Church of God News

Flag of the European Union

COGwriter

Although the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty has been reported here in the past (see, for example, The Pope, the Irish, the English, and the Libson Treaty and Europe Moving Forward), since the three largest COGs have reported on it since, I thought I would share some of their comments.

In the July edition of its World News & Prophecy, UCG’s John Ross Schroeder wrote:

Recently I was in the Republic of Ireland for a few days on Church business, and I never heard a good word about the Lisbon Treaty. One person in Dublin Connolly railway station was speaking against it and giving out written material advocating a “no” vote.

Several key elements of the Lisbon Treaty render it very dangerous to the sovereignty of the individual nations of the European Union. These include the creation of a full-time president, powers to develop a single European foreign policy and defense system and yet more power for the European Parliament. Much national sovereignty has already been lost over the years.

EU law says all 27 member states have to ratify the treaty. Only the Irish Republic has democratically held a referendum of its citizens. This Irish rejection happened in spite of strong verbal pressure brought by Brussels and Irish politicians on the electorate.

The pressure to reverse the Irish “no” vote has just begun. The European Union will not give up this constitution cum treaty that easily…

Where is Europe headed?

Former French President Jacques Chirac proclaimed his stunning vision of Europe back in 2002. It included: (1) A European military force independent of NATO; (2) a European police force; (3) a greatly strengthened Franco-German combine; (4) a new European constitution; (5) a strengthened European president elected by a European council (The Times, June 17, 2002).

Elections occur and presidents change, but Frances’ policies toward the European Union clearly remain relatively the same. Does it matter whether Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Chirac or someone else occupies the chief office? Regardless of personalities or political leanings to the left or right, the domination of Europe by a single voice is the ultimate goal.

Political, economic and military national sovereignties would be lost. This generally accords with the broad biblical vision given in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

On its website, PCG’s Andrew Miller wrote:

The European Union is in another crisis. On Thursday, June 12, Irish voters went to the polls and rejected the Lisbon Treaty by a margin of 15 percent or more. Since the Lisbon Treaty has to be ratified by all 27 member nations of the EU, Ireland’s rejection threatens to derail the project. As the Washington Post reports, “The victory for the ‘No’ camp means a country with fewer than 1 percent of the EU’s 490 million population could wreck a treaty painstakingly negotiated over years by leaders of all 27 member states.”

What is most disappointing to pro-integration European leaders is that this is the second time that their attempts at creating a European Union constitution have been delayed. After France and the Netherlands rejected the 2005 version of the European Constitution in national referendums, EU leaders determined to revise the treaty and run it again. After removing some of the more nationalistic language from the old constitution draft—in particular the parts about an EU flag and an EU national anthem—these leaders renamed the constitution the Lisbon Treaty and again submitted it to the member states for ratification. This time it was ratified by 16 nations before the Irish rejected it. Interestingly, Ireland was the only nation to submit the treaty to referendum.

While many analysts say this Irish rejection may be the beginning of the end for the concept of a united Europe, this rejection is much more likely the end of the beginning…

The fact is that the EU has already become too big and unwieldy to manage under its current government system. It needs to be streamlined and it needs one nation to step up as the primary decision maker. This political crisis may be just what it takes to get the process of true European unification started.

In its latest weekly update, LCG’s Don Davis & Scott Winnail wrote:

Did the Irish Open a Flood Gate? Ireland’s recent rejection of the Lisbon Treaty was heralded by some as “bad omen” for Europe. This week, German president Koehler did not sign the treaty—even after both houses of parliament passed the treaty. President Koehler noted that the treaty may infringe on democracy and the rights of national parliaments (Deutsche Welle, July 1, 2008). Following Germany’s lead, Poland’s President Kaczynski also refused to sign the Lisbon Treaty, noting that it would be pointless to sign a treaty until the Irish changed their position—“without pressure from the EU.” Meanwhile, French President Sarkozy began his six-month term as EU leader this week, facing and fostering division among EU ranks. In a TV broadcast on Monday, Mr. Sarkozy attacked the EU Trade Commissioner, accusing him of being too generous with farming concessions and eliciting the response, “At a difficult time in world trade negotiations, the EU needs to maintain its unity” (Deutsche Welle, July 1, 2008). Bible prophecy speaks of an end-time Beast power in Europe that will be fraught with division—iron mixed with clay (Daniel 2:33-34). The inherent differences between EU nations are leading toward “europaralysis”—which could provoke other events.

The European Beast power will form. The treaty rejection simply means that some modifications will need to occur before it goes forward to fruition.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
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”?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur.
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?

COGwriter

The latest issue of The Journal has the following:

BIG SANDY, Texas—Every once in a while THE JOURNAL senses the need to interview a longtime friend and Church of God member about some subject or other. Several interviews in this newspaper with the friend, Ellis W. Stewart—who lives here with his wife of 55 years, Pat—have touched on matters pertaining to the United Church of God (UCG).

Mr. Stewart, 76, is a UCG elder and has served as such since 1995, the year of the massive splits from the Worldwide Church of God that seeded many of the present-day Churches of God…

Surprising results

Q: What was most surprising to you about this year’s conference?

A: I think it was the way the voting went.

Q: Just what do you mean?

A: Well, I expected some of the [proposed] amendments [to the church’s bylaws] to go the other way in the voting. One of them was the relocation of the office [from Milford, Ohio, to the Denton, Texas, area].  I also expected the conflict-of-interest amendment to pass, but it didn’t…

Q: Didn’t Roy Holladay lose his job as president because of what was apparently a principled stand of his to resign from the council when the council selected him as president of the church? Wasn’t his resignation from the council to avoid a conflict of interest?

A: I don’t know. He was not voted back in. What causes anyone to lose their job? It’s voting, or balloting, or whatever you want to call it. Almost all of our presidents have been fired, if you want to say “fired.”

Q: So which side do you lean toward? Do you want to reveal how you voted on the conflict-of-interest issue?

A: No, I don’t. I think our voting should be private. I see both sides of the story.

The new majority

Q: What do you think about the new makeup of the council?

A: We prayed and fasted [before the recent election of council members], and I feel God’s will was done. Apparently God wanted new people on the board with, probably, new ideas. New people usually have new ideas. I don’t know why God calls different people to different jobs, but it says that Christ places us in the church where it pleases Him. This [the UCG] is just a physical organization that helps run the church. United’s a part of the church. So I would think this [the election results] is God’s will. I think, when we fasted and prayed, God tried to show us something.

Why not unanimity?

Q: You elders fasted and prayed for God’s will to be done in the election.  So why didn’t God inspire the votes to be unanimous?

A: God guided the men who were voting by letting their opinions be known.

Q: So you voted not necessarily to determine God’s will but to determine what the elders’ opinions were?

A: There is safety in a multitude of counselors. Maybe that’s what Christ is trying to show His church. That’s what we’re trying to do. What does the vote tell me? What does it tell the president? What does it tell the council?  What does it tell God?

It says that the opinion of the majority of the elders was that the decision to move the office should be
reversed.

Q: A minute ago you said the vote reflected God’s will, which I assumed meant you believed God’s will was that the church not move its office to Texas. Now you seem to be saying that the vote was successful, and in line with God’s will, simply by determining and documenting the majority opinion of the elders. Aren’t those two different things?

A: The conference is a way for the elders to participate in a multitude of counsel, which is the system we set up in Indianapolis [at the UCG’s founding conference, in 1995]. Voting, maybe we should call it balloting, is a way to determine the consensus among the elders, and I believe it is God’s will that we determine what the
consensus is…

Q: Both votes were very close. So you don’t think either one reflected any kind of consensus?

A: It means that half the people are for the move and half are against it. If the vote had been 90 percent for and 10 percent against, I’d say let’s get on with it.

Q: What about 60-40?

A: Sixty-40 maybe, but not when it’s this close.

Two problems with WCG

Q: So you’re saying that trying to build a consensus that’s more than just a simple majority is a way to get back to the principles espoused at the founding conference in 1995?

A: When we went to Indianapolis, I think some people thought that the only thing that was wrong with Worldwide was that the doctrine was wrong because in Worldwide we were going to throw away God’s law. But when we got to Indianapolis we also changed the way the government is run, and I think a lot of people still do not see that. They think it was just a doctrinal change rather than both a doctrinal and a governmental change.

Eventual move?

Q: Concerning the other surprise for you at the conference, do you think the church will eventually move its headquarters to Texas?

A: Why do I need to answer that?

Q: Well, you don’t have to answer it. It’s just that this is an interview, and that’s one of my questions.

A: I think that, because in a multitude of counsel there is safety, after all the facts are in, our administration will see whether it’s God’s will to move to Texas, okay? Why haven’t we moved already? Because we’re trying to get a consensus, through a multitude of counsel, to see if it’s what we should do or not.

Q: To do what? To build a consensus or to see if it’s God’s will for you to move? Remember: You’ve been implying that those are two different things.

A: To get a multitude of counsel, and I don’t agree that we’ve been talking about two different things…

Changes of direction?

Q: Are you optimistic about the new majority on the council?

A: I’ve been optimistic about United from day one. Yes.

Q: Do you see any changes of direction—course corrections, so to speak—with the new council majority in charge?

A: This involves people. I hate to compare the church with Democrats and Republicans, but you’ll have different people with different views ruling for a while, and then they’ll switch and rule a different way. God lets things like that happen. I don’t want this to be a political thing. I think with new people there’s new blood, and apparently it’s good to rotate responsibilities. That’s why we transfer people around a lot of times and give them different responsibilities. I think it’s good for the organization. So I am optimistic. What do you think, Dixon? Do you think there’s going to be some changes?

Q: I think, yes, there will be some. I see, at least in small ways, the possibility that UCG members will get the go-ahead to innovate on a local level concerning preaching the gospel or whatever they believe constitutes doing the work, as the Churches of God like to say. In other words, the new majority could signal a return to some of the original ideas and ideals of the majority in Indianapolis in 1995.

A: Any organization is going to make mistakes, and I think, by consulting a multitude of counselors, the new people will realize the mistakes that we made in the past. Then we will step out and get the opinions of the elders before a major decision is made in the church. So I think that will be a plus.
However, I also think that if we have leaders we should let them have the responsibility. I don’t think we
individuals should try to micromanage the men we’ve put there for those responsibilities. That’s one thing I don’t want to see happen.

The interview continued, but the above gives a pretty good idea of how it went.

To highlight one of the things that Eliis Steward stated, I will repeat it with my own bolding:

But when we got to Indianapolis we also changed the way the government is run, and I think a lot of people still do not see that. They think it was just a doctrinal change rather than both a doctrinal and a governmental change.

UCG has various opinions on governance.  My own opinion is that this is to be expected as it rejected Philadelphia-era governance.  The government change it made was a doctrinal change and it showed a rejection of the type of governance that the leaders of UCG had publicly endorsed for many years prior to the formation of UCG in Indianapolis in 1995.

The fact that UCG rejected Philadelphia-era governance should show any with eyes to see that UCG is NOT Philadelphian.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
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.
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.

COGwriter

The April 30, 2008 edition of The Journal is now out. Here is what Dixon Cartwright (its editor) reported about it:

Page 1:

o Fred Coulter finds himself disfellowshipped for the third time.

o A UCG elder and good friend of the publishers of The Journal, Ellis Stewart, gives his good-natured and sometimes humorous opinions about the recent general conference and the proposed move of UCG headquarters to Texas. He also reveals there were no question-and-answer sessions at this year’s conference. In The Journal’s opinion, the Q&As were the best part of the conference.

Page 2:

o This issue features a letter from Geoff Neilson that links Bible translators Westcott and Hort with Madame Blavatsky. The Journal always appreciates Geoff’s letters.

Page 3:

Dave Havir and Ellis Stewart opine about inheritances and reconciliation, respectively.

Dennis Diehl pushes a church member’s bill of rights.

Sue Johns gives some pertinent points on bloc voting. The Journal suspects that the member of the Queen’s Room Eight she seems to know so much about is her husband, Jim. Sue points out that, if you expect God to make your decisions for you, you need a different system.

Page 7:

Darlene Warren is back with a new column after The Journal ran some of her old columns for the previous couple of issues. She announces she’s ready to tackle the tough subjects.

Page 23:

AC and Harvard University graduate, economist, quantum physicist and metaphysist Orlin Grabbe dies.

Page 24:

A former member of the UCG’s council of elders criticizes his fellow elders, especially Aaron Dean, and then apparently wishes he hadn’t done that.

Herbert W. Armstrong had Fred Coulter (now of CBCG) put out of the old WCG decades ago. Although he is an elder in UCG, when published in The Journal, Ellis Stewart is normally critical of his church. Geoff Neilson falsely predicted that the Great Tribulation would begin on Passover in 2008 (Sep-Oct 2007 Journal Out). David Havir’s articles normally take shots against church governance (he does not believe much of what is in the article Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government). Dennis Diehl is a former WCG minister who basically no longer holds to COG doctrines. The former UCG board member would be Joel Meeker–his comments were covered here before (please see UCG Having More Dissent and UCG’s Joel Meeker Apologizes).

The Journal is primarily an independent publication by and for non-Philadelphians who had a WCG background. It now contains a lot of ads, mainly by small groups who want to see their (normally somewhat heretical) messages published.

Although to see the entire issue requires a subscription, the first and last page of The Journal can be seen for free at www.thejournal.org/issues/issue127/jf043008.pdf

Flag of the Arab League

COGwriter

In its latest weekly update, LCG’s Don Davis & Scott Winnail wrote:

Africa Can’t Feed All Its People! Ethiopia is the latest African nation unable to feed its citizens, according to the Christian Science Monitor (June 27, 2008). Each day, aid workers at a rural clinic in Ethiopia literally weigh starving children in a triage process to determine who is sick enough to eat. The others are sent away hungry, as there is only enough medicine and high-energy peanut paste to serve those most urgently needing food. Guards with sticks keep order among desperately hungry women and children waiting in line. “‘People don’t know yet how widespread and severe the world hunger crisis is,’ says David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. ‘The gruesome things now happening in Ethiopia may be the first example of a country that’s being pushed into a humanitarian crisis partly because of bad weather, but partly because of the high price of food and the high price of fuel.’” Drought is causing local crops to fail, and food and transportation costs are rising, leading to food shortages. Many more Ethiopians will experience severe malnutrition if food is not distributed quickly. Adults and children alike, weakened by malnutrition, are susceptible to other fatal diseases. Even if rich Western nations immediately provide needed food, it takes up to eight weeks for supplies to reach those in need. Bible prophecies warn that famines and disease will dominate the news as the end of the age approaches (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11) and that these calamities will impact one quarter of the earth’s population (Revelation 6:7-8).

VS.
Ronald Weinland Says His Books and His Interpretations of the Bible Are What He Wants Potential Supporters to Study. The COGwriter Site Instead Urges Those Interested in Him and End-Time Prophecies to Spend More Time Checking His Writings with the Bible.

COGwriter

Yesterday, “in the Toldedo area, but in Michigan”, Ronald Weinland gave a sermon where he basically said that God molds and fashions His people, God reveals things to Ronald Weinland, but that God is doing what essentially needs to be done, even though Ronald Weinland often does not.

Ronald Weinland once again went to his books (instead of the Bible) and said,

“We’re going to try to conclude the 2nd part…of the 5th chapter of the second book, The Prophesied End Time…God gave to me, in 2nd Thessalonians things that needed to be addressed…”

So, Ronald Weinland is still claiming that God revealed information to him years ago.  He also stated that God revealed that he could provide information last week so that people did not need to wait as long as he thought God had wanted him to do a week prior to that.

The way “God revealed things to the Church” that he claimed was that things did not happen in 280 days (that apparently he thought God had previously revealed to him), thus the lack of his understanding coming to pass apparently is how God revealed more to him.

He spent a lot of time saying that this proves that God is in charge and that “God shows us that we have to change things in the Church”.  “Indeed the first seal had been opened”.  “We know we are waiting for the seventh…indeed the world is ignorant to it so far”.  He also indicated that J. Tkach Sr. was the “man of sin” of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and that God pronounced judgment against him, so that he died.

Anyway, I believe that Ronald Weinland is delusional.  He is so convinced that he is right, he (like some others I have met) is convinced that God is continuing to reveal Himself to him that no matter how often he is wrong or that he changes that this means God is leading him and Ron’s church.

Regarding J. Tkach and the man of sin, notice what 2 Thessalonians teaches 2:3-4:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

J. Tkach did not fit verse 4.  Ronald Weinland then paraphrased Matthew 24:15-16, which I will quote below:

15 Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Ronald Weinland commented that Jesus did not mean flee Judea, but to flee to other organizations (which Ron Weinland said were the mountains/hills) because the old Worldwide Church of God changed (more specific and literal information what much of Matthew 24 means is in the article Who is the King of the North?).

Ronald Weinland then read from his book:

Most of the seals have already been opened…the Great Tribulation is about to begin…most of the scattered church does not know this.

The Great Tribulation is not about to begin–it cannot begin prior to 2012 (and most likely not for 1-3 years after that, please see End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?).

Ronald Weinland marvelled that people would believe other websites and not him.  He actually asked, “WHY?”  Well, the answer should be clear–for years I have warned people that Ronald Weinland was not God’s prophet and that what he taught was not completely in line with the Bible.  And it is Ronald Weinland, and not me, who had to change prophetic positions as what Ronald Weinland claimed what would happen by now simply did not come to pass.

The bigger question is why would anyone still follow the prophet proven to be false?  People should not be afraid of what Ronald Weinland “prophesies”.  Notice what the Bible teaches:

21 “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’– 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

If his followers would have spent more time comparing his writings against the Bible and less time listening to Ronald Weinland’s explanations as to why what the Bible shows really would not happen literally, they would not have followed him.  The facts have proven that Ronald Weinland is a false prophet (specific details are in the article Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God).

Please, if you still are following him, compare his writings with the Bible and world events–Ronald Weinland is not faithful.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008. Is he a false prophet? He has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the COG.
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 ofthe 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?
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?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–and Ronald Weinland is one of them–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.

David Jeselsohn With an Ancient Tablet About the Messiah

COGwriter

The following news item was quite interesting:

JERUSALEM — A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.

If such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing re-evaluation of both popular and scholarly views of Jesus, since it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time.

The tablet, probably found near the Dead Sea in Jordan according to some scholars who have studied it, is a rare example of a stone with ink writings from that era — in essence, a Dead Sea Scroll on stone.

It is written, not engraved, across two neat columns, similar to columns in a Torah. But the stone is broken, and some of the text is faded, meaning that much of what it says is open to debate.

Still, its authenticity has so far faced no challenge, so its role in helping to understand the roots of Christianity in the devastating political crisis faced by the Jews of the time seems likely to increase…

Oddly, the stone is not really a new discovery. It was found about a decade ago and bought from a Jordanian antiquities dealer by an Israeli-Swiss collector who kept it in his Zurich home. When an Israeli scholar examined it closely a few years ago and wrote a paper on it last year, interest began to rise. There is now a spate of scholarly articles on the stone, with several due to be published in the coming months.

“I couldn’t make much out of it when I got it,” said David Jeselsohn, the owner, who is himself an expert in antiquities. “I didn’t realize how significant it was until I showed it to Ada Yardeni, who specializes in Hebrew writing, a few years ago. She was overwhelmed. ‘You have got a Dead Sea Scroll on stone,’ she told me.”

Much of the text, a vision of the apocalypse transmitted by the angel Gabriel, draws on the Old Testament, especially the prophets Daniel, Zechariah and Haggai…

To make his case about the importance of the stone, Mr. Knohl focuses especially on line 80, which begins clearly with the words “L’shloshet yamin,” meaning “in three days.” The next word of the line was deemed partially illegible by Ms. Yardeni and Mr. Elitzur, but Mr. Knohl, who is an expert on the language of the Bible and Talmud, says the word is “hayeh,” or “live” in the imperative. It has an unusual spelling, but it is one in keeping with the era.

Two more hard-to-read words come later, and Mr. Knohl said he believed that he had deciphered them as well, so that the line reads, “In three days you shall live, I, Gabriel, command you.”

To whom is the archangel speaking? The next line says “Sar hasarin,” or prince of princes. Since the Book of Daniel, one of the primary sources for the Gabriel text, speaks of Gabriel and of “a prince of princes,” Mr. Knohl contends that the stone’s writings are about the death of a leader of the Jews who will be resurrected in three days.

He says further that such a suffering messiah is very different from the traditional Jewish image of the messiah as a triumphal, powerful descendant of King David. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/world/middleeast/06stone.html?hp.

Presuming the above tablet is true, this shows that ancient (and modern) Jewish teachers should have realized that the Messiah was to die and be resurrected.

And while most Jews refuse to see the evidence from the Old Testament, some of the ancient Jewish teachers apparently did somewhat understand about this.

An article of possibly related interest could be Jesus is God, But Was Made Man.

Righteous(ness)	= Sheep	+ Hand	+ Lance

COGwriter

The following news item was of interest:

Perhaps, I should add that China itself has a policy that smites the SECOND born (actually they diligently attempt to prevent there from being a second born).

This aggressive abortionist approach is not righteous (Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose).

Despite its spectacular economic gains, the 21st century will NOT belong to China. Various events will affect it (see, for example, Myanmar Cyclone & China Quake).

Notice what RC Meredith of the Living Church of God wrote:

Many publications have suggested that the 21st century will be “China’s century.” Even though the Chinese are fiercely moving forward, and their progress in developing their industries is obvious, these publications are dead wrong for two reasons. First, the inspired word of God describes specifically how a coming European Union will be the dominant force in this world—obviously within the next several years. Therefore, brethren, I would like to focus your mind on this matter so you can more intelligently “watch” world events along this line as they unfold before your very eyes. In the coming years, you will perhaps even see a revolt of the peasants in the outlying Chinese cities, who have lagged far behind the standard of living afforded those who have moved to Beijing and Shanghai. Plus, the tremendous pollution of the water, air and foodstuffs may bring about massive disease epidemics and other problems for the Chinese.

In addition, distracting wars and other events may— as God chooses to guide it—greatly undermine the material progress now being made by the Chinese. Meanwhile, you will soon see the European Union evolve into an absolutely powerful and dynamic force in the world— ultimately to become the “Beast” as revealed in Revelation 17 in your own Bible!

So the 21st century will not be the “Chinese century!” Rather it will appear to become the European century for a few years, until the magnificent return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. From then on, the 21st century will be, indeed, “Christ’s century!” And all of us who are able to understand the “Big Picture” of world events from God’s point of view should be preparing to help straighten out the appalling degree of suffering, starvation and misconduct we find on this earth today in virtually every nation (Meredith R.C. An Inspiring and Successful Trip. Living Church News. May-June 2007, p. 21).

China will have ups and downs. And as this year has indicated, perhaps more downs than most would tend to think.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

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 China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where?
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the Living Church of God?

Page 9 of the Mayan “Dresden Codex” (from the 1880 Förstermann edition)

COGwriter

The following news item was of interest:

Will the World End in 2012?

The world will not end in 2012 (please see End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?). It is simply not possible according to the Bible (please see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?). Those who think it will simply have been deceived by Satanically-inspired false prophecies.

The Bible also teaches:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Those who are convinced by Mayan and other non-biblical prophecies otherwise are not correct and simply are not being directed by God–they are leaning on their own inaccurate misunderstandings.

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?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans and the Hindu Indians (who were not even on the same continent). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? Note: This article has been expanded this week–so you may wish to read it now, even if you have read it before.  It also now includes a copy of the final page of the Dresden Codex–the one that shows water–which has been interpreted by some as signally the destruction of much of the world by flood.
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”?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them? Even though the Netherlands is not an island, it may be affected when the islands are.

COGwriter

The July-August 2008 edition of Norman Edwards’ Servants’ News (SN) is now out. While several of the article titles sounded interesting, the content was disappointing to me at least.

Today, I would like to quote the title of two articles, provide some biblically-based comments, and quote from one other article in it.

The article that first caught my eye was titled Treasures in Heaven, with a subtitle Economic woes are not a threat to the Christian life. And that is true, but since we all have some carnality, it is easy to overlook the fact when hirer gasoline prices and bad economic news make the headlines pretty much every day. The fact that the economies of the USA and UK seem to be more and more debt based is also a concern to those of us in those countries as well as those in nations that trade with them.

The SN article did refer to Matthew 6:20 but did not quote it. Let’s look at it and the surrounding verses:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:19-34).

In other words, Jesus is teaching that our focus is the Kingdom of God and NOT finances. And that message is as true today as it was nearly 2,000 years ago.

Another disappointing SN article was titled The State of the Church Today: Disheartening Woes? or Doing His Will? It was basically a personal story without real solutions in my view.

The fact is that in this Laodicean time, there are many groups who do not have the Philadelphia work, and only one that does have the Philadelphia work. Jesus made it clear that He did not approve of the work of the Laodiceans:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent (Rev 3:14-19).

Laodiceans need to repent and not kid themselves that Jesus is satisfied with their works. I expect to later post what I believe the true and final work of the Laodiceans will be during the Great Tribulation. For now, however, I urge Laodiceans to repent and to again read what Jesus told them AND what He told the Philadelphians.

Several SN articles took shots against hierarchical church governance and the following seems to be Norman Edwards focus as this is what he personally wrote (bolding his):

Notice what happens when people ask for a king:

So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day” (1Sam 8:10-17)

…The practical truth of the matter is that if all of the present non-voters would expend their collective energies to locate, encourage and vote for righteous people, they could change the nation. In our present system, the only peaceful way to oppose a president who rules like a king is to vote for leaders who are against such excesses.

Jesus did not teach that voting or participating in human government was the solution.

Norman Edwards, and others like him, who have turned away from the usual COG position against voting, are focused on the wrong solution. Those that are not part of the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God, which today (organizationally) is represented by the Living Church of God, simply do not have the type of work that Jesus blessed (see Revelation 3:1,7,14-15 where three works receive differing comments from Jesus).

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
18 Truths Restored to the Churches of God Herbert W. Armstrong wrote that he felt he had restored at least 18 lost truths to the Church, here is Herbert W. Armstrong’s list given 12/17/83. This articles also has links to show that these truths were believed by professors of Christ in earlier times, hence they were not some invention of Herbert Armstrong.
Do You Believe God Used Herbert W. Armstrong to Raise Up the Philadelphia Era of the Church of God? Nearly everyone while in WCG used to believe this, most do not seem to anymore.
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?
The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
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.
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.

COGwriter

Where Were the Early Christians?  Which Areas Were Faithful?

Although there were early Christians in many places, more seemed to be in Jerusalem, Antioch, Asia Minor, Alexandria, Corinth, Rome, Armenia, and with some even into the Celtic areas, India, Africa, and possibly China, the main early location seemed to be Asia Minor. An article of interest may be Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome.

True Christianity was apparently practiced in Jerusalem up until around 135 A.D., its second A.D. fall (which is when it ceased having Jewish bishops and changed practices to avoid imperial persecution–more details are in the article The Ephesus Church Era). By the time it first fell in 70 A.D., apparently many Christians fled to Pella, then some returned later to Jerusalem, while others went to Asia Minor and were later called Nazarenes (please see the article on The Smyrna Church Era). There is an Orthodox Church in Jerusalem which claims it is an original faithful Church, though it has beliefs different from those documented here.

Antioch was a major city essentially north of Jerusalem. The Bible records that some of the apostles met there. It was in Syria, but the current border puts it in the nation of Turkey. True Christianity was, to some degree, practiced in Antioch apparently throughout the first and second centuries, and perhaps somewhat later than that. The Antiochian Orthodox Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church both claim they are the original faithful Church from Antioch, though both have teachings different from those documented here.

According to the New Testament, true Christianity was practiced throughout many areas of Asia Minor in the first century (this area is now in the country of Turkey). Most (between 15-17) of the 27 books of New Testament were written to or from church leaders in Asia Minor. (Even Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox leaders recognized that Asia Minor had early “apostolic succession“.) What scripture clearly shows, is that although there were Christians in various areas, the focus for the New Testament writers were the churches in Asia Minor. And interestingly, the last book of the Bible is specifically addressed to the churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 1:4,11). The last of the original apostles to die, John, died in Asia Minor and his disciple Polycarp of Smyrna was a major leader there.

According to Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of God, and other sources, apostolic Christianity was practiced in Asia Minor in the second century–and those there that were true Christians were sometimes referred to as Smyrnaeans. Asia Minor is north and north-west of Antioch and Jerusalem, and was in the country now called Turkey. There are at least two churches that claim descent from Asia Minor: The Orthodox Church of Constantinople (which does not consider itself to be Protestant as it precedes the Protestant Reformation; and it remains in Constantinople, now called Istanbul) and the Living Church of God (which also does not consider itself Protestant as it precedes the Protestant Reformation; it is now headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina). The Living Church of God considers Polycrates (the late 2nd century Christian who refused to accept the authority of Roman Bishops) to have been an important and faithful leader, but the Orthodox Church is more guarded about that. Also, although the Living Church of God teaches that Polycarp is a successor to the apostles that it traces its history through, the Orthodox Church of Constantinople does not include him in their successor list, nor do any of the other Eastern “Orthodox” churches, even though they acknowledge that Polycarp was a successor to the apostles.

Alexandria is in Egypt, north Africa. It is unknown how long any true Christians were there. Certain ones have made claims that conflict with the biblical record as some claim that the Gospel writer Mark led the Church from there for 20 years (while the Bible shows Mark in different parts of the world during that time). Many non-apostolic practices, such allegorizing scripture, were promoted from this area, from even the first century. The largest Alexandrian church split in the year 451 into the Coptic Church and the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Both of those groups have many beliefs different from those documented here.

There were (and still are) true Christians in various parts of Africa and elsewhere around the world (for current groups, please see the Living Church of God Congregations page).

According to the New Testament, there was a troubled, but faithful church in Corinth in the first century. It eventually seemed to accept Roman influence.

According to the New Testament, there was a faithful church in Rome in the first century (one New Testament book was addressed to it and several were written from there), but it does not list any who later became known as “Roman bishops” as holding any office of importance there (please see the article What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About the Early Church?). There were also faithful Christians in Rome in the second century, though many heresies affected that area according to Roman Catholic, Living Church of God, and other sources. The Roman Catholic Church claims that it is still the faithful Church, the one that has supremacy over all Christendom, and that it has Apostolic Succession, but it has many beliefs that differ from those documented here (please see Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God?). It is of interest to note that even many Roman Catholic scholars have long held that the Churches in Asia Minor in the second century held to the original teachings of the apostles.

Most Protestants come from groups that were affiliated with Martin Luther’s teachings and/or his departure from the Roman Church. And some groups, such as the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim that the true church essentially had to begin again as essentially the Protestant reformation did not go anywhere near far enough.

According to various legends and historical writings, there were true Sabbath-keeping Christians in the Celtic areas of the British and Irish islands from perhaps the late first century until sometime after the Council of Nicea (s0me information is included in the article on The Pergamos Church Era). There is a third century report that the Apostles Thomas and Bartholomew got the gospel to India in the first century (and that perhaps Thomas went to China or Malaysia ); and there are later reports that the church in India remained opposed to the Roman Catholic Church for centuries.

So there were Christians in many parts of the ancient world, but some areas had more faithful ones than others did.

Hippolytus’ third century report on where he believed the original 12 apostles, plus Paul, went to is included in the article The Ephesus Church Era.

For location information, as well as beliefs of the early church and how the mainstream took over, please go to the History of Early Christianity page.