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The BBC reported the following:

Suicide is on the rise for young Americans, with no clear answers

12 April 2024

Twenty-one-year-old Ben Salas took his own life last April. He was a promising criminology student at North Carolina State University and an aspiring Olympic athlete. He had many friends, a stable relationship and a loving family.

His death was one of 50,000 suicides registered in the US last year – the largest number ever recorded. In second place: 2022, which saw 49,449 suicides. …

Ben’s parents say their son briefly received treatment for mild depression in 2020, but subsequently reassured them that he had fully recovered.

“There weren’t any of the typical indicators that you would expect in a kid that was continuing to struggle mentally. He wasn’t withdrawn,” says Tony. …

The high number of suicides has been very difficult on staff and students alike, says Assistant Vice-Chancellor Justine Hollingshead, who is based at NC State’s sprawling campus in the centre of Raleigh, North Carolina. She says suicide is a “national epidemic” in the United States that isn’t limited to just college campuses.

“If we knew the reason, we would solve the problem. It’s not something that we’re trying to avoid or not figure out. But there may be no warning signs: individuals don’t tell their family or friends, they don’t reach out to resources and they make that decision. And we’ll likely never know why.”

NC State has increased the number of counsellors and drop-in spaces, and introduced a system called “QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer” so that students can recognise the signs that friends or classmates are struggling and get them help. …

In December 2021, the US surgeon general issued a rare public health advisory on the rising number of youth attempting suicide, singling out social media and the pandemic, which had “exacerbated the unprecedented stresses young people already faced”.

Calls to 988, a national suicide helpline with more than 200 centres across the US, increased by 100,000 per month in the last year alone.

It was on December 12, 2019, that the FCC approved a proposal for a nationwide suicide prevention hotline in the USA using the number ‘988’. But, instead of the numbers dropping, suicides are increasing.

While BBC is suggesting no clear answers, there certainly are known factors.

Suicide happens when people feel that they have no real reason for living and/or believe that they will suffer less (usually less mental suffering) if they ceased living.

Suicidal people are often lonely and depressed. Mental health issues play a role. And many lost faith or have sufficient connection to their religion. Many despair as they have lost hope. Social media also is playing a role.

Related to loneliness, note the following statistic and report:

52% of Americans report feeling lonely. 47% report their relationships with others aren’t meaningful. …

Statistics show that people who attend religious services regularly often report feeling less lonely than people who only attend intermittently throughout the year or do not attend church at all. Still, church attendance continues to decline throughout many countries, which may explain why loneliness continues to be a persistent challenge among many demographics.

For example, a majority of people in the U.S. report only going to religious services a few times a year. The number of people who attend monthly or weekly is under 50 percent. The larger share of people who attend are those older than Millennials, which themselves report feeling lonelier than older generations. https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/research/loneliness-statistics accessed 04/12/24

As the rate of commitment to one’s faith diminishes, one is more likely to be lonely, a well as being more willing to kill oneself.

As far as depression goes, notice something from a Gallup poll from last Spring:

U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs

The percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29.0%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015. The percentage of Americans who currently have or are being treated for depression has also increased, to 17.8%, up about seven points over the same period. Both rates are the highest recorded by Gallup since it began measuring depression using the current form of data collection in 2015. 05/17/23 https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx

Notice a study related to despair and suicide:

Deaths of Despair: A Scoping Review on the Social Determinants of Drug Overdose, Alcohol-Related Liver Disease and Suicide

There is a lack of consensus on the social determinants of Deaths of Despair (DoD), i.e., an increase in mortality attributed to drug overdose, alcohol-related liver disease, and suicide in the United States (USA) during recent years. The objective of this study was to review the scientific literature on DoD with the purpose of identifying relevant social determinants and inequalities related to these mortality trends. …

Overall, findings identify a progressive increase in deaths attributable to suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-related liver disease in the USA in the last two decades. The literature concerning DoD and social determinants is relatively scarce and some determinants have been barely studied. (Beresan E, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct; 19(19): 12395. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9566538/ )

What the study basically concluded was that the deaths of despair are increasing, but they are not sure why. But one conclusion is that despairing of hope increases suicides.

Regarding hope, we have a video on that:

14:37

How to Be More Hopeful

The New Testament teaches that Christians are to have hope. What are ways to be more hopeful? Pocket, a secular source, recommended an article about that. In this video, Dr. Thiel goes over many points of that article and ties them into numerous scriptures that teach about hope. Dr. Thiel also notes that multiple times, the Apostle Paul taught about faith, love, and hope together. Dr. Thiel also quotes Jesus related to not worrying and seeking first the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, he refers to mysteries of God’s plan that most do not understand. He also reads what the Bible promises will occur in the new earth.

Here is a link to our sermonette video: How to Be More Hopeful.

Michael Snyder posted the following related to problems in American society:

Americans Are Lonely, Miserable And Depressed …

What in the world has happened to us? Once upon a time, America was made up of tightly-knit communities that were united by family, faith and patriotism, but now we are more isolated than ever before. …

For the past couple of generations, we have de-emphasized family, faith and patriotism as a nation, and instead we have become an extremely “me-centered” society that is primarily focused on doing whatever makes ourselves happy in the moment. But this single-minded pursuit of individual happiness has resulted in much of the country being perpetually mired in loneliness, depression and/or addiction.

As a society, we decided that marriage wasn’t important. So now we have one of the lowest marriage rates and one of the highest divorce rates in the entire world.

As a society, we decided that children weren’t important. So now our birth rate has dropped below replacement level and a third of all U.S. children live in a home without a father. …

As a society, we decided that God wasn’t important. So now just about every form of evil that you can possibly imagine is exploding in our society, and we are literally on a path that leads to national suicide.  …

Society would have us believe that those that have the most money are the most “successful”. But that is not true at all. In reality, those that love the most are really the most “successful”, and so let us endeavor to be people of great love.  12/10/19 http://themostimportantnews.com/archives/americans-are-lonely-miserable-and-depressed-the-legacy-of-a-society-that-has-rejected-family-faith-and-patriotism

Lack of faith in God, trying to redefine families, killing babies via abortion, etc. are leading to a type of national suicide–as well as increases in individual suicide.

The rise in the use of social media has played a role. Notice the following:

Social media use by minors has significantly increased and has been linked to depression and suicidality. Simultaneously, age-adjusted suicide rates have steadily increased over the past decade in the United States with suicide being the second most common cause of death in youth. Hence, the increase in suicide rate parallels the simultaneous increase in social media use. (Meman AM, et al. The role of online social networking on deliberate self-harm and suicidality in adolescents: A systematized review of literature. …

Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behavior … It was found that the overall prevalence of SITB was twice as higher in females than males in all areas except for suicidal gestures. Higher web communication scores led to increased risk of all forms of SITB in males, Indian J Psychiatry. 2018 Oct-Dec; 60(4): 384–392. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6278213/)

The first factor that has caused an increase in suicide prevalence rates among teens on social media is overuse.  A 10-year longitudinal study at BYU discovered that teenage girls who spent two to three hours daily on social media at age 13 were at a higher risk for suicide as young adults. … studies have tied social media use to an increased risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal ideas. https://socialmediavictims.org/mental-health/suicide/#:~:text=The%20first%20factor%20that%20has,for%20suicide%20as%20young%20adults. accessed 04/12/24

Social media tends to depress young females more than males by presenting impossible beauty standards, while also pushing unnatural female sexual response. But males spending a lot of time on social media looks to increase suicides for those with other mental health issues–females with other mental health issues are also more affected.

Another major thing really has been the rise is the LGBTQ agenda–and perhaps it should be pointed out that there is greatly increased suicide for males who have “gender reassignment surgeries”:

April 2, 2024

Rates of attempted suicide who identified as transgender more than doubled after receiving a vaginoplasty (surgically turning one’s dick into a vagina), according to a peer-reviewed study published in The Journal of Urology.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Dr. Alfonso Oliva, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, said research into the psychiatric outcomes and long-term follow-up of those who have sex-reassignment surgery is lacking, but an important paper is worth mentioning. In a 2011 paper published in PLOS ONE, researchers found that people who underwent sex reassignment surgery had substantially higher rates of overall mortality, suicidal behavior, and psychiatric morbidity compared with the general population.

“It’s hard to refute this paper because it’s a longitudinal study,” Dr. Oliva said. “In Sweden, everyone is in a database, and through diagnosis codes, they’re able to follow what happens to every citizen in terms of their medical history. They waited more than 10 years after people had surgery and found that death by suicide had an adjusted hazard ratio of 19.1.” https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/attempted-suicide-rates-more-double-after-gender-reassignment-surgery-study

So, no, becoming LGBTQ+ does not reduce suicides.

What about having money?

The late Herbert W. Armstrong noted that some who seemed successful in this age, truly were not successful. Here is some of what he wrote many decades ago:

Every two minutes someone in the United States attempts suicide. Each day nearly 70 persons succeed—but is that success? The World Health Organization estimates that some one thousand people commit suicide in the world—every day!

Suicides now outnumber murders. Now various organizations for the prevention of suicide are a reality! But the cause is individual failure!

Only a minority, of course, go to this extreme, but the overwhelming majority do end their lives in failure…

People will ignore all their lives any idea of divine guidance and help—yet if one should find himself on a foodless and waterless raft after a shipwreck in mid-ocean, it is remarkable how quickly he would begin to believe there really is a living God! In last-resort desperation most people will cry out to Him whom they have ignored, disobeyed, and set at naught all their lives.

Wouldn’t it seem axiomatic that, if there is a compassionate beneficent Creator standing ready and willing to give us emergency help as a last resort, it would have been more sensible to have sought His guidance and help all along? Yet some have acquired wealth, lived luxuriously, and then, suddenly losing all, turned finally to God in their economic distress. Others have committed suicide…

Is it possible that the living GOD might be a factor in determining the success or failure of one’s life? Few have thought so.

People will ignore all their lives any idea of divine guidance and help—yet if one should find himself on a foodless and waterless raft after a shipwreck in mid-ocean, it is remarkable how quickly he would begin to believe there really is a living God! In last-resort desperation most people will cry out to Him whom they have ignored, disobeyed, and set at naught all their lives.

Wouldn’t it seem axiomatic that, if there is a compassionate beneficent Creator standing ready and willing to give us emergency help as a last resort, it would have been more sensible to have sought His guidance and help all along? Yet some have acquired wealth, lived luxuriously, and then, suddenly losing all, turned finally to God in their economic distress. Others have committed suicide. Few, it seems, will ever rely on their Maker and life-Sustainer until they feel helpless and in desperate need. Even then the motive too often is selfish.

Yet, if we are to enjoy the good things of life—freedom from fears and worries, peace of mind, security, protection, happiness, abundant well-being—the very SOURCE of their supply is the Great God! Since all comes from Him anyway, why not tap the SOURCE from the very beginning?

But in our day of modern science, sophistication and vanity, it has not been fashionable to believe in a Maker. In this deceived world, knowledge of God has found little or no place in modern education.

The ALL-IMPORTANT seventh Law of Success, nevertheless, is having contact with, and the guidance and continuous help of GOD!

And the person who does put this all-important seventh law last is very probably dooming his life to failure at the end. (Armstrong HW. The Seven Laws of Success,)

Society is going the wrong way.

But that was prophesied;

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (2 Timothy 3:1-8)

Where can people find the truth?

In the word of God:

¹⁷ Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

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)

The word “gospel” means GOOD NEWS!

Though suicides are up, for those who will believe God, hope should be up!

You do NOT have to be depressed like more and more in society are.

Notice some scriptures that show how to reduce depression and eliminate suicide:

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.  (Proverbs 3:13-18)

14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (Proverbs 28:14)

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Wisdom can be found in the word of God and be the tree of life for those willing to retain wisdom. Those who harden their heart to disobey fall into calamity, which can affect mood and even longevity.

Many in the world feel hopeless. But real Christians are not to have “sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

You do not have to be like others in society. You should live God’s way and let your light shine:

¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Should you know someone that is considering suicide, here are some tips from the International Association for Suicide Prevention:

• There are ways in which you can show that you care by reaching in and supporting someone in a suicidal crisis.
• When a person tells you that they are suicidal you must take them seriously.
• If you are worried that somebody is suicidal, you can ask them if you feel comfortable doing so. Research shows that talking to someone openly about suicide does not increase their risk of suicide.
• If you are comfortable speaking with them about suicide, try to use clear and direct language, for example, “I care a lot about you, do you feel suicidal?”
• People with lived experience of suicide highlight how helpful it is to have someone to talk to who listens. It is not about coming up with solutions, but about listening to the person and supporting them explore options for seeking help and safety.
• It is important to encourage helpseeking behaviour and linking to professional support. You can help the person you are supporting by being there for them when they call a helpline or make an appointment with a health professional. https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ accessed 04/12/24

As a Christian, we know that death is not the end–all will be resurrected, including the suidiced, who will be judged and have to live another 100 years (cf. Isaiah 65:20). Now, there are times you may wish to refer a suicidal person to a professional counselor, but you should also use wisdom and you may wish to help them have hope through the teachings of the word of God.

Jesus said:

⁴ … “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’“ (Matthew 4:4)

Those who live by the word of God do not commit suicide.

God’s word teaches:

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-14)

Yes, God’s commands are for OUR GOOD.

But the world does not accept that. To learn more about God’s commands check out the free book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.

What would make people happy?

Notice some scriptures:

¹⁸ Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18)

¹⁵ Happy are the people whose God is the Lord! (Psalms 144:15)

²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. (Proverbs 14:21)

⁵ Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
⁶ Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever, (Psalms 146:5-6)

More and more in the USA do not accept the revealed word of God. They have cast aside various moral restraints and care little for others. They do not want to be the people of the real God. This has not made them happy.

Jesus came that we might have LIFE, “and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians:

¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all … (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Whether male or female, humans are intended to give love.

Some may wonder why God created anything.

God created what He did so that the universe would be better.

Why did God create people?

God created people so that they would be able to give love and increase the amount of love in the universe.

Why did God create YOU?

God created you so that after going through the tests and trials of this life that, if you will accept His offer of salvation, that you will be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for yourself and everyone else.

Why did God make everyone else?

God made everyone else, so they can help influence your life in this age to aid in your character development. But remember that God also made everyone else who will accept His offer of salvation, in order for them to be able to give love in their unique ways in order to make eternity better for you and all of them personally.

Details on why that is so is in the free booklet, online at ccog.org titled The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?

That is good news–and a fantastic hope.

God has a plan (see also The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?).

And ultimately, His Kingdom will replace this world’s societies. That, too, is good news.

But YOU do not need to wait until then.

You can strive to live according to the word of God now.

You can be happy now.

UPDATE 04/14/24: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:07

Suicides Up! Why?

A new report shows that the number of suicides in the USA broke a record in 2022 that was surpassed with a new record in 2023. Many ‘experts’ have no answers for why this is occurring. Suicides have gone up since the FCC approved 988 as the national suicide prevention telephone number. What are factors that seem to contribute to increased suicides? Do 52% of Americans report loneliness? Are more Americans depressed than before? Do more despair of death? What about the influence of religion, marriage, and family? Does money make success? What is truth? Does the Bible speak about how to be happy? What about reliance on God? What about the LGBTQ influence? Has social media increased suicide rates among young men and women? Why? Should you talk with people who say they are considering suicide? What, according to the International Association for Suicide Prevention, are tips to help you assist those who are suicidal? Does suicide end existence according to the Bible? Why did God create anything? Why did God make you? What is your purpose? What about the purpose of everyone else? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these topics.

Here is a link to our video: Suicides Up! Why?

Suicide is never the answer.

You do not need to go the wrong direction that most in the world have accepted.

Some items of possibly related concerns may include:

The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
What Happens After Death? Is death like sleep, or is that a cultic idea? Can you speak to the dead? Here is a link to a related sermon: What really happens after death?
The Second Death The New Testament speaks of something called the “second death.” Who will be subject to it? How does it end? Here is a link to a related sermon: First death, Second death.
Are The Wicked Tormented Forever or Burned Up? How does one explain Revelation 14:11 in light of Malachi 4:3? What happens to the incorrigibly wicked?
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
What is the Unpardonable Sin? What is it? Can you repent of it? Do you know what it is and how to avoid it? Here is a link to a related sermon video The Unpardonable Sin and the Prodigal Son. Here is a link to a shorter video The ‘Unpardonable Sin’ and ‘Climate Change’?
The Seven Laws of Success Herbert W. Armstrong had seven laws that he felt could help people become successful.
Is God’s Existence Logical? Is it really logical to believe in God? Yes! Would you like Christian answers to give atheists? This is a free online booklet that deal with improper theories and musings called science related to the origin of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There are also three YouTube videos related to this, titled Transgender ‘Woe to those who call evil good’ and Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children and USA pushing gender confusion.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality and the LGBTQ agenda? Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? A short video is available titled: Gay Gene? Born That Way?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? A related sermons is titled: Pornography, False Comfort, and False Religion. Here a shorter YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
How to Overcome Depression and Discouragement This is an article by Paul Krautmann & John Siston.
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.

Photo from Temple Institute’s newsletter of February 2, 2024

COGwriter

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

Nisan 4, 5784/April 12, 2024 …

2nd Day Nisan – Moshe Prepares The Ashes Of The 1st Red Heifer! According to time honored tradition the ashes of the first red heifer were prepared by Moshe in the wilderness on the second day of Nisan, (today), one day after the inauguration of the Tabernacle. Maimonides writes in his Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Red Heifer: “Nine red heifers were offered from the time that they were commanded to fulfill this mitzvah until the time when the Temple was destroyed a second time…”

So, the red heifer of ancient times was claimed to have been killed on the 2nd of Nisan, which would (this year) have been on Wednesday of this week. Yet, we have seen no reports that a red heifer was sacrificed this week or presumably the Temple Institute would have reported about it.

As most regular readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware, on September 2022, five red heifer candidates arrived in Israel from the USA. One was disqualified as acceptable for sacrificial use last year (see Temple Institute says one red heifer disqualified, with four remaining viable). Since the Jews believe that there have only been nine qualified red heifers in recorded history, it is almost guaranteed that at least three of the remaining heifers will some day be disqualified. But it also would seem that one will be sacrificed–but the when is unclear.

While this red heifer matter is a BIG DEAL to certain Jews, most Jews in Israel do not care about these red heifers, other than they fear some “extremists” may cause problems with the Muslims by continuing to push for another temple as well as regular animal sacrifices.

Yet, there is a religious block in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. And if they were to leave his coalition, his government could collapse. They, or a similar future group, could affect the dynamics in Israel to allow the resumption of animal sacrifices on the Temple Mount or some other place some may choose. Yet, no governmental authority is needed for a single sacrifice, such as one red heifer.

Let me state that some with ties to Protestantism believe that the Sanhedrin (which has connections with the Temple Institute) is bringing on ‘Antichrist’ through its sacrifices and desire for another temple (see Sanhedrin Accused of Bringing Anti-Christ). While that is not quite the case, it is true that the resumption of daily sacrifices is prophesied to be stopped by the coming Beast who is in league with the final Antichrist.

Biblically, we know that the sacrifices will be re-implemented by certain Jews as the prophet Daniel was inspired to numerous times that they would be stopped:

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 … (Daniel 9:27)

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)

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.  (Daniel 12:11)

So, we see that after a deal is made, 3 1/2 years later, sacrifices will be stopped. By who? Well, the “he” above was called a “prince” in Daniel 9:26 and will become the King of the North Beast leader as discussed in Daniel 11:31,40.  Since those that wait the 1335 days are then blessed–this looks to be a reference to Jesus returning and establishing the Kingdom of God a little less than four years after the daily sacrifices are stopped by the Beast.

Since the sacrifices will be stopped, they must start. And that is something that the Temple Institute and Sanhedrin are working towards.

The fact is that certain Jews (and others) have put a lot of time and money into red heifer projects.

As far as when a red heifer may be killed, last year  Israel365News had the following:

April 2, 2023

Moriel (Mo) Barelli, the representative from Boneh Israel, was inspired by the level of dual-faith cooperation manifested at the event.

“The theme of the event was redemption and how the red heifers play a major role in that,” Mo told Israel365 News. “It amazed me that when it came to redemption and the Third Temple, we all had so much in common. The people we met were connected to Torah and felt strongly that they wanted to be a part of the prophetic things happening in Israel right now. Of course, Christians and Jews have significant differences but it was very easy to focus on the important things we have in common.”

In September, Boneh Israel succeeded in bringing five red calves that were born in Texas to Israel with the intent of raising them to perform the commandment of the Red Heifer. The red heifers are now between 1 ½ and 2 years old. To replicate the ceremony mentioned in the Bible, they need to be at least two years old.

“The heifers will, God willing, be ready by Pesach next year,” Mo said. “All of the elements necessary, the land and the kohanim, are being made ready in the meantime.”

The flight to Israel and preparations cost over $250,000 dollars. Now that they are in Israel, the heifers will need to be raised until they are at least two years old.

Pesach is a term meaning Passover.

In 2024, Passover will be after sunset April 21st (see also Holy Day Calendar), though most Jews observe it a day later. Pentecost is June 16th. Therefore, it may be that we are close to seeing the sacrifice and burning of a red heifer. But perhaps not.

Some believe that the tenth red heifer already came prior to the destruction of the last temple. Whether it did or not, the Bible simply does not mention ten red heifers. Nor does the fate of the world depend on a red heifer (which the Temple Institute has asserted). And as quoted before, the New Testament is clear that Christians do NOT need the ashes of a heifer for redemption (Hebrews 9:11-15).

Consider, though, that it is possible that if one red heifer is still acceptable to the Temple Institute this year–hence the idea of a  last and tenth one to come according to most Jewish tradition–a red heifer sacrifice (tenth or otherwise) could very well happen in 2024.

Why? Because if one truly is the tenth, the Jews will have a dilemma. How so? The Jews cannot wait for the Messiah to do it (which is what Boneh Israel wants) because that is not something Jesus will do upon His return. Furthermore, as they do not want to have the red heifer be too old nor risk getting somehow disqualified, they may decide one should be killed, just in case (or make up some other reason)–despite their traditions of expecting the Messiah to do it.

Anyway, since the Temple Institute has been waiting for a red heifer for a very long time and believes only one more will exist–it may take steps as opposed to waiting for the Messiah to sacrifice it–and since Jesus is not about to sacrifice a red heifer, then certain Jews may take matters into their own hands. The group also has some political influence and may point to having at least one red heifer as a Divine sign that the Jews can re-implement regular sacrifices.

While Jesus DID NOT specifically mention a ‘red heifer’ as a sign to look for in Matthew 24 (hence not a requirement He laid out), Jesus did refer to the Book of Daniel, which discusses sacrifices being stopped (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). In order for them to be stopped, they first must be started.

If Jews will not resume regular animal sacrifices until there is a red heifer, then looking out for one would seem to be a sign that ties in with end time prophecy.

As far as timing goes, the Bible shows that the stopping of the animal sacrifices occurs just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

We will see if the Jews decide to actually sacrifice a red heifer in 2024–if so, this could set off a major prophetic sequence, and ultimately with Jesus returning and establishing the millennial Kingdom of God.

But what about a massive ‘Third Temple’ in Jerusalem?

Well, that is NOT required for animal sacrifices.

Notice what is recorded in Ezra 3:6:

6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. (Ezra 3:6)

Let me also add that representatives of both the Sanhedrin and the Temple Institute personally told me that they do NOT need a massive temple to resume such sacrifices.

Basically, to re-implement sacrifices, the Sanhedrin needs government permission, an altar, a high priest, various implements, and a tent–and they already have all of those, except legal permission–but with religious parties gaining political influence in Israel, one day they will get permission.

Related to those five red heifers that arrived in Israel in 2022, we put out the following short video:

15:19

5 Red Heifers and Year 5783?

The Temple Institute announced that “5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA” on September 15, 2022.. Chanan Kupietzky, an Orthodox Jewish teacher, pointed out that last year was 5781 in the Jewish calendar, pointing to the year these red heifers were conceived, 5782 is when they were to arrive in Israel, and that the year beginning sunset September 25, 2022 is supposedly 5783, which is supposed to be the year of red heifer redemption. Is that the correct year anno mundi (year of the earth) or is 5989 to 5992 more in line with history? What about the claimed Shemitah year? Might the appearance of a proper red heifer encourage the Sanhedrin to begin regular animal sacrifices? Might political considerations result in the resumption of animal sacrifices? Does the Bible show that animal sacrifices in Israel will be stopped? Does possibly having a red heifer mean that a massive Jewish temple is about to be rebuilt in Jerusalem? Do Christians need the sacrifice of Jesus or the blood of a red heifer to be purified? How close do we seem to be for Daniel 9:27b to be fulfilled?

Here is a link to our video: 5 Red Heifers and Year 5783?

Related to a Jewish claim about 2024, we put out the following related video:

14:53

Red Heifer Sacrifice Ready April 2024?

In September 2022, five seemingly unblemished red heifers were transported from Texas to Israel by Boneh Israel in conjunction with some Protestants. In March 2023, the Temple Institute declared one of the red heifers disqualified for sacrifice. What is a red heifer? Why are certain Jews so concerned about having one? What does the Bible teach about the ashes of red heifer? Is a red heifer needed for Christians? If animal sacrifices are not needed for Christians, does the Bible prophesy future animal sacrifices? If so, will the stopping of them have anything to do with the countdown for return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God according to the Book of Daniel? Did Moriel Barelli of Boneh Israel say he hopes a red heifer will be available for sacrifice by Passover in 2024, which is April 22? Is the sacrifice of a red heifer, like the Temple Institute and Sanhedrin want, going to usher in the Antichrist? Is there any relationship between daily animal sacrifices and the King of the North Beast power? Does the “fate of the world” rely on a red heifer as the Temple Institute has stated? Will the Messiah sacrifice the ‘tenth red heifer’? If not, might the Jews do it anyway? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these issues.

The red heifer matter is one to prophetically watch (cf. Mark 13:37).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén? Here is a link to two sermons The Temple, Prophecy, and the Work and God’s Temple in Prophecy. And here is a version of the latter one in the Spanish: El templo de Dios en profecía.
Nascent Sanhedrin and Prophecy The reconstituted Sanhedrin wants the reimplementation of animal sacrifices. A related video is titled Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices. And a newer one is: Sanhedrin makes burnt offering to dedicate altar!
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here are links to three related videos in English: Red Heifers and the Fate of the World and The Red Heifer and the End of the World and 5 Red Heifers and Year 5783?
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … These videos cover nearly all of the book, plus have some information not in the book. We also have the book translated in the Spanish PRUEBA de que JESÚS es el MESÍAS and French PREUVES QUE JÉSUS EST LE MESSIE languages.

“Orthodox” 16th Century Representation of the “Apocalypse”

COGwriter

April 15th is when some in the Church of Rome will honor one of their “saints” and bishops named Victorinus. Here is some of what The Catholic Encyclopedia reports about him:

St. Victorinus

An ecclesiastical writer who flourished about 270, and who suffered martyrdom probably in 303, under Diocletian.

He was bishop of the City of Pettau (Petabium, Poetovio), on the Drave, in Styria (Austria); hence his surname of Petravionensis or sometimes Pictaviensis, e.g. in the Roman Martyrology, where he is registered under 2 November, which long caused it to be thought that he belonged to the Diocese of Poitiers (France). Until the seventeenth century he was likewise confounded with the Latin rhetorician, Victorinus After. According to St. Jerome, who gives him an honourable place in his catalogue of ecclesiastical writers, Victorinus composed commentaries on various books of Holy Scripture, such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Isaias, Ezechiel, Habacuc, Ecclesiastes, the Canticle of Canticles, St. Matthew, and the Apocalypse, besides treatises against the heresies of his time…

Like many of his contemporaries he shared the errors of the Millenarians, and for this reason his works were ranked with the apocrypha by Pope Gelasius. (Clugnet, L. (1912). St. Victorinus. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 1, 2013 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15414a.htm)

Notice that like MANY GRECO-ROMAN LEADERS and those that they and the Protestants consider to be saints, just prior to Constantine, taught the millennium. That was both a biblical doctrine as well as the teaching of most professing Christians prior to Emperor Constantine. The millennium was certainly part of the apostolic tradition (the Apostle John, after all, wrote about it in Revelation 20), thus any who challenge or dismiss it are not being faithful to biblical doctrine nor apostolic tradition.

Victorinus wrote the following about the Book of Revelation, in likely the late 3rd century:

FROM THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER.

1–3. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a chain in his hand. And he held the dragon, that old serpent, which is called the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed a little season.”]…

For we know not of those who seem to stand whether they shall not fall, and of those who are down it is uncertain whether they may rise. Moreover, that he says that he is bound and shut up, that he may not seduce the nations, the nations signify the Church, seeing that of them it itself is formed, and which being seduced, he previously held until, he says, the thousand years should be completed, that is, what is left of the sixth day, to wit, of the sixth age, which subsists for a thousand years; after this he must be loosed for a little season. The little season signifies three years and six months, in which with all his power the devil will avenge himself under Antichrist against the Church. Finally, he says, after that the devil shall be loosed, and will seduce the nations in the whole world, and will entice war against the Church, the number of whose foes shall be as the sand of the sea. (Victorinus. On the Apocalypse. Translated by Robert Ernest Wallis. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. [Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.], p. 359. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.vi.ii.xviii.html).

He also wrote:

…that true and just Sabbath should be observed in the seventh millenary of years. Wherefore to those seven days the Lord attributed to each a thousand years; for thus went the warning: “In Your eyes, O Lord, a thousand years are as one day.” Therefore in the eyes of the Lord each thousand of years is ordained, for I find that the Lord’s eyes are seven. Wherefore, as I have narrated, that true Sabbath will be in the seventh millenary of years, when Christ with His elect shall reign. (Victorinus. Commentary on the Creation. Translated by Robert Ernest Wallis. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight).

The Catholic Encyclopedia states:

… a large number of Christians of the post-Apostolic era, particularly in Asia Minor, yielded so far to Jewish apocalyptic as to put a literal meaning into these descriptions of St. John’s Apocalypse; the result was that millenarianism spread and gained staunch advocates not only among the heretics but among the Catholic Christians as well … Papias of Hierapolis, a disciple of St. John, appeared as an advocate of millenarianism. He claimed to have received his doctrine from contemporaries of the Apostles … A witness for the continued belief in millenarianism in the province of Asia is St. Melito, Bishop of Sardes in the second century (Kirsch J.P. Transcribed by Donald J. Boon. Millennium and Millenarianism. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

COG leader Papias is consider a saint by Greco-Romans and the CCOG. Notice the following:

These things are attested by Papias, an ancient man who was a hearer of John and a companion of Polycarp … there will be a period of some thousand years after the resurrection of the dead, and that the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this very earth. (Eusebius. The History of the Church, Chapter XXXIX, Digireads, 2005, pp. 68-69)

Greco-Romans and the CCOG consider Melito of Sardis a saint. He also taught the millennium as attested by various Roman Catholic writers. Here is one example:

Melito of Sardis, a well-known bishop and his followers defended millennialism. He undoubtedly borrowed some of his theories from his compatriot, Papias and relied on the Apocalypse. It is interesting to note that Melito knew how to associate with millennialism in all confidence under the Roman Empire; the Empire raised up and grew at the same time as the new religion, in order for him to be considered her defender he (Melito) had to prevail. It was a test to bring to life (introduce) (the) millenarianism while isolating it from the theories on the final destruction of the earthly empires and this before all the other empires under the Roman Empire; theories which until then, were an integral part of that doctrine and to a certain extent served as a starting point: but in itself was a disastrous test which shook the old dogmatic foundation.(Gry L. Le millenarisme dans ses origines et son developpement. Alphonse Picard, Paris, 1904, pp. 81-82. Translated into English by Gisele Gaudet, March 2015)

Irenaeus of Lyon, who is considered to be a major saint by the Greco-Romans, wrote:

John says … : “And he will cause a mark [to be put] in the forehead and in the fight hand, that no one may be able to buy or sell, unless he who has the mark of the name of the beast or the number of his name; and the number is six hundred and sixty-six,” that is, six times a hundred, six times ten, and six units. [He gives this] as a summing up of the whole of that apostasy which has taken place during six thousand years.For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: “Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God broughtto a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works.” This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year…. He says, “Whosoever shall have left lands, or houses, or parents, or brethren, or children because of Me, he shall receive in this world an hundred-fold, and in that to come he shall inherit eternal life.” … These are [to take place] in the times of the kingdom, that is, upon the seventh day, which has been sanctified, in which God rested from all the works which He created, which is the true Sabbath of the righteous …If, however, any shall endeavour to allegorize [prophecies] of this kind, they shall not be found consistent with themselves in all points, and shall be confuted by the teaching of the very expressions [in question].(Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book V, 28:2-3,33:2, 35:1. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885)

The Roman Catholic Church, in spite of the fact that it admits that many of its early saints taught the millennium, now strongly condemns this belief. Notice:

676 The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the “intrinsically perverse” political form of a secular messianism. (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 194).

It should be noted that the millennial teaching appears to be the only doctrine associated with Antichrist that is condemned in the current official Catechism of the Catholic Church (which was the first new one in hundreds of years). The one that has the imprimatur of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who is now called Pope Emeritus and formerly Benedict XVI.

Notice something else that Victorinus wrote:

And when for man’s salvation He was made man to overcome death, and to set all men free, and that He offered Himself a victim to the Father on our behalf, He was called a calf. (Commentary on the Apocalypse, Chapter 4 verses 7-10)

And it is true that Jesus came for all, not just the elect.

Perhaps it should also be added that researcher and Professor Ilaria Ramelli felt that Victorinus taught Apokatastasis (Ramelli I. The Christian Doctrine of Apokatastasis: A Critical Assessment from the New Testament to Eriugena (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae). Brill, 2013, pp. 608-614), which was something that Cardinal Ratzinger had condemned.

It tends to amaze me that some associated with the Church of Rome do not realize that many of their “saints” held positions that are so strongly condemned by the current Roman Catholic Church.

Some articles of related interest, which contain many scriptures to search to verify what I am saying, include the following:

Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? Two related sermons are available Millennial Utopia and The Millennium.
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.
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
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
All the Prophets Spoke of Apocatastasis The Apostle Peter said all the prophets spoke about “apokatastasis. Do you know what that is? Watch also ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
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?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L’Histoire Continue de l’Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.

Logo of the European Parliament

COGwriter

While many, particularly in North America, are focused on the USA Presidential election, a significant election is to take place during June in Europe in its upcoming parliamentary election:

11 April 2024

Investigate Europe analysis of the latest national election data from 11 countries found that far-right parties achieved their highest percentage of votes in rural districts. IE reporters travelled to four of these rural communities to understand what is driving voters to side with far-right parties. It is a trend likely to continue with the European Parliament predicted to take a “sharp right turn” in June’s elections.

“A broad ‘geography of discontent’ is on the rise in long-term declining regions of Europe as well as in many small cities, towns and rural areas,” said a February report delivered to the European Commission by an expert group of academics, politicians and civil society. “The sense of despair is not just limited to economic hardship but also expands to a feeling of being politically disenfranchised and socially alienated.”

This feeling of isolation, both geographically and politically, is not unique to rural areas but it is often amplified there. Chega, Germany’s AfD, PVV in the Netherlands, France’s Rassemblement National and others have played on such fears to pitch policies with broad appeal, beyond hardline stances on migration and social issues.

Europe’s far-right has been buoyed by various factors. Be it eroding support for mainstream political parties and the waning influence of leftist movements still tarred by past financial crises, or an ever-favourable media landscape and their ability to exploit polarising culture war issues. …

EU Commission, “is not merely a backdrop but a fundamental driver of mounting support for ideologies that either seek to undermine the EU or, in their most radical form, advocate for its demise.”

Netherlands

One of these advocates is the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders, the Eurosceptic firebrand recently described by Politico as “the EU’s worst nightmare”. His far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) won the most votes in November’s general election with 25 percent and is expected to be the largest Dutch party in Brussels come June.

Denounced by many for inflammatory rhetoric and past anti-Islam policies, Wilders managed to attract millions of voters, many in rural areas, by tapping into everyday concerns as well as anti-immigration sentiment. …

Portugal

In Portugal, the rapid ascension of Chega, a party formed in 2019, came from similarly populist promises to cut taxes, raise pensions and fight corruption. Leader André Ventura has also stoked fears among minorities with incendiary remarks about the Roma community, migrants and allegations of racism. …

France

In France, the Rassemblement National is conquering this same kind of vote. Marine Le Pen’s party are a favourite for June’s elections and she has vowed to tackle “authoritarian” bureaucracy in Brussels. …

Germany

Rural unease has helped anti-establishment parties capture voters who feel forgotten by decision-makers at home and in Brussels. Alternative for Germany (AfD), another Eurosceptic, anti-immigration party, is tipped to make gains in June’s parliamentary elections. …

Italy

The northern municipality of Verona gave almost 30 percent of its votes to Meloni, and in the town of Salizzole the figure was almost 50 percent — a national high. …

A small, ageing town centred around a 12th-century castle, Salizzole has voted far-right for decades. In 2022 support stemmed from familiar concerns around immigration and the area’s perceived long-term decline. The closure of its furniture factories has left an economy largely dependent on tobacco, rice and vegetable production — and increasingly migrant workers. https://euobserver.com/eu-elections/158336

Pretty much all the parties alluded to in each of those nations above are considered, by some at least, to be “anti-immigrant.”

While Ireland was not listed in the above article, it too, has migrant concerns (see ZH: ‘Irish People Are Being Attacked’ – Anti-Immigrant Riots Erupt After Dublin Stabbing Spree).

But, despite concerns about control from Brussels, in time we will ultimately see more control not less.

Related to the upcoming election and a shift to the right for European voters, a reader sent me a link to the following:

BERLIN/BRUSSELS (own report) – In next June’s European elections extreme right-wing parties threaten to become the strongest force in a third of member states and the second or third strongest force in another third. This finding comes from an analysis by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a pan-European think tank. The latest polls predict a major shift in the make-up of the European Parliament. The far-right ECR parliamentary group and ID group will together be stronger than either the Social Democrats or the conservative EPP. The study indicates that the EPP parties and Social Democrats are about to face significant losses. Although they might mathematically still form a narrow majority in an alliance with the liberal Renew Europe group, such a parliamentary coalition would be unstable and unworkable in practice. This is the background to a debate in the EU on whether, under conservative EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, forces on the far right should be embraced as partners after the election. The focus is on cooperation with the ECR group, which includes the Sweden Democrats and Vox from Spain. In the European Parliament this group is led by the ultra-right Fratelli d’Italia under Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

A ‘grand coalition’ in decline

This year’s European elections will be held from 6 to 9 June. The political groupings that have traditionally backed the policies pursued by the European Commission are likely to suffer painful losses. This is the conclusion of a study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) based on numerous national polls. The analysis predicts that the seats taken by conservative European People’s Party (EPP) will probably fall from 178 to 173, Social Democrat MEPs from 141 to 131, and those of the liberal Renew Europe from 101 to 86. The Greens, too, are expected to see their representation shrink, taking 61 seats instead of 71. These losses add up to a shift with consequences for coalition options in the Parliament. According to the forecast, the ‘grand coalition’ of EPP and Social Democrats, which had already lost its absolute majority back in 2019, will now slip from its current 45 per cent to 42 per cent of seats. A potential ‘super grand coalition’ that includes Renew Europe would reach 54 per cent, creating a mathematical majority. But in practice it would fall short of having the numbers needed for a stable coalition in the parliament. This, as the ECFR study points out, is because parties within parts the political groups in the European Parliament frequently refuse to vote with the majority, reflecting the divergent national interests involved.[1]

The far right is gaining

The ECFR analysis predicts that parties of various shades of far right politics will make significant gains. They are likely to become the strongest force [2] in nine countries and the second or third strongest [3] in nine others. They have already claimed the leadership of the Italian government, with Giorgia Meloni of the Fratelli d’Italia party as prime minister. They have prevailed in Netherlands, although Geert Wilders of the Partij voor de Vrijheid narrowly failed to become prime minister. The hard right now hold the post of deputy prime minister of Finland (Riikka Purra of The Finns party). They have participated in a coalition government in Austria in the form of the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) and been tolerated in Denmark (Dansk Folkeparti). The radical-right spectrum also includes, according to the ECFR analysis, Hungary’s governing party Fidesz, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Poland’s only recently ousted ruling party PiS (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) under Jarosław Kaczyński. In Germany, the far right is mainly organised within the AfD. In the European Parliament, the parties of the far right have so far been loosely united either in the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group or the Identity and Democracy (ID) group. The ECR, centred around the Fratelli d’Italia and the PiS, can hope to increase its number of seats from 67 to a predicted 85. The ID group, formed around Austria’s FPÖ, the Italian Lega and the French Rassemblement National (RN), is likely to be the big winner, growing from 58 to 98 seats. There is also a sizable number of mainly extreme right-wing MEPs who are not attached to any group. 03/26/24 https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/9525

As far as immigrant matters and the election go, ZeroHedge reported the following:

European Parliament Approves Controversial Migration Pact; Furious Nationalists Vow To Bring It Down After EU Elections

April 11, 2024

The European Parliament has approved the controversial EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which will see countries forced to accept their fair share of new arrivals into the bloc or pay a fine for every migrant they reject.

The new asylum and migration package was passed largely with votes from lawmakers affiliated with the European People’s Party, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe, with MEPs being urged to swallow their criticisms of the scheme and vote for the compromise legislation.

“History made,” tweeted European Parliament President Roberta Metsola as she praised what she described as a “robust legislative framework on how to deal with migration and asylum,” noting it had been “10 years in the making” but the EU had kept its word.

Some MEPs on both the left and the center-right revealed they voted through the pact despite its many flaws.

“The new legislation is not perfect but we can only make migration manageable and humane with one European solution,” said Hilde Vautmans, foreign affairs coordinator for Renew Europe.

Nationalist politicians across Europe expressed their anger at the passing of the pact, which they claim cedes sovereignty to an ever-centralized European Union.

“The Migration Pact organizes the tutelage and control of nations, the legal impunity of NGOs complicit with smugglers,” tweeted Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally.

She further vowed to “put an end to the accelerated pursuit of policies to encourage and organize mass immigration,” on June 9 at the EU elections in which her party is expected to win the most French seats. …

The Hungarian government reiterated its opposition to the pact following the vote with spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs citing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó who “declared that regardless of any migration pact adopted by the European Parliament, Hungary will maintain its legal and physical border barriers and will not allow illegal immigrants entry, opposing the pro-war and pro-migration stance of Brussels’ leadership.”

The majority of lawmakers who passed through the pact were lukewarm on its contents but considered it to be a compromise to end the status quo existing in a Europe plagued by illegal immigration. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/european-parliament-approves-controversial-migration-pact-furious-nationalists-vow

So, this latest immigration bill may also be a further impetus for Europeans to vote for more politicians on “the right.”

The waves of Islamic migrants into Europe was something a pope of the last century was concerned about:

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

Europe is going to change–and will deal with Islamism as Islam is NOT the prophesied religion of the coming European Beast power–he will initially feign some version of Roman Catholicism.

Roman Catholic writings also point to that:

Brother Louis Rocco (19th century): Terrible wars will rage all over Europe. … In Istanbul (Constantinople) the Cross will replace the half-moon of Islamism, and Jerusalem will be the seat of a King. The southern Slavs will form a great Catholic Empire and drive out of Europe the Turks (Mohammedans), who will withdraw to North Africa and subsequently embrace the Catholic faith. (Dupont, p.76)

St. Francis de Paul (d. 1507): A new order will be founded, that of the Cruciferi, because its members will carry the cross on their banners…The Crusaders will lead the Mohammedans, the teachers of heretical doctrines and bad Christians back to Christ…the power of Islam {was} destroyed by the Great Monarch. (Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist, p. 142).

Power will be given to a leader, that sounds like the ‘Great Monarch,’ as Europe is prophesied to go through at least two major reorganizations in Revelation 17:

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)

Many of the migrants that Europeans are concerned about are Muslim, from Islamically dominated lands.

With that in mind, notice the following Roman Catholic prophecy:

Rudolph Gekner (died 1675): A great prince of the North with a most powerful army will traverse all Europe, uproot all republics, and exterminate all rebels. His sword … will combat on behalf of the true orthodox faith, and shall subdue to his dominion the Mahometan Empire. (Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 36)

If the above has a lot of accuracy (and it has certain biblical consistency), it seems to also show that all (or at least some) republics in Europe are to be uprooted and a “great prince of the North” (also called the King of the North in Daniel 11:40) will rise up–he is prophesied to eliminate a power of the currently Muslim-dominated nations in Daniel 11:40-43. The Bible in Revelation 17:12-13 supports the idea of republics being replaced by a different form of governance.

Related to Islam’s future in Europe, we made the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

17:19

Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

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

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

That said, the coming European leader will work with the Church of Rome (whose ‘Catherdra’ is within the borders of the ‘City of Seven Hills’) for a time (cf. Revelation 17:1-13). Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Catholic private prophecies point to him (sometimes referred to as the ‘Great Monarch’) to rule over ‘New Babylon’:

Abbott Joachim (died 1202): The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world…this holy Pontiff will ask the cooperation of the generous monarch of France (Great Monarch)… A man of remarkable sanctity will be his successor in the Pontifical chair.  Through him God will work so many prodigies that all men shall revere him. (Connor, pp. 31-33)

Monk Leontios (died 543): Rejoice, oh most unhappy one, oh New Babylon! . . . You, who are the New Babylon rejoice now on behalf of Zion! New Babylon, dance, bounce and leap greatly, make known even those in Haydes what a Grace you have received. Because that peace which was yours to enjoy in times past, and which God has deprived you of in course of battles, receive it once more from the hand of an Angel . . . oh, the City of Seven Hills the dominion will be yours. (Otto, Tzima. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenika Press, Rock City (SC), 2000, pp. 82-83)

Speaking of Babylon and the Europe, it may be of interest to note that the European parliament building shows similarities to the unfinished Tower of Babel from the Old Testament:

As far as the connection between what is going on in Europe and the ancient Tower of Babel, notice the following European poster from several years ago:

The trappings and the agenda that are going on do align with the type of political power that the Bible warns about.  Notice also the following:

 

Europe has many ties to the Beast and the woman who rides it and this is reflected in official European coinage and art. The Bible warns against the woman who rides the Beast in Revelation 17.

The Bible itself warns about a religious system based out of the city of seven hills that rides the European Beast power.

That said, Europe is inching towards putting in leaders that would be more supportive of pushing Islam out of the continent.

June’s Parliamentary elections look to possibly be a step in that direction.

Ultimately, Europe will push Islam out. And that will have to involve political leaders who want that done.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
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.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman 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.
Do You Know That Babylon is Forming? How is the final Babylon forming? Are Protestants such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland are endorsing something dangerous? Could Pope Francis be the ‘False Prophet’ that the Bible warns against? Is an antipope expected to endorse a one-world religion? Here is a link to a related written article In Vatican City: New Babylon more openly forming!
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
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.

CENTCOM chief arrives Israel as intel says Iran strike imminent
08-8201 pic.twitter.com/PoAXXyfImw

— avi scharf (@avischarf) April 11, 2024

COGwriter

The situation between Israel and Iran continues to heat up:

11 April 2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday appeared to reiterate his warning to Iran that Israel would retaliate if attacked, as the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Michael Kurilla arrived in Israel reportedly to discuss what US intelligence officials have described as an “imminent” threat from Tehran.

“We are in challenging times. We are in the midst of a war in Gaza that is continuing with full force. In addition, we are continuing with ceaseless efforts to return our hostages, but we are also preparing for challenges from other fronts,” Netanyahu told pilots as he visited an F-15 base.

Iran has repeatedly vowed to retaliate for an alleged Israeli strike last week on a consular building in its Damascus embassy complex, which killed two generals among several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers. That incident came amid spiraling violence on Israel’s northern border due to near-daily attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group since October 8.

“We set a simple principle: Anyone who hits us, we hit them,” Netanyahu said in apparent reference to Iranian threats to carry out strikes against Israel. “We are ready to fulfill our responsibilities to Israel’s security, in defense and attack.” …

Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told a crowd in Tehran that “the evil regime made a mistake and must be punished, and it shall be,” referring to the attack in Damascus. …

However, unnamed US intelligence sources told CNN in a Monday report that Iran is unlikely to attack Israel directly out of fear of American and Israeli reprisal, and will instead urge its various proxies in the region to launch attacks on its behalf in the coming days.

Iran-backed terror groups have entered the fray across the region amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas, including rocket fire from Lebanon by Hezbollah and months of Yemen-based Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hints-at-retaliation-if-iran-attacks-as-centcom-chief-lands-in-israel/

A reader sent me a link to the following from Michael Snyder:

Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop In The Middle East…

April 10, 2024

There has been a tremendous amount of speculation about when and how Iran will attack Israel.  In the aftermath of Israel’s stunning airstrike on a building directly next to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Iranian officials pledged that there would be a very “harsh” response.  I take them at their word, and I am entirely convinced that a response is coming.  But exactly when that response will happen remains a mystery as I write this article.  So for now, we are waiting for the other shoe to drop.  According to Jennifer Jacobs, the senior White House reporter for Bloomberg, sources have told her that an attack on Israel is imminent…

When Iran finally attacks, most experts believe that Israeli military and government facilities will be targeted.

But if any Iranian missiles land in Israeli territory, Israel’s foreign minister is warning that his country will strike back…

We could literally be on the verge of witnessing the start of an all-out war between Israel and Iran.

Once they start lobbing missiles at one another, there is a very real possibility that a chain of events will be set in motion that nobody will be able to stop. …

Now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a decision to make.

He knows that Hamas cannot be destroyed unless the IDF goes into Rafah, but if the IDF goes into Rafah it could potentially cause the entire region to erupt in flames.

We shall see what happens, but at this stage is appears that the decision has already been made…

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a date has been set for an Israeli invasion of Rafah, Gaza’s last refuge for displaced Palestinians, without disclosing that date as a new round of ceasefire talks take place in Cairo.

‘Today I received a detailed report on the talks in Cairo, we are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas,’ Netanyahu said.

‘This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen – there is a date.’

We will also want to keep a very close eye on the northern front.

According to the UN agreement that ended the last war, all Hezbollah forces are supposed to be located north of the Litani River. …

There are multiple ways that the conflict in the Middle East could spiral out of control.

I am entirely convinced that this will be the year that it happens.

But for the moment, we continue to wait for the next shoe to drop. https://endoftheamericandream.com/waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop-in-the-middle-east/

Yes, Iran is upset, and yes Israel would be expected to retaliate if Iran directly attacks it.

As far as the timing goes, there are many reasons to believe that a major regional war will break out in 2024.

Jesus, of course, warned about these things and referred to them as the beginning of sorrows:

4 Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.  (Matthew 24:4-8)

Related to Iran, back in October of 2022, I posted:

I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized’ (Jeremiah 49:34-38), as I believe it will overplay its hand. Its confidence in its drones and other military technologies will likely get it to take destructive actions that will result in severe retaliation. … Now as Isaiah 22 shows, Israel could very well be damaged by Iran before the the Great Tribulation begins. Iranian drones may well be a factor. (Thiel B. Iran, Drones, Ukraine, and Israel. COGwriter, October 21, 2022)

As far as Iran itself goes, it wants to lead all of Islam. It hopes by one day attacking Israel (according to a video it put out over a decade ago), it will get the rest of the Muslims to follow it. However, it will fail to become the leader of Islam– the Bible points to an Arabic power doing that in Daniel 11:40-43. Because of that, I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up.

The Bible shows that God will allow something that appears to be an Iranian-Syrian confederation, to strike the nation of Israel:

1 The burden against the Valley of Vision.

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

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

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

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

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

Elam, in this context, seems to be a reference to at least some in Iran. The old Worldwide Church of God published the following:

Iranians comprise nearly 70 percent of the country. Iranians, though Islamic, are totally distinct from the neighboring Arab peoples of the Middle East. They are a mixed people of the remnants of Media and Elam and other ancestors of Semitic and Hamitic stock. (Stump K. South Asia in Prophecy. Plain Truth, July/August 1986, p. 5)

Kir looks to point to Syria.  The Bible tells that after Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took over Damascus, he moved Syrians to Kir.  While this does not mean that Kir must (or must only) be a reference to Syria, the fact that Syria is an ally of Iran is interesting.  Some believe Kir is an area in the south of Iran, while others suggest closer to the Black Sea. God’s word has the expression “the Syrians from Kir” (Amos 9:7), which is basically confirmation that Kir of Isaiah 22 would include Syrians. The Bible also tells of a time when Kir will be destroyed (Isaiah 15:1b) and also says that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

In Isaiah 22: 8, “Judah” is a reference to those in the land commonly called Israel–God will allow Israel to be attacked! In Isaiah 22:9, consider that “the damage to the city of David” is a reference to at least part of Jerusalem–and notice that the damage will be great. And if Israel is hit with great damage, it would seem it would hit Iran hard–perhaps even with a nuclear weapon.

Related to Iran, notice the following prophecy which indicates at least part of its destruction before the latter days:

34 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, 35 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,
The foremost of their might.
36 Against Elam I will bring the four winds
From the four quarters of heaven,
And scatter them toward all those winds;
There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go.
37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies
And before those who seek their life.
I will bring disaster upon them,
My fierce anger,’ says the Lord;
‘And I will send the sword after them
Until I have consumed them.
38 I will set My throne in Elam,
And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the Lord.

39 ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days:
I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 49:34-39)

I have long been of the view that Iran would somehow be neutralized before the start of the Great Tribulation and that could happen in 2024.

As far as Iran and Israel go, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel, the audio portion of which was sent for broadcast on the European Gospel Radio station AM 1323 kHz:

15:03

Iran and Israel Conflict

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

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

As far as other prophecies go, let me also state that it would seem to take a major regional war for the coming temporal ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:27 to be ratified. Iran, Syria, and Israel may one day be in a major regional war soon. The USA could also be affected.

We are in the time Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows,” as it appears that two or three of the four horseman of the Apocalypse have begun their rides.

In addition to “rumors of war,” we should expect more wars as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:6.

Iran may attempt to carry out its threats, and that could greatly damage Israel, but that also would not end well for Iran.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? Here are two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
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.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the Century and Daniel 9 27? Here is a link to something related in the Spanish language: Estados Árabes emiratos unidos y el tratado de paz en el medio este.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Notice also: Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
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.

Some Proposed Routes of the Exodus

COGwriter

There is a lot of confusion and wrong information in the mainstream about when the Exodus was, particularly since many now consider it to be a myth.

From time to time, there are various reports from some archaeologists and Egyptologists who deny the account of the Exodus in the Bible.

Wikipedia, which claims to be factual without a point of view, calls it a myth:

The Exodus is the founding myth of the Israelites. … The traditions behind the Exodus story can be traced in the writings of the 8th-century BCE prophets, beyond which their history is obscured by centuries of transmission. No historical basis for the biblical Exodus story exists … There is no indication that the Israelites ever lived in Ancient Egypt, and the Sinai Peninsula shows almost no sign of any occupation for the entire 2nd millennium BCE … (The Exodus, Wikipedia, accessed 10/28/18)

Nearly all the above statements are false.

Part of the reason for the denial by Wikipedia and other secular sources is that they often hold to the wrong century for the time of the Exodus, hence many refuse to consider actual historical evidence.

This denial is not new, but has been long running.

Notice the following from several decades ago:

“There is no record of any Exodus in the Egyptian records.” So thousands of students are assured by college professors. And few stop to question this blanket statement from such erudite scholars. …

The following statement by an eminent historian summarizes the views of many:

The present century has brought extensive archaeological investigations in Egypt, the Holy Land, and adjacent countries which indicate that the Biblical account of the enslavement of the Children of Israel in Egypt and their exodus to the promised land of Canaan is traditional and legendary and without support of documentary archaeological evidence… no Egyptian records have been found relating to this early period of Hebrew history (Homer Hockett, The Critical Method in Historical Research and Writing, p. 52).

(Grabbe L. The Exodus. Tomorrow’s World, April 1971, pp. 28-29).

One of the reasons for this is that many scholars have assumed, for various reasons, that it supposedly should have occurred around 1250 B.C. Based upon that time period, there is no evidence that they see in Egypt or in the Palestinian region that supports the view that great numbers of Israelites left Egypt and settled in the area that ancient Israel came to dominate.

Part of the problem is the assumption that Ramesses II was supposedly the Pharaoh that Moses dealt with. This misconception was carried forward in the popular movie starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Ramses/Ramesses. Ramesses II was pharaoh from about 1279 to 1213 B.C.

But is that the right period of time to be looking at?

Well, there is a clear numeric reference to the year of the Exodus in the Bible. Notice:

1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 6:1)

So, 1 Kings 6:1 shows 480 years from the exodus from Egypt to the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. That fourth year of Solomon’s reign would have been about 966 B.C. (see When was the Exodus?), hence a c. 1446 B.C. exodus is a more scriptural time period.

There is also an interesting piece of evidence that blasts a hole in the theory that the Exodus was in the 13th century. This has to do with a find called the Soleb Temple Inscription that has been dated to c. 1385 B.C. (the fourteenth century B.C.), which also shows that the children of Israel were where the Bible indicates they were. Here is the hieroglyphic inscription:

Here is information about it:

The … hieroglyphic rendering corresponds very precisely to the Hebrew tetragrammaton YHWH, or Yahweh, and antedates the hitherto oldest occurrence of that divine name – on the Moabite Stone – by over five hundred years. (Astour, Michael C. (1979). “Yahweh in Egyptian Topographic Lists.” In Festschrift Elmar Edel, eds. M. Gorg & E. Pusch, Bamberg, as cited by Wikipedia)

Of particular interest is the Shasu name that has attached to it the element,

which reads yhw3. Because this linguistically corresponds to the Hebrew YHWH, it was quickly associated with the personal name of the God of Israel. … The initial response to the occurance of the topomyn “Shasu land of Yahwa” led many scholars to conclude that this name points to a geographical territory where a cult of Yahwa existed in the fourteenth century B.C. This interpretation is strengthened by the proximty of Seir in the same list. Thus it has been thought that the “Shasu land of Yahwa” was in the same region as the Shasu in the land of Seir … Thus this Egyptian evidence seems to support the theory that Israel spent time in the very region the Bible suggests. (Hoffmeier JK. Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition. Oxford University Press, USA, 2005, p. 242)

The … Soleb Temple Inscription, which is an Egyptian hieroglyphic inscription that dates to ca. 1385 BC. This inscription, which comes from the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, is found in an Egyptian temple at Soleb in which is today northern Sudan.

The Soleb Inscription, which is on a stone column base and which is written on the body of a bound enemy soldier, refers to a people called the “Shasu of Yahweh.” Shasu is a term used in ancient Egypt for semi-nomadic–generally Semitic–peoples with herd animals, who lived almost exclusively to the east and west of the Jordan River. All Shasu tribes were seen as the mortal enemies by the Egyptians.

The entire Soleb Inscription reads “the land of the Shasu of Yahweh.” It is highly probable that the Shasu mentioned in the Soleb Inscription were the Israelites who had just invaded into Canaan under Joshua. Incidentally, there is no archaeological evidence that the ancient Egyptians ever exercised any administrate authority in the Shasu lands east of the Jordan River.

The name Yahweh in the Soleb Inscription is recognized by nearly alll ancient historians and archeologists today as the very name for God–Jehovah in some English translations–that is found in the Hebrew Old Testament. Exodus 3:13-15 indicates that Yahweh was a new name for God that was first revealed to Moses at the Burning Bush just prior to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

After being commissioned by Yahweh as his representative, Moses and his brother Aaron went to the Pharaoh of Egypt. Exodus 5:1-2 records that discourse between Moses and Pharaoh during their first meeting, and this meeting is highly relevant to this discussion on the date of the Exodus. It reads:

Afterwards Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “Thus says Yahweh, the God [Elohim] of Israel, ‘let my people go that they may hold a feast to me wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey his voice and let Israel go. I do not know Yahweh, and I will not let Israel go.”

It is clear from this passage of Scripture that the Pharaoh of the Exodus had never heard of a God named Yahweh. However, Pharaoh Amenhotep III (ruled ca. 1391-1354 BC) clearly had heard of Yahweh since he mentions him by name in the Soleb Inscription.

Since Pharaoh Amenhotep III knew of Yahweh in ca. 1385 BC and since the name Yahweh is not used until the life of Moses, then the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt must have happened before ca. 1385 BC. Tis makes the Late Date of the Exodus in ca. 1265 BC under Pharaoh Ramses II (ruled ca. 1279-1212 BC) untenable for Bible believers! Billington C. The New Crossway Archaeology Study Bible Reviewed. Artifax, Summer 2018, pp. 21-22)

Thus, the Soleb Temple Inscription supports a fifteenth century B.C. exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt like many of us have pointed to for years.

Notice also some scriptures:

17 “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons. (Acts 7:17-29)

7 And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:7)

Looking at these passages, we can see that Moses was in Midian for 40 years.

Rameses I and II become impossible.

Why?

Rameses I and and his son Rameses II are believed to have reigned for 2 and 66 years (consecutively) respectively. The Bible shows that Moses was born (Exodus 2:1-8) after the city of Rameses was built (Exodus 1:7). The Bible also shows that Moses was eighty when he went to Pharaoh to ask for the departure of the children of Israel (Exodus 7:7). Thus, adding the reigns of the two Pharaoh Rameses together makes it impossible that either was the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

Thus, simply because the Israelites earlier left a region called Rameses does not mean that it had been named after a pharaoh of the 19th dynasty–it certainly does not align with the Bible or secular history.

Now, I would add that according to certain readings of an inscription on the “Merneptah Stele,” the ancient Israelites already occupied the land of Canaan during the 1213-1203 B.C. reign of Merneptah (Jürgen von Beckerath, Chronologie des Pharaonischen Ägypten, Mainz, (1997), pp.190). The “Merneptah Stele” tells of a battle, shows people dressed like Canaanites, and tells of Egypt’s destroying seed of Israel. This seed would likely be grain as Egypt did not destroy all of Israel then. (A stele/stela is an upright stone slab or column typically bearing a commemorative inscription or relief design.)

Anyway, the “Merneptah Stele” is not only historically supportive of the Exodus, it basically proves that the idea that the Exodus happened during the time of Ramses II is impossible.

Why?

Ramesses II allegedly reigned until 1213 B.C. and the Bible shows that the children of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 14:34-35; 32:13) before settling in the land of Canaan. It would make no sense that a defeated Ramses II could have reigned for at least 30 years (40 years, less the ten of Merneptah) after experiencing the plagues and loss of armies as described in the account in the Book of Exodus.

The term Rameses is mentioned in the Bible several times. Three are in connection with the children of Israel leaving that area (Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:3,5). But notice the first reference:

5 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. …

11 And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. (Genesis 47:5-6, 11)

From the above account it looks as if it is possible that Rameses was the name of an area centuries before the Exodus.

The name Ramesses means “Ra [is] the one who gave birth [to] him”. (Rameses, Wikipedia, viewed 03/08/15).

Since Ra was an important god to the Egyptians, perhaps because of its location of where the sun rise was perceived elsewhere in Egypt, the area could have been considered a ‘child’ of Ra. Ra was a god of the Egyptians for many centuries:

Ra /rɑː/[1] or Re /reɪ/ … is the ancient Egyptian solar deity. By the Fifth Dynasty (2494 to 2345 BCE) he had become a major god in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the midday sun. (Ra. Wikipedia, accessed 03/14/15).

The Bible teaches:

40 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years — on that very same day — it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:40-41)

Thus, the biblical chronology indicates that the children of Israel entered Egypt around 1876 B.C. (1446 B.C. plus 430 years). Ra was already a major god to the Egyptians for centuries before the children of Israel went to the area of Rameses.

In the 19th dynasty, its first leader took the name Ramesses for himself:

Originally called Pa-ra-mes-su, Ramesses I was of non-royal birth, being born into a noble military family from the Nile delta region. (Rameses I. Wikipedia, viewed 03/08/15).

Since Rameses I was not of royal birth and was starting his own dynasty (considered to be Egypt’s 19th), he decided to take the name, which he would have heard of, to himself. He probably felt that name gave him the type of authority he wanted to project.

Thus because of the length of time the Egyptians worshiped Ra, simply because the Israelites earlier left a region called Rameses does not mean that it had been named after a pharaoh of the 19th dynasty. The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 47:11 indicates that the area of Rameses could have existed in the time of Joseph, but was later fortified by the Israelites while they were slaves in Egypt–and that probably was the case. If may have also been because of its fortification that Pa-ra-mes-su decided to take the name Ramesses for himself.

Then, if Ramesses II was not the Pharaoh of the Exodus, who could be?

Amenhotep II.

Notice more information about Amenhotep II:

Chaeremon, an Egyptian who lived in the first half of the first century … as a priest and pedagogue in Alexandria and after 49 in Rome as the tutor of Nero, gives yet another version of the story. The goddess Isis appeared to King Amenophis in a dream and reproached him because of the destruction of her temple in times of war. The priest and scribe Phritibantes (“the chief of the temple”) advised him to propitiate the goddess by “purging” Egypt of the lepers. The King gathered 250,000 lepers and expelled them from Egypt. Their leaders were Moses and Joseph, whose Egyptian names were Tisithen and Peteseph. (Assmann J. Moses the Egyptian: The Memory of Egypt in Western Monotheism. Harvard University Press, 2009, p. 35)

The Abandonment of Avaris During the Reign of Amenhotep II

Archaeologist, Douglas Petrovich at the University of Toronto has written a fascinating article (Douglas Petrovich, ‘Toward Pinpointing the Timing of the Abandonment of Avaris During the Middle of the 18th Dynasty,’ in Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections, Vol. 5:2, 2013, 9-28) which explores the precise timing of the abandonment of the ancient Egyptian city of Avaris during the Egyptian 18th Dynasty. In the article, Petrovich explores the various theories about the exact timing of the abandonment of the city of Avaris which seems to coincide with Amenhotep II. The significance of this and its possible relevance to the exodus, is that it is indirect evidence of a major crisis event which happened in the 9th year of Amenhotep’s rule. That event could very well be the Israelite exodus. This is not exactly what Petrovich is stating in the article, but it could be what he is implying. The timing is exactly in line with the “Early-Date Exodus/Conquest” model.

At the end of the article Petrovich makes some starling observations in his conclusions:

More inscriptional evidence may attest directly to the Year-9 crisis is Amenhotep II’s commissioning of a decree for his couriers to destroy all the images of the gods, singling out Amun-Re in particular. Given that Thutmose III and Amenhotep II expressly ascribed praise to Amun-Re for military victories on their Asiatic campaigns, and that Amenhotep II originated and/or perpetuated the desecration of Hatshepsut’s images throughout Egypt, there is plenty of reason to hypothesize that the religious crisis—and subsequent decree to destroy all the “bodies” of Egyptian deities throughout the land—may be intricately bound to the military and political turmoil of his Year-9. Moreover, a potential interruption in the high priesthood of Amun during this time may also attest to this “perfect storm” of events. Therefore, a religious crisis focused on Amun-Re at this time may have been initiated by Amenhotep II as a result of a devastating loss in battle which coincided with the abandonment of their principle naval base from which military operations into Asia were launched, and led to an unavoidable shift in foreign policy. (Ibid., 22)

Why would Amenhotep II order the destruction of the images of Egyptian gods? Why was there major turmoil & upheaval in Egypt’s religious practices? Why was there a complete change of foreign policy with regard Egypt’s nearest neighbors in Asia [in the Levant] in the later part of Amenhotep II’s reign? This evidence alone does not prove the exodus, but it is certainly consistent with the behavior of an autocratic & military ruler such as Amenhotep II, if such an event such as the biblical exodus took place. The exodus was an event in which Egypt’s gods were rendered impotent and pharaoh’s military forces were drastically reduced. I submit that the exodus, as it is exactly described in the Bible, is the most reasonable explanation for this turn of event’s Amenhotep II’s rule. (Wright T. Was There an Exodus & Conquest? July 20, 2013. http://crossexamined.org/was-there-an-exodus-conquest/#_ftn11 viewed 03/01/15)

Was Amenhotep II possibly Pharaoh at the right time? Notice:

Egyptian Chronology: Dating the Pharaonic Reigns

Before determining whether Amenhotep II is a viable candidate for the exodus-pharaoh, one must synchronize the date of the exodus with Egyptian history. Though inspirati on does not extend to extra-biblical literature or ancient inscriptions, some extant writings are trustworthy. Several factors are relevant.

First, the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian manuscript that dates the heliacal rising of Sothis in Year 9, Month 3, Season 3, Day 9 ( ca . 15 May) of Amenhotep I’s reign, records this astronomical even that assigns its composition to an identifiable time in the Eighteenth Dynasty. [26 The Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt (ca. 1560-1307 B.C)…]

Since astronomers can pinpoint this event by charting the positions of stars in antiquity, the papyrus can be dated to ca . 1541 B.C., making the initial regnal year ca. 1550 B.C.. This widely accepted dating is based on the ancient capital of Memphis as the point of observation, despite the Theban provenance of the papyrus. A Theban point of observation, which is accepted by other Egyptologists, dates the papyrus to c a. 1523 B.C. [27 William A. Ward, “ The Present Status of Egyptian Chronology,” BASOR 288 (Nov 1992):58-5 …] Though the Egyptians never stated where they observed the Sothic rising, Olympiodorus noted in A.D. 6 that it was celebrated at Alexandria, after being observed at Memphis. [28 Ibid., 59.]

Therefore, Memphis is the probable correct point of observation for the rising. Second, even without astronomical dating, the chronology of Egypt in the mid- 1400s B.C. remains sure. Ward notes that “New Kingdom chronology can be fairly well established on the basis of the monuments and synchronisms, without recourse to the astronomical materia l.” [29 Ibid., 56. Egypt’s New Kingdom (ca. 1560-1069 B .C.) consists of Dynasties 18-20.] As for the Eighteenth Dynasty, he adds that the 25-year gap separating current theories on its starting date narrows to a scant three or four years by the middle of the dynasty, meaning that most mainstream Egyptologists consider the dating of Egypt’s exodus-er a history to be fixed and reliable. [30 Ibid.]

Last, regnal dates of Eighteenth-Dynasty pharaohs from the Ebers Papyrus to the exodus are fixed with relative certainty. With firm regnal dates for Amenhotep I, the reigns of the subsequent Eighteenth-Dynasty pharaohs down to Amenhotep II are as follows: Thutmose I (ca. 1529 -1516 B.C.), Thutmose II ( ca . 1516-1506 B.C.), Queen Hatshepsut (ca. 1504 -1484 B .C.), Thutmose III (ca . 1506-1452 B.C.), and Amenhotep II (ca. 1455-1418 B.C.). [31 Egyptologists disagree over the year of Thutmose III’s accession, with three views predominant: ca. 1504 B.C., ca .1490 B.C., and ca. 1479 B.C. (Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel 104). The year 1504 is prefer red because of its exclusive agreement with the Ebers Papyrus when assuming a Memphite point of observation for the rising of Sothis. Shea agrees (William Shea, “Amenhotep II as Phar aoh,” Bible and Spade 16/2 [200 3]:43 ).] With these reigns chronologically ordered, a positive evaluation of Amenhotep II’s candidacy for the exodus-pharaoh is possible. [Petrovich D. AMENHOTEP II AN D THE HISTORICITY OF THE EXODUS- PHARAOH. The Master’s Seminary Journal. TMSJ 17/1 (Spring 2006) 81-110. http://www.tms.edu/m/17f.pdf viewed 03/07/15]

Is there any other evidence?

Yes, there is an ancient Egyptian document called the Ipuwer papyrus, of which a 13th century B.C. copy was found. It includes information that sounds like the plagues of Egypt that the Book of Exodus tells of. It is believed to date prior to the 13th century, hence it too tends to point more towards a 15th century B.C. date for the Exodus (though some claim it was older). It basically provides historical evidence of the plagues that afflicted the Egyptians prior to the time they let the children of Israel go (see also Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus).

As far as travel related to the Exodus, notice:

If the dating of archaeological sites should be based on pottery and other historical considerations (such as the chronology of Egypt’s pharaohs), then all of the evidence from Tell Jericho argues for its destruction and burning around 1401-1406 B.C. All of the evidence from Jericho at this time (ca. 1401-6 B.C.) fits the biblical record in an amazing way, from the details about the city being burned along with everything in it [offered to God as a burnt offering] (see Joshua 6), to the walls having dwelling places [houses] where Rahab helped the Jewish spies enter the city to spy its defenses (Joshua 2).

Continuing research at Jericho and now new research at Tel-el Maqatir (biblical Ai?) is yielding results that confirm the biblical record of Joshua’s conquest in amazing ways. Most critical scholars place Ai at et-Tell but there is no archaeological evidence of a destruction there which fits the biblical description. However, just one kilometer west is another site (Tel el-Maqatir) which very well could be the biblical site of Ai. This conclusion is based, once again, not on opinion but on hard evidence. (see, Bryant Wood’s, ‘The Search for Joshua’s Ai,’ in Richard S. Hess, Gerald A. Klingbeil and Paul K. Ray Jr., Editors, Critical Issues in Early Israelite History (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2008), 205-40.) (Wright T. Was There an Exodus & Conquest? July 20, 2013. http://crossexamined.org/was-there-an-exodus-conquest/#_ftn11 viewed 03/01/15)

I would add if the Exodus did take place in 1446 B.C., forty years of wilderness wandering would bring us to 1406 B.C. as a likely time for the destruction of Jericho.

As for others who do not believe it occurred because of looking at dates about two centuries later, understand that the Bible teaches:

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

20… Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge — 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

The Bible also tells of people who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

So, when you hear the opinion of ‘scholars’ when they blatantly contradict the Bible, realize that the Bible is still true.

Just because there were pharaohs of the 19th dynasty named Ramesses, does not mean that the Exodus occurred during that dynasty. The Bible tells of the existence of a region called Rameses centuries before the Exodus. ‘Ra’ worship was around for many centuries before the children of Israel entered Egypt.

Events related to Amenhotep II and Jericho are consistent with the biblical account.

The late Dr. Herman Hoeh was with the Radio Church of God and then the Worldwide Church of God. He did a lot of historical research throughout his lifetime.

In December 1983, Dr. Herman Hoeh wrote:

Exodus date 1443 occurred at end of ninth year, beginning of tenth year of Amenhotep II who reigned jointly two and a half years with Thutmose III. Thutmose III reigned 54 years 1504-1450 B.C. Amenhotep II began to reign in 1453 B.C. Daughter of Thutmose I (a pharaoh) was Hatshepsut, who adopted Moses. She ruled jointly with her nephew Thutmose from 1504 to 1483 B.C. In the year 1483 Moses’ stepmother and protector died. This agrees with Moses’ flight 40 years before Exodus. (Hoeh H. Notes on the Reign of Kings. December 1983)

Notice that the belief was that it was Amenhotep II, not Ramses II, that was the pharaoh that Moses dealt with.

Although in 1983 he was leaning towards a date of the exodus in 1443 B.C., in a conversation on December 3, 1997, he changed that date to 1446 B.C. according to the following:

There are notes from a phone conversation with Dr. Hoeh from December 3, 1997 that speak of a kings chronology beginning in 930 B.C.

CHRONOLOGY UPDATE FROM A PHONE CONVERSATION (Dec 1997)

Dr. Hoeh: he is in a position to support a “change of my perspective” of Israel

— can prove date “about” 930 B.C. is a correct date

— Edwin Thiele — first year of Rehoboam was 930 B.C.

– spring to spring not autumn to autumn
– cannot move this date up or down
– Jews recognized autumn to autumn

Harvard Sem. Monograph #48
“Studies in the Chronology of the Divided Monarchy of Israel”
by William Hamilton Barnes
Scholars Press 1991 Harvard Univ.

– Kings of Tyre are linked with building of temple — Solomon 1561 (?)

— 1446 date of Exodus
— 1406 Jordan crossing
— 3983 Creation
— 2328 Flood * 2327 end of Flood
— 1975 Abraham’s birth
— 1800 Abraham’s death
— 6 1/2 years after crossing of Jordan land was divided after 400 years

A correction is in order

— beginning of Jeroboam’s/Rehoboam’s reign(s) = 930 B.C.

— 3983 B.C. = Creation

— 2328-2327 B.C. = Flood

— End of 6,000 = 2018 A.D.

— Edwin Thiele:

Thiele has correct date at the beginning of Jeroboam’s/Rehoboam’s reigns.

Spring to Spring “STUDIES ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE DIVIDED MONARCHY OF ISRAEL” by Edwin Thiele

— 1446 = Exodus
— 1406 = Entry into Promised Land

— Jehu = “Yahu” (Assyrian records)

— Spring of 930 B.C. = Beginning of Jeroboam’s reign

— Velikovsky & Amalekites:

So, Herman Hoeh came to a 1446 B.C. date for the exodus. Although I did not see the above account from Dr. Hoeh until March 2015, back in 2009, I published a book where I quoted 1 Kings 6:1 and the 966 B.C. date of Solomon’s reign, hence also coming to the 1446 B.C. date.

Notice also the following:

Biblical Chronology: Dating the Exodus

The central text for establishing the exact date of the exodus, 1 Kgs 6:1, connects it to later Israelite history by noting that Solomon began constructing the Temple in the 480th year after the exodus, signifying an elapsed time of 479 years. 12 All but the minimalists agree that the 479 years begin with May of 967 or 966 B .C., depending on whether one accepts Young’s or Thiele’s version of Solomon’s regnal dates. 13 Thus the 479 years began in either 1446 or 1445 B .C., either of which can be substantiated by the biblical text and agree with the conclusions of this article. [Petrovich D. AMENHOTEP II AN D THE HISTORICITY OF THE EXODUS- PHARAOH. The Master’s Seminary Journal. TMSJ 17/1 (Spring 2006) 81-110. http://www.tms.edu/m/17f.pdf viewed 03/07/15]

1446 is possible.

Now, if Ramesses II was not the Pharaoh of the Exodus, who could be?

Dr. Hoeh mentioned Amenhotep II.

The Exodus happened and it happened over 3400 years ago.

Despite the evidence that the Exodus occurred when and as the Bible tells of it, many do not wish to believe it.

Some items of related interest may include the following:

When was the Exodus? Did it Happen? Some deny the biblical account of the Exodus. Was Ramses II the pharaoh then? When did the Exodus occur? Is there proof outside of the Bible that there was an Exodus? Here is a related article in the Spanish language: ¿Cuándo fue el Éxodo? ¿Ocurrió realmente?
Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus What do you know about these plagues? Is there any confirmation outside the Bible? Might something worse be coming? A related two-part sermon is available: Egypt and the Plagues (Part 1) and Exodus Plagues and Prophecy (Part 2).
Exodus and the Days of Unleavened Bread This article discusses parts of the Book of Exodus with some connections to the Days of Unleavened Bread. A related sermon is available and is titled: Unleavened Bread: Lessons in Exodus. Another sermon is Exodus, Judgments, and Jesus.
EXODUS Exodus sermons, which it total cover each and every verse of that book, include Exodus 1-4: Jewish Myths or Lessons for Christians Today?, Exodus 5-7: Serpents, Blood, and Revelation, Exodus 8-9: Plagues and Prophecy, Exodus 10-12: The Last Plagues & 21st Century Prophecies, and Exodus 13-15: Passover Protection and Armageddon. Another article is Exodus 16-19 which covers all of those verses–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 16-19: Manna, Governance, and End Time Protection. Another article is Exodus 20 which covers all of the verses in that chapter–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments. Another article covers the verses in those chapters Exodus 21-24: These are the Judgments–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 21-24: Judgments. Here is a link to the article Exodus 25: Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 25: Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. Here is a link to the article Exodus 26-32 Tabernacle, Sacrifices, & the Book of Life–here is a link to a related sermon:Exodus 26-32: Tabernacle, Golden Calf, and Book of Life. A final article is: Exodus 33-40, The Final Chapters.Here are links to two related video sermons: Exodus 33-36: Moses Shown and You Should Too and Exodus 37-40: Finishing the Work.There is also more, such as the article: When was the Exodus? Did it Happen? Some deny the biblical account of the Exodus. Was Ramses II the pharaoh then? When did the Exodus occur?  Is there proof outside of the Bible that there was an Exodus? Here is a related article in the Spanish language: ¿Cuándo fue el Éxodo? ¿Ocurrió realmente? Also: Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus What do you know about these plagues? What happened to the ‘gods of Egypt’? Is there any confirmation outside the Bible? Might something worse be coming? A related two-part sermon is available: Egypt and the Plagues (Part 1) and Exodus Plagues and Prophecy (Part 2). Also: Exodus and the Days of Unleavened Bread. This article discusses parts of the Book of Exodus with some connections to the Days of Unleavened Bread. Also Exodus 4:24, Why would God have sought to kill Moses? What did Moses do wrong? Do you have a similar problem?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2033, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.
Should You Keep God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays. Two related sermons would be Which Spring Days should Christians observe? and Fall Holy Days for Christians.
Timelines and Early Church History This has dates and some timelines when biblical and non-biblical events took place.

(Public Domain photo)

COGwriter

The inflation rate in the USA seems to be rising:

“Obviously, This Is Very Bad News For Biden”: Wall Street Reacts To Today’s Red Hot Inflation Print

April 10, 2024

Coming into today’s CPI number, which followed three previous red-hot inflation prints, we said that it’s time for a “miss” (the first of 2024) not because the data demands it – on the contrary, prices continue to rise at a frightening pace – but because a dovish CPI print today would be the last opportunity for the Fed to set a timetable for a rate cut calendar ahead of November’s election.

Well, you can wave goodbye to all that, because we just got the 4th consecutive “inflation beat” in a row…

… thanks to a boiling inflation print which saw every single CPI metric coming in hotter than expected – was a shock, not because it reflected reality, but because it effectively sealed Biden’s fate because as Bloomberg’s Chris Antsey writes, “obviously, this is very bad news for Joe Biden… we’re approaching the point where high inflation is bound to still be in voters’ minds when they head to the polls, regardless of how the price figures come in over summer.” …

The bottom line, as Bloomberg’s Sebatian Boyd writes is the following:

“today’s CPI print adds to the evidence that US monetary policy just isn’t as restrictive as the Federal Reserve thinks it is, and that interest rates will therefore need to stay higher for longer. There are lots of reasons that might be: The great resignation during the pandemic may well have heightened productivity in the US economy as people found new jobs where they’re a better fit. Higher government spending would also push up the neutral rate of interest. But every time we get a hot indicator, the case builds that it has happened and that conventional measures of neutral interest rates are too low. If that is the case, the upshot is higher yields and a flatter curve, because not only would the Fed be able to cut by less than expected in the short term, but yields will need to be higher in the long term too.”

Finally, we conclude where we started, and echoing what we said in our CPI preview, namely that the BLS had Biden’s fate in its hands, it appears the bureaucrats just voted for Trump. Here is BBG’s Chris Antsey:

Obviously, this is very bad news for Joe Biden. It’s still only April, and we’ll have another half-a-year’s worth of inflation reports before the election. But we’re approaching the point where high inflation is bound to still be in voters’ minds when they head to the polls, regardless of how the price figures come in over summer.

To underscore how calamitous today’s data is for Biden, here also is BBG’s Enda Curran:

Let’s be clear — today’s data has both economic and political implications. The economics are straight forward: It looks unlikely that the Fed will be cutting rates near term (barring a shock). The political implications are less clear but no less meaningful: Poll after poll has found that voters are grumpy on the economy and news that it could be a while yet before the inflation story is over won’t brighten their mood.

And with Biden’s goose now thoroughly cooked, the next question is how long before somebody raises the possibility of a rate hike. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/obviously-very-bad-news-biden-wall-street-reacts-todays-red-hot-inflation-print

Politically, the Biden Administration has hoped for lower inflation numbers which, it also hoped, would lead to the US Federal Reserve reducing interest rates. Most analysts thought an interest rate cut would help Joe Biden’s re-election hopes. Now, there is a concern that instead of lowering the interest rate, the Federal Reserve might raise it–and that is believed by various ones to be detrimental to Joe Biden’s chances for re-election.

CNN reported:

April 10, 2024

Surging gas prices and sky-high mortgages and rent sent inflation rising more than expected in March, adding to Americans’ prolonged and painful battle with high costs. That could force the Federal Reserve to keep its punishing rates higher for longer.

US consumer prices picked up again last month, vaulting to a 3.5% increase for the 12 months ended in March, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That’s up considerably from February’s 3.2% rate and marks the highest annual gain in the past six months. Friday’s report further highlights that the path to lower inflation remains extremely bumpy — and continue to be a drag on Americans’ hard-earned finances — and that any loosening of monetary policy might not happen soon. https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/10/economy/cpi-consumer-price-index-inflation-march/index.html

As far as gasoline prices go, let me state that the cheapest gas station around here has raised the price of unleaded gasoline by 80 cents per gallon in the past month. And let me add that one of the last gasoline station prices I saw (which is at another station) was $6.09 per gallon.

A reality is that as the USA debt rises, there is more money, but not more goods and services. That is a major factor in causing price inflation.

There is an old prophecy, written over 2600 years ago, that warns against debt in the end times:

2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

5 “Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples. 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his — how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you, Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:2-8)

Now, with an official admitted debt of $34,608,412,560,642.47 as of Monday of this week (https://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP_WS/debt/current), and plans to increase that much further, the USA has increased pledges more than any nation in the history of the planet. And on a per capita basis, the United Kingdom is one of the most indebted nations on the earth itself.

The above prophecy in Habakkuk will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. “The message was true, but the appointed time was long…in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come”, Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27, 29,35 uses the same Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently. Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end. As far as “violence of the land” as a contributing factor, this would seem to include crime, military missions, and perhaps riots/civil unrest, but might it also include promotion of violent sports? Is the USA government not giving shameful counsel regarding matters such as homosexuality and abortion?

Before the USA is conquered, more inflation is coming–and with devastating consequences.

Here is something from my 2021 book, Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction:

Joe Biden will have to deal with the fact that the U.S.A. is the most indebted nation in the history of humanity. Plus, he has pledged increasing it further [^{The Biden Emergency Action Plan to Save the Economy. JoeBiden.com, accessed 12/16/20}].

Debt is a prophesied problem (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8). But many in the media as well as politically-inclined economists do not see it that way—but that is too short sighted (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:11).

The time will come when the U.S.A. government will no longer be able to borrow at low interest rates and/or it will create more money electronically and/or via the printing press to try to continue.

Make no mistake about it — massive inflation is coming.

The U.S.A. dollar will ultimately crash and be worthless. That “pride” of American power will be broken (cf. Leviticus 26:19).

A Biden-Harris Administration has asserted it will take debt raising steps. …

The Economy

While pushing biblically immoral ideas is bad for the economy, it should be noted that economies vary. A modern reality is that being the world’s de facto reserve currency has helped prolong the U.S.A.’s dominance.

When the U.S. dollar is no longer the world’s reserve currency, this will hurt the U.S.A. financially. Increasing debt, including “quantitative easing,” is a form of dishonest profits that is not something that God approves of and will punish the U.S.A. for (cf. Ezekiel 22:13-16).

Inflation will eventually hit the U.S.A. extremely hard. As the world becomes less attached to the American dollar, many financial jobs and opportunities will be in places other than the U.S.A. Eventually, but not yet, the U.S.A. dollar will become worthless (worth no more than the scrap or sentimental value of the cotton-paper it is printed on).

Will it always be straight downhill for the economy of the U.S.A.?

No.

There are some reasons to have some temporary optimism. The longer there is some economic stagnation in parts of the economy that governmental COVID-19 policies contributed to, the more demand tends to build up, and an increase in demand may prolong the economy. In addition, technological and other developments may temporarily support the U.S. economy—as can reductions of regulatory burdens.

Some policies of the Biden-Harris Administration may help. Others see problems. The Biden-Harris team looks to increase various regulations and impact some industries negatively (such as the fossil fuel industry). Various ones see their proposed policies and cabinet selections as a refreshing change that they hope will fuel economic growth and shared prosperity.

Notice what was told to a king whose was prophesied to lose his kingdom:

²⁷ Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity. (cf. Daniel 4:27)

Repentance can prolong prosperity, but promotion of sin leads to destruction. But, it is not expected that Joe Biden or Kamala Harris will push for scriptural national repentance. (Thiel B. Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction. Nazarene Books, 2021)

Last century, in a 1981 article, the old Worldwide Church of God had this about inflation:

Notice some of the penalties for disobedience recorded in the 26th chapter of Leviticus: “If after all this you have not learnt discipline but still defy me, I in turn will defy you and scourge you seven times over for your sins. I will bring war in vengeance upon you … you shall be herded into your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be given over to the enemy. I will cut short your daily bread until ten women can bake your bread in a single oven; they shall dole it out by weight [see Revelation 6:5-6], and though you eat, you shall not be satisfied. If in spite of this you do not listen to me and still defy me, I will defy you in anger, and I myself will punish you seven times over for your sins. Instead of meat you shall eat your sons and daughters” (Lev. 26:23-28, The New English Bible). Other passages warn of famine-producing upsets in weather (Amos 4:7, Deut. 28:24); ruined harvests (Ezek. 5:16, Deut. 28:17); blighted crops (Amos 4:9); harmful insect pests (Deut. 28:39, 42); and nonproductive soil (Deut. 28:23). (4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse – The Black Horse – Famine. WCG booklet, 1976)

The Bible foretells that inflation at least in the sense of oppressively rising prices — will be a plague of the end times. Notice Haggai 1:6, “and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put into a bag with holes.” Every person who has seen the buying power of his money be continually eroded because of rising prices can well understand that that prophecy has already come to pass.

The book of Revelation also foretells inflation: “A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Rev. 6:6).

A measure of wheat for a penny sounds like a bargain these days. But consider, a measure of wheat at the time John penned the book of Revelation was two-or three pints. A penny was the day’s wages of a laborer. In North America today, a factory worker’s pay is conservatively around $40 a day. So consider: three pints of wheat for $40!

That is inflation. Moreover, as we would expect from the time sequence, the prophecy bears a striking resemblance to our own pre-tribulation times: While food is scarce, it still has a market price.

The mention of oil and wine has several layers of meaning, one of which is an allusion to the practice in ancient Roman provinces of exporting oil and wine to Rome regardless of the scarcity of food at home. The main meaning, of course, is that oil and wine, having become scarce and expensive, must be spared for the highest priority uses.

When money fails

Biblical descriptions of money and prices bring out several important lessons about high prices:

Scarcity can make your money worthless. In Joseph’s time, when “famine [crop shortage] was over all the face of the earth” (Gen. 41:56), the fact was reflected in the price of food. Thus, when Jacob sent his sons to buy food in Egypt, he told them to take “double money” (Gen. 43:12).

Another example of scarcity-induced price increases was the siege in Samaria in the time of Elisha: “And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they [the Syrians] besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver” (II Kings 6:25).

Today, silver sells for around $8.50 an ounce. Imagine! Over $42.50 for a small quantity of bird waste!

And, of course, the law of supply and demand works the opposite way as well. When the Syrians prematurely abandoned their invasion and left their provisions behind (II Kings 7:6 and 8), the inhabitants of the city went out and gathered up those provisions. Supply increased. And prices came down.

Inflation increases the power of those who hold tangible goods. In the time of Joseph’s famine, people had money, but no food. The price of food went up, and they soon ran out of money.

(Since money in the Bible was synonymous with a given weight of silver or gold (See Ezra 7:15-17, II Kings 12:10-11), the government could not just go and print up some more.) Thus their “money failed” (Gen. 47:15), and they had to barter their livestock for food (Gen. 47:17).

After they had bartered away their livestock, they were forced to barter their land and their labor. If they hadn’t possessed some tangible goods to barter after their money ran out, they would have starved (Gen. 47:19).

And in the end, because the Egyptian government had correctly “anticipated market conditions,” it ended up owning everything. A closely related lesson from this account is that inflation favors those who hold or produce tangible necessities (as opposed to luxuries). … 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 …

The most important inflation hedge

Be righteous. God has the supernatural power to insure that His people do not suffer privation. God always has the power to hedge you from the ravages of inflation (see Job 1:10).

King David made this principle plain: “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied … I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Ps. 37:18-19, 25).

So, even though we do have a responsibility to provide for our children and our grandchildren through all the know-how and skills we can muster, in the end it is God in whom we must place all our trust, never wavering. That is the most sound investment anyone can make.(Calkins J. When Money Fails. Good News, October-November 1979)

Money, meaning the US dollar, will one day fail! And the USA will be taken over (Daniel 11:39) and be no more. Yes, we need to fully put our trust in God.

Other articles from the old WCG also predicted that the Europeans would end up with their own European currency (which it now has) and that it would be expected to replace the dollar (which is something that the Europeans want to happen).

The history of the US government increasing debt is setting the stage for more inflation.

The media and the populous will demand more ‘stimulus’ –which means more debt.

Sadly, many in the media and government act like printing up money is really the solution for the US economy because of their views of government and the economy.

But there is a real risk of massive inflation–and ultimately destruction.

Related to inflation, we put out the following video:

The Bible warns, “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

There is a serious cost to having an economy pumped up with so much “dross” money.

Actually, the USA has no real intention to pay back its debt.

Its leaders basically hope to not pay it back, but if some payment is needed they hope that it will be in inflated dollars worth less than what the USA borrowed.

Foreign creditors will not be pleased.

Not paying back debt is wicked:

The wicked borrows and does not repay … (Psalm 37:21)

This diluting of the value of currency (called “dross” anciently), which is what the USA has been doing with its debt and quantitative easing policies, is condemned in the Bible:

4 Take away the dross from silver (Proverbs 25:4a).

22 Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water. (Isaiah 1:22)

25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. (Isaiah 1:25)

18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. 21 Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury on you.’” (Ezekiel 22:18-22)

Dross money causes inflation.

Although the Bible warns against using dross and diluting the money supply, many modern ‘experts’ have a different view. The wrong views on economics will lead to economic problems and ultimately the total crash of the dollar of the USA.

Printing more money and contributing to hyperinflation is not going to solve the debt problems of the USA.

The USA, because of the role of its dollar, can look to get away with this for longer than other nations, but the end result will be much worse than most think.

There are disastrous changes that will come to the USA (Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses)–and its debt and other monetary practices–which one day will cause massive hyperinflation–will be a cause (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

But since many leading so-called ‘economists’ are political hacks and/or have a political agenda, do not expect too many prominent ones to have sufficient influence to resolve the problems in the USA.

The truth is that the USA is setting itself up for massive inflation and destruction.

Hyperinflation will hit the USA and its results will be worse than almost anyone realizes.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
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 and silver? Two videos of related interest may be: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar and Silver, Science, and Scripture.
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.
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.

Arizona abortion ban: State Supreme Court upholds 160-year-old law https://t.co/Di6r7v2syv

— News19 WLTX (@WLTX) April 10, 2024

COGwriter

Arizona’s Supreme Court decided to follow the law and this has incensed pro-abortion forces:

10 April 2024

Hours after Arizona’s supreme court declared on Tuesday that a 160-year-old abortion ban is now enforceable, Republicans in the state took a surprising stance for a party that has historically championed abortion restrictions – they denounced the decision.

“This decision cannot stand,” said Matt Gress, a Republican state representative. “I categorically reject rolling back the clock to a time when slavery was still legal and we could lock up women and doctors because of an abortion.”

First passed when Arizona was still a territory, the ban only permits abortions to save a patient’s life and does not have exceptions for rape or incest.

“Today’s Arizona supreme court decision reinstating an Arizona territorial-era ban on all abortions from more than 150 years ago is disappointing to say the least,” said TJ Shope, a Republican state senator.

“I oppose today’s ruling,” added Kari Lake, a Republican running to represent Arizona in the US Senate and a loyalist of Donald Trump. Lake called on the state legislature to “come up with an immediate commonsense solution that Arizonans can support”. …

As Arizona Republicans raced to distance themselves from the long-dormant law, abortion opponents cheered the decision.

“We celebrate the Arizona supreme court’s decision that allows the state’s pro-life law to again protect the lives of countless, innocent unborn children,” said Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Jake Warner, who argued the case before the court in favor of the ban. …

Vice-president Kamala Harris will go to Arizona later this week, in a visit that was planned ahead of the Tuesday decision. She blamed the impending state ban on Trump, whose three supreme court appointees voted to eliminate the federally guaranteed right to an abortion.

“Arizona just rolled back the clock to a time before women could vote – and, by his own admission, there’s one person responsible: Donald Trump,” Harris said in a campaign statement. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/10/arizona-republicans-against-state-abortion-ban

So, notice that Republican politicians are not as anti-abortion as many hope and that, of course, Democrats like Kamala Harris remain stridently pro-abortion. Most politicians are interested in retaining their power more than holding to properly moral positions and Republicans in Arizona are publicly putting that reality on display.

As far as the number of abortions go, since the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion decision, the number of abortions has not dropped like the abortionists feared, but instead has risen according to the following report Forbes posted about:

Abortion Rates Have Been ‘Consistently Elevated’ Since Supreme Court Overturned Roe V. Wade, Study Finds

February 28, 2024

The number of abortions carried out in the U.S. each month is “similar if not higher” than the abortion rate before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, according to a new study by the Society of Family Planning—though abortion rights advocates say the consistent rates shouldn’t obscure ongoing challenges to accessing abortion care. …

The Supreme Court’s ruling has impacted abortion access, with the study finding that if the court hadn’t overturned Roe, 120,930 abortions would have occurred in 14 states that have banned abortion in the wake of the ruling: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Those decreases have been offset by surges in other states where abortion has remained legal, with the largest influx of patients in Illinois, Florida and California, along with other increases in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/02/28/abortion-rates-have-been-consistently-elevated-since-supreme-court-overturned-roe-v-wade-study-finds/?sh=5404891063c0

Over two years ago, I wrote:

Even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, that will not stop abortions in the USA.  (Thiel B. Roe vs. Wade: Abortion still an issue and still should be made illegal. COGwriter, January 23, 2022)

Sadly, abortions not only continue, but seem to be rising.

Such should never be.

Interestingly, the woman that the pro-abortion forces used to get the original Roe vs. Wade decision (Norma L. McCorvey, whose court case was filed under the alias of Jane Roe) that the pro-abortion forces wanted, later regretted her decision. So much so that in August 1995, she (Norma L. McCorvey) announced that she had become an advocate of Operation Rescue’s campaign to make abortion illegal.

The Bible says to:

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

That is what many posts here, such as this one related to abortion, are doing.

Abortion is a sin and reckoning is coming.

The Bible makes it clear that human life begins prior to birth (Ecclesiastes 11:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:24; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Luke 1:41-44). Since all fertilized human eggs are human, human life begins at the time of conception.

“Conception” means to first come into existence, so even its definition supports the idea of when a life starts.

Knowing happens at conception makes this clearer. Normally (unless there is Down syndrome or something that changes the number of chromosomes) 23 unpaired chromosomes from the egg and 23 unpaired chromosomes from the sperm come together and form a new entity with 46 chromosomes. This new entity is a new human life. It did not come into existence before conception and does not change genetically after conception. It is not a dog, a frog, or simply a pile of tissue. The unborn baby is a separate, but developing, human being.

I have seen photos of protestors with signs saying, “My body, my choice.” This has been a media tactic pro-abortionists have long used. Here is something related to that:

Arizona Supreme Court rules a century-old law banning nearly all abortions can be enforced

April 9, 2024

A protestor holds a sign reading ‘My Body My Choice’ at a Women’s March rally where Arizona Secretary of State and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs spoke outside the State Capitol …

In a historic decision Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled the state must adhere to a 123-year-old penal code provision barring all abortions except in cases when “it is necessary to save” a pregnant person’s life.

The law, which can be traced to as early as 1864, also carried a prison sentence of two to five years for abortion providers. There is a 14-day stay on the law.

The case is the latest high-profile example of the battle over abortion access that has played out across several states since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2022. Since that decision, nearly two dozen states have banned or limited access to the procedure. Providers have warned that restrictive policies on abortion access place patients at risk of poor health outcomes and doctors at risk of legal liability. https://ksltv.com/636396/arizona-supreme-court-rules-a-century-old-law-banning-nearly-all-abortions-can-be-enforced/

Let’s consider the “my body, my choice” line.

First of all, women who are not raped do have a choice. Women do not have to get married or have sexual intercourse, plus if they do they can use a variety of birth control methods (see also Are any types of birth control scripturally allowed?). Those options are related to their bodies and their choices. More on a woman’s right to choose is in the article: Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose.

Second of all, if a woman gets pregnant, their is another body in her womb. It is not her body, nor is killing that body a choice she has the moral right to make.

The unborn baby is innocent and does not deserve death.

Consider also that the Bible specifically condemns those that shed innocent blood, as that is something that God hates:

So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD (Deuteronomy 21:9).

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace (Isaiah 59:7-8).

Thus says the LORD: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place (Jeremiah 22:3).

“Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence” (Jeremiah 22:17).

Babies are innocent. Killing them is the shedding of innocent blood. The baby is NOT the woman’s body, nor is killing it through an abortion a choice she should chose.

The Bible prophesied that in the last days people would be “without natural affection” (2 Timothy 3:3, KJV). Here is information on the Greek term so translated:

NT:794
astorgos (as’-tor-gos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of stergo (to cherish affectionately); hard-hearted towards kindred:

KJV – without natural affection.

(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

What is interesting here is that the word astorgos seems to mean a lack of love towards those you are related to. Certainly that encompasses abortion. Thus increased abortions is consistent with the biblical prophecy in 2 Timothy.

Humans are to be kind, not kill their babies, and love each other–abortion is basically the opposite (see also: SIXTH COMMANDMENT: Anger, Murder, Abortion, Sports, Self-Control, & Kindness).

A while back, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:12:23

Abortion and Birth Control: History and Scriptures

What is an abortion? How have they been done throughout history? How are abortions done now? What are some of women’s biblical rights? Do women have a right to have an abortion? When does human life begin? Is birth control acceptable? Are some birth control techniques abortive? Did any Roman Catholic pontiffs allow abortion? What about the Church of God? Has the USA benefited economically from abortion as Chelsea Clinton stated or are there other economic costs? Does the Bible teach that the unborn are human children? What are things that God hates? What are some non-economic costs to abortion? What did Planned Parenthood co-founder want to do with ‘Negros’? Do blacks have a higher percentage of abortions than whites in the USA? Are there abortion lies and suppression of truth? Does the Bible warn of that? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to the sermon: Abortion and Birth Control: History and Scriptures.

Notice the following:

172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172).

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).

Killing babies through abortion is not righteous. It is a reproach to nations around the world that allow and encourage it.

Those that consent to abortions are often proud, are normally lying to themselves that they are not doing violence to a human being, and often have abortions because of their own lusts and covetousness. Adding the sin of abortion to their other sins is simply not the answer.

They also place themselves in the same category as Judas Iscariot, for he admitted that when he betrayed Jesus Christ, he (Judas) betrayed “innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). Jesus was betrayed by someone He considered to be a friend–no baby should be betrayed by the mother that is supposed to love it.

Related to abortion, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:44

Abortion, the US Constitution, and the Bible

On June 24, 2022, the United State Supreme Court overruled the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion decision. Did the Court just take away a constitutional right? What does the US Declaration of Independence say about life and the purpose of government? Does human life begin at conception according to 95% of biologists surveyed? Does the Word of God teach that unborn humans are children? What does the Bible teach about the shedding of innocent blood? Are there biblical consequences for performing or condoning abortion? Dr. Thiel along with Steve Dupuie deals with the issues.

Here is a link to the video: Abortion, the US Constitution, and the Bible.

A woman has a lot of rights of choice. But just like a man, she does not have the right to take an innocent life.

She, just like a man, should always choose life.

Women are struck emotionally for the rest of their lives when they consent to an abortion (the Bible even warns of curses for killing the innocent, Deuteronomy 27:25). That is not a choice they should ever make.

Judgement is coming.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Here is a link to a related sermon: Abortion and Birth Control: History and Scriptures.
American Infanticide February 23, 2019 was declared a ‘day of mourning’ by some concerned about infanticide and other ramifications of the State of New York’s “Reproductive Health Act.” The American College of Pediatricians reported they were grieved by efforts by several states to allow infanticide. Statements from disgraced Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, as well as proposed laws in Illinois, Rhode Island, and Vermont have gotten more to be concerned about infanticide in the United States of America. Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse proposed S. 311 the ‘Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act failed in a voice vote–and 17 “public health organizations’ denounced S. 311 as “a dangerous government intrustion.” Is the destruction of humans wrong. Does human life begin at conception? Is there a light flash at conception? Has there been infanticide throughout human history? What does God say about the shedding of “innocent blood’? What about Judaism and Molech? This is a video.
Why sex and marriage? What are each spouse’s responsibilities regarding sex in the marriage? What is not allowed according to God’s word? Why is there sex and why is there marriage? Parental discretion is advised as to whether or not everything in this article is now appropriate for their children. Dr. Thiel goes over scriptures, The Missing Dimension in Sex, and provides answers to questions many have had. A related sermon is available: Sex and Marriage. Here is that sermon in the Spanish language: Matrimonio y sexo.
Are any types of birth control scripturally allowed? Did Jesus make a statement that might be consistent with birth control? Are there any methods that might be appropriate? What methods would be biblically prohibited? Here is a link a related video: Can Christians Use Birth Control?
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.
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
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.

COGwriter

A reader in Italy sent me the following link, https://www.marcotosatti.com/2024/04/09/bibbia-2008-cancellato-un-versetto-in-matteo-1811-perche-investigatore-biblico/ which I machine-translated into English. Here are excerpts:

Bible 2008, Deleted a Verse in Matthew 18,11. Why? Biblical Investigator.

9 April 2024 Published by Marco Tosatti

Bible CEI 2008: “Sensatory: an entire verse deleted: Matthew 18,11. Who has the right to such changes?” by BIBLICAL INVESTIGATOR

Starting from the healthy question ‘has anyone else noticed?’, I searched for bibliography on the subject, even online, but no response.

The sensational thing is another deletion of a verse of the Word of God in the CEI 2008 Bible . …

In the case in question the verse in Mt 18.11 has been magically crossed out.

We therefore present the usual comparison with the previous edition.

Cei 74 in Mt 18.11 reports:

“ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost ” ( Mt 18:11 )

CEI 2008 , however, completely skips the v. 11, placing a footnote, where it is written:

“ the verse (…) is missing in many manuscripts; a similar phrase occurs in Luke 19:10 “.

It is not known which are the ‘many manuscripts’ in which the verse is missing, and the matter is approved without any mention.

Reading, however, the text of the Gospel of Matthew in Greek, here is what I find in verse 11:

“ Elthen gar o uios tou anthropou sosai to apolosos ” which, translated, precisely, is:

“ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost ”.

Now, there are 2 cases:

– I am the only biblical scholar in the world to have a Greek text where verse 11 appears (therefore the new translators must demonstrate and present in which manuscripts this verse does not appear)

or

– they are doing some prank or experiment

Having said this, the verse of Matthew 18.11 appears in the Vulgate of Saint Jerome, is present in the Martini Bible (18th century) and in the Ricciotti Bible (1940s), just to give a few examples.

But, be careful!, it was also canceled in the New Vulgate. …

Do new translators claim the right to decide what is the Word of God and what is not?

Is the verse not to our liking and therefore we proceed to delete it without mincing words?

I’ll go further.

If in 2024 it is decided arbitrarily, with censorship, what is the Word of God and what is not, who will prevent, for example, that in 10 years the new edition of the Bible avoids containing Romans 1 to be more politically correct?

Other than a basic bias against the Bible, the ‘Bible Investigator’ did not give a specific reason why he feels that the CEI translators left the verse out.

But he is correct that some do not care for Romans 1. For example, we already know that governments, particularly in Canada, do not like Romans 1 (watch Canadian censoring of the Bible).

What is the CEI? Well that stands for the CONFERENZA EPISCOPALE ITALIANA (CEI). That group has been headed up by the Roman Catholic Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna. Their Bible is an Italian translation and according to Bible Gateway, that Bible is in the public domain in the United States.

That said, the fact that Jesus came to save the lost is an important doctrine.

But, while it was taught by early Christians, and seemingly also once understood by people who became part of the Greco-Roman church alliance (see the free online book: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?), that alliance changed the meaning of that (though the Eastern Orthodox still have some conception of it). Most modern Protestants do not know what early Christians believed related to several aspects of God’s plan of salvation (see also the free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism).

Here is some information about that verse (and a similar one in Luke 19) as well as more on the lost and God’s plan of salvation from the free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation:

The Bible shows that it is appointed for all to die once, and after this will come the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Yet, the Bible also shows that those judged can attain mercy upon repentance (cf. James 2:13) and even those lost can be found (cf. Matthew 10:6-13).

Perhaps it should be pointed out that babies who die are not lost for sinning against God. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that those who never heard the truth of the gospel message will be lost.

It should be noted that Roman Catholic theology, while normally allowing for a higher percentage of people receiving salvation than what many Protestant and Baptist groups seem to teach, also tends to condemn most who ever lived to eternal torment and torturing.

Since Protestants have often claimed sola scriptura as their doctrinal source, and Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox point to scripture as a doctrinal source, it is to the Bible that Greco-Roman-Protestants should go to in order to see God’s plans for all.

Sadly, despite claiming “sola Scriptura,” Protestant scholars have tended to reason around various biblical passages regarding God’s plan of salvation. Notice one such mis-reasoning example related to Luke 3:6 (bolding in the version cited):

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. The writer makes plain at the outset of Jesus’ ministry that He had a universal message. (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press).

Contrary to the interpretation above, Luke 3:6 DOES NOT state that the message is universal–it teaches that all flesh SHALL SEE the salvation of God. ALL will have an opportunity for salvation. That will be now for the elect and later for the rest.

Plus the message is not universal if most in the universe never properly hear it.

Luke 2:10, states:

¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

There is to be good tidings for ALL PEOPLE. All will have an opportunity for salvation (cf. Luke 3:6).

Jesus will be joy to all people who will accept Him. …

The Gospels show that Jesus came to save the lost:

⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)

¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11)

¹¹ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11, DRB)

Notice that Jesus came to save the lost, not just a small amount of elect people. If the lost could not be saved, why would Jesus then have come?

Saving those who are currently lost is part of God’s plan as Ezekiel 34:11-16 shows:

¹¹ ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. ¹² As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. ¹³ And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴ I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. ¹⁶ “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

Notice that the lost were driven away (by false teachings and their own issues) but God will bring them back and FEED THEM IN JUDGMENT. Ezekiel did not say condemning them to everlasting torment in that judgment. While Jesus sought to reach various ones who were lost (Matthew 18:11), God did not gather the people from the countries then, hence this prophecy in Ezekiel is for a future time.

Furthermore, doesn’t “feed them in judgment” sound fairly positive? …

Satan has basically held the world captive through deceit. Notice also what Revelation 12:9 teaches:

⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;

Notice that the whole world has been allowed to be deceived. They have not intentionally chosen the wrong.

2 Corinthians 4:3 teaches:

³ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (KJV).

While Calvinists and others misunderstand this verse, consider that just because someone is lost does NOT mean that they cannot be found!

2 Corinthians 4:4 teaches about those:

⁴ whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

So, right now the gospel is hid—during this age—and some now are lost as they have been blinded by Satan—the god of this age—from knowing the truth (to learn more about the gospel, check out our free book, available online at www.ccog.org, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God). Paul also calls our time “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4), which implies a better age to come (which will happen per Revelation 21:1-7).

Would a just God who allowed Satan to blind the world so that it could not see the truth of the Gospel not have a plan to later call those who are now lost?

The Bible clearly teaches that two ages will be coming where Satan will NOT be around (Revelation 20:1-3, 10), hence people will have an opportunity for salvation without being under the sway of Satan.

Anyway, yes, the lost can be found.

The Vatican, which has strong connections to the CEI,  has declared that God does not have a plan to offer salvation later. Notice something that Joseph Ratzinger wrote in a paper titled The Theology of History in St. Bonaventure prior to becoming Pope Benedict XVI:

“…both Chiliasm [the teaching of the Millennium] and Montanism were declared heretical and were excluded from the universal church; for they both denied this vision [the “Christ is the end of the ages” vision] and awaited still another period of more definitive salvation to follow after the age of Christ” (as cited in Birch, pp. 515-516; note the comments within [] were from the Roman Catholic writer Birch).

This was an odd statement for several reasons. It was the leaders in Asia Minor who stood for the Millennium and were the first to oppose Montanism–whom the Roman Catholics originally tolerated (please see the article Location of the Early Church)–hence the belief in one is NOT necessarily related to the other.

The other reason this condemnation is odd, is that even though Origen of the 3rd century was opposed to the millennium, Origen also taught that there was definitive salvation after what then Cardinal Ratzinger calls “the age of Christ” (please see the article Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism). Yet the late Pope Benedict XVI  publicly praised Origen as a “true teacher” (for documentation, see What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation?).

Perhaps Satan influenced those who took Matthew 18:11 out as Satan does not want people to realize that God is love, has a broader plan of salvation than many understand, and is actually fair.

The fact is that God does have a fantastic plan, and it includes reaching those who are now lost.

Notice and consider how our free book, Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation, starts off:

Does God have a plan of salvation that makes sense?

The Bible teaches that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), “God is the God of salvation” (Psalm 68:20), God is good (Mark 10:18), and God is all-powerful, all-knowing (Isaiah 46:9-11).

Would not such a God be wise enough to come up with a plan of salvation that works, and does not doom the overwhelming majority of humans that ever lived to punishing that never ends?

Could that be a major part of why He sent His Son (John 3:16-17; 10:10)?

Will God offer salvation to all human beings who ever lived?

Is the view that God plans to offer salvation to all human beings biblical?

Has such a view had at least a degree of historical support, even among certain religious leaders still praised by the Greco-Roman-Protestant churches?

The answer to these questions is, yes, absolutely!

God’s plan makes sense.

More on God’s loving plan of salvation can be found in our free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation.

Some items of related interest may include:

Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair?, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
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.
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.

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Following talks in Beijing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed the Plan of Consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Russia and China for 2024.#RussiaChina pic.twitter.com/OJldz0Jtl0

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) April 9, 2024

COGwriter

Deutsche Welle reported the following:

China and Russia agree to boost ties in opposition to West

9 April 2024

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday that Beijing would “strengthen strategic cooperation” with Moscow during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

In comments reported by the RIA Novosti news agency, Wang said Beijing and Moscow would “provide each other with strong support.”

The meeting took place during a two-day visit by Lavrov to China. The two powers have improved their diplomatic ties since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, declaring a “no limits” partnership.

The West is “implementing unlawful sanctions toward a number of states, Russia is among them of course. This policy is starting to be actively applied toward [China] as well,” Lavrov said, referencing efforts by the US to restrict China’s access to key US-made technologies.

Plan to launch Eurasian security ‘dialogue’

Russia and China agreed to strengthen security cooperation across Eurasia to counter US and Western influence. Lavrov said such a move had been put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that the two countries had agreed to “start a dialogue with the involvement of our other like-minded people on this issue.”

“For a long time, there was a Euro-Atlantic security structure in the form of NATO, of course, as well as the OSCE, but it is striking itself out from the list of relevant structures within which it is possible to conduct meaningful negotiations and agree on something based on a balance of interests,” Lavrov said.

Moscow and Beijing are planning on launching a “dialogue” on Eurasian security issues, but no further details were given. https://www.dw.com/en/china-and-russia-agree-to-boost-ties-in-opposition-to-west/a-68773085

A Russian-promoted, Eurasian security dialogue would help set the stage for various biblical prophecies to be fulfilled which involve a Russian-led force invading the end time European daughter of Babylon.