Church of God News

COGwriter

Some text on the Shroud of Turin has been claimed to have been translated:

Death certificate is imprinted on the Shroud of Turin, says Vatican scholar

The Times – Nov 20, 2009

A Vatican scholar claims to have deciphered the “death certificate” imprinted on the Shroud of Turin, or Holy Shroud, a linen cloth revered by Christians and held by many to bear the image of the crucified Jesus.

Dr Barbara Frale, a researcher in the Vatican secret archives, said “I think I have managed to read the burial certificate of Jesus the Nazarene, or Jesus of Nazareth.” She said that she had reconstructed it from fragments of Greek, Hebrew and Latin writing imprinted on the cloth together with the image of the crucified man.

The shroud, which is kept in the royal chapel of Turin Cathedral and is to be put in display next Spring, is regarded by many scholars as a medieval forgery. A 1988 carbon dating of a fragment of the cloth dated it to the Middle Ages.

However Dr Frale, who is to publish her findings in a new book, La Sindone di Gesu Nazareno (The Shroud of Jesus of Nazareth) said that the inscription provided “historical date consistent with the Gospels account”. The letters, barely visible to the naked eye, were first spotted during an examination of the shroud in 1978, and others have since come to light.

Some scholars have suggested that the writing is from a reliquary attached to the cloth in medieval times. But Dr Frale said that the text could not have been written by a medieval Christian because it did not refer to Jesus as Christ but as “the Nazarene“. This would have been “heretical” in the Middle Ages since it defined Jesus as “only a man” rather than the Son of God.

Like the image of the man himself the letters are in reverse and only make sense in negative photographs. Dr Frale told La Repubblica that under Jewish burial practices current at the time of Christ in a Roman colony such as Palestine, a body buried after a death sentence could only be returned to the family after a year in a common grave.

A death certificate was therefore glued to the burial shroud to identify it for later retrieval, and was usually stuck to the cloth around the face. This had apparently been done in the case of Jesus even though he was buried not in a common grave but in the tomb offered by Joseph of Arimathea.

Dr Frale said that many of the letters were missing, with Jesus for example referred to as “(I)esou(s) Nnazarennos” and only the “iber” of “Tiberiou” surviving. Her reconstruction, however, suggested that the certificate read: “In the year 16 of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius Jesus the Nazarene, taken down in the early evening after having been condemned to death by a Roman judge because he was found guilty by a Hebrew authority, is hereby sent for burial with the obligation of being consigned to his family only after one full year”. It ends “signed by” but the signature has not survived.

Dr Frale said that the use of three languages was consistent with the polyglot nature of a community of Greek-speaking Jews in a Roman colony. Best known for her studies of the Knights Templar, who she claims at one stage preserved the shroud, she said what she had deciphered was “the death sentence on a man called Jesus the Nazarene. If that man was also Christ the Son of God it is beyond my job to establish. I did not set out to demonstrate the truth of faith. I am a Catholic, but all my teachers have been atheists or agnostics, and the only believer among them was a Jew. I forced myself to work on this as I would have done on any other archaeological find.”

The Catholic Church has never either endorsed the Turin Shroud or rejected it as inauthentic. Pope John Paul II arranged for public showings in 1998 and 2000, saying: “The Shroud is an image of God’s love as well as of human sin. The imprint left by the tortured body of the Crucified One, which attests to the tremendous human capacity for causing pain and death to one’s fellow man, stands as an icon of the suffering of the innocent in every age.” Pope Benedict XVI is to pray before the Shroud when it is put on show again next Spring in Turin.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6925371.ece

While I will not go into the controversies now associated with the claimed burial cloth of Jesus, I will state that the Bible says that Jesus would “be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23).

Christians were often called Nazarenes in the first (Acts 24:5) through fifth centuries.  Scattered Christians seemed to have been called/considered Nazarenes throughout history.

Those interested in learning more should carefully and prayerfully study the following:

Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes?
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?

COGwriter

LCG reported the following  several hours prior to the announcement of the appointment of the EU’s new president yesterday:

Welcome to the “Fully Functional” European Union. By the time this News and Prophecy item is published, the EU may have its very own President and Foreign Minister. The EU now maintains the world’s largest economy, rivaled only by the combined economies of the U.S. and China. The EU will soon surpass the half-billion mark in population. The EU’s military force abroad (71,000 troops) is second only to the U.S. and the EU’s troop levels will increase as the Lisbon Treaty is fully implemented. EU nations are also emerging from the global economic crisis at a more rapid rate than other nations. A sobering quote from The Sunday Times of London reads, “Britain may not like it, but under the Lisbon treaty the likely emergence of an EU military force will help to expand Europe’s global ‘footprint’. It gives a prophetic ring to a book written four years ago by Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations: Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century” (November 15, 2009). For decades, we have predicted the rise of a powerful European super-state, based on Bible prophecy. The last two weeks have seen the reality of these predictions come to pass. The EU is now poised to play an even bigger role on the world stage. It is methodically growing and moving forward—just as God prophesied millennia ago. From the current configuration of 27 EU members, we now must look forward to a future organization of ten kingdoms or groupings in Europe that will make up the final Beast power spoken of in Daniel and Revelation.

The European Union is forming and will be some type of foundation for the fulfillment of a militarized “Beast power” that is warned about in Revelation 13.  The final rise of a Babylonian system is warned about in Chapters 17 and 18 as well.  The appointment of new leaders for Europe is an important development.

Yet, in American news, items such as Oprah Winfrey’s announcement that she will tape her last episode of her long-running show in September 2011 seemed to be a much bigger story.  How many Americans heard that Herman Van Rompuy was appointed EU President and Catherine Ashton as Foreign Minister?  It would seem that many more learned about Oprah.

But irrespective of mainstream media attention, the reality is that the Europeans will rise up.  And even though there are likely to be a few setbacks in Europe (and probably at least one or two serious ones), Bible prophecy will be fulfilled and the foundational requirements are appearing (though not emphasized by many) right before our very eyes.

Some links of related interest may include:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012. The book is for those truly interested in understanding how prophecies inter-relate and who want to see a real sequence of end time events. It goes into details concerning prophecies that involve the rising up of a European power, including the King of the North/the Beast and the Antichrist that line up with biblical prophecies.  It analyzes others that involve the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Asia.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies 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?
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?

Herman Van Rompuy

COGwriter

Herman Van Rompuy, the current Prime Minister of Belgium, was apparently selected to become the President of the European Union according to an AP report from CBS:

AP) BRUSSELS (AP) – EU leaders on Thursday handed the European Union’s top new jobs to two little-known compromise figures – Belgium’s prime minister and the EU’s trade commissioner – dashing hopes of those who wanted to raise the continent’s global profile.

The choice caps years of choppy efforts to give a united Europe a voice on the world stage commensurate with its economic heft. The EU leaders agreed on trade commissioner Catherine Ashton of Britain as the EU’s new foreign policy chief and Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as its president, diplomats said.

But their appointments suggested the need for compromise outweighed the desire for big names like Tony Blair, the former British leader who was once considered a leading contender for the presidential job.

The two new officials are supposed to give the EU a bigger role in such global issues as climate change, terrorism and trade amid the rise of China, Brazil and India.

The two top jobs were created by an EU reform treaty that takes effect in less than two weeks, on Dec. 1. The treaty is vague on what the EU president is supposed to do, other than encourage more European integration.

While the EU president was initially seen as the bigger job, much attention has shifted to the foreign minister, who gets a say over the bloc’s annual euro7 billion ($10.5 billion) foreign aid budget and will head a new 5,000-strong EU diplomatic corps.

Ashton, who has never been elected to public office and is largely unknown outside Britain, had seemed an unlikely choice. She won the foreign policy brief after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and left-leaning leaders from Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal and Austria decided to put her name forward.

Ashton, 53, was a junior minister and leader of the House of Lords in 2007 and had a history as an anti-nuclear weapons campaigner.

She has barely caused a ripple during her year as EU trade chief and has no known foreign policy experience. She signed a trade pact with South Korea, stalled global negotiations at the World Trade Organization and helping defrost trade relations with the U.S. after President George W. Bush left office.

Van Rompuy was put forward for the president’s job by Sweden’s Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt who chaired Thursday’s summit, diplomats said.

Before the summit, Van Rompuy met with Belgium’s King Albert to discuss the possible selection of his successor as premier.

Van Rompuy, 62, is a technocrat with a penchant for haiku poetry. A Dutch-speaking Christian Democrat, he is unknown abroad, and even in Belgium he keeps a low profile. Or as a Belgian commentator recently put it: “Van Rompuy opens his mouth only to breathe.”   http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/ap/world/main5709978.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

(Note: I said “apparently selected” because some reports state that the decision is NOT final–so this possibly could change.)

Herman Van Rompuy essentially is an economist that supports reducing government deficits and who wants Europe to preserve its “Christian” values.  He is a Catholic and graduated from a Catholic university.

Those in Turkey who wish to be part of the European Union will be less than thrilled about his selection.  Notice what Herman Van Rompuy stated in 2004 and that is part of why he was supported to become EU President now:

“Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be part of Europe. An expansion of the EU to include Turkey cannot be considered as just another expansion as in the past,” he said.

“The universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are fundamental values of Christianity, will loose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey.”

Filip Dewinter, a Vlaams Belang leader, said: “We are entirely in agreement with Van Rompuy over this question and are convinced he will defend this point of view as President of the EU. It is for this reason we openly support him.”  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6600570/EU-president-Herman-Van-Rompuy-opposes-Turkey-joining.html

So, there may be deepening divide between the EU and Islam.  This does not mean that there will not be cooperation of any kind between Europe and Muslim nations, only that the leadership of the EU is letting the world know that religion will likely be something that separates the EU from others.

This will prove to be more important when a religious military leader will rise up in Europe with signs and lying wonders and who professes to believe in a changed religion that he will claim as ‘Catholic’.

And while I do NOT believe that Herman Van Rompuy (nor Tony Blair nor Catherine Ashton) is likely to be the one that is the final King of the North, he may (inadvertently apparently) help set the stage for that leader to rise up.

Some links of related interest may include:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012. The book is for those truly interested in understanding how prophecies inter-relate and who want to see a real sequence of end time events. It goes into details concerning prophecies that involve the rising up of a European power, including the King of the North/the Beast and the Antichrist that line up with biblical prophecies.  It analyzes others that involve the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and Asia.
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies 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?
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?

COGwriter

Regular readers of the COGwriter page are aware that I have long taught that the USA (and UK) debt situations will result in an absolute crash of the economy and that the Anglo-descended nations are doomed for destruction without repentance.

The news media is finally starting to realize this as the latest trip to China by USA President Barack Obama has confirmed some fears that many in media apparently have been having:

Time to Quit Using China as Our ATM

Updated November 18, 2009  FOXNews.com

China and our other major creditors increasingly have the power to literally destroy our economy without destroying their own.

By Elizabeth Factor and Mallory Factor

This week in China, President Obama is practicing a new form of American diplomacy –assurance. With China now America’s largest debt holder, the president is reassuring China that their investment in the U.S. economy is secure. In analyzing the president’s visit, the American media seems to have suddenly realized that America has lost the upper hand in its relationship with China. But this has been coming for a long time.

President Obama is reassuring China that America is credit-worthy so that China will not dump our debt onto the world markets. But he is also trying to ensure that China will continue to purchase our debt in the future to pay for his elaborate government initiatives like the health care bill, cap-and-trade, and other spending programs. China holds over $1.7 trillion dollars of our currency and debt, which is well over 10% of our gross domestic product–how high can our indebtedness to China go? Hard as it may be to stop going back to our foreign lenders for more support, we are just piling more dirt on a mountain that is about to come down and bury us. America would suffer if it stopped borrowing from abroad, but paying the price later will be much more devastating.

From the U.S. perspective, China’s investment in our debt and economy may seem to be just what our credit-starved American businesses and financial industry need. But while creditors may not always exert influence over the debtor nation’s foreign policy, they have the power to do so if their holdings of currency or debt of the other nation are sufficiently large. The fact is that by borrowing so extensively from China and other nations, we have already significantly compromised our ability to promote democracy, the rule of law, human and civil rights reforms, and environmental policy–in China and around the world.

And China and our other major creditors increasingly have the power to literally destroy our economy without destroying their own. They can do this simply by refusing to buy our treasuries, agencies and currency, or worse, by dumping what they already own on the world market, which can be likened to a”nuclear option.” Without enough demand for our debt, the United States would have to either offer huge interest rates to entice the remaining market into purchasing our debt or print more money leading to a crashing dollar and massive inflation. Although each of our creditors would suffer from the decline in value of our debt and currency, they would suffer less than we would.

The “nuclear option” allows a creditor nation to present its debtor nations with terms under which lending will continue. For example, China could press the United States to buy Chinese goods over the goods of other nations or could require us to open up our markets on terms unfavorable to the United States. China could use its economic influence over the United States to curb our support for Taiwan or other allies.

Anyone who does not believe that China has a far reaching geopolitical agenda should look at their former leader Deng Xiaoping’s “24 character” strategy. Deng developed this policy in the 1990s to bring China back to the prominence and power on the global stage which it had enjoyed for over 3,000 years prior to domination by Europe in the 19th century. His policy consists only of 24 Chinese characters, and continues to be quoted–and followed–by the current Chinese leadership. It is as follows: “observe calmly; secure our position; cope with affairs calmly; hide our capacities and bide our time; be good at maintaining a low profile; and never claim leadership.”

China’s influence over its debtors’ foreign policy is growing. In 2008, the UK, another profligate Chinese debtor, stopped advocating for a free Tibet and formally recognized the legitimacy of Beijing’s direct rule over Tibet. And we are responding to their pressure also. The political reality is very simple — it is hard to press for “change” in China when we need to be concerned about maintaining Chinese investment in our economy.

The solution to this critical problem is simple and yet extremely difficult to achieve: The United States needs to stop increasing its deficits. We need to bring them down, reduce our foreign borrowing and therefore, improve our global economic standing.

And, if we are not able to change the trajectory we have begun, then what? At some point–not too far in the future, America will have a meltdown. The world will stop lending us capital and investing in our economy, and the value of our debt will crash.  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/18/elizabeth-factor-mallory-factor-china-debt-obama/

USA and UK policies are right now being affected by their debts to China and other nations.

Most do not realize that over 2600 years ago, the Hebrew Prophet Habakkuk warned that in the end time,  the major debtor would be destroyed after its creditors realized that it had too many pledges (debt):

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…
6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:3,6-8).

While the USA President continues to pledge that the USA will pay back its increasing debts (without national repentance), this does not seem to be consistent with what the Bible teaches (Deuteronomy 28:43-45).  Short of national repentance, the USA, UK, and their Anglo-allies are to be taken over.

Yes, it is that serious.

The Chinese will lose much of their investment if they do not take certain steps to get away from the USA dollar.  And if they lose much of their investment, they will want something (land and labor comes to mind) to help make it up.  There are even Chinese prophecies that hint that China may end up with land that the Chinese do not now possess.

The times are changing for the nations of the world.  This does not bode well for the US, UK, nor their Anglo-descended allies.

Some items of related interest may include:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012. The book is for those truly interested in understanding how prophecies inter-relate and who want to see a real sequence of end time events. It goes into details concerning prophecies that involve Barack Obama and the United States, as well as certain Chinese predictions that line up with biblical prophecies.  As well as others that involve the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Russia, and Asia.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Prophecies of Barack Obama in the eXaminer Since it became obvious that Barack Obama may become the President of the United States, many have claimed certain predictions and prophecies apply to him.  Here are some.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?

Laodicea Has Many Scattered Structures that Are Relatively Ineffective

COGwriter

The electronic version of UCG’s latest United News reports the following:

United’s Financial Statements Show God’s Continued Blessings

by Jason Lovelady

Each year in the November issue
of United News, we include a copy
of the audited financial statements
of the United Church of God, an
International Association, and the
audit report of our independent
auditors—Clark, Schaefer, Hackett
and Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio.
This year’s report is for the fiscal
year that ended on June 30,
2009…

One item to note on the statements this
year is that the building that the Church
uses for Sabbath services in Big Sandy
was transferred from UCG–East Texas
to United Church of God, an International
Association in November 2008. The
property value was recorded as an asset
at $1,150,000, with an outstanding mortgage
of $350,000 as of November 2008.
The remaining $800,000 was recorded as
income (as a property contribution).
We are thankful for and appreciative
of the faithful and generous members and
others who support the work of the Church
by giving tithes and offerings. Most especially,
we are grateful for and give thanks
to God for blessing the Church with the
financial stability that we currently enjoy
even amidst the difficult financial times
facing this world today.

UCG’s income is essentially flat for the period.  That is to say, that if it did not recognize the property transfer as “income” it would have reported income of $23,935,699 for the fiscal year ending 6/30/09 compared to income of 23,927,074 for the fiscal year ending 6/30/08.  It has been a tough financial year for many.

For its fiscal year ending 6/30/09, UCG claims a gross income of $24,735,699. It spent 5,649,925 (22.8%) for ‘public proclamation’; it spent 4,223,249 for managing its meetings and ‘home office’ (17.1%); and 14,072,730 (56.9%) for the field ministry/local churches/FOT/International support, and increased reserves by 789,795.  For its fiscal year ending 12/31/08, LCG grossed 13,516,604 and spent 6,204,853 on public proclamation, 900,217 on HQ administration, 5,833,128 to ‘feed the flock’ (including Living University) and increased reserves by 525,645.

Last year UCG spent $5,734,800 for ‘public proclamation’ and apparently decided to decrease that even though it indicated that it had planned to increase that portion of the budget.

If you gave $100.00 to the United Church of God in the years ending 6/30/08 and 6/30/09 here is what UCG did with it:

.......................................UCG............06/30/08....06/30/09

1st Commission to Proclaim the Gospel to the World....$23.97........$22.84
2nd Commission to Feed the Flock (and Field Ministry)..55.90.........56.89
Headquarters/Home Office...............................17.67.........17.08
Change in Reserves......................................2.46..........3.19
Total................................................$100.00.......$100.00

If you gave $100.00 to the United Church of God or the Living Church of God, here is where your money went:

.......................................United Church of God....Living Church of God

1st Commission to Proclaim the Gospel to the World....$22.84........$43.53
2nd Commission to Feed the Flock (and Field Ministry)..56.89.........45.92
Headquarters/Home Office...............................17.08..........6.66
Change in Reserves......................................3.19..........3.89
Total................................................$100.00.......$100.00

The above figures are based upon the latest audited financial statements of the respective churches.

Jesus taught:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

I went with LCG because of Gospel proclamation emphasis and biblical church governance. Even though LCG is much smaller and last much less income, it actually continues to spend more in actual cash on public proclamation than UCG does.  It is also interesting that UCG spent almost 3 times as high a percentage on governance than LCG does (and over 4 times as much in actual cash, UCG spent $4,223,249 vs. LCG’s 900,217).

LCG also produces twice the number of magazines (Tomorrow’s World vs. Good News) on a per member basis than UCG does.  The most recent attendance numbers from the two groups show that UCG reported that 20,419 attended its Feast of Tabernacles’ sites last month compared to the 7,612 who attended LCG’s sites.

Which group is holding fast (Revelation 3:11) to the priorities that Jesus set (Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20) for the Church?

Which group has a work that is neither hot nor cold (Revelation 3:15)?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 3:22).

Some articles of related interest may include:

There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? 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?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

Union for the Mediterranean

Blue: Members of the European Union in the Union for the Mediterranean States
Green: Other members (primarily from the African Union & Arab League)

COGwriter

In addition to attempting to determine a President for the EU tomorrow, the EU Parliament is planning on hosting a seminar discussing the Union for the Mediterranean States:

Union for the Mediterranean: what can we expect?

Edited by Ahmed Gamal Tuesday, 17 November 2009

On 19 November in Brussels, a high level seminar will give the opportunity to experts and decision makers to debate on the future developments of the UfM, a few weeks before the negotiations on the statutes of its Secretariat. Former French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine will conclude the debates with some personal reflections.

The event is organised by the European Studies Institutes of the academic faculties of Saint Louis Brussels, with the support of the European Commission, the European Parliament and with the participation of the Council.

The seminar takes place at the European Parliament from 9am-6pm on 19 November.

The ‘Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean’‚ was launched in Paris on 13 July 2008 in a bid to give a new impulse to the Barcelona Process, according to the Joint Declaration adopted at the heads of state or government meeting.

A few months later, on November 3-4, the Foreign Ministers from the EU and the Mediterranean states came together and agreed on the institutional structures, the work programme for 2009, the fields of cooperation to be pursued and the state of progress in the implementation of projects decided.

One of the decisions taken at the Marseille meeting was to re-name the ‘Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean’ to ‘Union for the Mediterranean’. They also decided that the League of Arab States would participate in all meetings at all levels.

On the structure of the Union for the Mediterranean, one of the decisions was that the co-presidency shall apply to summits and meetings and that one of the co-presidents will be from the EU and the other from the Mediterranean partner countries. Barcelona was chosen as the seat of the Secretariat, according to the Declaration agreed by the Foreign Ministers.

According to the Paris Declaration, a new impulse would be achieved “in at least three very important ways: by upgrading the political level of the EU’s relationship with its Mediterranean partners; by providing for further co-ownership to our multilateral relations; and by making these relations more concrete and visible through additional regional and subregional projects, relevant for the citizens of the region.”

The Paris Summit, co-chaired by French President and rotating President of the European Council, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, had brought together 43 European and Mediterranean States, the Community institutions and regional organisations.

I have found this union to be of prophetic interest as it includes a “president from the North” (now French President Nicolas Sarkozy) and a “president of the South (now Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak).  Eventually, it may be that these positions could represent the prophesied final King of the North and King of the South (or the Union for the Mediterranean States leaders may simply take direction from these “Kings”).

I strongly suspect that this Union for the Mediterranean States could be the framework for making the prophesied deals between the prophesied final King of the North and King of the South (Daniel 9:27, Psalm 83):

27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:27).

3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot (Psalm 83:3-8).

Not only Israel, but those in the Anglo-descended nations need to be concerned about the ramifications of the prophesied deal in Psalm 83 as Assyria represents a significant portion of the modern EU.

Events are happening right now to line up the fulfillment of many end time prophecies.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
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?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies 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?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?

Nicolas Sarkozy

COGwriter

Continuing to attempt aggressively position France and the EU in the Middle East, the French President Sarkozy continues to have meetings in the Middle East:

Sarkozy Urges Relaunch Of Middle East Talks

By REUTERS  (Reporting by Souhail Karam; Editing by Charles Dick)

Published: November 17, 2009

RIYADH (Reuters) – Reviving Middle East peace talks is an absolute priority and the present stalemate only serves extremists, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in remarks published on Tuesday before a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Sarkozy was due to meet Saudi King Abdullah on Tuesday, hoping to assuage Arab leaders’ fears over Washington softening its stance on Israeli settlements.

The French president will also discuss Saudi plans for a civilian nuclear energy programme — still in the early planning stages — as well as possible purchases of military equipment by the Saudi National Guard.

“King Abdullah … is a man of peace and moderation,” Sarkozy said in an interview on the website of Al-Riyadh daily before his 24-hour private visit.

“The absolute priority lies in relaunching the peace process as soon as possible. There is a pressing need for it. The current stalemate serves the interest of the extremists.”…

Sarkozy, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, did not say what message he would have for King Abdullah on the issue of settlements.

“Relaunching the (peace) talks will not be possible without strong initiatives, specifically on the settlements issue … The dead end we are faced with today causes great concern.”

King Abdullah floated in 2002 a peace proposal that gives Israel recognition from all Arab states if it returns all land occupied in 1967 and negotiates a solution to the Palestinian refugee question.

Al-Riyadh said in an editorial Europe risks compromising its regional influence if it leaves the Israeli-Palestinian issue under the aegis of Washington while Israel expands settlements.

Sarkozy will not be accompanied by any representative of French firms and Saudi officials do not expect any commercial transaction to be closed during the visit.

“Military equipment needs are discussed during every visit to identify the needs,” a government official said on condition of anonymity.  http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/17/world/international-uk-saudi-france.html

Deal making Sarkozy aims to capitalise on tarnished British image in Middle East

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, will on Tuesday begin his third visit to the oil- and cash-rich Gulf this year as he seeks business deals and contracts that would capitalise on widespread disillusionment with America and Britain in the Middle East.

By Richard Spencer in Dubai
Published: 3:41PM GMT 15 Nov 2009

Mr Sarkozy will arrive in Saudi Arabia laden with offers to sell nuclear power technology and air force jets, on the back of diplomatic initiatives that are reviving France’s fortunes and reputation in the region.

The country is already a front-runner in the race to provide the United Arab Emirates with its first nuclear power plants…

Mr Sarkozy’s visit to Saudi Arabia follows a tour in February to Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait – where he pressed the sale of French-made Rafale fighter aircraft, frigates, and an air defence system – and to Abu Dhabi in May.

In Abu Dhabi, he opened a French naval base, the country’s first foreign base since it gave up its colonies four decades ago.

The retired head of the United Arab Emirates armed forces meanwhile has confirmed that the final details are being thrashed out to replace the country’s 63 ageing Mirage fighters with Rafales, on display at the Dubai Air Show this week.

Mr Sarkozy is also likely to discuss military hardware sales to Saudi Arabia this week, but more attention will be focused on nuclear co-operation.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6575134/Deal-making-Sarkozy-aims-to-capitalise-on-tarnished-British-image-in-Middle-East.html

The French President also happens to be the “President of the North” in the Union for the Mediterranean States, an organization that might help lead to the prophesied deal between the King of the North and the King of the South in Daniel 11:27and Psalm 83.  While the co-presidents of the Mediterranean Union not are yet in position to be the final King of the North nor the final King of the South, events seem to be lining up in a way that the top Mediterranean Union leaders may ultimately hold those positions.

The Book of Daniel (9:27) also tells of a time when some type of agreement (probably a temporary peace deal in the Middle East will be confirmed by the European leader who ultimately will be the final King of the North as well as the final “Beast” of Daniel and Revelation).   Since the French President seems to be pushing for such an agreement, it may not be too very long now (the Fall of 2010 is the earliest date that would seem to be possible at this time, and it might be a little too early).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies 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?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?

COGwriter

The following news story caught my attention this morning:

DOUBLE STANDARDS?: Advertiser Accused of Going Soft on Obama, Hard On Religion.

(November 16, 2009)

*A major billboard company has allowed signs that question the validity of Christian faith, even though it rejected a billboard campaign that asked for documentation of President Barack Obama’s eligibility during his presidential campaign.Lamar Outdoor, one of the largest providers of billboard space in America, is being challenged for what some say is poor judgment and a double standard.

Billboards that ask…challenges to Christianity have popped up in at lease one market.

“We think it’s misleading to indicate there’s any question about the president’s birth certificate. We looked at it and we made the call” Lamar spokesman Hal Kilshaw told Word News Dailey. But now the United Coalition of Reason has a campaign to post billboards questioning the need for God. And the billboard company sees nothing wrong with that saying it has to do with freedom of religious choice. http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur57422.cfm

Of course, there is a God and Barack Obama was born.  But it is also true that the official computer generated birth certificate for Barack Obama is not his original one (which he may not have as his family may have had to provide it to the government of Indonesia when he lived there).

Now, let me add here that I am not questioning whether or not Barack Obama is technically qualified to be USA President.  My point is that it is odd that God is allowed to be questioned, but a lack of an original birth certificate is not allowed to be questioned.

Those who wish to learn more about these subjects may wish to check out the following:

Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Prophecies of Barack Obama Since it became obvious that Barack Obama may become the President of the United States, many have claimed certain predictions and prophecies apply to him.  Here are some.

Kiev, Ukraine

COGwriter

The Associated Press reports that Ukraine has been affected by the swine flu and it may affect elections there:

Swine flu infects Ukraine’s presidential elections

By SIMON SHUSTER (AP) – 3 hours ago

KIEV, Ukraine — In Ukraine, swine flu is causing electoral fever.

In a hard-fought presidential campaign, critics of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko accuse her of stirring up panic to grab the spotlight from rivals by closing all schools and banning mass gatherings to combat what experts say is a relatively moderate outbreak of the disease.

The arrival of the virus has set off a cycle of one-upmanship and recrimination among leading politicians that has spread fear, sidelined minor presidential candidates, and, health officials say, caused wasteful hoarding by scared citizens of precious medical supplies.

“This is very dangerous,” said Igor Shkrobanets, chief of the local health ministry in the western region of Chernivtsi, one of the nine regions where a partial quarantine has been imposed.

“One or another politician will gain from this situation, but the doctors and their patients certainly will not,” he told The Associated Press in an interview at Ukraine’s federal Health Ministry Monday.

The charismatic Tymoshenko announced the arrival of a swine flu epidemic on Oct. 30, when there was only a single confirmed case in Ukraine, and she immediately announced the government would impose some of the strictest measures against the virus in Europe.

The health ministry has registered around 1.4 million cases of flu and respiratory illness since the start of the outbreak; the World Health Organization suspects most are swine flu, an infection rate it says is in line with neighboring countries like Russia and Poland.

But in Ukraine, all schools and universities were closed for three weeks and all mass gatherings, including campaign rallies heading into the January 17 presidential contest, have been banned.

Since then, Tymoshenko has made daily television addresses to update the nation on the state of infection, while criticizing her political rivals for hindering her efforts to stop it…

Vasily Lazorishnets, Ukraine’s Deputy Health Minister, said there have been a total of 166 confirmed cases of swine flu in Ukraine, including 15 deaths, but he stressed that the total number of deaths from the flu of all types in 2009 has so far been lower than in previous years. Ukraine plans to stockpile 950,000 doses of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, far more than it has had on hand in previous flu seasons. Meanwhile pharmacies have sold out of flu medicines and surgical masks across Ukraine…

The pressure on some of Ukraine’s presidential candidates has also been severe as they struggle to make some effort in the fight against swine flu that is captivating voters.

“The smaller candidates have been pushed out of the information sphere by this issue,” said Tsybulko, referring to the 16 candidates other than Tymoshenko and Yanukovich in the running for the presidency. “It’s now just Tymoshenko’s show.”  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXx78_5sm2cIMa8kTQTiEzdnBD-wD9C0P5A80

How bad things will end up in Ukraine are unclear.  Early last week the WHO indicated that the situation there with the flu was not that unusual.  But it certainly is affecting the country.

Some articles related to timing of end-time events and one even related to pork include:

Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? How about those in Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and those associated with it? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood?
The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous?

Richard Ames

COGwriter

In its latest update, LCG reported:

For those who thought the Work is over—it is time to think again! Last weekend’s telecast by Mr. Ames, “You Can Understand Prophecy,” produced the highest number of responses that we have ever received—more than 6,300 callers headed to their phones after the program! The Canadian responses actually overwhelmed our U.S. call center located near Charlotte…

LCG received roughly two calls for every one adult member it has in the USA.  The relative response that LCG receives to its telecast is considerably higher than that the old WCG used to receive under Herbert W. Armstrong.

LCG appears to receive more responses to its telecasts than all the other COGs combined.

For details on that and related matters, pleases check out the following:

There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.