Church of God News

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God continues to get additional materials translated into the Spanish language.

Here are links to the latest items we received:

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

Here is also a link to our latest magazine in the Spanish language: Noticias de Profecía de la Biblia – octubre-diciembre 2016.

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy [Español: México, América central, Suramérica, Brasil y el Caribe en la profecía] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What role might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?

Continuing 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 and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th 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.

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?

Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, NKJV), “Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue” (Hebrews 13:1) “…continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles” (Acts 2:42 YLT). So, what does that really mean in terms of specific beliefs? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Declaración de las Doctrinas de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. Here is a related link in Tagalog: Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. Here is a related link in Mandarin Chinese 继续神的教会的信仰声明. Here is a related link in Kiswahili: KATIKA LUGHA YA KISWAHILI. Here is a related link in Dutch: Verklaring van geloofspunten van de Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Deutsche (German): Glaubenserklärung der Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Italiano: Dichiarazione del Credo della Continuing Church of God. Here is related link in the French language: Déclaration des croyances de L’Église Continue de Dieu.

Faith for those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the ‘faith chapter’? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Here is a link to a pdf. booklet titled Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido.Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese 一篇关于信仰的小文章

CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. To see how CCOG has done so far, here are links to two sermons Continuing Church of God (CCOG) first year anniversary: What has been accomplished? and The Continuing Church of God: Two Years of Proclamation. Here is a written link to a version of that sermon in the Spanish language: Aniversario del primer año de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios: ¿Qué se ha cumplido?

CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址

CCOGAFRICA.ORG This is a website targeted towards those in Africa.

CCOGCANADA.CA This is a website targeted towards those in Canada.

CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.

CCOG.EU This is a website targeted toward Europe. It has materials in more than one language (currently it has English, Dutch, and Serbian, with links also to Spanish) and it is intended to have additional language materials added.

CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and others with a British-descended background.

PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.

Source: MichaelPRamirez.com http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-09-17/its-still-debt-stupid

COGwriter

Donald Trump sent out statements on Twitter regarding a government shutdown in September:

May 2, 2017

President Trump on Tuesday called for a “good shutdown” in September to fix the “mess” in government.

He also expressed frustration that legislation needs 60 votes in the Senate because of the filibuster, saying it would be necessary to elect more Republicans or “change the rules.”

“The reason for the plan negotiated between the Republicans and Democrats is that we need 60 votes in the Senate which are not there! We either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good ‘shutdown’ in September to fix mess!” he wrote in a series of tweets. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/331512-trump-us-needs-a-good-shutdown

May 2, 2017

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill managed to avoid the imminent threat of a government shutdown late last week and over the weekend, first passing a stop-gap one-week funding bill and then agreeing on a deal to fund the government through the end of September.

But while Republicans avoided a potentially embarrassing government shutdown just 100 days into Trump’s administration, the president’s agenda took a beating in the deal, with no money for his long-promised border wall and no crackdown on federal grant money for so-called “sanctuary cities.” Tuesday morning, Trump defended the compromise and laid out his suggestions to circumvent any need for future deal-making. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/trump-tweet-government-shutdown-237870

May 2, 2017

Commenting on Trump’s tweets, Citi asks rhetorically whether “this could be a case of cutting one’s nose to spit one’s face? – Potentially problematic when the nose in question is attached to the current administration… It seems counterintuitive that a sitting president would want a shutdown, unless he was to blame it on the opposition in order to force through reform/encourage a voter backlash.”

 Bloomberg reports that “The message appeared to encourage the Republican-controlled Senate to change rules that now require 60 votes to end a filibuster of legislation. Republicans reduced the threshold to 51 votes for Supreme Court nominees this year and could do the same for legislation with a simple majority vote.”

USD does not seem to have reacted to the President’s tweet (it can’t every time, after all), which may just be more political manoeuvring rather than a signal of intent.

In any case, we’re not so sure there is such a thing as a “good” shutdown of the US government – and with what will be over $20 trillion in debt and a declining GDP by that time, one wonders which ratings agency will have the balls to downgrade the world’s reserve currency this time?

Meanwhile, it did not take long for Trump to get a response. Democratic Re. Eric Swalwell responded that “our country needs a White House shutdown” following President Trump’s call for a “good shutdown” of the government. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-05-02/trump-slams-democratic-senators-need-good-shutdown-september-fix-mess

The USA is once again raising its so-called ‘debt-ceiling.’ Donald Trump apparently hopes to try to work through various agenda items between now and September. And in September, he is indicating that he is prepared for a show-down.

The battle will be basically how much MORE that the ‘debt-ceiling’ will be raised and how much of Donald Trump’s agenda will be financed. Jesus warned:

17 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. (Luke 11:17)

The USA is more and more divided.

The USA is also in more debt than any other nation in the history of the world. Historically, Congress has “kicked the can” down the road and never really solved the US debt problem.

Oh yes, Donald Trump might help delay the day of reckoning for the USA (cf. Daniel 4:27), but it will happen.

How do I know this?

Partially, because the Bible teaches the following:

12…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).

43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you…47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. 52 They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you (Deuteronomy 28:42-45,47-52)

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…5 Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man… 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:3,5,6-8).

The above prophecy will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. “The message was true, but the appointed time was long…in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come,” Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 use the same Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently. Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end.

The nation with the greatest debt of all time is the United States of America, and on a per capita basis the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has one of the highest. Despite posturing, sequestration, budget committees, government shutdowns, etc. that were supposed to correct this, the USA is intent on increasing its total debt–this is unsustainable and cannot continue in perpetuity. The debt is much more dangerous than the predominant view that politicians in the USA publicly state.

The Congressional Budget Office sees increased debt for the DECADES it tried to project for (see CBO points to massive debt: Can the depth of a coming financial crisis be known?).

Is a government shutdown the answer?

No.

First of all, the government does not really shut down. Secondly, the parts of the government that stop spending do not cost that much relative to the spending that tends to continue. And thirdly, this has been done before, and the debt keeps rising.

Of yes, there could be some political ramifications of a shutdown in September. But do not hold your breath if you think that this will solve the USA’s debt problems.

The Bible teaches that debt is one of the curses that happen to the disobedient:

15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: (Deuteronomy 28:15)

43 “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

45 “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever.

47 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:43-51)

The end result of the coming massive financial crisis will be the END OF THE USA!

However, this will not happen this month, this year, nor even during the first term of Donald Trump’s Administration.

But it will come to pass (Habakkuk 2:3,5,6-8; Deuteronomy 28:42-45,47-52).

While your nation probably will not repent (Anglo or otherwise), you can. Do not wait until it is too late. The fact that the USA continues to NOT solve its debt problems should serve as a wake-up call that the end of the USA will be coming as the Bible predicts.

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. 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?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2017, 2018, or 2019? 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 videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2017?
Are You Being Called by God? Norman Shoaf wrote various points to consider.
Is God Calling You? Alfred E Carrozzo wrote this.
What Did Christ Mean – Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen? This article was by Raymond McNair.
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is also available titled: Real Christian Repentance.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Could a Donald Trump presidency be apocalyptic? A related video is titled: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic?
Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse This 188 page book is for people truly interested in prophecies related to Donald Trump and the United States, including learning about several that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon for $12.99 from the following link: Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse.
Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-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 Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-Kindle Edition.

  Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Launch

COGwriter

North Korea says that the region is on the brink of a nuclear attack and it intends to accelerate its nuclear program:

N. Korea vows to “speed up” nuclear program as THAAD goes operational

May 2, 2017

SEOUL, South Korea — A controversial U.S. anti-missile system in southeastern South Korea is now operating and can defend against North Korean missiles, the U.S. military confirmed Tuesday.

“U.S. Forces Korea confirms the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is operational and has the ability to intercept North Korean missiles and defend the Republic of the Korea,” U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Rob Manning said in a statement to CBS News.

The isolated North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un lashed out again on Monday, meanwhile, accusing the U.S. of drawing the two nations closer to “the brink of nuclear war.”

In a statement sent to CBS News on Monday, a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said the country would “speed up at the maximum pace the measure for bolstering its nuclear deterrence,” in response to what it considers U.S. provocations. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/n-korea-bib-bombers-brink-nuclear-war-thaad/

May 2, 2017

The U.S. military says a missile defense system being set up in South Korea is now capable of intercepting missiles fired from North Korea.

The Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) has “initial intercept capability,” defense officials said.But they cautioned that work will continue in the coming months to make the system fully operational.

THAAD is being installed on the site of a former golf course in Seongju with the goal of helping protect against ballistic missiles fired from North Korea.

China has strongly opposed the deployment, seeing the system as a potential threat. http://www.voanews.com/a/us-missile-defense-system-south-korea-operation/3834143.html

May 2, 2017

North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of pushing the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war after a pair of strategic U.S. bombers flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces in another show of strength. …

North Korea said the bombers conducted “a nuclear bomb dropping drill against major objects” in its territory at a time when Trump and “other U.S. warmongers are crying out for making a preemptive nuclear strike” on the North.

“The reckless military provocation is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war,” the North’s official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high for weeks, driven by concerns that the North might conduct its sixth nuclear test in defiance of pressure from the United States and Pyongyang’s sole major ally, China.

China’s Global Times, a state-backed tabloid that does not necessarily reflect national policy, said in an editorial late on Monday the United States should not rely on China alone to pressure Pyongyang into giving up its nuclear ambitions.

April could prove a “turning point”, the paper said, but “Washington … must also continue to exert its own efforts on the issue”. …

The U.S. military’s THAAD anti-missile defense system has reached initial operational capacity in South Korea, U.S. officials told Reuters, although they cautioned that it would not be fully operational for some months. http://www.voanews.com/a/north-korea-us-bomber-flights-nuclear-war/3834123.html

A few weeks ago (on April 11, 2017), Donald Trump sent the following from his Twitter account: “North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.” Donald Trump, if he is looking for a military solution, likely has enough statements and actions from North Korea to legally ‘justify’ one, though the North Koreans also think the same thing.

The USA has been taking steps and posturing in the region. North Korea has been upset by this and has upped its rhetoric. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump are both considered to be unpredictable. The USA wants to change the situation in North Korea, while North Korea seems willing to risk itself against the USA.

North Korea, in my view, will NOT continue as it has been.

It has severe economic problems and leadership issues. Its people have been suffering for decades and are in my prayers.

In my view, North Korea will one day reunify (at least to a degree, if not totally) with South Korea.

Because of prophecies involving “the kings from the east” cooperating at the end (cf. Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44: “news from the east and the north shall trouble him”), we in the Continuing Church of God have long felt that somehow North and South Korea would likely be unified (or at least work more closely together) prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Notice something from Bible News Prophecy magazine, the July-September 2013 edition:

Perhaps I should add that because of prophecies involving “the kings from the east” cooperating at the end (cf. Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44), I have long felt that somehow North and South Korea would likely be unified (or at least work more closely together) prior to the return of Jesus Christ. The literal translation of Revelation 16:12 is “the kings of the sunrise” and thus this would seem to have to include Korea—which is amongst the most eastern of the nations.

But it could take a battle or more for that to happen. One that may not turn out well for the North Korean leadership.

Yet, caution is advised for any who think that since the USA can defeat North Korea militarily that North Korea would not try to set off a nuclear device (either through a launch or through some other means) that could hurt South Korea or the USA. Jesus spoke of a time of troubles prior to the Great Tribulation (Mark 13:7-8) and North Korea may well fit in with those.

Jesus said to “watch” (Mark 13:37) (Thiel B. Korea in Prophecy: Any Witness? Bible News Prophecy magazine, July-September 2013)

Notice also the following:

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. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed — by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. (Revelation 9:13-18)

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12)

The literal translation of Revelation 16:12 is “the kings of the sunrise” and thus this would seem to have to include Korea–which is among the most eastern of the nations.

It could take a battle or more for that type of unity to happen. One that may not turn out well for the North Korean leadership.

While the USA can defeat North Korea militarily, understand that North Korea could try to set off a nuclear device (either through a launch or through some other means, including covert terroristic ones) that could hurt South Korea or the USA.

Some feel that massive war is just about to hit:

Horacio Villegas, who refers to himself as a “supernatural being” has told the UK’s Daily Star … we have until May 13 until a global war breaks out.

“The main message that people need to know in order to be prepared is that between May 13 and October 13 2017, this war will occur and be over with much devastation, shock and death,” old mate said.

Supposedly, he predicted that Donald Trump would be the US president waaay back in 2015.

He also apparently knew Trump would attack Syria, which would lead to a big ole’ biff with Russia, North Korea and China. http://pickle.nine.com.au/2017/04/21/15/38/horacio-villegas-world-war-3-may-13#UsoURJRxIQePBu0C.99

… according to Clairvoyant Horacio Villegas, we are alarmingly close to a disastrous war. …

He said that Trump would be the main reason behind the start of World War 3. He says that WW3 would begin 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima’s visitation which falls on May 13th and that Donald Trump will be crowned the “Illuminati King”.

He also prophesied the world leaders would attack Syria – which in reality took place in the form of chemical attack – and that this would bring Russia, North Korea and China into the conflict states the report.

According to his statement, “The main message that people need to know in order be prepared is that between May 13th and October 13, 2017, this war will occur and be over with much devastation, shock, and death.” http://www.indiatimes.com/news/world/world-war-iii-will-begin-on-may-13-and-that-s-according-to-mystic-who-predicted-trump-s-win-276073.html

Is WWIII imminent?

No. Nor should we expect Donald Trump to be crowned the “Illuminati King” this month.

Not only have I denounced the May 13, 2017 start date for the Great Tribulation on biblical grounds here (see WWIII to begin on May 13, 2017? Will WWIII be between the East and West?), notice also something that Jesus said which is pertinent to this situation with North Korea:

4 “Take heed that no one deceives you.  5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8)

While we are in the ‘beginning of sorrows,’ the end is not yet. Why? Because other events in the Bible, such as those that Jesus spoke of Matthew 24:9-20 have not happened yet (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2017, 2018, or 2019?).

While the end is coming, it is not yet.

That being said, Jesus spoke of a time of troubles prior to the Great Tribulation (Mark 13:8) and North Korea may well fit in with those (we also have a video related to some of this, which is titled: Syria, North Korea, and Prophecy). North Korea could cause serious trouble for the USA prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), but the end is not yet. Nor will WWIII start on May 13, 2017, though Pope Francis intends to make a big deal of that date (watch Fatima and Pope Francis).

COGwriter

May 2, 2017 (it varies each year based upon the lunar calendar) is the date of the nation of Israel celebrates 69th anniversary of its independence and the formation as the State of Israel.

Israel became independent on May 14, 1948, and this was officially recognized May 1, 1949. This independence has affected the views of many Protestants related to prophecy. Many base a lot of their prophetic understandings on it.

Many Protestants believe that the modern nation Israel, along with Jews scattered around the world, is ALL OF ISRAEL.

As shown by other scriptures (e.g. Genesis 48:11,15-16,19-20; cf. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2), the name Israel was to be placed on the descendants of Joseph–this made 13 tribes. Later, the Bible shows that God separated ten tribes of Israel (1 Kings 11:31) from those of Judah (1 Kings 12:20).

Yet, it was prophesied that most would call the Jews ‘Israel’:

1 Hear this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah (Isaiah 48:1)

This has happened as that is how the Judean nation is known today.

Yet, because of not understanding other scriptures, many overlook the scriptures that teach that there are other tribes of Israel in other places. Notice the following from the New Testament:

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. ( James 1:1)

So, the idea that there were still other tribes that were not in the area of Judea/Palestine was still recognized in the New Testament.

What might any of this have to do with the nation now called Israel?

Some, mainly Protestants, have pointed to the formation of the small nation of Israel as the fulfillment of many end time prophecies. And this has frequently been overstated.

The Christian Research Journal published the following:

Many Christians in the United States believe that it is their biblical responsibility to support the contemporary Jewish State of Israel for specific theological reasons (as opposed to general political ones), a view known as Christian Zionism. The Pew Research Center put the figure at 63 percent for white evangelicals. This view holds that the regathering of Jewish people to Israel since 1948 is the miraculous fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham to establish Israel as a nation forever in Palestine. Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind novels, together with books written by Hal Lindsey, Pat Robertson, and many others, which propound this view, have sold well over 100 million copies. …

A growing number of Christians, however, are left increasingly uneasy about the idea that God would bring the Jewish people back to Palestine while they are in unbelief, since that was why they were exiled from it in the first place. The methods Israel has used, moreover, to colonize the land and subjugate the Palestinians— many of whom are Christians—do not match the picture of a God‐fearing Israel that Christian Zionists find in their literal interpretation of the ancient prophecies.

(Christian Research Journal, volume 29, number 06, 2006 http://www.equip.org/article/modern-israel-in-bible-prophecy-promised-return-or-impending-exile/#christian-books-1 accessed 04/18/15)

In other words, many Protestants believe this even though Protestants writers have made claims that are not backed up by the literal interpretation of the prophecies in the Bible.

Many claim that the Jews returning to that land from around the world fulfills biblical prophecies. Here is one such claim:

What the scriptures say (just a few of them-more at the end):

Isaiah 43
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, `Give them up!’ and to the south, `Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

In Isaiah 43:5-6, the prophet said that the people of Israel would return to their homeland from the east, the west, the north and the south. Isaiah lived 2700 years ago. Beginning at that time, a succession of empires conquered the land of Israel and forced many into exile. This led to a worldwide scattering of Jews. But, during the past century, millions have returned to Israel.–

Jeremiah 23:3-6
“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/jewish-return-to-israel-in-end-times/ accessed 04/18/15

But, people in the modern nation of Israel are afraid, David has not been raised up as king of Israel, and only a relatively small percentage of the total Israelite-descended population has ended up in the nation of Israel. The same source as the above had the following:

… 93.5% of Jews in the world will end up in Israel by 2012. I wonder how true this will turn out to be…….. https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/jewish-return-to-israel-in-end-times/ accessed 04/18/15

That prediction was in error. It is currently estimated that there are between about 14 to 18 million Jews (and I suspect much higher, along with at least hundreds of millions of descendants of Israel from the other tribes), with about 6 million living in the nation of Israel.

Even ignoring the other tribes of Israel, it is clear that since most Jews do not live in Israel, that the prophecies some interpret related to the Jews returning to Israel are in error. These particular prophecies are for a time after the Great Tribulation (see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?) and not prior to it as certain Protestants have claimed.

Notice also another claim from an article titled 10 Prophecies Fulfilled in 1948:

The people of Israel would return to “their own land”

Bible passage: Ezekiel 34:13
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: after May 14, 1948

In Ezekiel 34:13, the prophet said that God would gather the people of Israel scattered throughout the world and bring them back to “their own land.” After many centuries of dispersion, hundreds of thousands of Jews returned to their ancient homeland beginning in the late 1800s. But, millions more returned after Israel declared independence in 1948. In other words, millions of exiles returned to their ancient homeland which was now truly “their own land” in the sense that it was now a sovereign Jewish state. (10 Prophecies Fulfilled in 1948 Last Updated: 07/31/2013 21:28 http://watchmanbiblestudy.com/articles/1948propheciesfulfilled.htm accessed 04/18/15)

But is what happened in Israel a possible fulfillment? No. Notice the verse mentioned above then others:

13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 18 Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture — and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them — My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

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 34:13-30)

The tiny nation of Israel since 1948 has NEVER truly dwelled safely. Furthermore, Israel is regularly ‘shamed’ by Gentiles via United Nations’ resolutions, terrorism, and various international statements and actions.

But most importantly, consider that the overwhelmingly number of Jews in Israel do not know the true God now as God. This has NOT yet been fulfilled, but will be later (see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

What about the nation of Israel supposedly fulfilling the prophecies claimed to be related to Jesus’ parable of the fig tree?

Here are comments from two Protestant/Baptist prophecy interpreters:

Prophecy,…why is the subject so popular today? One word: Israel.

You see, none of the prophecies concerning the end times were relevant — much less understood — until Israel became a nation again in 1948.

In His parable concerning the fig tree, Jesus told His disciples that when it begins to put forth leaves, they would know that summer is near. In the same way, He said that the generation that saw all of the signs He listed occurring within the same time span, and increasing in frequency and intensity, should recognize that His coming is near.

Many of those “signs” involved the nation of Israel. But before there actually existed a nation of Israel, none of them made sense. (Lindsey H. The Hal Lindsey Report. 11-01-2013. http://www.hallindsey.com/the-hal-lindsey-report-11012013/)

And there is one main event in bible prophecy that had to happen to usher in the time that the bible calls the “Last Days”, or the “time of Jacob’s trouble”, and that event happened on May 14, 1948 … “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matthew 24:32-34

This is what’s known as the Fig Tree Prophecy. (The Fig Tree Prophecy of Matthew 24: How The Rebirth of Israel Signals The Last Days. http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/pages/the_fig_tree_prophecy.htm viewed 05/06/14)

Israel the fig tree has put forth its leaves and been reborn as a nation therefore the coming of Christ draws near. Luke 21:32 also states that a generation would not pass. A generation is between 70-100 years, Israel was established again on May 15, 1948. Jews are still immigrating back to Israel from nations far and wide, just like the Bible said they would. https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/jewish-return-to-israel-in-end-times/ accessed 04/18/15

Here is one of the passages of scripture that certain ones believe relate to the 1948 formation of the State of Israel:

2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad. 3 Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.”

4 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. (Jeremiah 24:2-5)

Notice that the above ties Israel with figs, but only claims to bring the good figs back. Although I have seen the above shown as scriptural evidence that Jesus’ parable of the fig tree relates to the modern nation of Israel (https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/jewish-return-to-israel-in-end-times/ accessed 04/18/15), that makes little sense as the modern Jews do not seem to be any closer to God than those in Jeremiah’s time. Furthermore, look at the other passages that follow:

6 For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. 7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:6-7)

The above clearly has not happened. Not only has the nation of Israel NOT returned to God with their whole heart, that nation has also lost some of the land that it had in various ‘peace’ negotiations. Jewish settlers have been plucked up. Hence it is not appropriate to tie Jeremiah 24:2-7 to the modern nation of Israel.

Now why would anyone try? Well they do to attempt to prove that the nation of Israel is the fig tree that Jesus referred to in the gospels. Here is what Jesus said:

32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Matthew 24:32-35)

28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near — at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. (Mark 13:28-30)

29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. (Luke 21:29-32)

We will get to what the “all things” Jesus referred to were. Before going there directly, perhaps it should be mentioned that although he believed that the 1948 recognition by the UN was a prophesied prophetic event, the late Protestant/Baptist scholar Dr. Walvoord wrote:

Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-21; Luke 21:29-33 … A common interpretation has been to interpret the fig tree as a type of Israel and the revival of Israel as the budding of the fig tree … there is no scriptural basis (Walvoord JF. Prophecy Handbook. Victor Books, 1990, pp. 390-391)

Not only was Dr. Walvoord correct that there is no scriptural basis, I will take it a step further. Unless a generation is over 70 years, it is NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE FORMATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL IN 1948 FULFILLED THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE IN MATTHEW, MARK, OR LUKE.

Why?

Jesus noted that the events in Matthew 24. Mark 13, and Luke 21 would all happen within the same generation. Biblically, a generation was normally considered only 30 or 40 years according to what seems to be Smith’s Bible Dictionary’s understanding of Job 42:16 (Smith W. Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Originally written 1863, Hendrickson Publishers, p. 211). Here is that scripture:

16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. (Job 42:16)

Essentially, 140 years divided by four generations equals what may be considered 35 years per generation, with 40 years more probable as that would make the grandchild of the last generation 20 years of age.

Even if a generation is biblically longer, it would not seem to be over 70 years or maybe 80:

10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalms 90:10)

70 years would seem to be the maximum length of a biblical generation. Since the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) cannot possibly start prior to 2020 (and likely later, see When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? and/or watch Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?) and Jesus cannot return until 3 1/2 years later, if Jesus reference to “this generation” meant 70 years or less, then it is not possible that the view that the formation of the State of Israel was the first sign to count the fulfillment of much of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 could be biblically possible.

Getting back to Jesus’ statements about the parable of the fig tree, in the gospel account He specifically says that you need to look at the signs He listed earlier.

So, let’s look at the account in Matthew 24:

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

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.

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.

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 24:4-15)

Some have apparently concluded that the State of Israel needed to form for the event in verse 15 to occur. And while that may well be, that was not the first of the items to be fulfilled in “this generation.” The generation either starts with the start of the “beginning of sorrows” or verse 9. And because Jesus said, “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34), and those things included the sorrows, this really does not point the formation of the nation of Israel as the starting point.

As I wrote years ago, I have suspected that the beginning of sorrows may have begun on September 19, 2009 or shortly thereafter. There was a meeting of certain leaders in the Eastern Orthodox church around then that seemed to embrace the ecumenical agenda of the white horseman of Revelation 6:1-2, which is consistent with the first sorrow Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24:4-5. I perhaps should mentioned that I also told the presiding evangelist of my former church in November of 2009, that the beginning of sorrows may have started on September 19, 2009 or the next month, and not too long thereafter that church put out several writings that the beginning of sorrows had began.

If the beginning of sorrows began in 2009, then there is time in “this generation” to see the signs further fulfilled. The ecumenical agenda has really been pushed since that time, which is a sign that many Protestants have difficulty seeing. Certain Protestants have sadly also accepted that agenda themselves (e.g. Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, etc.).

Notice the following that may have necessitated having an Israeli nation in the Palestine/Judea region:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

This is something that Jesus did refer to in Matthew 24:15. Of course, that prophecy about the sacrifices stopping will not be fulfilled until after the sacrifices are resumed, which having a Jewish nation could (and at some point in time will) do (see also Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?).

So, while the formation of the State of Israel was needed for the fulfillment of some aspects of prophecy, the 1948 formation itself did NOT trigger the time of “this generation.” However, it may well be that the events for the generation that Jesus spoke, started to formally occur around six or so years ago.

But to claim that a ‘generation’ needs to be over 70 years is a stretch that I do not believe should be looked at related to Israel in 1948. The start of the nation of Israel, because of its allusion in Matthew 24:15, was not the start of sorrows. The prophecies in Jeremiah and Ezekiel do not possibly point to what happened when Israel was formed in 1948.

Jesus is coming and Bible prophecy will be fulfilled. But do not rely on ‘traditions’ that are not in full accordance with the Bible.

A video of related interest is titled Israel, 1948, and Prophecy.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2017, 2018, or 2019? 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 videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2017?
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. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! [Português: Esperança do salvação: Como a igreja do deus difere da maioria de protestantes]
Dangerous Protestant Prophetic Errors What are some errors that various Protestants hold to that will tend to prevent them from knowing when the Great Tribulation will begin? A related video is titled Ten Dangerous Protestant Prophetic Errors.
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.
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to a sermon titled The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work.
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.
Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated Many want Jerusalem. Who does the Bible teach will control Jerusalem? Will the Jews be forced out of Jerusalem and many made captive? What did Jesus teach about this? Are nations even now considering providing the prophesied armies to surround Jerusalem? What is Jerusalem Day? What is Nakba Day? What events should Christians watch in Jerusalem as signs that the Great Tribulation will begin? What is the solution to Jerusalem? This is a video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
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.
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.

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link to the following from BBC (the photo below was also from BBC):

1 May 2017

What will happen for the rest of Trump’s presidency? You might as well ask a Magic Eight ball

The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency are now behind him. … the results so far are decidedly mixed. While there has been a paucity of legislative achievements, Mr Trump has notched some successes through executive action, particularly in the realm of immigration enforcement and regulatory rollback. …

But what happens next? Given what we’ve seen over the past 100 days, anything could be possible. Sometimes it feels like a Magic 8-ball would be just as good at making predictions. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39750173

What is a Magic Eight Ball?

Face of a ‘Magic 8-Ball’

According to Wikipedia:

The Magic 8-Ball is a toy used for fortune-telling or seeking advice, developed in the 1950s and manufactured by Mattel. It is often used in fiction, often for humor related to its giving accurate, inaccurate, or otherwise statistically improbable answers. …

An 8-ball was used as a fortune-telling device in the 1940 Three Stooges short, You Nazty Spy, and called a “magic ball”. While Magic 8-Ball did not exist in its current form until 1950, the functional component was invented by Albert C. Carter, inspired by a spirit writing device used by his mother, Mary, a Cincinnati clairvoyant. …

The Magic 8-Ball is a hollow plastic sphere resembling an oversized, black-and-white 8-ball. Inside a cylindrical reservoir contains a white, plastic, icosahedral die floating in alcohol dyed dark blue. Each of the die’s 20 faces has an affirmative, negative, or non-committal statement printed in raised letters. These messages are read through a window on the ball’s bottom.

To use the ball, it must be held with the window initially facing down. After “asking the ball” a yes-no question, the user then turns the ball so that the window faces up, setting in motion the liquid and die inside. When the die floats to the top and one face presses against the window, the raised letters displace the blue liquid to reveal the message as white letters on a blue background. Although many users shake the ball before turning it upright, the instructions warn against doing so to avoid white bubbles, which interfere with the performance of the ball itself. (Magic 8-Ball. Wikipedia, accessed 05/01/17)

Can YOU KNOW what will happen?

Well, not if you are relying on a “Magic 8-Ball” or such nonsense sources.

Notice the following:

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. (Deuteronomy 18:10-14)

Christians do not use Magic 8-Balls, etc. We look to the Bible (Isaiah 8:10; 66:5). Christians do “not follow cunningly devised fables” (“2 Peter 1:16).

At the COGwriter News page, the focus in on explanation of biblical doctrines as well as event aligning to fulfill properly understood biblical prophecies. The media overlooks, and often despises, the Bible, even though it is “word of truth” (2 Corinthians 6:7).

As reported here yesterday, since the election of Donald Trump, world events have aligned to begin to fulfill at least 9 biblically-based warnings that I published either online or in my book Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse. For details related to those 9, check out the post: Donald Trump: Media focused on first 100 days, but ignoring biblically-based predictions that are coming to pass.

That particular book has dozens of warnings and predictions and numerous biblical prophecies.

Are you interested in having an idea of what types of things will happen because of a Donald Trump presidency?

Although space (as well as rules from Amazon Kindle) does not permit putting all of it here, readers might find the following from part of Chapter 7 of my book, Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse, to be of interest:

20 Reasons Why Donald Trump is Apocalyptic

The last book of the Bible is referred to as “Revelation” or the Apocalypse (the Greek term which means revealing, and this was given to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, per Revelation 1:9).  For purposes of this section, we will use the term “apocalyptic” to mean related to events that lead to the end-time events prophesied in the Bible.

Although Donald Trump is not, and will not, be the final Antichrist (see chapter 3), there are reasons to believe that the rising of the prophesied final ten-horned beast power (Revelation 13:1) and the destruction of the United States could take place under his administration if it lasts two full terms (eight years). And this destruction is likely to include terrorism and partial nuclear devastation.

My use of the word “apocalyptic” is intended to emphatically be biblical (not political), as rooted in the understanding of the prophetic books of the Bible, including the Book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse.

Because he does not seem to understand many end-time biblical events, this perhaps will lead him to be more accommodating to the rise of the King of the North and King of the South powers than one who believed and understands end-time prophecy would likely have supported.

Here are twenty specific reasons indicating some of how Donald Trump is “apocalyptic”:

1. The timing of his rise in prominence. We are in the last days of God’s 6000/7000 year plan. A day to God is like 1000 years (2 Peter 3:8; Psalm 90:4), and since it is wise to know the days (Psalm 90:12), this is a reason that Donald Trump would be apocalyptic. We are getting close to the end of the time God gave humans to rule themselves. Thus, we are close to the start of the Great Tribulation (which will not happen in Donald Trump’s first presidential term) and the fulfillment of related prophecies in the Book of Revelation.
2. Donald Trump supports the arming of various nations to defend themselves and not expect the USA to defend them. This suggests he would be supportive of the type of confederation that will lead to the formation of the final King of the South of biblical prophecy (Daniel 11:40-43).
3. Donald Trump loves debt, which the Bible condemns as a curse (Deuteronomy 28:15,44). He has proposed infrastructure and other projects that are expected to increase the debt of the USA.[i] Increasing national debt will lead to destruction at the appointed time of the end (Habakkuk 2:3–8). He will not be able to reverse enough of the debt to stop Habakkuk 2:3-8 from being fulfilled.
4. Donald Trump has often encouraged increased military spending by the Europeans. And while American taxpayers may see this as a good thing, this increased spending will help lead to the rise of the prophesied King of the North, who is to be the final leader of the Beast of Revelation (Revelation 13:1-10). Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump has threatened to not defend nations in Europe if they will not increase their military spending. This approach has greatly concerned various leaders in Europe. Donald Trump is helping enable the rise of the King of the North/Beast power who will be in league with the final Antichrist.
5. Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves, especially when combined with the Brexit vote that Donald Trump encouraged. While the Bible shows the Europeans will have difficulties being together (Daniel 2:41-43), it also shows that they will reorganize and unite (Revelation 17:12-13). Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA.
6. Donald Trump is greedy, prideful, and despite claiming to be a Christian, in 2015 he stated he never repented. The Bible teaches one needs to repent to be a Christian (Acts 2:38-39), “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23), and that “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). The God of the Bible expects leaders to encourage repentance and moral behaviors when they are subject to destructive punishment (cf. Jonah 3:6-9). Donald Trump, like many other U.S. politicians, does not seem to believe that the U.S.A. needs to repent for its sins against God. Yet, without national repentance (Ezekiel 18:30-32; Hosea 7:14-16; 11:3-7), the U.S.A. is doomed for destruction (Isaiah 30:12-13; Daniel 11:39).
7. Donald Trump does not seem to realize the inherent danger for the USA to rely on Europe’s upcoming Galileo “GPS” for part of the U.S.A.’s military defense. This would appear to give the rising European power a unique offensive and defensive capability against the U.S.A. (cf. Daniel 11:39; Revelation 13:3-4). It is dangerous to have a potential enemy control portions of one’s military communications systems.
8. Humans should eat what is good (cf. Isaiah 55:2). Donald Trump, like others before him, has made statements supporting the use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) to be consumed as foods.[ii] Increased reliance on GMOs by the United States puts the nation at major risk for nearly complete crop failures. The Bible warns that famines (Matthew 24:7) and food shortages (Revelation 6:5-6) are coming and Donald Trump may further help set the stage for this.
9. Donald Trump has been a polarizing figure and has offended many including minorities and Muslims. Expect civil unrest and rioting. The Bible prophesies “There shall be terror within” (Deuteronomy 32:25). The Bible also specifically warns of problems from Arabic peoples in the end times (Psalm 83:3-8). Some Syrians, including some already in the USA, may take terroristic actions as that too is consistent with biblical prophecy (cf. Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12).
10. Donald Trump supports various aspects of the LGBTQ agenda. The God of the Bible expects leaders to encourage repentance and moral behaviors when they are subject to destructive punishment (cf. Jonah 3:6-9). Donald Trump, like many other U.S. politicians, does not seem to believe that the U.S.A. needs to repent for its sins against God. Yet, without national repentance, the U.S.A. is doomed for destruction (Isaiah 30:12-13; Daniel 11:39). Of course, people are supposed to pray for political leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3), and that should be done irrespective if one agrees with the leader. Sometimes, leaders and/or their policies change.
11. By focusing too much on threats from China and almost always considering the Europeans as some type of allies, a Donald Trump Administration is currently not expected to reverse the Asian ‘pivot’ strategy. Unless he changes that, this pivot will help result in destruction of the USA.
12. Donald Trump has made some statements suggesting he is not fully in agreement with the right of free speech. A “famine” of the word is prophesied (Amos 8:11) and it is possible that he could authorize steps that could lead to that.
13. Donald Trump is an admitted adulterer, strip club and casino owner, and married a woman who was professionally engaged in pornography. By encouraging and not discouraging aspects of biblical immorality, Donald Trump is setting the U.S.A. up for punishment (Isaiah 30:12-13; Romans 1:18-32) that has and will include troubles, violence, weather problems, earthquakes, food shortages, and pestilences (Mark 13:7-8; Luke 21:10-11). The time will come when, these problems will further worsen.
14. Donald Trump believes HE can make the United States great again. Biblically, this is not the case, though he could help in several areas. Morally, economically, and militarily, the USA has been in decline (though the military decline is still more relative to the climb of others). We will one day hear proclamations of false peace and safety and Bible warns repeatedly end time destruction will follow those declarations (1 Thessalonians 5:3; Jeremiah 6:14-15).
15. Donald Trump’s history of corporate bankruptcies demonstrate that he is willing to not pay his debts.  The Bible teaches, “The wicked borrows and does not repay” (Psalms 37:21). That is not good. Donald Trump has also hinted about defaulting or renegotiating the debt—if he does that, this will not set well with foreign creditors
16. Jesus warned about a coming time of pestilences as part of the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8).  Actions and/or inactions by Donald Trump will likely put the USA at increased risk of problems from pestilences.
17. His misstatements, name calling, exaggerations, and negotiating strategies show that he is not always honest. This is not good (Proverbs 29:2; Psalm 15:1-4). His bragging statements, etc. are consistent with those warned about for the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-6.
18. His religious views hint that he is somewhat ‘ecumenical.’ An ecumenical power is warned about in the Bible and is expected to rise up in the end times (Zechariah 2:6-8; Revelation 17; 18). I expect him to make inter-faith/ecumenical supporting statements.
19. He has made statements suggesting a of loss of privacy and favoring unlimited government control. This type of thing will be exploited by 666 of Revelation 13:16-18.
20. Donald Trump seems to be the type of person who would support the ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27, which precedes the start of the Great Tribulation by a few years.

The Great Tribulation, itself, cannot begin until at least 2021. It, thus, may possibly begin in a year that Donald Trump could be president. He may well take military, economic, cultural, and other steps that could lead to it if in the presidential office at that time.

[i] Wehl B. GOP and Trump put deficit on back burner. Politico, November 15, 2016

[ii] Goldberg M. President-Elect Donald Trump and Organic Food – How Concerned Should We Be? Living MaxWell, November 10, 2016

Biblically-based predictions have and will come to pass (e.g. Donald Trump: Media focused on first 100 days, but ignoring biblically-based predictions that are coming to pass and How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God ).

While some consider that the “Magic 8-Ball” or other such cunning devices have value, true Christians do not. The Apostle Peter wrote:

16  For we did not follow cunningly devised fables … (2 Peter 1:16)

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (2 Peter 3:1-15).

Although most in the media overlook biblical prophecy and/or do not really believe it, they are missing an important key of knowledge. Christians need to realize:

10 For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)

We in the Continuing Church of God “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).

(Photo by ISC Kosmotras)

COGwriter

North Korea is pushing its nuclear agenda despite threats from Donald Trump and pressure from China:

So, North Korea is pushing ahead, despite US and other actions. Pope Francis is concerned about a possible war:

May 1, 2017

Pope Francis voiced concerns about rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and called for a diplomatic solution to the North Korean missile issue for the “future of humanity.”

Speaking to reporters on an aircraft returning to the Vatican on Apr. 29 from a visit to Egypt, the Pope was quoted by the media as saying the situation with the North Korean nuclear issue had “become too hot” over the past year. “We are talking about the future of humanity. Today, a widespread war would destroy . . . a good part of humanity, and of culture, everything, everything,” he continued. “It would be terrible. I don’t think that humanity today would be able to withstand it,” he added.

The Pope also stressed the roles of the UN and other countries, especially Norway, in a diplomatic resolution to tensions on the peninsula. “I call on, and will call on, all leaders . . . to work to seek a solution to problems through the path of diplomacy,” he said. http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/793037.html

The USA is considering both a diplomatic and military “solution” to North Korea. The President of the Philippines had some comments as well:

May 1, 2017

NORTH Korea wants to “end the world” and is playing a dangerous game which could have catastrophic results.

That’s the view of the outspoken Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte who warned the US, Japan, South Korea and even China against antagonising someone “who’s excited about firing missiles”.

Duterte, who is renowned for his blunt approach, has also urged the US to proceed with caution and patience when it comes to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

And he said US President Donald Trump shouldn’t play into Kim’s hands.

“There seems to be two countries playing with their toys and those toys are not really to entertain,” he told a news conference after the ASEAN summit in Manila on Saturday.

“You know that they are playing with somebody who relishes letting go of missiles and everything.

“I would not want to go into his (Mr Kim’s) mind because I really do not know what’s inside but he’s putting mother Earth, the planet to an edge.”

Duterte said the tensions and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions were extremely worrying and one miscalculation of a missile or warhead could be catastrophic.

“Who am I to say that you should stop? But I would say ‘Mr President, please see to it that there is no war because my region will suffer immensely’,” Mr Duterte said.

“I will just communicate to (Mr Trump), ‘just let him play … do not play into his hands’.”

“The guy (Mr Kim) simply wants to end the world, that is why he is very happy. He is always smiling. But he really wants to finish everything and he wants to drag us all down.” http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/rodrigo-duterte-says-kim-jongun-wants-to-end-the-world/news-story/710fb4380de74934f8c0e273483f9efd

The Bible says:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:16-18)

Sadly, that is the case with North Korea. It will take the return of Jesus and the Kingdom of God to truly bring peace.

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.

North Korea is one of relatively few small nations to have nuclear weapons and often brags about them and their potential use.

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 past years (see North Korea threatens the White House), and has been increasing threats against the USA and the region as the USA has taken steps to try to pressure North Korea.

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.

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.

As Jesus said, “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37)

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Syria, North Korea, and Prophecy On April 7, 2017, 59 US Tomahawk missiles hit a military installation in Syria. While praised by NATO nations, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, this was denounced by Syria, Russia, and North Korea. Is this the start of World War III? Will the Bashar al-Assad regime remain as it is? What about North Korea? What will happen to North Korea? What does the Bible show will happen? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more. This is a video.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
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?.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
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?
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now? Another could be Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code).
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2017, 2018, or 2019? 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 videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2017?
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Could a Donald Trump presidency be apocalyptic?  A related video is titled: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic?
Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse This 188 page book is for people truly interested in prophecies related to Donald Trump and the United States, including learning about several that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon for $12.99 from the following link: Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse.
Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-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 Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse-Kindle Edition.

Symbol of European “Babylon”

COGwriter

A while back, there was a report that many Europeans have been disillusioned with the EU and hold to a variety of stereotypes:

Public faith in European unity has slumped as people become increasingly gloomy about economic conditions, according to Washington-based Pew Institute…The respected Washington-based Pew Research Centre warned that support for the EU has slid over the last 12 months, from 60% in 2012 to just 45% this year…

European stereotypes Photograph: /Pew Research Centre 2013

National stereotypes

The survey also polled people’s views on their fellow European nations. This revealed that Europeans feel that their nation is the “most compassionate”, while many chose Germany as the “least compassionate” (although the UK was the favourite pick for both Germans and the French).

In a display of Gallic insouciance, the French identified themselves as both the ‘most arrogant’ and ‘least arrogant’.

Germany was identified as the most trustworthy country by seven nations, apart from the Greeks, who chose Greece. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/may/14/europeans-disillusioned-divided-debt-crisis

Europe itself has problems and does not adhere well together–yet the Bible foretold that as well in Daniel 2:41-43.

Europe also has major issues with Muslims and that will one day lead to major problems and conflict (cf. Daniel 11:40-43).

Europe currently has real problems with the UK and the situation does not seem to be getting better:

May and Juncker were all smiles after their Downing Street meeting but a German paper has revealed how it really went. Juncker was so alarmed he quickly phoned Merkel to warn her that May was ‘living in another galaxy.’

1 May 2017

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker accused British Prime Minister Theresa May of being “delusional” over her demands for Brexit, German newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” reported on Sunday.

May dined with key European Union figures at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, but details of just how poorly the meeting went were only now revealed by the paper, which was briefed by a senior Commission source.

“I leave Downing Street 10 times more skeptical than I was before,” Juncker reportedly told May at the end of the meeting.

May made no compromises over the two hour meeting, insisting that a free trade agreement be negotiated from the start, “Frankfurter Allgemeine” reported. The EU has repeatedly said a free trade agreement could only be negotiated once the terms of separation are agreed upon. …

Juncker called German Chancellor Angela Merkel early the following morning, telling her that May was “living in a different galaxy”, prompting Merkel to warn May against her illusions.

“A third-party state cannot enjoy the same advantages or be better positioned than an EU member. I have the feeling that some people in Britain maintain illusions in this regard. They’re wasting their time,” Merkel told the German parliament on Thursday.

May spoke with the BBC on Sunday, adopting a tough stance and repeating her insistence that no deal would be better than a bad deal.

“No, look, I’m not in a different galaxy,” May told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “But I think what this shows and what some of the other comments we’ve seen coming from European leaders shows is that there are going to be times when these negotiations are going to be tough.”  …

Meanwhile former British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on Monday that he was reentering domestic politics to fight against Brexit. …

On Saturday leaders from the 27 remaining EU states unanimously agreed on guidelines for negotiations on the UK’s divorce from the bloc. http://www.dw.com/en/when-theresa-met-jean-claude-what-really-happened-at-that-brexit-meeting/a-38652456

On Saturday, after seeing the results of the EU agreement on guidelines, I made the following video: Brexit and the fate of Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, the UK, and the USA. I had previously reported Angela Merkel’s comments (see Merkel does not want UK to get easy Brexit; Trump wants to renegotiate NAFTA) and have long suspected that Tony Blair would get involved with the EU again (see Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic?), but I had not heard that the EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker said that Theresa May was “delusional” and “living in a different galaxy.”

UPDATE 2:30 pm PDT. Apparently Theresa May believes some accounts are inaccurate:

May 1, 2017

Theresa May has dismissed as “Brussels gossip” an account of a dinner with EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, published in a German newspaper.

The pair reportedly clashed over Mrs May’s desire to make Brexit “a success” and whether the issue of protecting the rights of expat UK and EU nationals could be agreed as early as June.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine claims Mr Juncker said: “I leave… 10 times more sceptical than I was before.”

But Mrs May said it was “constructive”.

And she told the BBC’s Ben Wright: “I have to say from what I’ve seen of this account I think it’s Brussels gossip.” http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39770328

While Angela Merkel did make negative comments, apparently Jean-Claude Juncker did not make certain comments attributed to him.

Europe sees itself as the power all should want to support, and is highly insulted that the UK voted to leave its embrace.

Europe has tended to have similarities to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 (see EU’s Fragile Tower of Babel) and sometimes has used it as a reference as the poster at the beginning of this article shows. The term Babylon seems to derive from Babel and the Bible indicates that the end time Babylon will be European (cf. Revelation 17) (see also the video Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

Specifically see the following scriptures, which have European (cf. Daniel 7:2-7, Joshua 9:1, 23:4; Ezekiel 47:15) end time prophetic connections:

41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Daniel 2:41-43)

12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)

Those passages show a fragile coalition that will have to likely reorganize at least two more times according to the Bible. Europe ultimately will have ten major leaders who will then turn their power over to a single leader. And there seem to be a lot of reorganization steps on the way before those two reorganizations take place.

Eventually, Europe will end up with a dictatorial leader (Revelation 13)–and one with militaristic objectives.

The Bible tells of a time when a smooth talker will gain the confidence of the Europeans and lead them in ways that they had not realized. Below are a few short statements in the New Living Translation ® (NLT) for clarity, followed by the longer passages in the NKJV for additional details:

23 At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power….25 He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; (Daniel 8:23,25a NLT)

22 “The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. 22 Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. 23 With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. (Daniel 11:21-23 NLT)

23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise,
Having fierce features,
Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

25 “Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity.
He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;
But he shall be broken without human means. (Daniel 8:23-25 NKJV)

23 “Thus he said:

‘The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High…(Daniel 7:23-25 NKJV)

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:21-24 NKJV)

And while now is not quite yet the dictator’s time, despite expected unification problems (Daniel 2:40-43), a major dictator in Europe will rise up (Revelation 13:1-8), Europe will reorganize (Revelation 17:12-13), and become the final King of the North, European Beast power of Bible prophecy (Daniel 11:21-44).

And this will not be good for the United States of America nor the British (not their Anglo-allies like Canada, Australia, or New Zealand), and ultimately not the Europeans (Revelation 18:1-8). The current financial problems, however, will contribute to the fulfillment of many scriptures and the Europeans, who have more problems ahead, will end up better financially, for a time, than most alive today believe (Revelation 18).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Brexit and the fate of Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, the UK, and the USA On April 29, 2017, 27 of the nations of the European Union agreed to certain guidelines for the negotiations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which gave its notice to leave on March 29, 2017. These guidelines are contrary to what the UK wants. Does the EU intend the UK to pay a price for leaving the EU? What does Spain want? What does the Republic of Ireland want? Will Northern Ireland and Gibraltar eventually fall under European control? Will the UK and USA be conquered? What does the Bible teach? This is a video.
Forbes’ Brexit Monster is the Beast of Revelation Various ones have been properly convinced that there is a plan for a European superstate. Forbes’ writer Tom Worstall wrote that the Brexit vote was about the United Kingdom “not joining the monster of the European Union to come.” The Bible tells of a Beast monster that will arise in the end times in Europe. Dr. Thiel cites news reports, as well as the Old and New Testaments, to show that the monster many fear will arise in Europe, despite the vote by the British to exit the European Union. This is a video.
Collapse of the Euro and Dollar? War in 2020? Larry Edelson of Money and Markets described aspects of current economic difficulties and explained why he felt matters would get a lot worse. He said war, like World War III, could break out as early as 2020. What did he call the ‘granddaddy of all cycles”? Will matters go as he said? What does the Bible teach? Dr. Thiel provides biblical insights that secular sources often miss. This is a video.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2017, 2018, or 2019? 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 videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2017?
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?
Post Brexit Prophecy On June 23, 2016, the voters of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) chose to leave the European Union. Now with this BRitish EXIT (Brexit) vote, what is prophesied to happen to the UK? Will the UK do well or be taken over and made slaves? Dr. Thiel explains from biblical prophecies what is ahead for the UK, Europe, and even the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This is a video.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
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.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: Alemania en la profecía bíblic. Here are links to two English language sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. 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?
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Could a Donald Trump presidency be apocalyptic? A related video is titled: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic?
Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? The Book of Revelation tells of a beast power that will rise up. Some think that this must be Russia or could be Islamic, while others say that this power is European. The Book of Daniel tells of the rise of an end time King of the North that some think must be referring to a Russian leader, while others say that this power is European. How can you be sure? This YouTube video has all the scriptural proofs that you should need to prove that this power must be a European one.