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COGwriter

Nearly seven years ago, Forbes put out the following, written by John Mauldin, that caught my attention back then:

The 2020s Might Be The Worst Decade In U.S. History …

The Great Reset

Unemployment may approach the high teens by the end of the decade and GDP growth will be minimal at best.

What do you call that condition? Certainly not business as usual.

Long before that happens, the Federal Reserve will have engaged in massive quantitative easing. …

The world simply has too much debt, much of it (perhaps most) unpayable. At some point, the major central banks of the world and their governments will do the unthinkable and agree to “reset” the debt.

How?

It doesn’t matter how, they just will. They’ll make the debt disappear via something like an Old Testament Jubilee.

I know that’s stunning, but it’s really the only possible solution to the global debt problem. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmauldin/2018/05/24/the-2020s-might-be-the-worst-decade-in-u-s-history/#1fefec1e48d3

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

13:03

Forbes: 2020s Might Be The Worst Decade In U S History

Forbes posted an article by John Mauldin titled “2020s Might Be The Worst Decade In U.S. History.” The article claimed that US debt is destined to rise dramatically as well as cause financial problems with Europe. He claimed that unemployment would greatly increase as well. He claimed a reset, like a biblical jubilee debt release, would be the logical solution. He claimed that the 2030s were then likely to be good. Could the 2020s be the worst decade in USA history? How might Habakkuk 2 play into any of this? What about Jeremiah 30? Could Jesus possibly return towards the end of the decade? Could the USA experience sorrows, troubles, and possibly the Great Tribulation in the 2020s? Could the 6000 years be over then? Could the 2030s be a fantastic time ushering in the millennium? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link: Forbes: 2020s Might Be The Worst Decade In U S History. While Forbes did not mention Jesus or sorrows, the above video did. Pestilences are part of the sorrows and troubles Jesus prophesied (Matthew 24:4-8; Mark 13:8).

And since this video came out, the US has increased its massive debts even further. On March 21, 2020, the Washington Post also suggested a possible debt jubilee.

What triggered the idea for this post was the following:

A Debt Jubilee of Biblical Proportions Is Coming — Are You Ready? …

In ancient times, people often became hopelessly indebted to their creditors. As debts mounted, social unrest would boil over, threatening the stability of the entire ruling system.

The rulers of the ancient world understood this dangerous dynamic.

Their solution was radical yet effective: enact widespread debt cancellation—a debt jubilee.

Debt jubilees acted as societal pressure release valves when no other options remained.

For instance, the Book of Leviticus formalizes debt jubilees as the conclusion of a 49-year biblical cycle—seven cycles of seven years.

I believe this ancient practice is poised for a major comeback as government, corporate, and personal debt levels today have reached unsustainable heights.

The social, political, and investment implications will be profound.

Debt Jubilees: Redistribution, Not Wealth Creation

It’s important to note that debt jubilees do not create new wealth—they simply redistribute it.

Debt jubilees are government decrees that trigger massive wealth transfers, creating big winners and losers.

President Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness marks the beginning of modern debt jubilees.

His student loan forgiveness plan is unprecedented. Unilateral executive action of this scale has never occurred during peacetime. Moreover, Congress, not the president, is supposed to make spending decisions of this magnitude. …

As Americans hit their financial breaking points, I believe debt forgiveness demands will only grow louder—extending far beyond student loans. …

All it takes is a President’s pen stroke to wipe out hundreds of billions in debt.

The student loan jubilee will set a powerful precedent.

I don’t think it will be long before we see a credit card jubilee, a car loan jubilee, or even a mortgage jubilee.

How will the government pay for all these jubilees?

Raising taxes enough to cover them seems improbable.

Issuing more debt to cancel other debts would be contradictory.

That leaves money printing as the only viable option.

This is why future debt jubilees will pour “gasoline on the inflationary fire that is already burning.”

But it’s not just consumer debt that’s unsustainable. The biggest problem is the US government’s federal debt—a much larger issue looming on the horizon.

The Federal Debt Endgame: A Coming Crisis

The US federal government has the largest debt in the history of the world—and it’s growing at a rapid, unstoppable pace.

In short, the US government is fast approaching its financial endgame. …

In short, the US government is trapped. It’s game over.

They have no choice but to “reset” the system—that’s what governments do when they are trapped.

How Will the US Reset the System?

Nobody knows for sure. But I’d bet a debt jubilee of biblical proportions will be a major part of it. …

And since the US government is the biggest debtor in the history of the world, it stands to gain the most from inflation.

Inflation: The Ultimate Debt Jubilee

That’s why I believe the federal debt jubilee will come in the form of a massive wave of inflation.

The coming debt jubilees could wipe out trillions in liabilities while unleashing previously unimaginable inflation. 12/24/24 https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/debt-jubilee-biblical-proportions-coming-are-you-ready

While inflation does seem to be the plan (not by Donald Trump himself, but by the US Federal Reserve, certain players in the deep states, etc.) that will not satisfy foreign creditors. Nor will various proposals to pretend to pay off the US debt with platinum coins (e.g. CNN: US hits debt ceiling, prompting Treasury to take extraordinary measures. FT: The Fed will have to accept the $1tn platinum coin).

The USA and UK are in debt so high that Ray Dalio has basically claimed that they are in debt death spirals (see Ray Dalio says UK is facing a ‘debt death spiral’ and the USA’s debt passed the point of no return).

The Roman Catholics has also called for a debt jubilee:

Debt forgiveness is critical during Jubilee 2025

January 3, 2025

he Jubilee Year is, for many, about making a pilgrimage to Rome, walking through one of the Holy Doors at the various basilicas. Thanks to Pope Francis, there is a Holy Door at the Rebibbia prison. Such pilgrimages confer a plenary indulgence, the remission of temporal punishment for sins already forgiven, on those who make them.

In advance of the 2000 Jubilee, Pope John Paul II and many other religious leaders called for a different kind of remission, canceling the debt of impoverished nations. Jubilee USA was founded at that time to help make this retrieval of the ancient practice of forgiving debt during a jubilee a reality.

Francis, in his New Year’s address, made debt forgiveness a central theme of this year’s Jubilee as well. “The first to forgive debts is God, as we always ask him when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, referring to our sins and committing ourselves to forgive in turn those who have offended us,” the pope said. “And the Jubilee asks us to translate this forgiveness on a social level, so that no person, no family, no population is crushed by debts. I therefore encourage the rulers of countries with a Christian tradition to set a good example by canceling or reducing as much as possible the debts of the poorest countries.”

The roots of the idea of a jubilee marked by debt forgiveness are found in the Hebrew Scriptures. https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/debt-forgiveness-critical-during-jubilee-2025

As far as a debt jubilee goes, back in 2018, financial writer Porter Stansberry seemed to think one was coming when he posted:

Do you ever feel—despite the supposed economic “recovery” of recent years—that something in America is still not quite right?

If so, you are not alone.

After all, how can things be “OK” when nearly half the men ages 18-34 now live with their parents—the highest level since the Great Depression?

How can it be “normal” when in one of America’s richest cities (Seattle) there are now 400 unauthorized homeless camps under bridges and along freeway medians?

How can it be a “recovery” when 78% of the U.S. population now lives paycheck to paycheck, with essentially zero savings? … for millions of Americans, a crisis is coming.

I’m talking about a political event unlike anything we’ve seen in our country in nearly 50 years.

It will “reset” the financial system in ways most Americans can’t imagine—and for most, it will be a national nightmare. …

It used to be that most Americans didn’t hold debt, outside of a mortgage on their first home. But after almost 40 years of declining real wages, Americans now have to go into serious amounts of debt for just about everything they buy. …

It’s gotten so bad, 73% of Americans now die with debt… with an average total of more than $60,000!

Being in debt is an incredibly stressful way to live. You’re in a hole and there is simply no way out. So it’s no surprise that deaths by drugs and poisoning for the bottom 60% of American’s population have doubled since the year 2000… and suicide rates have doubled as well over the same period. …

And this enormous political powder keg is leading to THE biggest political event our country has seen in decades. …

U.S. consumers now have nearly $13 trillion in total debt… the highest total ever, even more than was owed right before the crash in 2007… in order to pay for food, housing, cars, education, healthcare, and other basic expenses.

We owe a trillion dollars on our credit cards—which often have interest rates as high as 28%! We’ve borrowed a trillion dollars to buy new cars—which plummet in value the minute you drive off the lot. And we’ve racked up about $1.5 trillion for college education with dubious worth.

The debt load for the working poor has nearly quadrupled in the past 20 years as a percentage of their income. And this debt can never, ever be repaid. …

Very soon, millions of Americans will be calling for the government to “do something.”

Specifically, they’ll be calling for a clean slate… to wipe out their debts and “reset” the financial system.

The crowds will cheer and march like never before. The violence will escalate. Our politicians will promise this reset of the financial system as a way to a “new and better prosperity.”

And while it might sound like good news to those who have gotten in over their head—what will really happen is a national nightmare.

You see, this idea of erasing debts to reset the financial system is not new. In fact, in the Bible, it’s referred to as a “Jubilee.”

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it comes from The Old Testament, the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 25.

A Jubilee in the Jewish tradition was said to occur roughly every 50 years.

It was a time for total forgiveness of debt, the freeing of slaves, and the returning of lands. Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Christian Jubilee in 1300.

Since then, it’s been used dozens of times, when anger among a population hits extreme levels, typically because of an explosive divide between the wealthy and the working class.

And very soon, millions will be calling for a new Debt Jubilee here in America.

Believe it or not, many are already doing so …

In Congress, more than a half-dozen Jubilee-style laws have been proposed, by folks such as Rep. Kathy Castor and Senator Bill Nelson from Florida. …

A Jubilee—which wipes the slate clean for millions of the most indebted Americans and “resets” the financial system—is inevitable.

And mark my words:

This trend will accelerate. The idea of a Debt Jubilee will become THE leading political issue in the months to come.

Today, for millions of Americans, there’s no more powerful political promise than a Debt Jubilee. Politicians will soon be promising it all…

I will wipe out your debts.
I will allow you to start fresh.
I will reward all of your bad decisions.
I will solve America’s massive income inequality.

Who will pay for it?

You guessed it…

You, me, and millions of Americans with pensions, retirement accounts, and other types of savings.

Just as in the past, the folks in Washington will disguise this Jubilee under a different name.

They might call it a “National Restoration” or “Patriotic Solvency.”

They’ll pass an “Act” like they did in 1841… or invoke an Executive Order as was done in 1933 (Executive Order #6102)… or simply issue a mandate to the Secretary of the Treasury (which they did in 1971).

But it all means the same thing. The Jubilee will redistribute trillions of dollars from those who have invested and saved… to those who can no longer pay their debts. …

You see, around the world today, the idea of a Jubilee has become the de facto solution for extreme financial problems… when debts can’t be repaid.

Iceland used a Jubilee to restructure mortgages that were underwater. Croatia used a Jubilee in 2015 to wipe out millions in consumer debt. Japan is doing the same right now with nearly half its national debt.

President Trump has suggested a Debt Jubilee for all of Puerto Rico’s bond debt after Hurricane Maria. http://theamericanjubilee.com/ accessed 02/01/18

I have had pointed out problems with Porter Stansberry’s predictions in the past (see True U.S. collapse to be ushered in July 1, 2014?).

Now, since Donald Trump has filed for bankruptcy several times, he might even consider such a thing as a debt jubilee.

As far as the idea of a debt jubilee goes, such a thing is biblical for individuals. Biblically, this was to be sounded by a trumpet every 50 years (Leviticus 27:16-24).

(Wikipedia photo)

Here is a lot of what the Bible itself teaches about a jubilee:

8 ‘And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. 10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. 11 That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. 12 For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.

13 ‘In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession. 14 And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another. 15 According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor, and according to the number of years of crops he shall sell to you. 16 According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops. 17 Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 25:8-17)

25 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. 26 Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, 27 then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.

29 ‘If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it. 30 But if it is not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to him who bought it, throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee. 31 However the houses of villages which have no wall around them shall be counted as the fields of the country. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee. 32 Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, and the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchases a house from the Levites, then the house that was sold in the city of his possession shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the common-land of their cities may not be sold, for it is their perpetual possession. (Leviticus 25:25-34)

40 As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 And then he shall depart from you — he and his children with him — and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers. (Leviticus 25:40-41)

47 ‘Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, 48 after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. 50 Thus he shall reckon with him who bought him: The price of his release shall be according to the number of years, from the year that he was sold to him until the Year of Jubilee; it shall be according to the time of a hired servant for him. 51 If there are still many years remaining, according to them he shall repay the price of his redemption from the money with which he was bought. 52 And if there remain but a few years until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, and according to his years he shall repay him the price of his redemption. 53 He shall be with him as a yearly hired servant, and he shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. 54 And if he is not redeemed in these years, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee — he and his children with him. 55 For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 25:47-55)

2 And they said: “The Lord commanded my lord Moses to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 4 And when the Jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers. (Numbers 36:2-4)

16 ‘If a man dedicates to the Lord part of a field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. 17 If he dedicates his field from the Year of Jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand. 18 But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money due according to the years that remain till the Year of Jubilee, and it shall be deducted from your valuation. 19 And if he who dedicates the field ever wishes to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall belong to him. 20 But if he does not want to redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore; 21 but the field, when it is released in the Jubilee, shall be holy to the Lord, as a devoted field; it shall be the possession of the priest.

22 ‘And if a man dedicates to the Lord a field which he has bought, which is not the field of his possession, 23 then the priest shall reckon to him the worth of your valuation, up to the Year of Jubilee, and he shall give your valuation on that day as a holy offering to the Lord. 24 In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to the one who owned the land as a possession. (Leviticus 27:16-24)

Essentially, the jubilee was a reset for society and a new chance for those who had not handled their finances as well as others may have. People would get their ancestral lands back, if they would have sold them. And since it was supposed to be observed once every 50 years, most people who did not die in childhood would have experienced it once or even twice in their lifetime (yes, even three times was possible).

It is not out of the realm of possibilities that the USA would be in a Jubilee period–but that is not something people can now count on.

As far as the meaning of the term translated as jubilee in most Bibles, notice the following:

The translation “Jubilee year” results from a mistaken application of cognates (similar words in different languages). In the original Hebrew, the year was called the “year of the horn,” or, in Hebrew, “the year of the yovel.” The Latin for yovel is iobileus, which just happens to sound like the Latin word iubileus, connected to the verb iubilare, “to celebrate.” The English “Jubilee year” comes from the Latin. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-joel-hoffman/five-mistakes-bible-translation_b_1129620.html

Some have suggested that because the jubilee is not observed, that this is perhaps why there tends to be major economic problems every 50-60 or so years. Notice the following:

“Kondratieff long wave cycle (K-wave) was originally used to explain long wave economic cycles. Its originator Nickolai Kondratieff was a Russian economist (1892-1938) in Stalin’s Agricultural Academy and Business Research Institute (“Long Waves in Economic Life” – originally published in German in 1926). Kondratieff’s major premise was that capitalist economies displayed long wave cycles of boom and bust ranging between 50-60 years in duration. Kondratieff’s study covered the period 1789 to 1926 and was centered on prices and interest rates.”

“The 50-60 year cycle of catastrophe and renewal had been observed and recorded by the ancient Mayans of Central America and by the ancient Israelites. Further studies have discovered similar long economic waves from the period of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Kondratieff identified four distinct phases the economy goes through. They are a period of inflationary growth, followed by stagflation, then deflationary growth and finally depression.” http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_02/chapmand062902.html See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kondratiev_wave

Some have seen major economic disturbances throughout history (beyond what we have seen this week) that seem to possibly correlate with not following the admonition of having a Jubilee year.

Since it is the part of the “1%” that would be harmed in modern times by a Jubilee year, and they have major political influence, things would have to change for them to be willing to forgive debts.

That said, the Bible does not discuss national debt default occurring in a jubilee year. Plus now, foreigners and others owed money will NOT be pleased if they are not properly paid back (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8).

Now, there are a few points to consider.

First, yes, I expect the USA to continue to increase its debt. And related to Donald Trump, he once declared:

I’m the king of debt. I love debt. (Egan M. Donald Trump: ‘I’m the king of debt.’ CNN, May 7, 2016)

Second, notice the official US debt on the following dates:

• January 19, 2017, $19,944,429,217,106.77, date Obama-Biden leave office, replaced the next day by Trump-Pence.
• January 19, 2021, $27,752,835,868,445.35, the date Trump-Pence leave office, replaced the next day by Biden-Harris.
• January 17, 2025, $36,206,593,315,575.15, the last business day of Biden-Harris, replaced the next business day by Trump-Vance.

So, yes, there were massive increases in US government debt during Donald Trump’s first term in office as well as during the Biden-Harris Administration.

Now after four years of the Biden-Harris Administration, the official US debt went over $36 trillion.

The more the debt has grown, the more difficult it is to actually pay the debt back. And eventually, when interest rates rise enough that would devastate the US economy.

As far as debt and the USA goes, however, it will be worse than people like John Mauldin tend to think.

But thirdly, let’s look at some scriptures. God inspired the prophet Habakkuk to write the following around 2,600 years ago:

2 And the Lord answered me:

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

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

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

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

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

The USA is the most indebted nation in the history of humanity and those in it should try to understand this prophecy–rising interest rates mean that it will cost the US government more to service its debt–this will one day be truly unsustainable. Perhaps it should be noted that the United Kingdom is in even more debt on a per capita basis.

Notice that God tells Habakkuk that those who read this should run–that means they should take proper spiritual action now (cf. Luke 21:36), and then, eventually physically flee (cf. Revelation 12:14-16; see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra). The rise of US debt was listed by me as number 11 of my list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025.

The Anglo-American world order will come to an end. Accumulation of debt, and then having to pay historically ‘normal’ interest rates will strain the national economies of the USA and UK more than almost anyone will believe. It will be a financial crisis beyond what John Mauldin and most others would consider possible.

Those who think the current world order with the USA’s dollar on top will last several decades are in error.

The idea that the debt does not matter is a false and arrogant belief.

The Bible teaches:

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

It is prideful arrogance that gets humans to think that they can essentially completely control the economy and just borrow and print up money. They cannot. Weather, political events, diseases, wars, morality, technology, and other factors play a role.

Plus, there is also the matter of debt accumulation by the USA and biblical prophecy.

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

A debt jubilee will not resolve this. Foreigners will react when they figure out that they have been cheated on debts they are owned by the US government.

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

14:44

And the Debt Goes On …

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

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

Perhaps it should be pointed out that the old Radio Church of God did teach that Habakkuk 1 had future fulfillment and tied it in with Isaiah 10 (Hoeh H. The Race Question. Plain Truth, July 1957 p. 22)–which WCG tied in with the coming destruction of the USA.

Furthermore, the old Worldwide Church of God did clearly teach that Habakkuk 2 had future application:

Habakkuk … God also said that this vision was to be written for our benefit today. … (Habakkuk 2:3). God showed Habakkuk that He will punish all the unrighteous at the end-time. … (Habukkuk 2:8, 10, 16-17) (Armstrong HW, editor in chief. THE MINOR PROPHETS SPEAK TO US! Youth Bible Lessons, Level 7, Lesson 9, 1986, p. 4)

So, yes, the old WCG understood that Habakkuk 2 was prophetic for the end time–not that it was fully fulfilled thousands of years ago or relates only to the Chaldeans (which many in certain COGs, like LCG, now wrongly believe) nor is it a prophecy for end time European Babylon (like some have claimed).

Remember that the US has been increasing debt for decades and is the most indebted nation of all time.

COGwriter

A reader forwarded me a link to the following by Sabbatarian Tim McHyde:

Why I’m Convinced The End Begins in 2026—And What You Can Do About It

Since learning in 2001 that Yeshua must return in a Sabbath year, I’ve had to rule out three consecutive Sabbath year cycle windows for the final 7 years (2003-2009, 2010-2016, 2017-2023). This same insight enabled me to easily rule out every date-setting prophecy theory along the way, bringing comfort to many scared readers. With the next possible window for the 70th week coming next decade (2024-2030), I’m ready to share why I believe, based on the real end time sign of Mt 24:14, that this can be the one. …

To be clear as possible about my position on 2026:

• I’m not saying “thus saith the Lord” or doing this “in God’s name.” I offer you no hard proof in signs or wonders that would accompany such a statement by the prophets.
• As such, I am not a prophet nor making myself out to be one.
• I am not a “watchman” nor am I here to “warn” anyone, either.
• I am not even making a “prediction” nor a definitive statement that “the end will for sure come in 2026.” For an example of a definitive statement from me, go to my article “Jesus cannot/will not come back in 2018.” Note that those who make doomsday date predictions are usually surprised or confused when they fail to happen. I won’t be because I already know it is possible I misunderstood given I did not hear the audible voice of God explicitly say “2026 is it.”
• I’m only sharing my conviction that 2026 is the end. …
• I’m sharing this revelation to bless and build up brethren (1Co 14:26) who want or are waiting for confirmation that time is short. …
• If 2026 must be ruled out early in the 2020s, I will be relieved with nothing to apologize for because my conviction shared below coupled with my teaching on repentance to escape what is coming will only help listeners to prioritize God in their life. Urgency about the end is a blessing when you have been told what the Bible says to do about it.
• Finally, my “reputation as a teacher” is not “on the line” as my 2026 date is not a teaching as much as sharing a revelation I am convinced is from God (1Co 14:26). In other words, a teaching of mine would be that the 70th week will come in some Sabbath year cycle. My conviction is that God has confirmed that 2024-2030 is the right cycle, making 2026 the “beginning of sorrows.” …

By the way, I hope my conviction is wrong. 06/09/2017 https://escapeallthesethings.com/2026-in-prophecy/ accessed 10/14/18

Anyway, I had seen this before, but decided since someone else brought it up, to address some of this here.

Please understand that Jesus DID NOT say to calculate the Sabbatical year, Jubilee year, or anything similar to figure out when the end would be.

So, be careful about doing so yourself or relying on those who mainly point to such calculations.

That being said, there is a small possibility that 2026 is a Sabbatical or Jubilee year.

Now, while certain events did happen in recent years, we did not see certain prophesied events take place (like the confirmation of the deal of Daniel 9:27), therefore Jesus will not return in 2026. That is simply too early at this stage.

To prove that, we need to look at what Jesus said would happen.

Let’s look at Matthew 24:

1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:1-5)

Jesus warned that people would deceive many.

To help those with the love of the truth, He gave many specific signs to look for:

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

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 24:6-14)

Tim McHyde is correct that Matthew 24:14 is a pivotal step that must be fulfilled before the end comes.

And that is something that we in the Continuing Church of God are working hard to help fulfill. See also our free online booklet: The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. This booklet is available in over 1500 languages as you can find if you scroll down at the home page at www.ccog.org

Now, see what Jesus said happens after the “gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations“:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:15-22)

Jesus referring to Daniel does add a time period. More on that can be found in the article The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27.

As far as WHEN Jesus will return, notice what He said:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31)

So, since Jesus returns AFTER the tribulation is over, many have correctly figured out that this would be seven years after the deal of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed. That did not happen by the end of 2020 so Jesus will not return in 2027 either.

Now, Tim McHyde did not state that Jesus would come in 2026, only that he believed that the beginning of sorrows would start then. Well, there is evidence that this has begun.

But we need to watch events to see other things that Jesus pointed out.

As far as watching goes, Jesus taught:

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:37)

Let us notice here something that the Bible teaches:

10 … Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)

Prophecy is important.

But part of the point of prophecy is to get YOUR spiritual life in order. That is more important than knowing the date.

Enough people predict dates that some, by chance, will get it right.

But notice something else that Jesus taught:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

In order to “be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” you need to get your spiritual life in order.

The following may be of assistance:

Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?

Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.

About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here are links to two related sermons: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.

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.

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)?

That being said the end, meaning the start of the Great Tribulation, is coming soon.

Europeans are more and more deciding to get their military together.

Fear is a powerful motivator–and a Europe fearing danger under Donald Trump will take steps. As it will be a European force that will attack the USA around the start of the Great Tribulation, such a force will be more developed soon.

2028 might be a possible date–it is the EARLIEST possible date–but I think it is too early.

Is the end near? When might Jesus return?

To help better scripturally know the answer to those questions, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:26

Great Tribulation Trends 2025

“Bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.” This is the mandate of the Continuing Church of God. World events are speeding toward the final chapter of mankind’s attempt at utopia. Is the Great Tribulation right around the corner? Many false Biblical prognosticators have led us to believe that the Great Tribulation will begin in 2025. Are they right? Dr. Thiel uses scripture to shine the light of Biblical prophecy on their prognostications to prove that these false prognosticators are still false. Is the election of Donald Trump a world event that that signals the start of the Great Tribulation? Once again, Dr. Thiel uses the light of Bible prophecy to highlight the fact that some of Donald Trump’s actions may bring us closer to start of that day. But still, it won’t happen in 2025. So, what events will herald the start of the Great Tribulation? Are some of those events close to taking place? When the Great Tribulation begins, what will be the fate of the United States? What is the “pride of its power”? Will the “pride of its power” be broken? What will cause the fall of the United States? Might the presidency of Donald Trump be directly involved in breaking the pride of the power of the United States? Dr. Thiel goes directly to the Bible to shine the light of God’s Word on all these questions. The verses referred to and quoted from the book of Daniel are especially intriguing. If you live in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, or the United Kingdom, you will definitely want to watch this podcast.

Here is a link to our video: Great Tribulation Trends 2025.

The end is getting closer–but it will not be in 2026.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2025, 2026, or 2027? 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? A short video is available titled: Great Tribulation Trends 2025.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation. A short video is also available titled Trump’s Deal of the Century and Daniel 9 27
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 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
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.

Symbol of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

COGwriter

Notice what has been happening in Gaza and Israel:

January 25, 2025

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Four female Israeli soldiers who were taken in the attack that sparked the war in Gaza returned to Israel on Saturday after Hamas militants paraded them before a crowd of thousands in Gaza City and handed them over to the Red Cross. Israel later released 200 Palestinian prisoners in the second exchange of a fragile ceasefire. …

Thousands of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah celebrated their arrival. Some of those released wore Hamas headbands given to them by the crowd. Wan-looking and wearing gray prison sweatsuits, some rode on supporters’ shoulders. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-01-25-2025-150674e17bd8b22f2c2c3aa4991cf061

With hundreds of Palestinian prisoners getting released, might they still be angry with Israel?

Hamas is not dead. Will the ceasefire be permanent?

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

14:47

Hamas Israel Ceasefire and Daniel 9:27

Peace at Last! Peace at Last! World News Item: Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire! But will this ceasefire really bring about peace in the mid-east? There are three phases to the ceasefire agreement. Is it possible that both Israel and Hamas will abide by the conditions set forth in all three phases? Would their past performance be any indication of their future performance? Dr. Thiel sheds the light of Bible prophecy on these world events in addition to giving us insight into a future peace deal spoken of in the book of Daniel. A peace deal between the King of the North and the King of the South. Will that peace deal result in peace? If the cease fire between Hamas and Israel and the peace deal between the Kings of the North and South don’t bring about peace – what will?

Here is a link to our video: Hamas Israel Ceasefire and Daniel 9:27.

World events are aligning with properly understood biblical prophecies.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Euro blockchain image via Pixabay

COGwriter

Consistent with a campaign pledge, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning a digital dollar:

Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Central Bank Digital Currencies

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to prohibit the creation of a “digital dollar” in the form of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Trump’s order seeks to clarify regulations in the cryptocurrency industry to “secure America’s position as the world’s leader in the digital asset economy.”

The move establishes the Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.

The group will develop a federal regulatory framework for digital assets, including stablecoins, and evaluate the creation of a strategic national digital assets stockpile. …

It also revokes the Biden administration’s digital assets executive order framework for international engagement in the industry. 01/24/25 https://slaynews.com/news/trump-signs-executive-order-banning-central-bank-digital-currencies/

Two points.

The first is that since this was done with an executive order, it can be undone by another executive order.

The second point is that this will NOT stop Europe from coming up with its own digital currency.

The truth is that there are threats associated with governments going cashless. Are CBDCs a good thing?

The Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel discussing various views and scriptures about that:

14:37

CBDCs and a Cashless Society

“Bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.” This one of the mandates of the Continuing Church of God. The Beast of Revelation is shown as controlling all buying and selling. Might CBDCs fill a role in that control? The Bank of International Settlement predicts there will be at least 9 CBDCs in circulation by 2030. Globalists would prefer a faster pace. What nations or groups of nations are pushing for a Central Bank Digital Currency? There is one group of nations that has claimed it wants to be the dominant force in a CBDC. Will this group of nations become a tie-in to the 666 Mark of the Beast? How close are we to CBDCs? Dr. Thiel uses verses from Bible prophecy to shine the light of understanding on the dangers of the coming Beast power and the cashless society promised by CBDCs. You can read the corresponding article to this video titled “Yes, there are threats of cashlessness, most in NZ, Canada, the US, & Australia oppose CBDCs, yet the IMF continues to push for CBDCs.”

Here is a link to our video: CBDCs and a Cashless Society.

The European ‘666’ will arise and control buying and selling.

Now, there was another part of Donald Trump’s executive order to look at:

President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning so-called central bank digital currencies and establishing an executive group to examine the future of digital assets in the United States.

On Jan. 23, as part of a flurry of orders the White House has issued since his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump signed an order titled “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology.”

The 1,300-word executive order said it would “promote United States leadership in digital assets and financial technology while protecting economic liberty.”

In a virtual appearance at the World Economic Forum Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, earlier on Jan. 23, Trump reiterated his intent to make the United States “the world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto.” 01/24/25 https://www.2ndsmartestguyintheworld.com/p/trump-signs-sweeping-cryptocurrency

While many in the crypto-world applaud this, moving towards crypto is not the biblically wisest move.

Notice an unintended consequence of that and Europe:

ECB pitches digital euro as response to Trump’s crypto push

FRANKFURT, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Euro zone banks need a digital euro to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to promote stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency typically pegged to the U.S. dollar, European Central Bank board member Piero Cipollone said on Friday. …

Cipollone said this would help lure even more customers away from banks and strengthen the case for the ECB to launch its own digital currency in response. https://www.reuters.com/technology/ecb-pitches-digital-euro-response-trumps-crypto-push-2025-01-24/

While Europe was moving in that direction already, Donald Trump has further motivated Europe to make that action. The 666 power of Revelation 13:15-18 is European and will use some type of a digital currency.

Here is something from two sections in my latest book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Bitcoin, But What About Gold?

Donald Trump has also vowed to create a “bitcoin and crypto presidential advisory council.” [i]

Donald Trump, also, essentially has called for the United States to have a ‘Bitcoin reserve’ by having the government holding on to all Bitcoin it amasses from criminals and others.[ii]

He has suggested it is a great investment.

Historically, the United States and many other nations have used gold as a reserve. Unlike Bitcoin, which is basically an electronic concept, gold is an element, which basically could not be destroyed short of nuclear level heat.

An unintended consequence of his Bitcoin focus is that since it can be destroyed and has no intrinsic physical value, more stable items like gold could be overlooked by the USA government.

That said, gold rose from $1,209 to $1,839 the first time Donald Trump was president.[iii] And, gold futures hit $2,067.15 during his Administration.[iv]

[i] ^{Sigalos M. Here’s what Trump promised the crypto industry ahead of the election. CNBC, November 6, 2024}

[ii] ^Ibid

[iii] ^{Mills R. Which US presidential candidate does gold prefer? Mining.com News, July 16, 2024}

[iv] ^{Woodall T. Gold surges to new highs as US dollar weakens despite growing macro risks. S&P Global, August 10, 2020}

One more verse that should be perhaps touched on in this chapter is Daniel 11:43.

43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians* shall follow at his heels.

* Note: The Hebrew word is כשׁים kushı̂ym, meaning Cushites, like from Sudan, and is not specifically a reference to the land of Ethiopia.

The “he” is the King of the North. This is the same King of the North that valued gold and silver in Daniel 11:38. Although other scriptures also show that gold and silver will have value around this time (like Revelation 9:20; 18:12,16), the Bible is clear that gold and silver will be worthless for a short time before Jesus returns (e.g. Ezekiel 7:19).

The fact that the King of the North himself will accumulate gold (and some silver) is consistent with several Byzantine (“Greek” Orthodox) prophecies of their predicted Great Monarch:

Emperor Leo the Philosopher (died 912): You will amass gold … And you will be the leader of the surrounding nations …

Addressed to Emperor Manuel II, Palaeogous (died 1425): The Emperor … will discover gold and silver…

Saint Andrew Fool-for-Christ (c. 4^th century):  God will reveal to this king all the gold wherever it happen to lay concealed from view …[i]

One side note is that, in Egypt, major gold deposits were found in 2006 [ii] and the government announced increasing investment in gold mining in 2022. [iii] This is relevant as it does suggest that Egypt seemingly has enough gold that a foreign power could be interested in taking/using it as Bible prophecy teaches.

It may be of interest to note that back in the 1970s Europe was looking for a gold-backed currency.[iv] European central banks have, overall (there have been sales too by the European central banks), been accumulating gold since, and some in 2024 believe that the Europeans are still planning on having some type of gold-backing (or at least implied) of a European currency.[v]

Since many are now questioning the role of the USA dollar as the world’s reserve currency, more are looking into other currencies as well as gold.

Gold will set records in U.S. dollar terms.

In 2017, I also published that last statement in my book related to Donald Trump, and it did hit records in July and August in 2020. [vi] Now, despite having ups and downs, as well as records hit in 2024, gold will set further records in U.S. dollar terms in the relatively near future.

It has been asserted that:

The only replacement for fiat {currency} is a currency credibly backed by gold.[vii]

Although the above can be debated, the reality is after the elimination of the USA and the crash of its dollar, the world will want something more stable than unbacked currency. Thus, it is likely that some type of gold-backed currency will emerge as the preferred reserve currency in the world.

It has long been reported that various nations around the world are already in the process of accumulating gold to one day overthrow the U.S. dollar—and that the “U.S. is unprepared for this strategic alternative to dollar dominance.”[viii] Various steps were also taken in 2022 and 2024.[ix]

When the U.S. dollar totally collapses people all around the world will consider that even if the euro (or something similar) is strong, having a more gold-backed currency would be safer.

The collapse of the USA dollar will shake a lot of the world’s confidence in non-gold backed currencies. The Europeans do not have to have a perfect currency, only one that is perceived to be in better shape than the USA dollar or various other currencies.

Having the European power acquiring more gold to back the Euro or possibly another future European currency (that might potentially replace the Euro or even a basket of currencies) may greatly increase European credibility, prosperity, and influence around the globe, even if the backing is only implied.

[i] Tzima Otto, pp. 76, 102, 114

[ii] A Gold Mine Worth LE 23 Billion (and counting).  Egypt Today, August, 2006

[iii] Hosny H. Egypt to invest in gold, mineral mining. Al-Monitor, June 13, 2022

[iv] ^{Nieuwenhuijs J. Europe Has Been Preparing A Global Gold Standard Since The 1970s. SeekingAlpha.com, July 16, 2020}

[v] ^{Nieuwenhuijs J. Europe Is Finalizing Preparations for a Gold Standard. ActivistPost.com, November 9, 2024}

[vi] Gold hits new record, posts best month since 2016 CNBC, July 30, 2020; Woodall T. Gold surges to new highs as US dollar weakens despite growing macro risks. S&P Global, August 10, 2020

[vii] ^{MacLeod A. Designing a new currency is impractical. Goldmoney Insights, March 24, 2022}

[viii] Rickards J. Axis of Gold. The Daily Reckoning, December 20, 2016

[ix] ^{Guistra F. Why the U.S. dollar will be replaced as the dominant global currency — sooner than you think. Toronto Star, July 5, 2022; Bezek I, Duggan W. De-Dollarization: What Would Happen if the Dollar Lost Reserve Currency Status? US News & World Report, November 2024}

Biblically, we know that gold will have value after the USA is conquered.

We also know that 666 financial controls will be put in place in Europe, and likely elsewhere. While CBDCs, of themselves, are not the ‘Mark of the Beast’ they look to be involved in the type of controls the Beast and his associates will implement.

DONALD TRUMP WILL NOT STOP THIS. HIS RISE MAY MOTIVATE THE EUROPEANS TO MOVE QUICKER TOWARDS THEIR PLANNED CBDC.

Related to CBDCs and prophecy, we also put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Yes, Europe will adopt some type of digital currency.

Probably by 2029.

It will take the coming Kingdom of God, not Donald Trump, to fix what is coming.

Executive orders will not change biblical prophecies from being fulfilled.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.

Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

(Source: Pixabay)

COGwriter

The USA is deporting, but Mexico has issues:

25 January 2025

US military planes carrying dozens of expelled migrants arrived in Guatemala, authorities said Friday, as President Donald Trump moved to crack down on illegal immigration.

A total of 265 Guatemalans arrived on three flights – two operated by the military, and one a charter, the Central American country’s migration institute said, updating earlier figures. https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250125-in-pictures-first-deportation-flights-of-trump-s-presidency-arrive-in-latin-america

The Trump administration is planning to use military aircraft every day to help carry out what President Donald Trump and his “border czar,” Tom Homan, have promised will be the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, Homan told ABC News. 01/24/25 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-border-czar-tells-abc-military-planes-deport/story?id=118065503

WASHINGTON — Mexico denied a U.S. military plane access to land Thursday, at least temporarily frustrating the Trump administration’s plans to deport immigrants to the country, according to two U.S. defense officials and a third person familiar with the situation.

Two Guatemala-bound Air Force C-17s, carrying about 80 people apiece, flew deportees out of the U.S. Thursday night, the sources said. The third flight, slotted for Mexico, never took off.

It was not immediately clear why Mexico blocked the flight, but tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, neighbors and longtime allies, have risen since President Donald Trump won the November election. Trump has threatened to slap 25% across-the-board tariffs on Mexico in retaliation for migrants crossing the border the countries share. But he has not yet put them in effect. 01/24/25 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/mexico-refuses-accept-us-deportation-flight-rcna189182

The Trump Administration is implementing its deportation policies, despite obstacles.

But the USA is not the only place deporting migrants.

Over in Europe, Switzerland looks to have been the leader in deportations last year:

Switzerland Achieves Highest Deportation Rate In Europe In 2024

January 25, 2025

Switzerland is excelling at removing immigrants slated for deportation, achieving the highest rate in Europe in 2024 with a 60 percent deportation rate and boosting its own progress by 18 percent over 2023.

In total, Switzerland was able to remove 7,000 asylum seekers in 2024, said Beat Jans, the federal councilor responsible for asylum, while speaking at the WEF.

When asked how Switzerland was so successful at returns, Jans said it was by working better with the cantons, which is the term for federal states of Switzerland, according to Swiss outlet RTS.

Jans said it was a “good development” and praised the work of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), which is responsible for obtaining the necessary documents to ensure speedy returns. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/switzerland-achieves-highest-deportation-rate-europe-2024

Of course, that is not a massive amount. On the other hand, Switzerland did not allow hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria in, like Germany did.

So, what about Germany?

Germany has between 800,000 to 1,200,000 Syrian migrants/refugees, to name just one predominantly Islamic set of migrants.

Many Germans want more deportations (see German protestors want the Islamic migrants to be deported).

Germany’s AfD party wants massive deportations (see AfD pushing for mass deportation of migrants as German election nears–what if the AfD wins?).

We put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to the AfD a couple of years ago:

14:22

AfD: Prelude to a Hitler Beast?

Germany’s Alternative für Deutshland (Alternative for Germany in English) party celebrated its 10th anniversary on February 6, 2023.

It objects to:
❌More illegal migration
❌More asylum abuse
❌More crime
❌More housing shortage
❌More Cancel Culture

The AfD also asserts, “Now it’s time to change that. And that’s only possible with us.” Many are concerned that the AfD’s growing political influence will impact Germany. Can a strong man worse than Adolf Hitler, that the Bible calls the Beast rise up from Germany? Could Europe reorganize with a small backing to put this leader into place? Does the AfD want to make a deal with Russia? Will Germany make a future deal with Russia that would be opposed to the USA? Does the AfD want religion involved to meet its objectives in such a way that it could support the coming King of the North Beast power that the Bible warns will arise in Europe? Could Europe unite under such a leader according to scripture? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel go over these matters.

Here is a link to our video: AfD: Prelude to a Hitler Beast?

The rise of AfD reminds some of pre-WWII. We are getting closer and closer to WWIII.

The AfD continues to make political gains. So much so, a leader of a mainstream party in Germany has decided to push for tougher border controls:

Germany’s opposition leader Merz under fire for vowing migration crackdown

24 January 2025

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has pledged to impose tough border controls if elected chancellor in next month’s vote.

Germany’s opposition leader Friedrich Merz is under fire for vowing strict border controls if he is elected chancellor, with the frontrunner citing a deadly knife attack that was allegedly carried out by a rejected asylum seeker as justification for a migration overhaul.

The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) on Thursday presented a five-point migration plan calling for, among other things, a “de facto entry ban” for all people without valid documents and permanent control of all of Germany’s borders. …

Several politicians have criticised Merz’s plan as legally contentious and impractical to implement — pointing out its incompatibility with migration and asylum laws and treaties such as the Geneva Convention and the EU’s principle of free movement. …

For his part, Merz called EU-wide rules “recognisably dysfunctional” and insisted he would order his migration plan to be implemented on day one if he is elected chancellor.

Germany’s snap federal election is set for 23 February, and polls suggest the CDU is set to win with a minority. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD is third in the latest surveys, behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/24/germanys-opposition-leader-merz-under-fire-for-vowing-migration-crackdown

Changes in attitudes towards migrants in Germany is occurring. Friedrich Merz says he will take steps–but ultimately, stronger steps than what he has proposed will occur.

As long time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware, I have long stated that Europe would push out migrants, particularly Islamic ones.

So, what will happen?

More migrants will be deported.

Yet, all do not want to return to Syria.

Notice the following prophecy involving Syrians:

12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12)

Syrian refugees are one potential problem. The Bible clearly is prophesying problems from some Syrians and some Palestinians. ‘Israel’ includes some of the nations in Europe, like France (see The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? and Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Eventually, Europe will reach a breaking point and change. Many Germans want major change now.

If the AfD gains power to push out migrants, there will be a lot of civil unrest and probably riots.

The Bible shows that Europe will reorganize and a totalitarian leader will emerge:

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13, NKJV)

The final European Beast leader, who is also known as the final King of the North, will ultimately promote his religion (Daniel 11:36-38; which will not be Islam, he will at first feign and claim a form of Roman Catholicism). He will make a deceptive deal with the leader of a confederation of peoples in North Africa and the Middle East (cf. Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83:3-8). The confederation will include Syria and Turkey, but Turkey will eventually back out of it and then support the European beast (for details, see Turkey in Prophecy).

Islamic migrant issues will be a factor in the rise of this Beast leader–the Bible shows that a European Beast leader will, after destroying the USA (Daniel 11:39), push against and overwhelm a power from the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

Related to migrants in Europe, notice the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

17:19

Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

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

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

As the Bible shows (cf. Daniel 11:40-43), there will be conflict between the Europeans and the Arabs (watch also the short videos Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe? and War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

The migrant situation in Europe will be a cause for more civil unrest. Civil unrest leads people to look for strong, and often dictatorial, leaders.

This has been helping the AfD get votes and Friedrich Merz can see this.

We continue to see Europe moving towards its biblically-revealed role.

COGwriter

Prior to him taking office on Monday, I warned of various things to look for about why as 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump would be apocalyptic.

For example, number 8 of my December 2024 list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:

Europe will reach out to various ones in Asia and Africa, as well as Latin America. In the next several years, deals and more trade will occur with Africa, Asia, and Latin America. …

Yes, world events are aligning with properly understood biblical prophecies.

That said, in 2025 Europe will work on getting more of the world to accept its standards and trading matters. This will help Europe ultimately dominate trade.

The reelection of Donald Trump will motivate many to trade with each other because of his threats of tariffs, etc. …

The Europeans will work with many nations to secure stronger trade agreements.

In my 2025 book, which came out last Sunday, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?, I wrote the following:

Donald Trump’s tariff and other economic policies are getting the Gentile nations of Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia to look to trade more with each other. An unintended consequence of his rhetoric and policies is that they are encouraging the end-time rise of the final time of the Gentiles.

Unintended Consequences

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

• Pushing tariffs and sanctions on other countries is contributing to the rise of the final time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24; Ezekiel 7:24).
• Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade.

(Thiel B. Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Nazarene Books, 2025)

This is already happening! On Tuesday, Politico reported:

The EU is in no mood to beg for favorable treatment in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.

Instead, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday mapped out an upbeat vision of the EU as an economic heavyweight that was beating the U.S. in many key respects and was open for business with countries such as Mexico and China — while Trump sets himself on a collision course with those nations. …

Europe, she said, still has the “biggest trading sector in the world” as well as “longer life expectancy, higher social and environmental standards, and lower inequalities than all our global competitors.”

In contrast to the maverick strongarm tactics of Trump, Europe’s “large and attractive market” was a predictable partner, von der Leyen said. “With Europe, what you see is what you get. We play by the rules. Our deals have no hidden strings attached.”

All in all, von der Leyen sought alliances rather than showdowns, particularly with those in Trump’s crosshairs. “Europe will keep seeking co-operation — not only with our long-time like-minded friends, but with any country we share interests with,” she stressed. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-donald-trump-america-we-have-other-options-ursula-von-der-leyen/

I have warned that Europe would look towards other trade partners because the Bible prophesies that “the merchants of the earth” are to “become rich through the abundance of her luxury” (Revelation 18:3). In other word, Europe is prophesied to dominate trade and Donald Trump’s threats are motivating the EU to establish better relationships with trading partners.

In my 2025 book, which came out last Sunday, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?, I listed 20 reasons that Donald Trump was apocalyptic:

20 Reasons Why Donald Trump is Apocalyptic

The last book of the Bible is referred to as “Revelation” or the Apocalypse (the Greek term which means revealing, and this was given to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, per Revelation 1:9).

My use of the word “apocalyptic” is intended to emphatically be biblical (not political), as rooted in the understanding of the prophetic books of the Bible, including the Book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse.

Although Donald Trump is not, and will not, be the final Antichrist (see chapter 3), there are reasons to believe that the rising of the prophesied final ten-horned beast power (Revelation 13:1) and the destruction of the United States could possibly begin in the last year of his administration. And this destruction is likely to include terrorism and partial nuclear devastation.

Let’s look at seven of them, beyond the trade, that may have already had some confirmation this week:

Item: Donald Trump has often encouraged increased military spending by the Europeans. And while American taxpayers may see this as a good thing, this increased spending will help lead to the rise of the prophesied King of the North, who is to be the final leader of the Beast of Revelation (Revelation 13:1-10). Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump has threatened to not defend nations in Europe if they will not increase their military spending. This approach has greatly concerned various leaders in Europe.

Partial confirmation: At the Kaja Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission stated Europe needs to spend more as Donald Trump called for (https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/22/eu-must-spend-more-than-1-of-gdp-on-defence-to-prepare-for-the-worst-kallas-says).

Item: Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves.

Partial confirmation: Kaja Kallas called for more European unity (https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/22/eu-must-spend-more-than-1-of-gdp-on-defence-to-prepare-for-the-worst-kallas-says); plus EU leaders meet to discuss enlargement, seemingly partially influenced by Donald Trump’s interest for Greenland and Panama, especially when combined with the Brexit vote that Donald Trump encouraged.

Item: Donald Trump has been a polarizing figure and has offended many including minorities, migrants, and Muslims.

Partial confirmation: His changes on migrant issues have upset them, as “Migrants at Texas border in shock after Trump canceled their asylum appointments” (https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/texas-border-migrants-trump-asylum-executive-order/).  He blasted various ones and even someone at the WEF conference in Davos claimed he had defeated them.

Item: Jesus warned about a coming time of pestilences as part of the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8)—they are consistent with the ride of the 4^th horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:7-8)—that ride may well start in the second term of a Donald Trump Administration. Actions and/or inactions by Donald Trump will likely put the USA at increased risk of problems from pestilences.

Potential confirmation: Donald Trump announced he is pulling the USA out of the World Health Organization (https://fortune.com/well/2025/01/21/trump-who-us-remove-world-health-organization/).

While I believe that the USA and the WHO mishandled COVID, the fact is that pestilences far more deadly than that are coming. Notice the following:

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)

So, what might the relevance of pulling out the WHO be?

It is possible that people will be more dismissive of WHO pronouncements because of COVID and lack of USA participation. However, since deadly pestilences will come people will die. Removing the USA from the WHO could possibly be a factor.

Item: He has made statements suggesting a of loss of privacy and favoring unlimited government control. This type of thing will be exploited by 666 of Revelation 13:16-18.

Potential confirmation: One of Donald Trump’s executive order’s revoked former President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order aimed at putting security guardrails around artificial intelligence (AI) systems to protect citizens from cyberattacks, etc.–this may give the  Eruopean Babylonian Beast cover when he and the false prophet (Antichrist) start to implement the ‘666’ policies of Revelation 13:15-18.

Days after revoking the Biden protection, Donald Trump then pushed a $500 billion proposal to push AI development (see Donald Trump’s $500 billion dollar Artificial Intelligence proposal–a prelude to 666?). Some of the unintended consequences of these apocalyptic actions are that they look to result in developments that could support the coming European 666 Beast power, despite Donald Trump thinking this will mainly help the USA.

Item: His policies are pushing nations away from the USA and helping set the stage for the final times of the Gentiles (cf. Ezekiel 7:24, 39:23; Luke 21:24).

Potential confirmation: Donald Trump’s comments at the WEF reportedly silenced the crowd and made the “stone-faced” (Donald Trump speaks virtually to the WEF’s Davos meeting and pushes USA fossil fuels and trade matters). These leaders were not pleased and will take actions. On Tesday, Urusula vonder Leyen said “Europe will keep seeking co-operation — not only with our long-time like-minded friends, but with any country we share interests with,”

Item:  His statements are getting more in Europe to consider that they need to reorganize and support some type of a strong man leader. The Bible shows that will happen in Revelation 17:12-13.

Speculative confirmation: I cannot imagine that at the WEF and within the EU they are not discussing something like a stronger European leader and a reorganization of Europe. For example the chief executive of a European bank at the WEF conference stated,  “I heard the EU talking about the willingness to make changes,”  “The truth of the matter is every time they do something they create more bureaucracy, more complexity. They need to have a huge reset” (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/24/davos-donald-trump-tariffs-eu-us). Germans have noticed that what they call the “far right” is gaining because of Donald Trump and that right wing leaders look more useful now (https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/9836 01/21/25). Furthermore, EU President vonder Leyen said this week, “To sustain our growth in the next quarter of the century, Europe must shift gears,” (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/24/davos-donald-trump-tariffs-eu-us) that sounds like a plea to reorganize.

More items, as well as specific predictions related to the presidency of Donald Trump are in the book: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? 

Notice also the following:

24 January 2025

Europe may be able to attract disillusioned “talent” from across the Atlantic following Donald Trump’s election, the European Central Bank president has suggested, as she called on the continent to better recognise its economic strengths. Christine Lagarde said Europe needed to get better at keeping its talent and savings at home, adding that the new US administration’s decision to freeze some funding for former president Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act might remove one of the incentives to invest in the US. Without making a direct reference to Trump, the French central banker indicated that some US residents might be attracted to Europe in the wake of the US inauguration. https://www.ft.com/content/b6a5c06d-fa9c-4254-adbc-92b69719d8ee

So, giving Europe a reason to pull US talent could be yet another unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s actions and statements.

UPDATE 01/25/25: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:43

Donald Trump and Unintended Consequences

Here is a link to our video: Donald Trump and Unintended Consequences.

Biblical prophecies will come to pass and Donald Trump, often inadvertently, is helping to set the stage for many to be fulfilled.

The ONLY real solution for the problems facing humanity are repentance and the good news of the coming Kingdom of God–yet that is NOT something that the WEF, its allies, or Donald Trump are working towards.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

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.

25 items to prophetically watch in 2025 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 25 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related sermon video: 25 Items to Watch in 2025.

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Screenshot of the emergency alert issued in Northern Ireland
(Photo by Paul m5429 via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Storm Eowyn brought record winds and power outages to the Irish isle:

24 January 2025

Parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland are grappling with the devastating impact of Storm Eowyn, which hit early Friday with wind speeds exceeding 180 kilometers per hour (112 miles per hour).

The storm has forced public transport to come to a standstill, closing schools and roads. Hundreds of flights were canceled at airports in the cities of Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

ESB Networks said there had been “unprecedented” damage to its network, leading to more than 700,000 homes and businesses in Ireland and almost 100,000 in Northern Ireland being left without power.

An ESB spokesman said it would take at least a week to restore power to some customers.

According to Met Eireann, the meteorological office in Ireland, record-breaking wind gusts of 183 kilometers (114 miles) per hour were recorded early in the morning near the Galway coast in the west. The previous record, of 182 kilometers per hour, was recorded in 1945, it said. https://www.dw.com/en/storm-eowyn-hits-ireland-uk-with-record-wind-gusts/a-71393644

All schools in Ireland and Northern Ireland were closed on Friday and public transport will not run in Ireland while the red warning remains in place. Non-urgent hospital procedures were also cancelled.

Around 230 flights scheduled to depart from and arrive into Dublin Airport were cancelled, the airport said, adding that further cancellations and delays were possible. Dozens of flights to and from airports at Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow were also cancelled. A red warning is in place for British-run Northern Ireland until 1400 GMT and also came into force for Scotland from 1000 until 1700 GMT, the UK Met Office said. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/ireland-northern-ireland-battered-by-record-winds-storm-eowyn-2025-01-24/

Strong winds can be destructive and certainly Storm Eowyn has caused concern and disruption.

As regular readers of this Church of God news page are aware, God controls the weather, including the wind:

25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. 26 They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. 29 He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. 30 Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. 31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders. 33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. 35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings. 36 There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, 37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. 38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease. (Psalm 107:25-38)

17 He casts out His hail like morsels;
Who can stand before His cold?
18 He sends out His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. (Psalm 147:17-18)

God controls the weather. Jesus’ disciples got to see this first hand:

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27)

Presumably, the disciples learned something from that experience.

In California there are more fires:

24 January 2-25

Five new fires have erupted in southern California ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the state.

The blazes – named Laguna, Sepulveda, Gibbel, Gilman and Border 2 – flared up on Thursday in the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura and Riverside.

Firefighters have made progress in bringing the 10,000-acre Hughes Fire in Los Angeles under control, containing it by 36% since it broke out on Wednesday.

Fires have devastated the US state over the last few weeks, with the Palisades and Eaton fires scorching a combined total of more than 37,000 acres and killing at least 28 people.

Unrelated to the above, I noticed a house on fire in Grover Beach yesterday. My office manager mentioned that the house had a reputation before for being involved with illegal drugs. The smoke from it yesterday was quite black.

Notice more in the Bible about God and fires:

11 The Lord said:

“Surely it will be well with your remnant;
Surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you
In the time of adversity and in the time of affliction.
12 Can anyone break iron,
The northern iron and the bronze?
13 Your wealth and your treasures
I will give as plunder without price,
Because of all your sins,
Throughout your territories.
14 And I will make you cross over with your enemies
Into a land which you do not know;
For a fire is kindled in My anger,
Which shall burn upon you.” (Jeremiah 15:11-14)

3 … Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire. (Psalm 104:1-4)

12 O house of David! Thus says the Lord:

“Execute judgment in the morning;
And deliver him who is plundered
Out of the hand of the oppressor,
Lest My fury go forth like fire
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.

13 “Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley,
And rock of the plain,” says the Lord,
“Who say, ‘Who shall come down against us?
Or who shall enter our dwellings?’
14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,” says the Lord;
“I will kindle a fire in its forest,
And it shall devour all things around it.”‘ (Jeremiah 21:12-14)

11 The Lord has fulfilled His fury,
He has poured out His fierce anger.
He kindled a fire in Zion,
And it has devoured its foundations. (Lamentations 4:11)

15 There the fire will devour you,
The sword will cut you off;
It will eat you up like a locust. (Nahum 3:15)

8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; (Psalm 148:8)

We just uploaded the following related video:

14:31

Fires and God’s Wrath

There have been massive fires raging in the State of California. The size and devastation of this fire qualifies it as a world event–and looks to be one of the costliest disasters in US history. What might the Bible have to say about fires? Is it possible that there are Biblical ramifications of fires? Especially fires of this magnitude and destruction. If there are any Biblical ramifications, what is God be trying to say? Is it possible that fires of this magnitude have any relationship to the warnings God gave ancient Israel and are having an impact on us today? If so, why would the warnings given to ancient Israel have any effect on us? What do we have to do with ancient Israel? Dr. Thiel shines the light of Bible prophecy on these questions. By quoting several scriptures that relate directly to the questions just presented, Dr. Thiel reveals the warnings God is giving humanity in these end times. Dr. Thiel shows us, through the word of God, that by obeying the words of God, we can stop the destruction. Even if we fail on a national level, we can still succeed on a personal level.

Here is a link to the video: Fires and God’s Wrath.

Now, notice some connection to God’s wrath for those who will not heed:

11 But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. 13 Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 7:11-13)

30 And the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, and shall shew the terror of his arm, in the threatening of wrath, and the dame of devouring fire: he shall crush to pieces with whirlwind, and hailstones. (Isaiah 30:30, DRB)

23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’ 24 All nations would say, ‘Why has the Lord done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?’ 25 Then people would say: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers…(Deuteronomy 29:23-25)

But while most people will not heed God, you can, if you will respond to God’s calling.

(Unsplash photo)

COGwriter

The world’s largest hedge fund manager, Ray Dalio, made some comments on the UK and it dangerous debt:

UK faces ‘debt death spiral’ – Ray Dalio

23 January 2025

The UK faces significant fiscal risks due to its rising borrowing costs and increasing debt levels, the boss of the world’s largest hedge fund, Ray Dalio, has warned.

Britain’s annual interest payments have surpassed £100 billion (roughly $125 billion), Dalio, the founder of investment management firm Bridgewater Associates, said in an interview with the Financial Times. …

“When you get to the point that you have to borrow money to service the debt and interest rates are rising, so that debt-service payments rise, so you need to borrow more money to pay them, you’re in what the markets call a death spiral,” the investor told the FT …

The UK’s ten-year borrowing costs rose from 3.75% in mid-September to a 16-year high earlier this month at 4.93%, the outlet noted.

”As those risks increase, everybody looks at that need to borrow more money at higher interest, which creates [a] self-reinforcing debt deterioration cycle,” Dalio also pointed out. https://www.rt.com/news/611501-uk-debt-death-spiral-dalio/

January 23, 2025

“This looks like a debt death spiral in the making because it will either require more borrowing to service the debt that will have to be serviced, squeeze out other spending or require more taxes,” Dalio said. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/billionaire-hedge-fund-investor-explains-101908196.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEeCg3OKbzUYpEBgIe66jhxJtT-UQxVpBTwh3PrZpTb8OmJXzK2d7W3Afjl8eEuErWQuWXlT1g21UU8-rZXkSKnby3nfrzcDXbOfKdZF2KmjT9QnLldQR-h6uab446j-z4h7CrVAUT9lsSr17_thxGKUkSFsGAtgnhHYMkYpKwpj

This is not a problem unique to the United Kingdom.

The governments of the USA and UK both have continued to increase their official debt. Interest on its debt is now the USA’s second biggest expense (Social Security payments on its top expense).

Michael Snyder posted:

January 23, 2025

Government debt is at the very core of the system, and our federal government is now trapped in a debt spiral from which it can never possibly escape … Our national debt has been rising at an exponential rate, and that will continue to be the case until either the current system collapses or we adopt an entirely new system. https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/11-reasons-why-the-federal-reserve-is-bad-2/

Regarding the USA’s debt situation, Nick Giambruno wrote the following last September, where he also quoted Ray Dalio:

The Debt Spiral Crosses the Point of No Return …

Drowning in a Stadium

Imagine you’re sitting in a large sports stadium that is completely watertight. A single drop of water is placed in the middle of the stadium, and the amount of water then doubles every minute.

At first, the growth seems slow. You won’t even be able to notice the water until it’s almost too late.

Let’s say it takes 48 minutes for the stadium to become full of water. At 47 minutes, the stadium would only be half full, and at 46 minutes, it would only be a quarter full, and so on.

By the time you become aware of the water’s presence, you are only a few minutes away from drowning.

The stadium and chessboard examples are metaphors to illustrate the power of exponential growth.

With exponential growth, things can seem under control or manageable for a long time. Then, an inflection point is reached, and the situation rapidly becomes overwhelming, growing to unimaginable scales.

Exponential growth is a concept that is initially deceptive because humans are more accustomed to recognizing linear growth rather than exponential patterns.

That’s precisely why many people are missing what could be the most important financial trend of the decade.

The Debt Spiral

Ray Dalio is one of the world’s most successful hedge fund managers.

His success is due to his consistent ability to get the Big Picture right.

He recently said this:

“We are at a point in which we are borrowing money to pay debt service.

When you keep having debt growth faster than income growth, that means you have debt service encroaching on your spending, and you want to keep spending at the same time.

As that happens, there is a need to get more and more into debt. It accelerates.

We are at the point of that acceleration. We are near that inflection point.”

Dalio is warning about the explosive nature of the US government’s compounding debt situation. …

The financial position of the US government has been gradually deteriorating for decades, so it’s not surprising that many people are complacent. They’ve long heard about the debt problem, and nothing has happened.

However, it is now reaching the tipping point.

That’s because the US government is now borrowing money to pay the interest on the money it has already borrowed, as Dalio noted. Politicians are adding more debt to solve the problems of prior debt.

It’s creating a self-perpetuating doom loop.

It will result in the total debt growing not linearly but exponentially.

The debt increases at a faster rate over time because it is compounding.

Each calculation period adds more interest to the total amount owed, which requires more borrowing and causes a larger interest expense. …

Dalio says the US is near the inflection point where the debt growth will accelerate and explode into previously unimaginable levels.

I think he is correct, and that has enormous implications.  …

But I’m not just talking about a stock market crash or a currency collapse…

It’s something much bigger… with the potential to alter the fabric of society forever.

It’s created an economic situation unlike we’ve ever seen before, and it’s all building up to a severe crisis on multiple fronts.

It could all go down soon… and it won’t be pretty.  09/10/24 https://internationalman.com/articles/the-debt-spiral-crosses-the-point-of-no-return/

Yes, the US debt is rising and is dangerous.

Notice also the following:

There is no escape from debt. Paying for the government’s fictitious promises in paper money will result in a constantly depreciating currency, thereby impoverishing those who earn a wage or have savings. Inflation is the hidden tax, and it is very convenient for governments because they always blame shops or businesses and present themselves as the solution by printing even more currency. …

Kamala Harris promises tax deductions for start-ups and first-time homebuyers, as well as families with children. It is hilarious. Inflation, a hidden tax, consumes their earnings and savings, while high direct and indirect taxes absorb the remaining funds. Despite this, she promises a tax deduction that most small businesses will never take advantage of, as they will shut down before generating any profit.

The Treasury expects a $16 trillion increase in public debt between 2024 and 2034, without taking into account any recession risk. The enormous government debt of $35 trillion, along with its subsequent additions, has the potential to destroy the currency. 09/19/24 https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/an-unprecedented-monetary-destruction

Yes, the currency of the USA will be destroyed.

Back in 2009, then US President Barack Obama stated that the deficit spending at that time was “unsustainable” (https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-obama-do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do May 15, 2009) yet the USA has continued down that path.

According to the US Treasury, official USA debt was $36,218,258,403,326.35 as of 1/21/25 (https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny)

Debt will end in disaster for the USA.

The time will come, according to Bible prophecy, when the nations of the world will no longer accept the pledges (US Treasury Bills and Notes) of the indebted one:

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

Notice that the word of God states it will tarry, take a while, but the results will surely come. And that the result is that people should run (flee) because of it.

Here are some details about what is coming and why:

6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him,
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his — how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:6-8).

Please pay attention to the fact that that above is a prophecy for the appointed time of the end–essentially the time of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). The USA has been accumulating pledges in the form of US Treasury bonds and notes, and is the most indebted nation of all time. It is descendants of Israel, like the USA, that are prophesied to have debt issues with foreigners if they turn from God’s laws (cf. Deuteronomy 28:43-44)–that is consistent with Habakkuk 2:6-8. The above prophecy is NOT a reference to the nation calling itself Israel as it has nothing compared to USA debt.

As far as how much the USA is indebted to foreigners, notice the following:

Foreign creditors already hold a net claim of $22.5 trillion (and growing) on U.S. assets. Many of these creditors will be inclined to sell American stocks and bonds rather than buy more — especially if they are encouraged by Trump to raise cash to buy American exports. Foreign producers who, for decades, have exchanged their manufactured goods for American stocks and bonds would stop reinvesting export earnings. (Amoss D. From Biden to Trump: Navigating the Economic Ship Through Troubled Waters. Jim Rickard’s Strategic Intelligence, December 2024, p. 10)

The USA has been setting itself up for the penalties prophesied by Habakkuk.

Notice something else about UK debt from September:

UK state debt now equals the country’s annual economic output, data showed on Friday, with the government warning that tough choices needed to be made. …

“Debt is 100% of GDP, the highest level since the 1960s,” Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said in a statement. …

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that the budget announcement on October 30 will be “painful”, with tax rises and spending cuts expected.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, the UK finance minister, has also warned of tough decisions ahead of her announcement about the country’s fiscal plans to parliament at the end of next month.

Reeves has said she will remove a £200 annual winter fuel subsidy from 10 million pensioners. She also warned that taxes were likely to rise by more than had been judged necessary just weeks before the election.

In the longer term, a government watchdog last week forecast that UK state debt could almost treble over the next 50 years. 09/20/24 https://www.dw.com/en/uk-debt-hits-high-ahead-of-painful-budget/a-70281052

Notice that the prophecy in Habakkuk says what will happen is so bad, that people should run who read it. That is, they should seriously consider what this means and take the appropriate steps.

Foreign creditors will rise up.

The Bible clearly warns that an indebted people will be destroyed by people whose language that they do not understand, and that the destruction will be fairly total:

43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed…47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. 52 They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you (Deuteronomy 28:43-45,47-52).

7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)

13 And the Lord said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, 14 but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts…16 I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them.” (Jeremiah 9:13,14a,16)

12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. (Ezekiel 5:12)

Most will not believe, but that was expected:

6 “Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” (Micah 2:6, New Living Translation)

16 … You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’ (Amos 7:16)

People will not want to hear or believe! See also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word.

Watch also the following:

14:44 

And the Debt Goes On…

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

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

The amount of debt increase has been accelerating.

But just like people in the stadium analogy, things will look relatively well until they are not.

The Bible is clear that the USA will be taken over (cf. Daniel 11:39) and debt will be a factor per Habakkuk 2:6-8.

The Bible tells of a time when the most faithful will flee (Revelation 12:14-17)–but also that people should be “gathered together” before that happens (Zephaniah 2:1-3).

More on that can be found in the article: There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The End of US Dollar Dominance Is the USA losing its economic status? What about the petro-gold-yuan? A related video is also available: US Dollar being challenged by Gold-Petro-Yuan.
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?
Spiritual Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else? Here is a link to a related sermon: USA in Prophecy: Samaria.Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
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.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

World Economic Forum logo

COGwriter

The World Economic Forum (WEF) conference in Davos’ began on Monday. Today, US President Donald Trump spoke to it virtually:

January 23, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used an address Thursday to the World Economic Forum to promise global elites lower taxes if they bring manufacturing to the U.S. and threatened to impose tariffs if they don’t.

Speaking by video from the White House to the annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, on his third full day in office, Trump … laid out a carrot-and-stick approach for private investment in the U.S.

“Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes as any nation on earth,” Trump said. “But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff — differing amounts — but a tariff, which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt under the Trump administration.” …

Introducing Trump, Davos founder Klaus Schwab told the new president that his return and his agenda have “been at the focus of our discussions this week.”  …

In the largest hall in the Davos Congress Center — seating capacity 850 — Trump’s appearance drew nearly standing-room-only turnout. The crowd included diplomats, human rights advocates, academics and business leaders. His return to the White House and his barrage of executive orders have been the talk of the town this week in the snowbound Swiss town. https://apnews.com/article/trump-davos-tariffs-taxes-world-economic-forum-85aa42fb7751bedc1643c5a0e465a053

January 23, 2025

Trump highlighted his series of executive actions since his inauguration and asserted that he had a “massive mandate” from the American people to enact change. That included the introduction of tariffs.

“Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes as any nation on earth,” Trump said. “But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff — differing amounts — but a tariff, which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt under the Trump administration.”

Trump has previously suggested a universal tariff of around 20 percent, because he claims that “essentially countries take advantage of the U.S.,” even as he acknowledged the country was “not ready for that yet.”

He has also suggested higher, selective tariffs: 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico in order to pressure them to take action against fentanyl and illegal immigration; and a 60 percent tariff on Chinese products. https://www.newsweek.com/trump-warns-economic-leaders-davos-make-your-products-america-face-tariffs-updates-2019856

January 23, 2025

Over the course of 45 minutes, Trump took aim at European regulators he said were too tough on U.S. tech companies, oil producers he said were keeping prices too high and big banks he said were refusing service to conservatives.

He also called on nations around the world to invest in the United States, promising low tax rates and a looser regulatory structure.

On the domestic front, Trump said put pressure on the Federal Reserve over interest rates.

“I’ll demand that interest rates drop immediately,” Trump said. “And likewise, they should be dropping all over the world. Interest rates should follow us all over.” https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/23/trump-davos-speech-tariffs-dei.html

“From the standpoint of America, the EU treats us very, very unfairly, very badly,” Trump said in a virtual address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. …

Echoing previous comments, Trump said in his Davos address: “They make it very difficult to bring products into Europe, and yet they expect to be selling and they do sell their products in the United States. So we have, you know, hundreds of billions of dollars of deficits with the EU, and nobody’s happy with it. And we’re going to do something about it.”

“They essentially don’t take our farm products and they don’t take our cars, yet they send cars to us by the millions. They put tariffs on things that we want to do … We have some very big complaints with the EU,” he continued. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/23/trump-slams-trade-relationship-with-european-union-we-have-some-very-big-complaints.html

Notice also:

I was in the packed hall at Davos to hear Trump speak. The audience went from laughter to silence in seconds.

January 23, 2025

When Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman asked about Europe, Trump didn’t hold back, voicing his frustration with European regulations. His remarks left many European leaders in the audience stone-faced. The room was silent. Frustration over European regulations has been a recurring theme this year — perhaps Trump’s blunt message made that even clearer. https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-davos-speech-world-economic-forum-eu-2025-1

A couple of days ago, I posted:

Donald Trump may infuriate the WEF and has already upset them, but biblical prophecies will be fulfilled. (Thiel B. WEF’s Davos conference is concerned about Donald Trump. COGwriter, January 21, 2025)

Notice that even a day before Donald Trump spoke, what someone at the WEF concluded:

The WEF has admitted defeat.

“Trump has done something that no one else has done.”

‘Trump has won, and we have lost.’ pic.twitter.com/sJubbKVZSc

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) January 22, 2025

Klaus Schwab, the European Union, and other globalists have not really admitted defeat, but they are instead trying to figure out what next to do.

In one of the executive orders he signed on Monday, Donald Trump pulled the USA out of the Paris Climate Accords. The Europeans still want to go forward on this:

European leaders at Davos vow to stick to Paris climate agreement despite Trump’s withdrawal

January 21, 2025

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — As expected, day two of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland witnessed strong responses to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, with European leaders stating in no uncertain terms that they will hold fort and remain a part of the global climate pact.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday: “Europe will stay the course, and keep working with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming.” She insisted that the 27-nation bloc will stick to the landmark Paris climate accord. “The Paris Agreement continues to be the best hope for all humanity,” she said. https://apnews.com/article/davos-paris-agreement-climate-change-trump-5dc52accc69761277759c19864073c67

Of course, Jesus and the Kingdom of God are the best hope for humanity, but the EU thinks it and its plans are.

Europe also has trade plans:

Europe must “be prepared” and anticipate the potential trade tariffs of newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told CNBC on Wednesday. …

Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Union’s commissioner for the economy, on Wednesday told CNBC that if the bloc’s economic interests needed to be defended, the EU would respond “in a proportionate way.” …

‘One way to respond’ to U.S. trade policy

Lagarde separately also called for the removal of obstacles to trade within Europe, noting that despite aspirations to create a single market there were still barriers that at times prevented goods and services from travelling without impairment.

“I think it’s one of the points that Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, made yesterday — let’s make sure that we remove the barriers over which we have control,” Lagarde said, without disclosing details.

Lagarde said she hoped this will happen in the coming weeks, describing it as “one way to respond to the change in the trade policy in the United States.”

“Be strong at home and make sure you transact, that you sell and purchase at home, that you save at home and that you invest at home. Not to say that we want to move into a protectionist approach, because what lower barriers has taught us is that trade is actually very helpful,” Lagarde added. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/22/european-central-bank-lagarde-davos.html

In other words, Europe will try to better unify itself while it takes steps to counter Donald Trump’s policies.

The ONLY real solution for the problems facing humanity are repentance and the good news of the coming Kingdom of God–yet that is NOT something that the WEF, its allies, or Donald Trump are working towards.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.

Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

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.

Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

(Pixabay image)

COGwriter

US President Donald Trump is pushing a plan to massively invest in AI technology:

January 23, 2025

President Trump wasted little time in announcing the Stargate Initiative, a $500 billion private sector deal to expand U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure. Spearheaded by tech giants OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, Stargate represents the largest AI infrastructure project in history. …

The initiative brings together some of the biggest players in technology and AI. The project begins with an immediate $100 billion investment and plans to expand to $500 billion over four years. SoftBank, led by Masayoshi Son, will serve as chairman and be responsible for financing the venture. OpenAI’s Sam Altman will oversee operational responsibilities, and Oracle’s Larry Ellison will join the leadership team, bringing his expertise in data center infrastructure. The collaboration also includes other tech giants, such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Arm.

The first phase includes the construction of data centers in Abilene, Texas, with ten facilities already under construction. Each center will span 500,000 square feet — the approximate size of the Miami Beach Convention Center — and plans call for twenty such facilities in total. Officials project Stargate will create 100,000 jobs across various sectors, such as construction, energy infrastructure, and engineers. https://www.forbes.com/sites/garthfriesen/2025/01/23/trumps-ai-push-understanding-the-500-billion-stargate-initiative/

President Donald Trump revoked former President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order aimed at putting security guardrails around artificial intelligence (AI) systems and their potential impact to national security, giving a major boost to private sector companies like OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank.  …

Biden’s AI executive order required developers of AI and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to develop safety standards and share results with the federal government to help prevent AI-powered cyberattacks against citizens, critical infrastructure, dangerous biological weapons, and other areas…

Fast on the heels of that revocation, the Trump administration unveiled Project Stargate, which is intended to funnel hundreds of billions into AI infrastructure in the US. …

Leading AI CEOs, including Marty Sprinzen, CEO of Vantiq, were delighted by the news.

“As I sit here at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the atmosphere is charged with enthusiasm following President Trump’s announcement of the Stargate initiative — a collaboration between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to invest up to $500 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure,” Sprinzen said in a statement.

Notice that many “safeguards” for citizens by AI have been removed by Donald Trump. This looks like, at minimum, a loss of privacy protections. Notice also that this initiative was praised at the WEF meeting in Europe.

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

Perhaps it should be noted here that like the Obama Administration, Donald Trump has been in favor of many aspects of government surveillance and loss of personal privacy rights [^{Diamond J. Trump calls for Apple boycott. CNN, February 19, 2016}]. Europe will one day have massive financial surveillance (Revelation 13:16-18). …

‘666’ is a reference to the European Beast power of the sea in Revelation 13 and not the final Antichrist.

Some have wondered how the 666 power would be able to control buying and selling as is discussed in Revelation 13:16-18—which was something that could not have been done when the Apostle John wrote this in the first century, but can be done now. Well, with artificial intelligence and the move towards digital currency, we are getting closer to that time. (Thiel B. Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Nazarene Books, 2025)

An unintended consequence of what Donald Trump’s proposal will do is make it easier for the coming European 666 power to monitor human behavior and spending.

Notice also item 13 of my list of 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:

13. CBDCs and 666

Notice the following prophecy:

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18)

This type of financial surveillance could not have happened during the time of the Apostle John as there was no real way to monitor many financial transactions then (despite the fact that ‘preterists’ believe this was fulfilled almost 2000 years ago, see also The Dangerous Rise of Preterists). The same was true for all the centuries that followed until the late 20th and now the 21st century. But now not only does the technology exist to monitor most financial transactions, the political will is there as well.

It will be a European power that will fulfill the above prophecy of 666 (watch Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

It will likely take supercomputers aided with artificial intelligence to aid in the fulfillment of the scriptures in Revelation 13:15-18, as well as cyber-spying/monitoring.

With massive spending on AI, do not think that Europe will not have access to any of this technology.

So, yes, this AI proposal from Donald Trump is a type of prelude to 666.