Church of God News

Mark Carney (From ‘X’ Twitter page)

COGwriter

Canada’s new Prime Minister designee has concerns about the USA and Donald Trump:

There’s only one thing in Mark Carney’s in-tray: Trump

10 March 2025

When Mark Carney becomes Canada’s prime minister later this week, a list of simmering crises across the country will demand his attention: housing is unaffordable, healthcare is breaking, living costs keep rising and the climate crisis is ransacking livelihoods.

But most – if not all – of those concerns will be pushed aside, supplanted by a far greater threat to the country: the US president, Donald Trump.

The potential effects of Trump’s economic attack on Canada are so wide-ranging and so damaging that they are likely to overshadow all other issues in Carney’s in-tray. US trade tariffs, if held in place for an extended period of time, could push Canada’s fragile economy into a recession and unleash a cascading chain of knock-on upheavals. …

Carney, who won an overwhelming majority in the Liberal leadership race, used his victory speech on Sunday evening to warn the “greatest crisis of our generation” came in the form of Trump, leader of Canada’s closest ally and largest trading partner.

“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about that for a moment. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life,” he said, pledging to supporters that Canada would remain unbowed to US threats.

“America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape, or form. We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves.”

Carney’s predilection for a hockey metaphor was in full view on Sunday as he promised to keep Canada’s retaliatory tariffs in place until the American ones were fully removed, adding the country’s southern neighbor needed to show “respect” to one of its largest trading partners.

“So, Americans should make no mistake … In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/10/canada-mark-carney-trump

March 10 2025

Canada will soon have a new prime minister in Mark Carney as the country grapples with a trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, was selected to replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal Party on Sunday night. …

In his first speech after winning the Liberal leadership contest Sunday night, Carney called the U.S. a “country we can no longer trust” and had a warning for Trump. … Carney said Trump is trying to weaken the Canadian economy with “unjustified tariffs” as he warned about “dark days” brought on by the U.S. move. …

“The Canadian government has rightly retaliated with our own tariffs that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here in Canada,” he said.

“And my government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect and until they can join us in making credible and reliable commitments to free and fair trade.”

He praised the provinces, which have issued their own suite of retaliatory measures, for “stepping up to the fight.” https://globalnews.ca/news/11074431/donald-trump-tariffs-mark-carney-plan/

Canada is in a precarious position these days and Donald Trump seems willing to try to cause Canada a lot of economic pain to get it to accede to his demands. Canada’s economy is highly dependent upon the USA’s economy, not the other way around.  Some American’s see Donald Trump’s actions as overdue, whereas others see bullying and other unsavory tactics being used.

Someone, other than myself, who has advised caution about Donald Trump, sent me an article by Nick Catoggio. Here are portions of it:

Foreigners Have Feelings Too

March 6, 2025

Imagine you’re the leader of a (rapidly imploding) global superpower.

There’s a large, resource-rich, strategically important island off your northeast coast. The bad news is that enemies are angling to gain access to it, which would place them on your doorstep militarily.

The good news is that the island happens to belong to a close ally, one that’s willing to prioritize your strategic interests.

Question: How should you go about increasing your country’s presence in and around the island? Maybe you dial up that ally and ask?

Or should you berate them, demand that they cede their sovereignty over the island to you, and threaten them with severe economic penalties if they resist? …

But browbeating plainly isn’t the right way to go. That’s because foreigners are patriotic too.

One would think Donald Trump and his nationalist lackeys, of all people, would understand that. …

So it’s strange that since Election Day he’s proceeded to insult one American ally after another, seemingly oblivious to the predictable effect doing so would have on nationalist sentiment in those countries and how that sentiment would limit their ability to work with him.

Take Denmark. Soon after Trump grabbed that nation by the lapels and demanded that it fork over Greenland, the Danish king changed the royal coat of arms to feature his country’s claim to the island more prominently. A subsequent poll found 78 percent of Danes opposed selling the island to the U.S. and 46 percent said they considered America a “fairly big threat”—higher than the share who said so of North Korea or Iran.

Perhaps, with a little diplomatic charm and a very big check, Trump might have persuaded the Danish government to sell Greenland. (Although it remains unclear why American ownership, not merely American access, is so important to him.) But once he undertook to bully Denmark into doing his bidding, the Danes’ national pride swelled. To accept that check and sign away the island now would be seen as a dishonorable capitulation, not a mutually beneficial exchange.

Why is our nationalist kakistocracy so bent on offending America’s allies, despite having every reason to know that doing so will leave them less likely to cooperate with Trump? …

So why does he keep insulting Canada, America’s closest ally and one of its biggest trading partners?

I don’t understand what he wants from Canadians—and neither do his own advisers, apparently, or else they wouldn’t need to justify Trump’s policy by resorting to insane accusations about Mexican cartels taking over the country. But whatever it is the president wants, he’s plainly making them less willing to deal by babbling about Canada becoming the 51^st state. https://www.yahoo.com/news/foreigners-feelings-too-235440219.html

Polling had long shown Canada’s Conservative Party routing Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, but the last two months of Trump’s bullying has driven Canadians to the left. An Ipsos survey published last week found the Liberals suddenly up 2 points; as recently as six weeks ago the Conservatives led by … 26.

A new Canadian government elected on a wave of nationalist hostility to Trump will not lightly make concessions to him, needless to say. How did the president foresee his “keep on insulting them” approach working out?

A Ukrainian quisling.

Canada isn’t the only nation whose continued existence as an independent country has irritated the White House into a series of moves practically engineered to stoke patriotic antipathy to the United States.

On Thursday, Politico reported that four members of Trump’s “entourage” have held not-so-secret talks with two of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political rivals back home. Meddling that way in Ukraine’s politics would be risky under the best of circumstances given the country’s sensitivity to being ruled by puppets propped up by domineering world powers. But at this moment in particular, why would any Ukrainian candidate want to be known as Donald Trump’s choice?

So tell me: In this context, with the White House forming an alliance in all but name with the fascist butchers in Moscow, how would you like to be a Ukrainian politician known as Donald Trump’s pick to replace Volodymyr Zelensky? Do you think that would boost your chances at the polls if an election were called?

Or would you be viewed as a Ukrainian quisling?

It speaks volumes about how gravely Trump has offended Ukrainian patriotism that the one man with a realistic chance of unseating Zelensky sounds more hostile to the United States than Zelensky does. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former top general and now its ambassador to the United Kingdom, accused Trump on Thursday of nothing less than “destroying” the world order. “Washington is taking more and more steps toward the Kremlin regime at a time when Russia and the Axis of Evil are attempting to dismantle the global order,” he said in a tweet, entirely accurately. …

A few days ago, our ostensibly intelligent vice president babbled his way into an international incident when he scoffed at the idea of European peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine. …

The strategic theory of nationalist callousness is this: The more enmity there is between the United States and liberal nations like Canada, Ukraine, Denmark, and the U.K., the easier it’ll be to convince Americans to stop viewing those countries as allies. The postliberal project won’t succeed as a purely logical exercise, you see, as there’s simply no intellectual case to be made that America will benefit more by partnering with an economic backwater like Russia than with a relative powerhouse like the European Union. …

If U.S. foreign policy turns into a theater of ruthlessness that makes the country broadly hated across the civilized world, let’s not pretend that we didn’t ask for it.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/foreigners-feelings-too-235440219.html

Let me add that Nick Catoggio does not seem to recognize that the Bible warns of a militaristic leader rising up in Europe who will conquer the USA (Daniel 11:39), its British-descended allies (cf. Daniel 8:23-25), and a coming confederation of nations in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

Statements and policies from the Trump-Vance Administration are motivating many in Europe to become more militaristic (e.g. EU meets to militarize and ask/discuss ‘Should Europe still consider itself a US ally?’) and this will not turn out well for the USA.

Regarding the current Donald Trump presidency, here is something I wrote that was published BEFORE he took office and it is available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Donald Trump is Fulfilling End Time Prophecy

Donald Trump is clearly an apocalyptic leader (cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Although he is not the final Antichrist that the Bible warns about, Donald Trump has been helping fulfill many aspects of prophecy. Donald Trump is expected to help enable the rise of the final Antichrist—so will any possible successor to him.

Donald Trump has supported Islamic goals for an Arabic-confederation indirectly, and sometimes more directly, which will lead to a leader rising up over certain Islamic lands (Daniel 11:40; Ezekiel 30:1-8).

While I believe that he believes he wants to help, certain of his actions are pointing to destruction.

Donald Trump has made political, economic, and military statements which will ultimately help the rise of the upcoming Beast power in Europe. Donald Trump seems to think the relationship between Europe and the USA is better than it really is.

This European Beast power will, after it has a prophesied reorganization and rises up, destroy the United States (Daniel 11:39). And the leader of this power is supposed to rise up “When the transgressors have reached their fullness,” (Daniel 8:23).

Donald Trump has specifically caused people of the United States to err further away from biblical morality, which will lead to destruction (Isaiah 3:12; 9:16). Instead of advocating what should be considered as biblical morality, he has pushed positions that are clearly opposed to the laws of God (e.g. Romans 1:18-32).

He has advocated policies (as have others) which are expected to increase the debt of the USA, hurt its military superiority, lead to civil unrest (cf. Deuteronomy 32:25), and set the USA up for ruin (Habakkuk 2:6-8).

Unintended Consequences

While Donald Trump seems to believe that his policies are best for the United States, notice some unintended consequences of them:

• While promoting peace is good, once the Middle East deal is confirmed by a European leader (called a prince in Daniel 9:26), the 3 ½ year countdown to the start of the Great Tribulation and the conquering of the USA and its British-descended allies will begin.
• Pushing tariffs and sanctions on other countries is contributing to the rise of the final time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24; Ezekiel 7:24).
• Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade.
• Although national repentance could delay the coming conquering (cf. Daniel 4:27) of the USA (Daniel 11:39), Donald Trump instead is focused more on economic matters. Since that repentance is not expected, a European will end up in charge (cf. Hosea 11:1a, 3a, 4b, 5b-7).
• Focusing on Bitcoin, instead of gold, will not provide the USA with the financial stability that it wants. Instead it looks to be another reason other nations will accumulate gold. Gold which will outlast the dollar of the USA.
• The Bible warns against condoning sexual immorality as deadly (Romans 1:18-32), and that is something that Donald Trump does not seem to realize.
• Pushing debt increasing policies will put the USA into a position where it will be conquered, consistent with Habakkuk 2:6-8. This will lead to the land of the USA being divided (cf. Daniel 11:39; Lamentations 4:16; Amos 7:17).
• Pushing against Europe’s unity is encouraging the Europeans, which are prophesied to have unity difficulties (cf. Daniel 2:41-43), to try harder to unify, which will happen after at least two reorganizations (Revelation 17:12-13).
• By breaking political norms and acting like a ‘strong man’ this will help Europeans being more accepting of their beast ‘strong man’ (Revelation 13:1-10; 17:13).
• Donald Trump’s statements will help promote the rise of stronger European leaders like Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
• Although, overall, the European nations have not paid for their defense to the amount they have suggested they would, pressuring them to spend more will 1) encourage them to be independent of the USA and 2) put Europe in a position where it has a great army (Daniel 11:25), many ships (Daniel 11:40), and access to nuclear weapons (cf. Deuteronomy 29:23-25; Isaiah 9:19-21;Ezekiel 6:6), which will help it conquer the USA, which is the military power with the strongest fortresses (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Christians are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). By faith we trust the prophecies in the word of God over plans of humans (cf. Psalm 118:9).

That is one way for Christians to avoid negative “unintended consequences.”

There will be many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration. Do not deceive yourself that Donald Trump was sent by God to save America.

Now look at part of number 22 of my 2024 list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:

22. Reelection of Donald Trump and His Adminstration

In the Bible News Prophecy magazine, October-December 2024 edition, number 22 was listed as “The Incoming US Presidential Administration”

So, it was renamed.

The reelection of Donald Trump has sent shockwaves throughout the world as well as through the legacy media of the United States.

It has brought both hope to some and worry to others.

Donald Trump will be apocalyptic. At least 20 warnings/predictions I made before his last Administration assumed office came to pass (for details see Donald Trump in Prophecy).

Look for Donald Trump and His Administration to offend the Europeans, cause international trade concerns, push many nations further away from the United States, change matters in Ukraine, affect matters in the Middle East, impact US energy production, impact immigration, impact the move away from the US dollar, and further divide many in the United States.

Notice the last statement above.

ALL of those things have happened since he came back into office.

Although secular writers like Nick Catoggio recognize that the EU is a powerhouse, he and those like him also fail to see the real risk a powerfully militarized Europe will have on the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39).

There have been many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration. Offending many nations is one of them–and there will be more.

The United States needs repentance, the return of Jesus, and the coming Kingdom of God.

(Pixabay image)

COGwriter

In what seems to be a reversal, Iran is suggesting it will speak with the Trump Administration:

Iran Open to Talks on Nuclear Militarization Concerns

March 10, 2025

Iran said Sunday it would consider negotiations with the United States if the talks were confined to concerns about the militarization of its nuclear program.

In a statement posted on X, the country’s U.N. mission said: “If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-à-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration.”

A day earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had rejected talks with the U.S., because he said they would be aimed at imposing restrictions on Iran’s missile program and its influence in the region. Khamenei’s remarks came a day after President Donald Trump acknowledged sending a letter to him seeking a new deal with Tehran…

Trump’s overture comes as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at near weapons-grade levels — something only done by atomic-armed nations. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/iran-us-khamenei-nuclear-trump/2025/03/10/id/1202114/

Yes, Iran is concerned about Donald Trump and his proposed actions.

Michael Snyder posted the following:

Why Does Hardly Anyone Seem To Realize That We Are Literally On The Brink Of War With Iran?

What do think Iran is going to do once we start bombing their nuclear facilities?  They know that it is coming, and they have been preparing to respond.  When Iranian missiles are raining down on Israeli targets and U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East, there will be no turning back.  We will officially be at war with Iran.  Needless to say, a war with Iran would be far different from our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Iranians have the 8th largest military on the entire planet, and they are armed to the teeth with highly advanced missiles.  It would take a “shock and awe” campaign that is unlike anything we have ever seen before to subdue Iran, and full-blown regime change would probably require an invasion.

Most people simply do not realize how close we are to an apocalyptic scenario in the Middle East.  On Friday, President Trump revealed that he has issued a very chilling ultimatum to the Iranians…

President Donald Trump on Friday revealed that he has sent a letter to Iran warning that it can either “make a deal” with Washington, D.C., on its nuclear program or face the U.S. “militarily.”

“I said, I hope you’re going to negotiate, because it’s going to be a lot better for Iran,” Trump told FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria,” in reference to a letter he sent to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” he said. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran.”

Subsequently, President Trump informed reporters that were gathered in the Oval Office that “something’s going to happen” with Iran “very, very soon”… https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/why-does-hardly-anyone-seem-to-realize-that-we-are-literally-on-the-brink-of-war-with-iran/

Regarding Iran, Donald Trump, and prophecy, the following is from my latest book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Iran and Prophecy

Prior to his first election, Donald Trump stated that he wants to eliminate or at least change the “nuclear deal” with Iran. [i]

And that he did.[ii]

However, the Biden-Harris Administration tried to revive it, though never fully did. However, the Biden-Harris Administration did release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets back to Iran[iii] as well as it, apparently intentionally, did not enforce sanctions which allowed Iran to nearly triple its oil revenues 3 years after Donald Trump left office.[iv]

In the June 27, 2024 debate with Joe Biden, Donald Trump then blamed the Biden-Harris Administration for assisting in Iran’s ability to provide more funding to proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah.[v] It is believed that Donald Trump will likely use some type of “maximum pressure” strategy again against Iran during his next Administration.[vi]

Because Bible prophecy indicates  that it  will  be  primarily Arabic nations that support the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8), though with some support (probably temporary per Daniel 11:25-26) from Turkey (and possibly Pakistan), it is not biblically possible that Iran can truly be the leader of the Islamic world as it seems to want to be. Also, because it is basically due east of Jerusalem, Iran should not be considered to be a candidate to be the final ‘King of the South’ of biblical prophecy.

Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).

It is of prophetic interest to note that the small nation of Israel is prophesied to one day be attacked by some that seem to have a connection to Iran (Isaiah 22:1-14).

Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and possibly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if a Trump Administration and/or Israel takes actions it does not like.

Iran has weapons that can cause damage. Furthermore, the USA itself (as well as is the State of Israel) is vulnerable to EMP type attacks and items such as biological weapons, chemical weapons, terrorism, nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, etc. because of a conflict involving Iran, Syria, and/or others.

But should this occur, this would NOT be the final destruction of the USA. Prophetically, Iran would not end up faring well (cf. Ezekiel 32:24-25).

[i] Wilkinson T. Trump’s plans to scuttle or amend the Iran nuclear deal remain a work in progress. Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2016

[ii] ^{Trump DJ. President Donald J. Trump is Ending United States Participation in an Unacceptable Iran Deal. White House Fact Sheet, May 8, 2018}

[iii] ^{Knickmeyer E, et al. Americans released by Iran arrive home, tearfully embrace their loved ones and declare: ‘Freedom!’ Associated Press, September 19, 2023}

[iv] ^{Steil B. Biden is Giving Up Powerful U.S. Financial Sanctions on Iran | Opinion. Newsweek, August 13, 2021; Cohen A. Joe Biden’s Iran Oil Sanctions Failure. National Interest, November 2, 2024}

[v] ^{READ: Biden-Trump debate transcript. CNN, June 28, 2024}

[vi] ^{What is Trump’s ‘maximum pressure policy’ that could drive up costs for China’s Iranian oil imports? Times of India, November 6, 2024; Strobel WP, et al. Trump to Renew ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Against Iran. Wall Stree Journal, November 8, 2024}

Iran may strike out at Israel before Israel attacks it, or may wait to strike after it is hit again by Israel.

What if Israel hits Iran hard?

Israel has already been accused of ‘war crimes’ related to its war against Hamas in Gaza (e.g. see ‘Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza war’ and ‘Open hatred of Jews surges globally, inflamed by Gaza war’).

Israel may conclude that if it has the go-ahead from Donald Trump, it can go all-out to attempt to destroy the Iranian regime.

With that in mind, consider the following Roman Catholic writings:

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

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

Some have suggested that “after socialism” may mean after communism falls, like it mainly did in the late 20th century. True Church of God Christians with “Jewish practices,” who could be considered a type of “Anti-Christ” by Greco-Romans (see Do Certain Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? ), are to be greatly persecuted around the time of the Great Catholic “Lion” Monarch (see Persecutions by Church and State).

The “atrocious crime” could refer to an attack (possibly nuclear) by Israel or some other Israeli action. Or perhaps a combination of factors.

Speaking of terrible crimes, many have been killed in Syria:

March 10, 2025

The wave of violence that has killed hundreds of civilians across Syria reached the major cities of Damascus and Aleppo on Monday, hours after interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

The reported fighting in the capital, Damascus, and the second city of Aleppo marked the first such clashes there since the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The short-lived violence in the capital followed days of clashes concentrated in former Assad strongholds along Syria’s Mediterranean coast.

More than 1,300 people were killed in Syria in the three days to late Sunday, with civilians comprising 973 of the dead, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said in a statement. The death toll as of early Monday was not immediately clear. …

The outbreak of violence raises the question of whether Sharaa can deliver on his promise to lead a more unified and inclusive nation representative of the country’s myriad religious and ethnic groups. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/syria-sharaa-assad-damascus-aleppo-killed-violence-tartus-kurd-latakia-rcna195580

Since Thursday, more than 1,000 people—including Christian minorities and Alawites, the sect to which Assad belongs—have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and local reports. 03/08/25 https://www.newsweek.com/hundreds-minorities-including-christians-killed-syria-reports-2041764

That is terrible. But more death is likely to come.

For example, Israel attacks, what might Iran and Syria do?

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

1 The burden against the Valley of Vision.

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

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

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

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

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

This could happen in 2025.

That said, a while back, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to Iran and Israel:

15:03

Iran and Israel Conflict

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

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

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

Iran is not pleased with Donald Trump and may choose to militarily respond very soon.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here are links to two related videos Iran In Prophecy and  Iran and Israel Conflict.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. 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 for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

COGwriter

Many people will be observing Easter on April 20, 2025. It is one of the years that the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Catholics, and most Protestants will keep it on the same day.

Is it an original holiday of the Church? What was it supposed to be? What do religious scholars teach about it?

What does the Church of Rome teach about it?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

1170 At the Council of Nicea in 325, all the Churches agreed that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox (Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 332).

From this, notice that it is taught that what is now called Easter was originally observed as a change in the date of Passover. It originally was not a Christian resurrection holiday.

Furthermore, the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Catholics later picked different Sundays to observe it a while after the Council of Nicea. Some hope that the 1700th anniversary of that council this year will result in the trinitarians all agreeing to keep the same Sunday going forward.

Easter itself is not a Christian term, and its celebration contains pagan elements. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes:

The English term, according to the Ven. Bede (De temporum ratione, I, v), relates to Estre, a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring…Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year. Leo I (Sermo xlvii in Exodum) calls it the greatest feast (festum festorum), and says that Christmas is celebrated only in preparation for Easter…The connection between the Jewish and the Christian Pasch explains the movable character of this feast. Easter has no fixed date, like Christmas, because the 15th of Nisan of the Semitic calendar was shifting from date to date on the Julian calendar. Since Christ, the true Paschal Lamb, had been slain on the very day when the Jews, in celebration of their Passover, immolated the figurative lamb, the Jewish Christians in the Orient followed the Jewish method…For this observance they claimed the authority of St. John and St. Philip.

In the rest of the empire another consideration predominated. Every Sunday of the year was a commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, which had occurred on a Sunday. Because the Sunday after 14 Nisan was the historical day of the Resurrection, at Rome this Sunday became the Christian feast of Easter…

Men and women…In the Neumark (Germany) on Easter Day the men servants whip the maid servants with switches; on Monday the maids whip the men. They secure their release with Easter eggs. These customs are probably of pre-Christian origin (Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Das festliche Jahr, 118)…

(Holweck F. G. Transcribed by John Wagner and Michael T. Barrett. Easter. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume V. Copyright © 1909 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, May 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Thus, the Romans admit that the name Easter is the name of a pagan goddess, many of its practices are of pagan origin, and that the churches in Asia Minor (which they call the Orient) continued to observe Passover on the date that the Jews did, Nisan 14.

As far as other scholars go, notice something from the Smithsonian:

April 14, 2022

Easter is a celebration of spring and new life. Eggs and flowers are rather obvious symbols of female fertility, but in European traditions, the bunny, with its amazing reproductive potential, is not far behind. …

Bede noted that in eighth-century England, the month of April was called Eosturmonath, or Eostre Month, after the goddess Eostre. He wrote that a pagan festival of spring in the name of the goddess had become assimilated into the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ.

While most European languages refer to the Christian holiday with names that come from the Jewish holiday of Passover, such as Pâques in French or Påsk in Swedish, German and English languages retain this older, non-biblical word: Easter.

Recent archaeological research appears to confirm the worship of Eostre in parts of England and Germany, with the hare as her main symbol. The Easter bunny therefore seems to recall these pre-Christian celebrations of spring, heralded by the vernal equinox and personified by the goddess Eostre. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ancient-origins-of-the-easter-bunny-180979915/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

The Bible itself also condemns certain practices, now associated with Easter, such as hot Easter buns/cakes (Jeremiah 7:14), the worship towards the sun in the east (Ezekiel 8:15-18), and the worship of Astarte/Ishtar/Ashtaroth/Eostre (other spellings of the word Easter).

Notice the following:

The first Christians celebrated the death of Jesus with a Pascha meal (eucharist) on the lunar date of the Jewish Passover (note 1 Cor. 5:7-8).

At first there was no annual celebration of the resurrection. Eventually, in the gentile world, the day of resurrection was added to the Pascha festival. That day was Sunday. At the Council of Nicea (325) it was ruled that Easter Sunday would be celebrated on the Sunday immediately following that full moon which came after the vernal equinox. At the same time the Council decided that the vernal equinox would be March 21 in the Julian calendar (Eusebius, Vit. Const. 3.18). (Synder GF. Irish Jesus, Roman Jesus: the formation of early Irish Christianity. Trinity Press International, 2002, p. 183)

So, according to Roman Catholic history (which is correct on this point) Christians did not observe a resurrection holiday, instead they kept Passover–and the lunar date was only rarely (probably about once every seven years) on a Sunday.

A writing from the Roman Catholic-supporting Epiphanius may be of interest here. Epiphanius wrote:

The Quartodecimans contentiously keep Passover on the one day, once per year…They keep the Passover on whichever day the fourteenth of the month falls…Christ had to be slain on the fourteenth of the month in accordance with the law (Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section IV, Verses 1,3;1,6;2,6. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, pp. 23-25).

It is of interest to note that Epiphanius recognized that Jesus HAD to be slain on the 14th of the month. It is sad that he and others did not believe they needed to observe it when and how Jesus taught.

But you may be saying to yourself, so what? What does that have to do with Easter Sunday? Well in order to try to justify the Sunday observance, that noted Catholic leader claimed the following:

We observe the fourteenth day, then, but we wait until after the equinox and bring the end of our full observance to the sacred Lord’s day…we will miss no one of the observances of this life-giving <festival> of the Passover as the whole truth prescribes them (Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section IV, Verses 3,4. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, p. 25).

Now this should cause major concern for people who observe Easter Sunday.

First, it truly is supposed to be some type of Passover observation. Thus this holiday really is supposed to have its “Jewish” name, instead of the pagan one it now is commonly called in English and German.

Second, Epiphanius is admitting that none of the Passover observances are to be missed. So why don’t Protestants, Orthodox, and Roman Catholics wash feet? Why do they generally not take wine as part of their observances?

Thirdly, any who observe Easter Sunday are truly submitting to the authority of the Roman Church as this change of date, emphasis, and observation is due to the decisions of Roman Catholic supporting leaders–it in no way comes from the Bible. And while Catholics may see no problem with that, even they should understand that Easter is a change and not an original tradition of their church.

I perhaps should also add here that Sunday IS NOT the Lord’s day according to the Bible (an article of related interest may be Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord?).

Furthermore, contrary to the insistence of many who rely on a misunderstanding of the Bible and/or traditions of men, Jesus was not and could not have been resurrected on a Sunday. For biblical and historical proof, please read the article What Happened in the Crucifixion Week?

Notice also the following report (written by a Catholic priest and scholar):

Pope Vitalin…supported efforts of the king of Northumbria, following the Synod of Whitby (664), to establish in England the Roman, as opposed to the Celtic, date for Easter (that is the Sunday after the Jewish Passover, rather than the Passover itself) and other Roman practices as well (McBrien, Richard P. Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. Harper, San Francisco, 2005 updated ed., p. 109).

Notice that the above account acknowledges that Rome changed Passover in Britain from the biblical date (which apparently the Celts observed into the 7th century) to the Roman date.

Here is a report from a non-Roman Catholic writer:

I wonder how many will consider that it was the Passover meal which Jesus (or Yeshua as He is called in Hebrew) celebrated in what has become known as the ‘Last Supper’? It was on this date, 14th Nisan in the Biblical calendar, that Yeshua asked His followers to remember His death, yet very few actually do this.

Rather Gentile (later non-Jewish) Christians replaced the Passover of the Lord as set in place by God with its rich symbolism of the sacrifice of the Passover lamb and God freeing His people, with the man-made institution of ‘Easter’ named after a pagan deity ‘Eostre’ (invariably appearing as ‘Ishtar,’ ‘Astarte,’ or the Old Testament ‘Ashtoreth’). ‘Easter’ emphasised the Resurrection, not Yeshua’s death…

When the women came to the tomb before dawn on Sunday they found Yeshua had already risen, making it likely that it was at the end of the Saturday Sabbath. If we count back from the end of the Saturday Sabbath (which ends at sunset) 72 hours we will arrive at Wednesday afternoon, the time which according to His own words, Yeshua would then have been crucified. Tradition states that Yeshua died on a Friday, but the word Friday is not mentioned in the Gospel accounts. (Nevin C. The real dates of the resurrection Bristol Evening Post, UK – April 5, 2012. http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/real-dates-resurrection/story-15722780-detail/story.html)

Note: The faithful Gentile Christians in Asia Minor did not change Passover to Easter, this was a change of the Greco-Roman “Orthodox” confederation and not adopted by the true Church of God.

But despite what scholars do and/or should know, most who profess Christ tend to ignore the fact that early Christians kept Passover on the 14th, but instead tend to observe a compromised Sunday holiday with elements of paganism called Easter. Catholics realize that Easter was a change from Passover and that the change included the adoption of pagan elements.

The Continuing Church of God also has the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:11:47

Amazing Facts About Easter

Did you know that Easter is supposed to be Passover according to the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’? Was this originally observed by Christians on a day other than Sunday? Was Passover originally a resurrection holiday or a commemoration of Christ’s death? In this sermon, Dr. Thiel goes over many amazing historical and biblical facts about Easter and Passover. He cites Jesus’ words about worship. He also quotes the Apostle Paul who warned about combining demonic worship practices with Passover. He cites the Apostle John’s words about not being faithful to what he taught as well as some of what John taught about antichrists. Dr. Thiel addresses “fact checkers” and others who assert that the Babylonian goddess Ishtar is not associated with Easter. He cites the 8th century monk known as the “venerable Bede” who taught that Easter came from Eostre, the pagan goddess of the dawn. Dr. Thiel also discusses Easter eggs, Easter rabbits, and their ties to paganism. This is a sermon to watch if you are interested in worshiping God in spirit and in truth.

Here is a link to our sermon video: Amazing Facts About Easter.

Since Easter was not the practice of the original church, should you be observing it?

Those who wish to learn more should also study the following:

What Happened in the ‘Crucifixion Week’? How long are three days and three nights? Was Palm Sunday on a Saturday? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter? (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Murió Jesús un día miércoles o un viernes?) A sermon of related interest is titled What did and did not happen in the ‘Crucifixion week’?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? Where did Easter come from? Is Easter supposed to be Passover? What do scholars and the Bible reveal? Here is a link to a related video: Amazing Facts About Easter.
Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays. A related sermon is Which Spring Days should Christians observe?
The Passover Plot What was the first Passover plot? Which plots have Islam and the Greco-Roman faiths perpetuated about Passover? A sermon video of related interest is The Passover Plots, Including Easter.
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity? A sermon video from Vatican City is titled Church of Rome, Mithras, and Isis?
Marcus, the Marcosians, & Mithraism: Developers of the Eucharist? Marcus was a second century heretic condemned for having a ceremony similar to one still practiced by many who profess Christ. Might he also be in the apostolic succession list of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria?
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins? There is also a detailed YouTube video available titled History of the Christian Passover.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean?
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2033, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L’Histoire Continue de l’Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

French Dassault Rafale jet (Tim Felce Airwolfhound)

COGwriter

The ‘Trump Effect’ is getting more and more in Europe wanting nuclear weapons. Notice the following:

Germany’s Merz Wants European Nuclear Weapons to Boost US Shield

9 March 2025

German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Sunday said he would like talks with France and Britain about sharing their nuclear weapons, but not as a substitute for U.S. nuclear protection of Europe.

“Sharing nuclear weapons is an issue that we need to talk about…we have to become stronger together in nuclear deterrence,” he said in an interview on Deutschlandfunk radio, a day after agreeing cornerstones of a coalition deal between his conservative party and the Social Democratic SPD party.

“We should talk with both countries (France and Britain), always also from the perspective of supplementing the American nuclear shield, which we of course want to see maintained.”

Germany, due to its Second World War past, has bound itself to non-nuclear defense in a number of international treaties but participates in NATO weapons-sharing arrangements. …

“We want European solidarity…but Germany also naturally has a right to defend its own security and order,” he said. …

Merz said he would press for the outgoing parliament to pass two major financial packages on infrastructure and defense and changes to state borrowing rules known as the ‘debt brake’. https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/merz-nuclear/2025/03/09/id/1202051/

Probable future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he would like to hold talks with France and the UK on the joint use of their nuclear weapons. At the same time, he added that the nuclear umbrella of France and Britain should be a “complement” to the existing US nuclear shield.

Merz said this in an interview with Deutschlandfunk, The Guardian quoted him as saying, Censor.NET reports.

“The sharing of nuclear weapons is an issue we need to talk about… We have to become stronger together in the area of nuclear deterrence,” said the likely next German Chancellor. … The leaders of Poland and Denmark have said they are open to French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to discuss how France’s nuclear deterrent could protect Europe. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3540162

It should be pointed out that Friedrich Merz also said:

9 March 2025

In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio broadcaster on Sunday, Merz stressed that “Germany will not be able or allowed to possess nuclear weapons itself,” noting that Berlin is banned by law from doing so.

“The most recent [document] is the 2+4 Treaty of 1990, in which Germany explicitly renounced possessing nuclear weapons. And that will remain the case.” …

However, Merz has signaled his willingness to explore greater nuclear cooperation with NATO allies, calling for discussions with Britain and France. “We must also become stronger together in nuclear coverage in Europe,” he said. https://www.rt.com/news/613942-merz-nuclear-cooperation-uk-france/

Despite limitations, having nukes from other nations looks to be a way to have them without claiming to have them. Germany also has some USA nukes at its disposal now, so the prospect of it attaining European ones is consistent with that, irrespective of what is stated in Germany’s constitution.

In a video we put out earlier this month, we cited others in Europe who wanted nuclear weapons, as well as military independence from the USA.:

14:26

European Union wants military independence from the USA

European Union wants to be militarily independent of the USA – check, European Union wants a larger military – check, European Union wants nukes – check, European Union wants this for defensive purposes –will Europe acquire a great army? Will Europe defeat the Biblical King of the South? Is Europe the King of the North? Will Europe defeat the King(s) from the east? Here’s a big question – will Europe conquer the United States of America? Is the United State of America mentioned in the Bible? These are fascinating questions that will be answered in the very near future. The fact that these conflicts will occur is a certainty, as they are a prophesied fact in the Bible in the book of Daniel. But when will these conflicts occur? Daniel was told to shut up the words, they were for the time of the end. Dan 12:4: ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ We are there. This is the time of the end. Dr. Thiel will shine the light on the answers to these questions. One answer, in particular, is sure to stun thousands.

Here is a link to our video: European Union wants military independence from the USA.

As far as Europe and nuclear weapons go, notice a news item from last Spring:

France tests a nuclear-capable missile: “To demonstrate our deterrence”

May 23, 2024

France has carried out the first test launch of an upgraded nuclear -capable missile , the Asmpa-r, designed to be launched from a Rafale fighter. The test, carried out yesterday, comes after Russia said it had begun nuclear exercises in its southern military district. …

French Defense Minister, Sebastien Lecornu … said the exercise aimed to bolster ” the credibility of the airborne nuclear deterrent element.”  https://www-rainews-it.translate.goog/amp/articoli/2024/05/francia-effettua-test-di-un-missile-con-capacita-nucleare-per-dimostrare-la-nostra-deterrenza-il-giorno-dopo-i-test-della-russia-ac99f33e-81cf-45b3-8f7b-5e500a77efee.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

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

14:32

Donald Trump, Europe, and Nuclear Weapons?

Are European leaders quite concerned about a possible second Donald Trump presidency? Have any European leaders publicly proposed developing ‘Euronukes’ because of Donald Trump? Do European leaders believe that Europe should have nuclear weapons independent from the United States of America? Does the Bible prophesy anything like nuclear destruction coming to the USA and its British-descended allies? Do biblical prophecies really point to the USA being destroyed by its European friends in places like Daniel 11:39 and Lamentations 1:1-2? Do Europeans think they need to have nukes whether or not Donald Trump gets into office again? Did the late Herbert W. Armstrong state back in 1989 that the Great Tribulation could actually begin with a nuclear attack by the coming European King of the North Beast power against cities in the USA, UK, and Canada? Are the Europeans now increasing their military spending and considering adding their own nukes? Is there hope from the coming Kingdom of God and the return of Jesus? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Donald Trump, Europe, and Nuclear Weapons?

Yes, Europe is interested in more nuclear weapons.

This is another unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s statements and policies.

Biblical prophecies will come to pass.

This will not end well for the USA (Daniel 11:39) and many others (cf. Daniel 11:40-45).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. 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 for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

(Facebook image)

COGwriter

A reader sent me a link to the following from Harbingers Daily (HD):

What Does America’s Change Of Direction Mean In View Of Biblical Prophecy?

March 9, 2025

President Donald Trump has brought a much-needed change of direction to our nation. …

It’s tempting to think that way. I have found myself wondering if perhaps there’s been a pause in the parade of events leading to Jesus’ soon appearing. However, two thoughts bring me back to reality.

First, I remember Jesus’ assertion that the fulfillment of Bible prophecy will happen at the time sovereignly set by the Father (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). God knows the precise time when He will send His Son to get His Bride and bring her to glory. He already took into consideration all that we see happening today when He long ago set the time of our departure from this world.

Second, I’m aware that a strong undercurrent in world affairs remains, … The lawlessness of those who seek to destroy our nation remains on full display.

So, does that mean that world events are accelerating toward Jesus’ appearing? I prefer to put it this way: the stage-setting for the future one-world government has not ceased or slowed down in any way. …

Israel Will Become Vulnerable to an Invasion …

The Most Deadly Wars in History Will Occur …

The Restrainer Will No Longer Restrict the Man of Lawlessness …

While it might be tempting to think there’s been a pause in the mad rush of events leading up to the start of the Tribulation period, the elite powerbrokers of our world remain busy. They are working behind the scenes to quickly set the stage for when they can openly enslave the world under their domain. https://harbingersdaily.com/what-does-americas-change-of-direction-mean-in-view-of-biblical-prophecy/

“America’s change of direction” essentially has accelerated the desires of the Europeans to arm and look at how to distance themselves from the USA. That is consistent with various prophecies for this time.

Now, the following has the only mention of Europe in the HD article:

The Most Deadly Wars in History Will Occur …

Many European leaders are rallying to Zelenskyy’s cause with promises of weapons and soldiers on the ground.

The chess pieces are rapidly moving into place for the start of deadly wars and fulfillment of Revelation 6:3-4, 7-8.

As far as several prophecies related to wars, Europe, and the USA go, check out our latest BibleNewsProphecy video:

Here is a link to our video: Should Europe Still Consider Itself a US Ally?

The fact that leaders in Europe are wondering if the USA is still an ally is a change in direction that will NOT turn out well for the USA.

By the way, the HD article states:

The Rapture, however, will decimate the US as a world power and provide the perfect opportunity for the antichrist to step in as the protector of the Jewish people.

There are several issues with that including the FACT that Jesus returns AFTER the USA is destroyed. For details, check out the free e-book: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?

For more scriptural information regarding the myth about the “Rapture” occurring before the Great Tribulation, check out the detailed article: Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected?

That said, yes, Israel is vulnerable to invasion. But HD has the scriptures wrong on that and its timing. The HD article states:

Israel Will Become Vulnerable to an Invasion …

Ezekiel 38-39 … I suspect that the Gog/Magog attack will occur between the Rapture and the antichrist’s seven-year peace accord with Israel.

Two points. No, Ezekiel 38 and the Gog/Magog attack are NOT for this age. Notice a few verses in the 38th chapter of Ezekiel:

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 – 2018 | Monthly | USD mn | CEIC Data

Israel’s Gold Reserves was reported at 0.00 USD mn in Feb 2019.  https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/israel/gold-reserves accessed 03/09/25

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 21st century is NOT the target of Ezekiel 38.

Ezekiel was further inspired to write:

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 38:14-16)

So, a power from the far north, which would seem to have to be Russian-led as it is the only major military power in the far north now and may be the only one also in the future, will come. But again, notice that this happens when Israel is dwelling safely.

Notice the following observation by the old Worldwide Church of God:

The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are without question still future – for the “latter days” (38: 16) and “latter years” (38:8). Moreover, Ezekiel 38:14 describes the time setting as being “in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.” This is certainly not the situation in the State of Israel to- day! The Israel described by Ezekiel is a nation that dwells in security, in unwalled villages, totally unprepared for war (38:8, 11, 14). (Southeast Asia in Prophecy. Ambassador College Press, 1985)

It should be plain to those who will believe the Bible over traditions that the tiny nation of Israel is not now a “land of unwalled villages” with “a peaceful people who dwell safely” (Ezekiel 38:10-11). We are not particularly close to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38. Those who believe otherwise are in error. For more on this, check out the article: Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day?

Now, as far as Israel being invaded, here is something from my latest book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Despite its posturing and relative military strength, Iran will be somehow effectively neutralized (cf. Ezekiel 32:24). This could perhaps be from an attack involving Israel and/or internal civil unrest — this could also include electromagnetic (EMP) or similar weapons used against Iran (Jeremiah 49:34-39).

It is of prophetic interest to note that the small nation of Israel is prophesied to one day be attacked by some that seem to have a connection to Iran (Isaiah 22:1-14).

Iran may decide to strike out against Israel, and possibly Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:7-8) if a Trump Administration and/or Israel takes actions it does not like.

So, while Israel will be attacked in this age, this is NOT related to prophecies in Ezekiel 38 or 39.

Getting back to the HD article, it also stated:

The Restrainer Will No Longer Restrict the Man of Lawlessness …

As far as the Restrainer goes, here is a link to an article: What is Restrained and Who is Restraining in 2 Thessalonians 2:7? See also Mystery of Iniquity/Lawlessness.

That said, HD is correct when it posted:

While it might be tempting to think there’s been a pause in the mad rush of events leading up to the start of the Tribulation period, the elite powerbrokers of our world remain busy. They are working behind the scenes to quickly set the stage for when they can openly enslave the world under their domain.

Donald Trump is NOT pausing the events leading up to the start of the Tribulation.

He and his Administration have made statements and taken steps that those in Europe and elsewhere have seen, which is inadvertently motivating them to take steps that will lead to the Great Tribulation and the end of the United States.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind? Here are links to threerelated videos Fleeing or Rapture?, Rapture or Fleeing? Which is Great Tribulation Protection? and Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety,’ Zephaniah 2 to ‘gather together,’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on fleeing to a place–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of related interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety?  Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
What is Restrained and Who is Restraining in 2 Thessalonians 2:7? Are sorceries, signs, and lying wonders being restrained until the future? What is the mystery of lawlessness? Could the archangel Michael be the restrainer? Here is a related article in Spanish: ¿Qué es lo que se restringe y quién lo está restringiendo en 2 Tesalonicenses 2:7?
Mystery of Iniquity What is the mystery of iniquity? How did it start? How will it end? Two related sermons are also available: The Mystery of Iniquity and The Mystery of Lawlessness.
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?
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.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. 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 for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

CCOG portrayal of the Beast of Revelation 13:1-10

COGwriter

Related to what the relationship between Europe and the United States is leading to, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel discussing various views and scriptures about that:

14:26

European Union wants military independence from the USA

European Union wants to be militarily independent of the USA – check, European Union wants a larger military – check, European Union wants nukes – check, European Union wants this for defensive purposes –will Europe acquire a great army? Will Europe defeat the Biblical King of the South? Is Europe the King of the North? Will Europe defeat the King(s) from the east? Here’s a big question – will Europe conquer the United States of America? Is the United State of America mentioned in the Bible? These are fascinating questions that will be answered in the very near future. The fact that these conflicts will occur is a certainty, as they are a prophesied fact in the Bible in the book of Daniel. But when will these conflicts occur? Daniel was told to shut up the words, they were for the time of the end. Dan 12:4: ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ We are there. This is the time of the end. Dr. Thiel will shine the light on the answers to these questions. One answer, in particular, is sure to stun thousands.

Here is a link to our video: European Union wants military independence from the USA.

That said, there will be good news as after Europe is defeated by a Eurasian power, Jesus will return to establish the millennial kingdom of God.

But before then, we will have tribulation, totalitarianism, and war.

Some items of related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and 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.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. 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 for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

(Photo from Pixabay)

COGwriter

CBS published the following:

How the FDA lets chemicals pour into America’s food supply

March 7, 2025

The FDA’s restraints on food ingredients are limited and relatively feeble, especially compared with those in Europe, a KFF Health News examination found. There are at least 950 substances in our food that are not permitted in Europe, according to one expert’s estimate, and chemicals linked to health concerns show up in hundreds of products that line the shelves of American supermarkets.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new head of the Department of Health and Human Services, has railed about the risks of food additives for years and has said he wants to end “the mass poisoning of American children.” At a March 6 confirmation hearing, Martin Makary, President Trump’s nominee to head the FDA, expressed concern about foods “with a lot of molecules that do not appear in nature.”

“These are chemicals that the industry insists are safe, a subset of which are concerning,” he said. …

To a great extent, the FDA leaves it to food companies to determine whether their ingredients and additives are safe. Companies don’t have to tell the FDA about those decisions, and they don’t have to list all ingredients on their product labels. …

“The food industry does massive amounts of research that we have no access to,” Robert Califf told a Senate committee in December on his way out as FDA commissioner.

As a result: The FDA’s oversight of food additives is much weaker than its oversight of prescription drugs.

“There is good reason to be concerned about the chemicals that are routinely included in much of our food,” Califf testified. …

Chemicals such as titanium dioxide and potassium bromate, whose safety has been debated, are allowed in foods in the United States but not in Europe.

Corporations may turn a blind eye to potential dangers, a July 2024 FDA-funded report warned.

Potentially harmful ingredients “are not necessarily required to be named on a product label,” the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, an adjunct to the agency, said in the report, which was based largely on interviews with representatives of companies across the food supply chain.

“Companies may choose not to track the presence of these ingredients/compounds due to concern about future litigation,” the report said.

Some additives can remain hidden from the public behind such catchall terms as “spices” and “artificial flavors,” as the Center for Science in the Public Interest has reported, or shrouded by other exemptions from disclosure requirements. …

Adding to the concern: the profusion of ultra-processed foods, which use a wide array of chemicals to add flavor and color, extend shelf life, reduce cost, control texture or consistency, and generally tempt people to eat more. Ultra-processed foods now make up 73% of the U.S. food supply, researchers have estimated. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, has said there’s growing evidence they are “deliberately designed to be addictive,” contributing to an epidemic of obesity — a rare point of agreement between him and Kennedy.

At his confirmation hearing, Makary said some ingredients cause a chronic, low-grade inflammatory reaction in the gastrointestinal tract. “And what are we doing? We are drugging our nation’s children at scale,” he said.

The KFF poll found that 58% of respondents want the Trump administration to prioritize setting stricter limits on chemicals in the U.S. food supply. …

The FDA allows titanium dioxide to be used to enhance the appearance of foods, among other purposes. According to an Environmental Working Group database, it’s listed as an ingredient in more than 1,900 products, including many candies.

The European Union takes a more cautious approach. In 2021, an EU regulatory panel concluded that titanium dioxide “can no longer be considered as safe when used as a food additive.” The panel said it couldn’t rule out the possibility that titanium dioxide could damage chromosomes.

The FDA allows potassium bromate to be used in baking, and, according to the EWG database, it’s listed as an ingredient in more than 200 products, including bread, buns, and bagels.

Potassium bromate has been banned from food in many countries, including those of the European Union, Canada, India, and Peru. In 2023, California banned it from food effective in 2027. The United Kingdom prohibited it in 1990. The International Agency for Research on Cancer identified it as possibly carcinogenic more than 25 years ago. A joint committee of the United Nations and the World Health Organization identified it as a “genotoxic carcinogen” in 1992. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-chemicals-food-supply/

Although many in the mainstream have been raising alarms about the influence that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who now is the US  Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), he has been right to be concerned about chemicals in the food supply.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the helm of the nation’s health agency this month with a promise to “Make America Healthy Again” by purging the Department of Health and Human Services of industry influence while reducing kids’ exposure to toxic chemicals.  03/03/25 https://www.eenews.net/articles/can-trump-make-america-healthy-again-with-this-epa/

Yet, notice a condemnation of RFK by Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democratic politician:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be a disaster for American health care

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/12/03/robert-f-kennedy-jr-would-be-a-disaster-for-american-health-care-debbie-wasserman-schultz/

While I do not agree with all of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health views, the fact is that the USA has serious health problems–and for many Americans their health disasters are already here.

Notice the following report about RFK and health:

RFK, Jr. questions vaccines, junk science food, pesticide-laden agriculture, while practicing what he preaches – the perfect role model for leading Health and Human Services

There are many adulterated products that Americans consume on a regular basis that should be questioned, but Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been called a “conspiracy theorist” for years by the establishment for doing just that. Why? Because the sick care industrial complex of America doesn’t want anyone asking questions, because that can become contagious, as more and more people would say, “hey, that’s a good question,” and begin using critical thinking, judgment, and common sense about filtering their food, water, and medicine consumption habits. …

Take one look at RFK Jr. and you see a man who is seventy years old but built like a linebacker in the NFL. He is in phenomenal physical and mental health condition. This is the kind of role model  needed in the highest position of the food and health industry in the USA.

Robert F. Kennedy questions wackzines (vaccines), their ingredients, how many we get and how close together we get them. …

He questions glyphosate and how much is in the food we eat. Glyphosate is a known carcinogen that’s doused heavily on GMO crops that are engineered to withstand big doses of it. It can damage your liver and your kidneys.

How many medical doctors do you know who look like RFK, Jr. and are in that tip-top shape, especially over the age of 50 and over the age of 65? https://www.newstarget.com/2025-01-16-rfk-question-vaccines-junk-food-pesticide-agriculture.html

GMOs, glycophosphates, vaccines, and various other things that affect the food supply should be questioned.

As a scientist, I began warning of the dangers and insufficient testing of GMOs starting last century.

The USA spends more on health care than any other nation, yet it is a nation full of unhealthy and obese people.

The mainstream medical profession and media, to a great degree, have failed the American people on matters of health.

The food supply has been negatively impacted by many companies.

The USA has serious health issues–including many who are obese.

Furthermore, consider that the Bible opposes obesity.

Here is what Moses and Jeremiah were inspired to write about obesity thousands of years ago:

15 You grew fat, you grew thick,
You are obese!
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
16 They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger. (Deuteronomy 32:15-16)

11 “Because you were glad, because you rejoiced,
You destroyers of My heritage,
Because you have grown fat like a heifer threshing grain,
And you bellow like bulls,
12 Your mother shall be deeply ashamed;
She who bore you shall be ashamed.
Behold, the least of the nations shall be a wilderness,
A dry land and a desert. (Jeremiah 50:11-12)

The idea that one should not be obese is not a new one.

Furthermore, the Bible warns about gluttony:

20 Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty (Proverbs 23:20-21)

Earlier this year, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:55

Is Obesity OK with Scripture?

In March 2024, the BBC reported that research pointed to over a billion people being obese worldwide. Professor Majid Ezzati, of Imperial College London, said “In many of these island nations it comes down to the availability of healthy food versus unhealthy food. In some cases there have been aggressive marketing campaigns promoting unhealthy foods, while the cost and availability of healthier food can be more problematic.” Does the Bible teach to eat what is good? While millions are dying from hunger, over a billion are obese. What are diseases that the obese are more susceptible to? Since the obese tend to die sooner than others, should obesity be accepted or encouraged? What did Bill Maher state about the ‘body positive movement’? Does the Bible condemn gluttony (overeating) and obesity? Did Jesus say to ‘come as you are’ or to ‘repent and believe’? What are some ways to help lose weight? Is losing weight very difficult? Can Jesus help? If you fail, should you give up? What about the five second method of changing? Should the obese eat less? If that does not work, what should they do? What about exercise? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Many people consume too much overly-processed convenience foods, synthetic nutrients, chemical additives, and refined grains–that is NOT good (see also: ‘Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to 32 Illnesses’).

People should try to eat real, not artificial, foods. Soda consumption should be almost non-existent, essentially a very rare treat.

And while they do not like to believe this, almost all obese people also need to eat less.

Many years ago, the Continuing Church of God put out a video about concerns about eating to much on our YouTube channel called Bible New Prophecy. Here is a link to our video: Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy.

That said, losing weight can be very, very difficult. But real Christians should believe the following:

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

With prayer and proper determination, breaking away from being obese can happen.

Obesity is UNHEALTHY and should not be encouraged.

Notice also the following:

The Democrats’ Big Problem With Big Food

There’s a reason RFK Jr.’s views on health resonate with so many people.

December 2, 2024

Liberals are rightly incensed about the Kennedy nomination. …

But there’s a reason Kennedy’s views on health hold such appeal, and it’s not because the U.S. is a land of crazy people (it’s not). It’s because Americans can look around and see that something is very, very wrong with us: Three-quarters of Americans are overweight or obese, including almost half of teenagers and young adults; 1 in 5 children is obese; and rates of related diseases (diabetes, heart disease, and so on) remain astronomically high. We can see that our communities are saturated with fast-food and fast-casual chains, that even small children have mobility issues because of their size, that desperate Americans are turning to drugs like Ozempic in enormous numbers, and that being obese or overweight are not equally distributed: Wealthier, better-educated people tend to be thinner and healthier, while poorer Americans are not just larger and visibly less fit but actually sicker and likely to die much younger. We can see that this is about not just a lack of health insurance but also the building blocks of our bodies—the food we put into them, and the way Frankenfood products have replaced so much of what humans have traditionally eaten.  …

In the past few years, though, progressives have ceded skepticism of Big Food to the thoroughly anti-science right. We have left a hole here. People like Kennedy have filled it.

Liberals were, in the not-so-distant past, the cohort skeptical of Big Food and Big Pharma and the group concerned with the health and environmental consequences of how Americans eat, medicate ourselves, and move. The environmentalist movement of the 1960s and ’70s was intertwined with various healthy-eating trends, …

But the progressive tides turned. Obama and Pollan are now deemed problematic, as is the entire concept of obesity, along with the very idea that what we eat may indeed shape our body size or that body size affects health. Soda taxes are regressive and unfair to poor consumers, while nutritional information is a pretext for shaming. We trust the science, except when the science says things we don’t like, and in that case, the science is biased and wrong. …

since big food companies are generous political donors to Democrats and Republicans alike, it also seems as if the Democratic Party as a whole has moved away from the Obama-era focus on whole-body health. …

And it also doesn’t help that the COVID pandemic sent public health polarization into overdrive—and revealed big hypocrisies in the aftermath. … Health for liberals, in the COVID era, became about vaccines and medications and insurance and hospital care … yet there has been no recent major left-wing push to better regulate Big Food, or to get healthier food onto the public’s collective plates, or to tie infrastructure to physical health. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/12/robert-f-kennedy-jr-health-big-food-science-democrats.html

Remember that the Bible warns:

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

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

And yes, Republicans and Democrats have been swayed by money from Agriculture, Big Pharma, etc.

As far as what we should eat, the Bible tells people to eat what is good:

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

Do not overeat. Eat what is good.

Having more highly-overweight people is consistent, however, with the following prophecy for the last days:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!  (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Lack of self-control, while not the only factor, is a factor in obesity.

Related to food in 2022, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

The American and Anglo-Saxon descended nations are not setting the right example when it comes to diet and health and this does not bode well for them in the future (Proverbs 12:24; Daniel 11:39).

It is good, however, that CBS and Robert Kennedy are questioning the unnatural chemicals that are in the food supply.

No matter what one thinks of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or his health views, Americans have been getting sicker and fatter, and the food supply should be improved and less laden with chemicals.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Christian Health Matters Should Christians be concerned about their health? Does the Bible give any food and health guidelines? Here are links to three related sermons: Let’s Talk About Food, Evil is Affecting the Food Supply, and Let’s Talk About Health.
American foods that gross out foreigners A study done in the Fall of 2014 found out which foods that non-USA Americans considered weird or gross that Americans eat. This video discusses those foods, ingredients in some of those foods, and warns against consuming ‘that which is not bread’ (Isaiah 55:2). Dr. Thiel also warns about synthetic vitamins and some of the issues associated with them. He also discusses something promoted by the late Seventh-day Adventist, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg.
The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous? There is also a sermon-length video on this: Christians and Unclean Meats; two short videos are also available: Did Jesus declare all animal flesh food? and COVID, Pandemics, and Unclean Meat.
Obesity, processed foods, health risks, and the Bible Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned? What diseases are associated with eating too much refined foods?
Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy Are there disadvantages to being overweight? Is junk food really bad for you? Does the Bible discuss overeating and/or obesity? Is overeating having an effect on the US military? What are the ramifications of personal and national health for overeating? What should you eat? This is a sermonette-length YouTubevideo.
GMOs and Bible Prophecy What are GMOs? Since they were not in the food supply until 1994, how could they possibly relate to Bible prophecy? Do GMOs put the USA and others at risk? Here are some related videos: GMO Risks and the Bible and GMOs, Lab meat, Hydrogenation: Safe or Dangerous?
Chimeras: Has Science Crossed the Line? What are chimeras?  Has science crossed the line? Does the Bible give any clues? A video of related interest is Half human, half pig: What’s the difference?  and Human-Monkey Embryos and Death.
Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.
Does God Heal Today? What does the Bible teach? Herbert Armstrong tries to explain this.
UK Study Supports Daniel Diet Daniel and his companions looked better eating more vegetables and avoiding strange meats. Has modern science confirmed this?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

 A logo representing the Organisation of the Islamic  Conference (Government of Egypt FREE Community  Edition ### on 2023-03-17)

COGwriter

Although the Trump-Vance Administration and Israel’s Netanyahu Administration rejected it, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and several European nations now endorse an Arab plan for Gaza:

Muslim nations, European leaders back Arab proposal for Gaza

8 March 2025

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several European nations have backed the recently unveiled Arab plan for Gaza following 15 months of Israel’s devastating war on the besieged enclave.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement on Saturday that they supported a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza at a cost of $53b.

“The plan shows a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and promises – if implemented – swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza,” the statement said.

It added that Hamas “must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel any more” and that the four countries “support the central role for the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of its reform agenda”.

The plan was drawn up by Egypt and adopted by Arab leaders at an Arab League summit in Cairo this month. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/8/muslim-nations-european-leaders-back-arab-proposal-for-gaza

8 March 2025

France, Germany, Italy and the UK said on Saturday they supported an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. …

“The plan shows a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and promises — if implemented — swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza,” the foreign ministers of the four countries said in a joint statement.

Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed the post-war plan, which was put forward by Egypt, to rebuild the Paelstinian enclave.

The Arab Summit in Cairo took place after US President Donald Trump floated a widely condemned proposal to turn the Gaza Strip into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East” and displace its residents. …

Arab plan welcomed by Europe, rejected by the US

Earlier this week, the Trump administration dismissed the $53 billion counter proposal after it was adopted. …

What’s in the Arab plan to rebuild Gaza?

The phased reconstruction plan consists of three major stages over five years.

An initial six-month recovery phase is aimed at removing debris, de-mining and building temporary housing.

In the first phase, the plan calls for the building of 200,000 housing units in Gaza over the next two years. A second stage will see 200,000 more housing units.

By 2030, the plan foresees hundreds of thousands of new homes housing up to 3 million people as well as an airport, industrial zones, hotels and parks.

Under its proposal, Gaza would be governed by a reformed Palestinian Authority. https://www.dw.com/en/france-germany-italy-uk-hail-arab-backed-gaza-plan/a-71866984

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has 57 member nations. Notice also that the Europeans are endorsing the Arab plan, whereas the USA rejected it.

Over the years, the Europeans have often taken positions closer to the Arabs than the USA has.

The Bible tells of a time when a European leader will confirm some type of a seven year deal:

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

The “prince” is a European leader who is later called the King of the North in Daniel 11:40. The ‘one week’ has generally been understood by prophecy watchers to mean a seven year deal, that is broken in the middle of it (after 3 1/2 years). This break is also confirmed in the following scripture:

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

The “him” is the European King of the North.

One way to show Daniel is referring to a European kingdom is to realize that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. Jewish sources, while not understanding all of this, also agree that it was Roman sources that destroyed the city and sanctuary as the following demonstrates:

“The people of the prince will come and destroy the city and the Sanctuary” Daniel 9:26, refers to the Roman legions of Vespasian and Titus, who destroyed Jerusalem. (Daniel 9 – A True Biblical Interpretation. Jews for Judaism. https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/answers/jewish-polemics/texts/daniel-9-a-true-biblical-interpretation/ accessed 07/30/16)

In the 21st century, the European Union includes much of the land and peoples that were part of the ancient Roman Empire. And it is the “prince” coming from that people that verse 27 of Daniel 9 is referring to. Thus, this prophecy tells us that a lower level European leader will somewhat officially start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the great tribulation (and yes, according to Jesus, some “tribulation” does happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation). Another is the fact that the “beast of the sea” of Revelation 13:1 fits with the beasts from the “great sea” of Daniel 7:2–and that sea is the Mediterranean Sea according to the Old Testament. Hence a power in Europe the only region that could have an empire geographically like the old Roman one (for more details, please see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

The fact that Europe and the USA differ so much on the future of Gaza again is pushing the Arabs to want to work more with the Europeans in some areas than the Americans.

That said, I objected to Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza when it came out last month as it was not consistent with end time biblical prophecies (see Trump and Netanyahu Administrations want to relocate Gazans, but . . .).

In the October-December 2019 edition of Bible News Prophecy magazine, we had the following in an article about Gaza and the Palestinians:

Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy

By Bob Thiel

The Palestinian-dominated areas of the West Bank and Gaza have been in the news a lot. A violent-prone group known as Hamas essentially runs the region called Gaza.

What will happen to Gaza? Does the Bible teach anything about the Palestinians?

Does the Bible have anything to say about Gaza and/or the Palestinians?

Gaza, itself, is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. And some of those mentions involve statements that are prophetic.

Gaza, `Azzah (az-zaw’), is the feminine form the Hebrew word ‘az that means strong, vehement, or harsh (Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.).

As far as the word Palestine goes, notice also the following:

Though the definite origins of the word “Palestine” have been debated for years and are still not known for sure, the name is believed to be derived from the Egyptian and Hebrew word peleshet. Roughly translated to mean “rolling” or “migratory,” the term was used to describe the inhabitants of the land to the northeast of Egypt – the Philistines. The Philistines were an Aegean people – more closely related to the Greeks and with no connection ethnically, linguisticly or historically with Arabia – who conquered in the 12th Century BCE the Mediterranean coastal plain that is now Israel and Gaza.

A derivitave of the name “Palestine” first appears in Greek literature in the 5th Century BCE when the historian Herodotus called the area “Palaistinē” (Greek – Παλαιστίνη). In the 2nd century CE, the Romans crushed the revolt of Shimon Bar Kokhba (132 CE), during which Jerusalem and Judea were regained and the area of Judea was renamed Palaestina in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel. (Origins of the Name “Palestine”. viewed 07/26/14)

The term Philistines in the Bible refers to people who tended to occupy regions including Gaza. The NKJV uses the term Philistines 252 times and the term Philistine 34 times.

The Bible Tells of Gaza

The NKJV has the term “Gaza” 21 times and “Gazites” twice. …

Bible Prophecy Tells About Gaza and Palestine

Zechariah had a prophecy of change coming to Gaza:

5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 “A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 I will take away the blood from his mouth, And the abominations from between his teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for our God, And shall be like a leader in Judah, And Ekron like a Jebusite. 8 I will camp around My house Because of the army, Because of him who passes by and him who returns. No more shall an oppressor pass through them, For now I have seen with My eyes. (Zechariah 9:5-8)

Some (see Matthew Henry’s Commentary, etc.) believe that this was fulfilled in the past. However, as future prophecies tell of a time Gaza and the Philistines having problems (see below), the above could still have future fulfillment. If so, it shows that some in Gaza/Palestine will be converted.

Bible prophecy tells of calamity coming to Gaza and other lands:

17 Then I took the cup from the Lord’s hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the Lord had sent me: 18 Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, and all his people; 20 all the mixed multitude, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (namely, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod); 21 Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon; 22 all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastlands which are across the sea; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who are in the farthest corners; 24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed multitude who dwell in the desert; 25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes; 26 all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth. Also the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27 “Therefore you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.”‘ 28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “You shall certainly drink! 29 For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the Lord of hosts.’ (Jeremiah 25:17-29)

Many of the lands above are listed as supporters of the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) and/or part of a confederation that will be destroyed that will involve Egypt (Ezekiel 30:3-8).

Some of those lands, Ashkelon (located 50 kilometres south of Tel Aviv, and 13 kilometres north of the border with the Gaza Strip), Ekron (modern Tel Miqne, which is 35 kilometers west of Jerusalem), and Ashdod (located 32 kilometres south of Tel Aviv, 20 km north of Ashkelon, and 53 km west of Jerusalem), are currently dominated by the nation of Israel.

Ashkelon, Tel Migne, and Ashdod are claimed to be part of Israel. They are not in the Gaza Strip (they are all north of it) nor part of the other Palestinian controlled region known as the West Bank. Therefore, it looks like the Palestinians will either control those cities again or be so numerous in it that they are the ones affected in Jeremiah 25. It is my current view that the Palestinians will gain land that the nation of Israel thinks it will continue to control. Since these are not lands currently considered to be ceded in a peace deal, this looks like losses from the State of Israel after the deal of Daniel 9:27 is broken (cf. Daniel 11:31).

The entire 47th chapter of Jeremiah is a prophecy about the Philistines, including Gaza:

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

2 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, At the rushing of his chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage, 4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines,To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? 6 “O you sword of the Lord, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet, Seeing the Lord has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.” (Jeremiah 47:2-7)

Problems were thus prophesied for Gaza–since there is a duality to some prophecies (e.g. Malachi 4:5 & Matthew 17:10-13), this prophecy Jeremiah recorded may also have future application. This prophecy also suggests that Israel will no longer control Ashkelon.

Amos specifically recorded a prophecy about Gaza:

6 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they took captive the whole captivity
To deliver them up to Edom.
7 But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
Which shall devour its palaces.
8 I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn My hand against Ekron,
And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
Says the Lord God. (Amos 1:6-8)

Ezekiel had a prophecy against Edom (mentioned also above) and then the following about the Philistines:

15 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,” 16 therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I lay My vengeance upon them.” (Ezekiel 25:15-17)

The Bible is clear that vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:9; Hebrews 10:30). Apparently (along with the Edomites, Ezekiel 25:15-17, Joel 3:19, Obadiah 8-11, and Psalms 137:7-9), the Palestinians are subject to judgment in the future for their vengeance. Zechariah 9:6 tells of punishment for their pride.

Isaiah seems to speak of this as well:

14 But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west;
Together they shall plunder the people of the East;
They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab;
And the people of Ammon shall obey them.
15 The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt;
With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River,
And strike it in the seven streams,
And make men cross over dryshod. (Isaiah 11:14-15)

This seems to include not only those in Gaza, but possibly those in the West Bank (“the people of the East”) and beyond.

Also notice what Zephaniah prophesied:

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken,
And Ashkelon desolate;
They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday,
And Ekron shall be uprooted.
5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
The nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the Lord is against you,
O Canaan, land of the Philistines:
“I will destroy you;
So there shall be no inhabitant. (Zephaniah 2:4-5)

Though there was a partial fulfillment near the time this was written, the time has not yet been when there was no inhabitant in Canaan, hence this prophecy is for the future. Gaza will change and be forsaken! (Years ago, because of what Zephaniah 2:4-5 teaches, I concluded that the place of protection Jesus promised the Philadelphians in Revelation 3:10 would NOT be in the direction of Gaza or the land of the Palestinians.

Now, people like the Protestant Joel Rosenberg have publicly wondered if Zephaniah 2:4 could be fulfilled with Donald Trump’s proposal to remove all the Palestinians from Gaza.

But that is not consistent with what Donald Trump proposed nor the timing of the prophecy.

First, that prophecy says that Gaza will be forsaken. Those in Gaza do not want to forsake it. If they were to leave under Donald Trump’s plan, they basically would be forced out–that is not consistent with Zephaniah 2:4.

Second of all, let’s consider the timing. Let’s look at the preceding verse:

3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger.  (Zephaniah 2:3)

The timing of the above is several years away, hence, no, it cannot be associated with Donald Trump’s current proposal.

The reality is that, for a time, Gaza will end up controlling lands that Israel now controls.

Related to Gaza and prophecy, we also have the following video:

14:33

Gaza and Bible Prophecy

Israeli officials such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have claimed that all those in Hamas will be killed or eliminated. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen added that the plan is to make Gaza shrink. Where do those of Gaza and other Palestinians come from? Does the Bible show historical animosities between the descendants of Israel and those of the Gazans and the Palestinians? What does the Bible show that Gaza and Hamas mean? Do biblical prophecies in Amos and Jeremiah point to Gaza ending up with territories that Israel now controls? Can Israel lose territory? Will Hamas achieve some of its objectives? What does the 83rd Psalm prophesy? Might terrorism be involved? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Gaza and Bible Prophecy.

Despite how things may look now, Israel will lose territory to the Palestinians, including the Gazans.

Some items of related interest may include the following:

Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the Century and Daniel 9 27? Here is a link to something related in the Spanish language: Estados Árabes emiratos unidos y el tratado de paz en el medio este.
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.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce this sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:10:55

Where Did God Come From? What Does God Look Like?

This is the second part of a multi-part sermon series covering ‘Mysteries of God.’ Where did God come from? What name did God give Moses? Has God always existed? What about Jesus? Is God’s existence scientifically logical? Could matter have eternally existed? What about time? When did this age, or time as we know it, begin? Does the Bible point to astronomical bodies, like the moon, being made to mark religious festivals? What does God’ look like? Where human beings made in the image of God? Does God have arms and hands (Psalm 89:13; 2 Chronicles 18:18), fingers (Exodus 31:18), feet (Psalm 18:9), a face (Genesis 32:30), a waist (Ezekiel 1:27), eyes (Deuteronomy 11:12), ears (Psalm 34:15), a mouth (Matthew 4:4), lips (Job 11:5), nostrils (Exodus 15:8), hair (Daniel 7:9), and a back (Exodus 33:23)? What does Jesus look like in the earliest painting claimed to be of Him? Could the Shroud of Turin possibly really show what Jesus looked like? Does God have a glorious body? Could Jesus have looked anything like He has been portrayed by an actor in ‘The Chosen’? Does the Book of Revelation give any description of how Jesus looks now? Can humans get a glorious body like God? Did Jesus have long hair? Has it been claimed that the common images that are supposed to be Jesus really are supposed to be a younger representative of the pagan go Zeus? Should we have statues or icons of Jesus? Why or why not? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link to our sermon video: Where Did God Come From? What Does God Look Like?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Mysteries of God. What is God? Is God omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent? Does the Godhead consist of a closed trinity or an expanding family? Here are links to related sermons: Mysteries: Is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient? and Where Did God Come From? What Does God Look Like?
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Here is a video in Spanish: ¿Qué es un verdadero cristiano?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the ‘faith chapter’? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido. In German: Glaube für die von Gott Berufenen und Auserwählten. In French: La Foi pour ceux que Dieu a Appelés et Choisis. Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen.and here is a link to another sermon Faith and Courage. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese 一篇关于信仰的小文章. Here are links to the sermons Christian Faith and Increasing Faith.
Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus
Is God’s Existence Logical? Is it really logical to believe in God? Yes! Would you like Christian answers to give atheists? This is a free online booklet that deal with improper theories and musings called science related to the origin of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. There are links to literature is about 100 different languages there.
Congregations of the Continuing Church of God This is a listing of congregations and groups of the Continuing Church of God around the world.
Continuing Church of God Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
Continuing Church of God, Africa, Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
Continuing Church of God, Canada, Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
Continuing Church of God, Europe, Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
CCOG.AFRICA This is a website targeted towards those in Africa.
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。 Here is a link to our Statement of Beliefs in Mandarin Chinese 继续神的教会的信仰声明.
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted toward Europe. It has materials in more than one language (currently it has English, Dutch, and Serbian, with links also to Spanish) and it is intended to have additional language materials added.
CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and others with a British-descended background.
CCOGCANADA.CA This is a website targeted towards those in Canada.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God.
CG7.ORG This is a website for those interested in the Sabbath and churches that observe the seventh day Sabbath.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.
CCOG Animations YouTube channel. The Continuing Church of God has some animations to teach aspects of Christian beliefs. Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/
Bible News Prophecy channel. Dr. Thiel has produced hundreds of videos for the BibleNewsProphecy channel. You can find them at them on YouTube at BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy, plus also on Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy as well as on Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp and Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
CCOGAfrica channel. This has messages from African pastors in African languages such as Kalenjin, Kiswahili, Embu, and Dholuo. Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/
CDLIDDSermones channel. This contains messages in the Spanish language
BibleNewsProphecy Podcast. This has audio-visual podcasts of the Bible News Prophecy channgel. It plays on i-Phones, i-Pads, and Windows devices that can play i-Tunes.
Bible News Prophecy online radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos. It is also available as a mobile app.
Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.
ContinuingCOG channel. Dr. Thiel has produced scores of YouTube video sermons for this channel. Note: Since these are sermon-length, they can take a little longer to load than other YouTube videos. Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
Study the Bible Course A free online course to help you learn and study the word of God.
Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, NKJV), “Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue” (Hebrews 13:1) ” & continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles” (Acts 2:42 YLT). So, what does that really mean in terms of specific beliefs–the Statement gives answers? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Declaración de las Doctrinas de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. Here is a related link in Tagalog: Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. Here is a related link in Mandarin Chinese ~ç~íy^v„eYOv„OáNðXðf. Here is a related link in Kiswahili: KATIKA LUGHA YA KISWAHILI. Here is a related link in Dutch: Verklaring van geloofspunten van de Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Deutsche (German): Glaubenserklärung der Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Italiano: Dichiarazione del Credo della Continuing Church of God. Here is related link in the French language: Déclaration des croyances de L’Église Continue de Dieu. Here is a related link in the Chichewa language: ZIKHULUPIRIRO ZA MPINGO WA CONTINUING CHURCH OF GOD. Here is a link in Romanian: Declarația de credințe a continuării Bisericii lui Dumnezeu. Here is a link in Portuguese: Declaração de Crenças da Continuação da Igreja de Deus. Here is a link in Russian: Утверждение верований о продолжении Церкви Божьей. Here is a link to a related English-language sermon: Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

1914 Poster from Germany

COGwriter

March 8th is considered to be International Women’s Day. Here is a little bit of its history:

March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference to become an “International Woman’s Day.” After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations. …

In 1914 International Women’s Day was held on March 8, possibly because that day was a Sunday, and now it is always held on March 8 in all countries. The 1914 observance of the Day in Germany was dedicated to women’s right to vote, which German women did not win until 1918.

In London there was a march from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women’s suffrage on March 8, 1914. Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested in front of Charing Cross station on her way to speak in Trafalgar Square.

On March 8, 1917, on the Gregorian calendar, in the capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd, women textile workers began a demonstration, covering the whole city. This marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution. …

The day is an official holiday in Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia.

In some countries, such as Cameroon, Croatia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Chile, the day is not a public holiday, but is widely observed nonetheless. (Wikipedia, accessed 03/08/18)

#BalanceforBetter is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, which is observed each year on March 8. The 2019 initiative is aimed at gender equality, a greater awareness of discrimination and a celebration of women’s achievements, according to the International Women’s Day website. That includes reducing the global pay gap between men and women and making sure all are equal – and balanced – in activist movements, boardrooms and beyond. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/03/07/international-womens-day-2019-balanceforbetter-theme/2904077002/

As far as women go, they do have rights, they are not inferior to men, and they should not be mistreated.

Sadly, in modern times, many act like being able to kill unborn babies is an important right for women–and murder is wrong.

That being said, here is something from the old Radio Church of God related to women:

To be truly happy, a real woman should bear in mind the purpose of which she was created – and set herself definite GOALS to fulfill in the accomplishment of that purpose.

First of all, she should remember that she was called to help and supplement her husband. She should learn to be responsive to him and to his direction of the home, entertainment and way of life.

She should realize that her husband’s success is her success also – and fully SHARE and delight in the triumphs and achievements of her husband, knowing that they are partly her own. Also, she should equally share in his sorrow and disappointments – trying always to give the right kind of balanced and positive sympathy and encouragement so that he will rebound to other successes in the future.

A second area in which a woman should cultivate success and service is that of bearing and TRAINING her children. Certainly, young mothers exert a powerful influence on the leaders of tomorrow. And women should realize the overwhelming IMPORTANCE of zealously and joyously dedicating themselves to this as their highest physical calling. FAR MORE IMPORTANT it is than that of an office worker or secretary on any level.

In His Word, God instructs older women: “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, KEEPERS AT HOME, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:4-5). …

The ULTIMATE Goal

Then, for the woman who reads and understands the Bible, another goal presents itself. That is the goal of preparing to help RULE and reconstruct this entire society in the World Tomorrow (Rev. 2:26; 5:10). Some Christian women wonder how they are being prepared for this. If they, themselves, are not leading and directing businesses, families and public activities today, how are they learning and preparing for tomorrow’s world?

The ANSWER is that a woman, with the physiological and psychological nature given her by God has magnificent opportunities – too often untapped – for preparing toward this goal. She needs to set herself to be a really successful wife, mother and contributor today. (True Womanhood: A Lost Cause?)

As far as the role of women in the church, check out the article: Women and the New Testament Church. A related sermon is also available: Women’s Roles in the Church.

There are many roles for women in the church and in the Continuing Church of God we have women supporting the work and preparations for the Final Phase of the Work.

Some items of possibly-related interest may include:

Women and the New Testament Church What roles did women play in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles? Did Jesus and the Apostle Paul violate Jewish traditions regarding their dealings with women? Do women have any biblical limitations on their role in the Church? Were there female prophets? Do women have any special responsibilities in terms of how they dress? What does the New Testament really teach about women? Here are links to two related sermons: Women’s Roles in the Church and New Testament Women.
True Womanhood: A Lost Cause? Is there still a place for being feminine? Here is an article from Herbert Armstrong about his thoughts relating to women and womanhood.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may wish to view the YouTube videos: Abortion and Birth Control: History and Scriptures. Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt, American Infanticide, Euthanasia: Mercy killing or murder?, and Land of ‘Free’ Abortions and Debt.
Priscilla and Aquila An early Christian married couple from Rome who moved to Asia Minor.
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 are two related YouTube videos titled Final Phase of the Work: Need and Background and The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in over 1,500 languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.