Church of God News

(Photo by ISC Kosmotras))

COGwriter

Voice of America (VOA) reports that North Korea has been upset about a movie. It allegedly has hacked into Sony Pictures, and now it is threatening the US White House:

Notice also the following:

September 15, 2015

(CNN) In its latest bout of saber rattling, North Korea says it is ready to use nuclear weapons against the United States and other foes if they pursue “their reckless hostile policy” toward Kim Jong Un’s regime.

In a statement carried by the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, an atomic energy official said Pyongyang is improving its nuclear weapons arsenal “in quality and quantity.” http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/15/asia/north-korea-nuclear-program/

North Korea has long had nuclear weapons, but it apparently thinks they are better now.

North Korean politicians have often been playing a dangerous game with their country and their people, and hopefully they will realize that a military conflict is not in their interests.

While North Korea is not prophesied to take over the USA (Europe is per Daniel 11:39, etc.), as I wrote in the past, it certainly is possible that it may decided to actually launch one or more missiles at the USA in the future (or take other “terroristic actions; cf. Leviticus 26:26).

North Korea, sadly, is certainly capable of terrorism.  It has threatened the USA and its White House in the past (see North Korea threatens the White House).

And while some may find it hard to believe, North Korea is believed to have the ability to knock out a lot of the USA’s power supply with its electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon capability (see VOA: ‘US Defenseless Against North Korean EMP Threat’). (This type of weapon may also be used by the coming prophesied King of the South and/or the King of the North.)

The USA, despite its military strength, is vulnerable to being hurt by EMP weapons as well as nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, dirty bombs, terrorism, and biological weapons. Everyone knows that EMPs can basically work as advertised, this may give the North Koreans more reason to look further into using them if they feel pressed.

If North Korea does take certain steps to sufficiently aggravate the USA into a full military conflict, it needs to realize that it likely will no longer exist as it is.  At some point in time, however, I believe that both Koreas will be reunited based upon certain verses in Revelation, yet whether this will be because of a war involving the USA or something else, that is not clear.

Of course, if North Korea did so, it would not do well once the USA retaliated. So, North Korea is not likely to publicly and direct nuke the USA. But with its despotic leader, almost anything is possible.

The Koreans are Asians and occupy the “land of the sunrise” (Revelation 16:2) and I believe that they are part of the kings of the east that the Book of Revelation discusses having a role in the end time (Revelation 9:16). For years I have written that I expect that they will reunify. The unification of North and South Korea is consistent with biblical prophecy. But North Korea may take unusual actions before then, and it may regret doing so.

Whether this reunification will be because of a war involving the USA, South Korea, or something else (such as waiting until Revelation 9:16; & 16:2), is not clear. But the situation in Korea will change.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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？
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?
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.
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
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?
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?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States 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 Mitt Romney. 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 Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States–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–Amazon Kindle edition.)

Pentagon map for Jade Helm 15

COGwriter

The Pentagon has a project called Jade Helm 15 which concerned many, but that ends today.

Various ones had concerns about it:

On April 28, Texas governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor the operation, declaring, “During the training operation, it is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property right and civil liberties will not be infringed.” (Jade Helm 15, Wikipedia, accessed 05/04/15)

With talk of Jade Helm blowing up across the Internet and the US military pushing back against what they call “conspiracy theorists,” the statements below by Roy Potter, a former a 28 year veteran of the U.S. Army, ranked Lt. Colonel, who served in in various Military Police and Military Intelligence positions across the world, are a must hear as he tells listeners they had better “wake up quickly.”

Potter highlights the Jade Helm training exercises scheduled to take place in multiple states, specifically listing two of those states as “hostile,”and he points out this operation is “unprecedented and dangerous,” detailing the critical difference between a training exercise geared for civil disobedience and and exercise listing “unconventional warfare,” to “take over those states militarily,” which is what Jade Helm is listed as.

NOTE– Two of the states listed as “hostile” in the Jade Helm operation are Texas and Utah, both, according to this report from December 2014, are listed as two of the top seven states with the most “gun friendly regulations.”

Coincidence?

Potter states that “when your government starts to consider you a threat, one of two things have happened….. either you have gone astray, or they have gone astray.” Potter continues on to say that he can “guarantee that anybody who stands up with the constitution, with the idea of individual liberty, should not be the enemy of this government unless the government has gone bad.” (http://allnewspipeline.com/Lt_Col_Jade_Helm_Unprecedented_Dangerous.php)

If Obama really WAS plotting to seize military control of the heart of Red America, what would his henchmen at the Pentagon be telling us? … consider the mysterious closings of Wal-Mart stores and Caterpillar distribution centers in areas that would be perfect as military staging areas and as holding facilities for thousands of U.S. civilians taken captive by Obama. …

Note that Texas and Utah, both of which voted overwhelmingly against the Kenyan Usurper, are labeled “hostile”, while Obama-supporting California and Colorado are “permissive.” Coincidence? It would be wild speculation to think it was merely that.

The good news is that thanks to modern-day Paul Reveres, the patriots have been alerted. One alert American even figured out the code and passed it on to the OathKeepers: “Jade Helm. Jade is blue. Helm is German for helmet. Blue Helmet. UN blue helmets?” http://jaybookman.blog.ajc.com/2015/05/05/jade-helm-jade-is-blue-helm-is-german-for-helmet-blue-helmet-un-blue-helmets/

I received emails from several who were very concerned about it.  Here is some of what I posted about Jade Helm 15 on May 20, 2015 (see Jade Helm: What is the truth?):

While there could be issues associated with Jade Helm, notice what the Bible teaches:

2 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’
Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,
Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
Let Him be your fear,
And let Him be your dread.
14 He will be as a sanctuary,
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
To both the houses of Israel,
As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble;
They shall fall and be broken,
Be snared and taken.”

16 Bind up the testimony,
Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the Lord,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.
18 Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion. (Isaiah 8:12-18)

This is teaching that problems will come to the USA (Jacob placed his name on the primary progenitor of the USA, Manasseh in Genesis 48:13-16), but that those in the true Church, called those who dwell in Mount Zion above, should place their confidence in God.  …

So, what is the truth about Jade Helm 15?

The truth is that the US military is holding a massive training exercise in which it designated a couple of states as hostile. The truth is that I do not believe it is the intent of Jade Helm 15 to actually takeover those states, like Texas, this Summer.

Another truth is that we are also seeing an increased militarization of local police forces across the USA. This has many concerned. And yes, I do believe that the USA is preparing for civil unrest, martial law, and possible civil war. And yes, I believe that massive civil unrest and fighting will come to the USA.

What about Americans taken captive?

The biblical reality is that the USA will one day be taken over (but not in 2015) and many of its people made slaves. And this will also affect Canadians, as well as those in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Here is some of what I posted about it back on April 18, 2015 (see Disaster preparations: A prelude to martial law?):

Now what do any of the steps and exercises by the US government mean?

Do some of the ‘elites’ realize that the time may come when the economy of the USA could collapse?

Yes.

The Bible itself teaches that an economic collapse along with the taking over of the greatly indebted nation will happen in the appointed time of the end in Habakkuk 2:1-8.

Do some of the ‘elites’ realize that the time may come when their will be major civil unrest in the USA?

Yes.  This is consistent with the ‘troubles’ Jesus foretold in Mark 13:8.

Do some of the ‘elites’ have a plan for martial law in the USA?

Yes. Though not all of them.

Do some of the ‘elites’ realize that the time may come when the USA could be hit with an electromagnetic pulse weapon that could devastate modern society?

Yes.  And if a major emp incident happens, this would also be consistent with the ‘troubles’ Jesus foretold in Mark 13:8.  It could help weaken the USA, which the Bible shows will be taken over (cf. Daniel 11;39: see also Anglo – America in Prophecy).

Do some of the ‘elites’ fear that their changes to social policies, like pushing the homosexual agenda, diminishing the impact of biblical morality, and the reduction of promised Constitutional rights, could result in armed rebellion by some considered to be ‘right-wing conservatives’?

Yes.  Jesus warned of wars and rumors of war in Matthew 24:6, which happen before the end (cf. Matthew 24:7; 21).

Does this mean that this is now THE time to flee?

Not THE time. Jesus taught when THE time to flee would be:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  (Matthew 24:15-16)

The above has not yet happened.  And it will not happen prior to 2018 (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).

Since the Bible teaches:

23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23).

The time could come prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (which begins in Matthew 24:21) that people will need to leave their communities and relocate.  That would be consistent with the following words of Jesus:

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

Notice that persecution is to occur before the time to flee is mentioned in verses 15-16.  So, the time could well come when something will need to be done before it is time for the Philadelphian Christians are to flee.  Also notice that sandwiched between verses 9-13 and 15-15 is verse 14:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

Many who are concerned about government actions, seem not to be concerned about verse 14 or believe that somehow, without their help, God will take care of that. But many forget that Jesus taught:

35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:35)

And while God will protect some Christians, He is not planning on providing protection to those who do not support going through the open doors (Revelation 3:8) to proclaim the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:7; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3).  Of the Christians around at the end times, Jesus only promised to protect the Philadelphia ones from the Great Tribulation:

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:  8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.  9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.  10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.  11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.  12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:7-13)

These Christians are willing to lose their lives for the gospel’s sake (Mark 8:35).  And many will suffer persecution before the Great Tribulation starts (Revelation 12:13; Daniel 11:29-35), but those that are not killed then are promised protection during the hour of trial that begins with the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

You may feel that you are a Christian and because of that God MUST protect you during the Great Tribulation, but that is false.  Consider the following two portions of scripture

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  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 21:34-36)

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.  14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13-17)

Notice that in both Luke 21 and Revelation 12 that there are two types of Christians mentioned.  One group, which Revelation 3:7-10 shows are the Philadelphians who go through the open door (for gospel proclamation) are protected, and the other group that apparently did not consider that important enough does not.

Just because you may be a real Christian and believe you have a sufficient relationship with God does not mean that you will not go through the Great Tribulation.  Do not rely on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), but God’s (cf. Proverbs 3:6) if you hope to be protected.  Jesus taught that all Christians needed to pray throughout history to be accounted worthy to escape what is coming.  And we are closer to that return than ever before.

That being said, will martial law ever come to the USA?

Yes.

But while there may be some aspects of it imposed by some of the ‘elite’ prior to the start of the Great Tribulation, let me state that totalitarian martial law and worse will hit the USA after the Great Tribulation begins (Matthew 24:21-22)–see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?

Do most of the ‘elites’ realize that the USA will be taken over by a European power that will impose murderous totalitarian control?

No.  Nor do most of the European elites (see also Isaiah 10:7).

The military power that will exercise totalitarian martial law will not be controlled by the USA, but by the Beast power that will come to the USA from Europe (Daniel 11:39; Revelation 13).

Until then, pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36) and take the type of steps that God would want you to (cf. Proverbs 22:3; 27:12; Mark 8:35).

As far as captivity coming, there are numerous additional Bible prophecies about that. Here are some:

1 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them…12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them…8 Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries. (Ezekiel 5:1-2,12; 6:8).

13 “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. (Ezekiel 22:13-15)

By having massive debt that they will not pay back, the peoples of the USA and UK make a “dishonest profit” and they will be scattered among nations and countries–via “all the winds.” Following “all the winds” means that not all will end up in the same place.

God says if those of Israel and Ephraim (the Anglo-Saxon descended nations) do not listen and obey Him, they will have their cities destroyed and be scattered:

27 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me,
28 then I also will walk contrary to you in fury;
and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.
30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols;
and My soul shall abhor you.
31 I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas.
32 I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.
33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you;
your land shall be desolate and your cities waste. (Leviticus 26:27-33)

16 Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit…
17 My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations. (Hosea 9:16-17)

Their lands will be uprooted (which means the survivors will end up somewhere else). More information on that can be found in the article Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?

This takeover will eliminate the United States of America, and ultimately its British-descended allies, like the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.  But it will not be in 2015, 2016, 2017, nor 2018.

We in the Continuing Church of God strive to always rely on the Bible: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).

As, based upon the proper understanding of biblical prophecy, I was right about Jade Helm, and I also will be right about the takeover of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies and the start of the Great Tribulation.

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

Jade Helm, Captivity, and Prophecy This is a video telling about Jade Helm and the frightening truth about what will happen after Jade Helm 15 is past.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
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?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2022 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
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.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 188 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Hillary Clinton and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also discusses Republicans. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Hillary Clinton Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Hopi, and other America-Related Prophecies? $11.99.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. 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 Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

Jonathan Cahn posted the following today:

September 14, 2015

The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah have gone out to millions…

Did I believe that there would be a mass revival? No, not yet. Rather, before God brings judgment, He sends warning. http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/51954-jonathan-cahn-a-tectonic-event-awaits-america

His books went out to millions, but contained incorrect information.  In the article I saw from him today, he failed to apologize for his errors related to his claimed Shemitah year–which ended yesterday.  God does have warnings, but Jonathan Cahn has misunderstood several of them.

Here is more related to Jonathan Cahn, who is author of the book The Mystery of the Shemitah:

‘Strange signs’ on Shemitah’s final days

One occurred at Ground Zero, another in Mecca …

Among those who have been studying and teaching on the seven-year Shemitah cycle, the expectations have varied wildly. The Hebrew word “Shemitah” can be interpreted as “release” or “collapse,” which has led to predictions of stock market collapses and economic doom, wars, natural disasters and the period of time Jesus referred to as the “beginning of sorrows.”

Jonathan Cahn, who lifted the Shemitah out of Old Testament obscurity (it is found in Leviticus 25:1-7 and Deuteronomy 15:1-3) with his New York Times-bestseller “The Mystery of the Shemitah,” said judgment, in the form of a “great shaking” is coming to America and the world. The last two Shemitah years, 2000-01 and 2007-08, brought record stock market collapses, similar to the collapses in the Shemitah years of 1973, 1980 and 1987.

He told WND that he noticed two signs in the final days of the current Shemitah – one involving the collapse of a structure in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 11 and the other a rainbow in New York City.

“Very strange. In the last days of the Shemitah, two striking signs. A storm causes destruction on Islam’s central mosque in Mecca (on Sept. 11). At the same time a rainbow appears (Sept. 10) over the tower at Ground Zero,” he said. “Many immediately took this as a good sign. Yet, it was not long ago that America desecrated the sign of the rainbow by using a vessel of God to celebrate the Supreme Court’s striking down the biblical definition of marriage.” …

“We are now witnessing what appears to be a perfect prophetic storm,” Cahn told Charisma magazine for its September issue. “The harbingers have all manifested, the national departure from God is accelerating almost exponentially, America’s relationship with Israel is at an all-time low, and now the striking down of the biblical definition of marriage, the very order of God, we have crossed a fateful line. It is all converging.” http://www.wnd.com/2015/09/strange-signs-on-shemitahs-final-days/#rbhegq1AsyFZl1bD.99

Author Jonathan Cahn raised the idea of the shemitah’s connection to the global economy in his book, The Mystery of the Shemitah, which warns of trouble ahead for America.

“I believe a great shaking is coming to America and the world but America. I believe a shaking is coming that strikes the financial realm, economic realm and even be a shaking that’s greater than that,” Cahn said on The 700 Club this week.

He and others believe there’s a correlation between financial downturns in the United States and the end of the shemitah year.

“[In] 1980 you have recession and then the stock market collapses; you have ’87 stock market collapses and the shemitah of that, and you have ‘Black Monday’ the worst point percentage crash in history,” Cahn explained. “Shemitah of 1994, the bond market collapses, called the bond market massacre—greatest in history; 2001 you have the stock market collapsing, recession. You have the greatest point crash in world history and you have 9/11, which is the shaking. Shemitah also means shaking.”  http://macarthur.charismanews.com/world/51942-jonathan-cahn-i-believe-a-shaking-is-coming-that-strikes-the-financial-realm-economic-realm-and-even

While much is ‘converging’ as far as prophecy is concerned, the ‘Shemitah’ claims by Jonathan Cahn has made over the years hae proven to be false and hollow. Jonathan Cahn is a Messianic Jew  who is perhaps best known for his book The Harbinger.

Jesus said nothing about the ‘Shemitah’ being an important factor, when He laid out a variety of signs for the end (cf. Matthew 24:9-20). Furthermore, as regular readers of this page are aware, I was never convinced that this was that actual year based on earlier research I did (my conclusion was that the most recent Shemitah year ended September 24, 2014).  Some specifics on calculations related to the ‘Shemitah year’ are in the article The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance.

Malcolm Turnbull (Photo credit Eva Rinaldi)

COGwriter

The Liberal Party in Australia voted to change prime ministers today:

September 14, 2015

Australia is to have a new prime minister after Tony Abbott was ousted as leader of the Liberal Party by cabinet minister Malcolm Turnbull.

In the hastily-arranged party leadership ballot, Mr Abbott, who had been plagued by poor opinion polls, received 44 votes to Mr Turnbull’s 54. …

Mr Turnbull will be Australia’s fourth prime minister since 2013. …

Many in his party dislike his support for climate change action and gay marriage http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-34245005

Malcolm Turnbull is a former Protestant who switched to become Roman Catholic, but holds various positions in opposition to the Bible, as well as his church.

Here is some background information about him:

Malcolm Turnbull was born on 24 October 1954 to Bruce Bligh Turnbull and Coral Magnolia Lansbury. His father was a hotel broker; his mother was a radio actor, writer and academic and a cousin of the British film and television actor Angela Lansbury.  …

In 1978, Turnbull won a Rhodes Scholarship and attended Brasenose College, Oxford, where he studied for a Bachelor of Civil Law between 1978 and 1980, eventually graduating with Honours. While at Oxford, he worked for The Sunday Times as well as contributing to newspapers and magazines in the United States and Australia.

After graduating with honours from Oxford, Turnbull returned to Australia and began working as a barrister. …

In 1987, he established an investment banking firm, Whitlam Turnbull & Co Ltd, in partnership with Neville Wran (a former Labor Premier of New South Wales) and the former State Bank of New South Wales chief executive, Nicholas Whitlam (son of Gough Whitlam, a former Labor Prime Minister of Australia). ….

Turnbull was Federal Treasurer of the Liberal Party and a member of the party’s federal and New South Wales executives from 2002 to 2003 and was a director of the Menzies Research Centre, the Liberal Party’s research centre. …

Religion

Although Turnbull is a convert to Roman Catholicism from Presbyterianism,he has found himself at odds with the church’s teaching on abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage.Turnbull supported legislation relaxing restrictions on abortion pill RU486 and he also voted for the legalisation of somatic cell nuclear transfer (therapeutic cloning).  He did so despite the vocal public opposition to both proposals by Cardinal George Pell, at the time, the Archbishop of Sydney.

Personal wealth

In 2005, the combined net worth of Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull was estimated at A$133 million, making him Australia’s richest parliamentarian until the election of billionaire Clive Palmer in the 2013 elections. (Malcolm Turnbull.  Wikipedia, accessed 09/14/15)

His support of abortion and the homosexual agenda sounds like all the Democratic candidates for the USA presidency.  His support of human stem cell research reminds me of at least one the USA’s Republican candidates, whereas his conversion to Roman Catholicism reminds me of another Republican candidate.

We will see how many Roman Catholic leaning leaders the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies like Australia will have at the end.  Many leaders in those nations have an interfaith and ecumenical agenda that the Bible opposes, but that Pope Francis and the United Nations are pushing (see United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order?  Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order).

Since abortion is wrong and homosexual marriage is wrong, Malcolm Turnbull does not have the type of moral leadership that Australia needs.  Notice also the following scriptures:

12… O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)

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

Malcolm Turnbull holds immoral positions that err.

Malcolm Turnbull is not the real answer for Australia. Australia needs national repentance and the return of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Several 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.
Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’? Thousands of years ago, King Belshazzar saw a hand appear at a big party he was hosting. The hand wrote Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Shortly after the Prophet Daniel explained it, his empire was taken over and King Belshazzar died. Is this applicable today? Are there signs right before our eyes that show that the end is coming to the United States and its Anglo-descended allies. Do abortions, sexual immorality, celebrity pornography, and increased debt mean anything? What does the Bible show?
Hillary Clinton in Prophecy Prophecy, Hillary Clinton? Are there prophecies that Hillary Clinton may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that she has already helped fulfill? Could Hillary Clinton be apocalyptic? Could Hillary Clinton be the final Antichrist? A video of related interest is titled Hillary Clinton and Bible Prophecy.
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? Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
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.
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 sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
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.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.

COGwriter

The Feast of Trumpets runs from sunset September 13th until sunset September 14th in 2015.  Here is a link to a new sermon titled: The Trumpet Warnings.

The New Testament frequently mentions the blowing of trumpets (though it does not clearly appear to distinguish between shofar trumpets and other trumpets)–though shofars are probably the type most likely being referred to when prophetic matters of judgment are involved.

Jesus taught,

…and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:30-31).

This is similar to what Paul taught,

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

So both Jesus and Paul taught that the saints would be gathered when a particular trumpet sound goes forth. And that Jesus will come with a trumpet blast.

Which trumpet?

The last trumpet,

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 52 For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Because this is referring to the last trumpet, scripture clearly does not support the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture, like many evangelicals believe in.

Although his writings are not part of the New Testament, Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John and looked forward to the fulfillment of this trumpet as he wrote:

Wherefore, girding up your loins,” “serve the Lord in fear” and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and “believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory,” and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things” in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved (Polycarp. Letter to the Philippians, chapter II. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1 as edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885.)

This last trumpet is in 1 Corinthians 15 is apparently the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15,

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Whose names are in the Book of Life?

Jesus taught:

18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:18-20)

Paul writes,

3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3).

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:22-23).

John recorded,

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels (Revelation 3:5).

Thus it appears that the saints are the ones who are written in the Book of Life. And the saints are those that are resurrected at the last trumpet.

Jewish Beliefs

While the Christian view of the Feast of Trumpets has to do with prophetic judgments and the return of Jesus Christ, Judaism has a variety of views and traditions about it.

According to current Jewish tradition,

After Rosh Hashanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue they say to each other… “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life“” (The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah. High Holy Days on the Net. http://www.holidays.net/highholydays/rosh.htm verified 9/12/07).

But there are others:

1. During Rosh Hashanah, majority of time is spent in the synagogue, a Jewish or Samaritan house of prayer, as no work is allowed on Rosh Hashanah.

2. One of the major synagogue rituals for Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the “shofar.”…

3. According to legends, Rosh Hashanah was the day when Adam was created out of clay. It was also the birthday of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

4. Unlike other holidays in Jewish faith, Rosh Hashanah does not involve fasting…

On Rosh Hashanah, many Jews follow a custom called “tashlich” (casting off), in which they walk to a river or stream and symbolically cast off their sins committed during the previous year by throwing pieces of bread into the water.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/379347/20120831/rosh-hashanah-2012-jewish-new-year-september.htm

Some of the above are facts, while others are traditions, which may or may not correct, but I thought might be of interest to some readers.

Perhaps it should be noted that although the Bible is not clear about the date that Adam was created, connecting all-the-dots shows that Jesus was most likely born in the Fall. After the Apostle Paul mentions that “first Adam,” he refers to Jesus as the “last Adam” in 1 Corinthians 15:45 and a few verses later he mentions the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Again, that is not proof that Adam was created on the Feast of Trumpets, but may suggest a possible connection.

Book of Revelation

In the New Testament book of Revelation, there are a series of events that accompany the blowing of trumpets. Notice:

6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

9 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. (Revelation 8:6-9:6)

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. (Revelation 9:13-16)

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15-16)

And of course, Jesus is to return with the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Here is what the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God states:

The Feast of Trumpets helps picture the blowing of the seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation announcing events taking place during the ‘Day of the Lord’ (Revelation 8,9,11:15-18; 15:1-8; 16:1-21; 19:1-20). The last trumpet signals the resurrection of the saints, “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52) “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Every seven years, a year of land-rest and debt release begins with this Holy Day (Leviticus 25:1-7; Deuteronomy 15:7-11).

The Feast of Trumpets pictures a whole lot. Do you observe it? Early Christians did. Here is a link to a sermon made for today:  The Trumpet Warnings.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not? What does the Feast of Trumpets, which the Jews call Rosh Hashanah, help teach? The article has links to hear shofar blasts and some are heard in a related sermon video: Feast of Trumpets and the Book of Life.
Offertory: Blowing the Trumpet Why should there be an offertory on the Feast of Trumpets. What does the Bible teach? How is the ‘trumpet’ being blown now? How is the Continuing Church of God reaching the world with the gospel of the kingdom? Do those in the Church of God also need to pay attention to the trumpet? Shofar blowing is also heard in this video. Here is a link to the: Donation page of the Continuing Church of God, which includes the ability to use PayPal.
The Feast of Trumpets: Why Should You Keep It? What does the Bible say? What does this festival picture? A related sermon is available: The Trumpet Warnings.
The Trumpet Release This is a sermon focused on the Feast of Trumpets for 2013. What is the Feast of Trumpets? How can this be part of God’s plan of salvation? Why do the Jews refer to it as Rosh Hashanah? What is the seventh year of release? Should it be restored and proclaimed? Did early Christians keep the Feast of Trumpets? Why should any one keep it now? What will happen with the seven trumpets of Revelation? Why do many not understand aspects of it?
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? The ‘Fall’ Holy Days come every year in September and/or October on the Roman calendar. Some call them Jewish holidays, but they were kept by Jesus, the apostles, and their early faithful followers. Should you keep them? What does the Bible teach? What do records of church history teach? What does the Bible teach about the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day? Here is a link to a related sermon: Should you keep the Fall Holy Days?
How to Keep God’s Festivals Many have heard of God’s Holy Days and wonder how they are kept in the 21st century. This is an overview article. A related sermon is also available titled: How to Keep God’s Feasts.
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement.” Does it have any relevance for Christians today? What is the Jubilee? Is fasting healthy? Here is a link to a sermon: Day of Atonement: How Jesus fulfilled His part for the Atonement. Here is a link to a related article in the Spanish language: El Día de Expiación –Su significado cristiano.
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach? A related sermon video is Feast of Tabernacles from Israel.
Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015 This is information on the planned Feast of Tabernacles’ sites for the Continuing Church of God in 2015. The Feast in 2015 begins the evening of September 27th.
Is Second Tithe and Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Should you save and use second tithe? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.

COGwriter

Today is the day that the Church of Rome and the Church of England honor one of their ‘saints,’ who is also a ‘doctor’ of the the Roman and Eastern Orthodox churches, named John Chrysostom.

The Catholic Encyclopedia teaches the following about him:

St. John Chrysostom

John — whose surname “Chrysostom” occurs for the first time in the “Constitution” of Pope Vigilius (cf. P.L., LX, 217) in the year 553 — is generally considered the most prominent doctor of the Greek Church and the greatest preacher ever heard in a Christian pulpit. (Baur, Chrysostom. “St. John Chrysostom.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 11 Aug. 2013 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08452b.htm>)

Here is some information from another Catholic source:

Saint John Chrysostom

Also known as

• Greatest of the Greek Fathers
• Golden-Mouth
• Giovanni Crisostomo

Memorial

• 13 September

Profile

John’s father died when he was young, and he was raised by a very pious mother. Well educated; studied rhetoric under Libanius, one of the most famous orators of his day. Monk. Preacher and priest for a dozen years in Syria. While there he developed a stomach ailment that troubled him the rest of his life.

It was for his sermons that John earned the title Chrysostom = golden mouthed. They were always on point, they explained the Scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went on for hours. Made a reluctant bishop of Constantinople in 398, a move that involved him in imperial politics…Archbishop and Patriarch of Constantinople. Revised the Greek Liturgy. Because John’s sermons advocated a change in their lives, some nobles and bishops worked to remove him from his diocese; he was twice exiled from his diocese. Banished to Pythius, he died on the road.

Greek Father of the Church. Proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 451. (http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-john-chrysostom/ viewed 08/11/13)

He is considered to be so important, he is one of the four ‘doctors of the church’ who is shown supporting what is called the Cathedra Petri (Chair of Peter) in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. This is a structure that I have pointed out has been called Satan’s Throne (see Another view of ‘Satan’s Throne’?).

While many thought John, the Bishop of Constantinople, was a captivating speaker, the truth is that he did not understand the Bible nor properly explain it.

Over 1600 years ago, God’s Holy Days were condemned by this racist. John Chrysostom, who is now considered to be a Catholic and Orthodox saint. Several years ago, the Protestant Christianity Today named John Chrysostom the person of the week and the then Pope Benedict XVI praised him (see Christianity Todays’ “Person of the Week”).

Here is what their John Chrysostom publicly preached in 387 A.D.:

The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now…If the Jewish ceremonies are venerable and great, ours are lies…Does God hate their festivals and do you share in them? He did not say this or that festival, but all of them together. (John Chrysostom. Homily I Against the Jews I:5;VI:5;VII:2. Preached at Antioch, Syria in the Fall of 387 AD. Medieval Sourcebook: Saint John Chrysostom (c.347-407) : Eight Homilies Against the Jews. Fordham University. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html 12/10/05).

The wicked and unclean fast of the Jews is now at our doors. Thought it is a fast, do not wonder that I have called it unclean…But now that the devil summons your wives to the feast of the Trumpets and they turn a ready ear to this call, you do not restrain them. You let them entangle themselves in accusations of ungodliness, you let them be dragged off into licentious ways. (John Chrysostom. Homily II Against the Jews I:1; III:4. Preached at Antioch, Syria on Sunday, September 5, 387 A.D.).

So also the Law fixed the feast of Tabernacles (John Chrysostom. Homily IV Against the Jews IV:3. Catholic Christians of Antioch Turning to Sabbath and The New Moon Day and Other Holy Days. 387 A.D.).

John Chrysostom preached against the Fall holy days, because some who professed Christ were observing them. Specifically he mentioned the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement (Fasts above), and the Feast of Tabernacles. It is interesting to note that John Chrysostom must have realized that the second century church kept Passover the same time as the Jews did (this was even true in the early second century in Rome). And that the Catholic Church still kept Pentecost. Thus by preaching what he did, John Chrysostom is preaching against his own church as the Roman and Orthodox Catholics claim to keep both Passover (though on a different date, and with a different name) and Pentecost–as both of those festivals would be part of “all of them together.”

It should be noted that apparently the basic reason that John Chrysostom preached against the holy days was due to antisemitism. He demonstrates this in his Homily Against the Jews (of which there are at least eight antisemitic homilies) as he calls the Jews by a variety of names. Here are a few of his statements:

But do not be surprised that I called the Jews pitiable. They really are pitiable and miserable (I:II:1).

So the godlessness of the Jews and the pagans is on a par. But the Jews practice a deceit which is more dangerous (I:VI:4).

Do you see that demons dwell in their souls and that these demons are more dangerous than the ones of old? (I:VI:7).

Since it is against the Jews that I wish to draw up my battle line, let me extend my instruction further. Let me show that, by fasting now, the Jews dishonor the law and trample underfoot God’s commands because they are always doing everything contrary to his decrees. When God wished them to fast, they got fat and flabby (VI:IV:2).

Indeed, the fasting of the Jews, which is more disgraceful than any drunkenness, is over and gone (VIII:I:5).

But the facts are that the Holy Days were kept by Jesus, the New Testament Church, and those faithful to their teachings. And the other fact is that no where in the Bible do we see hatred against the Jews. Jesus taught we were to love our neighbor (and most  of the “neighbors” He was then talking to were Jewish).

Furthermore, the New Testament calls one of the so-called “Jewish” holy days “great.” Notice the following from both a Protestant and a Catholic translation:

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out (John 7:37, NKJV)

And in the last, the great day of the festivity JESUS stood, and cried (John 7:37, Rheims New Testament).

So who is right?

Those who follow Jesus’ practices or those who condemn them?

Recall that John Chrysostum, in this case, somewhat correctly stated,

“If the Jewish ceremonies are venerable and great, ours are lies.“

So which days should be observed? Which have a “great day” according to the Bible? Which days are lies?

John Chrysostom supported days with pagan ties such as Christmas and Easter.

John Chrysostom was not faithful to the scriptures and no one should follow his false traditions above the word of God.

The first of the Fall Holy Days that John Chrysostom condemned, but that the Bible and true Christians endorsed called the Feast of Trumpets, runs from sunset September 13th through sunset September 14, in 2015.

A sermon made for the Feast of Trumpets this year is titled: The Trumpet Warnings.

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Antisemite This late fourth/early fifth century Bishop of Constantinople is considered to be a ‘saint’ and ‘doctor’ by the Church of Rome, Church of England, and the Eastern Orthodox, but he did not teach Christ’s love.
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?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? The ‘Fall’ Holy Days come every year in September and/or October on the Roman calendar. Some call them Jewish holidays, but they were kept by Jesus, the apostles, and their early faithful followers. Should you keep them? What does the Bible teach? What do records of church history teach? What does the Bible teach about the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day? Here is a link to a related sermon: Should you keep the Fall Holy Days?
How to Keep God’s Festivals Many have heard of God’s Holy Days and wonder how they are kept in the 21st century. This is an overview article. A related sermon is also available titled: How to Keep God’s Feasts.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.
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 Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
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?

 
Islamic Migrants Heading to Germany (photo by Bwag)

COGwriter

More and more within Europe are starting to question if Europe can take more Islamic refugees:

September 13, 2015

German police say some 12,200 refugees seeking asylum in the European Union flooded into the southern German city of Munich Saturday, and authorities fear many of them will be spending their nights outdoors because they have nowhere else to go.

Authorities said Sunday that the flow of migrants entering the city has not abated. Munich is a major point of entry to Germany from the east.

On Saturday, rallies over the escalating refugee crisis engulfed major European cities. …

Five hundred thousand migrants and refugees have been seeking asylum in European Union countries this year. …

In Stockholm, Sweden, around 1,000 people gathered in a show of support for a more generous government policy of welcoming refugees.

Others opposed

But about 5,000 people joined a protest against migrants Saturday in Warsaw where the government has opposed fixed refugee quotas proposed by the European Union.Many of them chanted anti-Islamic slogans, while a much smaller number of about 1,000 people rallied in favor of welcoming migrants into Poland. …

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called for a massive European aid package for Syria’s neighbors to help curb the flow of migrants into the European Union.

Orban spoke Friday with Germany’s Bild newspaper, defending his reluctance to admit more migrants into the EU through Hungary, which has been overwhelmed with refugees hoping to travel farther west.

The Hungarian leader said Syrian refugees already had a safe place to stay in the refugee camps surrounding Syria, and maintained that those coming to Europe were not in fact seeking safety but instead just a better living standard.  …

On Friday at a meeting in Prague, the foreign ministers of Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia refused entreaties by their counterparts from wealthier Germany and Luxembourg to accept the mandatory quotas, despite its endorsement by the United Nations. …

Denmark declines plan

Denmark also announced Friday that it will not absorb any of 160,000 asylum seekers. “We have taken our share,” Integration Minister Inger Stojberg said.

More than 3,000 migrants arrived in Denmark this week, though most had indicated they were en route to friendlier Sweden.  http://www.voanews.com/content/munich-12200-refugees-arrived-saturday/2961794.html

September 13, 2015

The huge influx of migrants into southern Germany has continued unabated, with the Munich authorities now saying 13,000 arrived on Saturday.

But the city authorities have again warned they are at “the limit” when it comes to coping with the numbers.

“We have reached the upper limit of our capacity,” a police spokesman said, as frantic efforts were under way to accommodate the new arrivals.

Record numbers have also been crossing from Serbia into Hungary.

More than 4,000 people walked across the border with Serbia – the most so far in one day – just as the authorities in Hungary were completing preparations to seal the frontier. …

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended the decision to let in large numbers of refugees, saying she was “convinced it was right”.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34236878

September 12, 2015

1 million rally for secession in Barcelona

Refugee crisis now threat to break up European Union

Europe finds itself in crisis as hundreds of thousands of refugees largely from Syria make their way by land and sea to Western sanctuary, especially in countries like Britain and Germany, which have some of the most generous social welfare benefits in Europe. …

Contrary to popular perception, most Syrian migrants flooding Europe are Muslim men, and not women and children. The most recent breakdown places the men at 72 percent with women coming on at only at 15 percent and children comprising
13 percent. …

The European Union Friday delayed until next month a decision on refugee numbers that each country is expected to take in. Germany is said to be willing to take in the most refugees, with Spain and Britain among the other nations expected to receive higher quotas. …

At least 1,000 more rallied in Stockholm. “Sweden can do much more, not only because it has the capacity to do so, but also because it, along with the European Union, bears some responsibility for the conflict in Syria,” the BBC quoted one demonstrator as saying.

In counter-demonstrations, thousands rallied against the resettlement of refugees in the eastern European countries of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, highlighting a major east-west divide, with anti-immigrant sentiment rocking the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

But it’s not only the former Soviet satellites that expressed disappointment with the European Union.

In what has been described by much of the news media as a “shock poll,” a survey by the Mail on Sunday last week found a staggering 43 percent of Brits would vote to leave the European Union if a referendum, due by the end of 2017, were held this month. http://www.wnd.com/2015/09/1-million-rally-to-secession-in-barcelona/#2Qu4VyeW3fFZWgz7.99

Notice that many countries in Europe are opposed to taking more Islamic refugees.

Notice something from a Dutch leader:

September 10, 2015

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders called the wave of refugees pushing into Europe an “Islamic invasion”, during a parliamentary debate on Thursday that exposed deep divisions over how the Netherlands should respond to the crisis.

In a debate a day after European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker appealed to EU members to share out refugees arriving on the bloc’s fringes, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the EU should help them in camps closer to their country of origin, rather than in Europe.

Angela Merkel, leader of Germany which is taking in far more refugees than any other EU country, wants the rest of the EU to accept quotas of asylum seekers. The conservative Dutch government says it is only willing to take in more if all EU states agree.

Wilders, who is outside the government but whose party is the most popular in opinion polls, called the wave of refugees arriving on the EU’s Mediterranean shores and traveling north “an Islamic invasion”.

“Masses of young men in their twenties with beards singing Allahu Akbar across Europe. It’s an invasion that threatens our prosperity, our security, our culture and identity,” he said.  …

Roughly 54 percent of Dutch voters are opposed to letting into the country more than the roughly 2,000 refugees previously agreed, a poll showed last week. Under the latest proposals that figure is seen rising to more than 9,000.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/10/us-europe-migrants-netherlands-idUSKCN0RA0WY20150910

Here is something from a British leader who wants the UK out of the European Union:

September 12, 2015

Nigel…Farage said: “As far as the refugee crisis is concerned, we need to define who a refugee is and isn’t.

“It’s perfectly clear to me the vast majority of people coming across the Med are economic migrants and not refugees.

“When ISIS say they will use this route to flood Europe with their own Jihadists, when they say it, they probably mean it.  http://www.chichester.co.uk/news/local/goodwood-revival-interview-nigel-farage-on-jeremy-corbyn-refugees-and-the-vulcan-bomber-1-6954699

As far Germany goes, Chancellor Merkel stated that the migrants would have to be integrated into German society and not be separated. Since many of the migrants are Muslim, that may not work out well. The time will come when Islam will not be tolerated in Europe (cf. Revelation 13). It may well be that issues with immigrants will be a factor in a coming reorganization of Europe and the rise of the final Beast (Revelation 17:12-13).

While many refugees truly need help, some people are not grateful for the help they get, and some people become hostile to nations that take them in.

Bringing in people from areas filled with terrorists could be a factor in fulfilling prophecies related to terrorism in the Bible (e.g. Leviticus 26:14-17; Deuteronomy 32:25; Ezekiel 21:12; Psalms 73:12,19; Proverbs 1:25-27; Ecclesiastes 12:5).

Will the refugee problem break apart Europe?

Well, it is likely to be a factor that will result in the UK splitting from the continental Europeans.

But what about the continental Europeans, will they split up or unite closer?

Well, although the Bible states that they will have unification problems (Daniel 2:41-43), it also shows that they will reorganize and put in a dictator, the Beast of Revelation (Revelation 17:12-13; see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).  A Europe will arise with a powerful militaristic leader (Revelation 13:4; see also Europa, the Beast, and Revelation) who will enter with peaceful sounding words (Daniel 8:25; 9:27; 11:21-24; see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27), yet he will be the prophesied King of the North.

As far as the Muslims in Europe go, notice some items I posted about this back in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012:

The reality is that the Muslims will force Europe to wake-up and re-establish themselves.  Historically, when Europe has been strongly opposed to Islam it has had greater ties to the Vatican.

This is what will occur.  The Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious leader from the city of seven hills (Rome) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam. (Thiel B. Muslims: European Wake-Up Call. COGwriter, August 9, 2009)

The reality is that the Muslims will be a major factor to get Europe to wake-up and re-establish itself.  Historically, when Europe has been strongly opposed to Islam it has had greater ties to the Vatican.

This is what will occur.  The Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious leader from the city of seven hills (Rome) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam. (Thiel B. Anti-Islamic PVV Gaining in the Netherlands. COGwriter, March 4, 2010)

A divide between Islam and the nominally-Christian Europe is going to become more and more real.  Though there will be apparent cooperation (cf. Psalm 83; Daniel 11:27), the two will turn against each other (Daniel 11:40-43). (Thiel B. France Begins Burqa Ban. COGwriter, April 11, 2011)

Yet, there are changes happening in Europe.  And according to the Bible, more economic (Revelation 13: 14-17)  and political ones must come to pass (Revelation 17:12-13).  A currency change from the Euro  is a possible, but not biblically-required, change.

As far as the anti-Islamists go, the Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious leader from the city of seven hills (Revelation 17) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam (Daniel 11:40-43), despite having earlier made one of more deals with the Islamists (cf. Psalm 83:3-8; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:27).

Irrespective of one or more temporary political deals with those of the Islamic faith, the anti-Islamic sentiment that Geert Wilders and others have tapped into in Europe is real.  And according to the Bible, it will be resolved in ways differently  than Geert Wilders and others like him publicly state (Daniel 11:40-42). (Thiel B. Political Turmoil in the Netherlands. COGwriter, April 23, 2012)

COGwriter

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

29:02

An animal horn trumpet.

COGwriter

The Feast of Trumpets begins after the setting of the sun of September 13th, 2015 and ends sunset September 14th. Notice what the Old Testament said would happen with this first day of the seventh month (often called Tishri or Ethanim in 1 Kings 8:2):

23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.'” (Leviticus 23:23-25)

It has been reported that the place where the trumpeting used to happen in Jerusalem is somewhat marked:

Whenever I visit the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, I always walk to the southwest corner of the Temple Mount…Beneath the ground of the Kotel, Jerusalem’s Central Valley has been filled in with the rubble of the Second Temple’s destruction in A.D. 70. As a result, the beautiful modern plaza stands about nine meters above the first-century street uncovered at the southwestern corner.

The excavations near the corner came about through the generosity of a distinguished member of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit…One of the main reasons I continually return to this corner of the Temple Mount is because of one particular stone that lies on the street far below where it originally stood. Shaped as a corner, the stone bears the Hebrew inscription: “To the place of trumpeting.”

This stone represented the pinnacle of the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount, the place where priests would stand and overlook Jerusalem as they blew trumpets to announce the Sabbath and the start of festival days. The Feast of Trumpets especially relates to this act http://www.jpost.com/Travel/AroundIsrael/Article.aspx?id=239595

In our family, we normally have our youngest child blow on some type of trumpet to mark the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets, as well as to blow the trumpet off and on throughout the Holy Day. And although the Bible does not specify where the trumpet blowing should take place (hence I believe it should happen throughout the lands where the faithful live), I did find it interesting to learn that there was a specific place in Jerusalem that trumpeting was designated.

Christian Sabbath-keepers, by the way, kept the Feast of Trumpets throughout history. Notice for example, that the Sabbath-keepers in Transylvania in the 1500s (and probably later) kept the Fall Holy Days such as the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Trumpets (called Day of Remembrance below):

The Sabbatarians viewed themselves as converted Gentiles..They held to the biblical holidays…The Day of Atonement was a day of fasting, although they emphasized that pentinence is more easily achieved by a peaceful and quiet meditation on the law and one’s life than by fasting. The Day of Remembrance (New Year, which they celebrated in the Fall of the year) was the day on which they thanked God especially for the creation of the universe. (Liechty D. Sabbatarianism in the Sixteenth Century. Andrews University Press, Berrien Springs (MI), 1993, pp. 61-62).

Some of the Jewish teachers taught that the creation was most likely in the Fall, rather than in the Spring because in Genesis 1:11 when God states, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit”, this would be the Fall, for that is when there is both grass and fruit on trees), that the Feast of Trumpets symbolized the beginning of creation, and hence by, inference, life. The creation was likely in the Fall and various scriptures imply it (though this is not specified verbatim in scripture).

And, of course, if those in Transylvania blew trumpets (and I would think one or more of them did) that was in a location other than Jerusalem.

People attempting to be faithful to the Bible have observed the Feast of Trumpets throughout history and the faithful in the Continuing Church of God continue to do so in the 21st century.

The first day of the seventh month (Tishri/Ethanim) was considered the beginning of the civil year, similar to how the first month (Nisan) was considered to be the beginning of God’s sacred year (cf. Exodus 12:2). The beginning of each month for ancient Israel was to be marked with the blowing of trumpets per Numbers 10:10.

A sermon made for the Feast of Trumpets this year is titled: The Trumpet Warnings.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? The ‘Fall’ Holy Days come every year in September and/or October on the Roman calendar. Some call them Jewish holidays, but they were kept by Jesus, the apostles, and their early faithful followers. Should you keep them? What does the Bible teach? What do records of church history teach? What does the Bible teach about the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day? Here is a link to a related sermon: Should you keep the Fall Holy Days?
The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not? Here is a link to a 2014 sermon Feast of Trumpets and the Book of Life.
Offertory: Blowing the Trumpet Why should there be an offertory on the Feast of Trumpets. What does the Bible teach? How is the ‘trumpet’ being blown now? How is the Continuing Church of God reaching the world with the gospel of the kingdom? Do those in the Church of God also need to pay attention to the trumpet? Shofar blowing is also heard in this video. Here is a link to the: Donation page of the Continuing Church of God, which includes the ability to use PayPal.
The Feast of Trumpets: Why Should You Keep It? What does the Bible say? What does this festival picture? A related sermon is available: The Trumpet Warnings.
The Trumpet Release This is a sermon focused on the Feast of Trumpets for 2013. What is the Feast of Trumpets? How can this be part of God’s plan of salvation? Why do the Jews refer to it as Rosh Hashanah? What is the seventh year of release? Should it be restored and proclaimed? Did early Christians keep the Feast of Trumpets? Why should any one keep it now? What will happen with the seven trumpets of Revelation? Why do many not understand aspects of it?
Feast of Trumpets: Why Should You Keep It? What does the Bible say? What does this festival picture?
How to Keep God’s Festivals Many have heard of God’s Holy Days and wonder how they are kept in the 21st century. This is an overview article. A related sermon is also available titled: How to Keep God’s Feasts.
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement.” Does it have any relevance for Christians today? What is the Jubilee? Is fasting healthy? Here is a link to a sermon: Day of Atonement: How Jesus fulfilled His part for the Atonement. Here is a link to a related article in the Spanish language: El Día de Expiación –Su significado cristiano.
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach? A related sermon video is Feast of Tabernacles from Israel.
Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015 This is information on the planned Feast of Tabernacles’ sites for the Continuing Church of God in 2015. The Feast in 2015 begins the evening of September 27th.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.
What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?

COGwriter

World News Daily is asking if the Great Tribulation can begin tomorrow, based on positions of Mark Biltz and Jonathan Cahn related to their Shemitah year (which they believe ends tomorrow):

Is 7-year biblical ‘Tribulation’ about to start?

Shemitah cycle could be key

Millions of investors concerned about the Shemitah cycle are watching stock markets and economies in these dark days of September.

Will the Dow crash, they wonder, like it did in the past two Shemitah years, 2001 and 2008, or will the dollar collapse and take the U.S. economy down with it?

Not Mark Biltz.

The founder and pastor of El Shaddai Ministries is watching for something much bigger.

The start of the Tribulation.

Biltz, author of “Blood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs,” is not predicting that the Tribulation will start with the beginning of a new seven-year cycle at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 13. But if it doesn’t start, then he says it likely won’t for at least another seven years.

That’s because God operates according to seasons that follow the biblical Old Testament feast days, he said.

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is trying to get the attention of the entire world, and His people in particular, of the need to get on His calendar cycle.

One of the ways He does that is through signs in the heavens, including lunar and solar eclipses, which of course have to do with calendars. A total lunar eclipse or “blood moon” occurs on Sept. 28, which is the Feast of Tabernacles. It’s the last of four blood moons, all falling on Jewish feast days, over the past 18 months, a rare “tetrad” of lunar eclipses. …

Biltz believes the prophet Daniel’s “70 weeks” prophecy was based on the Shemitah cycle.

The one remaining “week,” which is seven years according to Daniel’s prophecy, is that period Christians refer to as the Tribulation, and Biltz believes it will be a Shemitah week.

“Therefore the Tribulation week has to begin at the beginning of a Shemitah cycle. The seven-year Tribulation cannot begin just anywhere. It will not begin in just a random year on our pagan calendar,” Biltz said.

The Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, which starts at sundown Sunday, Sept. 13, begins a new seven-year cycle.

“If the Tribulation does not start this fall, then it cannot start for (at least) seven more years,” Biltz said. “May the Lord give us at least one more Shemitah week or seven more years for the body of believers worldwide to come into this understanding of participating in the feasts that they may be ready.” …

Author Jonathan Cahn posited in his best-selling book, “The Mystery of the Shemitah,” that the seven-year pattern has produced major turning points in history. http://www.wnd.com/2015/09/is-7-year-biblical-tribulation-about-to-start/#PTTV0y3hcwrEXwcu.99

Can the Great Tribulation possibly begin tomorrow?

No.

Jesus laid out a variety of signs which have not happened (cf. Matthew 24:9-20).  Jesus said nothing about the ‘Shemitah’ being an important factor.

Here is, however, what Jesus taught what would be the final sign:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:15-21)

We will NOT see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel standing in the Holy Place between now and tomorrow.  Thus, no, the Great Tribulation is NOT about to start.  It will not start for years.

Neither the end of a particular Shemitah year nor blood moons were items that Jesus said would happen just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.  Mark Biltz’s position that the tribulation begins immediately after the end of a Shemitah is not biblical defensible–and even if it were, Mark Biltz (along with many others) has the wrong year for the Shemitah.

Perhaps, I should mention that many Protestants believe in a seven-year tribulation which begins with the confirmation of the deal in Daniel 9:27 (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).  While that is remotely possible to be be done this month, it will not happen by the end of the day tomorrow and the tribulation will not start tomorrow.

As far as the so-called Shemitah year goes, I was never convinced that this was that actual year based on earlier research I did (my conclusion was that the most recent Shemitah year ended September 24, 2014).

As far as financial destruction to the stock market in the claimed Shemitah year by Mark Biltz and Jonathan Cahn, let me state that the DOW Jones Industrial Average opening at the start of this claimed Shemitah year was 17,033.93 and the DOW Jones Industrial Average close yesterday (and yesterday was the last trading day of this claimed Shemitah year) was 16,433.09.  This is a reduction of around 3.5%.  That is not devastation and probably has more to do with the concern that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates for the first time in years than this claimed Shemitah cycle.  And while we could see drops the next week, I do not believe it is related to this claimed Shemitah.