Church of God News

COGwriter

Why is 2012 important?

2012 is important because of what will and will not happen that year.

Some will believe that the world will end that year.  They will make a variety of false claims and scares (sometimes with at least some basis in fact–especially if there are at least the usual amount of natural disasters that year–and especially if there may be a bit more than normal).  Because 2012 is likely to occur during the time that Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8), many will likely misinterpret world events and disasters that year.

Yet, despite various interpretations of Mayan and other prophecies by so-called “experts”, the world will absolutely not end in a flood on December 21, 2012.  Why can I be so sure?

Well first let’s look at the one Mayan prophecy that is most detailed about a flood destroying the world at the end of part of its calendar:

But when the law of the katun has run its course, the God will bring about a great deluge again which will be the end of the world. When this is over, then our Lord Jesus Christ will descend over the valley of Jehoshaphat beside the town of Jerusalem where he redeemed us with his holy blood (José Hoíl J, Roys R. The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Roys Publisher, 1933. Reprint Forgotten Books, 1967, p. 62).

Notice that the particular Mayan prophecy mentions Jesus Christ.  The earliest book that mainly discusses Jesus Christ is the Bible.  Yet, the Bible does NOT allow for a worldwide destruction of all flesh through a flood:

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11).

However, since the world cannot and will not be destroyed by a flood, I strongly suspect that many will decide that the Mayan prophecies should properly be interpreted to mean that the longed for age of peace is upon us–even though it will not be (Ezekiel 13:10).

When the world does not end in a flood, on December 22, 2012 it is highly likely that certain ones associated with the New Age Movement will claim that they were right all along and that instead of destruction, Mayan, astrological, Tibetan, and other predictions should have been interpreted to mean that a news age of peace is about to dawn on the planet as humans are allegedly to change to become more peaceful.

Some will believe that.  Others will consider that humankind really is not able to be peaceful on its own and consider such pronouncements nonsense.  Many will discount all prophecy.

Almost everybody on the planet will be confused.

The following will be partially fulfilled in 2012:

3 knowing this first: that 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.  (2 Peter 3:3-7)

Because of my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, I believe that I and certain others in LCG will warn people that the end truly is coming soon, that God’s “sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV) can be relied on, and that civilization as we know it is about to end to replaced by Christ’s kingdom.  Some will pay attention, while others will brand us with a variety of names.  During 2012 and 2013, we will try to preach “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14), and then the end will come.

2012, y2k, and other false pronouncements of the end will turn people off to the truth of biblical prophecy.  But it will come to pass.  Most will be ignorant of what really will and will not be happening.  But you do not have to be.

If you have not already done so, please get my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  Compare what it teaches with the Bible.  Compare what it teaches with what is happening in the world.  World events have already aligned with at least 11 predictions that the book documents.

You do not have to be one who will be confused in these trying times.

Here are the electronic links:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect (English)
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta (Spanish)
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German)

The book has long also been available from Amazon.com in English, Spanish, and German, and its Kindle version in English. It is also now finally available from Barnes and Noble .com at the following title links 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, 2012 Y El Surgimiento De La Secta Secreta, and 2012 Und Das Auftreten Der Geheimen Sekte.

The 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect book has more details, more prophecies, and is quite a bit a lot longer (about 384 pages in English) than my online article on 2012.  To order a hard copy, simply go to the link 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.

Anne Catherine Emmerich was a Catholic Mystic

COGwriter

Many who are affiliated with some part of the Church of God seem to be unaware of the fact that the idea that Catholic prophecies may have end time relevance was taught decades ago.

There were two articles by David Jon Hill of the then Radio Church of God, which was renamed the Worldwide Church of God shortly thereafter (the old WCG fell into apostasy after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, and various groups, with the Living Church of God being the most faithful, formed after his death to avoid the apostates).

Anyway, here is some of what the old Good News magazine taught in the 1960s:

Will you be deceived by Antichrist?…

The human instruments Satan the Devil is preparing to serve him are aware of what God’s Word says regarding the returning Christ and the Antichrist who is to oppose Him! They know enough prophecy to perform their abominable deeds with knowledge and vigor. They know, and have known historically, enough prophecy to prepare a perverted prophecy to deny the true prophetic warning broadcast by The WORLD TOMORROW!

Catholic Interest in Prophecy…

Satan knows God’s general Plan. He has been at work in the minds of evil and deluded men throughout the ages to lay the groundwork of the GREAT DELUSION !…

Catholic Definition of Antichrist

Here now, for the professed prophecies in the Catholic Church’s recently published book, Prophecy for Today:

“Towards the end of the world Antichrist will overthrow the Pope and usurp his See”! (“Prophecy” of Abbott “Merlin” Joachim, died 1202; see also Catholic Encyclopedia, article “Antichrist.”)

Because they will not admit the truth, the Church believes the Antichrist will be the one to unseat the pope, while every Bible prophecy commissions the true Christ with that job.

“Antichrist will fight a successful battle at Mageddo [Armageddon) in Palestine after which. . . he will hereafter become lord of the world’ (Ibid; Anna Catarina Emmerick, d. 1824). It is almost impossible to see how they could believe this! But there it is! And here is more! “The Kings will send armies to the Holy Land, but the Antichrist will slay them all”! (Ibid.; “Venerable Maria of Agreda.” d. 1665.) Compare this with Revelation 19:19.

But to continue. “Antichrist and his army will conquer Rome, kill the Pope and take the throne. . . The Jews will come from everywhere, and accept Antichrist as the Messiah.” (Ibid.; from a “prophecy” by Venerable Bartholomew Holthauser, d. 1658.)

Just one more quote to illustrate their satanic definition: “After the destruction of Rome, Antichrist will appear and exalt himself above pagan deities and the Trinity. . . Coming to Jerusalem, he will succeed through false preaching, miracles, gifts, terror, aided throughout by the devil. An evil spirit will come out of the air and descend upon his followers. He shall feign a resurrection from the dead, cause rain to fall. . . and perform other wonders, all through the power of the devil. . . . The Jews will welcome him.” (Ibid.; Richard Rolle of Hampole, d. 1349.)

Compare With Your Bible…

When these false “prophecies” are read from pulpits into the ears of gullible people and they begin to see God’s intervention come to pass, THEY WHOLE EARTH AND SEA OBEYS HIS WILL BELIEVE THE ONLY MEANING THEY HAVE EVER LEARNED ABOUT THESE SIGNS AND WONDERS, AND BE CONVINCED THAT THE GLORIOUS CHRIST RETURNING IN TRIUMPH IS IN TRUTH THE ANTICHRIST!

A more modern prophetess of the Catholic Church has this to say about this time of preaching: “Whole nations will join the Church shortly before the reign of the Antichrist. These conversions will be amazing. Those who shall survive shall have to conduct themselves well. There shall be innumerable conversions of heretics, who will return to the bosom of the Church” (Prophecy For Today; from Anna Maria Taigi, d. 1837).

Listen to this satanic delusion: “Antichrist will be an iconoclast [against idols). Most of the world will adore him. He will teach that the Christian religion is false, confiscation of Christian property is legal, Saturday is to be observed instead of Sunday, and he will change the Ten Commandments [that is, restore them in their ORIGINAL FORM, including the declaration against idols). All his wonders could not be written in a book. They will be more wonderful than the Old and New Testaments! . . . he will read people’s minds, raise the dead, REWARD HIS FOLLOWERS AND PUNISH THE REST”! (Prophecy For Today; from Dionysius of Luxemberg, d. 1682.) AND, “. . . He will begin by affecting RESPECT FOR THE LAW OF MOSES’(’I bid.; from Frederick William Faber, d. 1863)…

Christ is the One who is AGAINST IDOLS! Christ is the One who will show how perverted this world’s “Christianity” has become-that it is a FALSE RELIGION! Christ is the Lord of the Old Testament whose day of worship is the seventh day, INSTEAD OF SUNDAY! CHRIST is the One who gave the Ten Commandments in their ORIGINAL FORM, and will restore them. CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO WILL RAISE THE DEAD AND REWARD HIS FOLLOWERS. . . HE IS GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM!

So we see here the diabolical plot hatched by this professed “Christian” leader. Here is the age-old attempt of Satan the Devil to arrogate to himself and to his deceived minions the OFFICE OF GOD; while he attributes the intervention of the True Christ in his returning glory to the PERSON AND ACTION OF ANTICHRIST. (Hill, David Jon. Will you be deceived by Antichrist? Good News magazine of the Radio Church of God, October 1964, pp. 9-12,18).

Notice that certain “Catholic prophecies” were believed at that time to misidentify Jesus as the final Antichrist and that a religion that attracts whole nations is prophesied.  I should point out, however, that some Catholic prophecies warn against the ecumenical religion that others seem to look forward to.  All who profess Christianity should realize that no matter what any “Catholic” prophecy may say, the Bible is clear that Jesus and NOT Antichrist wins the battle that is originally staged at Armageddon (cf. Revelation 16:13-16 and 19:17-21).

Also notice:

Christ or Antichrist?…

A recently published book reveals a startling Catholic interest in endtime prophecy. This book, together with tradition and the writings of some of the “early church Fathers,” brings to light an eye-opening preview of the false prophecies that are about to be preached!…

WHY?

Because of “that man of sin . . . who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he IS GOD, ..even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and LYING wonders, and with ALL DECEIVABLENESS.” THAT MAN WILL TELL THE WORLD THE BIGGEST LIE EVER TOLD!…

So we see here the diabolical plot…Here is the age-old attempt of Satan the Devil to arrogate to himself and to his deceived minions the OFFICE OF GOD; while he attributes the intervention of the True Christ in his returning glory to the PERSON AND ACTION OF ANTICHRIST! (Hill, David Jon. Christ or Antichrist? Good News magazine of the Radio Church of God, April 1961, pp.9,11).

The above shows that the old Radio Church of God understood that it was likely that followers of the end time ecumenical “Catholic” religion would likely rely on false prophesies and be opposed to Christ.  And that is some of what I am trying to do here as well.

Some have unfairly criticized me for bringing out these and other non-biblical prophecies.  But like the old Radio Church of God, my intent is to warn people that Satan has a plan to delude human kind and it includes “signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9), which include false prophecies (cf. Matthew 7:15; 24:11,24).

Even the first “antipope” Hippolytus of the early third century seemed to have warned against the returning Jesus (his authorship of some the document quoted, On the End of the World, has been questioned).  Here is some of what the old Radio Church of God published:

Compare With Your Bible

Hippolytus is one of the “early church Fathers”…(Ante-Nicene Fathers; Hippolytus…)…

Hippolytus goes on to say: “. . . at that time the whole earth will bewail the life of anguish, and the sea and air in like manner will bewail it; and the sun, too, will wail; and the wild beasts, together with the fowls, will wail; mountains and hills, and the trees of the plain, will wail on account of the race of man, because all have turned aside from the Holy God, and obeyed the deceiver, and received the mark of that abominable one, the enemy of God, INSTEAD OF THE QUICKENING CROSS OF THE SAVIOR” (Ibid.; section XXXIII)….

God’s clear revelation shows that the time when the families of all the earth are going to bewail for anguish is the time of Christ’s return…(Rev. 18:11-15)…

Remarkable Prophecy

Here is another false prophecy from Hippolytus.

“And by reason of the SCARCITY OF FOOD, all will go to him and worship him; and he will put his mark on their right hand and on their forehead, that no one may put the sign of the honorable cross upon his forehead with his right hand; but his hand is bound” (Ibid., section XXVIII).

Now turn to the book of Zechariah in your Bible…(Zech. 14:16-19). The Eternal God, at His return, is going to cause the nations of this earth to recognize Him as Ruler and to worship Him through the means of controlling the weather, causing drought and famine-SCARCITY OF FOOD-until ALL NATIONS COME UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES! (Hill, David Jon. Will you be deceived by Antichrist? Good News magazine of the Radio Church of God, October 1964, pp. 10-11).

The writings of Hippolytus seem to be implying that those who wore the mark of the cross on their forehead or hands will not be allowed to do that after Jesus comes. It may be that he through his confusion he is actually indicating that one mark of the beast may have to do with crosses on their “hand or on their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16).  While the day of the week is a mark/sign of the beast, it may not be the only mark.

Many are being told through false prophecies to oppose the return of Jesus, as well as to support powers that Jesus will destroy.

Jesus, Himself, warned about false prophets rising up (Mark 13:22-23).  Paul warned that Christians are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).

By exposing and highlighting prophecies that have misled many throughout the centuries, it is my (COGwriter) hope and prayer that people will compare the utterances of any “prophet” irrespective with any signs or wonders to what is written in the Bible.  I believe that all prophecies need to be understood in the light of biblical prophecy.

COGwriter

A reader sent me a rather bizarre news article and book excerpt:

Book review: ‘The Lonely Polygamist,’ by Brady Udall

The Dallas Morning News – May 9, 2010   excerpt…

The Lonely Polygamist is an absorbing, moving, entertaining novel that will transport the reader into Golden’s chaotic world, making most other lives seem calm by comparison. Golden is exhausted. He spends weeknights in a trailer before rushing home to council meetings at the Living Church of God in Virgin [Valley], a polygamist enclave.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-bk_lonelypolygamist_0509gd.ART.State.Edition1.4c7f844.html

Excerpt from book…

“Unlike the valley’s Mormons who peopled the towns along the river, the members of the Living Church of God, who mostly lived of farms and compounds at the eastern edge of valley, did not hold positions of power, sat on no boards or councils, had nothing but their little church on the hill and each other.  They were generally poor, hardscrabble, and suspicious of outsiders of any stripe-so suspicious there was wide consensus among them that Royal was a spy from the government, somebody sent by Hoover to take notes, write names, and call down an FBI raid that would send the men to prison and the women and children into the care of Social Services.”

Page 163, The Lonely Polygamist, by Brady Udall

Hardcover: 602 pages, Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (May 3, 2010)

For those unfamiliar with the Living Church of God that I (COGwriter) attend, let me make it perfectly clear that we do not endorse or condone polygamy.  Nor is there ANY connection between us and the group that apparently does.

In the Charlotte, North Carolina based Living Church of God, multiple marriage partners are not acceptable.  When Jesus taught the following, He made it clear that polygamy was not a for the New Testament church:

5 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate (Matthew 19:5-6).

The Apostle Paul also made it clear that church leaders were only to have ONE wife:

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach…

12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (1 Timothy 3:1-2,12)

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you —  6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. (Titus 1:5-6)

So, polygamy is not a New Testament endorsed concept, nor one endorsed by the Living Church of God that I am affiliated with.

For more on the Charlotte, North Carolina based Living Church of God, please see the following article:

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.

VS.

COGwriter

Two years ago, according to Ronald Weinland, he was to quit preaching if the USA had not been nuked.

Notice what he said:

If by Pentecost I’m just going to make this real clear to everyone. If by Pentecost it is not powerfully and abundantly clear that there has been a great deal of destruction that will clearly encompass a third of all plant life in the US and at least the clear results of this mingled with blood the death of very much animal life and the beginning of large numbers of human life then I will stop preaching. Just so all the critics and everyone out there will understand. I am true to my word in these things. OK? And for all the critics if by the end of July and for most likely around Pentecost if nothing has clearly caused great destruction and death I will make it very clear that I was a false prophet. I will do exactly what I said I would do on all of those interviews that I have held; to do less, aah well, would be quite insane. (Weinland R. Three More Weeks–quote from near the 1 hour 28 minute point from the CGPFK website version. Sermon given March 29, 2008).

And by the time you get to the second trumpet it’s even gonna be more devastating and at that point in time there it uh definitely seem to indicate there’s gonna be nuclear weapons go off but I I really some of these things as far as the four seals exactly what they are uh specifically when the nuclear weapons go off and the like uh that’s what my job actually begins April the 17th that’s when I begin my job. (Weinland R.  Interview on the The Mike McConnell Show Radio on April 7, 2008)

But Ronald Weinland failed to stop preaching (Pentecost that year was June 8th), even though he was (and remains) a false prophet.

Instead, he later claimed that much of the Great Tribulation was spiritual, that it really did not start on April 17, 2008 as he once taught, but instead it started on December  14, 2008.

Well, Ronald Weinland’s proclaimed second date for the Great Tribulation has been going on for nearly a year and a half.  Yet, none of the events that THE BIBLE said needed to happen during it have happened yet.

Sadly, this has not dissuaded Ronald Weinland from preaching his nonsense, stopped everyone from still following him, or gotten him to keep the promise he made over two years ago.

Thus far, his integrity on such matters is zero.  Ronald Weinland always was, and remains, a false prophet.  And I think two years after the date he was supposed to stop preaching he keeps doing so, it is fair to call him a documented liar as well.

Jesus clearly warned that false prophets would rise up, yet seem like real ministers:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.  (Matthew 7:15-20)

Ron Weinland’s fruits are that he misled many, ruined the lives of many, and is a documented liar.

The Apostle Peter warned that even among the true church, false ones would rise up and cause the way of truth to be blasphemed:

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)

When we do get closer to the end, many will be turned-off of listening to real biblical prophecy because they have been misled by false prophets such as Ron Weinland (Harold Camping is likely to cause a greater stir, but on Pentecost of 2011 himself be shown to be a false prophet once again).  It is sad, but true.

Some articles of related interest may include the following:

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008 (first April 17th, then June 2008, now December 14, 2008). Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.
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?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
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?
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 is for those truly interested in understanding how prophecies inter-relate and who want to see a real sequence of end time events.  Unlike the false statements in Ronald Weinland’s books, events aligning with this one are actually coming to pass.

Devil	= Secret	+ Person	+ Garden

COGwriter

China is increasing its technological skills and abilities:

China seeks to unseat the West in supercomputing

With China’s ascension to No. 2 on Top500 list, supercomputers may be emerging as a visible symbol of battling economies.

By Patrick Thibodeau

June 2, 2010

Computerworld – Dawning Information Industry Co., the Chinese company that built the world’s second-most-powerful computer, includes a photo on its Web site of Chinese President Hu Jintao during a visit…

China is now receiving world attention for building the second-most-powerful supercomputer on the planet, the Nebulae, a 1.27 petaflop system, according to the just-released Top500 list.

The top system is Cray’s 1.76-petaflop Jaguar supercomputer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177573/China_seeks_to_unseat_the_West_in_supercomputing

While China has been busy securing the minerals, oil, and other basic materials it feels it needs, it has also been securing various sea rights (a Chinese-based company currently runs both ends of the Panama Canal, for example) as well as taking other steps that apparently will increase its influence. Other Asian nations are building their infrastructures and their military.

Much of what China itself appears to be doing is consistent with what the late Deng Xiaoping once expressed,

China must hide brightness and nourish obscurity . . . to bide our time and build up our capabilities (Source: Times Online).

While China has a plan, it will not go quite as China has hoped.  And eventually, it is prophesied to align with Russia and the other “kings of the East”.

But make no mistakes, China wants to see itself on top and not as a third world or second world power (see also China May Want to Be on Top, But…).

This will not bode well for the USA (and probably not Australia–a land I believe that China wants).

Notice the following Catholic prophecy:

American Catholic Prophecy (c. early 20th century): The yellow hordes of the Rising Sun and the middle kingdom will pour out their wrath on the people of the island kingdom which had gathered riches through trade (Dupont, Catholic Prophecies, p. 78).

China is well known as “the middle kingdom”.  Australia is an island.

Furthermore, notice the following Chinese prophecy:

Population mouth takes territories south of the Yangtze river.  The capital is moved again.  The two divide up the territories, of which each maintains and defends (Pui-Hua R.  Ancient Chinese Prophecies Till the End of the World.  AuthorHouse, Bloomington (IN), 2008, p. 164).

This may be related to a deal that perhaps the Chinese will make in the future with Europe, as opposed to military conquest.  It also may not be related to the taking of Australia or New Zealand, but perhaps might be.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?

COGwriter

Back in 1969 Anton Lavey wrote The Satanic Bible. On page 96 (in the 1976 version) it mentions birthdays:

THE highest of all holidays in the Satanic religion is the date of one’s own birth. This is in direct contradiction to the holy of holy days of other religions, which deify a particular god who has been created in an anthropomorphic form of their own image, thereby showing that the ego is not really buried.

The Satanist feels: “Why not really be honest and if you are going to create a god in your image, why not create that god as yourself.” Every man is a god if he chooses to recognize himself as one. So, the Satanist celebrates his own birthday as the most important holiday of the year. After all, aren’t you happier about the fact that you were born than you are about the birth of someone you have never even met? Or for that matter, aside from religious holidays, why pay higher tribute to the birthday of a president or to a date in history than we do to the day we were brought into this greatest of all worlds?

After one’s own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween (or All Hallows’ Eve). (Lavey A, Gilmore P. The Satanic Bible. Avon, September 1, 1976, p. 96–note it is on page 53 of an online version I found also).

It is interesting that birthdays are considered one of the three the most important holiday to these Satan worshipers (the founding of their “church”, called Walpurgisnacht, and Halloween are the other ones of importance to them).

The Bible never encourages the celebration of birthdays. Instead, it tends to speak in a negative manner concerning them (cf. Matthew 14:6-11; Jeremiah 20:14-18).

Of course, early Christians did not celebrate birthdays nor did the early Jews. Nor have real Christians ever celebrated Halloween.  As far as the Jews, notice what the first century Jewish historian Josephus noted that Jewish families did not celebrate birthdays:

Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the birth of our children, and thereby afford occasion of drinking to excess (Josephus. Translated by W. Whiston. Against Apion, Book II, Chapter 26. Extracted from Josephus Complete Works, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids (MI), 14th printing, 1977, p. 632).

Now although there is no specific command against the celebration of birthdays in the Bible, the Jewish custom in those days was apparently based on the negative occurrences in the Bible surrounding birthdays, as well as the astrological implications of the celebration of birthdays (pagan practices, like astrology, were specifically prohibited in the law).

No early religious/church writing from the second century that I have seen (and I have read most that are available) seems to endorse (or even suggest) the celebration of birthdays by any who professed Christ either.

Although he was not part of the Church of God, the writings of the early third century Catholic theologian Origen of Alexandria show that, even that late, Orthodox Catholics were against the celebration of birthdays. The Catholic Encyclopedia states:

Origen, glancing perhaps at the discreditable imperial Natalitia, asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday (Martindale C. Christmas, 1908).

Here is some of what Origen wrote:

…of all the holy people in the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day on which they were born into this world below (Origen, in Levit., Hom. VIII, in Migne P.G., XII, 495) (Thurston H. Natal Day. Transcribed by Thomas M. Barrett. Dedicated to Margaret Johanna Albertina Behling Barrett. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

The writings of the late third century Catholic theologian Arnobius show that, even that late, Catholics objected to the celebration of birthdays as he wrote:

…you worship with couches, altars, temples, and other service, and by celebrating their games and birthdays, those whom it was fitting that you should assail with keenest hatred. (Arnobius. Against the Heathen (Book I), Chapter 64. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 6. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1886. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight).

Thus birthday celebrations, even of gods and leaders, were condemned as far as the late third century by even Roman Catholic leaders. But like many practices associated with non-biblical “Christianity”, this changed in the fourth century.

Essentially birthdays became celebrated later because of compromises with the pagan cult of Mithraism (see Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? and Do You Practice Mithraism?)

And for four decades now, Satanists claim that birthdays are their highest holiday. Do you observe them too?

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
The 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?

Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar May 1, 2008

COGwriter

Myanmar (also known as Burma) may be becoming a nuclear power:

Myanmar nuke accusations should raise radioactive questions for world leaders

By Joshua Wilwohl

A former United Nations nuclear inspector said Friday that secret documents smuggled out of Myanmar by an army defector show the country anxiously is looking to develop nukes.

This comes at a time when North Korea is threatening its southern counterpart and when U.S. President Barack Obama has called for peace treaties to curb nuclear proliferation, all while Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speeds up his country’s technology.

The report, first obtained by The Associated Press, states Myanmar has attempted experiments with uranium and the equipment needed for enrichment…

It’s quite obvious that Myanmar is only the tip of the iceberg in this fight. The country allegedly has ties with North Korea and some U.S. officials have accused the two countries of collaborating to develop nuclear weapons (as the AP reported that early documents show North Korea allegedly helped Myanmar construct underground facilities to create nukes).  http://theklaxon.com/myanmar-nuke-accusations-raise-radioactive-questions-for-world-governments/6813

Myanmar’s Secret Nuclear Program Revealed

Defector Says North Korea Helping Myanmar Develop Nuclear Weapons Program

ABC News – June 4, 2010

With the help of North Korea, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has acquired components for a nuclear weapons program, including technology for uranium enrichment and long-range missiles, ABC News has learned.

A defector from Myanmar — an army major and deputy commander of a top-secret nuclear facility — escaped the country with thousands of files detailing a secret nuclear and missile program.

“The purpose is they really want a bomb. That is their main objective,” said defector Sai Thein Win, the major who says he visited the installations and attended meetings at which the new technology was demonstrated.

“They want to have the rockets and nuclear warhead,” he said.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/north-korea-helping-myanmar-secret-nuclear-program/story?id=10823439

If true, this is such a travesty on humanity, I can barely type about it.

Over 135,000 died because of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar a couple of years ago (see Over 220,000 Killed in 2008 Disasters).  More could have survived, yet the Myanmar government refused most foreign aid.

Instead of helping its people, the powers that be in Myanmar seem obsessed with keeping their power.  And while that is true of leaders in pretty much all other lands in this age, those in Myanmar seem to have pushed this beyond what most carnal leaders have been willing to do.

Jesus said to pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10, KJV).  And Myanmar (as well as all other lands) needs this desperately.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
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? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?

جامعة الدول العربية
Jāmaʻat ad-Duwwal al-ʻArabiyya Arab League Flag

COGwriter

Over the years, I have been surprised that so many groups that have leaders that were once part of the late Herbert W. Armstrong’s church do not understand that he believed that there will be a future King of the South that would emerge from an Arabic-African Islamic federation.

RCG’s David Pack, for example, teaches:

The King of the South is Ethiopia (Pack, David. The MID-EAST in Bible Prophecy. RCG Booklet, online 12/17/06)

PCG’s Gerald Flurry, for example, teaches:

Iran leads this “king of the south” (Flurry G. From the Editor: Why You Must Watch Europe. Philadelphia Trumpet. Nov-Dec 2006).

CEG has the following as part of its Question and Answers on the subject:

It is true that there have been occasional articles published in the Church, suggesting or stating that there still will be a future king of the South. None of these articles were written by Mr. Armstrong. It is correct that in December of 1980 and in June of  1983, a staff writer wrote in two Plain Truth articles that some type of Arab-Moslem confederation is coming as a king of the South, but Mr. Armstrong  did not teach this. In his articles, the staff writer omitted to mention Mr. Armstrong’s strong belief that Daniel 11:40 HAS already been fulfilled. (Church of the Eternal God.  Frequently Asked Questions, #532)

Well, the above is misleading as there were other articles prior to that time as well as around that time–the idea of an Arab-Moslem confederation was taught since the early 1960s–it did not just appear in the 1980s.  It also was NOT Herbert Armstrong’s strong belief that there remained no future fulfillment of Daniel 11:40. But it is true that some articles under Herbert W. Armstrong name were often slightly updated copies of his earlier writings, and since his vision was not very good in his latter days, he sometimes allowed items to be printed that suggested views he no longer held.

Now, although those in CEG do not seem to care, I have personally spoken with evangelists Roderick C. Meredith (the last of the original evangelists that HWA ordained), Dibar Apartian (the evangelist who lived into his 90s), and Richard Ames (an evangelist that HWA selected to be a presenter on the telecast after his death) and they all told me that Herbert W. Armstrong believed and taught that there would be a future King of the South.  This was also confirmed to me by people such as Charles Bryce (EnCG) and the late Carl and Raymond McNair.

Since those in the top leadership did not apparently know Herbert W. Armstrong well, they like many, have misinterpreted certain written materials.  So, first of all let me show that Herbert W. Armstrong himself did in fact believe that Daniel 11 had a future fulfillment.

And the abomination that maketh desolate set up.” What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15…From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ’s coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days.” Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us–GOD”S CHURCH–who wait and endure until the 1335 days–approximately 1335 days prior to Christ’s coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear–the revival of the medieval “Holy Roman Empire.” We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later “the beasts armies” will surround Jerusalem PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.1, NO.15 NOVEMBER 20, 1979 The Time We Are In, Now by Herbert W. Armstrong. Page 2; see also Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).

As the above shows, HWA himself admitted that he had questions about some of his earlier writings about the fulfilling of the sequence of Daniel 11.  And notice that he was teaching that there would be a future fulfillment no later than Daniel 11:31 in the above.

I should add that, according to Herbert W. Armstrong, the future fulfillment of Daniel 11 started much earlier than verse 40:

In Daniel 11:21, referring in original, typical fulfillment to Antiochus Epiphanes, there shall stand up a vile person…So once again before the second coming of Christ, a vile leader will stop the daily sacrifices being offered…This same prophecy spoken by Jesus is also reported by Luke…21:20-24 (Armstrong HW. Personal, Plain Truth magazine, June 1967).

Thus, Herbert W. Armstrong clearly taught that starting at least from verse 21, that Daniel 11 had a future fulfillment.

The Bible Teaches About the King of the South

Of course, the main issue is whether or not the Bible teaches that there must be a future King of the South, and the 11th chapter of the book of Daniel (the only place where the term ‘king of the South’ is mentioned) does make this clear.

Daniel wrote:

He [the king of the North] shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South…Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:25,27).

Notice that these two kings make a deal together, but both sides are lying to each other. Thus, whatever agreement they make is not destined to be permanent.

Now when is the “end”? Verse 29 states:

At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.

The ‘he’ in verse 29 is the king of the North. This verse says that the ‘appointed time’ is not only different than before, but, combined with vs. 27, that it is the appointed time that leads to the final end of both the king of the North and the king of the South (cf. vs. 27).

I state this because there is an ‘appointed time’ (Strong’s word #7150) in both vs. 27 which suggest it is in the future and vss. 29 and 35 which appear to be the specific time. The specific word translated as ‘the end’ is the same word (Strong’s 4150) in vs. 27 and vs. 45 where the king of the North comes to his final end it is also in vs. 40 when the king of the North invades the king of the South (which is the last time the term ‘king of the South’ is mentioned as this leads to his end).

Daniel 11:35 states:

And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

Daniel 11:40 states:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

Since the king of the South is prophesied in vs. 27 to come to his end at the appointed time, and I believe the Bible is clear that this particular appointed time of coming to his end has not come yet (especially since the king of the North is also supposed to come to his end during that appointed time), the Bible thus demonstrates the need of a future king of the South.

So, the Bible is clear that there is a future fulfillment of Daniel 11:40.  The end simply was not in the 1930s as CEG implies that particular end must have been.  That is utter nonsense.

The literature produced under the old Radio Church of God and Worldwide Church of God clearly recognized this.

The Radio/Worldwide Church of God Taught About the King of the South

Now, it is easy to demonstrate that HWA’s WCG did teach that there would be a future King of the South and who WCG believed it would be.

Here is a quote from the July 1963 Plain Truth article by Garner Ted Armstrong titled “And when you see the Abomination…”:

Daniel was given specific visions of events to occur in OUR TIME!…Notice! And at the TIME OF THE END (this prophecy, then, is absolutely DATED as pertaining to OUR DAY, NOW) shall the king of the south push at him (the “king of the north”) and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (verse 40). Bible scholars have recognized the FIRST, TYPICAL fulfillment of this surprising prophecy, but have failed to see its LITERAL application to OUR TIMES!…

But what of tbe MODERN powers meant by these desig· nations? Remember-the Bible is written, SPIRITUALLY and GEOGRAPHICALLY, from the point of view of PALESTINE! If you were to look on a map, and try to find two powers fitting this description, you would have a fairly easy task…Who else could this be, then, except the coming UNITED STATES OF EUROPE, a resurrection of the ancient ROMAN EMPIRE, JUSt as we have been fearlessly proclaiming…A rearmed GERMANY, heading up a final union…IN EUROPE -THIS is the Biblical KING OF THE NORTH!

The king of the South? EGYPT, of course. But not Egypt of today. Egypt of a few more years from now–Egypt as she continues to expand the U.A.R., bringing more and more of the North Africa Mohammedan nations into the same Afro-Arabian power block! (p. 22).

Why groups like CEG, PCG, and RCG cannot accept that the COG long taught that there would be a King of the South and that it would be an Afro-Arabian Islamic power block (and not Ethiopia or Iran) suggests that they need to study relatively recent church history a bit closer.

Here is a quote from the August 1974 Good News article by Raymond McNair titled Watch the Middle East where he stated:

The longest prophecy of the Bible, the eleventh chapter of Daniel, specifically concerns the Middle East…verses 40-45 are yet to be fulfilled. They reveal that startling events are yet to take place in the Middle East… (p.12).

Thus, WCG was teaching, under HWA for at least the last 22 1/2 years of his life, that at least from verses 40 and on, that portions of Daniel 11 were yet to be fulfilled (also HWA specifically taught that Daniel 11:21 had final fulfillment back in 1967, see the article on the King of the North). Any who teach that HWA did not teach that there were future fulfillments of Daniel 11 simply have not understood the totality of his writings.

Garner Ted Armstrong in a May 3, 1975 Plain Truth article titled Watch the Middle East wrote

Prophecy says some sort of a ‘shoving match’ precipitated by the ‘King of the South’ will unleash whirlwind lightening-like MILITARY response by a ‘King of the North’.

In a December 1979 Plain Truth article by Keith Stump titled The Arab World in Prophecy it states

But who is the “king of the south”?…in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end”…The verse undoubtedly found partial fulfillment in the offensive of 1896…But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”…there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi……a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations…But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion.

(Note: There is actually a Shiite prophecy that some believe points to Barack Obama as one who will help the final “Mahdi” (Arabic for “the guided one”), please see Obama in Islamic Prophecy?,Prophecies of Barack Obama?, and The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy.)

In the Plain Truth of December 1980–the year that HWA often claimed he now had the Church back on track–another article states:

Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as the ‘king of the south’ (Daniel 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events (Stump, K. Plain Truth. December 1980, p.26).

A related Plain Truth article states:

Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as “the king of the south” (Dan. 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events. (Stump K. Seeing the World Through Islamic Eyes. Plain Truth, June 1983, p.44).

These quotes make it clear that WCG’s written position was that there would be a future King of the South–an Arabic-Islamic confederation.

As far as Ethiopia goes, this was changed in writing no later than 1972:

Verse 43 says the Libyans and Ethiopians (observe that after its conquest by Mussolini, Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the south) shall be at his steps” (Armstrong, HW. Middle East in Prophecy (1972 version).

The fact is that the idea that there would be a future Arab-Islamic King of the South was taught for decades.

LCG’s Roderick Meredith still teaches:

The final fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming King of the South are certainly yet to come. But, even now, it is obvious that many events now indicate that the stage is being set for the powerful Muslim leader indicated in Daniel 11:40–43. Our recent attack on Iraq, our constant backing of the state of Israel, and many other acts by the U.S. and Europe, have infuriated the Muslim world. The current situations in Israel and Iraq are causing the Arab world to unite in a manner unprecedented in recent times. This will certainly carry over into their backing for a truly powerful pan-Arab leader when God’s time comes.(Meredith RC.  Living Church News.  July-August 2004)

Groups that do not realize this need to re-read the Bible and better understand world events in the light of biblical prophecy.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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?

Jerusalem

COGwriter

Some, even from Jewish sources, are suggesting that the flotilla issue with Israel and Hamas is part of the fulfillment of certain prophecies in Ezekiel:

Rabbis: Flotilla Clash Similar to Gog and Magog Prophecy

Israel National News – June 3, 2010

The Rabbinical Council of Judea and Samaria issued a statement Thursday in which it said that the results of the incident in which Israel intercepted a flotilla trying to break the naval blockade of Gaza seem like the Biblical description of “the beginning of the Gog and Magog process where the world is against us, but which ends with the third and final redemption.”…

‘Gog and Magog’ is a reference is to chapters 38 and 39 in the book of Ezekiel, a part of which is read on the intermediate Sabbath of Sukkot (Tabernacles). These chapters describe a vision of a war where the world is united against Israel that will precede the final redemption of Israel and the world. The prophecy’s symbolism involves a prince called Gog of Magog, leader of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, who leads a coalition that includes Persia (Iran), Cush, Phut, Gomer, and Beit Togarmah against Israel. There are various opinions regarding the modern identity of these nations…

The dramatic flotilla incident and the international reactions to it have sparked intense emotion… http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137869

While there likely are prophetic ramifications to this flotilla issue, the connection to the Gog and Magog prophecies is not really one of them.

In the Bible, many link Rosh and Meshech with Russia and Moscow and then to Gog and Magog.

Three times the Old Testament uses the expression “the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38:2,3;39:1). Here is one of them that also mentions Gog and Magog:

Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal (Ezekiel 38:2).

The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

“Gog” in the land of “Magog” is the vast regions of the U.S.S.R. in northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific. “Meshech” is Moscow, “Tubal” is Tobol ‘sk (Armstrong HW. Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States, reprint 1980, p. 8).

So, the COG position has long tended to link Gog and Magog with Russia.

The same reprint booklet states:

Rosh is the ancient Hebrew name for the Russ (“blonds”) who settled in the plains of Eastern Europe in the ninth century A.D. They gave their name to the Russian nation. The people of Rosh are among the White Russians of Byelorussia today. Living next to the people of Rosh are Meshech and Tubal…Josephus calls them the Moschevi and Thobelites…Together, the Caucasian branches of Meshech and Tubal form the two distinct branches of the Great Russians of today (pp. 10,11).

It may be of interest to note that the official names of the Russian federation is Rossiyskaya Federatsiya and hence bears a similarity to the Hebrew word Rosh.

Hally’s Bible Handbook teaches:

Rosh is thought by some to mean Russia…Meshech is thought to mean Moscow; or Muscovy…Whatever may be the exact identification of these peoples, (Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Rosh) Ezekiel speaks of them as dwelling in ‘the uttermost parts of the north’ (38:6, 15; 39:2), and there can be little doubt that he means nations beyond the Caucasus (mountains). A glance at the map makes it plain that he has in mind that part of the world known as Russia (Halley H.H. Halley’s Bible Handbook, 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids (MI), 1962, p. 333).

Interestingly, notice the following news link from The Hal Lindsey Report website:

Gaza Aid Ship Intercepted

Posted Sat Jun 5, 2010

Israel has intercepted the latest aid ship attempting to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The above is in reference to a second ship that Israel just intercepted.  Now, while I did not watch The Hal Lindsey Report last night, in the past, Hal Lindsey has indicated that Russia and her allies (Magog and Gog) would soon invade Israel.  This is simply not the case.  While Hal Lindsey now correctly teaches that the Beast will be a European power, he still seems to suggest that the King of the North will be a Russian led confederation.,

The late SDA scholar Samuele Bacchiochi wrote the following in his article titled LINDSEY’S PROPHETIC JIGSAW PUZZLE:

Immediately after the profanation of the Temple by the Roman Antichrist, an Arab-African confederacy headed by Egypt (the King of the South of Daniel 11:40a) will launch an invasion of Israel.16  Russia and her allies (the King of the North of Daniel 11:40b and Ezekiel 38) will counterattack by sweeping over Arab countries as well as the State of Israel through an amphibious and land invasion of the Middle East.

Europe, not Russia, will be the final King of the North AND that this is not really related to Ezekiel 38.

Ewiak Ryszard also believes Russia is the King of the North.  Here is something that he wrote in an essay:

Daniel 11:44,45
Russia again will attack Israel.

Now, this is a biblical problem.

Why?

Because Daniel 11:44 teaches the following about the King of the North:

But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many (Daniel 11:44, NKJV).

Notice that the King of the North is troubled by news from the east and the north.  Thus, it would appear that Russia cannot be the King of the North as there are no nations that are north of Russia.  But as Russia is north of Europe, Europe geographically better fits Daniel 11:44.

Furthermore, as Israel is also not east nor north of Russia (it is south and slightly west), Ewiak Ryszard’s assertions about it and Daniel 11:44-45 are in error.

Here is another passage from Ewiak Ryszard’s essay:

Ezekiel wrote that after “Gog’s” last attack he will fall and then be buried by the people. (Ez.39:4,11)

But that does not square with scripture.  Notice that the Bible shows that the last time Gog attempts to attack is after the 1000 year millennium (which happens after there is no King of the North):

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them (Revelation 20:7-9).

In another place, Ewiak Ryszard’s essay correctly shows the millennium coming after the King of the North’s attacks and after Armageddon.

Also notice what happens in Ezekiel 39:

39:1 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; 2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. 4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord GOD. 6 And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD (Ezekiel 39:1-6).

Thus asserting that Ezekiel 38 and 39 refers to the King of the North is in error. The tie to Revelation 20, after the 1000 year millennium, makes much more sense.

In Ewiak Ryszard’s essay he also claims:

Ezekiel Chapter 38 and 39 = Daniel 11:45 …

But Daniel 11:45 states this about the King of the North:

And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Daniel 11:45).

The description in Daniel 11:45 is not the same as what is in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  In Ezekiel 38 and 39 Gog/Magog is helped by “many” (Ezekiel 38:6,15) “peoples” (Ezekiel 39:4), which is not the case of the King of the North in Daniel 11:45.

Despite what Jewish rabbis or Protestant scholars may teach, the flotilla problems are not really related to the prophecies in Ezekiel.  The flotillas and interceptions by Israel has inflamed Muslims (especially Turkey).  The interceptions may be be pointed to by the one who will become the final King of the South as part of the reason that Muslim unity is desirable.

Muslim outrages and Israel’s need for its own security will likely give the Europeans and others reasons to become involved in a peace deal with Israel (Daniel 9:26-27) and this deal will ultimately involve Israel becoming invaded.

But again, by a European, not Russian, led King of the North.

For information about Israel and the King of the North, as well as Gog and Magog, please check out the following articles:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel What will happen to the nation known as Israel?  Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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?
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? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they 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?

Pope Boniface VIII in the Vatican (May 2004)

COGwriter

The Catholic Saint Boniface (Latin: Bonifacius; c. 680 – June 5, 754), is known as the Apostle of the Germans.  He was born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth possibly at Crediton  in the kingdom of Wessex (now in Devon, England).   He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz.

His “feast day” is celebrated on June 5 in the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion but on December 19 in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

But on “his day”, I would like to focus on one of his namesakes, Pope Boniface VIII.  I first became familiar with this pontiff upon a trip to the Vatican in 2004.

Partially because of political problems in Europe with French King Philip, Pope Boniface VIII took a bizarre and highly overreaching step.  In 1302, he issued what is known as the bull Unam Sanctum that claimed:

We are obliged by the faith to believe and to hold—and we do firmly believe and sincerely confess—that there is one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and that outside this Church there is neither salvation nor remission of sins…

Therefore, if the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and his successors, they necessarily confess that they are not Christ’s sheep…

…in this Church and in her power are two swords…Both are in the power of the Church, the spiritual sword and the material. But the latter is to be used for the Church, the former by her; the former by the priest, the latter by kings and captains but at the will of the priest…

Furthermore, we declare, state, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary for salvation for every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff. (As cited in Bettenson H, ed., Documents of the Christian Church.  London: Oxford University Press, 1943, pp. 126-127).

Notice that his position was quite definite.  I mention that because I believe that many within the Vatican now have a different view and will compromise in many, many ways, to ultimately entice most of the Orthodox (called the Greeks above) and others into a revised ecumenical faith that will call itself “Catholic”.

As his pronouncement was made as a matter of “faith” was Pope Boniface VIII infallible when he published it?  If so, then this seems to disagree with positions take by some of the later popes, as well as the Bible (cf. Acts 4:10,12).

Notice what the Catholic writer E. Duffy wrote:

Boniface is a mysterious man, proud, ambitious fierce…It was Boniface who declared the first Jubilee or Holy Year in 1300, when tens of thousands of pilgrims converged on Rome to gain indulgences, adding enormously to the prestige of the papacy…(and in the process enriching the Roman basilicas, where the sacristans were said to have had to scoop in pilgrim offerings with rakes).  This promise of ‘full and copious pardon’ to all who visited Peter and the Lateran after confessing their sins was the most spectacular exercise of power of the keys since Urban II issued the first Crusade Indulgence…

Boniface…displayed some of the worst traits of clerical careerism, enriching his relatives at the expense of the Church, and waging a relentless was against family’s traditional rivals. (Duffy, Eamon. Saints & Sinners: A History of the Popes. Yale University Press, New Haven (CT), 2002, p. 160)

Other writers have also mentioned his less than saintly behavior.

A former Catholic priest wrote:

Few popes ever enriched their kin as much as Boniface did…A libertine, he once had a married woman and her daughter as his mistresses. (De Rosa P. Vicars of Christ: The Dark Side of the Papacy.  Poolberg Press, Dublin, 2000, p. 75)

A current Catholic priest and scholar wrote:

Boniface VIII…Other popes were more inept and more corrupt, but none made claims for the papacy that were further removed from the spirit of the Apostle Peter, not to mention the Lord himself.  (McBrien, Richard P. Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. Harper, San Francisco, 2005 updated ed., p. 232)

Boniface certainly sounds like one more driven by his own lusts that one who was a true apostolic successor, but he is claimed to be “Peter’s successor” for nearly a decade (1293-1303).  Interestingly, Boniface VIII also was confined to eternal torment by Dante in his Divine Comedy while he was still alive.

There were others of ill fame who also took the name Boniface, but my point today is that one of the so-called successors (who certainly did not follow him morally) of Peter made a pronouncement that sounded like it was supposed to be one on faith and morals and many within the Vatican are currently taking a different position (for example, the position that they took with the Anglicans violated a statement made by the late 19th century Pope–see More Anglican Leaders Considering Defecting to Rome).

Compromise has often occurred within the Vatican, and I am concerned that both biblical and even Catholic prophecy point to a time when more compromise will be made for the sake of “unity”.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
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.
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?