Church of God News

Robert Mugabe (www.kremlin.ru)

COGwriter

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has died:

September 6, 2019

HARARE – Robert Mugabe, who ruled the southern African nation of Zimbabwe for 37 years following the end of white minority rule in 1980, has died. He was 95 years old. Some hail him as a liberation hero who stood by his principles — but others say he rigged elections, destroyed the economy of what was once Africa’s breadbasket and terrorized his people for decades.

Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first president, leaves behind a complicated legacy after 37 years of increasingly autocratic rule.

In his younger years, he led the guerilla movement that resulted in Zimbabwe’s independence. At the time, he was hailed as a liberation hero, both inside and outside the former British colony once known as Rhodesia.

Early on, he urged Zimbabweans to reconcile after the civil war that raged during the final colonial years. He also initially expanded the country’s education and health systems, making them among the best-regarded in Africa.

But as time went on, Mugabe grew intolerant of dissent and faced increasing allegations of human rights abuses, repression and election rigging.

Farm output plunged after land reforms transferred white-owned commercial farms to blacks who lacked the experience and funding to make the farms productive. For many Zimbabweans, cash, jobs and fairly priced commercial goods remain impossible to get — and for that, many blame Mugabe.

Speaking to VOA in 2018, Mugabe defended his years in power.

“I have, during that time, through all this time, cried for return, our return, to constitutionality, our return to legality, our return to freedom for our people, an environment in which our people can be free,” Mugabe said. https://www.voanews.com/africa/robert-mugabe-zimbabwes-founding-father-dead

6 September 2019

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa called Mr Mugabe a “champion of Africa’s cause against colonialism” who inspired our own struggle against apartheid”.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said Mr Mugabe had “played a major role in shaping the interests of the African continent” and was “a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in even when it was not popular”.

Kenya will fly all its flags at half-mast this weekend in honour of Mr Mugabe, he said.

Veronica Madgen and her husband ran one of the largest farms in Zimbabwe before it was invaded by Mr Mugabe’s supporters, forcing the family to come to the UK.

Speaking to the BBC, she recalled: “The tractors [were] being burnt, the motorcycles [were] being burnt, stones [were being] thrown through the window… It was very difficult to actually come to terms with what was happening. …” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49604152

Before Robert Mugabe’s rise, Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia. It was one of the most prosperous nations in all of Africa.

Here is something that the Plain Truth reported on him in May 1980 (note: his picture was on the front cover of that edition of the magazine):

APRIL 18, 1980: The proclaimed birthday of Zimbabwe, Africa’s newest in-dependent nation. Behind the celebrations lay many unhealed scars, legacies of the seven-year-long guerrilla “bush” war: • 25,000 people killed, most of them under the age of 15. • The physical maiming-and of-ten brutal mutilation—of an additional 10,000. 2 • More than 800,000 made homeless. • A nearly depleted national treasury. • A 25 percent drop in living standards over the past four years and an emigration of 15 percent of its skilled white population. …

Immediately upon his election Mr. Mugabe announced: “It is time to beat our swords into plowshares.” He promised there would be no recriminations against either his former enemies or his defeated electoral foes. Mr. Mugabe was swept into power in an unprecedented 93 percent turn-mit among Zimbabwe’s eligible black voters. …

Mr. Mugabe is a self-proclaimed Marxist, with an avowed commitment to African-adapted socialism. … Prime Minister Mugabe foreswears nationalization and vows not to interfere with private property. Only pres-ently unused farm land will be dis-tributed to rural blacks-and present owners will be compensated for it. It is felt that Mr. Mugabe has not, down deep, disavowed his Marxist principles. His current approach, admits an adviser, is “tactical rather than strategic.” Mr. Mugabe himself speaks of “gradual phases” in the transition from the “reality” of free enterprise toward the goal of his own brand of socialism. …

Peace in Zimbabwe is but a lull in a gathering storm. The very hall-mark of our age is that ” nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:7). Dark days indeed loom ahead if this world’s political leaders, driven by their emotions, jealousies and nar-row self-interests, pursue unreasonable policies which can only provoke one holocaust after another. …

In the peaceful world tomorrow, its leaders-changed from mortal to infallible immortal beings-will “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Governmental hypocrisy and deceit will be a thing of the past. Peace, harmony, respect and cooperation among all nations will be the will order of the day. The Kingdom of God will prove to be the only government under which all peoples every-where can live, free of suspicion and fear. A worldwide economic “El Dorado” will at last come about. Suffering and destruction will cease (Isaiah 11 :9). Wars, including guerrilla terrorism-the scourge of the 20th century-will be scrapped as national policies (Isaiah 2:4). Then and only then will the hope expressed earlier by Mr. Mugabe come to pass, “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares. (Hogberg G. Rhodesia to Zimbabwe: Peace at Last? Plain Truth, May 1980)

Sadly, for Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe did not keep his promise to not take land or interfere with private property. He did not turn all his swords into plowshares.

Robert Mugabe promised liberty and his later efforts to take farmland from white farmers was looked upon favorably by many who did not consider that to be inappropriate stealing. Of course, astute observers stated that this would cause economic chaos and food shortages–which it did. It also resulted in some of the worst hyperinflation in history (see Hyperinflation hitting Venezuela and Zimbabwe, again! Could it happen to the USA?).

Physically, and spiritually, some are promised a false liberty. The Apostle Peter wrote:

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:18-19)

Various Protestant ministers have promised spiritual liberty, but really delivered bondage (see also Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from most Protestants and The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast).

Politicians often promise to give by taking from others. Sadly, many fall for this.

It also, in a sense, happens spiritually, as the following reminds me of RCG’s David Pack:

3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.  (2 Peter 2:3)

But various politicians do the same. And people often fall for it (including in places like the USA).

When my wife and I visited South Africa over 30 years ago, we met a woman from Rhodesia (renamed Zimbabwe) at church who told us that she felt that the fleeing that had began in Rhodesia in her time would be repeated in South Africa. And to a degree, she has been correct.

Plus South Africa has become more dangerous:

6 September 2019

The photos and videos of widespread looting and burning of stores and businesses owned by foreign nationals in South Africa look like scenes out of an apocalyptic film.

At least seven people have been killed in this latest mayhem, while hundreds have been arrested in connection with the violence.

All the while, we South Africans hang our heads in shame, …

For South Africans, there is nowhere to turn. We are sad and angry. Neither South Africans, nor foreign nationals, feel safe in the current socio-political climate.

Lauded the world over for our peaceful defeat of apartheid and progressive constitution, we are not nearly as beloved on the African continent itself.

The way we treat African foreign nationals is our own fault, starting with the government and ending with ordinary citizens.

Foreign nationals are often used as a scapegoat for the South African government’s failings. The country is gripped by a harsh economic climate marked by slow economic growth, high unemployment and an ever-increasing chasm between the haves and have-nots.

The rhetoric filters down into the mouths of ordinary South Africans, who, 25 years after apartheid ended, are still struggling to put food in the bellies of their families. https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-south-africans-need-to-face-some-harsh-truths/a-50310848

Let me add that although there are supposed to be laws to protect the farmers in South Africa, sometimes for political reasons, those laws are ignored or re-interpreted is a way that allows for theft of land (see ‘South Africa begins seizing white-owned farms’). Hence, food production is now also problem and many seem to feel that they are subject to losing everything if they remain there (see also ZH: White South Africans Are Preparing For “Removal of All Whites Within Five Years”).

As far as losing land in Zimbabwe and South Africa, consider the following prophecy:

58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues — great and prolonged plagues — and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. (Deuteronomy 28:58-63)

More will lose land in South Africa. Ultimately, so will the peoples of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. We are getting closer to the final time of the Gentiles.

Notice something from the old WCG in 1977:

Because the citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, South Africa and Rhodesia are breaking certain fundamental laws, they are facing, as surely as the rising of tomorrow’s sun, increased race riots, social decad6nce, widespread crime, venereal disease, pornography and the continuing onslaught of runaway inflation. These are the fruits of disobedience to the Ten Commandments of God. (Armstrong GT. DOES THE BIBLE PREACH A MESSAGE OF HOPE? Plain Truth, October-November 1977)

The old Worldwide Church of God warned that there could be race wars in Rhodesia and then later in South Africa back in 1976:

Race War in Southern Africa?

Encouraged by their victory in Angola, Soviet- and Cuban-supported African nationalist guerrillas may seek to “complete the job” by launching an offensive aimed at overthrowing the last remaining white minority governments in southern Africa. …

First Target – Rhodesia

The immediate threat is to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe to African nationalists) – a nation of 270,000 whites ruling over 6 million blacks. As we go to press, Mozambique has closed its border with Rhodesia and has declared a “state of war,” seizing all Rhodesian property and assets within Mozambique. … It is believed by most observers that the Rhodesian government forces, even though well trained and adequately equipped, could not withstand a major guerrilla campaign for long on their own. Yet despite the threat of eventual Soviet domination of the area, British and U.S. officials have made it clear that there will be no American or British military intervention to defend the minority Rhodesian regime if fighting breaks out. Both governments have instead been urging “realistic” negotiations to forestall the threat of violence.

Second Target – South Africa

War in South Africa itself is seen as very unlikely. … The militant South-West African Peoples Organization (SWAPO) – a nationalist group recognized by the U.N. as ” the sole legitimate representative of the Namibian people ” – is reportedly ready to ” invite external intervention ” to drive the South Africans out. … Surrounded by black Africans in overwhelming numbers, the white populaces of Rhodesia and South Africa may be in for a long and bloody struggle to retain their right in the African sun. (Race War in Southern Africa? Plain Truth, April-May 1976)

And yes, changes happened in Rhodesia, there was racial violence and most whites fled or suffered various losses. South Africa is heading more that way as well.

My wife and I were speaking with a South African woman last year who was moving to the USA. Essentially she said it was not safe for her or her family. She hoped to be able to assist getting her family out of that country as well.

Back in 1977, the old Worldwide Church of God published the following:

The Birthright Blessing

The truth is, the prosperity enjoyed by Rhodesia’s whites has not been gained at the expense of, or through the “oppression” of their far more numerous black countrymen. Hard work, the entrepreneurial spirit, the ability of the European mentally to adapt to the modern industrial world as opposed to the approach of the average African still attuned to traditional tribal customs and ways of doing things is in large part responsible for the large white-black prosperity gap. But there is another, even more important reason for the prosperity Rhodesians have heretofore enjoyed. Rhodesia’s whites, like English- speaking Anglo-Saxons everywhere else, have been the beneficiaries of a unique blessing, one not earned, in the final analysis, even by the stint of their own efforts. They have been the recipients, strange as it may seem, of the birthright blessings conferred upon them by a distant biblical ancestor – the patriarch Abraham. (Hogberg G. Rhodesia: Why No Peace is in Sight. Plain Truth, 1977)

There were blessings as well as cursings prophesied for the descendants of Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 28). The blessings as well as cursings promised to the descendants of Israel are coming to pass. We have seen that in Rhodesia, we are seeing that in South Africa, and we will see that in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

On his first visit to South Africa, the late WCG Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong observed that while things appeared fine on the surface, racial issues were deep:

My first visit to South Africa was some years overdue. I had expected. from reports printed about South Africa and apartheid to find whites arrogantly dominant and blacks cowering in fear. But I found instead – on the surface – apparent racial peace. I found black s holding their heads up just like whiles. I found both blacks and whites. for instance, in the hotel’s large coffee shop in equal numbers. each going about their respective jobs just as if they were all the same race. Then, suddenly, the day before yesterday, I arrived back in Johannesburg from a visit to South-West Africa and found in the evening newspaper the full-page-wide headline. “SIX DIE IN RIOTS.” That was Wednesday, June 16. The morning paper on Thursday, June 17, had a giant page-wide headline of two words. “Flaming Night.” Under it was a seven-column, full-color picture of motor trucks in flame. All had seemed to be at PEACE here – on the surface. (Armstrong HW. Personal. Plain Truth, August 1976)

Yes, there were and still are, deep racial issues in South Africa as there were in Rhodesia.

Well, the Rhodesians turned to Robert Mugabe. Robert Mugabe did not bring love. He promised a false liberty, encouraged theft and destruction, and contributed to the decline of the nation now known as Zimbabwe.

God had a plan to solve this, however, as Herbert W. Armstrong also wrote:

In the WORLD TOMORROW, which is coming SOON, two things will bring about RACIAL PEACE: One, human nature will be changed. Two, the segregation-integration issue will be settled in a way to bring PEACE;. And there will be NO DISCRIMINATION, no one race over any other. Opportunity for success and welfare will be EQUAL. Then humans will learn, as the apostle Paul said to the Athenian “thinkers” on Mars’ Hill that God the Creator “hath made of one blood all nations of men.” And not of “white” blood, or so me other colored blood. We all have one ancestor, Adam. and ultimately we shall be ONE FAMILY, not in color, but in spirit and in LOVE. (Armstrong HW. Personal. Plain Truth, August 1976)

While it is good news that the Kingdom of God will be established and eliminate racial hatred that we see today, that will not be implemented until Jesus returns. Until then, Jesus spoke of there being troubles and sorrows (Mark 13:8), the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), and the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12-21; Ezekiel 30:2-3).

Until then, of course, true Christians are to love, and not hate, people of all races (see also God’s Grace is For All and The Philadelphia Remnant: It’s All About Love).

Furthermore, Christians should also support God’s plan to call the full number of Gentiles in this age, which includes Africans (see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles? and Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future).

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This entry was posted on Friday, September 6th, 2019 at 7:00 am and is filed under Religious News, WCG News.

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