Church of God News

A “straight and narrow way” in Tobago

COGwriter

Until sunset Sunday May 23, 2010 is the Holy Day known as Pentecost.  It is not only observed by Church of God groups like the Living Church of God, many other non-COG groups do as well.

Greco-Roman supporters wrote of it in the early centuries A.D.

The Catholic Encyclopedia states this about Pentecost:

Pentecost…The term, adopted from the Greek-speaking Jews (Tob. 2:1; II Mac. 12:32; Josephus, “Ant.”, III, x, 6; etc.) alludes to the fact that the feast, known in the Old Testament as “the feast of harvest of the firstfruits” (Exodus 23:16), “the feast of weeks” (Exodus 24:22; Deuteronomy 16:10: II Paralipomenon 8:13), the “day of firstfruits” (Numbers 28:26), and called by later Jews ‘asereth or ‘asartha (solemn assembly, and probably “closing festival”, Pentecost being the closing festival of the harvest and of the Paschal season) (Souvay C.L. Transcribed by Mark E. Maier. Pentecost (Jewish Feast) The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by Kevin Knight. Nihil Obstat, February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Pentecost (Whitsunday) A feast of the universal Church which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ, on the ancient Jewish festival called the “feast of weeks” or Pentecost (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). Whitsunday is so called from the white garments which were worn by those who were baptised during the vigil; Pentecost (“Pfingsten” in German), is the Greek for “the fiftieth”…

Whitsunday, as a Christian feast, dates back to the first century…That Whitsunday belongs to the Apostolic times is stated in the seventh of the (interpolated) fragments attributed to St. Irenæus. In Tertullian (De bapt., xix) the festival appears as already well established (Holweck F.G. Transcribed by Wm Stuart French, Jr. Pentecost (Whitsunday). The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XV. Copyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by Kevin Knight. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Tertullian in the late second century/early third century wrote:

Pentecost is a most joyous space for conferring baptisms; wherein, too, the resurrection of the Lord was repeatedly proved among the disciples, and the hope of the advent of the Lord indirectly pointed to, in that, at that time, when He had been received back into the heavens, the angels told the apostles that “He would so come, as He had withal ascended into the heavens;” at Pentecost, of course. But, moreover, when Jeremiah says, “And I will gather them together from the extremities of the land in the feast-day,” he signifies the day of the Passover and of Pentecost, which is properly a “feast-day” (Tertullian. On Baptism, Chapter 19. Translated by the S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

In the early third century, the Catholic theologian Origen listed the following as being celebrated:

If it be objected to us on this subject that we ourselves are accustomed to observe certain days, as for example the Lord’s day, the Preparation, the Passover, or Pentecost…And, finally, he who can truly say, “We are risen with Christ,” and “He has exalted us, and made us to sit with Him in heavenly places in Christ,” is always living in the season of Pentecost (Origen. Contra Celsus, Book VIII, Chapter XXII. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 4. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight).

In the fourth century, historian and Bishop Eusebius wrote:

All these events occurred during a most important festival, I mean the august and holy solemnity of Pentecost, which is distinguished by a period of seven weeks, and crowned with that one day on which the holy Scriptures attest the reception of our common Saviour into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit among men. In the course of this feast the emperor received the privileges I have described; and on the last day of all, which one might justly call the feast of feasts (Eusebius of Caesaria. The life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine [with the oration of Constantine to the assembly of saints and the oration of Eusebius in praise of Constantine], Chapter LXIV. 1845. Original from Oxford University. Digitized Aug 23, 2006, p. 227).

Although it was not called Whitsunday then (and should not be now), it is clearly documented that those who professed Christ in the first, second, third, and fourth centuries celebrated the Feast of Pentecost.

Furthermore, notice what Archbishop of Constantinople John Chrysostom wrote about it in the fourth century:

When, it says, the day of Pentecost was fully come: that is, when at the Pentecost, while about it, in short. For it was essential that the present events likewise should take place during the feast, that those who had witnessed the crucifixion of Christ, might also behold these…And, it says, there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men. The fact of their dwelling there was a sign of piety: that being of so many nations they should have left country, and home, and relations, and be abiding there…for it was Pentecost. (Chrysostom J. The homilies of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople: on the Acts of the Apostles, Volume 1, Homily IV. John Henry Parker, 1851. Original from Harvard University. Digitized, Apr 12, 2008, pp. 53, 55, 56).

So, he admitted that after the resurrection, the faithful needed to be present at what was then considered to be a “Jewish feast”.

Notice what else John Chrysostom wrote:

But why did the Holy Ghost come to them, not while Christ was present, nor even immediately after His departure, but, whereas Christ ascended on the fortieth day, the Spirit descended when the day of Pentecost, that is, the fiftieth, was fully come ? And how was it, if the Spirit had not yet ‘” come, that He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost? In order, to render them capable and meet for the reception of Him. (Chrysostom J. The homilies of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople: on the Acts of the Apostles, Volume 1, Homily I. John Henry Parker, 1851. Original from Harvard University. Digitized, Apr 12, 2008, p. 11).

Well, a better and more obvious answer to why then, is that the Holy Days are part of God’s plan of salvation, the apostles followed Jesus’ example to keep them, and Pentecost was the time God planned to pour out His Spirit. The disciples obviously did not feel that the Holy Days were done away with after Jesus’ resurrection or they would not have been gathered together observing it.

To some degree, the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant churches all celebrate Passover (though most refer to it as Easter and consider it a resurrection holiday) and Pentecost, which were originally Holy Days that the children of Israel observed (and which were still observed by the early true Christian church). But they do not seem to feel that it is a continuation of the Holy Days in Leviticus 23, they seem to act like it has nothing to do with them (other than the date).

Although he does not tie the following statement into a discussion of Pentecost, notice what Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (who is now Pope Benedict XVI) wrote:

Man can become God, not by making himself God, but by allowing himself to be made ‘Son’.

Since Jesus is the first of the firstfruits, and the Day of Pentecost shows that we are also to become firstfruits, the observance of the biblical Pentecost helps picture that God the Father is calling true Christians to truly be His sons. We are to be in the family of God (this is documented in more detail in the article Deification: Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? and What is the Meaning of Life?).

Anyway, Pentecost comes once per year, and those of us in the Living Church of God will observe it until sunset May 23 in 2010.

To learn more about God’s Holy Days and God’s plan of salvation, please consider studying the following articles:

Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits.
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Did the Early Church Teach Purgatory? Is there a place called purgatory? Does God have a plan to help those who did not become saints in this life?
What is Limbo? Is There Such a Place as Limbo? What Happens to Babies When They Die? When did Limbo start being taught? What is the truth about dead babies?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.

Hyphae of Fungus Hyaloperonospora Parasitica Haustoria

COGwriter

Jesus taught:

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(Matthew 24:7-8)

But does this also include the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK?  I think it does.

While I suspect that one of the biggest pestilences that will hit the USA and Canada will be when some pathogen(s) attacks one or more of their genetically-modified crops (also known as GMOs) and results in some type of famine within the North America (see also China Buying USA Food, In Depression Will Chinese Eat While Americans & Brits Starve?), there are several disease epidemics that may already be starting according to many recent news items:

Dengue Fever In Florida Portends A Growing Problem

NPR – May 20, 2010

You may not have heard much about a nasty tropical infection called dengue fever…

Federal health officials have identified the first sizable outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. in 55 years, in the Florida Keys. They say the southern U.S. is ripe for more…

Dengue fever is rarely fatal, though it can be. But it’s often very unpleasant, and dangerous in people with impaired immune systems and other disorders. It’s the most common mosquito-borne virus in the world, causing up to 100 million infections and 25,000 deaths each year…

Perhaps most ominous, cases of dengue fever elsewhere in this hemisphere – in the Caribbean, Central and South America – have jumped from around 1 million to 4.8 million since 2000. That’s why the U.S. made dengue a reportable disease last year. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/05/20/127016467/dengue-fever-outbreak-in-florida-portends-a-growing-problem

WHO says measles making ‘rapid comeback’

Associated Press – May 21, 2010

GENEVA — Measles is making a rapid comeback in African, Asian and even some European countries despite being easily avoided through vaccination, the World Health Organizations said Friday as countries pledged to sharply cut infections and deaths worldwide by 2015…

Even Britain experienced a worsening measles outbreak…Britain has reported 1,000 cases in each of the last two years — more than 10 times the figure a decade ago. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-9TLoiKZCggGkBZmebrCs0z3VnAD9FRA2L80

Locusts Poised to Ravage Australian Crops

May 21, 2010

An Australian agricultural association warns that an emerging locust plague could ravage such large swathes of crops that food prices will be forced to rise.The New South Wales Farmers Association predicts that the growing swarms could wreak even more costly damage than the recent drought, known in Australia as “the big dry.”

Extensive rainfall over the Outback during the southern summer provided ideal conditions for locusts to lay billions of eggs, according to agricultural authorities.

They say the locusts are becoming so numerous that they have the potential to wipe out wheat, barley and vegetables, and also ravage pastures.

Beyond the economic impact on produce shoppers, such devastation could also leave sheep, cattle and lambs with nothing to eat.  http://www.earthweek.com/2010/ew100521/ew100521d.html

Potato growers fear devastating disease may come from New Zealand

Wednesday, 19/05/2010

A disease of potatoes that has reached New Zealand is causing concern to Australian growers.

Zebra chip is a disease that alters the sugar levels in the potato. The sugar caramelises and turns the chip brown when it is fried, giving it an off taste and burnt appearance.

Outbreaks of zebra chip have caused millions of dollars in losses to the potato industries of the United States and Mexico, and Australian growers fear it could cross the Tasman.  http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201005/s2902861.htm

Hospitals see dramatic rise of kids with MRSA

USA Today – May 19, 2010

CHICAGO (AP) — The number of children hospitalized with dangerous drug-resistant staph infections surged 10-fold in recent years, a study found.

Disease incidence increased from 2 cases to 21 cases per 1,000 hospital admissions from 1999 to 2008. Most infections were caught in the community, not in the hospital.

The study involved methicillin-resistant staph infections, called MRSA. These used to occur mostly in hospitals and nursing homes but they are increasingly showing up in other settings in children and adults. Recent evidence suggests hospital-acquired MRSA cases may be declining while community-acquired cases are becoming more common. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-19-mrsa-staph-infections_N.htm

Lesser-known C-diff a bigger hospital threat than MRSA?

USA Today – March 20, 2010

…Known as Clostridium difficile, or “C. diff,” the bacterium resides in the gut, is spread by contact and can cause painful intestinal infections and in some cases death. It’s primarily seen in those over 65, and relapses occur in a fourth of patients, despite treatment.

More than 90% of cases happen after antibiotic use, when the healthy flora of the gut are destroyed and C. diff can take up residence.

C. difficile was 25% more common than MRSA in a study of 28 hospitals in the Southeast, says Becky Miller, an infectious-disease researcher at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. The proportions nationwide aren’t known.

MRSA “was the big bad pathogen in hospitals,” but C. diff has overtaken it, Miller says. She worked the study by looking at C. difficile rates at community hospitals in the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network. The data were presented over the weekend at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections conference in Atlanta. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-20-c-diff-bacteria_N.htm

What Is Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)? What Causes Valley Fever?

21 May 2010

Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, California disease, Desert rheumatism, and San Joaquin valley fever is a fungal disease that is endemic in certain parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Nevada and northwestern Mexico. It is caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii. Infected individuals experience fever, chest pain, coughing and some other symptoms.

Coccidioides immitis is a pathogenic fungus that resides in the soil. During long, dry spells the fungus remains dormant, and then develops as a mold with elongated filaments which break off and become airborne spores, known as arthroconidia, during the rainy season. The arthroconidia become airborne after disruption of the soil from farming, earthquakes, wind or construction activity.

Humans become infected by inhaling the fungus particles…

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), USA, approximately 50,000 to 100,000 people are estimated to develop valley fever symptoms each year in the USA, with 35,000 new infections annually just in California. According to health authorities in Arizona, the incidence of reported cases was 15 per 100,000 in 1995.  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189430.php

Deadly strain of airborne fungus spreading among healthy people and animals in U.S., scientists warn

Daily Mail, UK – April 23, 2010

A deadly strain of fungus is quietly spreading among animals and people in the U.S. and Canada, scientists have warned.

The airborne Cryptococcus gattii usually only infects transplant and Aids patients and others with weak immune systems.

But researchers have raised concerns as the new strain is genetically different, meaning healthy people are at risk.

Over the past 11 years there have been about 220 cases reported in British Columbia while since 2004, doctors in Washington and Oregon have reported about 50.

Among the total 270 cases, 40 people have died from overwhelming infections of the lungs and brain. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1268297/Deadly-strain-airborne-fungus-spreading-healthy-people-animals-scientists-warn.html

Notice the following from the Bible:

21 ‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.
22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number;
and your highways shall be desolate.

23 ‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me,
24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant;
when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you;
and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.   (Leviticus 26:21-25)

Notice that it is after various pestilences, that the some nation is delivered to its enemies.  This suggests that the USA, UK, and their Anglo-descended allies will face pestilences before they are taken over.  Thus, it may be that some that are now known will develop into more severe problems.

And for those who question that the prophecy in Leviticus could be directed towards the Anglo-descended nations, understand that in the Bible Israel specifically stated that his name would be on the descendants of Ephraim and Mannaseh (Genesis 48:14-20).  Hence if the Anglo-descended nations came from them (which they did), then some of the prophecies that apply to “Israel” are prophecies that should be applied to the primarily Anglo-descended nations.

The Anglo-descended nations, who should know better, are walking contrary to the word of God. Pestilences are coming to their lands.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines and other problems. Should we do something?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

Wheat

COGwriter

The Chinese have become the biggest importers of USA agricultural production:

China now top U.S. ag export market

Reuters – May 20, 2010

China bought more than $10 billion in U.S. farm goods in the first six months of the year to become the country’s No 1 agricultural export market, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Thursday…

Vilsack declined to comment on the likely size of U.S. corn sales to China. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64J5Y820100520

China also relies on wheat (see Drought, Wheat, & China).

Some see a possible depression coming:

City fears of ‘Great Depression Mark II’

Leading City experts have started raising the prospect of “Great Depression II” amid worries that the European economic crisis could trigger a deeper bout of chaos.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/7746884/City-fears-of-Great-Depression-Mark-II.html

In the “Great Depression” most Americans and Brits had skills in growing food.  This is no longer the case.  Furthermore, modern crops have gotten more complicated as so many seeds are hybrids that they will not actually grow the type of foods most in the USA and UK are used to having.  The coming food problems will also get worse once one or more genetically-modified crops suffers from some type of pestilence.   The USA, to cite one example, could lose virtually all of its wheat or corn because of the dependence on genetically modified versions (which is especially true for crops like corn and soy).  Prophecy for famines will be fulfilled (Matthew 24:7-8).

Notice also the following:

The Geopolitics of Food Scarcity…

No country is immune to the effects of tightening food supplies, not even the United States.

If China turns to the world market for massive quantities of grain, as it recently has done for soybeans, it will undoubtedly look to the United States, which dominates world grain exports. For US consumers, the prospect of competing for the US grain harvest with 1.3 billion Chinese consumers with fast-rising incomes is a nightmare scenario. It would be tempting for the United States to restrict exports, but this is not an option with China which now holds well over one trillion US dollars. Like it or not, US consumers will share their grain with Chinese consumers regardless of how high food prices rise. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,606937,00.html

The time is likely coming when the USA will have to provide grain to China when some Americans will be starving from food shortages.  The USA and UK are under massive debt loads, and at some point in time will likely have political leaders who will believe that exporting food to places like China will be needed even though part of their citizenry will die from food shortages.

While we are not there yet, this time is coming soon.

Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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?
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?
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?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

Harold Egbert Camping

COGwriter

Harold Camping claims that Jesus will return one year from today.  In a 2010 radio interview with me, one of the hosts brought up May 2011 as a date he noticed that some people proclaimed would be the end of the world (or in this case the supposed date of the “rapture“).  I told the host that the May 2011 date was an invention of Harold Camping and that he was getting quite a following for it.

The radio host was unfamiliar with Harold Camping so I informed him that this was the second date that Harold Camping had predicted.  Here is one news item from the San Francisco Chronicle about that:

Harold Camping lets out a hearty chuckle when he considers the people who believe the world will end in 2012…The real date for the end of times, he says, is in 2011…

Camping, 88, has scrutinized the Bible…

The world will end May 21, 2011. This is not the first time Camping has made a bold prediction about Judgment Day.

On Sept. 6, 1994, dozens of Camping’s believers gathered inside Alameda’s Veterans Memorial Building to await the return of Christ, an event Camping had promised for two years. Followers dressed children in their Sunday best and held Bibles open-faced toward heaven.

But the world did not end. Camping allowed that he may have made a mathematical error.  (Berton J. Biblical scholar’s date for rapture: May 21, 2011.  January 1, 2010.  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/01/BA8V1AV589.DTL&feed=rss.news).

Of course, if he actually would have relied on the Bible, and not his own imaginations, Harold Camping would not have made the prediction about 1994 or 2011.  And while he admits to perhaps making one mathematical error, he has made many more.

I spoke with one from Southern California who followed him somewhat in 1994 and she said at the time she would not listen to him again if he was wrong.  And since Harold Camping was clearly wrong, she has not listened to him since, and neither should anyone else.  But sadly, both she and I know others in Southern California who are believing him.  Allegedly he has millions of listeners around the world to his various radio broadcasts.

Anyway, although I have denounced Harold Camping before (see Will Jesus return by 2012 or in 2011?), I also promised to provide more information about him (see Ronald Weinland Made the News for Being Wrong), so, this seems to be a good time to do that.

In his  publications, We are Almost There! and To God be the Glory, Harold Camping also claims that certain biblical passages teach that May 21, 2011 is the date of Jesus’ return (which he calls the rapture) and October 21, 2011 is the date for the end of the world.

Incorrect Dates and Lengths of Time for Biblical Events

Notice something that is in his We are Almost There! book:

The church age embraced, to the very day, exactly 1,955 years in that it began on Pentecost day, May 22, A.D. 33, and ended the day before Pentecost on May 21, 1988 (A.D.). (p. 29)

As we have noted, God further solidifies or locks in this date, May 21, 2011, by placing the day of shutting the door, when the rapture will occur, on the 17th day of the second month of the Biblical calendar. Significantly, the number 17 links perfectly to the fact of the rapture because spiritually, the number 17 signifies heaven. Moreover, the number 2 (second month) spiritually identifies with those who have been commissioned to bring the Gospel. Is it not amazing that they will be raptured on the 17th day of the second month? Is that coincidental?
We also have learned that the last day of the earth’s existence, October 21, 2011, is the 23rd day of the seventh month of the Biblical calendar. The number 23 normally signifies God’s wrath being poured out. The number 7 (seventh month) signifies the perfect fulfillment of God’s purposes. Could this also be coincidental, that the final completion of God’s punishment on the unsaved occurs in the seventh month on a day that features the number 23, which is a number that completely identifies with God’s wrath, thus signifying God’s perfect wrath on the unsaved?  (p. 61-62)

Now what is that based upon?  In that particular booklet, he never explains why 1955 years–he just asserts based on his calculations.  And his assertions do not count.  33 A.D. is wrong and even it were correct, the 1955 years is simply not a biblical time period for the age of the church (no matter what type of calculation he may show for it).  Furthermore, he comes up with his own meaning of 17, 23, and many other numbers, and then based upon his meaning, then suggests that this “proof” is not coincidental.  It is not coincidental, he intentionally manipulates numbers and calculations when plain numbers do not work, in order to try to force his conclusions upon people.  Also notice that when he makes statements such as “The number 23 normally signifies God’s wrath”, this means that he can decide that it does not mean that if it interferes with any of his other calculations (and it seems that he is very selective that way).  Sadly, his followers do not seem to see this.

Furthermore, PENTECOST IS ON JUNE 12, 2011 AND NOT MAY 21, 2011 (see Holy Day Calendar). Harold Camping does not even understand what Pentecost is all about (to learn more, see Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2?). Because he prefers his own imaginations to the truth of the Bible, Harold Camping seems to load one misleading calculation onto other misleading information to get to the wrong answer. He should not be listened to by those that actually believe the Bible.

Bible Clearly Disagrees With Harold Camping’s Flood Dates

Although, the biblical fact is that God said He would never again destroy the world by flood (Genesis 9:11), Harold Camping is basing a lot on his inaccurate calculation of when he claims the flood was.

He wrote the following in his We are Almost There! booklet:

There are exactly 7,000 years from the flood of Noah’s day, which destroyed everything on the earth in 4990 B.C., to A.D. 2011 (p. 30).

According to the Bible and pretty much all biblical scholars, Noah’s flood was centuries less than 5,000 years ago, not nearly 7,000.  The best calculated estimate that I have seen places the flood closer to 4,336 years ago (see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

Harold Camping’s is Wrapped Up in His Own Numbers

Furthermore, notice what else the article from the San Francisco Chronicle stated about Harold Camping’s logic for his “rapture” date:

Meaning in numbers

By Camping’s understanding, the Bible was dictated by God and every word and number carries a spiritual significance. He noticed that particular numbers appeared in the Bible at the same time particular themes are discussed.

The number 5, Camping concluded, equals “atonement.” Ten is “completeness.” Seventeen means “heaven.” Camping patiently explained how he reached his conclusion for May 21, 2011.

“Christ hung on the cross April 1, 33 A.D.,” he began. “Now go to April 1 of 2011 A.D., and that’s 1,978 years.”

Camping then multiplied 1,978 by 365.2422 days – the number of days in each solar year, not to be confused with a calendar year.

Next, Camping noted that April 1 to May 21 encompasses 51 days. Add 51 to the sum of previous multiplication total, and it equals 722,500.

Camping realized that (5 x 10 x 17) x (5 x 10 x 17) = 722,500.

Or put into words: (Atonement x Completeness x Heaven), squared.

“Five times 10 times 17 is telling you a story,” Camping said. “It’s the story from the time Christ made payment for your sins until you’re completely saved.

“I tell ya, I just about fell off my chair when I realized that,” Camping said…

Rick LaCasse, who attended the September 1994 service in Alameda, said that 15 years later, his faith in Camping has only strengthened.

“Evidently, he was wrong,” LaCasse allowed, “but this time it is going to happen. There was some doubt last time, but we didn’t have any proofs. This time we do.”

Would his opinion of Camping change if May 21, 2011, ended without incident?

“I can’t even think like that,” LaCasse said. “Everything is too positive right now. There’s too little time to think like that.”

Now the above is utter nonsense.  That rapture date is based upon many faulty biblical assumptions and is also historically inaccurate. Christians need to realize that there is nothing in the Bible about the idea that the timing of Jesus’ return has to do with a numerical calculation based upon Atonement x Completeness x Heaven, squared.  Multiplying numbers developed for concepts and then “squaring” them does not come from any Bible prophecy I am aware of. For one historical point that should be of interest , the crucifixion was a couple of years earlier than that, hence the “rapture” according to Harold Camping’s “1,978 years logic” should have been no later than May of 2009  (33 A.D. for the crucifixion year has been eliminated by most serious biblical scholars).  His followers should take the time and look at what the Bible does and does not teach–as it does not teaching many of the calculations that he is teachings.

Notice the basis for the 1,978 years according to Harold Camping:

1978 = 2 x 23 x 43
Number 2 symbolizes those who are to bring the Gospel.
Number 23 symbolizes wrath
Number 43 symbolizes judgment

Thus, by the number 1,978, God is emphasizing that judgment will fall on those who had been commissioned to bring the Gospel (2) and are still subject to the wrath of God (23 and 43). (We are Almost There!, p. 64)

This is presumptuous nonsense.  The above is human reasoning, not solid prophetic interpretation. 1,978 does NOT come from the Bible, yet Harold Camping’s followers act like he only teaches what is in the Bible.

Now if this 1,978 years is to be exact like he suggests, why then does Harold Camping have to add 51 days to it to get to his May 21, 2o11 date? Cannot his followers see the fallacy of that?

In the Bible, God uses a lunar, not a 364.2422 day solar, calendar (cf. Exodus 12:1; Leviticus 23:4-44). Thus all this solar “exactness” is not consistent with what the Bible shows.  Because he fails to utilize the biblical calendar, Harold Camping’s date for his Pentecost in 2011 is clearly not God’s date.

Furthermore, Jesus was killed on the day of the Passover and was our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). And let’s just say for the sake of argument that this was possibly Harold Camping’s April 1, 33 A.D. date (even though it was not). Under that assumpption then, if 1,978 years has an exact fulfillment somehow related to what Harold Camping is claiming, then the return would need to be on April 1st 2011 (which is exactly 1,978 of his solar years) or at minimum Passover for 2011 should be on April 1st.

But it is not.

The day of Passover in 2011 is April 18th. So, we see that Harold Camping’s calculation is not exact and not based upon the Bible. Instead he pieces data together, adds 51 days to get to his 722,500, and then claims it is an exact match. It is not a true match.  And since May 21, 2011 is also not even the date of Pentecost, his logic again falls apart as further nonsense.

Speaking of nonsense, notice the following “proof” from We are Almost There!:

Thus, we can know that it is as if there are exactly 7,000 years, to the very day, from the shutting of the door on any further possibility of salvation, both during the worldwide destruction of Noah’s day and the worldwide destruction of our day. Can this be coincidental? (p. 61)

No, there is no coincidence.  The above is false and utter nonsense as, was mentioned before, the flood was thousands of years less than 7,000 years ago and the salvation argument is based upon blasphemy (see Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible).

Jesus Did Not Point to the Types of Calculations that Harold Camping Does

When the disciples asked Jesus when He would return, He did not give those type of calculations.  Notice that Jesus warned people not to be deceived about it:

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.  5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:3-5).

Sadly, Harold Camping is among those who have deceived people about the date of Jesus’ coming.

How do we know that?

Well, Jesus listed specific events in Matthew 24 that needed to occur, many of which have not yet happened.  Now notice precisely when Jesus said He would return:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 29-31)

Notice that according to Jesus, He returns after the Great Tribulation, and with the sound of trumpet.

Now, the Great Tribulation has not began yet, nor did it possibly begin in 1988 as Harold Camping wrote.

And not only has that not happened yet, it does not happen until 3 1/2 years (the middle of a seven year prophetic “week”) after a deal is made in Daniel 9:27:

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

And while many are working towards a peace deal that might fulfill the above (see ), the deal still has not happened yet.  And even if it were to happen this month (which is almost impossible), then Jesus would not return until 2017 (adding the 3 1/2 years to the time, times, and half a time for the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord adds up to seven years).

Harold Camping Meets the Bible’s Criteria for Being a False Prophet

Notice a couple of warnings about false prophets:

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 18:22).

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3).

I do not consider that Harold Camping is a real Christian.  He has proven to be a false prophet.  The world did not end in 1994, there will be no “rapture of the Church” in May 2011, and no one should base their life on following the dates of Harold Camping.  He, and other false prophets, have caused the way of truth to be blasphemed.

Jesus Will Return, But Not Until After Harold Camping’s May 21, 2010 Date

And while Jesus absolutely will return, and Christians will meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), many of the signs that Jesus specifically gave (including the Great Tribulation) have not happened yet.  People need to heed what the Bible says and not be swayed by those who make biblically impossible claims from their own calculations and imaginations.

Harold Camping also wrote:

…the last day of the earth’s existence, October 21, 2011 (We are Almost There!, p. 64).

No, the world will exist after that and all remaining will be able to realize that Harold Camping was in complete and total error.  Others have also put supposedly biblically-based numeric calculations for their version of prophecy that also have failed to come to pass.  Simply putting mathematical calculations to prove something in scripture is not enough.  Those like Harold Camping who spiritualize away the obvious meaning of scriptures are not true servants of God.

Sadly, because of people like Harold Camping, many have been turned off to the truth about biblical prophecy (2 Peter 2:1-3). Harold Camping will also give scoffers something to point to (just like other false prophets have throughout the ages).

Furthermore notice what the Apostle Peter warned:

…scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:3-9)

So, despite false ones who rise up (Matthew 24:4) and scoffers, Jesus will return.  And very soon.  Probably within the next ten years (Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).  But not on May 21, 2011.

Harold Camping is wrong.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible Harold Camping teaches that the rapture will be on May 21, 2011 and the world will end on October 21, 2011. What does the Bible show?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.

The 220 kg Gold brick displayed in Taiwan

COGwriter

Debt and gold made the news today:

Gold bulls claim price could double to $3,000 in five years

Fears that American, British and other governments intend to inflate their way off the rocks of excessive debt prompted record inflows into gold this week.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/gold/7743787/Gold-bulls-claim-price-could-double-to-3000-in-five-years.html

Although gold is expected to be valuable until sometime after the start of the Great Tribulation (cf. Daniel 11:386-43; Revelation 18), it will have ups and downs.  If it goes high enough or other factors catch the attention of certain governments, ownership may become illegal once again–but maybe not.

Since one cannot eat gold and it tends to be more susceptible to storage of radiation (see Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians), this may be why sometime in the “Day of the Lord”, gold will be less than worthless (Ezekiel 7:19).

The Bible does warn against debt the consequences of it (cf. Habakkuk 2).  The USA and UK are the most indebted and about the most per indebted per person, respectively, countries in the world.  Eventually, the US dollar and UK pound will be worth nothing.  This does NOT mean that gold will necessarily rise to $3,000 per ounce in the near term (it could drop a lot from where it now is).  But in the long-term, without national repentance, the US and UK currencies will be totally worthless, and right when that happens, gold with be extremely more valuable than it currently is from a US/UK perspective.

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?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist?  Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests?  This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 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?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines and economic problems. Should we do something?

Flag of Korea, 1889

COGwriter

North Korea is claiming to be offended by the belief in South Korea that one of its submarines sunk a South Korean ship:

NKorea warns of war if punished for ship sinking

Associated Press – May 20, 2010

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Tensions deepened Thursday on the Korean peninsula as South Korea accused North Korea of firing a torpedo that sank a naval warship, killing 46 sailors in the country’s worst military disaster since the Korean War.

President Lee Myung-bak vowed “stern action” for the provocation following the release of long-awaited results from a multinational investigation into the March 26 sinking near the Koreas’ tense maritime border. North Korea, reacting swiftly, called the results a fabrication, and warned that any retaliation would trigger war. It continued to deny involvement in the sinking of the warship Cheonan.

“If the (South Korean) enemies try to deal any retaliation or punishment, or if they try sanctions or a strike on us …. we will answer to this with all-out war,” Col. Pak In Ho of North Korea’s navy told broadcaster APTN in an exclusive interview in Pyongyang.  http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100520/D9FQGC2G0.html

North Korea’s leadership should pray that they do not upset South Korea too much or North Korea will be no more.  And while South Korea is somewhat bound not to launch a unilateral attack, it also cannot find getting one of its ships blown up acceptable.  The original incident was reported here at COGwriter back in March (see Korean Ship Sunk, a Possible International Incident?).  South Korea will likely take some steps because of this.

Ultimately, despite North Korea’s limited nuclear capabilities, I suspect that the two Koreas will likely reunite.  Hopefully, it will not take another war for this to happen.

Two articles of possibly related interest would include the following:

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?
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?

Ancient Laodicea

COGwriter

UCG’s outgoing Chairman reported the following today:

May 20, 2010

Dear Beloved Members…

If you’re reading this online, then you’re reading this in a format that was scarcely believable even 20 years ago…

We must all be active in doing this as a whole church effort whether young or old, male or female, pastor or church member. We must all be doing our part. May God grant to you and to us collectively the love and unity that permeated the Church on that first day of Pentecost. May God so enrich us spiritually that we may together truly reflect the name by which we are called today—the United Church of God.

In deep Christian love,
Roy Holladay

UCG has not tended to be particularly “united” throughout its history.  While Roy Holladay apparently wants to publicly promote unity before he leaves the Council, recent actions involving UCG’s Council of Elders clearly show that is has not been united.

Roy Holladay, for example, wrote the following last month in three letters (for more details, see Another UCG Shakeup and Letter from UCG’s Roy Holladay):

This letter is to inform you of a decision reached today between the Council of Elders and President Clyde Kilough. The Council held an executive session teleconference on April 8, 2010, where it was decided that a change in the office of president of the United Church of God was needed. Since Mr. Kilough had previously indicated that if the Council desired a change in the office of president, he would likely be willing to resign, the Council decided to ask him for his resignation as president…

Today I accepted the resignations of Jim Franks as Ministerial Services operation manager and Larry Salyer as Media operation manager…

While it may not have been evident to the membership at large, in recent months a serious level of conflict existed about certain issues between the Council of Elders and some administrators…

During these past months, certain administrators severely disagreed with the oversight and direction that the Council was providing, even though they are bound by the bylaws of the Church to support it.

Three “certain administrators” resigned their positions in UCG, yet one was confirmed to remain on the Council (see UCG’s Jim Franks Confirmed to Remain on Council).  But Roy Holladay will not be continuing himself (see Melvin Rhodes to Be UCG Chairman as Roy Holladay Steps Down).

Keeping Jim Franks on the Council while at the same time suggesting that he violated bylaws he was bound to support, suggests that Roy Holladay cannot possibly believe that UCG is currently doing what he feels it needs to be doing.

And when UCG’s new chairman (Melvin Rhodes) was selected, it took several rounds of voting from its relatively small Council to choose him.  This is another indication that UCG simply has not lived up to the name “United”.

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? 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?
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
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?
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

Two Women Wearing Burqas

COGwriter

LCG reported:

French Move May Cross the EU. “The French cabinet approved a draft law to ban the Muslim full-face veil from public spaces on Wednesday, opening the way for the text to go before parliament in July. ‘In this matter the government is taking a path it knows to be difficult, but a path it knows to be just,’ President Nicolas Sarkozy told the assembled ministers…” The law is expected to be passed by Parliament, but experts warn that courts may not uphold the law and that it will be difficult to enforce. Many fear repercussions from the EU when the law passes. However, President Sarkozy’s reason for the law is that “We are an old nation united around a certain idea of human dignity, and in particular of a woman’s dignity, around a certain idea of how to live together.” Muslims comprise approximately 7.5% of the French population (AFP, May 19, 2010). Despite European efforts to unite under a common union, differences in temperament, perspective, deep-running nationalism and an obvious language barrier continue to prevent a “perfect union” in Europe. Relatively small actions by individual nations can foment division among even the EU’s strongest and most influential states. God knew full-well what He was talking about when He predicted the individualistic “iron and clay” natures of the kingdoms that will compose the final Beast power (Daniel 2:37-45).

The French move was expected.  Belgium already banned the burqa (see Burqa Banning in Belgium, Italy, France, and Australia).

Europe is starting to get fed-up with Islam (see also Anti-Islamic PVV Gaining in the Netherlands and Switzerland Votes to Ban Minarets).

A divide between Islam and the nominally-Christian Europe is going to become more and more real.  This move in France is simply another demonstration of that.

Four 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?  What role might non-Arab Iran play?
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?

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev

COGwriter

Russia is preparing to fight another world war:

Preparing for World War III

Moscow Times – May 12, 2010   excerpt…

President Dmitry Medvedev made a number of very important statements in an interview with Izvestia published on Friday — the most notable of which was his statement that another war on the scale of World War II is possible in the future.

The president thus proved that he continues to be influenced by Russia’s most conservative generals, who insist that the country should be prepared for a Soviet-style mass mobilization to fight the next world war.

…The military top brass received a huge boost from Medvedev after their commander-in-chief hinted in the Izvestia interview that Russia may very well have to prepare for another world war. This may give the die-hard defenders of the mass-mobilization army a new lease on life and boost their efforts to derail Serdyukov’s reforms once and for all.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/preparing-for-world-war-iii/405767.html

Medvedev: World War Possible

Newsmax – May 10, 2010

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev warns that the possibility of another world war is real and says Russia “must be ready for this.”…

He was asked about the possibility of a new military conflict “similar to World War II in scale.”
“After all, accidents will happen. So we must be prepared. We must be ready for this. We must be strong.” 

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/medvedev-russia-world-war/2010/05/10/id/358606

I have regularly reported about Russia’s intentions to strengthen and expands its military might.

And while another world war is expected, the USA tends to act like it never will.  As the USA takes more and more steps to reduce its military, this means that other nations will become stronger relative to it.

And while Russia is not prophesied to take over the USA, it is prophesied to ultimately invade Europe.  And it, along with China and others, is trying to strengthen its military.  Russia will fulfill its role in Bible prophecy.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
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?
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?
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?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?

Jesus taught, “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14),. Pentecost pictures that only a few will find the way in this age–but implies that others will later.

A “straight and narrow way” in Tobago

COGwriter

Saturday night, beginning after sunset, until sunset Sunday May 23, 2010 is the Holy Day known as Pentecost.  1,979 years ago, the disciples of Jesus were meeting together to observe this day (Acts 2).  On that day the Holy Spirit was given and the New Testament Church began.

What many have not considered is that if the disciples of Jesus did not think that they should still be observing this so-called Jewish holiday, then they would not have been present together for the Holy Spirit to come.

This is a very significant point. Notice what the Bible teaches:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place (Acts 2:1).

Notice that the emphasis is on the fact that the Day of Pentecost had fully come. The Bible is making it clear that the events that follow were directly related to the fact that the Day of Pentecost had fully come. And, it happened to the disciples because they were all observing it together.

The Living Church of God believes that the New Testament church began on Pentecost in 31 A.D. and that its observance in the Book of Acts shows that the early disciples clearly did believe that they were to continue to observe practices (Sabbaths, Holy Days, etc.) that the Jews did.

The Old Testament

Since the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost, based upon the date and practices that God gave the children of Israel in the Old Testament, it is logical to conclude that the Old Testament can give us some insight into its meaning.

First of all the term Pentecost is a Greek term meaning 50th. That term is derived from the following Hebrew description of calculating the date:

And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (Leviticus 23:15-16).

The Day of Pentecost has several names, and because of that, some have been confused about it. Its other names in the Bible include, the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks and the day of firstfruits:

… the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors (Exodus 23:16).

And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits (Exodus 34:22).

Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation (Numbers 28:26).

While some Protestant commentators (e.g. Radmacher E.D. ed. The Nelson Study Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1997, p213) refer to the wave sheaf offering as the feast of firstfruits, this is a misnomer. While “a sheaf of firstfruits” was offered then (Leviticus 23:10), as shown above, the Bible refers to the Feast of Weeks as the time of firstfruits (not simply one sheaf). And, as shown below, it refers to the time of counting fifty as being associated with firstfruits:

Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD (Leviticus 23:16-17).

Does the term firstfruits help us understand this day?

The New Testament Helps Explain the Old Testament

The New Testament does discuss some concepts associated with firstfruits.

Paul also wrote the following:

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23).

Recall that it was the Holy Spirit that was first given on the Day of Pentecost. And that was a type of the firstfruits of the Spirit.

Who are the firstfruits?

These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4-5).

In the Old Testament, God said:

“I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor…” (Hosea 9:10).

So originally, physical Israel was like the firstfruits on the branches of a fig tree, but they were unfaithful. In the New Testament, Paul alludes to this and Christians when he wrote:

For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either (Romans 11:16-21).

So while physical Israel was intended to be firstfruits, it was replaced by Christians as the firstfruits. And those firstfruits began on Pentecost.

But what about Jesus? Wasn’t He a type of firstfruits?

Yes, He certainly was. Paul notes:

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

Christ is the fulfillment of the wave sheaf offering in Leviticus 23:10. He is the sheaf of firstfruits. He also fulfilled that role when He ascended into heaven on the Sunday (the wave sheaf offering was on a Sunday) after He was resurrected (John 20:1,17). But neither He nor His true followers observed what is now called Easter.

Also, James notes that Jesus brought us forth to also be a type of firstfruit:

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:18).

So while Jesus was the original firstfruit to represent the wave sheaf offering, true Christians are a kind of firstfruits, represented by the Day of Pentecost. “Firstfruits” mean that only a few will make it in this age–but they also imply that there will be a greater harvest–a time where all who never had an opportunity for salvation will later have an opportunity (for more scriptural references, please read the article Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis).

(More of the wave-sheaf offering is included in the article What Happened in the Crucifixion Week?)

Pentecost pictures that the Christian elect are being called now as a type of firstfruits.  Pentecost, however, is simply one step in God’s plan of salvation.  The greater harvest, where all who have never truly understood God’s plan of salvation will be happen later.  And that is pictured by the Fall Holy Day known as “the last great day” or sometimes simply called “the eighth day of the feast”.

Although some who profess Christ seem to believe otherwise, we in the Living Church of God believe:

20 Our God is the God of salvation (Psalms 68:20).

Some are called to it now, and others in the “age to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).

6 “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6).

Salvation will be offered to all who ever lived, a few in this age, and everyone else in the age to come (Matthew 12:31-32).  The Bible shows that there is a time in the future that all flesh will come to God:

1 Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. 2 O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. (Psalm 65:1-2)

Does your church really understand that ALL FLESH will come to God?

To learn more about God’s Holy Days and God’s plan of salvation, please consider studying the following articles:

Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits.
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Did the Early Church Teach Purgatory? Is there a place called purgatory? Does God have a plan to help those who did not become saints in this life?
What is Limbo? Is There Such a Place as Limbo? What Happens to Babies When They Die? When did Limbo start being taught? What is the truth about dead babies?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.