World Press Freedom Day: Press not free around the world and more restrictions are coming

Today is World Press Freedom Day and the United Nations made a statement related to it:

2 May 2013 – United Nations officials today issued a call to action to ensure the safety of journalists in every country, echoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who declared; “When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits”.

“Every day, freedom of expression faces new threats. Because they help ensure transparency and accountability in public affairs, journalists are frequent targets of violence,” said Secretary-General Ban and Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in a joint message for World Press Freedom Day…

Mr. Ban and Ms. Bokova emphasized that press freedom “does not happen automatically,” but requires the creation of a safe environment for dialogue, where they can execute their jobs without fear of reprisal.

They also noted that action must encompass both traditional media as well as digital mediums, where news is increasingly produced and consumed.

“Bloggers, citizen reporters and social media producers, as well as their sources, face increasing threats to their safety,” they said. “In addition to physical dangers, they are being targeted with psychological and emotional violence through cyber-attacks, data breaches, intimidation, undue surveillance and invasions of privacy.

“Such assaults not only limit the right to freedom of expression and threaten the safety of online journalists and their sources – they undermine the ability of all people to benefit from a free and open Internet.”

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Afghanistan is one of the top ten countries where crimes against journalists go unpunished. Iraq, Somalia and the Philippines top the list.

The United Nations notes that in Somalia, journalists risk not just death on a daily basis but also arbitrary arrests, as happened earlier this year when a reporter was accused of fabricating a rape story based on an interview which was never published.

In related activities, UNESCO is organizing a series of events in San José, Costa Rica, over three days, focusing on securing freedom of expression in all media. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44809&Cr=&Cr1=#.UYLE7UpJRrQ

Here are a list of countries that certain journalists believe have the least press freedom:

May 2, 2013

Only two countries ranked worse than the Philippines on the CPJ’s impunity index: Iraq, and Somalia.

Other countries in the list include:

4. Sri Lanka (ranked fourth in 2012)
5. Colombia (ranked fifth in 2012)
6. Afghanistan (ranked seventh in 2012)
7. Mexico (ranked eighth in 2012)
8. Pakistan (ranked 10th in 2012)
9. Russia (ranked ninth in 2012)
10. Brazil (ranked 11th in 2012)
11. Nigeria (not in 2012 index)
12. India (ranked 12th in 2012)

CPJ said its 2013 index “examines journalist murders that occurred from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012, and remain unsolved.” http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306573/news/nation/phl-still-3rd-on-global-media-impunity-list-falls-in-press-freedom-index

But it not only those countries that have issues. Actually, because of a phenomena called “political correctness” many journalists in Western societies either self-censor or do not pursue reporting about subjects that could upset their peers, governments, or certain others.

It is not just the bloggers and the press that face problems.

Even those who speak out on certain are subject to ridicule. Just this past week, someone was chastised who publicly stated that as a Christian he could not support the homosexuality of a US basketball star. He was essentially told that those type of comments are not acceptable in the “tolerant” society of the USA.

Oddly, today, I also noticed the following about the nation of New Zealand:

Even if your child is a devil, you can’t name him “Lucifer” in New Zealand. (Getty)

So you really want to name your baby Anal. Sorry, you can’t do it in New Zealand.

Or maybe you have high hopes for you child and want to name her President? Again, that name’s not allowed in the Kiwi Country country. Nor is 2nd or Majesty or Judge or III (yes, as in the Roman numeral III).

These might all seem far-fetched but they’re all names that parents tried to give their babies before getting nixed by the country’s Registrar of Names.

In New Zealand, new parents have to get approval before naming a baby and not every moniker passes the test. http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2013/05/02/new-zealands-list-of-banned-baby-names-lucifer-anal-and-more/#11887-1

And while certain names that are restricted seem to have a logic behind the restriction, should the government be in the business of interfering with what parents name their own children?

Liberal Western societies are not as open as many seem to pretend.

The Bible tells of a time, which to a degree we are now in, when a certain amount of self-censorship will be needed:

2 For I know your manifold transgressions
And your mighty sins:
Afflicting the just and taking bribes;
Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.
13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time,
For it is an evil time. (Amos 5:12-13)

And while some COG groups overly “keep silent,” hence pull-punches in proclamation, the reality is that there is not truly full freedom of truthful speech in countries like the USA without consequences.

However, the work will be done and it will trigger persecution.

Yet, other restrictions are coming.

The Bible talks about the fact that God will finish the work and cut it short (Roman 9:28). Notice also the following which could be related to that:

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

The above could only happen in the 21st century if the internet was down and/or internet content related to the truth of God was no longer permitted. Governments are taking steps, including cyber warfare research, which could bring that about.

In my article on the King of the North, I have the following quote from the late Herbert W. Armstrong:

And the abomination that maketh desolate set up.” What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15…From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ’s coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days.” Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us–GOD”S CHURCH–who wait and endure until the 1335 days–approximately 1335 days prior to Christ’s coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear–the revival of the medieval “Holy Roman Empire.” (Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).

As the above shows, Herbert W. Armstrong clearly wrote that there would be a future fulfillment of Daniel 11:31 and other verses in Daniel. And as the above shows, he taught that something would stop the work forty-five days prior to Daniel 11:31. A portion of the final phase of the work will be finished (Matthew 24:14) by Daniel 11:31. And there will be persecution (Revelation 12:13-17).

Even the Catholic Jerome indirectly understood some of this concerning these passages in Daniel 11 as he wrote:

Verses 27—-30…”And his heart shall be against the holy covenant, and he shall succeed and return into his own land. At the time appointed he shall return and shall come to the South; but the latter time shall not be like the former. And the galleys shall come upon him…But these events were typically prefigured under Antiochus Epiphanes, so that this abominable king who persecuted God’s people foreshadows the Antichrist, who is to persecute the people of Christ (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 12/20/08).

The work may be stopped by government officials (like on the internet, radio, etc.) and persecutions began because people of the holy covenant are warning the world of the results of their sins (which they will not want pointed out) and teaching that the King of the North is fulfilling these prophecies in Daniel 11. The faithful may be saying things that are not “politically correct” to the point that one or more governments will take action.

Jesus clearly taught that persecution would affect His people just prior to the Great Tribulation beginning:

7 And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (Matthew 24:7-10).

21 For then there will be great tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

So notice that after “the beginning of sorrows,” the true Christians will be delivered up and many killed and many will be betrayed by those pretending to be Christians. And then the Great Tribulation will come shortly thereafter. This clearly ties in with the events of Daniel 11.

Despite it being World Press Freedom Day, the US government and others are now taking steps that are helping to set the stage for this.

Some articles with more related details include the following:

The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.