Church of God News

Abdülmecid II: Last Caliph of the Ottoman Dynasty
(Library of Congress)

COGwriter

Middle East Eye (MEE) reported the following:

‘Democracy is a joke’: Are young Islamists giving up on the ballot box?

August 18, 2021

Over the past few years, Islamists have experienced a series of events that shaped their political thinking and undermined their faith in democracy.

From the bloody military coup in Egypt, led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has built a dictatorship with a gruesome record of human rights violations backed by regional and western allies, to the rise of a hostile regional axis that seeks to obliterate Islamists domestically and internationally, and most recently the soft coup in Tunisia, which halted the only enduring success story of the Arab Spring.

For Islamists, these are not signs of acceptance or integration but rather of intolerance and rejection, which deepens their mistrust in the entire political process.

As a result, Islamists, and especially young Islamists, are growing increasingly doubtful of the ability of the democratic model – which they now perceive as a deceptive political game – to ensure their political inclusion. …

Ennahda came under fire not only from Tunisians but most importantly from other Islamists –  moderate and extremists alike. They believe that Ennahda’s concessions were ultimately futile and undermined its credibility as an Islamist movement.

Enters Taliban

More disturbingly, extremist groups such as Islamic State (IS) are gloating over Ennahda’s loss of power and Saied’s control of the political scene in Tunisia.

For IS and other militant groups, these setbacks validate their extreme, anti-democracy approach and have prompted some disillusioned Islamists to call for the adoption of what they describe as the “Taliban model”  – that is, the use of force in order to protect political gains.

They believe that negotiations should go hand-in-hand with armed violence against their adversaries. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/democracy-young-islamists-giving-up-on-ballot-box-elections

Notice also the following:

18 August 2021

While the West is anxiously watching developments after the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, “Islamic State” (IS), al-Qaeda and other terror militias are also observing what is happening with keen interest — to say the least.

“We have to expect that not only IS, but also al-Qaeda and other smaller groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan will become stronger,” Guido Steinberg, a terrorism expert and researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, told DW in a video chat.

However, Steinberg believes that it is impossible to say so far where this increased strength will become evident at first. …

He sees the main problem as being the boost to morale that jihadis, Salafists and Islamists all over the world have received: “They see that the Americans can be beaten. The Taliban have now proven that.”

New alliances instead of old animosities

New alliances among Islamic extremists could be one way that they become stronger.

“In Yemen, a compromise is already in place that ensures no fighting between al-Qaeda and IS,” Jassim Mohamad, a terrorism researcher at the European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies, told DW via video.

Another such “deal” has already been sealed between the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. “Some people might think that al-Qaeda hasn’t been very active in the past 10 years or since the assassination of bin Laden, but documents and investigations show clearly that the relationship between the Taliban and al-Qaeda is very much alive, with al-Qaeda supporting the Taliban,” Mohamad told DW.

The analyst feels that more “peace agreements” of this kind are likely. “The next could be a deal between the Taliban and ISIS, for example, that they carry out their operations not inside Afghanistan but only outside Afghanistan,” he said.

Overall, he fears that Afghanistan, Libya and Syria will turn into bases for preparing terrorist attacks on European and American targets. https://www.dw.com/en/taliban-victory-a-likely-boost-for-islamist-extremists-in-the-middle-east/a-58887434

Yes, the Americans can be beaten

The USA will one day be defeated militarily (cf. Daniel 11:39).

However, before that defeat, the Europeans will make a deal with an Arabic leader (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83:2-8).

That leader will be one that the Bible calls the King of the South.

Here is a prophecy about those aligned with the coming King of the South:

40 And at the time of the end, a king of the south pushes himself forward with him, and a king of the north storms against him, with chariot, and with horsemen, and with many ships; 41 and he has come into the lands, and has overflowed, and passed over, and has come into the desirable land, and many stumble, and these escape from his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon. 42 And he sends forth his hand on the lands, and the land of Egypt is not for an escape; 43 and he has ruled over treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the desirable things of Egypt, and Lubim and Cushim [are] at his steps. (Daniel 11:40-43, LSV)

Now there are many ‘extremist’ Islamic groups that want a caliphate along the lines of what the Bible prophesies.

Islam is looking for the leader to rise up and unify the Arab World (Turkey, which is not Arabic, would like to lead it, but will not according to biblical prophecies). Some Muslims are looking for a political-spiritual leader, sometimes called the Caliph in English, to rise up (Caliph is a shortened version of “Khalifah rasul Allah” meaning “Successor to the Messenger of God”). The title caliph has been given to the head of state in Muslim-governed countries in the past and is something people of my faith have long suspected would rise again to fulfill Bible prophecy:

The supreme office of caliph, originally elective, became hereditary…Eventually…caliphs became figurehead or “puppet” leaders…Many Arabs…seek to re-create the political and theological unity of the early Islamic caliphate (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, pp. 9-10).

Interestingly, within Islam, there is a belief that someone who sounds like the biblical “King of the South” of Daniel 11, who they tend to call the Mahdi or 12th Imam will participate in a deal like the one in Daniel 9:27…the Bible predicts the rise in the end time of a Future King of the South—and this person may be the one that Muslims will consider to be their prophesied “Mahdi.” …“the Muslim World League issued a fatwa in October of 1976 commanding Sunni Muslims to believe in the concept of an Islamic Savior called the Mahdi.”…Shi’ites also would do well to recognize that just because someone may claim to be the final Imam (or Mahdi), does not mean that God will agree that he should be followed. Neither Sunnis nor Shi’ites should support one who will appear to possibly be the final Imam in the next decade; whoever claims to be will be defeated soundly (Daniel 11:40-43). (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, Nazarene Books, 2009).

(More information about caliphates and prophecies concerning one can be found in the article The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation. as well as the video titled Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?)

Although a group called the Muslim Brotherhood may sound extreme to many, overall it is considered more ‘moderate’ than many groups that are interested in installing a pan-Arabic caliphate, which sounds a lot like the biblical King of the South.

Back in 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood believed that it was close to be able to attain its goal for a caliphate:

The Muslim Brotherhood is close to achieving the “ultimate goal” set by the group’s founder Hassan al-Banna in 1928, which is the establishment of a “just and reasonable regime.”

The project begins with the creation of a sound government and ends with the establishment of a just Islamic caliphate, said Mohamed Badie, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt on Thursday, in his weekly message on the group’s official website. (Al-Youm, AM. Muslim Brotherhood says they are close to attaining their “ultimate goal. Sharia Awareness Action Network, December 30, 2011. http://shariafreeusa.com/muslim-brotherhood-says-they-are-close-to-attaining-their-ultimate-goal/)

While some hope that it has changed, notice something reported about the Muslim Brotherhood:

Abd al-Galil al-Sharnubi says he can only laugh at the thought that there are people in the West who still see the Muslim Brotherhood as “moderate Islamists.” Sharnubi is a journalist and a Muslim — and he was a member of the Brotherhood for 23 years. He’s been familiar with the movement since he was 14, and he says that the Brotherhood could be the kiss of death for democracy in Egypt…

As the former editor in chief of Ikhwan Online, the brotherhood’s website, Sharnubi went public shortly after his resignation. In talk shows he warned his fellow Egyptians that the movement was undemocratic and authoritarian, and that leading Muslim Brothers were no less corrupt than politicians from the old regime…

In order to properly apply the Sharia code of conduct, the Islamists suggested that they should be interpreted by Muslim legal scholars, known as ulama…Consequently, even the most radical Islamists have become part of the daily political landscape in Egypt.

This includes preachers such as Wajdi Ghunaim, who views secular Egyptians as infidels who should be punished with death. (Steinvorth D. and Windfuhr V., translated by Cohen P. Morsi’s Grab for Power Egyptian Revolutionaries Take on Radical Islam. Der Spiegel, November 26, 2012. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/egypt-at-a-crossroads-after-morsi-grants-himself-sweeping-powers-a-869291.html)

To see the likely nations involved in the biblical King of the South, please see the article Is there a Future King of the South?

In time, the West, meaning the Europeans and probably the USA, will support something like the caliph that many in Islam want.

We are getting closer to that day.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in Prophecy What is ahead for North Africa? What does the Bible teach?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a related YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
Jordan in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible show will happen to the inhabitants of Jordan? Will they escape and then be punished? A related video is titled Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? A related video is also available: What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
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?
Can the Final Antichrist be Islamic? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out. A related sermon is titled: Is the Final Antichrist Islamic or European? Another video is Mystery Babylon USA, Mecca, or Rome?

COGwriter

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

Here are links to the latest news posts we received:

Militaristic rise in Germany

Ascenso militarista en Alemania

https://www.cdlidd.es/ascenso-militarista-en-alemania/

‘Switzerland walks out of seven-year treaty talks with EU’ ‘Swiss to pay economic price for ditching EU treaty’

‘Suiza se retira de las negociaciones de siete años del tratado con la UE’ ‘Suiza pagará un precio económico por abandonar el tratado de la UE’

https://www.cdlidd.es/suiza-se-retira-de-las-negociaciones-de-siete-anos-del-tratado-con-la-ue-suiza-pagara-un-precio-economico-por-abandonar-el-tratado-de-la-ue/

‘Total Tyranny: We’ll All Be Targeted Under the Government’s New Precrime Program’

‘Tiranía total: todos seremos atacados por el nuevo programa de precrimen del gobierno’

https://www.cdlidd.es/tirania-total-todos-seremos-atacados-por-el-nuevo-programa-de-pre-crimen-del-gobierno/

Dollar is Going to Collapse – Peter Schiff

El dólar va a colapsar – Peter Schiff

https://www.cdlidd.es/el-dolar-va-a-colapsar-peter-schiff/

Daily Mail: An AI company is using deepfake technology to seamlessly dub your favorite actor’s dialogue; COGwriter: Dangers of ‘deep fakes’

Daily Mail: una empresa de inteligencia artificial está utilizando tecnología deepfake para copiar sin problemas el diálogo de su actor favorito; COGwriter: Peligros de las ‘falsificaciones profundas’

https://www.cdlidd.es/daily-mail-una-empresa-de-inteligencia-artificial-esta-utilizando-tecnologia-deepfake-para-copiar-sin-problemas-el-dialogo-de-su-actor-favorito-cogwriter-peligros-de-las-falsificaciones-profundas/

‘One thing currently crushing the United States of America’

‘Algo que actualmente está aplastando a los Estados Unidos de América’

https://www.cdlidd.es/algo-que-actualmente-esta-aplastando-a-los-estados-unidos-de-america/

Israel-Hamas enter cease-fire deal, but great damage will later come to Jerusalem

Israel y Hamas firman un acuerdo de alto el fuego, pero luego se producirán grandes daños en Jerusalén

https://www.cdlidd.es/israel-y-hamas-firman-un-acuerdo-de-alto-el-fuego-pero-luego-se-produciran-grandes-danos-en-jerusalen/

MS: Thoughts On The “New Normal” And The Things That We Are Losing As A Society…

MS: Pensamientos sobre la “nueva normalidad” y las cosas que estamos perdiendo como sociedad …

https://www.cdlidd.es/ms-pensamientos-sobre-la-nueva-normalidad-y-las-cosas-que-estamos-perdiendo-como-sociedad/

VOA: China, in Major Policy Shift, Announces Families Can Have Three Children; COGwriter: 200,000,000 Man Army Will Still Form

VOA: China, en un importante cambio de política, anuncia que las familias pueden tener tres hijos; COGwriter: El ejército de 200,000,000 hombres aún se formará

https://www.cdlidd.es/voa-china-en-un-importante-cambio-de-politica-anuncia-que-las-familias-pueden-tener-tres-hijos-cogwriter-el-ejercito-de-200000000-hombres-aun-se-formara/

‘Is This Administration Actually TRYING to Accelerate the Economic Collapse of the United States?’

“¿Esta administración está realmente TRATANDO de acelerar el colapso económico de los Estados Unidos?”

https://www.cdlidd.es/esta-administracion-esta-realmente-tratando-de-acelerar-el-colapso-economico-de-los-estados-unidos/

Iran loses largest warship–could Iran soon damage the USA with an EMP weapon?

Irán pierde el buque de guerra más grande, ¿Podría Irán dañar pronto a EE. UU. con un arma EMP?

https://www.cdlidd.es/iran-pierde-el-buque-de-guerra-mas-grande-podria-iran-danar-pronto-a-ee-uu-con-un-arma-emp/

Frexit or Italexit_ ‘EU Officials Unnerved by Strength of Italy’s Radical Right’

¿Frexit o Italexit? ‘Funcionarios de la UE desconcertados por la fuerza de la derecha radical de Italia’

https://www.cdlidd.es/frexit-o-italexit-funcionarios-de-la-ue-desconcertados-por-la-fuerza-de-la-derecha-radical-de-italia/

‘Israeli Politicians Form Fragile Coalition to Unseat Netanyahu’

‘Políticos israelíes forman una frágil cooalición para destronar a Netanyahu’

https://www.cdlidd.es/politicos-israelies-forman-una-fragil-coalicion-para-destronar-a-netanyahu/

Fauci ‘truth’ book pulled and Tucker Carlson calls him out as a ‘liar’

El libro de la ‘verdad’ de Fauci es retirado y Tucker Carlson lo llama ‘mentiroso’

https://www.cdlidd.es/el-libro-de-la-verdad-de-fauci-es-retirado-y-tucker-carlson-lo-llama-mentiroso/

‘EU to Discuss Disconnecting Russia From SWIFT Before Making Decision’

‘La UE discutirá la desconexión de Rusia de SWIFT antes de tomar una decisión’

https://www.cdlidd.es/la-ue-discutira-la-desconexion-de-rusia-de-swift-antes-de-tomar-una-decision/

‘China To Build 25-30 More Bio-Labs Like In Wuhan Over Next 5 Years’ Prelude to ride of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse?

‘China construirá 25-30 más bio-laboratorios como el de Wuhan durante los próximos 5 años’ ¿Preludio a la salida del cuarto jinete del Apocalipsis?

https://www.cdlidd.es/china-construira-25-30-bio-laboratorios-mas-como-el-de-wuhan-durante-los-proximos-5-anos-preludio-a-la-salida-del-cuarto-jinete-del-apocalipsis/

ZH: Danish Authorities Shut Down Access To Bitchute Over “Dangerous” COVID-19 Information

ZH: Las autoridades danesas cierran el acceso a Bitchute sobre información “peligrosa” de COVID-19

https://www.cdlidd.es/zh-las-autoridades-danesas-cierran-el-acceso-a-bitchute-sobre-informacion-peligrosa-de-covid-19/

VOA: US Mulls Launching ‘Digital Dollar’ AP: EU plans digital ID wallet for bloc’s post-pandemic life

VOA: Los EE.UU. consideran lanzar ‘dólar digital’ AP: La UE planea billetera de identificación digital para la vida post-pandemia del bloque

https://www.cdlidd.es/voa-los-ee-uu-consideran-lanzar-dolar-digital-ap-la-ue-planea-billetera-de-identificacion-digital-para-la-vida-post-pandemia-del-bloque/

Ukraine’s President upset about Nord Stream 2 as Russian influence to Europe increases

El presidente de Ucrania está molesto por Nord Stream 2 a medida que aumenta la influencia rusa en Europa

https://www.cdlidd.es/el-presidente-de-ucrania-esta-molesto-por-nord-stream-2-a-medida-que-aumenta-la-influencia-rusa-en-europa/

SC: US Spying On “Allies” Spoils Biden’s Set-Piece Visit To Europe

SC: Espionaje de los EE.UU. a los “aliados” estropea la visita de Biden a Europa

https://www.cdlidd.es/sc-espionaje-de-los-ee-uu-a-los-aliados-estropea-la-visita-de-biden-a-europa/

D-Day, Military Service, and the Resurrection

Día D, Servicio Militar, y la Resurrección

https://www.cdlidd.es/dia-d-servicio-militar-y-la-resurreccion/

‘US Health Experts Voice New Coronavirus Concerns’

‘Expertos en salud de EE. UU. Expresan nuevas preocupaciones sobre el coronavirus’

https://www.cdlidd.es/expertos-en-salud-de-ee-uu-expresan-nuevas-preocupaciones-sobre-el-coronavirus/

‘What is Marburg virus? Here’s what you need to know about Africa’s first confirmed case of this deadly disease’

‘¿Qué es el virus de Marburg? Esto es lo que necesita saber sobre el primer caso confirmado de esta enfermedad mortal en África’

https://www.cdlidd.es/que-es-el-virus-de-marburg-esto-es-lo-que-necesita-saber-sobre-el-primer-caso-confirmado-de-esta-enfermedad-mortal-de-africa/

Like 1938? They asked for papers, classified businesses as ‘non-essential,’ and then …

¿Como en 1938? Pidieron papeles, clasificaron negocios como ‘no esenciales’ y luego …

https://www.cdlidd.es/como-en-1938-pidieron-papeles-clasificaron-negocios-como-no-esenciales-y-luego/

VOA: US Admits Afghanistan ‘Not Going in the Right Direction’

VOA: Estados Unidos admite que Afganistán ‘no va en la dirección correcta’

https://www.cdlidd.es/voa-estados-unidos-admite-que-afganistan-no-va-en-la-direccion-correcta/

VOA: US Senate Approves $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution; COGwriter: Does this tie in with a ‘last generation’ prophecy?

VOA: el Senado de los Estados Unidos aprueba una resolución presupuestaria de $3,5 billones; COGwriter: ¿Esto se relaciona con una profecía de la ‘última generación’?

https://www.cdlidd.es/voa-el-senado-de-los-estados-unidos-aprueba-una-resolucion-presupuestaria-de-%c2%b735-billones-cogwriter-esto-se-relaciona-con-una-profecia-de-la-ultima-generacion/

Yes, more persecution is coming

Sí, viene más persecución

https://www.cdlidd.es/si-viene-mas-persecucion/

We have also additional Spanish language videos on our CDLIDDSermones channel.

Our Spanish translator normally provides translated news items once or twice per month.

So, in addition to having magazines and books in the Spanish language, we also post news items in it as well.

This is another avenue we utilize to teach all that we can in accordance with Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:28-37, and Matthew 28:19-20.

The Continuing Church of God is reaching people around the world in multiple languages via the internet, printed literature, and human church leaders.

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? Two videos of related interest are available: Will Mexico Regain USA Territories? and Donald Trump and Mexico’s future. A sermon of related interest is available: Latin America in Prophecy.

CDLIDDSermones channel. This contains messages in the Spanish language.

CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God and has articles in español/castellano.

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–the Statement gives answers? 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 ~ç~íy^v„eYOv„OáNðXðf. 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. Here is a related link in the Chichewa language: ZIKHULUPIRIRO ZA MPINGO WA CONTINUING CHURCH OF GOD. Here is a link in Romanian: Declarația de credințe a continuării Bisericii lui Dumnezeu. Here is a link in Portuguese: Declaração de Crenças da Continuação da Igreja de Deus. Here is a link in Russian: Утверждение верований о продолжении Церкви Божьей. Here is a link to a related English-language sermon: Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

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 Animations channel. The Continuing Church of God has some animations to teach aspects of Christian beliefs.

Bible News Prophecy channel. Dr. Thiel has produced many YouTube videos for the BibleNewsProphecy channel. And you can find them there.

ContinuingCOG channel. Dr. Thiel has produced YouTube video sermons for this channel. Note: Since these are sermon-length, they can take a little longer to load than other YouTube videos. Here is a link to a short intro: ContinuingCOG Channel.

CCOGAfrica channel. This has messages from African pastors in African languages such as Kalenjin, Kiswahili, Embu, and Dholuo.

BibleNewsProphecy Podcast. This has audio-visual podcasts of the Bible News Prophecy channgel. It plays on i-Phones, i-Pads, and Windows devices that can play i-Tunes.

Bible News Prophecy online radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos. It is also available as a mobile app.

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.

Study the Bible Course A free online course to help you learn and study the word of God.

Twitter has suspended @JennaEllisEsq for violating the hateful conduct policy with this tweet (below).

She was quote-tweeting a thread about Afghan refugees being brought to the United States in large numbers. pic.twitter.com/ff87cJ7xFa

— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) August 16, 2021

COGwriter

The USA is taking in refugees from Afghanistan:

August 18, 2021

A group of 46 senators — 43 Democrats and three Republicans — is calling for a “humanitarian parole category” to allow Afghan women leaders, human rights activists and other public figures to quickly and efficiently relocate to the U.S.

And Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash, the leader of the House Progressive Caucus, is pushing to create more visas for Afghan refugees.

“The United States must ensure refugee processing moves forward without bureaucratic delay, and with special allowances recognizing the difficulty for people to leave Afghanistan,” Jayapal said in a statement Tuesday. “In addition to the State Department’s work to expedite Special Immigrant Visas, we must also expand these visas and grant Temporary Protected Status to Afghans residing in the United States.” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/coming-u-s-political-fight-over-accepting-refugees-afghanistan-n1277011

California Gov. Gavin Newsom … said: “We’re a state of refuge. I’m proud of the fact over the last decade California has taken in more refugees than any other state in America, and I’m proud of the fact a disproportionate number of [Afghan] refugees are here in Northern California, not just here in the south, but also up in Sacramento County. We’re already working in terms of a lot of those refugees coming in and working with CBOs and nonprofit organizations to make sure that they feel welcome and celebrated as members of our community.”

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that thousands of refugees may be sent to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, for processing, Defense Department officials said. https://www.newsmax.com/us/gavinnewsom-afghanistan-refugees/2021/08/17/id/1032781/

The Biden-Harris Administration will bring in Afghan refugees, and many in Congress will support this.

As it turns out, France’s president raised has concerns about the EU taking in refugees from Afghanistan:

August 18, 2021

The first European leader out of the gate to warn about what’s coming was French President Emmanuel Macron, who in surprisingly blunt Monday comments warned that Afghanistan is about to once again become a “sanctuary for terrorism”. It was his statement on Europe embracing itself for “irregular migratory flows” that immediately evoked most controversy:

Speaking on Monday in a televised address from his summer residence, Macron described the situation in Afghanistan as an “important challenge for our own security”.

“We must anticipate and protect ourselves against significant irregular migratory flows that would endanger the migrants and risk encouraging trafficking of all kinds,” he said.

Macron: “We must anticipate and protect ourselves against significant irregular migratory flows…” https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/macron-provocative-afghan-remarks-warns-europe-must-protect-itself-against-new-migrant

August 18, 2021

In neighboring Germany, the rhetoric has been similar. Armin Laschet, the head of the Christian Democratic Union and seen as the most likely to replace Chancellor Angela Merkel, said “2015 should not be repeated.”

The EU encountered a large-scale refugee crisis back in 2015 and 2016, given the conflict in Syria. Over 1.2 million people applied for asylum in 2015 in the EU, according to the region’s statistics office. …

The southern European nations of Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta and Cyprus have reportedly asked to discuss the potential impacts of migration after the developments in Afghanistan at an EU-level meeting due on Wednesday.

Notis Mitarachi, Greece’s minister for migration, said Tuesday that his country “will not and cannot” become a gateway for migrants and refugees trying to reach the EU, according to Reuters. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/18/europe-fears-a-repeat-of-2015-refugee-crisis-as-afghanistan-collapses.html

While France’s president was allowed to warn that the refugees could include terrorists, Twitter suspended the account of an American who suggested that:

Jenna Ellis has been temporarily suspended from Twitter after she criticised a plan from the Biden administration to bring in tens of thousands of “refugees” from Afghanistan.

Jenna Ellis, the former senior advisor and legal counsel for President Trump, reacted to news on Twitter, where she argued that taking in tens of thousands of “refugees” from Afghanistan could be dangerous. “So Biden is literally bringing in terrorists,” Ellis tweeted, including the hashtag #IMPEACHBIDENNOW. Ellis was then temporarily suspended by Twitter for allegedly violating their rules regarding “hateful conduct,” which says that users must not “promote violence against, threaten, or harass” people based on a number of identities, including race, national origin, religious affiliation, or disability.

“So the left can call Trump supporters terrorists and insurrectionists, but we can’t tweet facts and say that the Taliban is a terrorist group and Biden’s indiscriminate border policy will necessarily include some terrorists?” Ellis said  08/16/21 https://nationalfile.com/breaking-twitter-suspends-jenna-ellis-for-criticizing-biden-admin-plan-to-fly-in-afghanistan-refugees/

US officials have voiced concerns that the takeover by the Taliban of Afghanistan may make it a base for terrorists.

That would be consistent with a prophecy in the 83rd Psalm:

3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. (Psalms 83:3-8)

Nearly all the above peoples are in lands dominated by Islam–and many countries are accepting refugees and immigrants from those lands.

Psalm 83 looks to involve terrorism, which is consistent with the statement about “crafty counsel” as well as attempting to “cut them off from being a nation.”

The late WCG evangelist Raymond McNair wrote that Afghanistan included descendants of Edom:

It believed that some Edomites also live in certain regions of the high mountains of Central Asia, including Afghanistan. … History indicates that some of Esau’s descendants have migrated into Central Asia (into AFGHANISTAN and adjacent nations), Ishmaelite and Edomite names are frequently found in those Muslim nations. … Now the Afghan Taliban has taken on the United States … Many scriptures speak of the unbridled hatred of the Edomites … (cf. Isa. 34; Ezekiel 35; Obadiah 1; Psalm 83 etc.). … The coalition of nations mentioned in Psalm 83 is clearly intended as an end-time prophecy, that shows which nations will wage war against the modern-day descendants of Israel, and this includes the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, English-Speaking peoples. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! CG21, 2005)

While Raymond McNair had some prophetic misunderstandings (including about Afghanistan), more terror will hit the USA and ethnic Afghanis are likely to be involved!

The Bible warns what will happen to places like the USA:

5 They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation. … 25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:5,25)

12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)

25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27)

6 You have forsaken Me,” says the Lord,
“You have gone backward.
Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you;
I am weary of relenting!
7 And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land;
I will bereave them of children;
I will destroy My people,
Since they do not return from their ways.
8 Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas;
I will bring against them,
Against the mother of the young men,
A plunderer at noonday;
I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly. (Jeremiah 15:6-8)

The idea of “terror within” shows terror will occur within the borders, and suggests also that some of the terrorists are residents.

Expect more terrorism to hit the USA.

Many Afghanis are appalled with USA actions and feel betrayed.

This does NOT mean that all Afghani refugees are potential terrorists, but some are.

The USA is looking at bringing in multiple thousands of Afghanis. Many ‘deserve’ to be let in because of USA policies and promises.

Yet, some of them will one day support terrorism against the USA consistent with biblical prophecies such as Deuteronomy 32:25.

Twitter banning someone from saying this is so will not stop biblical prophesies from being fulfilled.

COGwriter

Is God calling you?

What is your destiny? Are you to rule the universe as a deified being with God? Might God’s plan include YOU?

A Church of God doctrine that many Protestants seem to indicate labels a group as a “cult” is the teaching that Christians are to become deified. Or worded another way, Christians are to become God.

Although this belief is often considered to be “unorthodox” and outside of “mainstream Christianity,” it probably should be pointed out that the Eastern Orthodox Church teaches this doctrine (and there are around 200-300 million of them), so the term “unorthodox” seems not to fit (the Catholics of Rome and certain others also teach versions of it).

The reality is that both the Bible and writings of early professors of Christ demonstrate that the idea that Jesus became human so that humans could become part of the family of God is not new nor “unorthodox.” However, since most who claim to be Christian are not familiar with most of the early writings, they simply do not realize that deification is not an “unorthodox” view and it was held by many.

This brief article will attempt to provide documented proof that this deification is both biblical and historical and is the intended destiny for converted Christians (you can also watch the video titled What is Your Destiny?).

Does the Bible Teach That Humans Will Become Part of the Family of God?

Jesus taught deification:

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ‘? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (John 10:34-36, NKJV throughout except if otherwise noted).

And this was not only referring to His deification as He quoted from Psalm 82:6 which also is in the plural:

6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High…” (Psalm 82:6).

God wants godly offspring, and that is why God made humans male and female and created marriage, as the Prophet Malachi was inspired to write:

14…she is your companion And your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. (Malachi 2:14-15)

Paul also taught that we are God’s offspring:

28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. (Acts 17:28-30)

Additionally, about real Christians, the Apostle Paul specifically taught “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16)–we do have that mind and strive to have more.

Paul wrote that Jesus was to be the firstborn of many brethren:

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

Notice that there are to be MANY brethren (see also Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis). The offers of salvation and deification are not going to be limited to just to a few (Luke 3:6; though most will not receive their opportunity in this age, cf. Matthew 7:13-14).

As God is our Father, we are to be “conformed to the image of His Son,” Jesus is God, Jesus is our brother, are we not to be in the family of God and truly be deified?

Furthermore, the Bible teaches that “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16). Love is what life is all about (see also What is the Meaning of Life?).

Christians are to display the love of God towards their neighbor and strive to be perfect as God is perfect:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Christians are to live as God wants them to and to also have the love of God (see also Living as a Christian: How and Why? and here is a YouTube video related to that, also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?).

God is also holy and His people are to be holy as well:

15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Notice, what happened to Jesus is supposed to happen to us:

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:18).

4 These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches (Romans 11:16).

Christians are to be firstfruits like Christ. As a firstfruit, Christ is divine.

Notice something Jesus prayed:

10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (John 17:10-11)

Since both the Father and Son are divine beings, Jesus prayed for His followers to be one as He and the Father are–which means part of the God family. Lest anyone wish to interpret the above scripture to mean something else, Jesus continued His prayer and also prayed the following:

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:20-26)

Jesus prayed that His followers would become one in the same way He and His Father are one. And they are one divine family.

Furthermore, notice that the Bible does teach that there is a whole family which is named after God the Father, and that we are to know the love of Christ so that we can truly have the fullness of God:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19).

If one is filled with “all the fullness of God” does not that suggest that they will also be God as part of the Family of God?

The Apostle Paul also taught:

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:16-17, KJV).

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

18 ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15).

Notice that “the children of God” are to be “glorified together” with Christ as “joint-heirs” and are to be transformed into the same image as God. And God will be a Father to His sons and daughters.

The Apostle John taught:

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 2 Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God (1 John 3:1-2a).

The children of people are people, the children of cows are cows. What are the children of God?

The Apostle Peter taught deification:

3 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Are not those that are “partakers of the divine nature” somehow deified? And fully partaking of this nature does not happen until after the resurrection (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53).

Ruling the Universe is Part of the Your Destiny

If you respond properly to God (either in this age, or if applicable, the age to come), then ruling the creation, the universe is part of your destiny. Notice:

21…the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (Romans 8:21-22)

As joint heirs with Christ, resurrected converted humans are to rule the universe:

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren;In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

13 And again:

“I will put My trust in Him.”

And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 2:5-3:6)

Ruling the universe is part of the destiny that God has in store for the vast bulk of humanity.

Deification and Human Destiny

The Bible makes it clear that God’s plan included making humans in the image of God and that ultimately the universe would be put under the control of deified humans. And nearly all humans who lived will ultimately be converted after they have been truly offered salvation (see Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis). Deification and ruling the universe will be the destiny of the bulk of humanity.

But it needs to be pointed out that just as the Son is subject to the Father, Christians will not be above either the Father or the Son. The Father is greater than the Son (John 14:28) and both will always be greater than spirit-born Christians. Jesus also is King of Kings (Revelation 19:16) and High Priest (Hebrews 6:20), thus He will always be above deified humans.

Also, while God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27), all humans have had a beginning and thus will always have been around for a finite time. Thus, deification does not mean that Christians will be truly equal to God, but will be His true sons and daughters (without gender issues).

The Bible teaches deification from Genesis through Revelation if one will simply believe what the Bible is actually teaching. And those who professed Christ in the early centuries after His resurrection also taught that. As have certain others since.

And the Continuing Church of God teaches that today. The view that Jesus became human so that humans could be in the family of God and rule in the Kingdom of God is not a cultist view, but is a biblical and historical one.

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

YOU are unique. You are one who can give love in a unique way. Ultimately God has special plans for YOU personally. YOU are not the same as everyone else–YOU can be a deified being that has unique insights and abilities.

God made YOU so that YOU can help make eternity better for everyone who will ultimately turn to God–as well as for yourself!

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

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

Yes, YOU, whether strong or weak, are necessary. God’s plan includes a plan for YOU! Yes, you. This point is also referred to in Ephesians by the Apostle Paul, and involves love:

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ– 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Yes, YOU have a part to do! You are important even if you are not sure what your part is–God’s word says it is!

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
What is Your Destiny? Deification? Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? What is your ultimate destiny? What does the Bible teach? Is deification only a weird or cultic idea? What did early and later Christians teach? Are you to rule the universe? Here is a link to the video sermon What is Your Destiny?
Overcoming Sin What is sin? How are Christians suppose to overcome it? There is also a YouTube video titled How to Overcome Sin.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
I have made the decision to follow God. Now what? Have you proven all things? Will you hold fast to that which is good? This article will help you do so. Here is a link to a related video: You Want to Follow God? Then Prove the Truth!
What is the Unpardonable Sin? What is it? Can you repent of it? Do you know what it is and how to avoid it? Here is a link to a related sermon video The Unpardonable Sin and the Prodigal Son. Here is a link to a shorter video The ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Climate Change’?
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
History of Auricular Confession and the ‘Sacrament of Confession’ Did early Christians confess their sins to priests?
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Christians are to Rule Are Christians really to rule? If so, how will that turn out? A related sermon is titled A sermon of related interest is titled Are Christians really supposed to rule?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

This is the true brutal face of so-called Democrats and Human rights champions. #Afghanistan #Kabul pic.twitter.com/n46Ibhpdnx

— Umer Inam (@UmerInamPk) August 17, 2021

COGwriter

Here is part of one assessment on US president Joe Biden’s speech related to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan:

August 17, 2021

President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan. He was unrepentant. “I Do Not Regret My Decision,” he declared.

His speech did little to resolve the concerns a bipartisan array of Americans have for two reasons: First, he relied on a dishonest strawman and, second, the Afghan withdrawal contradicts the reasons he cited to justify his policy.

First, the strawman: “I cannot and will not ask our troops to fight on endlessly in another country’s civil war,” he declared.

But, no one was asking that, and it is not what American troops were doing.

Over the past five years, the Pentagon had reduced the American presence to under 10,000 troops. The presence was a deterrent and led to few American casualties.

Indeed, over that period, far fewer Americans have died in Afghanistan than residents of Baltimore have died in automobile accidents. …

Biden, like President Donald Trump before him, also justified his desire to withdrawal in order to “face threats of today…not yesterday’s.”

The problem here is that he accomplishes neither. He is right that terrorism is a worldwide phenomenon. President George W. Bush and NATO allies ordered forces into Afghanistan in order to deny Al Qaeda a safe haven from which they could again attack the American homeland or Europe. What Biden now does in the name of being forward-looking is to create a vacuum into which terrorist groups will again sink root.

Deterrence will be difficult. After all, the Taliban believes they defeated the United States and will not take future threats from the Oval Office seriously. Rather than move on from a past threat, Biden resurrects them. https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/why-joe-bidens-afghanistan-speech-was-a-disaster/

Yes, what has happened will assist future terrorists. Many in Afghanistan, as well as many who are in the process of leaving it, are distraught and severely angry with the USA. While that is not proper justification for terrorism, more terrorism will be the result. Afghanistan may be among the nations that will work to fulfill Psalm 83 as well as some of the diaspora will help fulfill the following terrorist prophecy:

There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25b)

Do not believe that all Afghanis who are granted asylum to live in the USA will remain peaceful. Many are bitter and feel betrayed.

There is a cost to betrayal.

There are also international ramifications.

The Protestant Harbinger Daily posted the following:

The Myth Of U.S. Invincibility Has Now Been Completely Shattered

August 16, 2021

Beijing announced their intentions of having a friendly, amicable relationship with the Taliban, which took over Afghanistan over the weekend in light of the US withdrawal from that nation. State-run media reports that the disaster in Afghanistan should be a warning to Taiwan that the US will not help them should China seek to overtake the island.

Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times reported that “From what happened in Afghanistan, those in Taiwan should perceive that once a war breaks out in the Straits, the island’s defense will collapse in hours and US military won’t come to help.”

“As a result,” Global Times writes, “the DPP will quickly surrender.” …

The editorial in the Global Times cautions that “How Washington abandoned the Kabul regime particularly shocked some in Asia, including the island of Taiwan. Taiwan is the region that relies on the protection of the US the most in Asia, and the island’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have made Taiwan go further and further down this abnormal path. The situation in Afghanistan suddenly saw a radical change after the country was abandoned by the US. And Washington just left despite the worsening situation in Kabul. Is this some kind of omen of Taiwan’s future fate?”

In July, Chinese state media published their plans for an invasion of Taiwan. The Chinese state-controlled magazine “Naval and Merchant Ships” detailed a three-stage plan to invade Taiwan, involving ballistic missiles, fighter jet attacks, and amphibious landings on Taiwan’s beaches.

The US is an ally of of Taiwan, though China repeatedly condemns those who recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. They went so far as to demand that NBC correct a map they broadcast during the Tokyo that did not show Taiwan as part of China.

The US and Taiwan have had a defensive pact since March 3, 1955, and relations between the two nations have subsequently been governed by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Xi Jinping said during a recent speech celebrating 100 years of communism in China, that “Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Communist Party of China.” https://harbingersdaily.com/china-uses-afghan-crisis-to-warn-taiwan-us-military-wont-come-to-help/

The USA is NOT invulnerable and its loss in Afghanistan will have major international ramifications.

Taiwan will end up aligning with China.

That has been my position for years based on biblical prophecies such as the following:

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)

Perhaps it should be mentioned that instead of “kings of the east,” that part of Revelation 16:12 is more literally, “kings of the sunrise”:

12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way might be prepared of the kings of the rising of the sun. (Revelation 16:12, Berean Literal Bible)

12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrise. (Revelation 16:12, New Heart English Bible)

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial into the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12, Jubilee Bible 2000)

12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might by made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising. (Revelation 16:12, American Standard Version)

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates; and dried up the water thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun. (Revelation 16:12, Douay-Rheims Bible)

12 And the sixth messenger did pour out his vial upon the great river, the Euphrates, and dried up was its water, that the way of the kings who are from the rising of the sun may be made ready; (Revelation 16:12, Young’s Literal Translation)

Taiwan is even further east, an earlier ‘sunrise’ location, than China.

Plus, China is clear that it wants Taiwan.

Even if it delays the process, after the USA is conquered (Daniel 11:39) it most certainly will not be able to aid Taiwan.

Grace, which made landfall in Haiti as a tropical depression, has restrengthened into a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center said. https://t.co/weq1IqBajV

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 17, 2021

COGwriter

Haiti was hit with a large tropical storm after its devastating earthquake:

Heavy Rain to Haiti Days After Strong Earthquake

August 17, 2021

Days after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, Tropical Depression Grace brought heavy rains and strong winds to the country.

Forecasters said the storm could drop 12 to 25 centimeters of rain on southern Haiti through Tuesday, bringing the threat of flash floods and mudslides.

It could also affect the search for survivors and aid efforts for the displaced, with the southern part of the country hardest hit by Saturday’s magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

Haitian authorities said Monday that the death toll from the earthquake had climbed to 1,419 — nearly two hundred more than a previous figure released Sunday

At least 6,000 more were injured and seeking treatment at overwhelmed hospitals.

Hundreds of people waited on the steps of Les Cayes’ general hospital, and many patients were being treated on mattresses on the ground outside as the hospital ran low on medication. https://www.voanews.com/americas/tropical-depression-brings-heavy-rain-haiti-days-after-strong-earthquake

Haiti has already had many problems and troubles, and this quake looks to make matters worse.

The quake was centered close to where most of the Continuing Church of God brethren in Haiti live.

I received several reports related to CCOG members there. 14 houses of the brethren in the area were destroyed by the quake. Here is one related photo:

There look to be other issues as well–including the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles.

Our leader in Haiti, Nicolas Moise, has been going around his area to visit the brethren. We know of no deaths among the brethren there, but there were two injuries: one broken wrist and one broken leg. Moise has sent a picture of Moma Simon, who has a broken left leg caused by her house falling on her:

We are trying to figure out how to best assist physically, and have already provided some assistance–with more assistance needed and expected to be provided.

I have also spoken with Herb and Gisele Haddon who have had direct contact with Moise (Gisele is fluent in French which is the official language of Haiti). They also sent me a copy of something they sent out:

Hi all

I wish there was better news from Moise.   Things are not good!  Last night most of the brethren slept in an outdoor arena with some sort of tarp covering.  Heavy rain today and into tomorrow for Haiti.   Insult to injury!!??

Several have asked how they may help.  As all of you are aware,  Dr  Thiel has said that we should not send money directly for aid.  In keeping with God’s Government,  Dr  Thiel  asks that any funds individuals may wish to send, should be sent through the Church.  In the USA,  through the US administration  and in Canada,  through the Canadian administration.  Earmark special funds for Haiti so they may be properly used.

FYI – the Church has sent funds and we are in contact with Moise so as to best be of assistance in their time of need.

Continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in these difficult trials and for those who have been injured. Also pray that God will show us where the limited funds may have a greater impact.

Herb and Gisele

Please keep those in Haiti in your prayers.

15th century portrayal of ancient Gog and Magog

COGwriter

I received an emailed file from a COG based out of Grand Junction, Colorado, that contained the following:

Gog and Magog in Prophecy

By Rich Traver

Prophecies involving Gog and Magog are found in just two places. The first in Ezekiel 38 & 39, the second is Revelation 20.

In Ezekiel 38, we read in part: [1] “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
[4] And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
[5] Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
[6] Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
[7] Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
[8] After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
[9] Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
[10] Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
[11] And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
[12] To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land….” …

Gog: Considered to be a reference to the person heading the Russian peoples. …

The Second Prophecy

This is found in Revelation 20: [7] “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
[8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
[9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

While this prophecy describes what seems to be a similar invasion to that which we read of in Ezekiel 38-39, we’re forced to realize that the time-frame of this event is clearly AFTER the millennium. That would mean that the participants on this invasion of the Jerusalem area are people who have lived during the millennium, and are not necessarily the exact political entity referred to in Ezekiel 38-39.

A Repetition or Not?

What we need to consider is whether these are two different invasions separated by a span of some 1000 years or are they both describing the same events? If we are to conclude they both describe the same invasion, we are forced to work from the realization that the event we read of in Revelation 20:7-9 is clearly post-millennial.

What would be an important thing to do, with this question in mind, is to review Ezekiel 38-39 to identify what time-frame indicators we can find to establish when that prophecy is applicable. …

Considering the Evidence

The Revelation 20 account is clearly identified as being 1000 years after the millennium as it is under the deception and leadership of the recently released Satan, who goes out to aggressively deceive the nations. (Certain ones in particular.) A huge number of those living at the end of the millennial age will find his deceptive pitch to be appealing and motivating. …

The account in Revelation 20 of the Gog/Magog attack against the un-walled city of Jerusalem, world headquarters at the time, is clearly after the 1000 years has expired! …

Significant Indicators

The remaining question is whether or not there’s any time references within the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy. In fact, there are too many to ignore!

Verse 13 explains their intention: to take a great spoil. Verses 14 & 15 explain that this is in a time period when the peoples of Israel are dwelling safely; they come from the north with a vast armed company. Verse 18 shows that this invasion is specifically against the land of Israel; verse 20 shows that this will be an earth-shaking event!

In chapter 39 verse 2 we see that only one-sixth of this force will survive. The remains of the fallen will be devoured by raptors (v. 17 …) …

But what is interesting is the narrative concluding the chapter. [25] “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;..”

This gives us a clue as to the timeframe. At the beginning of the millennium Israel will be reunited and brought together in the land. That would involve the survivors of the Tribulation. It would not include those long dead of past generations, nor would it include those who died in the Tribulation. So far as they know, they all died prior to any reunification and restoration to their original land.

For these to know of the conclusion of their exile and to become ‘sanctified’ in the sight of other nations, they must have been restored to a state of living consciousness! This brings us to the time of the second resurrection event, after the 1000 years, which we read of in Revelation 20:5 & Ezekiel 37.

Satisfying Their Debt With God

[26] “After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, (committed) when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
[27] When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;..”

Restored to Life and Sanctified

Continuing: [28] “Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which cause them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
[29] Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” (see chapter 37:12-14 for when this happens with these people.)

So, is Ezekiel’s prophecy pre-Tribulation, as certain Evangelical ‘scholars’ have suggested? Are both prophecies in Revelation 20 and Ezekiel 38-39 referring to the same event? It would appear they are! If that is the case, then it’s at a point in time 1000 years after the Second Coming!

Are these forces raised by Satan the armies of the Beast Power? By the time setting and other factors given, that’s highly unlikely. What is established is whether or not the two prophecies involving Gog and Magog (Rev. 20 and Ezek. 38-39) describe Russia of the modern era. That apparently is not the case!

Is the start of the “war of Gog and Magog” soon?

No.

But oddly, a few years ago, a Rabbi Winston indicated that it could have already started:

Did the War of Gog and Magog Begin Saturday?

February 13, 2018

“Therefore prophesy, O mortal, and say to Gog: Thus said Hashem: Surely, on that day, when My people Yisrael are living secure, you will take note, and you will come from your home in the farthest north, you and many peoples with you—all of them mounted on horses, a vast horde, a mighty arm.” Ezekiel 38:14 (The Israel Bible™)

Israel and Iran made direct military contact on Saturday for the first time, signaling a significant escalation in the multinational entanglement in Syria. This development contains unique elements that several end-of-days experts say presages the Messianic war of Gog and Magog.

On Shabbat at around 4 AM, Iran sent a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) into Israeli airspace from a base in Syria. An Israeli Air Force (IAF) Apache helicopter shot down the UAV, and Israel subsequently launched multiple airstrikes inside Syria. Syria launched a barrage of surface-to-air-missiles (SAM) at the Israeli warplanes, damaging one F-16 and forcing the two-man crew to eject with one pilot suffering serious injuries. This was the first time since 2006 that an Israeli warplane had been shot down by an enemy and the first time that an Iranian drone entered Israel.

The confrontation on Saturday marks a serious escalation in an already volatile region that brings the armies of many nations in closer proximity with one another. This explosive mix is coming to a boil and last week, two other aircrafts were shot down. One of the aircrafts, a Turkish plane, was shot down on Saturday and a Russian close-support SU-25 one week earlier.

Israel and Iran made direct military contact on Saturday for the first time, signaling a significant escalation in the multinational entanglement in Syria. This development contains unique elements that several end-of-days experts say presages the Messianic war of Gog and Magog.

On Shabbat at around 4 AM, Iran sent a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) into Israeli airspace from a base in Syria. An Israeli Air Force (IAF) Apache helicopter shot down the UAV, and Israel subsequently launched multiple airstrikes inside Syria. Syria launched a barrage of surface-to-air-missiles (SAM) at the Israeli warplanes, damaging one F-16 and forcing the two-man crew to eject with one pilot suffering serious injuries. This was the first time since 2006 that an Israeli warplane had been shot down by an enemy and the first time that an Iranian drone entered Israel.

The confrontation on Saturday marks a serious escalation in an already volatile region that brings the armies of many nations in closer proximity with one another. This explosive mix is coming to a boil and last week, two other aircrafts were shot down. One of the aircrafts, a Turkish plane, was shot down on Saturday and a Russian close-support SU-25 one week earlier.

Rabbi Pinchas Winston, a prolific end-of-days author and educator, believes that the confrontation on Saturday may very well have been a major step in the Geula (redemption) process.

“In many aspects, the situation in Syria conforms to the descriptions in the prophecies of the War of Gog and Magog,” Rabbi Winston told Breaking Israel News. “What happened on Shabbat could easily be the trigger to set off. Shooting down an airplane, especially inside Israeli airspace as was the case with the F-16, is an act of war.”

The rabbi noted that the War of Gog and Magog is supposed to begin in the North but that one essential factor mentioned in Ezekiel and hinting to Iran’s role had been missing up until now.

I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them clothed in splendor, a vast assembly, all of them with bucklers and shields, wielding swords. Among them shall be Persia, Nubia, and Put, everyone with shield and helmet; Ezekiel 38:4-5

“Iran is the modern incarnation of Persia and though they have been openly antagonistic towards Israel,” Rabbi Winston noted. “Saturday marked the first time they have come into direct contact with Israel.”

Rabbi Winston emphasized that the escalation on Israel’s Syrian border over the weekend may have helped actualize a step in the process of Geula. He explained that the War of Gog and Magog is the second part of a two stage process for the Messiah’s arrival. https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/102613/war-gog-magog-begin-saturday/#veBmeiFlSKUa1QQ5.99

As far as Gog and Magog go, here are some views of commentators:

Gog is further described as the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: some render it, “prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal”; taking Rosh, as the rest, for the name of a place, a part of Scythia, from whence the Russians came, and had their name. (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)

The Scythian Tauri in the Crimea were so called. The Araxes also was called “Rhos.” The modern Russians may have hence assumed their name, as Moscow and Tobolsk from Meshech and Tubal, though their proper ancient name was Slavi, or Wends. Hengstenberg supports English Version, as “Rosh” is not found in the Bible. “Magog was Gog’s original kingdom, though he acquired also Meshech and Tubal, so as to be called their chief prince. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)

Interestingly, the above mentions Crimea, which was part of Ukraine and is now part of Russia.

Notice also the position of the old Radio Church of God, as well as the old Worldwide Church of God, about some of this:

Nearly all Bible students believe that Ezekiel’s amazing prophecy refers to Russia. Yet they totally misapply the time of its fulfillment. It is referring to an invasion of Palestine after Christ has restored His people Israel to Palestine. This has been amply proved in articles in The PLAIN TRUTH…Notice that it is Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38:2) which will come against the nation in which Christ’s capital will be located (verse 16). Notice again that Gog and Magog come “out of the north parts” (verse 15 ) where Russia is today. (Does Ezekiel 38 and 39 Refer to Russia? Good News, August 1954, p. 5)

Future Russo / China Alliance?

Ultimately allied with the Russians under Gog will be “many people” (Ezek. 38:6,9,15). These could hardly exclude the militarily weaker Chinese and their Asiatic kinsmen those eastern Magogites who “dwell securely in the coastlands” of the Pacific (39:6, The Amplified Bible). The People’s Republic of China the “many people” of Ezekiel 38 is thus pictured as being linked with Gog in the last days…

Linked with the Russians and the other nations of the Orient in the vast end-time Asian confederacy will be Persia, Cush, Phut, Gomer and Togarmah (Ezek. 38:5- 6). Who are these peoples today?

History and Scripture identify them as the very peoples of the South Asian region. Willingly or unwillingly, they will all be drawn into the Soviet sphere of influence in the years just ahead! Let us look at each one individually. Let us begin with Persia (Ezek. 38:5), the most easily identified. Persia is simply another name for modern-day Iran. The name Persia originated from a geographical region within southern Iran. This region was anciently known as Persis, the Greek form of Old Persian Parsa. Historically, the people of Iran have never used the name Persia for their country. (Southeast Asia in Prophecy. Ambassador College Press, 1985)

Has the Ezekiel 38 war with Gog and Magog really started? Or is it about to start?

No.

Let us look at what the Bible actually teaches.

Notice the first 6 verses from Ezekiel 38:

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops — many people are with you.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

Verses 1-7 talk about a group getting ready to battle. Various nations such as Russia, Iran, Asians, and others are included here.

What does the Bible actually teach about the timing? Notice the next two verses from Ezekiel 38:

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

Verses 8-9 refer to a regathering of Israel. Why do certain prophecy watchers say that it is for now?

Because certain Protestants believe that the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 fulfills verse 8. Yet, this is not really the fulfillment for several reasons (watch also the video Israel, 1948, and Prophecy).

One reason is that even today most Jews do not live in the nation of Israel. The Jewish diaspora is scattered throughout the world. But the other reason is that many do not realize that there are multiple millions of the descendants of Israel that are not of the tribe of Judah. The Bible shows that Israel split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel after the reign of Solomon and that later the ten tribes that were part of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 11:31,35; 12:16-17; 12:20-23) were carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:21-23). Those tribes represent hundreds of millions of people currently alive, and as there are less than 6,000,000 Jews in Israel, most simply have not been regathered (more information on the tribes of Israel is in the article Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Furthermore, pay close attention to the part of verse 8 about people dwelling safely. That is NOT the case in Israel today.

Additionally, notice verses 10-13:

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ — 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”‘

Israel has its walls and “iron dome” and military weaponry. Notice that it is against a ‘peaceful people’ in unarmed villages that the prince of Rosh is going against. This cannot happen until AFTER the return of Jesus. Furthermore, there simply is not a plan to take a lot of gold and silver out of Israel right now by the power of the far north, nor does the current nation of Israel have enough of it to likely justify an attack for that purpose (unless perhaps some hidden gold/silver mines or remaining treasure of David).

Notice the following:

Israel holds no gold reserves at all, according to a Bank of Israel spokesman. (Kopf S. Jerusalem of Gold. Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2011. http://www.jpost.com/Jerusalem-Report/Israel/Jerusalem-of-Gold viewed 07/21/14)

Israel Gold Reserves

1950 – 2018 | Monthly | USD mn | CEIC Data

Israel’s Gold Reserves was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Feb 2019. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/israel/gold-reserves accessed 06/20/21

According to Index Mundi, the nation of Israel was not among the top 48 producers of silver in the world, so its supply of this would also seem to be limited–it also confirmed that Israel does not have gold reserves (though there is some gold and silver in coins, etc. in Israel). Israel in the early 21st century is NOT the target of Ezekiel 38.

Notice also that Ezekiel was further inspired to write:

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:14-17)

So, a power from the far north, which would seem to have to be Russian-led as it is the only major military power in the far north now, and may be the only one also in the future, will come. But again, notice that this happens when Israel is dwelling safely.

Notice the following observation by the old Worldwide Church of God:

The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are without question still future – for the “latter days” (38: 16) and “latter years” (38:8). Moreover, Ezekiel 38:14 describes the time setting as being “in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.” This is certainly not the situation in the State of Israel to- day! The Israel described by Ezekiel is a nation that dwells in security, in unwalled villages, totally unprepared for war (38:8, 11, 14). (Southeast Asia in Prophecy. Ambassador College Press, 1985)

And while Ezekiel 38 does mention Russia and Iran, the tiny nation of Israel is not now a “land of unwalled villages” with “a peaceful people who dwell safely” (Ezekiel 38:10-11). We are not particularly close to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Those who believe otherwise are in error.

Notice now Revelation 20:7-10:

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

The above clearly takes place after the millennium is over.

That battle is NOT for our time, although earlier this year I heard at least one of the Messianic persuasion claim it was.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

23:30

Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?

In April and September 2018, there were meetings involving top leaders of Russia, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Some Protestant prophecy watchers have suggested that the meeting of these leaders could be a prelude to what is known as the Gog and Magog war as discussed in Ezekiel 38. Some have claimed that this battle must take place before ‘Armageddon’ and before Jesus returns. Some have wondered if the Gog/Magog war is Armageddon. Some believe that the existence of the modern State of Israel means the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 is soon. Is that possible? Does the modern state of Israel currently meet the criteria needed for Ezekiel 38 to be fulfilled? While many agree that the lands occupied by Russia and Iran are involved, are assertions about Turkey being identified as Togarmah possible or in serious error? Will the Gog/Magog war be soon or is it for a time far into the future? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?

Even though Ezekiel 38 is NOT for our time, nor is Revelation 20:7-10.

Believe the Bible and its prophecies. NOT the view of Jewish or Messianic Jewish teachers.

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon? In April and September 2018, there were meetings involving top leaders of Russia, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Some Protestant prophecy watchers have suggested that the meeting of these leaders could be a prelude to what is known as the Gog and Magog war as discussed in Ezekiel 38. Some have claimed that this battle must take place before ‘Armageddon’ and before Jesus returns. Some have wondered if the Gog/Magog war is Armageddon. Some believe that the existence of the modern State of Israel means the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 is soon. Is that possible? Does the modern state of Israel currently meet the criteria needed for Ezekiel 38 to be fulfilled? While many agree that the lands occupied by Russia and Iran are involved, are assertions about Turkey being identified as Togarmah possible or in serious error? Will the Gog/Magog war be soon or is it for a time far into the future? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine 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).
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
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 are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Does the Church of God need to be headquartered in Jerusalem? Some say so. But what does the Bible teach?
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
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? Could the old Temple have been somewhere other than the “Temple Mount”? Here is a related article 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.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
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?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
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.
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?
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?
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Are there prophetic reasons to believe that the USA will not last two complete presidential terms? Yes. There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
The Great Tribulation: What Happens First? What events have happened? What are some events that are now happening? And what events need to happen for the Great Tribulation to start? Here is a link to a related sermon video: Counting Down to the Great Tribulation. Here is a video in the Spanish language: Contando los eventos y el inicio de la Gran Tribulación.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2021, 2022, or 2023? 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 la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: 2021: The Great Tribulation or the Great Reset? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.

(Public Domain via Adobe)

COGwriter

Yesterday, a reader pointed out that “religious holidays” may be considered a sign of being a terrorist.

Michael Snyder posted the following that is partially related to that:

They Have Come Up With Some Ominous New Definitions For What Constitutes “Domestic Terrorism”

August 16, 2021

Are you a potential domestic terrorist?  You may not think so, but the Department of Homeland Security may see things quite differently.  A brand new terrorism advisory has just been issued, and some of the things that it identifies as “potential terror threats” should chill us to the core.  You see, the truth is that the definition of a “terrorist” is constantly evolving.  In the old days, a Middle Eastern male that dresses in traditional Islamic attire, that grows opium in his field and that carries around an AK-47 would have been considered a “potential terrorist” by U.S. authorities.  But now … our spooks need a new group of “potential terrorists” to send to Guantanamo Bay, and so they are setting their sights on you. …

You may be tempted to think that I am exaggerating.

I truly wish that I was.

NBC News is telling us that a “terror alert” has just been issued by Homeland Security, and during their report on this new “terror alert” a very alarming graphic was shown to the viewers.

Under the heading “POTENTIAL TERROR THREATS”, the following three categories were listed…

-“OPPOSITION TO COVID MEASURES”

-“CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD, BELIEF TRUMP CAN BE REINSTATED”

-“9/11 ANNIVERSARY AND RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS”

We have never seen anything quite like this before.

Now “opposition to COVID measures” is something that can make you a “potential terrorist”?

Wow.

So precisely what does that mean?

Does someone become a “potential terrorist” if they speak out against masks, lockdowns or vaccines?

What about sharing information that contradicts the official narratives about COVID?  Will that make someone a “potential terrorist” as well? …

I was absolutely shocked to learn that you can get banned on YouTube for offering to pray for someone that has COVID.  Apparently that can qualify as “content” that encourages people to avoid needed medical treatment…

“Content that encourages the use of home remedies, prayer, or rituals in place of medical treatment such as consulting a doctor or going to the hospital”

We really are becoming a “1984 society”, and it is only going to get worse. …

Personally, I am stunned at how rapidly our society is changing … a bill has actually been introduced in Congress which would permanently ban those that have not been fully vaccinated from ever flying again. …

now dark times are here, and if you express your love for freedom too loudly you may soon discover that authorities have identified you as a “potential terrorist” too. http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/they-have-come-up-with-some-ominous-new-definitions-for-what-constitutes-domestic-terrorism

Notice the following that came out earlier this year:

Would YOU Be Considered a Domestic Terrorist Under This New Bill?

by Robert Wheeler

After 9/11, the entire country collectively lost its mind in the throes of fear. During that time, all civil and Constitutional rights were shredded and replaced with the pages of The USA PATRIOT Act.

Almost 20 years later, the U.S. has again lost its collective mind, this time in fear of a “virus” and it’s “super mutations” and a “riot” at the capitol. A lot of people called this and to the surprise of very few, much like after 9/11, Americans are watching what remains of their civil liberties be replaced with a new bill.

The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2021

The DTPA is essentially the criminalization of speech, expression, and thought. It takes cancel culture a step further and all but outlaws unpopular opinions. This act will empower intelligence, law enforcement, and even military wings of the American ruling class to crack down on individuals adhering to certain belief systems and ideologies. …

Those who read the bill aren’t so gung ho to shred the Constitution

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has some serious reservations. In a recent interview on Fox News Primetime, Gabbard stated that the bill effectively criminalizes half of the country …

Even the ACLU, one of the weakest organizations on civil liberties in the United States, has spoken out. While the ACLU was only concerned with how the bill would affect minorities or “brown people,” the organization stated that the legislation, while set forth under the guise of countering white supremacy, would eventually be used against non-white people.

The ACLU’s statement is true.

As with similar bills submitted under the guise of “protecting” Americans against outside threats, this bill will inevitably expand further. The stated goals of the DPTA are far-reaching and frightening enough. It would amount to an official declaration of the end to Free Speech.

Soon there will be no rights left for Americans

In the last twenty years, Americans have lost their 4th Amendment rights, and now they are losing their 1st. 01/27/21 https://www.theorganicprepper.com/domestic-terrorism-act-2021/

Some of Tulsi Gabbard’s comments were reported here on last January (see Tulsi Gabbard: Domestic-Terrorism Bill Is “A Targeting Of Almost Half Of The Country” Michael Snyder: The Police State Is Coming For “Religious Extremists”, “Evangelical Christians”, “Pro-Life” Activists And “Libertarians”

We are also seeing increased police presence in Washington D.C. and surveillance cameras all over the USA. Arroyo Grande is in San Luis Obispo County.

Considering Americans as potential terrorists for not agreeing with changing governmental views is clearly in conflict with several amendments of the US Constitution.

Looking for potential domestic terrorists seems consistent with the following prophecy:

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation;
Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words,
4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter;
They talk of laying snares secretly;
They say, “Who will see them?”
6 They devise iniquities:
“We have perfected a shrewd scheme.”
Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep. (Psalms 64:1-6)

As posted here many times before, while you might think that if you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear from surveillance, consider that many running the government of the USA consider that not supporting homosexual marriages, cross-dressing, abortion, etc. are extremist. Years ago, I saw someone once on a documentary that stated that people who believed in the millennium could not be trusted and should be considered as potential domestic terrorists. The fact that we in the Continuing Church of God would be considered pacifists, does not change the fact that since we hold to millennial and other biblical views that we will not be improperly classified by government employees with various agendas.

Now, not agreeing with COVID policies and even not being vaccinated are being considered potentially terrorist related.

The USA is more and more moving towards being a totalitarian state.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Orwell’s 1984 by 2024? In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that George Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more in this video.
Canadian censoring of the Bible In 2017, Lauri Skori of the Battle River School board told a religious school in Alberta, Canada that it could not teach/read certain portions of the Bible. In 2002, a court in Canada ruled against one who referred to certain scriptures that some homosexuals objected to. In 2017, there was “An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code” related to those who wish to be considered transgendered. Government officials in Canada and elsewhere have been ruling against the Bible. Is any of this prophesied? Will this get worse? What was the prophet Amos inspired to write? This is a video.
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is also available titled: Real Christian Repentance.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
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? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
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: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2028 or or 2031 or 20xx? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Banning the Bible? Could we see a ban of the Holy Bible in North America? Have there been partial bans proposed and enforced by government officials in Canada? Do any USA politicians consider any biblical teachings as fraudulent and hence banning them is NOT a violation of the 1st amendment to the Constitution of the USA? Are there risks associated with AB 2943? Have politicians like Hillary Clinton and California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi called for long-held religious beliefs to change and “evolve with the times”? What about Jude 1:3 and 2 Timothy 3:14? Are there biblical prophecies about not being able to hear the word of God? Might we see more restrictions on explaining teachings of the Bible on the Internet and other forms of media? What are some of the verses that various government people do not want made public? Dr. Thiel provides facts on these issues and more.
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
The Great Tribulation: What Happens First? What events have happened? What are some events that are now happening? And what events need to happen for the Great Tribulation to start? Here is a link to a related sermon video: Counting Down to the Great Tribulation. Here is a video in the Spanish language: Contando los eventos y el inicio de la Gran Tribulación.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2021, 2022, or 2023? 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 la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction Can the USA survive two full presidential terms? In what ways are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris apocalyptic? This book has hundreds of prophecies and scriptures to provide details. A Kindle version is also available 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 your free Kindle reader app (or if you already have one or a Kindle), you can go to: Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction (Kindle) to get the book in seconds.</sp

‘What Happens in Kabul will not Stay in Kabul’ My latest in @TheHillOpinion on effects of Biden’s #Afghanistan debacle: revival of Jihadi terrorism, loss of U.S. credibility with allies & adversaries, diminished diplomatic clout, impunity of frenemies. https://t.co/VWNJjxnqfU

— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) August 16, 2021

COGwriter

The Taliban reportedly named a new president for Afghanistan:

August 16, 2021

The latest reports are that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is being reported as likely president of the new Taliban government, though conflicting reports say former Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali would head a transitional government.

Baradar has been presented as a relatively “moderate” figure in the Taliban for years, and this likely will make him more palatable than some other hardliners for the world. Baradar also served as a chief negotiator for the Taliban in Doha. Taliban officials are openly announcing the reestablishment of Afghanistan as an Islamic Emirate and trying to reassure the public about the fate of Kabul. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/talibans-mullah-baradar-be-new-afghan-president

Iran’s president praised the USA’s military defeat in Afghanistan:

 16 August 2021
Iran: US ‘military defeat’ can ‘restore life, security and lasting peace’

Iran’s ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi said in a statement Monday, “The military defeat and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan should offer an opportunity to restore life, security and lasting peace in that country.” …

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was engaged in talks with Yue Xiaoyong, China’s special envoy for Afghanistan. …

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing that China is ready to have “friendly and cooperative” relations with the Taliban. She did not answer directly whether China would recognize the Taliban as the new government but instead insisted China will respect the choice of the Afghan people.

Hua said, “The Taliban have repeatedly expressed their hope to develop good relations with China, and that they look forward to China’s participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.” https://www.dw.com/en/chaos-at-kabul-airport-as-afghans-try-to-flee-live-updates/a-58874510

Afghanistan is believed to have a lot of uptapped mineral resources, that if properly managed, would probably double or triple the economic output of that nation–if not more than that.

Michael Snyder posted:

The Myth Of U.S. Invincibility Has Now Been Completely Shattered

August 15, 2021

Nobody is going to respect the power of the U.S. military after this.  We spent nearly 20 years and more than 2 trillion dollars fighting the war in Afghanistan.  Much more importantly, 2,448 U.S. service members lost their lives and thousands more were seriously wounded.  After so much heartbreaking sacrifice, the Taliban have won the war.  It is inconceivable that the U.S. military could lose to a ragged collection of drug dealers and goat herders, but thanks to an appalling failure of leadership at the White House and in the Pentagon it has happened.  Not only have we lost, but the Taliban is actually coming out of this conflict in better shape than ever before.  Incredibly, the Taliban appears to be much stronger today than it was just prior to the U.S. invasion in 2001.

How could this happen?  For almost two decades the U.S. military has been pounding on them, and you would think that all of that pounding should have completely wiped out the Taliban by now.

But instead, the Taliban has thrived. …

The Biden administration is trying to insist that this is nothing like the fall of Saigon, but the truth is that it is exactly like the fall of Saigon. …

I am not proud of the U.S. military today.

Instead, I am deeply embarrassed by what it has become.

We have completely lost our way, and when it comes time to fight a major war we are going to get our rear ends handed to us.

And now thanks to the Taliban, the rest of the world has been shown how weak we really are. http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/the-myth-of-u-s-invincibility-has-now-been-completely-shattered/

That brings to mind the following biblical warning:

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

Furthermore, the Bible is clear that the power with the strongest military will be defeated in the last days (see Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

That being said, Afghanistan was a defeat for the USA. Notice also the following:

August 15, 2021

The New York Times claims that “few will gang up on the U.S. for finally stopping a failed enterprise.” But in the longer term, “the notion that you cannot count on the Americans will strike deeper roots because of Afghanistan.’’ This may underpin some European reactions, according to the article. What is more perplexing is that other NATO members, including European countries, also withdrew from Afghanistan and yet, oddly, this doesn’t erode confidence in whether anyone can count on NATO or European countries. The unspoken point may be that no one was counting on NATO or European states anyway, so it was America’s war to lose.  …

Turkey wants to have discussions with the Taliban and run the airport. Iran, working with China, sees a silver lining in Afghanistan. As Pakistan, Russia, Iran, China and Turkey prepare to rush in, European countries are evacuating embassy staff.  … Afghanistan may simply become a host for the gathering storm of a post-American world order. Regional groupings like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others will not include the US. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/unpredictable-consequences-from-the-afghan-crisis-676691

August 15, 2021

A Taliban leader identified as Muhammed Arif Mustafa told CNN’s Clarissa Ward that Islam will keep on fighting and advancing towards America, according to Forbes.

“It’s our belief that one day mujahedeen will have victory, and Islamic law will come not to just Afghanistan, but all over the world. We are not in a hurry. We believe it will come one day. Jihad will not end until the last day,” he said. https://newspunch.com/taliban-tells-americans-jihad-is-coming-to-america-thanks-to-joe-biden/

Some in the USA are voicing concerns about the possible terrorist threat from Afghanistan:

August 16, 2021

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s top general said the United States could now face a rise in terrorist threats from a Taliban-run Afghanistan. That warning comes as intelligence agencies charged with anticipating those threats face new questions after the U.S.-backed Afghan military collapsed with shocking speed.

Less than a week after a military assessment predicted Kabul could be surrounded by insurgents in 30 days, the world on Sunday watched stunning scenes of Taliban fighters standing in the Afghan president’s office and crowds of Afghans and foreigners frantically trying to board planes to escape the country.

Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told senators on a briefing call Sunday that U.S. officials are expected to alter their earlier assessments about the pace of terrorist groups reconstituting in Afghanistan, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-taliban-675db659610779b05d8e60f166c53a52

Those of us who believe the Bible realize that terrorism is prophesied.

Notice something from Psalm 83:

3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. (Psalms 83:3-8)

Nearly all the above peoples are in lands dominated by Islam–and many countries are accepting refugees and immigrants from those lands.

Psalm 83 is very likely to involve terrorism.

Why?

Because taking “crafty counsel” sounds like plotting terrorism. Notice also that a deal will happen involving Assyria, which is prophesied to takeover the USA and UK per Isaiah 10 (see also Germany in Biblical Prophecy).

The late WCG evangelist Raymond McNair indicated that Afghanistan may be involved in terrorism:

It believed that some Edomites also live in certain regions of the high mountains of Central Asia, including Afghanistan. … History indicates that some of Esau’s descendants have migrated into Central Asia (into AFGHANISTAN and adjacent nations), Ishmaelite and Edomite names are frequently found in those Muslim nations. … Now the Afghan Taliban has taken on the United States … Many scriptures speak of the unbridled hatred of the Edomites … (cf. Isa. 34; Ezekiel 35; Obadiah 1; Psalm 83 etc.). … The coalition of nations mentioned in Psalm 83 is clearly intended as an end-time prophecy, that shows which nations will wage war against the modern-day descendants of Israel, and this includes the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, English-Speaking peoples. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! CG21, 2005)

The USA has had less terrorism the past few years than it did during the Obama Administration.

Now, expect more to hit the USA.

Many Afghanis are appalled with USA actions and feel betrayed.

Afghanistan may be a place more terrorists will come from.

Furthermore, the USA intends to allow perhaps multiple thousands of Afghanis to relocate into its country. Some of them will one day support terrorism against the USA consistent with biblical prophecies such as Deuteronomy 32:25.

Sunday Church, Naxos Greece

COGwriter

Recently, an SDA-day type asked me about a coming Sunday law.

Before me giving some comments, notice something that the late Seventh-day Adventist scholar Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi had the following in one of his newsletters years ago:

SUNDAY LAWS PROPOSED BY THE EUROPEAN EPISCOPAL COMMISSION

Many years Adventists have been wondering what could triggers the promulgation of international Sunday laws. In my past readings I found references to social, ecological, economic, and energy considerations as possible reasons for introducing Sunday Laws.

I came as surprise for me to learn this past week that the impetus for Sunday laws may come from the current financial crisis that affects many nations today. The European Episcopal Commission, known as COMECE, consisting of 24 bishops, each representing a western country, met in Brussels, the headquarter of the European Parliament from November 12-14, 2008.

The Bishops agreed that “the financial crisis has exposed a deeper spiritual crisis and a misguided set of values. The sense and value of human work has been pushed to the background in the general struggle for profit.”“In their exchange of views with the State Secretary for European Affairs, the Church representatives expressed their wish to see the Sunday rest day being better protected in national legislations as well as in the future EU Working Time Directive which is currently being revised.” http://www.comece.org/comece.taf?_function=news_new&_sub=&id=2&language=en

“The Bishops called for respect for Sunday rest as one of the foundations of the European social model and as a way of balancing work and family life. In recent years, Sunday as a weekly rest day has been threatened by legislation in many Member States thanks to liberal and consumerist-driven political concepts. In the context of the present economic crisis, Bishops call on the Members of the European Parliament to assume their responsibilities and include the protection of Sunday in the Working Time Directive that will be submitted to the European Parliament’s vote by the middle of December.” (http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/ccb/catholic_church/media_centre2/press_releases/press_releases_2008/the_financial_crisis_is_a_test_for_the_values_of_european_society).

What this means is that at their next meeting scheduled by December 15, the European Parliament will discuss the European Bishops’ request to pass a legislation “for the protection of Sunday.” This is a startling new development in Western Europe where Sunday has become a secular day.

There are signs that such legislation could draw support in the USA. In an article entitled “ Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need,” Michael Pearce’s Blog writes: “There have been a lot of changes in the past 100 years. Not only have we seen gang activity increase along with crimes, but so has energy consumption. The other change I realized was the rescinding of the ‘Sunday Laws’ across the United States.”

The article continues listing a host of benefits provided by Sunday Laws. The conclusion of the article is: “So perhaps we should consider enacting a Sunday Law. Not to restrict people from working, but to give liberty to those who can’t choose. And imagine the tax dollars that would be saved?” (http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/Tritium/gG5ngR).

It will be interesting to see if the European Parliament will pass a legislation “for the protection of Sunday,” and the possible repercussions of such legislation in other countries, including the USA.

While the SDAs have a lot of prophetic misunderstandings (SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666), they are correct that Europe will adopt Sunday (I do not believe that the USA will seriously adopt Sunday until militarily forced to). A few years ago, Hungary implemented Sunday shopping restrictions (see Hungary to implement Sunday law). Italy is now in the process of implementing Sunday shopping restrictions (see ‘Italy to introduce ban on Sunday shopping’) and Poland did something similar last March (see Poland implementing Sunday shopping ban).

Sunday was essentially adopted by Greco-Roman supporters who had contact with Mithraism (see Sunday and Christianity and Do You Practice Mithraism?) who seemed to decide that they would be subject to less Imperial persecution if they adopted the more acceptable (to the Romans, not God) Sunday as opposed to Saturday.

Even Roman Catholic sources admit that it did not come from the Bible (see The Christian Sabbath).

The ideas of Sunday laws are not new. The first Sunday law was enacted by Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century.

Constantine decreed circa March 7, 321:

Let all judges, the people of cities, and those employed in all trades, remain quiet on the Holy Day of Sunday. (Code of Justinian, Book III, Title XII, III. THE JUSTINIAN CODE FROM THE CORPUS JURIS CIVILIS. Translated from the original Latin by Samuel P. Scott. Central Trust Company, Cincinnati, 1932).

Shortly after the above decree, Eusebius recorded this about Constantine:

Accordingly he enjoined on all the subjects of the Roman empire to observe the Lord’s day, as a day of rest (Eusebius. Life of Constantine, Book IV, Chapter 18).

Notice that “the Lord’s day” became enjoined by a decree of a Roman Empire. Also notice the following:

There is a large body of civil legislation on the Sunday rest side by side with the ecclesiastical. It begins with an Edict of Constantine, the first Christian emperor, who forbade judges to sit and townspeople to work on Sunday (Slater T. Transcribed by Scott Anthony Hibbs. Sunday. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIV Copyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton Company Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight).

Perhaps it should be mentioned that Pope Francis has indicated a desire for more Sunday laws in the 21st century (see Pope Francis pushes for no work on Sunday–a prelude to a new Sunday law? What about Saturday?).

Notice the following related to Constantine and Sunday written by one who observes Sunday:

So prominent had Christians and their day become that when the Emperor Constantine proclaimed Sun Day as the weekly holy day for all Romans, some Christians believed that it was for their sake. More likely Constantine, like many Roman aristocrats of the time, was simply trying to find common ground for his mixed pagan and Christian subjects, especially his soldiers. Unity was for the good of the state and the emperors’ power (Harline C. Sunday: A History of the First Day from Babylonia to the Super Bowl. Doubleday, NY, 2007, p. 17).

However, after a time, Constantine did clearly begin to provide more favor for the Roman version of Christianity which (like the pagans, but unlike the Church of God) endorsed Sunday. He, the sun-worshiping emperor, then called for the famous Council of Nicea, which took place in 325 A.D. This council decided that Sunday was to be the day of worship and that Passover was to be observed on Sunday (and that eventually became what is known as Easter). After that council, those in the Church of God who kept the Sabbath were considered to be heretics and outcasts and had to flee in the wilderness.

The Emperor authorized persecution. Around 332, Constantine issued what is known as the Edict Against the Heretics,

Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to the heretics. “Understand now, by this present statute, ye Novatians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Paulians, ye who are called Cataphrygians, and all ye who devise and support heresies by means of your private assemblies, with what a tissue of falsehood and vanity, with what destructive and venomous errors, your doctrines are inseparably interwoven; so that through you the healthy soul is stricken with disease, and the living becomes the prey of everlasting death. Ye haters and enemies of truth and life, in league with destruction! All your counsels are opposed to the truth, but familiar with deeds of baseness; full of absurdities and fictions: and by these ye frame falsehoods, oppress the innocent, and withhold the light from them that believe. Ever trespassing under the mask of godliness, ye fill all things with defilement: ye pierce the pure and guileless conscience with deadly wounds, while ye withdraw, one may almost say, the very light of day from the eyes of men. But why should I particularize, when to speak of your criminality as it deserves demands more time and leisure than I can give? For so long and unmeasured is the catalogue of your offenses, so hateful and altogether atrocious are they, that a single day would not suffice to recount them all. And, indeed, it is well to turn one’s ears and eyes from such a subject, lest by a description of each particular evil, the pure sincerity and freshness of one’s own faith be impaired. Why then do I still bear with such abounding evil; especially since this protracted clemency is the cause that some who were sound are become tainted with this pestilent disease? Why not at once strike, as it were, at the root of so great a mischief by a public manifestation of displeasure?” (Chapter LXIV.—Constantine’s Edict against the Heretics. This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College).

Originally,

As with the Jewish Sabbath, the observance of the Christian Sunday began with sundown on Saturday and lasted till the same time on Sunday (Slater T. Transcribed by Scott Anthony Hibbs Sunday. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIV Copyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton Company Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight).

But this changed for most who observed Sunday, to a midnight to midnight observance.

Many Protestant groups seem to wish to support the agenda of Rome when it comes to Sunday.

Perhaps they should consider what this will really lead to.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? Who clearly endorsed Sunday? What relevance is the first or the “eighth” day? A related sermon is also available: Sunday: First and Eighth Day?
CG7.ORG This is a website for those interested in the Sabbath and churches that observe the seventh day Sabbath.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
How to Observe the Sabbath? How should you keep the Sabbath? This is an old article by Raymond Cole, with updated information for the 21st century.
Can You Keep Your Job, Get Your Degree, and Keep the Sabbath? This article has some information on that. Here is a link to a related video titled: Can you keep the Sabbath and your job? What about college?
The Christian Sabbath. This is a series of articles from the Catholic Mirror essentially proving that the biblical Sabbath was Saturday, that the Lord’s day in Revelation 1 is not a reference to Sunday, that the Church of Rome implemented Sunday, and that nearly all Protestants followed Rome. Here is a link to a related sermon: Catholic teachings on the Sabbath, Sunday, and Protestantism.
The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
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, French: L’Histoire Continue de l’Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here are two sermons in the English language: Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG? and CCOG and SDA differences and similarities. Here is a link to an article in the Spanish language: Diferencias: SDA/CCOG: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?