Church of God News

Worldcoin logo via Wikipedia

COGwriter

Could Worldcoin be helping set the stage for the coming totalitarian beast power the Bible warns of?

It very well may be helping to set the world up for 666 controls.

Notice the following:

The Beast: Worldcoin digital ID ecosystem buildout continues with next wave of grants

The second group of startups awarded funding by Worldcoin to work on extensions and applications of its digital identity and iris biometric technologies.

Wave1 of the Worldcoin Community Grants Program consists of 17 projects. One of them, Taceo, was awarded a grant as part of Wave0 to apply multi-party computation to iris code comparison. This led Worldcoin to adopt the new system for iris codes, and Taceo has received another grant to continue its work.

Grant recipients include Axiom, Proof of Passport, Farcaster Humaniser, Alphaday, Agora, Only Dust and BBB & Company. …

WORLDCOIN ISN’T AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS: IT’S WORSE

Worldcoin — a new financial system connected to sensitive biometric information, mostly harvested from poor people — sure sounds like a terrible idea.

“Terrible” doesn’t do it justice. 07/03/24 https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/86126/the-beast-worldcoin-digital-id-ecosystem-buildout-continues-with-next-wave-of.html

In an era where personal data is both a valuable asset and a significant vulnerability, the quest for a secure and decentralized digital identity has never been more critical.

Enter Worldcoin, a groundbreaking project bringing a futuristic vision of digital identities to life. This is not a tale out of science fiction but a tangible reality for millions around the globe. …

Imagine walking through a bustling city and coming across a shiny, metallic orb. This orb, part of a network strategically placed worldwide, can scan your iris in exchange for a unique digital identity.

This identity allows you to prove your humanity and uniqueness … enabling seamless access to websites, mobile apps and decentralized applications. 07/01/24 https://cointelegraph.com/news/worldcoin-digital-identity-proof-personhood

Sadly, yes, I can imagine a world where all buying and selling is monitored.

That said, notice some additional news related to Worldcoin:

Tools for Humanity, a core contributor to the eyeball-scanning crypto project Worldcoin  WLD +3.68% , co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has appointed four former Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla and X executives to its ranks.

Worldcoin aims to create a global digital currency distributed fairly to everyone by verifying individuals’ uniqueness using biometric data via its digital identity system, World ID.

Tools for Humanity argues that the age of artificial intelligence has increased the need for such “proof of humanness,” with the new hires brought in to help address privacy and security challenges and “build technology to develop a more just economic system,” according to a statement.

Former Apple, Meta and Tesla executive Rich Heley joins as Chief Device Officer, charged with leading the design, performance and accessibility of the Orb, a hardware device developed by Tools for Humanity for Worldcoin’s iris scans. … Currently based on OP Mainnet, Worldcoin plans to transition to its own Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain later this summer. 07/02/24 https://www.theblock.co/post/303160/former-apple-google-meta-tesla-x-execs-join-tools-for-humanity-sam-altman-worldcoin

Worldcoin is a biometric cryptocurrency that has the backing of various ones in Big Tech and in Artificial Intelligence.

So, unlike the privacy aspect that cryptocurrencies like BitCoin reportedly have, Worldcoin is intended to eliminate real privacy.

The Bible warns of a murderous, deceiving power that will force a type of loyalty identification in order to buy or sell:

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.  (Revelation 13:14-18)

The above type of controls could not occur before we had technology that exists today. As long-time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware, I have long warned that the coming 666 European Beast power would use some form of electronic currency to control buying and selling as well as some type of Artificial Intelligence to monitor it.

Worldcoin has both.

And while it is not likely to be the final currency of the coming Beast power, it is developing biometric, AI, and other technologies that the 666 power is likely to adopt or at least learn from.

Already, we have groups like the World Economic Forum (WEF) calling for all financial transactions to be digital. It, the UN, and others have pushed for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as well as something called the Unified Ledger.

Last summer, a reader sent me a link to the following:

WORSE THAN CBDCs: Globalists Publish Plan for Worldwide Financial ENSLAVEMENT Under “Unified Ledger”

July 11, 2023

If you thought Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) plans sounded dystopian, just wait to read the new “unified ledger” agenda released by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS, known as the “bank of central banks”).

The plan, found at this link on BIS.org, is entitled, “Blueprint for the future monetary system: improving the old, enabling the new.” …

This new plan describes an orwellian, globalist-run “unified ledger” that records the ownership of all assets (checking accounts, real estate, bonds, stocks, etc.) on a centralized exchange run by globalists. All assets will be “tokenized,” a process that the BIS describes as, “recording claims on financial or real assets that exist on a traditional ledger on a programmable platform.”

This unified ledger will feature “programmable” entries, meaning that your ownership of assets can be revoked or altered at any time, according to the social engineering desires of the globalists. If you speak out against child sex trafficking, for example, or child trans mutilations, all your assets can vanish from the unified ledger.

That’s how you will “own nothing,” in case you were curious. https://truthbasedmedia.com/2023/07/11/worse-than-cbdcs-globalists-publish-plan-for-worldwide-financial-enslavement-under-unified-ledger/

The SGT Report posted the following interview prior to that which also talks about the WEF’s “own nothing” plan:

Doug Casey on the World Economic Forum’s Plan for Mankind and What Comes Next

November 10, 2022

International Man: The World Economic Forum (WEF) describes its mission as the “international organization for public-private cooperation.”

What do you make of the WEF and the power it wields?

Doug Casey: “International organization for public-private cooperation” is a code phrase for economic fascism—which is to say, the hand-in-glove melding of the political power of the State with the economic power of corporations. …

Things like the WEF, and other NGOs (non-governmental organizations), institutes, and think tanks, have proliferated in recent years. …

The WEF is by far the most successful of the breed. Instead of just cadging donations so intellectuals could hang around and seem prestigious, in 1971, Klaus Schwab formed a club where the rich and powerful could discuss ideas with other members of the overlord class. Political and financial types could find a philosophical home, disguising the quest for money and power with a patina of benevolence. It’s become an amazingly large and powerful organization. They have roughly 800 full-time employees, most of them very highly paid. They have an annual budget of over $300 million. Their balance sheet indicates that the WEF is worth over $1 billion, funded by major corporations who give it millions of dollars, as do various governments. Most of the world’s political leaders and corporations are members. …

It seems clear that members of the WEF have to toe the party line or be disinvited. Nobody wants to be excommunicated from the WEF or cut off from association with other rich and powerful people. … it would appear that Klaus Schwab actually originated, or at least popularized, the term “stakeholder.” Stakeholderism believes that business is obligated to treat employees, customers, local residents, and anyone who claims to be affected by business as if they had some right to what a company produces. People who identify as stakeholders easily develop into mooches and leeches. Schwab was also an early supporter of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) movements. And political correctness in general.

With as much money, power, and influence as the WEF has, it’s easy for them to groom up-and-comers. They created several sub-organizations for people who are under 40 years old—where they can reinforce their beliefs that the world ought to go in a certain way—under the direction of WEF-type people.

Schwab has to be complimented for having built the WEF from nothing and making himself one of the most powerful people in the world. …

The problem is that the WEF people think that they know what’s best for the rest of humanity. And they feel it’s for the good of all that they be closely monitored, controlled, and guided. They’ve made statements to the effect that most people are “useless eaters,” … They’d really like to do without superfluous humans and just have the elite calling the shots. Humans that remain would amount to serfs. The WEF have said, “You’ll own nothing and be happy.” They’re very bold. https://www.sgtreport.com/2022/11/doug-casey-on-the-world-economic-forums-plan-for-mankind-and-what-comes-next/

Before going further, let me state that it will take the return of Jesus to usher in what is best for humanity not the World Economic Forum (WEF). The Kingdom of God is the solution. Furthermore, God has a plan for each and every human being. There are no “useless eaters.” All human beings have the potential to live eternally, to give love in a unique manner, to help everyone, and to have everyone help them–for details, check out the free online booklet: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?

Anyway, let me add that parts of the Unified Ledger are already in place as the European Union requires more and more identification, etc. for financial accounts as does the USA and most of the rest of the world.

Worldcoin looks also to be in that category.

Whether called a Unified Ledger, CBDCs, electronic payments, or digital currencies, the recording of what people own and spend by governments is more and more taking place.

It is just that the Unified Ledger, Worldcoin, and CBDCs are more blatant.

According to the Bible, Europe will end up with the ability to control and monitor buying and selling (Revelation 13:16-18).

Moves in that direction were part of #13 of my list of 24 items to prophetically watch in 2024.

In 2023, we did numerous videos about the rise and use of AI and some of its potential ties to 666:

ChatGPT and 666

Is AI in the Bible?

AI Jesus? Artificial Intelligence God?

666, the Censorship Industrial Complex, and AI

Artificial Intelligence Superhuman Persuasion?

We are getting closer to the time of 666 controls.

Related to CBDCs and prophecy, we put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Steps towards ‘666’ are clearly happening.

Yes, Europe will adopt some type of digital currency.

Probably by 2028.

For a time it will “master the future” under a totalitarian dictator.

But the good news is that it will one day be replaced by the coming Kingdom of God.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
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.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
Is a Great Reset Coming? Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum has proposed a societal change that has been basically endorsed by the Vatican and many world leaders. Does the Bible prophesy a major reset? Here is a link to a related video: Will there be a “Great Reset”?
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.

Diagram of the Earth
(By Kelvinsong via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

CNN reported the following:

Earth’s core has slowed so much it’s moving backward, scientists confirm. Here’s what it could mean

Deep inside Earth is a solid metal ball that rotates independently of our spinning planet, like a top whirling around inside a bigger top, shrouded in mystery.

This inner core has intrigued researchers since its discovery by Danish seismologist Inge Lehmann in 1936, and how it moves — its rotation speed and direction — has been at the center of a decades-long debate. A growing body of evidence suggests the core’s spin has changed dramatically in recent years, but scientists have remained divided over what exactly is happening — and what it means. …

One promising model proposed in 2023 described an inner core that in the past had spun faster than Earth itself, but was now spinning slower. For a while, the scientists reported, the core’s rotation matched Earth’s spin. Then it slowed even more, until the core was moving backward relative to the fluid layers around it.

At the time, some experts cautioned that more data was needed to bolster this conclusion, and now another team of scientists has delivered compelling new evidence for this hypothesis about the inner core’s rotation rate. Research published June 12 in the journal Nature not only confirms the core slowdown, it supports the 2023 proposal that this core deceleration is part of a decades-long pattern of slowing down and speeding up. …

Magnetic attraction

Buried about 3,220 miles (5,180 kilometers) deep inside Earth, the solid metal inner core is surrounded by a liquid metal outer core. The inner core is made mostly of iron and nickel, and it is estimated to be as hot as the surface of the sun — about 9,800 degrees Fahrenheit (5,400 degrees Celsius).

Earth’s magnetic field yanks at this solid ball of hot metal, making it spin. At the same time, the gravity and flow of the fluid outer core and mantle drag at the core. Over many decades, the push and pull of these forces cause variations in the core’s rotational speed, Vidale said.

The sloshing of metal-rich fluid in the outer core generates electrical currents that power Earth’s magnetic field, which protects our planet from deadly solar radiation. …

Scientists study the inner core to learn how Earth’s deep interior formed and how activity connects across all the planet’s subsurface layers. The mysterious region where the liquid outer core envelops the solid inner core is especially interesting, Vidale added. As a place where liquid and solid meet, this boundary is “filled with potential for activity,” as are the core-mantle boundary and the boundary between mantle and crust.

“We might have volcanoes on the inner core boundary, for example, where solid and fluid are meeting and moving,” he said. https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/05/science/earth-inner-core-rotation-slowdown-cycle-scn/index.html

When I first saw the headline for the above CNN article, the following came to mind:

26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, (Leviticus 18:26-28)

So, sin causes the land to want to vomit off people. Worldwide sin could be a factor in the deep changes in the inner core.

LiveScience reported:

A new study confirms that Earth’s inner core has been rotating more slowly than usual since 2010. This mysterious “backtracking” could also end up slightly altering the planet’s overall rotation, lengthening our days.

The heart of our planet has been spinning unusually slowly for the past 14 years, new research confirms. And if this mysterious trend continues, it could potentially lengthen Earth’s days — though the effects would likely be imperceptible to us.

Earth’s inner core is a roughly moon-size chunk of solid iron and nickel that lies more than 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) below our feet. It is surrounded by the outer core — a superhot layer of molten metals similar to those in the inner core — which is surrounded by a more solid sea of molten rock, known as the mantle, and the crust. Although the entire planet rotates, the inner core can spin at a slightly different speed as the mantle and crust due to the viscosity of the outer core. …

If the inner core’s rotation continues to decelerate, its gravitational pull could eventually cause the outer layers of our planet to spin a little more slowly, altering the length of our days the researchers wrote. 06/19/24 https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/earths-rotating-inner-core-is-starting-to-slow-down-and-it-could-alter-the-length-of-our-days

A reader from Austria sent me a link to the following last August related to the core:

There is an extraordinary displacement and destabilization of the Earth’s core, a sporadic and chaotic acceleration of the planet’s rotation, and a shift in its rotational axis. This scenario is compounded by a critical weakening and emergence of atypical anomalies of the magnetic field, and a change in the composition of the upper layers of the atmosphere. These events have culminated in an extreme activation of magmatic foci, and an accompanying increase in deep mantle earthquakes – bringing about a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the ocean. As a consequential result, our oceans have lost their ability to function as a compensatory and cooling mechanism. All these alarming factors indicate only one thing – To Wit, Our planet is on the verge of self-destruction, and humanity has only a few years remaining to avert this impending catastrophe.

We urgently need to establish a unified international scientific center, essentially an international interdisciplinary alliance of the world’s best scientists, who will work on solving this problem.We need the brightest minds of this world, capable of thinking unconventionally and innovatively. We need people who are ready to collaborate and act in the interests of all of humanity. https://earthsavesciencecollaborative.com/ accessed 08/19/23

One possible reason why this is happening is that Jesus warned of “troubles” occurring during “the beginning of sorrows” (Mark 13:8). When you also read of various calamities in the Book of Revelation, it is possible that a change in the earth’s rotation may cause, or at least contribute to, some of them–such as high heat (Revelation 16:8-9), what looks to be the biggest earthquake of all time (Revelation 16:18-20), etc.

The solution would be repentance and striving to follow the true God, but humans think that they can stop what will happen in other ways. They are in error.

Notice also the following from 2019:

Earth’s magnetic pole is on the move, fast. And we don’t know why

January 11, 2019

Planet Earth is alive. Deep beneath its skin, its life blood — rivers of molten iron — pulse around its core. And this mobile iron is what generates the magnetic field that causes auroras — and keeps us alive.

But, according to the science journal Nature, something strange is going on deep down below.

It’s causing the magnetic North Pole to ‘skitter’ away from Canada, towards Siberia.

“The magnetic pole is moving so quickly that it has forced the world’s geomagnetism experts into a rare move,” Nature reports.

On January 30 (delayed due to the US Government shutdown), the World Magnetic Model — which governs modern navigation systems — is due to undergo an urgent update.

This model is a vital component of systems ranging from geopositioning systems used to navigate ships through to smartphone trackers and maps.

The current model was expected to be valid until 2020. But the magnetic pole began to shift so quickly, it was realised in 2018 that the model had to be fixed — now.

“They realised that it was so inaccurate that it was about to exceed the acceptable (safe) limit for navigational errors,” Nature reports. https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/earths-magnetic-pole-is-on-the-move-fast-and-we-dont-know-why/news-story/341c92307a6b19d25b38836c6097be9d

Jesus warned:

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

Changes is the inner core would seem to be a factor in the production of earthquakes and troubles.

As far as earthquakes go, the really  big earthquake in biblical prophecy is the following one:

18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (Revelation 16:18-20)

Notice that the above earthquake is so big that the cities of the nations will fall. Mountains will be leveled and islands “fled away” (more on this can be found in the article Islands aeand Bible Prophecy). This seems to be the biggest earthquake that will ever hit the planet with humans on it. Despite the view of ‘preterists’ that this already happened (see The Dangerous Rise of Preterists), that is nonsense.

The earthquake of Revelation 16 will be bigger than what the usual “experts” have believed was possible. It will change the planet and humble parts of humanity.

It should be noted since that apparently biggest of all earthquakes seems to take place near the end of the Day of the Lord, it probably cannot happen prior to 2028 (for more on why as well as dates, please see the articles When Can the Great Tribulation Begin? and Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

Earthquakes can trigger volcanoes.

In the Book of Revelation, there is a prophecy that sounds like destruction from a volcano:

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)

Changes to the inner core may cause that.

While in New Zealand, we made a video about volcanic risks while was standing on top of a supervolcano:

8:30

Are supervolcanoes a real threat?

Are supervolcanoes, such as Yellowstone in the USA or various ones in New Zealand a real threat? If so, what type of threat? Are supervolcano issues consistent with biblical prophecies? If so, which ones? Could the eruption of a supervolcano make the USA, New Zealand, or other lands vulnerable to takeover in the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Dr. Thiel answers these questions while standing atop a supervolcano in a geothermal area of Rotorua, New Zealand.

Here is a link to our video: Are supervolcanoes a real threat?

The core can also affect electrical matters.

In the future, there are real electrical risks for the USA, Canada, UK, and other nations.

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

Electrical End of the USA ?

Here is a link to our video: Earth’s Core and Earthquakes.

The inner core of the earth is changing.

There are real seismic, electrical, and other risks.

But most ignore warning signs.

Will you?

Some items that might be of assistance in understanding end-time events may include:

Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
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.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here is a link to a related sermon: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God put together this sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:12:30

Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims

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

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

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.
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’.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes.
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What About Silver? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold and silver? Two videos of related interest may be: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar and Silver, Science, and Scripture.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church. 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.
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.
Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete? Are there lost gospels? What about the Apocrypha? Is the Septuagint better than the Masoretic text? What about the Textus Receptus vs. Nestle Alland? Was the New Testament written in Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew? Which translations are based upon the best ancient text? Did the true Church of God have the canon from the beginning? Here are links to related sermons: Let’s Talk About the Bible, The Books of the Old Testament, The Septuagint and its Apocrypha, Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, and Lost Books of the Bible, and Let’s Talk About the New Testament, The New Testament Canon From the Beginning, English Versions of the Bible and How Did We Get Them?, What was the Original Language of the New Testament?, Original Order of the Books of the Bible, and Who Gave the World the Bible? Who Had the Chain of Custody?
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but …
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how they develop love, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. There are links to literature is about 160 different languages there.

(Above from Pixabay)

COGwriter

Democracy was known before the time of Christ. In ancient Greece, all the male citizens were expected to vote on the issues facing their society. The Greeks introduced the concept of democracy to the Romans. The Romans (who were somewhat skeptical of the Greek model) set up a modified form of democracy called a republic. In a republic, elected representatives are supposed to vote for their interpretation of the will of the people.

But not the will of God.

Yet many people in western societies seem to feel that some form of democracy is the best form of government. Would God agree? The Bible warns us, “there is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). It also warns us, “It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

In Genesis 2:17 God warned Adam and Eve to not partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Adam and Eve did not listen to God. After listening to Satan, they decided that they did not need to listen to God but that they should decide for themselves (Genesis 3:1-6). This is the first recorded act of human democracy in action.

Nowhere in the entire Bible do we see God sanctioning democracy.

The Bible shows that God appointed His leaders and made them known to His people. From Enoch to Noah to Moses to David to the Prophets to Jesus and even to the Apostles, we read nothing about God encouraging democracy. Actually according to the Bible, democracy is condemned. When Samuel was God’s appointed leader/judge, the majority of the people wanted a king like the rest of the world. Even though there appeared to have been legitimate criticisms of Samuel’s leadership, God told Samuel that the people had rejected God and not Samuel (I Samuel 8:1-9). The Bible says it was evil in the sight of God for the people to ask to have a government like the other nations around them (I Samuel 12: 17).

In 2024, there have been elections in the European Union, United Kingdom, India, Iran, and elsewhere.

The USA has its presidential election later this year.

Should a Christian vote?

Before getting to more scriptures, let’s consider the following from Daily Reckoning:

The World Wants to Be Deceived

April 3, 2024

“Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur” — the world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived.

We believe there is vast justice here. The world yearns to be deceived, eternally and infinitely deceived.

Why else — sisters and brothers — do people attend magic shows… consult psychics… or read New York Times editorial columns?

Why, indeed, do people vote?

The answer, so far as we can discern, is because they wish to be deceived. https://dailyreckoning.com/the-world-wants-to-be-deceived/

It is a deception, at least, from the perspective that humanity can solve its major problems itself ignoring the word of God and not placing its hope in the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

The Bible teaches:

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:14-15)

Yes, the Bible warns against believing and loving a lie. We should not believe the lie that voting, per se, will solve the problems of a nation.

In 2023, Daily Reckoning posted the following:

The ‘lesser of two evils’ voters who could decide 2024

June 28, 2023

President Joe Biden’s path to victory in 2024 runs through voters who think he’s been a disappointment in the White House — but say Donald Trump or another Republican would be even worse. …

A man from California who is a self-described “very liberal” voter likened the matchup to “choosing the lesser of two evils.” …

https://www.aol.com/news/lesser-two-evils-voters-could-090000198.html

I am NOT a voter nor part of any political party–I am a non-partisan Christian looking for the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

Notice something that Daily Reckoning posted related to the 2012 USA presidential election:

When confronted with the false dilemma of the democratic political process, many individuals settle for the “less of two evils” as a kind of compromise. But one suspects (or hopes) they do so with a certain degree of moral discomfort.  . . .

Contrary to the popular snipe that “only those who vote have the right to complain,” common sense leads us to quite the opposite conclusion. It is only those who have not aggressed against others who have the right to complain when they are aggressed against. Those who, to invert a phrase, “feed the mouth that bites them,” may stand firmly, but do so on shaky ground.

A vote for either evil is nonetheless a vote for evil. (Daily Reckoning, October 19, 2012)

It is interesting to see a secular source coming to similar conclusions regarding the ‘democratic system’ and, in the case above, a US presidential election.

Understand, in most nations the following is true about nearly all the candidates on the ballot:

1. They do not strive to according to “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
2. They normally support aspects of the LGBTQ+ agendas and/or other forms of immorality.
3. They usually support increasing government debt.
4. They do not call for national repentance.
5. They do not encourage people to seek first the Kingdom of God.
6. Many have have been accused of serious corruption.
7. Many have been accused of hypocrisy.
8. Most are covetous.

Now, I am not trying to say that there are no differences.

But as far as being hypocritical goes, the Book of Job teaches:

13 … And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, (Job 8:13)

The Bible prophecy warns that God will punish and destroy “an hypocritical nation” (Isaiah 10:6, KJV) in a prophecy related to the USA.

As far as voting goes, notice something that international author Doug Casey wrote about it:

March 29, 2019

Democracy is vastly overrated. …

Most of the founders of America were more concerned with liberty than democracy. …

Voting encourages politicians. A vote against one candidate—a major, and quite understandable, reason why many people vote—is always interpreted as a vote for his opponent. And even though you may be voting for the lesser of two evils, the lesser of two evils is still evil. It amounts to giving the candidate a tacit mandate to impose his will on society. https://internationalman.com/articles/5-reasons-not-to-vote/

The Book of Daniel has the following:

17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17)

There are or will be elections taking place in something like 50 countries in 2024. Yet, Christians know that we should pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3), and God will decide who they should be.

(Pixabay photo)

After I gave reasons why we in the Continuing Church of God do not vote in the Letter to the Brethren: January 25, 2024, one man pointed to a couple of portions of the Bible which he felt supported voting.

So, let’s look at some.

Notice the following:

13 Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you. (Deuteronomy 1:13)

God had the nation of the children of Israel choose wise understanding men from their tribes, and He said He would make them leaders.

From a biblical perspective, probably no one that is on the ballot anywhere is a “wise, understanding, and knowledgeable” man and few would even be from the same tribe in places like the USA. So, no, that is not an endorsement for modern voting.

Notice also the following:

14 When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. (Deuteronomy 17:14-15)

Now that seemingly suggests the people pick the top leader. But there are at least two issues which show that was not really the case:

1. The Bible shows that God says by asking for a king, the children of Israel rejected Him ruling over them per 1 Samuel 8:6-7.
2. God, Himself, directly chose the first kings of Israel (1 Samuel 9:15-17; 1 Samuel 16:1-13), so this was not a voting election by the people.

Another issue here was the children of Israel were supposed to be God’s people with His laws and function as a physical nation. No nation currently on the earth makes any serious effort to function according to the laws of the God of the Bible.

Of course, the Bible shows that Christians are different from those of the world:

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9)

Furthermore, Jesus said:

 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, … 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. .. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:11,14,16)

Brethren, we are not to be of this world or its politics.

Let’s look at some of what the scriptures teach are to be traits of godly leaders:

19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. (Exodus 18:19-21)

2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
‘He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God. (2 Samuel 23:2-3)

Few, if any, politicians truly endorse His laws and statutes, do not possess covetousness, and rule in the fear of the true God. Hence they are not people that Christians should endorse.

Understand that political divisions among Christians can “cause disputes rather than godly edification” (1 Timothy 1:4), hence they tend to be truly unprofitable.

Related to voting and other aspects of this world’s systems, here is something from the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God:

NOT OF THIS WORLD

Jesus taught, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Early Christians understood “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15) prohibited them from engaging in violent military behavior. John the Baptist taught, “Do violence to no man” (Luke 3:14, KJV). Historically, those of the Church of God have considered military service as wrong for its members. From Revolutionary War times to the Civil War and to present, countries like the United States have tended to have had provisions to exempt Church of God members and congregants from military participation because of conscientious objections. Early Christians did not participate in military warfare nor watch violent sports.

The Apostle Paul taught “we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20; see also Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian). The Apostle Peter taught that God’s people were “a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out” (1 Peter 2:9). The Bible also teaches that this world has been deceived by Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9) and that God’s people need to be separate from the world (John 15:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4; Revelation 18:4). Since a Christian is God’s ambassador and  this responsibility is our duty above any arising from human relationships (Matthew 10:37; Acts 4:18-20; 5:26-31), it is our normal religious practice to not participate in voting for national elections nor participate in jury duty, nor do we voluntarily join the military. Historically, the faithful Church of God has long taught that its members should not participate in secular juries and secular politics.

However, Christians are expected to listen to (1 Peter 2:13-17) and pray for (1 Timothy 2:1-3) governmental authorities and to pay their taxes (Matthew 22:17-21). Yet, if there is a conflict between the laws of men and the laws of God, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29, NLT).

That said, we tell people who are compelled by their governments to force them to vote, may do so. Not with the hope their vote will help their nation, but simply to avoid jail or punishment.

As far as church governance is concerned, consider reading the article: The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government.

Of course, many professing Christians believe that they need to vote even though that concept is not endorsed in the Bible. But notice two concepts that are:

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; (Exodus 23:2)

The “lesser of two evils” is still evil.

Let’s not follow a crowd to vote for evil.

Instead, we look forward to the coming Kingdom of God–and we are to pray for it to come. Unlike voting, that is something that Jesus enjoined on Christians (Matthew 6:10).

It is interesting to note something mentioned in the Book of Acts:

38 “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it–lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39)

You cannot overthrow God’s plan. Yet, those who vote in worldly elections apparently believe they know aspects of the plan of God that there is no human way they could know.

Furthermore, look at what God said to Samuel, one clearly called and appointed by God, when Samuel thought he knew who should be the next king over Israel:

6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:6-7).

If a prophet of God could not tell who should be the leader, do you feel that you are more qualified to do so?

It is also interesting to realize that many who believe that the New Testament sanctions democracy also believe that God’s future ruling government (in the Kingdom of God) will not be a democracy.

Jesus told the apostles that they would be rulers over the twelve tribes of Israel in his kingdom (Luke 22:30). Jesus chose the disciples, they did not get their positions from any form of democracy (John 15:16; 6:70). God, not man, chose David to be king over Israel originally (Acts 13:22) and has also chosen him to be king over all Israel in the world ahead (Jeremiah 30:9).

By the way, Jesus said that God the Father has reserved who will have certain positions of authority in the kingdom of God (Mat 20:23). The rewards in the kingdom will be Jesus’ to give (Revelation 22:12); they will not be for the people to take for themselves.

Democracy will not be God’s form of government in His kingdom.

More on voting can be found in the article: Should a Christian Vote?

07/07/24: We just uploaded the following related video:

15:15

Should Christians Vote in 2024?

There are elections in over 50 nations scheduled for 2024. How old is democracy? Does the Bible sanction it? Do people often act like they want to be deceived? Are there men on the ballots that meet the Bible’s criteria for leaders? How does the Bible show that leaders are to be put in place? Is the lessor of two evils still evil? Does the Bible teach that, “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men in Daniel 4:17? Could someone vote against God’s plan? Do people know more than a prophet of God when it comes to choosing leaders? Are there truly pro-voting scriptures in the Bible? Are God’s people to support a crowd in doing evil? Will voting change the coming destruction that the Bible prophesies? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel go over these matters.

Here is a link to the video: Should Christians Vote in 2024?

Destruction is coming to the USA–as well as its British-descended allies (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand)–and it will be worse than most people will believe–no matter who anyone will vote for.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Biden, Trump, and the Bible.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
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.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic?  Two related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency.
Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction Can the USA survive two full presidential terms? In what ways are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris apocalyptic? This book has hundreds of prophecies and scriptures to provide details.  A Kindle version is also available and you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to your free Kindle reader app (or if you already have one or a Kindle),  you can go to: Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction (Kindle) to get the book in seconds.

King Charles appoints Sir Keir Starmer as his third prime ministerhttps://t.co/MqnNpwdqGh

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 5, 2024

COGwriter

The voters in the United Kingdom decided to change their nation’s direction:

‘Now we rebuild Britain’: Triumphant Keir Starmer delivers first speech as Prime Minister as he vows to deliver change

5 July 2024

Sir Keir Starmer has delivered a triumphant first speech …

Sir Keir said: “We need to move forward together. Now this wound, this lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words, I know that. But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.”

He also made a direct appeal to those who did not vote Labour in Thursday’s election, as he added: “We will carry the responsibility of your trust as we rebuild our country. But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact especially if you did not, I say to you directly my government will serve you. Politics can be a force for good, we will show that. We’ve changed the Labour party.”

“The work of change begins immediately. We will rebuild Britain”. …

Sir Keir’s speech came shortly after Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in Richmond, Yorkshire, where he won his seat with a 13,000-seat majority.

“The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” Mr Sunak said. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/keir-starmer-labour-wins-prime-minister-speech-victory-king-charles/

The change from the UK election was not unexpected (see also Letter to the Brethren: July 4, 2024).

Anyway, he was officially appointed at Prime Minister today:

King Charles Appoints Sir Keir Starmer as His Third Prime Minister

July 5, 2024

King Charles III has appointed the third prime minister of his reign, after Sir Keir Starmer‘s Labour Party secured a landslide victory in Britain’s general election on July 4.

The king called Starmer to Buckingham Palace at 12 p.m. London time, or 7 a.m. ET, on Friday to officially ask him to form a government in the monarch’s name, which is the British equivalent of a swearing-in ceremony. …

Britain’s system of a constitutional monarchy means the sovereign’s role is to reign, not to rule. Though Charles is the head of state and national figurehead, he holds no political power.

The government, however, acts in the name of the monarch, and they hold constitutional and ceremonial functions. These include formally appointing the prime minister and other ministers of state, acting on the advice of the government, giving royal approval to bills that are signed into law, and opening and suspending parliamentary sessions. https://www.newsweek.com/king-charles-appoints-sir-keir-starmer-third-prime-minister-photos-1921356

Richard Ames with a “Telly” Award for “Tomorrow’s World”
(Photo by Joyce Thiel)

COGwriter

Evangelist Richard Ames of the Living Church of God died last evening. Here is an announcement from LCG’s presiding evangelist:

It is with great sadness that I am sending this email to inform you that Mr. Richard Ames died peacefully this evening, July 4, at 7:23 PM EDT.  He was 88 years old, and , accompanied by his wife, Kathryn, the majority of his life was spent serving God and doing the Work of God as a minister of Jesus Christ.  He directly touched the lives of many of us ministers and countless Church members around the world.  His deeply appreciated experience, wisdom, and contributions to the Work will be greatly missed.  His work in this life is complete, and his eternal life will begin when Jesus Christ returns.  Please pray for Mrs. Ames’ comfort and for that of his family.

The funeral service is yet to be arranged; we will inform you when it is finalized.

It will be okay for you to share this with your congregations.

Your brother in Christ,

His death was not unexpected as Richard Ames has been quite ill for some time.

His wife Kathryn is in my prayers. My wife Joyce and her, long got along well.

Anyway, I first met Richard Ames at Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, California back in 1980.

I have mixed feelings about him, which makes writing this difficult.

The late LCG minister Gaylyn Bonjour made the following statement about him:

Richard Ames is loyal to a fault.

Gaylyn emphasized the last word. Gaylyn also emphasized that Richard Ames had great difficulty admitting mistakes.

Richard Ames, himself, said he wanted to be remembered as one who, “Turned many to God.”

Yet, his acts of omission tended to allow many to not be Philadelphian.

On the positive side, Richard Ames assisted me on some matters and made certain positive comments.

For example, after I had written and submitted a paper to the then LCG Council of Elders which explained how Greco-Roman Catholic private prophecies were opposed to the Bible and the Church of God, he had his then top assistant, William Bowmer got me copies of articles, that the old Radio Church of God published decades earlier, that had similar conclusions. I later wrote the following related articles about them:

Christ or Antichrist? 1961 article by David Jon Hill, originally published in the old Good News magazine. Here is a related video in Spanish: ¿Cristo o Anticristo?
Will You Be Deceived by Antichrist? 1964 article by David Jon Hill, originally published in the old Good News magazine.

Richard Ames, along with the late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith and Dr. Douglas Winnail, was one who stated that he believed I might be a prophet of God (see also How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God and Church of God Leaders on Prophets).

Furthermore, in a meeting with the Charlotte evangelists on December 15, 2011, Richard Ames commended me for an article I had posted earlier that morning defending various fasts that LCG had called (LCG Fast Comments and Complaints). We specifically discussed my view that “I personally received certain spiritual insights/gifts as the result of LCG fasts in 2009, 2010, and 2011” related to me and the matter of prophecy, spiritual gifts, and insight into how acquiring certain information on Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy was helpful.

At another meeting with the then LCG evangelists in Charlotte (North Carolina) on December 16, 2011, Richard Ames prayed, with “Amen” concurrence from Dr. Meredith and Dr. D. Winnail, that “Dr. Thiel” would continue to do the work that God has had given me to do, etc.  He also specifically called my writings/work “an additional witness.” Hence, there was a concurrence with the evangelical and prophetic fruits of that work I was doing. This, also in my view, was unintended confirmation from all the Charlotte-based evangelists of LCG that I was authorized to speak out in an evangelical and prophetic role; like a “prophetic evangelist” or “evangelistic prophet.”

But I do not believe Richard Ames shared that type of information in proper detail with people like LCG’s current presiding evangelist Gerald Weston.

Richard Ames also agreed in meetings over the years that LCG taught the wrong prophetic sequence regarding the 11th chapter of the Book of Daniel as well as the start of the Great Tribulation and that LCG should adopt what I proposed on that. But that was never corrected by him nor LCG. Unless that changes, LCG will NOT know when the Great Tribulation will begin until it is basically too late.

Richard Ames also concurred that various statements in LCG’s Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs needed to be corrected. And even though he and the then presiding evangelist of LCG said they would fully correct it by the and of January 2012, that never happened. To see more on that, check out the article: December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG’s Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs. A review of LCG’s online statement of its Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, still has nearly all of the errors that Richard Ames was supposed to correct.

On October 8, 2012, Richard Ames told me he was still willing to see why LCG’s then new (officially taught in 2012) falling away doctrine was wrong–but although he never corrected it, Gerald Weston, earlier this year, made some corrections to it (see The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings).

Also on October 8, 2012, Richard Ames again agreed to consider fixing various errors that LCG taught related to church history (which he originally did in 2008 or 2009), but he never actually did (see also October 2012 Emails Related to GCA Booklet).

On July 20, 2011, Richard Ames reported the following:

Dr. Meredith in his upcoming September-October Living Church News article writes: “Remember, in doing our part, we need to take proper action to protect ourselves and our families…. May God inspire us all to ‘take action’ and to do our part in every way—yet seeking God more than ever so that we are ‘walking with God’ and can then have His protection and His guidance in the days just before the final events of the age occur—as they surely will.” His article includes excerpts from a Federal Emergency Management Administration “Guide to Citizen Preparedness” which emphasizes “creating a disaster plan” and presents guidelines on “disaster supply kits.”

Yes, as Dr. Meredith admonishes us, we need to “take action” physically and spiritually. We are living in the “end-time” or “the time of the end,” an expression emphasized five times in the book of Daniel. Outlining the sequence of prophetic events, Jesus stated, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8).

In these dangerous times, we need to live with active faith and ensure that we “are not troubled” as we experience “the beginning of sorrows.”

The non-taking of proper action, as well as not keeping promises, is why I left LCG (see also Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God).

Since the time Richard Ames reported about the sorrows in 2011, LCG seems to have backed off on whether or not it believes that the beginning of sorrows has begun. If it has, then according to other statements from Richard Ames, this would have meant that he felt at least one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse began his ride no later that in 2011 (with 2009 most likely based on other LCG writings–see also An LCG ‘whiteboard’ helps demonstrate why it will not know when the Great Tribulation starts until basically after it does).

Many in LCG do not realize that.

That said, last week Aaron Dean, currently in the United Church of God, sent me the following:

Dear Bob,

Thanks for the letter and the links in it.  Glad you finally got a French hymnal for your people.

I heard Richard Ames is in palliative care with his organs shutting down. Seems the old guard is leaving fairly quickly. A few of us will be the ‘old guard’ pretty soon.

All the Best,

Aaron

Yes, there are less and less of us who were once part of the old Worldwide Church of God who are still around.

Living Church of God logo

COGwriter

A Canadian sent me the following email last year:

LCG wades deeper into the Laodicean mire…

I think they’re getting even more confused about end-time events, stating that when we see the 1^st and 2^nd seal opened that Christ’s return is about 3.5 years away.  I thought the Great Tribulation marked 3.5 years from Christ’s return and this is reflected in the 5^th seal?  What about the 3^rd and 4^th seals? (I say this tongue-in-cheek.)  Aside from their confusion on the identity of the man of sin, they’re REALLY not going to know when things are coming to a head…

This video is only about 6 minutes long, so not a huge waste of time but I thought I would let you know some of what they’ve been up to.

How to Know When Christ Will Return – First 2 Major Events | Tomorrow’s World (tomorrowsworld.org)

While I rarely watch videos people suggest, I did watch this one.

The video, itself, is well produced and seems designed to keep modern audiences interested enough to watch it.

The problem is that it makes statements and assertions that are in biblical error as well as in contradiction to previous LCG teachings.

The video perpetuates LCG’s error that the False Prophet is the ‘man of sin’ (to learn more about who the Bible identifies as the ‘man of sin’ check out the article Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?). It also somewhat hints that its ‘falling away’ error is valid (to learn more about that check out the article The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings).

While the whiteboard video cites Jesus’ statement about wars and rumors of wars, related to the beginning of sorrows, it teaches that neither the first nor second seal of Revelation 6 is open yet.

That contradicts what LCG was publishing for years.

Before proving that, let me state that during the Feast of Tabernacles in October 2009, an odd feeling came over me that pointed to looking to see if the beginning of sorrows may have begun. After researching and finding that events consistent with start of the ride of the 1^st horseman, in November of 2009 I telephoned LCG’s Dr. Roderick C. Meredith and told him. While his church had taught that the beginning of sorrows had not begun prior to that, it taught shortly after that telephone call that the beginning of sorrows had begun.

For example, in January of 2010, LCG’s J. Davy Crockett III proclaimed:

Peace and plenty for all mankind will be achieved only when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth. Until then, you can expect greater disasters and you will see that what we are experiencing now is but, “…the beginning of sorrows.” (Crockett D. The beginning of Sorrows. LCG Commentary, January 28, 2010. https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/the-beginning-of-sorrows)

Dr. Douglas Winnail of the Living Church of God wrote:

Now another powerful and “deadly” quake has struck in Turkey. As we move closer to the end of the age, Jesus Christ’s admonition about “earthquakes in diverse places,” as a sign of His impending return, should ring in our ears (Matthew 24:7). Yet, Jesus said these events are just the “beginning of sorrows” (verse 8). For those who are truly watching for the signs of the end of the age, there will be no doubt that the Time of Jacob’s Trouble is not far off. However, for those who are caught up with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22), these events that Christ said would occur may catch them unaware—while they are not looking or expecting (Matthew 24:50). We must all make time to “watch and pray” so that we are counted worthy to escape the things that will shortly come to pass (Luke 21:36). (Winnail D. World Ahead Weekly Update, March 11, 2010)

Dr. Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God wrote:

So it seems that the “beginning of sorrows” has certainly been escalating in Ephraim and Manasseh! Maybe it will help some few people to actually “wake up”! (Meredith RC. LCG Co-worker letter, August 15, 2011)

How can the beginning of sorrows escalate if they had not already begun?

Obviously, they could not.

LCG also published:

If, in the plan of God for mankind, we are truly at that point where, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8), then we need to acknowledge that things are going to get worse. The earthquake tragedies in Japan, in New Zealand, and in Haiti are just the beginning. The political upheavals in the Middle East and the religious radicalism that is gripping the entire world will continue. Economic turmoil that seems to be spreading from nation to nation is not going to go away. (Wilson R. Redeem the Time. LCG Commentary, April 14, 2011)

LCG’s Richard Ames taught:

The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, described dangerous conditions that would prevail in the end-time. He said, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7–8). …

In Revelation 5, we read about a scroll sealed with seven seals. Jesus, the Revelator, opens the seals to the book. We read the description of those seals in Revelation 6. The first four seals are known as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first horse—the white horse—and its rider represent false religions, false Christs. Jesus Himself points out the sequence of these end-time events in Matthew 24, also known as the Olivet prophecy because Jesus spoke it on the Mount of Olives. (Ames R. What is the Day of the Lord. Tomorrow’s World magazine, March-April 2007).

Christ comes with many crowns (19:12), not just one crown. And He comes with a sword (v. 15), not a bow as in Revelation 6.

Christ is the Revelator. He reveals the meaning of this white horse in Matthew 24. Jesus describes the signs of His Second Coming, and the sequence of events, that coincide with the seals of Revelation. “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many'” (Matthew 24:4–5).

This white horse, and its rider, represent false religions—”false christs” (v. 24). In Matthew 24, Jesus continues describing the sequence of events: war, famine, pestilence and tribulation. Jesus is the One who interprets the seals of Revelation. He tells us: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (vv. 6–9).

The second seal reveals a horseman riding a red horse, having the power to take peace from the earth. The third seal presents a rider on a black horse, representing a scarcity of food and resulting famine. The fourth seal shows a rider on a pale horse with the power over one fourth of the earth to kill “with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8). Jesus also spoke of the pestilence that normally follows a famine.

Thus we see that in Matthew, Jesus confirmed the meaning of these seals when He spoke of:

• Deceptive religion (Matthew 24:4)—the first seal, or the first of the four horsemen [of the Apocalypse, or Revelation];
• Wars (Matthew 24:6–7)—the second seal, or the second of the four horsemen;
• Famines (Matthew 24:7)—the third seal, or the third of the four horsemen;
• Pestilences (Matthew 24:7)—the fourth seal, or the fourth of the four horsemen;
• Tribulation, religious persecution and martyrdom (Matthew 24:9–10)—the fifth seal. (Ames R. The Seven Seals of Revelation. Tomorrow’s World magazine, March-April 2003)

Why is that relevant?

Because LCG taught that the four horsemen represented aspects of the beginning of sorrows Jesus spoke of–basically that you do not have one without the other. Furthermore, I did discuss this with Richard Ames and he concurred with that was LCG’s understanding.

Yet, in its May 2022 whiteboard video, LCG teaches that none of the horsemen had begun their rides. Therefore, that points to the conclusion that LCG is now teaching that the sorrows have not begun, in contradiction to its earlier teachings.

Furthermore, LCG’s whiteboard video says that Jesus will come 42 months after the first two horsemen (the first two seals of Revelation 6) begin their ride, and then LCG says Jesus will come a little more than 3 1/2 years after they arise.

The Beast of Revelation 13:1-10 arises after the fourth seal is opened, not the second seal (though he certainly can have lower level roles prior to the opening of the fourth seal)–and that the Beast “was given authority to continue for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5).

The LCG whiteboard sequence gives almost no time for the third, fourth, and fifth seal to be opened. LCG needs to change on many points or it will not realize when the Great Tribulation will begin, until it is too late for most to flee to the wilderness (Revelation 12:14-17)

Various ones have asked me for a list of doctrinal differences between LCG and the Continuing Church of God. As far as doctrines, unlike the Charlotte-based Living Church of God, the CCOG believes:

1. That the word of God and not Protestant commentaries should be the basis for changing doctrine (it remains my view that LCG’s “falling away” logic was primarily based upon Protestant interpretations, overlooked a lot of what HWA’s church actually taught about it, and was not consistent with many scriptures in the Bible).  See also The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings. That said, in the Jan-Feb 2024 edition of the Living Church News, LCG seems to have finally seen some of the errors in its falling away position and presumably does not identify itself by that doctrinal heresy that Dr. Winnail officially said LCG did (see Gerald Weston pushes LCG’s position on the ‘Falling Away’ closer to the biblical, COGwriter, position).
2. That the leader of CCOG keep his word, as should the leader(s) of LCG–really (see Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God and Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012).
3. God’s word says He will use dreams and have prophets in the last days in Acts 2 (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?). While LCG agrees we are in the last days, and from 2008-2012 its evangelists stated that they believed the COG may have a prophet, LCG no longer accepts that (Wakefield D. Living Church News, July-August 2015, p. 26).
4. That since a prophet is higher in “spiritual authority” than an evangelist, that those who believe in hierarchical governance would support a prophet of God over an evangelist, irrespective of how long he has been an evangelist (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government and How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God).
5. “If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it? Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:6–8). While LCG has repeatedly published that, it also claims to not have any prophets, whereas CCOG does (see Church of God Leaders on Prophets).
   
6. We warned about coronaviruses being a potential problem back in 2013 and 2014 (see Over 100 confirmed dead from coronavirus; Tonto: Why didn’t Bob Thiel warn about the coronavirus? COGwriter: I did back in 2013 and 2014, plus gave other warnings in 2018 and 2019), but LCG did not. Surely COVID was something God would have warned through His prophet and His most faithful church.
7. That faith is not the first step towards salvation, but that God calls (John 6:44) and send out His messengers to teach the word of God (Romans 10:14-17), and then comes faith (the Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of LCG differs; see also proposed changes to LCG’s Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs).
8. That it is inappropriate to suggest that those that do not agree to an unscriptural doctrinal change have somehow been led by or blinded by Satan (this is related to statements in two sermons by Dr. Douglas Winnail; see also The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings).
9. That it is not necessary to rebuild a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem before Jesus returns (both a TW telecast and one or more LCG sermons have stated a view that disagrees with that; see also Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?) and that we should not insist that the “Bible clearly states” that the holy place of Matthew 24:15 is the area commonly called “the Temple Mount” (see Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill).
10. That literature corrections and/or retractions should be made when known. The work of God MUST be done in truth (Psalm 33:4).
11. That the COG must be bolder in certain areas if it wants to fulfill Matthew 24:14 (see also The Final Phase of the Work).
12. Matthew 18:15-17, about going to your brother to try to resolve a matter before going public with it, applies to leaders and members.
13. The purpose of life is not just to be in the God family, but to give love in a unique way (see The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?).
14. That institutional idolatry is still wrong and that proper church governance does not include being loyal to a church or leader’s teachings which contradict scripture (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government).
15. That it is wrong to knowingly send out tens of thousands of booklets with admitted and known errors for several years (tens of thousands of the GCA booklet have gone out, despite LCG being told that they contain known errors years ago and that they perpetuate certain Catholic myths (consider also Psalm 101:7); on 10/18/12 I was informed that over 20,000 incorrect booklets remained and were expected to be sent out; see also October 2012 Emails Related to GCA Booklet).
16. That it is wrong to continue to have one or more known errors/contradictions in an Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, but still keep it unchanged for years after learning what they are (one is a seeming contradiction within the Statement, and the others are covered in points 4 and 18, though point four I had not brought that up before, but wanted to when I first noticed it). (See also December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG’s Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs.)
17. That Philadelphians should expect persecution (Daniel 11:28-35; Revelation 12:13-14; see also Persecutions by Church and State) and not excessively pull-back proclamation to avoid it (I was specifically told that some LCG leaders, who I will not mention now by name, were afraid I, Bob Thiel, could trigger end time persecution, despite the fact that they in LCG also specifically realize that the Philadelphians will be persecuted).
18. That improving literature and doctrinal errors will greatly assist in the final phase of the work. (Briefly, what this refers to is when the COG publicly identifies the King of the North and media coverage gets generated, the Catholic scholars will tear through COG literature and find many, many simple to fix errors that will hurt the COG’s credibility. LCG Evangelists agreed to fix many of them with me over the years, but often have yet not done so. My being distant from LCG assists as I will not have to apologize for why a group that supposedly has enough of the “love of the truth” kept publishing known and serious errors. And several of those errors perpetuate Catholic myths. This could greatly damage the credibility of God’s work.)
19. It has a better grasp of The Final Phase of the Work. (Briefly, a lot of this basically this begins no later than when the King of the North is identified and continues until Jesus returns–it has multiple parts including fulfilling Matthew 24:14–which may happen because of related media attention, persecution, the angels’ messages of Revelation, the two witnesses, and supporting those witnesses. If John Ogwyn was correct about the “short work” on Romans 9:28, this could possibly, temporarily swell the ranks of the COG prior to the persecution.)
20. Jesus is present at Passover (Matthew 18:20; 26:26-27; John 6:51,53; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; LCG’s Passover DVD for 2012 stated that Jesus was not present).
21. That major preparations need to be made now for the ‘short work’–and that CCOG is doing so (see Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).
22. People should be more loyal to the word of God and leaders that God appoints than a corporation (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government).
23. Ignatius’ writings did not do away with the Sabbath (see Another Look at the Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath) as that is a mistranslation (the God’s Church Through the Ages’ booklet has this and many other errors as does the book LCG printed and gave to all in the Fall of 2014 by Ivor Fletcher).
24. The Continuing Church of God has laying on of hands succession (see Laying on of Hands) (LCG has shied away from teaching “succession,” though when I was in LCG their leaders seemed to agree with my basic position on it, which remains–though LCG had not actually taught in its publications, when I checked).
25. Various divorce and remarriage (D&R) matters. Though since I have only been married once (we have been married for 37 plus years, and are not planning on divorcing), this was not a major personal item, but has long been a spiritual concern as LCG seemed to allow remarriage where the Bible did not.
26. That adultery, does not mean multiple adultery, as far as Jesus’ words about divorce go (Dr. Meredith has said in sermons that adultery here means multiple violations. That is not how I read this and I called Charlotte about it in 2012, with no satisfactory resolution.)
27. Marriages performed by the ministry are not to include believers to unbelievers per 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (unless certain other biblically-sanctioned reasons are present; e.g. Deuteronomy 22:28). See also the 2015 post, NBC: ‘Exposed in Ashley Madison Hack? Here’s What to Do Now’.
28. That the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s troubles, does not start at Daniel 11:40 when the King of the South pushes at the King of the North–it starts the prior verse (this is something that still needs to be corrected in the LCG Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs; this is something many have known about for years and had promised to address; see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).
29. That the “strongest fortresses” in Daniel 11:39 are a reference to the USA (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses). Although the evangelists at LCG in Charlotte all agreed I was correct about this, when I checked LCG’s two major websites in 2017, there was no place where LCG teaches this–this is an improper and dangerous error of omission for LCG.
30. That the King of the North attacks the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies (Daniel 11:39) before he attacks the King of the South (Daniel 11:40; LCG teaches both versions of this and leans towards the wrong one; LCG’s Fourteen Signs booklet, for one example, teaches that Daniel 11:31 comes AFTER Daniel 11:40-43 and that the USA and Anglo-Saxon nations are destroyed afterwards–this means LCG WILL NOT KNOW WHEN THE GREAT TRIBULATION WILL BEGIN AND THOSE THAT PREFER TO SUPPORT LCG WILL NOT FLEE TO BE PROTECTED WHEN IT IS TIME).
31. That Daniel 11:31 is fulfilled prior to Daniel 11:40-43 (LCG’s Fourteen Signs booklet teaches the opposite order).
32. That since the ten kings have not yet received their kingdoms, that the ten kings mentioned in Revelation 17:12-13 are not limited to 10-11 currently existing nations (LCG sometimes takes a different view, which will mean that they will not realize when the Beast power is at the end stage of its rising up, see also LCG and PCG insisting on 10 or 11 ‘nations’ for the Beast? What does the Bible teach?).
33. Do not believe that any in the ministry should promote the sport of American tackle football (the Bible, in Romans 13:9-10 clearly teaches “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law”). HWA also specifically warned against this violent sport (see Is American Football Evil?). There are also other “love” issue matters.
34. We do not believe that we should encourage the pagan sun-god (Shamash 888 B.C.) worship practice (cf. Deuteronomy 12:29-32) of praying with clasped hands (see our booklet Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach?), whereas LCG has published photos promoting this.
35. While the Bible seemingly allows for eating out while traveling (Matthew 12:1-8) and certain emergencies (Luke 6:3-5), that it does not condone regular eating out in restaurants on the Sabbath for those who are simply at their homes (cf. Nehemiah 10:30-31; watch also The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It).
36. That the “mark of the Beast” includes idolatry and likely a physical object, and is not limited to Sunday worship (see Mark of the Beast and The Mark of Antichrist).
37. That the “word of the law” needs to be preached as part of the Feast of Tabernacles every seven years (Deuteronomy 31:10-13; cf. Nehemiah 6:73;7:1-3,8,13-17; Joshua 8:34; see also The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law). This was conveyed to those giving sermons at the CCOG Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2013.
38. That Habakkuk 2 clearly is referring to these end times and thus has prophetic applicability to the Anglo-descended nations (LCG has ministers and at least one evangelist who believe Habakkuk 2 was fulfilled in its entirety and does not have end time applications, even though it clearly does–see also Habakkuk: His message is for us now).
39. Some of the prophecies in the Bible (e.g. Isaiah 10:5-11) seem to use the term ‘Samaria’ to refer to the modern United States of America (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel and Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New). Although one LCG leader/minister was open to this when told by me in early 2012, LCG does not seem to formally teach this.
40. France will support the Beast power (LCG is no longer certain; see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? And this disagrees with the late Dibar Apartian’s position as shown in The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy?).
41. That Matthew 28:19 is part of the Bible and needs to be part of the baptismal ceremony (see also Is Matthew 28:19 in the Bible?). Evangelist Richard Ames personally expressed his doubts to me once about whether Matthew 28:19 was scripture or not–he, at that time at least, was not convinced that it was. Although the Bible teaches, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), in late June 2013 I was told by someone else who inquired that LCG has two different baptisms because some do not believe that Matthew 28:19 applies. Although it ends with an option for an appropriate ceremony, LCG’s L049 letter specifically states, “Is Matthew 28:19 the only commanded formula that must be used in a baptism ceremony? Again, we say no, it is not, based on the actual procedures the early church used in baptizing,” which seems to substantiate what I was told about more than one baptismal option.
42. That the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2 is the first beast, the final King of the North, and not the second beast, the false prophet (see also Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?; or, in English, see the You Tube video Who is the Man of Sin?). In his co-worker letter dated, April 17, 2013, Dr. Meredith indicated that not agreeing with his improper assertion about this individual means that one does not understand biblical prophecy–since Dr. Meredith is not correct on this, but CCOG is, those in his church should realize that LCG has major problems in understanding various parts of prophecy. This will not bode well for any who will believe LCG over CCOG in the future.
43. It is wrong to tell members that “the end” is closer than the leadership believes (LCG did this repeatedly as I tended to find out when I checked with its top leadership when I attended with LCG).
44. That 1 John 3:9 is referring to those born of God not sinning, not those begotten of God not being in a ‘state of sin’ as Dr. Meredith has stated (see also Perfection? Does God have faith in humans?).
45. That it is not necessary that a red heifer be sacrificed as part of the final end time sequence (LCG has published that “those who are watching end-time prophetic events know that the slaughter of the red heifer is one of the first major milestones in this final sequence of end-time events”; see The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World).
46. That God is restoring “all things” (Matthew 17:11; Jude 3). While both CCOG and LCG believe that there has to be some type of an end-time Elijah, LCG has not specifically taught that it has been restoring what needs to be restored (the church history book it distributed at the Feast of Tabernacles in 2014 perpetuated Catholic and other myths and DID NOT restore ‘apostolic Christianity’.) Furthermore its Dr. Winnail has also taught that the final Elijah could be the church and not a person. Yet CCOG does teach that there is a final person coming in the spirit and power of Elijah, (see Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God and The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law), that it is in the process of restoring all things, and the final Elijah will come from it (see the sermon Elijah, Herbert W. Armstrong, and CCOG).
47. That Jesus is NOT the one who will “will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6) as LCG taught in 2015, but that this is part of the work of the final Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6; details on LCG’s and CCOG’s positions are in the article The Elijah Heresies).
48. The European Beast confederation will NOT collapse like the old Roman Empire as LCG asserted in December 2015 as the LCG view is contrary to prophetic scriptures (some details on LCG’s and CCOG’s positions are in the article Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).
49. WWIII is not related to the battles between Europe and Eurasia as LCG asserted in its Tomorrow’s World telecast Four Prophecies for Germany in March 2017, but has to do with the destruction and takeover of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies by a European-led force who will then conquer the Middle East (see also World War III: Steps in Progress).
50. Daniel 11:42-43 does not show Ethiopia is part of the King of the South as LCG asserted in its TW News & Prophecy ezine of August 24, 2018. While some from Ethiopia could be involved, the Hebrew word in that passage means ‘Cushites.’ For details, check out the article Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?
51. The third resurrection is NOT JUST for the incorrigibly wicked (see What Did Early Christians Understand About the Resurrections? and/or Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).
52. Romans 11:25 will be fulfilled before Jesus returns (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?).
53. The prince (who will become the King of the North) confirms the covenant for seven-years (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27)–LCG once taught that, but now its Council of Elders is no longer sure (for details, see Weston G. Why a Council of Elders. Living Church News, July-August 2019).
54. King of the North) confirms the covenant for seven-years (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27)–LCG once taught that, but now its Council of Elders is no longer sure (for details, see Weston G. Why a Council of Elders. Living Church News, July-August 2019).
55. Ukraine does not have the ability to launch a massive nuclear strike against Europe (when I was in LCG I advised that they issue a retraction for their published teaching on that, but that did not happen).
56. Russia will end up with land that Ukraine has claimed (wrote this in 2013 and it happened in 2014 with Crimea; I also warned about Russia ending up with parts of Ukraine prior to its ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine, whereas LCG did not teach or warn about this).
57. Isaiah 22:6-9 points to damage being done to Jerusalem by a confederation involving Iran and Syria (see Iran in Prophecy).
58. That it is the USA and/or its British-descended allies that will confront the European Beast power in Daniel 11:30 with naval power (see Who is the King of the North?).
59. That Benito Mussolini is NOT the king which now “is,” as the European Union is more biblically and historically logical (see The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17).
60. That doctrinal and prophetic truths needed to be restored in the 21st century and that CCOG is doing that in a way that no other COG is doing (see Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things ).
61. The beginning of sorrows and the opening of at least one of the seals of Revelation 6 has been opened–LCG does not (per its whiteboard video of May 19, 2022 titled How to Know When Christ Will Return – First 2 Major Events).

Anyway, while there are other issues, the above gives some reasons why those who wish to truly be part of the Philadelphia remnant would want to consider supporting the Continuing Church of God.

The Bible says:

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15-16, NKJV)

Sadly, most in LCG will not be diligent.

Instead of checking out the teachings of differences with the Bible, most will instead prefer to listen to false and misleading information about me.

All of course, in LCG and elsewhere, should instead value the truth.

Notice also:

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

There are more than seven sensible reasons that those in LCG should realize that it does not hold to the truth as it should.

Jesus said:

31 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

The truth is that some time ago, LCG ceased to have the ‘Philadelphia mantle‘ (proper leadership authority for the true and faithful church).

Its prophetic whiteboard is additional proof that it will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin until it will be too late for most to flee and get the protection that Jesus promised the Philadelphian Christians.

Jesus told the Laodicean Christians, who thought that they were fine, to repent (Revelation 3:14-22).

I pray that those in LCG and other Laodicean groups as well as the Laodicean independents, will repent and not simply brush off truths that they do not find convenient.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God Several have speculated reasons, but here is the truth. (En el idioma español: ¿Por qué Bob Thiel dejó la Iglesia del Dios Viviente?)
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
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.
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety,’ Zephaniah 2 to ‘gather together,’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on fleeing to a place–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of related interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety?  Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012 In violation of Matthew 18, Dr. Meredith publicly sent out a letter that forced Dr. Thiel to conclude that the Continuing Church of God must be formed. Here is that letter and some of Bob Thiel’s comments about it. Here is a version in the Spanish language Respuesta a una carta del Dr. Roderick C. Meredith fechada el 28 de diciembre, 2012.
What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God? This article explains some information and doctrines of the Living Church of God as led by Roderick C. Meredith and some concerns about them. (En el idioma español: ¿Qué hay acerca de la Iglesia de Dios Viviente? ¿Hay diferencias doctrinales con la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios?)
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L’Histoire Continue de l’Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent.
The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: La Apostasía: Enseñanzas de la Biblia y de la WCG. There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2?; here here are links to videos in Spanish: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? and ¿Quién es el ‘hombre de pecado’? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œ
f/’Y’jNº’ÿHere is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, NKJV),  “Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue” (Hebrews 13:1) ” & continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles” (Acts 2:42 YLT). So, what does that really mean in terms of specific beliefs? The Statement gives answers. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Declaración de las Doctrinas de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. Here is a related link in Tagalog: Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. Here is a related link in Mandarin Chinese ~ç~íy^v„eYOv„OáNðXðf. Here is a related link in Kiswahili: KATIKA LUGHA YA KISWAHILI. Here is a related link in Dutch: Verklaring van geloofspunten van de Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Deutsche (German): Glaubenserklärung der Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Italiano: Dichiarazione del Credo della Continuing Church of God. Here is related link in the French language: Déclaration des croyances de L’Église Continue de Dieu. Here is a related link in the Chichewa language: ZIKHULUPIRIRO ZA MPINGO WA CONTINUING CHURCH OF GOD. Here is a link in Romanian: Declarația de credințe a continuării Bisericii lui Dumnezeu. Here is a link in Portuguese: Declaração de Crenças da Continuação da Igreja de Deus. Here is a link in Russian: Утверждение верований о продолжении Церкви Божьей. Here is a link to a related English-language sermon: Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God. Here is a link to a booklet titled: Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

Slogan of the Houthi Movement
(From RuneAgerhus, via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

The above Slogan of the Houthi Movement is translated at Wikipedia as follows:

God is the Greatest
Death to America
Death to Israel
A Curse Upon the Jews
Victory to Islam

Here is more of what Wikipedia has about the Houthi Movement:

The Houthi movement (/ˈhuːθi/; Arabic: الحوثيون al-Ḥūthiyūn [al.ħuː.θi.juːn]), officially known as Ansar Allah^[a] (أنصار الله ʾAnṣār Allāh, lit. ‘Supporters of God‘), is a Shia Islamist political and military organization that emerged from Yemen in the 1990s. It is predominantly made up of Zaidi Shias, with their namesake leadership being drawn largely from the Houthi tribe.^[91]

Under the leadership of Zaidi religious leader Hussein al-Houthi, the Houthis emerged as an opposition movement to Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, whom they accused of corruption and being backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States.^[92][93] In 2003, influenced by the Lebanese Shia political and military organization Hezbollah, the Houthis adopted their official slogan against the United States, Israel, and the Jews.^[94]

(Houthi Movement. Wikipedia, accessed 07/04/24)

The Houthis oppose the USA and Israel. While often seen as a less sophisticated military force, there are changes to, and perhaps coming to, its arsenal:

The Houthis’ Hypersonic Missile Is a Game-Changer in Red Sea

July 2, 2024

Is this Iran’s revenge?

Is this how Iran pays-back Israel for bombing its consulate in Damascus in late March; by providing the Houthis with hypersonic missiles to fight the “Great Satan”?

On June 26, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched an attack on a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea using a long-range, solid-fuel hypersonic ballistic missile. It was the first time the group had used the state-of-the-art missile in its military operations. The significance of the development cannot be overstated. Hypersonic missiles—which feature technological advances that are still unavailable in the West—are more accurate, harder to shoot down, and travel longer distances than earlier models. These unique, cutting-edge weapons are a force-multiplier that give the Houthis a decided advantage in future attacks in the Red Sea and beyond. They will allow the Houthis to tighten their grip on commercial traffic while putting US warships at greater risk. They will also significantly improve the Houthis chances of prevailing in their war with the United States and its coalition partners. This is from an article at the Maritime Executive:

The Houthis…. are asserting that they have launched for the first time a hypersonic missile which was used to target an MSC containership far out in the Gulf of Aden….

For the first time, the identity of the missile that targeted the… MSC Sarah V in the Arabian Sea,” was being revealed according to a posting by the Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree. “It is a locally made hypersonic missile that possesses advanced technology, is accurate in hitting, and reaches long ranges.”…

Media reports in March said the Houthis had begun manufacturing their hypersonic missile… capable of reaching Mach 8. The reports said it would be used to threaten shipping further into the Indian Ocean. Video: Houthis Claim First Launch of Hypersonic Missile Targeting MSC Ship, Maritime Executive

First of all, the Houthis do not have advanced missile production facilities, so whatever hybrid ballistic missile they are presently using in their military operations, they did not manufacture it themselves.

Secondly, experts suggest that the missile that was fired in the Arabian Sea incident earlier in the week was probably a version of the Iranian-made Fattah-1, which can travel at speeds of up to Mach 3 or three times the speed of sound. https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/the-houthis-hypersonic-missile-is-a-game-changer-in-red-sea/

Well, I warned that Iran would seek revenge after Israel’s retaliation for it this past Spring.

While what has happened is not yet all Iran wants inflicted upon Israel, it is likely that Yemen will support the coming prophesied damage to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:6-9).

Notice also:

July 3, 2024

On 1 July the US CENTCOM social media site reported it had destroyed a Houthi radar station, because the site “presented an imminent threat to US, coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region”.

Attacks of this nature by coalition forces have been ongoing for more than six months, yet the threat from the Houthi movement appears to be growing rather than diminishing with attacks increasing, becoming more sophisticated and the area of Houthi operations spreading.

Scarlett Suarez, senior intelligence analyst at Dryad Global believes that for all its sophisticated weaponry, “NATO retaliatory strikes have been largely ineffective,” and that the “Houthis are winning the propaganda war, and their supporters are putting pressure on their respective governments to not retaliate.” https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/casualty/houthi-tactics-take-dangerous-new-turn

Furthermore, notice the following:

Putin Mulls Arming Houthis With Cruise Missiles: Report

July 1, 2024

Closer cooperation between Russia and the Houthis in Yemen could exacerbate the strategic dilemma facing Western powers as they seek to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea and beyond.

There are indications that Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering supplying the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthi movement with anti-ship ballistic cruise missiles, Middle East Eye (MEE)—citing an unnamed senior U.S. official—reported on Saturday.

Moscow has been coordinating with the Houthis as part of its growing alignment with Iran, with the Kremlin seeking new and deeper alliances among anti-Western powers following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. …

Earlier this year, the Houthis agreed not to target Russian or Chinese ships. In March, Houthi political bureau member Ali al-Qahoum said there is “a constant cooperation and development of relations between Yemen, Russia, China and BRICS states, as well as an exchange of knowledge and experience in various areas.”

“This is necessary to drown America, the U.S. and the West in the mire [the crisis] around the Red Sea, to get them bogged down, weaken and become unable to maintain the unipolarity.” https://www.newsweek.com/putin-houthis-cruise-missiles-russia-yemen-1919434

Vladimir Putin warned the USA that its decision to allow Ukraine to strike into Russian territory with USA missiles has pushed Russia to consider providing missiles to those that are hostile to the USA.

We continue to see many groups targeted by the USA for sanctions, terrorism, tariffs, etc. banding together.

The Houthis are mainly based in Yemen. Here something that the late Dr. Herman Hoeh wrote related to Yemen:

Arabia may be blanketed by arid plateaus and inhospitable deserts. But Arabia is also a vast land inhabited by many different tribes. … The word Arab is derived from the Hebrew root “arab.” It means evening, dusk, and also sterile (desert). The vast arid land of Arabia lay immediately to the west and south of Babylonia from whence human beings spread after Babel. It was only natural that they should call the land which lay to the west Arabia. As they migrated in Arabia they called the land to the south Yemen. Yemen means right and south (cf. the Biblical Ben-jamin) — because in the Middle East people face east (not north) in defining directions.

Any who dwelt in this vast peninsula came to be known as Arabs. In fact, one of the earliest heroes in Arabia came to be known simply as Yarab — the Arabian. His real name was Jerah, the son of Joktan. And with him we open the history of Arabia.

A simple account of Arabian history may be found in “Universal History,” Vol. XVIII. It is immediately noticed that Arabian emphasis is on heroes, not time. Events can be dated only to contemporary generations. Only Yemen has an accurate chronology. …

THE KINGDOM OF YEMEN

In Arabia, at the southwest corner, is the modern Yemen — Yaman in Arabic. It means south. It is a land of many diverse tribes — many non-Ishmaelite. Yemen was founded by Kahtan — the Joktan of the Bible. Yemen anciently controlled the entrance to the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean. Hence its early importance to the Hebrew family. (Hoeh H. Compendium, 1969, https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=get_acthesis&InfoID=1351940191)

The Houthis have already contributed to international chaos by attacking ships in the Red Sea which has resulted in many taking the long route below Africa to avoid the risk. This increases costs for oil and other items.

Previous USA attacks have NOT stopped the Houthi forces from their attacks against ships.

The Houthis claim that they will continue their attacks until Israel basically leaves Gaza alone. Yet, the attacks by the Houthis have not persuaded the Israelis to change in any discernible way.

That said, many consider that the Houthis are simply Iranians proxies carrying out what Iran wants done.

The Bible shows that God will allow what looks to be an Iranian led confederation to strike the nation of Israel:

1 The burden against the Valley of Vision.

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

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

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

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

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

The Houthis are strongly tied to Iran, hence may help fulfill the above prophecies.

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

15:03

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.

The Middle East remains an area to watch.

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 are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam. Here is a shorter video: Afghanis: Potential terrorists?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to two related videos: Gaza and Bible Prophecy and Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the
24 items to prophetically watch in 2024 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 24 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related video: 24 Items to Prophetically Watch in 2024.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024?

Egypt is facing poverty and just had a government shakeup:

Egypt Teeters On Brink Of Economic Ruin As Public Debt Mounts, Poverty Rate Soars

July 3, 2024

Last autumn, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi gave a speech in the New Administrative Capital in Cairo, the $300bn project that will ultimately define his presidency.

He said hunger was a small price to pay for progress: “If progress, prosperity and development come at the price of hunger and deprivation, Egyptians, do not shy away from progress! Don’t dare say: ‘It is better to eat.'” This horrifying vision of hunger and deprivation is what awaits millions of Egyptians in the coming years.

A decade after ascending to the presidency, Sisi has pushed the economy to the brink of collapse. The symptoms are everywhere. A severe debt crisis is strangling the state budget, the economy is heavily militarized, billions have been invested in white elephants with dubious economic benefits, and the crown jewels of the Egyptian public sector are up for sale to meet mounting debt obligations.

This all stems from the military’s desire to consolidate power and wealth in its own hands at any cost. This will have dire consequences that will be felt for generations – and recovery will take a mammoth effort.

Millions more people have been pushed into poverty in recent years, a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. In 2022, the poverty rate reached 33 percent, up from 26 percent in 2012/13, as the regime continues its policy of shifting the costs of the debt crisis onto the poor and middle classes. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/egypt-teeters-brink-economic-ruin-public-debt-mounts-poverty-rate-soars

Egypt overhauls Cabinet amid economic pressures, power cuts

July 3, 2024

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi swore in a significantly changed Cabinet on Wednesday, including new finance and foreign ministers, as Egypt faces challenges such as the conflict in neighboring Gaza, economic difficulties, and frequent power shortages.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was reappointed after the previous Cabinet resigned a month ago. El-Sissi emphasized the need to lower inflation — which reached a record high in September but has since fallen to about 28% in May — and boost investment. …

Despite recent foreign investments easing Egypt’s chronic currency shortages, power outages and gas shortages continue to pose challenges for Egyptians and their businesses.

Karim Badawi, recently a manager with an oilfield services company, will now serve as petroleum minister with a priority on the fuel supply to power stations. Mahmoud Esmat, formerly in public enterprises, takes charge of the electricity ministry. Sherif Farouk, who supervised pension reforms at Egypt Post, will lead the supply ministry, which manages wheat imports and a large food subsidy program. https://www.voanews.com/a/egypt-overhauls-cabinet-amid-economic-pressures-power-cuts/7684702.html

Yes, Egypt has financial, debt, hunger, and other economic problems.

And while that may worsen for a time, the Bible points to wealth being in Egypt in “the time of the end”:

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

So, we see a leader of nations in the Middle East and North Africa will turn against the coming European King of the North Beast power. Yet, we also see that before the European Beast power conquers Egypt, it is prophesied to have wealth of gold, silver, and other “precious things.”

How can that be?

Egypt does have ancient gold mines, so it would seem that may be. The Sukari gold project is currently producing gold in Egypt, and perhaps has more gold than estimated. There are also other gold mines. And there may be deposits of gold, silver, and other precious items that will soon be discovered.

Now, Egypt is basically a Muslim nation. As it turns out, Islam teaches that a leader will arise–called the Imam Mahdi–who has a lot of similarities to the coming King of the South of biblical prophecies. The Imam Mahdi reportedly will eliminate poverty among Muslims. Here are some items related to that in my free online book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:

Now, when it comes to prophetic events, most Muslims seem to be looking for a leader who will arise in these end times, who is sometimes called the Imam Mahdi:

In a 2012 Pew poll, in most of the countries surveyed in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, half or more Muslims believe that they will personally witness the appearance of the Mahdi. In Islamic eschatology, the messianic figure known as the Mahdi (the Guided One) will appear before the Day of Judgment. This expectation is most common in Afghanistan (83 percent), followed by Iraq (72), Tunisia (67), and Malaysia (62).[i]

Mahdi means the “Guided One.” The Imam Mahdi is believed to be a leader who will unite Muslims and eliminate Islamic poverty.

[i] Stern J, Berger JM. ISIS The State of Terror. C. 2015, p. 219 …

Here are some hadiths {sayings attributed to Muhammad} related to the Imam Mahdi, who also looks to be the Caliph with wealth mentioned below as well:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Mahdi will be of my family, of the descendants of Fatimah. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead a prominent nose. He will fill the earth will equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4284-5, Book 38, Hadiths 6-7)

“The Mahdi will be among my nation. If he lives for a short period, it will be seven, and if he lives for a long period, it will be nine, during which my nation will enjoy a time of ease such as it has never enjoyed. The land will bring forth its yield and will not hold back anything, and wealth at that time will be piled up. A man will stand up and say: ‘O Mahdi, give me!’ He will say: ‘Take.’“

“Three will fight one another for your treasure, each one of them the son of a caliph, but none of them will gain it. Then the black banners will come from the east, and they will kill you in an unprecedented manner.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 4083-4, Book 36, Hadith 158-159)

“A man will come to him and say: O Mahdi! ‘Give to me, give to me! So he will fill in his garment whatever he is able to carry.’“ (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2232, Book 33, Hadith 75)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “From your caliphs there will be one in the Last Days who will distribute wealth without counting it.” (Riyad as-Salihin 1824, Book 18, Hadith 17)

“The Prophet (ﷺ) looked out at us from a room, when we were talking about the Hour. He said: ‘The Hour will not begin until there are ten signs: Dajjal, (False Christ), the smoke, and the rising of the sun from the west.’“ (Sunan Ibn Majah 4041, Book 36, Hadith 116)

He is to arise when there are “black flags” arising from Khorasan [i] (an area covering parts of Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan).

The Mahdi is to be the leader of all the Muslim ummah (meaning Muslim world). [ii]

The Mahdi is to arise after a time of turmoil, [iii] and that is consistent with the rise of the biblical King of the South who, I believe, arises during what Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8) which has “wars and rumors of war” (Matthew 24:6), a time we now seem to be in.

The Mahdi is believed to be a type of savior for Islam as well as an eliminator of Islamic poverty:

Mahdi … some time after being in place, is expected to basically eliminate Islamic poverty and hunger, plus reign for seven years. [iv]

Based on various biblical prophecies, I do not believe that the one the Bible calls the King of the South in the latter portion of Daniel 11 will be able to reign that long—unless he reigned only in one land or smaller confederation for a time first.

[i] Yasseen, The Signs, p. 92

[ii] Yasseen, The Signs, p. 95

[iii] Yasseen, The Signs, p. 96; Sadr Sayyid Sadruddin. Published by Naba

[iv] Yasseen, The Signs, p. 96 …

Muslim Brotherhood

It should be pointed out that the Muslim Brotherhood wants a confederation of lands consistent with those that will be dominated by the coming King of the South:

What is the Muslim Brotherhood?

The world’s largest and most influential Islamist movement. Founded in Egypt in 1928, the group was originally focused on ridding the country of corrupting secular influences brought by British colonial rule. Over the years, it established branches and affiliates in many countries to promote traditional Sunni Islamic morals, social justice, and the eradication of poverty and corruption. “The Islamic nation,” its charter states, “must be fully prepared to fight the tyrants and the enemies of Allah as a prelude to establishing an Islamic state”—ideally a re-established caliphate, stretching from Spain across the Middle East and Central Asia to Indonesia, to be governed according to Islamic sharia law.[i]

While it will not end up with Spain, and how far east its rule will extend can be debated, some type of confederation of Islamic lands in the Middle East and North Africa will form.

[i] Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood. February 14, 2011. © The Muslim Brotherhood. http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=28019 viewed 11/21/2011

So, while we see poverty and the risk of increased poverty in Egypt, we see from the Bible that Egypt will end up with wealth. We see that a leader of lands including Egypt is prophesied to rise up.

We also see that Islam believes that after a time of sorrows, a leader of nations including the Middle East and North Africa will arise and somehow reduce poverty.

For a time, Muslims will believe that their prophecies are being fulfilled, yet also because the Bible shows that the King of the South, which some Muslims may take to be the Imam Mahdi, will be conquered.

All people, Muslim or otherwise, need to rely on the Bible and its prophecies.

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes.
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What About Silver? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold and silver? Two videos of related interest may be: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar and Silver, Science, and Scripture.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam. Here is a shorter video: Afghanis: Potential terrorists?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?

The US Bill of Rights

COGwriter

The fourth of July is considered to be ‘independence day’ for the USA as its Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Many do not realize why the colonies rebelled.

Typically, on the Fourth of July, many in the USA will have barbecues, watch parades, and/or view fireworks.

Those who live in the USA may wish to re-read its Declaration of Independence as its government in this century not only seems to have a disdain for more of the law of God, it also is probably more guilty than the old British rule for committing many acts that caused the colonists to revolt in the first place.

Many years ago, I read my family much of the Declaration and commented upon how the then current USA federal, state, and local governments had committed most of the same actions against our family (directly and/or indirectly) that the USA’s revolutionary leaders objected to from the British king.

In order to try to further protect the rights of the citizens of its new nation, the Bill of Rights came into effect as Constitutional Amendments on December 15, 1791.

In the past several years, the first amendment protection for religion has gotten trashed by various governments and courts in the USA. That amendment states:

• First amendment — Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Despite what that says, the USA has had real problems with federal courts as they have ruled against religious freedom. Here are links to a couple of examples: US Federal Judge rules religious freedom law unconstitutional and US Supreme Court delivers another blow to ‘freedom of religion’. And the Biden-Harris Administration has gone on record against religious rights in order to promote LGBTQ matters (e.g. ‘THE HARRIS-BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ROLLING OUT AMERICA’S VERSION OF MAO’S GENOCIDAL CULTURAL REVOLUTION’ ‘California Ethnic Studies Curriculum Calls For ‘Decolonization’ Of America’). Additionally, the government has applied pressure to Big Tech to censor things it does not like–information on COVID-19 and biblical views related to LGBTQ+ issues immediately come to mind.

Someone sent an email to me that had the following:

July 2, 2024

Every July 4, Americans have less independence to celebrate.

Although the country’s original principles enshrined sovereignty for the individual, those ideals are ancient history in practice today.

In light of Independence Day, I think we should consider an important question:

What does real independence look like, and how can you achieve it?

It might be better to start with what it doesn’t look like:

• The cumulative effect of income tax, sales tax, property tax, capital gains tax, estate tax, and countless others
• Vaccine mandates
• Travel restrictions
• Legal tender laws, which force people to use rapidly debasing government confetti as money
• ESG social credit scores
• Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
• Forever wars
• The gutting of the Bill of Rights
• The need to comply with an ever-growing stack of regulations, mandates, and laws
• The politicization of the justice system
• Government and Big Business promoting cultural degeneracy

This is just a short synopsis of the current state of affairs. The list is far from exhaustive.

Notice also the following:

June 26, 2024

As the nation heads into the July 4th holiday, we have rarely been more divided as a people. Ironically, we are still debating the core values that define us, particularly the right to free speech. …

As a nation, we have gone through almost cyclic periods of unhinged rage, including periods of what I call “state rage.” The first victim has always been free speech, including in our current age of rage. Indeed, this is arguably the most dangerous anti-free speech period in our history. …

In the past, free speech has found natural allies in academia and the media. That has changed with a type of triumvirate — the government, corporations, and academia — in a powerful alliance against free speech values.

Ironically, while these groups refer to the unprecedented threat of “fake news” and “disinformation,” those were the very same rationales used first by the Crown and then the U.S. government to crack down on free speech in the early American republic.

The difference is the magnitude of the current censorship system from campuses to corporations to Congress. Law professors are even calling for changing the First Amendment as advancing an “excessively individualistic” view of free speech. The amendment would allow the government to curtail speech to achieve “equity” and protect “dignity.”

Others, including President Biden, have called for greater censorship while politicians and pundits denounce defenders of free speech as “Putin lovers” and “insurrectionist sympathizers.” https://www.zerohedge.com/political/americas-anti-free-speech-movement-forces-us-again-choose-between-our-rights-and-our-rage

When it had a couple of opportunities to try to improve this in 2024, the US Supreme Court did not. Free speech is not something enough leaders in the US truly believe in properly protecting.

Now, notice the second amendment:

• Second amendment — A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed

As far as the second amendment goes, President Joe Biden does feel that should be infringed.

Although the President of the United States takes an oath to defend its Constitution, notice something Joe Biden said before:

April 8, 2021

President Biden on Thursday, in rolling out a set of executive orders on gun control, said “no amendment is absolute,” while maintaining that “nothing” he is recommending “impinges” on the Second Amendment. …

“No amendment, no amendment to the Constitution is absolute,” (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-repeats-debunked-second-amendment-claim-says-no-amendment-absolute)

He made a similar statement the next year. Notice:

May 26, 2022

“The Second Amendment is not absolute,” the president said. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-school-shooting-biden-second-amendment-is-not-absolute/

That being said, people such as Edward Snowden, despite whatever flaws he may have, have pointed out some of how the USA’s government intentionally violated portions of the Bill of Rights, such as the 4th-6th amendment rights. So, he has been in hiding for years because of that. Here is what those amendments were supposed to protect (some of which have been mishandled related to him personally by the US government):

• Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

• Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

• Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

The ramifications of the Snowden leaks are that those in the USA have realized that their government tends to ignore or pretend to reason around its Constitution, while the international community is outraged by the amount of spying that the USA has engaged in. The Obama-Biden Administration claimed it would be the most transparent administration in recent USA history, and instead it repeatedly was caught for espionage and trying to cover various matters up. The international community has called the USA hypocritical on all of this. Many in Europe and elsewhere are getting upset with the USA for what it has been doing–and yes, also for many things from the Trump Administration and the Biden Administration.

Furthermore, the government has applied pressure to Big Tech to provide information and conduct various types of searches without going through the courts, etc.

As far as the early foundations of the USA go, if it was written today and adopted, I suspect that the US Supreme Court might rule the Declaration unconstitutional as it starts out with the following statements:

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

And the Declaration ends with the following statement:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Most in the dominant media do not want to seriously consider the US having “the protection of Divine Providence.” They are antagonistic to God and tend to believe those who seriously believe in the God of the Bible are a hateful threat.

Also, the Bill of Rights, itself, has tended to be viewed as intending to provide citizens minimalist protection by the US Supreme Court, which is in violation of its intent. In the 21st century, July 4th does not truly find a court system or a country that is particularly keen on keeping the government out of most peoples’ lives. But that is what the signers of the Declaration wanted.

Let’s look at some of the grievances that the colonists had against King George and his government, from the Declaration:

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

Both the current and last US president support ‘same-sex marriage.’ Back in 1973, the US Supreme Court decided that State prohibition against abortions would not stand and that unborn babies could be killed–and even if that is overturned, states like California intend to perform and promote abortions. Did the government of King George do worse?

Here is more from the Declaration:

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

The US Courts have told US States that they do not have the right to enforce various immigration laws.

Here is more from the Declaration:

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

There are enough scandals from Washington this past decade that suggest that various ones in the USA government have done this, including ones associated with the Internal Revenue Service under Barack Obama, and of course issues with Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The Declaration also states:

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

The Bush Administration got Congress to approve the so-called ‘Patriot Act’ and establish the Homeland Security Administration and other offices. The Obama Administration has added other offices, and under his Administration, the Internal Revenue scandal demonstrated that various offices were harassing people for years because of their perceived political views. The COVID-19 restrictions suggested by the Trump Administration and expanded by various state and local governments is even worse that what the British king did.

The Declaration also states:

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

Many US presidents have signed agreements with the United Nations and others that, in theory, are similar to what the colonists revolted against.

The Declaration also states:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

The above happens all the time, but because it is done through administrative fees and/or with some legislative intent, this is considered acceptable to many. Yet, the amount of taxes raised, in terms of percentage of income, is MANY times higher than when the colonists revolted. And the taxes they mainly revolted from were tariffs.

The Declaration also states:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

Essentially the so-called Patriot Act and other measures supposedly designed to fight terrorism and/or drug-trafficking have resulted in the US government doing this probably much more than the representatives of King George ever would have considered, let alone done.

The Declaration also states:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

The US federal government, including through various of its courts, has effectively done the above many times.

The Declaration also states:

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

This is more subtle. The US Government treats its citizens as potential terrorists and criminals. It engages in massive espionage on its citizens, etc. Additionally, as the Snowden matter brought out, pretty much all communications that the US Government can monitor by its citizens is subject to being monitored.

The Declaration also states:

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

Because it tends to consider itself the world’s policeman, the government of the USA has been engaged in almost non-stop warfare, in one foreign country or other, since the early 1950s. Though it has less actual wars in the past couple of years or so.

Back in 2014, the US Supreme Court issued a couple of rulings indicating that it feels that the Obama Administration exceeded its constitutional authority (such as with the ‘Hobby Lobby’ case related to paying for abortive forms of birth control). But those rulings have not reversed the trend of the US government growing in power and taking away rights that the founders of the USA wanted its citizens to keep.

The Associated Press noted:

July 2, 2022

The world of federal regulation seems both boundless and microscopic. It touches what you touch. It lends a helping hand at every turn or sticks its clumsy fingers in everything, depending on your viewpoint. …

Thomas Jefferson sought freedom from bureaucracy as well as the achievement of American liberty when he wrote of the British king, “He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.”

What followed were several centuries of new offices and swarm upon swarm of bureaucrats come hither. https://apnews.com/article/government-regulations-supreme-court-climate-change-e75243253440e5809c7db4f1be7491a7

Those bureaucrats, while sometimes actually making things better, often make them worse. A tyranny that people like Thomas Jefferson had hoped could not happen in the USA– has.

Notice also the following from John Whitehead:

If there is one point on which there should be no political parsing, no legal jockeying, and no disagreement, it is this: for anyone to advocate terminating or suspending the Constitution is tantamount to a declaration of war against the founding principles of our representative government and the rule of law.

Then again, one could well make the case that the Constitution has already been terminated after years on life support, given the extent to which the safeguards enshrined in the Bill of Rights—adopted 231 years ago as a means of protecting the people against government overreach and abuse—have been steadily chipped away at, undermined, eroded, whittled down, and generally discarded with the support of Congress, the White House, and the courts.

Consider for yourself.

We are in the grip of martial law. We have what the founders feared most: a “standing” or permanent army on American soil. This de facto standing army is made up of weaponized, militarized domestic police forces which look like, dress like, and act like the military; are armed with guns, ammunition and military-style equipment; are authorized to make arrests; and are trained in military tactics.

We are in the government’s crosshairs. The U.S. government continues to act as judge, jury and executioner over a populace that have been pre-judged and found guilty, stripped of their rights, and left to suffer at the hands of government agents trained to respond with the utmost degree of violence. Consequently, we are at the mercy of law enforcement officers who have almost absolute discretion to decide who is a threat, what constitutes resistance, and how harshly they can deal with the citizens they were appointed to “serve and protect.” …

We are no longer safe in our homes. This present menace comes from the government’s army of bureaucratized, corporatized, militarized SWAT teams who are waging war on the last stronghold left to us as a free people: the sanctity of our homes.

We have no real freedom of speech. We are moving fast down a slippery slope to an authoritarian society in which the only opinions, ideas and speech expressed are the ones permitted by the government and its corporate cohorts. In more and more cases, the government is declaring war on what should be protected political speech whenever it challenges the government’s power, reveals the government’s corruption, exposes the government’s lies, and encourages the citizenry to push back against the government’s many injustices. …

We have no real privacy. We’re being spied on by a domestic army of government snitches, spies and techno-warriors. This government of Peeping Toms is watching everything we do, reading everything we write, listening to everything we say, and monitoring everything we spend. …

We are losing our right to bodily privacy and integrity. The debate over bodily integrity covers broad territory, ranging from forced vaccinations, forced cavity searches, forced colonoscopies, forced blood draws and forced breath-alcohol tests to forced DNA extractions, forced eye scans, and forced inclusion in biometric databases: these are just a few ways in which Americans continue to be reminded that we have no real privacy, no real presumption of innocence, and no real control over what happens to our bodies during an encounter with government officials. …

We no longer have a right to private property. If government agents can invade your home, break down your doors, kill your dog, damage your furnishings and terrorize your family, your property is no longer private and secure—it belongs to the government. Hard-working Americans are having their bank accounts, homes, cars electronics and cash seized by police under the assumption that they have allegedly been associated with some criminal scheme.

We have no due process. The groundwork has been laid for a new kind of government where it won’t matter if you’re innocent or guilty, whether you’re a threat to the nation, or even if you’re a citizen. …

We are no longer presumed innocent. The burden of proof has been reversed. Now we’re presumed guilty unless we can prove our innocence beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. https://thefreethoughtproject.com/the-state/13-examples-showing-the-constitution-no-longer-matters accessed 12/13/22

The US courts do not really believe in the Bill of Rights or individual liberty, unless the judge happens to like that side in a particular case.

Furthermore, the Declaration is too religious for many today.

Overall, the mainstream in the US has essentially declared independence from God.

And while simply restoring practices consistent with the Declaration of Independence will NOT stop the USA from going down the path that will lead it to destruction (nor am I advocating violent revolt), ignoring God, as well as documents like the Bible and the Ten Commandments, will ensure the destruction of the USA.

National repentance is the only way to prevent it, and that does not look likely. The advocacy of homosexuality and abortion, and increased indebtedness and acceptance of various forms of pornography (including what would be considered soft pornography involving the former ‘first lady’ of the USA) that we have seen the past few years suggests that national repentance is about the furthest thing on the minds of the national political leaders and most of the mainstream media in the US.

Personal repentance, however, is still possible. If you are an American, your personal future can still be much brighter than that of your country.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA Can what happened with the leaks of what the NSA has done help the USA to be taken over? What does the Bible teach that seems to be related to this? Here is a related YouTube video titled Are the Snowden NSA leaks leading to the destruction of the USA?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of relaled interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free draft/unedited pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? Here is a link to a YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There is also a YouTube video on this, titled Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may wish to view the YouTube videos: Abortion and Birth Control: History and Scriptures. Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt, American Infanticide, Euthanasia: Mercy killing or murder?, Abortion, the US Constitution, and the Bible, and Land of ‘Free’ Abortions and Debt.
Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction Can the USA survive two full presidential terms? In what ways are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris apocalyptic? This book has hundreds of prophecies and scriptures to provide details. A Kindle version is also available and you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to your free Kindle reader app (or if you already have one or a Kindle), you can go to: Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction (Kindle) to get the book in seconds.
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Are there prophetic reasons to believe that the USA will not last two complete presidential terms? Yes. There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028?