Church of God News

Map showing areas annexed by Russia from Ukraine
(Public domain via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Russia and Ukraine have increasingly been using drones. The BBC reported the following:

Russia and Ukraine launch biggest drone attacks against each other

11 November 2024

Russia and Ukraine have carried out their biggest drone attacks against each other since the start of the war.

Russia’s defence ministry also said it intercepted 70 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including some approaching Moscow which forced flights to be diverted from three of the capital’s major airports.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 145 drones towards all parts of the country, with most shot down.

The barrages come amid expectations that US president-elect Donald Trump may put pressure on both sides to end the conflict.

Ukraine’s attempted strike on Moscow was reportedly its largest attack on the capital since the war began, and was described as “massive” by the region’s governor.

One person was reported injured as drones were shot down near the Russian capital. Images on social media showed a residential building on fire.

Most of the drones were downed in the Ramenskoye, Kolomna and Domodedovo districts, officials said. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx28jd0114ro

While there has been intensified use of drones and some other fighting, many believe Donald Trump’s reelection is going to result in changes in this conflict.

As the BBC also reported the following:

Trump ally says Ukraine focus must be peace, not territory

10 November 2024

A former adviser to President-elect Donald Trump says the incoming administration will focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than enabling the country to gain back territory occupied by Russia.

Bryan Lanza, who worked on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, told the BBC the incoming administration would ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his version of a “realistic vision for peace”.

“And if President Zelensky comes to the table and says, well we can only have peace if we have Crimea, he shows to us that he’s not serious,” he said. “Crimea is gone.” …

The president-elect has consistently said his priority is to end the war and stem what he characterises as a drain on US resources, in the form of military aid to Ukraine.

But he has yet to divulge how he intends to do so – and will likely be hearing competing visions for Ukraine’s future from his various advisers. …

A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team – which prepares the incoming administration for office – said Mr Lanza was “a contractor for the campaign”, but “does not work for President Trump and does not speak for him”. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxrwr078v7o

It is widely believed that Donald Trump is going push Ukraine to acknowledge the loss of territory.

Notice, for example, the following:

10 November 2024

US President-elect Donald Trump could present his vision of peace in Ukraine in the coming days, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has claimed. The head of government has predicted that the Republican would offer a timeframe for a potential truce as well as security guarantees for Kiev.

While on the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly vowed to end the Ukraine conflict within “24 hours,” without specifying any details. The president-elect told the US media that he was going to tell Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky “No more. You got to make a deal.” …

The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, reported on Wednesday that Trump’s team was considering several proposals. Most of them, according to the media outlet, envisage “freezing the war in place… and forcing Ukraine to temporarily suspend its quest to join” NATO, with the matter potentially put on hold “for at least 20 years.”

The WSJ claimed that among the proposals allegedly being discussed was the creation of a demilitarized zone along the current front line. The article quoted an unnamed Trump adviser as noting that it would not be American troops or US-funded international organizations such as the UN, but instead European nations, who would be tasked with maintaining peace there. https://www.rt.com/news/607440-polish-pm-trump-peace-plan-soon/

Here is a map, from Wikipedia, which claims to show Ukraine controlled territories in yellow with Russian controlled territories in pink (with other parts of Russia in a lighter pink), as of 5 November 2024, the day of the US election:

(Viewsridge)

Readers will note the the above map looks similar to the one at the beginning of the post showing territories that Russia has officially annexed.

Because of prophecies related to the “kings of the Medes” in the Book of Jeremiah, in the Fall of 2013 I wrote that Russia would end up with some territory that Ukraine claimed.

In 2014, Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and become part of Russia. Russia later accepted and annexed the territory, which it had long wanted. Crimea has been a fairly poor region that felt neglected and discriminated against by the western portion of Ukraine. Many in Donbas also have felt neglected (or worse) by western Ukraine and have long wanted to be closer to Russia. It should be noted that the USA and some of its allies called the referendum in Crimea to be part of Russia some type of a sham, yet the reality is that the majority in Crimea wanted to be part of Russia. On March 18, 2014, when Vladimir Putin signed a treaty to make Crimea part of Russia (https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-to-visit-crimea-to-mark-five-years-since-).

Many of those in Crimea (other than the Tartars) and Donbas believed that they would be better off with Russia who wanted them than Kiev who claims to want to keep them, but apparently had not shown them enough signs that it would truly be able to help them.

The USA would not accept the vote by the Crimeans primarily because it seems to want to stop Russia from expanding. The USA pushed for international sanctions with Europe, many of which still remain, in an effort to hope Russia would release Crimea to Ukraine.

The USA’s position seemed to be based mainly on politics as opposed to its professed belief in democracy.

Even though the USA and many in Europe have wanted Russia to leave Crimea, on March 18, 2019, I posted:

It remains my view that Crimea and at least parts of eastern Ukraine will ultimately align with Russia.

International sanctions will not stop biblical prophecies from being fulfilled. (Thiel B. ‘Putin in Crimea as Russia Marks Five Years Since Annexation’ the ‘Kings of the Medes’ will arise. COGwriter, March 18, 2019)

And the events of the past few years confirmed my view that sanctions would not stop Russia from having territories align with it. The various sanctions announced by the USA and the Europeans look to be political punishment, as opposed to being announced by those who seriously believe that they will get Russia to cede the Donbas back to Ukrainian control (it would probably take a pro-Russian government in Kiev for Russia to do that).

Long-time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page are aware that I have repeatedly told of a time where those in parts of Ukraine and Moldova would end up supporting Russia. For example, here is something from 2014:

As ‘independent states’ Donetsk and Luhansk may enter into some type of joint confederation with each other or Russia. If the forces from Kiev decide to attack, they will likely fight and ask for help from Russia.

Donetsk and Luhansk may vote to be annexed by Russia, like Crimea did. Or at minimum decide to ask to be part of Vladimir Putin’s Eurasian Union.

The Bible has several end time prophecies concerning the Medes (Isaiah 13:17-19) and the kings of the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11, 28-29) that involve military action. Various ones in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russia, and elsewhere are part of the descendants of the Medes, as likely are some in Moldova.

Alliances consistent with end time Bible prophecy are in the process of forming. (Thiel B. Eastern Ukraine votes for independence: Kiev upset, Russia pleased. COGwriter, May 12, 2014)

A while back, Russia’s president declared he had recognized and accepted the Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic as independent nations (see I365: Right before Messiah, US will fight Russia and China will capitalize, rabbinic “prophecy” reveals’ COGwriter: No, that is not what the Bible teaches). Then on 30 September 2022, Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in an address to both houses of the Russian parliament.

The Bible foretells a time when the “Kings of the Medes” will get together (Jeremiah 51:11, 28)–and some now have. Many in Russia, Ukraine, and even Moldova have descent from the ancient Medes.

On the Sabbath of February 5, 2022, I did a sermonette where I mentioned that lands associated with Ukraine would end up being confederate with Russia:

21:20

Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy

The situation between Russia and Ukraine has again heated up, although it has been tense since the Euromaiden protests and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. There was later a separation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Russian Orthodox Church. Is war prophesied for Russia and Ukraine? Are prophecies in the Bible associated with the ‘kings of the Medes’ and a power from the “north country” related to any in Russia and Ukraine? Is a confederation of powers from the north, east, and central Asia prophesied to destroy the coming end time European Babylon? Will the destruction be reminiscent of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? How is the King of the North and who will destroy him? Do those in Russia and Ukraine have a hope of salvation? Will Russia and powers of the east be involved in the gathering in Armageddon as prophesied in Revelation 16? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy.

Since that came out, more territories that Ukraine once controlled are now controlled by Russia.

While Ukraine has put up a lot of resistance to Russia’s Special Military Operation, Russia is larger and has more troops, etc.

Remember that Jesus taught:

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. (Luke 14:31-32)

Ukraine may wish to reconsider where it is at to see if now it believes it should attempt to make a deal with Russia.

With Donald Trump’s reelection, it must be wondering what it will end up doing.

No matter what Ukraine’s leadership currently thinks, at least parts of Ukraine are going to support Russia (cf. Jeremiah 51:11, 28).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
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.
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.

COGwriter

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

14:50

SWIFT end to the US dollar?

After World War II, the US dollar became the world’s primary international trading currency. In this video Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie went over some of the reasons for that development. They also discussed US dominance of SWIFT. SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. SWIFT provides a network that enables financial institutions worldwide to send and receive information about financial transactions. The use of sanctions and the weaponization of SWIFT by the US was brought out as were alternatives to SWIFT development by Russia (System for Transfer of Financial Messages-SPFS) and China (Cross-Border Interbank Payment System-CIPS). Also the BRICS Pay alternative to SWIFT, mentioned at the BRICS Kazan Summit in October 2024 was mentioned as well as “the Unit”, which is a potential, gold-backed currency that Vladimir Putin brought up as another alternative. An article titled ‘The Biggest Story that’s NOT Being Told Will WREAK HAVOC on the US Economy’ was discussed along with the specter of extreme inflation hitting the US once its dollar is no longer relied on internationally. The fact that SWIFT is supposed to be a European system, and one that Europeans want more control of, was mentioned along with the fact that the Europeans could also push harder for the end of SWIFT and/or the US dollar dominance. The timing of the coming Great Tribulation and US banking/financial matters was also mentioned.

Here is a link to our video: SWIFT end to the US dollar?

Notice also something that Russia’s Foreign Minister said a couple of days after we made the above video:

5 November 2024

The hybrid war being waged by the US and its allies against Russia is hurting the world’s poorest nations the most and backfiring on Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has argued. …

By struggling to preserve its “privileged position,” Washington is “chopping down the branch on which it sits” and “destroying the system of globalization that they have fostered and promoted to the world,” according to Lavrov.

“The dollar, which for decades has been advertised to us as the common property of all mankind, has been turned into a weapon of oppression and punishment against geopolitical competitors and dissenters. In doing so, they have essentially written a sentence for the dollar as a global reserve currency and a means of international settlement,” Lavrov said.

Last month, at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, President Vladimir Putin noted that Washington has made a “big mistake” by weaponizing the dollar. In pursuing de-dollarization, Moscow is not trying to undermine the US currency but is merely “forced to look for alternatives” in trade with its partners, he stressed.

“The United States itself is withdrawing the dollar from circulation, as more countries begin to fear that they may be next. No one knows what they can be punished for,” Lavrov noted on Monday, recalling Putin’s words. …

Over the past ten years, Russia has faced more than 21,000 sanctions across various sectors, from economics and trade to culture and sports, according to Lavrov. Russian financial institutions were largely cut off from the Western system in 2022 in response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. As a result, Moscow has accelerated trade with international partners using their national currencies, a trend increasingly supported by BRICS members, who have shifted away from using the dollar and euro for trade settlements. https://www.rt.com/russia/607000-lavrov-us-dollar-sentence-sanctions/

The US keeps hurting itself with its sanctions and other weaponizations of its dollar. Its dollar will no longer remain “king.”

This will greatly impact the economy of the USA in a massively negative way.

As Jesus said: “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
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.
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold and silver? Two videos of related interest may be: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar and Silver, Science, and Scripture.
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
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?

Berlin Wall, 1989 (Wikipedia)

COGwriter

The Berlin Wall began to be torn down 35 years ago:

November 9, 2024

Communist East Germany closed its border in Berlin on Aug. 13, 1961, when it erected a wall that eventually turned into an increasingly elaborate fortification snaking through the city and around capitalist West Berlin.

The heavily fortified border —the Berlin Wall— plugged the last gap between East and West.

On Nov. 9, 1989, the border was opened, and the Berlin Wall ceremoniously came down as the world watched. It marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Communist dictatorship in East Germany, paving the way for German reunification in 1990 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Most of the wall was torn down quickly after, but 35 years later, there are still places where visitors can see its remains.

What was the Berlin Wall?

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 and for 28 years, it stood as the front line of the Cold War between the Western world order, led by the U.S., and the Soviets. …

The 96-mile-long wall was built by the communist regime to cut off East Germany from the supposed ideological contamination of the West and to stem the tide of people fleeing Germany. It cut through the middle of the city center and surrounded West Berlin.

But not even barbed wire and the Wall could stop people from fleeing. The efforts to perfect the border fortifications in Berlin continued until 1989. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/berlin-wall-germany-anniversary-35-years-history/

November 9th marks the … anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

We spoke with British historian Frederick Taylor, an expert on the Berlin Wall and author of the Book “The Berlin Wall – A World Divided 1961-1989” about what prompted East German authorities to build the wall in the first place.

Under the terms of the 1945 Yalta Agreement, the victorious allies of World War Two divided Germany into four sectors, or zones of occupation: the American, British, French and Soviet zones.

About 160 kilometers inside the Soviet zone lay Germany’s capital Berlin. The city was also divided into four sectors along the same lines as Germany. …

Historian Frederick Taylor …

Berlin Wall Erected

The historian said on the night of the 12th to the 13th of August 1961 tons of wood, cinder blocks and barbed wire were funneled into East Berlin.

“Basically what they did first was to run barbed wire around everything, block many cross-streets that went from East to West Berlin with concrete tank trap material and cinder blocks. There were guards every few yards watching the workers who were putting up these barriers, and basically they did the whole thing in less than 12 hours,” said Taylor.

“By Sunday morning, the morning of Sunday August the 13th, 1961, everybody woke up, East and West Berliners alike and found that essentially, a barrier had been built. It wasn’t yet a wall, it was a fence. A barbed wire fence with cinder blocks to block the streets and prevent vehicles getting through.”

Taylor said the barbed wire beginnings of the Berlin Wall divided overnight, with savage finality, neighborhoods, families and friends.

Families and Neighborhoods Divided

“Wherever you were on that night, you had to decide what to do. If you were a Westerner staying in the East, they’ll let you back, no question about that. If you were an Easterner staying in the West, say with relatives, which of course, it was a weekend, actually, a lot of people, several thousand in fact, were staying in the West and they had to decide what to do: to go back to their families or to stay in the West. Many, many of them decided to stay with considerable sacrifice. But also, simply there were neighborhoods – the new barrier ran literally down the middle of streets.”

The historian said it was about a week later that the first proper wall-like structure was constructed, south of the Brandenburg Gate. When fully built, the wall was about 43 kilometers long where it cut through the center of Berlin and more than 110 kilometers long as it divided West Berlin from East Germany. In addition, there were more than 300 watchtowers, as well as minefields, floodlights and guns that fired automatically.

Taylor described the feeling of many East Germans.

“It’s the great tragedy of this time. It was the dashed hopes, the disappointment, the claustrophobia, the ghastly feeling of this lack of freedom of movement, the freedom to breathe, the freedom to feel. I think that when I talked to people who lived through all that, that’s always the most striking thing. I think it’s very hard for us to understand,” said Taylor.

For the next several decades, East Germans tried to escape to freedom by using various methods, from climbing the wall to tunneling underneath it. Chances of making it were slim. But Taylor says people were willing to risk everything for the promise of a better life that lay just beyond the Berlin Wall. 11/07/14 http://www.voanews.com/content/berlin-wall-anniversary-sparks-look-at-history/2512615.html

The fall of the Berlin wall freed people from a type of oppression–but ultimately, will not bring about world freedom (cf. Revelation 13).

35 years after the fall, we do see a more prosperous Germany, despite some of its current problems. Germany has been the main engine for Europe and has again became a major player in the world.

Many in Germany have celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall. While the fall of the Berlin Wall was a good thing, what ultimately will happen in that part of the world will not be. But most will not heed biblical prophecy.

I remember listening to a prophetically-related sermon by the late Dr. Hoeh at the Worldwide Church of God Feast of Tabernacles in Tuscon, Arizona in October 1979 where he explained that he and Herbert W. Armstrong believed that the two legs of the Beast in Daniel 2, with its two feet (vs. 33), represented both West and East Europe (including specifically Germany). He taught that this meant that the nations in Eastern Europe would ultimately not be under the power of the Soviet Union, but would become independent of it, and ultimately be part of a supranational European state.

About that time, I remember reading an article in TV Guide (which then had the highest circulation of any periodical in the USA) basically teaching that the prophetic positions of Herbert W. Armstrong “bordered on lunacy.”

Why?

Because, among other things, the Worldwide Church of God taught that East and West Europe would unite, Europe would have its own currency, and that the USA would fall from its position in the world.

Decades later, on January 1, 1999, the Europeans had a European currency called the euro. A decade later, a supranational state was approved by the last of the European Union members, when the Czech Republic signed the Lisbon Treaty on November 2, 2009. The state formed officially on December 1, 2009. Thus, the position of Herman Hoeh on this point has been shown to have been correct. World events also show that the position about the decline of the USA is also happening.

Right after the Berlin wall fell in November 1989, I was asked to give the closing prayer at WCG church services in Fresno, California. In that prayer, I mentioned that we were witnessing prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes. One of the reasons that I stated that was because many in that congregation seemed to be losing their zeal and belief about Bible prophecy. They did not seem to see the prophetic significance of what was happening. Many who once were believers, no longer loved the law of God and became scorners (Psalm 1).

Sadly, this has afflicted many throughout history. The prophecies of the Bible are coming to pass right before our eyes today. 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)

Will you be a zealous believer in them or will you let the cares of this world overtake you as Jesus warned against?

World events continue to line up with the understanding of biblical prophecy that we in the Continuing Church of God have. Will you now pay attention?

Now, as the 45th US President, Donald Trump declared November 9th as World Freedom Day. Joe Biden seems to accepted that as the following suggests:

A Proclamation on World Freedom Day, 2024

Today marks 35 years since the Berlin Wall came down. Its fall was one of the greatest advances in human dignity in my lifetime. As we celebrate this anniversary, may we all remember that what brought the Berlin Wall down and lifted the Iron Curtain is what keeps the flame of liberty shining bright around the world: the determination of free people everywhere who never fail to stand up for their freedoms and their democracy.

I still remember when, as a young Senator, I visited West Berlin and saw what it meant to live in a divided city, country, and continent. Then, in 1989, along with millions of people around the world, I watched the 70,000 brave souls gathered in Leipzig, Germany, crying out for freedom. After the wall came down, some feared the reunification of Germany would revive old hatreds and rivalries, but leaders of America and Germany dreamed together of a much better future. The achievement of a Germany whole and free lives on, exceeding everyone’s expectations, and the dream of Europe whole and free remains the work of our time. My Administration is committed to pushing back against Putin’s vicious attack on Ukraine. It is another battle in the long struggle for freedom and against aggression and tyranny.

Together with our partners and allies, the United States is continuing to fight for the freedom and rights of people around the world. We are working to build a future where women and girls share equal rights and opportunities in their communities; where Indigenous groups, people with disabilities, and racial, ethnic, and religious minorities live free from discrimination; and where LGBTQI+ people can live lives free from fear and hate. And we must all stay committed to supporting democracy around the world — and at home. I call on the American people to stand up in defense of our democracy because every generation must do the work of defending, protecting, and safeguarding it.

The future will be won by those who unleash the full potential of their people to breathe and think freely, innovate and educate daringly, and live and love openly and without fear. That is the soul of democracy — and I have seen it all around the world, from the brave men and women who brought down the Berlin Wall to the people who are fighting in every region for freedom, justice, and dignity. Today, may we strengthen our commitment to our democracy and to one another, knowing that the darkness that drives autocracy is no match for the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2024, as World Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United States of America to remember the hope symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall and reaffirm our dedication to freedom and democracy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Of course, the world is not truly free today as Satan is still on his throne.

In his book, A World Held Captive, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about how Satan got there:

Job 38 says plainly the earth was created when angels had been previously created. God placed a throne of GOVERNMENT on the earth. Both Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 reveal the cherub Lucifer being placed on the throne of the earth. II Peter 2:4 reveals that angels SINNED. Lucifer was a super archangel. Lucifer had been trained in the administration of God’s government on the very throne of God in heaven. He was supremely beautiful, dazzling in brightness. Vanity seized him. Vanity is self-glory, self-centeredness, concern for self even to the point of hostility toward others. He became jealous, envious, resentful and hostile against God his Creator. He turned hostile to the law of God. He turned to a way of life of vanity, covetousness, envy, rivalry, competition, violence and destruction. And this hostile way of life is itself a LAW. It is the law of vanity, self- concern, “do your own thing,” rebel against the authority of God. That, then, became the basic LAW of the GOVERNMENT of Lucifer, whose name was changed to Satan the devil. The name Satan means “adversary.”

So the government of God on the earth had been replaced by the government of Satan. …

Precisely at this point we come to the very root of the world in which you live today. This is where it all started. This is the point in time where today’s world was started on a course still continuing in our time. All that had gone before — the existence of the God family from eternity — the creation of angels — the creation of matter and the material universe, the presence of angels on the earth, the THRONE and GOVERNMENT placed on earth — the SIN of Lucifer and earth’s angels, the replacing of the GOVERNMENT OF GOD by that of Satan over the earth …

Adam had been created with the potential to be born a son of GOD. Even though not as yet even a begotten son of the GOD FAMILY, he had been created as potentially just that. Once he succumbed to Satan’s WAY of choosing to “do his own thing,” in rebellion against a deliberate command of God, he became spiritually the property of Satan. He actually had succumbed to the GOVERNMENT of Satan, choosing the LAW of that government, leading automatically into attitudes of self-glory, coveting, competition, desire to GET rather than God’s way of GIVE.

All humanity came out of Adam and Eve. The present world was FOUNDED in them. The WORLD has ever since been HELD captive! The world had thus chosen THE WAY of the kidnapper, rather than of the potential Parent!

But God the Father was to pay the ransom price and even yet bring his potential spiritual children back to him. …

Jesus, unlike the first Adam, did choose the tree of LIFE. He did obey God. He met, conquered and qualified to replace Satan on the throne of the earth. …

Why the Church Age?

Since Jesus founded the Church — the foundation of the coming world of God — more than 1,950 years have passed. One might wonder, WHY these more than 1,950 years of the “church age,” before establishing the Kingdom?

God’s purpose is to choose and call certain ones out from the ways of Satan’s world, and train them to become teachers and rulers when God sends Christ back to earth as KING of kings and LORD of lords to rule, teach and convert all who then shall be willing. All who have lived in this world and become set in its wrong and evil ways must be taught the right ways of God.

Those converted and finally saved in the Church then shall be kings and priests and given power to rule and teach all others (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10). For this nearly 2,000 years of training, Jesus has been High Priest and head of the Church, in heaven supervising his Church.

On Christ’s return in supreme power and glory, Satan shall be removed from earth’s throne. Jesus Christ will sit on the throne of David ruling over Israel and also on the THRONE OF THE EARTH, now still held by Satan. (Armstrong HW. A World Held Captive. WCG booklet, 1984)

Yes, Jesus will return and Satan will be bound:

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  (Revelation 19:11-13)

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. (Revelation 20:1-3)

And Jesus was prophesied to proclaim liberty:

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,  (Isaiah 61:1-2)

And Jesus stated He fulfilled that prophecy on a Sabbath:

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21)

Each week, when we keep the Sabbath, we, in essence, have a certain liberty from the world and its systems.

As far as proclaiming liberty to the captives, that is one reason that the Continuing Church of God has had its English language booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, translated into over 1,500 languages and dialects.

Regarding eternal liberty for the world, God has a plan which will result in people of every nation and race being saved:

9…I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  (Revelation 7:9-10)

God has a plan where people of every nation will be able to rule:

9…You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.  (Revelation 5:9-10)

God has a plan where “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6):

21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)

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

God has a fantastic, and loving, plan.

Liberty and freedom will reign.

Pray, as Jesus said (Matthew 6:10), for God’s kingdom to come.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, Mystery of Race, and The Mystery of YOU. Here is a link to two videos in Spanish: El Misterio del Plan de Dios and El Misterio de Satanás, el Misterio de la Verdad, el Misterio del Reposo.
Human Nature: Good or Evil? a Did God create humans evil or good? What is human nature? Where does it come from? Here are links to two related sermons: Human Nature: Its Cause and Solution and Human Nature: Where Did it Come From?
Did God Create a Devil? If not, what happened? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in over 1,500 languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Proclaiming the Gospel in Over 1500 Languages Which languages are being used to fulfill Matthew 24:14? Are all languages significant? Here is a link to the sermon: Behind the Work 2024: Languages for the Kingdom.
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.
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair?, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains who he was and how he should be viewed today.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.

First page of the Book of 1 Thessalonians in Greek
(11th century via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God put together this sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:15:46

1 Thessalonians & the Return of Jesus

In this sermon, Dr. Thiel went through each and every verse of the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians. He also gave background on the history of Thessaloniki. He noted that Paul’s epistle starts out with what could be considered to be a binitarian formula. He mentioned that Paul wrote that Christians were called and predestined and states that people are not predestined to be lost. He mentioned Romans 11 and the late Herbert W. Armstrong’s position on the fullness of Gentiles coming in. Dr. Thiel mentioned that the converted Gentiles will be kings and priests on the earth during the millennium. Scriptures related to the first resurrection, at the seventh and last trump, and the return of Jesus were read–including the fact that the Apostle Paul refers to the return several times. Dr. Thiel went over some of the events Jesus said to watch for related to His return, and the fact that the return is after, not before, the Great Tribulation according to what Jesus said and Paul wrote. Times and seasons were mentioned as well as when some may falsely proclaim “peace and safety.” Dr. Thiel mentioned that everything God does He does out of love, we are to increase in Philadelphian love, and that our hope in God and Jesus’ return is real. Persecutions were also referred to. Dr. Thiel read what Paul wrote is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” as well as what the Psalmist said it was good to do. The importance of aspects of hierarchical church government, via quotes from the Apostle Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong, were discussed. Warnings from the Apostle Paul to not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies were read.

Here is a link to the sermon: 1 Thessalonians & the Return of Jesus.

Some other items of interest may include:

1 THESSALONIANS Comments on 1 Thessalonians. Here is a link to a related sermon: 1 Thessalonians & the Return of Jesus.
What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles? Some in the West discount God’s calling of Gentiles, but the Apostle Paul wrote about the need for them to come to the truth before Jesus returns. Two somewhat related videos are available Gentiles and When Will Jesus Return? and Puerto Rico, Trials, and Triumphs.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind? Here are links to three related videos Fleeing or Rapture?, Rapture or Fleeing? Which is Great Tribulation Protection? and Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture? Here is a sermon in the Spanish language: ¿El rapto o huida antes de la gran tribulación?
MATTHEW Here are links to twelve sermons covering the 28 chapters of Matthew: Matthew 1-2: Greek or Aramaic, Jesus, and the Star?, Matthew 3-5: John the Baptist, Temptations, and the Beatitudes, Matthew 6-7: Charitable Deeds, the Rosary, Prayer, the Golden Rule, and Faith, Matthew 8-10: Married Clergy, Faith, Coming Persecution, and the Ecumenical Agenda, Matthew 11-12: John the Elijah, Sodom, Unpardonable Sin, & 3 Days and 3 Nights, -14: Parables, Mustard Seeds, Birthdays, and Faith, Matthew 15-16: Tradition, Signs of the Times, and The Rock & Peter, Matthew 17-18: Transfiguration, Elijah to Come, Taxes, and Forgiveness, Matthew 19-20: Transgender? Divorce? Purgatory? The first shall be last?, Matthew 21-23: ‘Palm Sunday,’ Come as You Are?, and the Greatest Commandments, Matthew 24: Temple Destruction, Sorrows, Tribulation, and the Return of Jesus, and Matthew 25-28: Midnight Cry, False Christians, Resurrection, & Teaching what Jesus Taught.
MARK Here is a link to a sermon covering all of Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Mark: What did Jesus teach in the Book of Mark? Here is a link to six sermons covering all the verses in the Gospel of Mark: Mark 1-2: Author, Prophecy, & Miracles, Mark 3-5: Healing, Demons, and Parables, Mark 6-9: Tradition, John’s beheading, Elijah, and Restoration, Mark 10-12: Marriage, Divorce, Needle Eye, Greatest Command, & Taxes, Mark 13: Temple, Four Horsemen, Troubles, Great Tribulation, and Gospel Proclamation, and Mark 14-16: Jesus’ Priorities & Betrayal, the Resurrection, Signs, and Reaching the World.
LUKE Here are links to eight sermons covering the entire ‘Gospel of Luke’: Luke 1-2: John the Baptist, Mary, and the Census, Luke 3-6: John the Baptist, Jesus’ genealogy, Satan’s Influence, and the Sermon on the Mount, Luke 7-9: Miracles, Purpose of Parables, Kingdom of God, and Women Supporting the Ministry, Luke 10-11: The 70, Doing the Work, the Good Samaritan, Prayer, and Signs, Luke 12-13: Priorities, Delayed Fruit Bearing, Little Flock, Prophecy, and the Narrow Way, Luke 14-16: The Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 17-20: Faith, the Kingdom, Gathering, Prayer, & Rewards, and Luke 21-22: Giving, Sorrows, Persecution, Tribulation, Fig Tree, and Violence. The last sermon also covers Jesus’ words in the Book of Acts.
JOHN Here are links to a seven-part sermon series covering the entire ‘Gospel of John’: John 1-3: Anti-unitarian, Wine, Being Born Again, & Heaven, John 4-6: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, Miracles and the Bread of Life, John 10-12: Sheep, Hirelings, Lazarus/Soul Sleep and ‘Palm Day’, John 13-15: Footwashing and the Words of Jesus, John 16-18: Truth, Trinity, and Pontius Pilate, and John 19-21: Do not only try, do what God wants.
ACTS Here is an article: The Book of Acts. Here is a link to related sermons: Book of Acts 1-2: Jesus Left, New Testament Church Began, Acts 3-5: Miracles, Trials, Proclamation, and Persecution, Acts 6-9: Widows, Stephen, Saul, and Simon Magus, Acts 10-12: Visions, Dreams, and Gentiles, Acts 13-16: Prophets, Poisoning, and Proclamation,Acts 17-19: Travels, Anointed Cloths, & the Gospel of the Kingdom, Acts 20-22: James, Sunday, and Prejudice, and Acts 23-25: Vows, Secrets, Cults, & Criticisms, and Acts 26-28: Shipwreck, the Kingdom of God, & Amen.
ROMANS Comments on the Book of Romans. Here are links to six related sermons: Romans 1-2: Believe the Truth of God, Romans 3:-6: Sin, Law, Grace, Salvation, Romans 7-8: God’s Spirit and Guarantee, Romans 9-10: Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Romans 11-12: Gentiles, Jews, and the Fulness, and Romans 13-16: Obedience, Gentiles, Love, and Women.
1 CORINTHIANS Comments on the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians. Here are links to  related sermons: 1 Corinthians 1-2: God’s Spirit & the Ways of the World, 1 Corinthians 3-4: Christianity Requires Repentance, 1 Corinthians 5-6: The Church and Bad Apples, 1 Corinthians 7-8: Sex, Remarriage, and Christian Love, 1 Corinthians 9-10: Authority, Idols, and Love, 1 Corinthians 11-12: Hair, Veils, & Spiritual Gifts, 1 Corinthians 13-14: Love, Prophecy, and Tongues, and 1 Corinthians 15-16: Resurrection Hope, Collections, and Love.
2 CORINTHIANS Comments on the 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians. Here is a links to related sermons: 2 Corinthians 1-2: Church of God Suffering and Open Door; 2 Corinthians 3: The New Covenant, Jews, & Gentiles; 2 Corinthians 4-5: Guaranteed Immortality; 2 Corinthians 6: Salvation and Persecutions; 2 Corinthians 2:7-9: Be a Philadelphian Giver; 2 Corinthians 10-11: Faithfulness, Speaking, and Fables; and 2 Corinthians 12-13: Problems and Philadelphian Proofs.
GALATIANS Comments on Galatians Did the Apostle Paul do away with God’s law as some claim the Book of Galatians teaches? What is the false gospel? Related sermon videos related to Galatians are available: Galatians 1 and the False Gospel and Galatians 2 & 3: What Law was Added? What was Abolished? and Galatians 4 & 5: Who Does Not Inherit the Kingdom? and Galatians 5 & 6: The Gifts of the Spirit.
EPHESIANS Comments on Ephesians. Here is a link three related sermons: Ephesians 1-2: Predestination, Mysteries, & Grace. Ephesians 3 -4: Godhead, Immortality, Your Purpose, and Ephesians 5-6: Put on the Whole Armor of God, Marriage, Child Rearing.
PHILIPPIANS Comments on Philippians. Here are two related sermons: Philippians 1-2: God will not give up on you and Philippians 3-4: Faith, Love, and Polycarp.
COLOSSIANS The Book of Colossians. Here is a link to a related sermon: Book of Colossians.
2 THESSALONIANS Comments on 2 Thessalonians.
1 PETER Here is a link to an article: 1 Peter: Scriptures and Commentary. Here is a link to a related sermon covering 1 Peter: 1 Peter: Humbly love, God’s plan is eternal.
2 PETER & JUDE Here is a link to an article: Second Peter & Jude: Scriptures and Commentary. Here is a link to a related sermon covering those books: 2 Peter & Jude: Lusts, Prophecy, & 144,000?
JAMES Here are links to sermons covering James: Strong Meat: James 1-2 and Strong Meat: James 3-5.
REVELATION This is a link to a sermon covering words Jesus spoke as recorded in the Book of Revelation and in first and second Corinthians: Revelation: Jesus’ Final Words.
The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had? What are some of the scriptural limits on ecclesiastical authority? Do some commit organizational idolatry? Here is a Spanish language version La Biblia, Policarpo, Herbert W. Armstrong, y Roderick C. Meredith sobre el gobierno de la Iglesia. Here is a link to a sermon titled Church Governance.
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
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?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church. Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.
Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete? Are there lost gospels? What about the Apocrypha? Is the Septuagint better than the Masoretic text? What about the Textus Receptus vs. Nestle Alland? Was the New Testament written in Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew? Which translations are based upon the best ancient text? Did the true Church of God have the canon from the beginning? Here are links to related sermons: Let’s Talk About the Bible, The Books of the Old Testament, The Septuagint and its Apocrypha, Masoretic Text of the Old Testament, and Lost Books of the Bible, and Let’s Talk About the New Testament, The New Testament Canon From the Beginning, English Versions of the Bible and How Did We Get Them?, What was the Original Language of the New Testament?, Original Order of the Books of the Bible, and Who Gave the World the Bible? Who Had the Chain of Custody?
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus. Plus the links to two sermonettes: Luke’s census: Any historical evidence? and Muslims believe Jesus is the Messiah, but …
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how they develop love, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. There are links to literature is about 160 different languages there.

COGwriter

Many are concerned about a possible global trade war because of the re-election of Donald Trump.

No winners if Trump sparks global trade war, Starmer warned

Nobody would win a tit-for-tat trade war with the US when Donald Trump returns to power, Britain’s top international trade expert has warned.

An escalating tariff war with the Americans under Mr Trump would create “a very challenging market for us here in the UK” and British firms are increasingly concerned about the former president’s return, Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, told The Independent.

During the election campaign, the Republican promised to implement 10 to 20 per cent tariffs on all goods coming into the country, rising to 60 per cent for those from China. …

Keir Starmer has been warned ‘nobody would win’ from a trade war with the US 11/07/24  https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/trump-tariffs-us-election-starmer-brexit-b2643043.html

Leaders of the 27 EU member states met in Budapest on Thursday to weigh transatlantic relations and chime in on Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. Faced with uncertainty, they urged the president-elect to refrain from unsettling the global order, avoid trade wars and maintain support for Ukraine.  …

Trump’s win is a major challenge for Europe, … his return to power brings … the prospect of tariffs on exports to the United States. …

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was now up to the European Union to be united. No EU member state on their own can manage the upcoming challenges, she said. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241107-european-leaders-make-plea-for-trump-to-support-ukraine-and-avoid-trade-wars

Trump’s stated preference is to reset the supply chains to US advantage, either through eye-wateringly high tariffs or ensuring greater post-manufacture assembly of foreign goods in the US. These are high stakes indeed. The US is the EU’s biggest trade partner, with ever-increasing volumes of goods and services being purchased.

Is Europe prepared?

Not only has the European Commission been sharpening its teeth on a number of trade, tech, AI and investment-related mechanisms designed to keep Trump-upmanship at bay. But the highly anticipated trade war has already been prepared for, at least in terms of protecting the EU’s financial interests.

The European Commission is focused on increasing the EU’s overall self-sufficiency in big tech, including climate tech and raw materials. This will likely invite arguments with the US, as well as unresolved arguments over steel. 11/07/24 https://theconversation.com/what-trumps-return-might-mean-for-europe-and-how-its-starting-to-prepare-for-the-challenges-242715

Yes, there are fears and concerns in Europe about trade wars and Donald Trump. But as European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated, Europe will need to stand more unified together to deal with this. And the EU will take steps.

Notice also the following related to China:

China’s Xi warns Trump as renewed trade war looms: We will ‘lose from confrontation’

November 8, 2024 https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6364403794112

No winners in trade wars, says Chinese envoy, as U.S. confrontation looms

November 7, 2024

BEIJING (Reuters) -There are no winners in tariff or trade wars, nor in wars over science and technology or industry, said China’s top envoy to the United States, as Donald Trump’s presidential election win raised the spectre of another bruising confrontation with China. …

Trump takes office in January.

The Republican has vowed to adopt blanket 60% tariffs on U.S. imports of Chinese goods compared with the 7.5% to 25% levied in his first term. …

Analysts said China would be ready to fight back if a new trade war were to erupt.

“Even in the unlikely event that we saw a sudden thaw in U.S.-China ties, Beijing will continue to prioritise self-sufficiency and economic security,” said Joe Mazur, senior analyst at Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China.

“If (tariffs) were to happen, I think we would start to see some pretty aggressive retaliation from the Chinese side. The calculus here would likely be that playing nice really didn’t get China anywhere and that striking back hard might cause the U.S. to think twice about pressuring China economically.” https://finance.yahoo.com/news/no-winners-trade-industrial-wars-063330357.html

Yes, there are trade concerns that the Europeans have about Donald Trump.

Here is some of what I warned about in my January 2017 book Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse:

Trade

Donald Trump has stated his firm opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP).[i] However, various members of his staff support it. Without something like TPP, many nations who were involved with it are likely to move closer to China, as opposed to away from it as China was not part of TPP.[ii]

Donald Trump’s election has been pointed to as the end of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) trade agreement involving the USA and Europe.[iii]

Donald Trump has called for “fair trade” and indicated that various nations, including several in Asia, are not engaged in fair trade, so he has proposed high tariffs.[iv]

Some believe that Donald Trump’s positions on trade will lead to a global trade war that could trigger some type of international war.[v] It is my position that trade disputes will be a factor in Europe taking military action against the U.S.A. one day.

[i] ^{Trade: Donald J. Trump’s Vision. https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/trade accessed December 16, 2016}

[ii] ^{Timiraos N. Donald Trump Is Staffing His Administration with TPP Supporters. Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2016}

[iii] ^{Kassam R. EU Accepts TTIP Deal Dead Due To Trump Presidency.Breibart, November 11, 2016}

[iv] ^{Trade: Donald J. Trump’s Vision. https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/trade accessed December 16, 2016}

[v] ^{Katasonov V. Only One Step Away from a Global Trade War. Strategic Culture Foundation, December 12, 2016}

Notice also something else I wrote years ago:

• Donald Trump has already offended the Europeans, with his trade and other policies, though he gets along with some. Despite a certain accuracy in his statements related to NATO, the result will not turn out quite as Donald Trump expects. Some of his statements may be leading 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)–and some in Europe have looked forward to Donald Trump’s rise for their own agenda as they believe “Trump presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for emancipation from American influence” (see ‘Why Europe Secretly Roots For Donald Trump’?).

Since the above was posted, the Europeans have been working on getting involved with infrastructure projects in Asia and elsewhere to improve its trade and international influence as well as become less dependent upon trade with the USA.

Yet, the Bible prophesies that Europe will, for a time, dominate the world economically.

Europe has been working on this for decades–but the election, and now re-election, of Donald Trump will motivate Europe to accelerate some of its steps.

Now, when what became the European was called the European Community, the old Worldwide Church of God published the following:

Beyond Europe’s Present Crisis COLOSSUS IN THE MAKING

… the business of the European Community is not just business.

Although the EC’s field of action is largely economic, its founders’ aims were essentially political. From the start, European planners envisioned the Community as the nucleus of a future political “United States of Europe” with a centralized political authority. Economic integration would be only the start. The ultimate product would be an entirely new political entity!

Many, even in those early years, saw the Community evolving into a strong politico-economic power, a European counterweight to Soviet Russia.

And indeed, strides have been made over the years in the political arena. In June 1979, for example, voters in the EC member nations went to the polls to choose, for the first time, directly elected representatives to the enlarged and strengthened European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. This was an enormous milestone in European history.

But the old nemesis of self-centered nationalism still impedes progress. As yet, the EC’s decision-making institutions are invested with few substantial powers. Only minimal surrender of national sovereignty has taken place.

National self-interest still dictates governments’ positions in EC negotiations, notably in the area of agricultural policy. Quarrels over how the EC spends its money have even prompted some observers to suggest the possibility of a Common Market collapse!

The EC faces a series of crucial decisions in the near future. Most Europeans realize there can be no going back. Many remain hopeful that the remaining years of this century will yet witness a coherent, full-functioning United States of Europe.

And they are right!

Foretold Long Ago

Bible prophecy — as so often explained in the pages of this magazine — reveals that a powerful New Europe is on the horizon!

The Bible foretells a gigantic world-trading system to be formed in our time, possessing worldwide political power and influence. Ultimately, this prophesied New Europe will possess greater population, greater industrial and economic capacity, and greater military power than either the Soviet Union or the United States now possesses!

Nearly a quarter century ago, editor in chief Herbert W. Armstrong declared with reference to the newly created Common Market:

“It is one of the crucial developments of world history. It is bringing to life a slumbering giant. It is developing into — creating — a GIANT NEW WORLD POWER, that will be mightier than either Russia or the United States! It is swiftly, dynamically, fulfilling PROPHECY! It is resurrecting the ROMAN EMPIRE!” (Plain Truth, September 1961).

The dream of a united Europe has permeated the history of the Continent. The original Roman Empire fell in A.D. 476. But Bible prophecy revealed it was to be restored again and again over the centuries. The most recent attempt to revive the Roman Empire was by Benito Mussolini. Today we see the last resurrection of the Roman Empire springing to economic life! It will be composed of 10 nations or blocs of nations — but not necessarily the 10 now associated in the EC.

The final political union in Europe will not come about through slow, evolutionary means, but suddenly — in reaction to dire external threats to the Continent’s very existence! The “founding father” of the Common Market, Jean Monnet, foresaw this when he remarked that “necessity is the real federator.” The years just ahead will provide the specific events that will t rigger the final, sudden, desperate fusion of Europe.

Moreover, prophecy reveals that religion will have its part to play in inspiring enthusiasm for European unity. The Roman Catholic Church, locked in a struggle with Soviet atheism and U.S. secular consumerism, will reassume its historic role as a “glue” for Europe, cementing together the diverse peoples and cultures of the Continent.

New Superpower

The stage is set.

Europe stands on the threshold of unparalleled world power. By virtue of its economic dynamism, political muscle and continuing need for Middle Eastern oil, the coming United Europe will be in a position to reshape the geopolitical balance of the world! (Stump K. Beyond Europe’s Present Crisis COLOSSUS IN THE MAKING. Plain Truth, September 1984)

The stage is being set for Europe. It is working on having more unity and more international economic reach. Donald Trump is also a public motivator for the Europeans.

Yet, Europe will have economic distress before it unites to fulfill its prophesied economic dominance on the world. But for a time it will succeed.

Notice some of what is shown in places such as Revelation 18 discussing some of the reach of the end time European Babylon:

3 … all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:3)

9 The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her … 19 in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (Revelation 18:9,19)

Europe does not have to be perfect to do this, but perceived for a time, as the best economic option for the world.

Although it does not look like that now to most people, Europe is prophesied to do so.

Trade will be a factor in what can be called World War III–and this war will be a conflict with Europe (but the ‘shooting’ aspect of this will not happen before 2028; for some details, see When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?).

We continue to see steps that are leading up to it.

Amsterdam Square where attacks began
(Photo Dragan Jankovic Faza by via WIkipedia)

COGwriter

Although Jesus said:

43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45)

Most take a different view.

There is a lot of anti-Semitism around the world, and this includes the Dutch capitol of Amsterdam which has long prided itself on its “tolerance.”

Here are two reports about attacks against Jews that happened there:

Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam

November 8, 2024

Leading political figures in the Netherlands have condemned a night of violence in Amsterdam, after Israeli soccer fans visiting the city were attacked in the streets.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on social media he had followed updates over the “antisemitic attacks” on Israeli supporters of the Tel Aviv Maccabi soccer team “with horror,” and said the violence had been “completely unacceptable,” while Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said on social media he plans to travel to the Netherlands urgently for an “unplanned visit.”

Saar called the attack “a blaring alarm call for Europe and the world,” that allowed “unbridled hatred to roam the streets with impunity.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially described it as a “very violent incident.”

Amsterdam police said 62 people have been arrested following several clashes between the Israeli fans and Amsterdam residents in the city center late into the evening.

In a news conference Friday, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema condemned what she called “hit-and-run” attacks on the visiting fans, who had traveled to watch their team take on the Dutch giants Ajax in an annual soccer tournament that involves teams from across Europe.

She said local men on scooters had sought out Israeli fans for several hours, in what she described as a threat to Jewish life and culture in Amsterdam. https://www.npr.org/2024/11/08/nx-s1-5183812/israeli-soccer-fans-attacked-in-amsterdam

Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam ambushed by gangs of anti-Israel attackers shouting ‘Free Palestine,’ Netanyahu sends planes to evacuate citizens

November 8, 2024

Hundreds of Israeli soccer fans were hunted down and viciously assaulted by gangs of anti-Israel thugs shouting “Free Palestine” in Amsterdam overnight – prompting the Jewish state to send rescue planes to help evacuate its terrified citizens, officials said Friday. …

Scores of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were set upon by rioters as they were leaving the stadium following a Europa League game against a Dutch team, AFC Ajax, late Thursday in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decried as a “planned antisemitic attack.”

At least 10 Israelis were left injured, including five who had to be hospitalized, the Times of Israel reported, citing officials.  …

Netanyahu directed two rescue planes to be flown to Amsterdam to assist Israeli citizens, his office said early Friday.

The Israeli National Security Council also urged Israelis to hunker down in their hotel rooms and avoid going out on the street or wearing any visible Jewish or Israeli symbols in the wake of the attack. …

“Once again, we are forced to witness that the world has failed to learn from the dark lessons of history as Jewish blood is once again shed with impunity,” Yaakov Hagoel, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, said in a statement.  …

Ahead of the game, video showed large crowds of Israeli supporters chanting pro-IDF messages and police pushing several anti-Israel protesters away from a Maccabi fan gathering in a square earlier in the day.

Antisemitism has skyrocketed since Hamas terrorists carried out a deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, leading to a wider and ongoing conflict in Gaza. https://nypost.com/2024/11/08/world-news/israeli-soccer-fans-ambushed-in-amsterdam-after-europa-league-game-in-netherlands/

There is a lot of anti-Semitism around the world, and what just happened was horrible.

Note that the persecutors were hunting down Jews.

As far as the starting location shown above, my wife, son David, and I have walked by that square many times. The area seemed safe, but in this age, even “safe” appearing places can be dangerous as many Jews found out last night.

The Bible teaches

8 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

But there are people who hold hateful grudges.

Yes, many want Jews gone and some of them also want Christians gone.

There was a poem many years ago by Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

So, yes, some came for the Jews in Amsterdam.

It is not just Jews that are hated or will be in the future. Throughout history, true Christians have sometimes been called “Jews” and have been subject to persecution supposedly directed towards Jews. True Christians also had to suffer through the so-called Inquisition (see The Spanish Inquisition), which utilized torture against those that had Church of God beliefs–and more is expected in the future (see Persecutions by Church and State).

Protestant leaders, including Martin Luther, have also promoted antisemitism and Church of God persecution (see The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong) as have various ones who were Eastern Orthodox (see John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Antisemite).

Real Christians have always been on the side of being persecuted and have never been on the side of the persecutors. And this will be true again in the future.

People should not be antisemitic. People should not hate others.

It is not just certain Muslims who hate Jews–many who claim Christ still hold anti-Semitic views, and some take direct anti-Semitic actions.

Sadly, we will see persecution greatly increase before Jesus returns (cf. Daniel 7:25; 11:30-35; see also Persecutions by Church and State)–this will affect Philadelphian Christians.

All the faithful will be subject to persecution and being betrayed by professing believers (Matthew 24:9-13, Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16-18; Daniel 11:32-35).

Even though it looks like last night’s attackers were mainly Islamic, the underlying antisemitism in Europe and throughout the world will allow for future persecution, especially when the time comes when the Beast’s government mandates it (Revelation 13:15-17).

This will happen in Europe according to Revelation 13.

In the past, Christians were persecuted because they:

• Claimed Christianity
• Kept Passover on the 14th
• Refused to eat unclean meat
• Would work on Sunday
• Had false accusations railed against them
• Were binitarian
• Kept the Sabbath on Saturday
• Kept the Fall Holy Days
• Were not trinitarian
• Taught that the pope was an Antichrist and precursor of the final Antichrist
• Having and teaching from the Bible
• Rejected papal authority
• Did not accept idols
• Had different teachings than the Church of Rome
• Had writings Rome did not like
• Rejected Roman sacraments
• Objected to the dress of the Roman ministry
• Considered Rome to be the prophesied Babylon
• Taught that in the time of the final Antichrist that some would fall away
• Had practices that Rome considered Jewish
• Refused to baptize infants
• Did not participate in carnal warfare
• Teaching the millennium
• Taught the Kingdom of God
• Baptized adults

In the future, according to Catholic teachings, they will also be persecuted for:

• Not accepting non-biblical teachings about Mary
• Not accepting the Great Monarch (Beast, King of the North)
• Teaching that the Kingdom of God will come soon
• Not wearing crosses as a mark (cf. Revelation 13:16-17; see also Mark of the Beast)
• Keeping the biblical Sabbath in accordance with the commandments
• Possessing/advocating writings that disagree with the Church of Rome
• Teaching after the Great Tribulation begins that Jesus will return within a few years

Christians have been persecuted for holding doctrines that we in the Continuing Church of God hold and are clearly expected to be persecuted in the future for holding Continuing Church of God doctrines.

Persecution is a fact of history. It has happened before and we should be prepared for the fact that it will happen again.

Jesus said that His followers would sometimes have to flee:

23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23).

Severe persecution is expected to occur against the Sabbath-keeping Philadelphian Christians just prior to the time the true Church is to flee (please see the article There is a Place of Protection for the Philadelphians):

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. 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. (Matthew 24:9-20)

And then will come the Great Tribulation:

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. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand (Matthew 24:21-25).

It may well be that Philadelphian Christians in Europe, Latin America, and elsewhere may decide that they need to flee to the tiny nation of Israel prior to the start of the Great Tribulation. And that may be why Jesus made comments about fleeing Judea (watch also What is the Fate of Christians in Europe and Elsewhere?).

Jesus indicates that the end time persecution may be the biggest test of faith for believers. Notice:

7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:7-8)

The Bible and the facts of history have revealed persecutions for the people of God. While false Christians have also been persecuted, true Christians have never been the persecutors as true Christians “do not imitate what is evil” (3 John 11). Those who really want to know what happened to the true Church of God should begin with the The History of Early Christianity page.

The Bible shows that end time persecution will come (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:13,17).

The underlying anti-Semitism in Europe and throughout the world will allow for this, especially when the time comes when the Beast’s government mandates it (Revelation 13:15-17).

Old New World Order seal (Ipankonin)

COGwriter

Notice the following relating to a view about Donald Trump and certain international matters:

Trump’s New World Order: His ‘plans to end Ukraine war with 800-mile buffer zone’ and what his victory means for the rest of the world

Updated 8 November 2024

Donald Trump‘s dominant victory in this week’s US presidential election has left politicians, captains of industry and military chiefs the world over scrambling to calibrate their approaches ahead of his return to office. …

Russia’s war with Ukraine is rumbling on toward its third year, the Middle East has been plunged into chaos amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, and America’s great power rivalry with China is at its most tense.

Trump’s approach to these highly charged and complex problems remains to be seen, though a recent report claimed his transition office is considering a proposal that would seek to freeze the conflict in Ukraine with an ‘800-mile demilitarised zone’.

That is unlikely to be welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his European partners …

With that in mind, it is difficult to see how such a plan could be pushed through other than by strong-arming Kyiv with threats of withholding sorely needed US military aid.

This would dramatically undermine Washington’s relations with all of Europe and call into question the legitimacy of NATO.

Some analysts and politicians have cautioned it could even embolden the likes of China to capitalise on the West’s perceived disunity and seek to expand its influence in the Pacific. …

Trump’s previous administration slapped tariffs on EU steel and aluminium in 2018, prompting Europeans to retaliate with duties on US-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans, among other items.

This time round, Trump has floated the idea of imposing a blanket 10% tariff on all goods imported into the US, with the possibility of higher rates on high-value items.

Goldman Sachs economists estimate that if Trump went ahead with his tariffs, their direct effect plus the trade uncertainty they would generate could cost the eurozone countries at least one percentage point of GDP growth.

Finland‘s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said he was concerned about the prospect of a trade war as economists warned of a scenario in which both sides ramped up fees and more restrictive import measures. …

China’s growing aggression toward US-allied regional neighbours, particularly Taiwan, is also a significant factor.

The self-governed island also elected a new leader earlier this year, Lai Ching-te, who has angered Beijing on several occasions with his staunchly pro-sovereign rhetoric.

Trump has unnerved the democratically governed island, having declared that Taiwan should pay the US for its defence while complaining its advanced semiconductor industry had taken business away from America.

Taiwan may therefore feel the need to demonstrate it takes Donald Trump’s ‘protection’ money demand seriously. …

Most analysts agree that Washington’s support for Israel is likely to increase as Trump is expected to take a tougher stance toward regional foe Iran.

But analysts are split over what such support might look like and whether Trump will give Israel free rein to continue its military offensives in Gaza and Lebanon …

Trump will be intent on safeguarding US interests in Africa and likely cannot afford to implement any dramatic cuts in aid or investment as a result. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14053195/Trump-new-world-order-election-plan-Ukraine-Israel-Russia-China-Middle-East.html

Now, notice a tweet from Elon Musk related to Donald Trump’s election:

Novus Ordo Seclorum pic.twitter.com/RKTU7pATXl

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2024

Novus Ordo Seclorum means New World Order.

The following is view is from Leo Hohmann who has concerns about mainly the domestic ramifications of the re-election of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s New World Order:

Elon Musk declares ‘New World Order’; Patrick Wood describes ‘TechnoPopulism’ and the appeal of Trump: ‘Like a moth into the flame’

Warning signs and words of caution for thinking conservatives as we head into Trump 2.0

November 7, 2024

Many Americans, myself included, feel a strong sense of relief not to have another four years of Marxocrat rule from the likes of Kamala Harris. Content creators like myself were seriously worried we might get a “knock at the door” from federal storm troopers had Harris been elected. She seemed to hate us that much.

But we cannot sit back and tune out now that Trump has won, thinking he will fix all of the many problems America is faced with.

Closing the open border and “drill baby drill” will not fix America, folks. And, sadly, that’s all many of the most dedicated Trumpsters seem to care about.

In some ways, the deception is stronger under a Republican regime. At least we know what to expect from the Democrats, who show outright contempt for Christianity. They hate us and hate our values.

Leo Hohmann is correct with the hinting that the view toward writers on the internet, that do not agree with the government on various matters, was at risk and that many in the US federal government hate those who hold to what has been called Christian values. Now, back to his article:

Trump presents us with problems that, while different from the Biden-Harris Marxist wing of the Uniparty, are every bit as worrisome and much more deceptive. Trump is not as sound on the Second Amendment as most Americans think. He is on the record in support of the insidious “red flag laws” that allow the government to seize your weapons without due process, and he was the president who banned bump stocks. Nor will he be as solidly pro-life as he was even in his first term.

But the biggest concern is Trump’s connection to wealthy technocrats and transhumanists like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.

Musk is in bed with China and claims to be for free speech. But at what cost? In a post to X on Wednesday, Musk showed a picture of himself with Donald Trump and declared the dawning of a “Novus Ordo Seclorum”— or a new order of the ages. That’s not exactly music to the ears of a Christian conservative who is familiar with the history of that Latin phrase and its connection to Free Masonry.

Trump tends to lean too heavily on his advisers and he often picks deep-state actors. … Trump actually sat down with evil Bill Gates early on in his first term and let Gates convince him to embrace vaccines. On what planet does a Republican “America-first” president take any advice from arguably the world’s most dangerous globalist predator, Bill Gates? https://leohohmann.substack.com/p/elon-musk-declares-new-world-order

The idea of a new world order is not new. It is something that is publicly being promoted by the UN, World Economic Forum, numerous politicians, people like Bill Gates, various groups–including the Freemasons and the Vatican.

The Vatican, Eastern Orthodox, the World Council of Churches, and various interfaith organizations are working towards a non-biblical, new world order.

Related to the Freemasons, who also support the interfaith movement, the Continuing Church of God put out the following sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:16:04

Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome

What is Freemasonry? How long has it been around? Does Freemasonry point to cataclysms, such as Armageddon in 2022? Were many US founders and presidents Freemasons? Is there a difference between the USA/UK Freemasons and those in continental Europe? Can a biblical Christian be a Freemason? Are Roman Catholics allowed to be Freemasons? Do the Freemasons have a plan that includes an ecumenical Pope? Are Rotarians Freemasons? What about the Illuminati? Are many conspiracies about the Freemasons false? Could Freemasonry play a role in the rise of Europe and the destruction of the Church of Seven Hills?

Here is a link to the sermon: Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome.

Now, in Leo Hohmann’s article, he also had this from Patrick Wood:

Indeed, I have warned for several years that the rise of Technopopulism, the synthesis of Technocracy and Populism, was inevitable. …

Another Harris/Biden/Obama administration undoubtedly would have ground America into a powder in short order. With a Trump administration bonded with prominent Technocrats, it will take longer – UNLESS we mitigate the Technocrat influence and ensure they don’t get into policy-making positions in government.

My work on Technocracy is mature and well-positioned to help America refute Technopopulism. Globalism and Technocracy are not a fait accompli, but they are dangerous enemies that must be taken seriously. …

The only valid observation here is that Technocrats are always in demand by political leaders, who have no reservation about using them to further political objectives. Political administrations come and go, but the underlying Technocrats continue on uninterrupted.

In today’s world, the curious attraction between Populists and Technocrats is akin to a moth being attracted to the flame: Populists cannot prevent being ultimately dominated and burned by Technocrats.

Well, while some aspects appear attractive, there are reasons to be concerned about both technology and globalism. And yes, ultimately the world will be burned by the combination of humanist totalitarian leaders using technology (cf. Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 11:18).

While both technology and globalism are not yet, as Patrick Wood put it, a fait accompli, in the United States, that is the direction that the world is moving towards.

The Bible points to global tyranny coming from Europe and it will involve technology:

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

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

Donald Trump will NOT stop that from happening, though he may delay certain related aspects of it from coming to the USA soon. As, for one example, he said he opposes the US adopting a digital Central Bank Digital Currency (see https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/02/02/trump-calls-central-bank-digital-currency-very-dangerous-after-vowing-to-prohibit-feds-digital-dollar/). But that will NOT stop the Europeans from doing that, and I believe that Europe will have a digital currency in order to fulfill the prophecies in Revelation 13:16-17.

Anyway, just because Donald Trump is not as strident in supporting abortion and LGBTQ+ issues as Kamala Harris is, that does not mean that he will usher in utopia or some version of the Kingdom of God.

But do not be depressed either. Remember the words of Jesus:

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

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

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

Have the right biblical priorities, seek first the kingdom of God, and strive to have a blessed Sabbath.

Official Logo (from Wikipedia)

COGwriter

A new European report says that temperatures have been rising and 2024 looks to set another record:

European climate agency says this will likely be the hottest year on record — again

November 7, 2024

For the second year in a row, Earth will almost certainly be the hottest it’s ever been. And for the first time, the globe this year reached more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming compared to the pre-industrial average, the European climate agency Copernicus said Thursday.

“It’s this relentless nature of the warming that I think is worrying,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus.

Buontempo said the data clearly shows the planet would not see such a long sequence of record-breaking temperatures without the constant increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere driving global warming.

He cited other factors that contribute to exceptionally warm years like last year and this one. They include El Nino — the temporary warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather worldwide — as well as volcanic eruptions that spew water vapor into the air and variations in energy from the sun. But he and other scientists say the long-term increase in temperatures beyond fluctuations like El Nino is a bad sign.

“A very strong El Nino event is a sneak peek into what the new normal will be about a decade from now,” said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist with the nonprofit Berkeley Earth.

News of a likely second year of record heat comes a day after Republican Donald Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax” and promised to boost oil drilling and production, was reelected to the U.S. presidency. It also comes days before the next U.N. climate conference, called COP29, is set to begin in Azerbaijan. Talks are expected to focus on how to generate trillions of dollars to help the world transition to clean energies like wind and solar, and thus avoid continued warming.

Buontempo pointed out that going over the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold of warming for a single year is different than the goal adopted in the 2015 Paris Agreement. That goal was meant to try to cap warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times on average, over 20 or 30 years. https://www.voanews.com/a/european-climate-agency-says-this-will-likely-be-the-hottest-year-on-record—-again-/7854854.html

Since scripture points to higher heat coming (Revelation 16:9), the Bible shows that COP29 will not be able to possibly stop that.

Trump win worries international partners ahead of COP29 climate summit

November 7, 2024
WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) – Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election has darkened the outlook for a strong deal at the COP29 climate summit next week and will increase pressure on Europe and China to lead international progress in curbing planetary warming, according to climate negotiators.

Trump, who has called climate change a hoax, has said he plans to withdraw the U.S. from the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement at the start of his second presidency, and his policy advisers have floated removing the U.S. from the underlying UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1992.

Climate negotiators and observers preparing for the COP29 conference from Nov. 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, said Trump’s decisive win over Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s poll reduces the ability of countries to agree a new global finance target, or increase the pool of countries that should contribute – goals for the summit. …

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cancelled plans to attend COP29, a chancellery spokesperson confirmed to Reuters, due to an unfolding political crisis at home.

Failure to land a strong climate finance deal would be a particularly big setback for the 45-country group of Least Developed Countries in U.N. climate negotiations, which is demanding countries pay up. …

TRANSITION WILL SURVIVE

One climate minister from Latin America said that while the return of pro-oil drilling Trump and his likely Paris withdrawal are a setback to global climate efforts, the deployment of renewables is attracting trillions of dollars in investments and will continue despite his political maneuvers.

“The election feels like a slap in the face to climate progress, but it won’t stop the global push for clean energy,” the official said. “Sticking with fossil fuels is a dead end.”

Germany’s Morgan agreed.

“We have seen over the past years, through various election results, that the implementation of the Paris Agreement has gone forward,” she said. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/trump-win-worries-international-partners-ahead-cop29-climate-summit-2024-11-07/

Even though the world HAS NOT been living up to the Paris Accords, the US looks like it will be blamed in the future. Europe thinks it has the moral highground on this (see https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/11/06/trump-victory-casts-shadow-over-upcoming-cop-global-climate-talks) and one day will consider that the US is so immoral that it needs to be eliminated, consistent with several biblical prophecies.

That said, there is a solution to ‘climate change,’ but the political and religious leaders of this world will not heed it.

Related to COP27, we put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Here is a link to our video: COP 27 and Solving Climate Change.

The Bible does reveal that there is a solution to pollution and ‘climate change.’

Disobedience to God is the cause of it and obeying and turning to the true God is the solution.

But, partially because of Donald Trump and his stated policies, the US will be blamed for the world not hitting its climate goals. Goals that it was not meeting otherwise.

The Bible is also clear that the world will NOT fix problems with the environment as it will take the return of Jesus who will destroy the destroyers of the earth:

18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth. (Revelation 11:18)

Since the United States will be conquered years before Jesus returns, note that it is not the US that the above prophecy is specifically referring to–despite past, current, and expected future condemnations of the US by Europe and others.

That said, while Christians do not want to promote pollution, temperature records are going to be broken and new ones set consistent with prophecies such as the following:

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.  (Revelation 16:8-9)

The solution is to turn to God and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness as Jesus said (cf. Matthew 6:33).

Some items of related interest may include:

The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? Here is a link to a related sermon: Christians and the Environment (there is also a YouTube video available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy, one titled Will Pollution lead to the End?, and one called COP 27 and Solving Climate Change).
Christian Health Matters Should Christians be concerned about their health? Does the Bible give any food and health guidelines? Here are links to three related sermons: Let’s Talk About Food, Evil is Affecting the Food Supply, and Let’s Talk About Health.
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? Two related sermons are available Millennial Utopia and The Millennium.
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 titledWhen Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
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.
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.
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video sermon of related interest is: Will the Interfaith Movement lead to World War III? and a video sermon is also available: Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
Laudato Si: Pope’s Agenda or Kingdom of God? Pope Francis’ 2nd encyclical is titled ‘Laudato Si.’ In it, he goes over his views related to environmental, economic, social, moral, agricultural, and spiritual issues. He advocates international cooperation to solve various problems he believes are affecting humanity. Is that Pope’s agenda the solution? What about the Kingdom of God? does the Bible teach? Two related articles include Laudato Si: Will Pope Francis’ economic actions match his words? and Laudato Si: A call for a one-world government?

German newspaper front covers

COGwriter

The German press appears shocked and horrified about Donald Trump’s re-election. Here is a report from the German Deutsche Welle news about that:

‘The nightmare’: Germany’s media react to Trump’s victory

Updated 7 November 2024

Donald Trump’s US election victory dominated German headlines on Wednesday and Thursday, even as the country faced its own domestic political crisis.

The election was seen as a referendum on issues like migration and economic policy at home, but also pivotal for geopolitical issues around the world.

Germany’s most widely-read tabloid Bild said the election outcome was “the last warning signal for our government”…

An opinion poll held days before the vote found that 74% of Germans supported Kamala Harris whereas only 11% supported Trump.

Yet Trump was “exactly the man that Americans wanted,” according to one of Germany’s newspapers of record, the center-left, Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ).

“They want Trump,” added the US correspondent for the center-left magazine Der Spiegel. …

National broadcaster ARD’s flagship news program, Tagesschau, said on its website that “the outcome of the US election is likely to mean further shocks for German politics.” …

A sense of impending doom

Other newspapers were more blunt. …

Die Zeit, a centrist, weekly paper, also ran an article … {where}

the author compared their experience watching the US election to seeing a mushroom cloud on the horizon.

“When Trump was president last time, he could not stop raving about the size, power and functionality of his red button,” the author added.

On the same website, other articles about Trump’s win had titles including “The nightmare” and “Now he can do what he wants.” https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-media-react-to-donald-trumps-us-election-victory-v2/a-70715243

Yes, the re-election of Donald Trump is causing fear and horror among various ones in Germany–and elsewhere.

The above article translated the headlines of the front covers of the two German newspapers shown at the beginning of this post as ‘All power to Trump’ and ‘The danger in the White House.’

Consider something posted here one day BEFORE the US election in 2016:

If Donald Trump is elected, the Germans will see this as proof that they cannot rely on the USA for their defense, etc. Germany will push for a European army. Some in Europe actually want Donald Trump to win for this basic reason (see ‘Why Europe Secretly Roots For Donald Trump’?). (Thiel B. Germans opposed to Donald Trump, but not too optimistic about Hillary Clinton. COGwriter, November 7, 2016)

Was that confirmed?

Yes.

By November 11, 2016, German leaders did so, with at least one doing so publicly (see Thiel B. As foretold here, more calls for a European army! Guttenberg: ‘There will be a terrible awakening for Europe’. COGwriter, November 11, 2016). In addition, a survey in late December 2016 found that the majority of Germans want to build a formidable European army. (Thiel B. Majority of Germans want a European army. COGwriter, December 30, 2016). In 2017, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe should now longer be naive and rely on others for defense (Thiel B. Donald Trump says he’s a ‘stable genius’ as Europe is driven to arm. COGwriter, January 6, 2018).

Furthermore, in November 2018, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

9:49

Germany and World War 3

Could preparations for WWIII began? German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron called for a European army to be independent of the USA and NATO. One of the reasons was to be able to protect against the USA. Is the fourth German reich in progress? What does the Bible teach about Germany, Europe, and WW3? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: Germany and World War 3.

With another Donald Trump term on the horizon, Germany will take more steps!

The Bible shows that Europe will have a great army (Daniel 11:25). Because of Donald Trump and other factors, the Europeans have been taking more steps towards one.

Now there are economic and other concerns in Germany related to Donald Trump. Notice a report from Fortune:

As Germany lurches from crisis to crisis, analysts fear ‘tariff man’ Trump could be 2025’s disaster

November 7, 2024

The German economy has been plagued with economic (and now political) problems in the last few years, and analysts expect that to worsen under President-elect Donald Trump.

The self-proclaimed “tariff man” has repeatedly affirmed plans to impose additional levies of 10-20% across the board and has made no secret of targeting the likes of Germany.

“They don’t take our cars. They don’t take our farm products. They sell millions and millions of cars in the United States. No, no, no, they are going to have to pay a big price,” Trump said at a rally last week, in reference to European countries.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy and one of America’s largest trading partners in the region, exported twice as much to the U.S. as it imported, thanks to Germany’s manufacturing prowess. However, Trump has a problem with that disparity and wants to remedy it.

Analysts expect Trump’s tariff plan to hit Germany particularly hard, with its GDP shrinking 0.6% as a direct result of the tariffs.

“While the 10% across-the-board tariff is a clear risk, our baseline expectation is that Trump imposes a more limited set of tariffs on Europe, including on autos-related imports worth $80bn, worth 0.9% of EU exports,” Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a note Wednesday.

The analysis assumes that European countries, which collectively form the U.S.’s biggest trading partner, will impose retaliatory tariffs of the same level. …

Aggravated trade tensions are the last thing Germany needs right now. While the country is a force to be reckoned with in the region, it’s on the verge of economic decay, impacting its biggest industries as well as political turmoil that’s caused its government to break down.  …

For its part, Europe seems to be bracing for Trump 2.0 by finding avenues to strike a deal on exports. The region may have to impose further protective measures to prevent too much of a blow to industries like automobiles, which are the most exposed to U.S. trade.  …

“We must be prepared for the U.S. to distance itself further from open, global cooperation,” Lisandra Flach, director of the ifo Center for International Economics, said. “Germany and the EU must now strengthen their position through measures of their own.” https://fortune.com/europe/2024/11/07/germany-crisis-tariffs-trump-2025/

In addition to military steps, Germany will decide it has to take economic steps. But one economic step will include switching from the production of as many consumer items to an increased production of military ones. There will be many unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s policies.

Donald Trump’s re-election will be interpreted as another wake-up call for Europe in general, and Germany in particular, to take economic and military steps to be able to function more independently from the United States.

Since the Bible says that will happen (cf. the 13th, 17th, and 18th chapter of the Book of Revelation as well as Daniel 11:39-44 and Isaiah 10:5-11), this may be one of the reasons that God allowed for the re-election of Donald Trump.

That being said, Germany is also currently experiencing a political crisis:

Germany faces sudden turmoil after ruling coalition collapses

November 7, 2024

Germany’s government coalition has collapsed in dramatic fashion after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats in a late-night move following a marathon of crisis meetings.

The three remaining ministers of the Free Democrats resigned in response, leading to the downfall of the government coalition. Scholz is expected to lead the country with a minority government, but the opposition is calling for an immediate no-confidence vote.

But early Thursday, Transport Minister Volker Wissing from the Free Democrats unexpectedly took back last night’s resignation and told reporters that after talking to Scholz, he had decided to stay on as minister and leave the party instead. …

Scholz’s left-leaning Social Democrats will now effectively lead a minority government with the remaining coalition partner, the environmentalist Greens. …

Achim Wambach from the Leibniz Center for European Economic Research cast doubt that a prolonged period with a minority government would help Germany’s economy get back on track.

“Germany’s problems are too big to tolerate political gridlock,” the analyst said.

“The government set out to reconcile the transformation towards climate neutrality with economic growth and social security,” the analyst said in a statement. “It has not lived up to this claim. The economy is stagnating and investments are failing to materialize.”

“This daunting task was compounded by geo-economic tensions: wars in Europe and the Middle East as well as economically damaging interventions through tariffs and national subsidy policies,” he added. “ The election of Donald Trump has exacerbated these problems. Europe must do more for its security and will have to reckon with increased tariffs.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/germany-faces-sudden-turmoil-ruling-coalition-collapses-rcna179078

Irrespective of how that ends up, German governmental matters look to also be helping set the stage for a strong man to rise up in Germany.

Remember that when Germany faced massive economic problems after its defeat in WWI, a little known strong man named Adolf Hitler arose.

Back in 2016, the Continuing Church of God put out this sermonette from its ContinuingCOG channel:

Boris Johnson, the former Mayor of London, stated that the European Union wanted to be what Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte tried to create. Duncan Smith agreed. But European Council President Donald Tusk called Johnson’s comments absurd and then stated that the EU was the answer to the problems facing Europe. But what does the Bible teach about the future of Europe? Is European unity the answer or will it usher in something worse than Adolph Hitler? Dr. Thiel quotes Jesus and others in the Bible for those who truly want to know what will happen in a unified Europe.

Here is a link to our video: European Unity to be like Hitler?

Another strongman will arise in Germany.

Notice some items from the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God that were published last century related to a coming strong man in Europe (bolding mine):

Watch the emergence of a strong man in West Germany (Hogberg G and Walter EM. NATO at the Crossroads. Plain Truth, May 1969)

The attempt to unify Europe as one economic, military and political power bloc restoring the “Holy Roman Empire,” has been the one aim of all the “great” men who dominated European history from Napoleon’s “Waterloo” until now. Mussolini, dominating Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, Libya, and conquering Ethiopia, did officially name his weak “Empire” the “Roman Empire.” But now the dream of a mighty, powerful, resurrected Roman Empire at last is becoming a hard-driving reality.

… nations of United Europe have succeeded in their aim far beyond the wildest dreams of the original signers of the Treaty of Rome. In far less time, at a far greater pace than anticipated, these nations of Europe have risen from the economic chaos of World War II to the dizzying heights of a standard of living never known to them before! With the present success well beyond the proportions of that expected three years ago, with a future success — in a world of peace — sure to produce a near — utopia, Western Europe is more concerned about war than any other economic and political entity on the face of this earth! “This is very probably the last year in which anyone except Europe will be able to negotiate with the Soviet Union for Europe!” (London Sunday Times). These nations are ENJOYING their economic recovery and they will let nothing stand in its way — they will stop at nothing to keep ‘What they have, and, GO ON TO MORE! SO it is that a blueprint has been drawn up by the Six, that demands meetings among themselves to decide the MILITARY AND FOREIGN POLICY questions that come up regarding Europe! …

“Fascism in Europe is about to be reborn in respectable business attire, and the Treaty of Rome will finally be implemented to its fullest extent.. the dream of a Holy Roman, Empire returning to power to dominate and direct the so-called forces of Christian mankind of the Western world is not dead, but still stalks through the antechambers of every national capital of continental Western Europe… IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE LEADERS IN THE COMMON MARKET NATIONS TO RESTORE THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE WITH ALL THAT THAT MEANS!” (Northwest Technocrat, Vol. XXV, No. 205.) United within the ancient boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire; united by the common spiritual bond of universal Catholicism; united in a burgeoning and booming industrial economy that dominates today’s world; united geographically in the most productive and industrial complex of all the earth — at least TEN NATIONS OF MODERN EUROPE WILL MARCH ONTO THE SCENE OF WORLD HISTORY AS THE GREATEST SINGLE HUMAN FORCE EVER SEEN BY MAN! (Hill DJ. What is Germany’s Destiny? Plain Truth, March 1962)

The prophecy of Daniel 11 details events — at that time, still future — from the remaining days of the Medo-Persian empire, through the reign of Alexander the Great and his successors in Syria and Egypt, and on through to the second coming of Christ! Beginning in verse 40 we read of a conflict between two great powers: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind….”

This is an important “end-time” prophecy. Following the chronological progression of the chapter, it becomes apparent that the phrase “king of the north” had at first referred to Syria under the Seleucid dynasty, and later, in the New Testament times, to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. … Thus, in its final end-time application, the “king of the north” is the prophesied strong man who will lead a coming union of ten European nations — the seventh and final revival of the ancient Roman Empire prophesied by Daniel and in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 17:12-13).

But who is the “king of the south”? In the earlier portions of Daniel 11, the phrase refers without question to ancient Egypt under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty, later including Ethiopia which was annexed to Egypt. But in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end” … Its greater fulfillment is yet future! Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north” — called in Bible symbolism “the beast” — who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south” — an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly even bearing the very title Mahdi! And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head confrontation — possibly over oil — which will ultimately lead to devastating war in the Middle East!

King David of ancient Israel, in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the coming Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations — a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south” of Daniel 11 — a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world. …

But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11 — the leader of the German-led European union — will ultimately turn against the Arab “king of the south,” with disastrous consequences for the entire Middle East — both Jew and Arab alike. The entire region will be subjected to armed invasion! …

The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the face of invasion. Some of its component countries will be directly occupied by European troops. However, as revealed in Daniel 11:41, Jordan (the present-day descendants of Moab and Ammon) and Turkey (Edom) will escape occupation. Other Arab countries may also avoid full occupation, possibly remaining in some sort of limited alliance with United Europe. “Libya” (or Put, the North African Arabs) along with ” Ethiopia” (or Cush, certain black African nations) shall be “at his [the king of the north’s] steps” — or “following him” as some translations render it. (Stump K. THE ARAB WORLD IN PROPHECY. Plain Truth, December 1979)

And the Bible?

The Bible clearly shows that a reorganization will come to Europe and power will be given to a dictator:

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)

(More on the reorganization is discussed in the article: Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?)

The Bible shows that the European beast leader, also called the King of the North, will arise promising peace.

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. (Daniel 11:21-23, NKJV)

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

(To prove this leader will be European, please watch the video: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?)

Yes, Germany is in shock because of the re-election of Donald Trump.

Yes, one day Germany, and the rest of Europe, will reorganize and put in a strongman that the Bible refers to as the Beast and the King of the North.

This week’s election results in the United States look to be an impetus for that.

Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled and world events are aligning with them to be fulfilled.

(Pixabay image)

COGwriter

Europeans talk nice, but many are concerned about Donald Trump as CNBC reports:

Europe praises Trump’s victory amid wider fears of an impending economic nightmare

November 6, 2024

European officials have been quick to congratulate Donald Trump after he defeated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris to return to the White House, despite a stark realization that renewed economic warfare could be just around the corner.

European diplomats and their respective leaders have been preparing for the eventuality of a Trump victory for more than 12 months, placing a growing focus on policies that could protect the European economy from potential trade disputes.

Some European officials woke up to election results on Wednesday “not wanting to believe” them, several sources told CNBC.

“I am seeing it, [and] not wanting to believe,” said one EU official, who did not want to be named due to the sensitive nature of the transatlantic relationship. …

A second EU source, who also did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the relationship, said: “It is not great, again.” …

EU leaders are scheduled to meet for a regular meeting Thursday and Friday in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, which will provide them with an opportunity to discuss their future plans for the transatlantic relationship.

Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10% in tariffs on European nations, …

Trade with the United States is critical for European nations. The EU and the U.S. have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world, which reached an all-time high of 1.2 trillion euros ($1.29 trillion) in 2021, according to data from the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU.

Any additional tariffs could further pressure the already moribund economic growth levels across the EU.

“There will be a first discussion [on the outcome of the U.S. election] in Budapest,” a third anonymous EU source told CNBC Wednesday morning, regarding the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) which will start Nov. 7.

“We will see what sort of rhetoric [Trump] will have, but if it is not very different, the main challenge will be Ukraine,” the third diplomat said. “Our big focus is to keep the European unity,” the same diplomat said. …

ING analysts said that Europe’s “worst economic nightmare” has come true with the election of Trump.

“A looming new trade war could push the euro zone economy from sluggish growth into a full-blown recession. The already struggling German economy, which heavily relies on trade with the U.S., would be particularly hard hit by tariffs on European automotives,” said the team of analysts, led by James Knightley. …

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner warned there could be retaliation if the U.S. kicked off a trade war with the European Union.

“We need diplomatic efforts to convince whoever enters the White House that it’s not in the best interest of the U.S. to have a trade conflict with [the] European Union,” he said, adding, “We would have to consider retaliation.”  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/06/eu-reaction-to-us-election-2024.html

Trade war is a major concern that the Europeans have. Trade disputes between the US and Europe will happen.

Notice something I posted here the morning after Donald Trump’s election in 2016:

• Donald Trump has already offended the Europeans, with his trade and other policies, though he gets along with some. Despite a certain accuracy in his statements related to NATO, the result will not turn out quite as Donald Trump expects. Some of his statements may be leading 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)–and some in Europe have looked forward to Donald Trump’s rise for their own agenda as they believe “Trump presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for emancipation from American influence” (see ‘Why Europe Secretly Roots For Donald Trump’?). (Thiel B. How Will President-Elect Trump be Apocalyptic? Two false prophets exposed! COGwriter, November 9, 2016)

Since the above was posted, the Europeans have been working on getting involved with infrastructure projects in Asia and elsewhere to improve its trade and international influence (see More action on India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which is a subset of Europe’s ‘Global Gateway’ program and watch EU’s Global Gateway, Trade, and War?) as well as become less dependent upon trade with the USA.

Despite issues with the US, the Bible prophesies that Europe will, for a time, dominate the world economically (cf. Revelation chapter 18).

Also, notice that the Europeans are trying to use the election of Donald Trump to push their hopes for a more unified Europe.

As reported earlier here today (see Media declares Donald Trump won the election–now what?) the heads of France and Germany agreed to “work towards a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe in this new context.” In other words, Europe wants more unity and the ability to handle military needs without the US.

The truth is that some in Europe wanted Donald Trump to win so that they can use that as a reason to further arm. Politico reported the following:

‘Bitter medicine’: Why some EU officials quietly yearn for Trump

October 30, 2024

BRUSSELS — Here’s a dirty little secret about the U.S. presidential election: Some European officials think a victory by former President Donald Trump could be what the European Union needs to muscle up on defense and get tough on China.

“The return of Trump would be a beneficial shock that will enable the EU to move forward, like the pandemic or the energy crisis following the war in Ukraine,” said one senior EU diplomat who, like others quoted in this article, was granted anonymity to speak freely.

This view, shared confidentially by several EU diplomats and EU officials, doesn’t stem from affection for the Republican candidate or his policy proposals.

Nevertheless, a second Trump term would administer the “bitter medicine” a fractious EU needs to overcome its divisions and move forward as a bloc, six EU diplomats and officials conveyed to POLITICO.

A Trump presidency would be so hostile to Europe, the thinking goes, that the bloc would have no choice but to bolster its defense spending, …

As the Nov. 5 election draws near, don’t expect European officials to voice these views in public. Trump is deeply unpopular in most of Europe, and there are few political points to score from embracing him.

But officials have said it might be time to embrace autonomy, suggesting that Europe should prepare for a big change in EU-U.S. relations, no matter who is elected.

“Europeans must take their destiny into their own hands, regardless of who is elected U.S. president,” French Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad said on French TV last week. https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-eu-officials-china-union-policy-kamala-harris-medicine-ukraine-defense/

Yes, many in Europe want it to have a stronger military. The Bible says that Europe will end up with a “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40).

Donald Trump winning this election will further motivate the Europeans to arm more.

Expect Europe to push its PESCO projects harder now that Donald Trump won the election. PESCO was essentially put together and formally agreed to because of Donald Trump’s election in 2016.

In November 2018, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

15:25

PESCO and a Great European Army

In November 2018, French President Macron called for a “true European army” because of China, Russia, and the USA. Some others in Europe have echoed that sentiment. On November 9, 2018, US President Donald Trump called that an insult, but the next day said that the USA wanted “a very strong Europe.” Emmanuel Macron referred to Donald Trump as “my friend” and indicated a desire to strengthen Europe’s military spending. In December 2017, 25 European nations agreed to be part of a military alliance called PESCO. Europe also has NATO and IEI. Will Europe end up with “a great army”? Has Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty gotten some to say that Europe must rebel against the USA? Is the idea of a United States of Europe and a European army a “paranoid fantasy” or a biblical reality? Will the USA regret Europe becoming a stronger military power? Will the USA be betrayed by “friends” such as its continental European allies? Does the Bible teach any or all of this? Are there connections to the Beast of Revelation or the King of the North of Daniel 11? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.

Here is a link to the sermonette video: PESCO and a Great European Army.

Regarding climate concerns, Euronews reported the following:

Trump victory casts shadow over upcoming COP global climate talks

6 November 2024

Donald Trump already pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement to halt global heating once, and his presidential election victory means he could be about to do so again. Many are now looking to the EU to hold the line. …

In his victory speech, president elect Donald Trump made clear his position on fossil fuels: “We have more liquid gold, oil and gas, we have more liquid gold than any country in the world, more than Saudi Arabia. We have more than Russia.” His campaign team signalled in June that he would pull out of the Paris Agreement again.

For many it was already clear that he planned to take a wrecking ball to domestic green policy as well as throwing a spanner in the works of global climate diplomacy. …

EU has ‘moral imperative’

The reaction of many in Europe suggested that incumbent president Joe Biden’s negotiating team – announced just last week – for the COP29 summit in Baku has been transformed into something of a lame duck by the spectre hanging over it of a likely US withdrawal after Trump takes office in January.

“Lack of US leadership does not alter the scientific and moral imperative to immediately address global emissions and build climate resilience,” said Chiara Martinelli, director of Climate Action Network Europe.

“It also doesn’t change the high expectations of the EU to constructively contribute in reaching an agreement in Baku for a new financial goal that meets the scale of the emergency and truly moves resources from the rich to the most climate vulnerable countries, particularly in the global south,” she said.

A major question to be answered in the Azeri capital is the degree to which other powerful and growing economies, and major polluters, will feel less pressure to contribute if they sense the largest economy in the world is about to walk away from the table. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/11/06/trump-victory-casts-shadow-over-upcoming-cop-global-climate-talks

Even though the world HAS NOT been living up to the Paris Accords, the US looks like it will be blamed in the future. Europe will consider that the US is immoral and needs to be eliminated one day, consistent with several biblical prophecies.

As far as being called immoral for that, notice something I warned about in my January 2017 book Donald Trump and America’s Apocalypse:

Donald Trump does not seem to think there is any climate problem.[i] But many who do believe there are climate problems tend to equate them with fossils fuels, not biblically-immoral behavior (other than greed). …

Donald Trump’s view of climate change is expected to set up some type of issue between the USA and Europe. Europe will tend to see the USA as an irresponsible polluter of the planet, while Europe will claim to be the protector that the world needs.

[i] Eilperin J. Trump says ‘nobody really knows’ if climate change is real. Washington Post, December 11, 2016

Notice also the following other conflicts between the US and Europe from our free online book Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?:

Donald Trump also upset many in Europe by calling NATO “obsolete.” [i]

Furthermore, he called out many European countries for not paying enough on the military in relationship to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). He also threatened to NOT defend NATO nations that would not spend more on their militaries.[ii]

While many in the Trump-Pence Administration thought that the Europeans would have no choice but to cater to their demands, the Europeans moved in a way many did not expect. Less than one year after the Trump-Pence Administration began, 25 European countries formed a pan-European military alliance called the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). [iii]

The Europeans are concerned about Donald Trump perhaps again becoming U.S.A. president[iv]—and the prospect of another Trump presidency is pushing them to be more independent of the U.S.A.

While some have resisted it, there have been more and more calls for Europe to develop its own military force that will not have to defer to the U.S.A. [v]

Furthermore, shortly after Russia’s “special military operation” into Ukraine began in 2022, Germany announced it was increasing its military spending to levels that Donald Trump had pushed for.[vi]

Europe already has its own space agency, satellite system, and many other military components.

For decades, Washington has pushed the Europeans to spend more on their militaries. The U.S.A. needs to be careful about what it has been asking for. Although it is true that the U.S.A. contributes a vastly disproportionate share to NATO, the more the Europeans themselves spend, the more independent they will be about their spending and military priorities.

Since the Bible says that Europe will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25), we know Europe will end up with a great army. It will also end up with a substantial navy as the Bible says it will have “many ships” (Daniel 11:40). Europe is prophesied be an amazingly marvelous military power that will surprise the world (Revelation 13:3-4).

This will not end well for the U.S.A. or the other Israelitish nations. …

While European leaders have begun to publicly challenge reliance on the U.S.A., biblically, the time will once again come when Europe cannot be trusted militarily (Isaiah 10:5-11; Daniel 11:21-39; Lamentations 1:2).

The U.S.A., itself, has repeatedly shown the Europeans that it does not trust them, yet scripture suggests it sometimes will trust them too much. According to the Bible, the time will come when the U.S.A. will find that continental Europe will be an enemy (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11) and not an ally (Ezekiel 23:4,9-10). The Bible warns:

² All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies. (Lamentations 1:2)

Europe will cooperate with the U.S.A. as long as it feels the relationship is beneficial, and then (as prophecy foretells) one day turn totally against the U.S.A.

The Bible is clear that there will be problems in Europe (Daniel 2:41-43), yet it also shows that Europe will undergo several reorganizations (Revelation chapters 16-18), and the two reorganizations in Revelation 17:12-13 specifically will not turn out well for the U.S.A. (cf. Daniel 11:39), the Arab world (cf. Daniel 11:40-43), nor ultimately Europe (cf. Jeremiah 50:41-46, 51:27-32; Daniel 11:44-45; Joel 2:2-6). … the Bible shows that the Beast of Revelation (also called the King of the North in Daniel 11) and the final Antichrist (a European-supporting false religious leader) will rule in Europe and over some of the American lands (Daniel 11:39) …

This King will employ deceit:

²¹ … he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. (Daniel 11:21)

²³ “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. ²⁴ His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

²⁵ “Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:23-25)

The King of the North will deceitfully proclaim “peace and safety” while plotting for the sudden destruction of those opposing him (1 Thessalonians 5:2–3). He will destroy the mighty American-British alliance.

Because of not accepting and understanding biblical prophecies, many political and other leaders will be hoping for and believing in a false peace. The sudden destruction to come is likely to include a nuclear or other high tech attack, and could possibly happen in conjunction with a NATO training or other exercise that would catch the U.S.A. and its Anglo-Saxon-Celtic allies off guard (cf. Lamentations 1:1-2). Other nations are likely to also be involved.

Nuclear Destruction?

Doesn’t the following sound like nuclear-type destruction?

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)

God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their pride and sexual immorality (Ezekiel 16:49-50; 2 Peter 2:6).

God’s word points out what will happen to the Anglo-lands will actually be worse than what happened to Sodom:

⁶ The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, With no hand to help her! (Lamentations 4:6)

The time will come when the U.S.A. and NATO will be no more. NATO or other arrangements will give the Europeans cover for publicly preparing for a military event, while giving it the ability to publicly state that such preparations are only parts of an exercise. The Germans have historically used the element of surprise to gain military advantage—remember WWII and blitzkrieg? Europe one day will turn on the U.S.A. (Lamentations 1:1-2, Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-12). Weapons of mass destruction, and not necessarily just nuclear, will be employed.

Europe to Rise Up

Germans and others see the U.S.A. declining. Europe will go in a direction that U.S.A. leaders, including its ‘foreign policy experts,’ do not comprehend (Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).

[i] Trump worries Nato with ‘obsolete’ comment. BBC, Janaury 16, 2017

[ii] Trump defence chief Mattis threatens less commitment to Nato. January 15, 2017; ^{Sanger DE, Haberman M. Donald Trump Sets Conditions for Defending NATO Allies Against Attack. New York Times, July 20, 2016}

[iii] ^{Stur B. The making of a European Defence Union. New Europe. December 12, 2017}

[iv] Trump 2024 is a threat to Europe’s security. Public News Time, July 1, 2022

[v] ^{Bosotti A. EU army plot to fuel ‘antagonistic’ fury from global enemies and spark conflict threat. December 1, 2020; Flores J. The End of NATO? Macron Laments ‘Brain Death’ and Pushes for a European Military. Strategic Culture, November 10, 2019}

[vi] Germany commits €100 billion to new armed forces fund. Deutsche Welle, February 27, 2022

Current leaders in the European Union are more and more calling for the Europeanization of national militaries and the increased ability to function militarily without the USA.

They are helping to set the stage for what is coming.

Furthermore, the Bible shows that Europe will reorganize and become totalitarian:

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)

This Beast leader will eliminate the Anglo-American world order with a new, and even worse, world order.

Consider the following prophecies about the one who will be in charge:

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. (Daniel 11:21)

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. … the king of the North (Daniel 11:39, 40)

23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom,
When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
A king shall arise,
Having fierce features,
Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

25 “Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:23-25)

The above leader is the final European King of the North Beast power. He is an autocrat. He will eliminate the USA, Canada, and the UK.

As far as being an autocratic strong man in Europe goes, old Radio and Worldwide Church of God published the following decades ago (bolding mine):

Watch the emergence of a strong man in West Germany (Hogberg G and Walter EM. NATO at the Crossroads. Plain Truth, May 1969)

The attempt to unify Europe as one economic, military and political power bloc restoring the “Holy Roman Empire,” has been the one aim of all the “great” men who dominated European history from Napoleon’s “Waterloo” until now. Mussolini, dominating Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, Libya, and conquering Ethiopia, did officially name his weak “Empire” the “Roman Empire.” But now the dream of a mighty, powerful, resurrected Roman Empire at last is becoming a hard-driving reality. …

“Fascism in Europe is about to be reborn in respectable business attire, and the Treaty of Rome will finally be implemented to its fullest extent.. the dream of a Holy Roman, Empire returning to power to dominate and direct the so-called forces of Christian mankind of the Western world is not dead, but still stalks through the antechambers of every national capital of continental Western Europe… IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE LEADERS IN THE COMMON MARKET NATIONS TO RESTORE THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE WITH ALL THAT THAT MEANS!” (Northwest Technocrat, Vol. XXV, No. 205.) United within the ancient boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire; united by the common spiritual bond of universal Catholicism; united in a burgeoning and booming industrial economy that dominates today’s world; united geographically in the most productive and industrial complex of all the earth — at least TEN NATIONS OF MODERN EUROPE WILL MARCH ONTO THE SCENE OF WORLD HISTORY AS THE GREATEST SINGLE HUMAN FORCE EVER SEEN BY MAN! (Hill DJ. What is Germany’s Destiny? Plain Truth, March 1962)

The prophecy of Daniel 11 details events — at that time, still future — dynasty, and later, in the New Testament times, to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. … in its final end-time application, the “king of the north” is the prophesied strong man who will lead a coming union of ten European nations — the seventh and final revival of the ancient Roman Empire prophesied by Daniel and in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 17:12-13). (Stump K. THE ARAB WORLD IN PROPHECY. Plain Truth, December 1979)

When Europe has faced some additional crises, some there will be persuaded to support an autocratic leader.

That is what the Bible teaches.

The re-election of Donald Trump will serve to accelerate certain steps in Europe.

This will not end well for the USA, nor Canada, the UK, Australia, nor New Zealand (Daniel 8:24-25, 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11). Nor, according to the Bible, will it end well for the Muslim nations  (cf. Daniel 11:40-43)–nor, ultimately for Europe itself (cf. Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 17:14).