Church of God News

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COGwriter

There is more unrest in the Middle East:

Libya, Jordan And Yemen Hit By Renwed Unrest

Sky News – Mike Bradbury – ‎18 February 2011

Renewed civil unrest inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt is being reported in three other Middle Eastern countries – Libya, Yemen and Jordan.

Bahrain, Libya and Yemen try to crush protests with violence

The Guardian – ‎18 February 2011

Violence in Libya and Bahrain have claimed scores of lives and left many more injured as the two Arab countries were united by popular protests that continue to shake the status quo and sound alarm bells across the region and the world.

Bahrain: Tear Gas Fired In Protests

Sky News – Alex Crawford, Gary Mitchell – ‎18 February 2011

Security forces have reportedly fired tear gas against protesters in Bahrain’s capital as demonstrators step up calls for the country’s monarchy to be overthrown.

The fact that protests are continuing in formerly stable Bahrain indicates trouble can come elsewhere.

The idea of protests has spilled over into the USA as those in Wisconsin are continuing theirs and provoking others:

Wisconsin Labor Unrest Could Go National

Fox News – Chris Stirewalt – 18 February 2011

Union protesters and Democrat lawmakers will attempt to prevent for a second day a vote in the Wisconsin Senate that would increase public employees’ contributions to retirement and health benefits and strip unions of the power to bargain for higher salaries…President Obama…on Wednesday denounced the austerity legislation…

Members of the Service Employees International Union, the most influential union in national Democratic circles, have also joined the fray in support of the government workers. The SEIU is helping man an around-the-clock occupation of the central halls of the state capital.

Tea Party groups, meanwhile, have planned a counter demonstration for Saturday at the capitol in support of the measure, raising the prospect of a clash between the activist groups.

Thousands of union activists have tried to shut down the process at the statehouse, which swung to the GOP in the 2010 elections. The efforts to block access to the state Senate and disrupt debates have been described as “mostly peaceful,” though union groups have expanded their protests to the homes of individual lawmakers.

People are already protesting in the USA.  Wait until there are severe food shortages and other crises.  Protests will ultimately cause civil unrest and likely riots in the future.

As I have been writing during the Middle East crisis, there will also be more riots in Europe and in the USA.  Now some protests in the USA have begun and may go national.

Watch.

Some 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?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
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.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It 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 at the COGwriter website 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”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? 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? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

COGwriter

February is Black History Month, and I thought that this would be a good time to explain that there were true and false Christian leaders in North Africa in the third century (irrespective of race).

In the third century, once there were some few real Christians in northern Africa, Origen (who apparently was not black) noted that there were two groups that he considered to be “Ebionites”, one who believed in the virgin birth (and that would be those who this paper suggests were also known as the Nazarenes) and those who did not:

Let it be admitted, moreover, that there are some who accept Jesus, and who boast on that account of being Christians, and yet would regulate their lives, like the Jewish multitude, in accordance with the Jewish law,—and these are the twofold sect of Ebionites, who either acknowledge with us that Jesus was born of a virgin, or deny this, and maintain that He was begotten like other human beings…(Origen.  Contra Celsus, Book V, Chapter 61).

The true Christians in Africa were not those associated with Origen (please see what happened in Alexandria), nor those that denied the virgin birth. The true Christians were those professed Jesus and had practices similar to those of the Jews.

Origen of Alexandria, however, was not a true Christian. Origen even appeared to recognize several non-canonically writings as scripture and had been influenced by some Gnostic teachings. Sadly, Origen referred to The Epistle of Barnabas like he does actual parts of the Bible (Origen. Contra Celsus, Book I, Chapter 63), seems to also do so with the falsely titled Gospel of Peter (Origen.  Commentary on Matthew, Book X, Verse 17.  ANF), and even calls what I consider to be the “demonically-influenced” Shepherd of Hermas as “divinely inspired” (Cited in Metzger, Bruce M. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance).

In the third century at least one African leader stood up to allegorists like Origen. The Catholic Encyclopedia reported:

An Egyptian bishop, Nepos, taught the Chiliastic error that there would be a reign of Christ upon earth for a thousand years, a period of corporal delights; he founded this doctrine upon the Apocalypse in a book entitled “Refutation of the Allegorizers” (Chapman, John. “Dionysius of Alexandria.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 14 Aug. 2008 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05011a.htm>.).

A nineteenth century anti-millennial scholar named Giovanni Battista Pagani went as far as to write the following about Nepos and those who supported the millennium:

…all those  who teach a millennium framed according to Jewish ideas, saying that during the millennium, Mosaic law will be restored…These are called Judaical Millenarians, not as being Jews, but as having invented and upheld a millennium according to Jewish taste.  The principal authors of this error were Nepos, an African Bishop, against whom St. Dionysius wrote his two books on Promises; and Apollinaris, whom St. Epiphanius confound in his work against heresies (Pagani, Giovanni Battista. Published by Charles Dolman, 1855. Original from Oxford University. Digitized Aug 15, 2006, pp. 252-253).

It should be of interest to note that neither Nepos nor Apollinaris were Jews (Nepos may have been black), but were condemned for having a religion that had “Jewish” beliefs.  And since Apollinaris is a Catholic saint (see article Apollinaris of Hierapolis), it should be clear that the respected and non-Jewish Christian leaders in the early third century clearly did hold to ideas that were condemned by the allegorists.

The following from Dionysius clearly shows that Nepos was still respected after he died (Nepos died prior to Dionysius’ mid-third century writing of the following) and really did not refute him from a biblical perspective:

But as they produce a certain composition by Nepos, on which they insist very strongly, as if it demonstrated incontestably that there will be a (temporal) reign of Christ upon the earth, I have to say, that in many other respects I accept the opinion of Nepos, and love him at once for his faith, and his laboriousness, and his patient study in the Scriptures, as also for his great efforts in psalmody, by which even now many of the brethren are delighted. I hold the man, too, in deep respect still more, inasmuch as he has gone to his rest before us. Nevertheless the truth is to be prized and reverenced above all things else. And while it is indeed proper to praise and approve ungrudgingly anything that is said aright, it is no less proper to examine and correct anything which may appear to have been written unsoundly. If he had been present then himself, and had been stating his opinions orally, it would have been sufficient to discuss the question together without the use of writing, and to endeavour to convince the opponents, and carry them along by interrogation and reply. But the work is published, and is, as it seems to some, of a very persuasive character; and there are unquestionably some teachers, who hold that the law and the prophets are of no importance, and who decline to follow the Gospels, and who depreciate the epistles of the apostles, and who have also made large promises  regarding the doctrine of this composition, as though it were some great and hidden mystery, and who, at the same time, do not allow that our simpler brethren have any sublime and elevated conceptions either of our Lord’s appearing in His glory and His true divinity, or of our own resurrection from the dead, and of our being gathered together to Him, and assimilated to Him, but, on the contrary, endeavour to lead them to hope  for things which are trivial and corruptible, and only such as what we find at present in the kingdom of God. And since this is the case, it becomes necessary for us to discuss this subject with our brother Nepos just as if he were present (Dionysius of Alexandria. From the Two Books on the Promises. Copyright © 2008 by Kevin Knight. Viewed 8/14/08).

In other words, Nepos knew his Bible, but did not hold to the same position that allegorists like Dionysius of Alexandria held.  But those who held to Judaeo-Christian beliefs, while slightly chastised, simply were almost never condemned by the early allegorists. Mainly, because the early allegorists knew that the original Christians held to beliefs and practices that the allegorists considered to be Jewish–and at this stage, the allegorists simply did not have the ability to condemn the literalists because most who professed Christ at the time knew that the literalists had ties to the original apostolic church. (More information on faithful Christians in northern African locations can be found in the article Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices.)

There were faithful early Christians in Northern Africa, of various races, in the third century who believed in the millennium and did not compromise with the allegorists.  There are also Christians like that today.

Articles of possibly related interest may include:

Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
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?
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
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?

Depiction of solar particles interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere

COGwriter

A massive solar flare, that was released Monday is supposed to hit the earth tonight:

Massive solar flare hits Earth tonight

Posted on Thu, 02/17/2011 – 04:34 by Emma Woollacott

The biggest solar flare in four years has blasted out from the sun, and is expected to reach Earth late tonight.

The flare, or coronal mass ejection (CME), was emitted on Monday at 8:56pm EST. It’s been categorized as a Class X2.2 flare, the most severe type. It follows one Class M – medium-sized – flare the day before, and several low-grade Class C flares over the preceding week.

The coronal mass ejection associated with the flare is currently traveling about 900 Km/second and is expected to reach Earth’s orbit tonight at about 10pm EST. It’s the biggest flare yet in the current solar cycle.  http://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/54167-massive-solar-flare-hits-earth-tonight

Solar problems will most definitely affect the earth.

China has already been affected by this latest one:

Huge solar flare said to jam China communications

AFP – Feb 16, 2011

The strongest solar flare in four years disrupted radio communications in southern China, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The solar flare, a huge explosion on the sun’s surface caused by magnetic activity, affected transmissions in southern China on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the CMA…

A magnetic storm caused by a solar eruption in 1973 plunged six million people into darkness in Canada’s eastern-central Quebec province.  http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.388227f38b6410738cac53ad93706e50.b1&show_article=1

Related to solar flares, my 2009 book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect mentions:

A N.A.S.A./N.O.A.A. report indicated that the next solar cycle peak may be later, like May 2013 (New Solar Cycle Prediction. Red Orbit, May 29, 2009 www.redorbit.com/news/space/1697053/new_solar_cycle-predictor/).

While biblical sources indicate that the world cannot actually be destroyed that early, it is certainly possible that major electrical outages can occur from solar activity. This could cause various blackouts and could greatly damage civilization as we know it.

And this is consistent with the views of some other scientists. “Russian geophysicists believe that the Solar System has entered an interstellar energy cloud…Their predictions for catastrophe resulting from the Earth’s encounter with this energy cloud range from 2010 to 2020.”

There also seems to be a couple of Mayan predictions recorded in the 16^th century that suggest some type of solar flare-up will affect the earth:

Chilam Balam (Mayan priest): Heaven and earth shall burn…It is the holy judgment, the holy judgment.

Napuctun (Mayan priest): It shall burn on earth; there shall be a circle in the sky.

The Bible itself warns of a time of scorching solar heat (Revelation 16: 8-9…)

Here is what Revelation 16 teaches:

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. (Revelation 16:8-9)

It may be that God is warning people about that now with various changes in sunspot patterns and this current flare up.  But most ignore warning signs.  Will you?

Some articles that might be of assistance in understanding end-time events may include:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something?There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradaumus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
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 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 14 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel em Português. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 14 já começaram a acontecer.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi
يوسف عبد الله القرضاوي

COGwriter

The 84 year-old “voice of the Muslim Brotherhood” has been in the news:

The Real Face of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Delusions of Its Supporters

February 16, 2011  by Ron Radosh

Much has been written about the Muslim Brotherhood in the past few weeks, and for good reason. Since no one disputes that at present they are the most organized and ready-to-go political force in Egypt, there exists sound worry that they are well placed to assume power — if not immediately, then in the near future…

But for those who prefer to assess the situation by dealing with reality, no better source exists than an article in Germany’s Der Spiegel, whose editors had the good sense to seek out the voice of the Brotherhood in Egypt and to carry out an interview with him. He is Youssef al-Qaradawi, the Muslim televangelist whose program Sharia and Life has been the no.1 hit on Al Jazeera for the past fifteen years. We are talking about a man who knew the Koran by heart by the time he was ten years old. It is not surprising that his weekly audience numbers 60 million Muslims each week! The reporter, Alexander Smoltczyk, refers to al-Qaradawi as “the father figure of Egypt’s Muslim Broterhood,” a man who “hates Israel and would love to take up arms himself.”

The Voice of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood

Spiegel – Feb 15, 2011   excerpt…

Few have as much influence on Sunni Muslims as the Muslim televangelist Youssef al-Qaradawi. He says what the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt thinks — and he provides clues to how they might act.

Qaradawi advocates establishing a “United Muslim Nations” as a contemporary form of the caliphate and the only alternative to the hegemony of the West. He hates Israel and would love to take up arms himself. In one of his sermons, he asked God “to kill the Jewish Zionists, every last one of them.” http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,745526,00.html

Here is something from a website promoting a book about him:

A widely respected legal scholar, Islamist activist, and renowned host of al-Jazeera’s most popular religious program, Sharia and Life, Yusuf al-Qaradawi is an extremely controversial figure in contemporary Islamism…

Beginning in the mid-1970s, Qaradawi became one of a handful of Islamist ulama (Muslim scholars) who were accepted as authorities on doctrinal and political matters, both by Islamists and within the wider Islamic resurgence…

Since the 1990s, Qaradawi has cleverly exploited new media to reach a global audience. He was one of the first Sunni scholars to launch his own Web site and is heavily involved with Islam Online. Having just celebrated the ten year anniversary of Sharia and Life, Qaradawi is unquestionably the most important Sunni religious figure in the world today, and these essays initiate readers into his immensely influential speeches and thought.

So, “the most important Sunni religious figure in the world today” wants a United Muslim Nations and with all the unrest in the Middle East, while that will not happen yet, something like that will happen later.

It would seem that somewhat secular interim governments will be put in place, yet  not deliver what Egyptian and other Middle Eastern protesters want.  It may be then the people will be more willing to accept a less secular, more religious leader, such as one supported by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the likes of Yusuf al-Qaradawi.  And while a religious leader is not biblically required to be the final King of the South, traditionally it takes religion to cross national borders. Hence this is one more reason I suspect that an Islamic-emphasizing leader is highly likely to be the King of the South.

Yet, while it may also take a war in the Middle East for this leader to rise up, civil unrest, riots, demonstrations, and protests may also be involved (as well as actions by Iran and/or Israel). Things are changing in the Arab world. And events are lining up for the King of the South/Imam Mahdi to arise.  The voice of the Muslim Brotherhood is getting his voice heard by more outside of his normal audience.  And that includes those in the Middle East, where he is more likely to influence actions.

Three 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?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?

Jerusalem

COGwriter

The European Union is trying to push for a “peace plan” that will establish a Palestinian State:

EU’s Ashton targets Palestinian state by September

By Steve Weizman (AFP) – 15 February 2011

JERUSALEM — EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday said the international community still sought to achieve a peace deal and a Palestinian state by September, despite the region’s political turmoil.

Despite the impasse in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the resignation of the Palestinian cabinet as well as Saab Erakat, their chief negotiator, Ashton said the goal was still achievable.

“It’s a timeframe that everybody has signed up to,” she told reporters in Jerusalem ahead of talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

“I think that we have to try and reach that target,” she said, while admitting it would be “challenging.”  (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i2SXFoczv0eZ3e57W1SuNfoGOtvg?docId=CNG.45ed54b37a8da7196eec4d99230b920e.51)

The idea of a peace plan in the Middle East is consistent with end time Bible prophecy.

In the book of Daniel there is a prophecy related to the end times that states:

26 And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
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 9:26-27).

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

This is a deal involving Europeans–but notice that the deal is broken.  There are several reasons that this “prince” is referring to the leader of the developing European empire (see King of the North and Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation)–the prince seems also to be the him of Daniel 11:31.  Understand that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. And it is the “prince” coming from that people that verse 27 is referring to.  Hence, this prophecy tells us that a European leader will start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the great tribulation.

A Peace Deal is Expected

The idea of this being a seven-year end-time deal was even understood by the Catholic theologian Hippolytus (died 235) in the third century:

…the iron and the clay shall be mingled together. Now Daniel will set forth this subject to us. For he says, “And one week will make a covenant with many, and it shall be that in the midst (half) of the week my sacrifice and oblation shall cease.” By one week, therefore, he meant the last week which is to be at the end of the whole world of which week the two prophets… will take up the half. For they will preach 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth, proclaiming repentance to the people and to all the nations…(Hippolytus. On Christ and Antichrist, Chapter 43. Online edition Copyright © 2008 by Kevin Knight).

While the leader in Daniel 9:27 is only referred to as a prince when he confirms the one week covenant, he probably will not be known as the “King” until shortly before he breaks the covenant at the mid-week point (most likely he will be considered simply one of several leaders negotiating and/or approving a treaty when this deal in Daniel 9:27 is initially made). The two witnesses (who are prophets) rise up around the mid-point of the week. The iron and clay mingled together refers to a power (like Europe) that is not totally cohesive.

(It may be of interest to note that within Islam, there does exist the idea that an Islamic leader, Imam Mahdi, will be part of a seven-year golden age and will make a peace deal with the Europeans, that the Europeans will break–for details, please see The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy).

Although he has several events out of sequence, even the famed Protestant theologian John Walvoord understood the importance of the deal in Daniel 9:27:

The seven-year peace treaty with Israel; consumated seven years before the second coming of Christ (Dan. 9:27; Revelation 19:11-16). (Walvoord J. The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook. Victor Books, 1990, p. 551)

Why is this believed to be a peace deal?

There are several reasons, but notice some other scriptures that discuss this leader:

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)

So this leader gives people the impression that there will be “peace” and is involved in some type of deal. Term is translated as “peace” in Daniel 8:25 is from the Hebrew term shalvah and essentially means security. In other words, this leader will destroy “many” who are under the impression that they are secure because of some type of security arrangement. Such arrangements are now commonly referred to as peace deals.

Jesus seems to tie to the events of Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 9:27 in one of His prophecies:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  (Matthew 24:15-22)

Consider that Daniel was inspired to write that a seven year deal was made, that in the middle of the deal it would be broken, and that this break happens when the abomination is set up.  The elements of something happening in the middle of the seven year deal (which is 3 1/2 years after the deal), combined with Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24, suggest it is then that the suddenness is a factor. And when you consider that the King of the North destroys after a “league” (probable peace deal) is made, this supports the idea that there would be a gap between the peace deal of Daniel 9:27/11:23 and the destruction that comes later (Daniel 11:31-39; Matthew 24:15-22).

Thus, if we look at all the scriptures, we see that there will be a peace deal that will precede the establishment of the abomination of desolation being set up and that once that abomination is set up there will be a new urgency as that is when the Great Tribulation will be ready to commence.  As I have written in both my 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect book as well as my article about the King of the North, the King of the North will pretend to be promoting peace even though he will be a military leader according to Bible prophecy (Daniel 11:24; 29-43; Revelation 13:3-4).

The prophesied peace is to proceed sudden destruction. And when the faithful proclaim this is what is happening, many will not like to hear that (see Who is the King of the North?).

The events in Europe and in the Middle East are moving in the direction to fulfill many biblical prophecies.  And if a seven-year peace deal is made (or a deal with some portion that is agreed to seven-years before it is supposed to end) this September, a major countdown until the Great Tribulation may begin.

For more information, please check out the following:

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?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? 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? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?

COGwriter

The Abigail Cartwright (AC) site listed one more loss to UCG’s eldership:

Mr. Reuel Dima (Pastor, Yeji, Ghana), February 15, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Eschun Plange (Pastor, Oda, Ghana), February 15, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Ofori Amanfo (Pastor, Kumasi, Ghana), February 15, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Benjamin Agyopong (Pastor, Abrem-Agona, Ghana), February 15, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Adonijah Blay (Pastor, Elmina, Ghana), February 15, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

Mr. Joseph Baah (Pastor, Takoradi, Ghana), February 15, 2011, resigned from UCG ministry

According to the list at the AC site today, UCG has lost 173 elders/pastors/ministers since June 0f 2010.  The loss of so many paid and full-time elders suggests a great level of dissatisfaction amongst the UCG ministry. There may be others that it lost that are still not on the AC list.  Ghana is not yet listed as a site for congregations with COGWA–but that is understandable as the resignations were effective yesterday (and, of course, not all that leave UCG end up with COGWA, but I suspect that Ghana probably will).  The loss of Ghana from UCG is a blow to UCG as its current chairman, Melvin Rhodes, has long had ties to it.

If you are or were part of UCG and are confused about what to do, please pray, fast, and study the Bible about this.  All should be “zealous” as Jesus said in Revelation 3:19 and not be satisfied with something less than a Philadelphia type of work and form of church governance.

Ask yourself what are the true priorities that the Bible indicates that the church most faithful to the words of Jesus would do and act appropriately.

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?
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?
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.
Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association Known as COGWA, this seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it.
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.

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

COGwriter

The Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God sent out the following this afternoon:

February 15, 2011

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,

Warm greetings from Charlotte, NC! My friends, truly exciting prophetic events are cascading across North Africa and the Middle East! All the way from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere, enormous political upheavals have been occurring—sometimes completely overthrowing top government leaders! Nothing like this has happened in that part of the world for decades…

Right now, in the prophesied “last days,” God has specifically predicted that an entire group of Arab states will get together in a confederation with plans to overthrow and even destroy modern “Israel”—just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! Back in Psalm 83, God’s Word prophetically describes the preparatory events to this terrible calamity. He describes how those nations consult together and say, “‘Come, and let us cast them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’ For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre” (Psalm 83:4-7). Note that this confederacy will be composed of the descendants of Edom and of the Ishmaelites, among others. Many Bible scholars recognize that the descendants of “Ishmael” (Genesis 16:10-12) are a warlike people and that the modern people of Moab and Ammon are now found primarily in Jordan (with “Amman” as the capital) and among the peoples of Lebanon and the Palestinians. The primarily “Ishmaelite” peoples are scattered throughout Egypt, the Gulf States and other North African nations.

These are the very people now involved in the furious riots and overthrows of government throughout that region—freeing up the situation for them to get together and form the prophesied “King of the South.” For your Bible clearly predicts that at the “time of the end” (Daniel 11:40-45) a powerful Arab Confederation will become strong enough and arrogant enough to attack or “provoke” the soon-coming Beast Power in Europe! Although they will probably “give it a good try,” the technological superiority of the Beast Power will simply overwhelm this Arab Confederation.

Again, God’s inspired Word clearly indicates that those nations which will be involved are the modern Egyptians, Libyans and Ethiopians along with other allies in that region. Although modern “Israel”—the “glorious land”—will be overthrown, the peoples of modern Jordan shall “escape” from the conquering Beast Power (v. 41). Is this because the sanctuary of “Petra” is controlled by modern Jordan and may become a “Place of Safety” for God’s true Church (Revelation 12:12-17)? Time will tell…

With Christian love,

Roderick C. Meredith

Some time ago, he also wrote:

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…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.

And the current riots and protests also seem to be pointing in that direction. There will also be more riots in Europe and even some in the USA, but the ones in the Middle East are the ones that will apparently set the stage for the rising up of the final King of the South.

Some 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?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
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.
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.

Muslim Brotherhood
الإخوان المسلمون
Al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimūn

COGwriter

The situation in Egypt continues to be of prophetic interest:

Muslim Brotherhood to form political party; Egypt’s generals reach out to protest leaders

By Craig Whitlock and Samuel Sockol

Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, February 15, 2011; 9:14 AM CAIRO – The once-banned Muslim Brotherhood said Tuesday that it would form a political party and also assist in rewriting Egypt’s constitution, positioning itself to play a key role in the country’s political future.

The Brotherhood, an archenemy of former President Hosni Mubarak, said it would move quickly to organize a political wing — something it was prohibited from doing under the old regime.

“The Muslim Brotherhood group believes in the freedom of the formation of political parties,” a leader of the movement, Mohammed al-Mursi, said in a statement.

Egypt’s military rulers, who like Mubarak have traditionally seen the fundamentalist Brotherhood as a threat to the country’s secular establishment, indicated that they are coming to terms with the idea of the movement becoming active in politics.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/14/AR2011021404872.html

As far as what the Muslim Brotherhood wants to accomplish, Wikipedia reports:

In the group’s belief, the Quran and Sunnah constitute a perfect way of life and social and political organization that God has set out for man. Islamic governments must be based on this system and eventually unified in a Caliphate. The Muslim Brotherhood’s goal, as stated by Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna was to reclaim Islam’s manifest destiny, an empire, stretching from Spain to Indonesia.

To bring enough Arab nations together, I have felt that some type of “strongman” needed to rise up. One who Arabs would tend to respect. The time may be now and the Muslim Brotherhood may play an important role.  They (who tend to be Sunni) want a Caliph while the Shi’ites look for the Imam Mahdi–both of whom sound a lot like final the King of the South.

We in the Living Church of God (LCG) have long expected such a leader.  Here is one recent and two older writings that demonstrate this:

Commentary: The Arab world in crisis: Setting the stage for the king of the South?

By Wyatt Ciesielka | Saturday, February 05, 2011

The Arab world is undergoing a swift and increasingly violent transformation. How do these tumultuous events align with Bible prophecy? What is ahead for the Middle East? Is the stage being set for the emergence of the end-time king of the South?

Daniel 11:40-43 reveals that immediately before Christ’s return, a European-based “king of the North” and an Arab-based “king of the South” will engage in a brief, but brutal, war. The northern armies will temporarily overrun the southern empire, only to be forced to abruptly evacuate to confront mighty armies from “the east” and “the north” (v. 44).

Naturally, in order for these prophecies to be fulfilled, a confederation of Arab states, primarily “south” of Jerusalem, and led by a powerful leader, is required. The timing is entirely up to God, but events in the Middle East today are rapidly setting the stage for the fulfillment of these prophecies. It is not just “radical Islam” or “anti-Semitism” or “rising food prices” that have sparked this massive wave of change. There are deeper and more profound causes.

In Egypt, an admittedly imperfect government with the most powerful regional military, which has long cooperated with the United States and has long supported peace with Israel, appears on the verge of collapse. And the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood and other “extremist” elements are more openly and more aggressively asserting their vision (The Washington Post, February 3, 2011). In Jordan – the only other Arab nation to officially accept peace with Israel; King Abdullah II – is under similar pressure. King Abdullah recently dismissed his entire government, and faces mounting pressure from the Islamic Action Front, which is the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood (Bloomberg, February 3, 2011).

Unrest and demonstrations have also “suddenly” erupted in Yemen, Tunisia, Lebanon, Algeria and Sudan. There are rumors that even Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter and the Arab world’s largest economy, is concerned about social unrest (Financial Times, February 3, 2011)…

The fact is that food prices, the Muslim Brotherhood or any number of other political or religious factors are only contributing reasons for the current Arab-world turmoil. The underlying reason is that the Almighty Creator God is allowing geopolitics to align according to His will, and according to His time! Scripture is clear that God supremely reigns over all nations and all empires (2 Chronicles 20:6, Daniel 4:25), and He sometimes allows demonic principalities to influence people, nations, and rulers (Daniel 10:20, Ephesians 6:12).

Is the current Arab crisis setting the stage for a future king of the South? While the timing is entirely up to God, the simple answer is that yes, Arab geopolitics are moving ahead exactly as Bible prophecy has long foretold! Read more

Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs

Indeed, a coming “Mahdi” whose arrival Muslims are expecting—in Bible prophecy known as the “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40–45)—will soon arise and have a dramatic impact on world events. This powerful Muslim religious leader will unite many of the more than one billion Muslims. He will pose a genuine threat to the coming European Empire, which will have to crush that threat in order to continue exploiting Middle Eastern oil to further its military ambitions. (Meredith RC. Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs. LCG Booklet, 2007, pp. 16-17)

Conflict Over the “City of Peace”

Today this pattern is repeating itself, as a “third wave” of leaders is sweeping across the Middle East. Rejecting both the capitalism of the West and the discredited Marxism of the former Soviet Union, these would-be “third wave” leaders have emphasized a fundamentalist brand of Islam that leaves no room for compromise. Looking back to the glory days of Arab conquest and dominance in the first centuries after Muhammad, they also dream of a pan-Arab union. This will not be a union under a monarch from one of the old Bedouin dynasties, or a secular-educated army officer turned dictator, but rather a new Caliph who will unify the Faithful under the banner of purified Islam. This, they reason, is the only way that Western influence can be expelled from their region, and that Israel can be subjugated…

The yearnings across much of the Middle East for a new Saladin—one who will restore Arab glory by conquering the Jews and expelling Western influence—were foreseen by Bible prophecy. In Daniel 11:40, we read of a future “King of the South” who will ultimately “push at” a coming European superpower at the time of the end. This individual, called in Bible prophecy the King of the South because his center of power is south of Jerusalem, will undoubtedly be a charismatic person who will whip up much of the Muslim Middle East into a frenzy against Israel and Europe. (Ogwyn J. Conflict Over the “City of Peace”. Tomorrow’s World magazine, March-April 2002).

The timing seems to be right for such a leader to start rising up. The events in primarily Sunni Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan, and Yemen seem to be setting the stage of the Arabic peoples to be willing to consider some type of confederation with a strong leader to represent them.–but there may be interim governments first.

Protests have continued for a second day in Bahrain as well as Iran, countries with Shi’ite majorities (though the ruler of Bahrain is Sunni himself).

If protests continue to expand in the Middle East, this could trigger other events which will possibly contribute to both the King of the South and the King of the North rising up and/or gaining power.

Some 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? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic 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 about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist?Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
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”?
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? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?

COGwriter

The Abigail Cartwright (AC) site listed one more loss to UCG’s eldership:

Mr. Floyd Satterwhite (Local Elder, Williamsburg, Virginia)… resigned from UCG ministry

The above elder resigned several weeks ago, but is now on that list.  According to the list at the AC site today, UCG has lost 167 elders/pastors/ministers since June 0f 2010. But this only represents about 1/3 of UCG’s pre-crisis eldership. Yet, UCG has admitted to losing 53% of its salaried USA ministry from this crisis, so organizationally it has been hit pretty hard. The loss of so many paid and full-time elders suggests a great level of dissatisfaction amongst the UCG ministry.  There may be others that it lost that are still not on the AC list.

Speaking of not being on a list, I reported a couple of days ago that “Heamasi K. Ta’ufo’ou was not listed as part of COGWA on its congregations page, but that could change as COGWA seems a little slow about updating some of its web pages.”  Well, perhaps someone over there paid attention, because COGWA has updated its congregations page and added its congregation in Tonga, as well as many others.

According to the list at the COGWA site viewed today, COGWA has 105 USA congregations and 107 international ones, for a total of 212.  COGWA now seems to be the fourth largest COG in terms of apparent attendees (UCG is still probably first, LCG second, PCG probably third, and David Hulme’s COGaIC possibly fifth).  Once COGWA again reports its number of attendees, this may show if it is fourth in size, or possibly even the third largest COG.  Since all the names of the ministers listed next to the COGWA congregations that I recognize were once part of UCG, this suggests that UCG has really been hit hard.

As regular readers should be aware, I do not believe that it is necessarily particularly beneficial to go from UCG to COGWA (consider Jesus’ words, “be zealous and repent” in Revelation 3:19; the type of change from UCG to COGWA does not seem consistent with being zealous or repenting to me). In my view, the crisis in UCG could have been resolved differently. Both sides seem to be clinging to the mistakes that some on the other side made to justify to themselves what they have done and/or are doing. And though I am convinced that there were some mistakes made by those still in UCG and some of those who left UCG, if UCG was truly “united” in a spirit of cooperative humility the issues could have been resolved. But now, with egos, lack of forgiveness, a compromised attitude towards proper church governance, personal vanity, and bruised feelings, the crisis keeps affecting UCG and those once part of it.

As I mentioned before, it seems that forgiveness and warnings seem to have been overlooked.

LCG’s Dr. Winnail happened to have had the following in the latest Living Church of God World Ahead Weekly Update:

The Power of Forgiveness: One of the important keys for working together with other people is the willingness and the ability to forgive someone for real or perceived words or actions. And, that is exactly what Christians must learn to do. The Scriptures state that as individuals, we have all sinned, but that we can be forgiven because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for our sins (Romans 3:23-26; John 3:16). However, Jesus taught that we must also be ready and willing to forgive others who offend us—or God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:12-15). Forgiving others involves not holding grudges or harboring bitterness against others, not seeking to get even, and not gossiping or saying negative or derogatory things about others who have made mistakes or hurt us in some way. This is not always easy, especially when memories, emotions and personal pride are involved, but that is what we are admonished to do if we want to be real Christians—we must learn to forgive. Forgiveness is a powerful tool that makes working together with other human beings possible—and enjoyable!

Forgiveness seems to have been overlooked by many.

Furthermore, I believe that the UCG crisis is a wake up call, a “knocking on the door” (cf. Revelation 3:20) if you will, for those in or formerly in UCG. Yet, it seems that most who are or were part of UCG have not truly understood this as a warning as they have tended to be satisfied with a work that was not hot (Revelation 3:14-17). This crisis affecting UCG/COGWA could be part of the final warning to those who have rejected Philadelphia-era governance and gospel proclamation priorities to get them to consider their state (Revelation 3:17-19).

Also notice something that Isaiah was inspired to write:

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet,
And note it on a scroll,
That it may be for time to come,
Forever and ever:
9 That this is a rebellious people,
Lying children,
Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;
10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,”
And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things;
Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. (Isaiah 30:8-10)

Many people prefer to hear “smooth things”, but I believe that pointing out these matters shows love as Jesus seemed to have pretty strong messages in the end for the people of God (cf. Revelation 3, the entire chapter).

If you are or were part of UCG and are confused about what to do, please pray, fast, and study the Bible about this. Note: I am not trying to say, by quoting Isaiah, that I believe that all of those in or once in UCG are intentionally lawbreakers or “Lying children”, but basically that all should be “zealous” as Jesus said in Revelation 3:19 and not be satisfied with something less than a Philadelphia type of work and form of church governance.

Ask yourself what are the true priorities that the Bible indicates that the church most faithful to the words of Jesus would do and act appropriately.

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?
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?
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.
Concerns about Church of God, a Worldwide Association Known as COGWA, this seems to be the largest group that came out of the United Church of God. Here is some history and concerns about it.
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.

COGwriter

US President Obama and others are concerned about the rising US debt:

Debt now equals total U.S. economy

President Obama projects that the gross federal debt will top $15 trillion this year, officially equalling the size of the entire U.S. economy, and will jump to nearly $21 trillion in five years’ time.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/14/debt-now-equals-total-us-economy/

“It’s a slow train wreck coming and we all know it’s going to happen,” said Bret Barker, an interest-rate analyst at Los Angeles-based TCW Group Inc., which manages about $115 billion in assets. “It’s just a question of whether we want to deal with it. There are huge structural changes that have to go on with this economy.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-14/geithner-quietly-tells-obama-debt-to-gnp-cost-poised-to-increase-to-record.html

France wants new global finance system

France will help the transition to a global financial system based on ‘several international currencies’, the French Economy Minister said today…

France has previously said it wanted to see the global financial system reduce its reliance on the dollar for a more broad-based arrangement.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0214/g20-business.html

In order for the debt to continue to rise, people (and especially non-USA ones) will have to continue to be willing to lend to the USA.  But other nations are raising concerns.

Increasing debt is not a good thing.

Notice these warnings from the Bible:

43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed…47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young. 51 And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you. 52 They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you (Deuteronomy 28:42-45,47-52).

12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. (Ezekiel 5:12)

Although US President and son of an alien Barack Obama claims Christianity, he (and many other USA politicians) does not seem to understand that increasing debt is a biblical curse.

Let’s briefly look at another warning in Isaiah 30:12-13:

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:

“Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.

Of course, more and more, the Anglo-American nations are trusting in policies that encourage perversity. Prostitution is legal in New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the USA. New Zealand, interestingly, has the highest promiscuity rate for women in the entire world according to one study (New Zealand women most promiscuous Sydney Morning Herald AAP – Oct 13, 2007. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/13/1191696214489.html). The Anglo-nations have seen rises in homosexuality and are often changing laws to accommodate this biblically prohibited practice.

While there is oppression in these nations (especially racial), the Hebrew word for it can also be translated “unjust gain”. This can include not just the historical exploitation of of various peoples, but can probably also include the fact that the economies of the Anglo-American nations for the past few decades has been benefiting from the gains of foreigners loaning money to it.

Since the Roe vs. Wade pro-abortion decision, the USA has became the greatest debtor nation in the history of humankind. Since the USA owes alien nations trillions of dollars, it appears that the curse in Deuteronomy 28:44 of having to borrow from aliens is happening to it now. President Barack Obama has regularly put forth economic policies that have increased that debt. Sadly, one of the first actual changes that Barack Obama implemented was reversing one or more executive orders that will likely lead to more abortions (see Obama’s Abortion Changes). Yet, abortion is wrong (see Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose) and a terrible national sin. And on March 9, 2009 President Obama lifted a ban on embryonic stem cell research (see LCG on Stem Cells) another morally wrong sin. He also has engaged in policies that encourage public expression on homosexuality.

Sudden destruction will come to the USA and its Anglo-allies.

Habakkuk 2:3,6,7, which is consistent with Isaiah 30:12-13, also teaches that the destruction will be sudden. And it mentions that this destruction will happen to those that increased their debt at the end times:

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…5 Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man… 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you (Habakkuk 2:3,5,6-8).

The above prophecy will be fulfilled at the time of the end (cf. “The message was true, but the appointed time was long…in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come”, Daniel 10:1,14). Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 use same the Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently. Also, it makes little sense that Habakkuk would be directed towards the modern nation of Israel as it does not have enemy creditors. It must be a nation or group of nations with some prominence at the appointed time of the end. As the USA has more debt than any in the history of humanity, it should consider that this prophecy could apply to it.

This situation will cause sudden destruction among those who are spiritually drunk:

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. (1 Thessalonians 5:3-7)

Notice that both Paul and Habakkuk seem to have tied drunkenness in with this sudden calamity (so did Jesus in Luke 21:34-35). Truly the Anglo-nations are not spiritually sober.

Notice how Ezekiel’s writings confirm that those who made profits improper will be punished:

13 “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. (Ezekiel 22:13-15)

And what kind of dishonest profit do Americans make?

Well, the leading export for the USA right now seems to be debt.

Debt that the USA seems to be intending to increase, despite the speeches out of Washington this week. Sadly, this is also debt that the USA really does not intend to pay back. The USA seems to think that if it prints up enough money (or does the equivalent electronically) that it will be able to use currency that will have less value to pay back some of what it borrowed. That is a dishonest profit. And foreigners will not put up with it for too many years longer.

The USA needs national repentance. The USA needs it right now. The USA does not seem to realize that otherwise its days are numbered. US government policies are sealing its doom.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Prophecies of Barack Obama? This article has eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. It 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 at the COGwriter website 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”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled since he is to be the USA president?
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?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
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? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
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? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? 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? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?