Church of God News

The photo above is of an ancient carving of Euro who is supposed to be the southeast wind.  And now economic winds may be changing. 

The following is from the lead article in the Sep/Oct 2007 edition of UCG’s World News & Prophecy by Darris McNeely:

On Sept. 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists attacked America, and overnight everything changed. The signs and warnings of such an attack were there the day before (9/10), but were ignored, misunderstood and glossed over by those charged with protecting the security of the nation. Had they been properly analyzed and acted upon, the tragedy could have been averted.

But it wasn’t, and much has changed for America and the West since that fateful day. Now come signs of a looming financial crisis that could completely change the global economy and have a dramatic impact on America’s role as the world’s dominant economic power…

Even if you neither had a subprime mortgage nor work in the industry, could this crisis affect you?

The Western world’s financial markets have created a major problem that threatens the bedrock of global finance. The system is so precarious that it threatens the financial security of all citizens, regardless of their exposure to financial markets. You may be completely free of debt and still be impacted by this latest trouble.

Foreign investors have taken on hundreds of billions of dollars of American debt. In essence, they are the ones who have borne the risks; they have financed the unrealistic housing boom and irresponsible consumer spending of recent years…

No matter how one looks at America’s national economy, the fact is there is an enormous amount of debt—more than this, or future generations, can ever hope to repay. For now the country prints more paper with colored ink, calls them dollars and puts them out to creditors with the hope they will continue to have confidence in the American government and its economic policies. The day that changes will see Americans and many other nations paying a lot more for the basics of life we have come to take for granted…

This current crisis will likely stabilize. But because the fundamental problems remain, unless there is significant change, a worse crisis will follow. Obviously, greed is an underlying factor in all facets of the subprime crisis. God is ever merciful, but there will be a day of judgment if America does not repent.

Comments by COGwriter: 

UCG has it basically correct.  However, since the USA is not likely to repent, I would simply add that the financial crisis will ultimately be worse than any scenario I have read lately.

Yet, it is not all downhill for the dollar and the US economy.  There will be various crises in Europe and elsewhere that will temporarily help support the dollar.  However, as scripture indicates, the time will come when the US economy will be destroyed as its creditors will finally have had enough.

There are several prophecies that this general assessment are based upon.  Several are in Habakkuk 2.  Here are some from Deuteronomy Chapter 28 which we believe applies to the USA and its English-speaking allies:

13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them…

43…The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail (NKJV).

And we believe that Bible prophecy reveals that Europe will arise.  An article of possibly related interest may be Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation. 

 By COGwriter

  Pope Benedict XVI 

The Pope has called for prayer on unity with the Orthodox.  Notice the following story: 

Benedict XVI Praying for Catholic-Orthodox Meeting

Zenit – Oct 10, 2007

VATICAN CITY – Benedict XVI called for prayer to bring about full communion between Catholics and Orthodox, especially as theologians from the two Churches engage in ecumenical dialogue.

“I ask you to join me in my prayer,” said the Holy Father, “that this important gathering may help us to progress toward full communion between Catholics and Orthodox, and that we may soon be able to share the one chalice of the Lord.”

http://www.zenit.org/article-20722?l=english

Comments by COGwriter:

The Orthodox should study their Bibles and pray that they will embrace the truth of the Bible instead of unity with the Roman Catholics, which is prophesied to lead to dominance over the Orthodox.

One prophecy, that was given no later than 1202, by Abbott Joachim states:

A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels. Holy and full of gentleness, he shall undo all wrong, he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church…This holy Pope shall be both pastor and reformer. Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world. Rome, weakened in temporal power, shall forever preserve her spiritual dominion, and shall enjoy great peace…At the beginning, in order to bring these happy results, having need of a powerful assistance, this holy Pontiff will ask the cooperation of the generous monarch of France (Great Monarch). (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp. 31-32).

This suggests that some Roman Catholics believe that they have to reunite with the Eastern Orthodox as well as support the reuniting of the Europeans (the “temporal powers” is a term used by Catholics to mean the political leaders in the world) and that Babylon will then be the head of the world! 

Something that the Bible warns against!

More information can be found in the articles:

Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation

Below is a photograph of Herbert Armstrong in Japan taken when he was granted an award from the Emperor of Japan:

By COGwriter

Last month I received a couple of emails from one who had been affiliated with  the Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs).  He was concerned that the SDAs put too much emphasis on Ellen White–so much so that it exceeded what the Bible revealed.

So he asked me how Herbert W. Armstrong should be viewed.

Here are parts of two emails I received from him:

I don’t really know about Armstrong and shy away from a lot of additional writings( White, Armstrong, etc). I am seeking and will study more. I find your writings helpful– A UCG and a LCG guy called me- they both were nice- both said to stay away from the Philadelphia COG breakaway group. All I could really see a difference in was in the way they are governed- I find that one person as Armstrong and White, or any others that ENHANCE the bible, and followed are a little off track, BUT I am an open minded seeker and an independent researcher. All I could really see a difference in was in the way they are governed- I find that one person as Armstrong and White, or any others that ENHANCE the bible, and followed are a little off track, BUT I am an open minded seeker and an independent researcher. I also don’t know much about the armstrong Israel thing or the triple tithe thing. The feast days, I know very little about. I do believe that it is clear in the bible about no sunday rising or Wed crucifixion- that doesn’t take much to figure- I also know that the trinity thing as most Christendom accepts is pagan and of Rome. If there are any clear teachings that are salvational that armstrong taught, let me know. …

I appreciate all your writing, your research and knowledge. I was an independent SDA(non-conference) for several years after I dropped my conference membership and the ones I associated with promoted that White was a messenger, inspired of God–I gather, BUT may be wrong in that I see that many COG’s that broke away from the WWCG may see Armstrong in the same way- Am I wrong? and if so please inform me where I may really study him out by an unbiased writer. I guess one question would help me in this matter- can a person be a baptized member of the LCG or UCG if they leave Armstrong out of their beliefs and studies and just go by the bible only- As an example I learned of the Wed crucif by the bible only, not from anyone else. I know that conference SDA’s have to accept the writings of White. Respectfully, GH

The PCG and RCG and some others, do wrongly hold Herbert W. Armstrong in a similar light as SDAs do Ellen White.

We in LCG (and most of the other COGs) do not.

Those in charge at LCG all knew Herbert W. Armstrong (two knew him since the 1950s) and hold no illusions to him being perfect or close to it. We in LCG (UCG, etc.) tend to consider that God sent Herbert W. Armstrong (hence the “apostle” title, as apostle means “one sent”) to raise up the Philadelphia portion of the COG.

But even as Paul chastised the Apostle Peter for error (Galatians 2:14-21), we do not feel that Herbert W. Armstrong was perfect, nor that he intended his writings to be on par with scripture. Herbert W. Armstrong himself often publicly stated not to believe him but believe what it is written in the Bible. So, though we in the COGs that came from the old Worldwide Church of God do believe that God used Herbert W. Armstrong to restore a lot of truth to the COG, we do not believe that he was without error or that he intended his writings to be considered nearly sacred.

We in the Living Church of God recognize that it is only the name of Jesus that is necessary for salvation (see Acts 4:9-12). As far as baptism goes, one does not even need to have ever heard the name Herbert W. Armstrong for baptism in LCG or UCG (this differs from PCG and some others). Though, most groups (like LCG) would expect that you agree with our official doctrines (which we believe we have documented from the Bible).

It may also be of interest to note that Herbert W. Armstrong’s ministerial license does state that he was ordained to be an apostle. And although that was commonly on the old CG7 licenses, I believe that the fruits of Herbert Armstrong’s ministry show that he, and he alone, of the CG7 ordained ministers, fulfilled that office.

If you read my article on the SDAs, you will see that we in the COGs DO NOT treat Herbert W. Armstrong’s writings like the SDAs treat Ellen White’s (please see the article SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).

An another email the same reader stated,

“Also why did the wwcg (in your opinion) not grow past 100-120 thousand in over 50 years with their prophet Armstrong, when the SDA with their prophet White amazingly grew?”

Herbert W. Armstrong said that he was not a prophet (see previous section). We in the COGs do not consider him to have been a prophet.

As far as growth, the SDAs sadly normally have a false message as that is based upon Ellen White’s interpretation of why Jesus did not return in 1844 (please see the article SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666). Furthermore, because of various changes, SDAs the do not really understand the Godhead and nor do they properly teach Christ’s gospel of the kingdom, even though they do keep the ten commandments and the Sabbath. The Bible shows that Jesus taught that the true COG would be a “little flock”. While there MAY be some in the SDA groups (perhaps in smaller fringe groups) that are part of the COG, I do not consider that SDAs in general are part of the COG.

Two articles of related interest may include SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 and the History of Early Christianity.

Speaking of false messages, it should be understood that Herbert W. Armstrong intentionally did NOT appoint nor anoint anyone to hold the office or title of apostle after him, and we in the COGs do not believe that our top leader needs to have that title (the top leader in the Living Church of God was ordained as an evangelist by Herbert W. Armstrong in the 1950s, and retains that title today). The one or two people who claim COG affiliation yet also claim to be apostles now (David Pack of RCG comes to mind) are NOT considered to be valid apostles by any except their few followers.

I, and others, believe that God used Herbert W. Armstrong to raise up the Philadelphia Era of the Church of God. In the book of Revelation, chapters 1-3, seven overlapping but essentially consecutive churches are shown (more information is in the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3).

Herbert Armstrong was the most effective Church of God leader in centuries. He essentially had three major accomplishments in that role in the opinion of many:

1. God used him to raise up the Philadelphia Era of the Church of God. People who surrendered to God and repented were converted.
2. God used him to restore at least 18 truths that the previous church era (Sardis) no longer had.
3. God used him to preach the Gospel of the kingdom to the world as a witness through electronic media (radio and television), print media (booklets, magazines, and books), and personal contact–Herbert Armstrong met personally with many world leaders to share some of the good news of the Kingdom of God (the photo of him after being honored by the Emperor of Japan is in the article titled Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness?).

Approximately 20 million people per month read the old WCG magazine The Plain Truth (which now has no COG affiliation and no longer teaches the same doctrines that it once did). For a short while after Herbert W. Armstrong’s death, the World Tomorrow telecast was the number one rated religious telecast in the whole United States of America–a major accomplishment for a relatively small church.

In addition, to the 18 restored truths, I believe that much of Herbert Armstrong’s doctrinal and prophetic teachings have helped the COGs better understand the Bible and world events.

I also personally and specifically believe that God used Herbert W. Armstrong to help establish a firm foundation for Philadelphia portion of the Church of God so that its remnant (which is essentially represented by the Living Church of God) will be able to continue to fulfill Matthew 24:14 to preach the Gospel of the kingdom to the world as a witness so that the end of this age will come, the two witnesses will arise from our midst, and the kingdom of God will be established.

Unlike Joseph Smith (Five Dissimilarities Between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Church of God) or Ellen White (SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666), Herbert W. Armstrong did not claim to have massive amounts of biblical truth instantly revealed to him by God or an angel.

Herbert W. Armstrong himself personally taught to listen and believe the Bible and not him. Herbert W. Armstrong frequently taught:

“Don’t believe me – BELIEVE YOUR BIBLE – BELIEVE GOD!”

Herbert W. Armstrong, Plain Truth magazine, Sept. 1963, Personal pg.1

That is fabulous advice. And I would tell Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, LDS, and everyone else the same thing.

The above information and more (including autobiographical information from the 1973 edition of HWA’s Autobiography), is in the relatively new article  Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today?

The following article was of interest:

Survey:  More Americans Familiar with Big Mac Ingredients

than 10 Commandments

Christian Post – Oct 3, 2007

Think most Americans know the Ten Commandments?

Think again.

Despite living in a country with a rich and still prevalent Christian heritage – as evident from the Pledge of Allegiance to the nation’s motto, “In God We Trust” – Americans were found to be more familiar with the ingredients of the McDonald’s Big Mac hamburger than some of the Ten Commandments.

In a new study conducted by Kelton research in conjunction with the upcoming release of the animated feature film, The Ten Commandments, 80 percent of respondents knew “two all beef patties” were among the ingredients of the Big Mac but only six out of ten could identify “Thou shalt not kill” as one of the Ten Commandments.

Also, while 43 percent of respondents – including those who regularly attend worship – could recall Bobby and Peter, two of the least-recalled names from the Brady Bunch, they were less familiar with two of the least recalled commandments – “Remember the Sabbath” (34 percent) and “Do not make any false idols” (29 percent).

“This gradual erosion of our knowledge of the Ten Commandments is a pretty serious issue,” said Paul Lauer, founder and president of Motive Entertainment, the group marketing the Ten Commandments film. He adds that he was shocked because these were statistics coming from a country that is known as “a Christian nation.”

Lauer, along with makers of the Ten Commandments movie, say they hope the film will inspire Americans to improve their literacy of the Ten Commandments and the Bible. The film, produced by Promenade Pictures, is slated to hit theaters Oct. 19.

Comments by COGWriter

Whether they know them or not, most Americans seem to live as if the Ten Commandments do not exist. 

But they are displayed is a few places:

Several articles on the Ten Commandments include:

Were the Ten Commandments in Effect Before Mount Sinai? Some have said not. This article provides biblical quotes to answer this important question.
Job and the Ten Commandments Was Job written prior to Mount Sinai? Did Job know about the ten commandments? This article provides biblical answers to those questions.
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common “traditions of men” regarding them as well.
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings. 

By COGwriter

Arrived safetly home late last night after about 20 hours of traveling from Trinidad and Tobago (where my family and I observed the Feast of Tabernacles).

The following news item I received in an email caught my attention:

Celebrate fall – the Chinese way

Chinese people around the world celebrate autumn by gathering together and gazing at the full moon.

Christian Science Monitor – Sept 25, 2007

In America each fall, families gather around a table laden with turkey and pumpkin pie to celebrate Thanksgiving. But did you know that in China, people have an autumn celebration of their own?

Each fall, in China, families gather on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival. (It’s called Zhongqiu Jie in Chinese.)

The Chinese use a lunar calendar to determine on which day the Mid-Autumn Festival will fall each year.  This year, the festivities occur Sept. 25, when the full moon lights up the night sky.

Comments by Cogwriter:

The biblical Feast of Tabernacles also begins with a full moon.  One reader of this page suggested to me in an email that perhaps the ancient Chinese had some knowledge of the Feast of Tabernacles and that this is a remnant of that.

While I cannot determine that, I can say that there are a variety of indications in ancient Chinese writings and practices which strongly show biblical connections that many do not seem to realize at this time.

For example, notice the following Chinese symbol of a tower.

Tower	= Grass	+ Clay	+ Mankind	+ 1	+ Mouth

Michael P. Germano, Ed.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Living University (LU), sent the following update on LU:

1. The university records enrollments and reports them on our IPEDS census date each semester. This occurs at the 10% point of the semester. As of that date we exceeded our strategic long-range plan objective of 36 FTE (full-time equivalent students) with 45.4 FTE. We have 163 students (117 men and 46 women) from 18 nations.
2. The IT department has been refining our e-learning software to make it as user-friendly as feasible. In any undertaking of this magnitude there is a beta (shake down) period. We have experienced some challenges but have successfully navigated through them and the software is working smoothly.
3. Our LU Catalog for 2008-2009 is at the printer. Our plan is to send a souvenir copy of this first catalog to each LCG household sometime after the Feast of Tabernacles.
4. Students have enrolled for all six of our academic programs and we are now in the process of planning the fall 2008 and spring 2009 schedules of classes and recruiting and selecting faculty for courses.
5. We are in process of preparing formal documents in regard to licensure and accreditation. Readers should take note that in the USA no new college or university ever opens as an bonafide accredited institution. New colleges and universities have to observe required waiting periods and often have to graduate their first class. At LU we have taken the necessary steps to meet the accreditation schedules and deadlines of the two U.S. government-recognized accreditation agencies to which we will make application. 

All in all there has been a successful launch of the University.

Comments by COGwriter:

I appreciated receiving that update, and thought that readers of this site would like to see what is going on with Living University.

More information on LU and its programs is available by accessing its website which is linked here: Living University

By COGwriter

Most of our Protestant friends believe that since the rallying cry of the Protestant reformation was Sola Scriptura, that Martin Luther and other Protestant leaders actually based their doctrines on the Bible alone.

Did Martin Luther prefer Sola Scriptura or his own views?

Although Martin Luther stated that he looked upon the Bible “as if God Himself spoke therein” he also stated,

My word is the word of Christ; my mouth is the mouth of Christ” (O’Hare PF. The Facts About Luther, 1916–1987 reprint ed., pp. 203-204).

[Specifically, what Martin Luther wrote in German was “”Ich bin sehr gewiss, dass mein Wort nitt mein, sondern Christus Wort sei, so muss mein Mund auch des sein, des Wort er redet” (Luther, 682) – also translated as “I am confident that it is not my word, but Christ’s word, so my mouth is His who utters the words”(God’s words – the violence of representation. Universitatea din Bucuresti, 2002. http://www.unibuc.ro/eBooks/filologie/meanings/1.htm, September 25, 2003).]

Romans 3:28 states,

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Martin Luther, in his German translation of the Bible, specifically added the word “allein” (English ‘alone’) to Romans 3:28-a word that is not in the original Greek:

…Martin Luther would once again emphasize…that we are “justified by faith alone”, apart from the works of the Law” (Rom. 3:28), adding the German word allein (“alone”) in his translation of the Greek text. There is certainly a trace of Marcion in Luther’s move (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, pp. 64-65).

Martin Luther reportedly said,

You tell me what a great fuss the Papists are making because the word alone in not in the text of Paul…say right out to him: ‘Dr. Martin Luther will have it so,’…I will have it so, and I order it to be so, and my will is reason enough. I know very well that the word ‘alone’ is not in the Latin or the Greek text (Stoddard J. Rebuilding a Lost Faith. 1922, pp. 101-102; see also Luther M. Amic. Discussion, 1, 127).

This passage strongly suggests that Martin Luther viewed his opinions, and not the actual Bible as the primary authority–a concept which this author will name prima Luther. By “papists” he is condemning Roman Catholics, but is needs to be understood that Protestant scholars (like HOJ Brown) also realize that Martin Luther changed that scripture.

Martin Luther also taught,

And John 1 says: “The Word was made flesh,” when in our judgment it would have been better said, “The Word was incarnate,” or “made fleshly” (Disputation On the Divinity and Humanity of Christ February 27, 1540 conducted by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546 translated from the Latin text WA 39/2, pp. 92-121 by Christopher B. Brown).

This was apparently done to justify his belief that Jesus was fully God and fully human while on the earth.

Martin Luther had different views of various books of the Bible. Specifically, he had a fairly low view of the Books of Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation as he wrote,

Up to this point we have had the true and certain chief books of the New Testament. The four which follow have from ancient times had a different reputation. In the first place, the fact that Hebrews is not an epistle of St. Paul, or of any other apostle (Luther, M. Prefaces to the Epistle of the Hebrews, 1546).

Regarding the New Testament Book of Hebrews Martin Luther stated,

It need not surprise one to find here bits of wood, hay, and straw (O’Hare, p. 203).

He also wrote,

St. James’ epistle is really an epistle of straw…for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it” (Luther, M. Preface to the New Testament, 1546)

and

In the first place it is flatly against St. Paul and all the rest of Scripture in ascribing justification to works…Besides, he throws things together so chaotically that it seems to me he must have been some good, pious man, who took a few sayings from the disciples of the apostles and thus tossed them off on paper. Or it may perhaps have been written by someone on the basis of his preaching (Luther, M. Preface to the Epistles of St. James and St. Jude, 1546).

Interestingly the Epistle of James is the only place in the Bible to actually use the term ‘faith alone’:

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone (James 2:24).

One would have to assume that the fact that James 2:24 contradicted Martin Luther’s sola fide teaching would have been a major reason that he discounted this book of the Bible.

Martin Luther taught,

Concerning the epistle of St. Jude, no one can deny that it is an extract or copy of St. Peter’s second epistle…Therefore, although I value this book, it is an epistle that need not be counted among the chief books which are supposed to lay the foundations of faith (Luther, M. Preface to the Epistles of St. James and St. Jude, 1546).

Perhaps none of Martin Luther’s writings on the Bible are as harsh as what he wrote about “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1). Specifically he wrote,

About this book of the Revelation of John…I miss more than one thing in this book, and it makes me consider it to be neither apostolic nor prophetic…I can in no way detect that the Holy Spirit produced it. Moreover he seems to me to be going much too far when he commends his own book so highly-indeed, more than any of the other sacred books do, though they are much more important-and threatens that if anyone takes away anything from it, God will take away from him, etc. Again, they are supposed to be blessed who keep what is written in this book; and yet no one knows what that is, to say nothing of keeping it. This is just the same as if we did not have the book at all. And there are many far better books available for us to keep…My spirit cannot accommodate itself to this book. For me this is reason enough not to think highly of it: Christ is neither taught nor known in it” (Luther, M. Preface to the Revelation of St. John, 1522).

Because of this view, he and his followers condemned those with in the Church of God views in the 16th century. Like the Roman Catholics, Martin Luther and his followers decided against teaching that there would be a reign of Christ on the earth. Instead they condemned it.

“Article XVII: Of Christ’s Return to Judgment. Also they teach that at the Consummation of the World Christ will appear for judgment and will raise up all the dead; He will give to the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, but ungodly men and the devils He will condemn to be tormented without end. They condemn the Anabaptists, who think that there will be an end to the punishments of condemned men and devils. They condemn also others who are now spreading certain Jewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead the godly shall take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being everywhere suppressed.” (The Confession of Faith: Which Was Submitted to His Imperial Majesty Charles V. At the Diet of Augsburg in the Year 1530. by Philip Melanchthon, 1497-1560. Translated by F. Bente and W. H. T. Dau. Published in: Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Ev. Lutheran Church. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, pp. 37-95.)

It should be noted that some of those called Anabaptists were in the Church of God (please see the article The Sardis Church Era).  

Another reason Martin Luther may not have been able to accommodate this Revelation of Jesus Christ is because he clearly violated this warning,

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).

Martin Luther took away from this book through his comments about it, and this is the same Martin Luther who (as shown previously in this article) added words to the Bible that were not there.

Martin Luther did not care for several books in the Old Testament either.

More information can be found in the articles:

Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.

The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant.

Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.

The October 2007 edition of the PCG’s Philadelphia Trumpet has the following article by Robert Morley: 

Many Western nations are burdened with effective tax rates in excess of 30 percent per year. In some countries, such as Sweden and Israel, the rate is closer to 60 percent.

But don’t governments need high taxes to operate? The answer, believe it or not, is no.

An entirely different system requires a simple 10 percent on your annual earnings, 10 percent saved for your family to spend at special celebrations, and then every third year an additional 10 percent to support widows and orphans. No other complex, confusing taxes. No fishing for loopholes. No 16,000-page irs tax code. Efficiency and simplicity!

Which sounds more ideal to you?

This contrasting system, used by the ancient nation of Israel, is called tithing. You can read about it in Leviticus 27:30-33 and Deuteronomy 14:22-29.

Actually, this system was in use long before Israel was founded. It was practiced by Abraham (Genesis 14:20) and Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22). Much later, the apostles and Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 23:23) followed this system in addition to submitting to Roman taxes (Matthew 22:21).

The results of rejecting this system are clearly evident, historically and currently. The people of ancient Israel rejected God’s simple system of government. They demanded a king and an administrative system like other nations. Consequently, they and their descendants have paid the price ever since….

Both Republicans and Democrats have become parties of big government. The main difference is that some Republicans claim they are for small government, while Democrats are open about their support for increased government and entitlement spending—though even this difference is fast disappearing.

As Wall Street Journal editor Bret Stephens recently wrote, “[W]e have a 40-year history of Republican policy, which says, We’re in favor of what the Democrats are in favor of, only less so.”

The fruits prove this out. Not one administration since 1960 has balanced its budget, and government spending continues to grow unabated. The continually elevating federal debt ceiling, which has become a farce, is breached year after year. In July, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned Congress that unless the cap was raised again, the United States would be unable to pay its bills. The last breach came in March 2006, when Congress was forced to approve an additional $781 billion in federal debt.

Last year, federal, state and local governments spent a massive $4.6 trillion, according to Michael Hodges’s Grandfather Economic Report. The gross domestic product of the U.S. is only $13.1 trillion. That means 35 percent of the economy now depends on government spending.

Government employment has also bloomed, vastly outstripping population growth. Federal, state and local governments now employ one out of every seven workers in the country, according to the Daily Reckoning. That is more than any other sector of the national economy.

In 1946, there were 2.3 state and local government employees per 100 citizens. Today there are 6.4. If government today had the same proportion of employees with respect to its population as it did in 1946, there would be 12.2 million fewer government salaries that current taxpayers would have to pay (Grandfather Economic Report, March 2007).

And to support increased government spending and employment, citizens must work additional hours. This year, “Tax Freedom Day” fell on April 30, which means if you gave the government all your earnings beginning in January, and worked every day including weekends, you wouldn’t have been able to keep a dime until May. One third of the year (120 days) goes just to pay taxes—more than the days spent working for food, clothing and housing combined (105 days). In contrast, back in 1900 you only had to work 22 days to pay your yearly taxes.

If you live in the United Kingdom, or Canada, tax freedom arrived even later—June 1 and June 20, respectively.

Yet, even with all the taxes collected each year, the government continues to spend much more than it takes in, borrowing to make up the difference….

In the World Tomorrow, dealing with the government will be refreshing. Government will operate with a giving, service-oriented attitude. Christ said a leader should be the servant of all (Mark 9:34-35). Leaders will truly serve for the good of the governed and not determine policies based upon vote pandering.

Actually, the world’s whole economic system will be completely obliterated and replaced.

Burdensome taxes and the complex and inefficient tax code will be replaced with God’s simple system of tithing. No more Internal Revenue Service or audits.

Comments by COGwriter:

We in the COGs do not vote nor take political sides.  However, we do believe that if the children of Israel (and everyone else for that matter) would have followed God’s laws, including tithing, that the fiscal, social, environmental, and other major problems facing humanity now could have been avoided.

Of course, God knew that humans would rebel, hence He has a plan of salvation that took that into account.

Five articles of related interest may be:

Tithing Questions and Some Answers Addresses some non-biblical arguments against tithing. Should people tithe?

Is Third Tithe Still Valid Today? Some in the COGs no longer teach payment of third tithe, is this biblically correct?

Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject.

Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.

Universal Salvation? There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?

By COGWriter

Today, all who can in the Churches of God are observing the “eighth day of the Feast”, also called the Last Great Day.

Although the average member of the United Church of God (UCG) does not seem to realize this, the leadership of that Church essentially says that when Jesus spoke in John 7:37-38 He was speaking on the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and not the eighth day, the day we normally call the Last Great Day.

What is most bizarre about this, is that in spite of what the top leadership seems to believe, it still allows the eighth day to be called the Last Great Day in much of its literature, hence the average member knows little of UCG’s logic (which I believe is badly flawed) on this matter.

This is discussed in great detail in the article titled Last Great Day study paper.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

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.

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.   

By COGwriter

One of the major differences between the Church of God and the Protestants and Roman Catholics is that we believe that the Bible clearly teaches that since God is a God of love and is all knowing, that He has a plan that will result in nearly everyone who ever lived being saved.

We believe that the annual biblical holy days reveal God’s plan of salvation, but also that there are hundreds of verses in the Bible that support this very important teaching.

Tonight at sunset begins the last of the biblical holy days, which Christians normally call the Last Great Day based upon the comments the Apostle John made when Jesus got up on that day to speak:

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38, NKJV).

Several articles of related interest may include:

Universal Salvation? There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this?

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.

The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?

Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.

Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.