Church of God News

Rowan Williams

COGwriter

The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury predicts a chaotic and uncertain time for the Anglicans following the Vatican’s offer of reconciliation last month (see Vatican Announced Plan for Anglicans to Become Part of the Church of Rome):

Rowan Williams: church future ‘chaotic and uncertain’

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the future of the Anglican church is “chaotic and uncertain” as dozens more married priests consider defecting to the Roman Catholic church.

Telegraph – Nov 12, 2009  by Ancrew Pierce

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6555325/Rowan-Williams-church-future–chaotic-and-uncertain.html

The Archbishop is in a tough spot.  He knows that his church has compromised on many doctrines and these compromises have gotten many to look to Rome–a place that the Anglicans got many (if not most) of their doctrines from originally.  But the majority of its more “conservative” leadership voted against returning to Rome in July, 2009.

The reality is that individuals should make up their own mind and not violate their beliefs and not violate their consciences (cf Romans 14:5,12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Philippians 2:12).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?

COGwriter

As author of 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, Sony Pictures invited me to attend the press screening of its movie (released tonight on the East Coast and here).  The movie itself is about 2 1/2 hours long.

The film is a high-budget movie with a lot of special effects.  One critic who indicated that the movie had “incoherence” also reported:

It’s also among the most entertaining movies you will see this year (Kelly C.  It’s the end of the world.  San Luis Obispo Tribune, Ticket insert, November 12, 2009, p. F5).

A lot happens in the movie.

The movie starts out with solar flares, then the scene shifts to India.  Essentially, the “scientists” in the movie claim that the solar flares are producing a type of neutrin that is for some reason mutating.  This then is believed to cause the Earth’s core to heat up.

Mayan calendar prophecies are “reported” towards the beginning of the movie.

Various earthquakes occur.

Some civil unrest breaks out.  There is chaos.  More earthquakes, tsunamis, buildings and cities destroyed, high mountains covered with water.

The main characters are Jackson Curtis, an unsuccessful author and divorcee played by John Cusak and Dr. Adrian Helmsley played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.  The main characters survive disasters two different ways.

Jackson Curtis and those with him through some over the top racing and flying around to avoid the earthquakes and other disasters.  Dr. Adrian Helmsley survives because he, and a lot of politicians, wealthy individuals, and selected others because of a secret international plan to save a small remnant of humanity and have transportation pre-arranged.

The movie also has a black USA President, played by Danny Glover, which is consistent with what is expected in 2012.  Woody Harrelson plays someone that comes across as a nut who tries to warn people about what is going to happen.  The movie states that perhaps more people should have listened to those that expect the end of the world–and the movie is correct on that point.

Overall, the movie reflects some writers views of an end-time scenario that they believe is consistent with parts of certain Mayan religious predictions.

From a religious perspective, the movie tends to be dismissive of prayer and shows disasters coming to many who pray.  It indicates that relying on governmental cooperation is the answer to disasters (though since over 5,700,000,000 people apparently die in the movie, that seems an odd answer).  The movie also includes some unnecessary foul language.

As I do not want to spoil the plot for those who have not yet seen it, I will not go into how governments save the 400,000 that get saved.  But I will add that the disasters in the movie miss one continent as it allegedly raises while others somewhat sink, so that is why more than the governments’ 400,000 survive.

So, overall it is a humanitarian Hollywood take on 2012.  It was not intended to be a biblical take (those who wish a biblical take may wish to read the book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect).

The real end of the world as we know it will be more complex than a 2 1/2 hour movie can portray. But the end will not, and cannot happen, prior to 2013.  But it will come to pass.

Three items of possibly related interest may include:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood?  How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012.  The book contains documented prophecies as well as an end time sequence of events that Christians should study and understand.

COGwriter

A reader forwarded me a story that essentially some believe that USA President Obama will be converted by God.  One named Kim Clement allegedly prophesied the following in Memphis, Tennessee on October 26, 2009:

“For there has been a scheme and a plan against the President of this nation, to suffocate him.” God says, “The enemy has planned in 2010 to bring shame to the first African President. So that they will say, ‘Never again shall an African American be the President of the United States.’ This will not happen,” says the Lord. “This will not happen. This will not happen.

“There shall come a change in the early part of 2010 and many will say, ‘Look, things are not quite as bad as what it seemed,’ and those who have murmured and those who have spoken evil, those who have spread words out to bring shame to this race will not be satisfied.”…

God says, “Your President shall have a great conversion in 2010 which will bring about changes to this nation and because I have spoken.

“Your prayers and your praise shall bring about a change in the atmosphere; your praise and your shouts bring about a change, for you don’t understand the significance of these sounds. I’m not listening to the journalists or the prognosticators. I’m not listening to CBS or NBC or ABC or FOX.” God says, “I’m not listening!…

God says, “I will honor the prayer in the Easter of 2010. I will break the cycle.

“For they have predicted another one shall die in office. It shall not be so. For this President shall leave this office bringing honor to the African American people.”  Source: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/8184

Now, while it is always possible that the USA President could convert, I absolutely do not accept the aforementioned “prophecy” as true for many reasons.  So, once again I will go on record and state in advance that I do not believe that the one who made this claim is God’s prophet.

Perhaps I should also mention that Barack Obama already claims to be a “Christian” of the Greco-Roman sort and that he already was “converted”.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about 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 his timing and at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here at COGwriter related to prophecy and Barack Obama.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
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?

Cyprus is Near the Coast of Palestine/Israel

COGwriter

As long time readers may be aware, we in the Living Church of God believe that God promised the descendants of Israel sea gates, that they would lose if they would not worship Him.

In the past several decades, the USA and UK have lost most of them.  It was announced late Wednesday that the UK is planning on getting rid of their military territories in the island nation of Cyprus:

Britain offers land for Cyprus reunification

By Joe Churcher

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-offers-land-for-cyprus-reunification-1819028.html

Without sea gates, nations have less trade and military options.  They essentially become more vulnerable to potential enemies.

While I am not faulting the UK’s intentions here, the reality is that giving up more territory is not likely to assist that nation.

An article that mentions the sea gates would 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?

EU Flag

COGwriter

Now that the Lisbon Treaty has been signed, the EU is wasting little time to move forward.  Today it was announced that the first post-Lisbon Treaty president of the EU should be selected next week:

EU to choose first president on Nov 19

AFP – Nov 11, 2009

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.cfe1536f4ea7b93b5492f5ce952abccd.3c1&show_article=1

Tony Blair has been rumored to have been the initial choice a year or so ago, but seems to have fallen out of favor with some (see Tony Blair Out of the Running?).  Whoever is selected, however is not likely to be the prophesied final King of the North, but this will help set the path in that direction.

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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Gerat Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?

Galileo Logo

COGwriter

Aviation Week reported yesterday that there may be a gap in the satellite coverage for the defense of the United States:

U.S. Satellite Coverage Gaps Loom

Nov 10, 2009

Amy Butler/Omaha, Neb.

The leader of U.S. Strategic Command says so few satellites are in queue now for launch for critical missions–such as weather observation satcom or ballistic missile warning–that there is a risk of service gaps that could impede the military’s ability to do its job.

Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton’s concern about a launch disaster is strong enough that he says he is willing to give up investing in improvements for spacecraft in favor of simply rebuilding a small stockpile of backups. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/RISK111009.xml&headline=U.S.%20Satellite%20Coverage%20Gaps%20Loom

To summarize, the above report says that the USA is currently having problems with its missile warning system, that it has no back-up replacements waiting, that something may be launched in about a year, but that another new untested part of the system will start to be launched in 2012.

However, the report neglected to mention that other reports have warned that the existing satellites are expected to have even more failures, replacement units may have technical problems, and that there simply are not enough planned satellites in production to meet the likely gap.  It has been suggested that the U.S. would possibly need to rely on Europe’s system for a while next decade–a dangerous option at best.

Regular readers of the COGwriter page are aware that the Europeans intend to have their own “GPS” system called Galileo operational in 2013.  They are also aware that I have been warning people that the U.S. would likely have a gap in its satellite defense systems about the time that Galileo becomes operational.

Those who have read chapter 5 of my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect have seen the danger that this and other developments portend for the U.S.A. next decade.  The satellite gap is more serious than almost everyone realizes.  The U.S.A. is on a collision course for disaster.

St. Peter’s Basilica

COGwriter

In a somewhat unusual move, it was announced that the Vatican will host a conference on the possibility of like outside of planet Earth:

The Vatican joins the search for alien life

The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences is holding its first ever conference on alien life, the discovery of which would have profound implications for the Catholic Church.

Telegraph – Nov 10, 2009

The Pontifical Academy of Sciences is holding a conference on astrobiology, the study of life beyond Earth, with scientists and religious leaders gathering in Rome this week.

For centuries, theologians have argued over what the existence of life elsewhere in the universe would mean for the Church: at least since Giordano Bruno, an Italian monk, was put to death by the Inquisition in 1600 for claiming that other worlds exist.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/6536400/The-Vatican-joins-the-search-for-alien-life.html

This development is consistent with certain others taken by the Vatican recently concerning Galileo and others matters related to astronomy.  When I watched Rome Reports last week, the Vatican seemed to be praising Galileo (and he had been condemned by the Vatican when he lived.  When he was still Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI also tried to improve the Vatican’s stance about Galileo

Irrespective of the Vatican’s motivations here, there is non-human intelligent life not on Earth, but in the spirit realm.  But I doubt that the spirit realm is going to be what the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences has in mind.

An article of possibly related interest may be:

Close Encounters of a ‘Spirit’ Kind discusses some experiences I believe were (demon) ‘spirit’ related.

COGwriter

Because of my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, Sony Pictures invited me to attend the press screening of its 2012 disaster movie.

So, I drove down to Century City (near Hollywood) last night to watch it.

This was the first time I had ever attended a press screening of a movie.

The movie itself is about 2 1/2 hours long .  It stars John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor.  The Sony/Columbia Pictures movie is Roland Emmerich’s take on 2012 and has certain accuracies as far as the Mayan predictions are concerned.  As the attendees of the press screening not supposed to report previously undisclosed details on it before Friday, I will wait until then as I expect to post more about it.

The movie, though Hollywood exciting, does not take a biblical nor Church of God perspective on 2012.

Here is a link to this month’s cover story from Tomorrow’s World magazine on 2012 by Wally Smith: The Truth About 2012: Hollywood vs. Humanity.

Those who wish to learn more about 2012 and what really will and will not happen may wish to get my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect as it goes beyond what the Mayan writings show (though it explains several of them) and explains how certain non-biblical predictions line up with biblical ones so that those interested in the truth can take proper steps.

Dr. Meredith, Mrs. Meredith, Mrs. Thiel, David Thiel, Brian Thiel, and Bob Thiel (10/09)

COGwriter

While we do not claim to know all the precise details of every twist and turn, we in the Living Church of God do have an overall framework of end time matters as foretold in the Bible.

Last week, LCG reported:

A New Day Dawns for Europe! Following on the heels of Ireland’s approval of the Lisbon Treaty after a second vote in October, this week the last nation “holding out” on signing the document finally gave in. Within hours of the Czech Republic’s national court ruling that the Treaty was constitutional, Czech President Vaclav Klaus signed the treaty. “Across the EU, leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief, from the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, who said he was ‘exceptionally satisfied’, to the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, who described it as a ‘good day for Europe.’” What began as the European Constitution and switched only its name mid-stream, will become law in Europe on December 1, with approval by 100% of 27 nations involved. Europe will now have its own president, foreign minister and diplomatic corps, and the meaning of national sovereignty will forever change (Times online, November 3, 2009). While Europe was in ruins following World War II, a lone voice rang strong from a small location on the west coast of the United States, warning not only that Germany would rise from the ashes, but that Europe would also unify. As Herbert Armstrong predicted the future based on Bible prophecy, many scoffed, noting the shattered condition of Europe. Yet, today, as he predicted decades ago and God prophesied millennia ago (see Daniel 2 and Revelation 17), Europe is now unified under a common set of laws and will soon have a president. The next development to watch for will be the emergence of ten leading kingdoms within Europe.

Dr. R.C. Meredith was ordained an evangelist by Herbert W. Armstrong in 1952.  Dr. Meredith, now the presiding evangelist of the Living Church of God worked for Herbert W. Armstrong from the early 1950s until Herbert W. Armstrong died in 1986.  Dr. Meredith has been teaching that a European supranational state would come for nearly 60 years himself.

And as regular readers of this page are aware, I have believed and taught this for over three decades myself.  Prophetic events are lining up.

A group of ten kingdoms (a combination of territories within a European supranational state) is foretold in the Bible (Revelation 17:12).  What is prophesied will come to pass.

And while prophecy is certainly NOT the only matter of Christian importance, it should be a matter of importance for Christians.  The Bible teaches:

Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy
(Rev 19:10).

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?  Is it destined to rule?
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?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This also has YouTube videos related to 2012.  The book contains documented prophecies as well as an end time sequence of events that Christians should study and understand.

Angela Merkel

COGwriter

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel took part in a celebration today related to the fall of the Berlin Wall:

Leaders in Berlin Retrace the Walk West

By NICHOLAS KULISH and ALAN COWELL

Published: November 9, 2009

…Mrs. Merkel has told reporters recently that she was one of those to walk into the west that night across the gray iron bridge at Bornholmer Strasse. Many of the hundreds crowding onto the bridge with her on Monday were former East German civil rights activists…

“The wall is gone. Two Berlins are one. Two Germanys are one. Two Europes are one,” Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain said in remarks prepared for delivery of Monday evening and released earlier to reporters.

I remember listening to a sermon by the late Dr. Hoeh at the Feast of Tabernacles in Tuscon, Arizona in October 1979 where he explained that Herbert W. Armstrong believed that the two legs of the Beast in Daniel 2, with its two feet (vs. 33), represented both West and East Europe (including specifically Germany).  He taught that this meant that the nations in Eastern Europe would ultimately not be under the power of the Soviet Union, but would become independent of it, and ultimately be part of a supranational European state.

A supranational state was approved by the last of the European Union members (the Czech Republic) on November 2, 2009.  The state forms officially on December 1, 2009.  Thus, the position of Herman Hoeh on this point has been shown to have been correct.

Right after the Berlin wall fell in November 1989, I was asked to give the closing prayer at church services in Fresno, California.  In that prayer, I mentioned that we were witnessing prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes.  One of the reasons that I stated that was because many in that congregation seemed to be losing their zeal and belief about Bible prophecy.  Many who once were believers, no longer love the law of God and became scorners (Psalm 1).

Sadly, this has afflicted many throughout history.  The prophecies of the Bible are coming to pass right before our eyes today. Jesus taught:

34 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34-36)

Will you be a zealous believer in them or will you let the cares of this world overtake you as Jesus warned against?  Do not be swayed by people like Gordon Brown who do not realize what this “One Europe” will ultimately mean for the Anglo-descended nations.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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?