Church of God News

“Elijah in the wilderness“

COGwriter

Shepherd’s Voice had an article by Norman Edwards (who was a former board member of the old Global Church of God and now runs Nashville Christian) which stated:

“… I [an angel] am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

With dozens of New Testament Scriptures explaining and encouraging the ongoing prophecy in the New Testament and with no scriptures clearly declaring its end, one must conclude that prophets and prophecy are something that God wants for His Church today!

Implementing These Truths

In this 21 st century, most who call themselves Christian neither observe the Sabbath nor seek prophets or prophecies in their congregations. A few teach and practice one or the other. Only a tiny fraction accepts both.

The single biggest difficulty in acquiring any truth, no matter how valuable, is overcoming our own human pride. It is very difficult to accept that we have been wrong about something for many years— especially when we have been right on other things. The lessons of the books of Kings and Chronicles come to mind. Each king’s life is frequently summed up in a single statement— explaining what he did right and where he fell short. If we hunger and thirst for God as King David did (Psalm 63:1; 107:9), we can receive all that he has for us—and obtain a good report (Acts 22:12; Hebrews 11:2, 39).

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Beyond our personal decision to accept a biblical truth, we find difficulty dealing with Christian friends with whom we will differ. From our long friendships, we see each other as fellow believers. But our difference in Biblical understanding raises the questions in each person’s mind: If I do this and they do that, am I wrong? Are they wrong? Should I continue to fellowship with them?

These things often require prayer and patience by all involved. When the Gospel was taken to non-Jews, many Jewish believers had trouble with the concept (John 4, Acts 10 & 11). When the apostles taught that circumcision was not necessary for salvation, again, some believers could not accept it and formed a “circumcision” subgroup within the church that was sometimes helpful and sometimes not (Acts 15; Colossians 4:11; Titus 1:10). We need to learn to coexist in peace, in spite of our differences, as the Apostle Paul encouraged (1 Corinthians 1:11-15).

Finally, for members of a church group with a doctrinal statement that is decades or centuries old, growth is rarely quick or even possible. Both religious and civil leaders struggle with prophets today for the same reason they did in the Old and New Testaments. The prophets speak for God, not for the religious or civil leaders of the day. People who always prophesy what the leaders want are probably false prophets.

This writer heard a church leader put forth this argument against prophets in the church: “If there are real prophets today, then we could ask them and know for sure when Christ will come back. But the Bible says that no man knows that time, so there cannot be prophets today.” We should never underestimate God. He is quite able to not answer the questions we do not need answered now. Jesus already explained this leader’s question:

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).

Individual believers can choose to accept and practice the Scriptural truth about prophets quietly. But if they speak openly and often, they will probably be required to depart for a new congregation. This takes faith to “walk in the wilderness” until new believing friends are established. …

One can quietly come to understand that God grants the gift of prophecy today and continue to fellowship and serve with the same brethren. But when a believer receives a prophecy in a church meeting (1 Corinthians 1 4:30) or makes important life decisions based on a current prophesy, then division often arises. Is this person hearing from God? Should we take action on what he says?

For example, when Agabus prophesied the famine throughout the world (Acts 11:30-31), should the believers have agreed to send relief to the brethren in Judea? Or should they have been suspicious that someone was going to profit from that operation—maybe steal some of the offerings? Or was this giving simply unnecessary? When we think about it, there is no reason for God to speak unless His people are going to listen to what He says and act upon it. We also need to realize that God gives the congregation the responsibility of judging prophecies:

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge (1 Corinthians 14:29).

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).

Hearing from God by a current prophetic word can be an awesome experience. It can be a frightening one. This writer has experienced both. Keeping the Sabbath can be an awesome experience—rest, relaxation and leisurely fellowship with God’s people. It can also be a doctrine of contention with one brother judging another. This writer has experienced both.

With the Judgment You Judge, You Will Be Judged

Brethren who have practiced both of these Biblical teachings know what a blessing they can be. Even so, most probably did not understand these things on the day when they were baptized. We have to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). So we ought to not be judgmental of others who take time to learn these things.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you (Matthew 7:1-2).

Unfortunately, many … many “charismatic” or “Pentecostal” groups judge others as unbelievers because they do not accept the gift of prophecy in their congregations. Furthermore, many other groups consider {Sabbath} teachings obsolete, legalistic, Jewish, phony or just plain weird. We all need to get back to the Scriptures and learn. But more specifically, we need to ask ourselves, if we judge others as unbelievers because of a truth they are missing, will we be judged by God as unbelievers for a truth we are missing? Will God be merciful to us and not to all the others? Why?

Some people dismiss one of these truths by simply saying, “God obviously is not working that way anymore” because He has not worked that way among them. But how many really seek God and ask Him, “Do you want our congregation to meet on the seventh day Sabbath?” or “Do you want our congregation to seek the gift of prophecy and allow prophets to speak in our meetings?”

One of the most dangerous things we can do is begin thinking we already have everything important (Revelation 3:17-19). We must forever be humble before God and realize that He is bringing about His will. He is not there to back up our will or the policies of our church group. He also knows when is the right time to teach each truth to each person. Even Jesus could not teach His apostles everything at once:

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).

There is so much in the Scripture. This writer realizes he will not master it all before he dies. But he will be thankful for what He has given, and trust Him for the future. (Edwards N. New Testament Sabbaths and Prophets. Shepherd’s Voice, Fall 2016).

A while back, Norman Edwards also wrote an article Need Prophets More than Prophecy where he went through additional scriptures. Here are some items from that article:

Do people today have faith that God is able to prophecy through people in their congregations?

1Jo 4:1-2 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

Note: If there were no true prophets, there would be no need to “test the spirits”—because every prophet would be a “false prophet”. But because there are both true prophets and false prophets, we need to “test the spirits”.

Rev 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants — things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The last book of the Bible is a prophecy inspired by Christ, given to the apostle and prophet named John.

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

There is no Old Testament prophecy about a “seventh angel” and very little about a “mystery of God”.

Rev 10:10-11 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

Here an angel is commanding John (or some end-time fulfillment of him) to prophesy. It does not say what he is to prophesy, but it will be given to the prophets when they need it. …Yes, God might choose to give one of them the gift of prophecy, but since most such groups and their schools do not seek out prophetic gifts, they rarely receive them. Notice these important passages:

Matt 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! “See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ “

Matt 21:24-27 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John — where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

If there was no prophet greater than John the Baptist (Matt 11:9-11) and if the leaders of his day refused to recognize him, what makes us think that the leaders of our day will recognize any true prophets today?

Here is a link to this article in the Spanish language: La Voz del Pastor: La Iglesia de Dios necesita más profetas.

Norman Edwards was the editor for Shepherd’s Voice magazine. He is not part of the Continuing Church of God, where I function as its human leader (and am an ordained prophet; the only known such ordained prophet in any legitimate Church of God group).

While Norman Edwards and I have long disagreed about aspects of church governance and various matters of doctrine, we both agree that many who are in or claim to be in the Church of God (COG) wrongly do not accept that God has any prophets today and that Laodicean pride gets in the way. We also agree that most have severe difficulty identifying one who really is a prophet because of various unscriptural biases and improper criteria that they have.

Because of false prophets in a couple of COG-related groups (PCG and CGPfK come to mind immediately, but there are others) and a disbelief in prophets by most of the COG groups, the non-Philadelphian COGs have a lot of severe prophetic misunderstandings.

Remember that the Bible teaches:

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

So in the last days, groups who do not believe there are prophets or those who listen to false prophets will not understand.

One thing that I have noticed is that the Laodiceans, as well as those of the Sardis Church, misunderstand end time prophecy.

As far as prophetic misunderstandings in various claimed COG groups that I have personally denounced, here is an abbreviated list:

1. Many COG groups (ICG, CGI, UCG, COGaIC, CG7-D, CGG, CEM, etc.) do not officially teach and/or do not believe in the idea of Church eras (The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3), though they sometimes teach about the churches of Revelation. They tend to take more of a preterist (past) view of those churches, despite the fact that many statements made to them had to have future prophetic ramifications (e.g. Revelation 1:19; 3:3; 3:10). Because of that they do not teach certain prophetic aspects of this, most do not see their own problems and will have to go through the Great Tribulation.
2. Many COG groups do not believe that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God still needs to be preached to the world as a witness per Matthew 24:14 (e.g. GCW, PCG), do not really make that a high priority (e.g. COGWA, CGG), or do so in less than truly loving the truth (cf. Jeremiah 48:10; see Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God), hence do not have the real Philadelphian work. As only the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the hour of trial that will come on the whole world, they will not understand when Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled or when to flee per Matthew 24:15. Hence they do not have or lead the Philadelphian work. Only the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the hour of trial that will come on the whole world (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra ). See also Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work?
3. At least three groups misunderstand the Gospel and COG doctrines so much (PCG, CGPfK, and RCG come to immediate mind) that I question if their top leaders are actually converted members of the COG. The leaders of those groups have had major predictions be proven false (CGPFK, PCG, and RCG).
4. Many, if not most, COG groups do not realize that the Great Tribulation begins with the King of the North invading the USA. UK, and/or their Anglo-Saxon descended allies (Daniel 11:39; see Who is the King of the North?; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).
5. Many COG groups misunderstand the identity of the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43), and some have the wrong prophetic sequence regarding the King of the South (see PCG and LCG do not understand the end-time King of the South sequence–do you?). This is not the order that Daniel 11 teaches (see Who is the King of the North?). This view overlooks the fact that since the Great Tribulation is the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), that it begins with the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies like the United Kingdom getting invaded (cf. Daniel 11:39).  Some of the groups cling to this sequential error, because it was once held by the late Herbert W. Armstrong, who changed his view by 1979 (Armstrong, Herbert W. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979).  Since the King of the North will eliminate those of the strongest fortresses (the USA, Canada, etc.) in Daniel 11:39, prior to invading the King of the South in Daniel 11:40, those who hold to this view will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin until after it has started.
6. Some (CEG, GCG-UK) teach that there is no biblically-required King of the South, while at least one group is unsure (CGF-NW)–but this is an error (see also Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?). This error contributes to other prophetic errors that those groups have.
7. Some have insisted that the final King of the South will be from the nation of Ethiopia. This is partially based upon a mistranslation in the KJV version of the Bible as well as a position that the late Herbert Armstrong once held. However, he changed his position in the 1960s and 1970s to an Arabic-Muslim confederation. Those who insist that the final King of the South must be Ethiopia will not possibly realize that the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late (RCG once held that position, but later changed it; in 2018 LCG has pushed involvement, but not specifically kingship for Ethiopia).
8. Several COG groups (like CGG, RCG, PCG, COGWA) clearly misunderstand Daniel 9:27, the second half of which ties in with Daniel 11:31 and Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:15. Those who misunderstand it will not have a proper pre-warning of what is happening nor likely know when the Great Tribulation will begin (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).
9. Various COG groups (UCG, COGWA, COGaIC, RCG, and CGOM, come to immediate mind, but they are not the only ones) have so many areas of undefined prophecy that they will not know what certain events will mean. And groups who define matters wrongly will have problems that way as well (PCG and LCG come to immediate mind, but so do nearly all other COG claimed groups).
10. A couple of groups, such as  Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God and Triumph Prophetic Ministries, have been repeatedly proven wrong about their dates for the start of the Great Tribulation and (like RCG) the return of Jesus Christ. Those who rely on the leaders of those groups really do not understand biblical prophecy.
11. Certain groups teach improper interpretations of the 1335, 1290, and 1260 days of Daniel 12 (CGPFK is one) or have other problems with that (most other COG groups) that they will not understand when the Great Tribulation will start. Herbert Armstrong changed his view on this by 1979 and many never understood the change.
12. Most COG groups fail to understand Habakkuk 2:2-8 and hence are not properly getting the warning out to the USA and UK (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). PCG totally misses it, and LCG, while it once would teach it, has backed off because of what appears to be internal politics. The rising ‘time bomb’ of USA debt is something that needs to be pointed out and Habakkuk 2:2-8 points out the biblical threat that this poses. It should be proclaimed and we in CCOG are doing it. Many do not realize that Habakkuk 2:2-8 is related to fleeing and the start of the Great Tribulation, that the time will come when those Philadelphians who understand it in its proper timeframe will flee (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra), and is one of the reasons for the attack against the indebted descendants of the tribes of Joseph.
13. At least one group (LCG) is no longer certain that France or certain other Israelitish nations will support the Beast power (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). This differs from the position specifically taught by the late Dibar Apartian (see The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy?) as well as what the Bible teaches (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). Those who misunderstand this are likely to not possibly realize when the final Beast power has formed.
14. Many COG groups have various ‘Elijah heresies’ (most CGI-derived groups as well as RCG come to mind). Because of this, they will not be able to recognize the final Elijah.
15. Some think that either there is no Elijah to come (ICG, CGI) or that it is the church and perhaps not an individual (cf. LCG), which goes against Jesus’ teachings on the subject in Mark 9:12-13 (for more details, see The Elijah Heresies).
16. Some independents and some groups (PCG comes to mind) insist that the late Herbert W. Armstrong was the final ‘Elijah to come’ despite the fact that he has been dead since 1986, and that death disqualifies him according to his writing about that (Mystery of the Ages. 1985, p. 349; see also The Elijah Heresies).
17. Leaders of at least two groups (CGPFK and RCG), who once insisted publicly that Herbert Armstrong must be the final Elijah, now falsely claim that they hold that role.
18. At least one group has confused the final Elijah with the return of Jesus (LCG comes to mind).
19. Many groups do not understand the differing persecutions (and other matters) to come in Daniel 7:25, 11:30-39, Matthew 24:9-22, and Revelation 12:14-17, hence when the prophesied wave of persecution initially hits the Philadelphians primarily (and not them), they will not see this persecution as evidence that the Great Tribulation is about to begin. The old Radio Church of God specifically applied the persecuting scriptures of Daniel 11:32-35 to the end time Philadelphian church (see also Persecutions by Church and State).
20. Most groups that came out of groups once led by the late Garner Ted Armstrong (ICG, CGI, CEM, etc.) do not seem to teach that there is a physical place of safety (despite what Revelation 12:14-16 teaches), hence they will not be inclined to flee towards one just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
21. One CG7 group (CG7-S) has the place of safety as the ‘sea of glass’ and before the Bible says Christians will be there.
22. Most ‘independents’ do not believe that they need to ‘gather together’ prior to the time to flee despite what Zephaniah 2:1-3 teaches, hence it is not likely they will be inclined to flee together when a group they are not part of does just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 12:14-17; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
23. At least one group (PCG) misunderstands the final Prince of Rosh. Those who insist on a pre-return of Jesus Christ for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 will be disappointed as that is in scriptural error (see also Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day?).
24. At least one COG group (CG7-D) basically teaches that most of the events of Revelation have already taken place and no one needs to be concerned about coming persecution as none supposedly is coming (see also The Dangerous Rise of Preterists). Jesus warned those of Sardis to be careful about losing the doctrinal understandings they had (Revelation 3:1-6), and this loss of prophetic knowledge proves that those in Sardis will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin.
25. At least one COG group (LCG) erroneously believes that the abomination of desolation of Daniel 11:31 occurs after the King of the North invades the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; see PCG and LCG do not understand the end-time King of the South sequence–do you?). Since this will not happen that way, those who hold to that position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin.
26. At least one group (RCG) totally misunderstands various prophecies in Haggai and Zechariah and have expected a type of COG reunification that is not prophesied. Those who rely on this and other misinterpretations will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin.
27. At least one group (LCG) erroneously teaches that the ‘Falling Away’ warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2 has mainly to do with the world and Protestants and not the Church of God (see The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings). This improper emphasis seems to be leading to a falling away of certain prophetic understandings for those who hold to it. That said, LCG 11+ years later later distanced itself from some of its changes in this matter (see Gerald Weston pushes LCG’s position on the ‘Falling Away’ closer to the biblical, COGwriter, position).
28. Some groups teach (UCG, COGWA, LCG, CEG) that the man of sin who sits in the temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) is the Antichrist/false prophet, not the Beast of the Sea. Yet, it is this Beast of the Sea, the final King of the North (Daniel 11:35-36; see also Who is the Man of Sin?). So, when this happens, those who hold to the wrong position will not understand its prophetic ramifications. The Beast identity of the ‘son of perdition’ (cf. Revelation 17:7-11) is important to understand in the end times.
29. At least two groups teach that the ‘man of sin’ is (or could be) Joseph Tkach, Jr. (PCG, COG-FF). This absurd position also partially leads to many other misunderstandings.
30. At least one group (RCG) has improperly declared Satan will enter a COG leader to make him the man of sin (see Who is the Man of Sin?).
31. A few teach that a Jewish temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt before Jesus returns (CBCG, RCG, COGFF, CEG, and TPM teach this, as do some in LCG). While this is remotely possible it is not required (the “temple of God” in the New Testament has to do with a Christian, not a modern Jewish, location; see Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?). Since this will not happen as a few sometimes teach, those who hold to that position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin.
32. At least two groups (PCG and LCG) teach that the Beast power will consist of 10 or 11 current nations in the European Union (see Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). The European Union has 27 nation members with several others hoping to join it. And while it may lose nations, the reality is that if the Beast power rises up when there are more than 11 nations in it, those who hold to that position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin. Under Herbert Armstrong, the old WCG taught in at least a dozen documents (Plain Truth, Good News, Tomorrow’s World, booklets, Co-worker letter, Bible Correspondence Course) that this passage referred to 10 nations or GROUPS OF NATIONS. Presuming it will be another number of nations, those who insist on 10 or 11 will not realize when the Great Tribulation will begin.
33. Some groups (CBCG and CGG) teach that the ten kings are to be in charge of ten regions around the world as opposed to being a primarily European power (though CBCG acknowledges that 10 European regions are possible). Overlooking what will happen in Europe could mean that such a group would not understand when the Great Tribulation would begin (see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).
34. None of the Laodicean or Sardis COGs seem to teach that the “strongest fortresses” in Daniel 11:39 refers to the USA–but it does (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses). Although the evangelists at LCG all agreed I was correct about this, when I checked LCG’s two major websites in the past, there was no place where LCG teaches this–this is an improper and dangerous error of omission for LCG–and for the other claimed COGs.
35. At least two groups seem to teach that the first verse in the Daniel 11 sequence relating to the beginning of the Great Tribulation is Daniel 11:40 (LCG does this in its Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, whereas PCG does it elsewhere). Instead, they should teach that it begins with Daniel 11:39 (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses), which is shortly after Daniel 11:31, which is also consistent with the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7; see also Who is the King of the North?). Those who hold to the Daniel 11:40 position will not understand when the Great Tribulation will begin.
36. The leader of at least one former group (GOI, James Malm–died Spring 2020) has claimed that the Great Tribulation could begin within a year for the last dozen or so years. Since he did not recognize why this was in error, any who still accept his logic (or similar guesses) will not truly know when the Great Tribulation will begin. Of course, if it someone guesses each year or the correct year, some may accidentally get it right, but will not know enough how to handle it.
37. One group (CGF, a PCG split) claimed that the Great Tribulation would begin in 2023–but that was too early (see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).
38. At least one group has publicly claimed that God has no prophets today and will not have any until the two witnesses are empowered (LCG comes to mind). This downplays how God works (cf. Ephesians 2:20), what is expected for now (cf. Acts 2:17-18), and that the Bible teaches, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7) (see also How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God). Does anyone think God provided no possible warning related to the coronavirus which impacted the feeling of peace of the world more than almost anything since WWII? Yet, this author did in 2013 and 2014.
39. At least one group (CGG) teaches that the Beast power is not European. Since the Beast power will arise in Europe, those who do not understand this will not realize when the Great Tribulation is about to begin (see also Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).
40. At least one group (LCG) teaches that the European Union will collapse like the old Roman Empire. But the lessons of history and the Bible contradict that (details are in the article Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).
41. One group ( PCG) erroneously teaches that Vladimir Putin is the Prince of Rosh of Ezekiel 38 (details are in the article PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God).
42. One group (CGFF) taught that Hillary Clinton would be President of the United States by now; whereas one (PCG ) strongly asserted that Donald Trump would remain in office and Joe Biden would not assume office.
43. One group erroneously taught (PCG) that half of the Laodiceans would die before April 30, 2021 (see PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God).
44. At least two groups (CGG and CG7-S) assert that the three angels of Revelation 14 are (or may be) humans, not angels (see also
    Church of God on the Three Angels’ Messages and ‘Babylon‘).
45. Two groups (PCG and CGFF) have falsely asserted that the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 was Herbert W. Armstrong. That is wrong (see also What is Restrained and Who is Restraining in 2 Thessalonians 2:7?).
46. At least two groups (BICOG and TPM) have taught that a US president is the King of the North or could be the Antichrist.
47. Many groups do not teach much about prophecy (I have received complaints that this is the case for UCG and COGWA, to name just two). How can Christians be “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and live “by every word of God” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4) if prophecy (which is between 1/5 to 1/3 or so of the word of God) is not taught? Well, you cannot properly do so. This is very lukewarm (cf. Revelation 3:14-19).
48. Nearly all COG groups and independents do not accept that God has been fulfilling prophecies of Acts 2:17-18 (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?). Laodiceans do not accept God’s standards, but prefer their own interpretations on how God works.
49. Laodicean groups often say the end is near, but do not have a history of explaining when each of the first three seals of Revelation 6 may have been opened, or at least an ante-type of those has been happening. CCOG, however, has (see ‘Authoritarianism Emerges in Response to Threats of Pandemics and Famine’ like after the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse).
50. One group has published (LCG), without retraction, that Russia is/may be one of the two legs of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision. That is wrong.
51. One group has published (LCG) that Ukraine may be the leading nuclear force against Europe. Ukraine, however, has no nuclear weapons, so this makes no sense.
52. Most groups have no teaching about Iran and Isaiah 22:6-9, hence this is another area that are lacking knowledge in (see Iran & Syria & Israel: PCG, WCG, CGG, UCG, CEG, COGaIC, LCG, RCG, ICG, CGI, and CCOG).
53. Most groups do not teach that Gaza will end up with terrritory that Israel now dominates–but that will happen (see also Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy).

Some will come up with their preferred rationale as why not to agree with the position of the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) on these matters. Yet not only is CCOG’s position biblical, it should be noted that leaders in the Living Church of God and/or the United Church of God confirmed to me personally that I was biblically correct on nearly all of the above points, despite the fact that their respective churches hold to several of the errors pointed out above. Those who rely too much on a compromised ministry (Ezekiel 34:7-10) to teach them prophecy, that is not truly in accordance with scripture, need to realize that according to Jesus’ words in Revelation 2 & 3 and Luke 21 only relatively few Christians will be protected from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world.

There are also independents do not accept that God has been fulfilling prophecies of Acts 2:17-18 (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?). Laodiceans do not accept God’s standards, but prefer their own interpretations on how God works.

As Norman Edward’s article points out, it is scriptural to now have prophets according to the New Testament. But many who truly believe that they live by the word of God have discounted or overlooked what the Bible actually teaches and/or have been influenced by others who have done the same or worse. The COG has at least one demonstrably true prophet today, yet most in the greater COG world seem to be able to ignore the truth about that, like most ignored John the Baptist and others in their day.

Pride is a bigger problem for Christians than most realize. People, including Christians, have a hard time admitting that they are wrong.

Now, let me add that because Herbert W. Armstrong said there were no prophets in the old Worldwide Church of God when he was alive, many have falsely concluded that there could not be any legitimate prophets in the Church of God beyond New Testament times. But that is wrong.

Notice that Herbert W. Armstrong endorsed Polycarp as a Church of God leader:

It is significant that after his release John trained Polycarp elder of Smyrna, a city near Ephesus in the province of Asia. … At neighboring Smyrna, Polycarp presided over the Church of God for half a century after John’s death. Polycarp stood up boldly for the truth while many fell away and began having fellowship with the Catholic bishops of Rome. (Armstrong HW. The Church They Couldn’t Destroy. Good News, December 1981)

The letter titled The Martyrdom of Polycarp (which old WCG leaders acknowledged as valid) is basically all about the killing of Polycarp, but it also states:

The church of God which sojourns at Smyrna to the Church of God which sojourns in Philomelium and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place … the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna. (The Smyrnaeans. The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp, 0:1, 16.2. In Ante-Nicene Fathers by Roberts and Donaldson, Volume 4, 1885. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), printing 1999, p. 42)

Since the old WCG acknowledged Polycarp and the validity of the The Martyrdom of Polycarp, that church acknowledged he was a prophetic teacher.

Herbert Armstrong taught that second-century Melito of Sardis was one “of the true Christians observing Passover on the 14th of Nisan, first month of the Sacred Calendar” (Armstrong HW. The Plain Truth About Easter. WCG booklet, 1973). Tertullian affirms, “he was by most Christians considered a prophet,” and Polycrates says of him, “he was in all things governed by the Holy Ghost.”

It is reported that the ‘Nazarenes’ of the fifth century had at least one prophet:

In his Commentary on Isaiah Jerome quotes some fragments from an exegetical work by an unknown Nazoraean author which he did not, however, take directly from one of their writings, but probably from Apollinaris’s commentary on the same prophet. (Skarsaune O, Hvalvik R, editors. Jewish Believers in Jesus: The Early Centuries. © 2007 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., p. 473)

The old Radio/Worldwide Church of God taught that these Nazarenes were COG Christians (Hoeh H. A True History of the True Church. RCG, 1959).

Notice something else from the old Radio Church of God:

Paulician Church Government

The Paulicians claimed to be THE “holy universal and apostolic church” founded by Jesus Christ and his apostles. Of the false churches, they would say: “We do not belong to these, for they have long ago broken connection with the church.”

They taught that the Church is not a building, not just an organization, but an organism — the body of truly converted baptized persons, which has continued unbroken with the apostolic traditions from its beginning. Jesus Christ was and is the HEAD of that Church.

Paulicians also taught that the Scripture is for the layman as much as for the minister. They continually urged the people to check the Scriptures for themselves, and accused the priests of hiding the Scriptures in order to deprive the people of the truth and of making monetary profit in addition by dispensing a SUPPOSED word of God in its place. …

Four of their greatest leaders, the Paulicians called APOSTLES and PROPHETS. …

Any greatness is not of the man, but of the OFFICE. No man is qualified for it but through the Holy Spirit.

Though you might not respect the MAN, YOU had BETTER respect that OFFICE!

THAT office is of God. (Lesson 50 – I Will Build My Church, Part 2. 58 Lesson: Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, 1965)

The New Testament endorsed prophets, at least one is believed to have been around in the second century A.D., and the old Radio Church of God taught that they existed beyond New Testament times.

The ‘Paulicians’ were part of the Smyrna Church Era and the Pergamos Church Era.

And, it should be pointed out that a Worldwide Church of God evangelist taught that the Thyatira Church Era had a “school of the prophets” in a paper that was approved by the college of that church (Blackwell D. A HANDBOOK OF CHURCH HISTORY. A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate School of Theology, April 1973, pp. 28, 155).

What about Sardis? Notice something written by a then WCG evangelist:

German Anabaptists … Carlstadt, a Sabbath keeper, said. Another prevailing feature of their system was a belief in immediate or prophetic inspiration, which if it did not supercede the written word, assimilated them to its author. Notice even there, the test of a prophet was the written word! (Blackwell D. A HANDBOOK OF CHURCH HISTORY. A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate School of Theology, April 1973, pp. 166, 167)

The old Radio Church of God taught:

I Corinthians 12: … prophets … Christ is not placing many in this office (Meredith RC. How Church Government Really WORKS. Good News, March 1964, pp. 4-5)

Not MANY does not and cannot mean NONE in the 21st century!

Furthermore, the old WCG/RCG taught about a coming Elijah in accordance with the following:

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5)

It can thus be concluded, that the Philadelphia Church Era also taught about at least one coming prophet.

So, we see that the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God taught that there were prophets in pretty much all church eras (including people like the Apostle John in the Ephesus Church Era).

In a radio broadcast, the late Herbert W. Armstrong taught the following:

True prophet … Watch and see if it {what he says} comes to pass–and you can know that man has been called {by God} to be a prophet. (Armstrong HW. Proof of a True Prophet. World Tomorrow Radio program. HA535B.MP3)

Events confirming what the prophet said by one called of God is part of the proof. And that is consistent with Deuteronomy 18.

Notice something that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

Always the true prophets and ministers of God have stood almost alone and opposed by the overwhelming majority in Israel. That is Israel’s history of old. It is true today. (Armstrong HW. Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States, reprint 1980)

But the TRUE prophets of God have always put emphasis on the right CAUSE-on God’s WAY to the desired blessings.

Let me explain that. Let me make that PLAIN! This magazine deals with making truth PLAIN–understandable!

You may search the Bible from beginning to end. You’ll find the true prophets, apostles, ministers of God put first emphasis on the right CAUSE, not the effect. They proclaim THE WAY that leads to peace, happiness, security, and finally, eternal life. In Bible language, this means that God’s Word, and God’s true prophets and ministers put first emphasis on God’s LAW…God sends HIS prophets and ministers to proclaim the RIGHT WAY, to sh ow people that they are going the WRONG WAY, to cause them to turn around and get back on the RIGHT WAY through Jesus Christ by God’s free grace…

God’s true servants are not OF this world nor of its ways. (Armstrong HW. Personal from the Editor. Plain Truth, May 1966, pp. 2, 44-45)

Of course, there are false prophets who claim to teach the commandments, but usually reason around some of them. But true prophets of God most certainly do teach God’s law and way of life (see our free online booklet: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).

Before going further, perhaps the following should be included as there has been some confusion regarding HWA and being a prophet. Here is some of what Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about that:

I have definitely NOT been called to be a PROPHET … Emphatically I am NOT a prophet, in the sense of one to whom God speaks specially and directly, revealing personally a future event to happen or new truth, or new and special instruction direct from God — separate from, and apart from what is contained in the Bible.  And I never have claimed to be. There is no such human prophet living today! (Armstrong H. Personal from the Editor, The 19 Year Time Cycles. The Good News of Tomorrow’s World. February, 1972, p. 1)

And I agree with Herbert W. Armstrong that he was not a prophet (though he had prophetic understanding in various areas) and no one recognized of God was anointed as a prophet back in 1972.

Now yes, Herbert Armstrong at least once declared that there were no prophets in WCG and no doctrinal need for them. Furthermore, here is what he said in a Bible Study on 1 Corinthians on July 18, 1980:

THE CHURCH IS FOUNDED ON THE APOSTLES AND THE PROPHETS

Paul is speaking to the Church. Now the Church of God was raised up primarily for two purposes: that God could call to lead the Church, apostles, the Church is founded on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, the prophets of the Old Testament; because no prophet in the New Testament has anything to do with infusing doctrine into the Church or with an administrative position in the Work of the Church. No prophet had anything to do with any of that; so, the prophets mean, the prophets of the Old Testament. They did not preach to Israel. Israel rejected their writings, ancient Israel. The writings of the prophets, beginning with Isaiah and even other prophets – no you could say with Moses for that matter, and with David in the Psalms. All were for the New Testament Church, believe it or not, and yet today they want to say that we are a New Testament Church; and we don’t want anything to do with that Old Testament.

Let me tell you this is the book of God. Now the Old Testament Church couldn’t proclaim the gospel. The Old Testament Church did not have the Holy Spirit, that’s true; but the prophets did and they were writing for the doctrines of the Church and much of Church doctrine comes from the writings of the prophets; Christ being the chief cornerstone and the Head of the Church. Now just keep that in the background as we begin to read what Paul is writing to one of the Churches.

The bolded portion above is not biblically correct–and those who will believe the New Testament can prove this to themselves. The Apostle Paul was a prophet and so seemingly was the evangelist Timothy. So those prophets did have administrative as well as doctrinal responsibilities.

Furthermore, I did discuss Herbert Armstrong’s “no prophet” position with his long time aide, Aaron Dean. Aaron Dean basically told me that Herbert Armstrong was annoyed by various ones who contacted him claiming to be a prophet and he wanted people to stop doing that. However, Aaron Dean also said that Herbert Armstrong was not intending to teach that there would be no more prophets. Plus on October 3, 2008, Roderick C. Meredith who has probably the longest ordained COG evangelist telephoned me and said to me, “God may consider you to be a prophet.” Thus, he understood that God could have prophets in the 21st century.

Of course, since the Two Witnesses prophesy (Revelation 11:3), it should be clear that Herbert Armstrong, himself, was not teaching that the people who would be the two witnesses could not have been alive in 1972 (especially since he felt that they would possibly fulfill their calling during his lifetime). Plus, as editor in chief of the publications of the old Radio and Worldwide Church of God, he did have items about prophets in the history of the Church of God published.

Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

So God set HIS GOVERNMENT in His Church. And God’s government is authority from the TOP down. God the Father is in supreme authority over all. Next in authority under Him is Jesus Christ, living Head of the Church. On the human and earthly level, next in authority under Christ is His chosen apostle … (Armstrong HW. Seven Proofs Of The True Church – Proof No. 5-6. Good News, December 4, 1978)

The Apostle Paul wrote:

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets … (1 Corinthians 12:28)

In absence of a clear apostle, a prophet, particularly an evangelistic one, would be expected to lead the most faithful in the Church of God.

Herbert W. Armstrong, specifically, wrote:

“And He [Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, TILL we all come in the UNITY of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13). The true Church of God has these offices, as the living Christ put them in His Church. (Armstrong HW. Seven Proofs Of The True Church – Proof No. 5-6. Good News, December 4, 1978)

Notice that prophet was an office the true Church of God was to have according to Herbert W. Armstrong.

Furthermore, notice a conversation Herbert Armstrong had with a WCG minister in late 1984 or 1985:

“Mr. Armstrong went on to say, ‘I have come to realize there will be an even greater work to follow—to go again, to “prophesy again” to all nations tongues and peoples (Rev. 10:11) before the work of the two witnesses—but with more power and with a stronger warning message. But that will be for others to do.’ He continued, ‘It will be a short work (Rom. 9:27-29), compared with the longer time to complete the work I was given, and it will be cut short. That’s when the Great Tribulation will begin, as will the work of the two witnesses. These will last for three and one-half years, at the end of which Christ will return in glory.’” (Schurter D. “The Greatest Work Lies JUST Ahead…” conversation with Herbert W. Armstrong 1984/1985 as stated in RCG letter of May 31, 2013)

So, Herbert Armstrong felt that there would be a prophet BEFORE the two witnesses were given power, hence the need for one or more prophets.

The New Testament (e.g. Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 14, Revelation 11) makes it clear that there would be prophets in the latter days.

Specifically, Acts 2:17-18 which has already had fulfillments in the Continuing Church of God (for details, see Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).

Anyway, an even more detailed article about prophets in the Church of God is How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God. That article not only has scriptures, it also has historical COG writings that should help people who will believe the truth to be able to see the truth.

Do not let pride or preconceived ideas get in the way of you accepting biblical truth. That, according to Jesus, is actually the biggest problem for most Christians in the end time per Revelation 3:14-22–most Christians refuse to fully “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:22).

Will you truly hear and take the proper steps related to matters such as prophets?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

21st Century Church of God Prophets Are there any true prophets in the 21st century? What about false prophets? What are scriptures and fruits to identify the true from the false? You you prove all things and test the spirits?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets, yet many overlook what the Bible teaches about how to recognize a true one. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? This article contains a scripture-based checklist to assist with this determination. How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God This is a sermon on YouTube addressing a subject that most in the Church of God do not seem to have looked into very much. It discusses scriptures and dispels some improper assertions that some associated with the COG have made about prophets in this time.
Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors? Most real Christians in the last days are Laodicean and hold to prophetic errors which, unless they repent, will prevent them from being protected from the coming Great Tribulation.
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? Here is a link in Spanish: Sueños, la Biblia, la Iglesia de Dios de la Radio, y la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
Elijah: Past and Prophesied Information about the original Elijah and some information about the Elijah-related prophecies.
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong?
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.
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?
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses some early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, CG7-Salem, Jerusalem 7DCG, and COG-7th Day-Denver. Here are two historical sermons: Sardis Church Era: Beginnings, Doctrines, and Leaders and Sardis: SDBs, SDAs, & CG7s.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots.  They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had? What are some of the scriptural limits on ecclesiastical authority? Do some commit organizational idolatry? Here is a Spanish language version La Biblia, Policarpo, Herbert W. Armstrong, y Roderick C. Meredith sobre el gobierno de la Iglesia. Here is a link to a sermon titled Church Governance.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. To see how CCOG has done so far, here is a sermon Continuing Church of God (CCOG) first year anniversary: What has been accomplished? Here is a written link to a version of that sermon in the Spanish language: Aniversario del primer año de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios: ¿Qué se ha cumplido?
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.

(Logo of G7 2024)

COGwriter

The ‘Group of Seven’ nations is meeting in Italy. The seven leaders are Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian President Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In addition, they are also somewhat officially joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commission President Charles Michel. That basically makes nine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with some BRICS and other leaders, were also invited. And for the first time, a pontiff was invited.

Here is are excerpts from reports from the USA, Germany, and the UK related to it:

G7 leaders huddle in Italy, escaping political peril at home

June 13, 2024

Rarely has the yearly gathering of the world’s leading economies been so overshadowed by the political vulnerabilities of nearly all its members. It raises questions of how effective the “steering committee of the free world,” as US President Joe Biden’s aides have labeled the G7, can actually be amid anger and discontent from their own populations.

Coming less than a week after far-right parties dominated in European Parliamentary elections and ahead of critical votes in France, the United Kingdom and the United States, the G7 summit will occur amid nagging anxiety about a populist resurgence.

At a state dinner held in Biden’s honor at the Élysée Palace in Paris last week, French lawmakers mingling underneath crystal chandeliers spoke openly about their fears of a potential Donald Trump victory, according to an attendee. That was a day before France’s President Emmanuel Macron suffered steep losses to the far right, prompting him to dissolve the National Assembly and call snap elections. …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend and convene a joint news conference with Biden on Thursday. Leaders are under pressure to find ways of turning around the battlefield momentum after Russia seized the initiative amid delays in American support, for which Biden apologized to Zelensky last week.

“We had trouble getting a bill that we had to pass that had the money in it from some of our very conservative members who were holding it up,” he said. “But we got it done, finally.” …

“This is not a normal G7,” said Josh Lipsky, senior director of the GeoEconomics Center at the Atlantic Council, pointing to the series of upcoming elections and the wider group invited to this year’s summit. “You hear this a lot when you talk to US and European officials: if we can’t get this done now, whether it’s on China, whether it’s on the assets, we may not have another chance. We don’t know what the world will look like three months, six months, nine months from now.”

Among the G7 leaders, it is the summit’s host, right wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who appears on the most stable political ground. She emerged as the only European G7 leader bolstered by last week’s European Parliament elections.

In an attempt to broaden the G7 discussions, Meloni invited the leaders of India, Brazil, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to join the discussions this week – a nod to non-Western economies that are assuming greater and greater political weight as the G7 countries see their own share of global influence wane. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/13/politics/g-7-leaders-italy/index.html

13 June 2023

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations are in Italy for a three-day summit.  …

The Vatican on Thursday said Pope Francis would be meeting some of the world leaders attending the G7 summit in Italy.

In April the Vatican confirmed that Francis would be attending the summit — the first pope to ever do so — and would participate in a session on Artificial Intelligence, which takes place on Friday.

According to the pontiff’s schedule for Thursday, he will be having one-on-one meetings with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, France’s Emmanuel Macron, India’s Narendra Modi, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kenya’s William Ruto, Algeria’s Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, among others. …

Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy democracies have agreed on a $50 billion (€46.3 billion) loan for Ukraine — using interest on profits from Russia’s frozen central bank assets as collateral.

The move follows a recent EU decision to use windfall profits earned on immobilized Russian assets to Kyiv’s benefit.

Details are still being hashed out as G7 leaders gather for a summit in Italy, but it is understood that the money could reach Kyiv by the end of the year.

The US government would provide most of the money, backed by windfall profits being earned on about $300 billion in immobilized Russian assets. Most of the money is being held in Europe.

Francis, who in January warned against the “perverse” dangers of artificial intelligence, is due to take part in leaders’ talks on the new technology on Friday. He is the first pope to participate in G7 discussions. https://www.dw.com/en/g7-summit-leaders-plan-russian-asset-backed-loan-to-kyiv/live-69347779

June 13, 2024

VATICAN CITY, June 13 (Reuters) – Pope Francis will meet with the leaders of the United States, Ukraine, France and India, among others, on the sidelines of the Group of 7 (G7) summit in Italy, the Vatican said on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pope-francis-meet-biden-zelenskiy-macron-modi-at-g7-summit-2024-06-13/

13 June 2024

Speaking at a joint news conference at the summit’s venue in Puglia, southern Italy, President Biden said the $50bn loan would “put that money to work for Ukraine and send another reminder to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that we’re not backing down”. …

Most of the frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia are being held in Belgium.

Under international law, countries cannot confiscate those assets from Russia and give them to Ukraine.

Several hours before the G7 decision was announced, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that there would be “extremely painful” retaliatory measures.  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cllldqyg19ro

Russia is not thrilled with losing interest on its assets that the West has frozen. That said, I still believe that Europe will make a deal in the future with Russia that Russia will like.

China is usually a concern for the G7. In the past, the G7 has pledged to spend money on infrastructure to try to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (see ‘G7 summit: Leaders detail $600bn plan to rival China’s Belt and Road initiative’ ‘PGII’). This is one way, mainly Europe, wants to engage with the ‘Global South.’

The development of infrastructure in Europe and Asia is something to watch as it will help pave the way for the gathering at Armageddon as well as being a factor in the economic rise of the European Babylonian Beast of Revelation 17 and 18.

Notice the following basically official G7 photo in the following tweet:

G7 summit begins in Italy pic.twitter.com/xKeyEZRPhs

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 13, 2024

The leaders are the nine mentioned at the beginning of this post.

The fact that the G7 seems to officially have nine, with five representing Europe (six if you count the UK) shows a European dominance of the organization and meeting.

Let me add that while some Protestants are finally starting to wake up to the reality of an emerging European superpower being the revival of the old Roman Empire to represent the Beast of Revelation, the true Church of God has known much of this since the Apostle John and Polycarp. We also have a sermon about where the European Union appears to be in biblical prophecy: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.

What about the involvement of the Vatican?

The Bible warns of a church-state alliance in Revelation 17–and while we have seen things like the so-called ‘Holy Roman Empire’ in Europe in the past, Vatican involvement will increase again.

After attending a conference related to the start of the UN, in the December 1948 issue of The Plain Truth, the late Pastor General of the old Radio/Worlwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, predicted a coming “United States of Europe” with Vatican involvement when he wrote:

It was the SERMON that shot forth that spark, impregnating the minds of world leaders in attendance. This amazing sermon was delivered by a foremost radio speaker of the Catholic Church, Bishop Duane G. Hunt of Salt Lake City … Without the guidance, supervision, authority of the Catholic Church, he told these men, they were laboring in vain …

This was the Roman Catholic bid to resurrect the so-called “HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE” ! And PROPHECY says they will succeed! … At the psychological time, the pope will step in … Thru this political movement, he will UNIFY … nations in Europe. It will be a “The UNITED STATES OF EUROPE,” but that probably will never become its official name. (Armstrong HW. Now It Can Be Told…The Plain Truth, December 1948, pp. 2,5).

The Vatican does wish to be involved in the world in general and Europe in particular.

The G7 move is just a small demonstration of that.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast? Here is a link to a video titled: Europe and the ‘Holy Roman Empire’. Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
China’s Silk Road and Babylon the Great China has been embarking on a multi-trillion dollar project to build roads and ports to connect more of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe to it. This has been called the ‘Belt and Road Initiative,’ Silk Road Project, Silk Road 2.0, and the One Belt, One Road Initiative. While this is expected to benefit Chinese trade (as well as provide infrastructure for the gathering at Armageddon), could this also benefit the rise of Babylon the Great foretold in the Book of Revelation and scriptures in the Old Testament? What about the proposed Polar Silk Road? Will the benefits to Europe last or will the end time ‘daughter of Babylon’ possibly face invasion from nations involved with the Silk Road project? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues with scriptures from the Bible.
Is China paving roads to Armageddon? China is working on something known as the ‘Silk Road’ project or the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. NBC reports that China intends to spend one trillion dollars to build roads, bridges, railroads, and maritime facilities to reach from China to Europe and China to the Middle East. Over 60 nations, including Russia, are involved with this. Could this Silk Road project possibly produce thoroughfares that could be used by troops that will amass at Armageddon? Dr. Thiel discusses this project and some of its potential prophetic ramifications in this video.
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Vatican City (photo by Joyce Thiel)

COGwriter

The Vatican announced changes to the papacy as part of its ecumenical plans:

The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality. Summary, ideas and proposals of a new Vatican document

On the morning of Thursday, June 13, a new document was presented by the Dicastery for Christian Unity on the role of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) in view of an eventual unity with all the Christian Churches. The following are the highlights of the document:

***

Origin and status of the document The study document The Bishop of Rome is the first document to summarize the entire ecumenical debate on the service of primacy in the Church since the Second Vatican Council. The origin of this text goes back to St John Paul II’s invitation to other Christians to find, ‘together, of course’, the forms in which the ministry of the Bishop of Rome “may accomplish a service of love recognized by all concerned” (UUS 95). Numerous responses to this invitation have been formulated, as well as reflections on the topic and various suggestions from the theological dialogues. In 2020, the 25th anniversary of Ut unum sint, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity saw an opportunity to synthesize these reflections and gather the main fruits. Pope Francis himself called for this, noting that “we have made little progress in this regard” (Evangelii Gaudium 32). Moreover, the convocation of the Synod on Synodality has confirmed the relevance of this project as a contribution to the ecumenical dimension of the synodal process. The status of the text is that of a ‘study document’ that does not claim to exhaust the subject nor summarize the entire Catholic magisterium on the subject. Its purpose is to offer an objective synthesis of the ecumenical discussion on the subject, thus reflecting its insights, but also its limitations. …

In addition to this synthesis, the document concludes with a brief proposal from the Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery, entitled Towards an Exercise of Primacy in the 21st Century, which identifies the most significant suggestions put forward by the various dialogues for a renewed exercise of the Bishop of Rome’s ministry of unity ‘recognized by all concerned. Main ideas of the Document The Study Document points out that: 1) the dialogue documents and the responses to Ut unum sint have made a significant contribution to reflection on the question of primacy and synodality; …

2) all the documents agree on the need for a service of unity at the universal level, even if the foundations of this service and the ways in which should be exercised are subject to different interpretations; 3) unlike the controversies of the past, the question of primacy is no longer seen simply as a problem, but also as an opportunity for a common reflection on the nature of the Church and its mission in the world; 4) the Petrine ministry of the Bishop of Rome is intrinsic to the synodal dynamic, as is the communitarian aspect that includes the entire people of God and the collegial dimension of the episcopal ministry. Among the future steps to be taken in the theological dialogues, the Document suggests the need for: 1) a better connection between the dialogues – local and international, official and unofficial, bilateral and multilateral, Eastern and Western – in order to enrich each other; …

The Orthodox–Catholic dialogue also allowed a new critical reading of the phenomenon of ‘uniatism’, closely related to the question of primacy and to an ecclesiology claiming the direct jurisdiction of the Roman See over all the local Churches, which “can no longer be accepted either as a method to be followed nor as a model of the unity our Churches are seeking” (O–C, 1993, 12). The historical phenomenon of ‘uniatism’ should yet be distinguished from the current reality of the Eastern Catholic Churches, which represent a particular paradigm of ‘unity in diversity’ due to their sui iuris status in the Catholic Church maintaining their autonomy within synodical structures. Nevertheless, the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches do not recognise the present relationship with Rome of the Eastern Catholic Churches as a model for future communion. https://zenit.org/2024/06/12/the-bishop-of-rome-primacy-and-synodality-summary-ideas-and-proposals-of-a-new-vatican-document/

The Vatican will publish a study document on papal primacy and ecumenism on Thursday that will contain proposals “for a renewed exercise of the bishop of Rome’s ministry of unity” recognized by all Christians.

The document, titled “The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogue and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum Sint,” will be released on June 13 with the approval of Pope Francis.

The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity put together the study document to summarize the ecumenical dialogue that has occurred on the question of papal primacy and synodality in the past 30 years.

In particular, the document includes responses by different Christian communities to Pope John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical on Christian unity, Ut Unum Sint (“That They All May Be One”). …

According to the Holy See Press Office, the document “concludes with a proposal from the dicastery identifying the most significant suggestions put forward for a renewed exercise of the bishop of Rome’s ministry of unity ‘recognized by one and all.’”

Ut Unum Sint says that the bishop of Rome as the successor of the Apostle Peter has a “specific duty” to work for the cause of Christian unity.  …

It notes that the “primacy of the bishop of Rome has now become a subject of study” in the Church’s dialogue with other Christian communities. …

The Vatican will hold a press conference featuring Anglican and Armenian representatives to discuss the new papal primacy document on June 13.

Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary-general of the General Secretariat of the Synod, will join Cardinal Kurt Koch, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, in presenting the study document at the press conference. 06/11/24 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257959/vatican-to-publish-new-document-on-papal-primacy

Cardinal Kurt Koch is one I have been watching for some time as he is a key figure in attempting to get other groups to have closer ecumenical unity with the Church of Rome. Francis, himself, recently reinstated the title ‘Patriarch of the West,’ a title the Pope Benedict XVI dropped (https://www.ncregister.com/news/patriarch-of-the-west-pope-francis-heads-forward-into-the-past)–that seemed to be done to suggest he was in a more equal position to the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic churches.

I consider what is happening a “bait and switch.” While there are those at the Vatican sincere about the pope being more “equal” to other leaders, the last pope will assume more authority than many previous ones (cf. Revelation 13:11-17),

That said, when first heard that this new papacy paper was to be announced, I immediately wondered if part of that was because of the planned 1700 year anniversary of the Council of Nicea next year. The original Council of Nicea was called by the pagan sun-god worshiping Roman Emperor Constantine, who declared himself a lay bishop when it was convened. That Council began on 20 May 325 A.D.

Last month, the head of the Eastern Orthodox church confirmed that Pope Francis would attend:

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew announced today that Pope Francis plans to visit Turkey next year to commemorate the anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. …  the First Ecumenical Council {was} held in Nicaea, Bithynia, in 325 AD. “His Holiness Pope Francis wishes for us to jointly celebrate this important anniversary,” stated Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-pope-francis-will-visit-patriarchate-for-anniversary-of-first-council-of-nicaea/

There are Greco-Roman Catholic writings that have predicted a schism and additional compromise by the Church of Rome after some council.

For example, it has been written that a change to the Vatican’s “Constitution” will come about after a council:

Venerable Anna Maria Taigi (died 1837): The Pope shall convoke a council. A new constitution of the Church shall be proclaimed in it. (Rossi, p. 65)

The new Vatican document on the papacy was the result of a council called a synod. A synod that Pope Francis called for or at least approved. There was also a synod going on at the Vatican this month.

But perhaps more changes will happen.

Perhaps at or after the anniversary of the Council of Nicea.

If that were to happen, when may that happen?

Consider that the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics consider that 325 A.D. council to have been the “first ecumenical council.”

The Eastern Orthodox contend that there were seven ecumenical councils and that an eighth one will come.

The seventh one was the second Council of Nicea of 787.

Back in 2014, we put together the following video:

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

10:44

3rd Council of Nicea in 2025?

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

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

It is clear that there is to be a meeting in 2025. Whether or not it will be the eighth council that the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches will accept is something that we will see.

The 1700 anniversary of the Council of Nicea will also have ecumenical Protestant involvement. Earlier this year, the World Council of Churches promoted Nicea and called for scholarly papers in preparation for the 2025 event:

Recalling Council of Nicaea can inspire call for Christian unity, says world churches head

February 16, 2024

Commemorating the 1,700th anniversary in 2025 of the Council of Nicaea is an inspiration to Christians today to work for the unity of the church, says Rev. Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

The First Council of Nicaea, was a council of Christian bishops convened in the Bithynian city of Nicaea, now İznik in Turkiye. It was convened by the Roman Emperor Constantine I and it met May to the end of July AD 325.

At the Council of Nicaea, bishops representing the whole of Christendom gathered for the first time to discuss the faith and witness of the church.

“Recalling the significance of the Council of Nicaea renews our call for full visible unity, the cornerstone of the ecumenical movement,” Pillay said in a greeting to a Feb. 8 webinar, “From Nicaea, Walking Together to Unity: The Beginning of a New Beginning.” …

The WCC’s activities to commemorate Nicaea in 2025 will culminate in the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, to be held near Alexandra, Egypt, in October 2025, Pillay said. https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/recalling-council-of-nicaea-can-inspire-call-for-christian-unity-says-world-churches-head/61068.htm

While the original Council of Nicea DID NOT INVOLVE ALL CHRISTENDOM, we see major Protestant involvement related to the 2025 Council here as the World Council of Churches mainly consists of Protestant churches, plus the Eastern Orthodox.

Regarding the true Christians not attending Constantine’s Nicea Council, the Roman Catholic priest and historian Bellarmino Bagatti wrote the following regarding it:

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

In fact…the churches of Jewish stock had had no representation…From this we can conclude that no Judaeo-Christian bishop participated in the Council.  Either they were not invited or they declined to attend.  And so the capitulars had a free hand to establish norms for certain practices without meeting opposition or hearing other view points.  Once the road was open future Councils would continue on these lines, thus deepening the breach between the Christians of two-stocks.  The point of view of the Judaeo-Christians, devoid of Greek philosophical formation, was that of keeping steadfast to the Testimonia, and therefore not to admit any word foreign to the Bible, including Homoousion (Bagatti, Bellarmino.  Translated by Eugene Hoade.  The Church from the Gentiles in Palestine. Nihil obstat: Ignatius Mancini, 1 Februari 1970. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari, 26 Februari 1970. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 28 Februarii 1970.  Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, 1971, pp. 47-48).

So, not every church was represented. Those of the true and original Christian faith were not part of the original Council of Nicea. True Christians stuck with the Bible and the original apostolic faith and did not taint it with Greek philosophy or Mithraism.

That said, now notice an old Roman Catholic prediction:

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (Born in the 17th century, in Germany) … God will bind Satan for a number of years until the days of the Son of Perdition … there will be an ecumenical council which will be the greatest of all councils.  By the grace of God, by the power of the Great Monarch, and by the authority of the Holy Pontiff, and by the union of the most devout princes, atheism and every heresy will be banished from the earth.  The Council will define the true sense of Holy Scripture , and this will be believed and accepted by everyone. (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 40)

Well, we of the Continuing Church of God will not be part of the “accepted by everyone” group–but a lot of the Greco-Roman Catholics and Protestants would seem to be those who would accept such a council.

The third Council of Nicea might be considered to be the eighth ecumenical council by the Eastern Orthodox. As it turns out, one of their saints put forth the following prediction:

Saint Nelios the Myrrh-Gusher (died 1592): During that time the Eighth and last Ecumenical Synod will take place, which will satisfy the contentions of the heretics … (Tzima Otto H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. Verenika Press, Rock City (SC), 2000, p. 111)

By satisfying “heretics”, clearly this council compromises and changes the religion, which will be called “Catholic”.

Yet, some Eastern Orthodox look forward to this, but also expect an antipope near then:

Helen Tzima Otto (20^th century): We have been told time and time again through the prophets that the Great Monarch and Papa Angelorum … will convene the 8^th Ecumenical Council, which will reunify all Christians … The Emperor will spend three years waging wars against the non-Christian nations … {later will be} the end time schism of the Roman Catholic Church of the End Times and the rise of an antipope (Tzima Otto, pp. xxv, 103, 122).

Such unity will be dangerous for both the Church of Rome and the Eastern Orthodox. Signs and lying wonders would be a deceptive factor in this occurrence. The Bible teaches that the Antichrist will support the Beast (called the “lawless one below”with such deception:

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

Notice that one Orthodox writer worries that strong ecumenical unity may come about because of apparitions claiming to be Mary:

Peter Jackson (20^th century): To which Mary are Muslims and Protestants being drawn?… Rome began to see her more and more as a “goddess,” a fourth Hypostasis of the Trinity…Today, as heterodox Christians become more and more ecumenist and work toward creating a “One World Church,” the search has begun for a Mary of universal recognition, one who will appeal not only to those who bear the name Christian, but apparently to Muslims and others as well, just as attempts are likewise being made to identify the “new Christ” with the Muslim concept of their coming Mahdi and with the Messiah still awaited by the Jews. This, of course, will be no Christ at all but the antichrist (Jackson P. ORTHODOX LIFE., No. I, 1997., Brotherhood of Saint Job of Pochaev at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, N.Y. pp. 18-22).

Since the Bishop of Rome already has stated that the Vatican will compromise doctrinally in order to get the Orthodox to join (as I was told privately when I was at the office of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople back in May 2008), the Eastern Orthodox are justifiably concerned that such unity will take place.  Furthermore, Roman Catholics are right to be concerned that since the Vatican has already stated that it will compromise for the sake of unity with the Eastern Orthodox, that compromise will occur in Rome for such unity.

Notice what two Roman Catholic priests wrote:

Priest O’Connor (20^th century?): This final false prophet will be a bishop of the church and will lead all religions into becoming one …

Priest Paul Kramer (21^st century): The errors of Orthodoxy and of Protestantism will be embraced by that false church, it will be an ecumenical church because the Anti-Pope will be recognized by the world—not by the faithful, but by the world—by the secular world and the secular governments…

The Anti-Pope will be recognized as the legitimate Pope of the “church,” and the legitimate head of the Vatican State. That “church” will be united with all the false religions. They will be united together under the universality of the Masonic umbrella. In that motley ecumenical union will be the established religion of the so-called civilized world. This is how we will get into the time of great persecution such as the world has never seen (2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, pp. 171, 173).

Notice that both Roman and Eastern Orthodox sources are concerned that such unity will result in the rise of the final Antichrist.

The idea of an antipope being the Antichrist seems also to have pontifical backing:

Gregory VII’s rhetoric…his naming the “antipope” Guibert as “Antichrist and Arch-heretic”…(Hughes KL. Constructing antichrist: Paul, biblical commentary, and the development of doctrine in the early Middle Ages. CUA Press, 2005, p. 206)

Bishop of Lucca, under the title of Alexander II…was the first pontiff chosen by the cardinals, and they chose him without consulting the Emperor…German and Lombard prelates held a council at Berne and elected as Pope Cadalous, Bishop of Parma, under the name of Honorius II.; and for three years there was a scandalous contest between the two claimants, each calling the other antipope and Antichrist in the usual fashion. (Church WC. The Galaxy, Volume 14. Publisher W.C. and F.P. Church, 1872. Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Nov 11, 2008, p. 491)

The “usual fashion” is meant to convey that in the Middle Ages it was not uncommon for a pope (and not just one of them) to suggest that an antipope is Antichrist. The term ‘antipope’ is specifically believed, of itself, to convey the concept of being an antichrist by Roman Catholics. Thus, the idea of an antipope being the final Antichrist seems consistent with certain papal pronouncements.

Here is a pronouncement from Pope “Gregory the Great” suggesting something similar:

St. Gregory says, “I confidently say that whoever doth call himself universal bishop, or desireth to be so called, doth, in his elation, forerun Antichrist, because he proudly doth set himself before the rest.”

We cannot but ask, What would Pope Gregory the Great have said to the titles now assumed by his successors, such as “the vicegerent of God,” “the vicar of Christ on earth,” whose “teachings should be received as if they were His own,” and whom the whole episcopate must be “subject to” on pain of being considered “a lawless and disorderly crowd”? (As in AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS HOLINESS LEO XIII. Cited in McKim RH.Romanism in the light of history. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1914, p. 54).

St. Gregory…”I do confidently say that whosoever called himself universal Bishop; or is desirous to be called so, in his pride, is the Forerunner of Anti-christ; because, in his pride, he prefers himself to the rest. And he is conducted to error, by a similar pride; for as the wicked One wishes to appear a god above all men; so whosoever he is, who desires to be called the only Bishop (solus sacerdos,) extols himself above all other Bishops.” Tom. ii. Regist. Epist. In. 15. Epist. 33. edit, of Paris, 1705. (Brownlee WC. Letters in the Roman Catholic controversy, 2nd edition. LETTER VIII. TO DRS. POWER AND VARELA, AND MR. LEVINS. Published by the author, 1834, p. 95)

Thus, Gregory seems to be warning that if there ever is a “universal Bishop” that one with this title may become the final Antichrist.

Additionally, some Roman Catholic writers clearly have understood that the two-horned beast in Revelation 13 is likely to be an antipope and that a negative power will be established in Jerusalem:

Priest E. Sylvester Berry (published 1920):  The two horns denote a twofold authority – spiritual and temporal.  As indicated by the resemblance to a lamb, the prophet will probably set himself up in Rome as a sort of anti-pope…Antichrist will establish himself in Jerusalem…with his ‘lying wonders’… (Berry ES.  The Apocalypse of St. John, 1920.  Quoted in Culleton RG.  The Reign of Antichrist.  Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 199-200).

Much of the above teaching is consistent with certain scriptures. And although most in the Protestant world that watch prophecy, as well as perhaps most in the Catholic world, have confused who the Antichrist is (many modern Protestants think he is the Beast), various Greco-Roman Catholic sources have correctly declared that the False Prophet is (or likely is) the final Antichrist. This was also the position of the Greco-Roman Catholic saint Augustine (Augustine. City of God, Book XX, Chapter 14. Translated by Marcus Dods. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 2. Edited by Philip Schaff. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887;  Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist, p. 117).

Notice the following Roman Catholic translation of part of the Apocalypse:

3 He took me in spirit to a desert, and there I saw a woman riding a scarlet beast which had seven heads and ten horns and had blasphemous titles written all over it.

4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and glittered with gold and jewels and pearls, and she was holding a gold winecup filled with the disgusting filth of her prostitution;

5 on her forehead was written a name, a cryptic name: ‘Babylon the Great, the mother of all the prostitutes and all the filthy practices on the earth.’ …

9 ‘This calls for shrewdness. The seven heads are the seven hills, on which the woman is sitting.

15 The angel continued, ‘The waters you saw, beside which the prostitute was sitting, are all the peoples, the populations, the nations and the languages.

16 But the ten horns and the beast will turn against the prostitute, and tear off her clothes and leave her stark naked; then they will eat her flesh and burn the remains in the fire.

17 In fact, God has influenced their minds to do what he intends, to agree together to put their royal powers at the beast’s disposal until the time when God’s words shall be fulfilled.

18 The woman you saw is the great city which has authority over all the rulers on earth.’ (Revelation 17:3-5,9,15-18)

According to Roman  Catholic scholars, the seven hills are a reference to Rome.

An antipope will support the destruction of the Church of Rome.

Matt Gaspers brought up the threat of a “formal schism.” Here are some ancient and more recent writings by Roman Catholic clergy and others expecting this:

G. Rossi (1873): It is not unlikely, but, on the contrary, a well-founded rumor warns us, that an attempt will be made at the first opportunity to thrust upon St. Peter’s throne an anti-pope, in order to create a schism in the Church Catholic. They have adopted the maxim: Division is weakness. Divide et impera. Divide to crush. (Rossi, G. THE CHRISTIAN TRUMPET, OR, Previsions and Predictions about Impending General Calamities, The Universal Triumph of the Church, The Coming of Antichrist, The Last Judgment, and The End of the World. Compiled by PELLEGRINO [Gaudentius Rossi], A Missionary Priest with Superior’s permission. Boston, THOS. B. NOONAND & CO., 1873, p.97)

Pope Gregory the Great (died 604): In those days, near the end, hardly a Bishop, but an army of priests and two-thirds of the Christians will join the Schism. (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, Reprint TAN Books, Rockford, IL, 1974, p. 122)

St. Hildegard (d. 1179): …this cardinal will proclaim himself Anti-Pope, and two thirds of the Christians will go with him. He, also well as Antichrist, are descendants of Dan (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, p. 128).

Oba Prophecy: It will come when the Church authorities issue directives to support a new cult, when priests are forbidden to celebrate in any other, when the highest positions in the Church are given to perjurers and hypocrites, when only the renegades are admitted to occupy those positions (Dupont, p. 115).

Anna-Katarina Emmerick (19th century): I saw again a new and odd-looking Church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it…(Dupont, p. 116).

St. Francis of Assisi (died 1226): There will be an uncanonically elected pope who will cause a great Schism, there will be divers thoughts preached which will cause many, even those in the different orders to doubt, yea even agree with the heretics, which will cause my Order to divide. (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, p. 130)

Ted and Maureen Flynn (readers and reporters Catholic prophecies): Catholic prophecy warns us of severe problems facing the papacy in these end times…chaos will be within our midst.  An Antipope will seize papal authority…It will be those who hold fast to the truths of the faith who will be labeled as the perpetrators of this horrible schism, according to some visionaries (Flynn Ted and Maureen. The Thunder of Justice. MaxKol Communications, Inc. Sterling (VA), 1993, p. 255).

As far as who Roman Catholics think will be involved in causing this schism, consider the following that mentions secret societies and a particular false religion that would seem to specifically apply to those in the true Church of God:

JANE LE ROYER (d. 1798)
SISTER MARY OF THE NATIVITY

“Many precursors, false prophets, and members of infernal secret societies, worshippers of Satan, shall impugn the most sacred dogmas and doctrines of our holy religion, shall persecute the faithful, shall commit abominable actions; but THE REAL AND EXTREME ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SHALL MORE FULLY BE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST, which will last about three years and a half. …

“When the time of the reign of Antichrist is near, a false religion will appear which be opposed to the unity of God and His Church. This will cause the greatest schism the world has ever known. The nearer the time of the end, the more darkness of Satan will spread on Earth, the greater will be the number of children of corruption, and the number of Just will correspondingly diminish. (Culligan, E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp.127,128)

Anna-Katarina Emmerick… “Once more I saw that the Church of Peter was undermined by a plan evolved by the secret sect, while storms were damaging it. But I saw also that help was coming when distress had reached its peak. I saw again the Blessed Virgin ascend on the Church and spread her mantle [over it]. I saw a Pope who was at once gentle, and very firm…I saw a great renewal, and the Church rose high in the sky.” … Sept. 12, 1820. “I saw a strange church being built against every rule … No angels were supervising the building operations. In that church, nothing came from high above … There was only division and chaos. … August to October 1820. … I saw the secret sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. … October 22, 1822. “Very bad times will come when non-Catholics will lead many people astray. (Dupont, pp. 60-62, 71)

Anne Catherine Emmerich: May 13, 1820…I saw again the present Pope and the dark church of his time in Rome. It seemed to be a large, old house like a town-hall with columns in front. I saw no altar in it, but only benches, and in the middle of it something like a pulpit. They had preaching and singing, but nothing else, and only very few attended it…The whole church was draped in black, and all that took place in it was shrouded in gloom…I saw the fatal consequences of this counterfeit church ; I saw it increase ; I saw heretics of all kinds flocking to the city. I saw the ever-increasing trepidity of the clergy , the circle of darkness ever widening…Again I saw in vision St. Peter’s undermined according to a plan devised by the secret sect whilst, at the same time, it was damaged by storms; but it was delivered at the moment of greatest distress. (Emmerich AC. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich. Schmöger edition, Vol. II. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourg Peter Joseph. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1976, pp. 277,279-281).

Elizabeth Canori-Mora (died 1825): “All men shall rise one against the other, and they shall kill one another without pity. During this sanguinary conflict the avenging arm of God will strike the wicked, and in His mighty power He will punish their pride and presumption. God will employ the powers of {Hades} for the extermination of these impious and heretical persons who desire to overthrow the Church and destroy it to its very foundation. These presumptuous men in their mad impiety believe that they can overthrow God from His throne; but the Lord will despise these artifices, and through an effect of His Mighty Hand He will punish these impious blasphemers by giving permission to the infernal spirits to come out from Haydes. Innumerable legions of demons shall overrun the earth, and shall execute the orders of Divine Justice by causing terrible calamities and disaster; they shall attack everything; they shall devastate property and alimentary productions, cities and villages. Nothing on earth shall be spared. God will allow the demons to strike with death those impious men because they gave themselves up to the infernal powers and had formed with them a compact against the Catholic Church. (Connor, pp.22-23)

Now Jane Le Royer suggests that secret societies will impugn the most sacred dogmas and doctrines of the Roman Catholic religion, and before Jesus (who they sometimes seem to identify as the Antichrist, see Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?) comes, a false religion will “appear” that is “opposed to the unity of God and His Church.” Note also that Elizabeth Canori-Mora asserted that persecution would come to such people.

What kind of group claiming Christianity denies the “unity of God”? Well, none. But the one that comes to mind would be one that denies the 381 A.D. definition of the unity of God that Emperor Theodosius insisted on.

In many Roman Catholic writings, it is the doctrine of the trinity that they adopted in 381 that is linked with the unity of God (e.g. Lebreton, Jules. “The Logos.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910; Joyce, George. “The Blessed Trinity.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912; Aquinas T. The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas Second and Revised Edition, 1920 Literally translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Online Edition Copyright © 2008 by Kevin Knight Nihil Obstat. F. Innocentius Apap, O.P., S.T.M., Censor. Theol. Imprimatur. Edus. Canonicus Surmont, Vicarius Generalis. Westmonasterii. APPROBATIO ORDINIS Nihil Obstat. F. Raphael Moss, O.P., S.T.L. and F. Leo Moore, O.P., S.T.L. Imprimatur. F. Beda Jarrett, O.P., S.T.L., A.M., Prior Provincialis Angliæ; Fourth Council of Lateran (1215), in Denzinger-Bannwart, “Enchiridion”, 428; Aiken, Charles Francis. “Monotheism.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911; Msgr. Charles M. Mangan, he currently works in Rome as a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life. United in the Trinity. Sunday Homilies Feed Your Sou. Catholics United For the Faith, Sunday, May 18, 2008. http://www.cuf.org/homilies/archive/051808.asp viewed 02/10/09)

Of course, we in the true Church of God have long opposed the trinity of Theodosius’ Council of Constantinople. Hence the “false religion” of Jane Le Royer can only be referring to a groups like the Continuing Church of God (it should be noted that the CCOG does believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and holds a view of the Godhead more akin to that held by the Roman Bishop Liberius in the mid-4th century than to the Theodosius’ Council). And recall that we, according to Nun Jeanne le Royer, “appear” just before Antichrist.

Notice also:

Nursing Nun of Bellay (died 1820): “All these things shall come to pass once the wicked have succeeded in circulating large numbers of bad books.” (Dupont, p.51)

Trappistine Nun of Notre Dame des Gardes. “Chastisement will come when a very large number of bad books have been spread” (Dupont, p 114).

Abbe Voclin. “… Horrible books will be freely available. Intellectuals will argue fiercely among themselves. Then war will break out that will see the rise of the Great Monarch” (Dupont, p. 114).

While we in the Continuing Church of God are not the only ones who can write books that some Roman Catholics disapprove of as a false religion, as it gets closer to the end, I believe that our writings will be perceived as a serious threat to the changing Roman Catholic Church as we claim ties to the original apostles and have kept the faith of the original Christians without change. And our CCOG books are freely available, including
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? which documents our faithfulness over that of the Greco-Roman Catholic churches.

Furthermore, notice that the Roman Catholic saint Hildegard of Bingen wrote:

And fly from those who linger in caves and are cloistered supporters of the Devil. Woe to them, woe to them who remain thus! They are the Devil’s very viscera, and the advance guard of the son of perdition.

Therefore, O you My beloved children, avoid them with all devotion and with all the strength of your souls and bodies. For the ancient serpent feeds and clothes them by his arts, and they worship him as God and trust in his false deceptions. They are wicked murderers, killing those who join them in simplicity before they can turn back from their error; and they are wicked fornicators upon themselves, destroying their semen in an act of murder and offering it to the Devil. And they also invade My Church with their schisms in the fulness of vice; in their shameful plots they wickedly scoff at baptism, and the sacrament of My Son’s body and blood, and the other institutions of the Church. … they pretend to have sanctity; but they are deceived by the Devil …

And thus for certain the punishment of all the schisms shall fall upon you: (Hildegard of Bingen. Scivias. Paulist Press, Mahwah (NJ), pp. 301-302).

The above has long been interesting to me as it could be that Hildegard is warning end time Greco-Roman Catholics not to listen to people who look like Christians (as they appear to “have sanctity”) while they are protected in caves and are miraculously fed. That sounds a lot like those Philadelphians that God will protect in the wilderness (cf. Revelation 12:14-16; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra).

There are many biblical and non-biblical writings that seem to warn against a coming unity, that seem to be being pushed by Pope Francis.

Such unity appears to be coming within a relatively few years and would seem to be prophesied to affect the whole world–and not in a positive way.

2025 could very well represent an important step in that direction.

And it will lead to persecution to those of true saints (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:6-7), those in the Church of God (e.g. 2 Corinthians 1:1).

UPDATE 06/17/24: We just uploaded the following related video:

15:02

Vatican’s ‘Bait & Switch’?

On June 13, 2024, the Vatican released “a new document was presented by the Dicastery for Christian Unity on the role of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) in view of an eventual unity with all the Christian Churches.” This is something that certain ecumenical ones, including Pope Francis and Cardinal Kurt Koch (the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity) have been working on. This document is intended to reduce the relative importance of the Patriarch of Rome, compared to leaders of other faiths (and we believe many are sincere about that) to increase unity among the world’s churches. The 1700 year anniversary of Emperor Constantine’s Council of Nicea is set for 20 May 2025. This is something that the Eastern Orthodox, Vatican, various Protestants, and the World Council of Churches endorse, but not the Church of God as ‘Judeao-Christians’ also did not attend the 325 A.D. council. Some Greco-Roman prophecies are looking for a council that will result in unity and satisfy the heretics, whereas others warn against it as well as the rise of an antipope, who looks to be the final Antichrist of the Bible. Biblically, the 13 June change to the pope’s role looks like it will be a type of “bait and switch” as the False Prophet, the two-horned beast of Revelation 13:11-17 will still rise up. Might signs and lying wonders be used for worldly unity? According to an Eastern Orthodox writer, might false Marian matters be involved for that type of unification? Is there a church against the “unity of God” that Emperor Theodosius had adopted in 381 A.D.? Who could be the “secret sect” some think arises in the end times? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Vatican’s ‘Bait & Switch’?

Some items of related interest may include:

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.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
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.
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.
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Why Should American Roman Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
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? Here is a link to a related sermon: Eastern Orthodox 40+ Similar Beliefs to the CCOG.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Prophecies Showing Persecution of Sabbath Keepers Are Sabbath-keepers going to be persecuted in the 21st century? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies that point to this type of persecution?

Fatima Statue and Image of What the Children Saw

COGwriter

On June 13, 1917, a female appearing apparition calling itself the ‘Lady’ allegedly gave a message to three Roman Catholic children in Portugal, according to one of them named Lúcia who later wrote of this:

“J.M.J.

The third part of the secret revealed at the Cova da Iria-Fatima, on 13 July 1917.

I write in obedience to you, my God, who commands me to do so through his Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.

After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!’ And we saw in an immense light that is God: ‘something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it’ a Bishop dressed in White ‘we had the impression that it was the Holy Father’. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.

Tuy-3-1-1944.”

Although July 13, 1917 is commonly believed to have been the date (and Lúcia claimed that in the above), when Lúcia was asked about the secret in 1917 she referred to an event in June:

“When were you told the secret?” the Canon Formigão asked Lúcia on October 13th.

“As I recall, it was the second time,” she replied. (Fernandes, p. 161)

The second time was June 13, 1917. So, her written testimony in 1944 conflicts with her oral testimony in 1917–she had a lot of issues like that. Many believe also that there is more to the ‘third secret” that she revealed in 1944.

But why should anyone care about any of this Fatima stuff now?

Well, on May 13, 2013, the pontificate of Pope Francis was dedicated to the ‘Lady of Fatima’ per his two requests (Pope Francis’ pontificate consecrated to ‘Lady of Fatima’). He also consecrated the world to the ‘immaculate heart of Mary’ before the statue that is normally in Fatima, Portugal on October 13, 2013 (see Francis consecrated world to the ‘immaculate heart’ of an alleged ‘Fatima’ statue). He went to Fatima in 2017 and pronounced two of the three children who saw it as Catholic saints (see Pope entrusts people to ‘Mary’ and canonizes two related to Fatima. Yet, Fatima was demonic as several originally thought.). He has also taken other ‘Marian’ steps.

Such as is 2022, consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the so-called immaculate heart of Mary (see Fatima Day 2022), which is what the Fatima apparition said was needed for peace (though the apparition did not mention Ukraine).

Fatima is NOT something that will bring real lasting peace to the earth. But many still look for that.

Notice also the following from a Roman Catholic priest:

May 14, 2015

Francis, Fatima and the End of the World

Does the Holy Father know something we don’t?

At the end of April it was confirmed that Pope Francis will travel to Fatima for the one hundredth anniversary of the Marian apparitions, and it is rumored that he will use the occasion to canonize the two youngest seers, Jacinta and Francisco Marto.

This week, on the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the original image was venerated by the Holy Father at the Vatican. What is Pope Francis’ understanding of the message of Fatima, and why does the Virgin of Fatima seem so important to him, as she was to his two predecessors? …

The Pope’s planned visit to Fatima and his celebration this week continues his interest and involvement with Fatima. His pontificate was consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, 2013, by the cardinal of Lisbon. During the ceremony the cardinal prayed that Pope Francis be granted “the gift of discernment to know how to identify the paths of renewal for the Church.” He also prayed that the Holy Father be protected “in the difficult hours of suffering, so that he may overcome, in charity, the trials that the renewal of the Church will bring him.” This was followed five months later by Pope Francis consecrating the world to Our Lady of Fatima on October 13, 2013.

Pope Francis’ continued devotion to Our Lady of Fatima indicates a historic and significant link of the papacy with the prophecies of Fatima. …

When he celebrated the consecration to Our Lady of Fatima in October 2013, Pope Francis said: “The statue of our Lady, which has come from Fatima, helps us to feel her presence in our midst. Mary always brings us to Jesus…nothing is impossible for God’s mercy! Even the most tangled knots are loosened by His grace. And Mary, whose ‘yes’ opened the door for God to undo the knot of the ancient disobedience, is the Mother who patiently and lovingly brings us to God, so that He can untangle the knots of our soul by His fatherly mercy.” http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/francis-fatima-and-the-end-of-the-world-5788675422027776

I would add that ‘Mary’ and Fatima seem much more important to Pope Francis than they were to his predecessors. Fatima is still relevant as Pope Francis is trying to push aspects of it.

For years I have been warning people that in the future, apparitions that most people will think are Mary, will likely be part of the signs and lying wonders that the Bible warns will deceive the world (it also gives more information of what the Fatimists really think of their previous pope as well as their view of what the so-called undisclosed portion of the “third secret” contains).

Here is some information from my book which explains some of the biblical reasons to pay attention to some of this:

What the three children saw was not Mary in a short skirt, but could have been related to “the Lady of Kingdoms,” as she also seems to have a skirt (Isaiah 47:2, 4 NJB/NKJV.)

The Lady of Kingdoms

The Bible warns of a “virgin” that uses enchantments who is also called the Lady of Kingdoms:

1 Come down, sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne for the daughter of the Chaldeans, for thou shalt no more be called delicate and tender…4 Our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. 5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called the lady of kingdoms. 6 I was angry with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and have given them into thy bend: thou hast shown no mercy to them: upon the ancient thou hast laid thy yoke exceeding heavy. 7 And thou hast said: I shall be a lady forever: thou hast not laid these things to thy heart, neither hast thou remembered thy latter end. 8 And now hear these things, thou that art delicate, and dwellest confidently, that sayest in thy heart: I am, and there is none else besides me: I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know barrenness. 9 These two things shall come upon thee suddenly in one day, barrenness and widowhood. All things are come upon thee, because of the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great hardness of thy enchanters. 10 And thou best trusted in thy wickedness, and hast said: There is none that seeth me. Thy wisdom, and thy knowledge, this hath deceived thee. And thou best said in thy heart: I am, and besides me there is no other. 11 Evil shall come upon thee, and then shalt not know the rising thereof: and calamity shall fall violently upon thee, which thou canst not keep off: misery shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. 12 Stand now with thy enchanters, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be it may profit thee any thing, or if thou mayst become stronger. 13 Thou hast failed in the multitude or thy counsels: let now the astrologers stand and save thee, they that gazed at the stars, and counted the months, that from them they might tell the things that shall come to thee. (Isaiah 47:1, 4-7, 11-13, DRB)

Interestingly, the second of the seven wonders of the ancient world has been called, “Babylon the Great, the Lady of the Kingdoms, the glory of the whole earth“ (and the fourth wonder was called the temple of Diana of the Ephesians).

The Bible also seems to connect the Lady’s haughty comments in verses 7 & 8 with those of the harlot of Revelation 17:1, 18; 18:7-8, 11 and the city in Zephaniah 2:15.

Some may be surprised to see this, but this immoral “Lady” also seems to have the title of “queen” and “harlot”:

7 You thought, ‘I shall be a queen forever.’ 8…’I am the only one who matters. I shall never be widowed, never know bereavement.’ 9 Yet both these things will befall you, suddenly, in one day. Bereavement and widowhood will suddenly befall you… (Isaiah 47:7, 8b, 9 NJB)

4 Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, The mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations through her harlotries, And families through her sorceries. (Nahum 3:4, NKJV)

5 Look, I am against you!- declares Yahweh Sabaoth- I shall lift your skirts as high as your face and show your nakedness to the nations, your shame to the kingdoms. (Nahum 3:5, NJB)

3 All the nations have drunk deep of the wine of her prostitution; every king on the earth has prostituted himself with her, and every merchant grown rich through her debauchery. (Revelation 18:3, NJB)

17:1…Come, I will shew thee the condemnation of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters…18:7 As much as she hath glorified herself, and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her; because she saith in her heart: I sit a queen, and am no widow; and sorrow I shall not see. 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine,and she shall be burnt with the fire; because God is strong, who shall judge her. (Revelation 17:1b, 18:7-8, DRB)

So, what will happen to the queen/Lady of the Kingdoms as well as to Babylon is warned against in Revelation.

Furthermore, neither the Bible nor the apostles referred to Mary as any type of queen. Sacred scripture clearly warns against doing anything, such as making cakes, to honor one known as “the queen of heaven” (Jeremiah 7:18-19; 44:17-25)…

This skirted “Lady of Kingdoms” is clearly something Mary of the Bible would not want to be. Nearly two hundred years ago, Mary Cornwallis observed the following about the passages in Isaiah:

Under new terms we find the prophet denouncing ruin upon the Chaldeans, for their sins, and their abuse of power… O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no longer be called, The lady of the kingdoms…While we contemplate the fall of this illustrious city, it must not be forgotten that several passages in the Apocalypse justify the application of these prophecies to the destruction of the Roman empire, of which Babylon is the type.

Yet, notice that some Catholic writers have written that Mary is the Lady (or Queen) of the Kingdoms/Nations (the first three are directly related to the same mystic):

1945-1984…Our Lady appeared…under the title of “Lady of the Nations”…The Church approved these apparitions in 2002.

These apparitions and messages were given to a woman named Ida Peerdeman in Amsterdam, Holland… Apparition – November 16, 1950… “My child, I am standing on this globe, because I want to be called ‘the Lady of All Nations.’”

On March 4, 1951, the Lady says: ”…I want to be ‘The Lady of All Peoples’…”

In very truth we can say that Mary is the First Lady of the kingdom that Jesus Christ lived, taught, died and rose from the dead to establish.

November 10, 2000 Janie: While I was in prayer, Our Lady came as the Lady of All Nations.

Mary is Queen of the Kingdom of which Christ is King.

O Mary…You are…the Queen of the Kingdom…

For it is Mary of Nazareth, who becomes the Queen and Mother in the Kingdom of God, as the Mother of Christ, King of All Nations.

The vision of Mary crowned with twelve stars reveals Mary as the queen of the kingdom of God!

It is distressing that any would wish to tie Jesus’ mother Mary in with the “lady of kingdom” as the Bible warns that “the lady of the kingdoms” will be destroyed…

Believe the Word of God More than Your Eyes

So, what else is the shocking message of Fatima? The shocking message is that apparitions claiming to be Mary of the Bible, yet spiritually resembling “Mary” of Fatima, will likely be cited as “proof” that the “Great Monarch” and “Angelic Pastor” are of God and not the final Beast and Antichrist that the Bible warns about. People will be misled by seeing those apparitions and various signs and lying wonders that will occur.

I believe that Pope Francis is intending to get the “Lady of the Kingdom” accepted by the nations of the world.

Although most non-Roman Catholics do not think that Fatima can affect them, if they live long enough this century, they will find that this is not the case. Fatima is a much bigger deal than people realize and seems to tie into a variety of prophecies throughout the Bible (e.g. Isaiah 47, Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 17). How apparitions are likely to affect the world at the end seems to be a missing dimension in understanding prophecy by most who profess Christ (see also the video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy).

Pope Francis has personally taken several steps since becoming pope to direct people to Mary (see, for example, Pope Francis continues to direct his followers towards “Mary”). A lot of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy indicates that “Mary” will be a major factor in bringing people to the some type of Catholic faith–which will be a changed faith. This changed faith is warned against in the Bible, yet steps are being taken to implement it.

Notice also something from the Fatima Center:

Our Lady of Fatima said, “Only I can help you.” And Our Lady told us what we have to do to obtain that help: the Pope and the bishops, together, must consecrate Russia to Her Immaculate Heart. When this is done, Our Lady promises the conversion of Russia, the end of wars and a period of world peace.

Many in the 21st century believe that Fatima is the way to peace and solving all the problems facing the modern world.

Yet, the “Lady of Fatima” is NOT the answer to humanity’s ills, despite many Roman Catholics believing otherwise.

We need the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His kingdom to eliminate war, implement peace, and bring in true prosperity. Not misunderstandings about an apparition that appeared decades ago and is likely to appear again in the future.

Speaking of Fatima, it perhaps should be pointed out that the name of the town came from a Muslim princess who married a Roman Catholic–and she got her name from that of Muhammad’s favorite daughter–Fatima.  The BBC reported the following:

12 June 2022

Moroccan cinema authorities have banned the controversial British film Lady of Heaven, after it was condemned by the country’s religious council.

The film claims to tell the story of Lady Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad.

The Supreme Ulema Council said the movie was a “flagrant falsification of the established facts” of Islam.

There have been protests against the film in the UK. Egypt, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq have also denounced it.

The council accused the film of “loathsome partiality” and accused the filmmakers of seeking “fame and sensationalism” and “hurting the feelings of Muslims and stirring up religious sensitivities”, according to Moroccan state media.

The BBC’s Religion Editor, Aleem Maqbool, says the criticism centres on the the way the Shia Muslim film-maker and cleric, Yasser Al-Habib, has portrayed prominent revered figures in early Sunni Islam, implying that there are comparisons between their actions with those of the Islamic State group in Iraq. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61774830

Though NOT the topic of the UK film, many Muslims believe that it was Muhammad’s daughter Fatima, and not Mary as some have asserted, who appeared to the children in 1917. However, it was neither and the apparition itself only called itself the ‘Lady’ and pointed to heaven.

Now, the film name Lady of Heaven, is interesting because that is a name Roman Catholics have assigned to their version of Jesus’ Mother Mary.

Let me state that there is a tie between Fatima, Islam, and Roman Catholicism and that tie looks to be a factor in the coming TEMPORARY unity that there will be between a changed Roman Catholic faith and many adherents to Islam.

Yes, there are still future ramifications of the 1917 Fatima apparition.

US woman distraught over inflation (Photo from Pexels)

COGwriter

ZeroHedge and NewsMax reported the following:

Consumer Prices Hold At Record Highs – Up 20% Since Biden Elected

June 12, 2024

Core CPI has not had a down-month since President Biden was elected. …

We note that consumer prices have not fallen in a single month since President Biden’s term began (July 2022 and May 2024 was the closest with ‘unchanged’), which leaves overall prices up over 19.5% since Bidenomics was unleashed (compares with +8% during Trump’s term).

And prices have never been more expensive…

That is an average of 5.4% per annum (almost triple the 1.9% average per annum rise in price during President Trump’s term). …

Since President Biden was elected, food prices at home are up around 21% and food prices away from home are up almost 23%… https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/consumer-prices-hold-record-highs-20-biden-elected

June 12, 2024

U.S. consumer prices were unexpectedly unchanged in May amid cheaper gasoline, but inflation likely remains too high for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates before September against the backdrop of a persistently strong labor market. …

Though the annual increase in consumer prices has slowed from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022, inflation continues to run above the U.S. central bank’s 2% target. https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/inflation-3-4-percent/2024/06/12/id/1168435/

James Hickman of Schiff Sovereign sent out an email with the following:

June 11, 2024

There is a well-known modern proverb (often attributed to the novelist G. Michael Hopf) that goes, “Weak men create hard times, hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men.”

The saying sums up the cyclical nature of the rise and fall of societies– and it’s a topic in which I have tremendous personal interest.

Having recently reached middle age, I can comfortably say with the benefit of hindsight that I was born and grew up during the American prime time– the time at which the wealthiest and most powerful country in the history of the world was at its peak.

The US is still an incredible country with so much prosperity and opportunity. But it would be completely naive and ignorant to claim that America is not in substantial decline.

Its standing in the world has waned, much of it just over the past few years.  …

And social divisions, many of which have been bizarrely self-inflicted, seem to grow more tense by the day.

Fortunately, America’s decline began from a historically high peak. …

Joseph Tainter. … his analysis shows that one of the key culprits in collapse is the inability of a government to recognize problems… or to solve them. …

The government’s own projections forecast an extra $20 trillion in new debt over the coming decade, and frankly that’s optimistic.

History shows that explosions in national debt are financed by the Federal Reserve creating new money– which ultimately causes inflation.

When the Fed created $5 trillion of new money during the pandemic, we got 9% inflation. How much inflation will $20+ trillion cause?

And the worse inflation becomes, the more urgency the rest of the world will have to replace the dollar as the global reserve currency… which will result in even MORE inflation in the US.

It’s a vicious cycle in which inflation will create more inflation. We project this is 5-7 years away.

Increasing debt continues to happen. I suspect the collapse will be less than the 5-7 years that James Hickman and his company are pointing to.

The USA continues to increase its debts and not pay enough attention to getting its fiscal house in order.

Sadly, that is not a surprise as increased debt as well as risk of inflation were included as part of my 24 items to prophetically watch in 2024:

11. Debt

The Bible teaches that the result of debt accumulation will  be far worse than even many pessimists believe. Here is an end-time prophecy given to the prophet Habakkuk by God over 2600 years ago:

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.

5 “Moreover, wine is a traitor,
an arrogant man who is never at rest.
His greed is as wide as Sheol;
like death he has never enough.
He gathers for himself all nations
and collects as his own all peoples.”

6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,

“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—
for how long?—
and loads himself with pledges!”
7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise,
and those awake who will make you tremble?
Then you will be spoil for them.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,
for the blood of man and violence to the earth,
to cities and all who dwell in them. (Habakkuk 2:2-8; English Standard Version)

The USA is the most indebted nation in the history of humanity and those in it should try to understand this prophecy. Perhaps it should be noted that the United Kingdom and Canada have about a similar massive per capita debt to that of the USA.

Notice the following levels of official US debt:

• January 20, 2009, $10,626,877,048,913.08, date Obama-Biden Administration inaugurated.
• January 19, 2017, $19,944,429,217,106.77, date Obama-Biden leave office, replaced the next day when Trump-Pence inaugurated.
• January 19, 2021, $27,752,835,868,445.35, date Trump-Pence leave off, replaced the next day when Biden-Harris inaugerated. https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny
• December 16, 2021 $29,206,281,597,429.63 https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny
• December 8, 2022 $31,310,795,117,652.48 https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny
• December 27, 2023 $33,896,083,378,248.05 https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny

Official US debt nearly doubled under the Obama-Biden Administration. It also greatly increased in four years under the Trump-Pence Administration. It has also increased in that nearly three years of the Biden-Harris Administration–and further increases are expected. There is also Federal Reserve balance sheet debt that is not counted these figures.

Expect official US debt to increase in 2024.

The USA is walking a dangerous line on its debt that will not end well.

The Anglo-American world order will come to an end. Accumulation of debt, and then having to pay historically ‘normal’ interest rates will strain the national economies of the USA and UK more than almost anyone will believe.

Those who think the current world order with the USA’s dollar on top will last through the end of this century are in error.

Those who will believe the Bible will take the words that God spoke to the prophet Habakkuk seriously

The Bible warns that debt, and having to borrow from foreigners, is a curse that would hit those who received various biblical blessings as they became more disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:15,43-46).

Debt will increase in 2024.

Have you been paying attention to this?

12. US Dollar Dominance will Decrease

Consider the following curse from the Book of Leviticus:

19 I will break the pride of your power; (Leviticus 26:19)

While the above undoubtedly has military & economic possibilities, consider that the US dollar is the pride of the USA’s power.

It is backed by nothing.

So, it is a prideful thing–plus it does project US power around the world.

Debt, trade, weather, morality, leadership, sanctions, and other issues have given various nations motivations to work to dethrone the US dollar as the world’s primary trade and reserve currency.

The economy of the USA has been financed, to a significant degree, by foreigners willing to provide goods to the USA on credit as well as the USA profiting from much of the rest of the world’s international trade that is dollar-based.

When the US dollar ceases to be the world’s primary reserve currency, this will foster massive inflation.

Yes. expect to see more debt in 2024. And actually, as of last Friday, the official USA debt rose to $34,672,892,047,832.53, which is close to a trillion dollars more than at the end of 2023. For what it’s worth, I am old enough to remember when the total deficit was LESS THAN THE INCREASE since January 1st of this year.

Related to USA debt, we put out the following video:

14:44

And the Debt Goes On …

On June 3, 2023, US President Joe Biden signed a bill to increase the official debt-ceiling of the United States. According to the US Treasury the “ceiling” has been changed, increased, or delayed 78 other times. The official debt has nearly tripled since the Obama-Biden Administration. The official debt increased about $2 trillion per year under Donald Trump’s Administration and has done close to that in the Joe Biden Administration. While the USA has been able to increase debt with limited consequences (like inflation) so far, does the Bible show this can end in destruction? What did God warn about debt through the prophet Habakkuk? Is getting into high amounts of debt a blessing or curse according to the Bible? Do Democrats or Republicans currently have a plan that will now be implemented to pay off the debt? Has the USA been functioning as an international “leech” consistent with statements in the Book of Proverbs? Does the Bible say it is wicked to borrow money you do really intend to repay? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel cover these matters.

Here is a link to our video: And the Debt Goes On …

Related to inflation, we put out the following video:

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

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

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

24 items to prophetically watch in 2024 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 24 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related video: 24 Items to Prophetically Watch in 2024.The End of US Dollar Dominance Is the USA losing its economic status? What about the petro-gold-yuan? A related video is also available: US Dollar being challenged by Gold-Petro-Yuan.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something? Here is a version in the Spanish language Escrituras sobre Preparación física para los Cristianos. Here is a link to a related sermon: Physical preparedness for Christians.
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold and silver? Two videos of related interest may be: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar and Silver, Science, and Scripture.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction Can the USA survive two full presidential terms? In what ways are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris apocalyptic? This book has hundreds of prophecies and scriptures to provide details.  A Kindle version is also available and you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to your free Kindle reader app (or if you already have one or a Kindle),  you can go to: Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction (Kindle) to get the book in seconds.

After the Euros & Macron resigning, Marine Le Pen @MLP_officiel of National Rally lays out her manifesto on immigration.

“Give me one reason, only one, to keep on our territory foreigners who collaborate with a totalitarian ideology that wants the death of the French?

“Dual… pic.twitter.com/d9tObRF86Y

— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) June 12, 2024

COGwriter

French President Macron issued another warning against his political rivals:

12 June 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his shock decision to dissolve parliament and call elections, urging French voters to come together and “say no to the extremes”.

Three days after his bombshell announcement in response to the far-right National Rally’s dramatic victory in European elections, Mr Macron denied he wanted to hand them the keys to power.

He said calling elections was the only republican option. He said that a broad range of political groups who “cannot identify with this extremist fever” should unite against it.

His decision to call two rounds of elections on 30 June and 7 July has prompted four parties on the left to agree a pact to work together, but the conservative Republicans have been left deeply divided.

Hardline Republicans leader Eric Ciotti is facing calls to resign after he called for an alliance with the National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw99g1ez5vjo

French president Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections following a significant defeat in the European Parliament elections. The far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) party, led by Marine Le Pen, is expected to win the elections, though likely falling short of a full majority, 06/11/24 https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/france-election-marine-le-pen-far-right-national-rally-party-13781164.html

One thing that Marine Le Pen has stated is that Islamic extremists should be deported from France:

National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has vowed to shut down radical mosques and deport Islamists with dual nationality in her first major speech after winning the EU elections in France.

“Give me one reason, only one, to keep on our territory foreigners who collaborate with a totalitarian ideology that wants the death of the French?” Le Pen told a raucous crowd.

Laying out her manifesto on the subject of mass migration, Le Pen asserted, “Dual nationals connected to the Islamist ideology must be stripped of the nationality & expelled.”

“The French who adopt the ideology of the enemy must be brought before justice & punished,” she added, demanding, “The laws exist, they just need to be applied. These laws will be applied without weakening.” https://modernity.news/2024/06/12/le-pen-vows-to-deport-foreigners-who-push-totalitarian-ideology-in-france/

As I reminded readers yesterday, back in 2017 and related to a different election in France, I posted the following:

Whether or not France’s Marine Le Pen wins, the reality is that Europe will one day deal with Islamic immigration and it will not be by encouraging more of it.

Europe will not continue to tolerate Islamic terrorism! …

It is precisely because of mass Islamic immigration and terrorism that Marine Le Pen has a chance ….

The time will come when Europe will take strong steps against Islam. (Thiel B. ‘France election: Marine Le Pen sees Trump-like boost in support, but victory far from assured’. COGwriter, April 22, 2017)

Europe, and not just France, is moving against the waves of immigration that have affected it. A reader sent me a link to the following today:

Unbuttoning his carefully ironed white shirt, Jordan Bardella took a sip of water at a sweltering political rally during his European election campaign and apologised for the pause by saying: “I’m already getting hot.”

“You’re the one making us hot,” screamed a girl from the young crowd.

The French call it “Bardella-mania”.

Wherever the handsome 28-year-old star of France’s hard-Right National Rally (RN) goes, he is mobbed, above all, by the young.

Such adulation morphed into electoral triumph on Sunday when 31.4 per cent of the French voted for Marine Le Pen’s impeccably dressed, carefully groomed and well-spoken protégé, offering his party a projected 30 seats in the European Parliament.

That is more than twice the seats won by Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, which scored a paltry 14.6 per cent (13 seats), and finished only just ahead of the Socialists, on 13.8 per cent.

But it was not just Mr Bardella who was drawing swarms of young voters. Germany’s hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) also surged in the polls, propelled in part by voters under the age of 30.

One poll published on Sunday showed that 32 per cent of 18-34 year-olds voted for the RN in France, more than double the total of the 2019 European elections. In Germany, the AfD saw an 11 per cent jump in its vote share among 16-to-24 year-olds, claiming a total of 16 per cent. It saw big jumps in 25-44 year-olds, too. 06/10/24 https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-young-voters-flocked-hard-175518516.html?guccounter=1

Yes, more in Europe have concerns about migrants and want steps taken to send many back.

Yet, expect protests and even terrorism to hit parts of Europe, including France, because of anti-migrant moves.

Related to Paris, back in 2015 the Continuing Church of God put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Terror: Will Paris be Destroyed?

The Bible prophesies that the coming European Beast will, as alluded to in Daniel 8:25 and as stated in Revelation 13:3-4, be a man of war. Partially, I believe, because he will deal with terrorists and civil unrest in Europe.

Much more than people like Marine Le Pen, he will push out Islam (cf. Daniel 11:40-43) and lead a powerful European military (cf. Revelation 13:3-4; Daniel 11:39-43)! This will reduce migrants in Europe.

Related to Islam’s future in Europe, back in 2018 we made the following video for our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

17:19

Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

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

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

The mood in Europe is anti-migrant, despite some protests that may suggest otherwise. Expect steps and the rise of various ones who will claim to put a stop to it.

This election was only one step–more will happen after Europe reorganizes.

We are in the time before the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22) that Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8).

Steps leading to the Great Tribulation, as well as reactions in Europe against Muslims, are taking place.

“Watch” (Mark 13:37).

17th century portrait with the devil pushing the Gog and Magog war
(photo from Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Israel365News posted the following:

Attacks on Northern Israel: First Sign of Messiah and Gog and Magog

June 11, 2024

Several Hezbollah rockets were successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome system, but debris from the interceptions endangered residents in Acre and Haifa. …

Waves of drone and rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah targeting the Misgav Am area struck northern Israel on Sunday, sparking massive brush fires in the Golan. One drone impacted in an open area in the Jezreel Valley, near Nazareth, marking the deepest penetration of the war to date, landing 24 miles inside Israel. The IDF launched an Iron Dome missile that failed to intercept the drone. …

When considering the war breaking out in northern Israel, a section of the Talmud describing the days preceding Messiah comes to mind.

The unfolding scenario strongly suggests a section of the Talmud describing the period before the Messiah. The Talmud (Sotah 49b, Sanhedrin 97a) describes the “times of the approaching of the Messiah” (ikv’ta d’meshicha), which Rashi explains is “after the exile ends but before the arrival of the Messiah.” Many conditions seem to be appearing around the world; however, this article will focus on those that seem to relate specifically to the war in northern Israel.

The Talmud states, “..the Galilee shall be destroyed, and the Gavlan will be desolate, and the men of the border shall go round from city to city to seek charity, but they will find no mercy.” …

Indeed, the pre-Messiah War of Gog and Magog is prophesied to come from the north.

Therefore prophesy, O mortal, and say to Gog: Thus said Hashem: Surely, on that day, when My people Yisrael are living secure, you will take note, and you will come from your home in the farthest north, you and many peoples with you—all of them mounted on horses, a vast horde, a mighty army. Ezekiel 38: 14-15

In 2015, the Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Mishkoltz sect of Hasidic Jews spoke about the appearance of the Gog and Magog War in current events. https://israel365news.com/391676/attacks-on-northern-israel-first-sign-of-messiah-and-gog-and-magog/

I have warned for some time that Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ would not be able to protect it (e.g. Thiel B. ‘The IDF Is Making Major Progress in Gaza, and That Makes Intervention by Hezbollah Much More Likely’. COGwriter, November 8, 2023; Thiel B. VOA: Hezbollah Says Iranian Fuel Tanker to Sail to Lebanon Soon. COGwriter, April 19, 2021). And while it still does help, the time will come, according to Isaiah 22:6-9, that great damage will come to Jerusalem and protection will be taken away from the land of Judah (the current nation called Israel).

Getting back to the article, is Ezekiel 38 with Gog and Magog about to be fulfilled? Or has it begun?

No!

Ezekiel 38 is for over a thousand years away.

Let us look at what the Bible actually teaches.

This Gog Magog war is in Ezekiel 38, so let’s start with its first 7 verses:

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops — many people are with you.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

Verses 1-7 talk about a group getting ready to battle. Various nations such as Russia, Iran, Asians, and others are included here. Verse 5, mentioning Persia, is a reference to the land of Iran.

What does the Bible actually teach about the timing? Notice the next two verses from Ezekiel 38:

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

Verses 8-9 refer to a regathering of Israel. Why do certain prophecy watchers say that it is for now?

In addition to misapplications of scripture by some rabbinical writers, some Protestants believe that the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 fulfills verse 8. Yet, this is not really the fulfillment for several reasons (watch also the video Israel, 1948, and Prophecy).

One reason is that even today most Jews do not live in the nation of Israel. The Jewish diaspora is scattered throughout the world. But the other reason is that many do not realize that there are multiple millions of the descendants of Israel that are not of the tribe of Judah. The Bible shows that Israel split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel after the reign of Solomon and that later the ten tribes that were part of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 11:31,35; 12:16-17; 12:20-23) were carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:21-23). Those tribes represent hundreds of millions of people currently alive, and as there are about 7,000,000 Jews in Israel, most simply have not been regathered (more information on the tribes of Israel is in the article Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Furthermore, pay close attention to the part of verse 8 about people dwelling safely. That is NOT the case in Israel today.

Additionally, notice verses 10-13:

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ — 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”‘

Israel has its walls and “iron dome” and military weaponry. Notice that it is against a ‘peaceful people’ in unarmed villages that the prince of Rosh is going against. This cannot happen until AFTER the return of Jesus. Furthermore, there simply is not a plan to take a lot of gold and silver out of Israel right now by the power of the far north, nor does the current nation of Israel have enough of it to likely justify an attack for that purpose (unless perhaps some hidden gold/silver mines or remaining treasure of David).

Notice the following:

Israel holds no gold reserves at all, according to a Bank of Israel spokesman. (Kopf S. Jerusalem of Gold. Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2011. http://www.jpost.com/Jerusalem-Report/Israel/Jerusalem-of-Gold viewed 07/21/14)

Israel Gold Reserves

1950 – 2019 | Monthly | USD mn | CEIC Data

Israel’s Gold Reserves was reported at 0.000 USD mn in Feb 2019. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/israel/gold-reserves accessed 06/11/24

According to Index Mundi, the nation of Israel was not among the top 48 producers of silver in the world, so its supply of this would also seem to be limited–it also confirmed that Israel does not have gold reserves (though there is some gold and silver in coins, etc. in Israel). Israel in the early 21st century is NOT the target of Ezekiel 38.

Some Protestant prophecy watchers believe that Iran will soon more closely align with Russia to invade Israel in order to fulfill Ezekiel 38. However, since that prophecy is not fulfilled in this age (it is for the ‘latter days,’ which comes well after Jesus returns), that is not the case. Some others have also claimed that the ‘Bible Code’ tells of it for this age. That is also not the case. Related to that the Continuing Church of God put together the following videos on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code)

Ezekiel 38 is NOT for our time.

Some, partially because of Russia’s ‘Special Military Operation’ into Ukraine, believe that it is.

Related to that, we in the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) also put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Here is a link to our video: Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?

According to the Bible, Gog and Magog cause havoc AFTER the millennium and what would be considered as that judgment day:

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  (Revelation 20:7-12)

So, no, Ezekiel 38 is not about to be fulfilled.

Believe the Bible over headlines and improper interpretations from men.

Some items of possibly-related interest may include:

Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
The 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.
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 is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes.

Marine Le Pen
(Photo by By Vox España – https://www.flickr.com/photos/voxespana/53732861384/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148607959)

COGwriter

The French are pushing away from migrants, and political moves to do so are in process:

French right-wing party leader Ciotti backs Le Pen alliance ahead of snap elections

The leader of France’s main right-wing party on Tuesday said he backed an alliance with the far right of Marine Le Pen in snap legislative elections, triggering a crisis within his own party and fury from the government.

11 June 2024

The stunning announcement by the Republicans (LR) leader Eric Ciotti in a lunchtime television interview is the first time in modern French political history that a leader of a traditional party has backed an alliance with the far-right National Rally (RN).

President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called the elections on June 30, with a second round on July 7, in a major gamble after the RN scored more than double the number of votes of his centrist alliance in the EU elections. …

“We need to have an alliance while remaining ourselves… an alliance with the RN and its candidates,” Ciotti told TF1 television, adding that he had already held discussions with Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate, and RN party leader Jordan Bardella.

Le Pen praised “the courageous choice” and “sense of responsibility” of Ciotti, saying she hoped that a significant number of LR figures would follow him. https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240611-french-right-wing-party-leader-ciotti-backs-alliance-with-far-right-ahead-of-snap-elections

Marine Le Pen Vows To ‘Dissolve New World Order’ As Macron Dissolves Parliament Following Defeat

June 10, 2024

Marine Le Pen has vowed to dissolve the ‘New World Order’ in the wake of her historic victory against French President Emmanuel Macron in the recent European election.  …

“I’ve decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly,” Macron said in an emergency address to the nation. …

Supporters of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally were reportedly seen celebrating, singing “dissolution, dissolution!” while watching Macron’s address at an event where Le Pen is set to take the floor, according to Politico.

“This historic vote shows that when people vote, people win,” Le Pen said to the crowd. “We are ready to take over power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections.”

“We are ready to exercise power, to end mass migration, to prioritise purchasing power, ready to make France live again,” she added. https://thepeoplesvoice.tv/marine-le-pen-vows-to-dissolve-new-world-order-as-macron-dissolves-parliament-following-defeat/

While Marine Le Pen will NOT “dissolve the new world order,” her party’s rise will actually help set the stage for it.

Back in 2017, related to a different election in France, I posted the following:

Whether or not France’s Marine Le Pen wins, the reality is that Europe will one day deal with Islamic immigration and it will not be by encouraging more of it.

Europe will not continue to tolerate Islamic terrorism! There will be conflict between the Europeans and the Arabs (watch also the video sermonette War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

For years, I have warned that problems with Islam will be a factor in the rise of the European Beast power.

It is precisely because of mass Islamic immigration and terrorism that Marine Le Pen has a chance–not that I believe that she is or will be the Beast of Revelation 13:1-10. But Islamic issues are paving the way for a strongman to rise up in Europe.

The time will come when Europe will take strong steps against Islam. (Thiel B. ‘France election: Marine Le Pen sees Trump-like boost in support, but victory far from assured’. COGwriter, April 22, 2017)

Europe, and not just France, is moving against the waves of immigration that have affected it. Reuters and NewsMax reported the following:

Economy, migration, war top voters’ concerns in EU election – survey

June 10, 2024

BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) – The economy, migration and international conflicts were the top concerns for voters in the European Union election, data from the bloc’s biggest member countries suggested on Monday.

Provisional results in the European Parliament election on Sunday night showed gains for nationalist and euro-sceptic parties that campaigned on tickets including clamp-downs on migration, citizens’ economic woes and scrapping green policies. … followed by “immigration and asylum seekers”, in the poll of 6,000 citizens in the EU’s five biggest countries by population – Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland – plus Sweden. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/economy-migration-war-top-voters-concerns-eu-election-survey-2024-06-10/

June 10, 2024

Former Ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell said the United States should heed what’s happening across Europe, telling Newsmax on Monday that it’s a “backlash” against progressive and woke policies. …

“What’s happening across Europe is really a backlash. And remember, Rob, the European Union became smaller because of Brexit. The British said we’re out of here because the rest of Europe couldn’t control the immigration issue,” Grenell said. “We need to learn from the Europeans on immigration; when a leader cannot handle the immigration issue in a proper way, the people revolt. I think we’re seeing that in America as well.” https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/ric-grenell-europe-parliamentary-elections/2024/06/10/id/1168217/

Europe will eventually take bolder steps against migrants, particularly those from North Africa and the Middle East.

Notice something that the Bible predicts:

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. (Daniel 11:40-43, NIV)

Note: The peoples that the King of the North goes against are in the currently Islamically-dominated lands of the Middle East and North Africa.

Interestingly, Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy says a leader will basically do the same things as the biblical King of the North:

Rudolph Gekner (died 1675). “A great prince of the North with a most powerful army will traverse all Europe, uproot all republics, and exterminate all rebels. His sword moved by Divine power will most valiantly defend the Church of Jesus Christ. He will combat on behalf of the true orthodox faith, and shall subdue to his dominion the Mahometan Empire. A new pastor of the universal church will come from the shore (of Dalmatia) through a celestial prodigy, and in simplicity of heart adorned with the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Peace will come to the world.” (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.36).

Pseudo-Methodius (7th century): This new Muslim invasion will be a punishment without limit and mercy…In France, people of Christians will fight and kill them…At that same time the Muslims will be killed and they will know the tribulation…The Lord will give them to the powers of the Christians whose empire will be elevated above all empires…The Roman King (Great Monarch) will show a great indignation against those who will have denied Christ in Egypt or in Arabia (Araujo, Fabio R. Selected Prophecies and Prophets. BookSurge LLC, Charlestown (SC), 2007, p. 103).

Consider that while Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy looks forward to the arrival of this leader who will fight the Arabs/Muslims, the Bible warns against him. The Bible teaches that Europe will one day reorganize and allow a dictator to rule (Revelation 17:12-13; cf. Revelation 13).

European voters are making it clearer that they want to change immigration policies. This will also result in migrants protesting and cause civil unrest.

Events in Europe are leading to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.

Russia Could Deploy ICBMs In Mexico, State TV Warns https://t.co/DtB0cfVqCt

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 10, 2024

COGwriter

Last week, CNN reported the following:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries they’re taking a “very serious and dangerous step” by supplying weapons to Ukraine, which could result in Moscow arming their enemies.

Ukraine has relied heavily on arms supplied by Western allies to beat back Russian forces since Putin’s full-scale invasion began more than two years ago. And last week, US President Joe Biden for the first time gave Kyiv permission to use American munitions to carry out limited strikes inside Russian territory, after several European nations removed restrictions on how weapons they supply can be used.

“Supplying weapons to a conflict zone is always a bad thing,” Putin told editors from international news agencies on the sidelines of the annual economic forum in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. “Especially if this is linked to the fact that those who supply them are not only delivering weapons but managing them.”

Putin also warned that Russia could retaliate if Western countries are deemed to have become directly involved in the Ukraine conflict.

“In the end, if we see that these countries become involved in a war against us, what they are doing makes them directly involved in a war against the Russian Federation, we reserve the right to act the same way,” he said. “Overall, it leads to some serious problems.”

And he raised the prospect of retaliatory action by asking why Russia would “not have the right to supply our weapons of the same class to those regions of the world where there will be strikes on the sensitive facilities of those countries that are doing this against Russia?” https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/europe/putin-russia-western-nations-ukraine-intl-hnk/index.html

So, after US President Biden authorized Ukraine to strike within the territory of Russia, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin basically said that two can play that game–and he suggested putting missiles in other nations that could strike the USA.

Now others in Russia have suggested some specifics, like pointing to Mexico as a place for Russian missiles. Newsweek and ZeroHedge reported the following:

Moscow Could Deploy ICBMs in Mexico, Russian TV Claims

June 10, 2024

Kremlin propagandists have claimed that countries in Latin America, including Mexico, could host missiles that can strike American targets.

The comments were made on the program 60 Minutes, whose anchors and guests make frequent threats against the West as they frame Vladimir Putin‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a proxy war between Moscow and NATO.

Kyiv had long argued it needed to be able to strike targets on Russian territory, especially after Moscow’s forces made rapid gains in the border areas of the Kharkiv region. Washington finally gave the go ahead for its weapons to be used in this way, albeit with caveats. …

“Russians on Kremlin State TV yesterday declared that Mexico was their military ally and they are wanting to place their missiles on Mexican territory so Mexico can attack the United States,” Jake Broe a former U.S. Air Force nuclear and missile operations officer, posted on X next to a screen grab. “This is insane.”

Mexico has condemned Putin’s invasion of Ukraine but has adopted a policy of neutrality and refused to participate in sanctions against Moscow. …

Alexei Fenenko, a research fellow at Moscow’s Institute of International Security Studies, asked Popov: “I keep thinking, when will we finally show a map of where our missiles can strike the U.S. and not where there American missiles are striking us?”

This proposed map could show how “Anchorage, Honolulu, Seattle, Guam and San Francisco are within our reach. Why don’t we show them this kind of a map?”

“They will scream that Russians are villains and scoundrels,” Fenenko said. “Yes, you are risk of a retaliatory strike.” https://www.newsweek.com/russia-mexico-nuclear-missile-1910386

President Putin in his recent comments before the St. Petersburg annual economic forum said that the moment has not been reached which warrants the nuclear option, and expressed hope for de-escalation with the West. But he did last week threaten to supply advanced weapons to countries deemed “enemies of the West” in retaliation for NATO escalation in Ukraine.

As for Mexico, which just saw leftist President Claudia Sheinbaum come to power on a platform vowing the continuation of predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s policies, it has adopted an official policy of neutrality while also refusing to back US-led sanctions on Moscow. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-could-deploy-icbms-mexico-state-tv-warns

The tweet at the beginning of this post points to Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as possible locations for Russian missiles according to the Russian television broadcast.

The comment from Alexei Fenenko, that Anchorage would be in reach, is also interesting for many reasons.

One of which is that many in Russia want Alaska back–see MSN: Russian Lawmaker Floats Texas and Alaska Annexations.

Bible prophecy teaches:

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

In the 21st century, the USA is the power with the strongest fortresses and dividing its land for gain would prosper many. I have long asserted that Russia will be supportive of the coming European Beast’s attacks against the USA. And that it would likely be rewarded with at least parts of Alaska and perhaps also parts of Canada for doing so.

Consider also that last December, a Russian politician publicly pointed to his desire for Russia to get Alaska back and Mexico go get Texas back:

Russian Lawmaker Floats Texas and Alaska Annexations

December 9, 2023

A Russian politician has said that Venezuela’s threat to seize a region of Guyana signals a “new world order,” which could lead to future annexations by neighbors of U.S. territory that have faced their own historic disputes.

The comments from Sergey Mironov follow an attempted landgrab of Essequibo by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Mironov is leader of the A Just Russia faction that forms the country’s systemic opposition generally sympathetic to Vladimir Putin‘s foreign policy. …

Mironov seemed to celebrate the move by Maduro, a Putin ally, in a post on X. “Did you want a new world order? Receive it and sign for it. Venezuela has annexed a 24th state, Guyana-Essequibo,” wrote the Russian lawmaker, without mentioning Moscow’s own annexations, which include Crimea and four regions of Ukraine.

“This is happening right under the nose of the once-great hegemon of the United States. All that remains is for Mexico to return Texas,” Mironov wrote. He was referring to the history of the state controlled by Mexico until 1836, when it became independent, before joining the U.S. in 1845.

Mironov, ex-chairman of Russia’s Federation Council between 2001 and 2011, added, “It’s time for Americans to think about their future. And also about Alaska,” which was part of the Russian empire before it was purchased by the U.S. in 1867 for $7.2 million.

Moscow has never formally asserted a territorial claim to Alaska, but comments by Russian politicians about retaking the state have become more common since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-lawmaker-floats-texas-and-alaska-annexations/ar-AA1lfGBw?ocid=socialshare&pc=U531&cvid=cb8aa7f996ff44f2a5fe87f37bac62e9&ei=22

Yes, some in Russia want Alaska back, and yes, some in Mexico want Texas and other lands controlled by the USA back.

Also notice something from last Spring:

April 28, 2023

Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov launched an attack on the United States on state television, sharing an image of a map that divides up the U.S., seemingly contesting the legitimacy of its territorial gains throughout history. …

“Russian propagandist Solovyev drags his idea of dividing the United States between different countries from show to show,” …

Solovyov regularly lashes out at the West’s support of Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia. In the clip, he seems to contest U.S. support for Ukraine’s goal of securing its 1991 borders. He does this by pointing out on a map some of the territorial gains the United States made in the 1800s, seemingly drawing a parallel to Russian ambitions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has, in various declarations, denied Ukraine’s national identity as well as its legitimacy as a sovereign nation. …

The state TV host then broadcast a map captioned “How did the USA expand its territory?” on the screen.

“I believe that the State Duma should say that we recognize Mexico’s territorial right to the territories which were taken away from it, as a result of the hostilities of 1748, because these matters have no statute of limitations. So of course the new Mexico should be returned by the USA to the Mexican Republic,” said Solovyov.

That would “be fair,” he said.

Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including present-day New Mexico, as part of a treaty signed on February 2, 1848, that ended the war between the United States and Mexico.

“Likewise, we must look carefully at the fate of the free state of Texas, because in 1745 it was invaded and that too is totally unacceptable.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-state-tv-shows-map-dividing-u-s-up-among-other-countries/ar-AA1atlGD?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=a473fb7639df48fba09393ee52ba51b8&ei=36

Well, Russia wants more than to push for Mexico to get back a lot of land it was forced to give to the USA.

Last Summer, a reader tipped me of to the following that appeared in Newsweek:

‘Alaska Is Ours!’ Billboards Appear in Russia After Threat to Reclaim State

July 7, 2022

Billboards proclaiming “Alaska Is Ours!” have been spotted in Russia one day after a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the country could reclaim the territory that was sold to the U.S. in 1867.

Multiple billboards bearing the slogan surprised residents in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk after being spotted on Thursday, according to Krasnoyarsk news agency NGS24. One day earlier, Putin ally and State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin suggested that Russia could “take back” Alaska in retaliation for economic sanctions imposed on Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The idea that Russia will regain Alaska is probably highly likely. But note that the Russian politician was also talking about Texas going back to Mexico.

Since 2008, I have reported that Russia wants Alaska back and that I believe it will end up with at least part of it, and perhaps also parts of Canada (e.g. Thiel B. Russian Predicts USA End in 2010. COGwriter, December 20, 2008). Russians have also for a long time pushed the idea of Mexico getting land back from the USA as well. I have also been warning of that since 2008 (e.g. Thiel B. Absolut Reconquista by Mexico? COGwriter, April 6, 2008).

Notice this news story about a Russian prediction in 2008:

MOSCOW — For a decade, Russian academic Igor Panarin has been predicting the U.S. will fall apart…Prof. Panarin, 50 years old, is not a fringe figure. A former KGB analyst, he is dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s academy for future diplomats…

When the going gets tough, he says, wealthier states will withhold funds from the federal government and effectively secede from the union. Social unrest up to and including a civil war will follow. The U.S. will then split along ethnic lines, and foreign powers will move in.

California will form the nucleus of what he calls “The Californian Republic,” and will be part of China or under Chinese influence. Texas will be the heart of “The Texas Republic,” a cluster of states that will go to Mexico or fall under Mexican influence. Washington, D.C., and New York will be part of an “Atlantic America” that may join the European Union… Hawaii, he suggests, will be a protectorate of Japan or China, and Alaska will be subsumed into Russia.

“It would be reasonable for Russia to lay claim to Alaska; it was part of the Russian Empire for a long time.” A framed satellite image of the Bering Strait that separates Alaska from Russia like a thread hangs from his office wall. “It’s not there for no reason,” he says with a sly grin. (Osborn A. As if Things Weren’t Bad Enough, Russian Professor Predicts End of U.S.  Wall Street Journal, Dec 29, 2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html).

Now, although that Russian was not specifically predicting an attack on the USA, notice he believes that USA economic issues will likely cause it to be divided up–and that Russia and Mexico (as well as Europe, who would be the conqueror) will end up with getting land back.

Furthermore, I have also long warned that there are costs and “unintended consequences” for USA sanctions and other actions against Russia.

For different reasons, back in 2020, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff voiced concerns that Russia could end up with Alaska:

February 3, 2020

Adam Schiff of California claimed during closing arguments in the Senate impeachment trial Monday that President Donald Trump will sell a U.S. state to the Russian government if not removed from office.

If “abuse of power” was not impeachable, Schiff argued, “then a whole range of utterly unacceptable conduct in a president would now be beyond reach.”

“Trump could offer Alaska to the Russians in exchange for support in the next election, or decide to move to Mar-A-Lago permanently and leave Jared Kushner to run the country, delegating to him the decision whether they go to war.” https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/03/schiff-trump-will-sell-alaska-to-russia-if-we-dont-impeach-him/

When I reported about this, I also stated “Donald Trump is not about to do that.”

However, the idea that Russia may end up with Alaska is real.

Furthermore, as it turns out, various ones in Mexico have long considered that the USA is an enemy nation.

Many in Mexico believe that the USA improperly took lands ranging from Texas to California and points in-between. They believe that they are entitled to receive that land back. It has been called the “reconquista” (“re-conquering” in English). Interestingly, the Bible teaches that the European King of the North power will takeover the USA and divide its land for gain (Daniel 11:39; see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?)–Mexico will likely end up with at least some of its claimed lands back this century. And yes, I believe that Mexican troops will one day align with Europe.

I expect that Mexico will end up with at least some of its claimed lands back this century.

Mexico will get at least some of those lands back after the start of World War III.

Sound preposterous?

First notice that someone else has put together what Mexico would look like if it got its old lands back:

Now, notice the Hispanic population in the USA as put together by Yerevanci with the red line showing old Mexican territories:

Don’t the two look similar?

Eventually, the Europeans (possibly under the cover of pretending that they are involved in a “NATO-like” exercise in North America) will eventually launch a surprise attack against the United States in fulfillment of both biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies. The Mexicans will most likely be allied with the Europeans for this to happen. And lest people think that Mexico must be a staunch ally of the USA, it needs to be mentioned that the USA took a lot of land (including most or all of California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado) from Mexico essentially at gunpoint in the 19th century. Many in Mexico have called for a re-conquista, a reconquering, of the lands that Mexico once owned that the USA currently owns (see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?).

Sound too far fetched? Notice an item of historical interest:

April 6, 2017

One hundred years ago today, the United States officially declared war on Germany and entered World War I. Days before the declaration of war, President Woodrow Wilson urged a special joint session of Congress to “formally accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon it.”

Wilson had not wanted to do this. Indeed, he’d won reelection the previous fall as the antiwar candidate, running on the popular slogans “He kept us out of war” and “America First”—appeals to voters who wanted to stay out of a major European war and avoid a simmering conflict with Mexico.

But two events would change everything, and force Americans to accept that they could no longer avoid what had become a global conflict. The first was Germany’s resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare on passenger and merchant ships. The second was the “Zimmerman telegraph,” which revealed Germany’s attempt to forge a secret alliance with Mexico against the United States, promising to help Mexico recover territory it had ceded to the United States following the Mexican-American War in 1848.

Both of these developments, like much of World War I, seem exotic and unimaginable today. A major military power attacking passenger ships with submarines? Mexico invading Texas? It’s easy to think we’ll never face such scenarios again, and we probably won’t face those particular scenarios. But as distant and strange as the First World War seems to us today, the reasons Wilson changed course and declared war hold vital relevance to our national life in the twenty-first century, and we ignore or misunderstand those reasons to our peril. https://thefederalist.com/2017/04/06/americas-reasons-entering-wwi-resonate-today/

I do believe that Mexico will be willing to cooperate with a German-dominated power in Europe to invade the USA in the future. Do not think it cannot happen. Mexico is pivoting towards Europe, while the USA has been pivoting away from both.

Back in 2019, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

11:55

Will Mexico Regain USA Territories?

On July 12, 2019, a USA flag was taken down by demonstrators and a Mexican flag was raised in Colorado. Absolut Vodka had an advertisement displaying that places like California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado should be part of Mexico again. Some have called for a ‘reconquista’–a returning to Mexico lands that it ceded to the USA in 1848. Last century the German government had a plan to work with Mexico to give it back lands that it lost if Mexico would assist it against the USA in World War I. Could something like that happen in the 21st century? Does Bible prophecy show that a Germanic Beast leader will invade the USA and divide its lands for gain? Could Mexico benefit from this? Have statements and actions by US President Donald Trump gotten any leaders in Mexico to contemplate more than a trade war, but a real war? What about trade with the European Union? Will Mexico gain territories that the USA now controls? Dr. Thiel addresses these questions and more.

Here is a link to our video: Will Mexico Regain USA Territories?

While Mexico is not likely to publicly accept Russian missiles at this time, the idea that Mexico wants the ability to attack the USA is real.

UPDATE 06/23/24: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:34

Russia and Mexico to Receive US Land?

Shortly after US President Joe Biden told Ukraine it could use certain long-range weapons to attack inside of Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that two can play at that game. He said that the Kremlin would consider putting ICBMs and/or other missiles in nation that are hostile to the USA. Kremlin television showed Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Mexico, and pointed to damage coming to places like Alaska. Russians have long suggested that Mexico could/should get back lands from Texas to California that the US gained at the point of a gun. Many Russians consider that Alaska should again be part of Russia. Did the Germans propose giving Mexico lands from the US during World War 1? Are there scriptures that point to the strongest fortresses of the US being conquered and having its lands divided by the European King of the North Beast power? Did Russian Igor Panarin point to the US breaking up in many pieces with Mexico getting the land back (that some Mexicans have called the ‘reconquista’), China or Japan getting Hawaii, Russia regaining Alaska, and Europe ending up with other parts of the US? Might Russia and Mexico one day cooperate when Europe wants to take over the US? Might Russia end up with at least parts of Alaska and possibly parts of Canada? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel cover these matters.

Here is a link to that video: Russia and Mexico to Receive US Land?

UPDATE 06/25/24, we recently uploaded the following video:

14:34

Russia and Mexico to Receive US Land?

Shortly after US President Joe Biden told Ukraine it could use certain long-range weapons to attack inside of Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that two can play at that game. He said that the Kremlin would consider putting ICBMs and/or other missiles in nations that are hostile to the USA. Kremlin television showed Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Mexico, and pointed to damage coming to places like Alaska. Russians have long suggested that Mexico could/should get back lands from Texas to California that the US gained at the point of a gun. Many Russians consider that Alaska should again be part of Russia. Did the Germans propose giving Mexico lands from the US during World War 1? Are there scriptures that point to the strongest fortresses of the US being conquered and having its lands divided by the European King of the North Beast power? Did Russian Igor Panarin point to the US breaking up in many pieces with Mexico getting the land back (that some Mexicans have called the ‘reconquista’), China or Japan getting Hawaii, Russia regaining Alaska, and Europe ending up with other parts of the US? Might Russia and Mexico one day cooperate when Europe wants to take over the US? Might Russia end up with at least parts of Alaska and possibly parts of Canada? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel cover these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Russia and Mexico to Receive US Land?

Anyway, there is a history this century of Russians stating that Russia will or should end up with Alaska and Mexico ending up with lands that the USA controls.

Look for the USA to one day be conquered and its lands divided. That will NOT end well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Bernadette Soubirous (Rabanus Flavus)

COGwriter

The Bible prophesies that there will be signs and lying wonders:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

While this is prophesied to increase in the last days, there have been various “signs and lying wonders” throughout the church age.

For example, probably millions of Roman Catholics have visited the casket of Bernadette Soubirous. She is famous for what some refer to as “incorruptibility” (limited decay of the flesh after death) as well as claims about seeing visions of a “Lady” in Lourdes, France. On 18 February of 1858, she claimed that “vision” asked her to return to a particular grotto every day for two weeks and Bernadette passed on various messages that she claimed to have received. Her shrine has long been a popular destination for certain Greco-Roman Catholics.

A Roman Catholic website posted the following:

Inside My Visit to St. Bernadette’s Incorrupt Relics: A Powerful Spiritual Experience

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved the amazing story of St. Bernadette.

My mother introduced my siblings and me to her story through Catholic children’s cartoons. The stories of both St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Fatima particularly resonated with me.

When I first heard that St. Bernadette’s incorrupt relics would tour the United States, I was ecstatic. It’s been a dream of mine to visit Lourdes …

We arrived shortly before noon for a pilgrimage Mass. My husband helped with the music while I sat with our son in the pew.

As soon as we walked in, a powerful heavenly presence illuminated the room. The ex-carne relics (from the flesh) sat on the main aisle just before the altar.

The completely packed church (with overflow in the foyer) indicated that so many people came searching for grace through the power of this incredible saint, my family included.

At the beginning of Mass, the priest sprinkled blessed Lourdes water on the congregation. (The relics remained in the aisle throughout Mass.) …

Finally, we venerated St. Bernadette. …

As we entered the chapel, we blessed ourselves with holy water. The water smelled of sweet roses! I wasn’t sure if they added a scent, or if it was supernatural. Either way, it was beautiful.

Our son touched the statue of Our Lady, and once again prayed for healing. …

The faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence through the veneration of the relics, along with following the three usual conditions: receiving sacramental confession, holy communion, and praying for the Holy Father, as well as detaching oneself from all sin.

St. Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us! https://www.churchpop.com/2022/07/22/inside-my-visit-to-st-bernadettes-incorrupt-relics-a-powerful-spiritual-experience/

Praying to the dead to intervene, plenary indulgences, use of ‘holy water,’ and the veneration of relics were not part of early Christianity. Nor are they part of true Christianity now.

The 19^th century Roman Catholic Cardinal Newman wrote:

The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, (Newman JH. The Protestant Idea of Antichrist. [British Critic, Oct. 1840]. Newman Reader — Works of John Henry Newman. Copyright © 2004 by The National Institute for Newman Studies, pp. 359-360)

Christians are not to use pagan practices in worship. Shrines/temples devoted to saints and the use of holy water is pagan. Notice, now, something from the Apostle Paul:

19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.  (1 Corinthians 10:19-22)

Pagan practices are demonic and are not to be utilized by Christians, even if one hopes they show a “heavenly presence.”

Probably because Bernadette Soubirous’ now waxed body has been so well preserved, her face is on the front cover of a famous Roman Catholic book by J.C. Cruz titled The Incorruptibles (Nihil Obstat: HC Bezou, November 11, 1974. Imprimatur + PM Hannan, Archbishop of New Orleans, November 19, 194. TAN Books, 1977) she remains quite a famous draw for many Roman Catholics (most other Roman Catholic “incorruptibles” have not been as well preserved).

Although on the internet it has been claimed “for each incorrupt body discovered, after research has been done to determine who the person was, it has always been determined that the person was an extremely devout Catholic,” that claim is in error. This type of “incorruptibility” has happened to others who were not Roman Catholic, as well as Roman Catholics who were not devout.

Concerning physical incorruptibility, the New Catholic Encyclopedia of 1967 stated, “Many cases could possibly have a natural explanation or be caused by diabolical power.” But many Roman Catholics tend to overlook that fact.

My experience with talking to some Roman Catholics related to Bernadette Soubirous as well as Fatima, suggests that one of the reasons that some affiliated with Rome will not see the truth about certain matters is because they rely on physical signs such as “incorruptibility” of various male and female bodies as proof that their church has God’s favor, hence they often believe that this validates their church’s positions overall.

Partially related to Lourdes, the former Roman Pontiff Benedict XVI once said:

…let us turn to her who is the Queen of all the Saints, the Virgin Mary, thinking of Lourdes, stricken by a grave overflowing of the Gave, which has also flooded the grotto of the apparitions of Our Lady. Today we would especially like to entrust missionaries to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary – priests and laity, who sow the good seed of the Gospel in every part of the world. We also pray for the Synod of Bishops, which, over the course of these weeks, is confronting the challenge of the new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith. http://www.zenit.org/article-35781?l=english

Of course, the Bible never refers to Jesus’ mother Mary as the ‘queen’ of anything–the only ‘queen of heaven’ (an expression that some also try to apply to Mary) that the Bible refers to is condemned (Jeremiah 7:18-20; 44:17-23). Also, the only ‘virgin’ ‘Lady of the Kingdoms’ (other terms sometimes improperly applied to Mary that the Bible tells of (Isaiah 47:1-5) is also condemned (Isaiah 47:5-15).

Isaiah 47:6 talks about the heavy yoke laid upon the elderly. I would contend that Roman Catholic practices related to pressuring the elderly to ‘donate’ for ‘indulgences’ related to ‘purgatory’ are such an improper heavy yoke (see also Did the Early Church Teach Purgatory?).

Isaiah 47:7-11 can be tied in with prophecies in in the Book of Revelation:

7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day — death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. (Revelation 18:7-8)

Isaiah 47 is thus a prophesy, not just about the ancient Chaldean/Babylonian mystery religions, but a reference to a church with such characteristics that will be destroyed in the end times.

Isaiah 47:8 says in addition to trusting in wickedness, because of ‘great abundance of your enchantments’ this will happen to that church.  Incorruptible ‘miracles’ are consistent with enchantments. Many, sadly, have trusted in the ‘great abundance’ of Rome-related enchantments.

Bernadette has prophetic ramifications. Because of her and other matters, Greco-Roman Catholics have been conditioned to accept unbiblical signs and wonders as divine.

More are coming as 1 Thessalonians 2 (previously cited) shows–and more will fall for them.

The Bible also warns that the false prophet, the beast of the earth and THE Antichrist (although there have been antichrists since the time of the Apostle John), will perform signs and be involved with a different type of financial order:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:11-17)

People are to love the truth of God and not be swayed by enchantments and sorceries. Notice also that this mystic above will persecute those that will not follow his deceit. The Bible says that God will punish those who accept the mark of the Beast (Revelation 16:2).

It should also be noted that Isaiah 47:12-13 warns about sorceries and those who rely on astrological and similar predictions. One of the most famous Roman Catholic prognosticators, the one known as Nostradamus, certainly did so–as have some other Greco-Roman Catholic mystics.

Isaiah 47:14 says that fire will destroy that church. The Book of Revelation says that same thing in chapter 18 verse 8. There is a real connection between Isaiah 47 and end time Babylon of Revelation 17 and 19.

Bernadette Soubirous is not one to pray to or to entrust oneself to.

Jesus is the one to be entrusted to.

There is a great tendency within the Church of Rome to rely on signs, apparitions, and wonders to support teachings that do not square with the Bible. All who profess Christ, including those who are COG, Greco-Roman Catholic, Protestant, or anything else, should understand that Jesus is the center of the plan of salvation and that the Church of Rome intends to promote a further Marian reverence that will likely deceive nearly all (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17-18–and this includes nearly all who profess Christ (cf. Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). And those who honor people such as Bernadette of Lourdes are unknowingly helping set this up.