Church of God News

COGwriter

India and China continue to take steps to try to cooperate:

India, China Talk About Border Amid Rising Tensions

Wall Street Journal – Aug 8, 2009  by PETER WONACOTT

NEW DELHI — Shaded by an old war and a new economic rivalry, India and China sat down Friday for another attempt to settle the territory that divides them.

Indian National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo were scheduled to hold two days of talks on contested areas of their shared border. Although a breakthrough wasn’t expected — like the previous 12 rounds of meetings — both sides sought to play down tensions between Asia’s two largest emerging economies even amid signs they are escalating.

“Despite the twists and turns in China-India ties and border disputes, the two countries share the same historical responsibilities of developing economies,” China’s ambassador to India, Zhang Yan, said in an interview Tuesday with the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency. Mr. Zhang urged the two nations to handle their problems “with the utmost political wisdom.”

China’s call for calm comes as the relationship enters choppy waters. With their companies jockeying for market share abroad and their militaries modernizing at home, China and India have been regarding each other less as friendly neighbors and more as future rivals.

India has lodged a record number of antidumping cases against China in the World Trade Organization. China has objected to a loan program from the Asian Development Bank that included a proposed flood-control project in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which covers territory Beijing claims as its own. Both countries have invested heavily in recent years upgrading their navies.

India and China fought a brief border war in 1962. India lost the war, but territorial disputes with China have endured. Aside from the area that India calls Arunachal Pradesh, the two countries also differ over part of the border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

Neither side is showing signs of budging on its claims. In July, as part of the ADB loan fracas, India’s foreign minister, S.M. Krishna, told parliament that the government “has clearly conveyed to the Chinese side that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.”

On Friday, an Indian foreign-ministry spokesman declined to comment before the conclusion of the talks. China’s foreign ministry also didn’t offer any details of the meetings.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124964895363214289.html

India and China still are distant distrustful of each other.  Readers of the Bible are aware of a soon coming time when the “kings from the east” (Revelation 16:12) will come west with an army of 200,000,000 (Revelation 9:16).

This simply cannot happen without an ultimate increase of cooperation between India and China.  And it will likely involve others in Asia (including those from Russia, Korea, Japan, and other nations).

While the current talks have apparently not solved all the issues.  The fact that India and China have been meeting and talking shows that both sides are trying to see how they can get along better.

Articles of possibly related interest may include:

India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? This is a brief article about Japan. Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?

Brasilia, Brazil

COGwriter

The following news item was of interest:

Brazil’s Coming Rebound

Consumers are spending and banks are sound. Is the Latin giant finally growing up?

By Geri Smith

São Paulo – For years, Edilson dos Reis Rodrigues dreamed of owning a home. But the public school teacher and his wife together earn just $710 a month, so he could never set aside a down payment. Now, he’s finally getting the chance.

Thanks to a new government program called My House, My Life, Rodrigues will soon own a two-bedroom apartment near São Paulo. He’ll get a cash grant covering a quarter of the $52,000 price and a discounted 30-year mortgage, so he’ll pay just $220 a month—half what a conventional loan would have cost. “This is an incredible opportunity,” the 31-year-old says, smiling broadly as he hands in paperwork to seal the deal.

My House, My Life is just one of the stimulus measures that Brasilia has implemented to keep Latin America’s biggest economy from stalling. As a result, Brazil will likely be one of the first countries to emerge from the slump: The economy may grow slightly this year and by as much as 4.5% in 2010, helping lift millions of Brazilians out of poverty. “Brazil is emerging from the crisis, and next year we are going to have surprising growth,” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said proudly in a July 28 speech.

Lula has reason to be proud. The former union activist, who never finished elementary school, has been a surprisingly careful steward of Brazil’s economy. In a country long plagued by hyperinflation, devaluations, and defaults, Lula last year won investment-grade status for Brazil’s sovereign debt. And he did it while expanding social programs that have dramatically reduced poverty rates and spurred expansion of the middle class.

Veteran Brazil watchers say the country’s resilience is due to a combination of abundant natural resources, an embrace of globalization after decades of looking inward, and resilient businesspeople and policymakers who have learned to survive difficult times. So as soon as the economy started to contract last year, Brasilia trimmed income taxes and cut levies on key consumer goods, helping manufacturers boost sales and avoid layoffs. “Brazil has proved it can govern itself and keep the economy on track in very difficult times,” says Riordan Roett, a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Although the economy fell into recession in the first quarter, consumer confidence and spending quickly rebounded owing to the stimulus and sound domestic finances. A comfortable $212 billion cushion of foreign reserves and a decade of budget surpluses have allowed the central bank to slash interest rates to a record low of 8.75% from 13.75% in seven months while pouring liquidity into the market to keep credit flowing. And private banks are well regulated and have healthy balance sheets. “Brazil’s fundamentals are very strong—we don’t have any of the problems that created the bubble in the U.S.,” says central bank President Henrique Meirelles.

Just as important, though, is Brazil’s huge domestic market. While outsiders focus on the country’s shipments of iron ore, steel, and soy to China, exports are just 12% of Brazil’s $1.5 trillion economy. It’s the 190 million people and the fast-growing middle class—now more than half the population—that drive growth. In the past seven years a government program called Bolsa Família has helped nudge 24 million Brazilians above the poverty line. And 8 million jobs have been created since 2003, while the minimum wage has increased 45%.

That’s not to say Brazil isn’t still a tough place to do business. Its highways, railroads, ports, and electric grid are outdated and congested. The government collects 36% of gross domestic product in taxes, similar to Europe, but delivers Third World services. Political corruption and a nightmarish bureaucracy can hobble growth. And government spending is starting to rise in the runup to next year’s elections, which will mark the end of Lula’s eight-year presidency.

But there’s mounting evidence that Brazil is really changing. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_33/b4143042830503.htm

Brazil has had ups and downs with its economy, but in the last decade the trend has tended to be up.  And according to the above report, its “banks are sound”.  This differs from that of the USA as I believe that its indebtedness will prevent it from being ever to truly recover.

The reality is that because of its resources and biblical prophecy, I am convinced that Brazil will prosper during until the coming “Babylon” falls (Revelation 18) and then it will not do well.  But this does not mean that it may not have a lot of ups and downs until then.

But Brazil will ultimately  have an even better rebound during the time of the millennium.  There will be peace, prosperity, and equity everywhere, including in Brazil.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Mexico, Central America, South America, and Brazil in Prophecy [Español: México, America Central, Suramérica, y el Brasil en profecíal] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What rule might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
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?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

COGwriter

In his update today, ICG’s Mark Armstrong wrote:

The next several weeks are also critical for the Middle East, where the most important of prophetic events will play out.  Tremendous pressure is being brought to bear for Israel to stand down and give diplomacy a chance.  But, as all informed readers know, diplomacy has been tried over many years.  It has not stopped Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, and Israel is within easy range.  Several reliable sources say they will not be surprised if Israel does take action.

And this is certainly possible.  As I have been writing for some time, it is certainly possible that Israel will will strike Iran to attempt to knock out its nuclear weapons capability.

Now that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is now in his latest term of office, Israel may decide that their is not enough opposition to him in Iran to for waiting to make sense.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?

COGwriter

This morning, PCG’s Stephen Flurry posted the following:

The Recession Is Over?

August 7, 2009

Uh—not exactly.

After narrowly averting economic Armageddon just a few months ago, the United States is now well on the road to recovery, influential voices are saying. “The Recession Is Over,” Newsweek trumpeted on one of its recent covers. The recovery may still feel like a recession, the article qualifies—but we can at least be heartened by the fact that we’ve reached bottom.

Commenting on the “turnaround” at a town hall meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, last week, President Obama added (emphasis mine throughout),

We have stopped the free fall. The market is up and the financial system is no longer on the verge of collapse. … We’re losing jobs at half the rate we were when I took office six months ago. We just saw home prices rise for the first time in three years. So there’s no doubt that things have gotten better. We may be seeing the beginning of the end of the recession.

Stratfor’s take, also from last week, painted an even rosier picture, saying we are now “well past the worst of the current recession.”

This week, however, we were again smacked in the face by cold, hard reality. According to the Associated Press, even as President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress spend their way to stratospheric levels of debt, tax receipts are estimated to fall by 18 percent this year—the largest one-year drop since the Great Depression…

It’s taken just 200 days for the new president to double last year’s deficit. We are on pace for tacking on another $1.8 trillion in debt this year (not counting the additional debt accumulation disguised as “intragovernmental holdings”). We already owe trillions and trillions of dollars to creditors overseas. Add to that the tens of trillions more we’ve robbed from “trust” funds, like Social Security and Medicare.

Whether or not the USA recession is actually over or not, the reality is that the USA is heading towards a complete collapse of its economic system as well as its economic dominance of much of the world.

The Bible simply has too many warnings and prophecies about the Anglo-American peoples.  Warnings that the Anglo-Americans have ignored (those on matters of morality and indebtedness come to immediate mind).

While there will be ups and downs in the USA economy, as LCG’s Roderick C. Meredith has publicly stated, the long-term trend for the USA and its dollar is down.  And the USA and its Anglo-Allies (like the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) are headed towards destruction without national repentance.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.

Jerusalem

COGwriter

In a rather unusual development, a Turkish Muslim has called for the Jews to rebuild the Temple:

What? Muslim leader wants Temple rebuilt
Jewish Sanhedrin rabbis unite with Turk on common cause

Posted: August 05, 2009
9:08 pm Eastern

© 2009 WorldNetDaily With the Middle East still in chaos and rumors of war in the air, the idea of rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple on a foundation occupied and administered by Islamic militants might seem fanciful – even preposterous…

Adnan Oktar, who uses the pen name of Harun Yahya, is a controversial but highly influential Muslim intellectual and author with more than 65 million of his books in circulation worldwide. Oktar recently met with three representatives from the re-established Jewish Sanhedrin, a group of 71 Orthodox rabbis and scholars from Israel, to discuss how religious Muslims, Jews and Christians can work together on the project .

“The objectives of the alliance include waging a joint intellectual and spiritual battle against the worldwide growing tide of irreligiousness, unbelief and immorality,” explains Richardson, who met in Turkey with Oktar. “But even more unusual is their agreement with regard to the need to rebuild the Jewish Temple, a structure that Mr. Oktar refers to as the ‘Masjid (Mosque)’ or the ‘Palace of Solomon.'”  http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105938

While some few Muslims may support this, this certainly seems to be a minority position.  I would also suspect that few, if any, Muslims, will be supportive of the resumption of sacrifices by the Jews which is biblically prophesied (cf. Daniel 9:27, 11:31).  However, as a temple is not strictly required for those sacifices to resume (cf. Ezra 3:6) it does not seem likely that an actual temple will be allowed to be rebuilt in the presumed original location (near the Islamic Dome of the Rock).

Speaking of the Temple, there was another story related to it:

World’s Largest Temple Model Inaugurated next to Temple Mount

Israel National News – Aug 5, 2009

The world’s largest model of the Holy Temple was inaugurated Wednesday only a few hundred meters away from the Temple Mount, the site where the Temple existed up until 70 CE.

The model, built at a scale of 1:60, was built by Michael Osanis for the Aish HaTorah Yeshiva in Jerusalem’s old city, and is displayed on the roof of its new museum, which at seven stories above the Western Wall plaza has a breathtaking view of the Temple Mount. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132752

Those who want to view a different representation of the Temple may wish to go to Solomon’s Temple (this is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple).

An article of possibly related interest may include:

Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament?  What does the Bible teach about the temple in the end-times?

Patriarch Kirill

COGwriter

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church was in the news:

Russian Orthodox Head Rejects Calls for Independent Church in Ukraine

By Aaron J. Leichman

Christian Post Reporter

Wed, Aug. 05 2009

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church rejected calls from Ukraine’s president to create a local Orthodox church that would be independent from Moscow, saying he firmly supports the status quo.

Patriarch Kirill arrived in Ukraine for a prolonged visit, which observers say is aimed at reasserting Moscow’s religious and political influence over this predominantly Orthodox nation of 46 million, which is trying to integrate with the West.

Kirill was quick to stress that the dominant Orthodox church in Ukraine, which answers to Moscow, is the only legitimate church here.

“This church, Mr. President, already exists,” Kirill said. “If it didn’t exist today, Ukraine wouldn’t exist either.”

“But wounds have formed in this church and these wounds must be healed,” he said. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090805/russian-orthodox-head-rejects-calls-for-independent-church-in-ukraine/index.html

This is not at all surprising.  While Ukraine seems to want to be more closely tied to Europe than Russia, the Russian Orthodox want it to be firmly Russian Orthodox.

Ukraine is one of several countries that could align with Russia instead of Europe to fulfill Daniel 11:44 to eliminate the coming European King of the North.  But, to me at least, this is still not completely certain as Ukraine, overall, seems to really want to be part of Europe.

However, religious ties run deep and while Ukraine is likely to support the coming European Beast power, it is also likely to turn on it as well.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The Bible warns the Orthodox against this unity as do some Catholic prophecies.  The Orthodox need to heed these warnings now.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to represent the original Christian faith. Do you know much about them? Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
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”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?

Ancient Laodicea

COGwriter

Gavin Rumney has the following at his AW website:

Roy Holladay, chairman of the United Church of God Council of Elders, has announced that Jim Franks and Doug Horchak will be joining the COE. Franks is taking the place of Richard Thompson who resigned from the Council last week. Horchak was next in line in the May balloting, and will take Clyde Kilough’s place. Both Kilough (president of UCG) and Thompson (a pastor in Florida) will retain their full-time positions, but have announced their resignation from Council seats for personal reasons.

What changes will happen in UCG are still unclear.

However, it is not likely that UCG will change its emphasis to more public proclamation of the Gospel because of this.

Three 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.
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?

COGwriter

Most people know that the Old Testament teaches that souls can die.  One of the clearest passages in from Ezekiel:

Behold, all souls are Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).

This is also a New Testament concept.

Jesus confirmed that souls can and will be destroyed when He taught:

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body (Matthew10:28).

If souls were truly immortal, then they could not be destroyed.

Perhaps the most famous passage in the New Testament is John 3:16 which states:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Notice the contrast above. Humans would perish (and this means eternally, since all die physically) if God had not loved the world enough to send Jesus so that the believers could have everlasting life.

Paul clearly understood this concept as here is some of what he wrote about immortality:

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).

Notice that Paul is saying that we must be changed in order to possess immortality. And that this occurs at the resurrection. No human has immortality now.

Nor did Paul as he taught:

I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended (Philipians3:8-13).

Thus, the immortality attained at the resurrection is not something that Christians have today.

Furthermore, all humans cannot possible possess immortality now. Look at what the Apostle John taught:

…you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15).

Since many people are or have been murderers, this proves that not all humans possess immortality.

Currently, look at who only has immortality:

He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

Thus Jesus is the only one who was born human that who alone currently possesses immortality.

Other than the quotes above, the following are all the remaining times the NKJV uses the terms immortal or immortality:

…who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality (Romans 2:6-7).

…our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10).

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal (1 Timothy 1:16-17).

Note that every passage in the Bible that uses the terms immortal or immortality say that Jesus has immortality, that humans do not have it, that Jesus came so that humans can have it, and that He came to abolish death.

Why would this even be an issue if humans were already immortal?

Second Century Church Writings

But what about the early Church? After the apostles died (John being the last around 100 A.D.), there were early church writers who continued to teach what the apostles taught, which is what is in the Old and New Testaments.

Here is something from what is believed to be “the oldest complete Christian sermon that has survived” (Holmes M.W. Ancient Christian Sermon. The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 2nd ed. Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2004). This Ancient Christian Sermon contains these statements about it:

Now I do not think that I have given any mean council respecting continence, and whosoever performeth it will not repent thereof, but will save both himself and me his councilor. For it is no mean reward to convert a wondering and perishing soul, that it may be saved (15:1).

For if we have received commands, that we should make this our business, to tear men away from idols and to instruct them, how much more is it wrong that a soul which knoweth God already should perish! (17:1).

Souls that can perish cannot be immortal.

From the Letter to the Corinthians, often called 1 Clement:

On this account He shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil of the strong; because His soul was delivered to death, and He was reckoned among the transgressors (Chapter 16).

Notice this from Ignatius’ Letter to the Ephesians:

For this end did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured upon His head, that He might breathe immortality into His Church (Chapter 17).

Especially [will I do this] if the Lord make known to me that ye come together man by man in common through grace, individually, in one faith, and in Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David according to the flesh, being both the Son of man and the Son of God, so that ye obey the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote to prevent us from dying, but [which causes] that we should live for ever in Jesus Christ (Chapter 20).

Ignatius is essentially teaching that Christ suffered to give immortality to the Church and we in the Church when we properly partake of Passover can live forever in Christ–otherwise we would die.

Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before you is immortality and eternal life, of which you are also persuaded (Ignatius. Letter to Polycarp, Chapter 2).

Polycarp of Smyrna (mid-2nd century) taught that the body and soul were to be resurrected, hence he taught against the immortality of the soul doctrine:

I bless you for because you have considered me worthy of this day and hour, that I might receive a place among the number of martyrs in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and of body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit (The Martyrdom of Polycarp, 14:2. In Holmes M.W. The Apostolic Fathers, Greek Texts and English Translations. Baker Books, Grand Rapids (MI), 2004, p.239).

Though the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch now lists him in their succession list, around 170 A.D. Theophilus of Antioch wrote a position that seems to differ from current Eastern Orthodox doctrine on immortality:

When thou shalt have put off the mortal, and put on incorruption, then shall thou see God worthily. For God will raise thy flesh immortal with thy soul; and then, having become immortal, thou shalt see the Immortal, if now you believe on Him; and then you shall know that you have spoken unjustly against Him (Theophilus of Antioch. To Autolycus, Book 1, Chapter VI. Translated by Marcus Dods, A.M. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

For if He had made him immortal from the beginning, He would have made him God…so that if he should incline to the things of immortality, keeping the commandment of God, he should receive as reward from Him immortality, and should become God…For God has given us a law and holy commandments; and every one who keeps these can be saved, and, obtaining the resurrection, can inherit incorruption (Theophilus of Antioch. To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapter XXVII. Translated by Marcus Dods, A.M. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

But God at least, the Father and Creator of the universe did not abandon mankind, but gave a law, and sent holy prophets to declare and teach the race of men, that each one of us might awake and understand that there is one God. And they also taught us to refrain from unlawful idolatry, and adultery, and murder, fornication, theft, avarice, false swearing, wrath, and every incontinence and uncleanness; and that whatever a man would not wish to be done to himself, he should not do to another; and thus he who acts righteously shall escape the eternal punishments, and be thought worthy of the eternal life from God (Theophilus of Antioch. To Autolycus, Book 2, Chapter XXXIV. Translated by Marcus Dods, A.M. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

Others taught the same doctrine in the third century.  However, that is not the teaching of most groups that claim to be Christian.

To learn when and how this doctrine was changed in the mainstream, please see the article Did Early Christians Believe that Humans Possessed Immortality?

COGwriter

The New York Times has more information and apparently a different location for the terrorist plot in Australia than AP did yesterday:

Australia Officials Say Terror Suspects Plotted to Kill Until Killed

By MERAIAH FOLEY

Published: August 4, 2009

SYDNEY, Australia — Four men accused of plotting to attack a military base in a suburb near Sydney sought to shoot as many people as possible before dying themselves in the attack, Australian officials said Tuesday.

The men, Australian citizens of Somali and Lebanese descent, are suspected of having links to a radical Islamic group in Somalia. They were detained when hundreds of police officers swept through 19 houses in Melbourne early Tuesday. The raids were part of a seven-month investigation involving state and federal officials and the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization, the government spy agency.

The police said the men, 22 to 26 years old, planned to arm themselves with automatic weapons and attack Holsworthy Barracks, a military complex in the scrubland southwest of Sydney. No date was given for the attack they are suspected of planning…

The police said that at least one suspect had traveled to Somalia to take part in the insurgency. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/world/asia/05australia.html?hp

The willingness to kill until killed is tough to deal with from a carnal perspective.  It is a difficult problem for governmental authorities.

An article of related interest could be:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?

COGwriter

The Associated Press reports that Australia took military action this morning to stop a planned terrorist attack:

Australia Foils Terrorist Plot to Attack Army Base

MELBOURNE, Australia  —  Police in Australia foiled terrorist plans for commando-style suicide attacks on at least one army base, arresting four men Tuesday with suspected links to a Somali Islamist group, senior officers said.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the plot was a “sober reminder” that Australia is still under threat from extremist groups enraged that the country sent troops to join the U.S.-led military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Some 400 officers from state and national security services took part in 19 pre-dawn raids on properties in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, and arrested four men, all Australian citizens ranging in age from 22 to 26, police said.

Several others were being questioned Tuesday, police said.

Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Tony Negus said the raids followed a seven-month surveillance operation of a group of people allegedly linked to al-Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-linked Somali extremist organization that has been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s transitional government.

The cell’s plans included sending members armed with automatic weapons into military bases in Australia, including Holsworthy Barracks on the outskirts of Sydney, Negus said.

“The men’s intention was to actually go into the army barracks and to kill as many soldiers as they could before they themselves were killed,” Negus said. “This operation has disrupted an alleged terrorist attack that could have claimed many lives.”

The suspects were due to appear in court later Tuesday. Rudd said they would face charges under federal laws of planning or preparing a terrorist act.

“As the Australian government has said consistently, there is an enduring threat from terrorism at home here in Australia as well as overseas,” Rudd told reporters in the northern city of Cairns. “This is a sober reminder that the threat of terrorism to Australia continues.”

He said he had been advised that “events today do not at this time warrant any change to our national counterterrorism level, which remains at medium” — the same security warning rating that has been in place in Australia since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Australia has not suffered a terrorist attack on its home soil since the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S. raised security threat levels worldwide. But dozens of Australians have died in terrorist attacks overseas, mostly in Indonesia including the 2002 bombings in Bali that targeted nightclubs frequented by Australians and other foreigners.  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,536442,00.html

The “land down under” is not exempt from the prophecies of what will happen to Anglo-descended peoples (nor is New Zealand).

Future incidents are expected there.

An article of related interest could be:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?