Church of God News

Afghan Taliban Militants

COGwriter

The United Nations is realizing that Afghanistan needs a different change:

December 22, 2015

The U.N.’s envoy to Afghanistan told the Security Council on Monday there has been an “overall deterioration” in security in the country, hours after a Taliban suicide bomber killed six U.S. troops in an attack on a NATO patrol.

Nicholas Haysom said Afghan troops are “stretched to capacity” and need better logistics, administration and efforts to boost morale.  He also urged progress on the political front, saying the country’s unity government needs to show increasing effectiveness in the next year.

“Afghanistan needs to find a political route to peace,” he told the council.

A year has passed since the U.S.-led NATO coalition ended its combat mission in Afghanistan and transitioned to a force that is training and advising Afghan security forces as they try to defend the country on their own.

A U.S. Department of Defense report released last week said the Afghan forces have “uneven” capacity to hold territory they clear and “remain in a primarily defensive posture that limits their agility across the country.”  The report cites a 27 percent increase in their casualties this year.

More than 1,800 U.S. troops have been killed since the Afghan war began in October 2001.

The latest group included a New York City police officer who was deployed as a member of the U.S. Air National Guard, the NYPD said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed 19 soldiers.  The militants are notorious for exaggerating casualty numbers.  http://www.voanews.com/content/un-deterioratoin-in-afghan-security-after-taliban-kill-us-troops/3113184.html

Islamic terrorists continue to kill in Afghanistan.  The “political solution” that Afghanistan needs is the Kingdom of God.

When George W. Bush was president, the USA kicked the Taliban out of the top leadership of Afghanistan. Yet, the Taliban still remain in that nation. Islamists figured out some time ago that they can often outlast the USA if they wait long enough. Although President Obama said before that the Taliban was defeated, his public statements about that were overly optimistic.

I have warned for some time that the situation in Afghanistan was not going as well as the USA has publicly declared or hoped.

For example, on March 9, 2013 (see Taliban suicide bombing in Afghanistan: Considered to be a warning?), I wrote:

Unless the USA keeps enough troops in Afghanistan (which it is not intending to do), the situation there will change to something that the USA has claimed that it does not want. The Taliban, other Islamic groups, and tribal leaders will pretty much insure that.

On October 26, 2014 (see USA and UK cease combat operations in Afghanistan: What’s next?), I wrote:

The ceasing of combat operations by the UK and USA is not a victory in Afghanistan. It is a pause so that troops can be pulled out. It will not bring real peace to the region. At least some in Afghanistan will likely support the rise of a leader that the Bible refers to as the final King of the South.

On October 15, 2015 (see VOA; ‘Obama to Reverse Course on US Military Posture in Afghanistan’), I wrote:

The USA did not defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan–it basically ‘kicked the can further down the road.’ After seeing what happened to Iraq after the USA ceased ‘combat operations’ this should make it clear that Afghanistan is not secure. Afghanistan needs the Kingdom of God.

All the fighting, killing, and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa are getting political and religious leaders to rethink their approach to the region. But not to turn to the Bible.

The time will come when a confederation of nations from North Africa and the Middle East will form, which the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). Political leaders outside of the region apparently will support this. Though this will not end well for the participants (cf. Daniel 11:39-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8).

The Obama Administration’s latest announcement shows that the USA did not get the political solution it wanted in Afghanistan.

The old Soviet Union did not win in Afghanistan.  The USA is not truly winning in Afghanistan. Afghanistan needs the Kingdom of God.

Expect to see some shifts in Afghanistan as it likely will give some support to the final caliphate known as the King of the South of Bible prophecy (Daniel 11:40-43).

There will be no lasting peace in Afghanistan until the establishment of the Kingdom of God.  But, we likely will see a temporal peace before that (Daniel 9:27; see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
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.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? A related sermon is titled The Millennium.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

Dr. James Tabor, once part of the old Worldwide Church of God, had an article published titled Did Paul Invent the Virgin Birth? Here is some of what he had published:

Paul never explicitly refers to Jesus’ virgin birth nor does he ever name either Mary or Joseph. What he does affirm is that Jesus pre-existed before his human birth and subsequently gave up his divine glory through his birth as a human being. He writes that Jesus “though existing in the form of God” emptied himself and took on human form, “being made in the likeness of humankind” (Philippians 2:6-7). He says further “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He has to be referring here, metaphorically, to the “riches” of Jesus’ pre-existence with God, since all our sources have Jesus born of a poor peasant family. Paul also writes “In the fullness of time God sent forth his Son, made of a woman . . .” (Galatians 4:4). The implication of these texts is that Jesus’ mother was merely the human receptacle for bringing Jesus into the world. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-d-tabor/did-paul-invent-the-virgin-birth_b_2355278.html

While Dr. Tabor does mention the accounts in Matthew and Luke in his article, he also suggests that Roman mythology may have played a role in the “virgin birth” doctrine.

The Bible, and early writings, clearly support the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin (Mary). And the first suggestion of it precedes the Apostle Paul by centuries.

Was the Virgin Birth Prophesied?

Was Jesus’ birth from a virgin prophesied?

It was if you believe what was written by the prophet Isaiah:

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, NKJV throughout).

According to Matthew’s writings, Jesus fulfilled that prophecy:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS (Matthew 1:18-25).

Luke also records some of how it would occur:

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38).

Did Any Early Church Leaders Specifically Teach a Virgin Birth?

One most prominent of the church leaders in the second century taught the virgin birth.

Melito of Sardis wrote c. 180 A.D.:

65. And indeed there were many other things proclaimed by numerous prophets concerning the mystery of the passover, which is Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.

66. When this one came from heaven to earth for the sake of the one who suffers, and had clothed himself with that very one through the womb of a virgin, and having come forth as man, he accepted the sufferings of the sufferer through his body which was capable of suffering. And he destroyed those human sufferings by his spirit which was incapable of dying. He killed death which had put man to death…

70. This is the one who became human in a virgin, who was hanged on the tree, who was buried in the earth, who was resurrected from among the dead, and who raised mankind up out of the grave below to the heights of heaven…

104. This is the one who made the heavens and the earth, and who in the beginning created man, who was proclaimed through the law and prophets, who became human via the virgin, who was hanged upon a tree, who was buried in the earth, who was resurrected from the dead, and who ascended to the heights of heaven, who sits at the right hand of the Father, who has authority to judge and to save everything, through whom the Father created everything from the beginning of the world to the end of the age.

105. This is the alpha and the omega. This is the beginning and the end–an indescribable beginning and an incomprehensible end. This is the Christ. This is the king. This is Jesus. This is the general. This is the Lord. This is the one who rose up from the dead. This is the one who sits at the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father, to whom be the glory and the power forever. Amen (Melito of Sardis. On the Passover. Translation from Kerux: The Journal of Northwest Theological Seminary, Vol.4,1;May 1989).

Melito also wrote:

This is He who took a bodily form in the Virgin, and was hanged upon the tree, and was buried within the earth (Melito. Translation by Roberts and Donaldson. Fragment V. Online version copyright © 2001 Peter Kirby. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/melito.html 11/18/06).

Virgin Birth Was A Difference Between Some True and Some False Christians in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries

Although he had his own problems, Origen noted that there were two groups that he considered to be “Ebionites” in the early third century, one who believed in the virgin birth (and that would be those who this paper suggests were also known as the Nazarenes) and those who did not:

Let it be admitted, moreover, that there are some who accept Jesus, and who boast on that account of being Christians, and yet would regulate their lives, like the Jewish multitude, in accordance with the Jewish law,—and these are the twofold sect of Ebionites, who either acknowledge with us that Jesus was born of a virgin, or deny this, and maintain that He was begotten like other human beings…(Origen. Contra Celsus, Book V, Chapter 61).

The true Christians in Africa were not those who associated with Origen (please see what happened in Alexandria), nor those that denied the virgin birth. The true Christians were those professed Jesus and had some practices similar to those practices of Jews (see also Revelation 2:9;3:9)–and they also believed in the virgin birth.

Anyway, while the writings of the Apostle Paul do support the idea of the virgin birth, the teaching preceded the Apostle Paul and was believed by true and some simply professing Christians.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Jesus is God, But Became Flesh Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Was Jesus Born in the Grotto of the Nativity? Was Jesus born in a below ground cave? Was Jesus born below the “Church of the Nativity”? Were the wise men there?
How did December 25th become Christmas? Was Jesus born then? If not, why December 25? Here is the article translated into Mandarin Chinese 12月25日最后是怎么被许多基督的信仰者采纳的.
Is Keeping Christmas a Sin? Is keeping Christmas acceptable for true Christians? What are some scriptures to consider?
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? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god? Here is a link to a related sermon: What do Catholic and other scholars teach about Christmas?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations? A related sermon video is available and is titled: Birthdays, Christians, and December 25th.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?

European, ‘Tower of Babel,’ Unity Poster

COGwriter

Time reported the following, which is scheduled for its December 28th edition:

The Absence of Global Leadership Will Shape a Tumultuous 2016

December 21, 2015

What to expect in the year ahead

During the annual Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit in Manila in November, President Obama … gave a short speech and then spent nearly half an hour moderating a panel discussion with two businesspeople. …

In a world of emergencies, leadership matters—and in 2016 it will become unavoidably obvious that the world lacks leadership. The days when heads of the G-7 industrial powers like the U.S. and Germany controlled geopolitics and the global economy are gone for good. The international group of today is the expanded G-20, which is much larger—including important emerging powers like China and India—yet agrees on much less. The result might be called a G-zero world, a global caucus whose members don’t share political and economic values or priorities. …

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former German Defense Minister, warns of an erosion in transatlantic trust, exacerbated by the U.S. presidential-election season. The campaign anthem will be “forget Europe,” he says—and it won’t come only from Donald Trump.

This doesn’t mean the U.S. is in decline. …

Yet abroad, America’s once predominant influence is fading fast. In the Middle East, the most powerful terrorist organization in history occupies large sections of Iraq and Syria. Russia has paralyzed Ukraine and is bombing unchecked in Syria. China is challenging U.S. military power in East Asia and Washington’s institutional power everywhere else. …

There is growing division between U.S. and European leaders. Transatlantic ties depend on common values. http://time.com/4154044/geopolitics-2016/

First, let me state that the USA is clearly in decline.  Its massive accumulation of debt (more than any other nation in the history of humanity) and its moral decline, combined with rising influence of other nations, shows a superpower in decline.

Furthermore, this decline in influence was prophesied:

18 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
19 I will break the pride of your power; (Leviticus 26:18-19)

The pride of the power of the USA’s global leadership is diminishing.

While Europe has not YET arisen to take over the role that Great Britain and then the USA have had, it is working to do that.  The fact that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg stated that the theme of the US presidential election appears to be to forget Europe is likely cementing in his mind that Europe cannot continue to rely on the USA for its defense and will need its own.

And, biblically, that is what is prophesied to happen (Revelation 13:1-4; Daniel 11:29-43).

Thirty-five ago, Gene Hogberg wrote that something could happen to make “the Americans-Germany’s defenders — to leave Europe.”  He then continued with:

Finally feeling the chilling embrace of Moscow, the German people may yet call for the Bavarian strongman — the one they feared in good times — to rescue them from their impending doom. Otto von Hapsburg, eldest son of the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, and one of West Germany’s representatives in the European parliament, knows Mr. Strauss quite well. In a recent newspaper column entitled “Why Europe Needs West Germany’s Franz Josef Strauss,” von Hapsburg relates Strauss’s impressive credentials for leadership — “a true democrat, a profoundly religious man, with a deep sense of his responsibilities as a political leader.” (Hogberg G. Where is West Germany Headed? Plain Truth, December 1980).

While Otto von Hapsburg died since (see Thousands Mourn Otto von Habsburg), it is interesting to realize that Karl-Theordor zu Guttenberg is also a Bavarian.  He is a leader that has the potential to be the type of  ‘strongman’ Europe will turn to in a in time of crisis (see Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?).

The fact that there is more and more widely believed to be a gap in global leadership will lead to some nation or group of nations to try to fill it.  Perhaps, and likely, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg sees the need and is biding his time until he can offer to help fill than with Europe.

We have seen, during the past several centuries, the descendants of Israel (the British Empire followed by the USA-dominated age) being the global leader.  But this will come to an end.

The Bible tells of the time of trouble for the descendants of Israel (originally named Jacob) and the final times of the Gentiles:

6 Ask now, and see,
Whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins
Like a woman in labor,
And all faces turned pale?
7 Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,
But he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:6-7)

25… Gentiles, who do not know You…they have eaten up Jacob, Devoured him and consumed him, And made his dwelling place desolate. (Jeremiah 10:25)

23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:23-24)

2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)

Notice that Jeremiah, Jesus (whose words are recorded in Luke), and John (who penned Revelation) are talking about the same time. Also notice that “it is the time of Jacob’s trouble” and that the “Gentiles” are dominating. This means those that are descended from Israel or have the name of Jacob (cf. Genesis 48:14-16) will mainly be the trampled ones. One of the peoples that God says He will use to punish the descendants of Israel, Assyria (Isaiah 10:5-11), are a Gentile people–they will normally lead during the time of the Gentiles.

As a German, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has Assyrian ancestry.

Notice also the following, where the remnant of Israel will be shamed, for a time, by Gentiles:

25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27 Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’” (Ezekiel 34:25-30)

The time of Gentile domination is prophesied (Ezekiel 30:1-3, 34:25-30; Jeremiah 10:25; Luke 21:23-24; Revelation 11:2).

A time of the Gentiles means that the Israelite-descended nations will no longer dominate.

We are starting to see that.

The USA needs prayers and repentance, otherwise it is doomed (Habakkuk 2:6-8; Daniel 11:39).

Declining powers, still have their moments, and this does not mean that the USA will collapse in 2016 (see Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?), but the wheels of USA decline are in motion and some signs are there for those who are willing to see.

USA electrical power grid

COGwriter

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic State are believed to be trying to figure out how to interfere with the power grids in the USA in an attempt to stop access to electrical power:

December 21, 2015

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Security researcher Brian Wallace was on the trail of hackers who had snatched a California university’s housing files when he stumbled into a larger nightmare: Cyberattackers had opened a pathway into the networks running the United States power grid.

Digital clues pointed to Iranian hackers. And Wallace found that they had already taken passwords, as well as engineering drawings of dozens of power plants, at least one with the title “Mission Critical.” The drawings were so detailed that experts say skilled attackers could have used them, along with other tools and malicious code, to knock out electricity flowing to millions of homes.

Wallace was astonished. But this breach, The Associated Press has found, was not unique.

About a dozen times in the last decade, sophisticated foreign hackers have gained enough remote access to control the operations networks that keep the lights on, according to top experts who spoke only on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter.

The public almost never learns the details about these types of attacks – they’re rarer but also more intricate and potentially dangerous than data theft. Information about the government’s response to these hacks is often protected and sometimes classified; many are never even reported to the government.

These intrusions have not caused the kind of cascading blackouts that are feared by the intelligence community. But so many attackers have stowed away in the systems that run the U.S. electric grid that experts say they likely have the capability to strike at will.

And that’s what worries Wallace and other cybersecurity experts most.

“If the geopolitical situation changes and Iran wants to target these facilities, if they have this kind of information it will make it a lot easier,” said Robert M. Lee, a former U.S. Air Force cyberwarfare operations officer. “It will also help them stay quiet and stealthy inside.”  …

Even the Islamic State group is trying to hack American power companies, a top Homeland Security official told industry executives in October.  http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_INFRASTRUCTURE_POWER_GRID_CYBERATTACKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-12-21-03-27-59

The Iranians, Islamic State, and others have realized that since the USA is so dependent upon electrical power, that the USA can be hit hard if its power is gone.  Notice also something I reported this past September:

America unprepared for devastating ‘Black Swan’

September 22, 2015

WASHINGTON – Supply-chain disruptions often are the result of adverse weather, unplanned telecom outages, data breaches or even cyber hacking.

However, the one “Black Swan” event that would make these instances pale by comparison and result in a cascading disruption is a natural or man-made electromagnetic pulse event.

A “Black Swan” is an event regarded at the time of its occurrence as unprecedented and unexpected but later, in hindsight, understood to have been inevitable. …

Barrett Moore, a security specialist and founder of the security company Triple Canopy, told WND that federal officials have modeled the effects of a “Black Swan” event on the timely delivery of food, water, fuel, medical care and technology. But they have done it primarily for the government’s benefit. …

“Seeing potential for large-scale chaos,” Barrett said, “they have mitigated this risk for themselves by investing hundreds of billions of dollars in a continuity-of-government plan that has overseen the construction, equipping and provisioning of over 100 classified ‘haven’ facilities accessible only to families and staff of government officials,” he said.

“No parallel provisions have been made in our country for the general population,” he said. …

A natural EMP event would be a direct hit on Earth from a massive solar storm, while a man-made EMP would be a high-altitude nuclear bomb burst instigated by any adversarial country with a nuclear weapon and a missile-delivery system.

Given the level of U.S. unpreparedness, it is estimated that within 12 months of an EMP event, two-thirds to 90 percent of the U.S. population would likely perish from starvation, disease and societal breakdown, according to the Secure the Grid Coalition. …

One of the coalition’s spokesmen is Peter Vincent Pry, who told WND that “political gridlock” in Washington has hindered the implementation of any of a number of cost-effective plans to protect the national electrical grid.

He said the electric grid is the “keystone” infrastructure necessary to recover all other critical infrastructures. http://www.wnd.com/2015/09/america-unprepared-for-devastating-black-swan/#iF8ffQy0HuOPBAgS.99

There are various economic catastrophes including war, famine, and pestilences (Matthew 24:4-8) and troubles (Mark 13:8; Jeremiah 30:7), like debt, will cause a massive catastrophe in the future. And a man-made downing of the electrical power grid through hacking and/or an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) event could be one of the coming troubles as I have warned readers for many years.

An EMP attack could also possibly come from hostile nations, like Iran as it is believed to have that capability.  The Bible warns of a deal between the Europeans and those in the Islam-dominated regions of the Middle East and Africa (Psalm 83:2-8).  Psalm 83:3 discusses taking “crafty counsel,” which sounds like encouraging terrorist plots. This could involve bombs, dirty bombs, EMP matters, shootings, interfering with the power supply, demonstrations, civil unrest, riots, chemical warfare, biological warfare, cyber-warfare, electrical interference, and other forms of terrorism.

The USA faces a massive threat from many things that could knock-out its electrical power grid. The USA itself has been developing its own cyber-warfare and EMP technologies), which, of course, also encourages other nations to do so. Plus, the USA is likely to share that technology with Europe.

Jesus taught of a time of “troubles” that would come in Mark 13. While most in the USA act like it will go on indefinitely and cannot truly be brought down, the reality is that electrical, weather, pestilence, and other events can devastate the USA. I believe a combination of ‘black swan’ events including terrorism, weather issues, debt problems, and crop failures, which are consistent with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:4-8, etc. will hit the USA and make it vulnerable to its prophesied takeover (cf. Daniel 11:39).

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
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.
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.

Solis Invicti coin (Jastrow)

COGwriter

While I have tended to have articles about how the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics have viewed Christmas, a reader sent me something that was run long ago in the misnamed publication Christianity Today. Here are some excerpts:

Why December 25?

The month and day of Christ’s birth have been hotly disputed for centuries. For the church’s first three centuries, Christmas wasn’t in December—or on the calendar at all.

By Elesha Coffman

It’s very tough for us North Americans to imagine Mary and Joseph trudging to Bethlehem in anything but, as Christina Rosetti memorably described it, “the bleak mid-winter,” surrounded by “snow on snow on snow.” To us, Christmas and December are inseparable. But for the first three centuries of Christianity, Christmas wasn’t in December—or on the calendar anywhere.

If observed at all, the celebration of Christ’s birth was usually lumped in with Epiphany (January 6)…Some church leaders even opposed the idea of a birth celebration. Origen (c.185-c.254) preached that it would be wrong to honor Christ in the same way Pharaoh and Herod were honored. Birthdays were for pagan gods…

Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215) favored May 20 but noted that others had argued for April 18, April 19, and May 28. Hippolytus (c.170-c.236) championed January 2. November 17, November 20, and March 25 all had backers as well. A Latin treatise written around 243 pegged March 21, because that was believed to be the date on which God created the sun…The eventual choice of December 25, made perhaps as early as 273…December 25 already hosted two other related festivals: natalis solis invicti (the Roman “birth of the unconquered sun”), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian “Sun of Righteousness” whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers. The winter solstice, another celebration of the sun, fell just a few days earlier. Seeing that pagans were already exalting deities with some parallels to the true deity, church leaders decided to commandeer the date and introduce a new festival.

Western Christians first celebrated Christmas on December 25 in 336, after Emperor Constantine had declared Christianity the empire’s favored religion. Eastern churches, however, held on to January 6 as the date for Christ’s birth and his baptism. Most easterners eventually adopted December 25, celebrating Christ’s birth on the earlier date and his baptism on the latter, but the Armenian church celebrates his birth on January 6…

The pagan origins of the Christmas date, as well as pagan origins for many Christmas customs (gift-giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year; Yule logs and various foods from Teutonic feasts), have always fueled arguments against the holiday. “It’s just paganism wrapped with a Christian bow,” naysayers argue.

Truly, real Christians did not celebrate Christmas. It was added as a compromise with those that worshiped the sun god. Its symbols are not Christian, they are pagan. Despite the fact that church leaders knew this, many of the compromised church adopted it. It has long been a difference between those in the true Church of God and those in the world’s churches.

The sun-god worshiper, Emperor Constantine, who put the sun-god image on his coins AFTER he supposedly converted to Christianity, had been keeping December 25th.  He decided to call Mithras’ birthday, Jesus’ birthday.  And at least partially because of him, the Greco-Romans began to eventually follow suit.

The true Church of God never celebrated Christmas, and certainly not on December 25th. Those of the Greco-Roman-Protestant faiths, eventually did, and still do. There are, of course, others (like the Jehovah’s Witnesses) that do not celebrate it.

But it truly is such a popular holiday that it is easy to show that most people really do not care about its pagan origins and observe it anyway.

However, since Protestants (officially at least) have claimed ‘sola scriptura‘ (the idea that doctrine is supposed to only come from the Bible), the hypocrisy of Protestants keeping Christmas should be obvious.

Actually, this is one of the Roman Catholic criticisms of Protestantism–that while Protestants claim sola scriptura, they in reality rely on many of the same non-biblical/pagan traditions that the Church of Rome does as well.

So, if you are Protestant, claim to believe in sola scriptura, and keep Christmas, you should ask yourself how you can justify the contradiction. Of course, most will ignore the obvious. But you do not have to.

For those of us in the Continuing Church of God, the decision to not observe Christmas is simple and obvious. We do not wish to learn the way of the heathen nor adopt truly heathen practices. The Bible teaches:

2″Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good.” (Jeremiah 10:2-5, NIV).

29 When the Lord thy God shall have destroyed before thy face the nations, that thou enterest in to possess, and thou shalt possess them, and dwell in their land: 30 beware left thou imitate them, after they be subverted at thy entering in, and thou require their ceremonies, saying: As these nations have worshipped their Gods, so will I also worship. 31 Thou shalt not do in like manner to the Lord thy God. For all the abominations, that our Lord doeth abhor, have they done to their Gods, offering their sons and daughters, and burning them with fire (Deuteronomy 12:29-31, DOT).

Notice what the NKJV version of the New Testament (a Protestant-made translation) states the following about going along with pagan practices:

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore

“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 ‘I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

So unclean practices associated with idols are prohibited by God. Does not that include celebrating as the idolaters celebrate?

Real Christians are to be separate from those who compromise and church history shows that historically there were always two groups–those of the the faithful and those of the compromisers (see also Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries?).

Christmas on December 25th, at best, is a compromise. But it also takes people away from God as it distorts God’s plan of salvation and does not truly honor Jesus Christ.

Protestants may disagree, but their disagreements tend to be based upon emotion and tradition, not the actual word of God.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
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? A related sermon is titled Tradition and Scripture.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity?
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?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Was Jesus Born in the Grotto of the Nativity? Was Jesus born in a below ground cave? Was Jesus born below the “Church of the Nativity”? Were the wise men there?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations? A related sermon video is available and is titled: Birthdays, Christians, and December 25th.
How did December 25th become Christmas? Was Jesus born then? If not, why December 25? Here is the article translated into Mandarin Chinese 12月25日最后是怎么被许多基督的信仰者采纳的.
Is Keeping Christmas a Sin? Is keeping Christmas acceptable for true Christians? What are some scriptures to consider?
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? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god? Here is a link to a sermon titled What do Catholic and other scholars teach about Christmas?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
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.

Donald Trump presidential campaign logo

COGwriter

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign slogan is “Make America Great Again.”

In order to do this, Donald Trump has basically said that he would build ‘a great wall’ to keep illegal immigrants out (which would also have a tendency to lock Americans in), temporarily stop travel of virtually all Muslims into the USA, renegotiate trade deals with China and others, rebuild the economy of the USA, and defeat the Islamic State.

But does he have what it takes to really make ‘America great again’?

Donald Trump’s direct, but often bombastic style, appeals to many who are concerned about their safety.  He keeps saying he is a man of action as he has repeatedly blasted current US President Barack Obama and others for not taking what he feels are appropriate actions against Islamic terrorism.

Despite what many think, people often will go for a ‘strongman’ in times of crisis.  Donald Trump has portrayed that better to the Republican party supporters, thus far, than any other candidate.

Speaking of ‘strongmen,’ one who could possibly lead Europe in the future is the former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (see Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?).  Here is part of something Baron Guttenberg wrote earlier this month about Donald Trump (note that this is machine-translated with minor grammatical adjustments in English–the original German is shown after the English):

Donald Trump (69) drives a wedge into an already politically divided country. Among Republicans he comes to 36% approval rating, is 20 points ahead of its competitors. (Donald Trump (69) treibt einen Keil in ein politisch ohnehin gespaltenes Land. Unter Republikanern kommt er auf 36 % Zustimmung, liegt 20 Punkte vor seinen Konkurrenten.)

1…To be for Trump, means for most of his followers at first an attitude towards what is familiar: faceless careerists, dynasties such as the Bushes and Clintons, hollow politicians phrases.

2. He uses what other politicians fear like the plague – the speed and restlessness of today’s media world. Even though it would hardly admit a US journalist: Currently Trump pulls editors with the nose ring through the arena.

Many Americans like this. (1…Für Trump zu sein, bedeutet für die meisten seiner Anhänger zunächst eine Haltung gegen das Gewohnte: gesichtslose Karrieristen, Dynastien wie die Bushs und Clintons, hohle Politikerphrasen. 2. Er nutzt, was andere Politiker fürchten wie der Teufel das Weihwasser – die Geschwindigkeit und Rastlosigkeit der heutigen Medienwelt. Auch wenn es kaum ein US-Journalist zugeben würde: Derzeit zieht Trump die Redaktionen mit dem Nasenring durch die Arena. Vielen Amerikanern gefällt dies.)

3. He is – so scary as this sounds – more entertaining than all its competitors together. The last Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, was so compelling as an aging Marmot on Valium.

4. He remains authentic. Also in megalomania. (3. Er ist – so schaurig das klingt – unterhaltsamer als alle seine Mitbewerber gemeinsam. Der letzte Kandidat der Republikaner, Mitt Romney, war so mitreißend wie ein alterndes Murmeltier auf Valium.4. Er bleibt authentisch.)

Yes, he’s an insufferable braggart, but unlike most ambitious politicians, he has decided not to play something, what it is not. (Ja, er ist ein unerträglicher Angeber, aber im Gegensatz zu den meisten ambitionierten Politikern hat er sich entschlossen, nicht etwas zu spielen, was er nicht ist.)

Can Trump decide the elections in 2016? Yes! Not as the winner, but as a festering sore in the flesh of the Republicans. (Kann Trump die Wahlen 2016 entscheiden? Ja! Nicht als Sieger, aber als eiternde Wunde im Fleisch der Republikaner. http://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/donald-trump/fordert-einreise-verbot-fuer-muslime-43719956.bild.html)

So, Herr Guttenberg thinks that Donald Trump is an authentic braggart that cannot win, but will affect the 2016 elections in the USA.

But, if he does win, can Donald Trump make America great again?

In his mind he can.

While I had long heard of Donald Trump, I really feel I started to learn more about him when a few years ago, I watched several episodes of his television program Celebrity Apprentice.  Some of his decisions, and his declared logic for those decisions, struck me as horribly wrong.

That does NOT mean that his decision making skills are necessarily any worse than the other candidates for the USA presidency, only that several of his were not biblical in my view.

He has also made a variety of public statements, in his campaign and prior, which many believe are not factually accurate.

Should he actually become President of the United States, his flamboyance and brashness are bound to offend the Europeans, and ultimately that will not turn out well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39).

As far as making America great again, the USA truly needs national repentance, which is something that “the Donald” has not called for.

While he may be better to handle certain aspects of leadership of the USA than other candidates, he also has his own weaknesses.

Consider the following:

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

National repentance and prayer is what the USA needs or it is biblically-doomed (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8; Daniel 11:39). The same holds true for its Anglo-Saxon descended allies such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The USA needs prayers and repentance to be great again.  Otherwise, it is doomed (Habakkuk 2:6-8; Daniel 11:39).

While Donald Trump has his ideas, Donald Trump will not make America great again.

Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, and Hillary Clinton

COGwriter

The mainstream media noticed some errors in statements from the Democratic party presidential candidates in last night’s debate:

December 20, 2015

Political fact checkers in the United States are debunking some of the claims by the three 2016 Democratic presidential contenders at their latest debate.

The Washington Post, The New York Times, Politico and Politifact all said there is no evidence for the claim made Saturday by the party’s frontrunner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, that the Islamic State group is showing videos of the leading Republican candidate, billionaire real estate tycoon Donald Trump, “insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists.”

The Post said Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric has been referenced by IS recruiters in social media, but analysts who monitor the jihadist group have not turned up any videos.

Campaign donations

Politico also disputed the claims by Clinton that only 3 percent of her campaign donations have come from wealthy people “in the fiance and investment world,” saying the figure is about twice that, including money contributed directly to her campaign and an independent group supporting her bid to succeed President Barack Obama when he leaves office in January 2017.

Politico noted that one of Clinton’s Democratic opponents, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, was wrong when he cited U.S. difficulties in Iraq and Syria, “where we’ve involved ourselves in toppling dictators without having any idea what comes next.”

Politico said that “is certainly true in Iraq,” after the fall of Saddam Hussein, but “quite the opposite in Syria,” where President Bashar al-Assad remains in power in the midst of a years-long civil war defending his regime.

The Post questioned the claim by the third candidate seeking the party’s presidential nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, that female workers in the United States are paid only 79 cents out of $1 compared to men.

Wage allegation

The newspaper said the 21-cent gap is accurate when compared on an annual basis, but that it is less than that when comparing weekly or hourly wages, and comparisons made more difficult by life choices men and women make in the United States, such as women tending to leave the work force when they have children.  http://www.voanews.com/content/us-political-fact-check-clinton-wrong-on-islamic-state-recruiting-trump/3110858.html

December 20, 2015

The Democratic candidates met for the third time, and stretched the facts again:

• Former secretary of State Hillary Clinton said 3% of her campaign donations “come from people in the finance and investment world.” That’s correct, but the total is 6% when including donations to outside groups supporting her candidacy.

• Clinton also claimed she had received “more donations from students and teachers than I do from people associated with Wall Street.” Public records contradict that. Her campaign said it was based on internal data but didn’t immediately send that to us. …

• Clinton said that the Republican presidential candidates “don’t want to raise the minimum wage.” But Rick Santorum has supported an increase.

• O’Malley said that Clinton told the big banks that “you weren’t responsible for the crash” in 2008. But Clinton said in December 2007 that Wall Street “has played a significant role in the current problems, and in particular in the housing crisis.”

• Clinton said that “we lose 33,000 people a year already to gun violence.” To put that in context, 33% of those deaths were homicides; 63% were suicides.

• O’Malley went too far in accusing Clinton of flip-flopping on federal gun control. She did back off her earlier support for a national gun registry but has consistently supported an assault weapons ban and tightened regulations on sales at gun shows.

The three Democratic candidates debated Dec. 19 at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire on a range of topics, from national security to the economy, in the ABC News Saturday night meeting. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/12/20/fact-check-third-democratic-debate-sanders-clinton-omalley/77647452/

Republican candidates have there own problems with facts in their debates as well.

Many will say, “So what?  Politicians often lie.”  That may be so, but that does not make it right.

The Bible says:

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)

Yet, political leaders often do so, including last night. The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil.

Notice  something from my Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States book:

Of course, other U.S.A. leaders have had integrity problems. For example, the first U.S. President George Bush broke his promise, “Read my lips, no new taxes.” Bill Clinton lied about his affair with Monica Lewinski.  Barack Obama broke his promise, “if you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan” (Gore D. ^{Fact check: If you like your health plan, you can keep it 2-year deal. USA Today, November 1l, 2013}) No one should bear false witness.

Her boss when she worked on Watergate, Bernard Nussbaum, said Hillary was prone to temper tantrums (and that she insisted back in the 1970s that Bill Clinton would become President) (Baker P, Chozick A. Hillary Clinton’s History as First Lady: Powerful, but Not Always Deft. New York Times, December 5, 2014). It is alleged that Hillary produced false documents in that job and was fired from it because of integrity issues (Fader C. Fact Check: Was Hillary Clinton fired from Watergate investigation? Florida Times Union, March 8, 2014). (pp. 32-33)

Lest this post seem to be partisan, let me again state that I am NOT a Republican nor a Democrat nor will I be voting in this election (see also Should a Christian Vote?).

Now since God can decide who will win, it should be understood that does not necessarily mean the best person will according to the Bible:

7 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’  (Daniel 4:17)

So, God apparently often sets the lowest of men up as leaders.

And it is not only males that can be set up.  The Bible warns the following related to females:

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

None of the announced candidates for the US presidency will fix the moral problems of that nation. And many have already publicly embraced moral positions in direct opposition to the Bible.

The USA is going the wrong moral direction.  From legalization of abortion and homosexual ‘marriage’ to increased acceptance of mind-altering drugs like marijuana as well as celebrity pornography while continuing to increase its debt, the USA is making major mistakes.  While some candidates have claimed to oppose some of these, none look like they will have the ability to turn the USA around (though some might slow the drive towards destruction).

The USA needs national repentance, otherwise it is doomed. It is almost impossible to believe that the next USA president would call for meaningful repentance before the USA is hit with more massive problems. The USA needs the return of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Some items of possibly related interest include:

Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
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 sermons Why Teach the Kingdom of God? and The Gospel of the Kingdom.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
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.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
Overcoming Sin What is sin? How are Christians suppose to overcome it? Here is also a link to a video titled How to Overcome Sin.
How to Prevent Sin This is an article by Herbert W. Armstrong.
Just What Do You Mean Conversion? Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
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?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? Here is a link to a YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
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?
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.
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-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-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

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

15:41

Damascus, the capital of Syria

COGwriter

The Associated Press reported the following:

UN endorses peace process for Syria; no mention of Assad

December 19, 2015

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council’s unanimous support of a peace process for Syria that is set to begin next month with government-opposition talks and a cease-fire represents its strongest gesture yet in support of a solution to the civil war.

The council’s adoption of a resolution Friday backing the plan comes amid world powers’ growing sense that the top priority in Syria should be the defeat of the Islamic State group, which has exploited the country’s years of chaos and created a base from which it promotes deadly attacks abroad.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters that the world is going to see in the next few months whether the peace process actually takes hold. He urged key powers, including top Syria allies Russia and Iran, to match their words with actions.

“Within a month or so, two months, decisions are going to have to start to be made about the devolution of some power” and the creation of a transitional body agreed to by Syria’s government and opposition with full executive power, Kerry said.

But the resolution makes no mention of the most contentious issue, the future role of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Kerry rejected the idea that Friday’s vote and discussions put off tough decisions on that issue.

The United States, its European allies, Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations have insisted that Assad must go, though Kerry said “everyone” has by now realized that demanding Assad’s departure up front in the process was “in fact, prolonging the war.”

Kerry said “sharp differences” remain on Assad and stressed that “Assad has lost the ability … to unite the country.”

Russia and Iran have consistently rejected foreign governments’ calls for Assad’s departure.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that the Syrian people must decide their own future – and that “also covers the future of Syria’s president, and that is our deep conviction.” He told reporters that he was “not too optimistic about what has been achieved today, but a very important step has been made … for Syrians to determine the future of their country.” http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_UNITED_NATIONS_SYRIA_TALKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-12-19-00-15-36

The Obama Administration has repeatedly called for the overthrow of the Assad regime. The USA has funded opposition to Assad. And directly and indirectly, the Obama Administration has taken steps which led to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), now calling itself the Islamic State. This was an ‘unintended consequence’ as far as the US government is concerned, but the reality is that is what happened.

Russia is not optimistic about this UN peace plan–whereas others see Russia starting a major war (watch Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code)).

Although the United Nations approved this peace plan, the Islamic State is not a UN member and has its own plans for Syria.

There are biblical prophecies that tell of the coming destruction to Syria’s capital Damascus:

7 thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8).

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

23 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, For they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; There is trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus has grown feeble; She turns to flee, And fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. 25 Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy? 26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord of hosts. 27 “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

Damascus has been claimed to be the “oldest continuously inhabited city” in the world. And while some have questioned that claim, the reality is that Damascus has not been destroyed to the point of becoming the “ruinous heap” since God inspired Isaiah to record that would one day happen.

This destruction could come as the result of the current war with the Islamic State. It is possible that attacks against the Islamic State will encourage it to attack Damascus. Also if the Assad regime broadly uses chemical weapons and/or becomes engaged in a conflict with Israel and/or the West, that could also fulfill the above.

The situation for the Arab and Islamic world will have ups and downs. The Bible tells of a time of a significant peace deal that will affect the region, but that deal will not last (Daniel 8:25, 9:27, 11:23-24; see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27). The Bible teaches that more war will later come and will include a coalition of peoples such as the Sunni nations in the Arab world (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8).

While few wish to believe it, it will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God to truly solve the conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. Those in Syria are in my prayers.

David Cameron and Nigel Farage

COGwriter

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom dropped a hint that he may call for his promised referendum for those in the United Kingdom to vote about whether to stay in the European Union:

18 December 2015

Brussels: Britain is likely to hold a referendum on leaving the European Union next year, British Prime Minister David Cameron hinted here on Friday, saying that he expected to strike a reform deal with the bloc in February.

“I believe that 2016 will be the year we achieve something really vital, fundamentally changing Britain’s relationship with the EU and finally addressing the concerns of the British people about our membership,” Cameron told a press conference after a two-day summit.

The possible timing could mean Britain may decide its EU membership much earlier ahead of the two-year deadline for the referendum.

“A lot of work has been done, what matters is that these changes are legally binding and irreversible, and I believe we can find ways of setting that out, demonstrating that, in the coming months,” he said.

Cameron also expressed the hope that a reform deal with the EU could be clinched at the next summit scheduled for February, which could lead his government push for a “yes’ vote to stay in the EU in the referendum. http://www.newsx.com/world/15620-cameron-signals-holding-of-eu-referendum-in-2016

Prime Minister Cameron hopes to get some concessions from the EU, so that those in the UK will vote to remain in the EU.

But there is opposition to this.

Nigel Farage and the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) wants the UK to leave the European Union. Although he personally lost in his bid for reelection as a member of the parliament to the EU, Nigel Farage still remains popular:

December 19, 2015

UKIP voters ‘satisfied with Farage’, party chairman says

The majority of UKIP voters are satisfied with leader Nigel Farage, says party chairman Steve Crowther.

His comments come after UKIP’s only MP, Douglas Carswell, said the party needed a fresh face at the top.

Mr Crowther said Mr Carswell was an “independent thinker” who was “musing aloud” but it was “absolutely wrong” to suggest Mr Farage had peaked. …

Despite the party gaining nearly four million votes across the UK in the 2015 general election, Mr Carswell was UKIP’s only winning candidate.

Mr Farage failed to get elected in Thanet, after which he briefly resigned. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35140766

Nigel Farage was a thorn in the side of European Union leaders, and openly insulted them when he spoke at the EU parliament.  EU leaders were happy to see him go.

The USA itself seems to want the UK to remain part of the EU, at least for now.

Europe itself will change. The Bible actually teaches that the European Beast power will have to have three reorganizations (Revelation 17:12, 13, & 15-18), not necessarily counting what Nigel Farage hopes will happen (see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).

The reality is that the UK will leave or somehow be eliminated from the final confederation of nations that will be part of the European Beast power. Ultimately, the Europeans will divide up and rule the UK.

The idea of Britain leaving the European Union has been called a “Brexit” or “Brixet” – British exit. Here is a news item I posted here back in February of 2014 related to that:

The fact of the matter is that “Brexit” happens to make perfect sense for the UK.

There is not going to be a two-speed EU with some countries in the Eurozone and others not. One is going to be either in or out. Sitting on the fence forever won’t happen. Neither French president Francois Hollande nor the UK liberals will allow that. http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/02/rise-of-eurosceptics-in-netherlands.html#Rp3H28DwXxljt5Y1.99

On June 26, 2007, (see Tony Blair a Catholic EU Leader?), I posted the following:

We in the COGs tend to believe that the final beast power will be nominally Catholic (see Europa and the Beast of Revelation)…we in the COGs do believe that Britain will pull out of the EU…

David Cameron promised the referendum on the EU in his re-election bid.  The fact that he has hinted that this may happen in 2016 may make 2016 a more pivotal year than most probably realize.

The biblical reality is that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will not be an equal part of the European Union. Britain will either pull out or be forced out or at least truly lose its sovereignty. The Bible indicates that the end time descendants of the Israelite tribes, because of their national sins, will be taken over and many killed (Ezekiel 5).

Many of the Anglo-Saxon peoples of the UK, USA, etc. that are not killed will to be scattered and many will be made slaves by the final European Beast power(see Hosea 7:11-16; 9:1-17; 11:5-7; 12:1; 13:12-16; see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?). That is some of what the Bible shows will happen during the Great Tribulation.

The Bible warns of a time of trouble for the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic nations (Jeremiah 30:7).

The final European King of the North (Daniel 11:27-40) will take over the UK, USA, and their Anglo-Saxon allies according to Bible prophecy (cf. Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).

Irrespective of what happens in the proposed referendum, whether it is called a Brixit or a Brexit, in some way, some day, the United Kingdom will stop being a regular member of the European Union.

Some items of related interest may include:

British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? 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 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
.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. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?.
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?