Archive for the ‘Doctrine’ Category

Questions Remain on Bill Gates, Malaria, & Genetically Altered Mosquitoes

Tuesday, July 4th, 2023


Aedes Mosquito (Muhammad Mahdi Karim)

COGwriter

Notice the following;

July 4, 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on June 26, 2023, that five cases of locally transmitted malaria had been identified – four in Florida and one in Texas – since May 2023. These are the first cases of locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria in the U.S. since 2003. …

There could be several factors driving the emergence of locally acquired malaria. https://kiowacountypress.net/content/locally-transmitted-malaria-us-could-be-harbinger-rising-disease-risk

Related to the release of genetically-modified mosquitoes in Florida in 2021, I wrote:

While some genetically-altered mosquito projects may well assist with disease control, they pose many risks.

The scientific reality is that there is no way that items like genetically-modified mosquitoes can be so thoroughly tested in a lab to be released in the wild without any risk.

Why?

A laboratory environment simply cannot test every possible variable in the real world (that is also a reality when it comes to things like COVID-19 vaccines–particularly the mRNA ones).

The release of genetically-modified mosquitoes in Florida is a dangerous risk. (Thiel B. DM: Florida residents claim ‘pest control trial’ that will release up to a BILLION genetically engineered mosquitos in the Keys to reduce species carrying diseases is ‘TERRORISM’. COGwriter, April 27, 2021)

Could there be any connection to genetically-modified mosquitoes released in Florida and malaria now being in the USA?

Bill Gates tweeted the following back in 2015:

Since then, he got involved with genetically-modified mosquitoes:

Questions Remain on Bill Gates & Genetically Altered Mosquitoes

July 3, 2023

According to the AP (A Bill Gates-tied mosquito project is not responsible for recent US malaria cases | AP News), the cases of malaria that have recently popped up in the United States were NOT related to Bill Gates, his funding of “mosquito research” related disease prevention (Gates-Funded World Mosquito Program Engages in Gain-of-Function Research – The American Spectator | USA News and Politics), or Oxitec’s (another Gates supported company) release of genetically modified mosquitoes for the past several years in Florida where the outbreaks occurred (see the previous two articles).

The AP has noted that the Gates Foundation does fund malaria work and GMO mosquitoes but states it’s funding for Oxitec’s genetically altered mosquitoes that are being released in Florida (where those mosquitoes are released) does not include any modifications related to malaria, and so they could not be the cause. …

For my part, I admit I cannot prove any relationship exists, but I completely understand why people would ask the question. https://www.americaoutloud.com/questions-remain-on-bill-gates-genetically-altered-mosquitoes/

To claim that since the intent of the genetic-modification was not to increase susceptibility to malaria does not mean that could not have been the result. Humans simply do not know all the consequences, intended or otherwise, when they genetically-alter living things. While that does not mean that the Gates mosquitoes resulted in malaria in the USA–but the fact is that it is in the USA now.

That said, the release of other genetically-modified mosquitoes has been tried before, but the results were not as the proponents hoped:

Deadly ‘super mosquitoes that are even tougher’ accidentally created by scientists after bungled experiment

Updated September 18, 2019

GENETICALLY modified mosquitoes that were designed by scientists to help populations decrease are actually thriving.

This is according to new research that claims the plan to create gene-hacked mosquitoes that have offspring which die immediately has spectacularly backfired and now scientists don’t know what will happen next.

The modified mosquitoes were released in Jacobina in Brazil and were supposed to mix with the local population and decrease numbers with their weak offspring genetics.

Although the wild population did plummet for a short while, 18 months later it was right back up again.

This is mostly concerning because scientists think the new ‘super mosquitoes’ have properties that might make them harder to kill.

Research about the pests has been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. …

Mosquitoes like the Aedes aegypti variety that was edited can carry dangerous diseases like yellow fever, Zika virus and Malaria.

This is why efforts are being made to reduce their numbers.

However, now traces of the genetically modified genes have been found in the natural population.

This means they are successfully interbreeding. …

The offspring of the gene-hacked mosquitoes and the natural ones are thought to be more robust but whether they pose a threat is unknown.

Researcher Jeffrey Powell told News Atlas: “It is the unanticipated outcome that is concerning.” https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/9947305/deadly-super-mosquitoes-accidentally-created/

So, at least some scientists have been concerned about “the unanticipated outcome.” Having mosquitoes that are “more robust” makes them harder to kill and, thus tends to increase their longevity.

Well, I anticipated something just like this when I reported about the release of GMOs mosquitoes on July 28, 2018. Here are some of my posted warnings.

Mosquitoes can carry and spread many diseases.

But releasing genetically-modified ones into the wild presents unknown risks.

One assumption that scientists have tended to make with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) is that if they do not see any dangers, then there are none. That is foolish, yet that continues to be the view of the pro-GMO crowd.

While there certainly are risks associated with contracting the Zika virus (see Zika is more dangerous than many thought; USA has its first Zika death), this ‘solution’ poses risks to various parts of the ecosystem as well as the possibility that some of the offspring produced will have greater longevity as opposed to greatly reduced longevity.

The vast quantity of mosquito offspring increases the possibility that there will be some that have the opposite traits that the GMO crowd is hoping to get. And if this occurs, this could cause much greater problems than the GMO ‘solution’ was supposed to fix. …

Genetically modified mosquitoes pose dangerous risks. (Thiel B. Genetically-modified mosquitoes have been released to ‘fight Zika’. COGwriter, July 28, 2018)

GMOs are very dangerous precisely because scientists CANNOT ANTICIPATE all the potentially negative outcomes.

Super-mosquitoes are a health-risk.

Mosquitoes, GMO or otherwise, have major potential to spread pestilences and cause pandemics.

Notice some of what Jesus warned would happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation during the beginning of sorrows:

7…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8)

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

(Perhaps it should be mentioned that contrary to the views of some Protestant prophecy preachers, the fourth horseman of the apocalypse is NOT Islam, but has to do with death and pestilence: see Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse).

Mosquitoes are pests, as far as humans are concerned, and can spread many diseases.

Bible prophecy shows that the situation with pestilence is expected to worsen:

7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)

Mosquitoes, and the diseases associated with them, are consistent with the “beasts of earth” that Revelation 6 is discussing.

Genetically modified mosquitoes can be harder to kill than natural ones and pose dangerous, and seemingly prophesied, risks.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Here is a link to a related sermon:
Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation
. Here is a version of that sermon in Spanish: El Cuarto Caballo, El COVID y El Surgimiento de la Bestia del Apocalipsis. Some shorter related videos may include Amphibian Apocalypse: Threat to Humans? and Zombie Deer Disease is Here! Are the 10 Plagues on Egypt Coming? Here is a version of the article in Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
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.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus or any other ‘private prophets’ write predictions that may mislead people so that they may not understand the truth of one or more of the four horseman? There is also a related YouTube video titled Sorrows and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Here is a link to a shorter video: These Signs of the 4 Horsemen Have Begun.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 20xx? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Are there prophetic reasons to believe that the USA will not last two complete presidential terms? Yes. There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?

 

Independence and Laodiceans

Monday, July 3rd, 2023


Herbert W. Armstrong

COGwriter

Tomorrow is USA Independence Day.

Many in the USA will celebrate it.

But what about being independent of the world?

The Apostle John wrote:

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

The world and its ways will pass away and be gone.

But being a true Christian allows one to abide forever.

Regarding the Church, the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

Jesus Christ said: “I will build my Church.” What IS that Church — human organization, or spiritual organism? Of whom composed? How does one become a member? Does it have a divine Commission?—and if so, WHAT? — and HOW carried out? By organization, or by individuals acting independently?

MANY ARE CONFUSED about the nature of the Church founded by Jesus Christ. How shall we know? WHO or WHAT is the AUTHORITY to give us the right answer?

It was Jesus Christ who said, “I will build my Church.” He is the “WORD” of God (John 1:1-3) in person — the Spokesman. The Bible is the Word of God in writing — the Maker’s Instruction Book for mankind. The Bible, therefore, is the Authority.

HOW One Becomes a Member

The first place the word “church” is used following the inception of that Church (Pentecost, 31 A.D.) is Acts 2:47: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This immediately gives insight into the means by which one enters the Church as a member. God adds each one. It is God who puts each one into the Church as a member.

Again, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). The word “baptized” means immersed — put into. So, again, it is GOD who puts one into His Church. And HOW? By His Spirit! When God bestows within one His Holy Spirit, that puts the believer into the Church.

So note it well! One cannot enter the true Church by putting him{her}self in — by “joining. One may join a social club, a sports team, or a secular group — but NOT the Church of God. Incidentally, is it not significant that so many of this world’s “churches” have become, virtually, just social clubs?

Notice, too, the Church is here referred to as “one body.” In several passages the Church is referred to as “the body of Christ.” I Corinthians 12:12 says: “For as the body is one, and hath many members. …

How the “Body of Christ”

The twelve disciples became the twelve original apostles. But HOW did they, with the other disciples, become “the BODY of Christ”?

While Jesus was starting the Work of God, He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing,” and again, “The Son can do nothing of himself,” and again, “… but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

It was the power of God’s Holy Spirit, dwelling in His individual human body, doing THE WORK OF GOD.

Without this same Spirit dwelling in them, His disciples would be utterly impotent. The very night before His crucifixion He said to them: “As the branch [of a grapevine] cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches… without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4, 5). It is sap flowing from the vine into the branch that produces grapes. It is the Spirit of God and of the living Christ, flowing into the collective Body that is the Church that produces results.

After His resurrection, just before ascending to God’s throne in heaven, Jesus commanded these apostles: that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father…” — that is, for the Holy Spirit, the same power that did the Work of God in Jesus’ human body.

On the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D., this POWER of God did come and enter into the COLLECTIVE BODY — the Church — that now was to carry on the Work of God.

The Head of God’s Church

When Jesus ascended to the throne of God (the Father of the divine creating — ruling — governing Family) in heaven, He became the Head of the Church. Notice Eph. 1:22, 23: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body.”

The CHURCH is composed of those who are the begotten CHILDREN OF GOD — of the FATHER of the divine Family. One becomes a begotten SON of God upon receiving within him{her} the Holy Spirit of God.

This Spirit comes from the very Person of God — it is, first of all, the impregnating LIFE of God — divine, eternal, ever — living LIFE. As the physical sperm cell from the body of a human father begets a human embryo that develops into a fetus and later is born a human child, so the Spirit of God begets us into a state by which we are called, even now in this life, sons of God (I John 3:2).

Of What Composed

And thus it is that the CHURCH is composed of those who are the children of God. That is why the CHURCH is the Church of GOD, even as the Old Testament Church was called “the congregation of Israel” — the human children of Israel.

That is why, also, one CANNOT PUT HIM{HER}SELF into the Church by “deciding to JOIN.” When he becomes a son of GOD, by having and being led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14), then God has PUT HIM{HER} INTO the Church by begetting him{her} as a son {daughter/child} of God.

“Joining” a group that calls itself a church — having one’s name on the membership roll of some group calling itself a church — does not make one in true fact a member of THE Church Jesus founded. Here is positive proof: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). …

GOD Chooses Each Member’s Job.

We do not all do the same job!

These special spiritual gifts are given “to profit withal.” That is, to profit THE WORK — not the individual.

These gifts are aptitudes, or spiritual “tools” to use in doing the Work — not ornaments to embellish the person, as some have seemed to think — bragging about the least of the gifts.

God Himself decides which gifts to give each member: “But all these [gifts] worketh that one and the self — same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE will” (1 Cor. 12: verse 11).

Continue: “For the body [of Christ — the Church] is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” (Verses 14-15.)

If one young man has been given special aptitude for a certain more or less routine office job that is actually a big help in the whole organized Work, he is doing HIS PART in the Work. But is each one free to decide whether he will be the apostle, or the pastor, or a teacher, or a routine office worker making it possible for them to do their jobs?

Here is your answer: “But now hath GOD set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased HIM” (verse 18).

But what if one is placed, by those God has set over him, in an office that this individual considers very unimportant, not honorable enough to suit his vanity?

Here’s the answer: “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem [to us] to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness… but GOD hath tempered the body together… THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM [division] IN THE BODY…. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And GOD hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of languages. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?… but covet earnestly the best gifts…” (verses 22-31). (Armstrong HW. Just What is the Church? Tomorrow’s World magazine, July-August 1970)

What about being part of the truest Church?

Well, although the Worldwide Church of God is no more, the true Church of God was never to die out as Jesus said:

18 … I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

That means that the true Church would not die out, but continue.

In the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) we strive to be the continuation of the Philadelphia portion of the Christian church. This is consistent with the following

1 Let brotherly love {Philadelphia} continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

We strive to do that.

Yet, Jesus warned in His messages to the churches in Revelation 2 & 3 that most end time Christians would NOT be Philadelphian. Most will be Laodicean–a term that roughly translates as “people judge.” While many seem to think that is great, Jesus harshly scolded the Laodiceans (see Revelation 3:14-22).

We have links to articles on dozens of Christian groups explaining where they differ from the Bible and the Philadelphian work, and more in the CCOG in the article: How does the Continuing Church of God differ from other Sabbatarian COG groups?

The Apostle Paul wrote:

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them (2 Timothy 3:14)

Is God is calling you (or has called you), and will you learn, continue, and seriously do what is taught in the Bible? If so, you can be a member of the Continuing Church of God.

If God is calling you, notice what the Apostle Peter said you should do (those wishing to argue against this, obviously would not wish to be part of the CCOG):

38 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

If you have already been appropriately baptized, then we also suggest that you read the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God. If you agree, will live as a true Christian, and wish to be part of us, then we accept true believers who wish to support us as we lead the Final Phase of the Work by proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God as a witness (Matthew 24:14), teaching all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20), working to reach the full number of those called in this age (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles), while also preparing for the ‘Short Work, remembering the poor (Galatians 2:10), and proclaiming the Ezekiel Warning.

You can contact a minister or other representative near your area to let him know you wish to be part of us. We also would expect you to live as a Christian and, among other things, keep the Sabbath, attend or watch our church services, and strive to attend the Feast of Tabernacles.

If you have not been appropriately baptized, or are not sure if you have been, and you believe you are being called to become part of the Continuing Church of God, you will want to meet with a deacon or minister in the church to discuss church teachings and get questions answers. We have many congregations around the world, several of which are listed on our Congregations page. You can also read about the teachings of our church throughout this www.ccog.org website as well as the www.cogwriter.com website. For more on counseling, etc., check out the article: How does the CCOG handle Counseling, Prayer Requests, Funerals, and Anointing of the Sick?

Please understand, there is no minimum or maximum amount of time required to learn about the church. The important thing is to believe the word of God and understand the about living as a true Christian. We also have a booklet that may help online: Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian.

Once you have turned you life over to God and learned about the church, you are ready to become part of the body of Christ. You become a member of the Church of God through being baptized by a representative of the church. Baptism is a critical and fundamental step. Baptism signifies the death of our carnal nature and our being begotten as a follower of Jesus Christ. It allows us to partake God’s plan of eternal salvation. Furthermore, baptism is a public statement to the church and the world that the believer is turning away from loving the world and dedicating his/her life to God.

Additional information on baptism can be found in the article Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church.

If you are not already a properly baptized part of the Church of God, in order to be considered a real member of the Continuing Church of God, you must:

  1. Be called of God.
  2. Be willing to seek first the kingdom of God.
  3. Repent of your sins.
  4. Have the godly faith to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
  5. Strive to live as a loving Christian.
  6. Be persuaded that our beliefs are biblical.
  7. Contact a CCOG leader for counseling.
  8. Be properly baptized and have hands laid upon you.
  9. Support the work of Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19-20, and other aspects of the Philadelphian work.
  10. Continue to live as a Christian and endure to the end.

We also have literature to assist you in the process.

YOU can be independent of the world as well as non-Philadelphian Christianity.

Those interested in being part of the Continuing Church of God may also wish to read the following: How Do I Become a Member of the Continuing Church of God?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Independent/Unaffiliated: Independent Members of the COG: Herbert W. Armstrong Comments, Plus Questions and Answers What did Herbert W. Armstrong teach about being independent of the organized Church? Should independents who claim to accept Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings support the end time Philadelphian work? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Unity. Watch also Zephaniah’s ‘Gather Together’ Prophecy.
How Do I Become a Member of the Continuing Church of God? This article has scriptures, links, and other information for those interested in being part of the CCOG. Here is a link to a related sermonette: 10 Steps to Be a Member of the CCOG.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection.A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church Was it by immersion? Did it include infants? Does Polycarp prove infant baptism? Here is a link to some information in the Spanish language: Bautismo de infantes o bendición de los niños pequeños. A related sermon video is titled Baptism: What is it and how should it be done?
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.
Real Conversion Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion?
False Conversion! Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote an article on this important subject–but more scriptures have been added to it. How can you tell false conversion? A related video is also available: False Conversion. A Spanish language version is also available: Falsa Conversión.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? As far as early history, see also Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church.
Laying on of Hands This is an elementary principle of Hebrews 6. Have you properly had hands laid upon you? Here is a link to a related sermon: Laying on of Hands and Succession.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There are also two YouTube video related to this: Living as a Christian: How and Why? and Living as a Christian: Pure Milk of the Word.
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 N{ÇQsNŽOáNðv„\e‡zà.
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)?
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.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? Two related sermons are available The Work per HWA and the Bible and Priority of the Philadelphia Work.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
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.

4. The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Sermon: Christian Conversion

Saturday, July 1st, 2023


COGwriter

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

1:15:35

Christian Conversion

What does it take to be a Christian? What is Christian conversion? Did Jesus say that calling Him ‘Lord’ was enough? Or did He specify problems from many who claimed to do things in His name? How does the New Testament define a Christian? If you are saved by grace, and not works, is obedience required for salvation? Are Christians to strive for perfection? What did Jesus teach on the ‘Sermon on the Mount’? Is the Christian life subject to difficulties? Are Christians to build character? Is there an instant where one becomes a Christian? Do Christians need to repent of sins to be converted? Is sin the transgression of God’s law? Do real Christians ever sin? Can you earn your salvation? Are you to give love in a unique way? Does God need to help you to properly repent and be converted? Does the Bible really teach that Christians will be rewarded by their works in this life? Is there such a thing as false conversion? How do Christians live? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this sermon.

Here is a link to the sermon: Christian Conversion.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Real Conversion Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion? Here is a link to a related sermon: Christian Conversion.
False Conversion! Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote an article on this important subject–but more scriptures have been added to it. How can you tell false conversion? A related video is also available: False Conversion. A Spanish language version is also available: Falsa Conversión.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done?

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.Two related sermons are also available:  Living as a Christian and Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Here is a video in Spanish: ¿Qué es un verdadero cristiano?
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free draft/unedited 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.
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 MessiahProphecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and deathJesus’ prophesied divinity200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He madeWhy Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but …
Is God’s Existence Logical? Is it really logical to believe in God? Yes! Would you like Christian answers to give atheists? This is a free online booklet that deal with improper theories and musings called science related to the origin of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution. Here is a link to a related sermon: Evolution is NOT the Origin of Life. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
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.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church. 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, and What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, and Early Heresies and Heretics, and Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, MeatsTithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, and Saturday or Sunday?The GodheadApostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, and Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List.
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 HistoryThe First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & CharacterThe New Testament, Martin Luther, and the CanonEucharist, Passover, and EasterViews of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & BaptismScripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. SundayChurch Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s PlanSeventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of SalvationCrosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean MeatsThe Godhead and the TrinityFleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
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 PlanMysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s PlanMystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU. Here is a link to a video in Spanish: El Misterio del Plan de Dios.
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: ApocatastasisUniversal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be SavedMysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3)Is God FairWill 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 Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!The World’s False GospelThe Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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.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.
CCOGAFRICA.ORG This is a website targeted towards those in Africa.
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.
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/
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/españolDeclaración 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. Here is a link to a booklet titled: Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

Canada is a year older, but is not what its founders intended

Friday, June 30th, 2023

COGwriter

On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain and a federation of four provinces: Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Ontario; and Quebec. The anniversary of this date was called Dominion Day until 1982.

Since 1983, July 1 has been officially known as Canada Day.  My wife and I were last in Canada in October 2019.

Canada itself has grown:

As the bells rang out at noon on July 1, 1867, you were introduced for the first time as a fresh-faced nation of four provinces and 3,463,000 people.

Now here were are, 151 years later and you’ve grown into a country of 10 provinces and three territories and a population of 35,151,728. On a global scale, you rank 38th in total population while having the second-largest landmass. …

Canada Day carries many different meanings for people, with celebrations and protests as diverse as the country itself.

Depending on who you are it can be a source of pride and a celebration of independence from Britain; or it can be a source of contempt and derisively referred to as “colonial day” in protest of European settlement. 07/01/18 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canada-day-confederation-constitution-1.4724575

Here is some insight from Time as to why Canada became self-governing and some other details related to it:

After the Northern U.S. states won the American Civil War, there was a big concern in British North America and London that “the victorious Americans up North would take Canada, and much of the motivation [for uniting the provinces] was to have a stronger line of defense against the U.S.,” says Peter H. Russell, a political scientist who specializes in Canadian history. “The other thing was, the constitution-makers — we call them ‘Fathers of Confederation’ — were convinced that what led to the Civil War was a weak federation, so they tried to create a much stronger federal government than America has.” …

The name Canada wasn’t established in 1867, however; it’s derived from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement” and had been in use since the 16th century, when locals pointed French explorer Jacques Cartier in the direction of the “village” now known as Québec City. That Canada became a “Dominion” is also a uniquely American story, Russell argues. The Confederation was originally to be named a “kingdom” of Canada until “the British foreign office said, ‘The Americans won’t like a kingdom on their border, call it something else, or we’re going to have bad relations with the Americans.'”

Leonard Tilley, one of the Fathers of Confederation, was inspired to suggest the word ‘dominion’ by Psalm 72:8, which states that Jesus Christ “shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” (The Latin version, “A Mari Usque Ad Mare,” became the country’s national motto.) So that’s why Canada Day was originally known as “Dominion Day” when the July 1 national holiday was established in 1879. http://time.com/4828595/canada-day-150-years/

Basically, Canada was granted a self-governing status as the British were concerned that the USA might take it over. And it chose the term “dominion” based on the Bible.

But Canada does not accept the Bible at this time. Since a court decision in 2002, Canada has restricted freedom to quote and cite the Bible (watch Canadian censoring of the Bible). It also passed a motion limiting giving one’s view of Islam (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-03-24/canada-passes-blasphemy-bill-silence-critics-islam).

Local Canadian officials have prohibited a Protestant school from being able to teach certain scriptures from the Bible. Here is an account of this from Canada:

Our Constitution has religion hard-wired into it — the word Catholic is in our Constitution four times, specifically to protect religious education. That’s part of the grand bargain of Canada, uniting French Canada and English Canada.

It’s shocking, but it’s not surprising. Christianity has been driven out of the public square everywhere in Canada. But surely this is a new low — Christianity is actually being banned in a Christian school.

Government bureaucrats would never dream of telling Muslim schools they couldn’t teach passages from the Koran — even ones that call for the murder of infidels and apostates. But banning the Bible is now official school board policy.

And, not surprisingly, the media and the political class are silent. Even supposedly Christian or conservative politicians are keeping their heads down — they don’t want to be attacked by the leftist mob at the CBC.

The school board is digging in. They’re closing ranks around Laurie Skori the chair. They’re bullying the school. David Eggen, the NDP education minister, he hates Christian schools, wants to shut them down, has taken steps to shut others down. He’s an anti-Christian bigot who doesn’t seem upset about this censorship in the slightest. 06/19/17 https://news.google.com/news/section?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22Battle+River+School+board%22

Notice also;

Alberta’s NDP says Christian school cannot state that God’s authority supersedes human authority

September 28, 2018

Alberta’s NDP government has made the next move against religious schools in the province—and this time, they’ve dropped any pretence that their ongoing attacks on religious schools are anything short of crass bigotry. At the end of August, Education Minister David Eggen announced that funding would be pulled from Christian schools that refused to accept Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs.  …

The NDP attacks on schools began as a radical progressive government forcing LGBT ideology into communities that did not want it, and have now metastasized into a blunt declaration by the government that schools cannot govern themselves according to their Christian beliefs. “Diversity” must be respected, by which the NDP means that a diverse array of religious schools must accept progressive ideology and accede to their demands or face further attacks from the government. This is no longer simply about Gay Straight Alliance clubs—the NDP is telling Christian schools that they cannot teach Christian doctrine, cannot state their belief that the Bible is God’s Word, cannot respect the primary role of parents in the education process, and cannot state that the biblical worldview is true.

And, most tellingly, the NDP had a problem with one school noting that God’s authority superseded man’s authority—because they do not believe that to be true. They believe that they are the final authority on everything, which is why they demanded that a Christian school remove acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty from their mission statement. https://thebridgehead.ca/2018/09/28/albertas-ndp-says-christian-school-cannot-state-that-gods-authority-supersedes-human-authority/

So, Canadian officials are often not acting in a manner consistent with what Canada was supposed to stand for.

Its top leaders have also pushed abortion and horrible agendas.

Notice also the following headlines since the last Canada Day:

NN: KILLING THE HELPLESS: Canada set to legalize euthanasia for mentally ill patients

I365: As Canada expands its euthanasia program, what does biblical tradition say about it?

Church of England blessing sexual immorality, Canada moving against scripture, and the USA the biggest promoter of childhood mutilizations

Here is something from a Roman Catholic source:

July 1, 2022

As Canada Day rolls around again, many Canadians wonder why we should celebrate the nation that has of late disregarded so many of our basic rights and freedoms. …

As Canada becomes increasingly anti-Christian, some Canadians wonder: should we shake the dust from our feet and depart? …

Canada seems to have forgotten her past, rejecting Christian culture and ideals. Indeed, Canada has even forgotten her Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tramples our right to protest his vision of democracy. https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/canadians-should-remember-our-history-of-faith-and-freedom-this-canada-day/

The time will come when the most faithful Christians will realize they must flee Canada and most other lands on the earth (cf. Revelation 12:14-16; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra).

More and more, in Canada as well as other lands, (see Germany approves ‘same-sex marriage’ and sets fines for Facebook, etc. to crack down on ‘hate speech’) are seeing governments taking steps to remove/control content on the internet.

This was partially because the prophet Amos was inspired to record the following:

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

Notice that the Bible tells of a time that will come when the word of God will not be found. I do not believe that this means that there will be no more Bibles–but that those wanting to better understand it will have trouble finding explanations.

Amos is referring to something as dramatic as truth being scarce. In the 21st century that logically would point to it being taken off the internet. In the 21st century, the internet is accessed by people in every country, and thus some type of internet restriction/suspension/site removal is coming–more than what we have seen thus far.

We are getting closer to this time. More and more are starting to see that there are plans to censor speech from the internet.

That is part of why we in the Continuing Church of God are preparing for the ‘short work’ (Romans 9:28) and the coming ‘famine of the word.’

Jesus warned:

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)

Officials in the Canadian and other governments around the world do not respect the laws of the Bible and push their own morality–which is often biblically immoral.

Notice the following headline from a Canadian writer a while back:

Well, without national repentance, the answer is NO (cf. Hosea 11:3a, 5b-7). For some details about Canada’s future, here is a link to the sermon we recently made: Canada in Prophecy.

Sadly, this has affected many–though the faithful who endure will be saved and people can still repent.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
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.
Canadian censoring of the Bible In 2017, Lauri Skori of the Battle River School board told a religious school in Alberta, Canada that it could not teach/read certain portions of the Bible. In 2002, a court in Canada ruled against one who referred to certain scriptures that some homosexuals objected to. In 2017, there was “An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code” related to those who wish to be considered transgendered. Government officials in Canada and elsewhere have been ruling against the Bible. Is any of this prophesied? Will this get worse? What was the prophet Amos inspired to write? This is a video.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? A related sermon is available titled Priority of the Philadelphia Work.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.

The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 teaches “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come ” will be fulfilled and RCG is not the group doing this. Who is leading the final phase of the work? What did Herbert Armstrong and the old WCG teach about that and about prophets? Does Bob Thiel meet the criteria that the Bible and the old WCG set? What is the proof? What has the Continuing Church of God been doing? This is a sermonette length video.
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.
Internet Control, Famine of the Word, and 666 On October 1, 2016, the USA officially relinquished control over the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), despite objections from certain political leaders and former military officials. Might this lead to more censorship, imposition on non-biblical ‘community standards,’ and loss of first amendment rights? Could this transfer of control have any prophetic ramifications? Will the internet be a factor in the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28 and the coming ‘famine of the word’ that the Prophet Amos warned about? Will internet control be something that the 666 power will have? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters and more in this video.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
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?
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
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 DNALost tribes, prophecies, and identifications11 Tribes, 144,000, and MultitudesIsrael, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British RoyaltyGentile European BeastRoyal Succession, Samaria, and PropheciesAsia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the NorthChristian Persecution from the BeastWWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

“The ‘lesser of two evils’ voters who could decide 2024”

Thursday, June 29th, 2023


Donald Trump and Joe Biden
(Official White House Photos)

COGwriter

The 2024 presidential election may well feature Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden. Many are not pleased with that:

The ‘lesser of two evils’ voters who could decide 2024

June 28, 2023

President Joe Biden’s path to victory in 2024 runs through voters who think he’s been a disappointment in the White House — but say Donald Trump or another Republican would be even worse.

Biden’s approval rating stands at 43% in the latest NBC News national poll, not enough support to translate to a re-election win. But another 10% of registered voters say they only “somewhat disapprove” of Biden’s performance. And in a hypothetical rematch with Trump, half of those voters say they would support Biden, while 39% say they would back Trump.

A man from California who is a self-described “very liberal” voter likened the matchup to “choosing the lesser of two evils.” …

The NBC News poll of 1,000 registered voters — 831 of whom were reached by cellphone — was conducted June 16-20 and has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points. https://www.aol.com/news/lesser-two-evils-voters-could-090000198.html

Back in August of 2020, during that election cycle, I posted an article with the following headline:

Trump vs. Biden: Is the lesser of two evils still evil?

The Bible warns:

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

I am NOT a voter nor a Democrat nor a Republican –I am a non-partisan Christian looking for the return of Jesus and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

Consider that Jesus warned:

25 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. (Matthew 12:25)

17 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. (Luke 11:17)

The divide in the USA is growing as many of its sins (including hypocrisy) become more blatant.

That said, as posted here several times before, I consider that both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are evil.

Without going into unique specifics about either, let’s consider how they are both similar:

  1. Neither lives like a member of their professed faiths is supposed to try to live.
  2. Both support many aspects of the LGBTQ+ agendas.
  3. Both have repeatedly supported increasing US debt.
  4. Both have publicly made numerous gaffes and misstatements.
  5. Both are white septuagenarians who have been accused of openly praising white supremacists. (https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/03/joe-biden-donald-trump-similarities-2020.html)
  6. Both have called for unchecked empowerment of  law-enforcement entities.
  7. Both have been accused of sexually harassing numerous women.
  8. Neither has called for national repentance.
  9. Neither has sought first the Kingdom of God.
  10. Both have been leaders in Administrations that have upset the Europeans.
  11. Both have been accused of serious corruption.
  12. Both have been accused of hypocrisy.

Now, I am not trying to say that there are no differences. Yes, I know they have differing economic and climate policies as well as different views on abortion and racial matters.

As far as being hypocritical goes, the Book of Job teaches:

13 … And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish, (Job 8:13)

The Bible prophecy warns that God will punish and destroy “an hypocritical nation” (Isaiah 10:6, KJV) in a prophecy related to the USA.

The Bible teaches:

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

These national sins include abortion, sexuality immorality, promoting pornography, false witness, violence, economic theft through debt and other means, hypocrisy, disdain for the God of the Bible, covetousness, and a host of others.

See also, our free online book, The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.

As far as voting goes, notice something that international author Doug Casey wrote about it:

March 29, 2019

Democracy is vastly overrated. …

Most of the founders of America were more concerned with liberty than democracy. …

Voting encourages politicians. A vote against one candidate—a major, and quite understandable, reason why many people vote—is always interpreted as a vote for his opponent. And even though you may be voting for the lesser of two evils, the lesser of two evils is still evil. It amounts to giving the candidate a tacit mandate to impose his will on society. https://internationalman.com/articles/5-reasons-not-to-vote/

As far as evil goes, evil is still evil.

Many professing Christians believe that they need to vote even though that concept is not endorsed in the Bible. But the Bible teaches:

2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil (Exodus 23:2)

The “lesser of two evils” is still not good–it is still evil.

What should a Christian do?

Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and to pray for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10).

As far as political leaders go, the Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Notice that we are to pray for worldly leaders and those that have authority over us so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life. Nothing like this is said for voting that many falsely claim is their “Christian” duty–prayer for leaders is.

No matter who you may think is better, the lesser of two evils is still evil.

Related to this and the then upcoming 2020 election, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

10:25

The USA presidential campaign is in full swing. Though Democratic party candidate Joe Biden and Republican party candidate Donald Trump have differing economic and climate policies as well as different views on abortion and racial matters, there are many similarities both share. Do they have policies that they share that are leading to the destruction of the USA? What do Bible prophecies reveal about sexual immorality, debt, and hypocrisy? What are some of the national sins of the USA? Does the Bible endorse voting? What did Jesus teach related to what to seek and pray for? What does the New Testament teach that Christians are to do related to leaders? Is the lesser of two evils still evil? Dr. Thiel goes over these matters, including going over eleven similarities the two major party candidates share and some of what the Bible teaches about evil.

Here is a link to our sermonette video: Biden, Trump, and the Bible.

Supporting evil is not the solution for Christians.

Those who are truly part of the Philadelphia remnant will go forward to fulfill Jesus’ commissions in Matthew 24:14 and 28:19-20. They will also support the preparation for the short work of Romans 9:25-28 as well as work to reach the Jews and the full number of Gentiles as recorded in Romans 11:23-25.

We are also to pray for our spiritual leaders. Notice what Jesus taught:

2 The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2).

Notice what Paul taught:

25 Brethren, pray for us (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).

We also are to pray:

14 The will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:14).

Similarly,  Jesus taught:

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:7-10).

And that, I believe, should be the type of prayer that Christians have about elections and politicians. Followers of the true God are also told to:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7).

The world is changing.

As far as the USA itself goes, the handwriting is on the wall for its coming end.

But, as I wrote before Joe Biden took office, the end will NOT come in the first term of a Biden-Harris Administration. I also wrote that about the first Trump Administration.

But, IF certain step happen within the next year (like the confirmation of the deal of Daniel 9:27–if not, things will be later), the next post-election presidential administration in the USA could be its last.

We also made a video:

34:10

Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028?

Are there prophetic reasons to believe that the USA will not last two complete presidential terms? Yes. There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it.

Here is a link to the video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028?

Repentance could delay the disaster coming to the USA (cf. Daniel 4:27)–but that is not expected.

Without national repentance, the end is coming very soon no matter which party wins the USA 2024 presidential election.

Evil still is evil.

Destruction is coming to the USA–as well as its British-descended allies (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand)–and it will be worse than most people will believe.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Might the U.S.A. Be Gone by 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Biden, Trump, and the Bible.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to four related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or ? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
The Great Tribulation: What Happens First? What events have happened? What are some events that are now happening? And what events need to happen for the Great Tribulation to start? Here is a link to a related sermon video: Counting Down to the Great Tribulation. Here is a video in the Spanish language: Contando los eventos y el inicio de la Gran Tribulación.

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Notice also: Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.|
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic?  Two related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency.
Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction Can the USA survive two full presidential terms? In what ways are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris apocalyptic? This book has hundreds of prophecies and scriptures to provide details.  A Kindle version is also available and you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to your free Kindle reader app (or if you already have one or a Kindle),  you can go to: Biden-Harris: Prophecies and Destruction (Kindle) to get the book in seconds.

CCOG addresses race and certain detractors

Thursday, June 29th, 2023

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COGwriter

What about various races?

ALL people are part of the human race.

We all descended from Adam and Eve, and then later from the descendants of Noah’s sons and their wives.

Notice something related to the first:

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20)

While there were hominids of various types before Adam and Eve, all modern humans descended from Adam and Eve–so, yes, we are all part of the human race, from the family of Adam and Eve.

After the flood, Noah’s children moved to different places:

1 Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).

13 Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim).

15 Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth; 16 the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite; 17 the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; 18 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations.

21 And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. 31 These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.

32 These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood. (Genesis 10:1-32)

According to the Bible everyone came from first the family of Adam and Eve, and then the descendants of Noah’s sons.

As far as race and salvation goes, the Bible teaches:

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13)

29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. (Luke 13:29)

So, people of all races and lands will be saved.

The Bible, beginning with Abraham, shows that God makes promises to people who descended from various ones.

Now, various critics have accused the COGs of racism because we believe what the Bible teaches on prophetic matters.

Years ago, a Protestant website commented about and referred to my article Should a Christian Vote?

But, someone who looked at that website objected claiming because I believed in the promises given by Jacob to Ephraim and Manasseh, I must be a racist, hence he should not mention anything from me.

Well, I contacted the webmaster. And after providing information, he (correctly) posted that my view that we all had to have descended from people in the Bible (like Noah’s descendants), that salvation is not a matter of race (cf. Romans 10:8-13), and that God promised various things to the descendants of Israel, he understood that was not a racist position–but a biblical one.

Yet, critics of the Bible often have another view.

On June 4, 2020, the anti-COG site Banned by HWA posted the following:

Kubik and the entire United Church of God need to IMMEDIATELY discard their belief in British Israelism. …

Will Victor Kubik do what is right and set the example for all the other Churches of God and publicly denounce the racist myth of British Israelism?

British Israelism is neither racist nor is it a myth.

The Bible is clear that Israel pronounced blessings on the descendants Joseph and his two sons:

8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”

And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,Bless the lads;Let my name be named upon them,And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. (Genesis 48:8-20)

1 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: …

22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well;His branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him. 24 But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), 25 By the God of your father who will help you,And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26 The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. (Genesis 49:1, 22:26)

That is what the Bible teaches.

We who believe the Bible realize that God would fulfill those promises.

If one looks at secular history, it is clear that the Jews did NOT fulfil the prophecies that Israel was inspired to give. Consider also that that name “Israel” was to be prophetically applied to the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh—this is not otherwise stated for the descendants of Judah (the Jews).

And while most commentators understand the passages from Jacob in Genesis 48 & 49 to be prophetic, many seem to conclude that they have been fulfilled long ago. Notice what the renowned Protestant theologian John F. Walvoord wrote:

In general, the prophecies that Jacob bestowed on his children have been fulfilled in their subsequent history (Walvoord, John F. The Prophecy Handbook. Victor Books, Wheaton (IL), 1990, p. 33).

That statement above is outrageously inaccurate. Many Protestants simply do not understand where the USA is mentioned in prophecy (see also Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy).

Not only have most NOT been fulfilled historically, these prophesies were for the last days. (Information on the ‘ten lost tribes’ is also in the YouTube sermon titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter?)

It was during the time of the New Testament that the last days began (Hebrews 1:2), and no commentator (outside of those who accept that there are still tribes of Israel that are not affiliated with the nation now called Israel) has been able to show how the prophecies of Genesis 49:1-27 were fulfilled in “the latter days.” Nor have I seen any of them explain who “the multitude of nations” that were to descend from Ephraim are.

The historical reality is that there is no record of Ephraim and Manasseh ever becoming a great nation and company of nations prior, before they went into Assyrian captivity in the eighth century before Christ.

Those of us who believe the Bible realize that these prophecies in Genesis 48 were not fulfilled. And that the Bible points to Ephraim’s descendants rising up before Manasseh’s.

Looking throughout secular history, we see that the British-descended peoples (Ephraim) became a multitude of nations (Genesis 48:19) and the USA (Manasseh) became a great nation (Genesis 48:19) about ¼ of the land mass of the entire world was part of the old British Empire.

The British Empire was the largest in history and the reach of the USA has been great (bolding added):

In 1913, 412 million people lived under the control of the British Empire, 23 percent of the world’s population at that time. It remains the largest empire in human history and at the peak of its power in 1920, it covered an astonishing 13.71 million square miles – that’s close to a quarter of the world’s land area. (McCarthy N. The Biggest Empires In Human History. Statista, December 19, 2019).

The United States is the world’s greatest economic power, measured in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). … The United States is relatively young by world standards, being less than 250 years old; it achieved its current size only in the mid-20th century. … Probably no other country has a wider range of racial, ethnic, and cultural types than does the United States. … Annually, the U.S. spends more on its military than the next seven highest-ranking countries in military spending combined. (Harris, JT, et al. United States. Encyclopædia Britannica. Last updated December 22, 2019)

From the 19th century to present, the USA and United Kingdom have dominated the world (though this dominance is being lost in the 21st century). They have received the blessings that God promised them through Jacob.

It is not racist to claim to be able to identify the descendants of Joseph and the recipients of the blessings God moved Israel to prophesy about.

Perhaps it should be pointed out that I am not predominantly descended from Israel, hence I am a Gentile. At the time of this writing, most members of the Continuing Church of God are primarily Gentile and not Israelite. Everyone had to descend from people mentioned in the Bible (like from Adam, Eve, Noah, and Noah’s sons), therefore despite claims from naysayers, teaching the biblical truths about God’s promises to descendants of biblical figures is not racist.

We in the CCOG do not believe that people in the ‘lost tribes’ are superior to the Gentile-descended peoples, but basically that they received the blessings that God inspired Israel/Jacob to give. We also believe that these blessings are the cause of the physical wealth of these peoples, but that those same people are in the process of losing them because of rebellion against the laws of God.

Furthermore, we teach that while God does call some descendants of Israel (see God’s Grace is For All), He is intentionally calling Gentiles in this age as the Apostle Paul pointed out in many places, such as Romans 11:25 (see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?).

On June 7, 2020, Banned by HWA posted the following:

Interracial Marriage will not be tolerated or allowed in the Restored Church of God and Dave hopes they got the point.

As far as interracial marriage goes, RCG has its view, but the Bible does not prohibit it. In CCOG, we go by what the Bible teaches. Here is something from our free online booklet Dating: A Key to Success in Marriage, a practical dating guide for Christians:

Race, Economic, and Cultural Differences

What about race and cultural differences?

Marriage is a serious, lifelong, decision that should not be entered into lightly.

The Bible shows that God had peoples and races separated after the flood. Yet, various peoples mixed (like the Polynesians and Mexicans for two examples) and various ones made individual decisions about this that crossed ethnic (like Joseph; see Genesis 41:45) and racial (like Moses; see Numbers 12:1) lines in their marriages.

People with major cultural differences often have major difficulties in marriages. The way husbands and wives interact and work in a marriage can differ greatly for cultural/traditional reasons.

Years ago, for example, when it was not politically incorrect to do this, US government officials would recommend that American women not marry Greek men. Essentially, the warning was that while Greek men were charming when courting women and nice looking, the way they treated their women after they married them and what they expected from them was so different than in the USA, that American women were often very sorry that they married them.

While this example was not intended as a warning about Greek men, it was simply presented here to warn people that there may be major issues with cultural differences and it is better to try to understand them before making a major mistake.

Furthermore, some cultures treat in-laws and others differently. This include how close or how distant they will be with the married couple. Sometimes this can be good, but sometimes it can be stressful and frustrating.

Even economic differences can be a factor. Even in the same general culture, some families have more wealth than others—hence different spending habits.

Even among those with similar economic situations, how money is handled varies from family to family as well as from person to person. When dating, pay attention to your date’s attitude towards money. He or she might handle it well or might spend so recklessly that you will always have money problems.

Consider the following:

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 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 6:6-10)

Often one spouse will not be content, while the other will be. This does not mean that the couple should be lazy and not try to earn more if possible, but lack of contentment can cause nagging and arguments.

It is not usually a lack of finances that causes divorce in Western cultures, but the lack of compatibility in the financial arena. This is something to try to check out while you are dating. Financial factors are leading causes of divorce in Western nations.

Despite the assertions of some, the Bible has no specific injunctions against Christians marrying across ethnic/racial lines. However, because of problems with the world (cf. Numbers 12:1-2) as well as difficulties in marriage, we recommend that people try to marry someone that they are most compatible with, while also considering how their future children might realistically be affected (this tends to vary by country/culture).

According to the 2010 Census in the United States, interracial divorce rates are comparatively higher than divorce rates between white couples. So, race is something to consider.

While we in the Continuing Church of God do not encourage miscegenation (marrying across racial lines), we do not see that we have the biblical authority to prohibit it, therefore do not prohibit it.

But there is a serious issue racially-different Christian couples MUST consider. In many parts of the world, children of racially-mixed marriages are treated terribly. Even when they are older.

Christians are to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:39). Therefore, they should give SERIOUS consideration to how any one they marry will affect their children physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

We in CCOG believe our position is biblically appropriate.

On June 5, 2020, Banned by HWA posted the following racially-pointed item:

This lack of leadership diversity in the Church of God is not unique to UCG. Living Church of God, COGWA, Philadelphia Church of God, Restored Church of God, and many others are white based in its leadership and almost exclusively American in its international leadership.

Well, without dwelling on other groups, let’s consider the human leadership of the Continuing Church of God.

Since the Continuing Church of God’s (CCOG) main office is in the USA and the USA is primarily Caucasian, having one or more top leaders being Caucasian is not racist. Our top leader over international matters is black.

Additionally it should be noted that most of the top leadership of the CCOG is black.

Notice the following photograph from a CCOG leadership meeting in 2017:


CCOG Conference in Nairobi

Furthermore, the CCOG may be the only one of the top ten x-WCG groups who has ordained an African as an evangelist. In groups like LCG all the evangelists they had that I knew were white (after I left they reluctantly ordained a Hispanic leader).

In CCOG, the only nation whose top leader is of primary Israelitish heritage is Canada, a nation we teach is primarily descended from Joseph’s son Ephraim.

No one in CCOG that I have been involved in laying on of hands related to an ordination was primarily of Israelite heritage–all were Gentiles, and only one of them (a Serbian) was white.

It is not just anti-COG types that misunderstand the CCOG and race. The CCOG has been the fastest growing x-WCG COG in the 21st century, yet most Laodiceans do not think that is important as they tend to not believe that Gentiles from places like Africa count–that is a false and wrong position–it also is in opposition to God’s plan such as is shown in Romans 11:25 (see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?).

Now on the matter of race, here is something from the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God:

LOVE AND SALVATION FOR ALL RACES AND PEOPLES

Racial hatred is wrong. While there can be racial differences, the Bible does not teach that one race is superior in His eyes to any other. The Bible commands all humankind to love their neighbors as themselves (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Acts 17:24-29). Jesus came to bring joy to all peoples (Luke 2:10). The Bible shows that salvation is now freely offered to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35; Romans 10:8-13; cf. Joel 2:32) and that God intends to save people “of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). Christian love should be shown to people of all ethnicities (Romans 13:10; Luke 10:30-37; (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles? and What is the Ezekiel Warning?), and continue in doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16). “Our God is the God of salvation” (Psalm 68:20) “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6; see Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).

We also have websites intended to reach people of various ethnic groups and languages:

CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The Philadelphian organization striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God to fulfill Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19-20, and Romans 11:25 with literature in over 100 languages.
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 several other Asian languages. Here is a link to our Statement of Beliefs in Mandarin Chinese ~ç~íy^v„eYOv„OáNðXðf.
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 has other Indian language translations of certain CCOG literature.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted towards Europe. It has materials in multiple European languages.
CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and others with a British-descended background.
CCOGAFRICA.ORG This is a website targeted towards those in Africa.
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 and has articles in español/castellano.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.

We in the CCOG treat race essentially as a matter of variety and character development.

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

22:07

Mystery of Race

Where did the various races come from? Did they evolve? If God created them, why? What is a Cushite? Is one race superior to any other? Why are people different shapes and sizes and with different hair color, etc.? Were Adam, Eve, Noah, Noah’s children and their wives involved? From whom did coastal people descend according to Genesis 10? Why are some weaker and others not? What is the purpose of multiple races? How could this be part of God’s plan? Does God have a plan for each INDIVIDUAL?

Here is a link to our video: Mystery of Race.

God made people of various colors and ethnicities to be part of the one body (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14) and to learn various lessons, so all who will accept God’s plan will be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for themselves and all others in the Kingdom of God.

No group is superior to another in the sight of God or the CCOG.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does? Watch also Mystery of Race.
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, Mystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU.
What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles? Some in the West discount God’s calling of Gentiles, but the Apostle Paul wrote about the need for them to come to the truth before Jesus returns.
What is the Ezekiel Warning? Should the end-time descendants of Israel and Joseph be warned? What should the watchman warn about? Regarding a watchman, you can watch the following video: Go, Set a Watchman.
Were the Ancient Tribes of Israel Black? Was Jesus Black? Some claim this is so. But what do the Bible and ancient artifacts show? Here is a link to a related sermon video: Were Ancient Hebrews Black? What About Jesus?
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Gap Theory? Does the Bible allow for the creation of the universe and earth billions of years ago? Why do some believe they are no older than 6,000 years old? What is the gap theory? Were the days of creation in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3 24 hours long? Here are links to two sermons: Gap Theory: Doctrine or Modern Heresy? and Genesis, ‘Prehistoric man,’ and the Gap theory. Here is a link to a related article in Spanish: ¿Cuán vieja es la Tierra? ¿Cuán largos fueron los Días de la Creación? ¿Teoría de la brecha?
Dating: A Key to Success in Marriage, a practical dating guide for Christians This is a scripture-filled dating guide. It discusses many aspects of dating, as well as who to not consider for marriage. Two related sermons are available: The Art of Christian Dating. and No One to Date? Teen Q&A? Engagement? 2nd Marriage? A short animation is also available: First Date: Worldly vs. Christian.
Love, Marriage, and Sex It is important to get them in the right order.
God Created Marriage Some falsely claim that God did not create marriage and that fornication is fine. What does the Bible really teach? Here is a version in Mandarin Chinese y^R ZZYû.
Making Your Marriage Work Marriage is not always easy, but it pictures a divine relationship. How can you make your marriage work? Here is a link to the video sermon: You Can Make YOUR Marriage Work.
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’.
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 DNALost tribes, prophecies, and identifications11 Tribes, 144,000, and MultitudesIsrael, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British RoyaltyGentile European BeastRoyal Succession, Samaria, and PropheciesAsia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the NorthChristian Persecution from the BeastWWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Trinitarian misunderstandings leads Lutheran minister to claim God is non-binary, uses plural pronouns, and that Jesus had two fathers

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023


COGwriter

Trinitarians claim that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make up the Godhead and are co-equal members of it.

Well, a female Lutheran minister has taken that and perverted it even further as World Net Daily reports:

Allegedly ‘Christian’ church: God is ‘non-binary whose pronouns are plural’

June 27, 2023 at 4:36pm

A Lutheran church in Minnesota recited a “sparkle creed” about the “nonbinary God” and Jesus’ “two dads” during its Sunday service, according to a live stream recording on YouTube.

Edina Community Lutheran Church Pastor Anna Helgen asked the congregation to stand in “body or spirit” to “confess our faith” in the “sparkle creed,” according to the recording. The church went on to chant a statement of faith in the “nonbinary God” and in Jesus Christ, “who had two dads.” …

The church also prayed for the upcoming Pride festival, for “all LGBTQIA+ leaders” and for those who have felt excluded due to their “gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other human distinction.” https://www.wnd.com/2023/06/allegedly-christian-church-god-non-binary-whose-pronouns-plural/

Let’s deal with each of these.

First, Jesus, who is God, taught that God made two genders:

4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

Notice that God made humans male and female–this is binary. And God did this for marriage (see also God Created Marriage). The human body is “not for fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:13, KJV), nor for homosexual relations (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality).

Let me also insert that trying to claim the LGBTQ+ agenda is compatible with the Bible is wrong. Many consider that scripture is to be subservient to the LGBTQ+ agenda as the following report shows:

U.N. “expert,” Victor Madrigal-Borloz, commented to the 53rd Session of the U.N. Human Rights Council his opinion that religious freedom isn’t “incompatible” with LGBT equality.

And that’s to be accomplished through making “long-held religious beliefs and traditions … subservient.” …

He said the fix is to have religious communities re-interpret their own doctrines to meet his preferences. …

Explained the Stand, “So, now if we hold to biblical truth, we are apparently just misinterpreting our own doctrines. He insinuates that religious believers who do not embrace the LGBT ideology are misinterpreting their own religion. It is the height of arrogance for a U.N. expert to suggest that his interpretation — informed by the LGBT activist groups who submitted comments for his report — understands the teachings of major world religions better than their own religious leaders or the thousands of years of tradition that often inform their beliefs.”

The report, by Arielle Del Turco, noted that Borloz also cited concern about those people who are interpreting religious doctrines that place homosexuality “within a discourse of immorality and sin.”

He suggested such comments about LGBT lifestyles and sin “can be considered hate speech or even incitement to violence.”

Borgot lashed out as nations, like Hungary, have banned same-sex duos from adopting children. 06/27/23 https://www.wnd.com/2023/06/u-n-expert-demands-religious-beliefs-changed-accommodate-lgbt/

So, another call to basically ban people from saying what the Bible teaches. Many want to ban at least parts of the Bible (watch: American Banning of the Bible).

That said, second, it is wrong to say that God’s pronouns are non-binary. In regards to God the Father (male pronouns used throughout scripture) and Jesus the Son (male pronouns used throughout scripture) singular masculine pronouns are what is supported by the original text.

That said, the word for spirit in Hebrew is feminine and in Greek is neuter. If the Holy Spirit were the third member of a true trinity, as trinitarians teach, then there might be some minor point to the Lutheran minister’s argument. However, since that is not true, some of their views are mute.

The historical reality is that the idea of the Holy Spirit being a member of the Godhead was not a belief of original Christians.

At least one trinitarian scholar has admitted:

The language of the New Testament permits the Holy Spirit to be understood as an impersonal force or influence more readily than it does the Son … The attempt to develop an understanding of the Holy Spirit consistent with the trinitarian passages … came to fruition at Constantinople in 381. There were a number of reasons why the personhood of the Holy Spirit took longer to acknowledge than the Son: (1) the term pneuma, breath, is neuter in general and impersonal in ordinary meaning; (2) the distinctive work of the Holy Spirit, influencing the believer, does not necessarily seem as personal as that of the Father … in addition, those who saw the Holy Spirit as a Person, were often heretical, for example, the Montanists; (3) many of the early theologians attributed to the Logos or Word, the revelatory activity later theologians saw as the special, personal work of the Holy Spirit (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, p. 140).

In other words, trinitarian scholars understand that:

1) a concept close to what is trinitarians teach about the Holy Spirit was not widely accepted until the fourth century,
2) normal understanding of koine Greek reveals that the Holy Spirit would be impersonal, not a person,
3) the work of the Holy Spirit can be attributed to an impersonal force from God,
4) second-century heretics were associated with treating the Holy Spirit as a person,
5) early church writers made statements contradicting the current trinitarian view of the Holy Spirit, and
6) after the trinity was accepted, later writers decided statements must support the trinity, hence essentially PROVING that the Holy Spirit as part of a divine trinity WAS NOT an original early Christian teaching.

Notice also :

Like other doctrines that became central to the faith, however, belief in the Trinity was a historical development, not a “given” from the early years of the faith. A. The basic notion of the Trinity is that there are three persons in the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are all equally God and of the same substance, but despite the fact there are three persons, together, they compromise only one God, indivisible in nature. B. This doctrine does not appear to be a doctrine pronounced by the historical Jesus, Paul, or any other Christian writer during the first hundred years or so of Christianity. C. It cannot be found explicitly stated in the earliest Christian writings. The only passage of the New Testament that declares the doctrine (1 John 5:7-8) was not originally part of the text but was added by doctrinally astute scribes at a later date (it is not found in any Greek manuscripts until the 11th century) (Ehrman B. From Jesus to Constantine: A History of Early Christianity, Part 2. The Teaching Company, Chantilly (VA), 2004, p. 43).

The above properly concludes that the trinity was not an original Christian belief and that the only passage in the New Testament that supposedly declares that doctrine (1 John 5:7-8) was added at a later date.

Third, if as trinitarians assert, the Father and Holy Spirit are equal members of the Godhead, then under that ‘logic’ Jesus has two fathers.

However, since the Holy Spirit is basically the power of God and proceeds from the Father and the Son, then no, Jesus did not have two fathers. The Father used the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, the New Testament also does not support females being ministers (see Women and the New Testament Church).

Now, fifth, what about God using plural pronouns?

The way the Lutheran minister used that is a misrepresentation of scripture.

As already mentioned, the pronouns for “father” and “son” are properly masculine–and those are what are normally used for God.

The Lutheran claim about God using plural pronouns is not based on most biblical references, but basically on a trinitarian misunderstanding of the word in Hebrew, Elohim.

Here is something from our free online book, Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism, on that :

Genesis 1 uses the Hebrew term transliterated as “Elohiym” for God, Elohim is a uniplural noun, like church, which means it is normally referring to more than one being (Biblesoft says Elohiym literally is the plural of the word God).

Trinitarians tend to claim that Elohim proves the trinity, but it does not. Elohim is, instead, consistent with the binitarian view of the Godhead.

That was the view of the original Christians as well as the view of the Continuing Church of God.

Here is the plural ‘pronounal’ part of Genesis 1:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)

So God the Father and God the Word said “Let Us.” But that is not any different than two or more people saying “let us” in the pronounal sense. Scripture does not support the “non-binary,” plural pronoun usage for the Father or the Son.

Furthermore, although it is shocking to some, the early faithful clearly held what has been called a binitarian or semi-Arian view of the Godhead.

That said, no, God is not non-binary. The individual members of the Godhead do not identify by using plural pronouns, and Jesus did not have two fathers.

But, sadly who get a lot of their teachings from outside of scripture do not realize the truth about the Godhead.

Those interested in studying this doctrine in more detail, should consider looking at the following documented items:

Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Were the original Christians binitarian? What does scripture and early writings reveal. A related sermon is also available: Binitarian view of the Godhead. Here is a sermon in Spanish: La Identidad de Dios es Binitaria.
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, PassoverWhat Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & CelibacyEarly Heresies and HereticsDoctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, MeatsTithes, Crosses, Destiny, and moreSaturday or Sunday?The GodheadApostolic Laying on of Hands SuccessionChurch in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession ListHoly 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.
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … These videos cover nearly all of the book, plus have some information not in the book.
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
Jesus is God, But Became Flesh Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what? Here is information in the Spanish language¿Es Jesucristo Dios?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view? A related sermon is available: Truth about the Holy Spirit: What THEY do not want you to know!
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it? Here is an old, by somewhat related, article in the Spanish language LA DOCTRINA DE LA TRINIDAD. Two related sermons are available: Trinity: Fundamental to Christianity or Something Else? and The Godhead and the Trinity. A brief video is also available: Three trinitarian scriptures?

‘Experts and fact checkers’ are often false pushers of parts of Satan’s agenda

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023


Original illustration from “The Emperor’s New Clothes”

COGwriter

‘Fact checkers’ and ‘experts’ want people to believe all kinds of things these days.

Many people go along with them because they are afraid they will be embarrassed or somehow harmed by standing for the truth when it goes against the ‘consensus of experts.’

Well, this is fine when the experts actually are experts and they are actually right.

But this is not fine when the experts, and even so-called “fact checkers,” are wrong.

We have seen a lot of this with COVID-19. Unnecessary fear mongering, economic destruction, and dissing useful nutrients like vitamins C and D and minerals like zinc. Plus pushing political agendas on things like vaccines. Plus, places like Google, YouTube, and Facebook have censored opposing scientific views, so people tend to get bombarded with a mainstream view of science, which has not been based on a true consensus of scientists.

During these COVID shut downs in California, I repeatedly brought up a story to people I talked with that was written by Hans Christian Anderson in the early 19th century.

Here is a summary of the story from Wikipedia:

The Emperor’s New Clothes” (Danish: Kejserens nye klæder) is a short tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, about two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that they say is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent – while in reality, they make no clothes at all, making everyone believe the clothes are invisible to them. When the emperor parades before his subjects in his new “clothes”, no one dares to say that they do not see any suit of clothes on him for fear that they will be seen as stupid. Finally a child cries out, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!” (The Emperor’s New Clothes, Wikipedia, accessed 06/01/19

Why mention this now?

First of all, it seems to confirm the view everyone has self-doubts and often will like to rely on the crowd. And this has included leading politicians in many nations related to COVID-19.

So consider that many ‘experts’ are currently wrong on many matters (and not just COVID-19).

Furthermore, deceit from leaders/experts is part of Satan’s plan to discredit the Bible and biblical morality.

Now, let’s simply look at four other areas where the consensus of experts is wrong.

The first has to do with the Exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Wikipedia–which claims to be unbiased and factual, states:

The Exodus is the founding myth of the Israelites.[1][a] … There is an almost universal consensus among scholars that the Exodus story is best understood as myth;[35] more specifically, it is a “charter” (or foundation) myth, a story told to explain a society’s origins and to provide the ideological foundation for its culture and institutions.[1] While some continue to discuss the potential historicity or plausibility of the Exodus story, the overwhelming majority have abandoned it as “a fruitless pursuit” (Dever, 2001).[36][37] There is no indication that the Israelites ever lived in Ancient Egypt, and the Sinai Peninsula shows no sign of any occupation for the entire 2nd millennium BCE (even Kadesh-Barnea, where the Israelites are said to have spent 38 years, was uninhabited prior to the establishment of the Israelite monarchy).[38] (The Exodus, Wikipedia, accessed 06/01/19)

Basically, the consensus of Wikipedia’s experts is that the biblical account is wrong. And while it cites sources, Wikipedia is often citing biased and inaccurate ones.

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

Yet, there is also an interesting piece of evidence that blasts a hole in the theory that the Exodus was in the 13th century and there is no evidence that the children of Israel ever lived in Egypt. This has to do with a find called the Soleb Temple Inscription that has been dated to c. 1385 B.C. (the fourteenth century B.C.), which also shows that the children of Israel were where the Bible indicates that they were. Here is the hieroglyphic inscription:

tA M8 M23 w i i h V4 w

Here is information about it:

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

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

i i h V4 w

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Ipuwer Papyrus (Wikipedia)

There is also evidence that the ten plagues took place in something called the Ipuwer papyrus (see Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus). But the ‘experts’ at Wikipedia and other anti-biblical sources discount it.

Anti-biblical ‘experts,’ however want to deny what is in the Bible as well as the Ipuwer Papyrus. Notice:

According to Egyptian scholars, we are supposed to believe that it was very popular back in Ipuwer’s day to write lamentation types of literature that had no connection to real events. … We must also beware of scholars who claim contra statements in the Papyrus that are not true. For instance, Enmarch (2011) says that the Ipuwer poem contradicts the Bible because it speaks of an invasion of Asians, rather than a large-scale emigration. In fact, immediately after the Exodus, with the Egyptian army destroyed, there was no longer any manned defense against the Asian hordes who constantly wanted to get into Egypt from the east. The building of defense walls along the eastern border of Egypt by Amenemhat I at the beginning of the 12th Dynasty to keep Asiatics out is well documented by historians (e.g., see Shaw 2003, pp. 147─148). But now these people could walk right in. (Habermehl, A. 2018. The Ipuwer Papyrus and the Exodus. In Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Creationism, ed. J.H. Whitmore, pp. 1–6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Creation Science Fellowship).

So, on the one hand, the anti-biblical ‘experts’ claim there is no evidence to support the ten plagues and the exodus, hence the Book of Exodus is false. Yet on the other hand, when presented with evidence, they claim that it was also untrue. Those are not unbiased, truth-seeking experts.

Yet, despite that, along with other information, Wikipedia quotes some ‘experts’ as saying that looking for evidence of the story of the Exodus is a “fruitless pursuit.”

In other words, they want you to feel stupid if you disagree or even want to look for biblical proof.

Sounds like something Satan would like.

To take that a step further, certain ‘experts’ try to claim that there is insufficient proof that Jesus even existed and that the Gospels are unreliable.

Yet, these are mainly simply assertions of those who will not accept the truth.

Those willing to accept the truth, including historical evidence, should accept that Jesus not only existed, but that He was the prophesied Messiah (for many details, check out the free online book: Proof Jesus is the Messiah).

Now, one fact that the anti-Jesus, anti-Gospel ‘experts’ overlook is that Jesus made at least eleven statements in the New Testament that have been confirmed by events recorded by historians outside of the New Testament. Those and other proofs are in the free online book: Proof Jesus is the Messiah.

Various ‘experts’ want to discount Jesus, because they do not want to accept what He taught.

Now, one of the things that Jesus taught was that the Book of Genesis was true.

Well, the ‘experts’ at places like Wikipedia do not want you to believe that. Notice:

Genesis is perhaps best seen as an example of a creation myth, a type of literature telling of the first appearance of humans, the stories of ancestors and heroes, and the origins of culture, cities and so forth. (Book of Genesis, Wikipedia, accessed 06/01/19)

Again, the credibility of scripture is being attacked.

Yet, the account in Genesis is true. God created life.

But what about the ‘consensus of experts’?

Notice the following from Nobel Prize winner Dr. George Wald, of Harvard University, on the origin of life:


The late Dr. George Wald (Molendijk, Bart/Anefo)

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

This is an astounding admission. The ‘expert’ Dr. Wald is saying that he chose to believe the impossible. And “scientists” claim that those who believe in a Creator have blind faith with no proof, but instead believe the impossible!

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines impossible as “incapable of being or of occurring.”

It is a falsehood to believe in something that is impossible.

Like the people in the Emperor story, he is claiming to see something that he obviously cannot see.

Yet, I suspect that if he claimed to believe in the possible–that is a Divine Creation–he never would have gotten a Nobel Prize.

What evolutionists like to point to are surveys that suggest those with higher levels of education believe in it more than those with lesser formal education. But that proves nothing.

They also falsely try to tell us that the evolutionary explanation of the origin of life is scientific.

The Bible warns of “science, falsely so-called” (1 Timothy 6:20, KJV).

Most with ‘higher education’ go along with the evolutionary, nonsensical explanation, because of peer-pressure, anti-biblical bias, as well as to appear to be properly ‘educated’.

Yet, those of us who have studied cellular biology should realize that spontaneous generation of life is illogical–and I do have a Ph.D. in a biological field.

Even Charles Darwin made an interesting admission in his book, The Origin of the Species:


Charles Darwin

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

And although he did not believe that was demonstrated to his satisfaction when he wrote that, the truth is that cellular life was simply much more complex than he at that time realized (DNA was discovered shortly after he wrote the above).

But most of the modern ‘educated’ act contrary to biological reality. The shadow of the Emperor story is manifest today.

But it is more than that.

For our fourth, consider the following:

If you wonder where “progressivism” is headed, look no further than the self-mutilation movement where LGBT followers physically maim their own bodies to become so-called “nullos” by cutting off their nipples and reproductive organs. The next escalation in this war on biology will, I predict, involve parents maiming their newborn infants by slicing off their penis and scrotum shortly after birth in order to “rid” the child of gender inequality.

This physical maiming of newborn infants will be embraced by the Democrats and Leftists as a “progressive” way to achieve “gender equality.” …

The LGBT community already absurdly claims that children are born “genderless” and then “assigned” a gender by the doctor. This dangerous, delusional thinking will justify parents grabbing scalpels and physically maiming their newborn children in order to achieve a “correction” for their genderless status by violently removing all organs and tissues that are not gender-neutral. Yes, it’s completely insane and criminal, but this is exactly the way the lunatic Left now thinks. …

My question is: Will any institution in society stand up against the increasingly deranged, child-killing and child-mutilating “progressivism” that’s now being pushed everywhere? Are there any doctors in America who will denounce parents maiming their own children in the pursuit of gender equality? Somehow, doctors are more than willing to call the police on parents who refuse to have their children subjected to toxic chemotherapy, but there’s little question those same doctors will stand by and say nothing while parents commit felony assault against their own children with a scalpel and an ice pack… all in the name of “progressivism.”

The Left in America today has become a dangerous obedience cult that’s obsessed with death and self-mutilation. Until they are stopped, their agenda will continue to become more twisted, insane and psychopathic. https://governmentslaves.news/2019/05/25/lgbt-progressivism-horrors-parents-to-start-physically-maiming-their-own-babies-to-slice-off-all-gender-organs-in-the-name-of-progressivism-and-equality/

Males are different than females.

One need only look at male and female bodies to realize that.

But even beyond that, scientists now realize there are many unseen genetic differences:

4 May 2017

Researchers have revealed a breakthrough is how the sexes really differ from each other.

A groundbreaking genetic study pinponted 6500 genes that differ between men and women.

Experts say it could have a profound effect in the way we identify and treat everything from disease to fertility. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4475252/There-6-500-genetic-differences-men-women.html#ixzz4l2KCqvLW

May 7, 2017

A biological male can take hormones, surgically alter his body and identify as “female,” but the procedures still won’t make him a woman, according to new evidence found by Israeli researchers.

That’s because there are at least 6,500 genes that contain sex-specific instructions for males and females.

For the study by Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, professor Shmuel Pietrokovski and Dr. Moran Gershoni, both researchers from the institute’s Molecular Genetics Department, “looked closely at around 20,000 protein-coding genes, sorting them by sex and searching for differences in expression in each tissue. They eventually identified around 6,500 genes with activity that was biased toward one sex or the other in at least one tissue, adding to the already major biological differences between men and women.” …

The new findings are further evidence that biological males cannot simply “transition” into females and vice versa, argues Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel.

“This recent study from Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science further proves that you cannot fool Mother Nature,” Staver said. “The saying, ‘I think, therefore, I am’ is best left to philosophy and not science. Gender confusion is mental, not physical or biological. God made male and female, and no amount of protestation will change the natural created order.”

Staver called the idea that a person can choose his or her gender “fiction.”

“These Israeli scientists identified over 6,500 genes with activity that was biased toward one sex or the other in at least one tissue,” he said. “That clearly validates the genetic differences between men and women.” http://www.wnd.com/2017/05/study-more-proof-a-man-can-never-become-a-woman/

Another difference between males and females has to do with the brain.

Proof that girls and boys are born to be different: Controversial study finds that brain differences between the sexes begin in the womb

25 March 2019

In a scientific first, researchers claim to have found that differences between men’s and women’s brains start in the womb.

The conclusion is likely to be controversial, with some experts claiming social influences are more important.

But scientists who did brain scans of 118 foetuses in the second half of pregnancy to analyse the links between gender and the connectivity of a developing brain believe the differences are biological. …

According to the US study, published in the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, female brains growing in the uterus produced ‘long-range’ networks.

Professor Thomason said this was less true of boys, who were ‘more susceptible to environmental influences’. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6845991/Controversial-study-finds-brain-differences-sexes-begin-womb.html

While I do not think that this is necessarily “a scientific first” (as others noted brain development differences between male and female brains in utero), it is at least additional proof that boys and girls are biologically different in a way that is not clearly visually seen.

Since this study involved the unborn, it also helps negate the false narrative that ‘gender’ is not biological, but the result of societal environmental factors.

Of course, many ‘moderns’ want to act like there is no difference, but the Bible is clear that men and women are different. God warned that there would be those “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). But the truth is still the truth.

The Bible warns against not only sexual immorality, but approving it:

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:20-32)

The USA is not benefiting from homosexuality or the transgender agenda. Surgically changing one’s sex organs is dishonoring one’s body. Pretending to be a sex other than what one was born as is not wise (the exceptionally rare people born with both sets of genitalia is another matter, which is beyond the scope of this article).

God made humans male and female:

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

Nowhere in the Bible is any human considered to be any sex/gender other than male or female. And those who act otherwise are warned against (Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 6:10-12; Romans 1:18-32). One is not a different gender than their actual genitalia.

But many others have their own, antibiblical ideas. Yet:

33 God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33)

The LGBTQ agenda encourages and exploits confusion. It is NOT good for those who consider themselves LGBTQ either. Now that does not mean you cannot comply with absurd ‘pronoun’ laws if you must.

Yet, more than that, those advocating the LGBTQ+ agenda want YOU to approve it and promote it. Even though YOU should know that men and women are not the same and that the type of sexual acts that gays and lesbians do are opposed to nature and the purpose of natural organs.

And they expect you to NOT raise an objection.

And in the 21st century, they may try to destroy your career, reputation, and other matters if you do not pretend to see what they want you to see.

In the Emperor story, the two scoundrels did not really look trustworthy.


Original illustration of the swindlers in “The Emperor’s New Clothes”

However, most experts do not look like scoundrels these days.

And there are even religious leaders who promote many of the lies that I mentioned in this article.

But even that was predicted.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

Related to Protestant ministers, some may wish to read the free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from Protestantism.

Consider also the following:

2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; (Exodus 23:2)

But, by trying to make it sound like only the stupid accept the Exodus, accept Jesus as Messiah, believe in a Divine Creation, and think men and women are different, the ‘experts’ are basically doing what the vast majority of the people in the Emperor story did.

That story remains very relevant today.

We now also have highly biased “artificial intelligence” search engines which also pretend to know things that are not accurate (e.g. ChatGPT 4? Has ChatGPT gone woke? and PETA uses ChatGPT to make blasphemous Bible).

Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote related to deceivers getting worse and worse, but that Christians need to still heed the scriptures:

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (2 Timothy 3:12-15)

Understand that Satan wants you to:

  1. Doubt the Book of Exodus
  2. Doubt the creation in Genesis
  3. Doubt Jesus and the Bible
  4. Embrace sexual immorality and confusion
  5. Put your trust in humankind’s solutions to problems and NOT Jesus and the coming Kingdom of God.

The Bible teaches:

160 The entirety of Your word is truth, (Psalm 119:160)

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

Believe the word of God.

Sadly, more and more experts are shown to be liars.

Those ‘experts’ have no clothes.

And we in Continuing Church of God are calling them out on this.

We also put together the following related video, where there is also more detail about Hans Christian Anderson’s story:


24:10

The ‘Experts’ Have No Clothes!

In the 19th century, Hans Christian Anderson’s ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ was published. The story showed a willingness of people to overlook the obvious truth in order to fit in with the crowd. Are aspects of that story applicable now? Are the experts at Wikipedia and elsewhere who claim that the story of the exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt right that this is a myth or that the creation account in Genesis is a myth? What about the Solbe Temple Inscription and the Ipuwer papyrus? Could Nobel prize winners be wrong? Have they intentionally overlook true science? What about the existence of Jesus or the accuracy of the Gospel writers? Can you prove that Jesus existed? What about the views of certain ‘experts’ about sexual identity and morality? Dr. Thiel addresses each of these points with facts that disagree with the consensus of anti-biblical experts. He explains that like the Emperor who had no clothes, even when the majority claimed to see them, many modern experts are just as wrong and hence figuratively should be considered as having no clothes (of truth).

Here is a link to our latest uploaded video: The ‘Experts’ Have No Clothes!

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God’s Existence Logical? Is it really logical to believe in God? Yes! Would you like Christian answers to give atheists? This is a free online booklet that deal with improper theories and musings called science related to the origin of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
EXODUS Exodus sermons include Exodus 1-4: Jewish Myths or Lessons for Christians Today?, Exodus 5-7: Serpents, Blood, and Revelation, Exodus 8-9: Plagues and Prophecy, Exodus 10-12: The Last Plagues & 21st Century Prophecies, and Exodus 13-15: Passover Protection and Armageddon. There is also more, such as the article: When was the Exodus? Did it Happen? Some deny the biblical account of the Exodus. Was Ramses II the pharaoh then? When did the Exodus occur? Is there proof outside of the Bible that there was an Exodus? Here is a related article in the Spanish language: ¿Cuándo fue el Éxodo? ¿Ocurrió realmente? Also: Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus What do you know about these plagues? What happened to the ‘gods of Egypt’? Is there any confirmation outside the Bible? Might something worse be coming? A related two-part sermon is available: Egypt and the Plagues (Part 1) and Exodus Plagues and Prophecy (Part 2). Also: Exodus and the Days of Unleavened Bread This article discusses parts of the Book of Exodus with some connections to the Days of Unleavened Bread. Related sermons are available Exodus 1-4: Jewish Myths or Lessons for Christians Today?, Exodus 5-7: Serpents, Blood, and Revelation, Exodus 8-9: Plagues and Prophecy and Unleavened Bread: Lessons in Exodus. Another sermon is Exodus, Judgments, and Jesus. Also Exodus 4:24, Why would God have sought to kill Moses? What did Moses do wrong? Do you have a similar problem? Another article is Exodus 16-19 which covers all of those verses–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 16-19: Manna, Governance, and End Time Protection. Another article is Exodus 20 which covers all of the verses in that chapter–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments. Another article covers the verses in those chapters Exodus 21-24: These are the Judgments–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 21-24: Judgments. Here is a link to the article Exodus 25: Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seathere is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 25: Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. Here is a link to the article Exodus 26-32 Tabernacle, Sacrifices, & the Book of Lifehere is a link to a related sermon:Exodus 26-32: Tabernacle, Golden Calf, and Book of Life.
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but … These videos cover nearly all of the book, plus have some information not in the book.
Does it Make Physical Sense to believe in God? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true? Here is a link to a YouTube sermon titled Is it logical to believe in God?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge. Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Is There Another View of Evolution? and another titled Quickly Disprove Evolution as the Origin of Life.
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Gap Theory? Does the Bible allow for the creation of the universe and earth billions of years ago? Why do some believe they are no older than 6,000 years old? What is the gap theory? Were the days of creation in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3 24 hours long? Here are links to two sermons: Gap Theory: Doctrine or Modern Heresy? and Genesis, ‘Prehistoric man,’ and the Gap theory.
Here is a link to a related article in Spanish: ¿Cuán vieja es la Tierra? ¿Cuán largos fueron los Días de la Creación? ¿Teoría de la brecha?
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, Mystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
USA pushing gender confusion On May 13, 2016, the Obama Administration sent notices to school districts around the USA on how it wants them to deal with toilets, lockers, sports, and other issues of interest to the LGBT crowd. The Obama Administration has redefined the word ‘sex’ as written in the 1964 Civil Rights Act as expanded in 1972. Does the Bible teach transgenderism? Are accommodations for those considering themselves transgendered helpful or evil? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing and other transgender issues? Does the Bible warn of terrible consequences for those who merely approve the LBGT agenda? This is a video.
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There are also two YouTube videos related to this, titled Transgender ‘Woe to those who call evil good’ and Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? A related sermons is titled: Pornography, False Comfort, and False Religion. Here a shorter YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
Making Your Marriage Work Marriage is not always easy, but it pictures a divine relationship. How can you make your marriage work? Here is a link to the video sermon: You Can Make YOUR Marriage Work.
Love, Marriage, and Sex It is important to get them in the right order.
Husbands Love Your Wives An article written by the late Selmer Hegvold.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
The 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.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? What is the origin of this in France? What is prophesied to happen to them? A two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben and France and Prophecy.
Ten clues tying Belgium and Luxembourg with the tribe of Asher Who did some in Belgium and Luxembourg descend from?
Ten clues tying Zebulun with the Dutch Who did some in the Netherlands descend from?
Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Naphtali – Sweden Do the Swedes have any ties to the biblical tribe of Naphtali? Some think so
‘Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Dan – the Irish’ Not part of the ‘144,000’ Could the Irish and Danes have descent from the tribe of Dan?
Could Switzerland by descended from Gad? Is it really prepared for what is prophecied? This article has clues.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. Two related sermon are available: Identifying the USA and its Destruction in Prophecy and Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.

GN: What the World Needs Now Is Hope

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023


(Pixabay photo)

COGwriter

There is a lot of bad news in the world.

But Christians should have hope.

The Good News magazine of the old Worldwide Church of God had the following in its October-November 1984 edition:

What the World Needs Now Is Hope

Often underemphasized in the lives of many, hope is a tremendous spiritual gift at work in all who will be in God’s coming Kingdom.

The Bible speaks of three great fruits of God’s Holy Spirit: faith, hope and love (I Corinthians 13:13). Most Christians readily and easily understand that love, called the greatest of these gifts, and faith are essential for salvation.

But what about hope? What is hope, even?

Given equal rank with love and faith, hope stands as one of the most important spiritual gifts, to be sought after and exercised by every one of God’s people.

What is hope?

Let’s understand first what hope is not. It is not watered down faith.

In everyday conversation, people often say hope when they mean wish. “Let’s hope it all works out for the best” sometimes means the person is afraid it won’t! Hoping is not wishing. Hope is confident, powerful, bold. Hope is not afraid. Hope casts out fear and doubt.

To hope means to look forward to with confidence of fulfillment, to expect with desire.

There is nothing weak in true Christian hope. It is positive, assured, looking ahead to the future. Hope lifts a person’s thoughts beyond the immediate trials and problems of the present. Hope sees God’s plan at work — God producing His character in us, by what we experience, to qualify us for eternal life.

A Christian filled with hope has zeal and purpose. He is alive with spiritual energy to keep overcoming and growing no matter what negative factors and influences are at work to discourage and frustrate his progress toward God’s Kingdom. Paul goes so far as to say, “For we are saved by hope” (Romans 8:24, Authorized Version)!

Hope makes the difference

Every Christian fights a daily and lifelong spiritual battle against sin. Even the apostle Paul, a deeply converted Christian, was frustrated by his own personal failure to measure up to the goal of spiritual perfection that is in Jesus Christ.

Paul cried out, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (verse 18).

Certainly you, too, have been overwhelmed at times by physical pulls, thoughts and attitudes you knew were contrary to God’s perfect” law of love. Yet you were unable to resist their power. You may even have feared losing salvation because of your inability to root sin completely from your life. The thought of sin is abhorrent, but its pull on our flesh is strong.

All Christians might well echo Paul’s insightful words: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin” (verse 14).

As long as we live, the battle against sin rages. It is our mortal enemy. Toward the end of his long life and ministry, the apostle John instructed, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (l John 1:8).

Since no Christian, apart from Jesus Christ, God’s own Son in the flesh, ever fully conquered sin, what separates those who qualify for eternal life from those who do not?

God led Paul to describe the problems common to all Christians. He also inspired Paul to reveal the way out of them. We are to undergo a transformation of character by the power of God’s Holy Spirit working within our minds.

A Christian must completely repent of past sins, surrender to God, be baptized in water and by the laying on of hands by God’s true ministers receive the Holy Spirit.

Once begotten by God’s Spirit, the Christian begins a life dedicated to growth and overcoming, developing God’s character. Here lies our hope for the future. Paul tells us, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13). This is God’s promise to us!

God the Father places His Holy Spirit in the mind of each newly converted believer to grant him power over sin, in order that He may develop His own character in us. Jesus Christ, our Savior, paid the penalty of death because of sin for us so we might be born into the God Family and receive everlasting life at His Second Coming (Romans 6:23).

This is the very purpose for our being alive, and the foundation of our hope for the future! “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). No Christian is yet born into God’s Family, but is an heir, an inheritor of the promise. True Christians are part of the firstfruits of God’s Family, to be born when Jesus Christ returns.

What will it take for you to be a part of this glorious future hope? More, perhaps, than anything else the realization that God earnestly intends and desires that you be in His Kingdom. God wants it for you (I Peter 1:3-5)!

Hopelessness and fear

Many of God’s people, though they realize God’s Kingdom will be set up on earth and even desire to be a part of it, nevertheless despair of receiving eternal life. They are overcome by fear and self-doubt.

These hopeless attitudes come from Satan and his demons, who know the Kingdom is coming and have no hope. For them Jesus Christ’s return will be a time of judgment for their sins of rebellion. James writes: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!” (James 2:19).

The nature of Satan and the demons is set. They will not change and submit to God’s direction in their lives. They are archenemies and rebels. On the other hand, human beings, caught by sin because of weakness or ignorance, have hope.

Some of those listening to Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost had called out just short weeks before for the death of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. When convicted of their sin, they cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). They were afraid and hopeless. Then Peter preached hope through the repentance of sins and the mercy of God (verses 38-40):

 God created all people to qualify for His Family (I Timothy 2:4). When a person who is given this opportunity by God’s calling fails to act on this hope, he becomes like the individual described in the parable of the talents, who refused to produce with the one talent given to him. In an attempt to justify his failure, he replied, “And I was afraid” (Matthew 25:25). He possessed no vision for the future. He lost out.

No matter what the obstacles, the apostle Paul was not afraid. He well understood it was God’s will that he be in the Kingdom, and he always had his mind on that goal: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).

For nearly 6,000 years God the Father and Jesus Christ have endured the sins and rebellion of mankind against God’s government and way of life. Soon God’s deliverance to this earth will come. As Romans 8:21 predicts, “Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Paul concludes the powerfully written Romans 8, which might well be called the “hope chapter” of the Bible (just as I Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the “love chapter” and Hebrews 11 as the ” faith chapter”), with this: ” For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

How does hope grow?

Like all the other fruits of the Holy Spirit, hope is a gift from God that increases directly as a Christian dedicates his life to God. By a life of prayer, diligent study of God’s Word and living always with eyes set on the goal of God’s Kingdom first and foremost, hope will grow.

The apostle John describes what knowing our future should do to inspire us to overcome: “Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (I John 3:2-3).

The time is drawing near for the return of Jesus Christ, when the parable of the talents will have an actual fulfillment. May we all set our sights clearly on the Kingdom and be among those to whom our Lord says: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through Whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we ourselves boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations, realizing that tribulation brings forth endurance, 4 And endurance brings forth character, and character brings forth hope. 5 And the hope of God never makes us ashamed because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5, AFV)

5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:5-6, NKJV throughout unless otherwise specified)

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

So, yes, the Apostle Paul frequently tied faith and love in with hope. You can change and be hopeful.

Related to change, we put together the following video:

16:02

‘How to Change Your Life in 5 Seconds’

Inc. magazine posted an article online titled ‘How to Change Your Life in 5 Seconds.’ In it, Mel Robbins explains how she developed a technique to be more productive. She observed that 95% of decision are based on emotion instead of logic, and how and why adding a five second countdown helped her life. She mentions that fear, anger, and other factors often interfere with our ability to be better people. In this video, Dr. Thiel quotes a lot from that article, including some of the science behind the technique. He also quotes Jesus as well as many passages from the Bible. He also teaches a 5 second statement to say and pray to use as a five second spiritual statement to help Christians change.

Here is a link to the video: ‘How to Change Your Life in 5 Seconds’.

Christians are supposed to have hope. The NKJV has the word “hope” 68 times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul mentioned hope 6 times in the following:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:18-25)

Christians most certainly are to endure. As Jesus said:

22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

Yes, we should expect difficulties. But Christians are to endure and have hope.

Jesus taught not to worry:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34)

The great hope for humanity is the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.

For a Christian, facing the reality that this life is temporal and that we have the hope of the resurrection and Jesus’ return should comfort us:

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

The time coming will be fantastic. We can have hope and comfort other believers.

How fantastic will the time coming be?

The Apostle John was inspired to record:

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

The Apostle Paul reported that it was so fantastic, it was somewhat indescribable:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:7-12)

Yes, it will be beyond normal comprehension.

Now, perhaps it should be pointed out that God’s plan is actually a mystery to almost everyone–irrespective of the religions they do or do not follow.

We produced a book on that.


Here is a link to our free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?

Yes, Christians have, and should realize that they have, real hope. This also works with faith and helps us share the love of God.

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

14:37

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

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

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four 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.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! [Português: Esperança do salvação: Como a igreja do deus difere da maioria de protestantes]. Several related sermon are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History, The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character, and How Does the Church of God Differ from Protestantism?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is a link to a related sermon: Could God be Calling You? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol? Was the cross used as a venerated symbol by the early Church? Two related YouTube videos would be Beware of the ‘Ecumenical Cross’, The Chrislam Cross and the Interfaith Movement, and Origin of the Cross.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui? Here is a link to a short animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
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. Here is a link to two related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan and Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan.
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’.

No, Christians are not supposed to be involved with astrology

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023


Astrological Signs

COGwriter

Many are fascinated by astrology, but it is not the source of truth or real knowledge of the future.

There was a book written in 1647 by William Lilly titled “Christian Astrology.” The book was not related to Christianity and it is commonly believed that the author added the term “Christian” to reduce potential criticism that he was advocating a form of witchcraft.

But throughout the ages, various ones have tried to indicate that it was acceptable for Christians to engage in astrology and the Roman Catholic seer Nostradamus regularly used forms of astrology in his divinations.

In the 21st century, one can find various professors of Christ who practice astrology and teach that it is biblical.

Here is something from Carmen Turner-Schott:

I once worked for a devout Christian who was a little leery of me because she had heard of my interest in astrology. She knew I was notorious for incorporating it into my counseling sessions with teens and families. One day she approached me and said, “I was teaching Sunday school for the first time this weekend and I was shocked when I found out that the three wise men were astrologers.” I remember smiling as she asked me if I would look at her natal chart…

Many Christians are opening up their minds to things that they have never dreamed of before. According to a recent study, nearly 30 percent of Catholics stated that they believed in astrology. Among white evangelicals there was 13 percent that professed a belief in astrology…

Many are turning to astrology as a tool because of its accuracy and the comfort that they find from it. They tell me that astrology validates their experiences and even explains why certain painful experiences happened to them. Many Christian clients of mine even tell me that they feel more connected to God and their Christian faith after having an astrological consultation…

I feel that astrology was a tool created by God for us to understand ourselves better and to use as a spiritual tool. I feel that there are many biblical verses that support astrology. As a Christian, I focus on what Jesus taught. Christ himself talked about the importance of astrology when he said in Luke 21:25, “There shall be signs in the sun, moon, and stars.”…

The verses in the Bible that condemn astrology can actually be interpreted in many different ways.

(Turner-Schott C. Astrology from a Christian’s Perspective Signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars. http://astrology.about.com/od/thehistoryofastrology/a/christianastro.htm viewed 07/10/13)

The verses in the Bible that condemn astrology, which are shown later in this paper, actually do condemn astrology. Since those passages do condemn astrology that is how they should be interpreted.

Other writers have claimed:

The Bible is filled with references to astrology. This is because astrology was widely accepted as truth in Biblical times. Christians who believe that astrology is Satanic would be surprised to learn that the Bible is filled with astrology and even Jesus himself made numerous references to astrology…One of the great astrological stories in the Bible is the story of the star of Bethlehem…”There shall be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.” – Jesus Christ, Luke 21:25 (Astrology in the Bible. Copyright 2007 Near-Death Experiences & the Afterlife. http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen13.html viewed 07/10/13).

Throughout the Christian Bible, both Old and New Testaments, the number twelve is a prominent number. The twelve Disciples of Christ, the twelve sons of Jacob (better known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel), the twelve layers of precious stones in the foundation of heaven or the New Jerusalem…Some Astrologers have likened the symbology of the Moon to that of Mary, the Virgin Mother. Others have seen the Moon as Jesus or God. I personally agree that in accordance with the description of what the Moon is to represent, Mary is associated with the Moon. (Starr. Tiara, Christian Astrology…The Signs of the Disciples. © 2001 Astarotology, Inc. http://www.angelfire.com/stars2/astarot/V1I12/disciples.html viewed 07/10/13)

The Bible has references that condemn astrology and endorse astronomy, and Jesus Himself never made a favorable reference to astrology, but did towards astronomy. Yet, others seem to wish to believe otherwise. Furthermore, the view that the moon represents “Mary” (such as in Revelation 12:1) was not the opinion of early church writers, including Greco-Roman Catholic ones. This was a later and false development. And just because there were 12 initial apostles and 12/13 tribes of Israel does not in any way prove a connection to the zodiac.

Followers of a universally recognized apostate/heretic who professed Christ named Marcus (see Marcus, the Marcosians, & Mithraism: Developers of the Eucharist? ) seemed to adopt some aspects of astrology. The sun and the zodiac circle were important to the Marcosians:

They maintain, then, that first of all the four elements, fire, water, earth, and air, were produced after the image of the primary Tetrad above, and that then, we add their operations, viz., heat, cold, dryness, and humidity, an exact likeness of the Ogdoad is presented. They next reckon up ten powers in the following manner:— There are seven globular bodies, which they also call heavens; then that globular body which contains these, which also they name the eighth heaven ; and, in addition to these, the sun and moon. These, being ten in number, they declare to be types of the invisible Decad , which proceeded from Logos and Zoe . As to the Duodecad , it is indicated by the zodiacal circle, as it is called; for they affirm that the twelve signs do most manifestly shadow forth the Duodecad , the daughter of Anthropos and Ecclesia…The sun also, who runs through his orbit in twelve months, and then returns to the same point in the circle… Also the circumference of the zodiacal circle itself contains three hundred and sixty degrees (for each of its signs comprises thirty); and thus also they affirm, that by means of this circle an image is preserved of that connection which exists between the twelve and the thirty. Still further, asserting that the earth is divided into twelve zones, and that in each zone it receives power from the heavens, according to the perpendicular [position of the sun above it], bringing forth productions corresponding to that power which sends down its influence upon it, they maintain that this is a most evident type of the Duodecad and its offspring. (Irenaeus. Adversus Haereses, Book I, Chapter 17, Verse 1) .

The eucharistic host resembles a circle: it is likely an astrogical symbol or a sun-deity symbol. Marcus himself had been a disciple of Valentinus, who Polycarp of Smyrna denounced when he visited Rome.

Of course, just because someone claims that Jesus is Lord or believes that the Bible teaches something does not mean that they are Christian. And the fact that a number of Greco-Roman Catholics and Protestants do believe in astrology is a clear indication that they are not truly Christian, but only those who claim to be so. Notice what Jesus taught about those who falsely claim to be His followers:

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Those who endorse astrology and claim Christianity are basically endorsing false prophecies in the name of Jesus.

How can we be so sure?

Because the Bible teaches to avoid astrology and trust in God and His word.

Before getting to some of those passages that oppose astrology, I would like to address the main points that the pro-astrology Christian claimants tend to make.

While it is true that the “wise men” in Matthew 2:1-12 saw a sign in the sky, the reality is that the Bible taught that there would be a star to look for in Numbers 24:17. Looking for a particular star or something that the Bible teaches will happen in the sky is the prudent use of astronomy not astrology. Astrology is developing predictions that the Bible does not discuss, based upon human interpretations of planetary alignment and normally the date and time of one’s birth.

The wise men did not do that, nor did Jesus when He pointed to signs in the heavens to look for just prior to His return.

Notice also the following warnings:

19 And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. (Deuteronomy 4:19-20)

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Notice the following condemnation of the uselessness of astrology:

13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels;
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers,
And the monthly prognosticators
Stand up and save you
From what shall come upon you.
14 Behold, they shall be as stubble,
The fire shall burn them;
They shall not deliver themselves
From the power of the flame;
It shall not be a coal to be warmed by,
Nor a fire to sit before! (Isaiah 47:13-14)

While astrology is popular in the West, it is also popular in the far East. The Continuing Church of God has information about astrology and its dangers is several articles as well as one video:

The Bible and Astrology Should Christians avoid participating in astrology or did God inspire it? Does the Bible encourage astrology? What does the Bible actually teach? What is astrology? How does astrology differ from astronomy? Should Christians Be Involved In Astrology?
OMENS? DIVINATION? HOROSCOPES? THE ORIGIN OF ASTROLOGY
Where did astrology come from? Should you read your horoscope?
Does Astrology Work? Many believe and follow astrology–but does it work?

To better reach the Chinese, the last article was translated by a Continuing Church of God member into Mandarin Chinese. Here is a link: 占星术准确吗?.

Some do not seem to be concerned about people in the far east or other distant lands. But Jesus taught:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)

In August 1997, I had an article published in The Journal: News of the Churches of God titled Getting the Gospel Out is Not Just a Local Job. The article has been updated a few times since, but is still available in English: Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job.

Well it has also been made available in Mandarin Chinese thanks to the efforts of the same member who translated the astrology article. Here is a link: 宣传福音不只是一个本地作业.

We in the Continuing Church of God are serious about reaching people in all nations and continue to try to provide more biblically accurate information to all who have interest, no matter where they may live.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible and Astrology Should Christians avoid participating in astrology or did God inspire it? Does the Bible encourage astrology? What does the Bible actually teach? What is astrology? How does astrology differ from astronomy? Here are links to two videos Astrology, the occult, tattoos, and pornography and Should Christians Be Involved In Astrology?
OMENS? DIVINATION? HOROSCOPES? THE ORIGIN OF ASTROLOGY
Where did astrology come from? Should you read your horoscope?
Does Astrology Work? Many believe and follow astrology–but does it work? Here is a link to the article in Mandarin Chinese: 占星术准确吗?
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.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? Two YouTube video are Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? and China: A King of the East.
Did Angels Marry Human Women? Many insist this is so and also that this mating caused giants to be born. Did this come from the ‘Book of Enoch’? What does Genesis 6:4 really mean? A related video is also available: Did Angels Marry Women and Produce Giants?
Angels, Cherubim, and Seraphim This is information about various types of angelic beings.
Did God Create a Devil? If not, what happened? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet.
Close Encounters of a ‘Spirit’ Kind discusses some experiences I believe were (demon) ‘spirit’ related. A video is also available titled: Poltergeists and Lying Wonders.
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
Bible: Superstition or Authority? Should you rely on the Bible? Is it reliable? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
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.