Church of God News

Greek Riots, 2008

COGwriter

At least one economist suspects that civil unrest, and possibly civil war, may erupt in Greece:

EU austerity policies risk civil war in Greece,

warns top German economist Dr Sinn

Greece’s austerity measures cannot prevent default and will lead to a breakdown of the political order if continued for long, a leading German economist has warned. (Telegraph.  3 Sept 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/7980291/EU-austerity-policies-risk-civil-war-in-Greece-warns-top-German-economist-Dr-Sinn.html)

On Friday, University of Munich economics professor Hans-Werner Sinn said Greece’s problems were long-term, outlining three options: the world can either subsidize Athens indefinitely; force an even greater degree of austerity that actually risks “civil war”; or encourage Greece to restore its drachma currency despite the domestic banking collapse that could well result.  (Bloomberg Business Week, 4 Sept 2010.  http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9I173V01.htm)

“Greece will not make it,” said Sinn. He said the world can either subsidize Athens indefinitely, force a degree of austerity that actually risks “civil war,” or — in what he suggested was the least bad option — encourage Greece to restore its drachma currency despite the domestic banking collapse that could well result. (Associated Press, 4 Sept 2010.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jEB_001ID1IooKGJBpeBVv_-C7bwD9I0J4P00)

Many in Greece are not happy about how their national debt situation has been handled.

In my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, I discuss the possibility of civil unrest and/or civil war breaking out in Europe.  Here are a couple of captions from the book about that:

Some believe that God will punish the nominal Catholics with civil unrest and war in Europe.  As there already has been civil unrest in Europe (and according to secular sources, more is expected), it is possible that the following (to some degree) also may come to pass:..

Monk Hilarion (15^th century): “The people of the peninsula of Europe will suffer by needless wars…”

Brother Louis Rocco (19th century): “All over Europe there will rage terrible civil wars…A Great Monarch will arise after a period of terrible wars and persecutions in Europe.”

Some believe this civil unrest will result in the rise of a militaristic leader who will quell that particular violence, establish a new religious order, and reign with a pope who will perform miracles…

One interesting 15^th century Catholic prophecy foretells a time when a “great prince” will rise up. “All Germany” will apparently convert to the ecumenical religion, and then massive conversions in “all countries” “will happen quickly…

The descriptions of the Great Monarch/Prince in many ways parallel the description of one the Bible refers to as the “prince” in Daniel 9:26–27, final “King of the North” in Daniel 11:27–45…

Austerity measures in Europe will likely cause civil unrest.   And places other than Greece are likely to be affected.

Furthermore, it may partially because of civil war/unrest/riots that a de-Islamization of Europe will take place.  The situation in Europe will change and the leader known biblically as the ten-horned Beast or the final King of the North will rise up.

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?
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?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
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. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, many have already started to come to pass.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta Nuevo libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

COGwriter

Iran is opposed to the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, partially because the USA is involved:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has criticized the relaunched direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, saying the talks are doomed to fail.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said Friday that only Palestinians can decide their fate – not Western powers.  (VOA News, 3 Sept 2010. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Iran-Blasts-Israeli-Palestinian-Talks–102148154.html)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned Israel and the US in a rally marking the annual Quds, or Jerusalem Day. Security was tight and coincided with reports that the house of opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi was under siege by pro-government militia members.

Iranian government TV showed crowds of demonstrators chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”…(VOA News, 3 Sept 2010.  http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Iranian-Pro-Government-Demonstrators-Turn-Out-for-Jerusalem-Day-102159594.html)

One Israeli official commented about Iran today:

Minister of Minority Affairs Professor Avishay Braverman said Saturday that the recently relaunched peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians posed “a strategic threat to Iran.”

Speaking at the Shabbat Tarbut event in Haifa, the minister said that “the cancellation of a visit by the Iranian foreign minister to Egypt and the historical events that have occurred in Tehran since the start of peace talks are proof that progress in the talks will lead to an alliance between Israel and the moderate Arab states versus the axis of evil of Iran-Hamas-Hezbollah.”  (Haaretz, 4 Sept 2010.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/mideast-peace-process-poses-a-strategic-threat-to-iran-1.312138)

Iran does not want the peace deal for many reasons.  One is that Sunni Muslim nations (like Egypt and Jordan) seem to be supportive of the process.  As the major Shi’ite Muslim power, Iran does not want the Sunnis to thrive.

But it is more than that.

According to speech given several years ago by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the purpose of the Iranian revolution was to prepare the way for the rising up of someone known as the Imam Mahdi.  This seems to be the same individual that the Bible indicates is the final King of the South.  Iran seems to believe that provoking war is the way to get this leader to rise up.

Hamas, a group that receives funding from Iran, killed four Israelis to protest the peace talks and apparently intends to kill more:

Spokesman calls settlers a “legitimate target” and an army with thousands of weapons at their disposal; says the direct talks are a “media circus.”

A Hamas spokesman told Arab language newspaper Al-Hayat that the group intends to continue its attacks on settlers because they are “legitimate targets” on Saturday.  (Jerusalem Post, 4 Sept 2010. http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=187041)

And it is possible that actual war could be provoked in as little as two weeks from now (there or elsewhere in the world).  We will see.

Ultimately the Bible tells of a time when both a King of the North (a European power) and a King of the South will rise up, make insincere deals (Daniel 9:27; Psalm 83), and turn on each other (Daniel 11:40-43).  And while that is likely a ways off, in the scheme of history, it is relatively soon.

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?  What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
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? Is he the Imam Mahdi?  What does the Bible say?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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?

Wheat

COGwriter

Because of the recent rise in wheat and other grain prices, the United Nations declared that this needs to be looked at:

The United Nations’ food agency has called a special meeting of policy makers to discuss the recent rise in global food prices…

The meeting will take place on 24 September, probably in Rome, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said.

“In the past few weeks, global cereal markets experienced a sudden surge in international wheat prices on concerns over wheat shortages,” the agency said.

“The purpose of holding the meeting is for exporting and importing countries to engage in constructive discussions on appropriate reactions to the current market situation.”  (BBC, 3 September 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11177346)

There have recently been food shortages, high prices, and even limited food riots:

Wheat prices rose further on Friday in the wake of Russia’s decision to extend its grain export ban by 12 months, raising fears about a return to the food shortages and riots of 2007-08.

In Mozambique, where a 30 per cent rise in bread prices triggered riots on Wednesday and Thursday, the government said seven people had been killed and 288 wounded…

Russia is traditionally the world’s fourth-largest wheat exporter, and the export ban has already forced importers in the Middle East and North Africa, the biggest buyers, to seek supplies in Europe and the US. (Financial Times – Sept 3, 2010. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5f6f94ac-b6bc-11df-b3dd-00144feabdc0.html)

Of course, food shortages are prophesied.  Jesus warned that “famines” would be part of the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8).  In the Book of Revelation, food price inflation is predicted with the ride of the third horseman (Revelation 6:6).

Related to the third horseman of Revelation, Evangelist Richard Ames wrote:

The third seal presents a rider on a black horse, representing the scarcity of food and the resulting famine…Cynics say there have always been wars, famines and pestilences. But, as time goes on, we will see the four horsemen of the apocalypse intensify their ride, with increasing global consequences. (Ames R. The Middle East in Prophecy. Living Church of God, 2006, p. 24)

While we are not yet to the final intensified ride of that horseman,  part of the “beginning of sorrows” that Jesus referred to could have started.  Food shortages will affect more than Africa and the Middle East.

As Jesus said:

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)

Food prices are something to watch.

This bad food price news could be good news for at least part of the agricultural segment of the USA’s economy.  The USA is a major exporter of cereal grains such as wheat and corn, and should benefit (for now) from increases in food prices.

But ultimately, food shortages will affect Americans and their Anglo-allies like the British, Australians, and New Zealanders.  Hyperinflation will happen to the USA and likely some or all of its Anglo-allies.

In addition to the need for individual repentance prior to disasters, the presiding evangelist of the Living Church of God (LCG), R.C. Meredith of the Living Church of God publicly has taught:

Put aside some food and store some water…Bad times are coming, have some supplies (Meredith RC. Prophecy Overview. Sermon, July 19, 2008).

Get extra food, dried food, and water…When these things happen, maybe God’s people can survive longer…It’s good to be prudent (Meredith RC. Do you actually live by faith? Sermon, April 25, 2009).

Tougher times are coming.  And for some parts of the world these tougher time may be here now.  People who can prepare, should.  Both spiritually and physically.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”?  When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
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?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?

COGwriter

A powerful earthquake hit the South Island of New Zealand today (actually September 4th in New Zealand):

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has rocked much of New Zealand’s South Island. No immediate tsunami alert has been issued and no injuries have been reported.

The quake, which hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of the southern city of Christchurch, shook a wide area with initial radio reports saying items were tossed from store shelves and roof tiles cracked by the strong temblor.

Christchurch police reported some road damage in parts of the city of 400,000 people, with a series of sharp aftershocks rocking the area.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLE5Mss9oMr_dpRNOuQ19HacFrRQD9I0J4800

The impact of this earthquake is unclear.  Other reports have claimed it was a 7.0, 7.1, or 7.2 quake.

The South Island of New Zealand is less densely populated than its North Island, and so this may only be a relatively mild trouble for New Zealand.  Here is another report:

The New Zealand earthquake caused road damage and wall collapses in parts of the city of 400,000, and authorities said looters had broken into some damaged shops, according to the Associated Press…

“There is quite significant damage, really, with reports that some people were trapped in damaged houses.”  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/photogalleries/100903-new-zealand-earthquake-christchurch-pictures/

Jesus, of course, warned about a time with such issues:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be…troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

We may be at this prophetic point as all the earthquakes and other problems that have happened in the past year could be considered as “troubles”.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? What is “the beginning of sorrows”?  Have we begun or are we about ready for “the beginning of sorrows” to begin.
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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?

COGwriter

There was a seminar this past weekend involving certain former students of Bishop Ratizinger (now Pope Benedict XVI).  The keynote speaker was Archbishop Kurt Koch. As of July 1, 2010, he became the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.  He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Koch’s intervention examined “The Second Vatican Council between tradition and innovation” and “Sacrosanctum concilium and the post-Conciliar reform of the liturgy.”  (Pope and Past Pupils Interpret Vatican II.  Vatican Radio.  31 August 2010.  http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=419039)

Information about the details of what was actually said at this August 27-30, 2010 seminar have been hard to come by, but yesterday, Archbishop Koch spoke a little about it:

Archbishop Koch told L’Osservatore Romano (LOR) on Wednesday that the meeting of the Pope’s former theology students was “a concrete, lively and positive experience.” He said that the participants’ conclusion after examining the reform of the Second Vatican Council over the weekend was that “(l)oyalty to tradition, openness to the future: is the most correct interpretation of Vatican II, which remains the magna carta of the Church also in the third millennium.”…

Although he shared few details of his audience with Benedict XVI on Monday morning, the archbishop did tell LOR that he and the Pope spoke about his “new ecumenical challenge because the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is not independent (from the Pontiff) but it has a mandate from the Pope to see how dialogue may develop in the future.”  (Archbishop Koch pledges unity with Pope as he assumes new Vatican post. Vatican City, Sep 1, 2010. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-koch-pledges-unity-with-pope-as-he-assumes-new-vatican-post/

Pope Benedict essentially set up the seminar:

The Second Vatican Council and its implementation is the theme of this year’s meeting of the “Ratzinger Schulerkreis,” a group of the Pope’s former students. Benedict XVI will participate in some of their discussions…

In his first address as Pope to the Roman Curia, he pointed to two opposing interpretations of the council, which Archbishop Koch will address in his first lecture…

The Holy Father said…”…there is the ‘hermeneutic of reform,’ of renewal in the continuity of the one subject-Church which the Lord has given to us. She is a subject which increases in time and develops, yet always remaining the same, the one subject of the journeying People of God.”  (Ratzinger Students to Consider Vatican II.  Zenit, 26 August 2010.  http://www.zenit.org/article-30162?l=english).

Based upon what Zenit reported from the Pontiff, it appears that the Vatican is coming up with ways to rationalize how to change yet claim to be “always remaining the same”.  This somewhat contradictory view is likely to be held by whoever becomes the final Antichrist as he will not be truly committed to the faith he will originally profess.   Kurt Koch is someone that I am watching to fulfill or assist in fulfilling that role (for some reasons, please see Swiss Bishop Appointed as Ecumenical Head: Antichrist Role?).

The use of “Vatican II” (a major meeting of the Church of Rome which opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI on 8 December 1965) to justify many things has raised questions for decades amongst those who consider themselves affiliated with the Church of Rome.  Many Catholics have questioned how the Vatican can claim to be the same while making changes.

Now, it appears that Vatican II will be part of the cover being used to promote unity with other faiths.  The Vatican made major efforts towards the Anglicans in October 2009 (see Vatican Announced Plan for Anglicans to Become Part of the Church of Rome) and have have many meetings with the Eastern Orthodox and certain Protestant groups in the past year to attempt reconciliation and unity.

However, theological compromise is expected for such unity to occur.  So much compromise that it appears that it may be possible that the next pope may, according to various Catholic and biblical prophecies, essentially be an antipope who does not really believe the Roman Catholic religion, though he will publicly profess that religion for quite a while.

These ecumenically-related discussions are one of the subjects that prophecy followers should “watch” (cf. Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20). Orthodox-Catholic unity will not be a good thing according to many biblical, Catholic, and Orthodox prophecies.

Those who wish to learn why this is dangerous may wish to read the following articles:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
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.
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. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, many have already started to come to pass.  It also shows in detail from biblical, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and other prophecies explaining why the next pope may be an antipope and the final Antichrist.

Mount Apo in Mindanao, Philippines

COGwriter

While the USA is considered to possibly be on the verge of a “double-dip” recession, many in Asia see growth over there.

The Philippines is sounding upbeat:

The Philippines may narrow its budget deficit next year to the smallest since 2008 as economic growth accelerates, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said.

The 2011 shortfall may shrink to as little as 226 billion pesos ($5 billion), or 2.5 percent of gross domestic product if the economy expands 7 percent, Purisima told reporters in Manila today. Growth this year may reach or exceed the top-end of the government’s 5 percent-to-6 percent goal, Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga said.

The Southeast Asian nation is targeting annual growth of as much as 8 percent starting next year, betting that investments in railways, roads and ports will create jobs and boost trade.  (By Max Estayo and Cecilia Yap – Sep 1, 2010. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-01/philippines-says-budget-deficit-may-narrow-next-year-as-growth-accelerates.html)

And while some of the above may be just hopeful thinking, nothing coming out of financial leaders in the USA government sound anywhere near that optimistic for the USA’s economy.

Meanwhile, there is more growth in China:

Manufacturing in China grew at a faster pace in August after the weakest performance since early 2009 in July, signalling that the economy’s slowdown is stabilising.  (Bloomberg / Hong Kong September 02, 2010.  http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/china-manufacturing-growth-rebounds/406607/)

The world is changing.  There is a shift away from the USA and its allies like Canada leading the way in the world (though currently Canada is doing better than the USA).

Russia and India also seem to be improving:

Indian factories expanded apace in August, although slightly slower than in July, after Asia’s third-largest economy grew at its fastest rate in nearly three years in the last quarter.

And the manufacturing sector of Russia — part of the BRIC quartet of new economic powers alongside China, India and Brazil — expanded at its fastest rate in 28 months largely thanks to the strong domestic demand.  (2 Sep, 2010, 12.39AM IST,REUTERS. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/Manufacturing-picks-up-in-India-and-China-slips-in-Europe/articleshow/6477223.cms)

It is not that there is no growth in any parts of the USA’s economy (it had some manufacturing growth), but its debt and other policies seem to provide pressure for the growth to be limited.

Europe is having its ups and downs as well, but ultimately it will end up on top for a while, according to Bible prophecy.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What’s ahead for the Philippines?  What does the Bible prophesy about islands?
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? 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?
Russia: Its 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?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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

US President Obama declared an end to the USA’s combat mission in Iraq at a news conference yesterday.

But all is not well in Iraq.  Actually, it still does not have a fully-formed government after its last election.  This lack of unity is a signal that it will have more unity problems in the future.

Iraq is likely to experience civil war.

Over five years ago (January 7, 2005), the late John Ogwyn (of LCG) stated in a commentary titled What Lies Ahead for Iraq?:

You see, Iraq has three roughly defined regions developing on their own paths. The south is under the sway of Shiite Muslim clerics, many of whom want to form an Islamic state. The Sunni Muslims in the center are increasingly influenced by members of the former regime—many of them Arab nationalists. And in the north there is the desire for Kurdish autonomy at the very least—and, most likely, Kurdish independence. In fact, the longer an effective central government is delayed, the longer the country’s three regions will continue on their diverging trajectories. Some have called this “the calm before the storm.”

Now, my friends, did you realize this is actually mentioned in Bible prophecy? It’s interesting when you look in the book of Revelation, chapter 9, as well as Revelation chapter 16, and you find that the Euphrates River plays a major part in future prophecies. Anciently, the Euphrates River was the boundary between the Parthian Empire to the east and the Roman Empire to the west. That was the state of things in the first century when John was writing. Today, if you look at a map, the Euphrates River isn’t a boundary between anything. It just sort of goes down through the middle of Iraq. Yet in Revelation 9:14, we are told that when the sixth trumpet blows, the angels that have been bound in the great River Euphrates are loosed. And in Revelation 16, we find that when the sixth vial is poured out, the River Euphrates is dried up and the kings of the east move across—indicating that the Euphrates is a boundary between east and west.

My friends, if you look at a map and you look these three ethnic groups, you realize that as Iraq moves toward disintegration into three major components, you will find that the Euphrates River is going to emerge as a boundary. That is the natural boundary there, and very likely we are going to see, in the time ahead, the disintegration of Iraq—and ultimately the emergence of the Euphrates River as a prominent boundary just as indicated in the book of Revelation.

What’s going on in today’s world news is setting the stage for the final fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

The US and its allies attempted to do the best that they humanly can, but overall, things will change in the Middle East and will NOT be as the US, etc. hopes.

Civil unrest is likely for Iraq, and it may break out with civil war.  Ultimately, I expect much of Iraq to align with the soon coming Islamic King of the South, and that may somewhat minimize Iraq’s disintegration–but such disintegration may happen prior to this leader being accepted.

Some articles of possibly-related interest may include:

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?
The Bible and the Arab World In 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 There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It 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 at the COGwriter website 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”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

COGwriter

Peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are about to resume:

JERUSALEM, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday morning left for Washington to attend an U.S.- proposed peace summit, which would be the first direct negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians since late 2008.  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-08/31/c_13471930.htm

Yet, all is not good:

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says a Palestinian gunman has killed four Israelis in an attack in the West Bank.

The shooting comes just a day ahead of a White House summit relaunching Mideast peace talks…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday the success of talks aimed at forging a peace deal with Israel within a year will depend on how hard U.S. mediators push to break any deadlocks…

President Barack Obama is hosting Abbas and Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, followed a day later by a first negotiating session, to be headed by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama hopes to see a peace deal within a year. Expectations are low, given that Abbas and Netanyahu are far apart on key issues and face internal opposition.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDqGHEOAOLoXtaPxa6q_YKsfdyxAD9HUJATO0

A near term peace deal seems slim.  2011, for many reasons, may better fit with end time prophecy than 2010.  And a deal simply between the Israelis and Palestinians may not be enough to fulfill Daniel 9:27–though a timed one (one with a term, like seven years) might.

There may be more violence and wars before there is the prophesied peace deal.

If the red horseman rises up (Revelation 6:3-4) and one or more wars break out on or shortly after the Day of Atonement this year, we may seem warfare in places like Iran, the Middle East and even South America.   Africa & Asia (many places there including Afghanistan, Korea, and elsewhere) have some potential; as does civil unrest in Europe and North America.

It may take one or more wars in the Middle East to end up with the peace deal that the Bible seems to be referring to in Daniel 9:27.  But that deal may happen as soon as 2011 or 2012.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
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. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, many have already started to come to pass.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta Nuevo libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.

COGwriter

Gold has been over USD$1200 per ounce for much of the past several months.  This is primarily because many feel that the US dollar has problems as well as the US economy.

Because the USA was starting to not have enough gold to back its dollar, way back in 1961, the Plain Truth reported:

Germany, Japan have the largest surpluses of GOLD and DOLLARS…Rich Uncle {Sam} has the greatest deficit in governmental history and a GREATER DEBT than all the REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED!…

Vast foreign aid programs drain the U.S. Treasury…American spending to supply services and to support our troops in foreign countries and military installations around the world amounts to…dollars flowing out of the frightened U.S. Treasury. All of these factors, combined with heavy taxes, gigantic public and private debt, and no gold backing for our own currency if foreign investors demanded gold for their dollars, adds up to the staggering revelation that the U.S., richest nation in the world, is bordering on bankruptcy! (Hill DJ. What the US Gold Crisis Means to You. Plain Truth. February 1961, p. 9).

France did finally cash in dollars for gold and this caused a crisis in the USA.

The US answer was to go off the gold standard completely in 1971. About the same time it made a deal with Saudi Arabia to price oil in dollars. So, while this prevented “foreigners” from being able to redeem US dollars for something from the USA treasury, instead it meant that dollars could be used to by oil. As other (mostly smaller) oil producers followed Saudi Arabia’s lead, this has served to support the US dollar for several decades.

Back in 1971, the Plain Truth mentioned gold and that a currency coming out of Europe would replace the USA dollar:

FOR 40 YEARS, (1931 to 1971) the American dollar reigned supreme in world trade and finance. From 1945 to 1958, the dollar was considered better than gold to most developing economies…

On August 15, 1971, President Nixon revealed his new economic plan. One part of the strategy was to cut loose the dollar from gold, in effect letting it “float” in foreign transactions until natural market pressure would decide its best value…

The European Common Currency appears to be the most likely successor to the dollar in this long line of monetary dynasties. Europe is the only continent with sufficient gold backing…

… and What About Gold?

The gold standard is not sacred. It is only about 100 years old in the history of man, a product of evolution as much as any social institution. But in a world of sovereign powers, there must be some standard to finance international trade and domestic currency. Gold has the confidence of more people than any other standard, especially in Europe. (Alexander G. America faces “The Dollar Crisis”. Plain Truth magazine, October 1971, pp. 3-4)

Other articles from the old WCG also predicted that the Europeans would end up with their own European currency and that it would be expected to replace the dollar.

All of this has been happening.  As the USA continues to increase its debt, the value of the dollar will ultimately drop even more.  This does not mean that gold will not drop in value (it goes up and down all the time).  But unless there is national repentance across the USA, the USA dollar will ultimately be worth less than the cotton it is printed on.  Gold, on the other hand, seems to be prophesied to retain value past that time (cf. Daniel 11:43; Revelation 18).

For additional information, check out the following article:

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?

Neodymium Magnet on a Hard Drive

COGwriter

The world is starting to become upset by the fact that China controls 95% or so of certain “rare earth elements”(like neodymium ) and has dramatically reduced their export:

Backlash over China curb on metal exports

China’s draconian export curbs on rare earth minerals needed by the rest of the world for frontier technologies is escalating into a serious diplomatic and trade clash with the United States and other leading powers. (Telegraph, August 29, 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/7970872/Backlash-over-China-curb-on-metal-exports.html)

The “official” reason for the ban is apparently for environmental protection.  However, since China does not have a stellar environmental record, most discount that reason.

The real reason seems to be that China may need all it produces, and that control over this resource gives China a lot of power and influence.

The USA recognizes a problem here and has taken several steps, including hopefully having a mine open in California in 2012 (see Rare Earth Elements, China, and 2012).

But despite the protests and steps by the Americans, the Chinese still have major control and expects to for the foreseeable future.  This does not bode well for the USA.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? 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?
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?
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?
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.
Large Hadron Collider may result in military applications The Europeans have the largest physics project on the planet. Some scoff, but might it result in military applications? May the Large Hadron Collider help fulfill Revelation 13:4?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This page contains some concepts and prophecies related to 2012 and a book.  This also has YouTube videos related to 2012 and beyond.