Church of God News

We want Russia to come, say Moldova protesters https://t.co/To4y0luTA0

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 20, 2023

COGwriter

Moldova reported a close election that was slightly pro-European Union, and its president faces another election:

Moldova says ‘Yes’ to pro-EU constitutional changes by tiny margin

21 October 2024

People in Moldova have backed the Eastern European country’s proposed changes to its constitution and commitment to joining the EU by the thinnest of margins in a referendum.

Official data put Yes on 50.46% and No on 49.54% on Monday afternoon, with more than 99.6% of votes counted.

The knife-edge nature of the vote has come as a shock to many. The referendum had been widely expected to comfortably pass in the country of 2.6 million, which borders Romania and Ukraine.

The vote was combined with presidential elections in which Maia Sandu, the incumbent pro-EU president, failed to win re-election outright and faces a second round next month. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wnr5qdxe7o

Pro-EU Moldovan leader faces presidential election runoff

21 October 2024

Moldova will hold a second round of its presidential election next month after no candidate reached the threshold for an outright victory during Sunday’s vote, according to preliminary results published by the country’s Central Electoral Commission on Monday morning.

The runoff is set to be held between incumbent pro-Western President Maia Sandu and former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, the leader of the Party of Socialists (PSRM). The two garnered 41.86% and 26.32% of the vote, respectively, in the first round. A candidate must win an absolute majority of 50% plus one vote to win the presidency.

Meanwhile, a referendum on EU accession that was held alongside the presidential election is so far too close to call. Earlier preliminary results had indicated that the majority had voted against a clause being inserted into the country’s constitution defining EU accession as a goal. However, according to the latest reports, with 99% of the votes counted, the ‘yes’ vote was slightly ahead at 50.3%. https://www.rt.com/russia/606015-moldova-runoff-election-referendum/

Lat year, the BBC posted the following:

We want Russia to come, say Moldova protesters

20 February 2023

Energy bills here now consume more than 70% of household income, according to Moldova’s president.

Ala tells me they swallow half of her pension.

“When we elected this government, they promised to raise salaries and pensions, but so far we haven’t seen a penny,” she says.

Sunday’s protests, organised by Moldova’s pro-Russian Sor party, are being closely watched by governments across Europe and beyond. Most protesters travelled to the capital city Chisinau by bus, with their costs reportedly covered by the Sor party. …

Marina Tauber, Sor’s general secretary, who led today’s protest outside parliament, says that her party not opposed to the EU and wants good relations with all sides.

But there are those in her party who admit they would welcome Russian intervention. …

Orhei – an hour’s drive north of the capital Chisinau – is a Sor stronghold where we meet party Councillor Iurie Berenchi.

“We’re not afraid,” he told me, “Because if Russia wanted to take Moldova, they’d do it in half a day.”

When asked if she would welcome that, Mr Berenchi is unequivocal.

“In my personal opinion, yes,” he said. “With Russia we’d be much better off than we are now.”

Many people in Chisinau see closer ties with the West as a way to secure Moldova’s independence and democracy at a critical time. President Sandu’s party has a solid majority in parliament.

But the view from the crowd outside that parliament on Sunday was different, and there’s the risk the pressure could widen the splits in Moldova’s diverse society.

The risk is clear when Ala and her friends were asked whether they believe Russia wants to infiltrate Moldova, as their president fears.

“Yes, let them come!” they shout. “We want them to come here. We want to be part of Russia!” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64700590

Yes, it has long been the case that a substantial minority in Moldova likes Russia and many want to be part of Russia.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel which relates to prophecy and Moldova:

14:51

Russia, Sanctions, Transnistria, Europe & Prophecy

In 2014 the USA and European Union put sanctions on Russia because of its acquisition of Crimea. Since Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine, more sanctions were added. On February 23, 2024, the EU and USA announced more sanctions. Did the sanctions turn the “ruble into rubble” as Joe Biden hoped? Did Russia acquire more territory as Dr. Thiel warned in 2013, 2018, and 2022 prior to the current conflict? Was he right about sanctions? Will Russia and Europe acquire more territory? Will they one day trade more with each other? Will they one day turn against each other? What about Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, and Armenia? Are the Russian-led ‘kings of the Medes’ prophesied to destroy the coming Babylonian European Beast power? Does Europe, starting with Benelux to the European Economic Community to the European Union look to be fulfilling Daniel 8:9? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Russia, Sanctions, Transnistria, Europe & Prophecy.

Related to Molodova, Russia, and Ukraine, here is something else which is in our free online book Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?:

Moldova      Chaldeans/Madai …

Russia          Madai/Mesech …

Ukraine       Elam/Madai …

Slavic peoples tended to descend through those called Sarmatians, [i] which look to have descended from the biblical Elam and Madai.[ii]

The Slavic nations are in lands south and east of the Benelux nations—so consistent with Daniel 8:9, many in Slavic Europe will support the end time European power. …

That being said, some Elamites are believed to have been the progenitors of the Serbs,[iii] but some part of the Medes (from Madai) may also have been involved.

According to Herodotus, there were numerous tribes of the Medes.[iv] …

Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus tend to be considered as East Slavs. They tend to be descended from Japheth’s sons Madai, Tubal, Mechech, and Gomer (Genesis 10:2).

All of which have descendants in Russia. Belarus seems to have mainly descended from Madai (or possibly Midian).

There were numerous tribes of the Medes (which descended from Madai) with the Buzhians in the northwest part of Ukraine.[v]

Russia, which is both in Europe and Asia, will, for a time, prosper through trade with the coming European Beast (as will Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine). …

Peoples prophetically called Medes are also shown to destroy the final Babylon according to both Isaiah and Jeremiah:

¹ The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw…

¹⁷ “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. ¹⁸ Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. ¹⁹ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19)

¹¹ Make the arrows bright! Gather the shields! The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, Because it is the vengeance of the Lord, The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)

The fact that there are multiple kings of the Medes indicates that powers involved in this end time confederation represent multiple governments. This would seem to include Russia, Belarus, and likely Crimea, Donbas, and some others in Ukraine, some in Moldova, perhaps some from the nation of Georgia, and some in Iran, etc.

Anciently, “Darius the Mede” (Daniel 5:31) conquered the old Babylon—modern “Medes” will help do the same to the end-time daughter of Babylon.

The following passages seem also to apply:

⁸ “Move from the midst of Babylon, Go out of the land of the Chaldeans; And be like the rams before the flocks. ⁹ For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon An assembly of great nations from the north country, And they shall array themselves against her; From there she shall be captured. Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior; None shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:8-9)

Those who believe the Bible should leave the midst of end-time Babylon by then. Certainly, the above “north country” includes Russia, but other passages clearly point to others from Asia being involved (Jeremiah 51:27-29).

Notice some of what will happen to the coming European Babylonian Beast power led by a power from the farthest parts of the earth (Russia is the nation that is the farthest east and close to being the farthest north nation):

22 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, a people comes from the north country, And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.

23 They will lay hold on bow and spear; They are cruel and have no mercy; Their voice roars like the sea; And they ride on horses, As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion.”

24 We have heard the report of it; Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, Pain as of a woman in labor. 25 Do not go out into the field, Nor walk by the way. Because of the sword of the enemy, Fear is on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, Dress in sackcloth And roll about in ashes! Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us. (Jeremiah 6:22-26)

41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north, And a great nation and many kings Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth. 42 They shall hold the bow and the lance; They are cruel and shall not show mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea; They shall ride on horses, Set in array, like a man for the battle, Against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, And his hands grow feeble; Anguish has taken hold of him, Pangs as of a woman in childbirth.  (Jeremiah 50:41-43)

The “great nation” from the “farthest parts of the earth” includes Russia. There are also nations that will be confederate with it. … When the “daughter of Babylon” is in the process of falling, many will abandon supporting it.

[i] McNair, Key to Northwest Origins

[ii] White C. In Search of … The Origin of Nations. History Research Projects, p. 283

[iii] White C. In Search of … The Origin of Nations, p. 287

ivi] Herodotos I-3. Edited by A.H. Sayce. The Ancient Empires of the East. MacMillan & Co., 1883, p. 62

[i] White C. In Search of … The Origin of Nations, p. 273

Much of the world is moving towards a type of integration that will result in the final time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24; see also The Times of the Gentiles).

There are some similarities between Ukraine and Moldova–both nations have a lot of Russian speakers, have had pro-Russian governments, and have territory in the east that prefers closer ties with Russia.

Moldova is probably still the poorest nation in Europe (without Western aid, Ukraine likely would be now). Both Russia and the European Union want it. Moldova has applied to be part of the EU, but Russia does not like that.

The European Union wants nearly all of continental Europe to be part of it, and that includes Moldova. Moldova is a land, which like Ukraine, some in the west see as a ‘buffer’ against Russia because of geographic proximity.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, wants all the former Soviet states, including Moldova and Ukraine, to become part of Russia or at least part of his Eurasian Economic Union.

Moldovans took some steps towards the European Union several years ago, which made them poorer as this displeased Russia, and also restricted aspects of trade. But with a major part of its workforce actually out of the country but working within the European Union, this has greatly increased its support for the EU. Many in Moldova do not trust Russia and believe that they will be freer and wealthier as part of the European Union. Others have been disappointed with the Europeans and have serious doubts that the Europeans can improve their lives for some time as the protests help demonstrate.

So what will happen?

Some areas will, ultimately according to scripture, align with Russia.

Yet, the Bible also teaches that the European Beast power will expand to the south and the east.

Notice that, in Daniel 8, the Bible prophesied that a little horn would mainly expand south and east:

9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:9-12).

And while the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-39). The European Union has mainly expanded south and east of the Benelux nations (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)–which is where it initially formed. Now, approximately 447 million people are under a new, single (though not completed united) government, called the European Union, headquartered in Brussels. Ukraine is mainly east of much of the EU–thus its geography is consistent with at least some of it being part of the EU. And Moldova and Georgia are south and east, which is also consistent.

In the old Radio Church of God, the late evangelist Dr. Hoeh taught that this little horn of Daniel 8 was the power that would become the final King of the North:

Turn in your Bible to verse 9: “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” …

The King of the North

The little horn in Daniel 8 is none other than the LAST KING of one of the four divisions of Alexander’s Empire. He is, in fact, the final “King of the North” described in Daniel 11. (Hoeh H. The 2300 Days. Plain Truth, August 1965)

Again, it looks like at least part of Moldova will support the Europeans for a time. The same is the case for Ukraine.

However, at least part of those both land look like they will ultimately align with Russia.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now? Another could be Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code).
Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast? Here is a link to a video titled: Europe and the ‘Holy Roman Empire’.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a related YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy. 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.
The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.

John Martin’s 1834 version of the Deluge

COGwriter

Is there any evidence in China of the Great Flood of Noah’s time?

Yes.

Some researchers are claiming that:

A Chinese myth that speaks of a flood so high “it threatens the very heavens” may be rooted in fact after all.

Some 4,000 years ago, legend says, the flood tore through a large are of central China washing away cities and inundating farmland.

Enter a hero named Yu the Great, who earned his sobriquet by spending decades organizing a campaign to dig canals to channel the floodwater, supposedly passing his home three times as he traveled the region, but never setting foot inside until the job was done.

Yu was so revered for these public works that he passed into legend as emperor of China’s supposed first dynasty, the mythical Xia Dynasty.

Now, researchers in China say they may have found evidence that the great flood that sparked the myths was, in fact, a real event on the region’s Yellow River. https://weather.com/science/news/scientists-find-evidence-china-legendary-great-flood-was-real

Analysis of the crushed skeletons of children have revealed that an earthquake 4,000 years ago could be the source of a legendary “great flood” at the dawn of Chinese civilisation.

A Chinese-led team found remnants of a vast landslide, caused by an earthquake, big enough to block the Yellow river in what is now Qinghai province, near Tibet. …

The authors put the Yellow river flood at about 1920 BC by carbon dating the skeletons of children in a group of 14 victims found crushed downstream, apparently when their home collapsed in the earthquake. …

The evidence of a massive flood in line with the legend “provides us with a tantalising hint that the Xia dynasty might really have existed”, said one of the authors, David Cohen of National Taiwan University.

Deluges feature in many traditions, from Hindu texts to the biblical story of Noah. In pre-history, floods were probably frequent as ice sheets melted after the last ice age ended … https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/05/chinas-great-flood-tests-on-childrens-bones-support-4000-year-old-legend

“The flood is pouring forth destruction. Boundless and overwhelming, it overtops hills and mountains,” goes a quote attributed to the legendary Emperor Yao. “Rising and ever rising, it threatens the very heavens.”

If civilization was to survive, the people needed a hero who could tame the floodwaters and restore the land. That man was Yu, founder of China’s first dynasty, the Xia. Over the course of decades, Yu organized a dredging campaign, dug channels that would carry the water back to its source, and pioneered a tradition of great Chinese public works.

“He brings order out of the chaos and defines the land, separating what would become the center of Chinese civilization,” said David Cohen, an anthropologist and early Chinese history expert at National Taiwan University. “He is essentially establishing the political order and the ideologies of rulership.”

It is a powerful foundation myth, but many believed that was all it was. Some 4,000 years after the flood was supposed to have happened, historians had found no archaeological evidence of its effect or firsthand accounts of its destruction. There are no historical artifacts from Yu, or the Xia dynasty he founded. All researchers had to go on were stories written long after the fact, dramatized and politicized to justify the ends of those who wrote them.

Until Wu Qinglong, a geologist at Nanjing Normal University, found signs of the flood in the sediments beneath his feet.

In a new paper published Thursday in the journal Science, Wu and his colleagues describe geological evidence for a catastrophic flood on the Yellow River in about 1900 B.C. — right around the time the “Great Flood” was said to have taken place.

“This expands our understanding,” said Andrew Sudgen, deputy editor of Science, “not only of civilization’s origins, but also the environment in which ancestral societies emerged.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/08/04/legends-say-china-began-in-a-great-flood-scientists-just-found-evidence-that-the-flood-was-real/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_1_na

The Bible tells of a massive worldwide flood that occurred (Genesis chapters 6 -8). This seems to have been around 2325 B.C. (see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

Since carbon dating has its flaws, it could be that the remains found were related to the flood in Noah’s time, or perhaps a different, more local flood, that occurred a few centuries later.

However, there is other evidence in China that the Chinese were aware of the biblical flood.

Notice a couple of statements in the Bible concerning the flood:

1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1).

20…in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water (1 Peter 3:20).

A Chinese word chuán for a type of boat is:

Boat	= 8	+ Mouth	+ Little Boat, Vessel

It may be of interest to note that one of the Chinese symbols for flood (chong) is a combination of an inverted symbol meaning “first Earthly branch” and eight (the term for eight may instead mean “person remaining””–that of itself is interesting as that the symbol for eight and “person remaining” look about the same–recall that on the ark there were only eight persons remaining alive).

After the flood, humans stayed together and built a tower:

1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4).

But God did not care for this:

5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” (Genesis 11:5-7).

It is highly likely that when people saw others speaking foreign languages, that they thought that somehow something at this tower affected their mouths. Notice the following Chinese symbol of a tower.

(If the above does not appear correctly above, you can see it in the article China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters.)

The tower of Babel was built with bricks (grass and clay) and humans originally had one language (or mouth). It is possible that this symbol is showing that the ancient Chinese recognized a connection to the biblical tower of Babel.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth (Genesis 11:8-9).

The Bible also mentions:

25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan (Genesis 10:25).

Now whether it was just the scattering of humans that occurred in Peleg’s time, or that the earth had continental divisions at that time is not completely clear. What is clear, however, is that humans did separate essentially by language and ethnicity thousands of years ago.

When I tried to copy each of the Chinese characters into this post, they did not copy properly.

To see them, however, simply go to my article China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters.

That article also has evidence, via Chinese characters, that the ancient Chinese knew about Adam & Eve and more in Genesis.

Of course, it is not just the Chinese. The old Radio Church of God taught:

The AMERICAN INDIANS in both North and South America preserved legends of the Flood in which a few escaped by means of a boat and repeopled the earth.

The NATIVES of GREENLAND maintained that all men were once drowned and that a man and woman became the ancestors of all now living.

The POLYNESIANS from the South Pacific contend that a flood overwhelmed all but eight people.

CHINESE traditions speak of their civilization as having been founded by a man, together with his three sons and daughters, who escaped a devastating flood.

EGYPTIAN and other AFRICAN traditions preserve similar accounts.

The GREEKS pictured their “Noah” as building an Ark to escape the waters, after which he sent out a dove twice before setting foot on earth again.

The ancient BABYLONIANS and ASSYRIANS have preserved for us on clay tablets word-for-word accounts of the same traditions among them — traditions which are exact in many details!

Think for a moment — IF the Flood had not occurred, would all these peoples have preserved these records of the Flood? Certainly all people would not have been deceived into believing the Flood had happened if it had not happened! You may find this unanimous testimony of ancient nations in the International Standard Encyclopaedia, article “Deluge,” and in summary form in Halley’s Bible Handbook.

Thus, for the Flood of Noah we have the actual geological evidence AND the testimony of many ancient peoples who remembered the catastrophic results. The only reason the testimony is not believed today is that man is unwilling to believe what God says! He would rather believe the evolutionary fairy tale that everything has continued the same since the beginning of time.

Knowing these facts, some skeptics assert that the biblical record came from Babylonian tradition rather than fact. The EVIDENCE IS JUST THE OPPOSITE! The Babylonian record we have was nearly all found in the Library of Ashurbanipal (around 650 B.C.), long AFTER Moses’ record of Noah’s Flood. The sane explanation is many peoples preserved their OWN accounts. Of these accounts only the biblical record is without contradiction and filled with rational simplicity. (Lesson 12 – Proof of Biblical History. Ambassador College Correspondence Course. 1966)

Does the amount of water on and in the Earth support the view of the Genesis flood of Noah’s time?

Yes.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates there are 321,000,000 cubic miles of water in, on, or above the Earth. The USGS has also calculated:

About 3,100 mi³ (12,900 km³) of water, mostly in the form of water vapor, is in the atmosphere at any one time. If it all fell as precipitation at once, the Earth would be covered with only about 1 inch of water. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html accessed 08/26/18

So, since there is estimated to be over 100,000 times that amount of water, then the world would be covered by over 100,000 inches or over 1.5 miles of water. With the ground more leveled in Noah’s time than now, the Earth would have been covered (furthermore, I suspect that the USGS estimates are low for Noah’s time, because of atmospheric loss since then).

The biblical accounts can be trusted, even if certain ‘experts’ wish to pretend that they are only myths.

Some items of potentially related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
Have the Turks and Chinese Just Found Noah’s Ark? Some have so claimed. If true, this could change how much of the world views events from the Bible.
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. Here is a link to a related sermon: Evolution is NOT the Origin of Life. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Does the Bible allow for the creation of the universe and earth billions of years ago? Why do some believe they are no older than 6,000 years old? What is the gap theory? Were the days of creation in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3 24 hours long? Here is a link to a sermon: Genesis, ‘Prehistoric man,’ and the Gap theory. Here is a link to a related article in Spanish: ¿Cuán vieja es la Tierra? ¿Cuán largos fueron los Días de la Creación? ¿Teoría de la brecha?
Did Angels Marry Human Women? Many insist this is so and also that this mating caused giants to be born. Did this come from the ‘Book of Enoch’? What does Genesis 6:4 really mean? A related video is also available: Did Angels Marry Women and Produce Giants?
Where Did God Come From? Any ideas? And how has God been able to exist? Who is God?
Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete? Are there lost gospels? What about the Apocrypha? Is the Septuagint better than the Masoretic text? What about the Textus Receptus vs. Nestle Alland? Was the New Testament written in Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew? Which translations are based upon the best ancient text? Did the true Church of God have the canon from the beginning? Here are links to related sermons: Let’s Talk About the Bible, The Books of the Old Testament, The Septuagint and its Apocrypha, Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, and Lost Books of the Bible, and Let’s Talk About the New Testament, The New Testament Canon From the Beginning, English Versions of the Bible and How Did We Get Them?, What was the Original Language of the New Testament?, Original Order of the Books of the Bible, and Who Gave the World the Bible? Who Had the Chain of Custody?
How is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient? Here is a biblical article which answers what many really wonder about it.
Has time been lost? It Saturday the seventh day of the week?
Study the Bible Course Want to learn more about the Bible? This new course is for you! It is also available in French (Leçon 1 En francés), Kiswahili (Somo 1 Katika Kiswahili), Mandarin Chinese (首页 › 中国), Tagalog (KURSO SA PAG-ARAL NG BIBLYA), and Spanish (Lección 1 En castellano).
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading. Here is a link in Mandarin Chinese: 读圣经 Here is a link in the Spanish language: Lea la Biblia.
Bible: Superstition or Authority? Should you rely on the Bible? Is it reliable? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?

Carlo Maria Viganò (Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Daily Reckoning posted the following:

Globalism Is the Enemy of Freedom

Some of the most brilliant intellectuals for centuries have dreamed of global government as a solution to the diversity of policies of nation-states. It’s the go-to idea for scientists and ethicists who are so convinced of the correctness of their ideas that they dream up some worldwide imposition of their favored solution.

Humanity has by and large been wise enough not to attempt such a thing beyond military alliances and mechanisms to improve trade flows. But in the 21st century, we’ve seen the intensification of the power of globalist institutions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) effectively scripted the pandemic response for the world. Globalist foundations and NGOs seem to be heavily involved in the migrant crisis. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, created as nascent institutions for a global system of money and finance, are exercising outsized influence on monetary and financial policy. The World Trade Organization is working to diminish the power of the nation-state over trade policies.

I happened to be in New York City a few weeks ago when the United Nations met. No question that it was the biggest show on planet Earth. Vast swaths of the city were shut down to cars and buses, with diplomats and heavy-hitting financiers arriving via helicopter on the roofs of luxury hotels, all of which were full for the week of meetings.

The attendees were not only statesmen from all over the world but also the biggest financial firms and media outfits, along with representatives of the largest universities and nonprofits. All of these forces seem to be coalescing at once, as if they all want to be part of the future. And that future is one of global governance wherein the nation-state is eventually reduced to pure cosmetics with no operational power.

The impression I had while there was that the experience of everyone in town that day, all swarming around the big United Nations meeting, was one of deep separation of their world from the world of the rest of us.

They are “bubble people.” Their friends, source of financing, social groupings, career aspirations and major influence are detached not only from normal people but from the nation-state itself. The fashionable attitude among them all is to regard the nation-state and its history of meaning as passe, fictional and rather embarrassing. …

We’re all being acculturated to believe that the nation-state is nothing but an anachronism that needs to be supplanted. 10/18/24 https://dailyreckoning.com/globalism-is-the-enemy-of-freedom/

Yes, things are changing and those who espouse a globalist agenda are gaining more and more influence.

The Roman Catholic LifeSiteNews posted the following:

Archbishop Viganò: ‘The globalist cabal want to establish the kingdom of the Antichrist on earth’

March 14, 2024

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò wrote …

Dear Friends, …

What appears today in all its evidence is the subversive plan of a global coup d’état, aimed at the decimation of the world population and the enslavement of the survivors. The pressure for the approval of the WHO Pandemic Treaty and for the health passport – accompanied by the activation of the digital wallet – demonstrate that the authors of this coup have no intention of giving up their criminal intentions, and will not do so unless they are faced with firm and determined opposition from the population and those few of its representatives who are not sold out to the World Economic Forum, by those who courageously do not fail in their duties.

We have seen the false Bergoglian church totally subservient to the genetic treatment agenda, a treatment that was produced using aborted fetuses. We have seen doctors and paramedics killing frail and elderly people in intensive care through the use of anesthesia. We have seen rulers, magistrates, and police forces unleash an unprecedented criminalization of those who did not allow themselves to be “marked.” We know who is behind these people, who pays them, and who blackmails them: their names are well known. These murderers will soon find themselves answering for their crimes, if not before the tribunal of the world, then certainly before God, whom they hate and whom they would like to replace, in a mad delirium of omnipotence that is an inexorable prelude to their eternal defeat. The children of darkness, the conspirators of the World Economic Forum, and the globalist cabal want to establish the kingdom of the Antichrist on earth, as an obscene counterfeit of the Kingdom of Christ Our Lord. …
Our Lord said, “The truth will set you free.” He who said of Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.” It is only the truth of Christ that can free us from the chains of lies and the falsity of the enemy of mankind. Therefore, fight this battle in the awareness that your and our adversary can only be defeated with the weapons of Truth. Saint Paul exhorts us, Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Act with freedom within the bounds of what is good, and the Lord will bless your commitment, as he has always done throughout history for those who love Him and obey His commandments. If you yield on this, you will expose your flank to the Enemy, and all your effort will have been in vain. And remember the words of the Lord: “Do not be afraid, I have overcome the world.”

I bless you with all my heart.

+ Carlo Maria Viganò, Archbishop

https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/archbishop-vigano-the-globalist-cabal-want-to-establish-the-kingdom-of-the-antichrist-on-earth/?utm_source=featured-news&utm_campaign=usa

Yes, he is basically right about nearly all of that. But he was excommunicated by the Vatican shortly after that came out–the Vatican favors a globalist agenda.

That said, the globalist Antichrist power will rise up.

There will be signs and lying wonders and only people with sufficient love of the truth will not fall for it according to what the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

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

The globalists in Europe, including the World Economic Forum, the Vatican, the Freemasons, and others are pushing an agenda that will lead to the rise of the Beast and Antichrist who are warned about by writings by the Apostle John, such as the 13th chapter of the Book of Revelation.

Pope Francis’ given name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò was right for condemning the false Bergoglian church, yet he has NOT tried to restore original Christianity.

Carlo Maria Viganò‘s group put out something called The Remnant Newspaper.

The Remnant Newspaper says the following about itself:

The Remnant strives to adhere to Catholic teaching in every aspect of its journalism. There has been great upheaval and revolution within the Catholic Church over the past five decades — not unlike that encountered in the fourth century by St. Athanasius, called the Arian Heresy  …

The Remnant sees itself as one of the many voices crying out against abusive liturgical and doctrinal aberrations such as Clown Masses, women priests, Communion in the hand, erroneous Theology, abusive and sacrilegious liturgical innovations, the abandonment of preaching the Four Last Things, the denial of sin and hell, the rise of phony ecumenism (which states that there is little or no difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, or between Catholicism and Mohammedanism or any other monotheistic religion, and that all religions are good), the annulment abuse, the abuse of NFP, etc. …

We fight that which is novel and goes against the traditional Catholic liturgies and infallible teachings of the past. accessed 07/06/21 https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/more/about

Despite the above claims, the reality is that neither The Remnant nor Carlo Maria Viganò seem to understand what the original catholic Christian church taught on areas such as the liturgy, Godhead, salvation, etc.

However, we have a highly referenced free online book that does.

Some items of related interest may include:

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 Roman 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?
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.
Is a Great Reset Coming? Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum has proposed a societal change that has been basically endorsed by the Vatican and many world leaders. Does the Bible prophesy a major reset? Here is a link to a related video: Will there be a “Great Reset”?
Freemasonry and the Destruction of Rome? What is Freemasonry? What about ties to the Illuminati? Could they be involved in the fulfillment of prophecy? Here is a link to a related sermon: Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome.
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Another video is related to China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative (Silk Road project): watch Is China paving roads to Armageddon?
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here are links to a two-part sermon series: What are Some of the Parts of Satan’s Plan? and Satan’s Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize.
Mystery of Iniquity What is the mystery of iniquity? How did it start? How will it end? Two related sermons are also available: The Mystery of Iniquity and The Mystery of Lawlessness.
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.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
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.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? Three related sermons are available Let’s Talk About the Earthly Millennium, Millennial Utopia, and The Millennium.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
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 inover 1,000 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.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
(photo from IAEAImageBank)

COGwriter

Some Israeli plans, that the US knew of, related to possibly attacking Iran were leaked to the press:

Classified US Intelligence Leaked, Documents Show Israel’s Plans For Iran

October 20, 2024

Two highly classified US intelligence documents have leaked, allegedly exposing Israel‘s military preparations for a potential strike on Iran, the New York Times reported. The documents, originating from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) – “responsible for analysing images and information collected by American spy satellites” – offer insights into Israeli military exercises and operational readiness.

The two documents, dated October 15 and 16, were circulated on Telegram by accounts largely associated with pro-Iran sentiments. They provide detailed analyses of satellite images showing Israel’s military exercises, which appear to be in preparation for a retaliatory strike on Iran. The potential strike comes in the wake of escalating tensions following an Iranian missile barrage on October 1, itself a retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack.

One of the documents is titled “Israel: Air Force Continues Preparations for Strike on Iran” and outlines recent Israeli exercises that seem to rehearse a potential military operation against Iran. These preparations reportedly include air-to-air refuelling operations, search-and-rescue missions, and the repositioning of missile systems in anticipation of potential Iranian strikes. The second document reveals Israeli efforts to move munitions and other military assets to strategic locations. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/israel-iran-us-leaked-us-intelligence-reports-reveal-israels-plan-of-attack-on-iran-6829355

The Jerusalem Post posted the following:

The time is now: Israel must forcefully strike Iran – opinion

October 20, 2024

With the upcoming American elections, a unique window has opened for Israel to take decisive action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a nation that has long posed a significant threat to the State of Israel, regional stability and global security.

The current US administration, under the leadership of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, is currently grappling with a host of domestic challenges, and is distracted by the upcoming elections.

The focus on the elections and internal affairs has left a vacuum in foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran’s aggressive ambitions.

Now, more than ever, Israel must recognize the urgency of the moment. With Iran’s recent attacks directly and through its many proxies, and the increasingly heightened tensions, there is a compelling case for Israel to act swiftly and decisively. …

This moment should be viewed not just as a challenge, but as a gift – an opportunity for Israel to change the course of history for the Jewish state, the Jewish people and the broader Western world. A decisive action now could shift the narrative from one of reactive defense to proactive security, demonstrating that Israel is not just a victim, but a powerful actor on the global stage.

A forceful attack against the Islamic Republic’s regime will also capture the spirit of a new fighting generation in Israel. While many thought this was a softer generation, addicted to smartphones and unwilling to sacrifice itself for the greater good, the exact opposite has been demonstrated. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-825237

While, yes, the Biden-Harris Administration in the US is distracted, Iran is not.

RT reported the following:

Iran warns US over Israeli strike

20 October 2024

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that it will view the US as complicit if Israel follows through on its threat to carry out a major strike on the Islamic Republic.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden was asked by journalists if he had a “good understanding” of what Washington’s closest Middle East ally might do in retaliation to the Iranian missile barrage on October 1, and whether Israel “will actually respond to Iran.” Biden replied by saying “Yes and yes,” but declined to provide further details.

Araghchi took to X on Saturday to stress that “anybody with knowledge or understanding of ‘how and when Israel was going to attack Iran,’ and/or providing the means and backing for such folly, should logically be held accountable for any possible causality.”

The foreign minister did not mention Washington directly in his message, but his post included a link to an article by Reuters, on Biden confirming that he is aware of Israeli plans to target Iran. https://www.rt.com/news/605978-iran-us-israel-araghchi/

Israel and Iran both often make bold statements to suggest that their militaries can destroy the others.

The Bible has the following statement:

‘Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’ (1 Kings 20:11)

It continues to look like the stage is being set for a major conflict between Iran and Israel.

As mentioned here many times before, 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. Here some reports on the identity of Elam from the first century Jewish historian Josephus as well as the 20th century Worldwide Church of God:

Elam left behind him the Elamites, the ancestors of the Persians. (Josephus. Josephus Complete Works. Antiquities of the Jews, Book I, Chapter VI, Verse 4. Translated by William Whiston in 1867. Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids (MI), 1960, p. 31)

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 or a ‘dirty bomb.’

The “House of the Forest” was anciently located in Lebanon (e.g. 1 Kings 7:2, 10:17,21; 2 Chronicles 9:16,20)–see also A Discourse on the House of the Forest of Lebanon, pp: 111-134 in Bunyan J. Stebbing H. The Entire Works of John Bunyan, Volume 4. Virtue and Company, 1860.

Here is the Catholic Public Domain Version translation of Isaiah 22:8:

8 And the covering of Judah will be exposed, and in that day, you will see the weaponry of the forest house. (Isaiah 22:8, CPDV)

A way for Judah to “see the weaponry of the forest house” would be a massive attack by Hezbollah. Today it showed that it can reach deep into Israel.

In Isaiah 22:1-14, the Bible shows that God will allow something that appears to be an Iranian-Syrian-Southern Lebanese confederation, to strike the nation of Israel.

Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and other defenses will not be able to protect Jerusalem against enough of the coming attack to prevent great damage.

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:

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.

Related to some of Israeli recent actions against Hezbollah, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:30

Israel Intensifies the War

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 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: Israel Intensifies the War.

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

As Iran’s Ayatollah continues to age, he may well decide that 2024 or 2025 is the year for him to attempt to fulfill his desire to eliminate Israel.

While Israel will not be eliminated, it could be highly damaged.

This is something to watch for (cf. Mark 13:37).

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.

Diagram of the Earth
(By Kelvinsong via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

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

The inner core of the earth is changing.

There are real seismic, electrical, and other risks.

But most ignore warning signs.

Will you?

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

Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? What does the Bible teach about weather? What about floods, droughts, heat, earthquakes, tornadoes, and solar storms? Here is a related YouTube video Does God Use Weather? A related item in the Spanish language would be Bendiciones y maldiciones del clima.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here is a link to a related sermon: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.

COGwriter

James Martenet gave the following sermon:

58:57

What is Your Work?

James Martenet address topics and makes statements about the work of God and your part in it. Should you support the work of God? What is your work in order to do so? Do you have false humility or super vanity? Only YOU can fulfill the role that God has for YOU alone. You need to get pride out of the way to better do the work of God. You need to obey God, show love, and be hopeful. We should all be optimistic and hopeful. We need to focus on the correct goal of the kingdom of God. Be merciful.

Here is a link to our video: What is Your Work?

Some items of possibly related interest 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.
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? If you would like to watch videos covering subjects of this article, you can click on the following links: Why YOU? Why Do YOU Suffer? and What is the meaning of your life?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?

(From USDA)

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link to the following:

Bioengineered Food

I’m seeing that on labels more lately. What is it?

October 19, 2024

I have noticed that almost everything I look at that is not a whole food, from soups to crackers, has this on the label: “Contains bioengineered food ingredients.” What is THAT!? What does that mean?

The Process

The first genetically modified food brought to market was a tomato. In 1994, the FDA approved FLAVR SAVR tomatoes to be sold to the general public. Created and marketed by Calgene, Inc. in Davis, California, the tomato was engineered to stay firm after harvest, allowing it to stay on the vine longer before picking and shipping.  The project failed because, while extra firm, it was expensive and not as flavorful as other tomato varieties. It was discontinued in 1997.

Throughout the late 1990s, a wave of GMO products became available to consumers, and the technology has drastically outpaced regulation. The Agrochemical corporations, led by Monsanto,  engineered a handful of commodity crops to withstand the weedkiller, glyphosate, found in products such as Roundup, Glyphomax, Durango, Touchdown (Syngenta), and many home garden products. The success of these HT (herbicide tolerant) crops led to deregulation that allowed the commercialization and release of HT canola in 1998 and of HT alfalfa and sugar beets in 2005. Two decades later, countless Biotech players are working on an almost endless list of new products.

What is a bioengineered food?

GMO is the term most of us have used for the past few decades; GMO stands for “genetically modified organism.” Instead of using the more popular and readily recognized term “GMO,” food manufacturers are now using the term “bioengineered ingredients” or “derived from bioengineering.” In essence, all “bioengineered” plants and organisms are GMOs. The language is intentionally deceptive,  https://drtenpenny.substack.com/p/bioengineered-food

Yes, they are deceptive in many ways. The biggest deceit is acting like they are at least as good for humans as the real thing–but that is NOT anything that has ever been fully proven–just asserted by those who want them sold and consumed.

Notice also the following:

Doctors Warn Of The ‘Hidden Harms’ Of Bioengineered Foods

September 26, 2023

Doctors are alerting customers to potential “hidden harms” in the meals they buy as the number of bioengineered foods and substances on the market increases.

Bioengineered food is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a consumable good that “contains detectable genetic material that has been modified through certain lab techniques that cannot be created through conventional breeding or found in nature.”

Manufacturers must now label food items with the phrases “bioengineered” or “derived from bioengineering” so that customers will know what they are purchasing, thanks to a new disclosure requirement for bioengineered food that the USDA introduced on Jan. 1, 2022.

Public education is a fantastic place to begin. Dr. Syed Haider is quite concerned about the fact that these bioengineered foods have not been fully vetted. …

‘Hidden Harms’

“The possible effects on the human body when bioengineered foods are consumed is unknown,” Dr. Haider said, adding: “The food itself could be toxic. It could cause allergic reactions or promote antibiotic resistance. It could also trigger immunosuppression or cancer, and there’s evidence that all of these are happening.

“The way bioengineering technology for food works,” Dr. Haider simplified, “is you take a gene from some other organism, and you insert it, kind of at random, into the genetic code of the food you want to engineer.”

“The problem,” he said, “is we don’t really understand the way the genetic code of anything works, and we could be changing the way that food grows. It could create new toxins in the food, it could increase toxins that were already present in the food, and it can even increase the amount of external toxins the food soaks up. …

“There’s a narrative that we’ve all been spoon-fed that this is necessary, that we would starve without this green revolution and genetically modified foods. But it’s not true,” he insisted. “We’re introducing technology into things that never needed it in the first place, and there are a lot of side effects that we’re going to see and hidden harms.”

The American Cancer Society acknowledged that eating foods that have been genetically modified “might create substances that could cause reactions” in allergy sufferers or “result in high levels of compounds that could cause other health effects.” …

“Food is supposed to keep us healthy,” he said. “But the food that we’ve been eating for the past 50 years has actually been triggering obesity, cancer, immunosuppression, allergic reactions, autoimmunity, and toxicity in all of our organs.” https://greatgameindia.com/doctors-warn-of-the-hidden-harms-of-bioengineered-foods/

It is true that ‘bioengineered foods’ have not been properly vetted. Actually, as one who holds a Ph.D. in nutrition science, let me add that it would take at least a century to properly test them and even that would have incomplete results.

Let me also add that I have yet to see the bioengineered label on anything, despite the USA law.

As reported here before, I looked more into this and found that the law has so many exceptions that it is not possible for consumers to be able to tell about most food products that are sold.

So, while now there could be some products with GMO/bioengineered food labels, they are rare.

Here is something from the US Food and Drug Administration on GMO foods:

What GMO crops are in the United States?

Only a few types of GMO crops are grown in the United States, but some of these GMOs make up a large percentage of the crop grown (e.g., soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton).

In 2020, GMO soybeans made up 94% of all soybeans planted, GMO cotton made up 96% of all cotton planted, and 92% of corn planted was GMO corn.

In 2013, GMO canola made up 95% of canola planted while GMO sugar beets made up 99.9% of all sugar beets harvested.

Most GMO plants are used to make ingredients that are then used in other food products. For example, cornstarch can be made with GMO corn and sugar can be made with GMO sugar beets.

Corn:

Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and most of it is GMO. Most GMO corn is created to resist insect pests or tolerate herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn is a GMO corn that produces proteins that are toxic to certain insect pests but not to humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. These are the same types of proteins that organic farmers use to control insect pests, and they do not harm beneficial insects, such as ladybugs. GMO Bt corn reduces the need for spraying insecticides while still preventing insect damage. While a lot of GMO corn goes into processed foods and drinks, most of it is used to feed livestock, like cows, and poultry, like chickens.

Soybean:

Most soy grown in the United States is GMO soy. Most GMO soy is used for food for animals, predominantly poultry and livestock, and making soybean oil. It is also used as ingredients (lecithin, emulsifiers, and proteins) in processed foods.

Cotton:

GMO cotton was created to be resistant to bollworms and helped revive the Alabama cotton industry. GMO cotton not only provides a reliable source of cotton for the textile industry, it is also used to make cottonseed oil, which is used in packaged foods and in many restaurants for frying. GMO cottonseed meal and hulls are also used in food for animals.

Potato:

Some GMO potatoes were developed to resist insect pests and disease. In addition, some GMO potato varieties have been developed to resist bruising and browning that can occur when potatoes are packaged, stored, and transported, or even cut in your kitchen. While browning does not change the quality of the potato, it often leads to food being unnecessarily thrown away because people mistakenly believe browned food is spoiled.

Papaya:

By the 1990s, ringspot virus disease had nearly wiped out Hawaii’s papaya crop, and in the process almost destroyed the papaya industry in Hawaii. A GMO papaya, named the Rainbow papaya, was created to resist ringspot virus. This GMO saved papaya farming on the Hawaiian Islands.

Summer Squash:

GMO summer squash is resistant to some plant viruses. Squash was one of the first GMOs on the market, but it is not widely grown.

Canola:

GMO canola is used mostly to make cooking oil and margarine. Canola seed meal can also be used in food for animals. Canola oil is used in many packaged foods to improve food consistency. Most GMO canola is resistant to herbicides and helps farmers to more easily control weeds in their fields.

Alfalfa:

GMO alfalfa is primarily used to feed cattle—mostly dairy cows. Most GMO alfalfa is resistant to herbicides, allowing farmers to spray the crops to protect them against destructive weeds that can reduce alfalfa production and lower the nutritional quality of the hay.

Apple:

A few varieties of GMO apples were developed to resist browning after being cut. This helps cut down on food waste, as many consumers think brown apples are spoiled.

Sugar Beet:

Sugar beets are used to make granulated sugar. More than half the granulated sugar packaged for grocery store shelves is made from GMO sugar beets. Because GMO sugar beets are resistant to herbicides, growing GMO sugar beets helps farmers control weeds in their fields.

Pink Pineapple:

The GMO pink pineapple was developed to have pink flesh by increasing the levels of lycopene. Lycopene is naturally found in pineapples, and it is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink.

What about animals that eat food made from GMO crops?

More than 95% of animals used for meat and dairy in the United States eat GMO crops. …

Are there GMO animals in the food supply?

Yes. FDA has approved an application allowing the sale of the AquAdvantage Salmon to consumers. The AquAdvantage Salmon has been genetically modified to reach an important growth point faster. FDA has also approved an alteration in the GalSafe pig for human food consumption and potential therapeutic uses. The GalSafe pig was developed to be free of detectable alpha-gal sugar on its cell surfaces. https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/gmo-crops-animal-food-and-beyond accessed 08/20/23

Here is something else to understand:

What product ingredients commonly contain genetically engineered crops?

Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum (http://action.greenamerica.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=7626&gclid=CMTz9bigzbcCFWIV7Aod2V0AEw)

Ascorbic acid is the source of Vitamin C in most nutritional supplements.

Let me add that the USA has never proven that GMOs are safe.

GMOs were developed to increase profits. Politicians receive money from many profit-oriented corporations, and this tends to blind them to listen to opposing views.

The World Health Organization has concerns about GMOs:

What are the potential dangers of GMOs?

according to WHO, the three main issues of concern for human health that are being debated are:

(i). The potentials to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity);

(ii). Gene transfer (Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, especially if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health); and

(iii). Outcrossing (the migration of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. Cases have been reported where GM crops approved for animal feed or industrial use were detected at low levels in the products intended for human consumption).

Should you switch to organic food? That is a personal decision. … For many people in this day and age, it is simply impossible – too expensive, too time-consuming, too problematic – to make sure that they eat only foods that are verifiably safe in every respect. 01/09/19 https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/are-genetically-modified-foodsgmos-safe/

The above source seems to be implying that GMO foods are not verifiably safe in every respect. As a published scientist, I agree.

The Bible warns:

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

And that is what is happening in the chemical, GMO, and laboratory food world to a major degree. Financial and other forms of greed are driving much of this.

US farmers could switch to producing non-GMO corn to export to Mexico, but are basically afraid that if they do so, they will make less money. It is not because GMO corn is healthier.

THE FACT IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE PRO-GMO FORCES CAN HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO PROVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS NOT DANGEROUS. At minimum, in order to get the kind of data to truly demonstrate safety, studies involving at least a million humans over a period of a couple of centuries would need to be done–and this has never happened. The pro-GMO forces act like they are wise and have facts on their side, but the facts remain that what they are doing is dangerous and when it comes to using human genes, also immoral. They have not, and cannot, test for all possible complications associated with what they are doing.

The Bible warns:

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, (Romans 1:20-22)

This whole GMO and human editing experiment has had negative consequences and will have more in the future.

Consider that the Bible warns:

11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

The reality is that groups like the US Food and Drug Administration have approved all kinds of foods that they claimed were safe–but did not realize were unsafe for decades.

In addition to GMO plants, we now have engineered “lab meat” and other experiments entering the food supply.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) has put together four videos online related to this general topic.

Here is the first:

• 
  18:52

  GMO Risks and the Bible

What are GMOs? Does the Bible have anything to say about them? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? What are some of those risks? Which common “foods” are often genetically-modified? Is it good to eat GMOs? Might GMOs lead to famine in America?

This video answers those questions.

Here is a link to the first: GMO Risks and the Bible .

Here is information on the second:

15:47

GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been in the US food supply for over 20 years. Are they safe? Which ten GMO plants are now widely commercially available? What about laboratory-grown ‘meat’.? Hydrogenated trans-fatty acid products have been consumed for over 100 years. Are they safe? Certain scientists claim that the data proves the safety of GMOs and lab-meat. But do they have enough data? Are the proponents of GMOs and lab-meat driven by data or greed? How long is long enough to test these ‘foods’? Can overly processed foods lead to type 2 diabetes or dementia? Are there allergy, gene-transfer, and outcrossing risks with GMOs? What risks does the World Health Organization say that GMOs pose? Do studies involving animals show real dangers with GMOs? On June 11, 2019, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order reducing government oversight over GMO plants and animals. Was this wise or dangerous? Is the food supply at any risk? What did Jesus teach? What does the Bible teach that God’s people should eat?

Here is a link to the video: GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?

Here is information on the third:

Here is a link to our video: Lab grown chicken?

Here is the latest one:

1:07:48

Evil is Affecting the Food Supply

God gave humans food and said what He made was good. What about unclean animals? What about genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)? What about ‘bioengineered foods’? What about lab meat? What about human-cloned salami? What about ‘Piggy Sooy’? Are Christians supposed to eat what is good according to Isaiah 55:2? What should we eat? What should Christians avoid eating? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters and more.

Here is a link to the following: Evil is Affecting the Food Supply.

Thousands of years ago, God inspired one of his prophets to pen the following, which encourages people to eat what is good:

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. (Isaiah 55:2)

Intentionally eating GMOs, in my view, is something people should try to avoid. I do not think that GMOs are good food.

GMOs are hazardous to the environment and ultimately will negatively impact humanity–even more than they have so far.

While the consumption of small amounts of GMO ‘foods’ does not appear to be harmful, I personally do not consider that long-term consumption of GMOs by humans is wise nor safe. And it most certainly is not proven to be healthy by science.

The word of God warned that because of love of money and delays in punishment humans would pursue things that they should not.

The whole GMO and overly-processed food industries continue to push for things that are not good.

And again, there are so many exceptions to the GMO labeling law in the USA that it is close to useless.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Christian Health Matters Should Christians be concerned about their health? Does the Bible give any food and health guidelines? Here are links to two related sermons: Let’s Talk About Food, Evil is Affecting the Food Supply, and Let’s Talk About Health.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here are some related videos: GMO Risks and the Bible and GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras?  Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues? A video of related interest is Half human, half pig: What’s the difference?  and Human-Monkey Embryos and Death.

COGwriter

The Feast of Tabernacles runs from the evening of October 16th and run (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 24th in 2024. Here is a sermon shown there today, by Dr. Thiel, which also includes some audio clips from the late Herbert W. Armstrong:

“Elijah in the wilderness

COGwriter

Louis Rubin gave the following sermon:

1:08:56

Who is your watchman?

This message is by Louis Rubin. In it, he mentions that people all around sense that there things that are not right. He goes over passages in the Book of Ezekiel about a watchman. Louis Rubin states that God only has one function at a time at the watchman for God. He brings up prophetic matters such as the King of the North Beast as well as the Antichrist. He also mentions the two witnesses. He mentions that the Bible says God will speak to a true prophet in dreams. He goes over some false prophecies and names various false prophets. Louis Rubin declares that Bob Thiel is a prophet and a watchman. He recommends people go to www.cogwriter.com to keep up with biblical matters as well as how world events look to align with biblical prophecies. He brings up the fact that most end time Christians are Laodicean, and not Philadelphian, and hence unless they change, they will not be protected in a coming place of safety, but instead will have to be subject to being beheaded during the Great Tribulation. Louis Rubin goes over 4 ways to determine if someone is a true prophet according to COGWA (Church of God a Worldwide Association and mentions that Bob Thiel meets the four criteria published. He mentioned that true COG ministers should point their followers to listen to a true prophet and watchman. He decries the fact that most do not do that, but also mentions that the Bible is clear that most of God’s people often did not care for His prophets.

Here is a link to our video: Who is your watchman?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? You you prove all things and test the spirits?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?

Temple Institute entrance
(Photo by Bob Thiel)

COGwriter

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

 “Trust in HaShem; be strong and of good courage! O Trust in HaShem!”

(Psalms 27:14)

Tishrei 16, 5785/September 18, 2024 …

Another First On The Temple Mount!

A kohen, (a modern day descendant of Aharon, brother of Moshe, the first Kohen Gadol), wearing completely kosher bigdei kehunah (priestly garments, produced by the Temple Institute), ascended the Temple Mount last week, where he administered the priestly blessing, (birkat kohanim, Numbers 6:22-26), alongside his fellow kohanim, blessing his fellow Jews. The times, they are-a-changing!

The above had a link to the following tweet:

Israel365News reported the following related to this:

Full-Dress Kohen Sighted on Temple Mount

October 18, 2024

The Temple Institute announced a remarkable development that brought Israel one step closer to the Third Temple. For the first time since the Temple stood in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, a kohen (male descendant of Biblical Aaron the High Priest) ascended to the Temple Mount wearing the Biblically mandated Kohanic garments. While on the mount, the Kohen joined in a prayer quorum and gave the priestly blessing to those gathered.

The Temple Institute prepared the garments in preparation for the return of the Temple service.

This impressive feat was accomplished despite the numerous extra-legal restrictions placed on Jews at the site.  There is no law preventing Jews from praying on the Temple Mount, and the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Jewish prayer several times. Jews do pray at the site in inconspicuous manners and out of sight from the Arabs, but the police frequently prevent this from happening. On Tuesday, Jews prayed freely in minyanim (quorums of ten).

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, a group of Jews smuggled shofarot (ritual rams’ horns) onto the Temple Mount and, despite police efforts to stop them, blew all of the requisite shofar blasts for the holiday. Jews have recently begun performing the commandment of prostrating themselves on the stones of the Temple. In June, a Jewish man wore tefillin (phylacteries) at the site.

In August, the Biden State Department issued a statement condemning Jewish prayer at the site. https://israel365news.com/397180/full-dress-kohen-sighted-on-temple-mount/

The Temple Institute is moving forward with its plans to have animal sacrifices, etc. and having a full-dressed Kohen ascend the area called the Temple Mount was just another step.

In July, the Temple Institute had the following in its newsletter:

Tammuz 13, 5784/July 19, 2024 …

“The Time Has Arrived!” When the other kohanim heard the sound of the muchni raising the laver, they exclaimed “The time has arrived!” Meaning, the time of sanctification has come, for our colleague has now reached the laver. This was the signal for them to prepare themselves to begin their tasks, as well.

It then had a link to something that linked to the following:

The altar is the very heart of the Holy Temple, for all of the Divine service is centered around it: all of the daily and additional offerings, as well as the individual and congregational offerings.  …

There is a specific concern of the laws of Biblical purity with regard to the copper laver, although the same problem can effect certain other vessels as well: anything left overnight in a sacred vessel becomes unfit for use in the morning. If water was left in the laver overnight, the kohanim would not be able to sanctify themselves with this water. Thus, the laver had to be emptied of its contents at the end of the day. But how could it be refilled quickly with enough water? In addition to this kohen who officiates at the removal of the ashes, all 12 kohanim who will soon be performing the daily morning offering must also wash their hands and feet at the laver! https://templeinstitute.org/a-day-in-the-holy-temple-part-3/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1BfrWbDtGe4A3SMJuRCcftzb7OplkYiikQTHsHaTFok3oeiR4zaJ99aMo_aem_-MWXfGkAknQ_ltPu0Tdnyw

Basically, the Temple Institute is hinting that it is getting time to prepare for having twice daily sacrifices.

Related to the idea of twice daily sacrifices, last year, Israel365 News reported the following:

Girl creates daily schedule calendar …

August 15, 2023

While many people are praying for the arrival of the Third Temple, one special young girl took on a daunting project that is a huge practical step in jump-starting the Temple service.

Miriam, a young autistic girl, took a step towards realizing her dream of seeing the Temple restored by creating a calendar detailing the daily schedule of the Temple service.

“My name is Miriam,” the article read. “I am an autistic girl and not independent in many things, but I understand everything and communicate by typing. …

“I thought for a long time about what I could do that would be significant, something that would help everyone think and prepare for the Temple. I decided to make a Temple calendar.”

“I wrote down on a calendar the hours of the Tamid daily sacrifice for every day and the Tamid evening sacrifice. I also wrote when there is an additional (Musaf) sacrifice.” …

For Miriam, the calendar is a powerful tool for creative visualization.

“I want you to look at the calendar every day and remember what we are missing right now, every day,” she wrote. “I have written everything in the present tense so that we can feel what it is like … Let’s pray together that God will bring us redemption soon and that the priests will offer these sacrifices … ” …

The calendar is freely available for download in a PDF file ready for printing at home. Printing instructions are on the last page of the file.

“I would be very happy for you to print the calendar and hang it on your wall,” Miriam wrote. “I would be very happy if you could help me distribute the calendar.” https://www.israel365news.com/374536/girl-creates-daily-schedule-calendar-for-third-temple/

Here is a downloaded picture of Miriam’s animal sacrifice calendar:

I machine-translated one of the dates from the calendar above. Here is the translation via Google translate:

6:18 Sunrise, always a sacrifice

Additional victim: 15:17

Always a sacrifice

18:59 Sunset

The requirement for two sacrifices per day comes from the Book of Numbers:

3 “And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering. 4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening,  (Numbers 28:3-4)

Christians, however, do not need to have animal sacrifices as we accept that Jesus’ death eliminated that need as the following in the New Testament point out:

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.  (Hebrews 9:11-15)

Since Christians do not need to be sacrificing animals, why is the idea of animal sacrifices of prophetic interest?

Two reasons.

First, since the Jews do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice, they believe that they still need to have daily sacrifices.

And the second is that Bible prophecy shows that there will be animal sacrifices again. And that the stopping of them will have prophetic ramifications:

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (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. (Daniel 12:11)

Daniel 9 and Daniel 11 involve actions by one who will be the prophesied European King of the North Beast power. And he will be involved in stopping those sacrifices.

For those sacrifices to be stopped, they must be started.

Miriam’s calendar is another small step towards that.

Related to that, we have the following video:

14:41

Jewish Animal Sacrifice Calendar

A young autistic woman in Israel has put forth what she hopes will be used as a calendar by Jewish priests for making daily animal sacrifices, once they have been resumed. Does the reconstituted Sanhedrin or the Temple Institute believe that such sacrifices can be resumed without a massive Jewish temple? What happened in the days of Ezra? Will such sacrifices be resumed? Does the Bible teach that such sacrifices will be stopped? If so, when will the sacrifices start and end? Any connection of the sacrifices to the Great Tribulation or the return of Jesus? Could a red heifer be sacrificed in the Spring of 2024? What about 1290 days of Daniel 12? Does the Sanhedrin have a dedicated altar that they can use now for sacrifices? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Jewish Animal Sacrifice Calendar.

When may the animal sacrifices start?

They will be started PRIOR to the start of the Great Tribulation as they are stopped just prior to the Great Tribulation–which in the sequence in Daniel 11, starts in verse 39 (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?), which is, of course, after the sacrifices are stopped in Daniel 11:31.

We are getting closer to the time of starting the animal sacrifices.

For such sacrifices to stop, they first must start.

This is something that the Temple Institute wants and its latest moves with the Kohen and blowing shofars is intended by it to further set the stage for the sacrifices to start–which they will.

Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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 Red Heifers and Antichrist? and Temple Institute, Heifers, Hamas, and a Tent. Here is a link to two videos in the Spanish language: Novillas rojas and La novilla roja y su posible implicación profetica.
Which Laws were Superceded? Which Remain? What about the Ten Commandments? What about the 613 regulations (called 613 Mitzvot) in the Old Testament? Which were ‘done away’? Here is a link to a related sermon video: ‘What was ‘Nailed to the Cross’? About about the 613 Mitzvot?
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.
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.
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.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Who were the Nazarene Christians? What did they believe? Should 21st century Christians be modern Nazarenes? Is there a group that exists now that traces its history through the Nazarenes and holds the same beliefs today? Here is a link to a related video sermon Nazarene Christians: Were the early Christians “Nazarenes”?
Does the Church of God need to be headquartered in Jerusalem? Some say so. But what does the Bible teach?
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
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.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
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.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024?
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œ
f/’Y’jNº’ÿ Here is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.