Church of God News

Megiddo mosaic
(Museum of the Bible press release)

COGwriter

Israel365News posted the following:

‘Greatest discovery since Dead Sea Scrolls,’ Megiddo mosaic goes on view at Bible Museum in DC

For hundreds of years, a mosaic lay hidden in Megiddo in northern Israel until, in 2005, it was found and preserved as a local prison sought to expand. The mosaic recently made the trip—in nearly a dozen pieces—across the ocean to Washington, D.C., where it is on exhibit at the Museum of the Bible.

At an opening reception for the exhibit on Sunday afternoon, Carlos Campo, CEO of the museum, said that the mosaic, which dates to around the year 230, like an Impressionist show that opened recently at the nearby National Gallery of Art, requires stepping back to take in the broader, unifying picture.

“Frankly, I’m still stepping back, because as I step back, I learn more about the power of this object and what it’s trying to say to me about ancient history, about the history of Christianity, about the place in Israel and so much more,” Campo said.

“This object really is a way for us to come together—a way for us to see that these tiny little tesserae, these tiny little chips, these beautiful pieces when placed together—they tell a remarkable story of unity,” he told those assembled. “We truly are among the first people to ever see this, to experience what almost 2,000 years ago was put together by a man named Brutius, the incredible craftsman who laid the flooring here.” …

The mosaic, which contains a very early mention of the name of Jesus and includes an illustration of two fish, as well as a variety of geometric patterns, is “the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls,” Campo said. (The exhibit “The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith” is on view until July 6, 2025.)

Gil Lin, the head of the Megiddo Regional Council, agreed in his address at the reception.

“The Megiddo mosaic represents the most significant archaeological find since the Dead Sea Scrolls,” Lin said. “This mosaic, nearly 1,800 years old, is the earliest known house of prayer and the first physical proclamation of Jesus Christ as God. For billions worldwide, it’s not merely an artifact but a tangible link to shared history, tradition and faith.” …

He noted that the symbol of the fish in the center of the mosaic, which scholars think may refer to fish as symbols of Christianity, is on display in Washington as the High Holidays approach, and that the fish head is a Rosh Hashanah symbol for “a new beginning and a good start.”

“This definitely is time for this, too,” he said.

Also in line with the approaching Rosh Hashanah holiday, there was a recitation of the Shehechiyanu blessing at the ribbon cutting that opened the show. 09/17/24 https://israel365news.com/396234/greatest-discovery-since-dead-sea-scrolls-megiddo-mosaic-goes-on-view-at-bible-museum-in-dc/

In its press release about it, the Museum of the Bible had the following:

Megiddo mosaic
(Museum of the Bible press release)

According to Alegre Savariego, curator of the exhibition on behalf of the IAA, “The mosaic presents groundbreaking physical evidence of the practices and beliefs of early Christians, including the first archaeological instance of the phrase, ‘God Jesus Christ.’ Also featured on the mosaic are one of the earliest examples of a fish being used as a Christian symbol and the names of several of the church’s patrons — a Roman centurion, an artist, and five women.” 08/19/24 https://www.museumofthebible.org/newsroom/museum-of-the-bible-to-premiere-megiddo-mosaic

Whether or not this mosaic was prepared by true or false Christians is not yet clear to me. The mosaic does not contain any clear crosses, however, as even the Greco-Roman professors of Jesus were not commonly using them as a symbol until after Emperor Constantine of the 4th century.

I asked Meta.ai for a translation of what is on the mosaic, and here is what it replied with:

The Megiddo Mosaic contains additional inscriptions beyond what I initially provided. Here is a more comprehensive translation:

Main Inscription:
“The God-loving Akeptous has offered this table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.”

Donor Inscriptions:

1. “Akeptous, also called Justus, son of Publius, constructed [this].”
2. “[I,] Akeptous, made [this] for salvation.”
3. “Ektropos and Eutropos and Eusebios and Brennanios, presbyters, made [this].”

Other Inscriptions:

1. “In the year 292, the fourth indiction.”
2. “[This] is the tomb of the martyrs.”

Additional Fragments:

1. A partially preserved inscription mentioning “the bishop [or overseer] Theodoros.”
2. Another fragmentary inscription possibly referring to “the church.”

Keep in mind that:

• Some parts of the mosaic are damaged or incomplete.
• Translations may vary slightly depending on the source.
• Different scholars might interpret certain words or phrases differently.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult academic publications or reputable archaeological sources.

Would you like more details on the historical context or significance of the Megiddo Mosaic?

Bishop Theodoros, mentioned in the Megiddo Mosaic, is not extensively documented in historical records, …

Historical Context:

Bishop Theodoros likely lived during the late 3rd or early 4th century AD, a period of significant Christian growth and development. The Megiddo Mosaic, dated to around 292 AD, provides valuable insight into the early Christian community in the region.

Early Church Hierarchy:

As a bishop, Theodoros would have played a crucial role in the early Christian church, overseeing local congregations and guiding the community.

Limited Information:

Unfortunately, the historical record provides limited information about Bishop Theodoros’ life, teachings, or accomplishments.

Scholarly Debates:

Some scholars debate:

1. Whether Theodoros was a prominent figure or a local bishop.
2. The accuracy of identifying him with known historical figures.

It is not clear if Theodoros was a faithful leader or not. Because donors were listed on the mosaic, it would suggest not.

Why? Because Jesus taught:

1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (Matthew 6:1-4)

That said, one reason to mention the Megiddo mosaic was because of the statement, “God Jesus Christ.”

Furthermore, there is much earlier evidence outside of the Bible that Christians considered that Jesus was God.

Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and also God according to various Christian and professing Christian writers of the second century. And they also taught that He always had existed.

In “the oldest complete Christian sermon that has survived” (Holmes M.W. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 2nd ed. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2004, p. 102)–outside those in the Bible–sometimes erroneously referred to as Second Letter of Clement, it seems to support binitarianism. It was given perhaps with a year or so of John’s death (thus may be towards the end of the first century A.D.), begins with the following:

Brothers, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ, as of God, as “Judge of the living and the dead” (An Ancient Christian Sermon (2 Clement), 1:1. In Holmes M.W. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 2nd ed. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2004, p. 107)

Ignatius, who was known by Polycarp (and praised in this same Polycarp epistle, which is known as Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians), wrote around 108-120 A.D.:

For our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary in accord with God’s plan: of the seed of David, it is true, but also of the Holy Spirit. He was born and baptized so that by His submission He might purify the water (Ignatius of Antioch, Letters to the Ephesians 18,2–note this is translated the same by at least three separate translations as done by Dr. Lightfoot, J.H. Srawley, and Roberts & Donaldson).

Polycarp of Smyrna, in the mid-second century, wrote:

But may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Son of God, and our everlasting High Priest, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord and God Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who “raised Him from the dead (Polycarp. Letter to the Philippians. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1as edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Chapter 12 modified by R. Thiel to correct omission in translation).

For whosoever does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is antichrist (Polycarp, Chapter VII. Letter to the Philippians. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1as edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885).

Him who died for us, and for our sakes was raised again by God from the dead (Polycarp, Chapter IX. Letter to the Philippians. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1as edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885).

Melito of Sardis wrote:

For the deeds done by Christ after His baptism, and especially His miracles, gave indication and assurance to the world of the Deity hidden in His flesh. For, being at once both God and perfect man likewise…He concealed the signs of His Deity, although He was the true God existing before all ages (Melito. On the Nature of Christ. From Roberts and Donaldson).

These are the apparent positions of all groups that I am aware of that profess any form of Christianity, except those that are unitarian or affiliated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Thus, early Christians believed and taught that Jesus is God. Regarding Melito’s statement about the Deity hidden in Christ’s flesh after baptism, recall that Jesus taught that it was the Father in Him that did the works, and hence it was not Jesus’ deity that did them (John 14:10).

Even heretics in the second century, like Irenaeus, realized that Jesus was God. Notice excerpts from two of Irenaeus‘ writings:

…there is none other called God by the Scriptures except the Father of all, and the Son, and those who possess the adoption (Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book IV, Preface, Verse 4. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

Thus then the Word of God in all things hath the pre-eminence; for that He is true man and Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God. Jesus the Anointed of God, showing Himself to be the One who was proclaimed beforehand by the prophets (Irenaeus, St., Bishop of Lyon. Translated from the Armenian by Armitage Robinson. The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching. Wells, Somerset, Oct. 1879. As published in SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN CO, 1920).

The fact that various ones in the second century taught that Jesus was God should help dispel the false unitarian position that He was not and that early professors of Christ did not accept Jesus’ deity.

Anyway, the Megiddo mosaic in the third century also supports the view that professors of Christ accepted the fact of Jesus’ divinity.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it? Here is a link to a related sermon: Unitarianism? How is God One?
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
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.
Jesus is God, But Became Flesh Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what? Here is information in the Spanish language¿Es Jesucristo Dios?.
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Biblical Archaeology This is a website that has more information on biblical archeological as is sometimes known as the Bib Arch site.

COGwriter

In an email today, Greg Williams, president of Grace Communion International (the current name of the Protestant group that took over and changed the old Worldwide Church of God. also now known as GCI) had the following:

US Church Restructuring

September 18, 2024

Dear Church,

In Church Administration and Development (CAD) for the U.S., we have been working for more than a year to move from a regional structure of support and supervision to a national structure.

Mike Rasmussen, Superintendent of North America & the Caribbean for Grace Communion International added:

GCI in the United States has been undergoing major restructuring throughout 2023 and 2024. These changes have occurred for several reasons. The main reason is a shortage of pastors and key leaders to replace our ranks. …

This means Dr. Jeff Broadnax, Pam Morgan, and I will be sharing the responsibilities of overseeing the United States. I also have the responsibility of overseeing the Canadian and the Caribbean regions. We hope you can understand that we clearly needed to make some changes to manage this vast area with fewer people.

GCI has been mainly shrinking over the years.

It restructured from a national to regional structure decades ago, but apparently that is not working out well for it.

The Apostle Jude wrote:

3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

Instead of restructuring to become a true Church of God that promotes the original and true Christian faith, GCI remains focused on being a false Protestant church–as its cross-containing logo also suggests.

Anyway, my hope for any possible Christians who may still be part of GCI is that they will study God’s word, agree to truly live by it, repent, and pray that Jesus would set them free (cf. John 8:32) from Protestant errors and support the most faithful church.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol? Was the cross used as a venerated symbol by the early Church? Two related YouTube videos would be Beware of the ‘Ecumenical Cross’, The Chrislam Cross and the Interfaith Movement, and Origin of the Cross.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui? Here is a link to a short animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Being Separate: What Did Herbert W. Armstrong and the Bible Teach About Where Not to Fellowship? Some believe that it is acceptable to attend groups called COG, but who are not actually. What did Herbert W. Armstrong and the Bible teach about this?

Hezbollah pager attacks are a harbinger of a darker, more dangerous age of individualized strikes, military expert says https://t.co/GOf8fge6qS

— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) September 18, 2024

COGwriter

Voice of America reported the death count went up and Hezbollah made new threats related to the pager explosions yesterday:

Hezbollah vows response after deadly pager explosions in Lebanon

September 18, 2024

Hezbollah and the Lebanese government are blaming Israel for the explosions of pagers used by Hezbollah members, which killed at least 12 people and wounded about 2,800 others Tuesday.

Hezbollah said Wednesday it would continue its fight against Israel in support of Hamas militants in Gaza, and that Israel should await “harsh punishment.” …

Hsu Ching-Kuang, founder of Taiwan-based manufacturer Gold Apollo, told reporters Wednesday his company did not manufacture the pagers, but rather authorized its brand to be used on devices produced and sold by a company called BAC.

Iranian state media reported the country’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was among those wounded by an exploding pager.

Iran’s support for Hezbollah and Hamas, and the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and along the Israel-Lebanon border had already raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

The pager explosions brought fresh calls Wednesday to avoid further escalation.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the situation “extremely worrying,” and said he discussed it in a call with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.

“Even if the attacks seem to have been targeted, they had heavy, indiscriminate collateral damages among civilians, including children among the victims,” EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that what happened in Lebanon “is certainly leading to an escalation of tensions.”

“The region itself is in an explosive situation… And every incident like this has the potential to be a trigger,” he added. https://www.voanews.com/a/hezbollah-vows-response-after-deadly-pager-explosions-in-lebanon/7788682.html

BAC is a Hungarian company that was founded in 2022. As far as possible Israeli involvement, Israel365 News reported the following:

Massive Beeper attack targets Hezbollah: “Like the destruction of Sennacherib’s army”

September 18, 2024

A wave of exploding beepers held by Hezbollah members in Lebanon killed … There were also reports of similar beeper explosions wounding people in Syria.

Reuters reported that Hezbollah imported about 5,000 beepers several months ago. The Lebanese security source said the pagers were from Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, but the company did not manufacture the devices. It said they were made by BAC, which has a license to use its brand, but it gave no more details.

Hezbollah fighters have been using pagers as a low-tech means of communication in an attempt to evade Israeli location-tracking, …

A “senior Lebanese security source” told Reuters that the devices had been modified by Israel’s spy service “at the production level.”

“The Mossad injected a board inside of the device that has explosive material that receives a code,” the source said. “It’s very hard to detect it through any means. Even with any device or scanner.” …

The source of the attack is still unknown but Iran-backed Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel. Israel typically does not comment on military operations outside of its borders. Hezbollah said in a statement on Wednesday that “the resistance will continue today, like any other day, its operations to support Gaza, its people, and its resistance which is a separate path from the harsh punishment that the criminal enemy (Israel) should await in response to Tuesday’s massacre.”

The attack came just a few hours after Israel designated the halting of Hezbollah’s attacks as one of its main war goals and announced that it had foiled an assassination attempt by the Iranian proxy group against a former senior official. …

The spontaneous elimination of 5,000 enemy soldiers without the use of weapons is reminiscent of the sudden destruction of Sennacherib’s army, as related in II Kings 19 after surrounding Jerusalem and King Hezekiah. …

That night an angel of Hashem went out and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp, and the following morning they were all dead corpses.

When Sennacherib rose up early in the morning to storm the city of Jerusalem, he found dead corpses in the place of his mighty army. …

Rabbi Yosef Berger emphasized that this victory over Hezbollah was decidedly divine.

“We have been sending prayers up to heaven and a message came down, albeit via beepers, and wiped out a large chunk of Hezbollah’s army.

“They fire teelim (rockets) that have little effect’” Rabbi Berger said. https://israel365news.com/396307/massive-beeper-attack-targets-hezbollah-like-the-destruction-of-sennacheribs-army/

No, what happened was NOT at all like what happened with the Assyrian King Sennacherib and his army. As far as that goes, after Judah’s king Hezekiah prayed, Isaiah reported that God responded and had an angel destroy Sennacherib’s army:

32 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria:

‘He shall not come into this city,
Nor shoot an arrow there,
Nor come before it with shield,
Nor build a siege mound against it.
33 By the way that he came,
By the same shall he return;
And he shall not come into this city,’
Says the Lord.
34 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it
For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.'”

35 And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses — all dead. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh. 37 Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place. (2 Kings 19:32-37)

God did not send His angel down to make the pagers explode and kill. The pager matter was not Divine intervention.

Consider, also, that we see that in addition to people in Lebanon, at least one Iranian, and apparently multiple Syrians, were victims of the attack.

Hezbollah was already angry with Israel–and this type of terroristic action will mainly tend to get Hezbollah furious and more determined to strike Israel.

UPDATE 1115 PDT/1415EDT: Handheld radios exploded in Lebanon today:

Hezbollah hand-held radios detonate across Lebanon in second day of explosions

September 18, 2024

Hand-held radios used by Lebanese armed group Hezbollah detonated on Wednesday across Lebanon’s south, in Beirut suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, further stoking tensions with Israel a day after similar explosions by the group’s pagers. Lebanon’s health ministry said 14 people had been killed and 450 injured on Wednesday, while the death toll from Tuesday’s explosions rose to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 injured. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-planted-explosives-hezbollahs-taiwan-made-pagers-say-sources-2024-09-18/

So, more escalation!

For some background about Hezbollah, the BBC put out the following:

What is Hezbollah…?

Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim organisation which is politically influential and in control of the most powerful armed force in Lebanon.

It was established in the early 1980s by the region’s most dominant Shia power, Iran, to oppose Israel. At the time, Israel’s forces had occupied southern Lebanon, during the country’s civil war.

Hezbollah has participated in national elections since 1992 and has become a major political presence.

Its armed wing has carried out deadly attacks on Israeli and US forces in Lebanon. When Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah took credit for pushing them out. …

In 2006, a full-blown war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, triggered when Hezbollah carried out a deadly cross-border raid.

Israeli troops invaded southern Lebanon to try to eliminate the threat from Hezbollah. However, it survived and has since increased its number of fighters and obtained new and better weapons. …

Hezbollah is one of the most heavily-armed, non-state military forces in the world. It is funded and equipped by Iran. …

It has an estimated 130,000 rockets and missiles, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

Most of its arsenal is made up of small, unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets.

But it also thought to have anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, as well as guided missiles capable of striking deep inside Israel. 07/28/24 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67307858

It is likely that Hezbollah will reign a volley of bombs on Israel relatively soon. Those in Jerusalem, and not just in the northern portion of Israel, should be concerned. I also believe that Iran and Syria will also become more directly involved against 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.

In my view, Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria are most likely consulting with each other to determine how and when to launch a major attack against Israel.

Israel hopes, between its Iron Dome and USA assistance, it will be able to handle attacks. Israel’s Iron Dome is part of a multi-tiered missile defense system that Israel has which includes what is also called Arrow, Iron Beam, and David’s Sling.

Yet, Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and other defenses will not be able to protect Jerusalem against enough of the coming attack to prevent great damage Isaiah prophesied to occur, “you also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great” (Isaiah 22:9).

This pager attack by Israel will turn even more of the world against Israel.

At risk of repeat (as I also reported this yesterday), here are some Roman Catholic prophecies that Israel’s terroristic pager attack brought to mind:

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

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

Back on October 7, 2023, the day when Hamas launched its attack against Israel, I also referred to those Roman Catholic prophecies and said that Israel’s response to that attack could be considered as a war crime:

A strong Israeli response may upset the world if its response is considered to be some type of “war crime.” (Thiel B. Hamas attacks and Netanyahu says, ‘We are at war’. COGwriter, October 7, 2023).

Edward Snowden referred to the pager matter as a crime. Others have as well:

Pager blasts: Lebanese papers decry ‘war crime’, Israeli press divided

18 September 2024

Wednesday, September 18: Lebanese and Israeli papers react to the deadly pager blasts across Lebanon. Some Israeli papers are jubilant at the ingenuity of the attack, while others fear it brings war with Lebanon into the realm of the probable. https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/press-review/20240918-pager-blasts-lebanese-papers-decry-lawless-murder-and-war-crimes

September 18, 2024

Edward Joseph Snowden, an American former NSA intelligence contractor, said that if it were iPhones that were leaving the factory with explosives inside, the media would be a hell of a lot faster to cotton on to what a horrific precedent has been set today. Nothing can justify this. It’s a crime. A crime. And everyone in the world is less safe for it. https://freepresskashmir.news/2024/09/18/indistinguishable-from-terrorism-pager-explosions-across-lebanon-injure-thousands-hezbollah-blames-israel/

18 September 2024

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the explosions represented a “serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by all standards”. A security source in the country accused the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad of being behind the attack, Reuters reported.

In its statement accusing Israel of being behind the attacks, Hezbollah said it held the country “fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians”.

“This treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression, whether it expects it or not,” it added.

Unnamed US and Israeli officials told Axios that the explosions were initially planned as the opening move in an “all-out” offensive against Hezbollah. But in recent days Israel became concerned Hezbollah had become aware of the plan – so they were detonated early. https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/17/middleeast/lebanon-hezbollah-pagers-explosions-intl/index.html

Yes, the pager bomb matter was a type of crime.

Now, IF Jesus is to return in 2031, then I expect a regional war involving Israel will occur soon. In at least one respect, yesterday’s terrorist act from Israel actually was the start of that broader regional war.

We will see what Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and others will do.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Here is a related sermon in the Spanish language: El cristianismo visto a través de los ojos islámicos.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to two related videos: Gaza and Bible Prophecy and Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?

COGwriter

Some time back, Bill Nye, who still calls himself the ‘science guy,’ was interviewed about some of his evolutionary views:

Why Bill Nye Calls Evolution ‘Undeniable’ and Creationism ‘Inane’

Darwin’s theory explains so much of the world, from bumblebees to human origins, says the Science Guy. …

In his new book, Nye delights in how this fundamental discovery helps to unlock the mysteries of everything from bumblebees to human origins to our place in the universe.

Who do you hope will read this book?

Grown-ups who have an interest in the world around them, people coming of age who have an interest in science, people who still want to know how the world works. …

How and when did you first encounter creationism?

About 20 years ago. I was a member of the Northwest Skeptics, which is the Seattle-based skeptics organization. We met people who insisted that the Earth was 6,000 years old. The inanity took my breath away. When you understand anything about astronomy or have just a rudimentary understanding of radioactivity, the Earth is patently not 6,000 years old. It’s silly. …

What one or two points do you want people to take away from this book?

Evolution is a discovery. We discovered evolution. Two guys [Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace], at about the same time, reached the same conclusion about nature. …

Anything else?

Evolution fills me with reverence for our place within the cosmos, what I like to call “our place in space.” We’re the product of stardust, brought together by gravity—we’re at least one of the ways that the universe knows itself. That, to me, is astonishing. 01/24/15 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150125-bill-nye-science-guy-evolution-creation-book-talk-culture/

No true scientist can possibly accept evolution as the explanation as to how life began. It’s astonishing that anyone can say the universe formed by happenstance, which is what Bill Nye essentially teaches.

One law of human science is called “biogenesis”–life comes from life. Not from nothing, not from dead things, not from happenstance.

Furthermore, notice a statement from Nobel Prize winner Dr. George Wald, from Harvard University related to the origin of life:

The reasonable view was to believe in spontaneous generation (life from nothing); the only alternative, to believe in a single, primary act of supernatural creation. There is no third position . . . One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede that the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. (Scott I. The God Solution: Are You Ready? Xlibris Corporation, 2013, p. 41)

Believing something that is impossible is not scientific–accepting evolution as the origin of life is another false religion.

Therefore, the acceptance of a supernatural creation (Genesis 1) is the only scientific option according to statements like the above.

There have long been unscientific people claiming science on their side.

Even back in New Testament times there were those who called error ‘science,’ which is what evolution as an explanation of the origin of life and the origin of the universe is.

Notice:

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Calling Creation “inane” is a false and vain babbling.

If Bill Nye was truly a scientist, he would admit that Darwin had no explanation of the origin of life that could be tested to be proven true.

Actually, all such attempts have failed to prove Darwin’s hypothesis. Though Bill Nye would have to know this.

If Bill Nye would truly consider that matter cannot self-generate and that energy runs out over time, he would realize that there is no current explanation of a creation without a spiritual Creator that makes sense.

Sadly, scientists who challenge too many claims associated with evolution are shunned by many academic institutions, as there is a tremendous amount of pressure at most “leading” academic institutions to squelch research that is not in support of evolution because it will affect their beliefs. Thus many ‘accept’ evolution and act like it is a scientific fact, when instead it is an unproven model that can scientifically be rebutted at various stages.

It rarely fails to astound me how the supposedly educated can insist that evolution is scientifically accurate and why they want people to mindlessly accept such a preposterous explanation of the origins of life.

The fact is that evolution functions as a false religion that many cling to. Therefore, many who hold to it do not bother to look into the truth about why they are on this planet nor what their life really is supposed to be about.

The Continuing Church of God put out two short animations related to this general topic on our CCOG Animations channel:

Here is a link to our video: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator?

Here is a link to our animated video: A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?

There is no real scientific doubt that evolution as the origin of life is false. It violates too many known laws of biology. It has gotten so bad, that some so-called ‘scientists’ have claimed that life on Earth probably came from Mars as the Earth did not have certain building blocks like Mars does (see BBC: Life may have come from Mars?). This is additional proof that some scientists who profess evolution as life’s origin realize that it does not hold up to true scientific scrutiny.

Various scientists know that the facts do not support that life could have spontaneously began on planet Earth, so they keep looking for other explanations that they hope are more plausible.

True science is compatible with the Bible–it is only that which is falsely called science that is not (cf. 1 Timothy 6:20-21, KJV). Atheistic scientists, according to the Bible, are fools:

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).

They have intentionally overlooked what should be obvious.

Evolution has led to the intentional ignorance of appropriate scientific methods. It became a religion for many in the 19th century, and remains one for many today. Shunning or insulting scientists who come out with the truth is one way that they hope to control public debate on the matter.

Notice that Charles Darwin wrote the following in his book The Origin of the Species:

If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down (Darwin C. The Origin of Species. In Chapter 6, Difficulties on Theory. Cricket House Books LLC, 2010, p. 124).

And although Charles Darwin did not believe that was demonstrated to his satisfaction when he wrote that, the truth is that cellular life was simply much more complex than he at that time realized.

Thus, even Charles Robert Darwin’s writings contain an admission that he understood that additional complexity would disprove his theory (perhaps it should be noted that the discovery of DNA would seem to qualify as sufficient complexity that he was unaware of). Of course, scientists know that random amino acids also do not come with DNA. And while this was not known at Darwin’s time, this is known now.

Darwin himself seemed to acknowledge that life could not have started on its own. He seemed, to some degree, to rely on the biblical account in the Book of Genesis as he wrote:

There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one (The Origin Of Species By Charles Darwin, 2nd and subsequent editions).

Thus, apparently Darwin recognized the impossibility of life starting on its own without a Creator (God). But that is not something that people like Bill Nye like to bring up.

Not only can science not truly explain how life began without a creator, it never will be able to. The evolutionary claims about life starting violates too many known laws of biology.

Now, it should be noted that many ‘creationists’ are also not scientists and have views that are not consistent with the Bible. People like Bill Nye cling to those errors, but they also ignore much of what the Bible teaches about the creation (see also How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation?).

The truth is still the truth, as “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), etc. Atheists hope to cloud that by insulting true scientists and hoping that they can influence people who do not realize many of the facts that disprove the evolutionary model. But they must violate science and common sense in order to do that. They are not true scientists.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God’s Existence Logical? Is it really logical to believe in God? Yes! Would you like Christian answers to give atheists? This is a free online booklet that deal with improper theories and musings called science related to the origin of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
Does it Make Physical Sense to believe in God? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true? Here is a link to a YouTube sermon titled Is it logical to believe in God?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge. Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Is There Another View of Evolution? and another titled Quickly Disprove Evolution as the Origin of Life.
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Gap Theory? 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 are links to two sermons: Gap Theory: Doctrine or Modern Heresy? and 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?
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.
Where Did God Come From? Any ideas? And how has God been able to exist? Who is God?
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?
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?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
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.

Logo of Hezbollah (via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Reuters reported the following:

Hezbollah vows to punish Israel after pager explosions across Lebanon

September 17, 2024

BEIRUT, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Militant group Hezbollah promised to retaliate against Israel after accusing it of detonating pagers across Lebanon on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others who included fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut.

Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary condemned the late-afternoon detonation of the pagers – handheld devices that Hezbollah and others in Lebanon use to send messages – as an “Israeli aggression”. Hezbollah said Israel would receive “its fair punishment” for the blasts. …

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is waging war with Israel in Gaza, said the pager blasts were an “escalation” that will only lead Israel to “failure and defeat”. …

The casualties included Hezbollah fighters who are the sons of top officials from the armed group, two security sources told Reuters. One of those killed was the son of a Hezbollah member of the Lebanese parliament, Ali Ammar, they said.

“This is not a security targeting of one, two or three people. This is a targeting of an entire nation,” senior Hezbollah official Hussein Khalil said while paying his condolences for Ammar’s son. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dozens-hezbollah-members-wounded-lebanon-when-pagers-exploded-sources-witnesses-2024-09-17/

Hezbollah was already angry with Israel–and this type of terroristic action will mainly tend to get Hezbollah even more upset and more determined to strike Israel.

Notice some Roman Catholic prophecies:

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

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

Many may consider what Israel is suspected of doing with this pager terrorism as a terrible or atrocious crime.

That said, notice also:

War Preparations Build After 9 Killed, 2700+ Wounded In Israel’s Pager Attack On Hezbollah

September 17, 2024

Official Lebanese Health Ministry figures are that nine people were killed in the simultaneous pager explosions, including a young girl, and some 2,750 wounded. The Lebanese government has identified “Israeli aggression” as being behind the attack, while Hezbollah also says it holds Israel “fully responsible”. Israel has yet to issue official comment, but there are several reports from the region that war preparations are underway. There are reports of evening Israeli shelling of Hezbollah positions in south Lebanon.

Israel’s Channel 14 is reporting that “senior Israeli military officials are preparing for a third Hezbollah war which is expected to begin almost immediately.” The US State Department has said the US “was not aware of this operation and was not involved” in the attack. The Biden administration says it is “still gathering information”.

The WSJ has offered some initial details on the sophisticated attack, which Lebanese and Arabs have condemned as a major ‘terror attack’. “The affected pagers were from a new shipment that the group received in recent days, people familiar with the matter said,” WSJ writes. “A Hezbollah official said hundreds of fighters had such devices, speculating that malware may have caused the devices to explode. The official said some people felt the pagers heat up and disposed of them before they burst.” …

Israeli media says Mossad rigged the pager batteries of a shipment that was imported five months ago:

The Israeli spy agency placed a quantity of PETN, a highly explosive material, on the batteries of the devices, and detonated them by raising the temperature of the batteries from afar, the source says.

There are initial reports that more European airlines have began cancelling flights to Lebanon and Israel amid more headlines of war plans. Lebanese schools and colleges have announced widespread closures tomorrow. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hundreds-wounded-dead-beirut-after-israel-remotely-detonates-hezbollah-pagers

Before this pager terror happened, Michael Snyder posted the following:

Middle East Apocalypse: Israel Is Preparing For An “All-Out Confrontation With Hezbollah” In The Near Future

September 16, 2024

After months of waiting, it appears that an all-out war in the Middle East is now very close.  It is being reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that an “all-out confrontation with Hezbollah” has become inevitable, and he has instructed the IDF to prepare for a “broad campaign” in Lebanon. …

The following comes from a Times of Israel article entitled “PM said to warn Israel faces ‘large-scale confrontation’ with Hezbollah in near future”…

According to Channel 13 news, Netanyahu believes that Israel is headed for an inevitable all-out confrontation with Hezbollah, as a diplomatic solution that could bring an end to the near-daily cross-border clashes with the Lebanese terror group remains elusive.

Citing an unnamed Netanyahu associate, Channel 13 reported that no timeline had been established for the expected confrontation, which has been promised by top officials for months, and as such, it could be in weeks or months from now.

The assessment that the skirmishes with Hezbollah on the northern border, which have led to the displacement of tens of thousands of Israelis, would not be solved through a diplomatic solution was shared by the security chiefs, the report stated, and as such it was agreed that a military operation should be launched as soon as international legitimacy and IDF manpower allowed for it.

So many people are going to die on both sides. …

But I do not expect the IDF to launch a military operation in southern Lebanon quite yet.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly later this month, and during that address I expect him to publicly make his case for military action against Hezbollah…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to the United States later this month to deliver an address to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 27, his office announced on Sunday.

The Israeli premier is slated to leave for New York on Sept. 24 for meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the event, according to the statement.

Netanyahu is to address the 79th Session of the U.N. General Assembly three days later, on Friday afternoon, and fly back that Sunday.

I do not think that all-out war will erupt before Netanyahu delivers that speech.

But it may come fairly soon afterwards. …

The coming war is going to be absolutely horrifying.

In the aftermath of the war, I expect that there will be a full-fledged Palestinian state and that they will be given full membership at the United Nations. https://endoftheamericandream.com/middle-east-apocalypse-israel-is-preparing-for-an-all-out-confrontation-with-hezbollah-in-the-near-future/

Perhaps a peace deal of some type will be proposed at the UN this month. Perhaps it will be confirmed by someone such as KT Guttenberg next month.

It remains my belief that Hezbollah will reign a volley of bombs on Israel relatively soon. Those in Jerusalem, and not just in the northern portion of Israel, should be concerned. I also believe that Iran and Syria will also become more directly involved against Israel.

The Bible shows that God will allow the nation of Israel to be hit as shown in the Israel Bible translation:

5 For my Lord God of Hosts had a day Of tumult and din and confusion— Kir raged in the Valley of Vision, And Shoa on the hill; 6 While Elam bore the quiver In troops of mounted men, And Kir bared the shield— 7 And your choicest lowlands Were filled with chariots and horsemen: They stormed at Yehuda‘s* gateway.

8 And pressed beyond its screen. You gave thought on that day To the arms in the Forest House,9 And you took note of the many breaches In the City of David. And you collected the water of the Lower Pool; 10 and you counted the houses of Yerushalayim and pulled houses down to fortify the wall; and you constructed a basin between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you gave no thought to Him who planned it, You took no note of Him who designed it long before. (Isaiah 22:5-10)

Yehuda above means Judah, which is the modern nation called Israel. And Yerushalayim is commonly known as Jerusalem.

The old Worldwide Church of God published the following related to Elam:

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)

Let me add that, according to the late Dr. Hoeh of the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God:

Madai is the father of the Medes. The Medes used to be associated with the Persians. You will read about them especially in the book of Daniel. But by the time of Nehemiah the Persians were much more prominent. Today there are no Medes left in Persia. (Hoeh H. The TRUTH about the Race Question! Plain Truth, July 1957)

Persia, the modern Iran, (Hoeh H. Compendium of World History – Volume 2. 1969)

Hence, this seems to support more being from Elam than Media in Iran.

Kir looks to include Syrians and others in the region. For example, 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 (which could then include some in Iraq), while others suggest closer to the Black Sea (which Turkey borders). 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 prophecy that “Kir uncovered the shield” suggests that Syria will have somehow reduced the effectiveness of Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ and/or other defensive equipment the nation of Israel will use.

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

In my view, Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria are most likely consulting with each other to determine how and when to launch a major attack against 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.

I have been reporting that for years on this COGwriter Church of God News page (e.g. Thiel B. ‘Israel Reveals it is Now Targeting Iranian Forces Militarily’. COGwriter, February 20, 2020 and Thiel B. ‘Hezbollah chief vows retaliation for future Israeli strikes in Lebanon’ ‘Bennett: Israel won’t accept rocket attacks from Lebanon’. COGwriter, August 8, 2021).

That said, IF Jesus is to return in 2031, then I expect a regional war involving Israel will occur soon, beyond what we have seen with Israel and Gaza and Hezbollah before today, and/or a proposed peace plan that will be confirmed by the “prince” of Daniel 9:26-27 this fall. Perhaps today’s terrorist act from Israel actually is the start of that broader regional war. We will see.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to two related videos: Gaza and Bible Prophecy and Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025? 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?
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 ? 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 Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.

‘Ring of Fire’ Eclipse–Pixabay image

COGwriter

There is something that has been called a ‘Supermoon’ eclipse tonight:

September 17, 2024

In a year of the total solar eclipse and a supermoon just last month, keep an eye out for another supermoon this week. A supermoon will be visible in DC on Tuesday night – along with a partial lunar eclipse.

As the full moon closest to the fall equinox, historically associated with people having more moonlight to harvest crops by, this supermoon is considered the “harvest moon,” according to Shauna Edson, astronomy education specialist at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.  …

A supermoon is when a full moon happens at the same time that the moon is closest to the Earth in its elliptical orbit (its perigee). Because the moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle, sometimes it’s a bit closer to Earth and appears slightly bigger in the sky, Edson says.

According to Edson, this is a very slight partial eclipse, with only one small part of the moon being darkened by Earth’s shadow. “It will look like one edge of the moon getting darker, similar to a cookie with a small bite being taken out,” she says.

Petro and Edson also wanted to clarify that this event is not a “blood moon.”

“The red color only appears during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon is completely inside the Earth’s shadow,” she says. “Because this is a partial lunar eclipse, and most of the moon will still be somewhat bright, the red color won’t show up.” https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/09/17/what-to-know-about-the-supermoon-and-partial-lunar-eclipse-over-dc-on-tuesday/

Michael Snyder is concerned that this and other similar phenomena are of massive significance as he posted this late yesterday:

A “Blood Moon” Eclipse, “The Comet Of The Century”, And A “Ring Of Fire” Eclipse Will All Be Visible Within The Next 30 Days

September 16, 2024

There will be 3 spectacular events in the heavens within the next 30 days. A “blood moon” lunar eclipse will happen this week, the “comet of the century” will begin to appear in the night sky later this month, and a “ring of fire” solar eclipse will happen on October 2nd. Needless to say, it is very unusual for so many historic heavenly events to occur so close to one another. And of course these signs in the heavens are all happening at a time when our entire planet is rapidly descending into a state of complete and utter chaos.

On Tuesday night, we will witness something truly special.

It isn’t every day that we get to see a partial lunar eclipse during a “supermoon”…

We are being told that during this partial lunar eclipse the moon will turn “blood red”…

Much of the civilized world will get to see this blood red moon.

Subsequently, a spectacular comet that has been dubbed “the comet of the century” by astronomers will be visible in the night sky starting in late September…

C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan–ATLAS and considered “the comet of the century,” will appear in all its splendor in our sky during September and October 2024. Due to its characteristics, astronomers believe it will be exceptionally bright, similar to Halley’s comet in 1986 or NEOWISE in 2020.

Apparently you will be able to see this comet even if you aren’t using a telescope.

It is being reported that it will be shining the brightest on October 2nd…

Do you remember what else is happening on October 2nd?

For those that do not remember, there will be a “ring of fire” Rosh Hashanah eclipse on October 2nd…

A “ring of fire” solar eclipse will literally be occurring on the exact same day that “the comet of the century” is the brightest.

And all of this will be happening just as the festival of Rosh Hashanah is beginning. …

Our region of space has been getting really busy in recent years, and it is only a matter of time before we get hit by something really big.

But for now life continues to go on as normal, and most people are paying very little attention to what is happening in the skies above us. https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/a-blood-moon-eclipse-the-comet-of-the-century-and-a-ring-of-fire-eclipse-will-all-be-visible-within-the-next-30-days/

Let’s consider the three events that Michael Snyder brought up.

The first is that there will be a lunar eclipse tonight. Okay, that is expected. But according to the first article above, it will not actually be a blood moon.

But what if it were?

I denounced Jonathan Cahn and others who pushed various wrong predictions about the ramifications of blood moons. See also the article: Blood Moons, Eclipses, and Prophecy.

Second, a comet will be visible. There are comets from time to time that are visible. However, I would not dub it the “comet of the century” because that is likely the prophesied Wormwood in Revelation 8.

Over 1900 years ago, the Apostle John was inspired to write about Wormwood and more in the Book of Revelation. If you look at the sequence of events that proceed Wormwood, it is obvious that all cannot happen between now and next month. Notice that the first nine verses happen prior to Wormwood falling from heaven:

1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:1-9)

It should also be noted that there are MANY EVENTS that also have to take place before the above events as well.

Continuing in Revelation, John wrote:

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)

Notice that Wormwood does not fall until after the third trumpet, associated with the seventh seal of Revelation, is blown. Well, this would mean that the fifth and sixth seals would also have already been opened–which are mentioned in Revelation 6:7-17, and the 144,000 numbered as shown in Revelation 7.  And I should add that the fifth seal of Revelation cannot possibly be opened for at least 3 1/2 years from now (see When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?), with over 4 years the likely minimum.

Although the biblical Wormwood does not have to be a comet, and possibly could be an asteroid (or at least possibly come from the asteroid belt), it sounds more like a comet than an asteroid.

Why?

In addition to looking like a star falling from the heavens, looking like a torch (and an asteroid could possibly do that), comets normally appear with cyanogen. Astronomers state hydrogen cyanide on comets may be their source of cyanogen gas.

Interestingly, the cyanogen gas mixes with water to form hydrogen cyanide, which has an almond odor and bitter taste, and reportedly causes death at concentrations over 5 parts per million.

And thus for Bible skeptics, the fact that centuries before humans had any idea that comets could produce a poisonous bitter water, it is recorded in the Bible. This should be additional proof to those willing to see that the Bible has been inspired by God. The Apostle John would have no other way to know about that.

And while comets are still more likely to fulfill the Wormwood prophecy than asteroids, humans still have no real effective way to deal with potential asteroid devastation, and some day, a major object from the sky will strike the earth according to biblical prophecy. Michael Snyder is right about that, but this next comet is not it.

The third event he referred to was the “ring of fire” solar eclipse which is expected to occur during start of the Feast of Trumpets in Jerusalem (which begins at sunset on October 2nd). I posted the following about that before:

What is the annular ‘ring of fire’? This next eclipse happens in less than a month

September 4, 2024

• This year’s annular eclipse, also known as the “ring of fire,” occurs on October 2, 2024.
• Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that will have a partial view of the annular eclipse.
• The annular eclipse takes place when the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, covering part of the sun’s disk creating an appearance of a ring of light. …

What is the annular ‘ring of fire’ eclipse?

The annular eclipse, also known as the “ring of fire,” occurs when the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, covering only part of the sun’s disk and creating the appearance of a ring of light outlining the moon’s silhouette, per the Planetary Society. This thin line surrounding the moon is called an “annulus.”

Annular solar eclipses occur when the moon is farther from Earth. Meanwhile, the moon’s shadow does not completely block out the sun’s light, instead a ring of sunlight is visible around the moon, according to Space.com. https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/annular-ring-of-fire-eclipse-what-to-know

The “ring of fire” eclipse is simply a natural phenomena.

Do not be caught up in any hype about it, the comet, or tonight’s supermoon.

Instead of worrying about the “ring of fire” eclipse, Michael Snyder, along with everyone else, you should keep the Feast of Trumpets, which the Jews later named Rosh Hashanah and understand what that means.

God’s Holy Days mean a lot more than any solar eclipse.

As far as which phenomena in the heavens to look for related to prophetic matters, let’s look at it and the sequence that JESUS gave:

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:20-27)

So, the Bible says that AFTER Jerusalem is trampled by armies during the times of the Gentiles, there will be various signs in the heavens. That is not yet. Would you like to see more proof? Let’s notice the account in Matthew’s gospel from Jesus:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29-30)

So, we see that it is AFTER the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21) that we see the signs in the heaven of prophetic significance. Not before. Not now.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Blood Moons, Eclipses, and Prophecy There were four ‘blood moons’ expected in 2014 and 2015. Some claimed that they signaled the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ. I denounced that view in advance. Some claimed an eclipse in 2017 signaled the end, a “super blue blood moon” in 2018 was a divine warning, as was a ‘super wolf blood moon in 2019: Is that true? Two related videos are available: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015. and Solar Eclipse and the Apocalypse.
The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not? What does the Feast of Trumpets, which the Jews call Rosh Hashanah, help teach? Related sermon videos include: The Last Trumpet and the Book of Life and The Trumpet Release. The article has links to hear shofar blasts as well as information about Shemitah year claims.
Feast of Trumpets: Why Should You Keep It? What does the Bible say? What does this festival picture? Two related sermons are available: Trumpets and Jesus’ Return and God’s Holy Trumpet Plan.
Trumpets: Christian and Jewish Views of that Feast Jews call it Rosh Hashanah and have various ideas about it. What are Christian views and scriptures about the meaning and purpose of this festival? Here is a link to a related sermon: Christian vs. Jewish Views on the Feast of Trumpets.
Should You Keep God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays. Two related sermons would be Which Spring Days should Christians observe? and Fall Holy Days for Christians.
What is the Origin of the Cross as a Claimed ‘Christian’ Symbol? Was the cross used as a venerated symbol by the early Church? Three related YouTube videos would be Beware of the ‘Ecumenical Cross’, The Chrislam Cross and the Interfaith Movement, and Origin of the Cross. 2017 Solar Eclipse and the Apocalypse A massive solar eclipse is to occur on August 21, 2017. Some claim that it is apocalyptic and they will be raptured then. Mark Biltz, of ‘blood moon’ fame, citing Genesis 1:14, says this is a sign of God for national repentance. Is it? Could Jeremiah 10:2 apply here? Mark Biltz and others tie this August 2017 solar eclipse in with Revelation 12–is that possible? Is there any solar eclipse associated with the Apocalypse? If so, when is the soonest that prophecy can be fulfilled? Going through biblical passages, including the words of Jesus, Dr. Thiel provides answer to those questions.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
Comets, Wormwood, and Planet Nibiru Will the Earth be devastated by Planet X or Comet Encke? What about Planet Nine? Could it happen in 2017? Here is a link to two related YouTube videos Planet Nibiru to Destroy Earth by 2017? and Could Comet ISON be Wormwood of Bible Prophecy?
Planet Nibiru to Destroy Earth by 2017? Some say NASA has identified Plant X, also called Planet Nine or Nibiru or even Planet 7X. One prophecy watcher has stated that this planet will destroy Planet Earth by January 1, 2017. Is this possible? While the Bible tells of a destructive power called ‘Wormwood’ will come from outer space to destroy much of the Earth in Revelation 8, can Wormwood hit by 2017? Dr. Thiel explains from the Bible why Wormwood could be a comet and why the Bible and not those who misinterpret it should be trusted. This is a video.
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.
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2024, 2025, or 2026? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Tribulation in 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.

The US Bill of Rights

COGwriter

Today is considered to be ‘Constitution Day’ and is sometimes called ‘Citizenship Day’ for the USA. Typically, this day is not actually celebrated, or even acknowledged, by most in the USA. The current Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787.

Here are some comments about it:

Constitution Day 2021: It’s Time to Make America Free Again

September 13, 2021

In an ultimate sense, the Constitution confirmed the proposition that original power resided in the people—not, however, in the people as a whole but in their capacity as people of the several states. To bring forth the requisite union, the people through the states would transfer some of their powers to the new federal government. All powers not reserved by the people in explicit state constitutional limitations remained in the state governments.

Although the Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, the fear of the new federal government was so strong that a “bill of rights” was demanded and became an eventuality.

Intended to protect the citizenry’s fundamental rights or “first liberties” against usurpation by the newly created federal government, the Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments of the Constitution—is essentially a list of immunities from interference by the federal government.

Unfortunately, although the Bill of Rights was adopted as a means of protecting the people against government tyranny, in America today, the government does whatever it wants, …

“We the people” have been terrorized, traumatized, and tricked into a semi-permanent state of compliance by a government that cares nothing for our lives or our liberties. …

Here is what it means to live under the Constitution, post-9/11 and in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic.

The First Amendment is supposed to protect the freedom to speak your mind, assemble and protest nonviolently without being bridled by the government. It also protects the freedom of the media, as well as the right to worship and pray without interference. …

Despite the clear protections found in the First Amendment, the freedoms described therein are under constant assault. Increasingly, … Religious ministries are being fined for attempting to feed and house the homeless. Protesters are being tear-gassed, beaten, arrested and forced into “free speech zones.” And under the guise of “government speech,” the courts have reasoned that the government can discriminate freely against any First Amendment activity that takes place within a so-called government forum.

The Second Amendment was intended to guarantee “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Essentially, this amendment was intended to give the citizenry the means to resist tyrannical government. Yet while gun ownership has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as an individual citizen right, Americans remain powerless to defend themselves against SWAT team raids and government agents armed to the teeth with military weapons better suited to the battlefield. As such, this amendment has been rendered nearly null and void. …

So what’s the solution? https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/constitution_day_2021_its_time_to_make_america_free_again

The Kingdom of God is the Solution.

As far as more issues with the Constitution, here are some comments about it given back in 2020:

US Attorney General William Barr on Wednesday said a nationwide coronavirus lockdown would amount to the “greatest intrusion on civil liberties” besides slavery in US history, according to a CNN report.

Barr reportedly made the remarks during a speech at Hillsdale College in celebration of Constitution Day in response to a question about the “constitutional hurdles” of banning church gatherings during the pandemic.

“You know, putting a national lockdown, stay at home orders, is like house arrest. Other than slavery, which was a different kind of restraint, this is the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history,” Barr said.

As health experts have championed the measures to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, Barr, a staunch defender of President Trump, has slammed stay-at-home orders as “draconian.” https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/barr-covid-19-lockdowns-worst-civil-liberties-intrusion-since-slavery/

Yes, the lockdowns, various mandates, etc. were an affront to the US Constitution.

Those who live in the USA may wish to re-read its Bill of Rights which came into effect as Constitutional Amendments on December 15, 1791.

Now here is the first amendment:

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

Let me state that when it comes to keeping the Sabbath, paying for abortion, opposing the LGBTQ agenda, speaking out on moral issues, the courts in the USA have been making rules that have prohibited the free exercise of religion. This will worsen and the time will come when there is a famine of the word (watch also Famine of the Word?).

With COVID restrictions on churches, this has shown that many government leaders are unwilling to support what the US Constitution says in order to further their objectives.

The joebiden.com website stated:

The Biden Plan to Advance LGBTQ+ Equality in America and Around the World …

Religious freedom is a fundamental American value. But states have inappropriately used broad exemptions to allow businesses, medical providers, social service agencies, state and local government officials, and others to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. The Trump-Pence Administration has deliberately and systematically attempted to gut protections for the LGBTQ+ community by carving out broad religious exemptions to existing nondiscrimination laws and policies across federal agencies. Biden will reverse Trump’s policies misusing these broad exemptions and fight so that no one is turned away from a business or refused service by a government official just because of who they are or who they love. accessed 11/17/20 https://joebiden.com/lgbtq-policy/

This is not about “love” but about censorship and pushing aside religious views and values. Notice that the Biden-Harris plan calls it HATE to allow people of faith to have a religious conscience on matters of sexual morality.

No church I am aware of teaches their congregants to hate LGBTQ+ people. Yet, the Biden-Harris plan has determined that it is ‘hate’ to not go along with their view of sexual morality. They do not truly believe in religious freedom–they want to control religion.

The Biden-Harris team have the LGBTQ agenda as a top priority (see ZH: Trump Says “Election Far From Over”; Biden “Honored & Humbled” After MSM Declares Him President-Elect):

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 3, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — Passing the radical pro-LGBT and pro-abortion Equality Act “will be the first thing I ask to be done” if elected president, Joe Biden said at the annual Human Rights Campaign gala Saturday.

The former vice president, who endorsed same-sex “marriage” in 2012, told hundreds of activists at the gala in Columbus, Ohio, that President Donald Trump’s administration is “immoral” with regard to the homosexual agenda.

“It’s wrong and it is immoral, what they’re doing,” Biden said. “Just like with racial justice and women’s rights, we are seeing pushback against all the progress we’ve made toward equality.” …

The so-called Equality Act would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include “sex,” “sexual orientation,” and “gender identity” among the recognized “non-discrimination” categories in “public accommodations.” “Gender identity” would be expanded to include additional establishments like online retailers, health care services, recreation, and others. Also, it would compel businesses employing 15 more persons to recognize their asserted “gender identity,” as well as barring employers from “discriminating” based on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity,” while also requiring that so-called transgender persons have access to opposite-sex locker rooms, dressing rooms, and restrooms. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/biden-names-pro-lgbt-equality-act-as-top-priority-if-elected

The so-called “Equality Act,” is, of course, biblically immoral. But Joe Biden and other supporters of it will not accept biblical authority. Instead they are pushing an agenda that will end in death per Romans 1:18-31.

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

Here is a link to the video: Biden-Harris & Hate Speech.

Americans have been losing their religious rights in the USA this century.

Furthermore, most politicians in Washington, D.C., seem to have little problem not complying with the intent of the US Constitution.

Notice something related to Hillary Clinton said yesterday:

sEPTEMBER 16, 2024

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow that Americans “engaged” in “propaganda,” similar to the type that led to the Russians “boosting Trump” in 2016, should face criminal prosecution. …

CLINTON: … We know from what even Republicans have said, the chairs of the Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee and other Republicans who are currently in office have said that Republicans go to the floor of the Congress and they parrot Russian talking points.

So, I think it’s important to indict the Russians, just as Mueller indicted a lot of Russians who were engaged in direct election interference and boosting Trump back in 2016. But I also think there are Americans who are engaged in this kind of propaganda.

And whether they should be civilly or even in some cases criminally charged is something that would be a better deterrence, https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2024/09/16/hillary_clinton_americans_engaged_in_propaganda_should_be_criminally_charged_would_be_a_better_deterrence.html

So, if Hillary Clinton does not agree with certain positions, she wants to be able to threaten criminal actions. That is not what the Constitution of the USA supports–yet that type of view is getting more accepted in the USA.

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

• Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

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

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

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

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

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

The Bush Administration got Congress to approve the so-called ‘Patriot Act’ and establish the Homeland Security Administration and other offices. The Obama Administration then added other offices as well. Donald Trump’s Administration was supportive of increased governmental surveillance and seems to be against the intent of the fourth amendment (e.g. Facts about George Orwell’s ‘nineteen eighty-four’ and now official asset forfeiture).

Back in 2017, former US Congressman Ron Paul wrote the following about this:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently ordered the Justice Department to increase the use of civil asset forfeiture, thus once again endorsing an unconstitutional, authoritarian, and increasingly unpopular policy.

Civil asset forfeiture, which should be called civil asset theft, is the practice of seizing property believed to be involved in a crime. The government keeps the property even if it never convicts, or even charges, the owner of the property.

Police can even use civil asset theft to steal from people whose property was used in criminal activity without the owners’ knowledge. Some have even lost their homes because a renter or houseguest was dealing drugs on the premises behind the owners’ backs.

Civil asset theft is a multi-billion dollar a year moneymaker for all levels of government. Police and prosecutors receive more than their “fair share” of the loot. According to a 2016 study by the Institute for Justice, 43 states allow police and prosecutors to keep at least half of the loot they got from civil asset theft.

Obviously, this gives police an incentive to aggressively use civil asset theft, even against those who are not even tangentially involved in a crime. http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2017/august/07/jeff-sessions-endorses-theft/

Yes, what is happening is not supposed to–at least the way I and Ron Paul read the US Constitution.

Furthermore, citizens of the USA are not truly free and are spied upon all the time by its government. A movie came out about Edward Snowden which pointed that out based upon what has happened with him before (The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA).

The reality is the USA does not truly abide by its Constitution anymore. And its hypocrisy and tactics are being noticed by others (see also Isaiah 10:5-12, KJV), and the coming Beast will follow further along the espionage path that the government of the USA has been laying out (cf. Revelation 13:16-18).

There are many negative ramifications to what the USA has been doing.

Jesus warned, “because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).

With that in mind, consider the following:

The America We Grew Up In Is Gone, It Isn’t Coming Back …

There are parts of America, and those portions are increasing, that to compare them to third world countries would be an insult to third world countries.

This cannot be overstated, or said too often, because too many Americans refuse to see it and acknowledge it until it is their city, their state and they are the victims. Once that happens the complaints begin, asking “why weren’t we warned?,” in a whiny little voice while those of us that have been reporting it and basically screaming warnings from the rooftops, just shake our heads in disgust.

How many new videos of drugged out “zombies” sprawled out on sidewalks, or shooting up drugs outside in public, need to be taken and published online, for Americans to wake up? …

The Constitution: Salon, a website as liberal as liberal gets headlined a piece in 2020 “The U.S. Constitution is hopelessly outdated. It’s time to re-envision it.”

The electoral crisis, the decline of trust in government, and gross income inequality in the United States may seem like separate issues. But they have a surprising, common origin: the US Constitution, or more accurately, its shortcomings. Indeed, the depth of multiple crises in our nation in 2020 — if not their existence entirely — are all rooted in our flawed Constitution and the judicial decisions that it has facilitated.

 That is a mindset we have seen with increasing frequency. Claims that all the ills of our country stem from the U.S. constitution. Mainly that is because liberals truly despise everything our country stands for. …

The America we knew growing up, the one where children could walk to the store alone, or down the street without seeing drug deals on corners, drug addicts laying on sidewalks, or sticking needles into their arms, is gone.

It isn’t coming back because the ramifications of the liberal policies are being hidden by the national media. …

The best we can hope for now is to keep this type of lawlessness out of the cities we live in by voting accordingly. 09/14/23 https://allnewspipeline.com/America_We_Grew_Up_In_Is_Gone.php

The best thing to hope for is the return of Jesus and the establishment of the millennial kingdom of God. As well as to pray for that (Matthew 6:33) and for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-3), while striving to live as a Philadelphian Christian.

As far as the USA goes, it needs national repentance, which at this stage, does not look likely.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else? Here is a link to a related sermon: USA in Prophecy: Samaria.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA Can what happened with the leaks of what the NSA has done help the USA to be taken over? What does the Bible teach that seems to be related to this? Here is a related YouTube video titled Are the Snowden NSA leaks leading to the destruction of the USA?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Biden, Trump, and the Bible.
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.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. There is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety?
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.

#EuroDig 2024: The @CoE Framework Convention on #AI and #HumanRights, #Democracy and the #RuleOfLaw – Earlier today @CoE’s Kristian Bartholin shared insights into the making of this groundbreaking instrument and its key provisions.#ResponsibleAIhttps://t.co/jnwKWR5QHA pic.twitter.com/ht19oE1Ren

— Council of Europe #AI (@CoE_DigitalGov) June 19, 2024

COGwriter

On September 5, 2024, I reported on this COGwriter Church of God News page that the European Union, United Kingdom, and United States agree on regulations related to Artificial Intelligence and warned that it was leading to the 666 Beast as it gave governments massive powers to use AI against those it wished to (see US, Britain, EU agree on first international treaty on Artificial Intelligence).

PCG is now also basically echoing that with a similar message:

The first international treaty on artificial intelligence (AI), signed on September 5, is so vague that it may seem inconsequential. But it is dangerous.

The treaty is titled “Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.” It was signed by the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino and Israel. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Vatican, Japan, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay were also involved in negotiations.

“Each party shall adopt or maintain measures with a view to ensuring that activities within the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems respect equality, including gender equality, and the prohibition of discrimination, as provided under applicable international and domestic law,” it states.

Every signatory is meant to ensure this happens; how exactly is not defined. One thing the Council of Europe finds annoying is that different countries allow different levels of freedom. The council’s website states:

The treaty covers the use of AI systems in the public sector—including companies acting on its behalf—and in the private sector. The convention offers parties two ways of complying with its principles and obligations when regulating the private sector: Parties may opt to be directly obliged by the relevant convention provisions or, as an alternative, take other measures to comply with the treaty’s provisions while fully respecting their international obligations regarding human rights, democracy and the rule of law. This approach is necessary because of the differences in legal systems around the world.

In other words, not every government can take absolute control, but they should go as far as they can. …

The strongest force behind the treaty was the EU, which already has its own AI Act. …

Instead of individual companies making decisions that you may be able to escape, international bodies set the standard. This could ensure that every chatbot teaches that there are more than two genders, climate change is real, and we all evolved from apes. They will say things like: “It’s important to note that evolutionary theory is not based on belief, but on empirical evidence that has been rigorously tested and validated by the scientific community over many decades” (perplexity.ai). https://www.thetrumpet.com/30106-the-dark-side-of-the-first-international-ai-treaty

This is basically a European project and that nations can violate it as they see fit by pointing to national security purposes–basically meaning governments can spy on everything they think they can with AI. Hence, the agreement does not provide true lasting protection.

Yes, this treaty is dangerous. Yes, many governments have already insisted that falsehoods are facts and that pointing out falsehoods and sins is “hate speech.”

Yet, the Bible teaches:

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

But many do not want that done.

We in the CCOG have been censored and face the threat of censorship online and elsewhere (see Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

We keep seeing more censorship, direct and indirect, on the internet-this is resulting in less “freedom of the press.”

The old Worldwide Church of God correctly pointed out that loss of freedom of the press was prophesied:

THE MOST important work in the world cannot be done without freedom of the press!

What is that work?

It is the work of announcing that God will restore His Government to the whole earth! But before the Government of God is restored, it must first be announced! The good news of that announcement — the Gospel of the Kingdom of God — must be preached (Matthew 24:14) to all nations (Matthew 28:19). And the nations must choose whether they will want it or resist it.

In this day, God has made the MASS media available to accomplish His work. But reaching a mass audience with the good news of God’s soon-coming Government requires the freedom to PUBLISH. Notice Mark 13:10: “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Further, God lays a special duty on his messenger and Church to publicly disseminate certain warnings to certain nations. Ezekiel 33:1-7 describes God’s charge upon the watchman. When the watchman sees “the sword” come upon the land — a prophetic symbol of military devastation — he must “blow the trumpet” or God will hold him personally responsible.

This duty requires that a message warning about some very unpleasant events be published as far and as wide as possible to the latter-day descendants of ancient nations.

Similarly, when God charged the prophet Jeremiah with a message, he also had an affirmative duty from God to spread it to as wide an audience as possible. Jeremiah was given a message so important he could hardly contain himself: “But his [God’s] word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones…” (Jeremiah 20:9).

So God’s servants really have no choice as to exercising the right to publish their message freely. Their message is not for their personal benefit — but to the whole world!

Governmental Reaction

And yet while the Bible places a duty on God’s servants, it also warns that this world — even now and in the future — will not always allow the freedom to publish.

In the past a government’s excuse for persecution was that God’s message IS TOO DISTURBING to be allowed to circulate freely.

In the Old Testament, Elijah, for example, was hauled before King Ahab for the ancient equivalent of the crime of disturbing the peace: “Ahab said unto him [Elijah], Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” (I Kings 18:17).
Elijah’s defense was that he wasn’t troubling Israel, only bringing some very distressing news from God to Ahab’s government (verse 18).

Likewise, the religious and political authorities of Amos’ day tried to subject him to “prior restraint” — from speaking his message at all — because the message he brought from God was TO CONTROVERSIAL!

“Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words…. Also Amaziah said unto Amos… prophesy not again any more at Bethel” (Amos 7:10, 12-13). Amaziah tried to deny Amos a forum for God’s message in ancient Israel. Amos’ message was too upsetting to the political and religious establishments!

The prophet Jeremiah was even subjected to an ancient form of book burning. God commanded Jeremiah to write down “all the words that I [God] have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations…” (Jeremiah 36:2).

Jeremiah put the words on a roll. Eventually, however, possession of the roll came to one of the king’s top aides, who read it to the king (verse 21). After reading “three or four leaves” of the scroll, the aide, ever eager to please a now distraught king, threw the roll into the fireplace (verse 23). Afterwards, the king attempted, unsuccessfully, to seize Jeremiah for putting God’s word to writing.

Earlier, Jeremiah had already endured actual imprisonment for the content of his spoken message (Jeremiah 20:2).

In the New Testament, the authorities tried to prevent the apostles from preaching the Gospel. The apostles were forcibly brought before the council. The high priest asked them: “Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine…” (Acts 5:28).

In other words, the civil and religious authorities were seeking to regulate the content of their message!

In response, the apostle Peter declared the firm rule that “we ought to obey God rather than men” (verse 29). Since Peter and company had a God-ordained duty to say what they were saying, the commands of the civil government of Jerusalem were in direct conflict with God’s.

For the future, the Bible prophecy reveals that the time will come when most of this world’s nations will be led by Satan to abolish freedom of the press — and all related freedoms. Why? To prevent any publishing of God’s message from reaching any substantial number of people!

`Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12).

Elsewhere the Bible reveals how this prophesied press clampdown will take place. Revelation 13 describes a great religious-civil power that will arise in the place of the old Roman Empire. This prophesied power will not allow free speech, a free press or the free exercise of any religion — except the official religion of the state.

Why Free Press Important

The Gospel is the good news of a government that will REPLACE the governments of this world. Yet replace is a mild word! The prophet Daniel flatly declares that the Government of God will “break in pieces and consume” the nations of this world that resist Him (Daniel 2:44).

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God proclaims that there is a higher power than human government, another and divine government to whom men, whether they know it or not, ultimately owe allegiance. For this reason early Christians were accused of doing “contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus” (Acts 17:7).

No wonder the governments of this world have historically sought to suppress the publishing of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God — for it is ultimately the news of their overthrow by Christ at His return!

Some have tried to justify the suppression of press freedom on the grounds that the free circulation of false ideas would create havoc for human government.”Lying opinions, than which no mental plague is greater,” wrote Pope Leo XIII, “and vices which corrupt the heart and moral life, should be diligently repressed by public authority, lest they insidiously work the ruin of the state.”

The key error is the failure to see the difference between the government of man and the government of God. God does not reveal the whole of His spiritual truth to society at large — only to those He calls (see Romans 8:30).

Man, cut off from God, cannot be trusted to pass judgment on whether God’s truth is, in fact, “true.” The Bible reveals that Satan has deceived “the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).

Christ said his true church would be a little flock, not a majority of the political community (Luke 12:32). Thus, no human government can ever be really certain that it can tell a “lying opinion” from a true one.

Because men’s minds are limited, men must have the truth revealed to them by God. When God doesn’t reveal it, as He doesn’t to most of society, the safest course open to humans is the greatest possible circulation of ideas. The Bible supports this idea when it declares: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the MULTITUDE of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

Even if false ideas circulate under freedom of the press, at least God’s Word will also be able to go out unhindered.

Free societies pay a very high price for freedom of the press — pornography circulates freely because human courts say they can’t really tell the difference between pornography and other kinds of writing or expression. This is a very high price — but at least it does insure the free circulation of God’s truth, as well as other religious ideas.

If you grant human government the authority to censor what is printed or spoken, you allow the government to stop any message it doesn’t approve of.

Government tried to suppress Elijah, Amos and Jeremiah; it is prophesied to suppress God’s true Gospel again in the future. The power to censor bad writing easily becomes the power to suppress good writing.

There is a reason why God began, and based, his end-time work in the country on earth where freedom of the press is greatest — and why God’s Church has grown the most, as a rule, in countries where press freedom is substantial. Since the spreading of God’s Word is the most important activity on earth — the preservation of freedom of the press is one of the most awesome responsibilities God lays on human government. (Calkins J. FREE PRESS IN THE BIBLE? Was It Prophesied? Plain Truth. May 1981)

The Philadelphia portion of the Church of God did begin in the USA and its most faithful remnant, the Continuing Church of God, is still based out of the USA.

But now, in the USA and especially out of it, we are seeing more and more calls for restrictions and censorship.

Europe wants to control AI, and to a degree it will.

However, do not believe that human rights will be properly protected, no matter what these rules purport to indicate.

The Bible shows that more improper censorship is coming:

11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it.  (Amos 8:11-12)

Artificial Intelligence will be involved in pulling proper religious content off the internet.

AI will also be used to persuade and deceive people (e.g., watch also Artificial Intelligence Superhuman Persuasion?).

We also know that financial controls are coming to Europe. The Apostle John was told by Jesus to write the following:

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:15-18)

Ryan Wesley Routh after arrest
(Public domain photo per Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Here are some reports about the 2nd assassination attempt against Donald Trump as well as information related to the alleged assassin:

September 16, 2024

Local authorities said the U.S. Secret Service agents protecting Trump fired at a man pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope as Trump was playing on one of his Florida golf courses in West Palm Beach. …

Law enforcement officials said the man who pointed the rifle and was arrested is Ryan Wesley Routh. …

Local authorities said the gunman was about 400 yards to 500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery while the former president was playing a round of golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. …

In an email to supporters, Trump said: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”

His running mate, JD Vance, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they spoke with Trump after the incident, and both said he was in “good spirits.” …

Fox News host Sean Hannity, a close friend of the former president’s, said on air that he spoke with Trump and his golf partner, Steve Witkoff. They told Hannity they had been on the fifth hole when they heard a “pop pop, pop pop.” Within seconds, he said Witkoff recounted, Secret Service agents “pounced on” Trump and “covered him” to protect him. https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-what-to-know-564c56e167c3cdc6c50f6a2e91db9a6c

Routh claimed on his social media accounts, as well as in 2022 interviews with The New York Times and Newsweek Romania, to have made supposed efforts to recruit soldiers for Ukraine in its fight against its invasion by Russia. He also claimed to have fought in Ukraine.^[5][9][10] Routh said in a 2022 interview with a Romanian reporter in Kyiv that he flew to Ukraine to join the army in the months after Russia’s full-scale invasion but learned that he was “not an ideal candidate” for the battlefield because he was in his mid-50s with no military experience. Later in 2022, Routh said in an interview that after he was rejected for military service, he began recruiting volunteer soldiers for the Ukrainian military.^[11] Routh complained of roadblocks to Ukraine admitting foreign fighters, telling the publication Semafor “Ukraine is very often hard to work with, they’re afraid that anybody and everybody is a Russian spy”. …

According to posts on his X account in 2020, Routh has expressed shifting political views over the years. In 2016, he supported Donald Trump, but by 2020, he voiced his dissatisfaction, stating, “I will be glad when you are gone.”^[14] Routh also supported Bernie Sanders in 2020, criticizing Joe Biden as “sleepy Joe“​. His political stance evolved further in 2024, where he expressed concern over democracy in a post tagging Biden, and telling him his campaign​ slogan should be “Keep America Democratic and Free.”^[15] In 2020, he also supported Tulsi Gabbard, calling for an executive order on police misconduct​^[16] and he made several small donations to the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, contributing 19 times in 2019 and 2020 with amounts ranging from $1 to $25, as recorded by the Federal Election Commission.^[17] By early 2024, he suggested a Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy ticket for the Republican primary.^[18] Later in 2024, he voted in the Democratic primary in Guilford County, North Carolina.^[7] (Ryan Wesley Routh. Wikipedia, accessed 09/16/24)

A Secret Service agent spotted the suspect as he stuck the barrel of his rifle through the chain fence on the outskirts of Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach South.

The agent, who was a golf hole ahead of Trump, opened fire on the suspect — who fled, Bradshaw told reporters Sunday night. …

Despite the fact that the ex-president came within a few centimeters of having his head blown off barely two months ago, Bradshaw indicated Trump’s security detail was lighter than President Biden‘s because he is not the sitting commander-in-chief.

“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have had this entire golf course surrounded. But because he’s not, security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” Bradshaw said. …

Routh’s arrest was given a big boost by a bystander who spotted him running out of the bushes and getting into a black Nissan, even photographing the man and reporting the sighting to law enforcement, who then blasted it out statewide, leading to his arrest after a stop on I-95 a short time later.

Investigators found the suspect had left behind his “AK-style” rifle, as well as two backpacks, one of which contained ceramic tile, at the scene, Bradshaw said.

Routh has been in the news before. A vocal Ukraine supporter, he spoke to Newsweek Romania in 2022 about volunteering to help recruit for Ukraine forces in its war against Russia and to Semafor a year later, expressing frustration over Ukraine’s unwillingness to enlist foreign soldiers. https://nypost.com/2024/09/15/us-news/shooting-reported-at-donald-trumps-golf-club-while-ex-president-was-on-grounds/

Various sources “on the right” had speculated that there would be another assassination attempt against Donald Trump, and that has happened. There may very well be another assassination attempt against Donald Trump in 2024.

UPDATE 1210 PDT 1510 EDT:

Sheriff Suggests “Ominous… Conspiracy” Behind Trump Assassination Attempt

September 16, 2024

Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder suggested there may be an “ominous” wider “conspiracy” at play regarding yesterday’s suspect in the attempted assassination of Trump given that the gunman appeared to know Trump’s private schedule.

Ryan Wesley Routh appeared to know that Trump was playing golf at a Florida resort despite this not being public knowledge and the decision to play being last minute.

“To my knowledge does he have any ties to Martin County? The answer is no…I think what we’re finding out is he’s not from this area, which of course raises the bigger question is how does a guy from not here get all the way to Trump International, realize that the former president of the United States is golfing and is able to get a rifle in that vicinity,” commented Snyder.

“Is this guy part of a conspiracy? Is he a lone gunman? If he’s a lone gunman, President Trump is that much safer because we have him. But if he’s part of a conspiracy then this whole thing really takes on a very ominous tone,” added the Sheriff.

Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker also told Newsweek that Routh appeared to have insider knowledge of the former president’s movements.

The biggest question to answer is: ‘How did the would-be assassin know to be at that location at that time?’” he said.

“There are only three possible answers:

He guessed and got very lucky; he conducted surveillance on Trump and followed him to the golf course or he had inside information about Trump’s schedule.”

Bodycam footage released by the Sheriff’s office shows Routh, who reportedly was hanging around the golf course for 12 hours, being apprehended. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/sheriff-suggests-ominous-conspiracy-behind-trump-assassination-attempt

Yes, certain things associated with this attempted Donald Trump assassination attempt and the last one are disturbing and suggest issues that the mainstream has seemingly pushed aside.

Yet, might this last attempt boost support for Donald Trump?

Perhaps to a small degree.

In general, the US media does not want people to support Donald Trump and it tends to minimize coverage that it deems helpful to his reelection attempt.

But it is not up to the US media.

Notice the following:

17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’  (Daniel 4:15)

As far as “the lowest of men” goes, even  Pope Francis has publicly agreed with my position that both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are evil (see Pope Francis says to Americans, ‘You have to vote, and you have to choose the lesser evil’; Pew: more religious favor Trump, atheists/agnostics favor Harris).

And Pope Francis is basically correct that a vote for either one is a vote for evil.

After the previous assassination attempt against Donald Trump, a reader sent me the following which was in a newsletter by COG-Cincinnati:

July 19, 2024

The blood on Trump has caused a worldwide sensation that has dramatically increased his persona. There is an awe about him now. He was just another politician and now he is brave, dogged, unrelenting, and there’s an unspoken sense that God protects him. America longs for such a leader.

Adam Smith, father of free-market economics, used the term ‘unseen hand’ to refer to the mechanism that controls a capitalistic economy. That’s how Trump is now viewed. There’s an unseen hand protecting him. Fani Willis is destroyed. Liz Chaney is toast. The New York AG and the prosecutor may eventually be indicted. Pence is politically ruined.

If they had never attacked Trump, he may have faded into oblivion. His enemies made him a liberator.

It isn’t a matter of whether you are for Trump or against him, whether you despise his texts or dislike the rhetoric he uses on his opponents. There is a drama being played out on the world scene that is bigger than the man. And we are witnessing the saga with little power to change it.

The biblical story of Daniel carries a striking parallel that provides profound insight into the circumstances we are now experiencing. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him so much that he sought an explanation from his religious advisors. They failed to solve the riddle, which angered the king so much that he was about to execute all his advisors. This explains a lot about a king’s ego.

Daniel asked for time to seek an answer from God. He was rewarded for his faith with an explanation that outlined the world’s history from Daniel’s day all the way to the return of Jesus.

What was the purpose of the dreams and Daniel’s revelation? One of the deepest mysteries of life is revealed in this scenario. The purpose of prophecy and the answer to the political machinations of our time are expressed four times throughout the Book of Daniel. I’ll only write it once.

‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,

And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,

In order that the living may know

That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,

Gives it to whomever He will,

And sets over it the lowest of men.’

Daniel 4:17

Some of us think Joe Biden is the lowest of men, and others think that describes Donald Trump. The reality is that God rules the political kingdom of men, and He will give power to the person He chooses. If the man truly is a lowlife, to use our vernacular, He gave us the leader we deserve. When God blesses a nation and they turn from Him, He will give them the worst men to lead the nation into tribulation. That is the story of Israel.

If the people turn to God and repent of their sins, He will provide a leader to bring blessings to them. The thought-provoking part is that both men may be the lowest of men. Nebuchadnezzar was not a “good” man when Daniel met him. He was willing to kill every one of his advisors because they could not interpret a dream! Who wants a tyrant like that to lead the nation?

Nebuchadnezzar went through seven years of tribulation, living as an animal, and that experience developed humility in the king. At the end of the time, he rejected the false gods of Babylon and converted to worshiping the Creator God. He even wrote one chapter of the Book of Daniel. …

Don’t be distracted by the politics—God is the unseen hand that controls the economy and the politics.

Until next time,

Jim O’Brien

While I do not recall ever meeting Jim O’Brien, we did speak a couple of times years ago.

God will decide who will be the next President of the United States, as He knows who will take certain steps that will lead to the fulfillment of prophecies in His word.

While we should watch world events as Jesus taught (cf. Mark 13:1-37), without national repentance, the USA is doomed.

Neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris have called for national repentance as they do not understand scripture nor the need for such repentance.

And while your nation is not likely to repent, you can.

Do not put that off.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone in 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Biden, Trump, and the Bible.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic?  Two related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency.
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.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.

COGwriter

Last decade, Christianity Today was promoting an article that stated:

We are now in a period when it is not enough to know only about the Bible. The apologetics of the past is no longer adequate. Today’s questions involve not only how the Bible came to be, but even if there was originally such a thing as orthodoxy. It is a crucial question. Christians need to know a lot more about the second century. Roots matter, especially in the founding of a movement (Bock. D. Roots Matter: The Gnostic Hunger For Secret Knowledge. Christianity Today. Issue 96, Fall 2007, Vol. XXVII, No. 4, Page 42).

And while that is true, sadly Protestant scholars realize that the doctrines and practices of what now passes for mainstream “Christianity” simply have no historical evidence of existing in the second century.

Notice the following admissions from Protestant scholar HOJ Brown:

It is impossible to document what we now call orthodoxy in the first two centuries of Christianity (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, p. 5).

Simply put, many of the doctrines that now are considered to be heresy were held by the early church, and many doctrines now considered to be mainstream were condemned as heresy by those associated with the early church.

Here is a listing of many such doctrines, that are also included in the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God:

Baptism of Christians was by immersion and did not include infants.

The complete Bible with the proper Old Testament and New Testament was relied on by the true Church in Asia Minor.

A Binitarian or Semi-Arian view, that acknowledged the Holy Spirit, was held by the apostolic and post-apostolic true Christian leaders.

Birthdays were not celebrated by early Christians.

Born-Again meant being born at the resurrection, not at the time of conversion, which is when a spiritual begettal occurs.

Celibacy for Bishops/Presbyters/Elders was not a requirement.

Church Governance was properly hierarchical.

Christmas was not observed by any professing Christ prior to the third century, nor ever by those holding to early teachings; December 25th did not come from the Bible.

Circumcision, though not required, was long practiced by original Nazarene Christians.

Confession of sins were not made to priests and did not require penance.

Deification of Christians (which begins after the first resurrection) was taught by the early leaders of the Church.

Duties of Elders/Pastors were pastoral and theological, not predominantly sacramental–nor did they dress as many now do.

Easter per se was not observed by the apostolic church.

The Fall (and Spring) Holy Days were observed by true early Christians.

The Father was considered to be God by all early professing Christians.

The True Gospel included the kingdom of God and obedience to the law of God and was understood by the faithful.

Heaven was not taught to be the reward of Christians.

Holy Spirit was not referred to as God or as a person by any early true Christians.

Hymns were mainly psalms, not praises to Christ.

Idols were taught against, including adoration of the cross.

Immortality of the soul or humans was not taught.

Jesus was considered to be God by the true Christians.

The Kingdom of God was preached.

Leavened Bread was removed from the homes of early Christians when the Jews did the same.

Lent was not observed by the primitive church.

Limbo was not taught by the original church.

Mary was the mother of Jesus, was blessed (Luke 1:28) and called blessed (Luke 1:48), but was not prayed to, etc. by true early Christians.

Military Service was not allowed for true early Christians.

Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.

Monasticism was unheard of in the early Christian church.

Passover was kept annually on the 14th of Nisan by apostolic and second century Christians in Asia Minor.

Pentecost was kept on Sunday by certain Jews and was observed then by professing Christians.

Purgatory was not taught by the original apostolic church.

The Resurrection of the dead was taught by all early Christians.

The Sabbath was observed on Saturday by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church.

Salvation was believed to be offered to the chosen now, by the early Church, with others being called later, though not all that taught that (or other doctrines) practiced “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). God’s.

Six Thousand Year Plan for humankind to rule itself was believed by early professors of Christ.

Sunday was not observed by the apostolic and original post-apostolic Christians.

The Ten Commandments were observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians–and in the order that the Church of God claims they are in.

Tithes and Offerings were given to support the ministry, the churches, the needy, and evangelical travels and proclamation.

Tradition had some impact on the second century Christians, but was never supposed to supercede the Bible.

The Trinity was not a word used to describe the Godhead by the apostolic or second century Christians, though a certain threeness was acknowledged.

Unclean Meats were eaten by the early allegorists, but not by true Christians.

The Virgin Birth was acknowledged by all true ante-Nicene Christians.

The early, true Church simply had many doctrines and practices that do not resemble today’s “mainstream Christianity.” Instead, the faithful held to doctrines that we in the Continuing Church of God still hold to.

Despite claims and misinformation to the contrary, early Christians held to Church of God doctrines much more than they did to many doctrines now held by the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, or the Protestants.

As far as various ‘Catholics’ go, it was the Church of God that was the original catholic church.

In the 20th century, the old Radio Church of God taught:

Polycrates had been … part of “the catholic church of God.”(Lesson 50 –I Will Build My Church, Part 2. 58 Lesson: Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, 1968)

Polycrates was a late 2nd century Church of God leader.

In the binitarian, Sabbatarian, Lucian of Antioch’s Creed we see the expression “Catholic Church of God.” Although as shown already. We have a book on this as well as original beliefs titled: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church.

Those interested in more information should consider visiting the History of Early Christianity page.

We also have a short animation that some may find to be of interest:

9:17

Which Church would Jesus Choose?

If you are looking for a true Christian church, how should you choose? Should you choose based upon any building(s) used? Is the criteria in the Bible? What are some widespread ‘doctrines’ that many churches teach that were not part of the original faith? Do Christians go to heaven upon death? Were early Christians militaristic? What about tradition? This animation addresses those issues and more.

Here is a link to the animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?

Lest anyone feel that the Roman or Orthodox Catholics or others can tie their beliefs and continuity to the original church better than the we in the Continuing Church of God can, if they are truly interested in learning the truth, should study the following:

What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. Is telling the truth about the early church citing Roman Catholic accepted sources anti-Catholic? This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church. There is also a YouTube sermon on the subject titled Church of God or Church of Rome: What Do Catholic Scholars Admit About Early Church History?
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? Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible? Did you know that Catholic scholars really do not believe that several of the claimed “apostolic sees” of the Orthodox have apostolic succession–despite the fact that the current pontiff himself seems to wish to ignore this view? Is there actually a true church that has ties to any of the apostles that is not part of the Catholic or Orthodox churches? Read this article if you truly are interested in the truth on this matter!
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.
False Conversion! Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote an article on this important subject–but more scriptures have been added to it. How can you tell false conversion? A related video is also available: False Conversion.
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?
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.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Similarities and Differences Between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some interesting similarities, but many major differences. Would you like information on how to deal with Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here are two sermons in the English language: Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG? and CCOG and SDA differences and similarities. Here is a link to an article in the Spanish language: Diferencias: SDA/CCOG: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666.
Teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Continuing Church of God The genuine Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney? A sermon of related interest is available: Mormon vs. Church of God Teachings.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities? A video of related interest is titled: Islam: Any Christian Concerns or Similarities?
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. 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.