Church of God News

(From USDA)

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link to the following:

Bioengineered Food

I’m seeing that on labels more lately. What is it?

October 19, 2024

I have noticed that almost everything I look at that is not a whole food, from soups to crackers, has this on the label: “Contains bioengineered food ingredients.” What is THAT!? What does that mean?

The Process

The first genetically modified food brought to market was a tomato. In 1994, the FDA approved FLAVR SAVR tomatoes to be sold to the general public. Created and marketed by Calgene, Inc. in Davis, California, the tomato was engineered to stay firm after harvest, allowing it to stay on the vine longer before picking and shipping.  The project failed because, while extra firm, it was expensive and not as flavorful as other tomato varieties. It was discontinued in 1997.

Throughout the late 1990s, a wave of GMO products became available to consumers, and the technology has drastically outpaced regulation. The Agrochemical corporations, led by Monsanto,  engineered a handful of commodity crops to withstand the weedkiller, glyphosate, found in products such as Roundup, Glyphomax, Durango, Touchdown (Syngenta), and many home garden products. The success of these HT (herbicide tolerant) crops led to deregulation that allowed the commercialization and release of HT canola in 1998 and of HT alfalfa and sugar beets in 2005. Two decades later, countless Biotech players are working on an almost endless list of new products.

What is a bioengineered food?

GMO is the term most of us have used for the past few decades; GMO stands for “genetically modified organism.” Instead of using the more popular and readily recognized term “GMO,” food manufacturers are now using the term “bioengineered ingredients” or “derived from bioengineering.” In essence, all “bioengineered” plants and organisms are GMOs. The language is intentionally deceptive,  https://drtenpenny.substack.com/p/bioengineered-food

Yes, they are deceptive in many ways. The biggest deceit is acting like they are at least as good for humans as the real thing–but that is NOT anything that has ever been fully proven–just asserted by those who want them sold and consumed.

Notice also the following:

Doctors Warn Of The ‘Hidden Harms’ Of Bioengineered Foods

September 26, 2023

Doctors are alerting customers to potential “hidden harms” in the meals they buy as the number of bioengineered foods and substances on the market increases.

Bioengineered food is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a consumable good that “contains detectable genetic material that has been modified through certain lab techniques that cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature.”

Manufacturers must now label food items with the phrases “bioengineered” or “derived from bioengineering” so that customers will know what they are purchasing, thanks to a new disclosure requirement for bioengineered food that the USDA introduced on Jan. 1, 2022.

Public education is a fantastic place to begin. Dr. Syed Haider is quite concerned about the fact that these bioengineered foods have not been fully vetted. …

‘Hidden Harms’

“The possible effects on the human body when bioengineered foods are consumed is unknown,” Dr. Haider said, adding: “The food itself could be toxic. It could cause allergic reactions or promote antibiotic resistance. It could also trigger immunosuppression or cancer, and there’s evidence that all of these are happening.

“The way bioengineering technology for food works,” Dr. Haider simplified, “is you take a gene from some other organism, and you insert it, kind of at random, into the genetic code of the food you want to engineer.”

“The problem,” he said, “is we don’t really understand the way the genetic code of anything works, and we could be changing the way that food grows. It could create new toxins in the food, it could increase toxins that were already present in the food, and it can even increase the amount of external toxins the food soaks up. …

“There’s a narrative that we’ve all been spoon-fed that this is necessary, that we would starve without this green revolution and genetically modified foods. But it’s not true,” he insisted. “We’re introducing technology into things that never needed it in the first place, and there are a lot of side effects that we’re going to see and hidden harms.”

The American Cancer Society acknowledged that eating foods that have been genetically modified “might create substances that could cause reactions” in allergy sufferers or “result in high levels of compounds that could cause other health effects.” …

“Food is supposed to keep us healthy,” he said. “But the food that we’ve been eating for the past 50 years has actually been triggering obesity, cancer, immunosuppression, allergic reactions, autoimmunity, and toxicity in all of our organs.” https://greatgameindia.com/doctors-warn-of-the-hidden-harms-of-bioengineered-foods/

It is true that ‘bioengineered foods’ have not been properly vetted. Actually, as one who holds a Ph.D. in nutrition science, let me add that it would take at least a century to properly test them and even that would have incomplete results.

Let me also add that I have yet to see the bioengineered label on anything, despite the USA law.

As reported here before, I looked more into this and found that the law has so many exceptions that it is not possible for consumers to be able to tell about most food products that are sold.

So, while now there could be some products with GMO/bioengineered food labels, they are rare.

Here is something from the US Food and Drug Administration on GMO foods:

What GMO crops are in the United States?

Only a few types of GMO crops are grown in the United States, but some of these GMOs make up a large percentage of the crop grown (e.g., soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton).

In 2020, GMO soybeans made up 94% of all soybeans planted, GMO cotton made up 96% of all cotton planted, and 92% of corn planted was GMO corn.

In 2013, GMO canola made up 95% of canola planted while GMO sugar beets made up 99.9% of all sugar beets harvested.

Most GMO plants are used to make ingredients that are then used in other food products. For example, cornstarch can be made with GMO corn and sugar can be made with GMO sugar beets.

Corn:

Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and most of it is GMO. Most GMO corn is created to resist insect pests or tolerate herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn is a GMO corn that produces proteins that are toxic to certain insect pests but not to humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. These are the same types of proteins that organic farmers use to control insect pests, and they do not harm beneficial insects, such as ladybugs. GMO Bt corn reduces the need for spraying insecticides while still preventing insect damage. While a lot of GMO corn goes into processed foods and drinks, most of it is used to feed livestock, like cows, and poultry, like chickens.

Soybean:

Most soy grown in the United States is GMO soy. Most GMO soy is used for food for animals, predominantly poultry and livestock, and making soybean oil. It is also used as ingredients (lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins) in processed foods.

Cotton:

GMO cotton was created to be resistant to bollworms and helped revive the Alabama cotton industry. GMO cotton not only provides a reliable source of cotton for the textile industry, it is also used to make cottonseed oil, which is used in packaged foods and in many restaurants for frying. GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are also used in food for animals.

Potato:

Some GMO potatoes were developed to resist insect pests and disease. In addition, some GMO potato varieties have been developed to resist bruising and browning that can occur when potatoes are packaged, stored, and transported, or even cut in your kitchen. While browning does not change the quality of the potato, it often leads to food being unnecessarily thrown away because people mistakenly believe browned food is spoiled.

Papaya:

By the 1990s, ringspot virus disease had nearly wiped out Hawaii’s papaya crop, and in the process almost destroyed the papaya industry in Hawaii. A GMO papaya, named the Rainbow papaya, was created to resist ringspot virus. This GMO saved papaya farming on the Hawaiian Islands.

Summer Squash:

GMO summer squash is resistant to some plant viruses. Squash was one of the first GMOs on the market, but it is not widely grown.

Canola:

GMO canola is used mostly to make cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed meal can also be used in food for animals. Canola oil is used in many packaged foods to improve food consistency. Most GMO canola is resistant to herbicides and helps farmers to more easily control weeds in their fields.

Alfalfa:

GMO alfalfa is primarily used to feed cattle—mostly dairy cows. Most GMO alfalfa is resistant to herbicides, allowing farmers to spray the crops to protect them against destructive weeds that can reduce alfalfa production and lower the nutritional quality of the hay.

Apple:

A few varieties of GMO apples were developed to resist browning after being cut. This helps cut down on food waste, as many consumers think brown apples are spoiled.

Sugar Beet:

Sugar beets are used to make granulated sugar. More than half the granulated sugar packaged for grocery store shelves is made from GMO sugar beets. Because GMO sugar beets are resistant to herbicides, growing GMO sugar beets helps farmers control weeds in their fields.

Pink Pineapple:

The GMO pink pineapple was developed to have pink flesh by increasing the levels of lycopene. Lycopene is naturally found in pineapples, and it is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink.

What about animals that eat food made from GMO crops?

More than 95% of animals used for meat and dairy in the United States eat GMO crops. …

Are there GMO animals in the food supply?

Yes. FDA has approved an application allowing the sale of the AquAdvantage Salmon to consumers. The AquAdvantage Salmon has been genetically modified to reach an important growth point faster. FDA has also approved an alteration in the GalSafe pig for human food consumption and potential therapeutic uses. The GalSafe pig was developed to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces. https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/gmo-crops-animal-food-and-beyond accessed 08/20/23

Here is something else to understand:

What product ingredients commonly contain genetically engineered crops?

Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum (http://action.greenamerica.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=7626&gclid=CMTz9bigzbcCFWIV7Aod2V0AEw)

Ascorbic acid is the source of Vitamin C in most nutritional supplements.

Let me add that the USA has never proven that GMOs are safe.

GMOs were developed to increase profits. Politicians receive money from many profit-oriented corporations, and this tends to blind them to listen to opposing views.

The World Health Organization has concerns about GMOs:

What are the potential dangers of GMOs?

according to WHO, the three main issues of concern for human health that are being debated are:

(i). The potentials to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity);

(ii). Gene transfer (Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, especially if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health); and

(iii). Outcrossing (the migration of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. Cases have been reported where GM crops approved for animal feed or industrial use were detected at low levels in the products intended for human consumption).

Should you switch to organic food? That is a personal decision. … For many people in this day and age, it is simply impossible – too expensive, too time-consuming, too problematic – to make sure that they eat only foods that are verifiably safe in every respect. 01/09/19 https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/are-genetically-modified-foodsgmos-safe/

The above source seems to be implying that GMO foods are not verifiably safe in every respect. As a published scientist, I agree.

The Bible warns:

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

And that is what is happening in the chemical, GMO, and laboratory food world to a major degree. Financial and other forms of greed are driving much of this.

US farmers could switch to producing non-GMO corn to export to Mexico, but are basically afraid that if they do so, they will make less money. It is not because GMO corn is healthier.

THE FACT IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE PRO-GMO FORCES CAN HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO PROVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS NOT DANGEROUS. At minimum, in order to get the kind of data to truly demonstrate safety, studies involving at least a million humans over a period of a couple of centuries would need to be done–and this has never happened. The pro-GMO forces act like they are wise and have facts on their side, but the facts remain that what they are doing is dangerous and when it comes to using human genes, also immoral. They have not, and cannot, test for all possible complications associated with what they are doing.

The Bible warns:

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:20-22)

This whole GMO and human editing experiment has had negative consequences and will have more in the future.

Consider that the Bible warns:

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)

The reality is that groups like the US Food and Drug Administration have approved all kinds of foods that they claimed were safe–but did not realize were unsafe for decades.

In addition to GMO plants, we now have engineered “lab meat” and other experiments entering the food supply.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) has put together four videos online related to this general topic.

Here is the first:

• 
  18:52

  GMO Risks and the Bible

What are GMOs? Does the Bible have anything to say about them? 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? What are some of those risks? Which common “foods” are often genetically-modified? Is it good to eat GMOs? Might GMOs lead to famine in America?

This video answers those questions.

Here is a link to the first: GMO Risks and the Bible .

Here is information on the second:

15:47

GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been in the US food supply for over 20 years. Are they safe? Which ten GMO plants are now widely commercially available? What about laboratory-grown ‘meat’.? Hydrogenated trans-fatty acid products have been consumed for over 100 years. Are they safe? Certain scientists claim that the data proves the safety of GMOs and lab-meat. But do they have enough data? Are the proponents of GMOs and lab-meat driven by data or greed? How long is long enough to test these ‘foods’? Can overly processed foods lead to type 2 diabetes or dementia? Are there allergy, gene-transfer, and outcrossing risks with GMOs? What risks does the World Health Organization say that GMOs pose? Do studies involving animals show real dangers with GMOs? On June 11, 2019, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order reducing government oversight over GMO plants and animals. Was this wise or dangerous? Is the food supply at any risk? What did Jesus teach? What does the Bible teach that God’s people should eat?

Here is a link to the video: GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?

Here is information on the third:

Here is a link to our video: Lab grown chicken?

Here is the latest one:

1:07:48

Evil is Affecting the Food Supply

God gave humans food and said what He made was good. What about unclean animals? What about genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)? What about ‘bioengineered foods’? What about lab meat? What about human-cloned salami? What about ‘Piggy Sooy’? Are Christians supposed to eat what is good according to Isaiah 55:2? What should we eat? What should Christians avoid eating? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters and more.

Here is a link to the following: Evil is Affecting the Food Supply.

Thousands of years ago, God inspired one of his prophets to pen the following, which encourages people to eat what is good:

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. (Isaiah 55:2)

Intentionally eating GMOs, in my view, is something people should try to avoid. I do not think that GMOs are good food.

GMOs are hazardous to the environment and ultimately will negatively impact humanity–even more than they have so far.

While the consumption of small amounts of GMO ‘foods’ does not appear to be harmful, I personally do not consider that long-term consumption of GMOs by humans is wise nor safe. And it most certainly is not proven to be healthy by science.

The word of God warned that because of love of money and delays in punishment humans would pursue things that they should not.

The whole GMO and overly-processed food industries continue to push for things that are not good.

And again, there are so many exceptions to the GMO labeling law in the USA that it is close to useless.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Christian Health Matters Should Christians be concerned about their health? Does the Bible give any food and health guidelines? Here are links to two related sermons: Let’s Talk About Food, Evil is Affecting the Food Supply, and Let’s Talk About Health.
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.

COGwriter

The Feast of Tabernacles runs from the evening of October 16th and run (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 24th in 2024. Here is a sermon shown there today, by Dr. Thiel, which also includes some audio clips from the late Herbert W. Armstrong:

“Elijah in the wilderness

COGwriter

Louis Rubin gave the following sermon:

1:08:56

Who is your watchman?

This message is by Louis Rubin. In it, he mentions that people all around sense that there things that are not right. He goes over passages in the Book of Ezekiel about a watchman. Louis Rubin states that God only has one function at a time at the watchman for God. He brings up prophetic matters such as the King of the North Beast as well as the Antichrist. He also mentions the two witnesses. He mentions that the Bible says God will speak to a true prophet in dreams. He goes over some false prophecies and names various false prophets. Louis Rubin declares that Bob Thiel is a prophet and a watchman. He recommends people go to www.cogwriter.com to keep up with biblical matters as well as how world events look to align with biblical prophecies. He brings up the fact that most end time Christians are Laodicean, and not Philadelphian, and hence unless they change, they will not be protected in a coming place of safety, but instead will have to be subject to being beheaded during the Great Tribulation. Louis Rubin goes over 4 ways to determine if someone is a true prophet according to COGWA (Church of God a Worldwide Association and mentions that Bob Thiel meets the four criteria published. He mentioned that true COG ministers should point their followers to listen to a true prophet and watchman. He decries the fact that most do not do that, but also mentions that the Bible is clear that most of God’s people often did not care for His prophets.

Here is a link to our video: Who is your watchman?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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?

Temple Institute entrance
(Photo by Bob Thiel)

COGwriter

In its newsletter today, The Temple Institute had the following:

 “Trust in HaShem; be strong and of good courage! O Trust in HaShem!”

(Psalms 27:14)

Tishrei 16, 5785/September 18, 2024 …

Another First On The Temple Mount!

A kohen, (a modern day descendant of Aharon, brother of Moshe, the first Kohen Gadol), wearing completely kosher bigdei kehunah (priestly garments, produced by the Temple Institute), ascended the Temple Mount last week, where he administered the priestly blessing, (birkat kohanim, Numbers 6:22-26), alongside his fellow kohanim, blessing his fellow Jews. The times, they are-a-changing!

The above had a link to the following tweet:

Israel365News reported the following related to this:

Full-Dress Kohen Sighted on Temple Mount

October 18, 2024

The Temple Institute announced a remarkable development that brought Israel one step closer to the Third Temple. For the first time since the Temple stood in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, a kohen (male descendant of Biblical Aaron the High Priest) ascended to the Temple Mount wearing the Biblically mandated Kohanic garments. While on the mount, the Kohen joined in a prayer quorum and gave the priestly blessing to those gathered.

The Temple Institute prepared the garments in preparation for the return of the Temple service.

This impressive feat was accomplished despite the numerous extra-legal restrictions placed on Jews at the site.  There is no law preventing Jews from praying on the Temple Mount, and the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Jewish prayer several times. Jews do pray at the site in inconspicuous manners and out of sight from the Arabs, but the police frequently prevent this from happening. On Tuesday, Jews prayed freely in minyanim (quorums of ten).

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, a group of Jews smuggled shofarot (ritual rams’ horns) onto the Temple Mount and, despite police efforts to stop them, blew all of the requisite shofar blasts for the holiday. Jews have recently begun performing the commandment of prostrating themselves on the stones of the Temple. In June, a Jewish man wore tefillin (phylacteries) at the site.

In August, the Biden State Department issued a statement condemning Jewish prayer at the site. https://israel365news.com/397180/full-dress-kohen-sighted-on-temple-mount/

The Temple Institute is moving forward with its plans to have animal sacrifices, etc. and having a full-dressed Kohen ascend the area called the Temple Mount was just another step.

In July, the Temple Institute had the following in its newsletter:

Tammuz 13, 5784/July 19, 2024 …

“The Time Has Arrived!” When the other kohanim heard the sound of the muchni raising the laver, they exclaimed “The time has arrived!” Meaning, the time of sanctification has come, for our colleague has now reached the laver. This was the signal for them to prepare themselves to begin their tasks, as well.

It then had a link to something that linked to the following:

The altar is the very heart of the Holy Temple, for all of the Divine service is centered around it: all of the daily and additional offerings, as well as the individual and congregational offerings.  …

There is a specific concern of the laws of Biblical purity with regard to the copper laver, although the same problem can effect certain other vessels as well: anything left overnight in a sacred vessel becomes unfit for use in the morning. If water was left in the laver overnight, the kohanim would not be able to sanctify themselves with this water. Thus, the laver had to be emptied of its contents at the end of the day. But how could it be refilled quickly with enough water? In addition to this kohen who officiates at the removal of the ashes, all 12 kohanim who will soon be performing the daily morning offering must also wash their hands and feet at the laver! https://templeinstitute.org/a-day-in-the-holy-temple-part-3/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1BfrWbDtGe4A3SMJuRCcftzb7OplkYiikQTHsHaTFok3oeiR4zaJ99aMo_aem_-MWXfGkAknQ_ltPu0Tdnyw

Basically, the Temple Institute is hinting that it is getting time to prepare for having twice daily sacrifices.

Related to the idea of twice daily sacrifices, last year, Israel365 News reported the following:

Girl creates daily schedule calendar …

August 15, 2023

While many people are praying for the arrival of the Third Temple, one special young girl took on a daunting project that is a huge practical step in jump-starting the Temple service.

Miriam, a young autistic girl, took a step towards realizing her dream of seeing the Temple restored by creating a calendar detailing the daily schedule of the Temple service.

“My name is Miriam,” the article read. “I am an autistic girl and not independent in many things, but I understand everything and communicate by typing. …

“I thought for a long time about what I could do that would be significant, something that would help everyone think and prepare for the Temple. I decided to make a Temple calendar.”

“I wrote down on a calendar the hours of the Tamid daily sacrifice for every day and the Tamid evening sacrifice. I also wrote when there is an additional (Musaf) sacrifice.” …

For Miriam, the calendar is a powerful tool for creative visualization.

“I want you to look at the calendar every day and remember what we are missing right now, every day,” she wrote. “I have written everything in the present tense so that we can feel what it is like … Let’s pray together that God will bring us redemption soon and that the priests will offer these sacrifices … ” …

The calendar is freely available for download in a PDF file ready for printing at home. Printing instructions are on the last page of the file.

“I would be very happy for you to print the calendar and hang it on your wall,” Miriam wrote. “I would be very happy if you could help me distribute the calendar.” https://www.israel365news.com/374536/girl-creates-daily-schedule-calendar-for-third-temple/

Here is a downloaded picture of Miriam’s animal sacrifice calendar:

I machine-translated one of the dates from the calendar above. Here is the translation via Google translate:

6:18 Sunrise, always a sacrifice

Additional victim: 15:17

Always a sacrifice

18:59 Sunset

The requirement for two sacrifices per day comes from the Book of Numbers:

3 “And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering. 4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening,  (Numbers 28:3-4)

Christians, however, do not need to have animal sacrifices as we accept that Jesus’ death eliminated that need as the following in the New Testament point out:

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.  (Hebrews 9:11-15)

Since Christians do not need to be sacrificing animals, why is the idea of animal sacrifices of prophetic interest?

Two reasons.

First, since the Jews do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice, they believe that they still need to have daily sacrifices.

And the second is that Bible prophecy shows that there will be animal sacrifices again. And that the stopping of them will have prophetic ramifications:

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Daniel 11:31)

11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11)

Daniel 9 and Daniel 11 involve actions by one who will be the prophesied European King of the North Beast power. And he will be involved in stopping those sacrifices.

For those sacrifices to be stopped, they must be started.

Miriam’s calendar is another small step towards that.

Related to that, we have the following video:

14:41

Jewish Animal Sacrifice Calendar

A young autistic woman in Israel has put forth what she hopes will be used as a calendar by Jewish priests for making daily animal sacrifices, once they have been resumed. Does the reconstituted Sanhedrin or the Temple Institute believe that such sacrifices can be resumed without a massive Jewish temple? What happened in the days of Ezra? Will such sacrifices be resumed? Does the Bible teach that such sacrifices will be stopped? If so, when will the sacrifices start and end? Any connection of the sacrifices to the Great Tribulation or the return of Jesus? Could a red heifer be sacrificed in the Spring of 2024? What about 1290 days of Daniel 12? Does the Sanhedrin have a dedicated altar that they can use now for sacrifices? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Jewish Animal Sacrifice Calendar.

When may the animal sacrifices start?

They will be started PRIOR to the start of the Great Tribulation as they are stopped just prior to the Great Tribulation–which in the sequence in Daniel 11, starts in verse 39 (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?), which is, of course, after the sacrifices are stopped in Daniel 11:31.

We are getting closer to the time of starting the animal sacrifices.

For such sacrifices to stop, they first must start.

This is something that the Temple Institute wants and its latest moves with the Kohen and blowing shofars is intended by it to further set the stage for the sacrifices to start–which they will.

Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Nascent Sanhedrin and Prophecy The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. A related video is titled Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices. And a newer one is: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to three related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World and Red Heifers and Antichrist? and Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent. Here is a link to two videos in the Spanish language: Novillas rojas and La novilla roja y su posible implicación profetica.
Which Laws were Superceded? Which Remain? What about the Ten Commandments? What about the 613 regulations (called 613 Mitzvot) in the Old Testament? Which were ‘done away’? Here is a link to a related sermon video: ‘What was ‘Nailed to the Cross’? About about the 613 Mitzvot?
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … These videos cover nearly all of the book, plus have some information not in the book. We also have the book translated in the Spanish PRUEBA de que JESÚS es el MESÍAS and French PREUVES QUE JÉSUS EST LE MESSIE languages.
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to two sermons The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work and God’s Temple in Prophecy. And here is a version of the latter one in the Spanish: El templo de Dios en profecía.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Who were the Nazarene Christians? What did they believe? Should 21st century Christians be modern Nazarenes? Is there a group that exists now that traces its history through the Nazarenes and holds the same beliefs today? Here is a link to a related video sermon Nazarene Christians: Were the early Christians “Nazarenes”?
Does the Church of God need to be headquartered in Jerusalem? Some say so. But what does the Bible teach?
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? Two related sermons are available Millennial Utopia and The Millennium.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024?
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 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’.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (photo by Michael Lucan)

COGwriter

As regular readers of this page are aware, I have had my eye on one-time, German Defense Minister Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg since late 2009 as one who could possibly fulfill the role of the final King of the North.

Recently, a reader sent me a link to something that came out last year that I had not seen before:

“Would you come to my church service if I were a priest?” asks Jacqueline Straub. And Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg replies: “I am so curious that I would of course come. And I wouldn’t form a judgement in the service, but on the way there and of course I already have a certain bias.” … The former Minister of Defence sets off on a journey through Germany and to Rome to explore the situation of the Church. …

Interesting mix of dialogue partners

An interesting mix of dialogue partners have their say: victims of abuse and trans people who fear for their future as teachers of the Catholic religion and are dependent on episcopal exemptions; Passau’s Bishop Stefan Oster and Gregor Gysi from the Left Party; a young candidate for the priesthood and the aforementioned Jacqueline Straub, who feels called to be a priest but does not want to switch to the Protestants, but rather remain in “her” Catholic Church.

The fact that this would be different from the current official church runs through the entire documentary.

To me, this shows additional interest in religion, plus perhaps KT has some ideas about how to make some changes.

Earlier this year, a reader sent me a link to a German language article about that program titled: KARL-THEODOR ZU GUTTENBERG: „ICH GLAUBE, DER MENSCH BRAUCHT IMMER RELIGION“ 12/28/23 (URL: https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/interview-karl-theodor-zu-guttenberg-ich-habe-mit-meinem-damaligen-scheitern-frieden-geschlossen-id68462711.html) and machine-translated the German into English, which is as follows:

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg: “I believe that people always need religion”

The former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg analyzed the situation of the churches in Germany in a 90-minute RTL documentary {12/26/23} … For him personally, faith is “a basic support in life”.

In the ntv interview, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg expressed the conviction that people would not be able to get along without religion given “so many unanswered questions in life”. He emphasized:

“I believe that people always need religion. No yoga mat can replace that. …

“The core message that the church spreads is still an extremely comforting one. One that can give people support. This is important.”

Personally, his faith helps him “almost every day.” Even though he doesn’t go to church every Sunday and he “occasionally” struggles with his faith as well as with the institution of the church, …

Zu Guttenberg even believes that troughs in faith combined with a critical debate are important because they keep the debate “active”. He emphasized that when it comes to wanting to change the church, “one should be part of ‘the club’ and not just try to influence it from outside.” That’s why leaving the church is “not an option” for him, said the 52-year-old. …

He sees it as an important task of the church to offer “a clever translation” of the Bible into our time. …

Overall, he is “worried about the church, but I’m not completely worried,” Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg summed up to n-tv.

This is of interest for several reasons.

One reason is his idea of “a clever translation” of the Bible is concerning as the WEF, certain ecumenical promoters, and others want to re-word parts of the Bible as they want the biblical truth changed for political (see SN: WEF Calls for AI to Rewrite Bible, Create ‘Religions That Are Actually Correct’) and other inappropriate reasons (see PETA uses ChatGPT to make blasphemous Bible)–to do so is a blasphemous heresy. Baron Guttenberg is presumably a supporting member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as he once spoke at one of its conferences (Stott M. German minister fears “infectious momentum” in Mideast. Reuters, January 28, 2011), hence his comments may align with what some in the WEF are advocating.

Another reason the documentary Herr Guttenberg was in was of interest is that I posted the following here a month before it was broadcast:

Another thing I have speculated about him was that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg would be involved with religion. (Thiel B. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is to become a ‘media brand’? Another COGwriter speculative prediction confirmed? COGwriter, November 25, 2023)

Well, that documentary suggests that he is involved in religion and his comments suggest that he wants to change it.

That is something that the coming King of the North will do. The Bible teaches:

38 … he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know … (Daniel 11:38)

Related to Karl Guttenberg and Daniel 11:38, back in 2010, I posted:

I consider that Germany’s Defence Minister Baron Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg is someone to watch as both a potential future King of the North and final political leader known … as the Beast …

From the passages in Daniel we see that this king is not truly devoted to any existing religion, but that he somehow promotes another. One way this could be done would be to come up with a new order within Catholicism (which is not that hard to do as my great-aunt Mary did that last century). A new order allows one to have certain unique characteristics while still claiming to be part of the Roman Catholic faith. And in the King of the North’s view, if he promotes an order that (at first at least) seems fairly Catholic, this ruse will work for some time. …

He has the right to select the priest for his parish.  Hence, the idea that political leaders should be involved with religion is something he was raised up believing. A leader combining church and state is prophesied in Daniel 11:37-38 and Revelation 13.

Also, if certain Catholic prophecy about the “Great Monarch” is correct, this leader will change the Catholic faith and offend many of the Catholic clergy:

Francis also speaks in a series of letters to Simeon de Limena, Count of Montalto in great detail of a future Great Monarch who will be a Roman Emperor. Limena was a great patron of St. Francis’ order and also a great military protector of the Church…Several potentially confusing things are now told about this future Monarch. He is described as founding a new religious order. To the reader this may sound like he also become a priest. That is not the case. What happens is that he founds a religious order, part of which contains military men who take religious vows. He will be the head of the military arm of this order. In this sense it will be like the Knights Templar of the Middle Ages.

St. Francis of Paula (15th Century)…“He shall be the founder of a new religious order different from all others. (Birch, DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. 276-270)

Franciscan Friar (18th century). “All the religious orders will be suppressed, except one, the rule of which will be as rigid and severe as that of the monks of the past. During these calamities the Pope will die. As a result, the most powerful anarchy will prevail within the Church.”  (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 79)

Sister Marianne Gaultier (18th century): “…the Prince shall reign, whom people did not esteem before, but whom they shall then seek.  (Dupont, p. 75).

D. Birch (commenting after the above in his book), “Many of the prophecies speak of the fact that the Great King at first will not be well-liked, especially by the French clergy” (Birch, p. 276).

Even if the above is in total error, the biblical fact is that the future King of the North and final political leader known biblical as the Beast will not truly be a devoted Catholic.  He will likely simply claim that religion, change it, and ultimately attempt to destroy it. (Thiel B. PCG Claims Karl Guttenberg is a “Devoted Roman Catholic”, COGwriter has a different view. COGwriter, March 16, 2010)

In 2011, I posted:

If Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg eventually establishes a new religious order within Catholicism (cf. Daniel 11:38), promotes European unity, promotes ecumenism, promotes peace in the Middle East (even if he simply makes a statement endorsing it when he is in another land, including possibly while in the USA), and/or otherwise rises up in European politics, he could be very interesting to watch. He now may have the time to do some of these things.

Could Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg possibly establish, officially or unofficially, a new order of some type of ‘Catholicism’?

Yes, but that would NOT be the faith of the original catholic church unless he repents.

If Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg does establish, officially or unofficially, a new order of some type of ‘Catholicism’ that will be even more reason to “watch” (cf. Mark 13:37) him as a Beast candidate.

Related to him and the Middle East, in 2022 the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

15:17

The Middle East, Prophecy, and Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg

Iran and Israel have been involved with various attacks and threats against each other. Does the Bible seem to prophesy that Iran and Syria will attack Israel? Will God always protect Israel? Will Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ protect it? Is “great damage” prophesied to come to Jerusalem? What about damage to Syria’s capital Damascus? What was Isaiah inspired to write? Could a peace deal come after a regional conflict in the Middle East? Could Baron Karl-Theodor Maria Nikolaus Johann Jacob Philipp Franz Joseph Sylvester Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg (KT) be the “prince” of Daniel 9:26-27, who becomes the King of the North of Daniel 11? Was KT spurned, rejected, and passed over for advancement consistent with one rendering of Daniel 11:21? Does KT have the ancestral and religious background to be the “Great Monarch” of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies? Does KT have the digital background to be able to be involved in the 666 controlling of buying and selling (Revelation 13:16-18)? Should you be watching the Middle East and Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.

Here is a link to our video: The Middle East, Prophecy, and Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg.

Back in 2016, the Continuing Church of God is put out the following sermon about him on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:18:01

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future

Former German Economic & Technology Minister as well as former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg spoke at the Hub Conference in Berlin and gave a presentation titled “Wish List or Reality? Digital Trends in 2016.” Dr. Thiel shows portions of the presentation and comments on his presentation related to Bible prophecy and Baron Guttenberg’s background. What is the future for Europe?

Here is a link to the sermon: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Greco-Roman Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest? A video of related interest would be: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future. A shorter one is also available: The Middle East, Prophecy, and Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Blockchain, Karl Guttenberg, and 666 American Express just announced a deal with Ripple related to using its blockchain technology. No longer confined to Bitcoin, blockchain technology is moving towards the mainstream. Former German Economic and later Defense Minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has long been an adviser to Ripple and has plans for internationally-expanding the use of blockchain money. Jim Rickards, Doug Casey, and others have expressed concerns that blockchain money will give governments too much control over buying and selling. Could any of this be related to biblical prophecies in the Books of Daniel and Revelation? Could any of this help fulfill the prophecies related to buying and selling and 666 in Revelation 13? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video. A related written article is also available: Amex launches blockchain-based business payments using Ripple: Prelude to the Beast and 666?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
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.
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.

COGwriter

The Feast of Tabernacles began the evening of October 16th and runs (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 24th in 2024.

Here is a sermon given during it in Galveston, Texas:

1:16:06

Here is a link to the sermon: Feast of Tabernacles or False Gospels?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach? Here are links to three sermons: Christianity and the Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Tabernacles or False Gospels?, and Should Christians Keep the Feast of Tabernacles?
Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays.
How to Keep God’s Festivals Many have heard of God’s Holy Days and wonder how they are kept in the 21st century. This is an overview article. A related sermon is also available titled: How to Keep God’s Feasts.
Offertory – Feast of Tabernacles Should an offering be taken up on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles? Why?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law The Bible teaches that every seven years that the law should be read at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is what I did at the first Feast site were I gave an actual sermon (as opposed to a sermonette) in 2006.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Is Second Tithe and Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Should you save and use second tithe? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days. (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Calendario Anual de Adoración –Una crítica basada en la Biblia y en la Historia: ¿Hay un Calendario Anual de Adoración en la Biblia?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2033, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.

Migrants in Germany (photo by Raimond  Spekking via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Deutsche Welle (DW) reported the following:

EU Chief Talks ‘Tough’ on Deportation.

October 17, 2024

The head of the European Union Commission has taken a new harder line on the deportation of illegals, drafting a letter that appears to support the idea of asylum processing centers outside of the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released her letter on illegal migration on Tuesday, October 15, calling for measures to increase the number of illegal migrants deported.

Among the proposed policies is a call for the EU to develop better relationships with countries outside of the continental union to better facilitate deportations and cooperation in anti-people trafficking operations. Von der Leyen cited cooperation with North African states as a reason Italy has seen a decrease in illegal arrivals this year.

The letter also indicates that withholding or limiting visas for countries who refuse to take back their nationals has also had a positive effect, with Von der Leyen stating the EU should be ready to leverage visa policy in other areas like trade. https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/10/17/eu-chief-talks-tough-on-deportation/

While people like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Italy’s, as well as Germany’s AfD party, Giorgia Meloni have all called for similar measures, they have all been denounced as extreme. Now, with the EU Commission president’s endorsement, this shows that migrant removal, and at least slowing down future migration, has pretty much gone mainstream.

As long time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware, I have long stated that Europe would push out migrants, particularly Islamic ones.

Yet, what has been proposed by Urusala von der Leyen will not be enough.

So, what will happen?

Europe will reach a breaking point and change.

The Bible shows that Europe will reorganize and a strong leader will emerge:

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

The final European Beast leader, who is also known as the final King of the North, will ultimately promote his religion (Daniel 11:36-38; which will not be Islam, he will at first feign and claim a form of Roman Catholicism). He will make a deceptive deal with the leader of a confederation of peoples in North Africa and the Middle East (cf. Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83:3-8). The confederation will include Syria and Turkey, but Turkey will eventually back out of it and then support the European beast (for details, see Turkey in Prophecy).

Notice the following prophecy involving Syrians:

12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12)

Syrian refugees are one potential problem. The Bible clearly is prophesying problems from some Syrians and some Palestinians. ‘Israel’ includes some of the nations in Europe, like France (see The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? and Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Islamic issues will be a factor in the rise of this Beast leader–the Bible shows that a European Beast leader will, after destroying the USA (Daniel 11:39), push against and overwhelm a power from the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

It should be noted that this Beast leader is NOT Russian (see also Is Russia the King of the North?). Despite claims from Protestant Joel Richardson, this Beast leader is NOT Islamic (see also Is There an Islamic Antichrist?).

Notice a Roman Catholic prophecy:

Old English Prophecy: In Germany begins a dance, Which passes through Italy, Spain, and France, But England shall pay the piper. (Dupont Y. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, pp. 21-22)

What kind of a dance?

One that will impact Muslims (as well as another type that will overpower the UK, cf. Daniel 8:24-25; Isaiah 17:3).

There are many Greco-Roman Catholic private prophecies telling of a time of civil war in Europe–and pushing out Islam. Notice that the first one considers civil war is a major sign of end time events:

Pope John Paul II (March 1993), as reported by Monsignor Mauro Longhi on October 22, 2017: ‘Tell this to those whom you will meet in the Church of the third millennium. I see the Church afflicted by a deadly scourge. Deeper, more painful and more deadly than those of this millennium’, referring to … communism and Nazi totalitarianism. ‘It’s called islamism. They will invade Europe. I saw the hordes coming from the West to the East’, and he described to me the countries one by one: from Morocco to Libya to Egypt, and so on to the eastern parts. The Holy Father added, ‘They will invade Europe, Europe will be like a cellar, old relics, shadowy, cobwebs. Family heirlooms. You, the Church of the third millennium, will have to contain the invasion. Not with armies, armies will not suffice, but with your faith, lived with integrity.’ ” (McLean DC. Newly revealed vision of St. Pope John Paul: Islam will invade Europe. LifeSite News, November 23, 2017. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/newly-revealed-vision-of-st.-pope-john-paul-islam-will-invade-europe)

Monk Hilarion (d. 1476): The people of the Peninsula of Europe will suffer by unnecessary wars until the Holy Man comes … That Lion will come from a high mountain in the enlightened nation. Then the people of the Half-Moon {Islam} of the tribe of Agar overrun many nations. toward midnight (North) and commit depredations. Three years will they reign destroying all. Yet in the third year will be one of the unconquerable Eagles who reign over the Enlighted Nation between the Rhine and the North Sea, with a great army meet them at the mouth of the River Rhine and in a fearful battle almost entirely annihilate them (Culleton, pp. 137-138).

Brother Louis Rocco (19th century): Terrible wars will rage all over Europe. God has long been patient with the corruption of morals; half of mankind He will destroy. Russia will witness many outrages. Great cities and small towns alike will be destroyed in a bloody revolution that will cause the death of half the population. In Istanbul (Constantinople) the Cross will replace the half-moon of Islamism, and Jerusalem will be the seat of a King. The southern Slavs will form a great Catholic Empire and drive out of Europe the Turks (Mohammedans), who will withdraw to North Africa and subsequently embrace the Catholic faith. (Dupont, p.76)

Notice that the ‘great prince of the North’ is expected to subdue an Islamic Empire. Notice that the Bible teaches that the ‘king of the North‘ will go into the Middle East and North Africa and eliminate the leader called the ‘king of the South.’ The lands of the ‘king of the South’ are currently Islamic. Perhaps it should be mentioned that Syria is expected to support the confederation of the king of the South (see also Ezekiel 30:2-8), though the time will come that its capital will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

As I have written in the past, European nations will decide that they must take stronger steps against the growing number of Islamic immigrants (see also War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

It appears that migrant issues will be one of the triggers to get Europe to ultimately reorganize as the Bible teaches it will in Revelation 17:12-13, Daniel 11:21-38, Daniel 2:41-43, and other passages.

Notice also the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

17:19

Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

On June 8, 2018, Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the closing of seven Islamic mosques in an effort to reduce “political Islam.” In the past several years, at least 6 European nations have banned the wearing of a commonly used garment by Islamic females. Heinz-Christian Strache (later Vice Chancellor of Austria) has declared that Islam has no place in Europe. Did Germany’s Angela Merkel call multiculturalism a failure? Will there be deals between the Muslims and the Europeans? Will a European Beast leader rise up after a reorganization that will eliminate nationalism? Will Europe push out Islam? What does Catholic prophecy teach? What does the Bible teach in Daniel and Revelation? Is Islam prophesied to be pushed out of Europe? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link: Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

As the Bible shows (cf. Daniel 11:40-43), there will be conflict between the Europeans and the Arabs (watch also the short videos Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe? and War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

The Bible shows that there will be a non-Islamic, non-Christian, religion that will be a requirement in Europe:

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:1-9)

While the above leader will temporarily feign something he will claim is Catholicism, he will NOT tolerate full Islam in his land. Furthermore, he will use persecution and murder to enforce worship:

10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:10-18)

Sadly, this leader seems to be looked forward to in various Greco-Roman Catholic writings (watch also Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies).

The migrant situation in Europe will be a cause for more civil unrest. Civil unrest leads people to look for strong, and often dictatorial, leaders.

We continue to see Europe moving towards its biblically-revealed role.

COGwriter

A reader sent tipped me off to the following from Protestant writer Michael Snyder:

When The Ark Of The Covenant Is Publicly Revealed, Will It Be Put Into One Of The Tabernacle Replicas That Has Already Been Built?

Did you know that two life-sized replicas of the Tabernacle have already been constructed in Israel?  One is in the Timna Valley near Israel’s southernmost city of Eilat, and the other one is located at the Eshel-Hashomron Hotel near the city of Ariel in Samaria.  Both of these structures already contain replicas of the Ark of the Covenant.  Of course those that created both of these life-sized models of the Tabernacle insist that they are only to be used for educational purposes.  But could that change at some point in the future?  After all, once the Ark of the Covenant is revealed to the world, it will need a home.

After the original Temple was destroyed in 586 BC, the Ark of the Covenant entirely disappeared from the history books.

There is no historical record that says that the Babylonians captured the Ark, and no Babylonian leader ever claimed that it was in Babylon. …

So what in the world happened to it?

Personally, I have become convinced that it is still in a chamber under the city of Jerusalem where it was hidden prior to the Babylonian invasion.

On the official website of the Temple Institute, it is clearly stated that the Temple Institute knows exactly where this hidden chamber is located…

While some claim to have evidence that the ark is in Ethiopia, and of course, moviegoers were treated to a fanciful version of the story in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” in reality, the expression “lost” ark is not an accurate description for the Jewish people’s point of view – because we have always known exactly where it is. So the Ark is “Hidden,” and hidden quite well, but it is not lost.

Tradition records that even as King Solomon built the First Temple, he already knew, through Divine inspiration, that eventually it would be destroyed. Thus Solomon, the wisest of all men, oversaw the construction of a vast system of labyrinths, mazes, chambers and corridors underneath the Temple Mount complex. He commanded that a special place be built in the bowels of the earth, where the sacred vessels of the Temple could be hidden in case of approaching danger. Midrashic tradition teaches that King Josiah of Israel, who lived about forty years before the destruction of the First Temple, commanded the Levites to hide the Ark, together with the original menorah and several other items*, in this secret hiding place which Solomon had prepared.

This location is recorded in our sources, and today, there are those who know exactly where this chamber is. And we know that the ark is still there, undisturbed, and waiting for the day when it will be revealed. An attempt was made some few years ago to excavate towards the direction of this chamber. This resulted in widespread Moslem unrest and rioting. They stand a great deal to lose if the Ark is revealed – for it will prove to the whole world that there really was a Holy Temple, and thus, that the Jews really do have a claim to the Temple Mount. (The official position of the Islamic Wakf, the body that governs over the Temple Mount, is that there never was a Holy Temple, and that the Jews have no rights whatsoever to the place).

There are lots of other “experts” that have all sorts of bizarre theories about where the Ark of the Covenant could be today.

But for any of those theories to be true, the Temple Institute has to be lying.

Personally, I believe that they are telling us the truth.

In 1982, Rabbi Yehuda Getz reportedly came “within 40 feet” of this secret chamber…

Right now, two life-sized replicas of the Tabernacle in which the Ark of the Covenant once stood currently exist in the land of Israel.  But both of them are “for educational purposes and are not functional”…

The holy Tabernacle housing the presence of the God of Israel, once carried by the ancient Israelites, no longer exists. However, since the Jews have reclaimed their ancestral homeland in Israel, they reconstructed two replicas of this legendary religious structure. It should be noted: These replicas are displayed for educational purposes and are not functional. …

I believe that the Ark of the Covenant will be publicly revealed in our generation. 10/15/24 https://endoftheamericandream.com/when-the-ark-of-the-covenant-is-publicly-revealed-will-it-be-put-into-one-of-the-tabernacle-replicas-that-has-already-been-built/

Furthermore, notice the following from earlier this year:

African ‘Jewish’ tribe displays its lost ark

May 5, 2024

Members of an African tribe are displaying a sacred object they believe to be the Ark of the Covenant in a Harare museum.

The item is a ngoma, a sacred drum made of wood. According to oral tradition, a ngoma was carried from Israel by the Lemba, a South African tribe who believe they are descendants of Jews from the Middle East. After it burst into flame and was destroyed, another ngoma – the one currently on display – was constructed from the ruins.

DNA research has traced the Lemba’s origins to the Middle East. More remarkably, a genetic marker largely found only in Cohanim, descendants of the ancient Jewish priesthood, is present in the same proportions among the Lemba’s own priests, known as the Buba.

The 80,000 Lemba people, who live in Zimbabwe and northern South Africa, have many customs in common with Jewish tradition, including male circumcision, refraining from eating pork, allowing the blood to drain from an animal before they eat it, wearing skullcaps and prayer shawls during rituals and adorning some tombstones with Stars of David.

But Alex Makotore of Harare, son of a late chief of the Lemba, says that the tribe does not claim to be Jewish. https://www.thejc.com/news/world/african-jewish-tribe-displays-its-lost-ark-tpf3s0cs

Let me add that while I have no reason to doubt the DNA conclusion,  I have looked some into the Lemba claim and do NOT believe that they have the Ark of the Covenant. What they displayed does NOT truly resemble the biblical description of the Ark of the Covenant.

Notice also following:

May 4, 2024

An unbelievable rumor says treasures from [Roman Emperor] Titus’ attack on Jerusalem are now hidden in secret vaults at the Vatican.

There are stories about Israeli officials being told secrets from Catholic leaders.

It’s hard to believe without proof.

Yet, the papal palace shields very old, buried secrets. https://allisrael.com/watchthe-ark-of-the-covenant-at-the-vatican

While it is not impossible to think that the Vatican could have the Ark of the Covenant, that is doubtful for many reasons, including a Roman Catholic private prophecy:

Bl. Dionysus of Luetzenberg…prophecies:

“After the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant, Enoch and Elias will restore the Holy Sacrament of the Altar; Because of the fact that the Ark of the Covenant will be in the possession of the two holy prophets and not in Antichrist’s hands, the Jews will recognize that Jesus is the true Messias …”

( Luetzenberg, Antichristus Chapter 29 as cited in Birch D.A. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph. Queenship Publishing, Goleta (CA), 1996, p. 509)

If the above is claiming that Enoch and Elijah are the ones in possession of the Ark, then the Vatican would not have it. On the other hand, this could possibly be interpreted that the Vatican will give it to Enoch and Elijah. Yet, since Enoch and Elijah will not come to the earth until after the first resurrection, despite many claiming they will be the two witnesses (see als0 Who Are The Two Witnesses?), they will not possess the Ark and restore the Roman Catholic “Sacrament of the Altar.”

As far as it possibly being in Jerusalem, in its newsletter of Elul 5, 5781/August 13, 2021, the Temple Institute had the following photo and a link to the following:

(Photo in Temple Mount newsletter)

DOES THIS MARK THE SPOT OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT?

The square structure seen in the middle of the photo from the Temple Mount is a cap closing off an open passage which leads to a large underground chamber, which was excavated in Temple times. It was forty years today (Elul 4) that Rabbi Yehudah Getz, who for 27 years was the Rabbi of the Western Wall, attempted with the assistance of a number of his students and others, to break through an underground wall which sealed off the chamber in the hope of finding there the Ark of the Covenant. Ancient Jewish tradition maintains that the Ark was hidden away in a specially prepared subterranean chamber by King Josiah in order to keep it safe from the approaching Babylonian army.08/12/21 https://www.facebook.com/templeinstitute/photos/a.86889944968/10151591160214969

Now the Bible is clear that the Ark of the Covenant will be in heaven:

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:19)

It has been suggested that the physical ark of the covenant that the children of Israel had was patterned on one in heaven, thus it could still be on earth.

Since both Islamic and Roman Catholic prophecies suggest that it will be found, it is possible that some of them will point to the Ark in Ethiopia (some believe Ethiopia has the original Ark, while others believe that it has an early copy) or one in Jerusalem (or elsewhere) as proof that their prophecies are to be fulfilled. Or perhaps to a different location in the future, like Ireland or outside of Jerusalem in Israel.

Or Roman Catholics may claim that if the Ark of the Covenant has not been found, that some will claim that this is additional proof that the real two witnesses are not God’s two witnesses. Notice that the Roman Catholics want to place their practices on it (by Holy Sacrament, they seem to mean their Eucharistic practices; here is an article about their origins: Marcus, the Marcosians, & Mithraism: Developers of the Eucharist?). These are the same Roman Catholics that also keep trying to gain control of the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill.

Others say that Zion was really on the eastern side of Jerusalem, and thus, that may be where the Ark could be or end up.

Related to Zion, a psalmist wrote:

8 Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. 9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints shout for joy. 10 For Your servant David’s sake, Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed. 11 The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body. 12 If your sons will keep My covenant And My testimony which I shall teach them, Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.” 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: 14 “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There I will make the horn of David grow;I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.” (Psalm 132:8-18)

While Solomon wanted the temple he built to house the ark forever, God had David write that Zion was the chosen location.

Anyway, it remains my view that there is a chance that we will see the Ark or we will see a strong claim that someone has located the Ark within the next decade or so.

Related to reporting about the Ark, we uploaded the following video last year:

14:28

Where is the Ark of the Covenant?

Protestant writer Michael Snyder says that the Ark of the Covenant from the Bible is about to be find and that he knows exactly where it is. The Temple Institute believes it will be found soon and that it knows where it is. Why, supposedly, has no one uncovered it? Is Daniel 9:27 proof that the Ark of the Covenant is about to be found? What about Vendyl Jones? Is this Ark in Jerusalem in a cave or passage under what is called the Temple Mount? Does the Bible state that Jeremiah the prophet hid it just before the Babylonians took over? What about the Hill of Tara or Cairn T in Ireland? Does a comparison of a 1710 document and scriptures in 2 Chronicles 35:1-3 related to King Josiah eliminate the common view about a possible Ethiopia location? Do Muslim and Roman Catholic prophecies point to it being found? Are there any scriptures that support rabbi Avraham Goldstein’s contention that it is under or in Mt. Zion? How might the Continuing Church of God be involved? Any connection to a dream from someone in New Zealand? Does the Book of Revelation show the Ark of the Covenant being in heaven? Could there be an actual physical Ark that can be found? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Where is the Ark of the Covenant?

Whether or not the Temple Institute knows the location of the the Ark, developments related to the Ark of the Covenant, as well as the red heifer, may well have prophetic ramifications.

Related to the type of tabernacle tent shown at the beginning of this post as well as Hamas, the Temple Institute, and Red Heifers, we put out the following video earlier this year:

14:58

Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent

In March 2024, the Temple Institute recently pointed out that how God blessed the Sabbath, He also blessed the construction of a tent tabernacle. They pointed out progress from the ancient Israelites. Should Christians be making spiritual progress each year before Passover? The Temple institute has stated that the area called ‘the Temple Mount’ needs to be cleared of Muslim mosques, etc. so that a ‘third temple’ can be built. It also claims that it has four thriving red heifers, one of which it want to sacrifice before the implementation of regular animal sacrifices. Has Hamas claimed that the existence and possible use of a red heifer was a factor in its attack in Israel on October 7, 2023? Does the Temple Institute believe it must have a massive temple in order for sacrifices to resume? Or is having a priesthood, an altar, and a tent enough? What does the Sanhedrin say about that? Did Ezra write that animal sacrifices were made after the first temple was destroyed, but before the second temple was started? Is that believed by numerous modern Jewish rabbis and scholars? Does the Bible teach that regular animal sacrifices will be resumed? Could there be any relationship to the stopping of them and the return of Jesus? Is the day of Jesus coming getting much closer? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent.

Even during the Feast of Tabernacles, which is going on now, all should to watch and pray as Jesus said in Luke 21:36 and grow in grace and knowledge and as the Apostle Paul wrote:

25  … exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  (Hebrews 10:25)

That day is approaching more and more.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Ark of the Covenant: Prophetic Ramifications Could there be any prophetic ramifications of the Ark of the Covenant? Could it be in Ethiopia? What about Ireland? What about Mount Zion? What does the Bible teach? Here are links to a short message and a related sermon: Where is the Ark of the Covenant? and Exodus 25: Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat.
Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle, which is located on a Mount Zion, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building? There is also a video titled Might the oldest church building have prophetic ramifications?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to a sermon titled The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work.
Nascent Sanhedrin and Prophecy The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. A related video is titled Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices. And a newer one is: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to three related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World and Red Heifers and Antichrist? and Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent. Here is a link to two videos in the Spanish language: Novillas rojas and La novilla roja y su posible implicación profetica.
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? Here is a link in Spanish: Sueños, la Biblia, la Iglesia de Dios de la Radio, y la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here? A related sermon is available: Prophecy and the Two Witnesses. Here is a related link in Spanish/español:¿Quiénes son los dos testigos? Here is a sermon in Spanish: ¿Quienes son los Dos Testigos?

COGwriter

The Feast of Tabernacles runs from the evening of October 16th and run (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 24th in 2024.

In case you missed it, here is a link to the: Feast of Tabernacles Opening Night Message 2024.

Here is an offertory:

12:24

Feast of Tabernacles Offertory

Connor Parr gives an offertory message for the Feast of Tabernacles. He provides various scriptures related to offerings and giving.

Offerings can be mailed to the Continuing Church of God, 1036 W. Grand Avenue, Grover Beach, CA 93433. Offerings can also be given online via PayPal–check out: https://www.ccog.org/donations/

Here is a link to our offertory: Feast of Tabernacles Offertory.

Here is a sermon given at a previous Feast of Tabernacles:

1:16:15

The Millennial Kingdom of God

Did Jesus proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God? Does the Bible teach a millennial reign? Are resurrected saints to be kings and priests and rule with Christ during the thousand year period known as the millennium? Is this world Satan’s world according to the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong? What about Satan during the millennium? Will the world be productive? Will there be peace and prosperity? Is all the world to receive a witness of the coming Kingdom of God? Will this trigger persecution? What are some things God had the prophets Isaiah, Daniel, and Micah write about the millennial kingdom? What did Papias write about agricultural production in the millennial kingdom? Dr. Thiel addresses these topics and more.

Here is a link to the sermon: The Millennial Kingdom of God.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach? Here are links to two sermons: Christianity and the Feast of Tabernacles. and Should Christians Keep the Feast of Tabernacles?
Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays.
How to Keep God’s Festivals Many have heard of God’s Holy Days and wonder how they are kept in the 21st century. This is an overview article. A related sermon is also available titled: How to Keep God’s Feasts.
Offertory – Feast of Tabernacles Should an offering be taken up on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles? Why?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law The Bible teaches that every seven years that the law should be read at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is what I did at the first Feast site were I gave an actual sermon (as opposed to a sermonette) in 2006.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Is Second Tithe and Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Should you save and use second tithe? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days. (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Calendario Anual de Adoración –Una crítica basada en la Biblia y en la Historia: ¿Hay un Calendario Anual de Adoración en la Biblia?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2033, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.

COGwriter

The Associated Press reported the following:

Don’t expect human life expectancy to grow much more, researcher says

NEW YORK (AP) — Humanity is hitting the upper limit of life expectancy, according to a new study.

Advances in medical technology and genetic research — not to mention larger numbers of people making it to age 100 — are not translating into marked jumps in lifespan overall, according to researchers who found shrinking longevity increases in countries with the longest-living populations.

“We have to recognize there’s a limit” and perhaps reassess assumptions about when people should retire and how much money they’ll need to live out their lives, said S. Jay Olshansky, a University of Illinois-Chicago researcher who was lead author of the study published Monday by the journal Nature Aging.

Mark Hayward, a University of Texas researcher not involved in the study, called it “a valuable addition to the mortality literature.”

“We are reaching a plateau” in life expectancy, he agreed. It’s always possible some breakthrough could push survival to greater heights, “but we don’t have that now,” Hayward said. 10/07/24 https://apnews.com/article/life-expectancy-edd52c723e478c08ec194bfbd18bf6b9?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

We are all aging and will die. But yes, we can have a better attitude about it and take steps as we realize that this physical life is short.

Notice something that the Apostle Paul wrote:

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Hebert W. Armstrong, the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, wrote the following related to attitudes about aging:

MILLIONS have been believing a myth that has brought on one of modern civilization’s greatest tragedies.

I saw a pitiful example of this one day in Miami. A few of my traveling team decided to take a drive over on Miami Beach. We crossed over near the southern end, then drove north to and through the luxury hotel area. But driving up from the southern end we passed first through a district of economy-class retirement hotels.

As we drove slowly by, our attention was arrested by the sight of many retired “elderly” — probably between the ages of 60 and 70 — sitting idly on front verandas passing away the time. It was the despondent, hopeless, beaten look on their faces that caught our attention and filled us with dismay. Plainly, they had nothing to look forward to. There was just a tired, uninterested, hopeless stare on their faces. They were just eking out an existence until finally death would deliver them from hopeless monotony.

I had to wonder: WHY should people believe in a myth that cheats millions out of one of the happiest times of life? WHY should the MILLIONS believe a myth that makes them old before their time and robs them of usefulness, vigor, sparkling interest in life, and real accomplishment?

I remember when I was a boy still growing up. My two grandfathers were dead, but my grandmothers, one in her late 50s, the other in her early 60s, were still living. Not that my ancestors died young. I remember, between ages 3 and 5, a great grandfather in his 90s and a great uncle, also in his 90s. My mother lived to age 95 1/2, and she had brothers and sisters who lived into their late 80s and 90s.

But my grandmothers, after about age 50 or 55, had changed their attire to dress like “old folks.” It has seemed to me that it must have become custom for people to think they are “growing old.” I have noticed that many young men, reaching somewhere around 25, begin to cultivate a changed personality, put on a facial expression, and adopt a manner of speech of one “more MATURE.” As they reach the later 40s and turn 50, they seem to feel they must talk, look, and act like they suppose the “middle-aged” ought to appear. And by or before 60, they seem to feel they have now become “old.” They appear to feel their usefulness is now over, and they must “retire.”

This feeling is so universal that many corporations have retirement programs timed to age 60 or 65.

Somehow, I never could quite understand that type of outlook on life. I have never reached “middle age,” at least not consciously — not in my mind and manner of thinking and acting. After age 83, I have enjoyed joking about being “37, going on 36.” I have simply been TOO BUSY to think of “growing old” or ever “retiring.”

One of our employees came to me at age 55. He wanted to retire. True, he had been on our payroll for some 25 or 30 years. He had been divorced and had married a widow who had a camper. She had a small income.
“We can travel very cheaply,” he said, “and I want to get to travel and see some of the United States before I have to meet my Maker,” he said. He had already “grown old” — in his mind. Well, “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he,” said Solomon. (Armstrong HW. THE WESTERN WORLD’S GROWING TRAGEDY – GROWING OLD BEFORE OUR TIME. Plain Truth, December 1976)

Herbert W. Armstrong worked until he died at age 93 1/2. In my upper 60s, I also continue to work. We both dedicated our lives to strive to do and support the end-time work of God.

The Book of Ecclesiastes discusses being young and old and that even the young should remember God from the New Living Translation:

1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2 Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)

Yes, we should change and better serve God as soon as we can. And that even includes those who are elderly, as well as the young.

Jeremiah was inspired to write:

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.  (Lamentations 3:25-27)

Yes, it is better to start as young as you can to serve God.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

The Feast of Tabernacles begins at sunset October 16th–will you redeem the time and properly keep it?

Do not waste your time by not obeying God!

Keeping God’s Holy Days is a blessing and benefit–do so!

The Psalmist wrote:

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalms 103:2-5)

Notice also the following:

25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken (Psalms 37:25)

Yes, all will either die first or get old. If you do not wish to ever be forsaken, live God’s righteous ways.

Remember, too, the Bible teaches:

172 … all Your commandments are righteousness. (Psalms 119:172)

And yes, you are better off keeping God’s commandments as soon as you can.

The Book of Psalms also teach:

4 “Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am. (Psalms 39:4)

9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.
10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.  (Psalms 90:9-12)

Realizing that we will die should motivate all of us to consider that we need our Saviour for salvation.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  (John 3:16-17)

9 … He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9)

Yes, we all get older everyday.

Here are some items that can possibly assist your health as you age:

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.

Should Christians Smoke (or Chew) Tobacco or Marijuana?  Is smoking a sin? What does the Bible teach? What have COG leaders written? Can smokers change? What about marijuana? Here is a link to a related video: Should You Smoke? Would You Like Help to Quit?

Marijuana: Should a Christian Get High? There is increasing acceptance of the use of marijuana. How should Christians view this? Here is a related video titled How Should a Christian View Marijuana?

Alcohol: Blessing or Curse? This is an article from the old Good News magazine that attempts to answer this question.

Binge Drinking, Health, and the Bible Many college students and others overindulge in alcohol. Are there health risks? What does the Bible teach? A related video is also available: Binge Drinking and the Bible.

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? A related video would be Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy.

Should Christians Exercise? What does the Bible teach? What are some of the benefits and risks of exercise? Here is a link to a related video: The Plain Truth About Exercise.

Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.

But more than the physical, we realize that this life is temporal.

Therefore, it should be an urgent imperative for us to fully live God’s way and obey Him.

God does have a plan for you — and the more you embrace it, the better your eternity will be (see also the free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?).

And yes, for all of us, we need to change and improve our focus on God, His ways, His end-time work and His coming Kingdom

Related to aging, we have the following video:

14:18

Let’s Talk About Aging

Could you have the wrong attitude about aging and the elderly? Should your goal to be to retire and cease being productive? What did Herbert W. Armstrong say about it? What does the Bible say about aging? Is it better to listen to God when you are in your youth? What about later? Since physical life is temporary, should that motivate us to better obey God? What are some things we can do physically in order to be healthier? What about avoiding things like smoking, too much alcohol, and obesity? What about spiritual things such as prayer, Bible study, paying attention to church services, and fasting? Are there benefits responding to God sooner than later? Who is Jesus the author of ETERNAL SALVATION for? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel go over these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Let’s Talk About Aging.

Several items of possibly related interest include:

The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, Mystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU. Here is a link to two videos in Spanish: El Misterio del Plan de Dios and El Misterio de Satanás, el Misterio de la Verdad, el Misterio del Reposo.
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.
Should Christians Smoke (or Chew) Tobacco or Marijuana?  Is smoking a sin? What does the Bible teach? What have COG leaders written? Can smokers change? What about marijuana? Here is a link to a related video: Should You Smoke? Would You Like Help to Quit?
Marijuana: Should a Christian Get High? There is increasing acceptance of the use of marijuana. How should Christians view this? Here is a related video titled How Should a Christian View Marijuana?
Alcohol: Blessing or Curse? This is an article from the old Good News magazine that attempts to answer this question.
Binge Drinking, Health, and the Bible Many college students and others overindulge in alcohol. Are there health risks? What does the Bible teach? A related video is also available: Binge Drinking and the Bible.
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? A related video would be Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy.
Should Christians Exercise? What does the Bible teach? What are some of the benefits and risks of exercise? Here is a link to a related video: The Plain Truth About Exercise.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available inover 1,000 languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains how he is and should be viewed today.
What is Armstrongism? Did Herbert W. Armstrong raise a new faith or promote the original Christian faith? Here is a link to a related video: What is Armstrongism? Are Some Dismissive of Original Christianity?
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.
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?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here is a link to a related sermon: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Here is a video in Spanish: ¿Qué es un verdadero cristiano?