Church of God News

COGwriter

Notice the following from Ecumenical News and the World Council of Churches News related to the Evangelical Church of Germany:

German church publishes 10 commandments for the digital age

The guidance put out by the EKD as the main Protestant denomination in Germany is known is based on the insights of the Ten Commandments in the Bible, one of the world’s best known set of guiding principles.

The publication – Digital Freedom: The Ten Commandments in Times of Digital Change – is structured around 10 sections.

Each takes one of the Ten Commandments, exploring its insights for understanding the opportunities and dangers of digital technologies. …

The Ten Commandments in Times of Digital Change:

1. Protect and live out freedom as God’s creatures in the digital realm.

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Ex. 20: 2-3)

2. Understand how the worlds of digital images shape identity and solidarity.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing . . . (Ex. 20: 4)

3. Be aware of the options for religious communication in the digital world.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain . . . (Ex. 20: 7)

4. Give (digital) life a wholesome rhythm.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Ex. 20:8)

5. Make inter-generational relations more equitable digitally.

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (Ex. 20: 12)

6. Stop digitalized violence.

Thou shalt not kill. (Ex. 20: 13)

7. Give space for freedom and respect in intimate relationships in the digital sphere.

Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Ex. 20: 14)

8. Encourage just participation in the digital economy.

Thou shalt not steal. (Ex. 20: 15)

9. Promote truthfulness in the digital world.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Ex. 20: 16)

10. Beware of covetousness in digital space.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s. (Ex. 20: 17). 05/02/21 https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/german-church-publishes-10-commandments-for-the-digital-age/60865.htm

German Protestant Church Publishes 10 Commandments for the Digital Age

by WCC News

As digital technologies permeate almost all areas of life, changing the way people live, work and relate to one another, a new publication by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) offers guidance on dealing with the digital world based on the insights of the biblical Ten Commandments. …

The EKD brings together Germany’s main regional Protestant churches. It is one of the co-organizers of an international symposium on “Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age” in September, being jointly hosted by the World Council of Churches and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC). 04/22/21 https://um-insight.net/in-the-world/advocating-justice/german-protestant-church-publishes-10-commandments-for-the-d/

(Pixabay image)

COGwriter

Iran is objecting to the Trump Administration and has concerns about being attacked:

Iran says will not bow to US ‘maximum pressure’ strategy

25 February 2025

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday said there was no possibility of direct talks with the US on his country’s nuclear program, a day after Washington announced fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil industry.

The sanctions come as US President Donald Trump reinstates the “maximum pressure” policy toward Tehran that he upheld during his first term. …

“There will be no possibility of direct talks between us and the United States on the nuclear issue as long as the maximum pressure is applied in this way,” Araghchi said during a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, who has been visiting Tehran.

“Regarding the nuclear negotiations, the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is very clear. We will not negotiate under pressure, threat or sanctions,” he said.

“On the nuclear issue, we will move forward with the cooperation and coordination of our friends in Russia and China,” he added. https://www.dw.com/en/iran-says-will-not-bow-to-us-maximum-pressure-strategy/a-71745081

Report: Iran deploying air defenses to brace for possible US-Israeli strike

25 February 2025

Iran has placed its nuclear facilities on high alert bracing for a potential attack by Israel and the United States, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

According to a report in the British Telegraph, Tehran has deployed additional air defense system launches around key nuclear and missile sites.

“They [Iranian authorities] are just waiting for the attack and are anticipating it every night and everything has been on high alert – even in sites that no one knows about,” a source was quoted telling the news outlet, saying that concerns have heightened with rhetoric from new US President Donald Trump. https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-iran-deploying-air-defenses-to-brace-for-possible-us-israeli-strike/

Yes, Iran is concerned about Donald Trump and his proposed actions.

Regarding Iran, Donald Trump, and prophecy, the following is from my latest book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Iran and Prophecy

Prior to his first election, Donald Trump stated that he wants to eliminate or at least change the “nuclear deal” with Iran. [i]

And that he did.[ii]

However, the Biden-Harris Administration tried to revive it, though never fully did. However, the Biden-Harris Administration did release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets back to Iran[iii] as well as it, apparently intentionally, did not enforce sanctions which allowed Iran to nearly triple its oil revenues 3 years after Donald Trump left office.[iv]

In the June 27, 2024 debate with Joe Biden, Donald Trump then blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for assisting in Iran’s ability to provide more funding to proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.[v] It is believed that Donald Trump will likely use some type of “maximum pressure” strategy again against Iran during his next Administration.[vi]

Because Bible prophecy indicates  that it  will  be  primarily Arabic nations that support the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8), though with some support (probably temporary per Daniel 11:25-26) from Turkey (and possibly Pakistan), it is not biblically possible that Iran can truly be the leader of the Islamic world as it seems to want to be. Also, because it is basically due east of Jerusalem, Iran should not be considered to be a candidate to be the final ‘King of the South’ of biblical prophecy.

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

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

Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and possibly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if a Trump Administration and/or Israel takes actions it does not like.

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

But should this occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the USA. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25).

[i] Wilkinson T. Trump’s plans to scuttle or amend the Iran nuclear deal remain a work in progress. Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2016

[ii] ^{Trump DJ. President Donald J. Trump is Ending United States Participation in an Unacceptable Iran Deal. White House Fact Sheet, May 8, 2018}

[iii] ^{Knickmeyer E, et al. Americans released by Iran arrive home, tearfully embrace their loved ones and declare: ‘Freedom!’ Associated Press, September 19, 2023}

[iv] ^{Steil B. Biden is Giving Up Powerful U.S. Financial Sanctions on Iran | Opinion. Newsweek, August 13, 2021; Cohen A. Joe Biden’s Iran Oil Sanctions Failure. National Interest, November 2, 2024}

[v] ^{READ: Biden-Trump debate transcript. CNN, June 28, 2024}

[vi] ^{What is Trump’s ‘maximum pressure policy’ that could drive up costs for China’s Iranian oil imports? Times of India, November 6, 2024; Strobel WP, et al. Trump to Renew ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Against Iran. Wall Stree Journal, November 8, 2024}

Iran may strike out at Israel before Israel attacks it, or may wait to strike after it is hit again by Israel.

What if Israel hits Iran hard?

Israel has already been accused of ‘war crimes’ related to its war against Hamas in Gaza (e.g. see ‘Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza war’ and ‘Open hatred of Jews surges globally, inflamed by Gaza war’).

Israel may conclude that if it has the go-ahead from Donald Trump, it can go all-out to attempt to destroy the Iranian regime.

With that in mind, consider the following Roman Catholic writings:

Abbot Herman of Lehnin (died 1300) Towards the end of the world “Israel will commit a terrible crime for which it will suffer death.” (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin. Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 151)

Roman Catholic priest and writer R. Gerald Culleton (20th century): After the birth of Anti-Christ and shortly before the rise of the Great Monarch, the false doctrines were to multiply … In the last days before Anti-Christ, there are to appear many anti-christs… Towards the end of the world the Jews are to commit some atrocious crime for which they will be greatly persecuted … the Great Monarch … This Lion Monarch … together with the Great Pope or Angelic Pastor, shall appear after socialism … (Culleton, pp. 25,27,28,50)

Some have suggested that “after socialism” may mean after communism falls, like it mainly did in the late 20th century. True Church of God Christians with “Jewish practices,” who could be considered a type of “Anti-Christ” by Greco-Romans (see Do Certain Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? ), are to be greatly persecuted around the time of the Great Catholic “Lion” Monarch (see Persecutions by Church and State).

The “atrocious crime” could refer to an attack (possibly nuclear) by Israel or some other Israeli action. Or perhaps a combination of factors.

That said, a while back, 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

Iran and Israel Conflict

European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict. like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.

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

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

Iran is not pleased with Donald Trump and may choose to militarily respond very soon.

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.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Now, the new US Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is looking into Big Pharma:

RFK Jr. takes on Big Pharma: Can the Make America Healthy Again Commission save our kids from psychiatric overmedication?

February 25, 2025

In a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the medical and pharmaceutical industries, President Donald Trump has appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to chair the newly formed Make America Healthy Again Commission. Among its primary targets: the skyrocketing use of psychiatric medications in children and adolescents. The commission will scrutinize the “prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants and weight-loss drugs” to young Americans.

Kennedy, a vocal critic of SSRIs and other psychiatric drugs, has long argued that these medications are overprescribed and underregulated, often causing more harm than good. His appointment has reignited a fierce debate over the role of mental health medications in modern society — and whether we are sacrificing the well-being of our youth on the altar of Big Pharma profits.

The rise of the “medicated generation”

The statistics are staggering. Between 2016 and 2022, antidepressant prescriptions for Americans aged 12 to 25 increased by 66%. Stimulants like Adderall, often prescribed for ADHD, have become a staple in classrooms across the country. Meanwhile, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, once reserved for severe psychiatric conditions, are now routinely prescribed to children as young as six.

This trend is not without consequences. Critics argue that the overdiagnosis and overmedication of young people have created a generation of “mental patients,” where normal emotional struggles are pathologized and treated with powerful drugs. As Kennedy himself has noted, “Members of my family had a much worse time getting off of SSRIs than they have getting off of heroin.”

The mainstream medical establishment, however, has pushed back. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) insists that these medications are “very effective” and are prescribed “carefully” after other treatments, such as talk therapy, have been tried. But as the number of psychiatric diagnoses continues to climb — the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) now lists over 300 mental illnesses, up from just 60 in the 1960s — many are questioning whether we are medicalizing normal human behavior.  …

At the heart of this issue lies the influence of Big Pharma. Critics argue that the pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in expanding the market for psychiatric drugs, particularly among children and adolescents. …

Dr. Frances has warned, “Bogus mental illnesses have turned millions of healthy Americans into ‘mental patients.'” The question now is whether Kennedy and his commission can succeed in reversing this trend—or whether the medicated generation will continue to grow. https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-02-25-can-maha-save-kids-from-psychiatric-overmedication.html

The products from Big Pharma are almost always substances that are foreign to the human body. They have never been tested enough in order to understand all the possible negative side-effects that they may produce.

It is my clinical experience that there are normally better and more natural approaches to deal with the issues psych drugs are prescribed for.

However, since Big Pharma funds a lot of political campaigns, the medical profession, mainstream news outlets (see Big Pharma the big television news sponsor–but do they really improve health?), etc., it has been effective in censoring a lot of scientific debate over many of its products.

Those in the USA use a lot of medications. Here is something from the US Centers for Disease Control’s website:

• Percent of people using at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days: 49.9% (2017-March 2020)
• Percent of people using three or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 24.7% (2017-March 2020)
• Percent of persons using five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 13.5% (2017-March 2020) …
• Number of drugs provided or prescribed: 1.0 billion
• Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 71.9% …

Hospital emergency department visits

• Number of drugs given or prescribed: 361.3 million
• Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 76.2%

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-therapeutic.htm accessed 02/25/25

Consider also the following:

Medicine Use

• A total of 6.3 billion prescriptions were dispensed in 2020 with growth slowing to 1.7% after adjusting for the increased use of 90-day prescriptions for chronic therapies.

Medicine Spending and growth drivers

• U.S. medicine spending increased 0.8% on a net price basis to $359 billion, which reflects an increasing gap between list or invoice prices and manufacturer net revenues.
• Real net per capita spending – adjusting for net prices, population, and economic growth – declined in 2020 to $1,085 and has increased only $56 since 2010.  • Specialty medicines now account for 53% of spending, up from 27% in 2010 and driven by growth in autoimmune and oncology therapies.   accessed 06/26/22 https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports/the-use-of-medicines-in-the-us

If it seems like about half the country is on drugs, that is because it is actually true. According to a new survey from the National Center for Health Statistics, almost half of all Americans have taken a pharmaceutical drug within the past 30 days, and that officially makes us “the most medicated country in the world”. And needless to say, those dealing these drugs are becoming exceedingly wealthy at our expense. ..  antidepressants are just one part of the problem. For example, opioids are some of the most addictive drugs on the entire planet, and their overuse has destroyed countless lives all across America. 05/08/19 http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-most-medicated-country-in-the-world-46-of-americans-have-taken-a-pharmaceutical-drug-within-the-last-30-days

COGwriter

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

Truth or Consequences?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, the truth is important.

Yes, God’s word is truth.

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

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

Yes, that is not Greco-Roman Catholicism.

Those willing to believe the Bible and look into early Christian history will realize that most who profess any form of modern Greco-Roman Catholicism do not hold to the beliefs of the original catholic church. Related to that we have a free, detailed, online book.

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

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

No.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We produced a book on that as well.

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

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

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

1:17:14

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui? Here is a link to a short animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are? Here is a link to a related sermon: Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG.
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Similarities and Differences Between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some interesting similarities, but many major differences. Would you like Christian answers for Jehovah’s Witnesses to give information on how to deal with Jehovah’s Witnesses? A related sermon is also available: Jehovah’s Witnesses: Right and Wrong Teachings?
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here is a sermon in the English language: CCOG and SDA differences and similarities.
Seventh-day Adventist President Ted Wilson’s Comments on the Remnant Church Ted N. C. Wilson spoke on the SDAs striving to be the “remnant church”, but what do the related scriptures actually teach?
Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Continuing Church of God The genuine Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney? A sermon of related interest is available: Mormon vs. Church of God Teachings.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
Being Separate: What Did Herbert W. Armstrong and the Bible Teach About Where Not to Fellowship? Some believe that it is acceptable to attend groups called COG, but who are not actually. What did Herbert W. Armstrong and the Bible teach about this?
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have. Here is a link to two related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan and Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.

(Above from Pixabay)

COGwriter

February 24th marks the third anniversary of Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine:

Trump-Putin pressure puts Zelenskyy in focus on Russia war anniversary, insiders say

February 24, 2025

LONDON — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law early on Feb. 24, 2022, under Kyiv skies still tinged black by the smoke from Russian missile strikes.

Three years later, the ravaged nation is still living under the extraordinary powers granted to the government in order to sustain its defensive and existential war against President Vladimir Putin’s invading Russian forces. Powers that Russia is wielding to undermine the country’s wartime leader. …

Under the Ukrainian constitution, elections — whether presidential or parliamentary — cannot be held while martial law is in force.

Moscow has for months been seeking to weaponize Ukraine’s democratic freeze, with Putin and his allies framing Zelenskyy as illegitimate and therefore unsuitable to take part in peace talks.

President Donald Trump now appears to be lending his weight to the Kremlin’s campaign. …

A source close to the Ukrainian government — who did not wish to be named as they were not authorized to speak publicly — told ABC News they believe the push is coming from those who “believe that Zelenskyy, personally, is a problem because he is not compliant enough, he’s not simply going to accept anything that they propose or anything that they demand.”  …

Trump’s recent attacks on Zelenskyy appear to have bolstered the latter’s political position. Allies and rivals alike rallied around the Ukrainian president’s office in the aftermath of Trump’s broadsides. …

Even if the U.S. and Russia succeeded in unseating Zelenskyy in favor of a more pliant successor, “if you end up with leadership in Kyiv that is willing to cut some sort of deal that is absolutely unacceptable to a large segment of Ukrainian society, we could see fragmentation, even of the Ukrainian military,” they said. …

The IBF project poll showed a much lower proportion — 26-32% — of Ukrainians would vote for Zelensky in an election. https://abcnews.go.com/International/trump-putin-pressure-puts-zelenskyy-focus-ukraine-marks/story?id=11899805

While most of Europe supports Ukraine, there are other voices with concerns about it. And Ukraine’s President has issues with the USA’s President. Here is one report:

Ukraine Doesn’t Owe the U.S. ANYTHING, Trump ‘Isn’t Forever’, Says Zelensky

February 23, 2025

Speaking to a forum held in Kiev on Sunday, Zelensky said point blank that he would not recognize any of the aid sent from the U.S. as debt owed.

And that’s not the only thing he said that is sure to come as a slap in the face to President Trump and his administration.

Zelensky also took a swipe at President Trump, seemingly minimizing the impact of Trump’s Presidency on the Ukraine-Russia war.

Unlike a dictator or tyrant, President Trump won’t be serving an indefinite term without elections.

Zelensky appeared to twist that fact into a liability connected to any impact Trump may have on the situation. … in essence he is now denying that President Trump carries any weight to create any real change within the situation. …

To his credit, Zelensky did offer to step down in order to help the peace process. …

It could be that Zelensky drops the tough-guy act and comes to the table, where he may find that President Trump would work with him for an end to the fighting in a way that benefits all parties — including the United States.  https://100percentfedup.com/ukraine-doesnt-owe-u-s-anything-trump-isnt/

Here is a report from a Russian perspective:

Three years in the trenches: From ‘Russia’s losing’ to ‘Ukraine is done for’?

24 February 2025

Exactly three years ago, Russian troops entered Ukraine with the aim of forcing Kiev to halt military attacks on the Donbass republics, to ensure its own security, and dismantling a regime that fostered the growth of neo-Nazism in the country. Due to the West’s support for its proxies in Kiev, the conflict has dragged on, and Russia’s military operation has reshaped perceptions of what a modern armed conflict between two large armies – each with its own strengths and weaknesses – should look like. …

In the first half of 2024, the Russian army captured just one city (Avdeevka), but in the second half of 2024, they took control of seven cities and about fifteen urban settlements. In September 2024, the second assault on Ugledar took place. The 2024 offensive campaign culminated in the Kurakhovo operation, the largest since the initial phase of the special military operation.

It’s important to note that these assaults on numerous cities and towns in the DPR were not the goal for the Russian army. Unable to decisively defeat the AFU in maneuver warfare, the Russian military adopted a strategy of “tactical opportunism.” Capitalizing on their numerical superiority and firepower, coupled with complete air superiority, the Russians pressed the Ukrainian army along the entire thousand-kilometer-long front line, exploiting the situation to their advantage wherever Ukrainian defenses faltered.  …

This strategy significantly depleted the Ukrainian army. According to Ukrainian sources, a typical frontline brigade is now at best half-staffed (compared to the well-staffed (85-90%) Russian brigades). The quality of Ukrainian soldiers is also visibly declining: the last major voluntary recruitment consisted of the so-called “assault brigades” formed in early 2023. Since then, most reinforcements have been assembled from forcibly mobilized people, and thousands of conscripts have deserted the front lines. Consequently, operational crises have increased, with undertrained brigades fleeing, leading to the abandonment of several towns and newly established defensive positions. The situation has only been made worse by the Kursk operation, where all fresh, well-prepared, and better-equipped Ukrainian reserves are deployed.

As of February 2025, we’re seeing an ‘operational pause’ at most sections of the front. Both sides are actively preparing for the spring-summer campaign. While we lack a complete picture, there’s a growing sense that the Ukrainian forces may be struggling to prepare for it adequately. So despite being worn down from combat, the Russian army has a real chance of achieving decisive success in the next six months to a year. This could lead to the collapse of Ukrainian defenses, and potentially to the collapse of the front for dozens or even hundreds of miles.

Of course, this campaign may never take place. Negotiations between Washington and Moscow are currently underway, which could ultimately determine Ukraine’s fate without a final battle. https://www.rt.com/russia/613211-ukraine-russia-three-years-of-war/

Is Ukraine “done for”?

US President Donald Trump basically seems to believe that if the US does not guarantee Ukraine’s likely revised borders (meaning it will likely officially cede territories it lost to Russia), Ukraine is done for (see Donald Trump said that Ukraine “may be Russian someday”).

It is not likely that without USA help, Ukraine can stop a possible takeover by Russia, so its Volodymyr Zelensky may wish to reconsider his statements–including earlier ones that he would not agree to ceding any territory, including Crimea to Russia.

Do I expect Ukraine to get all of its former territories back?

No.

Because of prophecies related to the “kings of the Medes” in the Book of Jeremiah, in the Fall of 2013 I wrote that Russia would end up with some territory that Ukraine claimed. The first fulfillment of that was when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and then other territories in 2022.

Let me add that on the Sabbath of February 5, 2022, I did a sermonette where I mentioned that lands associated with Ukraine would end up being confederate with Russia:

21:20

Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy

The situation between Russia and Ukraine has again heated up, although it has been tense since the Euromaiden protests and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. There was later a separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Russian Orthodox Church. Is war prophesied for Russia and Ukraine? Are prophecies in the Bible associated with the ‘kings of the Medes’ and a power from the “north country” related to any in Russia and Ukraine? Is a confederation of powers from the north, east, and central Asia prophesied to destroy the coming end time European Babylon? Will the destruction be reminiscent of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? How is the King of the North and who will destroy him? Do those in Russia and Ukraine have a hope of salvation? Will Russia and powers of the east be involved in the gathering in Armageddon as prophesied in Revelation 16? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy.

Since that came out, more territories that Ukraine once controlled are now controlled by Russia.

While Ukraine has put up a lot of resistance to Russia’s Special Military Operation, Russia is larger and has more troops, etc.

Remember that Jesus taught:

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. (Luke 14:31-32)

Ukraine may wish to reconsider where it is at to see if now it believes it should attempt to make a deal with Russia–particularly with Donald Trump now US President. The longer the conflict continues, the less territory that Ukraine will likely have.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
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.
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.
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.

Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz
(Photo source: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons)

COGwriter

As expected, the Roman Catholic Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union gained the most support in Germany’s election:

Who is Friedrich Merz, the man on course to take Germany’s top job after election?

February 24, 2025

BERLIN (AP) — Friedrich Merz, on course to become post-World War II Germany’s 10th chancellor after the country’s election, has vowed to prioritize European unity and the continent’s security as it grapples with the new Trump administration and Russia’s war on Ukraine. …

“All the signals we are getting from the USA indicate that interest in Europe is clearly waning and that the willingness to get involved in Europe is decreasing,” Merz told reporters at a press conference on Monday. …

Merz’s task will be complicated by the need to form a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He has repeatedly pledged not to work with the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party despite their second-place finish. …

The 69-year-old conservative leader heads the center-right Union bloc, which won Germany’s national election with 28.5% of the votes. …

“Friedrich Merz is perhaps the most international chancellor Germany has had since the war — if he becomes chancellor,” said Volker Resing, who wrote the recently published biography “Friedrich Merz: His Path to Power.”

Merz “relies on personal initiative, on the freedom of the individual, on creativity and motivation. And only secondarily on the state,” Resing said. …

Merz … “I have no illusions at all about what is happening from America,” he told supporters. “We are under such massive pressure … my absolute priority now is really to create unity in Europe.” …

Merz put toughening Germany’s immigration laws at the forefront of the election campaign …

Merz has insisted he … never worked with AfD, and also repeatedly vowed to “never” work with the party if he becomes chancellor. https://apnews.com/article/germany-election-merz-candidate-chancellor-christian-democrats-bb9dff6bda93dab02c4ee3029920d44d

February 24, 2025

LONDON — Before the final votes in Germany‘s election were even counted, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union party, who is set to become the next chancellor, promised a major shift in relations with the U.S.

In a post-election debate, he promised to confront head-on a new reality — that the Trump administration looks to overturn about 80 years of policy and raises the prospect of abandoning security guarantees for Europe.

“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” Merz said Sunday.

Merz added, “I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program. But after Donald Trump’s statements last week at the latest, it is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”

Merz’s conservative CDU party emerged as the largest party in Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, with 28.6% of the vote. The SPD, the party of the incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, came in third place. …

Merz also talked about NATO, suggesting there may even be need to replace the military alliance with a new European security structure.

“I am very curious to see how we are heading toward the NATO summit at the end of June,” he said. “Whether we will still be talking about NATO in its current form or whether we will have to establish an independent European defense capability much more quickly.” https://abcnews.go.com/International/germany-move-independence-us-new-leader/story?id=119115938

So, the expected leader of Germany wants more European unity and independence from the USA. He previously also said he would like Germany to lead Europe (see Friedrich Merz says he wants Germany to lead all of Europe).

Related to the Trump Administration pushing Europe to go for more unity, here is something from my latest book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves. … Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA. (p. 88)

That again has happened and is one of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s statements and policies.

Now, regarding the German election and the AfD, Deutsche Welle posted:

German far-right AfD sees historic gains, still out of power

23 February 2025

It’s a historic result for the Alternative for Germany party (AfD): just 12 years after the far-right party was founded, it has become the second-largest political force in the country.

With around 20% of the vote, it almost doubled its result from the last federal election in 2021. In eastern Germany, it has even become the strongest political party.

On election night, AfD lead candidate Alice Weidel stressed again that her party is willing to enter into a coalition with the winning center-right alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

At the same time, she lashed out at the CDU’s leader and likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz.

In reference to Merz’s promise made several years ago to halve the AfD’s vote share, Weidel told her supporters: “They wanted to halve us, but the opposite has happened!”

The AfD managed to shape political discourse during the election campaign with its anti-immigration rhetoric, calling for Germany’s borders to be closed to refugees and asylum-seekers. …

Despite its election success, the AfD’s result has fallen short of the party’s own expectations. Many members had secretly hoped to end up neck-and-neck with the CDU — or even come in first. As a result, the AfD election night party was a bit of a muted affair despite the gains.

The party has been left without options. In a post-election TV debate with the main parties’ top candidates, Merz repeated his rejection of the AfD as a potential coalition partner.

“You can hold out your hand as much as you like, we will not be pursuing the wrong policies for this country,” he said, citing differences on foreign and security policy as the main reason for rejecting cooperation with the AfD. …

Weidel has her eyes set on the future, and has already indicated her availability to be the AfD’s candidate for chancellor at the next election in 2029.

“We will overtake the CDU/CSU. And then we will get a mandate to govern,” Weidel declared on the party’s own TV channel. https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-2025-far-right-afd-alice-weidel-cdu-friedrich-merz-v1/a-71725460

There is a map at the following link that shows that nearly all of the eastern portion of Germany supported the AfD — see https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ckg82wwrwy6t

Presuming that Friedrich Merz is not perceived as to have done enough about migrants in the future and/or is perceived as mishandling the economy or other matters, the AfD expects to rise up further.

More attacks by Islamic migrants, particularly from Syrians in Germany tends to get more voters to support the AfD.

We put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to the AfD a couple of years ago:

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.

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

So, what will happen?

Some migrants will be deported.

Germany has between 800,000 to 1,200,000 Syrian migrants/refugees, to name just one predominantly Islamic set of migrants.

They all do not want to return to Syria.

Notice the following prophecy involving Syrians:

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

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

Eventually, Europe will reach a breaking point and change.

A totalitarian leader, one much more extreme than Friedrich Merz or the AfD, will be selected to rule all of Europe.

Democracy will be completely abandoned in Europe.

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

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

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

He will one day lead a successful attack against the USA (Daniel 11:39) and its British-descended allies (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11).

The current refusal by the expected new chancellor Friedrich Merz to not work with the AfD will not stop biblical prophecies from being fulfilled.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is 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.
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. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: ¿Deben los Diez Reyes gobernar sobre diez naciones? A related sermon in the English language is titled: Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
The Large Hadron Collider has Military Potential Some say this European project is only peaceful. So why is it working on capturing antimatter? Here is a link to a related video: Could the Large Hadron Collider lead to destruction?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Greco-Roman Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest? A video of related interest would be: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future. Two shorter video are also available: Blockchain, Karl Guttenberg, and 666 and The Middle East, Prophecy, and Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Roman Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: Alemania en la profecía bíblic. Here are links to two English language sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy. Here is one in the Spanish language: Alemania en profecía Biblica.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

COGwriter

Amazon Kindle has allowed us to promote the electronic version of my book, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?, for free for the past several days.

The book came out a few days BEFORE Donald Trump took office. And already, various world events are confirming warnings, comments, and speculations it contains.

Since that book came out, world events have aligned with several warning, predictions, and unintended consequences pointed to in it. Below, in italics, are statements from that book, with the page numbers where the prediction can be found in the printed book shown within ():

1. Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. (p.210) Confirmation: Because of tariff threats from Donald Trump, on 1/21/25, EU President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe would seek out others to trade with (https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-donald-trump-america-we-have-other-options-ursula-von-der-leyen/).
2. Gold will set records in U.S. dollar terms. … … gold will set further records in U.S. dollar terms in the relatively near future. (pp. 205, 206) Confirmation: Gold hit a record price on 1/31/25 (https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/gold-hits-record-high-trump-tariff-worries-mount-2025-01-31/) and did it again on 02/10/25. The record price of gold reflects a record minimum value in gold for the USA dollar.
3. One of the unintended consequence of his actions is, that after crises (cf. Revelation 6:7-8), more Europeans will decide that they need their own even stronger leader—which will happen per Revelation 13:10 and 17:13. (pp. 58-59) Partial confirmation: This already started to happen at a European political conference on 2/08/25 (https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/08/your-time-is-over-far-right-leaders-take-on-the-eus-mainstream-parties)
4. Donald Trump has often encouraged increased military spending by the Europeans. … Donald Trump is helping enable the rise of the King of the North/Beast power who will be in league with the final Antichrist. (p. 87) Partial confirmation: This is partially confirmed as Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission stated on 1/22/25 that Europe needs to spend more as Donald Trump called for (https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/22/eu-must-spend-more-than-1-of-gdp-on-defence-to-prepare-for-the-worst-kallas-says).
5. Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves. … Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA. (p. 88) Partial confirmation: More of this has since happened (https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/22/eu-must-spend-more-than-1-of-gdp-on-defence-to-prepare-for-the-worst-kallas-says and https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/eu-enlargement-debate-at-davos-focuses-on-europe-s-global-role-and-growth/ar-AA1xBhgq?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds) and a EU foreign ministers meeting on 1/27/25 called for a unified approach to deal with US President Donald Trump and what analysts refer to as his “divide and rule policy” (https://www.dw.com/en/eu-sanctions-russia-trump-2025/a-71427544).
6. Jesus warned about a coming time of pestilences as part of the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8)—they are consistent with the ride of the 4^th horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:7-8)—that ride may well start in the second term of a Donald Trump Administration. Actions and/or inactions by Donald Trump will likely put the USA at increased risk of problems from pestilences. (p. 90) Potential confirmation: Donald Trump announced he is pulling the USA out of the World Health Organization (https://fortune.com/well/2025/01/21/trump-who-us-remove-world-health-organization/).
7. His policies are pushing nations away from the USA and helping set the stage for the final times of the Gentiles (cf. Ezekiel 7:24, 39:23; Luke 21:24). (p. 91) Potential confirmation: Donald Trump’s comments at the WEF reportedly silenced the crowd and made them “stone-faced” (Donald Trump speaks virtually to the WEF’s Davos meeting and pushes USA fossil fuels and trade matters). These leaders were not pleased and will take actions. Ursula von der Leyen said “Europe will keep seeking co-operation — not only with our long-time, like-minded friends, but with any country we share interests with.”
8. His statements are getting more in Europe to consider that they need to reorganize and support some type of a strong man leader. The Bible shows that will happen in Revelation 17:12-13. Speculative confirmation: I cannot imagine that at the WEF and within the EU they are not discussing something like a stronger European leader and a reorganization of Europe. For example the chief executive of a European bank at the WEF conference stated,  “I heard the EU talking about the willingness to make changes,” and “The truth of the matter is every time they do something they create more bureaucracy, more complexity. They need to have a huge reset” (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/24/davos-donald-trump-tariffs-eu-us). Germans have noticed that what they call the “far right” is gaining because of Donald Trump and that right wing leaders look more useful now (https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/9836 01/21/25). Furthermore, EU President Von der Leyen said this week, “To sustain our growth in the next quarter of the century, Europe must shift gears,” (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/24/davos-donald-trump-tariffs-eu-us) that sounds like a plea to reorganize.

There will be many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration.

And there already have been.

The promotion went well–the book has hit #1 in two Amazon categories!

Here is what Amazon had related to the Kindle Version on Monday morning:

Best Sellers Rank: #4,110 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)

• #1 in Christian Prophecy
• #1 in Christian Prophets (Kindle Store)
• #2 in Christian Bible History & Culture (Kindle Store)

There will be many “intended consequences” of the Trump-Vance Administration, and it is nice to see that many now have the e-book  as well as the printed one to learn about them as well as biblical prophecies that are in the process of coming to pass.

Anyway, because of the publishing rules of Amazon, those who want a free e-version of the book have until sometime today to download it.

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?-Kindle edition Kindle edition is available free for a few days. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

Map showing areas annexed by Russia from Ukraine
(Public domain via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

US President Donald Trump posted the following on his Truth Social several days ago:

Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle. The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only “TRUMP,” and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues… 02/19/25 https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114031332924234939

Donald Trump has obviously not been pleased with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

While Donald Trump has been called a bully who is blackmailing Ukraine (see Ukrainian says Donald Trump is blackmailing them–like a bully?), Euronews reports that Ukraine has decided it needs to look at ceding some minerals to the USA:

Parliament speaker: Ukraine to start work on finalising US minerals deal on Monday

23 February 2025

Washington’s demands for around $500 billion (€477 billion) in mineral wealth from Ukraine was initially rejected by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the grounds that the US hadn’t offered any security guarantees.

The speaker of the Ukrainian parliament has said the government will start working in earnest from Monday to reach an agreement with the Trump administration for US access to mineral resources.

Speaking to Japanese broadcaster NHK World, Ruslan Stefanchuk said a special team would start working on the proposal beginning next week but that any agreement must include security assurances from Washington. …

Washington is asking for a 50% cut of all revenues generated from Ukraine’s mineral and natural resources in what US officials are calling payment for previous military support. …

On Saturday, business news network Bloomberg reported that both sides needed more time to reach a deal while Sky News said an agreement “is not yet ready to be signed” due to a number of “problematic issues.”

Sky, quoting an anonymous Ukrainian source, said Zelenskyy is not ready to accept the current form of the draft. …

Ukraine also holds some of Europe’s largest known reserves of lithium, which is required to produce batteries, ceramics and glass. …

The European Commission identified Ukraine as a potential supplier for more than 20 critical raw materials and said that if the country joins the EU, it could strengthen the European economy. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/23/parliament-speaker-ukraine-to-start-work-on-finalising-us-minerals-deal-on-monday

Based on various statements and actions of his, I believe that Donald Trump believes that:

1. Ukraine was involved in actions that caused Russia to invade.
2. Ukraine should not have pushed for NATO membership.
3. Ukraine could have made a deal with Russia before Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’ began as well as shortly thereafter.
4. The USA had no business being involved in this.
5. Ukraine wasted USA resources.
6. Ukraine cannot win against Russia.
7. Ukraine cannot rely on the European Union to defeat Russia.
8. The USA is in the strongest negotiating position.
9. The European Union cannot dictate terms to him.
10. Ukraine can either give Donald Trump what he wants or he will not stop Russia from taking over the entire country.

Related to that last point, earlier this month Donald Trump said that Ukraine “may be Russian someday” (see Donald Trump said that Ukraine “may be Russian someday”).

And as I have written since 2013, at least some parts would be.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
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.
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.
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.

Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz
(Photo source: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons)

COGwriter

Germany’s election is going on today. CNN posted the following:

Germany is holding a national election. Here’s what’s at stake

February 23, 2025

Voting opened Sunday in a German general election that opinion polls suggest will bring a new chancellor and a new governing coalition. …

Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the party of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, has been the longtime frontrunner in this contest. Regularly polling at more than 30%, the Union party – composed of the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU – seems destined to be Germany’s largest party and return itself to the helm of German politics.

The CDU has adopted a much more aggressive policy towards immigration than seen in the Merkel era of open borders.

In the final weeks of campaigning, Merz catapulted immigration to the fore – so much so, that he has been accused of leaving the door open to working with the far-right. …

The AfD’s candidate for chancellor, its co-leader Alice Weidel, is staunchly anti-immigration.

The AfD had a successful 2024, performing strongly in regional elections. …Speaking to CNN at a huge rally for the AfD, at which Musk appeared by video link, Weidel said one of her first acts as chancellor would be “closing our borders, controlling them and then sending out all the illegals.” It’s a policy she calls “remigration” …

OLAF SCHOLZ

The incumbent chancellor’s party, the SPD, could become the election’s biggest losers.

Having become the largest party in the 2021 election, opinion polls indicate they look set for a downward swing in votes by around 10 points. That would put them not only behind the AfD, but fighting it out with the Greens for third. …

ROBERT HABECK

The Green Party, polling nationally at around 13%, should also be considered one to watch.

It is unlikely to gather enough votes to be the biggest party, but it could play an important role in the formation of the next government. …

What are the possible outcomes?

Germany’s governments are almost always formed in coalitions as no one party manages to gather the 50%-plus votes needed to govern alone.

This time around will be no different, and there are multiple different options for potential coalitions. The winner of the election will look for a partner to form a majority, but it can take weeks or even months for a government to be formed. …

Whatever the outcome of the vote, however, one thing is almost certain: The AfD will be blocked from being a partner in any coalition. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/22/europe/germany-national-election-intl-cmd/index.html

NewsMax added:

Discontented Germany Votes in an Election with Economy, Migration in Focus

February 23, 2025

German voters are choosing a new government in an election Sunday dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States. The center-right opposition is favored to win, while polls point to the strongest result for a far-right party since World War II. … The far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has been running in second place with around 20% of the vote — well above its previous best of 12.6% in a national election, from 2017 — and has fielded its first candidate for chancellor in Alice Weidel. But other parties say they won’t work with it, a stance often known as the “firewall.” https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/germany-election-merz-scholz-far-right-afd/2025/02/23/id/1200130/

Presuming that the AfD does well and is blocked from being in any coalition, its supporters will be disappointed.

Essentially, what appears most likely in the election is that the winner will not be as strong a leader as Germans will really want.

In time, this will result in discontent and a willingness to back a strongman type of leader.

Notice some items from the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God that were published decades ago (bolding mine):

Watch the emergence of a strong man in West Germany (Hogberg G and Walter EM. NATO at the Crossroads. Plain Truth, May 1969)

The attempt to unify Europe as one economic, military and political power bloc restoring the “Holy Roman Empire,” has been the one aim of all the “great” men who dominated European history from Napoleon’s “Waterloo” until now. Mussolini, dominating Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, Libya, and conquering Ethiopia, did officially name his weak “Empire” the “Roman Empire.” But now the dream of a mighty, powerful, resurrected Roman Empire at last is becoming a hard-driving reality.

… nations of United Europe have succeeded in their aim far beyond the wildest dreams of the original signers of the Treaty of Rome. In far less time, at a far greater pace than anticipated, these nations of Europe have risen from the economic chaos of World War II to the dizzying heights of a standard of living never known to them before! With the present success well beyond the proportions of that expected three years ago, with a future success — in a world of peace — sure to produce a near — utopia, Western Europe is more concerned about war than any other economic and political entity on the face of this earth! “This is very probably the last year in which anyone except Europe will be able to negotiate with the Soviet Union for Europe!” (London Sunday Times). These nations are ENJOYING their economic recovery and they will let nothing stand in its way — they will stop at nothing to keep ‘What they have, and, GO ON TO MORE! SO it is that a blueprint has been drawn up by the Six, that demands meetings among themselves to decide the MILITARY AND FOREIGN POLICY questions that come up regarding Europe! …

“Fascism in Europe is about to be reborn in respectable business attire, and the Treaty of Rome will finally be implemented to its fullest extent.. the dream of a Holy Roman, Empire returning to power to dominate and direct the so-called forces of Christian mankind of the Western world is not dead, but still stalks through the antechambers of every national capital of continental Western Europe… IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE LEADERS IN THE COMMON MARKET NATIONS TO RESTORE THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE WITH ALL THAT THAT MEANS!” (Northwest Technocrat, Vol. XXV, No. 205.) United within the ancient boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire; united by the common spiritual bond of universal Catholicism; united in a burgeoning and booming industrial economy that dominates today’s world; united geographically in the most productive and industrial complex of all the earth — at least TEN NATIONS OF MODERN EUROPE WILL MARCH ONTO THE SCENE OF WORLD HISTORY AS THE GREATEST SINGLE HUMAN FORCE EVER SEEN BY MAN! (Hill DJ. What is Germany’s Destiny? Plain Truth, March 1962)

The prophecy of Daniel 11 details events — at that time, still future — from the remaining days of the Medo-Persian empire, through the reign of Alexander the Great and his successors in Syria and Egypt, and on through to the second coming of Christ! Beginning in verse 40 we read of a conflict between two great powers: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind….”

This is an important “end-time” prophecy. Following the chronological progression of the chapter, it becomes apparent that the phrase “king of the north” had at first referred to Syria under the Seleucid dynasty, and later, in the New Testament times, to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. … Thus, in its final end-time application, the “king of the north” is the prophesied strong man who will lead a coming union of ten European nations — the seventh and final revival of the ancient Roman Empire prophesied by Daniel and in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 17:12-13).

But who is the “king of the south”? In the earlier portions of Daniel 11, the phrase refers without question to ancient Egypt under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty, later including Ethiopia which was annexed to Egypt. But in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end” … Its greater fulfillment is yet future! Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north” — called in Bible symbolism “the beast” — who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south” — an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly even bearing the very title Mahdi! And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head confrontation — possibly over oil — which will ultimately lead to devastating war in the Middle East!

King David of ancient Israel, in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the coming Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations — a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south” of Daniel 11 — a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world. …

But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11 — the leader of the German-led European union — will ultimately turn against the Arab “king of the south,” with disastrous consequences for the entire Middle East — both Jew and Arab alike. The entire region will be subjected to armed invasion! …

The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the face of invasion. Some of its component countries will be directly occupied by European troops. However, as revealed in Daniel 11:41, Jordan (the present-day descendants of Moab and Ammon) and Turkey (Edom) will escape occupation. Other Arab countries may also avoid full occupation, possibly remaining in some sort of limited alliance with United Europe. “Libya” (or Put, the North African Arabs) along with ” Ethiopia” (or Cush, certain black African nations) shall be “at his [the king of the north’s] steps” — or “following him” as some translations render it. (Stump K. THE ARAB WORLD IN PROPHECY. Plain Truth, December 1979)

And the Bible?

The Bible clearly shows that a reorganization will come to Europe and power will be given to a dictator:

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)

(More on the reorganization is discussed in the article: Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?)

The Bible shows that the European beast leader, also called the King of the North, will arise promising peace.

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. (Daniel 11:21-23, NKJV)

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).

(To prove this leader will be European, please watch the video: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?)

But the New Testament shows he will be a man of war:

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:3-8)

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

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 11:39-43)

This man is NOT expected to win today’s election in Germany. But the results of this election will partially set the stage for his rising up.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is 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.
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. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: ¿Deben los Diez Reyes gobernar sobre diez naciones? A related sermon in the English language is titled: Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
The Large Hadron Collider has Military Potential Some say this European project is only peaceful. So why is it working on capturing antimatter? Here is a link to a related video: Could the Large Hadron Collider lead to destruction?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Greco-Roman Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest? A video of related interest would be: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future. Two shorter video are also available: Blockchain, Karl Guttenberg, and 666 and The Middle East, Prophecy, and Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Roman Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: Alemania en la profecía bíblic. Here are links to two English language sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy. Here is one in the Spanish language: Alemania en profecía Biblica.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

`

COGwriter

Jesus taught:

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. (Matthew 7:15-20)

What are the fruits?

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

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Fruits of the Philadelphia Remnant Church

Matt 7:15-20 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. Can you tell good fruit from bad fruit? Are you sure? Some of those bearing bad fruit are wearing sheep’s clothing. You can’t always tell by looking. The ravenous wolf can be disguised by smooth words. The ravenous wolf can be disguised by lies. Dr. Thiel shines the light of the word of God on some ravenous wolves. If you are being disparaged for the word of God, is it possible that you are actually bearing good fruit? If there are some that lie about you and deceive others about the work you do for the kingdom of God, could that be an indication that you are actually bearing good fruit? Dr. Thiel brings the truth to light with several verses quoted from the Holy Bible. What are some of the works that fulfill the definition of bearing good fruit? Is it God that determines what is good fruit and what is bad? Or is it man? What fruits are you bearing? Would you like to be part of producing good fruit by helping fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Romans 11:25? Dr. Thiel shows you how to become a part of the body of Christ that is bearing good fruit by fulfilling those scriptures and more.

Here is a link to our video: Fruits of the Philadelphia Remnant Church.

As Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33), be one who “endures to the end” (Matthew 10:22), and support the Philadelphian work (cf. Revelation 3:7-13).

Hopefully, you will support the Philadelphian remnant in the CCOG to do so.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

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.
How Do I Become a Member of the Continuing Church of God? This article has scriptures, links, and other information for those interested in being part of the CCOG. Here is a link to a related sermonette: 10 Steps to Be a Member of the CCOG.
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Unity. Here is a related article in the Spanish language: Unidad: ¿Cuál Iglesia de Dios para usted?
Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things Have all things been restored? Is there restoration going on? Is there supposed to be a 21st century Elijah? Here is are links to two related sermons: 21st Century Elijah and CCOG: Restoring All Things. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: La restauracion de todas las cosas.
What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles? Some in the West discount God’s calling of Gentiles, but the Apostle Paul wrote about the need for them to come to the truth before Jesus returns. Two somewhat related videos are available Gentiles and When Will Jesus Return? and Puerto Rico, Trials, and Triumphs.
Preaching the Gospel in Over 1500 Languages Which languages are being used to fulfill Matthew 24:14? Are all languages significant?
What is the Ezekiel Warning? Should the end-time descendants of Israel and Joseph be warned? What should the watchman warn about? Regarding a watchman, you can watch the following video: Go, Set a Watchman.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? Two related sermons are available The Work per HWA and the Bible and Priority of the Philadelphia Work.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.
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?
CCOG Multimedia What are many of the ways the Continuing Church of God is reaching people around the world to fulfill the commissions from Jesus in Matthew 24:14 and 28:19-20? What about literature, personal visits, the internet, radio, and television?
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.