Church of God News

Iranian Fattah hypersonic missiles (Tasnim News Agency)

COGwriter

Iran’s top leader commented on the overthrow of the government of Syria:

Iran’s Khamenei: Toppling of Syria’s Assad Was US-Israeli Plan

11 December 2024

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was the result of a plan by the United States and Israel.

One of Syria’s neighbors also had a role, he said. He did not name the country but appeared to be referring to Turkey, which has backed anti-Assad rebels. …

“What happened in Syria was mainly planned in the command rooms of America and Israel. We have evidence of this. A neighboring government of Syria was also involved,” Khamenei said in a speech reported by Iranian state media. …

In his speech, Khamenei also said the Iran-led alliance would gain in strength across the entire region.

“The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes. The more you fight against it, the more it expands Khamenei said.

“Iran is strong and powerful — and will become even stronger,” he said. https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/iran-syria-israel/2024/12/11/id/1191204/

The Health Ranger Report put out a video with the following headline:

Conquering of Syria will force Iran to either ABANDON or DEPLOY nuclear weapons – which will they choose?

12/10/24 https://www.brighteon.com/3177cae6-aa3b-4012-8c32-92de1125a418

Well, based up statements from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as prophecies in the Bible, abandoning its goals does not appear to be Iran’s plan.

Notice something that the Bible prophesies related to what looks to be a Iranian-Syrian-Lebanese military coalition to strike and damage the nation of Israel:

1 The burden against the Valley of Vision.

What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops, 2 You who are full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city? Your slain men are not slain with the sword, Nor dead in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar. 4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.”

5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision — Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain. 6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall. 11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.

12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. 13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

14 Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts,”Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts. (Isaiah 22:1-14 NKJV)

Elam is a reference to at least some in Iran. Kir is of interest as it looks to include some Syrians and others in the region. The “House of the Forest” was anciently located in Lebanon (e.g. 1 Kings 7:2, 10:17,21; 2 Chronicles 9:16,20)–while many see Hezbollah as sidelined, it is not gone and it still wants Israel gone.

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

It is also possible that others, such as supporters in Iran and Yemen and the Palestinians will also support such and attack.

From a military perspective, Iran is likely thinking the following:

• It is concerned about Donald Trump becoming the President of the United States again next month.
• This could be the time for it to show the Islamic world that Iran wishes to lead the effort to eliminate Israel.
• Attempt to overwhelm Israeli and USA defenses by encouraging Hezbollah to launch many times the number of rockets/missiles than it ever has.
• Have the Houthis send out missiles, drones, etc.
• Send out its own drones and missiles.
• Include sending hypersonic missiles that it believes will not often be stopped.

At the beginning of this post, is a photograph of an Iranian hypersonic missile.

Iran said it successfully used two that hit military targets in Israel during its attack last April (see https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2024/iran-launched-non-interceptable-hypersonic-missile-fattah-2-during-airstrike-against-israel) and claimed to use others in its October 1, 2024 attack.

Later, the Times of India speculated, “Iran To Launch Hypersonic & Ballistic Missiles At Israel To Avenge IDF Attack?” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/international/iran-to-launch-hypersonic-ballistic-missiles-at-israel-to-avenge-idf-attack-pezeshkian-says-/videoshow/114656392.cms.

We will see.

Notice, now, the following:

Russia has a possible replacement for nuclear weapons – Putin

Sufficient Oreshnik hypersonic missile systems could alleviate the need for further updating the country’s nuclear doctrine, according to the Russian president

10 December 2024

The introduction of the Oreshnik missile system in Russia reduces the need to use nuclear weapons to a minimum, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Putin made the remarks on Tuesday at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights.

Russia is not tightening, but improving its nuclear doctrine, Putin said regarding the recent update to the country’s nuclear posture. He explained that Russia needs to improve its new missile system more than it does its nuclear doctrine.

“What we need now is not to improve the nuclear doctrine, but the Oreshnik, because, if you look at it, a sufficient number of these modern systems… simply put us on the brink of virtually no need to use nuclear weapons,” the president stated. https://www.rt.com/russia/609149-oreshnik-cancels-nukes-need/

Why bring that up?

Vladimir Putin is basically saying that since Russia already has a lot of nuclear bombs, it does not need to work on them as much as to simply work harder on systems that can deliver them or something else fast. He seems to be pointing to producing more hypersonic missiles as a priority.

Iran might be thinking something similar.

But in Iran’s case, presuming Israel is the target, it probably figures it is close to having enough hypersonic missiles, so it is likely considering how fast it can develop some nuclear bombs to put on them. And that could happen relatively quickly.

Last year, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to Iran and Israel:

15:03

Here is a link to our video: Iran and Israel Conflict.

UPDATE: In other Iran-related news, it is now claimed that Iranian drones have been used in the eastern part of the USA:

What we’ve uncovered is alarming—drones flying in from the direction of the ocean, possibly linked to a missing Iranian mothership.

This is a national security crisis we cannot ignore.

Bring them down now. pic.twitter.com/YicWkcoJR1

— Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@Congressman_JVD) December 11, 2024

December 11, 2024

A New Jersey congressman suggested on Wednesday that the mysterious alleged drone sightings that have blanketed the state in recent weeks are a result of an Iranian “mothership” that is currently sitting off of the coast and launching the reported drones.

On Fox News Wednesday morning, Congressman Jeff Van Drew said, “Iran launched a mothership probably about a month ago that contains these drones. That mothership, I’m going to tell you the deal, it’s off the East Coast of the United States of America. They’ve launched drones.”

He continued, “We know there was a probability it could have been our own government, we know it’s not our own government because they would have let us know. It could have been some really glorified hobbyist or hobbyists … The third possibility was somebody, an adversarial country doing this.”

Van Drew, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee cited unspecified “high,” “qualified,” and “responsible” sources saying, “I don’t say this lightly.”

“These drones should be shot down. Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can’t imagine or whether it is Iran, and I think it very possible could be, they should be shot down,” Van Drew told Fox News Anchor Harris Faulkner. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2024/12/11/jeff-van-drew-suggets-nj-drone-sightings-linked-to-iran-mothership/76922445007/

That, if true, would be concerning to the USA in general, and president-elect Donald Trump in particular.

That said, despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, the situation in the Middle East remains dangerous.

We are in a time of wars and rumors of wars as Jesus foretold (Matthew 24:4-8).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and  Iran and Israel Conflict.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
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.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Here is a related sermon in the Spanish language: El cristianismo visto a través de los ojos islámicos.

COGwriter

Some think that Donald Trump will turn the United States to become a ‘Christian’ nation.

A while back, I saw something from Time that seemed interesting. It was partially in response to the PEW survey showing that less people in the USA identify themselves as Protestants or Roman Catholics (see PEW: Declines in USA Catholics and Protestants). And that has reduced further since (see As America becomes more Godless, more see it declining).

Anyway, here is part of the Time article:

If America Became a Christian Nation

They probably wouldn’t like what it looks like

With political season kicking off again, so is the season where folks begin to use the term “Christian nation.” Some claim we were one, some claim we are one, and some say we need to become one. Yet, each time I hear that phrase I have an inner Princess Bride moment where I say to myself, “you keep using that word, but it doesn’t mean what you think it means.”

So, what if we became a Christian nation? Well, a few things would have to change… drastically. Here’s a few quick examples:Because truth be told, if America actually were to become a Christian nation, I don’t think the people who advocated for it would be too happy with the end product. …

We’d Have To Abolish the 2nd Amendment.

The 2nd Amendment is so beloved by American Christians that this alone would likely be the sticking point preventing us from ever becoming a Christian nation. Jesus taught his disciples that they were to never use violence to respond to evil (Matthew 5:39) and that they were to actively love their enemies. He also lived a life of nonviolent enemy love as a model for us to follow– and living our lives patterned after how he lived his is the ultimate proof that we belong to God (1John 2:6). A Christian nation would have no room for the 2nd Amendment.

No, the USA would not have to get rid of the 2nd amendment (cf. Luke 22:36). But it would have to cease being a warlike nation (see Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence?) and also its love of violent sports (see Is American Football Evil?).

Early Christians would NOT participate in carnal warfare nor watch violent sports (see Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence?).

Many who claim to be Christian in the USA would condemn the original Christian faith as a cult (see also Is the Genuine Church of God a Cult?) and would not be willing to accept it. This is despite the fact that Jude wrote “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Most do not understand original Christianity and do not want to. You can learn about it if you are interested in the truth:

Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?

Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.

Let me also add that if the USA were a Christian nation, there would not be crosses associated with churches (see What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol?), the religious holidays would change (see the free online book: Should You Keep God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays?), people would finally really keep the Ten Commandments (check out the free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast), and there would be many blessings that most cannot conceive of truly happening today.

People would actually be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles and not Christmas if the USA practiced original Christianity.

But because the USA is not Christian, but is ‘an hypocritical nation’ (Isaiah 10:6, KJV), punishment will be coming (Isaiah 10:5-11; Romans 1:18-32; Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses) and some of the prophesied sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8) are already here.

The USA needs national repentance, which is not likely, but personal repentance still is.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is also available titled: Real Christian Repentance.Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians? A related sermon would be: Christians, Violence, and Military Service.
Is American Football Evil? Is the most popular spectator sport in the USA something that Christians should watch? What do the Bible and early writings show? There is also a YouTube video available titled Should Christians watch American football?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Should You Keep 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. A related sermon is Which Spring Days should Christians observe?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else? Here is a link to a related sermon: USA in Prophecy: Samaria.
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?
What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol? Was the cross used as a venerated symbol by the early Church? A related YouTube video would be Origin of the Cross.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free draft/unedited pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings. A related sermon is titled: Christians and the Ten Commandments.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.

(As shown by Israel365 News)

COGwriter

Israel365News posted the following:

Assad: The Nero of the East Whose Downfall Precedes Messiah

December 10, 2024

On Sunday, it was reported that Bashar al-Assad fled Syria as rebel forces swiftly overtook Damascus. As the dust settles, the geopolitical repercussions will echo far beyond Syria’s borders, particularly for Israel, which has closely monitored developments in the Golan Heights and the broader Syrian conflict. …

Shimon Tubul, the Deputy Mayor of Beer Sheva, … described the connection between the Messiah and the fall of Assad. He cited a story in the Otzar HaMidrashim, a collection of midrashic literature, that told how Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the founder of Jewish mysticism, also known by the acronym ‘Rashbi,’ described his encounter with an angel while he was in a cave.

“This will be for you a sign,” the angel told the Rashbi. “When you see that the Nero of the East in Damascus has fallen, then the kingdom of the East will have fallen and the redemption in Israel will flourish and the Messiah from the House of David will arrive.”

“Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said this 2,000 years ago,” Tubul said. “Who knows? Maybe this is the time of redemption.”

To further emphasize Assad’s connection to the Nero of the East that will bring Moshiach Ben David, his name (בַּשַׁאר אַסַאד) in gematria (Hebrew numerology) equals to נִרוֹן מִזְרָחִי (Nero of the East).

Indeed, a political cartoon that was widely circulated in Arab media in 2012 portrayed Asad as Nero, fiddling while Syria burned. The rule of the original Nero, an emperor of ancient Rome, is associated with tyranny, extravagance, cruelty, and madness.

This parallel was also noted by Rabbi Yekutiel Fish, known in Israel as the author of the Torah blog “Sod Ha’Chashmal.”

“Jeremiah predicted a fire in the fortresses of Damascus that will presage Messiah,” Rabbi Fish told Israel365 News.

I will set fire to the wall of Damascus, And it shall consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad. Jeremiah 48:27

“Ben-hadad in gematria equals 65, the same as ‘Assad,’” Rabbi Fish said. “This recent upheaval in Syria conforms to the prophet’s description.”

Rabbi Fish cited the Midrash, claiming that Assad has an integral role to play in the flourishing of Moshiach Ben David (Messiah, son of David). This refers to the second half of the Messianic process which includes the return of the Davidic Dynasty and the building of the Third Temple. https://israel365news.com/398501/assad-the-nero-of-the-east-whose-downfall-precedes-messiah/

Well, no, despite the cartoon shown above portraying Bashar Assad as Nero, no, he is not the “Nero of the East.” The redemption of Israel is not about to flourish. Plus, of course, the Messiah has already come.

Related to Jesus and the Jews, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:12:35

Jesus for Jews?

Since there are at least 200 scriptures in the Hebrew Bible that Jesus fulfilled, why do most Jews not accept Jesus as the prophesied Messiah? Is the claim in the ‘Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906′ that “there appears to be no evidence of any Jewish conception of a Messiah suffering through and for his people” true or misleading? What do Jewish writings, including those in the Babylonian Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara) and various Targums reveal? What about the Dead Sea Scrolls? Was the timing of Jesus’ arrival and death consistent with any Jewish writings or records? Do any Jewish writings point to Jesus miraculously healing the sick? Do ancient Jewish writings tell of the Messiah who would offer Himself to take away the sins of Israel? Do Jewish writings tell of Messiah son of Joseph dying to later be resurrected? Do any Jewish writings point to Messiah son of David coming in the clouds, like 1 Thessalonians 4 does? Are there Jewish writings claimed to be related to the archangel Gabriel which tells of a resurrection after three days? If the Jews believed the Old Testament and certain of their writings, shouldn’t they accept Jesus as the prophesied Messiah? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters.

Here is a link to our sermon: Jesus for Jews?

While the fall of the Assad regime will have regional and prophetic consequences, the message about him being Nero did not come from an angel of God as one or more Jewish leaders seem to think.

In other false prophetic news, Protestant Michael Snyder posted the following:

Jesus Revealed Cataclysmic Events That Happen In The Tribulation To A Woman Named Elizabeth Nebenfuhr During A Near Death Experience

December 8,, 2024

Recently, a woman named Elizabeth Nebenfuhr reached out to me about a near death experience that she had as she was laying on an operating room table. She had shared some of this information before, but she felt that now was the time to share her experience in a more detailed way. I asked her to write out what she saw while she was dead, and she has given me permission to share it with all of you. Please share this testimony as widely as you can, because I believe that it is important. …

The following is Elizabeth Nebenfuhr’s testimony in her own words…

*****

I had two NDE’s this one I speak of here now and another 9 months later again on an operating table (I will discuss that one again as well at a later date). …

Our precious LORD told me many things …

He impressed upon my spirit that His coming is very, very soon and He began to impress upon me the things to come.

He said “I am coming soon!” And I knew as He spoke that it was very, very soon.

He then said ” Before I come there will be catastrophic events and great destruction… and hopelessness” …

The things that will come up on the earth will be terrifyingly unbelievable.

It will be one thing after another, The Earth will open up and people will fall into the Earth into the pits as the Earth enlarges its mouth as the Bible says,

The Earth will roll and topple (become distorted in form), it will not just be in one place as earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis have happened before, this will be like nothing that has ever been seen before. …

It’ll be one hurricane after another one earthquake after another, one tsunami after another.

Before, during and after such things parents will be running to and fro trying to find their children as they are taken from them. As like the days of the Holocaust …

Jesus was emphasizing that He wants his children prepared to not be caught off guard.

The revealing of the Antichrist will come upon all men soon.

When he showed me the signs of the times (2006) things hadn’t quite began yet as they are now, but we’re now in the contractions of birth.

We’re in the time of sorrows, Tribulation has begun!

It’s not something that’s coming, It’s here, it’s now!

The strong delusion is here! …

People will curse their pastors, the church people will be murderously angry and turn against each other, because their pastors told them to do this or to do that, they will receive the mark… yes I was told Christians will be deceived, they are already because they listened and trusted a man/men. https://endoftheamericandream.com/jesus-revealed-cataclysmic-events-that-happen-in-the-tribulation-to-a-woman-named-elizabeth-nebenfuhr-during-a-near-death-experience/

If “very, very soon” is to be understood as six years or less, that is false. Jesus will not return before 2032.

Related to the sorrows, yes, they have begun.

As far as the Tribulation goes, many Protestants believe that the Tribulation lasts seven years, with the last 3 1/2 years as very bad.

But, no, the final seven years to Jesus’ return has not begun. We have yet to see the deal of Daniel 9:27 confirmed and that would start the countdown for the final seven years of this age.

As far as strong delusion goes, while that is here to a degree (cf. Revelation 12:9), the strong delusion the Bible refers to is AFTER certain signs and lying wonders have occurred as the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Verses 9 and 10 above have not had their final fulfillment yet, hence the strong delusion of verse 11 is not here yet.

Notice also that verse 10 shows that the true Christians will not be taken in by the deceit, it will only be false professors of Christianity.

Anyway, no, I do not believe that Jesus spoke directly to Elizabeth Nebenfuhr.

So, why report about false prophecies from religious people?

Isaiah was inspired to write:

1 Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins.  (Isaiah 58:1)

The religious leaders who promote false prophesies are to be called out and this post is assisting in doing so.

Furthermore, Jesus often taught to beware of false prophets and religious leaders. Notice:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! (Matthew 7:15-23, NKJV throughout unless otherwise indicated).

False leaders do not produce good fruit. Many of them tend to encourage lawlessness (though they would almost all deny that). Those that follow them risk being cast out by Jesus.

Notice that Jesus is saying to look at their fruits and that even if they appear to be doing miracles in Jesus’ name, if they promote lawlessness, they are not true Christians.

It needs to be understood that lawlessness includes not only the false concept that the law was done away (please see the free online books: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism and The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast) but the more diabolical one that the law is in force, but that human tradition is of more value (please see the articles Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? and Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings). The Beast power will encourage the violation of all the Ten Commandments (check out our free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).

What was Jesus mainly warning about false leaders? Their personalities?

No.

Jesus was warning about their teachings and their hypocrisy. Notice:

6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees”…12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6-12).

44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (Luke 11:43-44).

8 Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:38-40)

46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers…52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered (Luke 11:46,52).

False leaders deceive. They break the ten commandments, including the admonition to not bear false witness.

Most of the above accounts involving Jesus are repeated more than once in the gospels.

Apparently God wanted to make the point clear that hypocritical and lawless religious leaders are not to be followed.

Consider also something that the Apostle John wrote:

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

Consider that instead of testing the spirits, people tend to decide if they want to believe the message, as opposed to testing the spirits.

This has turned many off about prophecy and the fact that God’s word says there will be prophets in the last days:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.  (Acts 2:17-18).

Sadly most end time Christians have been self-satisfied and/or relied on the dismissals from others to overlook what God’s word says God would be doing at this time related to prophets.

Norman Edwards, a former employee of the old WCG and later a former board member of the old Global Church of God, wrote the following:

There are over 40 separate passages about prophets and their prophecies in the New Testament—so many that one might easily get tired of reading them! We have left out verses about the Old Testament prophets and New Testament false prophets to keep the list shorter. If we want God to show us what will happen in the future, we need to “desire earnestly to prophesy” (1 Cor 14:39). It is a New Testament teaching we must not ignore! …

Do people today have faith that God is able to prophecy through people …?

1Jo 4:1-2 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

Note: If there were no true prophets, there would be no need to “test the spirits”—because every prophet would be a “false prophet”. But because there are both true prophets and false prophets, we need to “test the spirits”. (Edwards N. Need Prophets More than Prophecy. Shepherd’s Voice, Fall 2013)

Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right

… 37 If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order (1 Corinthians 14:31- 33, 37-40).

Simply because some congregations do not follow this scripture does not mean that there is not a proper use of spiritual gifts today. Think about this. Almost all of us would agree that we know of another church denomination or congregation that teaches erroneous doctrines. But does that error stop us from teaching the Bible? It should not. Similarly, many people do not attend church congregations because they have experienced corruption there before. But should that stop us from continuing to meet in congregations as the Bible instructs?

Two wrongs do not make a right!

Simply because some congregations that promote “spiritual gifts” do not follow all the scriptural teaching on it, does not mean that dedicated believers can abandon these vital gifts. It becomes all the more important for godly people to do it right. The number of false prophets compared to the number of true prophets does not matter. Elijah went up against 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. The power of God destroyed all the false prophets (1 Kings 18:17-40). (Edwards N. Spiritual Oomph! Shepherd’s Voice, Fall 2015, pp. 11-12)

Basically, Norman Edwards is saying that the New Testament does tell of prophets, and that even though there can be vast multitudes of false prophets, that those who will really be the most faithful will listen to God’s prophet(s). Jesus Himself also warned in His parable of the talents that some would not support the work for fear of mistakes, and Jesus condemned the one who was afraid to do what should have been done (Matthew 25:24-30).

TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT!

The existence of false prophets does NOT excuse not supporting a real one. Those real Christians who are self-satisfied and think there is not one real prophet today are deceiving themselves and subject to be vomited out by Jesus per Revelation 3:14-21.

Consider that the Book of Proverbs warns:

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

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

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

Although there are many false prophets, it is NOT safer to reject a true prophet because there are many false ones.

Philadelphian Christians can recognize the truth, if they are truly Philadelphian.

Some items of related interest may include:

Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? You you prove all things and test the spirits?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
The Philadelphia Church Era and Remnant Though the era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D., but a remnant has continued. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God were part of the era, and 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. Here is a link to a related sermon: Philadelphia Church Era: History & Teachings.
Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God? Did the old Worldwide Church of God essentially predict a Philadelphian remnant? Is a Philadelphian remnant needed for end-time prophecies to be fulfilled? Here is a link to a related sermon: The Philadelphia Remnant.

(UnSplash photo)

COGwriter

Something called ‘Disease X’ is causing concern:

Mystery illness infects hundreds in African state

10 December 2024

A mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has infected more than 400 people, primarily children and malnourished individuals, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to send specialists to investigate, the agency reported on Sunday.

The unidentified disease manifests as a fever, headache, cough, runny nose, and body aches. It has spread to nine of the 30 areas in the Panzi health zone, Kwango Province, in the southwest of the country.

Data from October 24 to December 5 shows that 406 cases were recorded, including 31 fatalities. According to the WHO, while the overall risk for DRC residents is considered “moderate” to “high” in the affected area, the international risk level remains “low.”

The crisis is being exacerbated by a shortage of health workers in the region. As a result, diagnosis of the disease has been delayed. “The area is rural and remote, with access further hindered by the ongoing rainy season,” the UN’s health agency pointed out. https://www.rt.com/africa/609120-mystery-illness-drc-infects-hundreds/

Here Comes The “Disease X” Outbreak

December 9, 2024

A mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dubbed “Disease X.” There have been over 400 cases and up to 143 deaths linked to the illness since late October, according to Bloomberg.

On Sunday, the World Health Organization provided an update on Disease X, indicating the illness has been reported in the Kwango Province, in the southwest part of the Central African country.

“Panzi health zone in Kwango Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 406 cases of an undiagnosed disease with symptoms of fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body ache,” the WHO wrote in the disease outbreak report.  …

The cause of Disease X remains unknown and comes just as President-elect Trump is set to re-enter the White House next year. https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/here-comes-disease-x-outbreak

Mystery ‘Disease X’ outbreak widens as WHO sends rapid response team to DR Congo

Dozens of people have died in southwest Congo after contracting a mysterious illness, dubbed Disease X

9 December 2024

More cases of a mysterious flu-like illness labelled “Disease X” were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the World Health Organization has dispatched a rapid response team to help investigate. …

While more than half of the cases involve children under 5, a 50-year-old man hospitalised in Lucca, Italy, is suspected to have recovered from the disease after a business trip to Congo, Il Tempo reported. …

Acute pneumonia, influenza, Covid-19, measles and malaria are considered as potential causal factors based on the signs and symptoms of those afflicted, the WHO said, adding that response teams are helping to treat patients and raise awareness of the outbreak within affected communities.

Malaria is common in the area, and it may be causing or contributing to the cases, the United Nations health agency said. “Laboratory tests are under way to determine the exact cause. At this stage, it is also possible that more than one disease is contributing to the cases and deaths.”

The Africa CDC, the continent’s health authority, has said that initial findings indicate that Disease X might be airborne. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3289955/mystery-disease-x-outbreak-widens-who-sends-rapid-response-team-dr-congo

So, a new mysterious disease is infecting and killing people.

When I did a search on Twitter (now called X), I came across the following:

Disease X is coming. Are we ready for the next pandemic? https://t.co/H4Wc4Gf0hl

— Connor G. G. Bamford, Ph.D (@cggbamford) March 19, 2023

While the above was not specifically predicting the disease in Congo, it is interesting that Dr. Bamford predicted a ‘Disease X.’

Many believe that a natural or human-engineered pandemic is to come soon. Globalist political and totalitarian interests are sometimes cited as a reason (e.g. RM: Pandemics as a Catalyst for a New World Order; COGWriter, that is consistent with the Ride of the Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse).

The biblical reality is that the Bible shows that Jesus prophesied a sequence of events, which included pestilences (which the WHO and others now tend to term as pandemics) to occur before the end (the start of the Great Tribulation in this context):

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

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

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:3-21)

Essentially the Great Tribulation begins with WWIII, but is proceeded by one or more deadly pandemics.

Related to a deadly pestilence, the Book of Revelation states:

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

So, the opening of the fourth seal is the time that the pale horse of death is one of increasing death by war, hunger, and pestilences (which includes microscopic and large beasts of the earth).

In a radio broadcast related to the the fifth seal in Revelation, the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong? taught:

Jesus … said that there would be famines and terrible pestilences or epidemics of disease that the medical authorities would not be able to cope with at all. And then was to come the Great Tribulation … the World War … now this gospel of the Kingdom of God, the government of God is to go out to all nations …

In the sixth chapter of Revelation here, the first horse that we see here that John sees in his vision where he sees first the four horses in his vision. The first was the white horse which is the false preachers. And yet nearly everybody believes it’s Christ or the true preachers. And the second was the horse that was red. And that’s the war. And a third is the black horse which is famine. And next comes the pale horse that Jesus had interpreted as the pestilence of the disease epidemic.

And then after that, now the very next thing to happen is then the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is dual. As I said, it is nationally an invasion of our people by this very force. This factor, this great power that is now rising up in Europe, … Now, here it is the fifth seal. (Armstrong HW. The 5th Seal – Revelation. Radio broadcast TWT2279A. https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1366473266)

As far as the rise of the power in Europe goes, at least some of the justification for the rise of the Beast power will be to cite decisions and proposals by the United Nations, its World Health Organization, and/or its World Health Assembly.

That looks to be consistent with Bible prophecy which also teaches that this Beast leader will be in place after the fourth seal is opened as well as just before the fifth seal is opened.

The Bible shows that the coming European King of the North beast will gain power after a time of death and pestilence.

While COVID-19 itself was not that, and Disease X is currently somewhat limited, the COVID pandemic was used by various globalists in a way which will help set the stage for people to turn to such a leader.

Related to the rise of the Beast after a pandemic, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon on our ContinuingCOG channel:

1:16:57

Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation

The 6th chapter of the Book of Revelation tells of the ride of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. What do each represent? Is the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, part of the fourth horseman? Does the Bible point to around 2 billion people dying from hunger, war, and the beasts of the earth? Was the ancient Roman Empire impacted by pestilences? What about the black death, also known as the Bubonic plague? Are disease epidemics part of the beginning of sorrow and troubles that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24 and Mark 13? Does the pale green horseman represent Islam? Could genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or synthetic biology cause or contribute to coming pandemics? Is chemical and biological warfare (CBW) a real threat to humanity? What about a doomsday bug or antibiotic resistant superbugs? Is fear a contagion that will help people move away from democracy? Will scientists be able to stop what is coming? Is the good news that the Kingdom of God will? Could COVID-19 be setting the stage for the rise of the ‘prince,’ who will become the totalitarian Beast of the Sea (also known as 666 and the King of the North)? Is this leader similar to the Great Monarch of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies? When is the Great Monarch supposed to arise according to the Eastern Orthodox? Why might Europe be less affected by the ride of the third horseman that the US, Canada, and the UK? Are governments taking steps now, consistent with the words of Adolf Hitler? What seal represents the start of the Great Tribulation? Which Christians did Jesus promise to protect from the coming “hour of trial”?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Biological Warfare and Prophecy. Is biological warfare possible? Was it prophesied? Scientists have long warned that pathogenic organisms like the coronavirus could be weaponized. Furthermore, back in 2017, there were concerns that the biological research facility being constructed in Wuhan, China was risky and that a coronavirus from it could be released. On January 25, 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping publicly stated that the situation with the Wuhan-related strain of the coronavirus was grave. Did Church of God writers like the late evangelist Raymond McNair warn that engineered viruses (the “Doomsday bug”) were consistent with prophecies from Jesus? Did a warning from CCOG leader Bob Thiel warn about risks of genetically-modified (GMO) mosquitoes come to pass? Could human research and/or the consumption of biblically-unclean animals such as bats and snakes be a factor in current outbreaks or coming future pestilences? What about famines? How devastating have pestilences been? How devastating are the prophesied ones going to be? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled Sorrows and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
CCOG on vaccines Pestilences are coming. Is it ever appropriate for Christians to get vaccinated?
Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Here is a link to a related sermon: Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation. Here is a version of that sermon in Spanish: El Cuarto Caballo, El COVID y El Surgimiento de la Bestia del Apocalipsis. Some shorter related videos may include Amphibian Apocalypse: Threat to Humans? and Zombie Deer Disease is Here! Are the 10 Plagues on Egypt Coming? Here is a version of the article in Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
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?

Artist Interpretation of the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
(Wikipedia)

COGwriter

PCG posted the following:

December 9, 2024

After centuries of division, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches are nearing reconciliation. Pope Francis wants to emphasize Catholic-Orthodox unity by celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea with Orthodox leaders. This celebration would highlight 60 years of interreligious dialogue.

In a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople published on November 30, Pope Francis wrote:

The now imminent 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be another opportunity to bear witness to the growing communion that already exists among all who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I have already expressed several times my desire to be able to celebrate this event together with you, and I sincerely thank all those who have already begun working to make that possible.

Pope Francis plans to visit Turkey in May to mark the important anniversary with Bartholomew. The two men disagree on many doctrines, but both consider the decrees made at the First Council of Nicaea binding.

Emperor Constantine the Great called this council in a.d. 325 to promote religious unity throughout the Roman Empire. After months of debate, an assembly of 318 bishops set a date for Easter, formalized the trinity as Catholic dogma, and recognized three archbishops as having extra-provincial authority (the bishop of Rome, the bishop of Antioch and the bishop of Alexandria). All Christians who refused to adhere to the Nicaean Creed were exiled.

In the centuries after Nicaea, however, the bishops of Rome began claiming more authority over the church, eventually leading to the East-West Schism in a.d. 1054. Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew want to mend this schism, but this will involve settling the divisive issue of papal primacy, as well as numerous other theological disputes. …

This prediction was based on Isaiah 47, which describes a church called “the lady of kingdoms” (verse 5) that has power over nations. Yet this church has protesting churches that have split from it. Isaiah states that these churches will be brought under Babylonian control. Will the world soon witness another Nicaean council?

The original Council of Nicaea was designed to create a state-sponsored version of Christianity with the power to stamp out all forms of dissent. https://www.thetrumpet.com/30558-pope-wants-joint-catholic-orthodox-celebration-of-nicaea-anniversary

PCG is right on much of the above, however it made a serious error.

Which is?

It wrongly stated that the 325 A.D. Council of Nicea “formalized the trinity as Catholic dogma.”

That is in historical error.

It was the Council of Constantinople of 381 A.D. that formalized the trinity and made it Greco-Roman Catholic dogma.

While it is the case that Emperor Constantine’s pagan Mithra sun god religion taught a trinity, and that Constantinue endorsed the trinitarian position put forth by Athanasius at the Council of Nicea, that was NOT formally agreed to at his 325 Council. At that Council, 75-80% of the Greco-Roman bishops who attended were binitarian/semi-arian. They were NOT trinitarian and did NOT agree to a trinitarian formula.

Notice also that binitarians still were a major force after Nicea:

The second Formula of Sirmium (357) … the Semi-Arian bishops, assembled at Ancyra, the episcopal city of their leader Basilius, issued a … formula, asserting that the Son is in all things like the Father, afterwards approved by the Third Synod of Sirmium (358). This formula, … was signed by … orthodox bishops, and probably by Pope Liberius, (Benigni U. Council of Rimini. The Catholic Encyclopedia)

In the Council of Rimini, 359 A.D … nearly all bishops present, 400 in number {decided} … to sign a semi-Arian creed. (Kramer, p. 165)

EPISTLE OF THE SYNOD OF RIMINI TO THE EMPEROR CONSTANTIUS.

“We believe that it was by the appointment of God, as well as at the command of your piety, that we, the bishops of the West, came out of various districts to Rimini, in order that the faith of the Catholic Church might be detected. … God the Father, through Jesus Christ our God and Lord, the power of ruling the world. …” (Socrates, pp. 140-141)

Also in the 4^th century, Bishop of Rome Liberius excommunicated the trinitarian’s champion Athanasius (Gruner, p. 48). Bishop Liberius also signed a binitarian statement (Lopes, p. 12). Furthermore:

1. 367. COUNCIL OF TYANĄ accepted the letter of Liberius pronouncing the Semiarian Bishops to be orthodox. (Johnson CFH, ed. The book of Saint Basil the Great, Bishop of Cappadocia, on the Holy Spirit. Claredon Press, 1892, p. lviii)

While Emperor Constantine endorsed the trinitarian view, that did NOT become a decree of that Council. Furthermore, note that the following Greco-Roman councils, that were not called for by an emperor, took binitarian/semiarian positions:

1. Council of Antioch (341)

• Put out the semiarian dedication creed of the Greco Catholic Theophronius, Bishop of Tyana semiarian.

2. Council of Sirmium (351)

• Issued a creed which says that the Father and Son are “like” each other, but the Son is subordinate to the Father. Holy Spirit not mentioned.

3. Council of Sirmium (358)

• Produced the “Creed of Sirmium,” which says that the Father and Son are “like” each other, but the Son is subordinate to the Father. Holy Spirit not mentioned. It specifically opposed the use of the trinitarian terms “hypostasis,” and “homousios.”

4. Council of Ancyra (358)

• Gathered by Basil of Ancyra, this council concluded with a creed that the Father and Son are like each other, the Son existed eternally, and that there is a Holy Spirit.

5. Council of Tarsus (358)

• Supported the Semi-Arian position with a creed about the same as the Council of Anycyra.

6. Council of Philippopolis (359)

• Its “Dated Creed” supported the Semi-Arian position.

7. Council of Sirmium (359)

• Issued its “Dated Creed,” which was the same as the one above.

8. Council of Rimini and Seleucia (359-360)

• Also known as the “Double Council,” this meeting resulted in the “Creed of Rimini,” which taught a Semi-Arian view of the Father and Son, while stating that there is a Holy Spirit.

Consider that from 370-380, Demophilus was the Patriarch (Archbishop) of Constantinople (List of Patriarchs of Constantinople. Patriarchate of Constantinople, http://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/list-of-patriarchs.html accessed 07/21/21).

Theodosius pushed decisions of his council over scripture and removed Demophilus because he refused to accept Theodosius’ creed.

What kind of person was Theodosius who mandated that creed?

Well, in addition to being a persecutor of those who held to the original catholic date of the Passover, in 390 he brought in a pagan obelisk related to Tuthmosis III from Karnack, Egypt and placed it in a central public location in Constantinople (Kahzdan A, editor-in-chief. Obelisk of Theodosius. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Volume 3. Oxford University Press, 1991, p. 1509). The obelisk was originally part of the worship of the pagan sun-god Amun-Ra. Theodosius had images of himself and his sons added to the base of that obelisk (Kahzdan A, editor-in-chief. Theodosius I. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Volume 3. Oxford University Press, 1991, p. 2051)—hence directly connecting himself to the object of pagan, sun-god worship. A similar obelisk, started by Tuthmosis III, but finished by Tuthmosis IV, was ordered to be brought to Constantinople by Constantine in 330 A.D. However, that one was delayed and sent to Rome in 337. Currently, that obelisk is at the Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome. So, we see that both Emperors Constantine and Theodosius took steps that promoted sun-god veneration after their alleged conversion to ‘Christianity.’

Here is what The Catholic Encyclopedia says about Theodosius:

Theodosius I Roman Emperor (also known as Flavius Theodosius), born in Spain, … Theodosius is one of the sovereigns by universal consent called Great. He stamped out the last vestiges of paganism, put an end to the Arian heresy in the empire, pacified the Goths, left a famous example of penitence for a crime, and reigned as a just and mighty Catholic emperor. (Fortescue A. Theodosius I)

No, killing people who held to original catholic views on Passover as well as for other unscriptural reasons shows he did not reign justly as a real Christian emperor. No, by promoting obelisks he did not stamp out the last vestiges of paganism.

Furthermore, here is something written about Theodosius’ actions in 390 A.D. by a contemporary witness and Greco-Roman theologian named Theodoret who reported:

THESSALONICA … Here arose a great sedition, …

The emperor was fired with anger when he heard the news, and unable to endure the rush of his passion, did not even check its onset by the curb of reason, but allowed his rage to be the minister of his vengeance. When the imperial passion had received its authority, as though itself an independent prince, it broke the bonds and yoke of reason, unsheathed swords of injustice right and left without distinction, and slew innocent and guilty together. No trial preceded the sentence. No condemnation was passed on the perpetrators of the crimes. Multitudes were mowed down like ears of grain in harvest-tide. It is said that seven thousand perished. (Theodoret. Ecclesiastical History of Theodoret. Dalcassian Publishing Company, 2019, p. 200)

The same source also said Theodosius was involved in “continual wars” (Ibid). Theodosius did not act like a true Christian would and most certainly was not a “great” or real Christian.

Consider, further, that in the early 2^nd century, Polycarp of Smyrna wrote:

For I trust that ye are well versed in the Sacred Scriptures (Polycarp, Chapter XII. Letter to the Philippians. In Ante-Nicene Fathers).

Yes, true Christian beliefs come from the Bible. Not from councils of men who changed them from what the Bible teaches.

The current Nicene creed, that was adopted at the 381 Council of Constantinople which was convened by Emperor Theodosius, met resistance before acceptance.

Remember that Theodosius removed Demophilus from being the Patriarch of Constantinople because he would NOT accept the Emperor’s trinitarian Nicene Creed. The 5^th century Greco-Roman historian Socrates Scholasticus wrote:

When the emperor found the Church in this state, he began to consider by what means he could make peace, effect a union, and enlarge the Churches. Immediately therefore he intimated his desire to Demophilus, who presided over the Arian party, and inquired whether he was willing to assent to the Nicene creed, and thus reunite the people, and establish concord. Upon Demophilus’s declining to accede to this proposal, the emperor said to him, “Since you reject peace and unanimity, I order you to quit the churches.”

Which when Demophilus heard, weighing with himself the difficulty of contending against superior power, he convoked his followers in the church, and, standing in the midst of them, thus spoke: “Brethren, it is written in the Gospel.’ If they persecute you in one city, flee ye into another. ‘ ‘ Since therefore the emperor excludes us from the churches, take notice that we will henceforth hold our assemblies without the city. (Socrates Scholasticus, pp. 265-266)

Therefore, consider that: 1) trinitarianism was not the position of the patriarchy of Constantinople, 2) Arian meant Semi-Arian above (and this happens in other writings), and 3) that political considerations, not theological ones, look to have been the reason to push trinitarianism.

Even the official website of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople once admitted that the arians/semi-semiarians ruled that “see” for at least “forty years” in the fourth century (Gregory I of Nazianzen 379-381. © 2010 The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.  http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/former-patriarchs/gregory-i-of-nazianzen viewed 04/17/10). Furthermore, it should be understood that there is no evidence that Constantinople had any “bishops” prior to the fourth century who were actually trinitarians.

The pagan convert Theodosius declared the trinity to be the official policy of his empire in 380 A.D. and said only those who accepted it could use the term “Catholic Christian.” Yet, even that late declaration also supports the view that trinitarianism was not an original catholic belief.

But it is now so widely held, most consider it essential to be a Christian.

For example, the Vatican’s 21^st century, handbook, The Bishop and Christian Unity: An Ecumenical Vademecum, basically divides professing Christianity into two groups. One group that accepts the trinitarian godhead definition adopted by the 381 A.D. Council of Constantinople and the other that does not accept it. The Vatican’s handbook only calls for ecumenical unity with the first group.

Furthermore, that is consistent with the trinitarian position adopted last century by the World Council of Churches (WCC Approves a Trinitarian Basis, Christianity Today, December 22, 1961), that has remained in effect in the 21^st century (Thomas TK. “WCC, Basis of,” in Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement, 2nd ed., ed. Nicholas Lossky et al. Geneva: WCC Publications and Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002: 1238–1239). The WCC only accepts trinitarians.

Thus, since the CCOG does not accept the 381 A.D. trinitarian adoption, it would not even be a target of the ecumenical efforts of the Vatican or the WCC. It, and churches closely like it, are a different group.

Blasting the Trinitarian Myth

The idea that early Christians held to trinitarianism is a myth as all reputable theological scholars admit.

Let’s summarize some facts of scripture and early church history:

1. The Father and Son are not co-equal per John 14:10 and 14:28. The Father is greater.
2. The Holy Spirit is not co-equal to the Son, as Jesus administers it per Matthew 11:27; John 15:26.
3. Jesus was not fully human AND fully God while a man on the earth as He emptied Himself of His divinity (Philippians 2:7), of Himself could do nothing (John 5:19, 30, 8:28), was tempted as we are (Hebrews 2:18)—God cannot be tempted (James 1:13), and He died (Romans 5:6,8)—which God cannot do.
4. So called “binitarian formulas” are frequently seen in the New Testament (e.g. Romans 8:11, 2 Corinthians 4:14, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:20, 1 Timothy 1:2, 1 Peter 1:21, and 2 John 1:13).
5. Although 1 John 5:7-8 is cited as proof of the trinity, the “trinitarian portion” claimed to be in those verses was added centuries after the New Testament was written.
6. What has been referred to as oldest preserved Christian sermon outside of the Bible (sometimes referred to as 2 Clement) holds a binitarian view of the Godhead.
7. The first known trinitarians who claimed Christianity, Montanus and Valentinus, are considered to be apostates by the Greco-Roman Catholics and Protestants as well as the Church of God.
8. Early church leaders such as Ignatius, Polycarp, and Theophilus were binitarian,
9. Greco-Roman saints such as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus were binitarian.
10. The bulk of those that the Greco-Roman Catholics and Protestants consider to have been early saints were binitarian.
11. The “mystery of Christ” has nothing to so with the trinity as scripture says that mystery was known by the time of the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:1-5), centuries before the trinity was formally adopted.
12. The Holy Spirit was not considered to be God by early Christians.
13. The so-called ‘Apostolic Fathers’ did not hold to trinitarianism.
14. Hippolytus, called “the most important theologian … in the pre-Constantinian era” by The Catholic Encyclopedia was binitarian.
15. Although there was a type of trinity in the Mithratic sun god religion of Emperor Constantine, although he endorsed trinitarianism, his Imperial Council of Nicea did not endorse the trinitarian position of the Godhead.
16. There are no clearly trinitarian statements by any early Bishop of Byzantium/Constantinople expressing a true trinitarian position.
17. Bishop Liberius of Rome endorsed the orthodoxy of semiarianism.
18. The two earliest know creeds (the Old Roman Form and Creed of Lucian) were not trinitarian.
19. There were at least seven ecclesiastical councils, not called by an emperor, after the Council of Nicea, that endorsed some type of a semiarian creed.
20. Shortly after converting from ancient Roman paganism, Emperor Theodosius pushed what is now called the Nicene Creed.
21. When Archbishop/Patriarch of Constantinople remained semiarian, Theodosius removed him from his position.
22. The adoption of the Nicene creed by Theodosius’ Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. proves it was not part of the original “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
23. Emperor Theodosius then used imperial force to get his Nicene Creed accepted as persecute those who would not accept it. He had people murdered—he was not functioning as a real Christian.

The idea that the Bible and early Christians believed in the trinity of Theodosius is clearly a myth. It was not part of the original faith and should not be embraced by true Christians.

Anyway, PCG should have been more careful as the original Council of Nicea absolutely did not formally adopt the trinity as Catholic dogma.

That said, yes, there are ecumenical concerns about the proposed 1700th anniversary of that Council.Orthodox delegation to participate in Jubilee 2025 and confesses he wants to go to Nicaea’ and Roman ‘Catholic church in Portland hosts Tibetan Buddhist monks for talk on non-Christian meditation’.

Back in 2014, we put together the following video:

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce our latest video on our Bible New Prophecy YouTube channel:

10:44

3rd Council of Nicea in 2025?

The first ecumenical Council of Nicea was in 325 A.D. The Second Council of Nicea began in 787 A.D. The Roman Catholic Pope Francis and the Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople have called for a meeting between the Orthodox and the Vatican to take place in the year 2025. What was the result of the earlier councils? Does the Bible support this 2025 meeting? What are some of the dangers?

It still looks like this third council will take place.

Now some may say, they believe ecumenical unity between the Catholics of Rome, the Eastern Orthodox Catholics, and Protestants is a good thing. And if they were intent on contending earnestly for “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (June 3), it could be.

But it is not.

A decade ago, The Atlantic made the following statements about Nicea for 2025 and 325:

Mark your calendars: In 2025, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians may return to Nicaea, the spot in modern-day Turkey where Christianity was literally defined. In 325, early followers of Jesus came together to figure out what it means to be a Christian; the goal was to create theological consensus across all of Christendom. 
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/05/what-does-it-mean-that-there-will-be-a-new-council-of-nicaea/371943/

That is simply not case regarding 325 A.D.  What happened was that the sun-god worshiping Emperor Constantine declared himself an unbaptized, unordained bishop and summoned Greco-Roman bishops under imperial threat to attend a meeting he convened.

It did not represent “all Christendom” as no Church of God leaders attended. But that council, and subsequent ones, did result in the adoption of doctrines that the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and most Protestants ended up accepting. Several of which were not held by the original apostles or their faithful followers.

It was about one year after conquering the Eastern Empire (thus resurrecting the combined Roman Empire) the sun-worshiping Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea. That Council declared:

1) The Roman Sun-day or day of the Sun was to be the Christian Sabbath.

2) Rules regarding seasonal prayers, penance, and indulgences.

3) That the Greco-Romans believed that Jesus was one substance with God the Father.

4) Passover would be on Sunday and not the biblical date of Nisan 14.

Perhaps it should be mentioned that this Council did not prohibit pagan sun-worship, but instead decreed that true Christians should not keep the seventh-day Sabbath nor should they be allowed to keep Passover on the 14^th.

Here is some of what the Greco-Roman Catholic historian Epiphanius wrote in the mid-4th Century:

… the emperor … convened a council of 318 bishops … in the city of Nicea … They passed certain ecclesiastical canons at the council besides, and at the same time decreed in regard to the Passover that there must be one unanimous concord on the celebration of God’s holy and supremely excellent day. For it was variously observed by people …

Eventually, those in parts of Europe (e.g. Britain and Germany) changed the name from Passover to Easter (Ostern in German). Easter and Ostern are other names for the Babylonian goddess Ishtar (which can be pronounced as Easter), the so-called queen of heaven (also called Ashtaroth in the Bible in 1 Samuel 12:10). The “Queen of Heaven” is also a title that has been associated with Europa, for whom the continent of Europe is named.

 The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes so far as to claim:

1170 At the Council of Nicea in 325, all the Churches agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox.

This simply is not really true, and it should not be taught in the modern Catechism. Passover was still kept on the correct day by the scattered faithful church and always has been, since the time of Christ. The fact that the Emperor got an agreement from those he summoned did not change the Bible (or its truly faithful followers).

It should be noted that it is understood, even by some Roman Catholic scholars, that “Judeo-Christian” churches were not represented on at that Council. Notice what priest Bellarmino Bagatti wrote:

…the inhabitants of Syria, of Cilicia and of Mesopotamia were still celebrating Easter {Passover} with the Jews…

The importance of the matters to be discussed and the great division that existed had led Constantine to bring together a big number of bishops, including confessors of the faith, in order to give the impression that the whole of Christendom was represented.

In fact…the churches of Jewish stock had had no representation…From this we can conclude that no Judaeo-Christian bishop participated in the Council.  Either they were not invited or they declined to attend.  And so the capitulars had a free hand to establish norms for certain practices without meeting opposition or hearing other view points. Once the road was open future Councils would continue on these lines, thus deepening the breach between the Christians of two-stocks.  The point of view of the Judaeo-Christians, devoid of Greek philosophical formation, was that of keeping steadfast to the Testimonia, and therefore not to admit any word foreign to the Bible, including Homoousion.

So, there were Christians who believed in basing doctrine only on the Bible, but they did not attend Nicea or any of the later Councils. Mainly, if not only, those who seemed to accept “Greek philosophical formation” attended. Thus, no true Christian should consider that these Councils were called of God.

Constantine’s church historian, Eusebius, recorded the following details about Constantine convening that Council:

But before this time another most virulent disorder had existed, and long afflicted the Church; I mean the difference respecting the salutary feast of Easter{Passover}. For while one party asserted that the Jewish custom should be adhered to, the other affirmed that the exact recurrence of the period should be observed, without following the authority of those…

Then as if to bring a divine array against this enemy, he convoked a general council, and invited the speedy attendance of bishops from all quarters, in letters expressive of the honorable estimation in which he held them. Nor was this merely the issuing of a bare command but the emperor’s good will contributed much to its being carried into effect: for he allowed some the use of the public means of conveyance, while he afforded to others an ample supply of horses for their transport.  The place, too, selected for the synod, the city Nicæa in Bithynia… In effect, the most distinguished of God’s ministers from all the churches which abounded in Europe, Lybia, and Asia were here assembled… Constantine is the first prince of any age who bound together such a garland as this with the bond of peace, and presented it to his Saviour as a thank-offering for the victories he had obtained over every foe, thus exhibiting in our own times a similitude of the apostolic company…

The result was that they were not only united as concerning the faith, but that the time for the celebration of the salutary feast of Easter was agreed on by all…

What was the justification for this, or for Eusebius calling those who kept biblical practices “this enemy”?

Well, although the word Pascha (which means Passover) is mistranslated as Easter above and below, Constantine clearly felt that the Jews were detestable and that he did not want his church to follow practices like theirs. Notice what Constantine declared:

At this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of Easter {Passover} was discussed, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present, that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day. For what can be more becoming or honorable to us than that this feast from which we date our hopes of immortality, should be observed unfailingly by all alike, according to one ascertained order and arrangement? And first of all, it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul. For we have it in our power, if we abandon their custom, to prolong the due observance of this ordinance to future ages, by a truer order, which we have preserved from the very day of the passion until the present time. Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd; for we have received from our Saviour a different way. A course at once legitimate and honorable lies open to our most holy religion. Beloved brethren, let us with one consent adopt this course, and withdraw ourselves from all participation in their baseness.

It perhaps should be noted that Jesus kept Passover on the 14^th.  Calling the “Jewish crowd” detestable is not appropriate for real Christians. Jesus did not implement Sunday Passover as a “different way.” This is further evidence that those who are following Constantine’s decrees are not following those made by a true Christian.

The Greco-Roman Catholic Epiphanius, himself, actually admitted that the church used to observe the 14^th for Passover when he wrote:

Audians…they choose to celebrate the Passover with the Jews–that is they contentiously celebrate the Passover at the same time as the Jews are holding their Festival of Unleavened Bread. And indeed that this used to be the church’s custom.

Thus, Epiphanius seemed to realize that Passover on the 14^th was the original Passover date, even for the early Greco-Romans, since he wrote “this used to be the church’s custom.”  See also the article The Passover Plot.

Protestant scholar H. Brown noted:

Although Constantine is usually remembered for the steps he took toward making Christianity the established religion of the Roman Empire, it would not be wrong to consider him the one who inaugurated the centuries of trinitarian orthodoxy. It was he who proposed and perhaps even imposed the expression homoousis at the Council of Nicea in 325, and it was he who provided government aid to the orthodox and exerted government pressure against nonconformists.

So some scholars basically admit that the initial acceptance of the trinity was forced upon professing Christians by a sun-worshiping Emperor who appointed himself as a bishop (so much for that “apostolic succession”), and who proposed something that ultimately became (in 381 A.D.) the trinitarian doctrine very similar to that which the Roman Catholics/Orthodox/Protestants now teach.

Since Constantine had been a follower of Mithras, the idea of a trinitarian deity was something he and other pagans had been familiar with. L.L. Paine noted:

Mithra, who was originally subordinate to Ormuzd, and even reduced to the third place in the triad, subsequently rose practically to the first place, supplanting Ormuzd himself. Such a process, by which the mediating member of the trinity, as the special friend and savior of men, should become first and nearest in the thoughts, and affections, and hopes of men, and hence in time first in the divine order of the gods, is most natural, and we have already found it a marked feature of the historical evolution of most of the Ethnic trinities. Thus in the Babylonian triad Marduk, the mediating sun-god, usurps the place of Ea, his father. The same was true of Vishnu-Krishna in the Hindoo trinity, who, in his capacity of god- man and mediator, reduced Brahma to almost a shadow. So Mithraism pushed Ormuzd back into a place of inferiority, or rather he was quietly displaced and forgotten.

Notice the following, which Dr. Brown wrote, and which many Catholic/ Protestant/Orthodox theologians seem to accept:

The concept of three persons (hypostases)…or homooussia…the doctrine of the Trinity…will never be understood by humans in any full sense.  It will always remain a mystery…

Actually, those of us in the Continuing Church of God see no real mystery here. The Greco-Roman churches had doctrinal confusion. A pagan Emperor came up with an idea. The idea was developed further by the Greco-Roman confederation. It later was enforced by various Roman emperors upon Rome’s subjects. The fact that the Bible teaches that “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33) provides scriptural support for the view that the Greco-Roman trinity is a human invention and the historical records document this to those who are willing to see it.  See also the article Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity?

Notice what a former priest wrote about Constantine:

Constantine … No one was ever more devoted to than he to the sun god, Sol … Emperor Constantine never relinquished his title of Pontifex Maximus, head of the pagan state cult … Twice married, he murdered Crispus his son by his first wife, in 326. He had his second wife drowned in the bath; killed his eleven year old nephew, then his brother-in-law, after giving him assurances of safe conduct under oath …

Constantine was a soldier at a time when shedding blood was unacceptable to the church … When Constantine called bishops his beloved brethren and styled himself ‘Bishop of Bishops’, which popes later appropriated, he was not a Christian, not even a catechumen. Yet no one remotely approached his stature and authority. Even the Bishop of Rome … was in comparison, a non-entity … All bishops agreed that he was ‘the inspired oracle, the apostle of Church wisdom’ …

It is another paradox of history that it was Constantine, a pagan, who invented the idea of a council of all Christian communities … At Nicaea the Founding Father of Ecumenical Councils gathered 300 hundred bishops, having laid on free transport … Maybe he simply wanted to show that he was in charge. He proposed what came to be called ‘the orthodox view’ of God’s Son being ‘of one substance’ with the Father. All dissident bishops caved in, except for two whom Constantine promptly deposed and sent packing … His cynical use of Christ, in which everyone including the Roman Bishop acquiesced, meant a profound falsification of the Gospel message and the injection of standards alien to it. (De Rosa, pp. 35,36,43,44)

A committed sun god/Mithras devotee came up with the orthodox view of the Godhead. See also Do You Practice Mithraism?

A Possible Judeo-Christian Report of Constantine’s Council of Nicea

A 10^th-11^th century Islamic Arab document professes to have a Judeo-Christian perspective of the Council of Nicea. Here is some of what Shlomo Pines summarized from that Arabic report of that Council and one that preceded it:

Constantine called a gathering of Christian monks with a view to the formulation of obligatory religious beliefs…However, some of them disagreed with this text…There was a scission and the symbol of faith which had been formulated was not regarded as valid.

Thereupon, three hundred and eighteen men gathered in Nicaea and formulated a symbol of faith, which was accepted and made obligatory by Constantine. People who dissented from it were killed and professions of faith differing from it suppressed.

In this way people who professed the religion of Christ came to do all that is reprehensible; they worshipped the cross, observed the Roman religious rites and ate pork.  Those who did not eat it were killed. (Pines, pp. 32,43)

So, according to an Islamic reporter, there were Christians who were upset by the changes that Emperor Constantine enforced, such as crosses and Roman religious rites. Furthermore, the same reporter stated that the “Jewish Christians” denounced the use of incense in Christian churches as “an adaptation of a Pagan custom” and that they had to become a clandestine group.

Under Constantine and his Nicean Council Mainstream “Christianity,” “Constantinian Christianity,” Emerged

A few years after the Council of Nicea, Emperor Constantine took bold persecuting action against those that would not accept his preferred religion which was a combination of pagan and sun-worshiping practices with the name Christianity.

To enforce persecution against Christians who did not accept Constantine’s doctrines, around 332 A.D. Constantine issued what is known as the Edict Against the Heretics:

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

“FORASMUCH, then, as it is no longer possible to bear with your pernicious errors, we give warning by this present statute that none of you henceforth presume to assemble yourselves together. (1) We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all the houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies: and our care in this respect extends so far as to forbid the holding of your superstitious and senseless meetings, not in public merely, but in any private house or place whatsoever. Let those of you, therefore, who are desirous of embracing the true and pure religion, take the far better course of entering the catholic Church, and uniting with it in holy fellowship, whereby you will be enabled to arrive at the knowledge of the truth. In any case, the delusions of your perverted understandings must entirely cease to mingle with and mar the felicity of our present times: I mean the impious and wretched double-mindedness of heretics and schismatics. For it is an object worthy of that prosperity which we enjoy through the favor of God, to endeavor to bring back those who in time past were living in the hope of future blessing, from all irregularity and error to the right path, from darkness to light, from vanity to truth, from death to salvation. And in order that this remedy may be applied with effectual power, we have commanded, as before said, that you be positively deprived of every gathering point for your superstitious meetings, I mean all the houses of prayer, if such be worthy of the name, which belong to heretics, and that these be made over without delay to the catholic Church; that any other places be confiscated to the public service, and no facility whatever be left for any future gathering; in order that from this day forward none of your unlawful assemblies may presume to appear in any public or private place. Let this edict be made public.”

Some of those referred to as Paulians (Paulicians) and Cataphrygians were part of the original Church of God, thus they were not the heretics. Just because the Emperor had military might, does not make his declarations right (cf. Revelation 13:4-9; 17:1-6).  See also the article Persecutions by Church and State.

Regarding this early time period, the theological historian Bart Ehrman noted:

By the early fourth century, Christianity had almost completely separated from Judaism, the religion of Jesus and his apostles…By early fourth century, non-Jewish Christianity had become a major world religion. (Ehrman B. From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity, Part 2. The Teaching Company, Chantilly (VA), 2004, p. 47)

The church councils, first started by Emperor Constantine, really ended up with a new religion, which could be called “Constantinian Christianity.” Constantinian Christianity included elements of Greco-Roman compromises, a church-state alliance, and pagan elements synchronized to become the religion of the State.

Perhaps it should be mentioned, that according to Eastern Orthodox Catholic sources, at the time of the Council of Nicea in 325, “There is no mention of the bishop of Constantinople due to the fact that this “see” was as yet an insignificant little town” (^{Patsovas L. The Primacy of the See of Constantinople in Theory and Practice.  © 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/primacy-constantinople viewed 02/09/10}).  But many of the Orthodox and others will overlook that.

Now, what will be the result of the planned 2025 Council of Nicea?

As far as can be determined, both Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew hope that greater ecumenical unity will occur between their respective organizations.

According to an Eastern Orthodox prophet the final (the Orthodox recognize seven previous ones) ecumenical synod council satisfies what “heretics” want:

Saint Neilos the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics…(Tzima Otto, p. 111).

By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic.”  If heretics are truly heretics, should their complaints be satisfied?

Will that happen in 2025?  It very well may–though perhaps only some parts will be updated related to unity.  The Orthodox had called for an eighth ecumenical council in 2016, which could be this (see Orthodox agree to eighth ecumenical council: If Orthodox prophecy is correct on it, this council marks a major step towards the end!). But if not, it may be in near or by 2025 some type of council will result in the type of ecumenical unity that Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew want.

The results of the original Council of Nicea were terrible and there is no reason to believe that a possible meeting there in 2025 will result in true good. Let me add that the World Council of Churches has also been preparing for this 1700th anniversary of Nicea.

The Bible teaches that the only true unity of the faith will happen AFTER the false ecumenical movement is eliminated which happens with the return of Jesus Christ (e.g. Zechariah 2:6-11).

What certain religious leaders are trying to do is not the will of God. But likely will result in the fulfillment of certain biblical prophecies.

#LATEST: Germany suspends decisions on Syrian asylum applications – German media pic.twitter.com/FxRHnneuRO

— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) December 9, 2024

COGwriter

The departure of Bashar Assad and the fall of his government has already impacted German policy:

Syria updates: Germany halts asylum proceedings for Syrians

9 December 2024

Germany is putting a pause on decisons on asylum applications for Syrian citizens, with German news agency DPA reporting that the move will likely affect 47,000 pending applications.

The decision comes after Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family fled the country after being toppled by rebel forces over the weekend. …

A day after the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, debate began in Germany about the possible return of Syrian migrants and asylum-seekers to their home country.

Senior leaders of Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), suggested encouraging Syrians to return to their homeland.

“As a first step, I would say that we are making an offer. How about the German government saying: anyone who wants to go back to Syria, we’ll charter planes for them and give them a starting payment of €1,000 ($1,060),” Jens Spahn, a prominent CDU politician, told broadcaster RTL/ntv on Monday morning. …

The situation in Syria had “fundamentally changed” following Assad’s ouster, he told the Handelsblatt newspaper, adding that this affects the status of Syrians currently living in Germany.

“We need to check whether their protection status should be revoked,” said Throm, adding that the government should encourage Syrians to voluntarily return home.

“Everyone must be clear: Fleeing is a temporary stay,” Throm stressed.

Jürgen Hardt, another CDU politician, called for a comprehensive review of Germany’s asylum policy toward Syrians in the coming weeks.

“I believe that we will come to a reassessment of the political situation in Syria and thus also to a reassessment of the question of who can and cannot find protection in our country,” he said. https://www.dw.com/en/syria-updates-germany-halts-asylum-proceedings-for-syrians/live-70997989

Germany halts Syrian asylum proceedings as Scholz desperately attempts to avoid surge of hard-right AFD

December 9, 2024

Germany has halted Syrian asylum proceedings as Chancellor Olaf Scholz desperately attempts to avoid the surge of the hard-right ahead of the upcoming Bundestag Election. …

However, right-wing parties in Berlin are still pushing for Syrian refugees to return to their homeland, as discussions intensify over the future of approximately one-million Syrians who have sought refuge in Germany. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/germany-halts-syrian-asylum-proceedings-as-scholz-desperately-attempts-to-avoid-surge-of-hard-right-afd/ar-AA1vxRKv

There has long been a desire to send Syrians back.

Last year, we put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy channel related to the goals of the AfD):

14:22

AfD: Prelude to a Hitler Beast?

Germany’s Alternative für Deutshland (Alternative for Germany in English) party celebrated its 10th anniversary on February 6, 2023.

It objects to:
❌More illegal migration
❌More asylum abuse
❌More crime
❌More housing shortage
❌More Cancel Culture

The AfD also asserts, “Now it’s time to change that. And that’s only possible with us.” Many are concerned that the AfD’s growing political influence will impact Germany. Can a strong man worse than Adolf Hitler, that the Bible calls the Beast rise up from Germany? Could Europe reorganize with a small backing to put this leader into place? Does the AfD want to make a deal with Russia? Will Germany make a future deal with Russia that would be opposed to the USA? Does the AfD want religion involved to meet its objectives in such a way that it could support the coming King of the North Beast power that the Bible warns will arise in Europe? Could Europe unite under such a leader according to scripture? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel go over these matters.

Here is a link to our video: AfD: Prelude to a Hitler Beast?

The rise of AfD reminds some of pre-WWII. We are getting closer and closer to WWIII.

But even when it was smaller, back in 2016, German Chancellor Merkel announced that Germany had no intention of keeping the refugees it accepted and that they expect to send them back:

January 30, 2016

NEUBRANDENBURG, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday tried to placate the increasingly vocal critics of her open-door policy for refugees, insisting that asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq would go home once the conflicts there had ended. …

“We need … to say to people that this is a temporary residential status and we expect that once there is peace in Syria again, once IS has been defeated in Iraq, that you go back to your home country with the knowledge that you have gained,” she said at a meeting of CDU members in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

She said 70 percent of refugees that fled to Germany from the war in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s had returned to their home countries.

Her remarks come after Horst Seehofer, leader of the CSU, threatened to take her government to court if his demand to stem the flow of asylum seekers was not met.

Support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) has edged up into double digits. Its leader said in an interview published on Saturday that border guards should shoot at refugees to prevent them from illegally entering the country if need be. …

Germany wants to limit migration from North Africa by declaring Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia “safe countries”, which would end their citizens’ chance of being granted asylum. Merkel said she had spoken to Morocco’s king and that Morocco had said it was prepared to take back people from that country. http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2016/01/30/germanys-merkel-says-refugees-must-return-home-once-war-over-n2112395

Many in Germany want to see the refugees gone. Some other nations in Europe are also suspending or considering suspending asylum requests from Syrians–it is not just Germany.

Many in Germany and other parts of Europe have realized that the Islamic refugees do not want to integrate into European society. Many immigrants want to impose Islamic culture, and that scares a lot of Europeans.

More and more in Europe want to do something about the Islamic situation.

The situation will also change in Syria (cf. Isaiah 17:1). Presuming the government of Germany heeds Angela Merkel’s earlier words, immigrants will be told to leave Germany.

Yet, many of the Muslims will not want to go home. Home to lands that are often more dangerous and whose economies are not as productive. This will lead to conflict as well as change in Europe.

Germany wants many of the migrants out.

The old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) taught:

Many nations make no bones about their connections to terrorist groups. Syria, Libya, Iraq and South Yemen all see no objection in directly aiding terrorism. (Taylor D. TERRORISM the Worst Is Yet to Come! Plain Truth, May 1984)

The Bible also has a warning related to what sounds like Palestinian and Syrian terrorists:

¹¹ Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, ¹² The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:11-12)

The leader of the main group now in Syria has a terrorist background. Expect terroristic acts from some Syrians who either do not wish to be deported or who decide to do so on their way out!

That said, the biblical reality is that Germany itself, along with the rest of Europe, will 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 throughout unless otherwise specified)

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), destroy the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies (Daniel 11:39), and then takeover the predominantly Islamic nations in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

As I have written for years, Islamic issues are likely to be a factor in the rise of this Beast leader.

The rise of Donald Trump in the USA is but a small foretaste of what will happen in Europe.

Greco-Roman Catholic writings tell of a time when a ruler will push Islam out of Europe:

St. Francis de Paul (1470):…From your lordship shall be born the great leader of the holy militia…the Great Monarch…He shall be a great captain and prince of holy men, who shall be called ‘the holy Cross-bearers of Jesus Christ,’ with whom he will destroy the Mahometan sect and the rest of the infidels…He shall be the great founder of a new religious order different from all the others…This shall be the last religious order in the Church and shall do more good for our holy religion than all other religious institutes. By force of arms he shall take possession of a great kingdom. He shall destroy the sect of Mahomet…There will be one fold, one shepherd. He shall reign until the end of time. On the whole earth there will be twelve kings, one emperor and one pope. (Culleton, p. 157-161).

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (died 1658):…”When everything has been ruined by war; when Catholics are hard pressed by traitorous co-religionists and heretics; when the Church and her servants are denied their rights, the monarchies have been abolished and their rulers murdered…There will rise a valiant monarch anointed … “He will root out false doctrines and destroy the rule of the Moslemism. (Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp.35-36)

Pseudo-Methodius (7th century): Muslims will be killed and they will know the tribulation…The Lord will give them to the powers of the Christians whose empire will be elevated above all empires…The Roman King (Great Monarch) will show a great indignation against those who will have denied Christ in Egypt or in Arabia (Araujo, Fabio R. Selected Prophecies and Prophets. BookSurge LLC, Charlestown (SC), 2007, p. 103).

The ‘Great Monarch’ that is spoken of above is quite similar to the final King of the North that the Bible warns against. Both Catholic and biblical prophecy teach that this leader will be a European, probably at least partially of German heritage and he will fight those of the Arab/Muslim lands. As the 21st century proceeds, do not be surprised that Islam will be pushed out of Europe to a major degree (Daniel 11:36-38; Revelation 13:4,8,11-17).

There will be conflict between the Europeans and the Arabs (watch also the video sermonettes Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe? and War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

Notice both a Roman Catholic and a biblical prophecy:

Rudolph Gekner (died 1675). “A great prince of the North with a most powerful army will traverse all Europe, uproot all republics, and exterminate all rebels. His sword moved by Divine power will most valiantly defend the Church of Jesus Christ. He will combat on behalf of the true orthodox faith, and shall subdue to his dominion the Mahometan Empire.” (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.36).

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. (Daniel 11:40-43)

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).

The destruction of a coming Islamic confederation (see The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation ) will be part of the result of what is happening in the Middle East and in the West.

Although we need to rely on the Bible, and not ‘private Catholic prophecies,’ notice the way some of them mirror the Bible. This should give us pause to consider that some who claim Greco-Roman Catholicism will point to them as part of their justification for actions they may take in the future.

It should also be understood that while the Bible indicates that Europeans will defeat the Muslim peoples in the Middle East and North Africa per Daniel 11:40-43 and Ezekiel 30:2-8, the Bible also shows that the Islamic nations there will make deals with the Europeans (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83)–these deals will NOT turn out well for the USA in the long run (cf. Daniel 11:39), nor ultimately many of the Arabic nations.

As I have been saying for a long time, Islamic 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.

The Bible tells of a confederation involving nations in the Middle East and North Africa in the end times in Daniel 11:40-43 and Ezekiel 30:2-8 that is defeated by the Europeans. Civil unrest and likely civil war will happen, but a temporal peace will also come (Daniel 9:27; see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

Now the actual biblical war prophesied in the Bible between Europe and the Arabs, will not come until more than 3 1/2 years after a ‘peace deal’ has been confirmed by a ‘prince’ (Daniel 9:26-27) who later will become the final King of the North (Daniel 11:31-44). This leader will be European, and eventually destroy the nation with the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:39), which in the 21st century would be the USA. He will proclaim peace and safety:

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

This leader will encourage proclamations of peace, yet sudden destruction will come (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). He may rise up, partially, to deal with issues related to Islamic immigrants. Once he has power, he will destroy the USA, etc. (Daniel 11:39), and then he will turn against a power in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43)–a power consisting of a lot of Arabs.

The migrant situation in Germany and elsewhere is setting Europe up for civil unrest. Ultimately, war will come between the Europeans and the Arabs.

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs Is war really coming between the Arabs and the Europeans? What does Bible prophecy say about that? Do the Central Europeans (Assyria in prophecy) make a deal with the Arabs that will hurt the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Do Catholic or Islamic prophecies discuss a war between Europe and Islam? If so, what is the sequence of events that the Bible reveals? Who does the Bible, Catholic, and Islamic prophecy teach will win such a war? This is a video.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Might 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 Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here are links to two sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
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.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Pope Francis inaugurates nativity scene with baby Jesus swaddled in Palestinian “keffiyeh,” sparking outrage from Protestants and Jews.

Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/2PC0QUsAqc

— AF Post (@AFpost) December 8, 2024

COGwriter

The Bible teaches that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1), which is currently considered to be part of Palestine. Although the Bible is clear that Jesus was a Jew (Matthew 1:1-3; John 4:9-10), one could say His place of birth has Palestinian connections.

Pope Francis and the Vatican seem to have taken that further as part of their ecumenical and interfaith agendas:

December 9, 2024

Pope Francis attended a nativity scene crafted in Bethlehem, Israel, by Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi and presented by Palestinian officials in Pope Paul VI Hall in Vatican City. The display depicting the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem featured Baby Jesus lying on a Keffiyeh, a traditional Arab head covering for men that PLO leader Yasser Arafat appropriated as a symbol of Palestinian terrorism.

Speaking at the event, a wheelchair-bound Francis called on Catholics to “remember the brothers and sisters, who, right there [in Bethlehem] and in other parts of the world, are suffering from the tragedy of war,” adding, “enough war, enough violence!” …

According to Vatican News, the keffiyeh-draped cradle, which will be displayed in the Paul VI Hall, is one of a series of nativity scenes collectively titled “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024. ” …

The creation and display of the plaque and nativity scene were organized by the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, an organ of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and the Palestinian embassy to the Vatican. Joining the pope in presiding over the scene’s dedication on Sunday was PLO executive committee member and the head of the Palestinian Committee for Church Affairs, Ramzi Khouri, who conveyed “warm greetings” from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Khouri expressed “deep gratitude for the pope’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and his tireless efforts to end the war on Gaza and promote justice,” according to a PLO press release.

The project was overseen by Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran Pastor in Bethlehem, who preaches that modern Jews are descended from an “East European tribe who converted to Judaism in the Middle Ages” and have no historical connection to the land of Israel. He claims that modern Palestinians are the true descendants of King David and Jesus. …

Islam reveres Jesus as a non-divine prophet … https://israel365news.com/398466/pope-francis-unveils-baby-jesus-in-a-keffiyeh/

Before going further, let me note that contrary to the views of the Lutheran pastor Mitri Raheb, Jews in Israel do have a historical connection to the land of Israel–for details on that as well as the descendants on the throne of King David, check out the free online book: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?

Related to Francis’ interfaith agenda with the Muslims, notice the following:

May 26, 2020

The Catholic Church since Vatican II has taught in different ways that Muslims and Christians do worship the same God. Lumen Gentium §16 includes the line: “Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind [nobiscum Deum adorant unicum, misericordem].” Pope Saint John Paul II, speaking in front of a soccer stadium filled with young Muslims in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1985, famously declared:

We believe in the same God, the one God, the living God, the God who created the world and brings his creatures to their perfection.

More recently Pope Francis implied as much when he signed the Declaration on Human Fraternity in early 2019, together with the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi. Therein the two religious leaders mutually declare: “We, who believe in God and in the final meeting with Him and His judgment.”…

Still, while it is none of my business to make theological propositions on behalf of Muslims, it is right to point out that the Qur’an itself agrees that we worship the same God. In Q 29:46 the Qur’an has God announce: “Say: ‘We believe in what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to you; our God and your God is One, and to Him we have surrendered.” https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/is-the-quranic-god-the-same-god-as-the-biblical-god/

Here is something the official Catechism of the Catholic Church promotes:

“The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section 841)

The official Roman Catholic view brings the following scripture to mind:

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

The interfaith agenda and teachings bring the following words Jesus cited to mind:

“Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? … 6 … you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Matthew 15:3, 6-9)

Francis and others are pushing for a unity that is simply not biblical.

In our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century we have the following:

Chrislam

One way some have been trying to attain Islamic cooperation with Vatican objectives is through attempting to merge various ideas and even symbols. Some have referred to this type of merging as ‘Chrislam.’

Notice the following that came from Vatican News:

Notice that it has a large crescent and a type of cross. One critic referred to the above as “the official logo for Chrislam.” [i] This author, however, coined the term “Chrislam Cross” back in 2019. [ii]

Why?

While Islam has long been concerned about crosses, the Chrislam cross looks to be a way to reduce Islamic repulsion. And while it does seem to do that with some Muslims, that will only be temporal.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that this author has seen Hindu and Buddhist temples with crosses of various types, and has noticed that large crosses are sometimes built within them. The Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, to cite one famous example, has several. An ecumenical cross has been promoted in recent years. [iii]

Hence, Islam and original Christianity notwithstanding, the cross seems to be an international religious symbol.

Thus, because the bulk of the world will tend to accept a coming false religion (Revelation 13:3–4,8), some type of ecumenical religious order, possibly using some type of a cross as a symbol, would seem to appeal to many around the world.

[i] Grider G. Vatican Officially Releases Chrislam Logo For Pope Francis Upcoming ‘Servant Of Hope’ Tour To The Muslim Nation OF Morocco. Now The End Begins, February 10, 2019

[ii] Thiel B. Vatican unveils ‘Chrislam cross’ for ‘Servants of Hope’ conference in Morocco. COGwriter.com, February 12, 2019

[iii] Kenny P.  Salvadoran cross that is Christian sign of unity is dedicated at Ecumenical Center in Geneva. Ecumenical News, January 18, 2018

More on the Vatican’s interfaith agenda can be found in the article Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? as well as the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Regarding the Vatican’s ecumenical plans, notice the following:

Jubilee 2025 to welcome LGBT pastoral groups for the first time in history

December 8, 2024

The upcoming Holy Year of 2025 is set to make history by including, for the first time, a dedicated day for Christian and Catholic associations involved in LGBT pastoral care. This unprecedented move, scheduled for September 6, 2025, underscores a message of inclusion under Pope Francis’ ongoing call for a more welcoming Church. While the vice-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, sought to frame this event as one among many within the broader Jubilee calendar, his message was clear: “All are welcome.” Vatican representatives have emphasized that the inclusion does not equate to sponsorship of specific events, reflecting a careful balancing act within the Church’s approach to contentious issues. https://zenit.org/2024/12/08/jubilee-2025-to-welcome-lgbt-pastoral-groups-for-the-first-time-in-history/

That is so wrong. One would think that the Vatican would accept what is written in Bible translations they accept like the following:

22 For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

23 And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of fourfooted beasts, and of creeping things.

24 Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves.

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature.

27 And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.

28 And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers,

30 Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.

32 Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them. (Romans 1:22-32, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Having LGBT pastoral groups as part of their religious and ecumenical plans is certainly providing them some approval, some consent, yet the Bible clearly opposes that.

That said, part of the purpose of this post is to point out Islamic beliefs about Jesus as well as to why Muslims should accept Jesus as the Son of God.

In our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century we have the following as the 7th chapter:

7. Jesus (Isa) is the Messiah and Will Return

The Bible teaches:

¹⁰ Jesus Christ of Nazareth, …, whom God raised from the dead, … ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)

Muslims accept that God sent Jesus, but do not view Him as Christians do. While they believe that God raised Jesus up, they normally believe that was to heaven while He was alive, and not that God raised Him from the dead.

Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Quran tends to call Jesus the “son of Miriam” or Isa.

Why Isa?

Well, the actual Greek word for the Messiah’s name in the New Testament is Ίησοû or Ίησοûς. Transliterated into English, it would be something like Ieesoú or Ieesoús. There was no “J” sound associated with it until the English language changed a few centuries ago. Hence, the Islamic “Isa” is probably a closer approximation than Jesus as far as the Greek is concerned.

Many people do not realize that most Muslims, whether they are Shia or Sunni, expect Jesus to return at the time of judgment. Notice what the Quran teaches:

043.057
YUSUFALI: When (Jesus) the son of Mary is held up as an example, behold, thy people raise a clamour threat (in ridicule)!

043.061
YUSUFALI: And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way.[i]

My hope and prayer related to the above is that when Muslims do see Jesus return, they hopefully will accept the truth of His coming after He explains who He is.

Muslims teach that they will follow Jesus when He returns. Some basically also teach that the “People of the Book” will only follow Jesus if they accepted the Imam.[ii] Scripture does point to a coming “King of the South,” and while true Christians will not accept him as their religious leader, he could be considered in an Imam role.

Jesus is the Messiah

Jesus is considered to have been one of the prophets by Muslims:

And We sent Noah, and Abraham, and We appointed the Prophecy and the Book to be among their seed; and some of them are guided, and many of them are ungodly.

Then We sent, following in their footsteps, Our Messengers; and We sent, following, Jesus son of Mary, and gave unto him the Gospel.

And We set in the hearts of those who followed him tenderness and mercy. (Sura 57:27-28)

But, do Muslims believe Jesus was the Messiah?

Yes, but not the same way Christians do.

As originally written, the Quran itself uses the term al-Masih, the Arabic term for Messiah (Christ):

When the angels said, “Mary, God gives thee good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary; high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be.” (Sura 3:41)

Muslims also believe in Jesus’ virgin birth, but do not consider that He was the Son of God, but the son of Mary.

Consider:

The Quran refers to Jesus 35 times as “Isa ibn Maryam” (Jesus, son of Mary), a phrase occurring only once in the New Testament (Mark 6:3). The fact that he is not called the son of Joseph underscores Islamic agreement with Christians that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus.[iii]

Here is one example:

That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him! (Sura 19:35, as shown in The Koran Interpreted: A Translation by A. J. Arberry. Touchstone, NY, 1955)

Of course, God did not “take a son,” from among men to adopt. Instead, He sent His Holy Spirit to Mary, who bore a son.

Notice that the Quran also teaches:

Mary wondered, “My Lord! How can I have a child when no man has ever touched me?” An angel replied, “So will it be. Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He simply tells it, ‘Be!’ And it is! (Sura 3:47)

A Christian would tend to interpret the above to mean that God is the Father of Jesus since He willed Jesus’ conception without a human male being involved.

Related to the virgin birth, the following are also from The Koran Interpreted a translation by A. J. Arberry (Sura chapters are correct, but verses are estimates as they were not completely delineated in the text used):

And mention in the Book Mary when she withdrew from her people to an eastern place, and she took a veil apart from them; then We sent unto her Our Spirit that presented himself to her a man without fault. She said, “I take refuge in the All-merciful from thee!

If thou fearest God. . . He said, “I am but a messenger come from thy Lord, to give thee a boy most pure.

She said, “How shall I have a son whom no mortal has touched, neither have I been unchaste?” He said, “Even so thy Lord has said: “Easy is that for Me; and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us; it is a thing decreed.’”

So she conceived him, and withdrew with him to a distant place. And the birthpangs surprised her by the trunk of the palm-tree. (Sura 19:18-21)

And she who guarded her virginity, so We breathed into her of Our spirit and appointed her and her son to be a sign unto all beings. (Sura 21:91)

The context (which I have read) makes it clear that this was a reference to Mary and Jesus. At risk of repeat, yes, Islam accepts the virgin birth, God willed Jesus’ conception, and the fact that Jesus performed miracles.

Moslems Have Claimed That Jesus Did Not Die

Although the New Testament is repeatedly clear that Jesus would and did die (cf. Mark 14:44; Luke 24:46; John 2:22, 18:32, 20:9, 21:19; Acts 2:24, 3:15, 4:2, 4:10, 5:36, 10:41, 13:30, 13:34, 17:3, 26:23; Romans 1:4, 4:24, 5:6, 5:10, 6:3, 6:4, 6:5, 6:9, 6:10, 8:11, 8:34, 10:7, 10:9, 10:39, 14:9, 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11, 15:3, 15:12, 15:21; 2 Corinthians 15:3, 15:14, 15:15; Galatians 1:1, 2:21; Ephesians 1:20; Philippians 2:8; Colossians 1:22, 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:15, 4:14, 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 2:9, 2:14, 13:20; 1 Peter 1:3, 1:21; Revelation 1:5, 1:18, 2:8, 5:9), the bulk of Islam does not accept those accounts as accurate.

But could this be based on a misunderstanding of the Quran? It states:

boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him. Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. Every one of the People of the Book will definitely believe in him before his death. And on the Day of Judgment Jesus will be a witness against them. (Sura 4:157-159)

What if the meaning of the first part above is that no human could kill Jesus? Let it be noted that the Bible never teaches that Jesus was “crucified” as the Greek word for that, as well as for “cross” is not actually in the New Testament (the Greek word translated as “cross” in the Bible means a stake or pole, not a cross). And, yes, Christians accept the fact that God raised Him up to Himself. And yes, the faithful “People of the Book” most certainly do believe in Him.

The Bible shows that Jesus could only die because He gave up His life and that God the Father raised Him up:

¹⁷ Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down … (John 10:17-18)

¹ … Jesus Christ … God the Father … raised Him from the dead (Galatians 1:1)

So, if the Quran should be interpreted to confirm the Scriptures, as Muhammad wrote (Sura 2:41), then Sura 4:157-159 would be confirming the above passages in the Bible.

The Quran teaches that the faithful are those who believe and do what the Bible teaches (Sura 2:41, 136, 5:66).

Now, let’s look at something from the Shakir translation of the Quran:

Isa son of Marium {Jesus son of Mary} … he will say:

Glory be to Thee … I was a witness of them so long as I was among them, but when Thou didst cause me to die, Thou wert the watcher over them, and Thou art witness of all things. (Sura 5:116-117)[iv]

Notice the Quran shows that Jesus said He did die and that God raised Him up. That is also what Christians believe. Muslims should as well.

Now, for Muslims who want to claim this is mistranslated, here is the most relevant line in Arabic from Quran.com:

مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِى كُنتَ أَنتَ ٱلرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ

Notice how Google Translate translated the above line on June 24, 2024:

As long as I was among them, and when you caused me to die, you were the watcher over them.

Note, on the same day, both Microsoft Bing and Translator.com both also came up with Jesus saying, “when I died.”

If Muslims really believe the Quran as written, they can see that it does teach that Jesus died and was raised by God.

Sadly, instead, many Muslims believe that Jesus did not die. Yet, Muslims do believe that Jesus is alive awaiting the time Allah will send Him back to the earth to kill enemies like the Dajjal.

The Bible teaches Jesus was raised from the dead (e.g. Acts 13:28-30), is sitting next to God, (Hebrews 10:12) will return to eliminate enemies (Hebrews 10:13), and will have the Beast and False Prophet (the final Antichrist) tossed into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-20).

The Bible says Jesus is the one mediator/intercessor between God the Father and humanity in 1 Timothy 2:5.

Notice a hadith:

“They will go to “Isa and say, “O “Isa! You are the Messenger of Allah and His Word which He cast to Maryam and a spirit from Him. You spoke to people while in the cradle. Intercede with your Lord on our behalf. Do you not see what we are suffering?” (Bukhari, Book of Tafsir, 4435)

So, Muslims believe that Jesus was God’s messenger and His Word, plus He is to be our intercessor—that is consistent with what the New Testament teaches (John 1:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:5).

Now, Muslims also tend to teach that Jesus was the LAST one anointed by God.[v] However, the New Testament teaches that true believers, true Christians, have anointing from God in 1 John 2:20.

Getting back to the Quran, it teaches:

Those who say, “Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,” have certainly fallen into disbelief. The Messiah ˹himself˺ said, “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah—my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever associates others with Allah ˹in worship˺ will surely be forbidden Paradise by Allah. Their home will be the Fire. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers.

Those who say, “Allah is one in a Trinity,” have certainly fallen into disbelief. There is only One God. If they do not stop saying this, those who disbelieve among them will be afflicted with a painful punishment.

Will they not turn to Allah in repentance and seek His forgiveness? And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Sura 5:72-74)

Muslims believe that Jesus was the Messiah, yet most do not understand that He is the Son of God.[vi] Now, presuming we equate the Arabic word Allah with God the Father, truly we in the CCOG concur that the Father was not the Messiah, Jesus is (cf. John 4:25-26). The Bible teaches that God is one family (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 3:14-15) and is not the Greco-Roman trinity.

But yes, we agree with Islam that God is merciful and will forgive trinitarians who truly repent.

Yes, Jesus Will Return

Furthermore, Sunni Muslims do believe that Jesus will return and usher in a glorious era:

The Sunni believe that after the al-Mahdi comes, Jesus will return to earth to fight the forces of evil led by al-Dajjal, the Great Charlatan or Antichrist. The forces of good will prevail, and Jesus will rule the world for an undisclosed period of time, after which he will die and be buried alongside Muhammad in Medina.[vii]

The Bible tells of a leader from the predominantly Islamic lands, called the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) in North Africa and the Middle East, rising up. After what looks to be the start (Daniel 11:39) of the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21), this King of the South will fight against the “King of the North” (Daniel 11:40-43) called the “Beast” in Revelation 13. The King of the North will win, but this King/Beast will be destroyed when Jesus returns (Revelation 19:16-20). Jesus will then establish the millennial kingdom and reign for 1000 years (Revelation 20:6).

Islam agrees with most of this (though the time period is not as defined, though some teach that Jesus will only reign 40 years per Sunan Abi Dawud 4324: Book 39, Hadith 34), but believes that Islam will then reign supreme.

Christians believe that Islam will basically be gone by or after Jesus returns (cf. Revelation 11:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:25; cf. Philippians 3:18).

Now, Muslims believe that Jesus will return and kill the Beast/Antichrist which they call the ad-dajjal. Notice the following:

Islam sees Jesus’ return as a completion of his life and work, which he left incomplete. As the true Messiah, he alone has the power granted to him by God to defeat the false Messiah at the end of time.[viii]

He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4324: Book 39, Hadith 34)

Surely, Jesus the son of Mary will soon descend among you and will judge mankind justly; he will break the cross and kill the pigs and there will be no Jizya. (Sahih al-Bukhari 4.55.657)

The Jizya is a tax that non-Muslims can be forced to pay in Muslim territories. Some Muslims believe by the killing pigs statement, that is to be understood symbolically, and serves as a practical way to forbid people from eating and trading pork[ix]—which early Christians did not do.

That said, why do Muslims generally NOT accept the deity of Jesus, etc.?

Muslims believe that Christians and Jews distorted the divine message given to Moses and Jesus and that today’s Hebrew scriptures and Christian Bible are flawed, unlike the Quran. [x]

However, Muhammad did NOT teach that the Bible was distorted, but should be believed (Sura 2:41, 136, 5:66, 6:115).

Hopefully those Muslims willing to look at the evidence will realize that the scriptures were not corrupted (admittedly there were parts of two verses added to the New Testament, around 1000 A.D. that most scholars, and those in the Continuing Church of God, do not accept as genuine; plus like with the Quran, there are sometimes issues with the translations), but the original biblical texts can be relied on to accept Jesus’ divinity.

Binding of Satan and the Millennium

The Bible shows that after being bound for a thousand years, Satan will be released before judgment day and that there will be an attack from Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-12).

Islam teaches that Ya’juj and Ma’juj’ (which Muslims tie in with Gog and Magog) are to be released just before judgment day. [xi] Islam teaches that a forty-year era of peace for Jesus to rule comes after Ya’juj and Ma’juj’ (Sunan Abi Dawud 4324, Book 39, Hadith 34).

Notice also the following:

By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind … Money will be in abundance (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 60, Hadith 118)

Biblically, that hadith sounds like a short view of the millennium in Revelation 20:1-4 and Isaiah 11:5-10, which will be a time of abundance.

Islam teaches that Jesus will die, but that is partially-based on what is considered by some to be from a “not authentic” hadith.[xii] The Bible shows that Jesus has immortality (1 Timothy 6:16) and is to reign forever (Revelation 11:15), hence He will not experience physical death.

The Bible shows that Jesus and His faithful will reign on the earth for 1,000 years:

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

That one-thousand year period of time is called the millennium. That is part of the good news of the kingdom of God.

God inspired Isaiah to write this about Jesus (called “Rod from the stem of Jesse” and “the Branch” below) ruling and the millennium:

¹ There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. ² The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. ³ His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; ⁴ But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. ⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. ⁶ “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. ⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸ The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. ⁹ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea. ¹⁰ “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:1-10).

The Book of Isaiah makes it clear that there will be a physical reign on earth, with the Messiah in charge, and people will not be allowed to hurt others. This is the real utopia.

Related to the passages in Isaiah 11, the late Dr. Herman Hoeh observed:

This can’t be in heaven. There are no wicked human beings in heaven. Children are not being suckled and weaned in heaven.

AND THIS CAN’T BE IN THE NEW EARTH BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO WICKED PERSONS THERE (Rev. 21:1-4).

These events must occur on this earth during the millennium. [xiii]

Yes, there will be a millennial kingdom on the earth. It will be just:

¹⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
¹⁷ Also I will make justice the measuring line,
And righteousness the plummet;
The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the hiding place. (Isaiah 28:16-17)

¹⁶ Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
¹⁷ The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
¹⁸ My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, (Isaiah 32:16-18a)

³ A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
⁴ He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law. (Isaiah 42:3-4)

⁴ “Listen to Me, My people;
And give ear to Me, O My nation:
For law will proceed from Me,
And I will make My justice rest
As a light of the peoples.
⁵ My righteousness is near,
My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait upon Me,
And on My arm they will trust.  (Isaiah 51:4-5)

Most of the scriptures above are prophecies related to Jesus bringing justice.

More on the good news of the coming Kingdom of God can be found in the free booklet, online in over 1,500 languages, at ccog.org titled: The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

An Islamic Misunderstanding About Jesus

While the group that called itself the Islamic State does not represent most of Islam, notice something it had in a magazine article titled Why We Hate You & Why We Fight You:

We hate you, first and foremost, because you are disbelievers; you reject the oneness of Allah – whether you realize it or not – by making partners for Him in worship, you blaspheme against Him, claiming that He has a son, you fabricate lies against His prophets and messengers, and you indulge in all manner of devilish practices.[xiv]

Getting past the hate comments, the reality is that the prophets DID teach that God would have a son. Notice what the prophet Isaiah was inspired to write:

⁵ For a child has been born to us, A son has been given us. And authority has settled on his shoulders. He has been named The Mighty God is planning grace; (Isaiah 9:5ab, Jewish Publication Society 1985—this is Isaiah 9:6ab in most other translations)

Notice what the Psalmist prophesied:

⁶ ‘Truly it is I that have established My king
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.’

⁷ I will tell of the decree: The LORD said unto me: ‘Thou art My son, This day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:6-7, Jewish Publication Society 1917)

So, the Hebrew scriptures (even with Jewish translations) clearly prophesied that God would beget a Son.

Jesus was begotten to be the Christ:

¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Muslims are supposed to believe the Old and New Testaments–though many claim that they were altered. Yet, there would be no reason to accept that the Jews would have altered a prophecy in Isaiah to point to a Son being born who is called the “Mighty God” as that would support views of Christians. Nor would they have altered the Psalms for the same basic reason.

And getting back to Isaiah, The Great Isaiah Scroll was one of the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls found by Muslim shepherds in 1946. That scroll has been dated to be between 1900 to 2300 years old.

Here is a translation of the relevant part of Isaiah 9 in The Great Isaiah Scroll by Professors Petwer W. Finch and Eugene Ulrich (italics added by them as they were not in The Great Isaiah Scroll):

⁶ For a child is born to us, a son is given us. The government will be on his shoulders. He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6ab)

So, The Great Isaiah Scroll also shows that a son was to be born who would be God.

Now, here is a translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls (3Q2 Psalms) of the following:

⁶ “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.” ⁷ I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father. (Psalm 2:6-7)

Yes, God has a son and yes, He is the Father.

The Islamic State was wrong: it is NOT a lie to point to Jesus as the Son of God, and His arrival was prophesied. More on that can be found in the free book, available online at ccog.org, titled: Proof Jesus is the Messiah.

[i] The Qur’an. From chapter 43 http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/
quran/043.qmt.html  03/22/09

[ii] Yaseen, The Signs, pp. 102-103

[iii] Morgan D. Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice. ABC-CLIO, 2010, p. 43

[iv] M. H. Shakir, The Holy Quran; Arabic Text and English Translation; Foot-notes by M. H. Shakir. 1974, pp. 188-189

[v] Yaseen, The Signs, pp. 108-109

[vi] Morgan, p. 46

[vii] Morgan, p. 48

[viii] Boulter J. THE RETURN OF JESUS (PART 1 OF 5). Religion of Islam, 12 June 2006 https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/363/viewall/return-of-jesus-part-1 accessed 05/31/24

[ix] Clarification for Sahih al Bukhari 2476 about killing pigs.

https://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/75933/clarification-for-sahih-al-bukhari-2476-about-killing-pigs Accessed 03/22/24

[x] Morgan, p. xvi

[xi] Yaseen, The Signs, p. 223

[xii] Yaseen, The Signs, p. 261

[xiii] Hoeh H. The Coming Utopia – Wonderful World Tomorrow. Tomorrow’s World, May-June 1970

[xiv] Dabiq, issue 15, Shawal 1437, 31 July 2016, p. 31

Related to Islam and Jesus, the Continuing Church of God put together this sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:12:30

Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims

Do the Quran and Bible agree on numerous points of doctrine and prophecy? Both Islam and Christianity teach that Jesus’ mother Mary was a virgin and that Jesus is our intercessor. While the Bible teaches that Jesus was the Son of God, died, and was resurrected, most Muslims do not believe that–but is this because there are errors in the Bible or mistranslations in the Quran? Does a literal translation of part of Sura 5:117 (مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِى كُنتَ أَنتَ ٱلرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ) show that Jesus said He did die? Does the ‘Great Isaiah Scroll’ and the other ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’ help prove that the Bible was not corrupted? Have “traditions of men” impacted Islam as well as much of what passes for “Christianity”? Does the merciful God of love have a plan to save Muslims and others? Are there three resurrections and an age to come? After the second resurrection, will God plead with all then and give them a real opportunity for salvation if they will submit to, truly obey (Hebrews 5:9), Him? Why did God make you? What did God make everyone else? Does the Quran condemn Sabbath-breakers? Where do Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, and biblical prophecies tend to be similar and different? Does a writing from Nostradamus relating to Turkey tie in with biblical prophecies? What did early Christians believe? What church still believes and holds the original teachings of the faith once for all delivered to the saints? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues in this fifth and last part of a five part sermon series.

Here is a link to the sermon: Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.

If you are interested in more on Islam and prophecy, check out the free online book: Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century.

And as far as the Vatican goes, it does NOT hold to the teachings of the Bible nor the original catholic church–and its interfaith and ecumenical agendas are wrong. For details on those matters, check out the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.
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.
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and three video sermonette are also available:  Pope Francis signs ‘one world religion’ document! and The Chrislam Cross and the Interfaith Movement and Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
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.

Ottoman WWI Navy

COGwriter

December 9, 2024 marks the 107th anniversary of Turkey surrendering Jerusalem to the British.

Here is some information about it:

For more than 2,500 years, officers had marched through the city to “liberate” it, always liberating it until the next conqueror arrived. So it was with the Babyloninan Nebuzaradan, Rome’s Titus, the Muslim Omar Ibn al-Khattab and the Crusader kings in the 11th century. So it was with the Mamluks and so it was as well for Sultan Selim I, who took Jerusalem without a battle, liberating it for the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, it is no surprise that the entry of Gen. Edmund Allenby through Jaffa Gate was so well documented.

The British conquest of Jerusalem was different than the victory in Be’er Sheva in every way. Even though the city didn’t have any strategic or military importance in 1917, the significance of entering the Old City was never lost on any general, whether his name was Allenby, Charles Watson or John Shea, or Mordechai “Motta” Gur, Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Dayan or Uzi Narkiss. All of them knew exactly where the cameras would be snapping and in which alley the history books would be bound. It’s no coincidence that they marched, poised, precisely to that spot.

The British had waited 600 years – ever since the Crusades – for the right opportunity to liberate the city from its Muslim occupiers. The Ottoman army withdrew without a fight. 12/06/17 https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.827016

Jerusalem and environs fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1517 and they generally remained in control until December 9, 1917. Prior to the Turks, Arabs basically controlled Jerusalem. Before that the Persians, and before that, various aspects of the Roman Empire and other Gentile powers controlled Jerusalem since the seventh century B.C.

A COG leader, not officially in CCOG, sent me the following last night:

Good evening Dr. Thiel    … It is a big anniv. tomorrow as you have shown us a number of times. It may be on a fast in the ninth month in 604 BC when Jeremiah’s scroll was read and cut up and burned that the 2520 year count started. A dream led to the British getting the “surrender” on the proper day – that is so interesting. Have a restful Sabbath.  Larry C.

Now, I had planned to post about that today, but thought some would find his comments of related interest.

Here is information from the Book of Jeremiah about some of what happened during that month:

9 Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. 10 Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house, in the hearing of all the people.

11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the Lord from the book, 12 he then went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber; and there all the princes were sitting — Elishama the scribe, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 13 Then Michaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the hearing of the people. 14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, “Take in your hand the scroll from which you have read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them. 15 And they said to him, “Sit down now, and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.

16 Now it happened, when they had heard all the words, that they looked in fear from one to another, and said to Baruch, “We will surely tell the king of all these words.” 17 And they asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words — at his instruction?”

18 So Baruch answered them, “He proclaimed with his mouth all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink in the book.”

19 Then the princes said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah; and let no one know where you are.”

20 And they went to the king, into the court; but they stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the hearing of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king. 22 Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. 23 And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. 25 Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.

27 Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch had written at the instruction of Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 28 “Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29 And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and cause man and beast to cease from here?'” 30 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. 31 I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the doom that I have pronounced against them; but they did not heed.”‘”

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words. (Jeremiah 36:9-32)

Note that no matter what governmental leaders do or try to belittle, God’s plan will be accomplished. Daniel records what happened to Jehoiaim:

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand … (Daniel 1:1-2).

The old Radio and Worldwide Church of God taught the following about that:

Palestine, after a punishment against the House of Judah, that began about 604 B.C., was brought back from the Gentile Turks in 1917-exactly 2520 years later, when it came under the control of Great Britain, and finally the Jews. The seven times of Israel’s punishment was a period of great privation and suffering, of slavery and war because they would not submit their wills and their ways to God, because they would not allow Him to rule their lives by His perfect laws, which could have brought them peace and prosperity and dominion. (Hoeh H. What are the Times of the Gentiles? Plain Truth, September 1955)

Prophecy Concerning Judah

There is one prophecy concerning the Jewish people, that they were to be invaded and conquered, driven out of their own land and would be punished for a period of 2,520 years. (See Leviticus 26:14-39 and, for a full explanation, write for our free book “The United States and Britain in Prophecy”.) Now, put that together with other prophecies such as Haggai 2:20-22. Exactly 2,520 years from the time that they were invaded and the land of Palestine was given over to King Nebuchadnezzar in 604 B.C. the very nation to whom that land was deeded by God Almighty took possession of it.

That nation was not the Jewish people, but birthright people who descended from Abraham. The birthright means right of birth, and includes the possession of the land, that is, it includes material resources and possessions. The possession of the land that God promised to Abraham was handed on to Isaac, Abraham’s son, and then to Jacob. And then Jacob, just before he died, and when his eyes were so dim with age that he couldn’t see, reached out and conferred that same birthright, including the possession of the land of Palestine, not upon Judah, the father of the Jews, but upon Ephraim, and together with him his brother Manasseh, both sons of Joseph.

Joseph was one of the 12 sons of the ancient patriarch Jacob, who was renamed Israel. Usually you don’t hear of any tribe of Joseph because Joseph was given a double portion. And his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became a tribe. And so, rather, you usually read of the tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Manasseh. When the name Joseph is occasionally used, it includes the two tribes.

How Prophecy Was Fulfilled

Ephraim was made the chief birthright holder. And so, 2,520 years from 604 B.C. Ephraim was to take Palestine again counting 2,520 years from 604 B.C. brings us to A.D. 1917.

When it comes to translating time and getting down to an exact day of the year 2,520 years after Nebuchadnezzar came down to Jerusalem and Palestine was surrendered to him, the Bible gives us the date in terms of the Hebrew calendar. That calendar is set up according to the new moons, with every month being 30 or 29 days. Today we’re living under what we call the Roman calendar or, as it was slightly altered by Pope Gregory, the Gregorian calendar. Actually, it is a pagan Roman calendar. The Roman calendar is all that most of us know because we’ve been born in a world that uses that calendar and no other.

A certain date according to the Hebrew calendar, will coincide with a certain date on the Roman calendar one year, but the next year will be about 11 days earlier, or maybe about 18 days later in the year, because the Hebrew calendar — sometimes called the sacred calendar, which came from God — goes according to the moon and runs in 19-year cycles. The Roman calendar by contrast was concocted by men who tried to make it come out right every year, and they’ve never been able to make it do that!

So, when it comes to translating a certain prophesied date recorded in the Hebrew calendar (in this case the 24th day of the 9th month — see Haggai 2:20-22) to a date in 1917 according to the Roman calendar, it takes some effort to figure. I found the Hebrew date corresponded to December 9, 1917, which was 2,520 years from the time Nebuchadnezzar accepted the formal surrender of the Jews in 604 B.C.

I looked and found that the Turks, who are gentiles even though they, in part, descend from Esau, Jacob’s brother, possessed Palestine in 1917. Esau, remember, anciently possessed the birthright from Abraham through Isaac, but sold it for a bowl of red soup when he was hungry. The Turks surrendered Palestine to the British, on, what date? I had heard, and it had been published that the date was December 11, 1917. December 11, 1917, I found, on further investigation, was merely the date on which General Allenby and his army made their triumphal march into the city of Jerusalem. But it was two days before, on December 9, that the Turks made the surrender.

That prophecy was fulfilled down to the very day, December 9. And it was on the equivalent date, in 604 B.C., 2,520 years before, six centuries before the birth of Christ, that the Jews formally surrendered Jerusalem and Palestine to the gentiles from Babylon. God Almighty has been able to keep his prophecies. (Armstrong HW. The Bible SUPERSTITION OR AUTHORITY? 1985)

The Bible teaches “Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9). Ephraim is represented in this age by the British-descended peoples (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy). Many overlook that aspect of prophecy.

Now, let me state that I have verified that December 9, 1917 was indeed the date that the Gentile Turks surrendered to the British (e.g. see https://theworld.org/stories/2016-12-09/1917-jerusalem-tried-surrender-british-army-cook-who-was-lost-looking-eggs and http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jerusalem-surrenders-to-british-troops accessed 07/28/17). I also verified that the 24th day of the ninth month (Kislev) was on December 9th in 1917 (e.g. http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/?year=1917&month=x&yt=G&v=1&nh=on&nx=on&mf=on&ss=on&o=on&s=on&lg=s&vis=on&D=on&d=on&c=on&city=US-New%20York-NY&m=72#cal-1917-12 accessed 07/28/17).

Herbert Armstrong mentioned Haggai, so let us look at that:

20 And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

‘I will shake heaven and earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;
I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.
I will overthrow the chariots
And those who ride in them;
The horses and their riders shall come down,
Every one by the sword of his brother. (Haggai 2:20-22)

Now, there looks to be a future fulfillment of this beyond the overthrowing of the Turkish empire and the surrender of Jerusalem to the British on December 9, 1917.

Why?

Let’s look at the next verse:

23 ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23)

Because Haggai 2:20-23 did not occur in Zerubbabel’s lifetime, there must be a future fulfillment. Zerubbabel lived in the sixth century B.C.

A ‘Zerubbabel’ did not become a signet ring in 1917 nor was the strength of the Gentile kingdoms–plural–destroyed then (more on ‘Zerubbabel’ can be found in the article Who Are The Two Witnesses?).

Haggai 2:23 is to be finally fulfilled once Jesus returns.

So, while the surrender of Jerusalem was a type of fulfillment (the Gentile kingdom of the Ottomans fell–though it still had battles in 1918), a future fulfillment awaits (for more details, check out the article The Times of the Gentiles).

The old Radio and Worldwide Church of God pointed to several events that came 2520 years after something else–for details see The Times of the Gentiles.

Dr. Hoeh, in the old Radio Church of God, wrote:

Then again, many claim that the times of the Gentiles are synonymous with the times of Judah’s punishment, that the Gentile times have already ended-some say in 1914, others say in 1917 or 1936. Some even think that it might end this year. But all these supposed dates for the ending of the times of the Gentiles are mere guesses! The truth is that almost no one really knows what the times of the Gentiles are. … Let’s not assume, let’s study the Bible itself to see what these times really are.

Times of Israel’s Punishment a Key to Understanding

Israel was promised great national blessings, including national greatness if they would obey God. But God also promised that if they obstinately refused to obey Him, if they refused to follow His laws and let Him rule their lives, then He would punish them for a period called seven times (Lev. 26).

The Bible itself defines this period of seven times for us. If you turn to Revelation the twelfth chapter, and compare verses 6 and 14 you will see that the word time in prophecy simply means a year, hence seven times would be seven years or 2520 days. (Hoeh H. What are the Times of the Gentiles? Plain Truth, September 1955)

I suspect that we could consider that when what is prophesied to happen in Daniel occurs (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27), it will be about 2520 days until the establishment of the millennial Kingdom of God. A time when ALL the kingdoms of humans will be overthrown (cf. Revelation 11:15).

With what is going on between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, and others, we might even see the countdown begin as early as 2025.

That is something we all should “Watch” (Mark 13:37).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.
Israel, 1948, and Prophecy Was the formation in 1948 of the nation of Israel prophetically significant? Was this event what Jesus referred to in His “parable of the fig tree”? Are most Israelites in the modern nation of Israel? Are most Jews in that nation? If the prophecies Jeremiah 23:3-6 and Ezekiel 34:13-30 do not point to 1948, when will those prophecies be fulfilled? Are there prophecies that will be fulfilled related to the nation of Israel? What was the first sign that Jesus said would be seen by a particular ‘generation’? When might that have happened? What are the signs that Jesus’ fig tree parable point to? This is a video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
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?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? A related video is also available: What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy.
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.
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? Three related sermons are available Let’s Talk About the Earthly Millennium, 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?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

COGwriter

Roman Catholic Archbishop Fulton Sheen died on December 9, 1979. He was known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. He is someone that is a candidate for Roman Catholic ‘sainthood.’

Notice the following:

December 4, 2024

Despite a few high-profile delays in recent years, the canonization of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen — the popular, scholarly archbishop and 20th-century pioneer of Catholic broadcasting — is “inevitable,” said the head of the foundation supporting his cause.

“The desire to see Sheen beatified is increasing, and there is a growing devotion to him,” Msgr. Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, told OSV News.

In an article for the foundation’s 2024 year-end newsletter, Msgr. Gray — who also serves as the judicial vicar and episcopal vicar for consecrated life for the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, as well as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Peoria Heights — pointed to several indicators of Archbishop Sheen’s expanding reputation for holiness, or “fama sanctitatis” in canonical terms. …

His cause for canonization, opened in 2002, has been stalled by two controversies — a public battle to relocate his remains from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to its current location, the side chapel of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria; and concerns that as bishop of Rochester from 1966-1969, the prelate might have overlooked sexual abuse by at least one former diocesan priest there.

The latter concern was magnified after the state of New York adopted lookback laws that allowed hundreds of abuse claims to be considered, with the Diocese of Rochester ultimately filing for bankruptcy. https://www.osvnews.com/2024/12/04/archbishop-sheens-canonization-inevitable-amid-growing-devotion-says-foundation-head/

Of course, the Church of Rome cannot make anyone a saint. Saints are true believers with the Spirit of Jesus given to them. That was not the case of Fulton Sheen. He had some zeal, but never truly contended for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3) as he did not know what that was. But you can–here is a link to our free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

That being said, years ago, Zenit.org, a pro-Vatican website, reported:

The “World’s Preacher” Remembered

… Archbishop Sheen’s Death

I have sometimes mentioned Fulton Sheen in articles at COGwriter. Here is a quote from him:

Archbishop Fulton Sheen (1950) We are living in the days of the Apocalypse–the last days of our era. … The two great forces of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Mystical Body of Antichrist are beginning to draw up the battle lines for the catastrophic contest. (Flynn T & L. The Thunder of Justice. Maxkol Communications, Sterling (VA), 1993, p. 20)

When he stated that, the Philadelphia era of the Church of God had already started to rise up (the most faithful representing the “body of Christ”), the Vatican had officially come out against the millennial doctrine, and the one who is likely to be the final Antichrist may have been born (and one who was going to, in a major way, support a doctrine of Antichrist had certainly been). The stages for the final confrontation, which should occur in the 21st century, had taken place.

Here is a quote that mentions Archbishop Sheen:

Father O’Connor quotes from Holy Scripture, the stunning prophecies of St. Vincent Ferrer, Pope St. Pius X, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John Eudes, Sr. Lucy of Fatima, Pope Pius XII and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. Father explains how God will and is punishing the world for sin, and that the Fathers of the Church all wrote that the False Prophet would be a Catholic Bishop who will become an invalid anti-pope while the real Pope dies a cruel death in exile. (REIGN OF THE FALSE PROPHET. Catholic Treasures. Audio ITEM #20104. http://www.catholictreasures.com/cartdescrip/20104.html 03/02/09)

Notice that the Roman Catholic source above indicated that Archbishop Sheen supported the idea that an anti-pope would rise up.

And that is a position that I too share.

And if the 12th century Malachy prophecies about the remaining popes were complete and correct, then the current Pope Francis would be the anti-pope (there were 112 on that list and Pope Benedict XVI was number 111)–but because the Malachy prophecies cannot be trusted and Pope Francis is old, the final antipope could be a later pontiff. It should be noted that Malachy’s list contains anti-popes according to Roman Catholic scholars (and they have none for centuries by their count). At least one Cardinal (Australian Cardinal George Pell) has seemingly indicated that Pope Francis could be an antipope (for some details, watch the video Anti-Pope Francis?).

Because of his ecumenical, economic, and inter-faith agendas, some feel that Pope Francis functions a bit like an antipope. Both biblical (Revelation chapters 17 and 13) and Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies teach of a leader based out of the city of seven hills which will be unfaithful. Pope Francis has taken steps that various people wonder about (see also Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox?).

Yet, because of his age, it is more likely that his successor will be. Also, since Benedict XVI was alive when Francis was elected, that may be a reason not to count him but the next pontiff as #112 on Malachi’s list.

Irrespective of the status of Pope Francis, we are living in the last days. And although the Great Tribulation is not yet, events aligning with the Apocalypse are occurring regularly and are often reported at the COGwriter website. Stay tuned for more updates.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis would be number 112–if he is that one–and if so, he is to reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist?
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? Former Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now Pope Francis. According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? Could a Jesuit be “the black pope”?
Anti-Pope Francis? Some cardinals and other members of the Roman Catholic clergy are concerned that Pope Francis has deviated from its traditional positions on matters such as homosexuality, salvation, fornication, remarriage, and other doctrines. Australian Cardinal George Pell even mentioned ‘antipopes’ when discussing Pope Francis. North American Cardinal Raymond Burke has raised many concerns about Francis’ pontificate. Did Catholic saints teach that popes could become heretics? Will the final pope not be Catholic? Is an ecumenical pontiff possibly the final Antichrist? What do both biblical, and even Roman Catholic, prophecies warn about? Could Pope Francis be an antipope and final Antichrist?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Why Should American Roman Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Do Certain Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final “Anti-Christ” be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?
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.
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? A related sermon is titled The Millennium
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
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 titledWhen Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
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.

Watch Sky News live: Assad ‘has left’ Damascus, says Russia, as Syrian army declares end of his rulehttps://t.co/z3HIfbyMeq https://t.co/OHFpLLBb1O

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 8, 2024

COGwriter

Syria’s leader has left the country as rebel forces have defeated his government:

December 8, 2024

DAMASCUS, SYRIA — The Syrian government collapsed early Sunday, falling to a lightning rebel offensive that seized control of the capital of Damascus and sent crowds into the streets to celebrate the end of the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule.Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been set free.

The man who read the statement said the opposition group, known as the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, called on all rebel fighters and citizens to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state.”

The statement emerged hours after the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus following a remarkably swift advance across the country.

Many of the capital’s residents were in disbelief at the speed at which Assad lost his hold on the country after nearly 14 years of civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced half the country’s prewar population of 23 million and drew in several foreign powers. … Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” https://www.voanews.com/a/rebels-topple-syrian-government-ending-50-years-of-iron-rule-by-assad-family/7891386.html

8 December 2024

The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Bashar Assad has stepped down as Syrian president and left the country following negotiations with armed opposition groups amid the fall of Damascus to Islamist forces.

In a statement issued on Telegram on Sunday afternoon, officials clarified that Moscow was not involved in the talks but acknowledged Assad’s decision to transfer power “peacefully.” … Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other anti-government militias took control of Damascus on Sunday. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad al-Jalali has expressed his willingness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people, adding that he remains at home in Damascus. https://www.rt.com/news/608977-moscow-reacts-overthrow-assad/

8 December 2024

Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, gained international attention after it led a successful blitzkrieg-style assault campaign to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad successfully. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/who-are-hayat-tahrir-al-sham-the-syrian-rebels-who-overthrew-bashar-alassad-101733665486331.html

December 8, 2024

Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, who fled the country Saturday as rebels closed in on the capital of Damascus, has arrived in Moscow and has been granted asylum by the Russian government, according to Russian News Agency Tass. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/assad-arrives-moscow-granted-asylum-russia

Notice also the following:

Blaine Holt to Newsmax: Syrian Overthrow Pits ‘Bad Guy Versus Bad Guy’

December 8, 2024

The news that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been ousted is neither good news nor bad for the rest of the world, as the fight between the dictator and the Islamist rebels who ended his regime pitted “bad guy versus bad guy,” retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt told Newsmax on Sunday.  … with the Syrian government being overthrown, “Al-Qaida is moving in,” said Holt.

“This is going to create a vacuum that Israel is going to have to deal with almost immediately because stability is going to be required,” he added. …

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, while visiting an area near the Syrian border, called al-Assad’s ouster a “historic day.” He also said he’s ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone, to bar hostile forces from establishing themselves on his country’s border. https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/syria-basharal-assad/2024/12/08/id/1190804/

December 8, 2024

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader whose stunning insurgency toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image, renouncing longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. In recent days, the insurgency even dropped his nom de guerre and began referring to him by his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test.

Insurgents control capital Damascus, Assad has fled into hiding, and for the first time after 50 years of his family’s iron hand, it is an open question how Syria will be governed.

Syria is home to multiple ethnic and religious communities, often pitted against each other by Assad’s state and years of war. Many of them fear the possibility Sunni Islamist extremists will take over. https://apnews.com/article/syria-insurgents-algolani-hts-aab4c8894238904a4e351076726499fb

So, a Sunni Muslim with connections to a terrorist group is not claimed to be in charge, what will happen?

Notice also the following by the late Raymond McNair:

Daniel 11 … mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt {like the Sudanese}), Libya {would also include Algeria, Tunisia}, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century)

I, too, have believed that Syria would be part of the King of the South. Because of biblical prophecies related to the coming King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:40-43), I have long written that Bashar Assad would lose power as the King of the South looks to be a Sunni, not Shiite, Muslim leader.

There are also various competing groups in Syria.

So, it is likely that some in Syria will still support Iran, for a time.

Iran still wants Syria to get along with it:

December 8, 2024

Iran, a key ally of Bashar al-Assad throughout the Syrian conflict, said on Sunday it expects the “friendly” relations with Syria to continue even after al-Assad’s fall in Damascus.

“The relations between the two nations of Iran and Syria have a long history and have always been friendly, and it is expected that these relations will continue,” a foreign ministry statement said. https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/12/08/iran-says-it-wants-friendly-ties-with-syria-after-al-assad-s-fall

Because of prophecies in Isaiah 22:6-9, I have long asserted that it looks like some Syrians will work militarily with Iran to cause great damage to Jerusalem.

I remain of the view that some Syrians will work militarily with Iran to cause great damage to Jerusalem as laid out in Isaiah 22:6-9.

There remain Shiite Sunnis in Syria who are, or will militarily, support Iran.

That is not the only issue involving Syrians, as the Bible points to terrorism.

Notice some passages from our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:

Terroristic Deal?

Another possibly related set of passages related to a temporal Muslim-European alliance is found in the 83^rd Psalm. Here is part of it, starting with verse 3, with some modern national identities from former Radio and Worldwide Church of God writers inserted using “{ }” (Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966, p. 27; Hoeh H. GERMANY in Prophecy! – Part 2. Plain Truth, January 1963, pp. 28; Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy, p. 13; McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! CG21, 2005):

³ They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. ⁴ They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel {includes Jews as well as the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, meaning the British-descended peoples and the USA} may be remembered no more.”

⁵ For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: ⁶ The tents of Edom {Turks and possibly Afghanis} and the Ishmaelites {Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Libya}; Moab {part of Jordan} and the Hagrites {Syria}; ⁷ Gebal {Lebanon}, Ammon {Jordan, and perhaps the UAE}, and Amalek {part of the Turks}; Philistia {Palestinian Arabs} with the inhabitants of Tyre {Lebanon; perhaps also in part of Southern Italy}; ⁸ Assyria {migrated to Germanic Europe} also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot {Jordan and western Iraq}. (Psalm 83:3-8)

Nations like Tunisia and Algeria would also be expected to be involved, as well as those associated with the end time European Beast power…

Notice something else involving Syrians and the Palestinians, who Iran supports:

⁸ The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. ⁹ All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — … ¹¹ Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, ¹² The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12)

In addition to the nation of Israel, the USA (prophetic Samaria) and its British descended allies (prophetic Ephraim) will have more terrorist attacks. Syrian, Palestinian (called Philistines in Isaiah 9:12) and some other refugees and other migrants within their borders are a potential terrorist problem (Jeremiah 15:6-8; Ezekiel 21:12, 32:24). The Bible clearly warns that there will be “terror within” as (Deuteronomy 32:25).

Isaiah and Ezekiel look to be prophesying problems from Syrians, Palestinians, and Iranians. And this would be expected to include terrorism. And this is also consistent with prophecies in Psalm 83.

That said, some Protestant prophecy watchers have wondered if the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1 is near.

Let us look at that scripture and some others:

7 thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8).

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. 2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” Says the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 17:1-3)

Damascus has been claimed to be the “oldest, continuously-inhabited city” in the world. And while some have questioned that claim, the reality is that Damascus has not been destroyed to the point of becoming the “ruinous heap” since God inspired Isaiah, thousands of years ago, to record that would one day happen. The destruction would be expected to come from some type of warfare.

What happened the past couple of days is NOT the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1.

I have long felt that there were two or more biblically-related possibilities.

One is when the King of the South and the King of the North turn against each other as prophesied in Daniel 11:40-43.

And the other is related to an attack by Iran and Syria against Jewish Israel and Jerusalem as prophesied in Isaiah 22:6-9.

There are also other ways Damascus could be destroyed.

Why the ambiguity?

Well, mainly because Isaiah 17:1 is not totally clear about the time period, though the verses past it may be pointing to timing related to Isaiah 22:6-9.

If that is the case, then we could see Damascus destroyed within a year. Otherwise, particularly if its destruction is related to Daniel 11:40-43, that will not happen for at least four years from now.

A decade ago, we out out the following video on our BibleNewsProphecy channel:

11:54

Damascus and Syria in Prophecy

Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria?

That video goes through various scriptures and certain Islamic prophecies to explain what may and what will happen to Syria and its capital Damascus. Here is a link: Damascus and Syria in Prophecy.

The situation in Syria is volatile and will change.

Israel is expected to take actions that will provoke actions against it.

The biblical reality is that we are getting closer to the time of Damascus’ destruction.

The time is also coming when God will take away the protection of Judah and the City of David (Isaiah 22:9: Jerusalem, cf. 2 Kings 9:28).

We look to be in a time of wars and rumors of wars as Jesus foretold (Matthew 24:4-8).

Watch! (cf. Mark 13:37)

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar al-Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and  Iran and Israel Conflict.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the Century and Daniel 9 27? Here is a link to something related in the Spanish language: Estados Árabes emiratos unidos y el tratado de paz en el medio este.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Here is a related sermon in the Spanish language: El cristianismo visto a través de los ojos islámicos.