Church of God News

They have been saying “Iran is months (weeks) away from developing a nuclear weapon” since 1995…

Yes, since 1995…
Iran must submit; otherwise, it will be destroyed and they will do anything to justify it…
#Iran #nuclearweapons #JCPOA #IranDeal pic.twitter.com/hVtbUYnnDd

— Ramin Kondori (@Ramin_Kondori) April 27, 2022

COGwriter

The White House is publicly stating that Iran could be only a few weeks away from having the materials it needs for a nuclear weapon:

White House admits: Iran will have nukes in “a few weeks or less”

April 27, 2022

Iran’s breakout time to a nuclear weapon is now “just a few weeks or less,” White House Press Secretary Jan Psaki told reporters on Tuesday.

Tehran had greatly accelerated its nuclear program after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018 under President Donald Trump, Psaki said during a press briefing.

The rapid progress Iran had made since “definitely worries us,” she said.

The spokeswoman reiterated an assessment shared earlier on Tuesday by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who said Iran’s progress “is a direct impact of pulling out of the nuclear deal, making us less safe, giving us less visibility. And it’s one of the reasons we pursued a diplomatic path, again, when the president took office.”

Psaki added that the White House briefs Israel “regularly” on the negotiations around a possible return to the deal. https://www.israel365news.com/268800/white-house-admits-iran-will-have-nukes-in-a-few-weeks-or-less/

The US said Tuesday that Iran’s nuclear breakout time was down to weeks, and blamed the previous administration, as negotiations between Tehran and world powers continued to stall.

“Their breakout period is down from about a year, which is what we knew it was during the deal, to just a few weeks or less,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press conference, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Iran’s breakout time was “down to a matter of weeks.”

The Biden administration has issued similar warnings about Iran’s nuclear breakout time in the past.

The breakout period refers to the amount of time it will take Iran to amass enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, if it chooses to do so. …

Psaki told reporters at the Tuesday press conference that Iran’s nuclear development “definitely worries us.”

“If we go back, under the Iran nuclear deal, Iran’s nuclear program was tightly constrained,” she said. “Since the Trump administration ceased US participation in the deal, Iran has rapidly accelerated its nuclear program.”

“That is a direct impact of pulling out of the nuclear deal, making us less safe, giving us less visibility, and it’s one of the reasons we pursued a diplomatic path again,” Psaki said.

Psaki said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Biden talked about Iran during a call on Sunday. …

Israeli officials have said the chances of world powers signing a new nuclear deal with Iran have been greatly diminished, and the US is closer than ever to admitting defeat on Biden’s stated goal of returning to the 2015 deal, according to Tuesday reports. …

Last week, a senior Israeli diplomatic official claimed that Biden administration officials notified their European counterparts that Washington does not plan on delisting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. …

A former member of Iran’s parliament said Sunday that Iran always intended to build a nuclear bomb. https://www.timesofisrael.com/white-house-says-iran-a-few-weeks-or-less-from-bomb-breakout/

Now, Iran has stated that it wanted its ‘Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ delisted as a terrorist organization in order to agree to a new nuclear deal. Presuming that the USA will not do this, Iran needs to decide what it wants to do next.

It may have concluded that there is little or no point in delaying its nuclear ambitions (even if it never really did) and to proceed more quickly.

As Iran continues to have economic and other problems, it may decide soon to strike Israel.

And if Israel believes that Iran is only weeks away (it is hard to know the accuracy of the current USA claim), it may strike out against Iran.

Here is some of what is in my book Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction related to Iran:

Iran and Prophecy

Joe Biden wants to have the U.S.A. rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran …

Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).

It is of prophetic interest to note that the small nation of Israel is prophesied to one day be attacked by some that seem to have connection to Iran and its ally Syria (Isaiah 22:1-14). …

In January 2021, it was reported, “Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040, Iranian state media ISNA reported.”

Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and likely Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if it determines that it should. If it is frustrated with the Biden-Harris Administration policies or delays, that may very well be a factor in it taking prophesied military action.

Iran has weapons that can cause damage. Furthermore, the U.S.A. itself, as well as the State of Israel, are vulnerable to EMP type attacks and even items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. because of a conflict involving Iran, Syria, and/or others.

But should this attack occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the U.S.A. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25). (Thiel B. Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction. Nazarene Books, January 2021)

Enough delays to the nuclear deal may lead Iran to conclude that a regional war is the best way to deal with domestic and international pressures.

Such a war is consistent with prophesies such as are in Isaiah 22–and may be a factor leading to the ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27–and that deal will essentially start the countdown to the Great Tribulation and the end of the USA and its British-descended allies. Here is something from the article When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?:

Brief Sequential Prophetic Summary

Since the Great Tribulation cannot happen yet, what are some specific events to look for which occur prior to the Great Tribulation?

The basic sequence is that certain sorrows and troubles will continue:

5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. … 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:5-8, 37).

The sorrows are happening. What will happen next, for the next seals to be opened, is not laid out clearly enough (to learn more about the seals, watch: Sorrows and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.).

But there are also other events that will build to fulfill many scriptures.

For example, some nation will become highly indebted before the Great Tribulation (Habakkuk 2:6)–this is happening to the USA (as well as the UK, though the total amount of indebtness is less).

Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1), and great military damage will hit Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:8-9). The timing of these two events possibly occur before a prophesied peace deal.

One of the most important events to watch for is when the ‘peace’ deal of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed. Deals have been proposed, but the biblical one has not yet been made nor confirmed.

A King of the North (who was a ‘prince’ in Daniel 9:27) and a King of the South (Daniel 11:27) will arise and make a lying deal (Daniel 11:27). Europe will get a “great army” (Daniel 11:25). We are seeing the foundations for this now.

Animal sacrifices will begin (cf. Daniel 9:27). (Note: It is possible that the King of the South could rise up prior to Daniel 9:27 or even after the sacrifices resume as could the King of the North–and his army will be greater years after the deal of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed.)

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God then will have been preached enough to the world as a witness for the end to come (Matthew 24:14)–steps related to this are in process (see also The Final Phase of the Work). This seems to be related to the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28–preparations for this are also occurring (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

A naval encounter between the King of the North and the Anglo-Americans (could just be the Americans) will take place (Daniel 11:30)–this might mark the start of media attention and the short-work of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

Jewish sacrifices will be stopped (Daniel 9:27, 11:31). Some Jews would like to start the sacrifices now (and did perform a trial event on December 10, 2018), but the Israeli government will not currently allow the daily sacrifices that groups like the Temple Institute and Sanhedrin want.

Europe will reorganize into ten ‘kingdoms’ (not necessarily ten currently existing nations as some have improperly insisted upon and give power the Beast; see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?)–some of this could happen earlier–and reorganization has been proposed.

The abomination of desolation will then be set up (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14) because of actions of the King of the North (Daniel 9:27; 11:31). The most faithful expect to continue to tell what is happening until they are somehow stopped (cf. Amos 8:11-12; see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

A decree is to be issued (Zephaniah 2:1-3) and then the most faithful Philadelphians will ‘fly’ to the wilderness (Revelation 12:14-16) and those in Judea should flee per Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24:15-19 and Mark 13:15-18 (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra). Prior to the time the Great Tribulation starts, the two witnesses will support the work, and several days before its start, they will get power to do their job (Revelation 11:3-15; see also Who Are The Two Witnesses?).

Bolstered by the Antichrist, then the Great Tribulation will begin (Matthew 24:21-22; Mark 13:19-20; Daniel 11:39, 12:1b; cf. Habakkuk 2:7-8). This will eliminate the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies as nations (Daniel 11:39; Jeremiah 30:7; Habakkuk 2:7-8; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses). The King of the South will shortly later push against the King of the North and get eliminated (Daniel 11:40-43)–those loyal to that leader will know tribulation (cf. Ezekiel 30:2-8).

About a month or so less than 2 ½ years after the Great Tribulation began, the sixth seal will be opened, there will be a ‘blood moon’ and a darkened sun (Revelation 6:12; Joel 2:30-31; see also Blood Moons and Prophecy), then the 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-8 will be sealed.

Shortly thereafter, the seventh seal will be opened (Revelation 8:1-6) and year long Day of the Lord (Isaiah 34:8) will begin with trumpet blasts, plagues, etc. (Revelation 8-7-13; 9:1-21; 11”13-14).  Shortly thereafter, the seventh seal will be opened (Revelation 8:1-6) and year long Day of the Lord (Isaiah 34:8) will begin with trumpet blasts, plagues, etc. (Revelation 8-7-13; 9:1-21; 11:13-14).

The crashing of Wormwood into the earth will occur with after third trumpet blast (Revelation 8:10-11). Some might call this Planet X hitting the earth.

The gathering for Armageddon will begin related to the sixth trumpet blast (Revelation 8:13-19; 16:12-16).

Then at the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15), the saints will rise in the first resurrection, and Jesus will return to establish the millennial kingdom.

The Great Tribulation should begin about 3 1/2 years after the peace deal (Daniel 9:27) is confirmed, and right after the King of the North tries to proclaim peace and safety (1 Thessalonians 5:3) to throw people off (cf. Daniel 11:24) for his invasion plans.

A regional war will come to the Middle East and it could be relatively soon.

Israel and Iran have been threatening each other and taking sabotaging actions against each other for years.

However, as far as sabotage goes, Israel seems to have done more of that to Iran than the other way around.

While Israel can damage Iran, yet Iran also has the ability to harm the nation of Israel.

As regular readers of this page are aware, damage coming to Judah (the modern nation of Israel) from a power like Iran looks to be prophesied:

5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision — Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain. 6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots,And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall. (Isaiah 22:51-9)

Elam is a reference to at least some in Iran. Kir is a reference to at least some in Syria as well as perhaps some who refer to themselves as Palestinian. The Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir. While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting. Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran, while others suggest closer to the Black Sea. The Bible tells of a time when Kir will be destroyed (Isaiah 15:1b) and also says that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). This destruction might happen around the time Jerusalem experiences massive damage.

In Isaiah 22: 8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked! In Isaiah 22:9, consider that “the damage to the city of David” is a reference to at least part of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Kings 9:28)–and notice that the damage will be great.

Israel’s famed ‘Iron Dome’ will NOT stop the coming great damage that will hit Jerusalem, despite Israeli confidence. Perhaps Syria will somehow be able to reduce its effectiveness when it “uncovered the shield.”

If so, Israel will not like that and would be expected to retaliate.

Syria’s capital Damascus has been called the oldest continually inhabited city on the earth (though another place also claims that position). It’s destruction is prophesied:

1 The burden against Damascus.

“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city,
And it will be a ruinous heap.
2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken;
They will be for flocks
Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid.
3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim,
The kingdom from Damascus,
And the remnant of Syria;
They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

4 “In that day it shall come to pass
That the glory of Jacob will wane,
And the fatness of his flesh grow lean. (Isaiah 17:1-4)

This looks to take place near, and possibly before, the start of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), also known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22). Things will change in Syria as more destruction will hit it in the future.

Now as Isaiah 22 shows, Israel could very well be damaged by Iran before the the Great Tribulation begins.

I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized’ (Jeremiah 49:34-38), as I believe it will overplay its hand. The above prophecy, if it has application in this time, would tend to support that.

Let me also state that it may take a major regional war for the coming temporal ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27 to be ratified. Iran, Syria, and Israel may one day be in a major regional war in the future. The USA could also be affected.

If the reports from the White House are correct, this time, we may see military action between the Israel and Iran this year.

Just because the White House (and Israel) have ‘cried wolf’ (been wrong about the timing) in the past, does not mean the White House could not be correct this time.

We are in the time Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows,” it appears that two or three of the four horseman of the Apocalypse have begun their rides.

In addition to “rumors of war,” we should expect more wars as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:6.

We truly are getting closer to the end.

Pray for God’s Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
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 four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the Century and Daniel 9 27? Here is a link to something related in the Spanish language: Estados Árabes emiratos unidos y el tratado de paz en el medio este.
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? 2029 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?
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?
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.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2022, 2023, or 2024? 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? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
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.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Jesus Returning, David’s Throne, and the Stone of Destiny Will Jesus return to the throne of David? What about the Stone of Scone? Here is a link to a related video: Stone of Destiny and Jesus’ Return.
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?
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.

COGwriter

In its Ten Commandments article, Wikipedia reported:

Modern Evangelicalism, under the influence of dispensationalism, commonly denies that the commandments have any abiding validity as a requirement binding upon Christians (Ten Commandments. Wikipedia, viewed 7/30/08).

And sadly, this is a fairly common Protestant view as the following quotes may help demonstrate:

The 10 commandments are Abolished

Today Christians keep the Law of Christ which is superior! 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2 (http://www.bible.ca/7-10-commandments.htm viewed 7/31/08).

The Ten Commandments Were Abolished
Saturday, 5. July 2008, 22:51:09

Introduction The ten commandments are no longer lawful: they are not binding on the Christian. Christian scripture says the ten commandments were abolished Ephesians 2:15; a bible believing person is no longer bound to follow them; in fact (http://my.opera.com/richardinbellingham/blog/the-ten-commandments-were-abolished viewed 7/30/08).

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT FOR CHRISTIANS (Richard Bethel. http://www.bethelministries.com/ten_commandments.htm viewed 7/30/08).

The Ten Commandments: Christ Nailed to the Cross (The Ten Commandments: Christ Nailed to the Cross. By William A Worley. Published by the Author?, 1959).

Prof. M.D. Canright, an ordained Baptist preacher says:…”The Ten Commandments and the whole Jewish law are abolished, and the Sabbath is not binding upon Christians…we are not under the Ten Commandments, but under Christ” (Religious Delusions: A Psychic Study By J. V. Coombs Published by Kessinger Publishing, 2003, pp. 34-35).

One of the Ten Commandments was not carried over into the Law of Christ…

Not all of the Ten Commandments were carried over into the law of Christ (Jeffrey W. Hamilton, preacher. La Vista Church of Christ. http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2004-11-23.htm viewed 7/30/08).

The Ten Commandments were given to the Jews; and when Christ came and died they were all nailed to the cross (The marked Bible By Charles Lindsay Taylor. Published by Pacific Press, 1922. Original from the University of California. Digitized Nov 30, 2007, p. 53).

The keeping of the Sabbath as commanded on the tables of stone was nailed to the cross…The Sabbath of the ten commandments had its mission (The Gospel Day: Or, the Light of Christianity By Charles Ebert Orr. Published by Gospel Trumpet, 1904 Original from the New York Public Library Digitized Jul 18, 2006, pp. 336-337).

Andy Stanley, the senior pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia … “You are not accountable to the Ten Commandments, we’re done with that. God has done something new.” (James E. Andy Stanley and the Dismissal of the OT. May 14, 2018. https://thewitnessbcc.com/andy-stanley-and-the-dismissal-of-the-ot/ accessed 08/14/18)

So, various Evangelical/Protestants have directly taught against the Ten Commandments. They claim to be Christian, but promote lawlessness, which is part of the “mystery of lawlessness.”

Some Protestant leaders consider that the Ten Commandments are a burden. Others, at least state that they should be observed. The fact is that the Ten Commandments show love.

The Continuing Church of God, which is NOT Protestant (see the free online book Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism) believes:

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. (Psalm 119:172)

The true church teaches that God’s Ten Commandment law is one of His greatest gifts to mankind and that His commandments are righteousness. Keeping them reflects love.

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love” (1 Timothy 1:5).

Yes, the purpose of the commandments is to show love, make us better, and help others to be better.

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

The Ten Commandments were not some arbitrary rules or burden.

The Ten Commandments were made known to us to help build character in us so that we will be able to be better and make eternity better. We can, in this life, make our own eternity better if we truly trust Him.

Yet, because of distortions from religious leaders, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write about the “mystery of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). According to Jesus, in these end times, lawlessness will increase and cause the love of many to go cold (Matthew 24:12). Sadly, this will help lead to the final end time “Mystery Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:5)—a religious power on the city of seven hills (Revelation 17:9,18). For more on that and the Ten Commandments, check out the free online booklet: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.

And the first four commandments show love towards God (and so do the last six, but in other ways).

Jesus clearly taught that the Ten Commandments showed love:

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40); in other words the law of God is involved in showing love to God and your neighbor!

Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15) and “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him…” (John 14:21) and “He who does not love Me does not keep My words (John 14:24) as well as “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10).

For further proof, Jesus said of the future, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Breaking the law (lawlessness) is linked to lack of love. Jesus magnified the law by explaining its direct link to love or evil! The fact He was to exalt the law was even prophesied! “He will exalt the law and make it honorable” (Is 42:21). Since Jesus was to “exalt the law and make it honorable”, should His followers violate it?

Jesus also taught:

Commandment 1 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37). “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30).

Commandment 2 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow…My servants to…eat things sacrificed to idols..Now to you I say…who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden” (Revelation 2:20,24).

Commandment 3 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts…blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20). “…blasphemy…All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:22-23).

Commandment 4 “Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:11-12). “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath…Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?“ (Luke 6:5,9). “‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’… And they could not answer Him regarding these things” (Luke 14:3,6). “are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:23).

For a more indepth discussion of each of these commandments, please see the ContinuingCOG YouTube sermon video titled: The Ten Commandments: Loving God.

Some items to assist in your studies may include:

FIRST COMMANDMENT: Priorities and the Most Broken Commandment Which commandment is broken the most? Which one is most involved with what should be your top priority? Here is a link to a related sermon: The Most Violated Commandment and Priorities.
SECOND COMMANDMENT: What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did the early Church use icons? What was the position of Christians about such things? A related sermon is available: The Second Commandment, Idols, and Icons.
THIRD COMMANDMENT: Words Matter Are you obeying the Third Commandment? Are you sure? Could you be blaspheming with your euphemisms or life actions? Here is a link to a related sermon: Third Commandment Plus: Words Matter.
FOURTH COMMANDMENT: 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 link to a related sermon: Fourth Commandment: Saturday or Sunday?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
Mystery of Iniquity What is the mystery of iniquity? How did it start? How will it end? Two related sermons are also available: The Mystery of Iniquity and The Mystery of Lawlessness.
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings. A related sermon is titled: Christians and the Ten Commandments.
The Philadelphia Remnant: It’s All About Love This is what CCOG teaches. It is important to remember. A related video is available: Nairobi Conference: All About Love.
What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
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? If you would like to watch videos covering subjects of this article, you can click on the following links: Why YOU? Why Do YOU Suffer? and What is the meaning of your life?
Elementary Doctrines of the Church: Hebrews 6 Seven doctrines are mentioned and discussed. A related sermon is also available titled: Basic Doctrines of Hebrew 6.
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free draft/unedited pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
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.

COGwriter

The BBC reported:

26 April 2022

The average food bill could increase by £271 this year as prices continue to rise, research suggests. …

Supply chain issues, the Ukraine war and rising raw material costs are all contributing to soaring food prices. …

Supermarkets are facing a fierce battle for customers as the soaring cost of living hits household budgets. …

The latest inflation figures showed that UK prices are rising at their fastest rate for 30 years, with increased energy, fuel and food costs all contributing.

Firms are increasingly passing on the higher costs they are facing to customers. …

Last weekend some supermarkets introduced limits on how much cooking oil customers are able to buy, with supplies being hit by the war.

The majority of the UK’s sunflower oil comes from Ukraine and disruption to exports has led to some shortages and an increased demand for alternatives. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61223306

Food price inflation is associated with the ride of the third horseman of the Apocalypse:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

The prophecy of the third horseman of the Apocalypse is starting to come to pass. Perhaps this third horseman’s ride began in the Fall of 2021 or the Spring of 2022.

The USA, itself, is expecting food shortages:

April 26, 2022

How many US Presidents in modern history have announced ‘food shortages’ before they occurred? The answer is only President Biden.  …

A sitting US President has information considered so reliable that the population deserves to be ‘warned’ of dwindling food supplies. Wouldn’t that be the information one would keep classified, as we wouldn’t want the public to panic or begin hoarding? …

Dr. Benjamin Braddock reported on Twitter a number of these unusual food-related fires. There was a massive fire at a Salinas food processing plant. The facility produces for Taylor Farms. …

Finally, he reports that Taiwan may be experiencing similar unexplained fires coincidentally targeting food facilities.

https://t.co/0qGtQeukdn

Interestingly, any resulting food shortage will likely and officially be blamed on Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. After all, the Ukraine is known as the World’s Breadbasket, and the war has throttled their crop production. https://www.thedesertreview.com/opinion/columnists/food-shortage—by-design/article_3fada3f4-c4bd-11ec-be1a-a3c822925ee5.html

I posted on Sunday that the Organic Prepper reported 16 food facilities in the USA experienced fires and/or explosions between February and April of this year (see Russia, Ukraine, and the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse). That, Ukraine, Russia, and even droughts were mentioned in our latest Bible News Prophecy video:

16:00

Russia, Ukraine, Food, & the ride of the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse

Did you know that the sanctioned lands of Russia and Belarus are dominant suppliers of ingredients used in modern fertilizers? Are you aware that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 33% of the farmland in Ukraine may not be planted and/or harvested because of Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine? Are parts of the world like Sudan, Lebanon, and the USA experiencing food price inflation? What about impact on the Palestinians in Gaza? Could any of this help lead to the rise of the King of the South? What are some factors that look to increase rice prices? Did Jesus warn of wars and troubles? What are three foods that Ukraine exports that are associated with the shortages and food price inflation of the ride of the third horseman of the Apocalypse? What does Jesus say His followers should do? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.

Here is a link to the video: Russia, Ukraine, Food, & the ride of the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse.

Consider also that there remains a megadrought in parts of the USA:

On Top Of Everything Else, Drought, Drought And More Drought Is On The Way For The Western U.S.

Are you ready for more bad news about our food supply?  …

According to the official U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook that was just released by the National Weather Service, nearly 50 percent of the continental United States will either see drought conditions persist or intensify in the coming months.  This is really troubling news, because drought conditions are already having a dramatic impact on agricultural production.

At this point, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is telling us that just 32 percent of all winter wheat in the U.S. has either a “good” or an “excellent” rating … The reason why so much of our winter wheat is in such poor shape is because of the drought. …

In fact, the World Bank is projecting that “there will be a staggering 37 percent rise in food costs”…

The US-based World Bank, which provides loans and grants to low and middle-income countries for capital projects, calculates there will be a staggering 37 percent rise in food costs. It said the effect will be ‘magnified for the poor’ who will have to ‘eat less’ and will be left with little money for anything else.

Needless to say, millions of people in the poorest countries of the world won’t have enough to eat at all.

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall recently warned that “a worldwide famine” is on the way, and he is not exaggerating one bit.

In other nations that are not so poor, extreme food inflation will cause a dramatic change in the standard of living.  For example, just consider what is already happening in Argentina…

Welcome to Argentina, where high, nearly uncontrollable inflation—now at an estimated 55.1% over the past year …

Overall, the inflation nightmare that we are currently enduring is already worse than anything that America went through during the Jimmy Carter era.

But most Americans don’t really grasp the full horror of what is unfolding all around us, because most of the talking heads on television are telling them that everything is going to be just fine.

No, everything is not going to be just fine.

In fact, it won’t be too long before things start getting really, really bad in this country. 04/25/22 http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/on-top-of-everything-else-drought-drought-and-more-drought-is-on-the-way-for-the-western-u-s/

The USA and other parts of the world are being affected.

As most of you are well aware, the Bible warns of food shortages and pestilences. Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus taught:

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

We seem to be in the time Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows.”

The Bible also connects sin and drought. Scripture shows that water/rain/drought will become a problem for various disobedient peoples:

13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’ 16 Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, 17 lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:13-17)

10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace — and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar — 11 say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?'” 13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. 14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 13:10-14)

15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. 17 “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 19 “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20 “The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22 The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. 24 The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:15-24)

6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it. (Isaiah 5:6)

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts. 2 “Judah mourns, And her gates languish; They mourn for the land, And the cry of Jerusalem has gone up. 3 Their nobles have sent their lads for water; They went to the cisterns and found no water. They returned with their vessels empty; They were ashamed and confounded And covered their heads. 4 Because the ground is parched, For there was no rain in the land, The plowmen were ashamed; They covered their heads. 5 Yes, the deer also gave birth in the field, But left because there was no grass. 6 And the wild donkeys stood in the desolate heights; They sniffed at the wind like jackals; Their eyes failed because there was no grass.” 7 O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name’s sake; For our backslidings are many, We have sinned against You. (Jeremiah 14:1-7)

5 “A sword is against the Chaldeans,” says the Lord, “Against the inhabitants of Babylon, And against her princes and her wise men. 36 A sword is against the soothsayers, and they will be fools. A sword is against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed. 37 A sword is against their horses, Against their chariots, And against all the mixed peoples who are in her midst; And they will become like women. A sword is against her treasures, and they will be robbed. 38 A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images, And they are insane with their idols. (Jeremiah 50:35-38)

4 We pay for the water we drink, And our wood comes at a price. 5 They pursue at our heels; We labor and have no rest. (Lamentations 5:4-5)

16 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, surely I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread, 17 that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away because of their iniquity. (Ezekiel 4:16-17)

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” (Haggai 1:7-11)

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)

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

Droughts and weather problems, including floods and high heat, can contribute to food shortages, higher food prices, and sometimes famines.

Notice that God uses weather to warn people to turn to Him, but many ignore this:

17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord. (Haggai 2:17)

21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:21)

The Bible shows:

30 God…commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)

And weather-food problems are a way that God uses to urge people to repent (cf. Haggai 2:17).

Now, does this mean that those most affected by weather are necessarily worse sinners than those less affected?

The biblical answer is no.

Notice the words of Jesus:

45…He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4-5)

That being said, there is a cost to sin and we are seeing some results of that.

We should take extended droughts to heart.

Furthermore, weather changes show us that our own personal situations can change–quickly and unexpectedly.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled Sorrows and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is also available titled: Real Christian Repentance.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos. Here is a link to a related sermon: Physical preparedness for Christians.
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2022, 2023, or 2024? 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? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.

(Public Domain Pictures)

We are seeing another 666 type development in Europe:

Social Credit Scoring System Designed To Modify Behavior Launched In Italy

April 25, 2022

Italy is poised to be the first European nation to implement a social credit system that rewards citizens for their “good behavior.”

The city of Bologna in Italy is set to implement a new pilot project in the fall of 2022, which enables citizens who display good behavior to earn rewards. Such good behavior that will earn them points would be correctly recycling or using public transportation.

According to the National Pulse, the municipality of Bologna is implementing the “Smart Citizen Wallet,” which allows citizens to collect digital coins in exchange for behavioral changes. Depending on their given scores, citizens can receive discounts in their local shops. The program was proposed to “save resources” and promote climate-friendly practices. …

Italy’s move to use a social credit scoring system has raised concerns over similar methods to solve “social issues,” especially when other nations and regions in the European Union are also doing the same. For example, Germany and Austria have already pushed their respective plans for a digital ID to be put into place. These two countries are also introducing new platforms to integrate more public services and identification systems, digitized mail, and national passports. The measures were introduced to address “bureaucratic problems and [to save] resources.”

Last year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed interest in introducing the “EU ID,” an ID system that would integrate national IDs with internet sign-ups. In a video posted to the European Commission’s YouTube account, Von De Leyen explained, “Every time an App or website asks us to create a new digital identity, or to easily log via a big platform, we have no idea what happens with our data.”

“That is why the Commission will propose a secure European e-identity,” Von De Leyen argued. “One that we trust and that any citizen can use anywhere in Europe to do anything from paying taxes to renting bicycles.”

However, there are concerns over the amount of data being gathered on every EU citizen, making data privacy issues appear inevitable. The European ID Wallet app began testing in 2021 and will be implemented in fall of this year. https://www.christianitydaily.com/articles/15681/20220425/social-credit-scoring-system-designed-to-modify-behavior-launched-in-italy.htm

The Italian city of Bologna is set to launch a social credit score style system, dubbed the “smart citizen wallet.” Participating in the program is voluntary, for now.

According to Corriere di Bologna, users of the “smart citizen wallet” will receive “digital points” for “virtuous behavior,” like recycling. The points can be used for purchases and discounts.

“The citizen will [get rewards] if he recycles; if he uses public transport; if he manages [energy consumption] well; if he does not receive sanctions from the municipal authority; if he actively uses the Culture Card,” said councilor Massimo Bugani. …

The success of the Bologna social credit score program could have a significant impact on Italy and the EU and, if the government likes the results, the scheme could be broadened.  04/24/22 https://reclaimthenet.org/italian-city-introduces-social-credit-style-system/

Since COVID, we have seen more and more promotion of ‘digital passports’ in order to travel, buy, or sell. Government programs that start out as “voluntary” do not always stay that way.

Plus, if one holds to positions that some in the government do not care for, that can lead to problems. Notice also:

Social credit scores are already in use in various places around the world, but nowhere more than in the communist hell hole that is China. The dystopian measurement acts in a similar fashion to a traditional credit score, however, as the name indicates, one’s score has little to do with their financial prospects or ability to pay off debt on time – social scores are all about your level of compliance to the regime and acceptance of the approved narrative.

For example, if social credit scores were in full effect in the United States and you were to donate money to a company like the National Rifle Association (NRA) or buy stocks in oil – pretty much anything deemed far-right or environmentally damaging by the establishment – your score would take a hit. Too many hits and, you guessed it, there goes your purchasing power and ability.  …

Governments across the western world are exploring using this tool, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which proved that the government can obtain almost limitless power in a crisis and set the stage for the next phase of the World Economic Forum’s project 2030 – where the plan is that you will “own nothing and be happy.”

As of right now, there is no official government-sponsored social credit system in the West, but that will change in the coming months thanks to Italy, which announced the rollout of its new rewards-based program that aims to modify people’s climate change behavior by assigning a score based on their compliance – the first program of it’s kind in the EU.

The program will kick off its pilot starting in the fall of 2022 in the large metropolitan city of Bologna. Citizens who comply with the radical climate change agenda by displaying “good behavior,” such as correctly recycling or using public transportation, will be rewarded with cryptocurrency and discounts to local retailers, according to local newspaper Bologna Today. …

Enrollees will be given a “smart citizen wallet” where their rewards can be accessed. The higher one’s score, correlating with good behavioral changes, will allow them access to more benefits. …

Considering the tyrannical power grab by governments across the world over the past two years, the claim that social credit scores like this are simply benign should definitely be taken with a grain of salt – or maybe even a full-blown Paul Revere ride.

‘The Globalists are coming.’  04/24/22 https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/04/italy-announces-rollout-dystopian-social-credit-system-conserve-resources-first-kind-eu-compliant-citizens-will-rewarded-good-behavior/

The Bible warns of a time when a tyrannical government power in Europe, led by one called the Beast, will control buying and selling:

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2, ESV)

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18)

The type of controls prophesied in Revelation 13:16-18 was something that was not possible when Jesus had the Apostle John pen the above over 1900 years ago. But it is possible now with technology.

Digital ‘smart citizen wallets’ and/or some type of national identity card may well be tools of the Beast of the Sea (the man of sin) and the Beast from the Earth (the final Antichrist).

The time of 666 control of nearly all aspects of buying and selling is coming.

Even before COVID-19, Europe was in the process of putting together what may become the enforcer of controlling buying and selling. We put together the following video related to that:

The European Union is in the process of establishing the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. This is a major, first-of-its-kind move, with the EU setting up a European-wide prosecutor’s office that will have power to investigate and charge people for financial crimes committed against the EU. It looks like this type of office may end up persecuting those that do not have the mark of the Beast when they “buy or sell” as that will later be considered a financial crime in Europe. What does 666 mean? How has that name be calculated? How can we be certain that this is a prophecy for Europe and not Islam? Is the appointment of this new office of significant prophetic importance? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more by pointing to scriptures, news items, and historical accounts.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: EU Setting Up 666 Enforcer?

Europe has set up such an office with that ability.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office officially started operations on 1 June 2021 (https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/background). So, yes there is monitoring of buying and selling in the EU–and more is coming!

In December 2021, Europe announced it wanted to set standards for digital currencies. Related to that, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) is pleased to announce the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

9:03

EU to be ‘Sheriff’ of BitCoin & Digital Currencies

Will Bitcoin remain unregulated? The European Union does not think it should be and it released a paper titled “Proposal for EU Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets.” Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, earlier endorsed EU regulation of crypto and digital currencies. A Belgian declared that the EU was the “new Sheriff in town” to deal with the “wild west” of Bitcoin, blockchain, and other cryptocurrencies. The European Union now also has the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in operation, mainly to deal with financial matters? Will the Europeans end up controlling buying and selling associated with 666 in Revelation 13:16-18? Is Europe taking preliminary steps to do so now? Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: EU to be ‘Sheriff’ of BitCoin & Digital Currencies.

Europe is taking steps.

Related to COVID-19 and 666, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video for our Bible News Prophecy program:

13:55

COVID-19 Leading to 666?

The novel coronavirus of Wuhan, China fame, is now called COVID-19. It has also been called the ‘Coronapocalypse.’ Does COVID-19 have any prophetic ramifications? What did Jesus teach about pestilences and sorrows in the Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24? Could COVID-19 be the ride of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse? Why was this type of disease expected according to the Old Testament prophecies in Deuteronomy and Leviticus? What has the US Centers for Disease Control warned about? What has the CDC reported about the flu? Were there lessons about fear and infections in the 2011 movie ‘Contagion’? Because of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO), nation of Iran, and certain French locations are telling people not to use cash, but instead electronic forms of payment. The US Federal Reserve is now quarantining money repatriated from Asia to reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus on US currency bills. Is COVID-19 worse than we have been told or could this all be a ‘false flag’ event to encourage people to move towards a cashless society? If the thousands of deaths associated with COVID-19 are pushing parts of the world towards cashlessness, how much more likely will the ride of the fourth horseman and over a billion human deaths motivate people to move to making electronic payments that can be monitored? The Bible tells of a soon coming society that controls buying and selling to force allegiance to a coming European Beast power, known as 666 (Revelation 13:16-18). Does the ‘great tribulation’ begin before ride of the fourth horseman or with the opening of the fifth seal of Revelation 6? Do the words of Jesus helps us better understand the sequence of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the start of the Great Tribulation? Will the ride of the fourth horseman help lead to the rise of 666? Is that ride very close? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Yes, COVID-19 is helping lead to 666. Here is a link to our video: COVID-19 Leading to 666?

(Note: Vimeo blocked the above video via its censorship, but it is still available on the YouTube links provided.)

We also have a Spanish-dubbed version:

13:57

El COVID-19 ¿Conduce al 666?

El Nuevo coronavirus de Wuhan, famoso en China, ahora se llama COVID-19. También se le ha llamado “Coronapocalipsis” ¿Tiene el Covid-19 alguna ramificación profética? ¿Qué enseñó Jesús sobre las pestes y aflicción en la profecía del monte de los Olivos en Mateo 24? ¿Podría el Covid-19 ser el galopar del cuarto jinete del apocalipsis? ¿Por qué se esperaba este tipo de enfermedad según las profecías del Antiguo Testamento en Deuteronomio y Levítico? ¿Sobre que han advertido el Centro de Control de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos? ¿Qué ha informado el CDC sobre la gripe? ¿Hubo lecciones sobre el miedo y las infecciones en la pelicula de 2011 :Contagio”? Debido al Covid-19, la Organización Mundial de la salud (OMS) la nación de Irán y ciertos lugares culturales y los Franceses están pidiendo a las personas que no usen dinero en efectivo, sino formas de pagos electrónicos, La Reserva Federal de los Estados Unidos ahora está poniendo en cuarentena el dinero repatriado de Asia para reducir la posible propagación del coronavirus en los billetes en moneda estadounidense. El Covid-19 es peor de 1o que se nos ha dicho o ¿podría ser todo un evento de “falsa bandera” para alentar a las personas a avanzar hacia una sociedad sin dinero en efectivo? Si las miles de muertes asociadas con el Covid-19 están empujando a partes del mundo hacia la falta de dinero en efectivo, ¿Cuánto más probable será el galopar del cuarto jinete y mas de mil millones de muertes humanas motive a las personas a realizar pagos electrónicos que pueden ser monitoreados? La biblia habla de una sociedad que vendrá pronto y que control a las compras y las ventas para forzar la lealtad al poder de una bestia Europea, conocido como 666 (Apocalipsis 13: 16-18) ¿Comienza la “Gran Tribulación antes del galopar del cuarto jinete o con la aperture del quinto sello de Apocalipsis 6? ¿Las palabras de Jesús nos ayudan a comprender major la secuencia de los cuatro jinetes del Apocalipsis y el comienzo de la Gran Tribulación? ¿El galopar del cuarto jinete ayudará al ascenso del 666? ¿Está esa cabalgata muy cerca? El Dr. Thiel aborda estos asuntos y más. Aquí hay un enlace para nuestro video: El COVID-19 ¿Conduce al 666? Creo que esto afectará a Europa, por lo que en el future estará más dispuesto apoyar a un hombre fuerte (Ver también mi última publicación: Pat Buchannan: El coronavirus matará al Nuevo Orden Mundial?

Here is a link to the video with dubbing into Spanish: El COVID-19 ¿Conduce al 666?

As far as Italy goes, consider also the following:

From next month onwards, Italy will begin rationing electricity to ‘support Ukraine’, with public buildings banned from running air conditioning at lower than 25 degrees or heating higher than 19 degrees.

Yes, really.

The plan is being dubbed ‘Operation Thermostat’ and is being hailed as the example for Italians to follow in their own private homes.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi promoted the campaign by asking, “Do we want to have peace or do we want to have the air conditioning on?”

Presumably, the ‘price of peace’ is now a permanent reduction in your quality of life. … the narrative that people need to ration their energy use (which is already happening thanks to soaring prices caused by the sanctions imposed on Russia) has been seamlessly transferred from the less convincing ‘save the planet’ argument to the ‘support Ukraine’ ubiquitous virtue signal.

Of course, under the Great Reset, serfs on the globalist plantation are being asked to reduce their living standards, https://summit.news/2022/04/25/italy-to-start-rationing-energy-to-support-ukraine/

What is “voluntary” now can change.

Are you paying attention to what is going on in the world?

Biblical prophecies will come to pass.

Requiring documents to travel, attend events, shop, work, etc. are a step towards the totalitarian controls the Bible warns are coming.

Consider also that religious leaders in Europe have already tried to connect the ‘unpardonable sin’ to climate change (watch The ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Climate Change’?). Expect more regulations to try to push people to follow claimed climate and other agendas.

Furthermore, understand that ‘smart citizen wallets’ will not stop the world from overheating–as scorching heat is prophesied (cf. Revelation 16:8-9).

The only solution is repentance and the Kingdom of God.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
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 four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? Here is a link to a related sermon: Christians and the Environment (there is also YouTube video available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy and one titled Will Pollution lead to the End?).
The ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Climate Change’? On September 7, 2016, Olav Fykse Tveit, Church of Norway Pastor, and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, essentially declared that those who ignore ‘climate change’ are committing the ‘unpardonable sin’ against the Holy Spirit. Are those two even related? In this video, Dr. Thiel answers that and explains from the Bible what the ‘unpardonable sin’ is and how you can avoid it. He also discusses aspects of Christianity and the environment.
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?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
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.
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’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
COVID 19 is NOT the End, but could it be TEOTWAWKI? The novel coronavirus called COVID-19 is wreaking havoc around the world. Many states of the USA as well as countries in Europe are on lockdown with shelter in place /shelter in residence requirements. In France, a form is required when you are not at your house. In Spain, drones are being used to warn people who are outside to got back to their homes–does that bring up feelings of ‘Big Brother’? Italy, France, and other areas are using police and/or military force to encourage people to stay inside. According to the Bible could this be the end? If not, what has to happen first? Have the second and third of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse started their ride? Could COVID-19 be the fourth horseman? Why or why not? Could we be seeing The End of the World as We Know It (TEOTWAWKI) like the R.E.M.’s 1987 single song discussed? Do Christians need to fear? What did Jesus teach? What did the Psalmist teach? This is a video. Here is a link to a version in the Spanish language: Corona 19 no es el final PERO es el TEOTWAWKI.
COVID-19 Leading to 666? The novel coronavirus of Wuhan, China fame, is now called COVID-19. It has also been called the ‘Coronapocalypse.’ Does COVID-19 have any prophetic ramifications? What did Jesus teach about pestilences and sorrows in the Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24? Could COVID-19 be the ride of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse? Why was this type of disease expected according to the O. Here is a link to a version in the Spanish language: ld Testament prophecies in Deuteronomy and Leviticus? What has the US Centers for Disease Control warned about? What has the CDC reported about the flu? Were there lessons about fear and infections in the 2011 movie ‘Contagion’? Because of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO), nation of Iran, and certain French locations are telling people not to use cash, but instead electronic forms of payment. The US Federal Reserve is now quarantining money repatriated from Asia to reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus on US currency bills. Is COVID-19 worse than we have been told or could this all be a ‘false flag’ event to encourage people to move towards a cashless society? If the thousands of deaths associated with COVID-19 are pushing parts of the world towards cashlessness, how much more likely will the ride of the fourth horseman and over a billion human deaths motivate people to move to making electronic payments that can be monitored? The Bible tells of a soon coming society that controls buying and selling to force allegiance to a coming European Beast power, known as 666 (Revelation 13:16-18). Does the ‘great tribulation’ begin before ride of the fourth horseman or with the opening of the fifth seal of Revelation 6? Do the words of Jesus helps us better understand the sequence of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the start of the Great Tribulation? Will the ride of the fourth horseman help lead to the rise of 666? Is that ride very close? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video. Here is a link to a version in the Spanish language: El COVID-19 ¿Conduce al 666?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
Biological Warfare and Prophecy. Is biological warfare possible? Was it prophesied? Scientists have long warned that pathogenic organisms like the coronavirus could be weaponized. Furthermore, back in 2017, there were concerns that the biological research facility being constructed in Wuhan, China was risky and that a coronavirus from it could be released. On January 25, 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping publicly stated that the situation with the Wuhan-related strain of the coronavirus was grave. Did Church of God writers like the late evangelist Raymond McNair warn that engineered viruses (the “Doomsday bug”) were consistent with prophecies from Jesus? Did a warning from CCOG leader Bob Thiel warn about risks of genetically-modified (GMO) mosquitoes come to pass? Could human research and/or the consumption of biblically-unclean animals such as bats and snakes be a factor in current outbreaks or coming future pestilences? What about famines? How devastating have pestilences been? How devastating are the prophesied ones going to be? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Here is a link to a related sermon: Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation. Some shorter related videos may include Amphibian Apocalypse: Threat to Humans? and Zombie Deer Disease is Here! Are the 10 Plagues on Egypt Coming? Here is a version of the article in Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here are links to a two-part sermon series: What are Some of the Parts of Satan’s Plan? and Satan’s Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize.
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? 2029 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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2022, 2023, or 2024? 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? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
Is a Great Reset Coming? Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum has proposed a societal change that has been basically endorsed by the Vatican and many world leaders. Does the Bible prophesy a major reset? Here is a link to a related video: Will there be a “Great Reset”?

COGwriter

Russia is encouraging the world to drop the US dollar as the world’s primary reserve and trading currency:

Russia urges allies to dump dollar and euro in trade

April 25, 2022

Russia should increase settlements in national currencies with partner countries, Denis Manturov, head of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, said at the plenary session of the Innoprom international exhibition in Uzbekistan on Monday.

He was addressing countries within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), of which Russia is a member.

According to the minister, in 2021, the growth of Russia’s trade turnover with partners within these associations amounted to about 38%, while together these unions make up roughly half of the global economy. According to Manturov, the future of their successful cooperation depends on how fast Russia’s partners move away from the US dollar and the euro toward national currencies in mutual settlements.

“What is happening today in the global economy and in the world gives us a hint about how we need to rebuild our logistics, industrial cooperation, in what directions we can develop our economies. This [is] de-dollarization, and now we have added de-euroization, that is, the transition to our own currencies in order to be as independent as possible in terms of mutual settlements,” Manturov said. https://www.rt.com/business/554431-russia-dump-dollar-currencies-trade/

But it is not just Russia that wants to do this. China wants to as well. Furthermore, part of the reason that BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) formed a coalition years ago was to work to bypass the USA dollar.

Notice that even Israel, a close ally of the USA, is getting involved:

For first time: Israel’s Central Bank replaces US dollar reserves with Chinese currency

April 24, 2022

Israel added four new currencies – among them the Chinese Yuan (RMB) – to its central bank holdings in an unprecedented move in the country’s history. Additionally, Israel’s Central Bank will cut US Dollar (USD) and EUR holdings to diversify its foreign reserves.

Israel’s foreign currency reserves, which surpassed $200 billion last year for the first time, were traditionally comprised of US dollars, Euros, and British Pounds. Israel will now consist of Canadian dollars (CAD) and Australian dollars (AUD) in their foreign currency holdings. It will also include the Japanese Yen and the Chinese Renminbi.

Deputy Governor Andrew Abir called the decision a change in Israel’s “whole investment guidelines and philosophy.” https://www.israel365news.com/268702/for-first-time-israels-central-bank-replaces-us-dollar-reserves-with-chinese-currency/

By increasing its debt and weaponizing its dollar via sanctions, etc. the USA has been increasing the motivation of many nations to bypass its dollar. Notice some comments published by Newsweek:

Will the U.S. Dollar Lose Its Place as the World’s No. 1 Reserve Currency?

Valery Giscard d’Estaing, French Finance Minister, in the 1960s, said the dollar’s standing as the world’s reserve currency gives the U.S. an “exorbitant privilege.” …

Gary Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington-based think tank, said the dollar faces four long-term threats to its standing as the world’s key reserve currency.

The first is “profligate U.S. fiscal deficits,” he said in comments sent to Newsweek.

Hufbauer called the second threat “the widespread use of dollar-based financial sanctions to punish China, Iran and other ‘bad boys’ which in turn call into question the sanctity of dollar assets.”

His last two threats come from overseas, with the third originating in the largest global rival to the U.S., with the “probability that China will take necessary steps to make the yuan a true rival to the dollar: free convertibility, free capital flows, free floating, bank secrecy, cyber money.”

Hufbauer’s fourth threat is that the European Central Bank will take steps to make the euro an “attractive reserve currency” challenging the dollar’s dominance. …

Usha Haley, the W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business and Director of the Center for International Business Advancement at Wichita State University said … “Currently, no alternative safe havens exist for foreign investors,” 02/05/21 https://www.newsweek.com/will-us-dollar-lose-its-place-worlds-no-1-reserve-currency-1567224

Well, the Europeans are hoping their currency will be the replacement, despite current Russian concerns.

Europe has NOT produced as many trillions of Euros of debt, at least not yet, that the USA has with its dollar. Plus, several of the nations there have been accumulating and/or repatriating gold.

Understand that the Bible shows that the time will come when Europe will prosper mightily and be involved with gold (cf. Revelation 18).

Now, consider a story, I have reported here before:

There once was a movie that had two men camping outdoors. Suddenly, one man yells, “Run, a bear!” The other man yells back, “You can’t outrun a bear.” The first man responded with, “True, but all I have to do is to outrun you.”

The implication is that the first man only needed to be better runner than the second man, which presumably the bear would consider to be weaker, and then catch and destroy. This would, supposedly, allow the first man to survive.

From an economic perspective, the story basically is that the debt and economic situation in Europe does not need to be perfect, only perceived to better (or at least similar) than that of the USA to someday surpass it.

While the Bible shows that gold and silver will one day be considered worse than useless (cf. Ezekiel 7: 19), it also shows that it will have value after the USA is defeated (cf. Daniel 11:39-43).

That being said, yes the USA dollar will collapse one day–and some type of European back currency, possibly the Euro or perhaps some type of international basket of currencies will replace the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

The USA will face incredible problems and losses once its dollar is no longer the world’s true reserve currency. Notice the following perspective:

When The Dollar Is No Longer A Reserve Currency

The government has been borrowing so much money, that soon, we will not be able to afford even the interest on the loans.

Income tax receipts are roughly $900 billion a year.
Corporate taxes are roughly $200 billion annually.
Our current annual deficits are nearly $1.3 trillion, meaning we’re spending $900 billion + $200 billion + $1.3 trillion = $2.4 trillion.

Even if you doubled tax revenue, we would still be running a deficit!

Even if all U.S. citizens were taxed 100% of their income, it would still not be enough to balance the Federal budget! Tax increases will not even make the smallest dent on the true size of our debt.

There is not a single credible plan, by any political party, to merely end our annual deficits, never mind actually paying back our debts.

Here’s the kicker… the costs of maintaining our debts are about to skyrocket.

For years, the Federal Reserve has been keeping interest rates very low, to almost zero, and as a result, the interest rate at which the U.S. government borrows money from the Federal Reserve is an incredibly low level. This won’t last forever.

How much interest? Right now we’re paying about 15% of federal tax receipts (about $200 billion a year). If the government had to spend a ‘real’ market-based rate of interest, say 6%, it would cost $840 billion a year on interest (76% of tax receipts), just for what we owe right now, today.

We are trapped. The main-stream-media does not want you to know how precarious our government’s finances really are. …

The U.S. is the only country in the world that doesn’t have to pay for its imports or its debts in a foreign currency.
Example: A German wants to buy oil from Saudi Arabia – the German cannot pay for the oil in German marks (or Euro’s) because the oil is priced in dollars. You have to buy dollars first, then buy your oil.

The U.S. has been able to consume as much as we want without worrying about acquiring the money to pay for it, because U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere around the world.

As our creditors continue to figure out what’s happening (printing more and more dollars), we’re going to have very BIG problems. The creditors will either begin to refuse payment in dollars, or they will greatly discount the value of these new dollars. It’s already happening.

Most Americans have no clue what the repercussions are of losing the status of world currency. …

As the U.S. dollar continues to lose it’s position as the world’s currency, gas, oil, and other commodities will continue to skyrocket. Almost everything we consume will immediately get more expensive. It’s happening right now. Everything is getting more expensive. …

It’s only going to get worse, because we can NOT stop printing because we can’t actually afford our existing debts. …

The Chinese are getting out of the dollar as fast as they can via strategic commodities.

With less demand for the dollar around the globe, interest rates will skyrocket. …

When the U.S. dollar loses its spot as the world’s reserve currency, the brutal downturn will be about 10-times worse than the mortgage crisis of 2008. …

The U.S. dollar has remained the world’s reserve currency for more than 50 years. It seems as though its days are numbered. Don’t remain in denial.  01/31/21 https://modernsurvivalblog.com/money/when-the-dollar-is-no-longer-a-reserve-currency/

In several ways, the above is actually optimistic.  What will happen will be MORE than “0-times worse than the mortgage crisis of 2008.”

Most Americans do not realize is that the largest export from the USA is actually its currency–which is basically debt notes.

Russia, China, Europe, and some others are looking at gold as at least a partial replacement. Related to that, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

12:30

Gold Backed Currency to Replace the US Dollar?

China introduced something that was called the gold-petro-yuan back in 2018. Since then, the global share of US-dollar-dominated exchange reserves have dropped to 59.0%. In April 2021, China became the first major economy to unleash a Central Bank Digital Currency. China also has given its banks permission to import large amounts of gold. Is China preparing for a gold-backed yuan to push aside the US dollar or to help it survive a US dollar cataclysm? Are other nations preparing to push the US dollar aside? Do Europeans seem to have the most gold? Are Europeans prophesied to gain more gold? Is the US debt trajectory sustainable per Fed Chairman Jerome Powell? Does the Bible warn of the end coming to the highly indebted in Habakkuk 2:6-8? Why does it looked like a gold-backed currency will replace the US dollar? Will the US dollar, ultimately, become essentially worthless? Dr Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to our video: Gold Backed Currency to Replace the US Dollar?

Here is something related to debt and the US dollar being the primary reserve currency from my book Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction:

Joe Biden and many other American politicians have not run away from increasing U.S.A. debt—that will be to the nation’s peril.

The Bible warns about something that will happen to a heavily indebted nation. Notice what the Hebrew seer Habakkuk wrote over 2,600 years ago:

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

Notice that what is to happen is so bad, that people who read the prophecy should run, when it is time for it to be fulfilled. Since that prophecy is to be fulfilled at the appointed time of the end, it is still for the future, but perhaps not too far distant in the future. No nation has ever been in as much total debt as the U.S.A.

The “U.S. is highly vulnerable to loss of confidence by foreign creditors.”[i] U.S. government debt is “extremely vulnerable to foreign attack because of the high percentage of foreign ownership — almost 40% of the market.”[ii]

Interestingly, in the past, one foreign creditor, China, has raised concerns about the U.S. debt that are so serious, that its potential dumping of that debt has been called China’s “nuclear option”[iii] against the U.S.A.—an option that involves no military intervention, but that could greatly harm the U.S.A.

Others have been concerned that Russia will perhaps encourage something like this when the timing is right. European leaders have been working for years to establish a new reserve currency for the world, partially with the intent to remove the U.S. dollar from its position as the world’s primary reserve currency.

Those in Iran and some of the Arab lands, along with nations such as Brazil and India have discussed plans for the removal of the dominance of the U.S.A. in global trade as well. The former President of Brazil, Lula, even claimed that eliminating the U.S. dollar’s reserve currency status was one of the reasons that the BRICS alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) was formed. [iv]

The Bible clearly warns against cheapening the money supply and encourages having money hold its value (Proverbs 25:4 Isaiah 1:25, Ezekiel 22:18-22). Yet policies enacted under the Obama and Trump Administrations, following certain other administrations, have ignored these warnings.

No nation in the history of humankind has ever accumulated as much debt as the United States of America (because the U.K. may have close to the highest amount of per capita debt,[v] its fate would be similar). Destruction is coming.

However, the relationship between debt accumulation and prophesied destruction remains unapparent to many. Because there is a time lag, many ignore that there will be real consequences (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11; Habakkuk 2:3,6-8). Yet, these increases of debt are utterly dangerous.

When the time comes when the Federal Reserve is no longer able to keep interest rates artificially low, the U.S.A. will continue past the point of no return. That will become one of the final factors that will cause creditors to rise up and destroy the U.S.A.

The Economy

While pushing biblically immoral ideas is bad for the economy, it should be noted that economies vary. A modern reality is that being the world’s de facto reserve currency has helped prolong the U.S.A.’s dominance.

When the U.S. dollar is no longer the world’s reserve currency, this will hurt the U.S.A. financially. Increasing debt, including “quantitative easing,” is a form of dishonest profits that is not something that God approves of and will punish the U.S.A. for (cf. Ezekiel 22:13-16).

Inflation will eventually hit the U.S.A. extremely hard. As the world becomes less attached to the American dollar, many financial jobs and opportunities will be in places other than the U.S.A. Eventually, but not yet, the U.S.A. dollar will become worthless (worth no more than the scrap or sentimental value of the cotton-paper it is printed on).

Will it always be straight downhill for the economy of the U.S.A.?

No.

There are some reasons to have some temporary optimism. The longer there is some economic stagnation in parts of the economy that governmental COVID-19 policies contributed to, the more demand tends to build up, and an increase in demand may prolong the economy. In addition, technological and other developments may temporarily support the U.S. economy—as can reductions of regulatory burdens.

Some policies of the Biden-Harris Administration may help. Others see problems. The Biden-Harris team looks to increase various regulations and impact some industries negatively (such as the fossil fuel industry). Various ones see their proposed policies and cabinet selections as a refreshing change that they hope will fuel economic growth and shared prosperity.

Notice what was told to a king whose was prophesied to lose his kingdom:

²⁷ Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity. (cf. Daniel 4:27)

Repentance can prolong prosperity, but promotion of sin leads to destruction. But, it is not expected that Joe Biden or Kamala Harris will push for scriptural national repentance.

[i] Rickards J. Axis of Gold. The Daily Reckoning, December 20, 2016

[ii] Ibid

[iii] Gertz B, China Debt Threat. Washington Times, March 2, 2011

[iv] Escobar P. BRICS was created as a tool of attack: Lula. Asia Times, August 28, 2019

[v] Conway E. Britain showing signs of heading towards 1930s-style depression, says Bank. Telegraph, March 16, 2009

A dominant world reserve currency loses its position if enough nations do not want it to be.

Historically, world reserve currencies have come and gone–remember that the British pound held that role for over a century.

The end of US dollar dominance is coming.

There will be a new world order coming and it will not be one dominated by the Anglo-Americans.

If you think that the USA will continue to be number 1 and claim to believe the Bible, please consider biblical prophecies such as Daniel 11:39; Habakkuk 2:6-8; Isaiah 10:5-11 (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses and/or watch Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast? Here is a link to a video titled: Europe and the ‘Holy Roman Empire’.
The End of US Dollar Dominance Is the USA losing its economic status? What about the petro-gold-yuan? A related video is also available: US Dollar being challenged by Gold-Petro-Yuan.
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?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
The New World Order Is Leaving the US Behind Bloomberg reported that the New World Order is leaving the USA behind. Other secular news sources are also reporting the rise of a new world order and decline of the influence of the USA. What about NAFTA, the Paris Accords, TPP, TWO, and NATO? Russia, China, and Europe are all working towards reducing dominance of the USA. Is this consistent with biblical prophecy? When did the time of Anglo-American dominance begin? Will the coming world order be dominated by a European Babylonian power? What will happen to the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand after military actions by the coming order and the Great Tribulation? Are there any ties to Armageddon? Dr. Thiel addresses and more from the Bible. This is a video.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. 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.
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? 2029 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?
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2022, 2023, or 2024? 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? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? 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.

??♥️ Yesss!!! ♥️?? pic.twitter.com/0T9HzUHuh6

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2022

COGwriter

Voice of America reported the following:

Elon Musk Reaches Agreement to Buy Twitter

April 25, 2022

Tesla CEO Elon Musk reached an agreement Monday to buy Twitter for $44 billion cash.

The sale will transform the social media giant from a publicly traded company to a privately held one, owned solely by Musk, the world’s richest person.

Discussions over the deal accelerated after Musk unveiled a financing package last week to back the acquisition.

Twitter shares were up more than 5% in trading Monday afternoon.

Musk, who is also CEO of rocket developer SpaceX, has said Twitter needs to become a private company so that it can realize its potential for free speech. He has described himself as a “free-speech absolutist.”

The businessman, who is a prolific tweeter with more than 83 million followers, tweeted Monday, “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet Monday, “Twitter has a purpose and relevance that impacts the entire world.”

“Deeply proud of our teams and inspired by the work that has never been more important,” he added.

Musk has proposed relaxing Twitter’s content restrictions, which could include rules that suspended former President Donald Trump’s account.

Earlier Monday, Republicans cheered news that Musk was close to reaching a deal with Twitter.

“Hey, @elonmusk it’s a great week to free @realDonaldTrump,” tweeted the House Republican Conference.

Twitter banned Trump’s account after the U.S. Capitol was stormed on Jan. 6, 2021, citing a risk of more violence.

Musk is the world’s richest person according to Forbes magazine, with a nearly $279 billion fortune. https://www.voanews.com/a/twitter-s-board-negotiates-with-elon-musk-over-bid-to-buy-platform/6544306.html

Many ‘conservatives’ are cheering this, while many on the left have stated that this is essentially horrible.

World Net Daily (a Protestant news source) posted the following:

April 25, 2022

Twitter … The Big Tech giant – which notoriously censored the New York Post’s blockbuster stories on Biden family influence peddling in China, Russia and other nations – has banned the likes of former President Trump, Dr. Robert Malone and other notable figures whose tweets violated the establishment narrative on issues such as the 2020 election and COVID-19.

Just three days ago, on Earth Day, the pre-Elon Musk Twitter announced its latest crackdown on scientific debate in a company blog post: “Misleading advertisements on Twitter that contradict the scientific consensus on climate change are prohibited, in line with our inappropriate content policy.”

After purchasing a 9.2% stake in Twitter on April 4, Musk reached out to Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, to confirm that the conservative satire site’s account had been suspended for “hateful conduct.”

Dillon said that just before Musk polled his followers about Twitter’s commitment to free speech, the billionaire wanted to confirm that The Babylon Bee had been suspended.

“He even mused on that call that he might need to buy Twitter,” Dillon said. …

‘One man could not change a culture’
Meanwhile, left-leaning journalist Aaron Rupar expressed the fears of many Twitter users – including former President Obama – who believe robust exchanges of competing ideas should be shut down in order to protect people from “misinformation.”

Rupar wrote that his “thoughts go out to people i know who are working for Twitter because, yikes.”

Twitter employees, according to the Washington Post, have “expressed concern that their workplaces might suffer under the leadership of the incendiary tech mogul, as well as exhaustion over the company’s uncertain future.” https://www.wnd.com/2022/04/report-elon-musk-nearing-43-billion-deal-buy-twitter/

Twitter is a ‘social media company.’  As such, no matter what Elon Musk may hope for, he and his Twitter company look to be subject to European Union laws, which have massive financial penalties if social media companies do not quickly remove content that the EU thinks they should know to remove.

The EU wants to make the penalty so severe that social media companies will have to censor a lot to reduce the chances of fines. Notice something related to the broadness of the Act and another related to the financial penalties:

April 25, 2022

The European Union reached an agreement Friday on what it calls the Digital Services Act (DSA), a proposal meant to “protect” online users from what it deems harmful content. The DSA was first proposed in 2020 and “sets out an unprecedented new standard for the accountability of online platforms regarding illegal and harmful content,” according to the European Commission. …

Under the new law, the EU would require tech companies such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc., to take down content that the EU considers illegal, such as terrorist threats or the loosely defined concept of “hate speech,” which the EU defines as “the public incitement to violence or hatred on the basis of certain characteristics, including race, colour, religion, descent and national or ethnic origin.”

It doesn’t end there, though. The EU also considers comments against a person’s “sexual orientation, gender identity and disability,” as hate speech as well.

The DSA would also ban ads that target minors and also ads targeted at consumers based on their gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The law would also require companies to do an annual risk assessment of their online content. https://thenewamerican.com/eu-looks-to-crack-down-on-hate-speech-and-harmful-content-on-social-media/

• The European Parliament and EU member states reached a deal early Saturday on the Digital Services Act.
• The DSA is a landmark piece of legislation. It will require Big Tech firms to quickly rid their platforms of illegal content.

Failure to comply with the rules may result in fines of up to 6% of companies’ global annual revenues. For a company like Meta, the parent company of Facebook, that could mean a penalty as high as $7 billion based on 2021 sales figures.

The law is now subject to formal approval by EU institutions. It’s expected to come into force as early as 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/22/digital-services-act-eu-agrees-new-rules-for-tackling-illegal-content.html

The Digital Services Act will negatively impact Twitter. For more on the Digital Services Act, check out the following: IL: Censor The Internet Act: EU Agrees to Expand Online Censorship With ‘Digital Services Act’.

The stark reality is that the USA does not have as much influence in the internet world as it used to and the Europeans have decided they should have more.

Furthermore, despite the first amendment to the Constitution of the USA, many politicians are in favor of censorship. Many consider expressing biblical views on aspects of morality as ‘hate speech’ and want that limited.

Related to some of that, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Here is a link to the video: Biden-Harris & Hate Speech.

We also put out  the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

12:38

117th US Congress and Gendered Words

The 117th US Congress had an opening prayer by Protestant pastor and Missouri Democratic representative Emanuel Cleaver in which he prayed to the Hindu deity Brahma and ended with the words amen and a-woman. Does “amen” have to do with gender? The next day the US House of Representatives adopted a proposal forbidding the use of gendered terms in rules documents. The changes mean that the rules document will use language such as “parent,” “child,” and “sibling” instead of “mother,” “father,” “son,” daughter,” “brother,” and “sister.” It will also replace “chairman” with “chair,” “seamen” with “seafarers,” and “himself” and “herself” with “themself.” Some Democrats, such as Tulsi Gabbard have objected to this as hypocritical, against science, and against truth. The Bible itself uses a lot of “gendered language.” It also teaches woes to “those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). The direction that the USA is going is consistent with the view that the USA will not last two full presidential terms. Dr. Thiel goes over several scriptures to point out the errors of some of the word positions of the 117th US Congress.

Here is a link to the video: 117th US Congress and Gendered Words.

While Satan wants to suppress biblical truths, and having more open forums can be helpful, such will not remain.

A ‘famine of the word’ is coming (Amos 8:11-12).

So, is more censoring and physical persecution (see also Persecutions by Church and State).

Elon Musk spending $44 billion will not prevent that.

2022 French presidential election: European leaders expressed their relief after Emmanuel #Macron ‘s reelection. Many in Europe had worried that Marine #LePen would undermine European unity. https://t.co/V0VtR2t65o

— Le Monde in English (@LeMonde_EN) April 25, 2022

COGwriter

France’s President Macron was re-elected:

April 25, 2022

• Centrist Macron obtained 58.54% of the votes on Sunday, whereas his nationalist and far-right rival Le Pen got 41.46%.
• Back in 2017, when the two politicians also disputed the second round of the French presidential vote, Macron won with 66.1% of the support, versus Le Pen’s 33.9%. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/25/macron-wins-election-but-frances-far-right-has-gotten-record-support.html

Reporter: EU breathing sigh of relief with projected Macron victory

Newsroom

Emmanuel Macron will win France’s presidential election, pollsters project, fending off a historic challenge from right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen. CNN’s Nic Robertson reports. https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/04/24/french-presidential-election-projection-macron-le-pen-vpx.cnn

Macron speaks to Scholz in first call after reelection

Following his reelection, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Elysee Presidential Office said Sunday night.

“Chancellor Scholz called the President to congratulate him,” the Elysee said in a statement, adding: “It was the first call taken by the President, a mark of Franco-German friendship.”

“The Federal Chancellor and the President confirmed their intention to continue the close and trusting relationship between Germany and France, not least in view of the current challenges such as the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine,” Scholz’s office said in a statement of its own.

Scholz congratulated Macron earlier on Twitter, saying: “I am happy that we will continue our good cooperation.”

Scholz and Macron agreed to meet in person as soon as possible to coordinate on bilateral, international and European policy issues. https://www.dw.com/en/emmanuel-macron-wins-french-presidential-election-as-it-happened/a-61571736

Emmanuel Macron is a pro-European Union politician, who again, has defeated the nationalist Marine Le Pen. Part of the reason he won re-election was because he has long advocated for a strong European military, and because many felt that Marine Le Pen had too strong of ties with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Macron is so pro-European Union, back in 2018 he was awarded the Charlemagne Prize (see France’s President Macron receives the Charlemagne Prize and Germany’s Chancellor says Europe cannot rely on USA military — What are the prophetic ramifications?), which is given to be given to one who best promotes a united Europe.

Let me add that throughout the years, President Macron has pushed for a stronger European military–one that is NOT dependent upon the USA.

Back in late 2018, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) is pleased to announce the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

15:25

PESCO and a Great European Army

In November 2018, French President Macron called for a “true European army” because of China, Russia, and the USA. Some others in Europe have echoed that sentiment. On November 9, 2018, US President Donald Trump called that an insult, but the next day said that the USA wanted “a very strong Europe.” Emmanuel Macron referred to Donald Trump as “my friend” and indicated a desire to strengthen Europe’s military spending. In December 2017, 25 European nations agreed to be part of a military alliance called PESCO. Europe also has NATO and IEI. Will Europe end up with “a great army”? Has Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty gotten some to say that Europe must rebel against the USA? Is the idea of a United States of Europe and a European army a “paranoid fantasy” or a biblical reality? Will the USA regret Europe becoming a stronger military power? Will the USA be betrayed by “friends” such as its continental European allies? Does the Bible teach any or all of this? Are there connections to the Beast of Revelation or the King of the North of Daniel 11? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: PESCO and a Great European Army.

Notice the following:

Macron calls for all-powerful EU: We CAN’T depend on Biden’s USA ‘Need strategic autonomy’

8 December 2020

EMMANUEL MACRON has called for an all-powerful European Union, warning the bloc cannot depend on Joe Biden or the US. …

French President – who led a push for European ‘strategic autonomy’ under the Trump administration – warned the EU needs to build its independence.

He said: “The changeover of administration in America is an opportunity to pursue, in a totally peaceful and calm manner, what allies need to understand among themselves, which is that we need to continue to build our independence for ourselves, as the United States does for itself and as China dose for itself.”

Mr Macron’s concerns have been echoed by Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy. …

Mr Macron, French European Commissioner Thierry Breton, European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell are strong advocates of strategic autonomy.

Mr Michel said last month: “Let us remain lucid.

“The United States are changing, Europe is changing.

“Our respective visions and interests will not always converge.” https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1369730/rance-news-Emmanuel-macron-eu-joe-Biden-us-trade-deal-Angela-merkel

French President Macron wants Europe to have more nuclear weapons and not rely on the USA for that:

15 February 2020

“We cannot always go through the United States, no, we have to think in a European way as well,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on stage at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Saturday as he continued a theme of his presidency: projecting bold European sovereignty onto the international stage.

He was referring specifically to Europe’s nuclear assets, pointing out a key difference to the Cold War era when Europe’s nuclear shield was primarily coordinated by the US. “Now we have to be able to say clearly that if we want a sovereign Europe, if we want to protect our citizens, then we do need to look at that aspect, also with a view to Germany,” he said.

The UK’s exit from the European Union has shifted added responsibility onto France. Though the UK and France are of course still NATO partners, along with the US and Germany, France is now the only nuclear power in the EU, which leaves the Paris government balancing its nuclear defense strategy between, as Macron put it, “the ambitions of NATO and Europe.” …

While Macron believed Europe required “the ability to act” independently, he felt nuclear issues needed to be managed in cooperation with NATO. “In this framework we’re willing to conduct joint exercises,” he said. “Because the goal of that is a joint strategic culture.” https://www.dw.com/en/munich-security-conference-frances-macron-envisions-new-era-of-european-strength/a-52389586

Notice also something from last year:

Macron Urges Europe To “Stop Being Naive” After Inking ‘Face-Saving’ Defense Deal With Greece

September 29, 2021

In an apparent indirect swipe at the US, Australia and the UK in the wake of the ‘AUKUS’ agreement which cut France out of a major multi-billion dollar deal with Australia, French President Emmanuel Macron in new statements has urged Europe to “stop being naive” – suggesting Paris is critically reviewing its traditional alliances and is ready to build-up European defenses independent of others.

“The Europeans must stop being naive. When we are under pressure from powers, which at times harden (their stance), we need to react and show that we have the power and capacity to defend ourselves. Not escalating things, but protecting ourselves,” Macron said.

He made the provocative remarks at a Tuesday news conference and signing ceremony alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, after Greece and France finalized a major deal to upgrade Greek military purchases. Last year Greece ordered two dozen Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets as part of a 2.5 billion euro package – but at the joint press conference the two leaders hailed an extension of the deal for another six Rafele jets as well as three Belharra French frigates for Greece’s navy.

Greece will be the first European country to acquire France’s jet fighter, while the deal for the frigates is expected to be a around another three billion euros. This week’s announcements are perhaps intended to also be a ‘face saving’ exercise after the AUKUS pact humiliation earlier this month.

“It contributes to European security, to the strengthening of Europe’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty, and thus to international peace and security,” Macron said. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/macron-urges-europe-stop-being-naive-after-inking-face-saving-defense-deal-greece

Notice something from last month:

March 8, 2022

In a televised speech on Wednesday night, French President Emmanuel Macron renewed his calls for an EU army, saying that Europe had entered a “new era” and would need to boost investment in military defense and energy independence.

https://www.israel365news.com/267227/western-europe-may-unite-to-form-their-own-military-a-development-consistent-with-gog-magog

The Bible shows a time will come when Europe is the military leader of the world, for a time (Revelation 13:1-4) and will takeover the USA (Daniel 11:39), its British-descended allies (Daniel 8:24-25; Isaiah 17:3), and many nations in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

While we are starting to see a united Europe, as well as a Europe working on its military (see With PESCO, EU entering a ‘New Era’: An era that will NOT end well for the USA, Canada, or the UK), Europe already really has a lot of nuclear weapons that it could use to do this or something similar. And more and more in Europe are publicly speaking out for their desire that Europe be a major military power.

The Bible shows that Europe will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25; watch also PESCO and a Great European Army) and a conquering empire with “many ships” (cf. Daniel 11:29-43).

That is what President Macron wants and he was just re-elected.

Notice that the Bible tells of a coming time of massive devastation:

23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’ (Deuteronomy 29:23-24)

19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts
The land is burned up,
And the people shall be as fuel for the fire; No man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand
And be hungry;
He shall devour on the left hand
And not be satisfied; Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm. 21 Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; Together they shall be against Judah (Isaiah 9:19-21, NKJV).

The above descriptions are consistent with a nuclear or similar attack. Manasseh represents the USA and Ephraim its British-descended allies (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). THIS HAS NOT YET HAPPENED IN HISTORY AND IS A PROPHECY FOR OUR TIME.

Dibar Apartian taught:

Frenchmen are convinced today that their country is headed toward power and prosperity. Their UNION with Germany and the other nations of the Common Market fills them with a sense of security. …

a political UNION of TEN nations or governments-which the Bible calls “the beast”-will rise in Europe in the end time. This union of ten European nations will MAKE WAR with the descendants of Jacob, particularly the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, whose modern descendants are the peoples of the BRITISH COMMONWEALTH and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

This soon-coming union of ten nations or governments prophetically represents the last “head” of the resurrected “beast”-the revival of the “Holy Roman Empire” (Rev. 17 :9- 1 2). But contrary to what you may think, it will NOT consist only of Gentile nations. It will INCLUDE a group of ISRAELITISH nations. “Come out of her , my people,” says God in Revelation 18:4. “My people” means Israelites in Bible prophecy. Yes, once again, Joseph’ s own brothers will sell him to the Gentiles!

Once again REUBEN (the first-born of Jacob who anciently conspired with his brothers, will “act” in terms of saving him, but end · up by compromising with his brothers to send him into CAPTIVITY.

Ever since the early days of American history, the French have been on our side. There exists a brotherly link among all the ISRAELITISH nations. Nevertheless, by uniting politically with the “beast,” some of the modern Israelites will be instrumental in conquering the United States and Great Britain.

So says YOUR Bible! …

What then will happen to France? Will she win the next WAR? She is presently a member of the “Common Market” which is already becoming a POLITICAL union. It will eventually include TEN nations or kingdoms. (Apartian D. De Gaulle and the Next World War. Plain Truth, September 1964, p. 11)

What then will be the future of France? What will be her role just before the second coming of Jesus Christ? In the 17th chapter of Revelation, we read of TEN KINGS (or Kingdoms) that will rise in Europe during the last days just prior to Christ’s rerum. The prophecy shows they will war against the British and the American peoples.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are TEN kings (kingdoms), which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the BEAST” (Rev. 17:12).

France REPRESENTS today one of these 10 Kings. This Union of 10 Kingdoms is already in formation in Europe. In fact, France is at present one of its key members. As this prophecy reveals, this union will receive authority “for one hour” only-that is, a short time-because it is like “iron mixed with miry clay” (Dan. 2:43) …

Ask any average Frenchman what he thinks of his country’s union with Germany. He is utterly puzzled at the idea that economic and political barriers are gradually falling between France and Germany. This union for him is unreal but demanded by the circumstances in which France today finds herself. It is a creation of the leaders of the two nations who blindly believe in its destiny. (Apartian D. Prophecy Reveals the Future of France. Plain Truth, August 1963, p. 19)

During the last two WORLD WARS France was at the side of her natural allies, the Anglo-Saxons. They are, indeed, her natural allies because the French people, in turn, are the modern DESCENDANTS of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, namely REUBEN! The situation, however, will be quite different during the next WORLD WAR, France will no longer fight at the side of her former allies; she will turn AGAINST them. The descendants of Reuben will play their part in selling into slavery their brother Joseph – just as Reuben did some 3700 years ago. You are now beginning to see why the relations between the United States of America and France are gradually deteriorating. (Apartian D. France: The Enigma of our Time. Plain Truth, August 1966, pp. 11-12)

(Gen. 37:18-20). Notice well what took place. The brothers CONSPIRED against Joseph; filled with jealousy, they wanted to KILL him. Afterwards, they would LIE to their father, telling him that a wild beast had devoured Joseph. What about the next two verses, some may argue? Well, let’s once again examine them in the light of the Biblical account, and let US not be misled by our human reasoning.

“And Reuben heard it [the plot to kill Joseph], and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand Upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again (verses 21, 22).

At first glance, it may seem, indeed , as though Reuben acted well. He proposed an alternative to deliver Joseph out of his brothers’ hands. This sounds good to our human mind, to our carnal way of thinking. But is that what was expected of Reuben? Is that all he could do- he, the firstborn? Was his duty to compromise with his brothers over whom he had authority? According to the Bible, a firstborn in Israel had certain privileges his brothers did not have. His heritage was bigger and he received the greater portion of the blessings. He was next to his father in power and authority. Therefore, as the leader of his brothers, Reuben was actually RESPONSIBLE for what happened to Joseph. He should have acted the way Jacob, his father, would have acted had he been there- and not have compromised with them. Many overlook this important point when they read this story. Consequently, they don’t see where Reuben failed. No, Reuben did NOT act with courage and dignity. He was afraid of his brothers; he FEARED for his own life if he tried to stop them by force. COMPROMISE is all he could think of – but compromise is a very poor substitute for one’s own duties and responsibilities. …

A Striking Parallel

There may be a striking parallel between Reuben’s behavior in the past and that of France today. Indeed, in a few years, Reuben’s modern descendants will be at the side of the prophesied “beast” of Revelation when the Anglo-Saxons (the descendants of Joseph) are taken captive. France, like her forefather Reuben, will probably seek a compromise to prevent her former allies – the very SONS of Joseph – from being taken captive by the enemy. But what good will that really do? What good did it do to Joseph?

A compromise never relieves one from one’s own responsibilities. Without a doubt, Reuben loved his brother; he exerted himself in his own ways, through his own human reasoning, to save him. But the fact remains that he ended up by acting like a foe! France today also likes her “kin,” her natural allies. But, unless she repents, France will end up BEING a foe!

(Apartian D. France: The Enigma of our Time. Plain Truth, August 1966, p. 32)

Like all nations today, France has turned away from God. Catholic by faith, 9 out of 10 Frenchmen have never read their Bible, nor do they believe that, in its entirety, it represents the WORD OF GOD. What then will happen to France? Will she win the next WAR? She is presently a member of the “Common Market” which is already becoming a POLITICAL union. It will eventually include TEN nations or kingdoms.

Will this union win the third WORLD WAR?

God says that though He will allow it for a short while to conquer the descendants of Joseph (the BRITISH and AMERICAN peoples), He Himself will intervene to deliver His people. Jesus Christ, at His second coming, will fight and destroy those nations who rebel against Him (Rev. 17 : -14). (Apartian D. De Gaulle and the Next World War. Plain Truth, September 1964, p. 41)

At the second coming of Jesus Christ, the TEN KINGS or KINGDOMS-including France-will be of “one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Rev. 17:13).

“These shall make war with the Lamb , (Jesus Christ, and the lamb shall overcome them; for he is LORD of lords, and KING of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:14).

This is the infallible prophecy of the Bible. Unless France wakes up and repents, she and the other nations will fight the Lord at His coming. They will be punished by sword, by famine and pestilence-by the plagues of Almighty God! (Apartian D. Prophecy Reveals the Future of France. Plain Truth, August 1963, p. 22)

So, unlike some in groups like the Living Church of God (LCG) (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?), Dibar Apartian realized that some of the Israelitish nations,  including France, would be part of the Beast and will betray the sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh; see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

It is my view that Europe will, one day, attack the USA and/or the UK under the guise of a NATO (or some other defense treaty) exercise and use nuclear bombers. And yes, the coming European power will be willing to use USA nuclear bombs against the USA, UK, and Canada!

While now is not the time–“the end it not yet” (Matthew 24:6; see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?)–the French, the Germans and others in Europe have access to nuclear weaponry and other technology, to make this come to pass.

Many want Europe to become a major military power.

Russia’s military moves into Ukraine have gotten more in Europe to agree with that.

Few in the USA realize this will result in the end of America (cf. Daniel 11:39).

What we are seeing in Europe is consistent with numerous biblical prophecies.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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?
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? 2029 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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2022, 2023, or 2024? 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? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
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.
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people?
Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? The Book of Revelation tells of a beast power that will rise up. Some think that this must be Russia or could be Islamic, while others say that this power is European. The Book of Daniel tells of the rise of an end time King of the North that some think must be referring to a Russian leader, while others say that this power is European. How can you be sure? This YouTube video has all the scriptural proofs that you should need to prove that this power must be a European one.
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.
The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? What is the origin of this in France? What is prophesied to happen to them? A two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben and France and Prophecy.

COGwriter

Some wonder why would God make people to have different races? Why different hair colors? Why do people come in different sizes?

One obvious reason was so that people would look different from each other, which makes identifying a particular person easier in a group.

Is there another bigger reason that is part of God’s plan?

Yes.

But before getting to that, let’s consider, for for a moment, the theory of evolution. Here is how humans try to explain the mystery of races.

Over some vast period of time, climate affected humans. Supposedly the African CLIMATE influenced the selection of color in the skin and hair, and the shape of the nose and skull of those inhabiting that region. The fittest and the blackest survived, say evolutionists, because they could better withstand the sun’s rays. Supposedly, everywhere those in tropical Africa became constantly blacker, according to this theory, just as people in cooler Europe supposedly became constantly whiter by natural selection! Proof for this? — there is none. It is only a theory. It is wishful thinking. IT IS NOT TRUE.

Consider that climate or other factors in the environment may tan one’s skin, but this sun tan is not inherited. Acquired characteristics are not inherited. Just because male Jews are circumcised does not mean that Jewish boy babies will be born circumcised! Climate did not cause the change of color of an African’s skin to black. Neither could natural selection make an African black. Natural selection could do no more than choose what already existed. Darwin’s theory of natural selection can not bring anything new into existence.

The Bible even asks:

13 Does a Cushite change his skin? (Jeremiah 13:23, LSV)

The answer is no.

What are Cushites?

Darker skinned people who often inhabited parts of Africa–most still do, though many can be found around the world. They are descendants of Noah’s son Ham:

The black race is composed of some of the descendants of Noah’s son Ham. Part of the black race stems from Cush (Gen. 10:6). Cush means black in Hebrew (Young’s Concordance). …

Of the four sons of Ham, only Cush bears a name which means “black.” Just as some of the sons of Cush are brown so some of the children of Phut are black. (The Development of The Races. Ambassador College, 1968)

Anyway, you cannot change your race.

We Are ALL Part of the Human Race.

All people are part of the human race.

We all descended from Adam and Eve, and then later from the descendants of Noah’s son’s and their wives.

Notice something related to the first:

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20)

While there were hominids of various types before Adam and Eve, all modern humans descended from Adam and Eve–so, yes, we are all part of the human race, from the family of Adam and Eve.

The New Testament mentions “mystery among the Gentiles” (Colossians 1:27).

The first place we encounter the term Gentiles is in Genesis 10.

That chapter shows that after the flood, Noah’s children moved to different places and were the progenitors of the different races:

1 Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. (Genesis 10:1-5, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted)

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. … 13 Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim). … 20 These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations. (Genesis 10:6,13,20)

21 And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. … 31 These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations. (Genesis 10:21-22,31)

All the races we now have came from Noah’s sons and their wives. That would be the three primary, as well as numerous mixed races.

You do not change your race.

Many people live in countries where their race dominates. They learn various lessons.

Some people live in countries where their race is highly discriminated against. They learn various lessons.

Some people live in countries more accepting of multiple races. They learn various lessons.

And there are variations among those scenarios, which partially result in learning various lessons.

What about changing your height after you have grown up?

No, short of modern surgical techniques, you cannot.

Furthermore, Jesus taught:

27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Matthew 6:27)

Now, some may say it is more difficult to live if you are a certain race, height, weaker, etc.

And in some ways that is true.

Yet, that is part of the plan:

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Furthermore, the Bible tells those who will follow God will be able to handle it:

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

One race, hair color, size, etc. is not superior, so people should not think that is so.

The Bible also teaches:

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Hence, the Bible does not teach black, white, or other supremacy.

As far as supremacy goes, the Bible teaches:

6 … God and Father of all, who is above all (Ephesians 4:6)

The Bible is clear that there is no salvation difference between those who are Jewish physically and those that are not:

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:9-11)

11 For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:11)

28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Romans 2:28-29)

The above is also proof that those that are not racially of Israelite heritage are not less worthy in God’s sight either.

God has a plan which will result in people of every nation and race will be saved:

29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:29)

9 … I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

Those of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues show that the various varieties of people will be saved.

That being said, why the varieties?

Well, that tends to result in people having different sets of experience.

But what about individuals, not just sets of people?

Well, God’s plan takes into account what has happened to you. Notice Old Testament teachings related to that:

¹¹ The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. ¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. ¹³ The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. ¹⁴ From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; ¹⁵ He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. (Psalm 33:11-15)

¹ For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 9:1a)

⁹ A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

²⁴ A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)

⁷³ Your hands have made me and fashioned me; (Psalm 119:73)

¹⁷ … “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17)

Notice, now, passages in the New Testament:

¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit is operating in all these things, dividing separately to each one as God Himself desires. … ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and you are all individual members. (1 Corinthians 12:11, 27, AFV)

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

¹⁰ For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name … (Hebrews 6:10)

God has a plan for ALL! That includes YOU INDIVIDUALLY whether you are called in this age or not. And He considers ALL OF YOUR WORKS.

All that you have been through, all that you have suffered, all of which you accomplished, etc. is preparing YOU to make eternity better (unless you will ultimately refuse to support God’s Kingdom). Everything you have been through has been preparing you for the calling and work God has for you! YOU will be able to give in a unique way and help make eternity better!

The Bible mentions that just like the body has parts like hands and eyes and parts for smelling, hearing, and other things all in the body have a role:

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 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? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 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.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:14-26)

Notice that one of the reasons for having differences is so that we can have the same care for another–that means differences are intended to help us give love in different ways.

We all have our unique part in the eternal plan God has. Yes, your role could be quite different from the other billions of humans—don’t think God does not have a real plan for YOU.

Furthermore, you are accountable for what you do (Romans 14:12). God will judge based on what you do (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Revelation 20:12) as well as what you fail to do (Matthew 25:24-30). The more you do what you should do, the more you will make eternity better for your own self and others. The more you do not do what you should not do, you will make eternity better for your own self and others. God is a righteous judge (2 Timothy 4:8).

The Bible teaches that we shall be rewarded according to our works (Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Revelation 22:12)! And we will be able to help more people because of that (cf. Luke 19:15-19). The Bible says that after death, our works follow us (cf. Revelation 14:13)—which basically means that what we learned and developed while physical will shape how we will be able to give and work throughout eternity.

Everything God has done He has had a reason for (Ezekiel 14:23). Including the length of our lives, which is usually a mystery for us (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:12).

God made people of various colors all to be part of the one body (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14).

All will have an opportunity for salvation.

All who accept that offer will be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for themselves and everyone else (see also the free online book The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?).

Racial variety in this age, will result in more love in more ways in the future Kingdom of God.

That is why there are multiple races, hair colors, body sizes, etc.

Related to these matters, we put together the following video:

22:07

Mystery of Race

Where did the various races come from? Did they evolve? If God created them, why? What is a Cushite? Is one race superior to any other? Why are people different shapes and sizes and with different hair color, etc.? Were Adam, Eve, Noah, Noah’s children and their wives involved? From whom did coastal people descend according to Genesis 10? Why are some weaker and others not? What is the purpose of multiple races? How could this be part of God’s plan? Does God have a plan for each INDIVIDUAL?

Here is a link to our video: Mystery of Race.

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, Mystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU.
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
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? If you would like to watch videos covering subjects of this article, you can click on the following links: Why YOU? Why Do YOU Suffer? and What is the meaning of your life?
Biblical Keys to Happiness This is an article for those interested in biblical teachings about being happy. A related sermon is available and is titled: 14 Biblical Keys to Happiness.
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
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’.
Why Does Man Suffer? Herbert Armstrong gives biblical reasons on this topic. I also wrote and added a section titled Suffering Has a Future Purpose.
Why Does God Allow Suffering? This is a pdf booklet put out by the old Worldwide Church of God that also answers questions about why God allows war as well as babies to die. Here is a link to a sermon titled Why YOU? Why Do YOU Suffer?
Human Nature: Good or Evil? a Did God create humans evil or good? What is human nature? Where does it come from? Here are links to two related sermons: Human Nature: Its Cause and Solution and Human Nature: Where Did it Come From?
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?
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. Here is a video in Spanish: ¿Qué es un verdadero cristiano?

COGwriter

There will be more international fallout related to what is happening with Russia and Ukraine:

Ukraine’s Farmers Fight on the Front Line of Global Food Crisis

The country is a key producer of sunflower oil, wheat, corn and even honey, and the effects are being felt everywhere.

April 24, 2022

Around this time of year, Yaroslav Andrushko would normally be overseeing the sowing of crops on his 1,000-hectare farm in the Vinnytsya region of central Ukraine.

Instead, he swapped his workwear for fatigues, joining the army a day after Russia invaded his country. “Once a farmer always a farmer,” said Andrushko, the chief executive of a small agriculture company. “But circumstances required us to take up arms.” …

Ukraine is the world’s largest producer of sunflower oil and ranks among the top six exporters of wheat, corn, chicken and even honey.

Egypt and Turkey, which rely on Russian and Ukrainian grain, are grappling with skyrocketing inflation. The government in Cairo is considering raising the price of subsidized bread for the first time in four decades. Shortages of sunflower oil in Europe, meanwhile, are forcing suppliers to seek alternatives. Supermarkets across the U.K. are limiting how much cooking oil customers can buy.

That, in turn, is sending vegetable oil prices soaring as far away as India, where street vendors are steaming food instead of frying it. …

Somalia gets nearly 70% of its wheat imports from Ukraine and the rest from Russia, and is currently threatened with the worst drought in years. Tunisia and Libya also get more than a third of their wheat from Ukraine, according to United Nations trade data. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-24/replacing-ukraine-sunflower-oil-is-one-thing-food-crisis-is-a-bigger-issue-now

The War in Ukraine and the Imminent Impact on Food Supplies… What You Need To Know

Our current globally integrated food supply system and mass food production cannot exist without, among other things, fertilizer.

This includes three main categories: nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus fertilizers. Potash is a potassium-rich salt fertilizer that enhances plant quality and is responsible for 20% of global fertilizer demand.

Together with Belarus, Russia has a 40% market share in global production and export of potash fertilizer. What OPEC+ is to the oil market, Belarus and Russia are to the potash market. The two monopolies in this space are Uralkali and Belaruskali, with the Belarusian Potash Company being the latter’s export arm.

With 16.5% of the nitrogen fertilizer market, Russia may not appear to be that dominant until we look at the key ingredient (ammonium nitrate) and then we realize… oh, yes it is. Why? Russia holds a whopping 66% of the global market share in the production of this chemical, and without it there’s no nitrogen fertilizer. https://internationalman.com/articles/the-war-in-ukraine-and-the-imminent-impact-on-food-supplies-what-you-need-to-know/ accessed 04/22/22

Furthermore, the conflict in Ukraine looks to be a factor in lower expected food production in Ukraine itself:

One-Third Of Ukraine Farmland May Go Unplanted As Russia Begins ‘Second Phase’ …

April 20, 2022

About one-third of Ukraine’s farmlands may not be harvested or cultivated this year as Russia begins the second phase of the conflict in the war-torn country.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ..  estimates approximately 33% of the crops and agricultural land may not be harvested because of the escalating war.

In March, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged farmers to sow as many fields as possible to protect the food supply, but that appears to be a challenging task considering the displacement of people (labor shortage), bombed-out fields, severely damaged infrastructure, and shortage of everything (diesel, seeds, & fertilizer).

Ukraine is considered the world’s second-biggest shipper of grains and the biggest exporter of sunflower oil. The planting season has already begun — its crop production is vital to the global food supply.

Even if farmers were to sow as many fields as possible, their ability to export crops would be severely impacted during the harvest season due to damaged infrastructure, such as bombed-out rail systems, highways, bridges, and ports. Also, buyers of grains can barely get dry bulk carriers insured to transit the Black Sea to a Ukrainian port because of soaring war risk premiums. https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/one-third-ukraine-farmland-may-go-unplanted-russia-begins-second-phase-war

21 April 2022

in Sudan … “A 10-liter canister of drinking water costs three times as much today as it did six months ago. A small package of chicken meat twice as much. The price of diesel has also doubled, and that of sugar has even tripled. In one of the poorest countries in the world, all this is becoming a question of survival,”  https://www.dw.com/en/sudan-cold-shoulder-for-un-warm-embrace-for-russia/a-61526111

April 20, 2022

“You could say the majority of the Lebanese population is living in survival mode,” said Maya Terro, founder of the non-profit organization FoodBlessed Lebanon, which feeds vulnerable people in Beirut.

Weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, food prices soared. The invasion sent ripples beyond the immediate conflict zone, breaking supply chains and creating food shortages as two of the world’s biggest food exporters went to war.

In response, Egypt’s prime minister fixed bread prices, Bangladesh launched a nationwide food subsidy program, and consumers in Indonesia noticed a favorite instant noodle dish went out of stock.

In Lebanon, people turned to desperate measures.

“Some families have resorted to selling their belongings in order to use the money to buy food,” Terro said.

Lebanon is heavily dependent on food imports, so anything that happens elsewhere affects the country’s food security, Terro said. “The repercussions of war between Russia and Ukraine have led to catastrophic surges in food products like cooking oil, wheat and some types of grains.” https://www.npr.org/2022/04/20/1092640126/russia-ukraine-war-food-security-united-nations

Yes, there looks to be less food coming from Ukraine and at a higher price. Yes, the Middle East is being affected and this looks to be a factor to set the stage for the rise of the prophesied King of the South (Daniel 11:40; see also Could the Ukrainian food crisis help lead to the rise of the King of the South?).

Wars often lead to famines, food shortages, and/or food inflation.

Jesus warned:

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

We have seen nations against nations, limited famines, troubles, and are in the beginning of sorrows.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/272760/barley-harvest-forecast/
accessed 04/22/22

Related to Ukraine, perhaps it should be noted, that according to Statista, Ukraine has been the world’s fourth biggest producer of barley. Ukraine is also the leading exporter of sunflower seeds–sanctioned Russia is second.

Notice also the following:

April 20, 2022

Farmers in China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam — the largest rice-producing countries could experience reduced output due to soaring fertilizer prices.

The International Rice Research Institute warns that harvests could plunge as much as 10% in the next season, equating to about 36 million tons of rice, or enough food to feed a half billion people, according to Bloomberg.

Chemical fertilizers, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are the most applied nutrients for high-yielding rice cultivation. Farmers have been particularly vulnerable to soaring fertilizer prices as some have reduced the amount of nutrients to save costs. This threatens future harvests as production declines could stoke food inflation for a crop that feeds half of humanity.

Humnath Bhandari, a senior agricultural economist at the institute, said the 10% drop in global rice production is a “very conservative estimate.” He said if the Ukraine conflict continued and fertilizer prices remained high and supply limited, then the decline of rice output could be even more severe. This may trigger a full-blown global food crisis, similar to the one that the UN has been warning about.

Russia and Belarus are big suppliers of every major type of crop nutrient. Western countries have sanctioned both, which have limited fertilizers shipments to the rest of the world, crimping supply and why prices are soaring. On top of this, Moscow has reduced or halted nutrient exports. https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/global-rice-production-may-plunge-threatening-half-humanity

Notice also a report related to Bank of America:

Americans are already experiencing some serious sticker shock at grocery stores, but they had better get used to it. The inflation rate for food is expected to continue its historic rise through the end of the year, according to Bank of America.

That’s not exactly surprising considering food inflation saw its largest annual increase in March since 1981—rising at 8.8% year over year—but things may get even worse.

Bank of America analysts, led by Alexander Lin, said in a note on Thursday that they expect U.S. food inflation to hit 9% by the end of 2022. …

“Looking ahead, we think that consumers will continue to feel the pinch of elevated food inflation,” the analysts wrote. “While there has been a lot of attention on the shock from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we believe that it is too early to see the impact at the grocery store…rather, it should lead to sustained price increases later this year.”

Bank of America’s analysts noted that farmers have been grappling with rising costs like never before. The cost of agricultural chemicals, including fertilizers and pesticides, has jumped almost 50% in the past year alone, March’s producer price index (PPI) showed. And the Russia-Ukraine conflict has only made matters worse. https://fortune.com/2022/04/21/inflation-food-rise-2022-bank-of-america-says/

According to Organic Prepper, at least 16 food processing facilities in the USA have had explosions and/or major fires between February and April of 2022 (04/22/22 https://www.theorganicprepper.com/fire/).

Forbes posted the following:

What The West’s Drought Means For Food …

April 22, 0222

Dry Weather Forecast Calls For Higher Food Prices And Billions In Farm Losses. Nearly all of the American West is persisting through a prolonged megadrought that is providing a peek into a harsh future set to get worse as the planet warms. …

Palestinians Could Run Out Of Wheat Reserves In Three Weeks In Ripple Effect Of Ukraine War. Oxfam says Gazans will be among the first to experience hunger related to shortages and price hikes due to Russia’s … attack on Ukraine. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2022/04/22/fresh-take-what-the-wests-drought-means-for-food-why-the-food-industry-needs-economic-justice-and-have-we-reached-peak-vegan-chicken-nugget/?sh=2e09d90272ba

In the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, we read of the opening of five seals.

Each of the first four seals is associated with the ride of one of the four horseman of the Apocalypse.

The first has to do with false, but seemingly nice-appearing, religion. The second has to do with taking peace from the earth.

The third has to do with food scarcity and food inflation.

In its booklet about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the old Ambassador College put out the following:

Famine Stalks The Earth

“… And there shall be FAMINES… ” — Matthew 24:7

“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. ” — Revelation 6:5-6

AS RAPIDLY as the third horseman appeared on the heels of the second, famine follows rapidly on the heels of war. Starvation and scarcity are the natural and immediate results of crop damage. defoliation, contaminated water supplies, destroyed livestock, and the unusually high food demands of a standing army — all caused by war. …

The well-trod path of … war, leading to … famine is an oft-repeated chapter of man’s sordid past. (Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Ambassador College Press, 1973)

While we are not to the Great Tribulation yet, at least some of the four seals of Revelation 6 are in the process of being opened.

Food inflation is associated with the ride of the third horseman as Revelation 6:5-6 states. Nations around the world are being affected by food inflation–and this started BEFORE Russia moved troops into Ukraine.

Notice again something quoted by the old Ambassador College, but now with a more modern translation:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6, NKJV)

The above prophecy specifically calls out a rise in the price of wheat and barley, while it also warns about the oil. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, barley, rapeseed (canola) oil, and sunflower oil. Ukraine does produce wine, but it is not a major international exporter of it.

That being said, it is interesting that Ukraine is a significant provider of three of the four items that are associated with the ride of the 3rd horseman of the Apocalypse.

We were already seeing significant food inflation before Russia’s “special military operation” into Ukraine. The Bible shows that more food price inflation is coming.

That will also be followed by death and pestilence–the 4th horseman, and the start of the Great Tribulation, which is associated with the opening of the 5th seal of Revelation 6.

Related to food inflation, Russia, & Ukraine, we put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

16:00

Russia, Ukraine, Food, & the ride of the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse

Did you know that the sanctioned lands of Russia and Belarus are dominant suppliers of ingredients used in modern fertilizers? Are you aware that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 33% of the farmland in Ukraine may not be planted and/or harvested because of Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine? Are parts of the world like Sudan, Lebanon, and the USA experiencing food price inflation? What about impact on the Palestinians in Gaza? Could any of this help lead to the rise of the King of the South? What are some factors that look to increase rice prices? Did Jesus warn of wars and troubles? What are three foods that Ukraine exports that are associated with the shortages and food price inflation of the ride of the third horseman of the Apocalypse? What does Jesus say His followers should do? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.

Here is a link to the video: Russia, Ukraine, Food, & the ride of the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse.

We are getting to the end of the 6,000 years that God has allowed humans to rule themselves, which will soon be followed by the 1,000 year reign of Christ. Pray for Jesus to return and God’s Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10).

But prior to Jesus return,”there will be great tribulation” as Jesus foretold (Matthew 24:21).

Jesus told His followers:

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)

As we get closer to the end of the age, it is even more imperative that we do so.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled Sorrows and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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 as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos. Here is a link to a related sermon: Physical preparedness for Christians.
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?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. 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.
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 four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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? 2029 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?
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? 2022, 2023, or 2024? 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? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.

Today’s agreement on the #DigitalServicesAct is historic!

We are now one step closer to new ground-breaking rules that will:

⛔️ ensure online platforms are held responsible for tackling harmful content
?️ better protect internet users
? help smaller platforms grow#DSA

— European Commission ?? (@EU_Commission) April 23, 2022

COGwriter

The European Union passed its Digital Services Act which is a historic step of censorship and will help lead to prophesied censorship.

#Censorship is pure evil… #DigitalServicesAct #DSA #FreedomOfExpression #FreedomOfSpeech https://t.co/OwcW21WofU pic.twitter.com/1mSHOYTriM

— Aytgh (@aytgh) April 23, 2022

Information Liberation posted the following:

Censor The Internet Act: EU Agrees to Expand Online Censorship With ‘Digital Services Act’

April 23, 2022

The European Union is working to massively expand online censorship, strictly regulate speech during times of “crisis” and restrict online anonymity through digital passports.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both lobbied for the EU to back the censorship bill known as the Digital Services Act …

From France 24, “EU agrees on new legislation to tame internet ‘Wild West’ “:

The Digital Services Act (DSA) — the second part of a massive project to regulate tech companies — aims to ensure tougher consequences for platforms and websites that host a long list of banned content ranging from hate speech to disinformation and child sexual abuse images.

[…] Tech giants have been repeatedly called out for failing to police their platforms — a New Zealand terrorist attack that was live-streamed on Facebook in 2019 caused global outrage, and the chaotic insurrection in the US last year was promoted online.

The dark side of the internet also includes e-commerce platforms filled with counterfeit or defective products.

[…] The regulation will require platforms to swiftly remove illegal content as soon as they are aware of its existence. Social networks would have to suspend users who frequently breach the law.

The DSA will force e-commerce sites to verify the identity of suppliers before proposing their products.

[…] The European Commission will oversee yearly audits [of Big Tech firms] and be able to impose fines of up to six percent of their annual sales for repeated infringements.

Looking over the outline of the new agreement it’s striking how they seamlessly conflate child sexual abuse material with “illegal hate speech.”

Both are jumbled together as “illegal content.”

… The DSA also pushes for a “public electronic identity (eID),” which Politico previously described as a “National ID card” on your phone that has its origins in vaccine passports and “Digital COVID Certificates.”

Though the eID is sold under the guise of protecting people’s privacy, “digital rights activists … worry the proposal could allow the private sector to better access people’s government-certified information, thereby actually strengthening the likes of Facebook and Google and the targeted advertising industry,” Politico reported. https://www.informationliberation.com/?id=63043

Years ago, my family and I needed to use an internet cafe in Italy. And what was only allowed after providing government issued identification, which thus would allow government authorities the ability to know who was looking where and what they posted. This has serious negative long-term implications. The Digital Services Act is another step towards this and 666 controls.

The EU wants to make the penalty so severe that social media companies will have to censor a lot to reduce the chances of fines. Notice something related to the Act and the financial penalties:

April 22, 2022

• The European Parliament and EU member states reached a deal early Saturday on the Digital Services Act.
• The DSA is a landmark piece of legislation. It will require Big Tech firms to quickly rid their platforms of illegal content.

Failure to comply with the rules may result in fines of up to 6% of companies’ global annual revenues. For a company like Meta, the parent company of Facebook, that could mean a penalty as high as $7 billion based on 2021 sales figures.

The law is now subject to formal approval by EU institutions. It’s expected to come into force as early as 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/22/digital-services-act-eu-agrees-new-rules-for-tackling-illegal-content.html

Europe keeps taking steps along the lines of 666 controls. The Digital Services Act reminds me of the following:

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:18-20)

But, of course, it is not just the European Union. Big Tech has its own agenda and has been suppressing information, including political information, it does not like. Notice an example:

April 24, 2022

Wikipedia editors are under fire this week for removing the entry for Rosemont Seneca Partners, the investment company connected to Hunter Biden and his alleged multimillion dollar influence peddling schemes. The site bizarrely claimed that the company was “not notable.” The timing itself is notable given the new disclosure that Hunter Biden’s business partner, Eric Schwerin, made at least 19 visits to the White House and other official locations between 2009 and 2015. That included a meeting with then-Vice President Joe Biden despite Biden’s repeated claim that he knew nothing about his son’s business dealings. Schwerin was the president of Rosemont Seneca.

Wikipedia has been accused of raw bias in removing the entry at a time when interest in the company is at its peak, including the possibility of an indictment of Hunter Biden over his financial dealings.  Rosemont Seneca is one of the most searched terms for those trying to understand the background on the Biden business operations.

Yet, an editor known only as “Alex” wrote that the company was simply “not notable” — an absurd claim reminiscent of the recent claim by Atlantic Magazine’s writer Anne Applebaum that she did not cover the scandal because it simply was “not interesting.”

Alex wrote: “This organization is only mentioned in connection with its famous founders, Hunter Biden and Christopher Heinz.” That itself is an odd statement. It is mentioned as one of the key conduits of alleged influence peddling money. Alex added that “keeping it around” ran the risk of the page becoming “a magnet for conspiracy theories about Hunter Biden.”

Any Wikipedia page could be a magnet for conspiracy theories, including the page on Hunter Biden himself. The fact is that this is a real company with real dealings that are the subject of a real criminal investigation. Indeed, various Republican members have already pledged to conduct investigations into this and other companies if they secure either house of Congress after the midterm elections.

So Wikipedia killed it just as a United States Attorney is drilling down on financial dealings of Hunter Biden, including money received from foreign sources through Rosemont Seneca. https://jonathanturley.org/2022/04/24/a-magnet-for-conspiracy-theories-wikipedia-kills-entry-for-hunter-bidens-investment-company/

As far as ‘hate speech’ goes, notice the following:

April 23, 2022

A court in Uxbridge, in the British capital, has acquitted Pastor John Sherwood who was arrested in London last April “hate speech” charges for his preaching a public message on biblical marriage and described by one of his backers as a “victory for free speech.” …

“The trial of open-air preacher Pastor John Sherwood took place at Uxbridge magistrates’ court last week, and he was acquitted of the public order charges brought against him,” reported Conservative Woman.

“This represents some welcome relief in the assault upon Christian liberties in contemporary Britain.” …

The minister explained that the family unit as ordained by God consists of a father and a mother, and not two fathers or two mothers, who are obviously unable to reproduce.

His words were delivered as part of a general presentation of the Christian message, said Conservative Women. The message declares that all people, whoever they are, have sinned and need to come to Jesus Christ for salvation.

Some people passing by the pastor’s sermon complained to the police about alleged homophobic hate speech, and the 72-year-old pastor was arrested under section 5 of the Public Order Act for using “threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.”

Nearly a year later, on April 7, the trial took place. https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/london-court-acquits-preacher-of-hate-speech-charges-over-sermon-on-biblical-marriage/61001.htm

It is good that he won, but the preacher never should have been arrested and had to go to court about this.

Sadly, a variety of government officials have claimed teaching positions consistent with the Bible are hate speech.

The Digital Services Act will push Big Tech to remove a variety of biblically-related content.

As far as the EU goes, back in November 2018, the European Union announced it would spend a billion euros on a quantum computer and several billion more on related matters (see EU to spend one billion euros on quantum tech to compete with USA and China; France’s Macron wants European military spending to go to European firms; ‘Europe Must Rebel’).

Notice a report from Activist Post:

Europe’s Digital Services Act: on a Collision Course With Human Rights

October 27, 2021

Last year, the EU introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), an ambitious and thoughtful project to rein in the power of Big Tech and give European internet users more control over their digital lives. …

The DSA is now steaming full-speed-ahead on a collision course with even more algorithmic filters – the decidedly unintelligent “AIs” that the 2019 Copyright Directive ultimately put in charge of 500 million peoples’ digital expression in the 27 European member-states. …

Current proposals for the DSA, recently endorsed by an influential EU Parliament committee, would require online platforms to swiftly remove potentially illegal content. One proposal would automatically make any “active platform” potentially liable for the communications of its users. What’s an active platform? One that moderates, categorizes, promotes or otherwise processes its users’ content. Punishing services that moderate or classify illegal content is absurd – these are both responsible ways to approach illegal content.

These requirements give platforms the impossible task of identifying illegal content in realtime, at speeds no human moderator could manage – with stiff penalties for guessing wrong. Inevitably, this means more automated filtering – something the platforms often boast about in public, even as their top engineers are privately sending memos to their bosses saying that these systems don’t work at all.

Large platforms will overblock, removing content according to the fast-paced, blunt determinations of an algorithm, while appeals for the wrongfully silenced will go through a review process that, like the algorithm, will be opaque and arbitrary. That review will also be slow: speech will be removed in an instant, but only reinstated after days, or weeks,or 2.5 years.

But at least the largest platforms would be able to comply with the DSA. It’s far worse for small services, run by startups, co-operatives, nonprofits and other organizations that want to support, not exploit, their users. These businesses (“micro-enterprises” in EU jargon) will not be able to operate in Europe at all if they can’t raise the cash to pay for legal representatives and filtering tools. …

Many proposals for DSA revisions shatter these two bedrock principles, calling for platforms to detect and restrict content that might be illegal or that has been previously identified as illegal, or that resembles known illegal content. This cannot be accomplished without subjecting everything that every user posts to scrutiny. …

The mistakes that EU lawmakers make in crafting the DSA will ripple out all over the world, affecting vulnerable populations who have not been given any consideration in drafting and revising the DSA (so far).

The problems presented by Big Tech are real, they’re urgent, and they’re global. The world can’t afford a calamitous EU technology regulation that sidelines human rights in a quest for easy answers and false quick fixes. https://www.activistpost.com/2021/10/europes-digital-services-act-on-a-collision-course-with-human-rights.html

The EU keeps pushing for faster and faster monitoring and censorship.

It seems to be setting up the scenario where the ‘famine of the word’ (Amos 8:9-10) will be enforced.

For over a decade I have warned that internet controls will be a substantial part of the ‘famine of the word,’–and Europe is pushing for more and more of that ability. Which even the Activist Post realizes will affect much of the rest of the world as well.

Europe wants to set the standards for digital tech for the world as the euobserver reported:

EU Commission wants to set world’s first digital standards

27 January 2022

The EU Commission … set out a proposal for digital rights and principles, with the aim to protect people’s rights, privacy, democracy and security in the online world.

The principles are to provide a guideline for policymakers in the 27 member states, public administrations, and companies when dealing with or developing new technologies. https://euobserver.com/democracy/154207

Setting the standards will also lead to more controls and, ultimately, contribute to the actual apocalypse.

Although various ones in the EU are warning against various controls and claiming to push for rights and privacy, the biblical reality is that Europe will become totalitarian itself (Revelation 13; see also EU summits to push for ‘European industry strategy’ and ‘proper’ thinking and EU proposes billions for ‘Digital Europe’ surveillance: This would assist 666).

Europe wants to dominate big tech itself. It is working on many ways to bypass the USA (e.g. Der Spiegel says Europe needs to employ ‘clever resistance’ as it works towards a post-USA world).

Plus, it has already taken various steps in order to do so.

The Bible shows that a European totalitarian dictator will rise up (Revelation 13, 17:12-13)–and this will NOT end well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39), the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-43), or Europe itself (Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 18).

So far, Europe has placed a lot of pressure on big tech to censor and is increasing it.

In December 2020, the European Union (EU) unveiled its Digital Services Act. I warned it had totalitarian implications then (see ‘EU ‘regrets’ new US tariffs’ & ‘EU Unveils New Rules to Curb Technology Companies’).

Europe has placed a lot of pressure on big tech to censor.

Yet, even more censorship is coming.