Church of God News

(Pixabay photo)

COGwriter

NewsMax reported the following:

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to 32 Illnesses

February 29, 2024

Ultra-processed foods can cause dozens of terrible health problems among people who eat them too often, a new review warns.

Researchers linked diets high in ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of 32 separate illnesses. In particular, these foods are strongly tied to risk with early death, heart disease, cancer, mental health disorders, overweight and obesity, and Type 2 diabetes, researchers said.

For example, ultra-processed foods are associated with a 50% increased risk of heart-related death, a 48% to 53% increased risk of anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers said. …

Ultra-processed foods include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, instant noodles, sweet cereals and ready-to-eat meals.

The products undergo multiple industrial processes to make them tasty and shelf-stable, and contain additives like emulsifiers, coloring agents and chemical flavors.

Unfortunately, ultra-processed foods now account for up to 58% of total daily energy intake in some high income-countries, and are proliferating in low- and middle-income countries, researchers said in background notes.

“Notably, over recent decades, the availability and variety of ultra-processed products sold has substantially and rapidly increased” in countries around the world, wrote the research team led by Melissa Lane, …

Alterations in the food made during manufacturing “may affect digestion, nutrient absorption and feelings of satiety,” the researchers wrote.

Emerging evidence in humans also has linked some additives used in the foods — non-sugar sweeteners, emulsifiers, colorants and nitrates or nitrites — with poor health outcomes, researchers said.

Intensive industrial processing of food might also produce harmful substances that contribute to chronic inflammation, and even packaging materials can contain contaminants, they added. … profit motives discourage food makers from switching to nutritious products. https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/ultra-processed-foods-illness/2024/02/29/id/1155395/

The Apostle Paul warned:

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, (1 Timothy 6:10)

Greed, not health, drives much of the food processing industry.

Last year, the BBC reported the following:

3 June 2023

Twenty years ago, no-one had heard of the term ultra-processed foods – or UPF – but about half the things we now eat in the UK are made that way. …

Ultra-processed convenience foods contain chemicals that UK regulators say are safe, but Panorama investigates emerging scientific evidence of a link between some of these chemicals and cancer, diabetes and strokes. …

Common ultra-processed foods:

• Mass-produced bread and sweetened breakfast cereals
• Instant soups, pre-packaged and microwave ready meals
• Fruit-flavoured yogurts
• Reconstituted meat – like ham and sausages
• Ice cream, crisps and biscuits
• Soft drinks and some alcoholic drinks – like whisky, gin, and rum

The first investigations into mortality and consumption of ultra-processed food started in France at the University Sorbonne Paris Nord, as part of the ongoing study into the eating habits of 174,000 people.

“We have 24-hour dietary records during which they tell us all the foods, the beverages and so on, that they are eating,” explains Dr Mathilde Touvier who heads up the study.

The ongoing research has already published results showing UPF may drive an increased burden of cancer. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65754290

In 2022, CNN reported the following:

Cognitive decline linked to ultraprocessed food, study finds

August 1, 2022

Eating ultraprocessed foods for more than 20% of your daily calorie intake every day could set you on the road to cognitive decline, a new study revealed.

We all know eating ultraprocessed foods that make our lives easier — such as prepackaged soups, sauces, frozen pizza and ready-to-eat meals — isn’t good for our health. Nor is gobbling up all the pleasure foods that we love so much: hot dogs, sausages, burgers, french fries, sodas, cookies, cakes, candies, doughnuts and ice cream, to name just a few.

Studies have found they can raise our risk of obesity, heart and circulation problems, diabetes and cancer. They may even shorten our lives.

Now, a new study has revealed eating more ultraprocessed foods may contribute to overall cognitive decline, including the areas of the brain involved in executive functioning — the ability to process information and make decisions.<

In fact, men and women who ate the most ultraprocessed foods had a 28% faster rate of global cognitive decline and a 25% faster rate of executive function decline compared with people who ate the least amount of overly processed food, the study found.

“While in need of further study and replication, the new results are quite compelling and emphasize the critical role for proper nutrition in preserving and promoting brain health and reducing risk for brain diseases as we get older,” said Rudy Tanzi, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of the genetics and aging research unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was not involved in the study. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/01/health/ultraprocessed-food-dementia-study-wellness/index.html

Eating wrong can increase the production of advanced protein glycation end-products which tend to accumulate in the brain and can contribute to cognitive deterioration. I was the lead scientist on paper published in a major medical journal dealing with that a while ago (see Can Cognitive Deterioration Associated with Down Syndrome be Reduced? Medical Hypotheses, 2005; 64(3):524-532).

That said, remember Eve in the Garden:

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. (Genesis 3:6)

Eve reasoned around God’s restriction. The fruit looked like good and desirable food to her. Ultra-processed foods and many unclean meats that God’s word prohibits look like good and desirable foods to many.

Self-control is something Christians should have (e.g. 2 Peter 1:6).

Highly processed junk foods may look good, taste good, and seem convenient, but if consumed at all, should be a very small part of anyone’s diet.

Yet most in the West deceive themselves that they are not eating too much of them or that they are fine. Plus there is a lot of advertising that promote them. That brings to mind another warning from the Apostle Paul:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, … 13 … evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1-2,13)

Because the negative effects take time, many are wrongly persuaded by advertisements and availability to eat too much highly processed foods. Many also deceive themselves into falsely believing that they cannot cause serious problems–yet they can.

The following scripture came to mind:

11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

As far as food processing goes, it really started to become a problem in the 19th century. This is when refined flour came out. Then we saw degerminated corn meal and white rice. Grits, which once were made of ground, whole organic corn, are now made with degerminated GMO corn, ‘fortified’ with synthetic vitamins. After corn was ‘degerminated’ many people in the Southern USA died from a disease called pellagra. Instead of going back to whole corn, chemically-derived synthetic vitamins were added, which I consider to be dangerous.

In the 19^th century, after natural brown rice became refined on a large scale, white rice became popular. Many preferred white rice because it could be stored longer than natural brown rice, plus it cooked faster.

In the 19^th century, a disease called beriberi began to cause many deaths in parts of Asia. Symptoms of beriberi include weight loss, emotional disturbances, impaired sensory perception, weakness and pain in the limbs, and periods of irregular heart rate.

At first no one connected the consumption of white rice in with beriberi. Leading ‘infectious disease’ experts attempted to figure out what caused this beriberi outbreak, without success. The real cause was the greatly reduced consumption of B-vitamins that was in the portion of the rice that was refined away—but no one realized this at first.

Now, we have even more highly processed items in the food supply–and also genetically-modified substances that there is limited data on the possible long-term health consequences of their consumption.

What should you eat? You should eat real food and for most people, at least two or more servings of fruit and three of more servings of vegetables daily, relatively small amounts of meats, whole grains, and olive oil come to mind. Refined grains, sugars (whether natural or artificial), sodas, and GMOs should be highly limited or not consumed at all

God’s word says:

2 … Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good (Isaiah 55:2).

People should try to eat real, not artificial, foods. And if you take vitamins and minerals, take the type whose nutrients are 100% food (which is what I personally do).

Notice also the following from 2015:

Americans love to eat hotdogs; they spent $2.5 billion on this processed food last year. But a food analytics lab has found that there are unwanted and potentially dangerous ingredients lurking in hotdogs that consumers are not aware of.

Clear Labs, a startup that uses genomic technology to analyze foods at a molecular level, looked at 345 hotdogs and sausages from 75 brands sold at 10 different food retailers. The company found that 14.4 percent of the products examined contained ingredients that were not disclosed on the label.

The DNA analysis revealed unexpected ingredients as well with some of the products found to contain meat not found on the label such as meat in vegetarian products. Human DNA was also found in 2 percent of the samples and even in some of the vegetarian samples. Some of the ingredients that were advertised on the labels were not likewise found.

“The food industry has been a black box for too long. Food consumers have to trust that food labels are accurate, but that isn’t always the case,” said Clear Labs CEO Sasan Amini. “We’ve found a 10 to 15 percent rate of discrepancy between labeled ingredients and actual ingredients across our internal tests to date.”

Some individuals opt for chicken and turkey sausages to avoid pork but there were evidences of pork substitution in 3 percent of the samples tested. Pork was found to make its way to chicken and turkey sausages.

“Pork is a particularly unwelcome substitution in any food when you consider that significant numbers of people do not eat pork for religious reasons,” the report reads “Pork substitution was an issue in products across the price spectrum being sold at a wide variety of retailers.”

Based on the analysis, Clear Labs recommended that consumers who want to avoid pork steer free of chicken products and opt for Kosher brands like Hebrew National as the Kosher products that were tested were found to be 100 percent pork-free. http://www.techtimes.com/articles/99306/20151025/hotdogs-may-have-undisclosed-ingredients-clear-labs-finds-mystery-meat-human-dna-in-sampled-brands.htm

False labeling is bearing false witness. This is a violation of the ninth commandment. No human should be eating humans or pork.

In 2021, we put up a video that YouTube censored, but that we still have up at BitChute:

Feb 21, 2021

COVID-19: Eat what is good!

US President Joe Biden said on 2/19/21 that the USA may NOT “return to normal” in 2021 because of vaccine and mutation issues. Is there another approach? Would it make sense to improve nutrition to strengthen the immune system and to help people with COVID-19? What about zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin D? What about avoiding unclean meats? What about eating more fruits and vegetables and items such as pumpkin seeds and Brazil nuts? What about eating bovine glandulars? What about herbs? Could fasting help? What about exercise and sunlight? What about masks, lockdowns, junk food, obesity, and weight gain? Dr. Thiel, who possesses a US regionally accredited PhD. in nutrition science from the Union Institute and University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California, and a natural scientist license from the State of Alabama, explains why people may wish to consider approaches for their immune system. He also goes over scriptures related to worse pandemics coming (associated with the ride of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse–Revelation 6:7-8), and the fact that the Bible teaches to “eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:2).

A written article, with references, of related interest is also available titled “Joe Biden: life may not return to normal this year due to COVID mutations; Paul Roberts: The Covid Pandemic Is The Result of Public Health Authorities Blocking Effective Treatment” URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/news/prophecy/joe-biden-life-may-not-return-to-normal-this-year-due-to-covid-mutations-paul-roberts-the-covid-pandemic-is-the-result-of-public-health-authorities-blocking-effective-treatment/

Here is a link to the censored video: COVID-19: Eat what is good!

In 2022, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

The American and Anglo-Saxon descended nations are not setting the right example when it comes to diet and health and this does not bode well for them in the future (Proverbs 12:24; Daniel 11:39).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Christian Health Matters Should Christians be concerned about their health? Does the Bible give any food and health guidelines? Here are links to three related sermons: Let’s Talk About Food, Evil is Affecting the Food Supply, and Let’s Talk About Health.
American foods that gross out foreigners A study done in the Fall of 2014 found out which foods that non-USA Americans considered weird or gross that Americans eat. This video discusses those foods, ingredients in some of those foods, and warns against consuming ‘that which is not bread’ (Isaiah 55:2). Dr. Thiel also warns about synthetic vitamins and some of the issues associated with them. He also discusses something promoted by the late Seventh-day Adventist, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.
The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous? There is also a sermon-length video on this: Christians and Unclean Meats; two short videos are also available: Did Jesus declare all animal flesh food? and COVID, Pandemics, and Unclean Meat.
Obesity, processed foods, health risks, and the Bible Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned? What diseases are associated with eating too much refined foods?
Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy Are there disadvantages to being overweight? Is junk food really bad for you? Does the Bible discuss overeating and/or obesity? Is overeating having an effect on the US military? What are the ramifications of personal and national health for overeating? What should you eat? This is a sermonette-length YouTubevideo.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here are some related videos: GMO Risks and the Bible and GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras?  Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues? A video of related interest is Half human, half pig: What’s the difference?  and Human-Monkey Embryos and Death.
Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.
Does God Heal Today? What does the Bible teach? Herbert Armstrong tries to explain this.
UK Study Supports Daniel Diet Daniel and his companions looked better eating more vegetables and avoiding strange meats. Has modern science confirmed this?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Shoplifting is so rampant in CA that one store in SF erected a barricade at the entrance & only allows escorted shopping. Meanwhile, progressive reformers/media and lawmakers say the “increased theft” claims are just a conservative scare tactic. It’s like living in a nightmare… pic.twitter.com/1pxn34XGOL

— Jeff Reisig (@jeffreisig) February 26, 2024

COGwriter

Michael Snyder posted the following:

Shoplifting In America Is Wildly Out Of Control

February 28, 2024

Shoplifters are going hog wild all over America, and our politicians seem powerless to stop this crisis.  When I was growing up, shoplifting was something that was pretty rare.  Once in a while some irresponsible idiot would slip a candy bar into his pocket, but it wasn’t something that retailers were too stressed out about.  But now everything has changed.  Retail “shrink” broke the 100 billion dollar barrier in 2022, and the final number for 2023 is expected to be even higher.  Stuff is being stolen from our major retailers on an industrial scale, and this is having very serious consequences.

From coast to coast, retail locations are being permanently shut down because there is no end in sight to this madness.

This is particularly true in our largest urban areas.  In San Francisco, a Macy’s store that had been open for 77 years is being closed down, and employees are telling the press that shoplifting was the primary factor behind the decision…

Employees at Macy’s flagship San Francisco store in Union Square have blamed its planned closure on shoplifting – despite mayor London Breed claiming crime was not a factor.

The Union Square store announced earlier this week it will be closing its doors after 77 years as part of a plan to close 150 locations across the nation over the next three years.

It isn’t just a few things that are going missing at that Macy’s store.

According to one employee, the men’s department is being systematically looted on a daily basis…

Another employee says that most of the shoplifting is being done by drug users and groups of teens…

The streets of California cities are flooded with addicts, and they are going to do whatever they have to do to feed their addictions.

So this shoplifting crisis is not going away.

At one hardware store in San Francisco, employees are now escorting customers around the store in a desperate attempt to reduce the level of shoplifting…

The amount of retail “shrink” in the United States has more than doubled in recent years, and it just continues to explode higher…

Shrink is the industry term for inventory loss often attributed to theft, damage, or errors. Once simply considered a cost of doing business, shrink resulted in retail profit losses exceeding a staggering $100 billion in 2022.

What’s more problematic, the trend of shrink appears to be far from reversing course, with losses more than doubling over the past five years. In an industry where margins and profitability are already under significant pressure, the rise in retail shrink is capturing the attention of all levels within retail organizations.

Sadly, there are some parts of the country where the looting of retailers has essentially become a way of life.

In fact, this has even been happening in our nation’s capital…

Staff claim more than 45 schoolkids would go into the store and steal chips and drinks in the morning, after their classes and late at night. It will close on February 29, according to WTTG-TV.

Those kids wouldn’t have been able to loot that store multiple times per day if they had been put in prison the first time they did it.

But our politicians don’t want such harsh laws.  https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/shoplifting-in-america-is-wildly-out-of-control/

The above brought the following scripture to mind:

11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

Various US states–like California, parts of Illinois, and parts of New York–have decided against strongly prosecuting thieves, hence in many places we are seeing more and more of them.

Of course, the basic reason for shoplifting is lack of fear of God and love for one’s neighbor.

Notice a last days prophecy:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Notice the following causes:

10 As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:

“Because you despise this word,
And trust in oppression and perversity,
And rely on them,
13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you
Like a breach ready to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. (Isaiah 30:12-13)

Yes, the lack of fear of God and despising His word are the causes for what has been happening.

You know, I hate keys.

What I really hate are not the keys themselves, but the need to have them and the need to often carry them. And sometimes, in some situations actually using them.

Can you imagine a world in which you never have to worry about anyone stealing anything from you, your family, your business, etc.? A world where no one tries to cheat you?

A world where you don’t need keys?

That is how the world should be. And we will see that in the Kingdom of God.

We could see that now if people would obey the eighth commandment. Which, from the Book of Exodus, states:

15 “You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)

Despite knowing of this command, the Anglo-American nations are being damaged by increasing hate and a lot of stealing.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, (1 Timothy 1:5)

If people would strive to keep the commandments and love their neighbor, that would solve crime.

Yet, we live in a society where more and more the commandments are despised–hence more crime.

Jesus strongly condemned thieves:

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

We are not to steal. Notice that Jesus came to be the opposite of thieves–He came to give–and He gave all He could for us.

The Bible not only teaches against stealing, it says to give to others:

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)

Yes, you are to GIVE to others, not just avoiding stealing!

If everyone stole and no one produced, there would be nothing to eat, nothing to wear, etc. Stealing hurts society.

It may be of interest to note that the biblical penalty for stealing was to pay the stolen from 4-5 times as much as the value of what was stolen (cf. Exodus 22:1). And for stealing food, 7 times as much (Proverbs 6:31).

Among other things, this taught people that they would not get rich from stealing and needed to produce their own food.

From a societal perspective, we would almost never need locks or carry keys if people did not steal. Also, if people do not steal, they tend to realize that they need to work to produce what they and their families need.

Yet, Jesus warned:

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)

Increased crime, like shoplifting, is showing that.

Furthermore, things will get worse as well as we see the soon rise of the Beast and Antichrist (see also the free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).

Related to theft and other crimes, the Continuing Church of God recently put out the following sermon:

1:12:40

8th Commandment: Do Not Steal or Cheat, Instead Produce and Give

Wouldn’t it be great if we did not need keys? What about if the value of money did not drop (inflation) because governments use dross coinage and/or print up (physically or electronically) money? What does the eighth commandment state and cover? Are crimes of auto theft, shoplifting, and other forms of theft up in nations such as the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom? Why do people steal? Does what is called “shrinkage” increase costs? What about cheating? What about false weights, false advertising, and mob stealing? Are their societal costs to academic and marital cheating? What about phishing and internet scams? Do false religious teachers steal God’s words according to the prophet Jeremiah? Why could not keeping the Sabbath or Holy Days be considered stealing? Can a thief repent? Are people, including former thieves, supposed to produce and give? Is failing to give tithes and offerings stealing according to the Bible? God is love and stealing fosters hate. Was stealing prohibited before the Ten Commandments were written on Mt. Sinai? Does the New Testament show that stealing is wrong after Jesus was resurrected?

Here is a link to our sermon: 8th Commandment: Do Not Steal or Cheat, Instead Produce and Give.

Society is becoming increasingly lawless as Jesus warned.

Do not be among those that let their love grow cold.

Some items of related interest may include the following:

The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free 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.
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. Here is a link to a shorter video: Was Increased Cursing Prophesied?
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?
FIFTH COMMANDMENT: Honor and Be Honorable The fifth commandment involves family relationships. Is it more than parents and children? What about love and ruling well your household? Here is a link to a related sermon: Honor Your Parents and Rule Honorably.
SIXTH COMMANDMENT: Anger, Murder, Abortion, Sports, Self-Control, & Kindness Is there more to the 6th commandment than not murdering? What about abortion, hate, and violent sports? What is the attitude real Christians should have? Here is a link to a related sermon:: Murder, anger, kindness, and love.
SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: Love and Faithfulness, Not Sexual Immorality The seventh commandment prohibits adultery. Jesus made it clear that it involved more than marital infiedlity. What about the LGBTQ+ movement and the Bible? Here is a link to a related video sermon: 7th Commandment: Love and Faithfulness.
EIGHTH COMMANDMENT: Give not take. The eighth commandment prohibits stealing. This includes thievery, not tithing, debasing currency, cheating, and many other wrong acts. Here is a link to a related sermon: 8th Commandment: Do Not Steal or Cheat, Instead Produce and Give.
Crime can be stopped…here’s how! This was a booklet that was edited with some updates by Dr. Thiel. Here is a link to a related sermon: Crime and How it Will be Stopped!
The Philadelphia Remnant: It’s All About Love This is what CCOG teaches. It is important to remember.Two elated videos are available: Nairobi Conference: All About Love and CCOG: It’s All About Love.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots.  They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?

Map of Transnistria (Aotearoa)

COGwriter

Leaders in the Transnistria region have again appealed to Russia:

Moldova: Breakaway Transnistria asks Russia for ‘protection’

28 February 2024

Pro-Moscow separatist officials in Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region have appealed to Russia for “protection.” Moscow called aiding residents of Transnistria a “priority.” …

A special congress of the region is understood to have passed a resolution on the issue on Wednesday.

Officials are set to ask Russia’s Federation Council and the State Duma “to implement measures to protect Transnistria in the face of increased pressure from Moldova,” local media reported the resolution as saying.

Transnistria had been secretive about the reason for holding a special congress, only the seventh in its history and the first since 2006. That congress saw deputies announce a referendum on integrating with Russia, a vote that resulted in an overwhelming majority in favor.

However, it did say that officials would address the deepening row over customs duties with the government in Moldova’s capital, Chisinau.

“The decisions of the current congress cannot be ignored by the international community,” the “foreign policy chief” of the self-styled republic, Vitaly Ignatiev, told the meeting. Ignatiev did not indicate what those decisions would be.  https://www.dw.com/en/moldova-breakaway-transnistria-asks-russia-for-protection/a-68396033

Breakaway Transnistria Asks Russia For ‘Protection’ – Setting Stage For Military Intervention

February 28, 2024

As previously predicted, things are erupting in Transnistria at a moment Western officials have warned Moscow not to expand its war beyond Ukraine. The breakaway pro-Russian Moldova region on Wednesday issued a formal request from Moscow for “protection” “in the face of increased pressure,” according to AFP.

A special congress of pro-Russian officials passed a resolution which charges the Moldovan government in Chisinau with unleashing “economic war” against Transnistria with an aim to turn it into a “ghetto”, which has included blocking imports.

While internationally, the thin sliver of land has been internationally recognized as part of Moldova, it has been under Russian troop presence going all the way back to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The breakaway republic issued a statement further saying that “The decisions of the current congress cannot be ignored by the international community.”

The formal request is expected to be put before Russia’s Federation Council and the State Duma at any moment. It asks for Russia “to implement measures to protect Transnistria in the face of increased pressure from Moldova” – and clearly this language suggests military intervention, or else other measures like immense economic and political pressure on Moldova.

Last year, the Council of Europe had formally declared Moldova’s breakaway region to “occupied territory” – upgrading its status from what was deemed territory “under the effective control of the Russian Federation.” https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/breakaway-transnistria-asks-russia-protection-setting-stage-military-intervention

February 28, 2024

Russian state media says that the country’s parliament and Federation Council is preparing to respond positively to Transistria’s earlier urgent requestion for Moscow’s ‘protection’ from Moldova, a small eastern European country supported by Washington. Russian legislators have “put forward a request to both the Federation Council and State Duma of Russia, urging them to implement measures to safeguard Transnistria, especially in light of Moldova’s growing pressure. This request is backed up by the fact that over 220,000 Russian citizens reside in Transnistria.”

The Biden administration has responded by saying it is “closely watching” the situation, calling the breakaway “occupied” by Russian forces (since Soviet times). “The United States firmly supports Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” the State Department said Wednesday. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/breakaway-transnistria-asks-russia-protection-setting-stage-military-intervention

Transnistria is more or less part of the northeast of Moldova that borders Ukraine. It has never really wanted to be part of Moldova, but the international community has tended to ignore it. Russia has a different view and has been involved with Transnistria for years. Furthermore, Russia actually would like to add all of Ukraine as well as Moldova to it or at least its Eurasian Economic Union. That said, at minimum, it looks like Russia wants at least enough territory that Ukraine now holds to connect it to Transnistria. The USA and the EU do not want more territories to align with Russia, despite what many Russian speakers want.

Nearly two years ago, the BBC reported the following:

Ukraine war: Russia ‘plans to seize southern Ukraine’

22 April 2022

Russia aims to seize southern Ukraine and to open a route to the separatist region of Transnistria in Moldova, a senior Russian general says.

Maj Gen Rustam Minnekayev specified that Moscow would seek to take “full control” over the south in addition to the eastern Donbas region – the stated objective of the Russian authorities.

Transnistria is a small Russian-backed region that borders Ukraine.  ruary. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61188943

If Russia does succeed in doing that, Ukraine would lose access to the sea.

That said, many in Transnistria want to be part of Russia or at least part of its Eurasian Economic Union as we reported here before (see USA and EU add more sanctions; whereas Transnistria Assembly wants to be part of Russia and/or its Eurasian Economic Union).

They believe that they will be economically and culturally ahead with Russia as opposed to Moldova.

We just recently uploaded the following related video:

14:51

Russia, Sanctions, Transnistria, Europe & Prophecy

In 2014 the USA and European Union put sanctions on Russia because of its acquisition of Crimea. Since Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine, more sanctions were added. On February 23, 2024, the EU and USA announced more sanctions. Did the sanctions turn the “ruble into rubble” as Joe Biden hoped? Did Russia acquire more territory as Dr. Thiel warned in 2013, 2018, and 2022 prior to the current conflict? Was he right about sanctions? Will Russia and Europe acquire more territory? Will they one day trade more with each other? Will they one day turn against each other? What about Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, and Armenia? Are the Russian-led ‘kings of the Medes’ prophesied to destroy the coming Babylonian European Beast power? Does Europe, starting with Benelux to the European Economic Community to the European Union look to be fulfilling Daniel 8:9? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Russia, Sanctions, Transnistria, Europe & Prophecy.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
The Eurasian Economic Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
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?
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 are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.

COGwriter

In a newsletter, former Roman Catholic, now Protestant, Mike Gendron had the following:

Truth or Consequences?

Have you ever considered the consequences that await those who do not pursue the truth? The Lord Jesus “came into the world, to testify to the truth.” This prompted Pilate to ask a compelling question that has eternal consequences: “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38). That question is on the mind of most unbelievers, who have never come to know and believe the truth of God’s Word. Everyone who is of the truth hears the voice of the Good Shepherd and follows Him because they know His voice (John 10:4; 18:37).

The church of the living God is called to be the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). It is the God-given responsibility and privilege of every born-again Christian to defend the truth of God’s Word. Yet, we are living in an age where truth is being maligned and compromised like never before, both inside and outside the church. Many are disillusioned and confused because they cannot discern truth from error. Paul describes them as “children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14). Some professing Christians, who have never been born-again, may suffer the consequences of falling away from the faith (1 Tim.4:1). That is why Paul exhorts us to speak the truth in love. To do so effectively, we must know and understand the characteristics of truth.

Truth is Exclusive. It excludes anything that is contrary to it because no lie is of the truth (1 John 2:21). The Lord Jesus is an example of the exclusivity of truth. He declared He is the only way to the Father. In a pluralistic society, this is an offensive truth. Christians are often called narrow-minded when we proclaim the exclusivity of the Gospel. However, we must never be concerned if people are offended when we speak the truth; we should be concerned for those who will be deceived if we don’t.

Truth is Objective. It is not subjective or dependent upon anyone’s beliefs. Truth is black and white; there is no gray. It is always definite, definitive, and conclusive. Man cannot create it or change it. Yet some people foolishly create a god of their own imagination, saying: “My God would not send anyone to hell.” They need to know the true God, who is objectively revealed in Scripture.

Truth is Immutable. Like God and His Word, truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Right is always right, and wrong is always wrong. Truth never changes. “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Truth is permanent, fixed, enduring, and timeless. It is never outdated, never obsolete and never ceases to be true.

Truth is Absolute. It is not relative, nor is it subjected to or dependent upon anything else. People who say truth is whatever they want it to be are absolutely wrong. Something cannot be both true and not true. An example of an absolute truth is that God exists. His existence is not dependent upon whether He is known or believed.

Truth is Universal. There is no place where truth is not true. It applies to everyone and no one can escape it. Death and gravity are examples of universal truths that cannot be dismissed or rejected. Knowing this, it should motivate all of us to continue seeking universal truth and embrace it when we discover it. Every eternal destiny is confirmed by truth.

Truth is Authoritative. It conveys the supreme authority of the Lord Jesus, who is the personification of truth (John 14:6). His Word is truth and therefore is the final word in everything (John 17:17). Truth cannot be ignored; it demands our response. The supreme authority of truth reigns over the powers of darkness. It sets believers free from the bondage of sin and deception (John 8:32). It also renews our minds and directs our steps.

People must be warned that there are severe and agonizing consequences for anyone who chooses to reject, suppress, mishandle or disobey the truth. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). Suppressing the truth dishonors God, who is the author, personification and source of all truth. Those “who exchange the truth of God for a lie” are given over to degrading passions (Rom. 1:25-26). Wrath and indignation await those who disobey the truth (Rom. 2:8). Many will perish because they did not receive the love of the truth (2 Thes. 2:10).

Since every Christian has been entrusted with the truth, it is our responsibility to guard, proclaim and pass on the truth despite any and all opposition (1 Tim. 6:20-21). Paul and the apostles did not yield in subjection to the opposition for even an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel would remain (Gal. 2:5). We must resist every attack on the truth of God’s Word. There is no room for complacency or apathy.

We need to honor our King and fight the good fight of faith. As soldiers in our Lord’s army, “we are to destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

Yes, the truth is important.

Yes, God’s word is truth.

Yes, we are to worship God in Spirit and in truth as a passage in the open Bible at the beginning of this post shows.

Yes, we are to proclaim and pass on the truth–which means to “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Yes, that is not Greco-Roman Catholicism.

Those willing to believe the Bible and look into early Christian history will realize that most who profess any form of Catholicism do not hold to the beliefs of the original catholic church. Related to that we have been working on a book.

Here is a link to our free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church.

So, does that mean that the Protestant faith was original?

No.

Those willing to believe the Bible and look into early Christian history will realize that there is nothing resembling the modern Protestant faith. Related to that we have another book.

Here is a link to our free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from Protestantism.

The truth is that the modern Protestant faith is not based upon enough of the Bible nor did early Christians practice it. The book, Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from Protestantism, goes into not only history, but numerous doctrinal truths that Protestants do not hold to–but instead teach against.

The “consequence” of being Protestant is that most who consider themselves will hear words from Jesus that they will not want to hear (Matthew 7:21-23).

As far as church history goes, you can also check out our free online book: Continuing History of the Church of God.

Now, perhaps it should be pointed out that God’s plan is actually a mystery to almost everyone–irrespective of the religions they do or do not follow.

We produced a book on that as well.

Here is a link to our free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?

One of the mysteries covered in that book had to do with truth.

Related to that, the Continuing Church of God produced the following sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:17:14

Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan

What is truth? That is a mystery to many–including many scientists and religious people. What is sin? Many do not understand that? Is there a mystery of rest? Did the Bible prophesy that? Is there a purpose for suffering? Does God want people to suffer? What is the purpose of creation of humans? What do atheists and anti-natalists teach? What do Hindus and Buddhists teach? What do Muslims teach? What do Jehovah’s Witnesses teach? What do Protestants (including Baptists) teach? What does the Catholic Church teach? Is the goal of creation to glorify God while seeing the Beatific vision? Is there another purpose? What is God’s plan? What does the Church of God teach? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues in the second part of a three-part series covering the mysteries of God’s plan.

This sermon series is based on the following free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?

Here is a link to the sermon: Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan.

Yes, you can choose truth or you will be forced to accept the consequences of not acting on it.

The books and other information we make available can help you better see and understand that truth as they are grounded in the word of God.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui? Here is a link to a short animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
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.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are? Here is a link to a related sermon: Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG.
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Similarities and Differences Between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some interesting similarities, but many major differences. Would you like Christian answers for Jehovah’s Witnesses to give information on how to deal with Jehovah’s Witnesses? A related sermon is also available: Jehovah’s Witnesses: Right and Wrong Teachings?
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here is a sermon in the English language: CCOG and SDA differences and similarities.
Seventh-day Adventist President Ted Wilson’s Comments on the Remnant Church Ted N. C. Wilson spoke on the SDAs striving to be the “remnant church”, but what do the related scriptures actually teach?
Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Continuing Church of God The genuine Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney? A sermon of related interest is available: Mormon vs. Church of God Teachings.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
Being Separate: What Did Herbert W. Armstrong and the Bible Teach About Where Not to Fellowship? Some believe that it is acceptable to attend groups called COG, but who are not actually. What did Herbert W. Armstrong and the Bible teach about this?
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. Here is a link to two related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan and Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
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’.

Gerald Weston

COGwriter

In the current edition of the Living Church News, Gerald Weston, Presiding Evangelist, of the Living Church of God (LCG) had the following:

What was the Apostle Paul telling us when he said the coming of Christ would not happen until “the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)? Several ideas have floated about in recent years. Some Church of God groups, and many brethren throughout, see the apostasy in the Worldwide Church of God as fulfilling in full the “falling away” part of the prophecy. More recently, the Living Church of God has taught that it refers to a broad rebellion against God at the end of the age. But, while the rebellion against God in our world is indeed broad, is that interpretation the accurate one? For context, here is the relevant passage:

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [the return of Christ] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).

There is no doubt that what occurred in the Worldwide Church of God was an apostasy from truth. And, truly, those who fell away in that organization “did not receive the love of the truth” (v. 10). But was that what Paul was describing? Or was he referring to something larger? …

But when Jude urged the people to get back to the faith once delivered, he was referring to the faith of Christ, His apostles, and early first-century Christianity (Jude 3–4). That kind of Christianity has very little resemblance to trinitarian “Christianity,” no matter the century. Did people have more respect for the Bible in times past? Without a doubt. But, as we know, most of those people were not true Christians. …

When Paul wrote that the mystery of lawlessness was already at work, he pointed to the origin of the falling away—and to the source from which the man of sin would arise. That falling away began early, …

While the great rebellion and apostasy set in as far back as the first century AD, there is also a latter-day fulfillment that is yet ahead. It is clear that the prophesied man of sin will not appear until shortly before Christ’s return. This final head of a satanic system, one that has made the world drunk with the wine of its fornication, will take to a new level the claim of divine status. When we read of how he will perform signs, wonders, and deceptive miracles, this is not hard to understand. The world will worship this man. …

As God’s Church has long taught, one of the keys to understanding prophecy is to recognize prophetic gaps in time. The rebellion against the truth set in early and took time to fully develop. …

We must not confuse the prophesied falling away from truth with mankind’s prophesied coming to the fullness of iniquity—the time when God will intervene powerfully to stop our madness. Both are important, but they are not the same. When Paul wrote of the “falling away,” he wrote prophetically of the apostasy that false Christianity represents. (Weston G. What is the Falling Away? Living Church News, January-February 2024)

Gerald Weston is correct on that last point. Yet, officially in 2012, there was a Living Church of God must-play sermon from Dr. Douglas Winnail where he basically confused “the prophesied falling away from truth with mankind’s prophesied coming to the fullness of iniquity.” It is good that Gerald Weston has essentially tried to correct that.

When Dr. Winnail’s doctrinal heresy was formally introduced, I strongly objected to it (at the time I was in the unpaid position Dr. Meredith appointed me to as “Advisor to the evangelists on Doctrine and Prophecy”). But I was told that ALL the members of LCG’s Council of Elders, except Mario Hernandez, accepted Dr. Winnail’s heresy. That also would have included Gerald Weston, who went along with the change.

It is good that Gerald Weston has finally and publicly essentially pointed out that Dr. Winnail’s position was in error.

As far as what Dr. Winnail taught would happen with his change, he asserted the following in an official LCG ‘must play’ sermon:

Falling Away – Implications
Clarifying this issue and powerfully delivering this prophetic warning about a universal falling away from the fundamentals of biblical Christianity, led by a Beast, a Man of Sin and Miracles will clearly set the Living Church of God apart from false prophets and false apostles who preach the falling away has already occurred in WCG…

This is why a correct understanding of the Falling Away is important!

* Enable LCG to deliver a powerful warning about a major prophetic end time event that is coming in the years just ahead!

* Will set LCG apart from false teachers who are saying this event has already occurred.
(Winnail D. The Falling Away. Must-Play DVD DVE704, June 1, 2012)

And, no, nearly 12 years later that powerful warning, etc., did not happen with that change–Dr. Winnail’s falling away position  was not successful. It was when he taught this heresy about how LCG would be set apart and succeed that caused me to start to separate myself from LCG. When he was teaching that his doctrinal error was setting LCG apart and defining that church, that was not acceptable. And Charlotte leadership would not accept the truth on this, despite my efforts to explain and document why Dr. Winnail’s position was in error.

In his must-play sermon, Dr. Winnail said that what he was teaching in that sermon was “the position of the Church.” By Church he meant the Living Church of God, which I am no longer a part of as I could not accept this heretical teaching and certain other errors.

Dr. Winnail talked about holding fast, referred to Titus 1:9, and wrongly claimed that Herbert Armstrong did not apply the falling away to the Church of God (which obviously he did in The Incredible Human Potential and his coworker letter of February 21, 1974). Notice also something that Herbert Armstrong wrote about it:

To Peter and the others, He said: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mat. 16:19). But He prophesied apostacy. “Many false prophets shall rise,” He said, “and shall deceive many.” Paul foretold the great “falling away” from God’s Truth and Christ’s Gospel, turning unto FABLES (I1 Thes. 2:l-9; II Tim. 4:l-4). It had even begun in Paul’s day (I1 Thes. 2:7). (Armstrong HW. Seven Keys to Understanding the Bible. Good News, July 1949, p. 3).

Dr. Winnail also stated, while showing 1 John 4:1-6, 2 Peter 3:17-18, and Luke 21:36, that:

You must be able to discern the spirit of truth from the spirit of error.

…do not be led by the error of the wicked…These are admonitions we find in the scriptures…Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you free…

Watch and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

The above seemed to be teaching that those who disagreed with him were following the spirit of error, and hence not Christians (he also made other comments between those shown above that did so as well). This is what most concerned me about this sermon, and that combined by a similar statement Dr. Winnail made in a sermon DVE727 titled Watch and Get Ready, got me to seriously question if LCG could be Philadelphian.

After referring to why Protestant commentaries support his position on the “falling away,” Dr. Winnail stated that those who do not agree are “blinded to the reality” of what he is teaching. The repeated statements suggesting that one is being influenced by Satan or not part of the COG made it clear to me that if this was his church’s position, that this was not appropriate for me. And various others have also began to realize that.

LCG seems to have finally seen some of the errors in its falling away position and presumably does not identify itself by that doctrinal heresy that Dr. Winnail officially said LCG did.

Anyway, eleven plus years after I left that group, it is good that LCG’s top leader has basically written I was right about this.

Now, let’s also look at some of the other points that Gerald Weston wrote, such as:

But when Jude urged the people to get back to the faith once delivered, he was referring to the faith of Christ, His apostles, and early first-century Christianity (Jude 3–4). That kind of Christianity has very little resemblance to trinitarian “Christianity,” no matter the century.

Yes, that is true. To support what Jude wrote regarding contending for the “faith once delivered,” we in the Continuing Church of God put out the following highly referenced books: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? and Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism.

That said, Gerald Weston also wrote:

There is no doubt that what occurred in the Worldwide Church of God was an apostasy from truth. And, truly, those who fell away in that organization “did not receive the love of the truth” (v. 10). But was that what Paul was describing? Or was he referring to something larger?

There is a prophecy in Zechariah that may be relevant here. Notice:

7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
Against the Man who is My Companion,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered;
Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,”
Says the Lord,
“That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,
But one-third shall be left in it:
9 I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.'” (Zechariah 13:7-9)

While the above seems to have other applications, the fact is that two-thirds of those in the old WCG accepted total apostasy after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, and about one-third did not, makes the possible application of the Tkach apostasy seem to fit.

Could there be another falling away?

Yes.

Will there be another falling away?

Yes.

Will it be larger in terms of number of people who left the true faith after the Tkach Administration?

For that we will have to wait and see–but right now there are not enough people in the real COGs to match or exceed that falling away.

When the Beast has risen up, there will be a falling away, as that also seems to be alluded to in Daniel 11:32-35–though the size is not clear in scripture.

The fact is that there will be some type of future falling away by believers in Daniel 11:29-36. Herbert Armstrong, when citing Daniel 11:33-35, stated:

These are the people of God  (Armstrong HW. Falling away, part 2.  World Tomorrow radio broadcast, HA5406.rm).

If one or more of the COGs does balloon up in membership right before the end (as some have thought, and which may be consistent with certain Roman Catholic prophecies as well as how the late LCG evangelist John Ogwyn seemed to interpret Romans 9:28), then it is possible that a larger falling away from the Church of God will appear right around the time that the man of sin is somewhat identified by associated signs and wonders. And if those two events are supposed to be concurrent, then this may better fit 2 Thessalonians 2:3 than the Tkach-apostasy.

Getting back to Gerald Weston, again see something that he wrote:

As God’s Church has long taught, one of the keys to understanding prophecy is to recognize prophetic gaps in time. The rebellion against the truth set in early and took time to fully develop.  …

It is clear that the prophesied man of sin will not appear until shortly before Christ’s return. This final head of a satanic system, one that has made the world drunk with the wine of its fornication, will take to a new level the claim of divine status. When we read of how he will perform signs, wonders, and deceptive miracles, this is not hard to understand. The world will worship this man.

As far as the man of sin goes, LCG still needs to realize that he is the first beast of Revelation 13:1-10 and not the second beast (Revelation 13:13-17). The second beast is the one who gets the first beast worshiped–that first beast is the man of sin as other scriptures make clear (see also Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?).

As far as when the identity of the man of sin NOT being the second beast, but the first beast of Revelation 13 was taught, I helped reveal that to LCG when I was part of it (which was many years after the Tkach-related falling away). The leadership there in Charlotte that I consulted with agreed with me then, as did a top leader in the United Church of God who I also discussed that matter with. Yet, despite having that revealed to two of the largest x-WCG churches, neither organization has yet fixed its official position on this.

Related to timing and the falling away, here is something I wrote over 11 years ago that is in my article The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings:

The Context and Timing and Apostasia

The written portion of the presentation, which Dr. Winnail also orally mentions, states:

The content of II Thes. 2:3 indicates “the great rebellion against God” will occur in conjunction with the activities of “the man of sin” at the end of the age, just before the return of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Winnail also then states that it is an assumption that the falling away could come well before the revealing of the son of perdition.  Yet, the passage in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 states that the falling away comes first, then the man of sin is revealed and it is not until verse 8 that signs and lying wonders are specifically mentioned—Dr. Winnail’s use of the term assumption seems to be odd .  Again, notice what Herman Hoeh wrote:

“Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day”-the time of God’s  intervention in human affairs when Jesus Christ will return to rule the nations–“shall not come except there come a falling away FIRST” (I1 Thess. 2: 3 ). The wholesale departure of Christians from the truth was the FIRST event prophesied to befall the true Church.
(Hoeh H.  Why So Many Denominations?  Plain Truth, September 1953, p. 3)

The falling away is not specifically listed as happening after the signs and lying wonders, but according to the Bible, before.  Though, another could come closer to it if the future falling away in Daniel 11:32-35 is the same one that Paul was referring to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

The written portion of the presentation, which Dr. Winnail also orally mentions, states that the context of 2 Thessalonians 2 cannot refer to events that are decades before Jesus returns.  Dr. Winnail stated that the Tkach-era falling away occurred in 1995, and the falling away could not be 15 or 20 years later.

Yet, Jesus’ own words state the signs that Christians should watch out for will happen during the time of a particular generation:

34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  (Matthew 24:34)

Jesus probably would not have used the expression generation if all the events were quite imminently closely connected.  While Jesus’ words above do not prove that the Tkach-era falling away is the one of 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and perhaps it was not, they most certainly do not disprove it as Dr. Winnail seems to be teaching.

However, even if the events of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and the miracles associated with the son of perdition are as closely tied together as Dr. Winnail insists, this does not preclude the possibility that the falling away will not mainly be from the Church of God.

Dr. Winnail, while claiming that parts of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 cannot have a time gap of any significance based upon some Protestant commentators, then goes out and essentially states that these two things dominate the beginning of the Day of the Lord.

But, the position of the Church of God has been that the Day of the Lord lasts one year (Isaiah 34:8; 61:1-3) and happens 2 1/2 years after the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  Thus, his words seem to be contradicting that COG teaching—unless Dr. Winnail means that it happens during the Day of the Lord.  It is unclear to me if LCG changed its Day of the Lord teachings on this as well as this was not answered.  If not, it is confusing as to why parts of his position shared as part of the Council of Elders’ meeting in May 2012, an article placed in the TW, and this “must-play” sermon put together for all to watch.

The written portion of the presentation, which Dr. Winnail also orally mentions, states:

NT Scriptures – “apostasia”
“Apostasy” and “Falling Away” are not used exclusively to refer to a falling away from the Truth or the Church

Yet, the only two times a version of Strong’s word 646 “apostasia” is used in the New Testament it seems to be referring to the truth–either the truth as the Jewish religious leaders understood it (Acts 21:21) or as the brethren (2 Thessalonians 2:1,3) were to understand it.  And for the Truth of the Church this can be confirmed by other NT writings, such as 1 Timothy 4:1.

Additionally, it may be of interest to note that there is a related Greek word, apostasion (Strong’s 647), that means something separative, and all three times it is used in the New Testament, it is always specifically translated as “of divorcement” (NKJV).   The relative permanency of apostasion and its close relationship to apostasia suggests to me that the falling away (apostasia) is not a simple rebellion that Protestants/Catholics may decide to change their minds about later (like when some of them respond to the two witnesses), but an intentional rebellion from the truth.

The written portion of the presentation, which Dr. Winnail also orally mentions, states:

The falling away in WCG was significant for the COG, but barely a blip on the world’s radar.

While his sermon makes a big deal of the fact that the world barely noticed this, please understand that not only is the letter of 2 Thessalonians 1:1 addressed to “the church,” but in chapter 2:1 the “brethren”  are specifically being admonished–these words are Christians, not the world.  The world will notice later that they are supporting the Beast/Great Monarch and the False Prophet/Antipope, but most of them will not (probably until sometime after the start of the Day of the Lord) consider that they have fallen away from the Roman Catholic version of “Christianity” when they do so.  Yet, later Dr. Winnail seemingly dismissed the COG falling away because the world did not notice it—but the world will not consider itself falling a religious leader doing miracles as “the falling away” either.

Contrary to what the sermon stated, it matters not that the world did not consider the Tkach apostasy to be much.  Prophecy, according to Paul is for believers, not unbelievers:

22…prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. (1 Corinthians 14:22)

Non-believers are already deceived (Revelation 12:9) and will also be further deceived during the end times (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).

Dr. Winnail, slightly before that, but after the mentioning the “blip,” mentioned Matthew 24 and stated that Jesus was discussing things that would be increasingly happening in the world essentially for most to see.  Yet, he did not quote Matthew 24:12-13 which specifically refers to events affecting mainly the little flock (Luke 12:32) of true Christians:

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)

Matthew 24:12-13 is clearly speaking about those who had contact with real Christians and had real exposure to the truth.

Raymond McNair’s 1967 writing about Matthew 24:8-13, as was David Antion’s in 1968, is consistent with my own position, as well as that of HWA:

Christ sounded a fearful warning! “All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you [referring to the terrible end-time persecutions, culminating in the Great Tribulation!]; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another. and shall hate one another. . . . And because iniquity shall abound, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD” (Mat. 24:8-12)! Have YOU taken this warning from your very Saviour personally? Have you made an inventory of your life lately to be sure you are not guilty of this charge? Christ also solemnly promised the overcomers: “He that shall ENDURE unto the end, the same shall be saved” (verse 13). (McNair R.  Will Your Love Wax Cold? Good News, April 1967, p. 7).

Notice His Mt. Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24… Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold’ (verse 12)… “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (verse 13). If only we can hold on through this terrible time of persecution, of sin, of false prophets!… Then Jesus says to yon: “And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; AND IT FELL: and great was the fall of it” (Mat. 7:26-27). … Remember, the prophecies say stress and strain will be put on immediate families. This will cause many to fall away from God’s Church.(Antion D. Will You Fall Away? Good News. May-June 1968, pp. 5, 21)

So, the above clearly shows that the old WCG did teach that Matthew 24:12-13 was referring to the church. But Dr. Winnail’s sermon did not discuss that.

Anyway, Dr. Winnail, who (along with Gerald Weston and many others) remains in my regular prayers, was wrong on many points.

Perhaps, Gerald Weston’s willingness to make a correction on the falling away shows he will correct errors about the identity of the man of sin and other matters.

That would be part of my prayer for LCG as well as UCG and others who hold to a number of prophetic misunderstandings (see also  Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?).

COGwriter

PCG continues to push its view that Donald Trump is a prophesied Jeroboam as the March 2024 dated edition of its Philadelphia Trumpet magazine has the following from its leader Gerald Flurry:

Donald Trump’s Return in Bible Prophecy

It seems that the harder Donald Trump’s enemies try to destroy him, the more Americans support him. …

Yet it appears that one way or another, he is coming back.

This is extraordinary. But if you have been reading the Trumpet, you know I forecast this right after the 2020 election. When the media said Trump was finished, even when many conservatives lost hope, I published an article titled “Why Donald Trump Will Remain America’s President.” Granted, that article said Joe Biden would never take office. So I didn’t get every detail right. Events took a different turn—and I now see there were important reasons for that. But I said Donald Trump would return to the U.S. presidency.

Immediately after Biden was inaugurated, I wrote “Why I Still Believe Donald Trump Is Coming Back.” Referring to that earlier article, I wrote, “I made a mistake, and I don’t want to act like there was no mistake. … However, I want you to remember what I wrote in that article. I am not running away from it. What happened in America at the inauguration is not the end of the story” (emphasis in the original).

Please read those articles in light of events since. They show why biblical prophecy can be trusted. Saying Trump would return was a bold claim—but if you understand prophecy, in a sense, it actually wasn’t so bold. Because when God says something will happen, we can trust Him!

Yes, God can be trusted, but Gerald Flurry cannot. He specifically taught that Joe Biden would not take office, but he did.

In that March article, he also included the following from an earlier article:

I have repeatedly emphasized over the past four years. I know these prophecies will be fulfilled, I am 99.9 percent sure my understanding of them is correct, and anyone can prove them!

One is in Amos 7. … It speaks of a time when God is preparing to measure the destruction of end-time Israel—the United States and Britain—and He says, “I will not again pass by them any more” (verse 8). This is just before severe correction comes on these nations if they do not repent. They are receiving their final warning.

The last part of verse 9 says this is about “the house of Jeroboam.” Verse 10 says, “Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel ….” Verse 11 says, “For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die …” [if he does not repent]. Verse 12 describes a message from Jeroboam that Amaziah delivers to God’s people. From verse 14 on is about the Great Tribulation, the time of suffering that closes the age of man.

Gerald Flurry has been repeatedly wrong about Amos 9, Donald Trump, and Jeroboam.

Notice, also, something from the September 2023 edition of its magazine by Gerald Flurry:

The book of Kings is part of the former prophets. This book was written by a prophet, and most of the prophecy contained within it is for this end time.

2 Kings 14:26-27 read, “For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” …

God is going to save Israel temporarily through a modern-day Jeroboam. Donald Trump is coming back. Of course, he has some serious sins and problems; it isn’t because of his righteousness that God is using him. But Mr. Trump is going to receive the opportunity to restore some stability to America, for a short time.

“Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath …” (verse 28). Mr. Trump will have to war his way back. Watch for him to do just that!

But the national revival that he oversees will be brief. Anciently, after Jeroboam’s reign, Assyria did conquer Israel. The same is about to happen again unless our peoples repent. …

Ezekiel 3:15 says, “Then I came to them of the captivity … and remained there astonished among them seven days.” Ezekiel—The End-Time Prophet explains these seven days and the day-for-a-year prophetic principle (see Ezekiel 4:6). These “seven days” are the first seven years of the Philadelphia Church of God when we focused on distributing Malachi’s Message to the spiritual captives of the Laodicean Church.

Then something changed: “And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me” (Ezekiel 3:16-17). Notice, now our focus is no longer on the Laodiceans but back on the nations. We have a watchman message for them—on The Key of David, in the Trumpet, the Trumpet Daily and so much more. https://www.thetrumpet.com/28042-america-under-attack-was-prophesied. https://www.thetrumpet.com/28042-america-under-attack-was-prophesied

Before going further, let me point out that not only does Ezekiel 3:15 not refer to PCG, PCG has proven to be wrong about the Laodiceans–that will be shown later in this post.

Regarding the Jeroboam matter, in 2021, PCG posted the following:

The story of an ancient king of Israel carries an urgent lesson for Americans and Israelis in 2021. …

Since January 2017, Philadelphia Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has repeatedly explained the dramatic prophecy in Amos 7, which specifically discusses an end-time Jeroboam and “house of Jeroboam.” Mr. Flurry has shown that United States President Donald Trump is the end-time type of King Jeroboam ii, and that Mr. Trump’s presidency can be compared to the summary of Jeroboam’s reign recorded in 2 Kings 14. …

Under Jeroboam, Israel experienced an economic boom. Its enemies retreated. Its borders expanded. A religious revival swept across the land. The same happened in America under Donald Trump. …

God is resurrecting the history of Jeroboam for us right now. God, in His mercy, is saving Israel one final time. As was the case under Jeroboam ii, the resurgence of the United States under Donald Trump is only temporary. The rapid radicalization of the nation under the Biden administration proves this all the more. When President Trump regains power, God’s purpose in bringing that about is not merely to stabilize the nation or our bank accounts. Its purpose is to provide time—and precious little of it—to repent. https://www.thetrumpet.com/24401-the-modern-king-jeroboam-ii

No, a religious revival did not sweep across the USA under Donald Trump.

Note that the first line points to 2021. Here is something else posted by PCG in 2021:

How Afghanistan Could Help Donald Trump Return to the Presidency

September 2, 2021

The Afghanistan nightmare continues to haunt us all. It has caused many of us to experience new heights of disbelief and anger. But imagine watching events in Afghanistan as a member of America’s military. …

Some might call it a military uprising or coup. But these terms imply unconstitutional or lawless action or movement. Veterans who would support some sort of military resistance against the radical left would argue that they are defending America. They would say that they are protecting America’s Constitution, protecting its Judeo-Christian heritage, protecting law and order. Would they be wrong?

Veterans and active-duty servicemen are among the most patriotic Americans you will find. Many joined the military because they had a strong sense of duty to their nation. They wanted to protect America. At what point will some veterans consider it their duty to protect America by actively resisting the U.S. government and its war on traditional America?

It takes some imagination to see a modern superpower like America experiencing some sort of military uprising. But think, this time last year it was hard to imagine what happened with the national election. America today is in uncharted territory, politically, economically, socially, culturally and militarily. We need to be ready for anything.

In the July issue of the Trumpet, editor in chief Gerald Flurry once again reminded readers of the prophecy that says Donald Trump—an end-time type of ancient Israel’s King Jeroboam ii—will return to the presidency. You will find this prophecy in 2 Kings 14 and Amos 7. …

I’ll conclude with one last statement from Gerald Flurry: “President Trump could also lead some states to secede from the union. That would lead to some kind of warfare.”

Some might think this is far-fetched or implausible. But is it really?

Just imagine you are part of America’s armed forces right now. Who would you prefer to serve, and who do you think is more interested in your safety and in protecting and preserving your America—Joe Biden and the radical left, or Donald Trump? https://www.thetrumpet.com/24545-how-afghanistan-could-help-donald-trump-return-to-the-presidency

So, it appears that some in PCG were hoping for a type of military intervention to reinstate Donald Trump as presidency. That did not happen.

This is consistent with the following, that PCG’s top leader Gerald Flurry had in the July 2021 dated edition of its magazine:

What Will Happen After Trump Regains Power

Bible prophecy shows that he will return to office to stop some of the destruction being caused by the current administration. …

(2 Kings 14:26-27). … “Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (verse 28). This verse marks a new development. It happens after God uses Jeroboam to save Israel. …

How does this verse apply to Donald Trump? Bible prophecy shows that, however it happens, Mr. Trump will return to office.

‘Warred’ to ‘Recover’

Amos 7 contains a prophecy about end-time Israel—most prominently, the superpower America today. It is clearly about the very end of the nation. It shows that at that time, Jeroboam is not only in power, but he is wielding kingly authority.

This prophecy describes a confrontation Jeroboam has with a representative of God. I will explain more about this in a moment. But it’s important to note that Amos 7 looks like one flowing event: There is no hint of a gap or pause in Jeroboam’s reign before this confrontation. Is it possible that this prophecy doesn’t mention an interruption in his rule because in God’s view, there is no gap? I believe that by maintaining the flow of Jeroboam’s rule in this prophecy, God may well be showing that the 2020 election was stolen. Perhaps He looks on Mr. Trump as still being president of the United States! The view that the election was stolen has far more weight if that’s the way God Himself sees it.

But 2 Kings 14:28 gives us insight into what is happening during the pause in Trump’s rule, between his first and second term. …

President Trump could also lead some states to secede from the union. That would lead to some kind of warfare.

Verse 28 of 2 Kings 14 strongly indicates that Mr. Trump recovers his presidency by some kind of warring—not voting.

It seems certain to me that this will happen before the next presidential election in 2024—unless there would be some kind of war and voting combined. But 2 Kings 14:28 does not even hint of an election.

(Flurry G. What Will Happen After Trump Regains Power. Philadelphia Trumpet, July 2021 https://www.thetrumpet.com/23957-what-will-happen-after-trump-regains-power)

Gerald Flurry was predicting some type of ‘war’ that will put Donald Trump in office before the 2024 election (I bolded his statement above to make it easier for people to notice that he has been wrong about that). Gerald Flurry has a documented history of error. Does anyone in PCG seriously expect that a war or a non-election will put Donald Trump in office before the November 2024 election like Gerald Flurry wrote? The delusioned need to wake up.

It should be pointed out that Gerald Flurry did not teach a “pause” between Donald Trump’s presidential terms before.

Right before the election in 2020, Gerald Flurry was NOT teaching that Donald Trump would one day again be President of the United States–he was teaching that Donald Trump had to remain in office now. Here is direct proof as Gerald Flurry wrote the following:

Donald Trump Is Going to Win This Election

November 9. 2020

This past Friday night, Joe Biden held a big parade and made a victory speech. Saturday, the American news media decided to declare him the winner of the election and the president-elect of the United States.

It does appear strongly that this man will be America’s next president. But I absolutely do not believe that at all. Regardless of how things look right now, I am confident that Donald Trump will remain president. …

Unfulfilled Prophecies

The Trumpet has been explaining biblical prophecies that apply to Donald Trump and to America—specific end-time prophecies that must be and will be fulfilled.

We have shown how President Trump is here to stop the destructive spirit that is working to destroy America. …

But looking at this modern-day Jeroboam, you have to say God gave Israel a “savior”—at least to the extent that He wouldn’t let these enemies bring down the nation. He has been blocking this movement to “blot out the name of Israel [which includes America] from under heaven.”

And is his job finished? No, it isn’t. So I don’t believe at all that he is going to disappear from the scene!

The Trumpet has also pointed to a prophecy in Amos 7 that tells us a lot about this end-time Jeroboam. None of that prophecy has yet been fulfilled—but we can be sure that it will be, and President Trump must be in power for this to take place. God is going to fulfill every prophecy of His Bible! …

Donald Trump certainly has his problems, and God sees those—but He chose him as a savior—temporarily—for this nation! https://www.thetrumpet.com/23137-donald-trump-is-going-to-win-this-election

While God will fulfill every prophecy of His Bible, Gerald Flurry has a history of misunderstanding and misinterpreting biblical prophecies. THIS ELECTION meant the one in November 2020. Gerald Flurry wrote that Joe Biden would NOT be President of the USA and he was “confident that Donald Trump will remain president.”

Notice also something from PCG’s Joel Hilliker:

January 19, 2021

Mr. Flurry’s prophecy is out there.

And now only God can back him up.

Watching the news, Mr. Flurry’s statement that Donald Trump will remain America’s president seems impossible. Because even if facts emerge showing incontrovertible election fraud, American media are in lockstep with radical Democrats to block the truth from ever reaching the average American.

This is an up-against-the-sea, trapped-by-the-mountains, army-at-our-backs moment. Nobody can change this except God.

Mr. Flurry continues the work of Herbert W. Armstrong, whom God used as an end-time type of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6). The original Elijah faced a large group of false prophets who held a lot of power and collusion with the political authorities over the nation. He faced off directly against them, building an altar, laying a sacrifice on it, then pouring on it large amounts of water. Then he prayed only a short prayer. Yet he was absolutely confident God would answer!

What happened? Fire from heaven devoured that sacrifice. God backed up His servant. Imagine what it would have looked like if He didn’t. But He did.

We don’t know how God will intervene. Like many of our readers, we have looked at the Constitution and the political situation and the Bible, and we have thought perhaps God would intervene this way, or that way, or maybe this other way. We don’t know how, but we trust that some way God will intervene so His prophecies will be fulfilled. His ways are higher than our ways. We do not know how God’s prophecies will stand, but we know they will stand!

Many people are watching us closely. If God does not intervene, a lot of people would feel justified in accusing Mr. Flurry of being a false prophet. https://watchjerusalem.co.il/1141-why-this-inauguration-day-is-especially-historic

According to the Bible, Gerald Flurry is a false prophet.

Notice the following warning from the Bible:

17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ — 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:17-22)

While the Bible says people should listen to God’s true prophets, that certainly does not include Gerald Flurry. Gerald Flurry has again been proven false. He did not just make some inadvertent error (like a typo), he presumptuously and repeatedly insisted that Donald Trump would remain in office now. That did NOT happen. Other PCG writers posted to expect the US Supreme Court to change the results–which did not happen (see PCG: Will This Texas Lawsuit Overturn the Presidential Election?) as well as to expect a miracle for Donald Trump to REMAIN in office (see PCG says expect a miracle: Joe Biden will not be president of the USA).

PCG posted:

December 17, 2020

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s cover story for the January 2021 Trumpet issue is titled “Why Donald Trump Will Remain America’s President.” It explains that President Trump will remain in office because of Bible prophecies in 2 Kings 14 and Amos 7. Now that the Electoral College has voted for Joe Biden, some earthshaking frauds are going to have to be exposed for these prophecies to be fulfilled. https://www.thetrumpet.com/23279-prominent-election-attorney-stock-up-on-guns-and-ammunition/print

Gerald Flurry was clearly wrong about “prophecies.” Donald Trump did not remain in office.

The New Testament teaches:

21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Gerald Flurry’s insistence that Donald Trump would remain in office or be in before the November 2024 election shows that he failed the test. His identification of Donald Trump as a modern Jeroboam has always been wrong.

Furthermore years ago, Gerald Flurry originally taught that Joe Tkach, Sr. was the man of sin, but after he died, changed that to be Joe Tkach, Jr. And while neither were/are the man of sin (see Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?), this was another false position of Gerald Flurry that those in PCG have tended to overlook.

As far as Donald Trump goes, in CCOG’s Letter to the Brethren: January 21, 2021 we have the following:

While it is not that it is impossible for Donald Trump to again be the President of the United States, that is not something we as Christians need to focus on. Neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump are what America needs. The USA needs national repentance.

But the CCOG’s position was NOT based on Amos 7–just political reality and possibilities.

As far as Amos 7 goes, PCG’s Gerald Flurry was also proven wrong on something else he wrote:

A Time of Extreme Urgency

Amos “warned the people that the supreme moment of their success was but the prelude to their doom” (Soncino commentary). This is what we are looking at with Donald Trump assuming the American presidency. Some people believe there was good news in this election. The Republican side was ecstatic. Right after the election, Rush Limbaugh said, “We just got our country back!” But they didn’t! The “good news” is a mirage. It is a false hope.

This is actually a prelude to America’s doom. A man is on the scene whose house God is going to take out by the sword! Conditions in America may improve for a short time. It may even help the work of God. But its ultimate end is destruction. Our people are going to face the wrath of God until they repent!

Amos 7:7-17 show that our time is very limited. What is going to happen in the next four years or perhaps even less?

This is one of the strongest, most urgent warnings in the Bible!

“Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit” (verse 14). Amos had no formal seminary or college training. God simply gave him a job. Even without “credentials,” God used this man!

“Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land” (verses 16-17). Amos had a very different view from Amaziah: He knew this was a message from God!

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). How will this famine of the word come about? God’s Church will be forced to leave. No one will be here to deliver the message anymore. When this faithful remnant of God’s people is taken to a place of safety, God’s message will cease, except what we do from there. The nations of Israel have had over 80 years to heed this message, but soon they will not be able to even find it.

Verse 14 talks about people who are going to “fall, and never rise up again.” This is talking about 50 percent of God’s own Laodicean or lukewarm church who will lose their eternal lives! What a tragedy—the greatest tragedy in this end time! …

If there are protesters who can stand up and speak out so boldly against President Trump, shouldn’t the people of God speak out boldly? We have to warn this nation! Verse 2 concludes, “and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.” The Anchor Bible says the subject here is a cosmic holocaust—a nuclear holocaust! God is about to send nuclear fire! (see also verses 4, 7, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, 5). https://www.thetrumpet.com/14642-who-is-the-modern-day-jeroboam viewed 01/21/21

So according to Gerald Flurry’s interpretation of Amos 7, 50% of Laodiceans were going to lose their eternal lives by April of 2021, which was four years after Gerald Flurry’s article was officially published (it actually was published a month or so earlier). Gerald Flurry was absolutely and clearly wrong about that. And while the USA may well experience a nuclear fire, it will not happen before 2027. Gerald Flurry is NOT God’s prophet.

As far as predictions about Donald Trump, here is a list that I posted that were at least partially fulfilled:

1. WARNING ONE: Donald Trump will offend the Europeans. FULFILLED.
2. WARNING TWO: Donald Trump’s election will be used to further push European unity. FULFILLED.
3. WARNING THREE: Increased civil unrest will come to the USA. FULFILLED.
4. WARNING FOUR: The fourth warning was that Donald Trump’s rise would encourage the Europeans to arm: FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
5. WARNING FIVE: There is a fifth warning related to the fourth: Germany will want a stronger military. FULFILLED. FILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
6. WARNING SIX: Donald Trump’s views on climate change will cause problems with Europe. FULFILLED.
7. WARNING SEVEN: Donald Trump will be one that is involved in fulfilling 2 Timothy 3:1-5. FULFILLED.
8. WARNING EIGHT: Debt will increase under Donald Trump. FULFILLED.
9. WARNING NINE: Donald Trump may propose a peace deal consistent with Daniel 9:27. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
10. WARNING TEN: Donald Trump would support aspects of ecumenical unity. FULFILLED.
11. WARNING ELEVEN: People will call for Donald Trump’s impeachment. FULFILLED.
12. WARNING TWELVE: Donald Trump would encourage the rise of the final King of the South of biblical prophecy–a power involving peoples in the Middle East and North Africa. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
13. WARNING THIRTEEN: The rise of Donald Trump will confirm to various ones that the USA is in decline. FULFILLED.
14. WARNING FOURTEEN: Daily sacrifices will one day resume in Jerusalem (cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31). PARTIALLY FULFILLED–STEPS IN PROCESS (Note: I did NOT post that the daily sacrifices would start during a Donald Trump Administration, only that they one day would need to start. The Trump Administration took steps that at least indirectly helped set the stage).
15. WARNING FIFTEEN: Donald Trump will support increased government surveillance. FULFILLED.
16. WARNING SIXTEEN: Donald Trump’s Administration would focus too much on China and not consider the military threat that Europe poses. FULFILLED.
17. WARNING SEVENTEEN: Donald Trump’s position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) will assist China. FULFILLED.
18. WARNING EIGHTEEN: Mexico will look more towards Europe and less towards the USA on trade matters. AT LEAST PARTIALLY FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
19. WARNING NINETEEN: His attitudes toward GMOs. FULFILLED.
20. WARNING TWENTY: The price of gold will hit record highs against the USA dollar. FULFILLED in July/August 2020–THOUGH ANOTHER RECORD WILL TAKE PLACE.

Details related to the fulfillment of the above are in the article: Donald Trump in Prophecy.

For a 21st and 22nd item (as well as to show there were at least 20 items related to Donald Trump as number 14 and 20 are not directly related), it should be noted that I correctly wrote years ago that 1) The Great Tribulation would NOT begin in the first term of a Donald Trump Administration and 2) Armageddon would not start under the first term of a Donald Trump Administration (watch: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch).

PCG’s Gerald Flurry was wrong about Donald Trump. I was not. I denounced his view that Donald Trump was Jeroboam on this page back on March 3, 2017 (see PCG: Donald Trump is a modern Jeroboam and will be destroyed; Gerald Flurry also claims to be a type of the prophet Amos and that J. Tkach is a modern Amaziah).

PCG’s Gerald Flurry was also proven wrong about Amos 7. I have claimed that for years and was shown to be right by May 1, 2021.

Gerald Flurry was wrong about Donald Trump getting into office by 2024.

While Christians should heed true prophets and not despise prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20; see also 21st Century Church of God Prophets), PCG’s Gerald Flurry has again been proven to have spoken presumptuously.

He and PCG remain wrong in their view of Amos 7 and many other matters (see Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God).

Those who have enough of “the love of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10) should clearly be able to see that Gerald Flurry is NOT God’s prophet, but a false one.

People associated with PCG should believe the Bible about false prophets as Gerald Flurry has clearly made false predictions.

And even if Donald Trump becomes USA president again, Gerald Flurry has been proven false about his predictions about Amos 7.

TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT!

The existence of false prophets does NOT excuse not supporting a real one.

Consider that the Book of Proverbs warns:

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)

Now, most end time Christians do not believe that they are lazy, but wise.

Yet, they overlook evidence because they are uncomfortable with the idea that there could now be a prophet that they should heed.

It is NOT safer to reject a true prophet because there are many false ones.

More details on that are in the article: 21st Century Church of God Prophets.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? You you prove all things and test the spirits?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed 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. This is a video.
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.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2?; here is a link to a video in Spanish: ¿Quién es el ‘hombre de pecado’? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œ
f/’Y’jNº’ÿ Here is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.

Official Army Service Mark

COGwriter

The US Army, after having failed to meet various recruiting goals, has announced that it needs less soldiers:

US Army Plans To Cut 24,000 Jobs …

February 27, 2024

The US Army faces the most challenging recruiting environment in decades, if not ever, as America’s Generation Z doesn’t want to fight foreign wars driven by neocon warmongering politicians in Washington, the military-industrial complex, NATO, and mega-corporations.

For several years, the Army has been coming to terms with a recruiting crisis of historic proportions. …

Given the soaring threat of World War III, the Army is about to undergo a major restructuring, according to a document obtained by Fox News.

The service calls for reducing its force by about 24,000, or about 5%….

Fox noted cavalry squadrons, Stryker brigade combat teams, infantry brigade combat teams, and security force assistance brigades, amounting to about 10,000 jobs, will also be axed.

The document described the service as “significantly over-structured” as a push for a much leaner and meaner force.

Here’s from from Fox:

The service is currently structured to have up to 494,000 soldiers, but the total number of active duty soldiers is about 445,000. The new plan has Army leaders looking to recruit enough troops through Fiscal Year 2029 to reach a goal of 470,000 active-duty soldiers.

Despite the cuts, the service plans to add another 7,500 troops for air defense and counter-drone units. https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-army-plans-cut-24000-jobs-due-over-structured-woes

So, less soldiers.

Last summer, it was reported that the US Army was giving transitioning soldiers exemption from meeting physical requirements:

Army exempts trans service members from physical fitness standards

July 6, 2023

Diversity is our strength. Except, apparently, the more diversity the military seeks, the less strength it requires.

That seems to be the lesson of the Army’s physical fitness standards, which do not apply to people who are getting “gender-affirming” care. …

Apparently, the military doesn’t believe that transgender soldiers are just like everybody else, and in order to keep them on active duty they have thrown standards out the window.

The military is going through a crisis with weight–since 2001 the number of soldiers who are classified as overweight has skyrocketed by over 400%, and much of that has to do with accommodating a more “diverse” military. …

“Diversity is our strength” seems the opposite of the truth, at least as the military seeks to achieve it.

One of the lies we are being told, relentlessly, is that when the military makes efforts to expand the types of people admitted into the services the standards applied will remain the same. This has been clearly false forever. This has been particularly true when it comes to sex differences. As we know, different standards of physical fitness are applied to men and women, in opposition to what we were told when recruitment opened up, and now we see that the standards have been changed even more drastically for transgender people. https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/07/06/army-exempts-trans-service-members-from-physical-fitness-standards-n562821

A woke, out-of-shape army is not a particularly strong one. But that is the trend for the military of the USA.

Related to females, the US military used to have a 2% maximum of women, as it used to be concerned that having more females would hurt combat-readiness. Then in the late 1970s, they increased that to more like 15%, then they later dropped the limit. Military readiness has less and less been important to top leaders related to the troops of the USA.

The Biden-Harris Administration is pushing wokeness over military readiness. In 2022, the Army also reduced its size, partially because of missing recruitment goals (see US Army pushes wokeness, cannot get enough acceptable recruits, cuts size, and punishes anti-vaccine troops).

Reducing the size of its military, while it also becomes more ‘woke,’ as well as changing standards, makes the USA a weaker target.

That being said, the USA is prophesied to lose militarily in the relatively near future (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Policy issues, health issues, and ignoring biblical prophecies will end up being factors for the coming defeat of the USA.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Obesity, processed foods, and the Bible Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned?
Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy This is a video. Are there disadvantages to being overweight? Is junk food really bad for you? Does the Bible discuss overeating and/or obesity? Is overeating having an effect on the US military? What are the ramifications of personal and national health for overeating? What should you eat?
Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
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?
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.
Could 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?

(Chart from US CDC)

COGwriter

Time reports that Peru is facing increased dengue fever:

Peru Declares Health Emergency in Most Provinces as Dengue Cases Soar

February 27, 2024

LIMA, Peru — Peru declared a health emergency in most of its provinces on Monday due to a growing number of dengue cases that are occurring at a time of higher than usual temperatures caused by the El Nino weather pattern.

According to the nation’s health ministry, the number of dengue cases registered during the first seven weeks of this year is twice as high as during the same period in 2023 – with more than 31,000 cases recorded. https://time.com/6835505/peru-health-emergency-dengue/

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has the following related to dengue fever:

Symptoms

• Mild symptoms of dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever, aches and pains, or a rash.

The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Rash
• Aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain)
• Any warning sign

Symptoms of dengue typically last 2–7 days. Most people will recover after about a week.

Treatment

• There is no specific medicine to treat dengue. …

Severe dengue

• About 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop severe dengue.
• Severe dengue can result in shock, internal bleeding, and even death.
• If you have had dengue in the past, you are more likely to develop severe dengue.
• Infants and pregnant women are at higher risk for developing severe dengue.

Symptoms of severe dengue

Warning signs of severe dengue

Watch for signs and symptoms of severe dengue. Warning signs usually begin in the 24–48 hours after your fever has gone away.

Immediately go to a local clinic or emergency room if you or a family member has any of the following symptoms.

• Belly pain, tenderness
• Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)
• Bleeding from the nose or gums
• Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool
• Feeling tired, restless, or irritable https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/symptoms/index.html accessed 02/27/24

Now, notice something related to Brazil:

Deadly Virus Spreading in Brazil after Bill Gates’ ‘Gene-Edited Mosquitos’ Released

February 26, 2024

Cases of dengue fever have soared 400% this year.

According to Brazil’s health ministry, over 364,000 cases of dengue infection have been reported in the first five weeks of 2024 alone.

The figure is a staggering four times greater than the number of cases in the same period of 2023. …

The rapid spread of dengue has caused 40 confirmed deaths, the ministry said, and a further 265 are being investigated. …

Cases of dengue in Brasília since the start of the year have exceeded the total for the whole of 2023, with a rate of infection of 1,625 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with the national average of just 170. …

The virus has been rapidly spreading since the Bill Gates-funded United Nations’ World Mosquito Program released millions of genetically modified mosquitos into the wild.

In 2023, the UN’s World Mosquito Program announced a plan to release billions of gene-edited mosquitos in Brazil over a 10-year period.

The move is supposedly part of a plan to eradicate dengue fever in the country.

“Brazilian health officials in five cities have been releasing clouds of lab-grown Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria, which prevents dengue virus transmission to humans,” Harvard Public Health reported in August 2023.

“The country will be the first to launch a nationwide program to release Wolbachia-modified mosquitoes, which are expected to protect up to 70 million people from dengue fever over the next 10 years.

“And it’s building a factory to scale up mosquito production: Beginning 2024, the factory will mass-produce five billion mosquitoes a year.”

Now a year after the mosquito initiative began, dengue cases have risen sharply rather than fallen. https://slaynews.com/news/deadly-virus-spreading-brazil-bill-gates-gene-edited-mosquitos-released/

There are risks with genetically-modified mosquitoes as I have warned here for years.

Whether or not genetically-modified mosquitoes caused the increase in dengue fever cases will be a topic of scientific debate. But obviously they did not cure the problem.

Whether any of the genetically-modified mosquitoes were intentionally also released in Peru is not clear–but as Peru shares a long jungle border with Brazil, it is reasonable to conclude that some genetically-modified mosquitoes crossed the border one way or the other (the other being in planes or autos, etc.).

That said, notice the following from last Summer:

July 4, 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on June 26, 2023, that five cases of locally transmitted malaria had been identified – four in Florida and one in Texas – since May 2023. These are the first cases of locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria in the U.S. since 2003. …

There could be several factors driving the emergence of locally acquired malaria. https://kiowacountypress.net/content/locally-transmitted-malaria-us-could-be-harbinger-rising-disease-risk

Related to the release of genetically-modified mosquitoes in Florida in 2021, I wrote:

While some genetically-altered mosquito projects may well assist with disease control, they pose many risks.

The scientific reality is that there is no way that items like genetically-modified mosquitoes can be so thoroughly tested in a lab to be released in the wild without any risk.

Why?

A laboratory environment simply cannot test every possible variable in the real world (that is also a reality when it comes to things like COVID-19 vaccines–particularly the mRNA ones).

The release of genetically-modified mosquitoes in Florida is a dangerous risk. (Thiel B. DM: Florida residents claim ‘pest control trial’ that will release up to a BILLION genetically engineered mosquitos in the Keys to reduce species carrying diseases is ‘TERRORISM’. COGwriter, April 27, 2021)

Could there be any connection to genetically-modified mosquitoes released in Florida and malaria now being in the USA?

Bill Gates tweeted the following back in 2015:

Mosquito sex is helping scientists fight malaria. Seriously: http://t.co/ab12qLMq4b pic.twitter.com/PeseRGAb7D

— Bill Gates (@BillGates) March 12, 2015

Since then, he got involved with genetically-modified mosquitoes:

Questions Remain on Bill Gates & Genetically Altered Mosquitoes

July 3, 2023

According to the AP (A Bill Gates-tied mosquito project is not responsible for recent US malaria cases | AP News), the cases of malaria that have recently popped up in the United States were NOT related to Bill Gates, his funding of “mosquito research” related disease prevention (Gates-Funded World Mosquito Program Engages in Gain-of-Function Research – The American Spectator | USA News and Politics), or Oxitec’s (another Gates supported company) release of genetically modified mosquitoes for the past several years in Florida where the outbreaks occurred (see the previous two articles).

The AP has noted that the Gates Foundation does fund malaria work and GMO mosquitoes but states it’s funding for Oxitec’s genetically altered mosquitoes that are being released in Florida (where those mosquitoes are released) does not include any modifications related to malaria, and so they could not be the cause. …

For my part, I admit I cannot prove any relationship exists, but I completely understand why people would ask the question. https://www.americaoutloud.com/questions-remain-on-bill-gates-genetically-altered-mosquitoes/

To claim that since the intent of the genetic-modification was not to increase susceptibility to malaria does not mean that could not have been the result. Humans simply do not know all the consequences, intended or otherwise, when they genetically-alter living things. While that does not mean that the Gates mosquitoes resulted in malaria in the USA– the fact is that it is in the USA now.

That said, the release of other genetically-modified mosquitoes had been tried years before in Brazil, but the results were not as the proponents hoped:

Deadly ‘super mosquitoes that are even tougher’ accidentally created by scientists after bungled experiment

Updated September 18, 2019

GENETICALLY modified mosquitoes that were designed by scientists to help populations decrease are actually thriving.

This is according to new research that claims the plan to create gene-hacked mosquitoes that have offspring which die immediately has spectacularly backfired and now scientists don’t know what will happen next.

The modified mosquitoes were released in Jacobina in Brazil and were supposed to mix with the local population and decrease numbers with their weak offspring genetics.

Although the wild population did plummet for a short while, 18 months later it was right back up again.

This is mostly concerning because scientists think the new ‘super mosquitoes’ have properties that might make them harder to kill.

Research about the pests has been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. …

Mosquitoes like the Aedes aegypti variety that was edited can carry dangerous diseases like yellow fever, Zika virus and Malaria.

This is why efforts are being made to reduce their numbers.

However, now traces of the genetically modified genes have been found in the natural population.

This means they are successfully interbreeding. …

The offspring of the gene-hacked mosquitoes and the natural ones are thought to be more robust but whether they pose a threat is unknown.

Researcher Jeffrey Powell told News Atlas: “It is the unanticipated outcome that is concerning.” https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/9947305/deadly-super-mosquitoes-accidentally-created/

So, at least some scientists have been concerned about “the unanticipated outcome.” Having mosquitoes that are “more robust” makes them harder to kill and, thus tends to increase their longevity.

Well, I anticipated something just like this when I reported about the release of GMOs mosquitoes on July 28, 2018. Here are some of my posted warnings.

Mosquitoes can carry and spread many diseases.

But releasing genetically-modified ones into the wild presents unknown risks.

One assumption that scientists have tended to make with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) is that if they do not see any dangers, then there are none. That is foolish, yet that continues to be the view of the pro-GMO crowd.

While there certainly are risks associated with contracting the Zika virus (see Zika is more dangerous than many thought; USA has its first Zika death), this ‘solution’ poses risks to various parts of the ecosystem as well as the possibility that some of the offspring produced will have greater longevity as opposed to greatly reduced longevity.

The vast quantity of mosquito offspring increases the possibility that there will be some that have the opposite traits that the GMO crowd is hoping to get. And if this occurs, this could cause much greater problems than the GMO ‘solution’ was supposed to fix. …

Genetically modified mosquitoes pose dangerous risks. (Thiel B. Genetically-modified mosquitoes have been released to ‘fight Zika’. COGwriter, July 28, 2018)

GMOs are very dangerous precisely because scientists CANNOT ANTICIPATE all the potentially negative outcomes. IT IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE FOR TO KNOW ALL THE RISKS, yet these experiments with genetically-modified mosquitoes in the wild continue.

And while I suspect that malaria will be brought under control for a while, and genetically-modified mosquitoes could play a role, the fact is that super-mosquitoes are a health-risk.

Mosquitoes, GMO or otherwise, have major potential to spread pestilences and cause pandemics.

Notice some of what Jesus warned would happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation during the beginning of sorrows:

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

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

(Perhaps it should be mentioned that contrary to the views of some Protestant prophecy preachers, the fourth horseman of the apocalypse is NOT Islam, but has to do with death and pestilence: see Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse).

Mosquitoes are pests, as far as humans are concerned, and can spread many diseases.

Bible prophecy shows that the situation with pestilence is expected to worsen:

7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)

Mosquitoes, and the diseases associated with them, are consistent with the “beasts of earth” that Revelation 6 is discussing.

Genetically modified mosquitoes can be harder to kill than natural ones and pose dangerous, and seemingly prophesied, risks.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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. Here is a version of that sermon in Spanish: El Cuarto Caballo, El COVID y El Surgimiento de la Bestia del Apocalipsis. 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.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here are some related videos: GMO Risks and the Bible and GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras?  Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues? A video of related interest is Half human, half pig: What’s the difference?  and Human-Monkey Embryos and Death.
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. Here is a link to a shorter video: These Signs of the 4 Horsemen Have Begun.

Pope Francis’ progressive reform of Catholic Church prompts internal backlash, talk of schism https://t.co/4aU4tgOWFE

— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) February 26, 2024

COGwriter

There continues to be fallout and protests over Pope Francis’ recent position (see Pope Francis authorizes his clergy to bless the abominable) on his clergy blessing the biblically, sexually-immoral.

The pro-Vatican news organization Zenit posted the following:

Russian Orthodox Church formally qualifies Fiducia Supplicans: departs from Christian moral teaching

February 26, 2024

(ZENIT News / Budapest, 02.26.2024).- On Tuesday, February 20, the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow held working meetings chaired by Metropolitan of Budapest and Hungary, Archbishop Hilarion. The session revolved around the discussion of the Fiducia Supplicans Declaration, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on December 18, 2023. The Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, requested that the Commission analyze the document. After the time spent on analysis and discussion, “The participants in the meeting expressed their positions on the theological content of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration, which for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church proposes forms of blessing for ‘unions between persons of the same sex.’ The members of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission were unanimous in that this innovation reflected a marked departure from Christian moral teaching,” says a note published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

It is the first time that the main Orthodox denomination, in terms of number of believers, officially takes a position against a document of Pope Francis, now becoming an ecumenical issue. https://zenit.org/2024/02/26/russian-orthodox-church-formally-qualifies-fiducia-supplicans-departs-from-christian-moral-teaching/

It’s not just the Russian Orthodox leadership that has positions against the same-sex matters.

Notice the following from the Greek Orthodox Church:

Greek Orthodox Bishop Excommunicates Lawmakers Who Voted For Same-Sex Marriage

February 27, 2024

Despite being a cradle of western of civilization and literal originator of the word Europe, Greece had found itself on the fringe of modern European society on one issue in particular: same-sex marriage. The cultural delineator that separated Greece from its other EU compatriots was that the Orthodox Christian country held a much different position on same-sex marriage and LGBT+ issues generally compare to its Catholic and Protestant counterparts. However, the influence of the Greek Orthodox Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage ceased to shape the Hellenic Republics policy making following a parliamentary vote that legalized same-sex marriages in the country. Although the bill makes Greece the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage, the Greek Orthodox Church has remained steadfast in its opposition. The cultural schism between church and state that the bill has widened is exemplified by the decision of one high-ranking Greek Orthodox bishop to excommunicate the 176 lawmakers who voted for the bill from his diocese.

Metropolitan Seraphim Of Piraeus was joined by church council and administrative committee members in issuing a decree banning Greek ministers of parliament from church services in his diocese until they vote to revoke the law legalizing same-sex marriage. “To protect our ministry and respect our responsibility before God, we sever our ties with those who voted against divine law, not inviting them to any parish event until they show genuine repentance by repealing this heinous legislation,” the decree read. In doing so, the bishop has expelled over half of the Greek Parliament. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2024-02-27/greek-orthodox-bishop-excommunicates-lawmakers-who-voted-same-sex-marriage

No one should support nor bless “same-sex marriage.”

That said, WND posted that the Church of Rome looks to be facing a possible schism related to it Pope Francis’ changes on LGBTQ+ matters:

February 26, 2024

A report at Just the News explains that, “For the first time in recent memory, the ‘s-word’ is being dusted off and bandied in some circles.”

That word is schism.

The report said, “Just after the one-time Catholic Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis in 2013, he made an infamous lament over dinner with the cardinals who had just voted for him. ‘May God forgive you for what you’ve done,’ he said.

“Now, more than a decade later, an increasing number of church leaders openly agree with that sentiment, loudly bemoaning the direction taken by the first pontiff to be born in the Americas.”

In fact, “schism” is “being dusted off and bandied in same circles,” the report said.

Those talks mostly are being pushed by “progressive” changes that are being made by Francis, the pope, including how the church views homosexuals, transgenders, women, divorcees and more. …

The report said the disagreements have gotten so serious “some 90 leading church thinkers – more than a dozen of them from the U.S. or with strong ties to the U.S. church – signed an open letter last week to ‘all cardinals and bishops of the Catholic church.'”

They are calling for Francis to withdraw a declaration from late last year that gave Catholic priests auathorization to “bless” homosexual duos. even though the Bible condemns homosexual behavior. https://www.wnd.com/2024/02/super-woke-pope-catholics-now-whisper-s-word/

Biblically, sames-sex relations are an abomination:

22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.  (Leviticus 18:22)

13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. (Leviticus 20:13)

The Bible teaches:

33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Many in the Church of Rome have found Pope Francis’ position confusing at best and immoral apostasy at worst.

Biblically, we know that this is immoral apostasy as 1) it was not the position of the apostles or the original catholic church (see Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?) that we should contend for (cf. Jude 3-4) and 2) condoning sexual immorality is condemned in the New Testament:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, … 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, …

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, …

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1: 18,22, 24, 26-32)

The word of God warns against “inventors of evil things” and an innovation of blessing of sin would be one.

The Bible also warns:

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!  (Isaiah 5:20-21)

The above pretty well sums up those pushing and/or blessing aspects of the LGBTQ+ agenda.

That said, there are Greco-Roman Catholic writings that have predicted a schism and additional compromise by the Church of Rome.

For example, consider that it has been written that a change to the Vatican’s “Constitution” will come about after a council:

Venerable Anna Maria Taigi (died 1837): The Pope shall convoke a council. A new constitution of the Church shall be proclaimed in it. (Rossi, p. 65)

If that were to happen, when might that happen?

While we may be seeing the groundwork being laid for it now (and not just because of various pronouncements from Pope Francis), consider that in 325, the sun-worshiping Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea. The Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics consider that to have been the “first ecumenical council.”

The Eastern Orthodox Catholics contend that there were seven ecumenical councils and that an eighth one will come.

The seventh one was the second Council of Nicea of 787.

In 2025, the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics plan to have what has been called the third Council of Nicea to mark the 1700th anniversary of the first Council of Council.

Back in 2014, we put together the following video: 3rd Council of Nicea in 2025?

It still looks like this third council will take place.

The third Council of Nicea might be considered to be the eighth ecumenical council by the Eastern Orthodox. As it turns out, one of their saints put forth the following prediction:

Saint Nelios the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics…(Tzima Otto H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenika Press, Rock City (SC), 2000, p. 111)

By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic.”

Yet, some Eastern Orthodox look forward to this, but also expect an antipope near then:

Helen Tzima Otto (20^th century): We have been told time and time again through the prophets that the Great Monarch and Papa Angelorum … will convene the 8^th Ecumenical Council, which will reunify all Christians … The Emperor will spend three years waging wars against the non-Christian nations … {later will be} the end time schism of the Roman Catholic Church of the End Times and the rise of an antipope (Tzima Otto, pp. xxv, 103, 122).

Such unity will be dangerous for both the Church of Rome and the Eastern Orthodox.

Some ancient and more recent writings by Roman Catholic clergy and others, though, are expecting a coming schism:

G. Rossi (1873): It is not unlikely, but, on the contrary, a well-founded rumor warns us, that an attempt will be made at the first opportunity to thrust upon St. Peter’s throne an anti-pope, in order to create a schism in the Church Catholic. They have adopted the maxim: Division is weakness. Divide et impera. Divide to crush. (Rossi, G. THE CHRISTIAN TRUMPET, OR, Previsions and Predictions about Impending General Calamities, The Universal Triumph of the Church, The Coming of Antichrist, The Last Judgment, and The End of the World. Compiled by PELLEGRINO [Gaudentius Rossi], A Missionary Priest with Superior’s permission. Boston, THOS. B. NOONAND & CO., 1873, p.97)

Pope Gregory the Great (died 604): In those days, near the end, hardly a Bishop, but an army of priests and two-thirds of the Christians will join the Schism. (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, Reprint TAN Books, Rockford, IL, 1974, p. 122)

St. Francis of Assisi (died 1226): There will be an uncanonically elected pope who will cause a great Schism, there will be divers thoughts preached which will cause many, even those in the different orders to doubt, yea even agree with the heretics, which will cause my Order to divide. (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, p. 130)

Ted and Maureen Flynn (readers and reporters Catholic prophecies): Catholic prophecy warns us of severe problems facing the papacy in these end times…chaos will be within our midst.  An Antipope will seize papal authority…It will be those who hold fast to the truths of the faith who will be labeled as the perpetrators of this horrible schism, according to some visionaries (Flynn Ted and Maureen. The Thunder of Justice. MaxKol Communications, Inc. Sterling (VA), 1993, p. 255).

Pope Francis has “rocked the boat” to use an American expression.

Expect more dissent and schismatic talk.

However, because of “signs and lying wonders” (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9), a false interfaith and ecumenical unity will occur, though there will be a great multitude that will come out and stand before the throne of the Lamb (Revelation 7:9).

Dissent from Pope Francis’ declarations will not prevent the coming rise of the Antichrist and the false unity, as well as persecution, that will occur under the coming European Beast.

As far as the Russian Orthodox go, despite its current position, it will temporarily cooperate with the coming European Beast and his religion for a time. Yet, since Russia itself is prophesied to turn against the Beast (cf. Jeremiah 51:11; see also Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future), the Russian Orthodox Church may be one of the reasons that it will.

Some items of related interest may include:

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?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
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 are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: La Apostasía: Enseñanzas de la Biblia y de la WCG. There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others.
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There are also videos related to this, titled Transgender ‘Woe to those who call evil good’, Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children, Disney’s abominable promotions!, USA pushing gender confusion, and New Transgender Study.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality and the LGBTQ agenda?  Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? A short video is available titled: Gay Gene? Born That Way?
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.
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.
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Why Should American Roman Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are? Here is a link to a related sermon: Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Prophecies Showing Persecution of Sabbath Keepers Are Sabbath-keepers going to be persecuted in the 21st century? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies that point to this type of persecution?

Prince William (Royal Navy photo)

COGwriter

Reportedly there is a “secret plan” in the works for King Charles to abdicate to his son Prince William:

King Charles makes another major decision amid succession plans

King Charles is said to be secretly planning for his succession and Prince William, is at the heart of it

February 26, 2024

Britain’s King Charles has made another major decision as the monarch is undergoing cancer treatment and secretly planning for his succession.

According to a report by The Times, the King has approved new coins to honour music legend George Michael. …

King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and currently undergoing treatment.

There are also claims King Charles is said to be secretly planning for his succession and his heir Prince William, is at the heart of it, however the plans are being kept “highly secret.” https://www.geo.tv/latest/532625-king-charles-makes-another-major-decision-amid-succession-plans

This abdication idea is not that “highly secret” as the possibility was reported here last year (e.g. see A plan for King Charles III to abdicate the throne to Prince William?).

Furthermore, notice the following from Newsweek on Sunday:

February 25, 2024

Most Americans would support King Charles III abdicating the throne in the event his health got worse, polling for Newsweek has revealed.

The monarch, 75, was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment on February 5, returning to public duties for the first time on Wednesday, February 21, when he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for a face-to-face meeting at Buckingham Palace. …

On behalf of Newsweek, Redfield & Wilton asked Americans how they would feel about King Charles abdicating the throne if his medical situation worsened.

Such a move would leave Prince William succeeding his father as Britain’s new king, making Kate Middleton his queen consort. https://www.newsweek.com/king-charles-abdication-americans-polling-cancer-1872481

That said, I have long believed that Charles felt that his mother should have abdicated in his favor many years before she did. It is likely that Charles does not want William to have to wait so long–plus Charles is seeing signs of his own mortality.

That said, here is some information about Prince William:

William, Prince of Wales, KG, KT, PC, ADC (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.

William was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School and Eton College. He earned a Master of Arts degree in geography at the University of St Andrews where he met his future wife, Catherine Middleton. They have three children: George, Charlotte and Louis. After university, William trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst prior to serving with the Blues and Royals. In 2008 William graduated from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, joining the RAF Search and Rescue Force in early 2009. He served as a full-time pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance for two years, starting in July 2015.

William performs official duties and engagements on behalf of the monarch. He holds patronage with over 30 charitable and military organisations, including the Tusk Trust, Centrepoint, The Passage, Wales Air Ambulance and London’s Air Ambulance Charity. He undertakes projects through the Royal Foundation, with his charity work revolving around mental health, conservation, homelessness and emergency workers. In 2020 William launched the Earthshot Prize, a £50 million initiative to incentivise environmental solutions over the next decade.

William was made Duke of Cambridge immediately before his wedding in April 2011. He became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay following his father’s accession to the throne on 8 September 2022. The following day he was made Prince of Wales.

Early life

Prince William was born on 21 June 1982 in St Mary’s Hospital, London, as the first child of Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III), and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.^[3][4][5] Buckingham Palace announced his name – William Arthur Philip Louis – on 28 June.^[3] William was christened in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, on 4 August, coinciding with the 82nd birthday of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.^[6][b]

William was the first child born to a Prince and Princess of Wales since Prince John was born to Prince George and Princess Mary (later King George V and Queen Mary) in July 1905.^[8] When he was nine months old, William accompanied his parents on their 1983 tour of Australia and New Zealand, as his first trip overseas.^[9] It also marked the first time that a royal baby was taken on an overseas tour.^[10] His younger brother, Prince Harry, was born in September 1984. Both of them were raised at Kensington Palace in London, and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.^[11][12][13]

Known informally as “Wills” within his family,^[14] William was nicknamed “Willy” by his brother and “Wombat” by his mother.^[15][16] Diana wished her sons to obtain broader and more typical life experiences beyond royal upbringing, taking them to Walt Disney World, McDonald’s, AIDS clinics and shelters for the homeless.^[17] Biographer Robert Lacey asserts that William, a “rambunctious” and “bratty” child, grew “more reflective” with a “noticeably quiet character” as he began boarding school.^[18] Diana was reported to have described William as “my little wise old man” on whom she started to rely as her confidant by his early teens.^[19] …

Early appointments and duties

At the age of 21, William was appointed a Counsellor of State; he first served in that capacity when the Queen attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the same year.^[51] In July 2005, he embarked on his first solo public engagements on an overseas tour of New Zealand, travelling to participate in World War II commemorations.^[52][51] According to author Tina Brown, he had, like his father, expressed a desire to become Governor-General of Australia.^[53] In 2009, the Queen set up a private office for William and Harry with David Manning as their adviser.^[54] Manning accompanied William on his first official tour in January 2010 as he toured Auckland and Wellington; William opened the new building of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and was welcomed by a Māori chief.^[55][56] The visit spurred crowds of “many thousands”, with positive public reception compared to that of his mother’s 1983 tour.^[57] In March 2011, William visited Christchurch, New Zealand, shortly after the earthquake,^[58] and spoke at the memorial service at Hagley Park on behalf of his grandmother.^[59] He also travelled to Australia to visit areas affected by flooding in Queensland and Victoria.^[60][61]

Upon graduation from university, William interned in land management at Chatsworth House and in banking at HSBC.^[17] To prepare for his eventual management of the Duchy of Cornwall, in 2014, he additionally participated in a Cambridge practical agriculture management degree run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), of which his father is patron.^[62][63][64]

Military and air ambulance service

Having decided on a military career, William was admitted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2006.^[65] As “Lieutenant Wales” – a name based on his father’s then title Prince of Wales – he followed his brother^[66] into the Blues and Royals as a troop commander in an armoured reconnaissance unit, after which he spent five months training for the post at Bovington Camp in Dorset.^[67]

Despite the Queen’s approval for William to serve on the frontline, his position as second-in-line to the throne at the time cast doubts on his chances of seeing combat.^[68] Plans by the Ministry of Defence to send William to Southern Iraq leaked and the government eventually decided against sending him as it would endanger both his life and the lives of people around him if he was targeted.^[69] William instead trained in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, obtaining his commission as a sub-lieutenant in the former and a flying officer in the latter, both broadly equivalent to the army rank of lieutenant. After completing his training, he undertook an attachment with the Royal Air Force at RAF Cranwell.^[70][71]

William’s first rescue mission as co-pilot of a RAF Sea King was in response to an emergency call from Liverpool Coastguard in October 2010.^[82] In November 2011, he participated in a search-and-rescue mission involving a cargo ship that was sinking in the Irish Sea; William, as a co-pilot, helped rescue two sailors.^[83] He was deployed to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour with No. 1564 Flight from February to March 2012.^[84][85] The Argentine government condemned William’s deployment to the islands close to the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands War as a “provocative act”.^[86][87] In June 2012, he gained a qualification to be captain or pilot in command of a Sea King rather than a co-pilot.^[88] His active service as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot ended in September 2013.^[89][90] He conducted 156 search and rescue operations, which resulted in 149 people being rescued.^[91] He later became patron to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.^[92]

In July 2015, William began working full-time as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) based at Cambridge Airport, which he felt was a natural progression from his previous search-and-rescue role.^[93][94] He donated his full salary to the EAAA charity.^[94] William required a civil pilot’s licence and further training before being permitted to begin his role.^[94] He underwent part of his training at Norwich Airport.^[95] William described working irregular shifts and dealing mostly with critical care cases.^[96] He also discussed the impact of witnessing intensive trauma and bereavement on his mental health and personal life.^[97] The BBC has written that William was “exposed to the National Health Service in a way that no other senior royal has been or possibly ever will be.”^[98]

William left his position with EAAA in July 2017 to assume full-time royal duties.^[99][98]…

Personal life …

In 2001, William met Catherine Middleton while they were students in residence at St Salvator’s Hall at the University of St Andrews, and they became close friends.^[106][107] She reportedly caught William’s attention at a charity fashion show at the university in 2002 when she appeared on the stage wearing a see-through lace dress.^[108] During their second year, William shared a flat with Middleton and two other friends.^[109] The couple began dating in 2003.^[110] From 2003 to 2005 they both resided at Balgove House on the Strathtyrum estate with two roommates.^[111][112] In 2004, the couple briefly split but reconciled soon afterwards.^[113] …

The couple became engaged in October 2010 while on holiday in Kenya.^[123] Clarence House announced their engagement on 16 November.^[123] William gave his fianceé his mother’s engagement ring.^[124] The wedding took place in Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011.^[125]

About a million people lined the wedding procession route in London, while the global audience for the wedding was reported to be over 300 million.^{[126][127][128][129]} William and Catherine used Nottingham Cottage as their London home until 2013, when £4.5 million renovations completed at Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, which continues to be their official residence in the capital.^{[130][131][132]} The couple were given the country house Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate, as a wedding gift from the Queen, where they lived from 2015 to 2017.^[133][134] Kensington Palace was the couple’s main residence until 2022, when the family moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.^{[135][136][137]}

Catherine’s first pregnancy was announced on 3 December 2012.^[138] She was admitted on 22 July 2013 to the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London, where Prince William had been delivered. Later that day, she gave birth to Prince George.^[139][140] On 8 September 2014, it was announced that Catherine was pregnant with her second child.^[141] She was admitted on 2 May 2015 to the same hospital and gave birth to Princess Charlotte.^[142] Catherine’s third pregnancy was announced on 4 September 2017;^[143] Prince Louis was born on 23 April 2018.^[144] William and Catherine have owned two English Cocker Spaniels, named Lupo and Orla.^[145][146]

Duke of Cambridge

William was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus on the day of his wedding in April 2011.^{[147][148][149][150]}…

Prince of Wales

Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, and William’s father succeeded as Charles III. William, now heir apparent, was created Prince of Wales by his father on 9 September.^[203] Controversy regarding the title became a topic of public debate in Wales.^[204] By 17 September, a petition calling for the end of the title had received over 30,000 signatures,^[205][206] while a YouGov poll showed 66 per cent support for William to be given the title compared to 22 percent of respondents opposed.^[207] On 30 October, Senedd Llywydd Elin Jones noted that an investiture is not a constitutional requirement and suggested that contemporary Wales would deem it unnecessary.^[208] Kensington Palace also stated an investiture is “not on the table”.^[209] As the eldest son of the British monarch, William has inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, which brings him additional income.^[210][211] The duchy is “a £760 million (about US$1.25 billion) entity established in 1337” to provide a private income to the monarch’s eldest son.^[62]

On 27 September 2022, William and Catherine visited Anglesey and Swansea, which marked their first visit to Wales since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales.^[212] …

Public image

William has been one of the most popular members of the British royal family since his birth.^{[310][311][312]} Having lived a public life since birth, he was regarded as a “heartthrob” and eligible as a young adult, similar to his father.^{[313][314][315]} Ruth La Ferla of The New York Times contrasted William’s “refined” and “polite” appeal to Leonardo DiCaprio‘s “bad-boy” popularity.^[316] Following his marriage, William’s public image assumed a more “staid” and fatherly demeanour, having “settled into a stable domestic order.”^[317][318]

Journalist Anne McElvoy has described William’s public personality as a “genial presence” with a “tougher side”, alongside his mother’s “inimitable style”.^[319] Much of his royal duties focus on “big bet” projects, rather than “plaques and patronages”. In 2016, William gave an interview stating his goal was “how do I make the royal family relevant in the next 20 years … that’s the challenge for me”.^[320][317]

In April 2011, Time magazine listed him as one of the most influential people in the world alongside his then-newlywed wife Catherine.^[321] In August 2023, Gallup, Inc. named him as the most popular public figure in the US after conducting a survey that asked for people’s views on 15 prominent individuals.^[322] In December 2022 and September 2023, he was found to be the most popular member of the royal family by statistics and polling company YouGov.^[323][324] …

Ancestry

William’s ancestry is royal and aristocratic. Patrilineally, he is a member of the House of Windsor and also descends from the House of Oldenburg, one of Europe’s oldest royal houses. More specifically, he descends from the cadet branch known as the House of Glücksburg.^[371]

Through his mother, William descends from the Earls Spencer – a cadet branch of the Spencer family descended from the Earls of Sunderland; the senior branch are now also Dukes of Marlborough; the Barons Fermoy; and more anciently from Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, and Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond – two illegitimate sons of King Charles II. As king, William would be the first monarch since the death of Anne in 1714 to undisputedly descend from Charles I and the first to descend from Charles II.^[372] (William, Prince of Wales. Wikipedia, accessed 02/26/24)

As far as Prince William’s royal ancestry goes, he can be traced back to the biblical King David.

Here is some information about that from our free online book Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?:

The Throne of David Was to Continue

Let’s look at some prophecies related to the throne of David:

⁴⁵ … King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. (1 Kings 2:45)

³ “I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: ⁴ ‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’”(Psalm 89:3-4)

² … Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! (Jeremiah 22:2)

¹⁷ “For thus says the Lord: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; ¹⁸ nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.’” (Jeremiah 33:17-18)

The above passages make clear that the throne of David was to last. Since scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), then someone has to be on that throne now. Let me also state that there have been Levites ever since Jeremiah 33:17-18–the fact that they do not do their original biblical role for offerings does NOT change the fact that they still exist, which is all that scripture requires for them. It should also be noted that Young’s Literal Translation says “one” instead of “a man,” which literally allows for a woman to have the throne (the NET uses “successor” and the NLT uses “descendant”).

Furthermore, since God had Jeremiah write this during the life of the last king on the throne of David in Jerusalem (Zedekiah) this may also be suggesting that Jeremiah would be involved in the continuity of the Davidic throne.

Although some have improperly asserted that Jeremiah 33:17 does not mean that anyone actually has to be on the throne, only available to be on it, remember also the following:

¹⁰ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. (Genesis 49:10)

The Bible shows that scepter came to David of Judah when he became king (cf. Numbers 24:17; 2 Samuel 8:2). Some who do not accept that the British Royal family can be holding that scepter have said that, “Until Shiloh comes” means Jesus’ first coming. However, that is in error for three reasons.

The first is if that were the case, then where were the kings between Zedekiah (the last King of Judah) and Jesus? There were none.

And secondly, during His first coming, Jesus said His Kingdom was future (John 18:36), so He did not assume the throne then. Critics of what is known as British-Israelism do not seem to realize that and they wrongly rationalize away many scriptures. Jesus will sit on the throne of David in millennial the Kingdom of God.

And thirdly, note that Genesis 49:10 has to be a reference to the second coming of Jesus, as we did not see the obedience of the people given to Him during the first coming. Hence, biblically, there had to have been a royal succession from Judah’s line after Zedekiah until Jesus’ return.

Consider that through the prophet Nathan, God made a remarkable promise to King David:

¹² “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. … ¹⁵ But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 15-16)

The throne was to be established forever—and it has been! And this is the throne Jesus will return to.

Scripture is plainly teaching that someone has had to have been on that throne since the time of the Zedekiah (a contemporary of Jeremiah), who was the last king of Judah in the Holy Land until Jesus returns to set up the millennial kingdom.

Since someone had to fill the regal role, we can see through historical records and legends that the royalty in the British Isles fits this.

Now, some have pointed to Jeremiah 22:28-30 as proof that, because God said that Coniah (also called Jeconiah) would not have son to be on the throne of David as proof that the line would not continue, that overlooks the fact that the line continued through Coniah’s brother Zedekiah (1 Chronicles 3:16).

Through the prophet Nathan, God made a remarkable promise to King David:

¹² “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. … ¹⁵ But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 15-16)

The throne was to be established forever—and it has been! This is the throne Jesus will return to.

The idea that “Christ upon His return, will take over David’s throne” was believed by those who held to many Church of God doctrines in Transylvania during the late Middle Ages.[i]; see also Die Sabbatharier in Siebenburgen.[ii]

The idea that Jesus would return to the throne of David is NOT a 19^th, 20^th, or 21^st century invention.

This ‘throne of David’ doctrine is also taught in the New Testament:

³¹ … Jesus . ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (Luke 1:31-32)

²⁸ So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28)

Notice that these are still future prophecies. Jesus has been appointed “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus is not now on the throne of David and He will not be until the coming millennial Kingdom of God (cf. Acts 2:29-30; Revelation 11:15, 20:4).

Therefore, until Jesus returns, someone needs to be on the throne—and the British Royal Family has an occupant to this day.

The New Testament also teaches:

⁵ … Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed … (Revelation 5:5)

Note that even in the last book of the Bible, Jesus is again tied in with David and is prophesied to prevail. Jesus will gain the throne of David (Luke 1:32).

[i] Marx G. The Beliefs and Practices of the Church of God in Transylvania During the Middle Ages, 1588-1623

[ii] (The Sabbatarians in Transylvania) Ihre Geschichte, Literatur und Dogmatic (their story, literature and doctrines) ein Beitrag zur Religions und Kulturgeshichte der Juengsten Drei Jahrhunderte (a contribution to the religious and cultural history of the last three centuries) von (by) Dr. Samuel Kohn, printed in Leipzig, Germany in 1894