Church of God News

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

COGwriter

Russia continues to push to clear Ukrainian forces from various areas, plus it has reportedly launched a counter attack to retake Russian territory Ukraine recently moved into:

Russia turns the tables on Ukraine, launching counterattacks to retake Kursk after incursion stalls

September 12, 2024

Russia said it has launched a major counteroffensive to retake large areas of its Kursk region that were seized by Ukrainian forces in the border incursion that began last month.

Russian Major General Apti Alaudinov, who commands special forces fighting in Kursk, said that Russian troops took back control of about 10 settlements in Kursk, which borders northeastern Ukraine.

“Our situation is good … our units have gone on the offensive. Yesterday and by today [Wednesday], in total, about 10 settlements of the Kursk region were liberated,” Alaudinov, who is also deputy head of the Russian defence ministry’s military-political administration, told Russian state news agency TASS in comments translated by Google.

On Thursday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukrainian forces were “now being steadily squeezed out from” Kursk, and “will be squeezed out completely, there can be no doubt about it,” he told news agency RIA Novosti. …

Russian forces may intend to temporarily bisect the Ukrainian salient — a military feature that extends into enemy territory and is surrounded on three sides, such as Ukrainian forces’ thrust into Russia’s Kursk region — “before beginning a more organized and well-equipped effort to push Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory,” the analysts said. …

In the meantime, Ukraine has appeared to row back on its somewhat triumphalist messaging on its Kursk operation as momentum seems to have stalled in recent weeks. Ukraine has faced the dilemma of whether to commit further forces to the incursion, or to reinforce forces back home in eastern Ukraine in order to prevent Russia seizing the strategically-significant city of Pokrovsk. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/12/russia-launches-counterattacks-to-retake-kursk-after-incursion-stalls.html

Here are reports related to Pokrovsk:

September 12, 2024

Pokrovsk is one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds and a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region. Its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defensive abilities and supply routes and would bring Russia closer to its stated goal of capturing the entire Donetsk region, which it partially occupies. …

President Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to fire U.S.-provided missiles across the border into Russia in self-defense, but has largely limited the distance they can be fired. Extending the limit could bring Russian retaliation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in turn warned that allowing long-range strikes “would mean that NATO countries, the United States, and European countries are at war with Russia … if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.”

Ukrainian forces have held out as long as possible in Donetsk, even when strongholds such as Chasiv Yar appeared to be in danger of imminent collapse.

Russia has fired missiles especially at the power grid, potentially dooming Ukrainians to a bitterly cold winter this year. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-pokrovsk-donetsk-c086bef7cf8846ca5b0a5227b9fc775d

12 September 2024

ISW reported that Russian forces also seized control of Lysivka, southeast of Pokrovsk. Geolocated footage published on 11 September showed Russian forces raising a flag in central Lysivka. Milbloggers claimed that elements of the 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade, part of the 51st Combined Arms Army, secured the settlement. Additional footage from 10 September indicated that Russian forces had advanced west of Marynivka, with ISW assessing that they likely took control of the area. …

Russian forces also continued offensive operations in several areas east and southeast of Pokrovsk, including Novooleksandrivka, Vozdvyzhenka, and Selydove, ISW reported. https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/09/12/isw-ukrainian-russian-forces-make-marginal-gains-near-toretsk-russians-capture-village-near-pokrovsk/

After many months of propaganda from the western media asserting that Russia’s military capacity had been shattered by the brutal “meat grinder” of the Ukraine front, it appears that the Kremlin is actually accelerating their offensive with more troops and artillery than ever. And, they are poised to take all of the Donbas and large portions of Eastern Ukraine if they succeed in the pivotal city of Pokrovsk.

For the majority of the war Pokrovsk has acted as the logistical hub and rear operations base for Ukraine’s eastern defensive lines. It sits astride both a key railroad juncture and the highway to Ukraine’s fourth-largest metro, Dnipro. The city’s defensive positions are a final obstacle to Russia’s access to most of the region. If Pokrovsk falls Russian forces will be able to easily flank entrenched troops in the north and south of the country.

The loss of the primary rail lines and highway routes in and out of Pokrovsk would cut resources to Ukrainian units across the Donbas and possibly force them to retreat before running out of supplies. This would mean an immediate and sweeping Russian advance all along the eastern lines. …

Even the Kyiv Independent has published a worried analysis of the situation, though they assert the fall of Pokrovsk would not affect Ukraine’s overall war footing.  Citing a military analyst they admit:

“The further the Russians advance, the more they unlock the entire front line to move, the more resources it will take for the Ukrainians to contain…”  “Ukraine’s ability to tackle its manpower and ammunition shortages will determine Pokrovsk’s fate, which in turn will depend on Kyiv’s priorities. Losing the city would be a logistical blow for Ukraine, threatening the defense of other Donbas cities…”  

They also admit that Zelensky’s stated plan of using the Kursk offensive to force Russia to slow their activities in the Donbas had failed.  Russia has gained more ground in the east since Kursk was contained, not less:

“Contrary to the president’s claim, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged that despite over 30,000 Russian soldiers being transferred to Kursk Oblast from other fronts, Russia “is only increasing its forces” in the Pokrovsk sector…” …

Russian forces are currently engaged in at least eight offensives across the east and they are within three miles of Pokrovsk; that’s spitting distance for their artillery and guided FAB munitions. Their strategy so far has been to encircle urban centers and slowly squeeze Ukrainian defense units out, which means the battle for Pokrovsk may not be decided for many weeks.

The timing of the battle is no mistake, however. It would appear Putin is intent on securing the city and the Donbas before the US elections in November, just as Zelensky’s Kursk operation was designed to disrupt Russian advances before November. Both sides are preparing contingencies regardless of who enters the Oval Office in 2025. 09/11/24 https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/if-russia-takes-pokrovsk-rest-eastern-ukraine-will-fall?ref=biztoc.com

Despite Ukrainian military resistance and a lot of Western weapons, Ukraine continues to lose control over more and more land.

Russia attempted to make a deal with the West before it began its ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine–but that was publicly rebuffed by US President Biden.

Then after the battles began, Russia agreed to a deal with Ukraine, but the US and UK interfered and pressured Ukraine not to take it. Though some have considered that to be some type of Russian propaganda or a conspiracy theory, that interference was recently confirmed by a former Biden-Harris Administration official. Notice the following:

Victoria Nuland Admits US Discouraged Ukraine From Signing Peace Deal With Russia in 2022

Former US State Department official Victoria Nuland has acknowledged that the US discouraged Ukraine from signing a peace deal with Russia during the early days of the Russian invasion.

Nuland, who recently resigned from her post as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, made the comments in an interview that was published on YouTube on September 3.

Mikhail Zygar, an exiled Russian journalist, asked Nuland about former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet’s claim that the US and its allies blocked his efforts at mediation and reports of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to sign a deal.

Zygar also mentioned that David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian official who led negotiations with Russia at a meeting in Istanbul in March 2022, acknowledged last year that a deal was on the table at the time and that Russia’s main demand was for Ukrainian neutrality.

Wow! Nuland basically admits that Ukraine-Russia peace deal, which was close to being finalized in spring 2022, “fell apart” because US, UK & other Western governments “advised” Zelensky government that it was not “good deal” even though even members of Ukrainian delegation… pic.twitter.com/HPsrpOzQNf

— Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) September 8, 2024

Nuland claimed the US took a hands-off approach to the negotiations when they first started and said it wasn’t until “relatively late in the game” that the Ukrainians started seeking the advice of the US and its allies.

“The Ukrainians began asking for advice on where this thing was going, and it became clear to us, clear to us and the Brits, clear to others, that Putin’s main condition was buried in an annex to this document that they were working on. And it included limits on the precise kinds of weapons systems that Ukraine could have after the deal,” Nuland said. …

Boris Johnson traveled to Ukraine on April 9, 2022, and, according to Ukrainska Pravda, told Zelensky that even if Ukraine was ready to sign a deal with Russia, the “collective West” was not. Arakhamia confirmed this account in November 2023, saying that when the negotiators returned from Istanbul, Johnson visited Ukraine and “said that we would not sign anything with them at all, and let’s just fight.” https://news.antiwar.com/2024/09/09/victoria-nuland-admits-us-discouraged-ukraine-from-signing-peace-deal-with-russia-in-2022/

Yes, instead of agreeing to a deal that would have stopped the killing and destruction, it has continued.

While Ukraine has resisted and sometimes regained territories, overall its nation is facing devastation and losses in the fighting.

Anyway, back in 2013 there were protests against the democratically elected and pro-Russian government in Ukraine. Instead of backing Ukraine’s elected president, the USA backed a coup. Because of prophecies related to the “kings of the Medes” in the Book of Jeremiah, in the Fall of 2013 I wrote that Russia would end up with some territory that Ukraine claimed.

When Ukraine’s coup government took over in early 2014, one of the first things it did was to pass a bill (that ended up not being signed into law) to make Russian a second-class language in Ukraine. That incensed those in Crimea and various ones in the eastern portion of Ukraine. Many in Donbas, Crimea, and various parts of eastern Ukraine speak Russian as their native language.

In 2014, Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and become part of Russia. Russia later accepted the territory, which it had long wanted. Crimea has been a fairly poor region that felt neglected and discriminated against by the western portion of Ukraine. Many in Donbas also have felt neglected (or worse) by western Ukraine and have long wanted to be closer to Russia. It should be noted that the USA and some of its allies called the referendum in Crimea to be part of Russia some type of a sham, yet the reality is that the majority in Crimea wanted to be part of Russia. On March 18, 2014, when Vladimir Putin signed a treaty to make Crimea part of Russia (https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-to-visit-crimea-to-mark-five-years-since-).

Many of those in Crimea (other than the Tartars) and Donbas believed that they would be better off with Russia who wanted them than Kiev who claims to want to keep them, but apparently had not shown them enough signs that it would truly be able to help them.

The USA would not accept the vote by the Crimeans primarily because it seems to want to stop Russia from expanding. The USA pushed for international sanctions with Europe, many of which still remain, in an effort to hope Russia would release Crimea to Ukraine.

The USA’s position seemed to be based mainly on politics as opposed to its professed belief in democracy.

Even though the USA and many in Europe have wanted Russia to leave Crimea, on March 18, 2019, I posted:

It remains my view that Crimea and at least parts of eastern Ukraine will ultimately align with Russia.

International sanctions will not stop biblical prophecies from being fulfilled. (Thiel B. ‘Putin in Crimea as Russia Marks Five Years Since Annexation’ the ‘Kings of the Medes’ will arise. COGwriter, March 18, 2019)

And the events of the past few years confirmed my view that sanctions would not stop Russia from having territories align with it. The various sanctions announced by the USA and the Europeans look to be political punishment, as opposed to being announced by those who seriously believe that they will get Russia to cede the Donbas back to Ukrainian control (it would probably take a pro-Russian government in Kiev for Russia to do that).

Long-time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware that I have repeatedly told of a time where those in parts of Ukraine and Moldova would end up supporting Russia. For example, here is something from 2014:

As ‘independent states’ Donetsk and Luhansk may enter into some type of joint confederation with each other or Russia. If the forces from Kiev decide to attack, they will likely fight and ask for help from Russia.

Donetsk and Luhansk may vote to be annexed by Russia, like Crimea did. Or at minimum decide to ask to be part of Vladimir Putin’s Eurasian Union.

The Bible has several end time prophecies concerning the Medes (Isaiah 13:17-19) and the kings of the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11, 28-29) that involve military action. Various ones in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russia, and elsewhere are part of the descendants of the Medes, as likely are some in Moldova.

Alliances consistent with end time Bible prophecy are in the process of forming. (Thiel B. Eastern Ukraine votes for independence: Kiev upset, Russia pleased. COGwriter, May 12, 2014)

A while back, Russia’s president declared he had recognized and accepted the Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic as independent nations (see I365: Right before Messiah, US will fight Russia and China will capitalize, rabbinic “prophecy” reveals’ COGwriter: No, that is not what the Bible teaches). Then on 30 September 2022, Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in an address to both houses of the Russian parliament.

The Bible foretells a time when the “Kings of the Medes” will get together (Jeremiah 51:11, 28)–and some now have. Many in Russia, Ukraine, and even Moldova have descent from the ancient Medes.

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

21:20

Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy

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

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

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

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

Remember that Jesus taught:

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

Ukraine may wish to reconsider where it is at to see if now it believes it should attempt to make a deal with Russia.

No matter what its leadership currently thinks, at least parts of Ukraine are going to support Russia (cf. Jeremiah 51:11, 28).

World events continue to align with properly understood biblical prophecies.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

(Photo from Pixabay)

COGwriter

Ecumenical News posted the following:

Artificial intelligence conference opens with the question: ‘What is truth?’

September 11, 2024

The European Christian Internet Conference opened under the theme “What is truth? Ethical and Practical Issues in the Use of Artificial Intelligence.”

The ECIC conference has drawn speakers with diverse insights into a rapidly changing world in which AI is increasing its foothold, the World Council of Churches reported on Sept. 9.

Agnieszka Godfrejów-Tarnogórska, president of the ECIC network and a communication officer of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, spoke about the issue during a prayer ceremony.

She made her pitch at the conference’s opening prayer referring to Jesus’s response to Pilate—that he came into the world to testify the truth.

“It reminds us that truth is not an abstract concept, but living reality grounded in the person of Christ,” Godfrejów-Tarnogórska said.  …

Such is the interest on AI that on Oct. 1 the WCC will cohost a webinar titled, “Theology & Artificial Intelligence: Systematic and Denominational Perspectives.”

It will explore how generative AI and trans-humanism challenge our understanding of personhood and the image of God. https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-conference-opens-with-the-question-what-is-truth/61168.htm

Yes, Agnieszka Godfrejów-Tarnogórska is correct that Jesus came to the world to testify the truth. But notice what Jesus actually said was truth:

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

Sadly, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and most of the churches not in the WCC do not really believe that the word of God is truth.

Jesus also said:

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

God is to be worshiped according what is in the Bible. And related to “the person of Christ” the truth is that Jesus did not look like how most portray Him and His message was different than most believe.

Sadly, the WCC and others often promote agendas that are not according to the Bible.

As the Ecumenical News article pointed out, the WCC plans on a conference to discuss Artificial Intelligence related to “understanding of personhood and the image of God.”

Let’s consider a couple of points about that.

One is that there is now something called the AI Jesus:

An AI program is pretending to be Jesus and thousands of lost young people are flocking to it

There’s an event recorded in the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, and his disciples asked him what the sign of the end of the age would be.

Jesus replied, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”

At least one of those deceivers is turning out to be an AI called “ask_jesus.”

According to The Independent, a Berlin-based tech collective has developed a chatbot resembling Jesus Christ, which already has thousands of followers seeking advice and guidance.

The chatbot, referred to as “AI Jesus,” has the appearance of a bearded white man with a radiant halo and utilizes artificial intelligence reportedly trained on the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. …

The chatbot has the ability to remember previous interactions with the user which gives it a false sense of omniscience. … one user asked it about gay marriage, and it gave them the noncommittal “all love is love” answer, staying politically correct at all times. 06/15/23 https://www.wnd.com/2023/06/ai-program-pretending-jesus-thousands-lost-young-people-flocking/

No, the real Jesus did not have a halo or work like ChatGPT. So, yes, another false Jesus–but this one is with AI. Others have tweeted that participating in this was surreal. Apparently mystical, though of course, not from God. An AI Jesus is not the truth.

We have a video related that:

14:48

AI Jesus? Artificial Intelligence God?

We are seeing more and more steps to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in with matters of religion. From a Protestant sermon via AI, to PETA blaspheming God by re-writing a false account of the Book of Genesis, to Yuval Noah Harari of the World Economic Form (WEF) calling for a new globalist religion and Bible to be produced by AI, things like ChatGPT are being used. There is also an AI thing called “ask Jesus” which has a false Messiah who does not always provide biblically-accurate statements. Many humans want to worship “the work of their hands.” Is that warned against in scripture? Where is this leading? Might the “image of the beast” be demonic and/or involve AI and the Antichrist? Do humans know the way that is right that does not lead to death? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: AI Jesus? Artificial Intelligence God?

As far as Artificial Intelligence programs like ChatGPT go, sometimes they get things right and sometimes wrong. Related to this article and the “personhood” of the Godhead, I asked ChatGPT the following today:

The original koine Greek of the New Testament does not use personal pronouns for the Holy Spirit. Why then have nearly all translators of the New Testament into the English language use personal pronouns such as “he” and “him” and relative pronouns such as “who” or “whom” despite those being violation of koine Greek grammar rules?

ChatGPT responded with the following:

The use of personal pronouns for the Holy Spirit in English translations of the New Testament is influenced by theological and interpretive considerations rather than strict adherence to the grammatical conventions of Koine Greek. Here are some key factors behind this translation choice:

1. Theological Context: In Christian theology, the Holy Spirit is understood to be a distinct person of the Trinity, alongside God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. To reflect this doctrine, translators use personal pronouns to emphasize the personal nature and distinct identity of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity. This theological perspective often takes precedence in translations.
2. Translational Tradition: English translations of the Bible have traditionally used personal pronouns for the Holy Spirit to align with the longstanding doctrinal views of Christianity. This convention helps maintain consistency across various translations and supports traditional Christian teaching.

Now notice that, in this instance, at least ChatGPT has admitted that:

1. Translators that include personal pronouns for the Holy Spirit are violating “adherence to the grammatical conventions of Koine Greek”
2. That tradition, as opposed to the word of God, is a reason that various ones have mistranslated the Bible.

So, ChatGPT was able to point out some of the reasons that falsehoods are taught.

Jesus warned about false logic where religious teachers prefer tradition over what the Bible actually teaches:

1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” — 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Matthew 15:1-9)

Yes one of the reasons that most do NOT know, what the truth is, is precisely because they have been misled by tradition to not accept what the word of God says.

And it is terrible that most translators intentionally violated rules of proper translation when it comes to the Holy Spirit.

Related to that, we produced the following video:

14:53

Gender of the Holy Spirit?

Does the Holy Spirit have a personal gender in the scriptures? Both ancient Hebrew (language of the Old Testament) and koine Greek (language of the New Testament) use grammatical gender when it comes to nouns. In the Hebrew scriptures, the terms for “Spirit” are ruwach or ruah–are they masculine, feminine, or neuter? What about the Greek term pneuma for “Spirit” in the New Testament? According to Protestant scholar Dr. Daniel Wallace are personal pronouns ever grammatically appropriate for the Holy Spirit? According to Eastern Orthodox priest Dr. Laurent Cleenwerck is it grammatically appropriate to use “who” or “whom” associated with the Holy Spirit? Do most translations of the New Testament intentionally violate rules of Greek grammar related to the Holy Spirit? Should people intentionally change the word of God to show a meaning that God did not inspire? Was the King James Version correct when referring to the Holy Spirit as ‘it”? Does referring to a “she” as a “he” make it so? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie go over these matters quoting scriptures as well as scholars who have translated the New Testament into the English language.

Here is a link to our video: Gender of the Holy Spirit?

By putting words in their translations that are not truly supported by the context, many have violated the following warning in the Book of Revelation:

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;  (Revelation 22:18)

While some might say that only applies to the Book of Revelation, the Bible is clear one is not to add to its words. Notice the following from the Book of Proverbs:

5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
6 Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.  (Proverbs 30:5-6)

Now, as it turns out, the WCC only allows churches to join who are trinitarian.

So, any churches that do not accept the personhood of the Holy Spirit as the third member of the trinity pushed by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in the late 4th century cannot join.

Yet, the passages in the New Testament do not support the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Yet, people think they do mainly because of intentional mistranslations that added falsehoods as well as teachers of false traditions.

That was prophesied, however to happen, as the Apostle Peter wrote:

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  (2 Peter 2:1-2)

Yes, “the way of truth” has been “blasphemed” by false leaders claiming to teach Christianity. This has turned many off.

The Apostle Paul also warned about them:

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

Yes, many false religious teaches look good to the world. But because they do not truly rely on or teach the word of God, they are false and artificial themselves.

While things like AI could help the world’s churches, the reality is that they have accepted tradition over the word of God.

Instead they should believe the word of God and, as the Apostle Jude wrote they also should “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

But they do not. The WCC and others are focused more on their unscriptural view of unity than they are the truths of the Bible or holding to the original faith, which is documented in the first and second centuries A.D.

As far as the Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and LDS faiths go, we have documented truthful information on those, which explain that they have many areas that are biblically untrue. You may wish to check out some of the following:

Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.

Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.

Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Continuing Church of God The genuine Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney? A sermon of related interest is available: Mormon vs. Church of God Teachings.

Scholars have issues with the world’s version of ‘Christianity’ as well. Dr. Bart Ehrman was some type of fundamentalist Protestant until he looked into matters like church history and realized that nothing like Protestant fundamentalism was practiced by early Christians. As it turns out, according to Dr. James Tabor, nearly all heads of theology departments of most universities in the USA are atheists or agnostics.

As far as what the truth is, the Apostle Paul wrote:

13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14a).

7… the word of truth, (2 Corinthians 6:7)

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; (Ephesians 1:13)

5 the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, (Colossians 1:5)

So, whatever God says is the truth.

The Bible also teaches:

18 it is impossible for God to lie, (Hebrews 6:18).

2 God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2)

4 … Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)

So, if the WCC and others want to know the truth, instead of accepting traditions of men and holding to mistranslations of the Bible, they should believe the word of God.

The last book of the Bible mentions who does and who does not make it in the Kingdom of God.

Now who makes it?

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 (Revelation 22:14).

Some do not,

15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie (Revelation 22:15).

Because the Pharisees “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43), they are condemned (Matthew 23:14). They both loved and practiced a lie.

They are like many associated with the WCC and the other churches of the world.

UPDATE 09/15/24; we just uploaded the following related video:

13:51

AI and What is Truth?

Through its, European Christian Internet Conference, the World Council of Churches (WCC) opened under the theme “What is truth? Ethical and Practical Issues in the Use of Artificial Intelligence.” Truth in Jesus was discussed. What is truth? On October, 1, 2024, 1 the WCC plant to cohost a webinar titled, “Theology & Artificial Intelligence: Systematic and Denominational Perspectives.” But does the WCC have the truth or require one must accept falsehoods about the Holy Spirit to join? Is there an ‘AI Jesus’? Can AI programs like ChatGPT be helpful? Do many gloss over the actual original scriptures and believe traditions of men that are not in them? Should translators rely on tradition over koine Greek grammatical rules? Did Jesus teach that people could worship God in vain? Is it biblically-acceptable to add words to the prophecies of the Book of Revelation or elsewhere in the Word of God? Is God’s word truth? Are there false ministers that many accept, despite warnings from the Bible? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie go over these topics and more.

Here is a link to our video: AI and What is Truth?

Artificial intelligence is often artificial. And many who claim to be teaching the word of God are false and artificial themselves.

Real Christians believe the word of God and realize that it is truth.

Some items of related interest may include the following:

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.
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Greco-Roman Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
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.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
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.
CCOG and What is Truth? What does the Bible teach about truth? Does the CCOG teach the truth?

Gold bullion

COGwriter

Gold has recently hit record highs in many currencies.

Gold is so valuable, it is called a ‘precious metal.’ For most of its history, the USA dollar used to be directly convertible to gold. It no longer is. This, sadly, has been a factor in the USA simply creating money out of nothing–which has accelerated this past year or so because of government decisions related to various COVID-19 and other political decisions.

Going as far back as 1961, the USA was starting to not have enough gold to back its dollar, the Plain Truth reported:

Plain Truth, February 1961

Germany, Japan have the largest surpluses of GOLD and DOLLARS…Rich Uncle {Sam} has the greatest deficit in governmental history and a GREATER DEBT than all the REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED!…

Vast foreign aid programs drain the U.S. Treasury…American spending to supply services and to support our troops in foreign countries and military installations around the world amounts to … dollars flowing out of the frightened U.S. Treasury. All of these factors, combined with heavy taxes, gigantic public and private debt, and no gold backing for our own currency if foreign investors demanded gold for their dollars, adds up to the staggering revelation that the U.S., richest nation in the world, is bordering on bankruptcy! (Hill DJ. What the US Gold Crisis Means to You. Plain Truth. February 1961, p. 9).

France did finally cash in dollars for gold and this caused a crisis in the USA.

The USA went off the gold standard completely in 1971. About the same time it made a deal with Saudi Arabia to price oil in dollars. So, while this prevented “foreigners” from being able to redeem US dollars for something from the USA treasury, instead it meant that dollars could be used to buy oil. As other (mostly smaller) oil producers followed Saudi Arabia’s lead, this has served to support the US dollar for several decades.

The USA is now the most indebted nation that the world has ever seen. Many are concerned.

The old Worldwide Church of God published the following in the old Good News magazine:

Good News, Oct-Nov 1979

Of course, since gold is regarded as a disaster hedge by many investors, prudence might dictate that perhaps a small fraction of your liquid assets be in gold: (Caulkins J. WHEN MONEY FAILS. Good News, October-November 1979)

Those in Russia, China, India, and Europe are looking more towards gold, and less towards the USA dollar to back their economies and their currencies.

Back in 1971, the Plain Truth mentioned gold and that a currency coming out of Europe would replace the USA dollar:

Plain Truth, October 1971

FOR 40 YEARS, (1931 to 1971) the American dollar reigned supreme in world trade and finance. From 1945 to 1958, the dollar was considered better than gold to most developing economies. But by 1958 it was becoming evident that the dollar was weakening.

The United States, a war-time haven for three fourths of the world’s gold, began changing the earmarks of the gold buried in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City, and in Fort Knox, Kentucky, from “USA” to “France,” “Germany” and other nations. Ten years later, in 1968, claims on U. S. gold were running into the millions of dollars per day. More than $12 billion (half) of the U. S. gold was drained between 1958 and 1968, and much of that came in the last hectic months before March 1968, when the U. S. temporarily closed the gold window. …

On August 15, 1971, President Nixon revealed his new economic plan. One part of the strategy was to cut loose the dollar from gold, in effect letting it “float” in foreign transactions until natural market pressure would decide its best value…

The European Common Currency appears to be the most likely successor to the dollar in this long line of monetary dynasties. Europe is the only continent with sufficient gold backing…

… and What About Gold?

The gold standard is not sacred. It is only about 100 years old in the history of man, a product of evolution as much as any social institution. But in a world of sovereign powers, there must be some standard to finance international trade and domestic currency. Gold has the confidence of more people than any other standard, especially in Europe. (Alexander G. America faces “The Dollar Crisis”. Plain Truth magazine, October 1971, pp. 3-4)

Is Europe the continent with enough gold backing for its own currency still today?

Yes!

As far as who has the most gold now, notice the following from Trading Economics:

Source link: https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/gold-reserves Country Last Previous Reference Unit United States 8133 8133 Jun/24 Tonnes Germany 3352 3352 Jun/24 Tonnes Italy 2452 2452 Jun/24 Tonnes France 2437 2437 Jun/24 Tonnes Russia 2336 2333 Jun/24 Tonnes China 2264 2262 Jun/24 Tonnes Switzerland 1040 1040 Mar/24 Tonnes Japan 846 846 Jun/24 Tonnes India 841 822 Jun/24 Tonnes Netherlands 612 612 Jun/24 Tonnes Turkey 585 570 Jun/24 Tonnes Euro Area 507 507 Jun/24 Tonnes Taiwan 422 424 Mar/24 Tonnes Portugal 383 383 Jun/24 Tonnes Poland 377 359 Jun/24 Tonnes Uzbekistan 371 371 Mar/24 Tonnes Saudi Arabia 323 323 Mar/24 Tonnes United Kingdom 310 310 Jun/24 Tonnes Kazakhstan 299 311 Jun/24 Tonnes Lebanon 287 287 Mar/24 Tonnes Spain 282 282 Jun/24 Tonnes Austria 280 280 Jun/24 Tonnes Thailand 235 235 Jun/24 Tonnes Singapore 229 237 Jun/24 Tonnes Belgium 227 227 Jun/24 Tonnes Algeria 174 174 Mar/24 Tonnes Venezuela 161 161 Mar/24 Tonnes Libya 147 147 Mar/24 Tonnes Philippines 146 159 Mar/24 Tonnes Iraq 146 143 Mar/24 Tonnes Brazil 130 130 Jun/24 Tonnes Egypt 127 126 Jun/24 Tonnes Sweden 126 126 Jun/24 Tonnes South Africa 125 125 Jun/24 Tonnes Mexico 120 120 Jun/24 Tonnes Greece 114 114 Jun/24 Tonnes Qatar 106 103 Jun/24 Tonnes South Korea 104 104 Mar/24 Tonnes Romania 104 104 Jun/24 Tonnes Hungary 94.49 94.49 Jun/24 Tonnes Australia 79.87 79.87 Jun/24 Tonnes Kuwait 78.97 78.97 Mar/24 Tonnes Indonesia 78.57 78.57 Mar/24 Tonnes United Arab Emirates 74.5 73.63 Mar/24 Tonnes Jordan 70.07 66.67 Jun/24 Tonnes Denmark 66.5 66.55 Jun/24 Tonnes Pakistan 64.69 64.68 Jun/24 Tonnes Argentina 61.74 61.74 Jun/24 Tonnes Belarus 54.05 53.99 Jun/24 Tonnes Finland 49.02 49.02 Jun/24 Tonnes Cambodia 41.85 42.61 Mar/24 Tonnes Czech Republic 41.49 35.57 Jun/24 Tonnes Bulgaria 40.87 40.87 Jun/24 Tonnes Serbia 40.67 39.95 Mar/24 Tonnes Malaysia 38.88 38.88 Jun/24 Tonnes Bolivia 34.79 34.79 Mar/24 Tonnes Peru 34.67 34.67 Mar/24 Tonnes Slovakia 31.69 31.69 Jun/24 Tonnes Ukraine 27.06 27.06 Jun/24 Tonnes

The continental European gold reserves listed amount to about 11540 tons. And this does not count Russia, the UK, or the European nations that are not in the top part of the list or what Europeans may claim from the IMF.

Back to 1971, notice also the following:

Plain Truth, May 1971

Momentous, historic events are transforming … Europe. But most Americans are “asleep at the switch” to what is happening. It’s time for a self-centered America to wake up – before her allies become her enemies. Envision the startling future of … Europe. A … union … surpassing both the United States and the Soviet Union in economic strength, possessing for the first time worldwide political power and influence. One news source recently called it an “enormous, physically powerful beast.” A new … Europe controlling perhaps half of all world trade, by exclusive arrangements with dozens of nations who produce raw materials. A “United States of Europe” possessing one single currency – a currency so strong that it will replace the U. S. dollar as the kingpin currency of world trade. (Hogberg G. EUROPE’S COMMON MARKET RISING WORLD COLOSSUS. Plain Truth, May 1971)

Now, Europe does have its own currency–a currency that some see as the logical replacement for the US dollar for world trade–especially because of US sanctions, etc. As far as waking up before Europe becomes an enemy, Lamentations 1:1-2 is a prophecy that shows that allies will become enemies.

The time will come when the USA dollar will be worthless and gold will be even more valuable.

A while back, a reader sent me an email that contained the following from a company called Swiss America:

In the gold market there is a cold war climate: For the first time in 50 years, central banks bought over 640 tons of gold bars last year, almost twice as much as in 2017 and the highest level raised since 1971, when U.S. President Richard Nixon closed the era of the gold standard.

The interesting fact is that the European central banks, together with the Asian ones, have been the most aggressive in their purchases. Is this fear of the euro crisis and currency wars?

In reality, and this is especially true in Europe, behind the great maneuvers with gold reserves there is not only the traditional protective shield against major risks; there is also the call of opportunity. A reminder of which few still seem to know, though the appointment is now a matter of a few weeks: March 29, 2019. The day of judgment for the Brexit will also be the advent for the gold market.

It is not clear whether by choice or by chance, the Bank of International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, called the “central bank of central banks,” for its key role in the world financial system, has set an appointment with the story for March 29: Resurrection of the gold standard in the banking world.

Well, I wrote the following related to that back then:

March 29th isn’t the final date, but we are seeing various nations moving more towards gold accumulation and some type of at least implied gold standard.

Back in 2019, Romania proposed repatriating its gold. Notice the following:

Romania’s Social Democrat Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea and PSD senator Serban Nicolae have proposed legislation that requires the National Bank of Romania (BNR) to hold most of its gold reserves domestically. …

While the central bank does keep some gold in its vaults in Bucharest, the majority of gold is held in the United Kingdom with the Bank of England. https://www.kitco.com/news/2019-02-28/Romania-Proposes-to-Repatriate-95-Of-Its-Gold.html

The proposed legislation has been filed for debate in the Senate under urgent procedure. https://www.kitco.com/news/2019-02-28/Romania-Proposes-to-Repatriate-95-Of-Its-Gold.html

Notice something also from March 2018:

March 13, 2018

– Hungarian National Bank (MNB) to repatriate 100,000 ounces gold from Bank of England
– Follows trend of Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Belgium each looking to bring gold back to home soil …

Whilst many in the West are dismissive about gold, the behaviour of central banks suggests quite a different mindset. …

Gold cannot be devalued as the euro, dollar, sterling and all fiat currencies currently are. …

By adding gold to their reserves they are gaining equal footing with Western banks who have so far tried to dominate under a US-centric financial system. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-03-13/hungarys-gold-repatriation-adds-growing-protest-against-us-dollar-hegemony

Partially because of nationalism, partially because of Brexit, partially because of sanctions threats, and partially because of moves to not be as dependent upon the US dollar, various nations have been repatriating and/or increasing gold reserves.

The Russians and Chinese have been making gold moves (watch US Dollar being challenged by Gold-Petro-Yuan). Russia and China are working towards a world where the US dollar is not the world’s primary reserve currency and a world where gold rises up (see The End of US Dollar Dominance).

The US dollar will collapse as scriptures like Habakkuk 2:6-8 and Daniel 11:39 point to. Daniel 11:39 is the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) also known as the Great Tribulation.

The world will have been used to the stability of the US dollar and Europe will want to try to have that type of confidence in its currency. It will get more gold!

Consider the following:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39).

The “he” is the European King of the North. The “land” will likely not be the only thing he will gain–as that would include whatever other wealth he can plunder from the USA–and that would include getting Fort Knox and other gold in the USA.

Furthermore, the Bible clearly shows that gold will have value into at least the first couple of years of the Great Tribulation–and that the Europeans will also value it.

Notice the following:

40 “At the time of the end … 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; (Daniel 11:40,43)

Verse 43 occurs during the time known as the Great Tribulation.

As far as Egypt and gold goes, notice the following:

“If you look at the potential of the mineral resources in Egypt, it’s very significant,” says Yousef Husseini, Vice President of EFG Hermes.

“The Egyptian mineral resource authority has identified over 120 gold deposits in the eastern desert alone, so that gives you an idea of the tip of the iceberg out there.”

“It’s going to add a lot of GDP growth,” Husseini adds. For now, only one large mine, the Sukari Gold Mine, is operating in the region — with an output of around 500,000 ounces per year.

Overall, the industry makes up a mere 1.3% of Egypt’s GDP, according to the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority, but the government hopes to expand that to 5% over the next ten years. https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/14/africa/new-golden-age-egypt/index.html

As far as Europe, gold, and the tribulation go, notice the following:

10 … ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. (Revelation 18:10-13)

This shows us that gold and silver were important during the time of the final Babylon as people are mourning about gold after the Great Tribulation has ended and Babylon is destroyed.

There are no similar statements backing up the future value of paper items, like the US dollar or the British pound (scripture, indirectly, teaches their elimination, for details see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). Daniel 11:24 shows that the leader mentioned in Daniel 11:43 will somehow also be accumulating wealth prior to this time, and that may involve gold accumulation.

Perhaps to back up a European-supported currency, he also may end up with personal and/or national gold reserves and/or wealth from the Vatican. The Vatican has a vast amount of wealth and is prophesied to be improperly involved with the kings of the earth in the end times per Revelation 17.

Now this does NOT mean that gold will only go up in value. It will have ups and downs and probably will drop in value once associated with the temporary peace deal that Daniel 9:27 alludes to (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic prophecies discuss gold in the end times.

Notice the following Orthodox prophecy:

Saint Andrew Fool-for-Christ (c. 4th century): This king will rule…Happiness will reign in the world as it did in the days of Noah. People will become very rich…The entire world will fear this king…he will pursue all persons of the Jewish religion out of Constantinople…and the people will rejoice like in the time of Noah until the deluge came God will reveal to this king all the gold wherever it happen to lay concealed from view…(Tzima Otto, H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenika Press, Rock City (SC), 2000, pp. 113,114).

While the above seems to look forward to the coming ‘days of Noah,’ Jesus warned about that:

26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27)

Those who will think the coming ‘days of Noah’ are good, are not understanding Jesus’ teachings.

Emperor Leo the Philosopher (c. early 10th century): You will amass the gold of the nations…And you will be the leader of the surrounding powers…and those that are near will prostate themselves before your feet (Tzima Otto, pp. 76-77).

To Emperor Manuel II (d. 1425): …upon the command of the the good Emperor they will go and discover treasures of gold and silver and all this will be offered as a gift to the pious ones; later on more and more valuable treasures will be found and the Emperor will do with those treasures likewise (Tzima Otto, p. 102).

Roman Catholics may wish to consider that those last three Orthodox predictions sound a lot like prophecies from two of their saints about Antichrist (Ephrem is also an Orthodox saint):

Saint Ephrem (died 375): Antichrist will use worldly goods as bait. He will entice many Christians with money and goods to apostatize…The devil will help him find all the hidden treasures of the world, even those at the bottom of the ocean. With those treasures he will attain greater success for the reign of Satan than at any other time in past centuries (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp.73.74).

Saint Mechtilda (died 1299): Antichrist will, through base and false strategem, and with presents of gold and gems, attain influence over the worldly princes. They will look up to him as their Lord and God (Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist, pp. 133-134).

So does the Great Monarch amass gold with God’s help like Orthodox prophecies suggest or does he amass gold with the help of Satan, as at least one Catholic saint and certain biblical prophecies (Daniel 11:43; Revelation 18; 9:20) indicate?

The answer should be obvious to all who wish to believe the God of the Bible. The Bible is clear that those who amass gold at the end time will find it is not the answer:

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. (James 5:1-3)

While I do not have the confidence in gold as many ‘gold bugs’ do (basically, because of scripture and the fact that gold has a limited utility), the time will come when the USA will wish it had more gold, as its practice of electronically printing and borrowing its own money will create a massive problem for it (Habakkuk 2:6-8).

But have no doubt about it, the Bible prophesies that during the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22; Daniel 11:39-43; Revelation 18:12,16) that nations around the world will value gold. During that time, there will be no US dollar prominence.

Unlike the USA dollar, gold seems to be prophesied to retain value past the time the USA is gone (cf. Daniel 11:43; Revelation 18)–though it too will end up with issues and will one day be worthless (Ezekiel 7: 19).

The Babylonian European Beast power will control a lot of gold.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) is pleased to announce the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Gold is so valuable it is called a precious metal. What nation has the most of it? Is there an area of nations with more? Will gold last longer than the USA dollar? Are there properties about the Beast and/or the Antichrist in the Bible that show that the European Babylonian Beast power will amass gold during the time of the Great Tribulation? Are there Eastern Orthodox prophecies that look forward to this? Are there biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies that warn against this? Are European central banks already accumulating gold? Did Swiss America state that some central banks are leaning towards a gold standard? Might the coming King of the North accumulate gold to use to help shore up his currency after the demise of the US dollar? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: Beast Prophecies and European Gold.

The Europeans are in the process of accumulating gold and will amass more gold shortly after the start of the Great Tribulation.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? 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? Two videos of related interest are Beast Prophecies and European Gold and Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Jesus Returning, David’s Throne, and the Stone of Destiny Will Jesus return to the throne of David? What about the Stone of Scone? Here is a link to a related video: Stone of Destiny and Jesus’ Return.
The End of US Dollar Dominance Is the USA losing its economic status? What about the petro-gold-yuan? A related video is also available: US Dollar being challenged by Gold-Petro-Yuan.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos. Here is a link to a related sermon: Physical preparedness for Christians.
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is also available titled: Real Christian Repentance.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Do Christians Sin? This is an article by Herbert W. Armstrong.
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 a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
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
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
Does 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 20xx? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?

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

COGwriter

Back in 2014, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople met together and announced an intended ecumenical meeting in honor of the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.:

May 29, 2014

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – On his return from Jerusalem , where he met with Pope Francis at the Holy Sepulchre, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, has revealed an important appointment for unity between Catholics and Orthodox: a gathering at Nicaea in 2025, where the first real ecumenical council of the undivided Church was celebrated.

Speaking exclusively with AsiaNews, Bartholomew says that together with Pope Francis “we agreed to leave as a legacy to ourselves and our successors a gathering in Nicaea in 2025, to celebrate together, after 17 centuries , the first truly ecumenical synod, where the Creed was first promulgated”. 
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Bartholomew:-With-Francis,-we-invite-all-Christians-to-celebrate-the-first-synod-of-Nicaea-in-2025-31213.html

As far as the Creed goes, you may wish to check out the article What Was the Original Apostles’ Creed? What is the Nicene Creed?

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew announced that Pope Francis intends to attend the anniversary personally according to the Roman Catholic news agency Zenit:

Pope Francis Will Visit Turkey in May 2025, Says Patriarch of Constantinople

Next May, Pope Francis will undertake a significant trip to Turkey, an event that promises to be both ecumenical as well as politically relevant. This journey, announced by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, will commemorate the 1700 years of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, held in 325 in present day Iznik, Turkey.

Bartholomew I revealed that both religious leaders have agreed to celebrate this important anniversary at the end of May. Up to now, the Holy Father had mentioned this event as a possibility, but now the Patriarch has confirmed the date. This meeting will not only be a historical celebration, but also an opportunity for the Orthodox and Catholic Churches to discuss the possibility of unifying the date of Easter. At present, these Churches celebrate Easter on different dates, due to the use of the Gregorian (Catholics) and Julian (Orthodox) calendars. Although the Assembly of the Orthodox Bishops of Istanbul has shown its support to a common date, a concrete proposal is yet to be presented. In 2025, Easter will fall on the same day, April 20, for both Christian Traditions.

Pope Francis’ trip will have a broader framework, namely, the 2025 Ordinary Jubilee. https://zenit.org/2024/09/10/pope-francis-will-visit-turkey-in-may-2025-says-patriarch-of-constantinople/

Regarding Pope Francis’ “Jubilee” check out the following post from this earlier this Summer: ‘Pope Francis invites Orthodox delegation to participate in Jubilee 2025 and confesses he wants to go to Nicaea’ and Roman ‘Catholic church in Portland hosts Tibetan Buddhist monks for talk on non-Christian meditation’.

Back in 2014, we put together the following video:

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

10:44

3rd Council of Nicea in 2025?

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

Written information on the first Council of Nicea is included in the post Ecumenical meeting in Nicea planned for 2025: What happened in 325 and what could happen in/by 2025?

It still looks like this third council will take place.

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

But it is not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Protestant scholar H. Brown noted:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notice what a former priest wrote about Constantine:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(ABC promotional photo)

COGwriter

Voice of America reported the following related to the debate last night between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris:

Harris, Trump spar from start of their presidential debate

Updated September 11, 2024

U.S. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump had never met until their presidential debate Tuesday night, but immediately started sparring in a pivotal encounter leading up to the national election on November 5.

The two candidates shook hands at the outset, took their places behind lecterns on a stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and then started assailing each other.

They feuded about the U.S. economy, abortion rights for American women, immigration at the U.S. border with Mexico, the Israeli war against Hamas militants in Gaza, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol as Congress certified that Trump had lost the 2020 election.

Referring to the 2020 election that Trump lost to President Joe Biden, Harris said, “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people. He has a very difficult time processing that.”

Trump recently said he lost the election “by a whisker,” but on the debate stage Tuesday, he said it was a sarcastic remark and refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 outcome. …

the world’s top pop singer, Taylor Swift, endorsed the Democrat as the debate ended.

Standing a short distance away from each other, the two candidates shook their heads at each other’s comments, with Harris all but laughing out loud at some of Trump’s remarks. ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis gamely tried to control the flow of the encounter, failing at times. …

On Tuesday, Harris, a former local criminal prosecutor in San Francisco and attorney general in California accustomed to tough courtroom encounters with defense attorneys, repeatedly baited Trump with insults.

At one point, she told him that his staunchest supporters at his political rallies often left early because they were bored with his speeches.

He described her as a Marxist, saying she was taught well by her father, a leftist economist. “This is a radical left liberal,” Trump said of Harris. …

Trump assailed Biden and Harris’ handling of the U.S. economy, the world’s largest, saying the U.S. is becoming “Venezuela on steroids.” She said his plan for imposing up to 20% tariffs on imported foreign goods would prove to be a “Trump sales tax” for American consumers.

She blamed him for the end to a constitutional right to abortion with his appointment of three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. He said that with the 2022 ruling, voters in individual states could now decide the issue.

“The government and Trump should not be telling” women what to do with their bodies, Harris said.

Trump blamed Harris as part of the Biden administration’s failure to control the masses of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump has said he plans to deport 11 million or more undocumented migrants living in the U.S. but twice dodged Muir’s question of how he would arrest people and send them back to their home countries. …

Speaking to reporters after the debate, Republican Senator Tom Cotton questioned why Harris has not worked to implement her policy proposals during her time as vice president.

“Kamala Harris wouldn’t answer questions about what she’s going to do for the American people and kept trying to shift onto other topics. Understandably, Donald Trump defended himself, but what he did the best job of is explaining that things were good when he was president and they have not been good for the last four years.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said it was Trump who failed to explain what he would bring to a new term in office.

“The real question is, what does Donald Trump stand for? You can have a conversation about how some of Kamala Harris’ positions have changed, as all of our positions have changed over the years based on new information, or we can ask ourselves did Donald Trump articulate a single plan tonight to help the American people? Besides his reiteration of his belief that we should build a wall with Mexico, I don’t think he talked about one single plan — no healthcare plan, no housing plan, no plan to increase wages.” https://www.voanews.com/a/harris-trump-set-for-tuesday-debate-/7778157.html

The candidates debated, but tended to avoid biblical solutions in their responses.

Furthermore, I saw both of the candidates lie, or at least use hyperbole, to say things that were not so.

After the debate, I saw people on CNN who were excited about Kamala Harris’ strident pro-abortion positions as a reason to vote for her. The idea of voting for a candidate because that candidate is more in favor of murdering unborn babies is a disturbing commentary on the state of the US. Regarding a recent Donald Trump policy statement, check out my post: Donald Trump calls for 100% tariffs against nations looking to drop the US dollar–a move of desperation that, at best, delays the inevitable–but at worst, could accelerate it. 

Whoever gets elected will take steps which will help result in the end of the US–which is coming per Isaiah 10:5-11; Daniel 11:39; and Habakkuk 2:6-9.

The so-called fact checkers at ABC during the debate were biased as they 1) mainly focused on statements from Donald Trump, 2) sometimes claimed some true facts from Donald Trump were false and 3) they failed to fact check most of Kamala Harris’ falsehoods.

One of the reason that I am careful about relying on the so-called “fact checkers” on the internet is because they have repeatedly been shown to be highly biased and frequently wrong, though sometimes they can be right.

Anyway, there was a lot of hypocrisy in the debate as well as in the media related to the debate.

The US does not have an unbiased news media focused on facts or truth, but mainly a bunch of political advocates, some of whom are much more hypocritical than others.

The Bible, KJV translation, predicts the end of “an hypocritical nation” (Isaiah 10:5-11).

Now as far as Taylor Swift goes, I have wondered when that promoter of immorality would endorse Kamala Harris publicly. I thought she might hold off until October, but she decided instead to do so after the debate last night:

Taylor Swift is entering her 2024 election era.

The mega pop star has thrown her support behind Vice President Harris, just under two months out from the election … in a post to her more than 280 million followers on Instagram. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/10/nx-s1-5107976/taylor-swift-instagram-endorse-kamala-harris

September 11, 2024

After last night’s Presidential debate, the pop star publicly endorsed Kamala Harris because “she is a steady-handed, gifted leader” who fights for “LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body. . .”

I really try to keep an open mind and understand other people’s opinions. But I personally have an extremely difficult time comprehending how someone thinks abortion and LGBTQ rights are the most important problems facing the country right now.

This is a pivotal moment in history. The United States is in serious decline. Among other critical challenges, the national debt is $35 trillion and is set to grow by at least $22 trillion over the next decade (according to the government’s own forecasts).

The impact of this extreme debt level cannot be overstated. The US dollar will almost certainly lose its reserve status, inflation will soar, and the government will most likely default on key promises like Social Security. (Hickman J. Schiff Newsletter, September 11, 2024)

Promoting sin is not a biblical reason to endorse someone.

What about the two debaters?

As long time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware, as posted here many times before, I consider that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are evil.

Without going into unique specifics, let’s consider how they are similar:

1. They do not live like a member of their professed faiths is supposed to try to live.
2. They support LGBTQ matters.
3. They have not called for national repentance.
4. They have not sought first the Kingdom of God.
5. One is an adulterer and the other an adulteress.
6. They have all been involved in Administrations that greatly increased USA debt.
7. They have all been involved in Administrations that have upset the Europeans.
8. They have all been accused of hypocrisy.
9. They both have made a lot of public lies–including in the debate last night.
10. None have the real solutions for what the USA needs.

Now, I am not trying to say that there are no differences. Yes, I know they have differing economic and climate policies as well as different views on abortion and racial matters.

Notice that simply approving the LGBT agenda is condemned by the Bible:

26 … For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

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

Yes, the USA election is a choice between evil ones. But do not place your hope in any human political leader.

Now, let’s look at some of what the scriptures teach are to be traits of godly leaders starting with something God had Moses write:

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)

Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump are leaders who could be called “men of truth,” nor do they truly endorse God’s laws and statutes nor do they hate covetousness.

Notice something else from the Bible:

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)

Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump are just nor do they intend to rule in the fear of the true God.

Hence, they are not people that Christians should endorse.

Voting for Kamala Harris or voting for Donald Trump will not save the US.

The Psalmist wrote:

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. (Psalm 146:3)

Furthermore, the Bible warns:

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.

The Bible warns:

12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths. (Isaiah 3:12)

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).

And that second verse applies to both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Related to Trump or Harris, we put together the following video:

14:24

Trump vs Harris vs Scripture

Are Donald Trump and Kamala Harris qualified to be President of the United States according to its Constitution? Does the adulterer Donald Trump’s record as a businessman who declared bankruptcy multiple times and who was once President of the USA make him the best choice? Does Kamala Harris’ political positions, one or more were related to adultery, and then later being Vice-President make her the best choice? What about their positions on adultery and LGBTQ matters? Do either of them meet the biblical requirements to be leaders? Could they both be evil? Should Christians put their faith in leaders or in Jesus and His Kingdom? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie go over these points.

Here is a link to our video: Trump vs Harris vs Scripture.

Put your faith in Jesus and the coming Kingdom of God, not in US elections.

We are to pray as Jesus said for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done (Matthew 6).

God will decide who He wants in various offices:

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)

By voting, one could be voting against God’s will. God’s people do not want to be found fighting against God (Acts 5:39). Once, in the 1970s, I actually voted in an election. But for some reason, I decided not to vote for attorney general. If I would have voted for the office, I probably would have voted for the man that won–a man that later had a massive lawsuit against the Church of God I was part of in the late 1970s. Obviously, I would not have done that on purpose, but am glad that I did not accidentally assist in empowering one who was against the COG.

Notice also a disturbing comment from a secular source that generally supports democracy:

All political campaigns lie and mislead. We all know that, and that knowledge is “baked into the cake,” so to speak, when it comes to assessing candidates. (Bookman J. GM on Romney: ‘Campaign politics at its cynical worst.’ Atlanta Journal Constitution, October 31, 2012. http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/10/31/gm-on-romney-campaign-politics-at-its-cynical-worst/)

No candidate should lie or mislead. And while I am not agreeing with the statement that they all do, the reality is that it is not godly conduct to lie or mislead, and that not only reflects unfavourably on the candidates, but also the process of modern democracy.

Do NOT think that whoever may win the presidential election in 2024 will fix the problems in the US.

The US is doomed soon without national repentance, which is not expected (cf. Hosea 11:3a, 5b-7).

Yet, personal repentance is something all who are willing can do.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Might the U.S.A. Be Gone in 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?
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.
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.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.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?
Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else? Here is a link to a related sermon: USA in Prophecy: Samaria.
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 are two related items in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra? and Existe un Lugar de Seguridad.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
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.

United Airlines’ Flight 175 Hitting South Tower, 9/11/2001

COGwriter

On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists took over four commercial airliners and crashed them.

Much has been discussed about it:

September 10, 2024

If this week marks twenty-three years since 9/11, this year has already seen a significant anniversary linked to the attack: in July, the 9/11 Commission Report turned twenty. The report—a 567-page investigation compiled over eighteen months by a staff led by a bipartisan group of legislators—included eleven chapters detailing the cultural and geopolitical winds preceding the attacks, the histories of the groups involved, and the specific, time-stamped progression of what transpired in the day’s various theaters, including insight into how decisions were made in real time. Two additional chapters assigned accountability, discussed what lessons the various agencies involved ought to learn, and provided policy recommendations.  …

In the report’s ticktock of events on the morning of 9/11, for example, a summary of communications between Amy Sweeney and Betty Ong—two flight attendants onboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane to crash into the World Trade Center—is packed with vivid detail delivered with terse precision: “Sweeney calmly reported on her line that the plane had been hijacked; a man in first class had his throat slashed; two flight attendants had been stabbed—one was seriously hurt and was on oxygen while the other’s wounds seemed minor; a doctor had been requested; the flight attendants were unable to contact the cockpit; and there was a bomb in the cockpit.” …

The apportioning of political blame (or the appearance thereof) was also a delicate matter for the commission to navigate. But Zelikow says that the “highly contested environment” into which the report entered ended up making it better, forcing the commission to “concentrate on the facts” and pare the language to its barest essentials. “We actually thought that it would strengthen the narrative power [and] the credibility of the report overall,” Zelikow says. “Simply lay out the facts dispassionately—and not boringly.” https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/9_11_commission_report_journalism.php

The USA has spent massive amounts of money to ‘fight terrorism’ since then as well as taking political and military steps.

The USA spent trillions in Afghanistan to remove the Taliban, but they are in power again.

Those involved in the attack were basically jailed for decades without trial; see: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/justice-delayed-21-years-later-9-11-plotters-havent-faced-trial

But a deal was made with several of them in 2024–so, much for the idea of a speedy trial.

Furthermore as far as rights of American citizens go, since 9/11/2001, the USA government has eliminated almost all privacy, redefined marriage, redefined gender identity, had lockdowns, and made airline travel more difficult. Bible-believing Americans have lost many rights since 9/11:

September 11, 2021

The astronomical cost of the War on Terror, beyond lives lost and the $8 trillion all-in price tag, has included the end of American privacy and the erosion – and redefinition – of freedom… a permanent fear and distrust of the world around us…

Efforts to “win” the War on Terror, though, have been a slippery slope and have undercut some of the liberties the War on Terror was supposed to be defending. Today, “an abundance of caution” can lead to excessive and unnecessary – and ultimately counterproductive – efforts to contain COVID-19. And at the height of the War on Terror, there was no political upside to exercise restraint in the effort to fight Al Qaeda, particularly on American soil.

One result has been the construction of a surveillance society “in which the long-standing ‘wall’ between surveillance for law enforcement purposes and for intelligence gathering has been dismantled,” the American Bar Association explained.

An important part of this was the Patriot Act, the quick approval – and eventual de facto permanent institutionalization – of which stemmed from the “stop at nothing” attitude toward the War on Terror. …

The Patriot Act in effect loosened the restrictions that had long been a bedrock of the assumption of privacy on government entities acquiring personal information about citizens that could (possibly, perhaps, maybe) link them to terrorist activities. And just like bureaucracies don’t simply fold up and go away when their assigned task ends, laws that extend the power of government agencies – privacy, and his close friends, freedom and civil liberty, be damned – don’t instantaneously dissolve when the immediate threat has passed.

The Patriot Act has been trimmed and expanded, spun off, revamped, and reauthorized. Twenty years on, its evil spawn have hacked away at the privacy, liberties, and freedoms that Americans once took for granted.

And today, in the post-9/11, post-Edward Snowden world, there’s little doubt that they are listening… or rather, that they can whenever they feel like it – and that you’re as much a terrorist as you are a moon-shooting billionaire is irrelevant. (There’s a reason that if you’re talking on your cellphone as you drive by the Central Intelligence Agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, the reception regularly fails.)

Before 9/11, most people could, most of the time, assume a certain level of privacy. But no longer.

And since then, the threat is omnipresent… or at least that’s what you might think. Another effect of the War on Terror is that there’s always a reason to be afraid…

Permanent Fear

War on Terror bureaucracies – Exhibit A is the Department of Homeland Security, the proud employer of a quarter of a million Americans with a $50 billion budget – need a raison d’être. And in a world where data is power, government agencies – and the politicians who ostensibly oversee them – need a reason to collect more data. Like mojitos by the pool and flying Qatar Airways business class, there’s no such thing as enough, or too much, data.

And what better way to do that than to cultivate a sense of fear of terrorism – forever. America’s presidents since the grandfather of the War on Terror, George W. Bush, have regularly pulled the levers of the fear of terrorism to their benefit. (Is there anything that can not be justified by a mention of “chatter” about a potential terrorist attack?) https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/unseen-costs-war-terror

Of course, after losing rights and freedoms (see also ‘Americans less positive about civil liberties’), there are still terrorists and terrorism. While Satan uses fear, Christians should trust God (watch also Ten Plus Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear).

The USA, itself, should expect terror related to Afghanistan and others:

11:58

Afghanis: Potential terrorists?

Afghanistan has once again fallen under control of the Jihadist group known as the Taliban. Leaders in the USA and Europe have raised concerns that Afghanistan may again be a center for Al-Qaida and other Islamic terrorist organizations. The USA has discussed allowing tens of thousands (or more) Afghani refugees into its land. Are there potential terrorist risks associated with any such refugees like former White House advisor Jenna Ellis has warned? Might ‘Edomites’ in Afghanistan be involved in the destructive confederacy prophesied in the 83rd Psalm? Does the Quran allow for terrorism? Do Bible prophecies warn of terrorism coming to those who have corrupted themselves and have forsaken God? Will Twitter bans stop biblical prophecies from being fulfilled? Should the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expect more terrorism? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.

Here is a link to our video: Afghanis: Potential terrorists?

Plus, in the USA, we have many protests, riots, lootings, certain mass shootings, and other violent incidents that were not considered to be terrorist acts.

Notice also:

9/11 looks like it might have been the beginning of the end of the American empire.

It spawned the worst and most destructive foreign policy in the country’s history.

The government response to 9/11 birthed the constitutional abomination that is the modern warrantless surveillance state.

The Patriot Act enabled the government to weaponize its vast resources against its own people.

Bush’s failed foreign policy led to directly to Obama’s presidency, and indirectly to Biden’s, both of which are responsible for diminishing the U.S. at home and abroad, militarily and economically.

After two failed forever wars that wouldn’t have happened without 9/11, our government is now desperately trying to foment potentially nuclear forever war against Russia.

Meanwhile, all the massive surveillance powers claimed by the U.S. after 9/11 are being ruthlessly deployed against American political enemies of the regime via the most insidious censorship-industrial complex the world has ever seen.

And then there’s the crippling legacy of debt enabled by America’s response to 9/11.

Not content to spend trillions on poorly thought out invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, our leaders spent as thoughtlessly at home, creating insane amounts of new entitlements, while doing nothing to put the country on a sound financial footing.

And where are we today?

The ruling political party is criminalizing its opposition and attempting to throw its top political opponent and his supporters in prison, all under the guise of “democracy.”

We generally remember 9/11 as the day that the towers came down, but Sean leaves us pondering the most poignant question:

“I wonder if historians will look back on it as the day that America started to fall.” 09/11/23 https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/sean-davis-was-911-day-america-started-fall

While I would not say 9/11 was the day America started to fall. But I would agree with the idea that actions taken since then have changed the USA from a country with respect of law and privacy to one that is more totalitarian and unconstitutional.

Violent suppression of free speech from groups like Antifa, media censoring of speech by companies like Facebook and Google, the intentional ‘hiding’ of certain views by YouTube, anti-freedom of speech and religion rules in Canada, totalitarian decrees by government officials, etc. are a different type of terrorism. And the US government has helped push more censorship and persecution of those who hold views it does not like since 9/11.

Many have noticed.

Jesus warned:

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:24-25)

Ultimately, what will happen to the USA and Canada will be worse than Americans believe possible.

The bringing in of certain Syrian refugees, which both of those nations have also done, will not turn out well (cf. Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12). There are also major risks from Afghani refugees. Plus there are many terrorists who have entered the USA illegally in the past 3-4 years that are still waiting to take steps.

Furthermore, the Bible shows that the King of the North will invade the USA (Daniel 11:39) and in conjunction with the terrorism from the King of the South (Psalm 83:3-8). This will cause the end of the USA and this is at least alluded to in Deuteronomy 32:25. The King of the South will be a type of confederation of states in North Africa and the Middle East according to Daniel 11:40-43.

14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. (Leviticus 26:14-17)

25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25)

12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches…19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. (Psalms 73:12,19)

25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27)

5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way (Ecclesiastes 12:5).

What is going to happen to the USA relatively soon will be so much worse than 9/11/2001 ever was (cf. Psalm 83:4-8; Daniel 11:39). Do not wait until it is too late to respond spiritually, so that you may be protected physically. Bringing in Syrian and certain other migrants, which the USA did, sadly will likely result in some of them fulfilling some of the prophecies.

Without national repentance, the USA is doomed. Potentially having a new president will not stop that.

Since the USA seems to be going more into sin, national repentance seems unlikely. Yet, personal repentance is still possible. Do you see the winds of change in the USA and elsewhere?

If so, what do you plan to do about it?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Afghanis: Potential terrorists? Afghanistan has once again fallen under control of the Jihadist group known as the Taliban. Leaders in the USA and Europe have raised concerns that Afghanistan may again be a center for Al-Qaida and other Islamic terrorist organizations. The USA has discussed allowing tens of thousands (or more) Afghani refugees into its land. Are there potential terrorist risks associated with any such refugees like former White House advisor Jenna Ellis has warned? Might ‘Edomites’ in Afghanistan be involved in the destructive confederacy prophesied in the 83rd Psalm? Does the Quran allow for terrorism? Do Bible prophecies warn of terrorism coming to those who have corrupted themselves and have forsaken God? Will Twitter bans stop biblical prophecies from being fulfilled? Should the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expect more terrorism? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Orwell’s 1984 by 2024? In 1949, the late George Orwell wrote a disturbing book about a totalitarian government called “nineteen-eighty four.” Despite laws that are supposed to protect freedom of speech and religion, we are seeing governments taking steps consistent with those that Geroge Orwell warned against. We are also seeing this in the media, academia, and in private companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. With the advent of technology, totalitarianism beyond what Orwell wrote is possible. Does the Bible teach the coming a totalitarian state similar to George Orwell’s? What about the Antichrist and 666? Will things get worse? What is the solution? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
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.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
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.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Just What Do You Mean Conversion? Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Real Conversion Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion?
False Conversion! Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote an article on this important subject–but more scriptures have been added to it. How can you tell false conversion? A related video is also available: False Conversion.
All About Water Baptism What is baptism? Would you like to know more about it. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. As far as early history, see also Baptism and the Early Church.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does? Watch also Mystery of Race.
Predestination: Did God really call You? Why? Predestination? Is your ultimate fate decided for you in advance? Here is a link to a related video sermon: Predestination: What it is and what it is not. Another related video is Predestination and Pentecost.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? Here is a link to a related video video: Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
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.between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in Prophecy What is ahead for North Africa? What does the Bible teach?
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
The ‘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.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising. 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.
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?
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone in 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028? 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?
Ten Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear This is a vastly expanded version of a shorter article by the late Dr. Herman Hoeh on getting past fear. Here is a link to a related sermon: Ten Plus Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear.

COGwriter

Back in 2019, I posted the following news item by Politico:

European Union officials have drawn up an aggressive 173-page plan to counter both President Donald Trump’s trade moves and American tech giants including Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook.

According to a document obtained by POLITICO, European Commission officials are pushing their president-elect, Ursula von der Leyen, to set up a European Future Fund that would invest more than $100 billion in equity stakes in high-potential European companies.

The goal: get Europe competing head-on with the American and Chinese tech giants it has lagged behind for decades.

They’re also advocating for Europe to show more grit in Trump’s trade war, saying the EU should slap tariffs unilaterally on the United States. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/22/europe-plan-trump-tech-companies-1472326

Well, the European Union’s Court of Justice took a step that the US would not like:

Europe’s top court just delivered multi-billion-dollar blows to Apple and Google

September 10, 2024

Apple has lost its fight to dodge a €13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill following a ruling by Europe’s top court Tuesday, which dealt a blow to the world’s most valuable company just a day after the iPhone maker unveiled a host of product upgrades to boost sales.

The European Court of Justice also upheld a €2.4 billion ($2.6 billion) antitrust fine against Google, in a separate decision.

The two ECJ rulings are final, which means the companies cannot appeal them. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/10/tech/europe-ruling-apple-tax-google-fine/index.html

Google loses final EU court appeal against $2.7 billion fine in antitrust shopping case

September 10, 2024

Google lost its final legal challenge on Tuesday against a European Union penalty for giving its own shopping recommendations an illegal advantage over rivals in search results, ending a long-running antitrust case that came with a whopping fine.

The European Union’s Court of Justice upheld a lower court’s decision, rejecting the company’s appeal against the $2.7 billion penalty from the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top antitrust enforcer.

“By today’s judgment, the Court of Justice dismisses the appeal and thus upholds the judgment of the General Court,” the court said in a press release summarizing its decision.

The commission’s punished the Silicon Valley giant in 2017 for unfairly directing visitors to its own Google Shopping service to the detriment of competitors. It was one of three multibillion-dollar fines that the commission imposed on Google in the previous decade as Brussels started ramping up its crackdown on the tech industry.

“We are disappointed with the decision of the Court, which relates to a very specific set of facts,” Google said in a brief statement.

The company said it made changes in 2017 to comply with the commission’s decision requiring it to treat competitors equally. It started holding auctions for shopping search listings that it would bid for alongside other comparison shopping services.

“Our approach has worked successfully for more than seven years, generating billions of clicks for more than 800 comparison shopping services,” Google said.

At the same time, the company appealed the decision to the courts. But the EU General Court, the tribunal’s lower section, rejected its challenge in 2021 and the Court of Justice’s adviser later recommended rejecting the appeal.

European consumer group BEUC hailed the court’s decision, saying it shows how the bloc’s competition law “remains highly relevant” in digital markets.

“Google harmed millions of European consumers by ensuring that rival comparison shopping services were virtually invisible,” director general Agustín Reyna said. “Google’s illegal practices prevented consumers from accessing potentially cheaper prices and useful product information from rival comparison shopping services on all sorts of products, from clothes to washing machines.” https://www.voanews.com/a/google-loses-final-eu-court-appeal-against-2-7-billion-fine-in-antitrust-shopping-case-/7778300.html

September 10, 2024

“The European Commission is trying to retroactively change the rules and ignore that, as required by international tax law, our income was already subject to taxes in the US. We are disappointed with today’s decision as previously the general court reviewed the facts and categorically annulled this case,” Apple wrote in a statement to The Guadrian.

Bloomberg Intelligence’s Anurag Rana and Andrew Girard weighed in on Apple’s defeat:

“The EU top court’s reinstatement of a €13 billion tax penalty against Apple doesn’t pose significant operational threat. Apple put the sum in escrow after the 2016 ruling, and disclosed nearly $62 billion in cash and marketable securities in 3Q. Ireland has tightened the tax program that underpinned the EU’s decision, leaving little risk of further action. Pending EU inquiries into the App Store, brought under a new legal regime, pose a more tangible challenge as they are likely to force Apple to open its walled ecosystem.”

Apple shares in premarket trading in New York were down a little over 1%.

“Today is a big win for European citizens and for tax justice.

The Court of Justice confirms that Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland now has to recover, and the Commission’s decision in the Google Shopping antitrust case.” https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/big-win-eus-vestager-celebrates-apple-loses-eu13bn-ireland-tax-bill-case

— Executive Vice President @vestager pic.twitter.com/1Fko0F66S2

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) September 10, 2024

Yes, many in the EU see this as a big win.

Europe, however, still has concerns about trade with the US.

Notice the following from earlier this year:

EU fears trade war if Trump reelected – Bloomberg

8 February 2024

The EU is bracing itself for a possible trade war with the US if Donald Trump wins the presidential election in November, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing an anonymous official within the bloc.

The European Commission is working on a formal economic assessment of how a Trump victory would impact member states, the source told the business news agency, without offering details of Brussels’ potential response.

In a separate article based on interviews with Trump campaign insiders, Bloomberg reported that his administration would impose a minimum 10% tariff on imports from the EU, the same as for China.

Another proposal involves retaliation for the taxes imposed by Brussels on digital services in the past several years, which have targeted US-based tech giants such as Meta and Amazon. The counteraction would be launched under provisions in the Trade Act of 1974, which Trump deployed during his first term to address trade imbalances with foreign nations, sources explained. https://www.rt.com/news/592059-eu-us-trade-war/

Yes, there are trade concerns that the Europeans have about the US and specifically Donald Trump. Massive fines against US companies is something Donald Trump and perhaps even Kamala Harris will tend to remember when it comes to trade talks.

Here is part of number 8 of my list of 24 items to prophetically watch in 2024:

8. Trade …

Expect more trade conflict between Europe and the USA and UK. …

Europe will work on getting more of the world to accept its standards and trading matters. This will help Europe ultimately dominate trade.

For a time, Babylon will dominate world trade:

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:2-3).

While ‘Babylon’ will not fully reign in 2024, with the USA pulling out of trade deals and/or wishing to change them, steps are occurring that are pushing Europe to dominate trade (watch Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass?).

Europe has long wanted to push past US computer-related tech, and now its fine against Google and the tax matter against Apple will slightly hurt hurt those US firms while slightly aiding the EU budget.

Europe, itself, will have economic distress before it unites to fulfill its prophesied economic dominance on the world. But for a time it will succeed.

Notice some of what is shown in places such as Revelation 18 discussing some of the reach of the end time European Babylon:

3 … all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:3)

9 The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her … 19 in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (Revelation 18:9,19)

Europe does not have to be perfect to do this, but be perceived, for a time, as the best economic option for the world.

Although it does not look like that now to most people, Europe is prophesied to do so.

Trade will be a factor in what can be called World War III–and this war will be a conflict with Europe (but the ‘shooting’ aspect of this will not happen before 2027; for some details, see When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).

We continue to see steps that are leading up to it.

COGwriter

Israel365News posted the following:

Pope visits largest Muslim nation: Signing end of days Esau-Ishmael alliance against Israel

September 10, 2024

Pope Francis embarked on a 12-day tour of four nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania, beginning his tour with a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population in the world. In Jakarta, the pope met with Indonesia’s grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, at the entrance to the “Tunnel of Friendship” which connects Istiqlal Mosque to the nearby Catholic Cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption. …

Pope Francis expanded his agenda of solidifying a relationship between the Catholic Church and Islam by initiating The Istiqlal Declaration signed by Francis and Umar at a formal ceremony in the tent on the Istiqlal Mosque compound. …

During a 2019 visit to the Gulf, Francis and the imam of Al-Azhar, the 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni learning, launched a “Human Fraternity” movement calling for greater Christian-Muslim efforts to promote peace worldwide. More recently, Francis traveled to Najaf, Iraq, in 2021 to visit the top Shiite cleric, who delivered a message of peaceful coexistence.

Since ascending to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has worked openly to unite Esau and Ishmael by enhancing Christian-Muslim relations. This alliance implicitly threatens Israel, the spiritual descendant of their mutual Biblical nemesis. In 2019, Francis and Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, signed a statement about Jerusalem, referring to Israel’s capital as Al-Quds Acharif, the Arabic name for Jerusalem, minimizing the distinctive relationship between Jerusalem and the Jewish people. …

According to Rabbi Yechiel Weitzman author of The Ishmaelite Exile, this alliance of Christians and Muslims was predicted hundreds of years ago and is a sign of the End Times. According to Rabbi Weitzman, “The last stage in the process of Israel’s perfection will be characterized by the alliance between Ishmael and Esav (Esau), an alliance aimed at tormenting the entire world and the Jewish people in particular.”

The ancient Biblical connection between Esau and Ishmael is stated plainly in Genesis. Ishamael became Esau’s father-in-law when Esau married Ishmael’s daughter.

Rabbi Weitzman concluded, “At the very outset of history, Ishmael and Esav forged a bond through marriage. And so it shall be at the End of Days. The alliance between them will bring history to its culmination in the redemption.” https://israel365news.com/395904/pope-visits-largest-muslim-nation-signing-end-of-days-esau-ishmael-alliance-against-israel/

Yes, Pope Francis is working on an alliance with Muslims. And yes, there will be a temporary alliance between the Babylonian European King of the North Beast power and certain Islamic nations.

That is foretold in the Bible in places like the 83rd Psalm and the 11th chapter of Daniel.

But Yechiel Weitzman has some misunderstandings. While he would know that “Esau is Edom” (Genesis 36:8), he apparently does not realize that Edom (to a great degree) is Turkey.

Notice the following from the old Radio Church of God related to Psalm 83 and the peoples who are involved:

Turn to the astounding prophecy found in Psalm 83:1-8. David, inspired of God, predicted the coming time when ALL of Israel’s enemies would join together in an effort to crush out even the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! (Verse 4) “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” (verse 5). Notice the nations making up this confederation. “Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [Jordan], and the Hagarenes [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal {Lebanon}, and Ammon [Jordan] and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [whose descendants migrated to Germany] is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” {Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan). Here we see that the Arab nations mentioned are allied with Germany (Assur) which we know from other prophecies will be the military leader — naturally so — of a United States of Europe…Egypt…will provoke the prophesied United Europe (Dan. 11:40). This European power — called the “king of the north” in Daniel 11 — shall invade and occupy the “glorious land” of Palestine (verse 41). “And the land of Egypt shall not escape”(Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966)

Psalm 83 discusses a temporal alliance between the coming European power and various Islamic peoples against the descendants of Israel. But Ishmael and Edom are the Arabs and Turks, not the Muslims and ‘Christians,’ although many Muslim nations will be involved as well as some European nations that will, relatively soon, accept a changed form of Roman Catholicism. So, that is the alliance that will form.

Furthermore, Daniel 11 shows a lying deal will be made between the Muslims and Europeans. Notice some information related to it in our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:

Here are comments from Muslim writer Moustafa Zayed …:

The alliance between the Muslims and the Romans will help fight a major enemy … [i]

It is possible that this could relate to some biblical prophecies.

One set is found in the Book of Daniel:

¹⁵ So the king of the north … ²⁴ shall devise his plans against the strongholds … ²⁵ … And the king of the South … ²⁷ Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:15,24,25, 27)

In the above passages, we see that a lying deal is made between the king of the north (who is a European power) and the king of the south (who is a power of nations in the Middle East and North Africa)—but what the deal itself is all about is not specified. If it has to do with the power with the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:39), that would be a major power they would be agreeing to defeat.

[i] Zayed M. The Prophesies of Muhammad. CreateSpace, 2012, p. 236

So, yes, the Bible (as well as Islam) tells of a coming alliance.

There is also information about a temporary peace deal in the Bible as well as in Islamic writings. Here is information from our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:

Islam and the Bible Look for a Peace Deal

In Islam, there are hadithic writings that say there will be a treaty, like a seven-year peace deal with a Roman Catholic European leader, that will be broken:

Rasaullah [Muhammed] said: “There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans [Christians]. The fourth agreement will be mediated through a person who will be the progeny of Hadrat Haroon [Honorable Aaron — Moses’ brother] and will be upheld for seven years.[i]

There will be a treaty between you and the Romans, then they will betray you and march against you with eighty banners, under each of which will be twelve thousand (troops). (Sunan Ibn Majah 4042, Book 36, Hadith 117)

General anarchy and bloodshed, that no Arab household will be spared from it Then a life of peace as a result of a peace agreement between you and the Banil Asfaar (Romans) which they will break and attack you with a force consisting of eighty flags and under each flag will be an army of twelve thousand men.[ii]

To varying degrees, those treaty writings appear to be consistent with the following biblical prophecy:

²⁶ And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷ Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:26-27)

The above is referring to a deal or covenant that has a time element attached to it. The “one week” time element has generally been understood anciently to mean a seven-year deal (e.g. early 3^rd century by Hippolytus of Rome [iii]), that will be broken in the middle of it (after 3 1/2 years, which is a half of a week, also per the 2^nd century Irenaeus of Lyon [iv]). The “with many” would seem to indicate that multiple nations, as opposed to one or two, are agreeing to something.

The one biblically called a “prince” will be some type of leader of the final developing European empire. One way to show this is a European reference is to realize that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1^st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed “the city” (Jerusalem) “and the sanctuary” (the Jewish Temple) in 70 A.D.

Because of other biblical passages (Daniel 8:25; 11:23-24), this “covenant” is generally considered to be a “peace deal” by prophecy watchers. Bible prophecy refers to a coming leader of lands in North Africa and the Middle East currently dominated by Islam as the “King of the South.” Whether, or how, the coming King of the South of Daniel 11 may be involved in the deal of Daniel 9:27 is not directly specified. However, it might be implied from biblical prophecies in Daniel 11, as well as Islamic prophecy, that one considered as the Imam Mahdi (or a “great caliph”) is involved.

Anyway, both biblical and Islamic prophecy tell of a time when there is a peace deal between the Europeans and others in Islamic-dominated lands that will one day be broken.

The Bible tells of a future confrontation between the European King of the North and the apparently Islamic King of the South. The old Worldwide Church of God taught:

Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north” — called in Bible symbolism “the beast” — who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there … {will} emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south” — an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly even bearing the very title Mahdi! And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head … devastating war in the Middle East![v]

The confirmation of a seven-year portion of some “peace” agreement by the relatively powerless “prince” is an event that will set off what could be considered the final clock of many prophesied end-time events. This seemingly includes pointing to the last 3 ½ years of the USA and its British-descended allies before they are conquered.

Since various Protestant and other prophecy watchers are also looking for this deal, it is likely it will not look obvious to most people when it is confirmed. But, make no mistake about it, this will be an important prophetic event, even though many looking for it will not believe it, even when it is told to them (cf. Habakkuk 1:5).

A confirmation of a particular deal with a time element in it by a European “prince” will set the countdown for the rise of the Beast and the destructive Great Tribulation.

That “prince” is the one who is called the “King of the North” in Daniel 11:40, as he is shown as also fulfilling the last prophecy of Daniel 9:27 in Daniel 11:

³¹ And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

However, the way it will be done will seemingly be in a manner that those that do not sufficiently understand biblical prophecy will not accept, even though some will be told (cf. Acts 13:41).

Like the CCOG, most Muslims believe that Jesus will return after a coming seven-year period,[vi] with the CCOG specifically pointing to seven years after the deal of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed by “the prince.” Perhaps it should be mentioned that like the CCOG, Muslims do not believe that there will be a pre-tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture like some Protestants hold to. [vii]

That said, the Bible warns about the Kings of the North (Daniel 11:21-45; Isaiah 10:5-12) and South (Daniel 11:40-43) who will make one or more deceptive deals (“they shall speak lies at the same table” per Daniel 11:27) that sound consistent with Islamic prophecy.

The Roman Catholic saint and doctor of their church Jerome said (unlike some modern Roman Catholic writers[viii]) that many of the prophecies in Daniel 11 were not to be considered to have been anciently fulfilled, but that they had future fulfillment.[ix] Islamic prophecy also suggests a deal where the Roman Catholics and Muslims make a deceitful deal. [x] So, there are similarities in some of the biblical, Roman Catholic, and Islamic traditions here.

[i] Richardson J. Antichrist: Islam’s Awaited Messiah. Pleasant Word, 2006, p. 48

[ii] Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah.

http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 08/11/12

[iii] Hippolytus. On Christ and Antichrist, Chapter 43

[iv] Irenaeus. Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 25, verse 4

[v] Stump KW. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979

[vi] Yaseen, The Signs, p. 216; see also Poston, Larry

[vii] Yaseen, The Signs, p. 216

[viii]  e.g. Kurz W. What Does the Bible Say About the End Times? A Catholic View. Servant Books, Cincinnati. Nihil Obstat: Kistner H., Schehr T.P. Imprimi Potest: Link F., Paul J.M. Imprimatur: Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 19, 2004, p. 76

[ix] Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. 1958

[x] Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah. http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 08/11/12

Both the Bible and Islamic writings show that the deal will be broken.

Now getting back to Yechiel Weitzman, he would be expected to know about the coming battle between the King of the South (who leads Islamic lands) and the European King of the North. Here is information related to that from our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:

Battle Losses

The Islamic Dajjal is seemingly supposed to be around during the time of the biblical Beast and Antichrist. This is also the time of the reign of the King of the South (perhaps called the Imam Mahdi by many in Islam).

Now let’s look at a battle-related hadith:

The Last Hour would not come until the Romans would land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina (to counteract them). When they will arrange themselves in ranks, the Romans would say: Do not stand between us and those (Muslims) who took prisoners from amongst us. Let us fight with them; and the Muslims would say: Nay, by Allah, we would never get aside from you and from our brethren that you may fight them. They will then fight and a third (part) of the army would run away, whom Allah will never forgive. A third (part of the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah’s eye, would be killed and the third who would never be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople. … The Dajjal has taken your place … (Sahih Muslim 2897, Book 54, Hadith 44)

The comment about Constantinople is interesting because biblically, as well as from a Roman Catholic writing, the Turks will betray the coming King of the South, and make a deal with the Europeans (Romans)—which will be led by the Beast with the support of the final Antichrist. Hence, since Constantinople is in Turkey, though called Istanbul, this Islamic writing may tie in.

The hadith above sounds a lot like a battle between the European King of the North and the Arabic King of the South. Notice something that the late Raymond McNair mentions first below and then what the Bible prophesies in Daniel 11:

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

²⁵ “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. ²⁶ Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. (Daniel 11:25-26)

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)

This defeat also comes before the gathering at Armageddon, probably 1-3 years prior to it (neither the Bible nor the hadiths clearly specify how much before).

There is a biblical passage that would seem to support massive deaths that, because of its description and timing (Ezekiel 30:2-9), seems to be related to the defeat of the troops of the King of the South:

⁴ A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down. ⁵ Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.

⁶ “Thus says the LORD: Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud might shall come down; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall within her by the sword, declares the Lord GOD. ⁷ And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste. (Ezekiel 30:4-7, ESV)

Cush is a reference to the Sudanese and perhaps other Africans. Libya is a reference to lands west of Egypt, and not just the modern nation called Libya. The old Radio Church of God tied some of Lud in with north Africa and Put with west Africa. [ii]

Anyway, that type of devastation seems to be consistent with the hadith. And the biblical prophecy will be fulfilled before Jesus returns.

A Losing Battle

That said, since Islam teaches that their Mahdi will lose a battle to the European “Catholics,” Muslims should consider that the final Antichrist will be in league with that European Beast leader before the time of that defeat.

Yet, many Muslims will doubt that the one defeated is the actual Imam Mahdi, as if he is the one who the Bible calls the final King of the South, he will not likely have reigned for seven years as Muslims believe the Imam Mahdi will.

Various Muslim scholars consider the hadiths about the Mahdi to be intended to be understood figuratively and not literally,[iii] and hence that is something many Muslims will likely do when the biblical King of the South arises, but even more question when he is defeated.

Be that as it will be, the fact is that the next pan-Islamic leader who has a major battle with the Europeans (Daniel 11:40) after the destruction of the USA (Daniel 11:39), will be around after the final Antichrist (a Dajjal) is on the world scene.

[i] McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century

[ii] Hoeh H. The Origin of Nations. Ambassador College, 1957

[iii] Saritoprak, pp. 651-653

Notice that the King of the South alliance will temporarily include Edom, Turkey. This past Saturday, Turkey’s President recently called for an alliance like that (see Turkey’s Erdogan: Islamic countries should form alliance against ‘Israel’s growing expansionism’).

Anyway, yes, there will also be a temporary alliance between the Muslims of the Middle East and North Africa (it is possible that Indonesia could have some involvement) and the Europeans. Pope Francis and others have been taking steps to help set the stage for it.

Yet, the alliance will not last as the Islamic King of the South and the nominally Roman Catholic King of the North will turn against each other.

Much is going on in the world of prophetic importance.

Here are links to some items of possibly related interest:

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.
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Here is a related sermon in the Spanish language: El cristianismo visto a través de los ojos islámicos.
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.

COGwriter

Many have questions about dating, sex, and marriage.

This post has links to written as well as audio-video information related to those topics.

The Continuing Church of God put together the following animation related to dating:

Here is a link to our video: First Date: Worldly vs. Christian.

The Continuing Church of God also has this sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel:

Mario Draghi (Pixabay photo)

COGwriter

EuroNews reported the following:

Draghi calls for EU common borrowing, end to national vetoes to compete with China, US

9 September 2024

Ex-Italian Premier Mario Draghi has called for common EU borrowing and an end to national vetoes in a landmark report on economic competitiveness presented to the EU executive on Monday.

The long-awaited report, originally due in June, proposes a “new industrial strategy for Europe”, saying that the era of open, rules-based trade is on its way out.

His findings, drafted with the aid of European Commission officials, come just days before its President Ursula von der Leyen is due to set out the duties of top lieutenants for her next five-year mandate.

“The EU should move towards regular issuance of common safe assets to enable joint investment projects among member states and to help integrate capital markets,” the report said – a step towards the controversial idea of eurobonds, in which member states issue collective debt.

The EU already moved in that direction with Next Generation EU, a several-hundred-billion-euro investment plan that came in the wake of COVID-19 – but the idea has raised fears of subsidising weaker member states, among “frugal” member states such as von der Leyen’s Germany.

In April, Draghi promised “radical change” amid growing concern over a massive productivity gap with the US, where incomes have grown twice as much as the EU’s since 2000, Draghi said.

He’s proposing more aggressive measures in response to the massive green tech subsidies offered in China and the US.

“A joint plan for decarbonisation and competitiveness could entail, in specific circumstances, defensive trade measures to level the playing field globally and offset state-sponsored competition abroad,” the report said.

“The era of open global trade governed by multilateral institutions looks to be passing,” he added, pledging to coordinate the screening of foreign direct investment, given fears that China is hoovering up expertise vital to European innovation and security. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/09/09/what-is-the-long-awaited-draghi-report-on-eu-competitiveness

Mario Draghi has influence and he also was the former President of the European Central Bank.

Anyway, the way the EU is currently organized, it has to accept that a single country can veto just about anything. That makes decisive governance difficult and often time consuming.

The EU would have to reorganize to change that.

Mario Draghi is calling for that type of change.

This past Spring, France’s President seemed to also call for a reorganization (see Hungary veto upsets EU, France’s Macron wants reorganization).

Last Summer, President of the European Commission, Ursula vonder Leyen also called for reorganizing Europe (see European leaders propose reorganization: A prelude to Revelation 17:12-13?).

Europe is prophesied to dominate the world economically (see the 17th and 18th chapters of the Book of Revelation).

Bible prophecy shows that Europe will reorganize:

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

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

Europe will one day support a dictatorial strongman. The Bible calls him the Beast of the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10) and the King of the North (Daniel 11:40).

Some time after various crises and troubles occur during the “beginning of sorrows” (Mark 13:5-8), a particular leader will arise.  Notice some of what Daniel was inspired to write:

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

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)

So this leader gives people the impression that there will be “peace,” and end up with wealth.

In troubled times, strong leaders promising peace and prosperity tend to gain support.

After the two prophesied reorganizations in Europe (Revelation 17:12-13), he will gain power.

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

14:47

Europe to Expand and Reorganize?

In September 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave her annual State of the European Union speech. It was a motivational speech to push Europeans to support bold moves for expansion, trade, and international influence. She also mentioned Europe’s Global Gateway project as well as her involvement in getting the G20 to go for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Several days after her speech, a report titled Sailing on High Seas: Reforming and Enlarging the EU for the 21st Century put out by Europeans from Germany and France, called for an overhaul of the European Union so that it could manage expanding to over 30 nations. Will Europe reorganize? What does the Bible teach in Revelation 17:12-13? Will this involve more than 10 or 11 currently existing nations? Will this end up being a dictatorship? Could any of this have to do with the coming ‘King of the North’ of Daniel 11? Could a Bavarian ‘strongman’ possibly be involved in the future? Could the year 2030 be relevant? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters and more.

Here is a link to our video: Europe to Expand and Reorganize?

As more and more leaders call for reorganization in Europe, remember that the Bible prophesies that it will happen.

This is something to “Watch!” as Jesus said (Mark 13:37).

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to three related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For. The Future King of the North, and Rise of the Prophesied King of the North.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? 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.