vote yesterday is more proof to certain leaders in Europe that the USA simply cannot lead like it has.  Many European leaders have wanted Europe to take the lead on trade and other matters, and they ultimately will do so according to biblical prophecy.

Economically, the USA is no longer going to be the head, but the tail (cf. Deuteronomy 28:13,44). This new world order will result in the Europeans being on top (but only for a while).

For at least two decades, I have believed that a split would happen between the USA and the Europeans partially because of how the Europeans will view how the USA handles/mishandles bilateral trade issues (there are also other factors like USA debt, GMOs, etc.). As I have written before, the Europeans are still very hurt over USA espionage and I believe they will not ever truly get over it–they will make trade deals, but they will no longer trust the USA as they once did. Since the USA has basically stated that the continental Europeans are NOT close friends, this will not be lost on the leaders in Europe (see also The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA).

In general, trade agreements should benefit both parties involved. Yet as I warned about the current trade talks in the past, ultimately, whatever the final trade deal with the EU will not be good for the United States of America nor the British (nor their Anglo-Saxon dominated allies like Canada, Australia, or New Zealand).

I suspect that there will be a few areas of major disagreement that will happen in such a trade deal, and that to hide their disappointment, some representing end-time Europe will declare that all is basically fine before they end up taking over the USA, which is prophesied in such scriptures as Daniel 11:39, 8:24-25, etc. The results are more than the loss of normal sovereignty–the USA will be no more.

This does not mean that there are no short-term economic benefits for the USA or others from proposed trade deals. Only that prophetically, the Bible shows that the Europeans will, for a time, dominate international trade.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here are links to two sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy.
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.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
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.

Artist depiction of the Apostle Paul writing his epistles

COGwriter

Lateran Cathedra (Photo by Joyce Thiel, January 2014)

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link to the following in Italian, which is followed by a machine-translation into English:

Papa agli ortodossi: “Disposti a data comune per la Pasqua”. Sulla questione femminile: “La Chiesa è donna”

12 giugno 2015

DIALOGO ecumenico e ruolo delle donne nella Chiesa al centro del lungo intervento, una ‘meditazione’, che Papa Francesco ha tenuto nella cattedrale di Roma, la Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, in occasione del raduno mondiale dei sacerdoti.

Bergoglio, che ha annunciato un prossimo viaggio a novembre in Repubblica Centrafricana e in Uganda (mentre per il Kenya non ci sono certezze), ha annunciato la disponibilità della Chiesa cattolica a stabilire una data fissa sulla Pasqua per celebrare la risurrezione di Cristo, in modo che possa essere festeggiata nello stesso giorno da tutti i cristiani, siano essi cattolici, protestanti o ortodossi.

Il Papa ha definito “molto buono” il rapporto con il patriarca Bartolomeo di Costantinopoli, che, ha rivelato, aveva invitato a Roma per presentare la sua enciclica ecologica la settimana prossima. Francesco ha sottolineato l’esistenza di scambi anche con il patriarca di Mosca Kirill, esprimendo grande fiducia nel prossimo sinodo panortodosso. Sulla Pasqua, ha affermato: “La Chiesa Cattolica è disponibile a rinunciare alla data determinata per la domenica di Pasqua dal primo plenilunio dopo l’equinozio di primavera. Dobbiamo metterci d’accordo e la Chiesa Cattolica è disposta sin dai tempi di Paolo VI a fissare una data e rinunciare al primo solstizio dopo la luna piena di marzo”.

Durante la meditazione, svolta a ‘braccio’ e in lingua spagnola, il Pontefice ha dedicato parole importanti alle donne: “La Chiesa è donna, è sposa di Cristo, è madre del suo popolo di fedeli cristiani” ha sottolineato. Poi ha aggiunto: “Non è femminismo osservare che Maria è molto più importante degli apostoli”, ha aggiunto ancora il Papa.

Pope to Orthodox: “Willing to common date for Easter”. On women’s issues: “The Church is a woman”

June 12, 2015

Ecumenical Dialogue and the role of women in the Church at the center of the long speech, a ‘meditation’, which Pope Francis held in the cathedral of Rome, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on the occasion of the world meeting of priests.

Bergoglio, who announced an upcoming trip in November in the Central African Republic and Uganda (while for Kenya there are no certainties), today announced the availability of the Catholic Church to establish a fixed date on Easter to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, so that would be celebrated on the same day by all Christians, whether Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox.

The Pope has called “very good” relationship with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, which, revealed, had invited him to Rome to present his encyclical ecological next week. Francis pointed out the existence of trade with the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, expressing great confidence in the next pan-Orthodox synod. On Easter, said: “The Catholic Church is willing to give up the given date for Easter Sunday from the first full moon after the spring equinox. We have to come to an agreement and the Catholic Church is willing since the time of Paul VI set a date and give up the first solstice after the full moon of March. ”

During meditation, turn ‘arm’ and in Spanish, the Pope has dedicated important words to the women: “The Church is a woman, is the bride of Christ, is the mother of his people of the Christian faithful,” he stressed. Then he added: “It is not feminism observe that Maria is far more important of the apostles,” added the Pope.

I would add that the Bible does NOT teach that Mary is far more important than the Apostles.  Notice what the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

¹⁸ Through him, then, we both in the one Spirit have free access to the Father.

¹⁹ So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors; you are fellow-citizens with the holy people of God and part of God’s household.

²⁰ You are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone.

²¹ Every structure knit together in him grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

²² and you too, in him, are being built up into a dwelling-place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18-22, New Jerusalem Bible, a Roman Catholic translation)

The foundation of the true Church includes the apostles–Mary is not listed as being more important.  Notice also that Jesus, not Mary, gives Christians access to the Father.  As far as the role of women in the New Testament Church goes, consider checking out the article Women and the New Testament Church.  As far as Mary goes, check out the article Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions.

The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran ‘ranks’ above all other Roman Catholic basilicas and cathedrals. It was officially ‘consecrated’ on November 9, 324.  The Church of Rome claims that building contains the official chair or “cathedra” of Peter would be in St. Peter’s Basilica (and perhaps the large black one that has been called “Satan’s Throne,” especially because some believe a part of a chair Peter once owned or sat on is in that) and it would be the primary basilica for the Church of Rome, this is not the case.

Anyway, Pope Francis’ public statement that he is willing to change the date of Easter/Passover (Pasque is what he called it in Italian), is consistent with what I have reported before about the Vatican’s willingness to change whatever doctrines it feels it needs to in order to gain the Eastern Orthodox.

Today, a major public statement was made confirming this.  I, on the other hand, was told this privately over seven years ago when I visited the offices of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (Bartholomew) in Istanbul, Turkey in 2008.  When there, I was specifically told by a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople that when Pope Benedict XVI visited earlier, a papal representative of Benedict XVI told Patriarch Bartholomew that Rome would change all doctrines necessary to attain full unity with the Orthodox, if the Orthodox would accept papal authority.  And this definitely included changing Rome’s position on the Filioque clause.  Hence, those associated with the Church of Rome need to understand that this means that the Vatican’s current (and likely future) leadership is willing to compromise on something that it has long held as being of “great dogmatic and historical importance.”

It also needs to be understood that while some of the Eastern Orthodox are looking forward to a Roman Catholic Great Monarch to be the “King of the Romans and the Greeks,”(Tzima Otto, H.  The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Scriptural Prophecies.  Verenikia Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, pp. 5-6) other Greek Orthodox (The Voice of the Fathers) believe that they only should follow a Greek Orthodox future monarch (The Voice of the Fathers is apparently a Greek Orthodox publication that opposes a Roman Catholic, as opposed to Greek Orthodox, Great Monarch, see Tzima Otto, pp, 34-38).  The Orthodox should definitely not follow a Roman Catholic Great Monarch if they wish to follow the teachings of the Bible.

Since Vatican II (a major Catholic ecumenical council that ran from 1962–1965), many Catholics have been justifiably concerned that doctrinal compromise for the sake of ecumenical unity with those outside of fellowship of Rome was inevitable.

The Orthodox have long taught that the Church of Rome (known sometimes as Latins) will change doctrines to those of the Orthodox.  A document known as the Anonymou Prophecy of 1053 refers to this as the “Deferring of the Latins to the error-free faith of the Orthodox,” it then claims “The Orthodox Faith will expand from East to West” (Tzima Otto, p. 116).

Rome wants the Eastern Orthodox to bow to its supremacy and is willing to compromise doctrine and tradition in order to get this.  The Vatican is also willing to, at least now, minimize the amount of primacy/supremacy that the Eastern Orthodox will need to acknowledge in order to get them in Rome’s fold.

Below is the inscription, that is shown in numerous places, on the outside of St. John’s Lateran church:

(Photo by Joyce Thiel)

The inscription from Latin above translated into English means, “Sacred Lateran Church Mother and Head of All Churches of the City and the World.” Notice the following warning against a worldly “mother” church associated with seven-hills:

¹One of the seven angels that had the seven bowls came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute who is enthroned beside abundant waters,² with whom all the kings of the earth have prostituted themselves, and who has made all the population of the world drunk with the wine of her adultery.’

³ He took me in spirit to a desert, and there I saw a woman riding a scarlet beast which had seven heads and ten horns and had blasphemous titles written all over it.

⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and glittered with gold and jewels and pearls, and she was holding a gold winecup filled with the disgusting filth of her prostitution;

⁵ on her forehead was written a name, a cryptic name: ‘Babylon the Great, the mother of all the prostitutes and all the filthy practices on the earth.’

⁶ I saw that she was drunk, drunk with the blood of the saints, and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw her, I was completely mystified.

⁷ The angel said to me, ‘Do you not understand? I will tell you the meaning of this woman, and of the beast she is riding, with the seven heads and the ten horns.

⁸ ‘The beast you have seen was once alive and is alive no longer; it is yet to come up from the Abyss, but only to go to its destruction. And the people of the world, whose names have not been written since the beginning of the world in the book of life, will be astonished when they see how the beast was once alive and is alive no longer, and is still to come.

⁹ ‘This calls for shrewdness. The seven heads are the seven hills, on which the woman is sitting. (Revelation 17:1-9, NJB)

Anyway, today’s announcement marks an important step in the Vatican’s plans for unity with the Eastern Orthodox.

Many Protestants and USA Catholics might be surprised to learn that the date commonly called Easter is supposed to be Passover.  The name Easter was chosen because of compromise with pagans who liked to worship the fertility goddess whose name was Ishtar (pronounced the same as the word Easter).

Many might be more surprised to learn that one the first clear differences, historically, between the true Christian Church and the compromised Greco-Roman faiths that claim Christianity was the date of Passover.  Because of antisemitism and fear of persecution from Imperial Roman authorities the Greco-Roman churches in Rome, Alexandria, and Jerusalem (3 of the five so-called apostolic sees) compromised and changed the date of Passover from the 14th of Nisan to a Sunday that normally comes after the 14th of Nisan (the biblical date of Passover).

After the Greco-Romans were able to gain control over Antioch and Constantinople in the third centuries, they tried to change the date of Passover in those regions.  Since there was still some resistance, the matter (as far as the Greco-Romans were concerned) did not get finally resolved until the fourth century sung-god worshiping Emperor Constantine got the Council of Nicea to formally accept the Sunday date.  This, of course, did not persuade everybody, so in the late fourth century, the Roman Emperor Theodosius decreed the death penalty for any who would dare keep the biblical date of the 14th of Nisan.

What all should consider is that the Greco-Romans scholars do acknowledge that the Apostle John kept Passover on the 14th and not on a Sunday.  They would also agree that the Bible teaches:

 ¹⁸ Children, this is the final hour; you have heard that the Antichristis coming, and now many Antichrists have already come; from this we know that it is the final hour.

¹⁹ They have gone from among us, but they never really belonged to us; if they had belonged to us, they would have stayed with us. But this was to prove that not one of them belonged to us.

²⁰ But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and have all received knowledge.

²¹ I have written to you not because you are ignorant of the truth, but because you are well aware of it, and because no lie can come from the truth. (1 John 2:18-21, NJB)

Yet, one of the first changes that those churches did shortly after the death of the Apostle John was to change the date of Passover to a date he did not observe.  And later, they also changed the meaning of the date from a memorial of Christ’s death to a resurrection holiday that the Apostle John also did not endorse.  The truth is that the Apostle John and Jesus kept Passover on the 14th and did not engage in political/ecumenical compromise to change it.

The compromises that have been made to the original faith that the Apostle John practiced have sadly continued.  What Pope Francis is working towards does NOT have the blessing of the God of the Bible.

Items of possibly related interest may include:

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?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video of related interest could be Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern 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?
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.
Another view of ‘Satan’s Throne’? Is the Cathedra Petri really Peter’s seat or might it be something else? There is also a YouTube sermon about Vatican City, Peter, and this same throne shot in Rome and Vatican City: The Vatican, Peter, and ‘Satan’s Throne’.
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? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Do You Know That Babylon is Forming? How is the final Babylon forming? Are Protestants such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland are endorsing something dangerous? Could Pope Francis be the ‘False Prophet’ that the Bible warns against? Is an antipope expected to endorse a one-world religion? Here is a link to a related written article In Vatican City: New Babylon more openly forming!
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy.
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here is a link to a related video: Satan’s Plan A Brief Introduction.
The ‘Lady’ of Guadalupe: Any Future Ramifications? It is claimed that a female apparition appeared near Mexico City on December 12, 1531. How has it affected the world? What might it suggest about the future? A video of related interest is titled: The ‘Lady of Guadalupe’ and Prophecy.
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Did early Christians teach Mary had an immaculate conception and led a sinless life?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions. Whether or not you believe anything happened at Fatima, if you live long enough, you will be affected by its ramifications (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17). Fatima Shock! provides concerned Christians with enough Catholic-documented facts to effectively counter every false Marian argument. In addition to the print version, there is a Kindle version of Fatima Shock! which you can acquire in seconds.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, NKJV),  “Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue” (Hebrews 13:1) “…continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles” (Acts 2:42 YLT). So, what does that really mean in terms of specific beliefs? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Declaración de las Doctrinas de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. Here is a related link in Tagalog: Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. Here is a related link in Mandarin Chinese 继续神的教会的信仰声明. Here is a related link in Kiswahili: KATIKA LUGHA YA KISWAHILI. Here is a related link in Dutch: Verklaring van geloofspunten van de Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Deutsche (German): Glaubenserklärung der Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Italiano: Dichiarazione del Credo della Continuing Church of God. Here is related link in the French language: Déclaration des croyances de L’Église Continue de Dieu.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
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. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.

Flu virus

COGwriter

The Avian flu is becoming more of a concern in the USA:

Worst Avian Flu Outbreak in U.S. History

June 12, 2015

The country is experiencing the worst outbreak of avian flu in its history.

More than 200 separate cases of bird flu (mainly H5N2) in 16 states have been identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) since December.

To date, more than 45 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been culled to try to control the spread of the virus.

The flu’s effects have hit egg-laying hens particularly hard. It’s estimated that 15% of our country’s egg-producing birds have been killed. Another 10% are “offline,” meaning they aren’t producing.

The President and CEO of the American Bakers Association, Rob MacKie, said, “Due to the avian influenza, egg supplies are decreasing at an alarming rate.”

This means egg prices are skyrocketing for both businesses and consumers.

Infecting the Industry

Major buyers and industries are already seeing a change in price. http://www.trefis.com/stock/syy/articles/300339/worst-avian-flu-outbreak-in-u-s-history/2015-06-12

Here is more information about it from the US Centers for Disease Control:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 infections have been reported in U.S. domestic poultry (backyard and commercial flocks), captive wild birds, and wild birds. HPAI H5 detections began in December 2014 and have continued to date in 2015. USDA is reporting H5 bird flu virus detections in 21 U.S. states (15 states with outbreaks in domestic poultry or captive birds and 6 states with H5 detections in wild birds only).

No human infections with these viruses have been detected at this time, however similar viruses have infected people in other countries and caused serious illness and death in some cases. Human infections with other avian influenza viruses have occurred after close and prolonged contact with infected birds or the excretions/secretions of infected birds (e.g., droppings, oral fluids). …

CDC Recommendations for the Public

• As a general precaution, people should avoid wild birds and observe them only from a distance; avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died; and avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
• People who have had contact with infected bird(s) should monitor their own health for possible symptoms (for example, conjunctivitis, or flu-like symptoms).
• People who have had contact with infected birds may also be given influenza antiviral drugs preventatively.
• Health care providers evaluating patients with possible HPAI H5 infection should notify their local or state health departments which in turn should notify CDC. CDC is providing case-by-case guidance at this time.
• There is no evidence that any human cases of avian influenza have ever been acquired by eating properly cooked poultry products.  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5/

So, the human risk of death or illness is not believed to be high.  However, all of this is likely to affect food prices.

Of course, Jesus predicted famines and pestilences:

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

And it has long been known that the Bible tells of a later time when food prices would rise and there would be more death by pestilences:

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.”

7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.  (Revelation 6:5-8)

The above relates to the rides of the third and fourth horsemen of the Apocalypse (see also Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse).

Of course, there are other pestilences causing deaths around the world.  Notice the following related to South Korea:

June 12, 2015

On Friday a 72-year-old patient died from the illness, the 11th death reported in less than a month. But the spread of the disease, which has infected 126 people since the outbreak began last month, seems to have leveled off, and South Korean public health officials are urging calm.

Still, across the country Koreans remain wary of this new and little-understood illness. MERS first appeared in humans in 2012, and three years later scientists and public health officials are still sorting out where it came from and how it’s spread.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/12/what-you-should-know-about-mers-the-mystery-disease-that-has-south-korea-on-edge/

Also, notice the following by George Ritter back in 1975:

Epidemics Of The Future

The world has yet to see the last of widespread disease epidemics. That, in effect, was what Jesus Christ told His disciples in the pivotal Olivet prophecy recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

Right along with wars and famine came pestilence: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matt. 24:7). These were some of the prophetic signs that Christ listed in answering the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [age]?” (Verse 3.)

Granted, pestilence, famine and war have been ongoing problems that have plagued mankind ever since the dawn of history. But the main thrust of Christ’s message is futuristic. The overall context of the Olivet prophecy readily attests to this fact. In verses 21 and 22 of Matthew 24, Christ referred to a time when the total annihilation of human life would be a distinct possibility. Only with the recent development of multiple-megaton nuclear weaponry could such an event have become a reality.

The book of Revelation also underscores the fact that such tumultuous times are yet in store for the future. John’s apocalyptic scenario centers around the events surrounding the Day of the Lord (Rev.1:10). In the sixth chapter we see war, famine and pestilence (the last three of the four horsemen of John’s vision) riding together at this critical juncture in world history.

The Pale Horseman Rides

With both the black horse of famine and the red horse of war riding roughshod over the earth, it is only natural for the pale horse of pestilence to follow hard on their heels. Ezekiel also described the devastating effect this deadly triad can have: “A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part in to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them” (Ezek. 5:12).

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

Misgovernment, greed and oppression over the course of nearly 6000 years of history have saddled the human race with the unwanted burden of disease. For instance, man’s proclivity to crowd into disease — prone cities is indicative of this problem. And it is interesting to note that Bible prophecy seems to indicate that this crowd-at­all-costs policy will eventually backfire on the human race. Notice Leviticus 26:25: “… And when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you… .” Also Ezekiel 7:15: “The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.” (4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse – The Pale Horse – Disease Epidemics. Ambassador College Press, 1975)

In modern times, the spread of diseases is so much easier than in more ancient times. Notice some comments from the Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about this related to the 2011 movie Contagion:

The movie tells the story of a novel virus that spreads across the globe rapidly, with scientists and the public following its every move. The idea of a contagion such as this is very real…the plot of a new, deadly virus spreading quickly is quite plausible. In fact, CDC and public health partners identify, on average, one new or emerging infectious disease each year. The movie is a reminder that public health at local, state, national, and global levels must be supported to quickly detect, investigate, and respond to outbreaks and keep Americans safe from health, safety, and security threats arising in this country or anywhere in the world.

The film underscores that we are all connected by the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink…Contagion shows that fear is also contagious. (Frieden T. CDC Director on ‘Contagion’: Deadly Viruses Could Spread Fast. The Atlantic, September 10, 2011. http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/cdc-director-on-contagion-deadly-viruses-could-spread-fast/244849/ viewed 09/10/11)

Humankind is at risk. And modern travel and other practices are placing humanity at even greater risk.

But perhaps the most immediate effect of the Avian flu will be some food shortages and rises in food prices.  Yet, other pestilences (Ebola and MERS comes to mind) have been deadly (mainly in Africa and Asia) and more deadly pestilences are coming.

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.
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.
Ebola, Pestilence, and 2016? The World Health Organization says the Ebola epidemic is the most severe acute public health emergency seen in modern times and kills 71% who contract it. What does the United Nations say? Is Ebola a pestilence related to the four horsemen of the apocalypse? Is a questionable prediction that all humans will die from infection in 2016 possible?
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.
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel? Who is preaching the gospel? Here is a version in Korean 복음이란 무엇인가?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? Here is a machine-translated link to that article in Korean: 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?; here is a link to that article in Mandarin Chinese: 在预言中的韩国：有任何证人吗？
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
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?

COGwriter

“Elijah in the wilderness“

COGwriter

Last year, John Carmack, at his COG Perspectives website posted the following:

We know from the Book of Judges that God often raised up a judge to lead His people out of trouble. Throughout the Bible, God sent prophets to warn the people, warn kings and even high priests to repent and turn from doing wrong.

The civil and the religious authorities should have been counterbalances for each other. If one failed, the other should be there to correct it. However, it often did not work that way, but rather Israel as a whole would fail until one man would be raised up with a vision to forestall the inevitable decline.

The prophets were often God’s answer for when both branches of governance failed.

God sent prophets to warn the people as a whole.

⁷ And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,

⁸ That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

~ Jdg 6:7-8

God sent prophets to warn high priests.

²⁷ And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

²⁸ And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

²⁹ Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

~ 1Sa 2:27-29

God sent prophets to warn kings.

⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

~ 2Sa 12:7

Keep in mind that this did not mean prophets did not suffer, especially at the hands of those whom they are prophesying against!…

Do We Need a Prophet?

As I was getting at, prophets tend to be sent only after a time of serious continual problems…

Will there be another? Well, there is the Elijah to come, and only die-hard lunatics believe it was HWA. Simply put, they are wrong and history has shown it. HWA is dead. Christ has not returned. Period. End of proof; all you have to do is open your eyes and your common sense.

Does this Elijah to come have to be one of the Two Witnesses? No, there is no requirement for it. Some believe he will be, but frankly I think the Two Witnesses are going to be rather busy. Not only that, but when those in Jerusalem flee, who is going to be in charge of that group? The Two Witnesses stay in Jerusalem!

Do we need a prophet now, today? Apparently not, else God would have already sent one. There isn’t one. Period. …

However, two prophets will appear before the end. Keep in mind, though, their major job is being a witness to the world, not the Church.

However, if a major Elijah figure did appear before the end and correct the Church, how many would actually follow him?… Would people argue with him over the calendar? Over whether or not the Tribulation lasts 7 years? Over who is the Man of Perdition and is there a “great” falling away?

How can people like John Carmack insist there are no prophets now? Haven’t their been continual problems in the COGs over the past couple of decades or so?

The New Testament clearly lists prophets as an office and discusses them in many places (for details, please see How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God).

John Carmack’s firm denial of the possible existence of any prophets now is evidence that he and others like him would not recognize a true prophet of God. But his denial is similar to those of other groups such as LCG (see LCG on Prophets: Rare, But Look for the Fruits) and CEG (see 06/06/14 p.m. post at the News of Those Once Affiliated with GCG page).

Does the Church of God need any prophets now?

Well, if one looks at the disarray of various groups, personal and doctrinal compromises, the increase of Laodiceanism, and major prophetic misunderstandings that they hold, the clear answer is yes.

As far as prophetic misunderstandings in various claimed COG groups that I have personally denounced, here is an abbreviated list:

1. Many COG groups (ICG, CGI, UCG, COGaIC, CG7, CBCG, CGG, CEM, etc.) do not officially teach and/or do not believe in the idea of Church eras (The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3), though they sometimes teach about the churches of Revelation.  They tend to take more of a preterist (past) view of those churches, despite the fact that many statements made to them had to have future prophetic ramifications (e.g. Revelation 1:19; 3:3; 3:10; see also The Dangerous Rise of Preterists). Because of they do not teach certain prophetic aspects of this, most do not see their own problems and will have to go through the Great Tribulation.
2. Some COG groups do not believe that the Gospel of the Kingdom still needs to be preached to the world as a witness per Matthew 24:14 (e.g. GCW, PCG), do not really make that a high priority (e.g. COGWA, CGG), or do so in less than truly loving the truth (cf. Jeremiah 48:10; see Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God), hence do not have the real Philadelphian work. As only the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the hour of trial that will come on the whole world, they will not understand when Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled or when to flee per Matthew 24:15. Hence they do not have or lead the Philadelphian work.  Only the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the hour of trial that will come on the whole world (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra ).  See also Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work?
3. At least two groups misunderstand the Gospel and COG doctrines so much (PCG and RCG) that I question if their top leaders are actually converted members of the COG.
4. Many, if not most, COG groups do not realize that the Great Tribulation begins with the King of the North invading the USA. UK, and/or their Anglo-Saxon descended allies (Daniel 11:39) (see Who is the King of the North?).
5. Many COG groups misunderstand the identity of the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43), and some have the wrong prophetic sequence regarding the the attack by King of the South (see PCG and LCG do not understand the end-time King of the South sequence–do you?). There understanding is not the order that Daniel 11 teaches (see Who is the King of the North?). Since the Great Tribulation is the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), it begins with the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies like the United Kingdom getting invaded (cf. Daniel 11:39).  Some of the groups cling to this sequential error, because it was once held by the late Herbert W. Armstrong, who changed his view by 1979 (Armstrong, Herbert W. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979).  Since the King of the North will eliminate those of the strongest fortresses (the USA, Canada, etc.) in Daniel 11:39, prior to invading the King of the South in Daniel 11:40, those who hold to this view will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin until after it has started.
6. Some (CEG, GCG-UK) teach that there is no biblically-required King of the South, while at least one group is unsure (CGF-NW)–but this is an error (see also Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?).  This error contributes to other prophetic errors that those groups have.
7. Some have insisted that the final King of the South will be from the nation of Ethiopia. This is partially based upon a mistranslation in the KJV version of the Bible as well as a position that the late Herbert Armstrong once held. However, he changed his position in the 1960s and 1970s to an Arabic-Muslim confederation. Those who insist that the final King of the South must be Ethiopia will not possibly realize that the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late (RCG once held that position, but later changed it).
8. Several COG groups (like CGG, RCG, PCG, COGWA) clearly misunderstand Daniel 9:27, the second half of which ties in with Daniel 11:31 and Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:15. Those who misunderstand it will not have a proper pre-warning of what is happening nor likely know when the Great Tribulation will begin. (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).
9. Various COG groups (UCG, COGWA, COGaIC, RCG, and CGOM, come to immediate mind, but they are not the only ones) have so many areas of undefined prophecy that they will not know what certain events will mean.  And groups who define matters wrong will have problems that way as well (PCG and LCG come to immediate mind, but so do nearly all other COG claimed groups).
10. A couple of groups, such as  Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God and Triumph Prophetic Ministries, have been repeatedly proven wrong about their dates for the start of the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ.  Those who rely on the leaders of those groups really do not understand biblical prophecy.
11. Certain groups teach improper interpretations of the 1335, 1290, and 1260 days of Daniel 12 (CGPFK is one) or have other problems with that (most other COG groups) that they will not understand when the Great Tribulation will start. Herbert Armstrong changed his view on this by 1979 and many never understood the change.
12. Most COG groups fail to understand Habakkuk 2:2-8 and hence are not properly getting the warning out to the USA and UK (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).  PCG totally misses it, and LCG, while it once would teach it, has backed off because of what appears to be internal politics.  The rising ‘time bomb’ of USA debt is something that needs to be pointed out and Habakkuk 2:2-8 points out the biblical threat that this poses. It should be proclaimed and we in CCOG are doing it. Many do not realize that Habakkuk 2:6-8 is related to the start of the Great Tribulation, and is one of the reasons for the attack against the indebted descendants of the tribes of Joseph.
13. At least one group (LCG) is not longer certain that France or certain other Israelitish nations will support the Beast power (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). This differs from the position specifically taught by the late Dibar Apartian (see The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy?) as well as what the Bible teaches (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). Those who misunderstand this are likely to not possibly realize when the final Beast power has formed.
14. Many COG groups have various ‘Elijah heresies.’ Because of this, they will not be able to recognize the final Elijah.  Some think it must have been Herbert Armstrong, despite the fact that he has been dead since 1986 and that death disqualifies him according to his writing about that (Mystery of the Ages. 1985, p. 349).  Some think that either there is no Elijah to come or that is the church and not an individual, which goes against Jesus’ teachings on the subject in Mark 9:12-13 (for more details, see The Elijah Heresies).  RCG improperly now teaches that David Pack is that Elijah.
15. Many groups do not understand the differing persecutions (and other matters) to come in Daniel 7:25, 11:30-39, Matthew 24:9-22, and Revelation 12:14-17, hence when the prophesied wave of persecution initially hits the Philadelphians primarily (and not them), they will not see this persecution as evidence that the Great Tribulation is about to begin. The old Radio Church of God specifically applied the persecuting scriptures of Daniel 11:32-35 to the end time Philadelphian church (see also Persecutions by Church and State).
16. Most groups that came out of groups once led by the late Garner Ted Armstrong (ICG, CGI, CEM, etc.) do not seem to teach that there is a physical place of safety (despite what Revelation 12:14-16 teaches), hence they will not be inclined to flee towards one just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
17. Most ‘independents’ do not believe that they need to ‘gather together’ prior to the time to flee despite what Zephaniah 2:1-3 teaches (watch also Zephaniah’s ‘Gather Together’ Prophecy), hence it is not likely they will be inclined to flee together when a group they are not part of does just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 12:14-17; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
18. At least one group (PCG) misunderstands the final Prince of Rosh.  Those who insist on a pre-return of Jesus Christ for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 will be disappointed as that is in scriptural error.
19. At least on COG group (CG7) basically teaches that most of the events of Revelation have already taken place and no one needs to worry about coming persecution.  Jesus warned those of Sardis to be careful about losing the doctrinal understandings they had (Revelation 3:1-6), and this loss of prophetic knowledge proves that those in Sardis will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin.
20. At least one COG group (LCG) erroneously believes that the abomination of desolation of Daniel 11:31 occurs after the King of the North invades the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; see PCG and LCG do not understand the end-time King of the South sequence–do you?). Since this will not happen that way, those who hold to that position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin.
21. At least one group (RCG) totally misunderstands various prophecies in Haggai and Zechariah and expect a type of Church of God reunification that is not prophesied.  Those who rely on this and other misinterpretations will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin.
22. At least one group (LCG) erroneously teaches that the ‘Falling Away’ warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2 has mainly to do with the world and Protestants and not the Church of God (see The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings).  This improper emphasis seems to be leading to a falling away of certain prophetic understandings for those who hold to it.
23. Some groups teach (RCG, UCG, COGWA, LCG) that the man of sin who sits in the temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) is the Antichrist, not the Beast of the Sea. Yet, it is this Beast of the Sea, the final King of the North (Daniel 11:35-36; see also Who is the Man of Sin?). So, when this happens, those who hold to the wrong position will not understand its prophetic ramifications.  The identity of the ‘son of perdition’ is important to understand in the end times.
24. At least one group teaches that the ‘man of sin’ is Joseph Tkach, Jr. (PCG).  This absurd position also partially leads to many other misunderstandings.
25. A few teach that a Jewish temple in Jerusalem temple will be rebuilt before Jesus returns (CBCG, COGFF, and TPM teach this, as do some in LCG). While this is remotely possible it is not required (the “temple of God” in the New Testament has to do with a Christian, not a modern Jewish, location; see Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?). Since this will not happen as a few sometimes teach, those who hold to that position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin.
26. At least two groups (PCG and LCG) teach that the Beast power will consist of 10 or 11 current nations in the European Union (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). The European Union has 28 nation members with several others hoping to join it. And while it may lose nations, the reality is that if the Beast power rises up when there are more than 11 nations in it, those who hold to that position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin. Under Herbert Armstrong, the old WCG taught in at least a dozen documents (Plain Truth, Good News, Tomorrow’s World, booklets, Co-worker letter, Bible Correspondence Course) that this passage referred to 10 nations or GROUPS OF NATIONS. Presuming it will be another number of nations, those who insist on 10 or 11 will not realize when the Great Tribulation will begin.
27. At least one group (CBCG) teaches that the ten kings are to be in charge of ten regions around the world as opposed to being a primarily European power.  Insistence upon this would mean that such a group could not possibly understand when the Great Tribulation would begin.
28. At least one (LCG) or two groups teach that the first verse in the Daniel 11 sequence relating to the beginning of the Great Tribulation is Daniel 11:40. Instead they should teach that it begins with Daniel 11:39, which is shortly after Daniel 11:31, which is also consistent with the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7; see also Who is the King of the North?). Those who hold to the Daniel 11:40 position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin.
29. The leader of at least one group (GOI, James Malm) has claimed that the Great Tribulation could begin in within a year for the last 6 or so years.  Since it does not recognize why this is in error, it will not truly know when the Great Tribulation will begin.
30. At least one group (CGG) teaches that the Beast power is not European.  Since the Beast power will arise in Europe, those who do not understand this will not realize when the Great Tribulation is about to begin (see also Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

Some will come up with their preferred rational as why not to agree with the position of the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) on these matters. Yet, on most of those points, the old WCG taught what I believe that the Bible teaches on them (on the few that it did not, one is consistent with a November 1979 HWA writing and on the others, a former adviser to HWA told me that HWA would have agreed with me on those as well, as one he had not investigated and some others were not issues when he was alive).

It should perhaps be noted that leaders once in the old WCG and now in the Living Church of God and/or the United Church of God confirmed to me personally that I was biblically correct on all the above points, despite the fact that their respective churches hold to several of the errors pointed out above. Those who rely too much on a compromised ministry (cf. Ezekiel 34:7-10) to teach them prophecy that is not truly in accordance with scripture need to realize that according to Jesus’ words in Revelation 2 & 3 and Luke 21, only relatively few Christians will be protected from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world.

There are also more prophetic differences that other COG groups have from the Bible than shown in this post. The reality is that without the right emphasis on the final phase of the work, holding the Bible in sufficiently high regard, and accepting true teachings of one anointed like Elisha, the COG groups that ignore prophetic warnings (or teach them wrongly) are doing so to their peril.

While some discount prophecy, notice what Jesus admonished His faithful to do:

35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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 21:35-36)

Are we not a lot closer to the end now than when Jesus stated that? Should you not be watching world events as properly explained in the light of Bible prophecy?

Jesus knew that all the faithful would not be ready at the end time, which is part of why He warned the Laodiceans as follows:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘” (Revelation 3:14-22)

At COGwriter.com there have long been articles on dozens of claimed COG groups explaining how they have deviated from Philadelphia era teachings. And nearly all of those groups are Laodicean. And the differences included not only areas of prophecy, but also other items of doctrine, church history, and biblical truth.

Additionally, God has allowed my articles on defining Philadelphia and Laodicea to have been published in places such as the Global Church News, Living Church News, and The Journal:News of the Churches of God. These articles were and remain a witness.

Furthermore, an article that I and my wife put together years ago may have been the first independently published (it was published in The Journal:News of the Churches of God in 2005) article explaining why the Tkach list of the supposed 18 restored truths differed from the actual list by the late Herbert W. Armstrong (see The 18 Restored Truths: Do You Know What the First Changes the Tkach Administration Made?).

The Bible teaches:

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8)

Do the COGs believe that there could be no prophet prior to the start of the Great Tribulation that God could use to try to unify the Philadelphians and warn them against their acceptance of Laodicean doctrines and misunderstandings of end-time prophecy?

The various Laodiceans will not properly understand end time prophecy, and that will contribute to them NOT fleeing when they should (cf. Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:14-17). Various ones have written me with their contradictory assertions, and not scripture, and sadly will not know what is happening.

Although Jesus said to watch world events (Mark 13:32-37), many are watching the wrong events, misinterpret certain key prophetic passages, and misunderstand what Jesus wants His most faithful to do in the 21st century that they will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late and hence will not flee to the place of protection when they should (Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:14-17).

At this moment, the only COG-group that possibly can understand when the Great Tribulation will begin, based upon the Bible and basically the later understandings of Herbert W. Armstrong and what all the COG groups teach, is the Continuing Church of God. The Continuing Church of God is also the only group led by a person told by the longest surviving evangelist originally ordained by Herbert Armstrong that God may consider him a prophet (this occurred in 2008) and the only person known to have been anointed and prayed to be granted a ‘double-portion of God’s Spirit by a minister who told him that this was reminiscent of the passing of the mantle to the Prophet Elisha by the Prophet Elijah (cf. 2 Kings 2:9-13).

God has also confirmed the validity of the mantle being passed to dreams to at least three people, all of whom later became part of CCOG (see Dreams, the Bible, and the Continuing Church of God). The witness is there for those with eyes to see.

Of course, most did not believe the great prophet John the Baptist (Luke 28:33), nor that Jesus was the Christ (Luke 28:34) as most of the people then had different criteria than God set (cf. Luke 28:35).

Those who claim to follow God, need to use His criteria.

What about you?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Elijah: Past and Prophesied Information about the original Elijah and some information about the Elijah-related prophecies.
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong?
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets, yet many overlook what the Bible teaches about how to recognize a true one. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? This article contains a scripture-based checklist to assist with this determination.
How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God This is a sermon on YouTube addressing a subject that most in the Church of God do not seem to have looked into very much. It discusses scriptures and dispels some improper assertions that some associated with the COG have made about prophets in this time.
Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it? Here is a related article in the Spanish language: Unidad: ¿Cuál Iglesia de Dios para usted?
Dreams, the Bible, and the Continuing Church of God Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God?
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. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
The 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.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. To see how CCOG has done so far, here is a sermon Continuing Church of God (CCOG) first year anniversary: What has been accomplished? Here is a written link to a version of that sermon in the Spanish language: Aniversario del primer año de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios: ¿Qué se ha cumplido?
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。
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.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.

(By Eric Gaba)

COGwriter

Tensions have again gone up related to the British controlled territories of the Falkland Islands:

June 11, 2015

Britain and Argentina clashed again in their long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands, at the summit in Brussels.

The remote islands in the South Atlantic are claimed by both countries, which fought a war over them in 1982 after Argentinian troops invaded. Argentina calls them the Islas Malvinas.

In Brussels, British Prime Minister David Cameron recalled that people living on the islands had voted overwhelmingly in a referendum in 2013 to remain a British territory and said their wishes should be respected. A British government statement Thursday said “the Prime Minister robustly defended the Falklands and the Islanders’ right to self-determination.” http://www.neurope.eu/article/falklands-shadow-over-the-eu-latin-america-summit/

June 11, 2015

David Cameron has told Argentina in a “clear and robust” way to stop threatening oil and gas companies exercising their legal rights to explore the Falkland Islands and the surrounding waters.

In remarks which prompted the Argentinian president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to accuse him of having acted in an “almost ill-mannered” way, the prime minister told Buenos Aires that it was “unacceptable” to threaten companies hoping to invest in the Falklands.

Cameron made his remarks to Héctor Timerman, the Argentinian foreign minister, at a two-day summit of 61 EU, Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Brussels.

In a round-table discussion before dinner on Wednesday night the prime minister asked for the floor after Timerman had delivered a lengthy lecture on Britain’s “colonialism” which began 182 years ago when the UK “expelled Argentine population and authorities from the Malvinas Islands”, according to the MercoPress news agency.

The prime minister said Argentina should respect the rights of the Falkland islanders and should stop threatening companies. Cameron’s spokeswoman said: “The PM responded following the Argentine foreign minister’s intervention in a clear and robust way.

“The points he made were that we should respect the right of Falkland islanders, that we should respect the principle of self-determination, that there had been a referendum in the Falkland Islands and they had clearly expressed their view. We should respect that.

“The point that the prime minister then made was that it was unacceptable of Argentina to be threatening companies looking to invest in the Falkland Islands or in the waters surrounding that.”

Cameron’s intervention prompted an angry response from Buenos Aires. President Fernández said: “The prime minister’s response was irate, almost ill-mannered.”  http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/11/david-cameron-clashes-argentina-falklands-threats-oil-companies

June 11, 2015

Cameron in furious diplomatic bust-up over the Falklands: PM went ‘irate’ at Argentine foreign minister during Brussels summit

• PM rebuked Argentina’s Hector Timerman during dinner with world leaders
• Timerman said islands were Argentinian and attacked ‘colonialist’ Britain
• Cameron said he should respect the overwhelming will of the Falklanders
• Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the PM was ‘irate’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3119865/Cameron-furious-diplomatic-bust-Falklands-PM-went-irate-Argentine-foreign-minister-Brussels-summit.html#ixzz3cnSSPN7Q

The ‘PM’ mentioned above is David Cameron.

Argentine has long wanted these islands and even changed one of its banknotes this year to indicate its hoped for control over them (see Britain sends more military to Falklands as Russia blasts UK inconsistency).

Many in Latin America see the presence of the UK in the region as an inappropriate relic of colonialism.

The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean on a projection of the Patagonian Shelf about 310 miles (500 kilometers) east of the Patagonian/Argentinian coastline. They consist of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, along with about 700 smaller islands. Stanley, which is on East Falkland, is the capital and largest city. Less than 3,000 people live on them.

Although the voting people who live on the Falklands have made their preferences known, I believe that the Bible suggests that the UK will end up losing the Falklands.

The UK has has controlled the Falkland Islands since the 1830′s and it is obvious that most who live there want to remain under British rule. What might any of this have to do with the Bible?

Notice a prophecy about what was told to the wife of Isaac:

60 “Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them” (Genesis 24:60).

We in the Church of God have been teaching for decades that the United Kingdom and USA would ultimately lose many of their sea gates–we believe they possessed them because of blessings from God and would lose them because of blatant disobedience.

And despite British hopes, this will also ultimately include the loss of the Falkland Islands (which the Argentinians refer to as the Malvinas). Notice a couple of prophetic warnings that are consistent with that:

24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. (Leviticus 18:24-29)

23 ‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, 24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. (Leviticus 26:23-25)

58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues — great and prolonged plagues — and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. (Deuteronomy 28:58-63)

For many years, the major sea gates of the world were possessed/controlled by the United States (Panama Canal and certain locations in the Pacific ocean) and the British Empire (Straits of Malacca, Singapore, Suez Canal, Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Simon’s Town/Cape of Good Hope, etc.). And while that is no longer the case for many of them, they seem to have been prophesied to be taken away for disobedience as well (cf. Deuteronomy 28)—and certainly these nations have disobeyed the God of Abraham, as well as actually have lost many of those gates. Thus, it seems logical to conclude that the remaining “sea gates” that the UK has such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands will be separated from UK control. Spain directly, or perhaps, through the EU (or some other European confederation) indirectly, will force out British control over Gibraltar.

The fact of the losses so far of many of the Anglo-Saxon sea gates should show us that various curses have began to hit the Anglo-nations. More will as well until the Anglo nations (including the USA) will be no more.

As far as South America itself goes, it is my belief that based upon biblical prophecy that most of South America will ultimately align itself with the rising European power (which will ultimately not be nice to the British). And it would strongly appear that Argentina will be one of the nations that will support the final European power.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? For many years, the major sea gates of the world were possessed/controlled by the United States (Panama Canal and certain locations in the Pacific ocean) and the British Empire (Straits of Malacca, Singapore, Suez Canal, Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Simon’s Town/Cape of Good Hope, Malta, etc.), and many are no longer under their control. Spain wants Gibraltar and Argentina wants the Falklands (also known as the Malvinas). UK Prime Minister David Cameron says the UK will defend the Falklands Gibraltar. Does the Bible give clues as to what will happen with those ‘sea gates’? Do promises made the Jacob’s mother Rebekah play a role? What about Deuteronomy 28? This is a video.
Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? Spain wants Gibraltar and Argentina wants the Falklands (also known as the Malvinas). Does the Bible give clues as to what will happen with these ‘sea gates’? A version of the article in the Spanish language would be ¿Perderá el Reino Unido a Gibraltar y las Islas Falkland (Malvinas)?
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?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
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?
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?

USA Army calculation of a single EMP bomb impact on USA

COGwriter

Could the USA be suddenly knocked out electronically?  Yesterday, a reader sent me the following:

Letter to President Barack Obama

May 27, 2015

President Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,
We need your personal intervention to provide for the protection of the American people against an existential threat posed by natural and manmade electromagnetic pulse (EMP). The consequent failure of critical infrastructure that sustain our lives is a major national security threat and would be catastrophic to our people and our nation.

The national Intelligence Council, which speaks for the entire U.S. Intelligence Community, published in its 2012 unclassified Global Trends 2030 report that an EMP is one of only eight Black Swan events that could change the course of global civilization by or before 2030. No official study denies the view that an EMP is a potentially catastrophic societal threat that needs to be addressed urgently. America is not prepared to be without water, electricity, telephones, computer networks, heating, air conditioning, transportation (cars, subways, buses, airplanes), and banking. All the benefits of our just-in-time ecomony would come to a deadly halt, including the production of petroleum products, clothing, groceries and medicine. Think about cities without electricity to pump water to their residents…

Sincerely yours,

Dr. George Baker – Former U.S. Defense Nuclear Agency EMP Program Director, Professor Emeritus on Critical Infrastructure Protection, James Madison University

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) (Rtd.) – Father of the Congressional EMP Commission

Jen Bawden – Task Force on National and Homeland Security and Member of the Steering Committee of the Secure the Grid Coalition

Senator Rudy Boschwitz  (R-MN) (Rtd.) – Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission, President G.H.W. Bush’s Emissary to Ethiopia (1991)

Ambassador Henry F. Cooper – Former Director of the Strategic Defense Initiative, Chief U.S. Negotiator in the Geneva Defense and Space Talks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Strategic and Space Systems

Thomas Donnelly – Co-Director of the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies and AEI

Fritz Ermarth – Former Chairman National Intelligence Council, Director of National Security Programs, Nixon Center

Frank Gaffney, Jr. – Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy

Jerry Goodwin – President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) New York Metropolitan Chapter

Dr. William R. Graham – Former Chair of the EMP Commission, Science Advisor to President Reagan, Director of White House Science and Technology Policy, and NASA Administrator

Professor Sam Hayes (Rtd.) – Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking, Emeritus, Harvard Business School

David Hunt – Former CIA Senior Clandestine Officer and Former FBI Chief of Station, NYC

John Kappenman – Space Weather Consultant to Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and EMP Commission; Designer ACE Satellite and EMP Blocking Devices; President, Storm Analysis Consultants

Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) (Rtd.) – Co-chair of AEI’s American Internationalism Project

Robert Laidley – President, The Atlantic and Conservation Institute

Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) (Rtd.) – Co-chair of AEI’s American Internationalism Project

Herb London – President of the London Center for Policy Research, New York

Vice Admiral Robert Monroe (Rtd.) – Former Director U.S. DEfense Nuclear Agency

Major General Robert Newman (Rtd.) – Former Adjunct General of Virginia

Michael O’Hanlon – Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, specializing in defense and foreign policy issues

Dr. Robert L. Pfaltzgraff – President of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis Inc. and Shelby Cullom Devis Professor of International Security Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

Danielle Pletka – Senior Vice President for foreign and defense policy studies at AEI

Dr. Peter Vincent Pry – Former Congressional EMP Commission, Congressional Strategic Posture Commission, House Armed Services Committee, CIA, Executive Director Task Force on National and Homeland Security

Dr. Gary J. Schmitt – Co-Director of the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies at AEI

Dr. George Schwab – President of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy

Admiral James Stavridis (Rtd.) – Dean of the Fletcher School, Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander (2009-2013)

Ambassador Kurt Volker – Former United States Ambassador to NATO

The Hon. David M. Walker – Former U.S. Comptroller General

Rep. Curtis Weldon (R-PA) (Rtd.) – Former Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee; and Co-chair of the Duma-Congress Study Group, the official inter-parliamentary relationship between the United States and Russia; Sponsor of the 1998 EMP Commission Legislation

John Whitehead – Former Senior Partner and Co-Chairman Goldman Sachs, Chairman Emeritus Brookings Institution, Former Deputy Secretary of State, Former Chairman AEA Investors, Former Chairman The International Rescue Committee, Former Chairman The Asia Society, Director of the Nature Conservancy, and Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Died February 7th, 2015

Ambassador James Woolsey – Former Director of Central Intelligence

Copies to Administration Officials:

The Hon. Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States

The Hon. John Kerry, Secretary of State

The Hon. Ashton Carter, Secretary of Defense

The Hon. Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy

The Hon. Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security

SOURCE: http://www.emptaskforcenhs.com/uncategorized/letter-to-president-barack-obama/

What actions, if any, that USA President Barack Obama has or will or can take about this is unclear.

Notice also the following:

June 5, 2015

Smart cities, smart cars, smart homes, smart appliances, smart phones and smart electrical power grids. With everything so smart, we forgot one simple reality: smart bombs.

Most “smart” technology has digital componentry at its core to connect and share data, completing actions such as opening and closing your garage door from a thousand miles away. But then the unthinkable happens and a terrorist detonates a smart bomb. You awake to no lights, coffee, computer or refrigeration. Your car will not start and your phone will not call.

This would go on for months.

Today, everything has computer chips and digital makeup that can be destroyed with “smart” bombs or non-nuclear electromagnetic pulses (NNEMP).

A NNEMP is a device that causes an electronic pulse that can wipe out all digital-based smart technology when activated near a critical digital or electrical device. It can fit in a suitcase or be deployed by a remotely operated drone. …

Do you know there are six critical interconnections for this nation’s electric power transmission grid? The largest of the six is called PJM, the Mid-Atlantic region’s power-pooling system, which includes Pennsylvania. Its function is to operate the region’s power grid and coordinate the movement of wholesale electricity between the other five “interconnection points” and all the investor-owned major utilities, including Allegheny Power and Duquesne Light.

Over the past 40 years, the electric-transmission, generation and distribution systems of the major investor-owned utilities (which provide approximately 80 percent of our country’s power) have been retrofitted with electronic digital upgrades.

If you render one point of the PJM useless with a NNEMP, we lose power. Read more: http://triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/8478066-74/smart-power-electric#ixzz3clNmzfkH

An EMP attack can be disastrous.

Let’s look at part of the first letter sent to Barack Obama again:

an existential threat posed by natural and manmade electromagnetic pulse (EMP). The consequent failure of critical infrastructure that sustain our lives is a major national security threat and would be catastrophic to our people and our nation.

An “existential threat” means that the USA, as it has been, would no longer exist. “Catastrophic” results are expected. The EMP threat is real and can come from natural sources as well as from certain types of bombs.  Two or three such bombs could severely damage the electronic infrastructure of the entire continental USA.  Many nations, including Iran, Russia, North Korea (see US vulnerable to North Korean nuke attack), and the confederation known as the European Union are believed to have EMP bombs.  Terrorists have long been trying to get one too.

The USA faces a massive threat from EMP-related issues.  The USA itself has been developing emp bomb technology (see US Air Force develops electromagnetic pulse weapon), which, of course, also encourages other nations to do so. Plus, the USA is likely to share that technology with Europe.

Of course, the EMP threat is not new.  I warned about it in a book I wrote six years ago in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect:

Notice the following from N.A.S.A.:

Solar Storm Warning: Researchers announced that a storm is coming—the most intense solar maximum in fifty years. The prediction comes from a team led by Mausumi Dikpati of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)…

Solar physicist David Hathaway of the National Space Science & Technology Center (NSSTC)…has confidence in the conveyor belt model and agrees with Dikpati that the next solar maximum should be a doozy. But he disagrees with one point…a storm is coming.

Solar outbursts have been proposed that could essentially wipe out modern civilization.

Notice a scenario that is based on a report from the U.S. National Academy of Scientists (although the precise date seems to be speculative):

IT IS midnight on 22 September 2012 and the skies above Manhattan are filled with a flickering curtain of colourful light…Within 90 seconds, the entire eastern half of the US is without power.

A year later and millions of Americans are dead and the nation’s infrastructure lies in tatters. The World Bank declares America a developing nation. Europe, Scandinavia, China and Japan are also struggling to recover from the same fateful event – a violent storm, 150 million kilometres away on the surface of the sun…

According to the NAS report, a severe space weather event in the US could induce ground currents that would knock out 300 key transformers within about 90 seconds, cutting off the power for more than 130 million people…

First to go – immediately for some people – is drinkable water…With no electricity to pump water from reservoirs, there is no more…There is simply no electrically powered transport: no trains, underground or overground…For hospitals, that would mean about 72 hours of running a bare-bones, essential care only, service. After that, no more modern healthcare.

The truly shocking finding is that this whole situation would not improve for months, maybe years…

There also seems to be a couple of Mayan predictions recorded in the 16^th century that suggest some type of solar flare-up will affect the earth:

Chilam Balam (Mayan priest): Heaven and earth shall burn…It is the holy judgment, the holy judgment.

Napuctun (Mayan priest): It shall burn on earth; there shall be a circle in the sky.

Another N.A.S.A./N.O.A.A. report has indicated that the next solar cycle peak may be later… The Bible itself warns of a time of scorching solar heat (Revelation 16:8-9…)…

that flood and other prophecies are expected before 2030 (but after 2012)…

Whether or not one believes secular scientists who assert that humans are causing “global warming,” and islands will be submerged, the Bible is clear that a time of high heat will happen, probably worsened by a solar flare-up of some type. It also mentions the islands being gone:

⁸ Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹ And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory…every island fled away (Revelation 16:8-9, 20).

The signs will be powerful. And the Babylonian power will fall during the Day of the Lord (Revelation 18:2). (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect. Nazarene Books, 2009)

So, my 2012 book was right that certain other prophecies, that could be related to natural EMP, would not happen until after 2012. But heat and others troubles will happen, and some heat and other weather problems have been happening.

Here is something I wrote later in my book Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term:

The debt situation of the USA is putting it at risk of being unable to recover should it be hit by weather problems, terrorist acts, war, riots, solar flares, severe earthquakes, civil unrest, devastation of their genetically-modified food supplies, food shortages, and/or various pestilences–an intensity of “sorrows” such as Jesus discussed in Matthew 24:4-8 leading up to the time of the Great Tribulation. Disasters, especially if there is an ElectroMagnetic Pulse (emp) attack or a severe solar flare storm, could be part of a so-called “perfect storm” of events that could set the USA for destruction.

Many sorrows that the U.S.A. will face, like severe weather problems, diseases and earthquakes, will happen irrespective of who is in the White House (Amos 4:7-10; Luke 21:11). Bible prophecy shows that no matter who is the next U.S.A. president (or his possible successors), the King of the North and King of the South will rise up and the U.S.A. will be ultimately destroyed unless national repentance happens. Barack Obama, and some others however, may hasten the day of destruction. (Thiel B. Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term. Nazarene Books. 2013, pp. 69-70)

The Bible warns about a time in the Book of Revelation of solar disturbances:

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

Although at least one “2012″ book has tried somewhat to tie the “solar flare” disaster into the Mayan date (Joseph LE. Apocalypse 2012: An Investigation into Civilization’s End. Broadway, 2008; and that author distanced himself from aspects of his book before the Mayan date), the prophesied real time of scorching solar heat cannot come for several years. Though electrical problems with solar flares have happened in the past, and those can occur almost any time.

But despite the known risks back then, apparently many leaders feel that US President Barack Obama has not done enough to deal with the threat since he took office in 2009.

Jesus taught of a time of “troubles” that would come in Mark 13.  While most in the USA act like it will go on indefinitely and cannot truly be brought down, the reality is that EMP and other events can devastate the USA.

Are you ready spiritually to deal with what can happen in the USA?  Even if you do not live in the USA, consider how its devastation could affect you and the country you are currently living in.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
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.
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. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
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

What is the purpose of your life? Does God have a plan for you personally?

Yes, but it is different than what many have believed.

Why did God make YOU? What is YOUR purpose?

The Bible teaches:

God is love (1 John 4:16).

The LORD is good (Nahum 1:7).

God made you to share His love with YOU.

As a matter of fact,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

Love is the main part of the meaning of life.

And YOU are also to love,

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8 7).

The Bible also shows,

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also (John 4:20-21).

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:29-34)

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well (James 2:8).

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. (John 14:21)

The Sabbath, for example, reflects love towards others as well as God’s love toward humanity–as it is clear that God intended Divine rest from the beginning. The Bible does teach that real love and ethics are found in the law of God. For more on the Bible and love, please read the article The Ten Commandments Reflect Love.

Jesus taught:

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise (Luke 6:31).

Jesus also taught:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Since we are to be blessed (Matthew 25:34), this means that we are to be givers.

You may be thinking, “well I have heard some of this before from some religion,” what is MY purpose? Who am I? Why me?

YOU are unique. You are one who can give love in a unique way. Ultimately God has special plans for YOU personally. YOU are not the same as everyone else.  Everything you have been through and will go through will help prepare you for what you will be able to do eternally.

The Bible makes it clear that we are not all the same and are not to contribute the same way, and it uses the analogy of the body in 1 Corinthians 12:12-23 to do so:

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

Yes, YOU, whether strong or weak, are necessary. God’s plan includes a plan for YOU! Yes, you.

If you are having trouble now and wonder if your life is not going as it should, you may wish to read a booklet, based upon biblical principles, titled The Seven Laws of Success.

You are to receive and you to give love.

This is the true Christian meaning of life.

In the Old Testament, Job understood that God had a plan for him when he stated to God, “You shall desire the work of Your hands (Job 14:15). What Job meant was that after he was resurrected (this is discussed in the verses prior) Job knew that God had a meaning of life for him personally.

In the New Testament, Jesus taught the same thing. When He taught,

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself (John 14:2-3).

Jesus was saying that He would prepare a place for YOU if you were one of the Father’s children. God will work with you and you will not ever be forsaken:

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)

5…For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Furthermore, notice the following:

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked (1 John 2:5-6)

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:9-11).

We are to love and receive love.

Those who are depressed about the suffering in today’s world need to understand that the Bible teaches,

God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).

And the happiness we will experience will be beyond that which humans can imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9).

God’s plan for you is to show you love through the forgiveness of sins, to ultimately reveal His loving plan of salvation to all, to give you more than you can even imagine, and for you to be able to show love to others throughout eternity.

God does have a plan for you. God loves you and wants you to love others.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true? Here is a link to a YouTube sermon titled Is it logical to believe in God?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge. Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Quickly Disprove Evolution as the Origin of Life.
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Does the Bible allow for the creation of the universe and earth billions of years ago? Why do some believe they are no older than 6,000 years old? What is the gap theory? Where the days of creation in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3 24 hours long?
Where Did God Come From? Any ideas? And how has God been able to exist? Who is God?
How is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient? Here is a biblical article which answers what many really wonder about it.
Has time been lost? It Saturday the seventh day of the week?
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading. Here is a link in Mandarin Chinese: 读圣经 Here is a link in the Spanish language: Lea la Biblia.
Bible: Superstition or Authority? Should you rely on the Bible? Is it reliable? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
What is Your Destiny? Deification? Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? What is your ultimate destiny? What does the Bible teach? Is deification only a weird or cultic idea? Are you to rule the universe? Here is a link to the video sermon What is Your Destiny?

Medjugorje Icon at Podbrdo, place of apparition (Beemwej)

COGWriter

Vladimir Putin met with Italy’s Prime Minister and then Pope Francis:

June 10, 2015

The pope, a frequent critic of military action, has taken a cautious approach to criticism of Russia since its annexation of Crimea…

Putin arrived in a stretch limousine at the Vatican more than an hour late for his meeting, after flying from Milan, where he had met Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi earlier in the day.

Pope Francis has also sought to strengthen ties with the Russian Orthodox church as part of a broader aim to promote Christian unity. Hackett added that Putin had in the past discussed his concern for Christians who were being persecuted in the Middle East, particularly in Syria. …

Putin has been treated to a far warmer welcome in Italy than he would get in any of the other large EU countries. …

A report in Crux, the online news site, noted that Francis and Putin were something of an “odd geopolitical couple” who had formed an “improbably strong partnership”. It began after the pope sent a letter to Putin in 2013 – before the G20 meeting in Moscow – urging leaders to find a non-military solution to the conflict in Syria. In his talk with other world leaders, Putin reportedly quoted from the pope’s letter, saying: “We might listen to the pope.” No military action was taken.

Putin has also spoken out about the “dire” situation facing Christians in the Middle East who are being persecuted and killed – a topic that is frequently also mentioned by the pope. The pontiff has chided world leaders for seeking to diminish anti-Christian violence and the topic was likely raised on Wednesday.  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/10/pope-francis-urged-to-take-tougher-stance-against-vladimir-putin

June 10, 2015

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzo met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Milan, where the two leaders were attending the Expo 2015 international fair.  http://www.voanews.com/content/italian-pm-meets-with-russia-putin/2815859.html

June 10, 2015

VATICAN CITY — A serious-looking Pope Francis met Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a talk focused on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that pose complex and contrasting diplomatic challenges for the two leaders.

Francis spent 50 minutes in a private meeting with Putin…

A serious atmosphere reportedly hung over the start of the Vatican visit, with the pope lacking his usual jovial persona.

Putin was greeted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, head of the papal household, and a line of dignitaries before being ushered inside to see Francis.

During the meeting, the pope affirmed the need to work sincerely toward peace in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of rebuilding a climate of dialogue, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said afterward.

The pope also talked about the grave humanitarian situation in the country and the need to give access to relief workers, Lombardi said. …

Francis gave Putin the “Angel of Peace” medal, which the pope said has the ability to create solidarity between populations.

The two reportedly discussed Syria and Iraq, too.

Putin has positioned himself as a champion of beleaguered Christian minorities in war-ravaged countries such as Syria and Iraq, and protecting those communities is also a priority for Francis.  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/06/10/putin-pope-meet-vatican/71007412/

June 10, 2015

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis met privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vatican on Wednesday, using the talks to call for a sincere effort aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said their talks concentrated on the Ukraine conflict and the Middle East, where the Holy See is worried about the fate of the Christian minority.

Putin earlier Wednesday met Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Milan and arrived an hour late to the meeting at the Vatican — his second with Francis since he became pope in 2013.

Lombardi said Francis stressed the need “to commit oneself in a sincere and great effort to bring” peace to Ukraine, through dialogue and implementation of the Minsk accords. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/10/world/europe/ap-eu-italy-putin.html?_r=0

Pope Francis also gave Palestinian Authority President Abbas an ‘angel of peace’ recently (see Pope Francis calls Palestinian President an ‘angel of peace’).  Whether Pope Francis actually called Vladimir Putin an ‘angel of peace’ was not reported.  Because of Vladimir Putin’s favor towards Vatican City, his resistance to aspects of the homosexual agenda, and certain other steps he has taken, he has a special place in the heart of the Pope.

Since Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin have gotten along well in the past, I doubted that Pope Francis would be publicly stern about anything associated with the Russian President.

Pope Francis wants unity with the Eastern Orthodox badly.  Leading Greek Orthodox bishops have blasted Pope Francis (see Many Greek Orthodox do NOT want to accept the Pope’s ecumenical agenda nor view of history), so presumably he believes that working towards an agreement with the Russian Orthodox (the most numerous of the branches of that religion) is more realistic.  Pope Francis does not want to mess up his own ecumenical agenda.  Vladimir Putin is Russian Orthodox.

Another thing that Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis have interest in is their version of ‘Mary.’  On his last visit in 2013, Vladimir Putin gave the pontiff an old Marian icon that both he and the pontiff kissed (see Russia’s Putin and Pope Francis both kiss Marian icon).

Pope Francis hopes that unity with some of the Eastern Orthodox as well as his Marian views will help lead to the type of ecumenical unity he and some others have long wanted.  Vladimir Putin is not opposed to cooperation with the Vatican, so politically this can work for both, though Pope Francis also does not want to upset Catholics nor the Ukrainian Orthodox.

But Russia is a bigger piece of the pie, so to speak.

It may partially because of potential ‘pieces of the pie’ that Pope Francis made what seems to be a disparaging comment about the false Marian apparition at Medjugorje today.  A reader sent me a link to the following:

June 9, 2015

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis gave a hint Tuesday about his take on the reportedapparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Medjugorje shrine in southern Bosnia, dismissing a reliance on regular visions of the Madonna as mere “novelty-seeking” for the faithful.

Francis spoke during his morning homily, three days after making a day trip to Sarajevo. En route home, Francis told reporters the Vatican would soon decide whether to formally recognize the Medjugorje phenomenon as authentic.

In his homily, Francis dismissed those “who always need novelty in their Christian identity” and say: “But where are the visionaries who tell us today about ‘The letter that the Madonna will send tomorrow at 4 p.m.?'”

“This isn’t Christian identity,” he said.  “God’s last word is called Jesus and nothing more.”

The Medjugorje apparition has been disputed since 1981, when six youths said they had regularly seen visions of the Virgin there. Unlike Fatima in Portugal or Lourdes in France, the Vatican has been cautious about calling the sightings authentic. Neither Rome nor the local diocese has approved Medjugorje as an official shrine site and the Vatican has told dioceses not to organize official pilgrimages there.    http://news.yahoo.com/medjugorje-decision-nears-pope-dismisses-visionaries-161840266.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

I fully agree with Pope Francis that these false Marian messages are not from God.  No ‘Marian’ apparition message has come from God, including Fatima (of which I wrote a book about).

Medjugorge should be simple for Catholics to denounce because of the content of some of the messages given in them are blatant contradictions to some Church of Rome positions.

The Vatican has been expected to issue a position on Medjugorje (see ).  It is possible that it considers this false ‘Marian’ apparition to be too far out there to promote.

The Vatican still has an ecumenical and interfaith agenda, and the Eastern Orthodox and Marian apparitions remain part of it.

For more information, please check out the following:

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?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video of related interest could be Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern 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?
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.
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? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Do You Know That Babylon is Forming? How is the final Babylon forming? Are Protestants such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland are endorsing something dangerous? Could Pope Francis be the ‘False Prophet’ that the Bible warns against? Is an antipope expected to endorse a one-world religion? Here is a link to a related written article In Vatican City: New Babylon more openly forming!
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
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?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy.
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here is a link to a related video: Satan’s Plan A Brief Introduction.
The ‘Lady’ of Guadalupe: Any Future Ramifications? It is claimed that a female apparition appeared near Mexico City on December 12, 1531. How has it affected the world? What might it suggest about the future? A video of related interest is titled: The ‘Lady of Guadalupe’ and Prophecy.
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Did early Christians teach Mary had an immaculate conception and led a sinless life?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions. Whether or not you believe anything happened at Fatima, if you live long enough, you will be affected by its ramifications (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17). Fatima Shock! provides concerned Christians with enough Catholic-documented facts to effectively counter every false Marian argument. In addition to the print version, there is a Kindle version of Fatima Shock! which you can acquire in seconds.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
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. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.