Church of God News

“Sunday Church”, Naxos Greece

COGwriter

More in Europe seem to be trying to set the stage for mandatory Sunday “rest” as the latest TW News & Prophecy of the Living Church of God reports:

Sunday–a NO WORK day in Europe. 

“Everyone in the square says ‘no’ to working on Sunday. On Sunday, 4 March, thirteen European countries joined with the European Sunday Alliance, made up of various types of unions, associations of civil society, together with Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox communities, all together to confirm the special and fundamental characteristic of Sunday.” The peaceful demonstration held in cities throughout Europe involved thousands of people. “The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference” posted a document stating, “It is necessary respect Sunday as a day of rest for everyone,” and that Sunday is a day for both families and the Lord (www.osservatoreromano.va,March 6, 2012).

What many do not realize is that Sunday worship is a non-biblical adaptation of the Sabbath, anciently promoted by the Catholic Church to facilitate the conversion of Sun-worshiping pagans. It may also become the “mark” or identifying sign of those who will be permitted to function in the coming European Beast power (Revelation 13:16-18).

As the end-time configuration of Europe emerges, we will probably see the issue of Sunday as the “day of rest” play a more prominent role in worship and politics. For more information on this topic, see our free booklet on The Beast of Revelation.

This advocacy of Sunday is not a surprising move. Future Sunday laws have long been considered likely by those of us who observe the seventh-day Sabbath.  The fact that 13 European nations are already supporting the “European Sunday Alliance” indicates that more will in the future.

Sunday was not the day of rest for Jesus, His disciples, the original apostles, or the early faithful Christians–they all rested on Saturday.

Sunday basically started to be implemented as a compromise with the Romans and Mithraism in the second century.  Sunday was finally codified in the fourth century by first by a law and then later by a council called by the Roman Emperor Constantine.  He in 331 A.D. then issued his famous Edict Against Heretics and persecuted those who held to the original Christian faith.

Sunday has been considered as “the mark of the Beast” by many.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe?
Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? How clearly endorsed Sunday?
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. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
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.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?

“I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19)

COGwriter

In his latest update, ICG’s Mark Armstrong has the following:

Not a week goes by without reminders that we are living in times unlike anything we have experienced in the past. As the United States bogs down into a morass of class warfare arguments and accusations, political grandstanding on a litany of manufactured crises is enough to make us all want to tune out permanently…

The United States has, over our lifetimes, been a stabilizing influence due to our own economic power and military capabilities. That looks to be changing now, as both are in question. It seems that America’s economic influence is being undermined to the point that we’re all nervous about what may transpire here in the months ahead…we’re seeing an unrelenting acceleration of the debt crisis here in the United States. It turns out that the “mandates” of socialist health care will cost double the amount advertised, and that’s just been admitted by the government’s own accountants.

The Living Church of God (LCG) reported the following in its commentary today:

The Debt Bomb 2.0

By Dexter Wakefield | Saturday, March 17, 2012

A Tomorrow’s World article last year warned that trillion-dollar budget deficits run up by the United States government are accumulating into an unsustainable “debt bomb” that will eventually explode to the detriment of the nation. A recent Wall Street Journal article has now warned of the same “debt bomb”—as the crisis Tomorrow’s World described last year is growing even worse!…

A $1.2 trillion deficit is projected for 2012, continuing the dangerous trend.

What some do not realize is that these huge deficits contain another “explosive” feature. The overall impact of the total debt on the U.S. economy and credit rating is also affected by interest rates. Call it “The Debt Bomb 2.0.”

Remember that the interest cost of debt at 4 percent is twice the cost at 2 percent. Federal Reserve policy has kept short-term borrowing costs near zero in recent years, and the annual rate on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond has been under 2 percent, keeping the total costs of borrowing abnormally low. But the situation is changing rapidly. The Obama administration hoped to “jump start” the U.S. economy through deficit spending, which has proved in the past to be inflationary. So, as the economy has improved, inflation has been edging up, forcing investors to demand higher interest rates on long-term bonds.

In the last six months of 2011, annualized U.S. inflation averaged around 3.5 percent. This means that an investor who bought a ten-year Treasury bond yielding 2 percent could be facing a true yield of negative 1.5 percent—the difference between the bond yield and the inflation rate.

This could not last long. On March 12, ten-year Treasury bonds were yielding 2.03 percent. By March 16, they had leaped to 2.31 percent, a huge increase. Is this a trend? The Congressional Budget Office thinks so. The Wall Street Journal reported that, for the years 2013–2017, “CBO expects average rates on 10-year Treasury notes to climb to 3.8 percent” (“Uncle Sam’s Teaser Rate,” p. A14). That is nearly double the current rate, and would nearly double the interest cost of new debt. Yet the CBO may be making a rosy assessment of the situation.

Are existing low rates “locked in” for a long time? No! The Wall Street Journal also reported, “Today, 52 percent of the debt is due within three years” (ibid.). This means that trillions of dollars in debt will need to be refinanced at higher rates, adding huge sums to the existing deficit. Also from the article: “Low interest rates disguise the federal debt bomb… During the 1990’s the average [overall federal interest rate] was well above 6 percent… If Uncle Sam had to pay 6 percent on its [current] debt the annual interest payments of $642 billion would surpass total federal spending on Medicare… Such a radical change in budget math could trigger a political panic…” The election campaigns will likely make an issue of “this fiscal nitroglycerin that Mr. Obama and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke have created… The next Presidential term may be spent trying to defuse the Obama debt bomb” (ibid.).

That is, if the debt bomb does not explode first. Our July-August 2011 Tomorrow’s World article noted a warning by Board of International Settlements (BIS) economists, “that the U.S. could be approaching a ‘tipping point’ in which interest on debt exceeds economic growth, forcing a spiral of more borrowing and deficits. This occurs around the point where government debt exceeds the gross domestic product—exactly where the U.S. is today. The BIS also warned that on the downside of the tipping point, interest rates can spike ‘sharply and suddenly,’ exacerbating the problem and accelerating the downward slide. This could be triggered by a downgrading of U.S. sovereign debt.”

Such an event would likely produce “The Debt Bomb 3.0.”

Scripture reminds us, “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Centuries of U.S. prosperity are coming to an end, according to Bible prophecy. To learn more, read The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy, and watch “Seven Steps to Destruction.”

The Bible warns that the pride of power will be broken (Leviticus 26:19), and for the USA this apparently is not only referring to its military might, but its economic pride, its dollar.

Now as I have been saying, the USA dollar will NOT totally collapse (become worth a small fraction of its purchasing value) until shortly before the start of the Great Tribulation (Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:21).  But the USA is setting itself up for a collapse that few outside of the Church of God see coming.

LCG Evangelist Dr. D. Winnail wrote about the suddenness of what will happen:

Handwriting on the Wall! On July 4, the United States, currently the most powerful nation in the world, celebrated 234 years of independence. The following day, on Monday, July 5, British-born Harvard professor and economic historian Niall Ferguson opened the 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival with a stark warning that the American “empire” could suddenly collapse—possibly within the next two years—due to the country’s rising debt! (Winnail W. LCG World Ahead Weekly Update, July 8, 2010)

The U.S. and the British-descended peoples have enjoyed living off the resources of the world, but the prophet Habakkuk warns: “… Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you” (Habakkuk 2:7–8). (Winnail D. Sudden Calamities Ahead! Tomorrows’ World, Volume 10, Issue 5. Sept-Oct, 2008)

Hebrew prophets also warned repeatedly that the future demise of God’s chosen Israelite peoples would come “suddenly” and unexpectedly (Isaiah 9:14–15; 29:5; 30:13; Jeremiah 6:26; 15:8). Modern financial analysts realize this could happen if the nations lending to America decide to dump the dollar and call their loans. The prophet Habakkuk’s warning to the ancient Babylonians, “Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?” (Habakkuk 2:7)—may also ring true for debt-plagued nations like America and its Israelite cousins. Prophetic scripture contains a sobering message: debt and disobedience lead to the demise of nations! (Winnail, D. Debt, Disobedience and Demise of Nations. Tomorrows’ World, Volume 12, Issue 2. March-April 2010, p. 27)

It is the the United States and its Anglo-allies that have loaded pledges of debt in these end times that they really do not expect to pay back.

When creditors rise up suddenly, the “debt bomb” will be exploding.

According to Bible prophecy, the end of the Anglo-dominance of the world is coming, and the final age of the Gentiles will be here in a relatively few years. The debt and other financial issues in the USA are indicators that not too many more years are left before the start of the Great Tribulation.

It is not the Europe and other portions of the world will not have their own issues, it just is that since they have not quite followed the USA into the debt creation machine to the same degree, they will completely fall apart later than the USA does.

To learn more, please check out the following articles:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British-English, 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?
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?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? This is a lengthy article with many prophecies that Barack Obama may end up fulfilling.
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 by him?
The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? 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? Who are the 144,000?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch 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?

COGwriter

Today’s TW News & Prophecy of the Living Church of God had the following :

Once in a century flooding in Australia.

At a time of year when dry weather usually prevails, “Exceptionally heavy rain over the course of a week has smashed records in a number of places across southeast Australia and caused widespread flooding in NSW and Victoria in particular.” Some locations received 525 mm/20.7 inches of rain in a seven-day period, due to a slow-moving low pressure system. One town received “nearly a year’s worth of rain” in just one week. As of last Tuesday, 75% of New South Wales was “either under water, or affected by or at risk of floods.” Forecasters expect the very rainy weather pattern to persist well into March (Australian Associated Press, March 6, 2012).

In recent years, Australia has experienced extreme weather–from searing droughts to extreme flooding–that is beginning to resemble end-time prophecies. The prophet Amos warned that due to the manifold sins of the Israelite nations (Amos 3:14), God would punish them. “I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered” (Amos 4:7). Verse 9 also talks about the mildew that will set in because of prolonged wet conditions.

As the end of the age draws closer, we will see more extreme weather patterns around the globe, especially in Israelite nations like Australia. For more information about the modern-day Israelite nations, please see our free booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.

And of course, in 2012, many other parts of the world are facing flood and/or drought conditions.

Droughts and floods contribute to food shortages, higher food prices, and sometimes famines.

Jesus taught:

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

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

The Bible also shows we should expect to see a time of much higher food prices (cf. Revelation 6:5-6).  Australia is not expected to be exempt.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) 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 Jerusalem and 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?

Jerusalem

COGwriter

Anti-Israeli forces have expressed interest in supporting Iran should Israel attack Iran, if Israel also hits Gaza:

Islamic Jihad seeks ‘balance of terror‘ with Israel

By Adel Zaanoun (AFP) – 16 March 2012

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Gaza militant group Islamic Jihad seeks to create a “balance of terror” with Israel, a senior member of its military wing has told AFP in an exclusive interview…

The leader, who goes by the nom-de-guerre of Abu Ibrahim also warned…”What we seek with our rockets is not to kill Israelis, but to maintain a balance of terror”…

He said the group was not receiving weapons from Iran, as Israel has charged, but praised Tehran’s “great support,” citing funds it gives to the families of “martyrs” and the wounded in Gaza.

But he suggested that Islamic Jihad would not get involved if Iran were to come under attack, unless Gaza was also targeted.

“We’re nothing but a drop of water in the sea, and Iran doesn’t need us. It’s a strong country militarily,” he said.

“Our fundamental fight is in Palestine,” he said. “But if the Zionist enemy hits Iran and Gaza at the same time, we will respond with force.”

The reality is that Israel hits Gaza somewhat frequently because of the rockets that groups like Islamic Jihad tend to launch from there.  Thus, Israel would be wise to expect that groups like Islamic Jihad will attack it if Israel gets involved in a protracted war with Iran.  Syria and others would likely also be involved unless the situation in Syria changes by then.

Furthermore, notice also the following:

Iran Behind ‘Global March to Jerusalem’, Say Experts

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center presents proof that Iran is behind the Global March to Jerusalem on March 30.

Israel National News – March 16, 2012

Following the announcement that Arabs are planning a Global March to Jerusalem, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) has presented information that Iran is behind the initiative and openly supports it.

The Global March to Jerusalem is an initiative that aims at getting over one million Arabs and their supporters to attempt to infiltrate Israel’s borders on March 30^th. A spokesman for the march said this week the initiative “demand[s] freedom for Palestine and its capital Jerusalem.”

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/153813

This march on Jerusalem does not look like it is something that Israel will want.

Of course, the Bible warned that Jerusalem would a difficult issue in the end times:

3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:3)

This may be part of why Jerusalem will be divided:

2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)

News items have come out indicating the EU, as well as the current UN Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) want to divide Jerusalem now–the captivity will come later to fulfill Zechariah 14:2 (see Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?).

Jesus said to watch (Mark 13) and Israel’s statements are items that seem to of the nature to be watched.

Some articles of possibly related :

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 Jerusalem and 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? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? 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?
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.
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?

Rowan Williams

COGwriter

The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury announced his resignation today:

Rowan Williams resigns as archbishop of Canterbury

Rowan Williams is to step down as archbishop of Canterbury at the end of 2012 to take up a university position at Cambridge…Williams, 61, will leave at the end of December in time to start his new role next January…

Williams has been attacked by conservatives for his liberal views on homosexuality and by liberals for failing to live up to these principles…

Williams, who was confirmed in December 2002 as the 104th archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the 77-million-strong Anglican communion, told the Press Association that occupying the post had been an enormous privilege.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/16/rowan-williams-resigns-archbishop-canterbury

In the past, Rowan Williams made it clear that he supports the ordination of women and tended to support certain homosexual issues.

Rowan Williams had various meetings with Pope Benedict XVI, and lost priests and members to the Church of Rome.  The remaining Anglican Church is the biggest church in the UK.

Wikipedia notes, “The Church of England is the officially established Christian church^[3] in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.”

And while I do not consider that it is truly Christian, the Church of England is likely to remain a factor that keeps the UK out of being a co-equal partner in the final emerging European Beast power.

Rowan William’s replacement is likely to take steps that will perhaps increase the distance between the remaining Anglicans from the Catholics of Rome.  Thus, Rowan William’s resignation is likely to have prophetic repercussions.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Women and the New Testament Church Were women important in the New Testament Church? Which women and how were they involved? Were they ordained to be presbyters?
LCG: Homosexuals Gaining Ground “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?  Can homosexuals change?
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?
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
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.
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?

COGwriter

Tornadoes are again in the news, this time in Michigan:

Twisters leave path of destruction in Michigan

16 March 2012

Searchers were going door-to-door in southeast Michigan Friday after tornadoes ripped through…Derrick Jackson of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said, “It’s devastating. Mother Nature can be devastating. There’s nothing, really, that can be said to that, to lose your home or have it significantly damaged.”

At least 125 homes hammered by tornadoes in Michigan

Christian Science Monitor – ‎16 March 2012 Thursday night, Dexter, Mich. was hit by a tornado that left a 10-mile path of destruction. Two other tornadoes were reported in Michigan.

Dexter, Mich.

A solitary hand stuck out of the rubble of a home destroyed when a tornado ripped through a Michigan village leaving more than 100 homes in splinters.

I spent six or seven years growing up in Washtenaw County and visited Dexter on numerous occasions.

There have been a lot of tornado issues so far this year in the USA and likely there will be more.

Back in 2009, my book, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect mentioned the following was about to happen:

Odd weather patterns result in food shortages and natural disasters.

Matthew 24:7

The world is actually in a berserk transition, as the real age of peace is not yet here. It may be a period of chaos. It is the beginning of sorrows

Matthew 24:8

A late 2011 report from the NRDC said nearly 3,000 weather records were broken in the U.S. up to the end of October, 2011 (see NRDC: All US States Had Extreme Weather; Confirms 2012 Book Prediction) which basically confirmed another biblically-based prediction in my 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect book.  World events have so far aligned with at least 20 predictions in 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect.  More world events will as well.

Perhaps the record weather problems can serve as another wake-up call.  As my book indicated, weather-related troubles with their related food issues, of course, are biblically expected as Jesus stated:

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

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

We may be at this prophetic point as all the earthquakes and other weather problems that have happened in the past year or so could be considered as “troubles.”

Much is going on that we in the Living Church of God have expected would happen.  For example, LCG’s  Dr. Roderick C. Meredith, who expect certain prophetic issues to rise up this year, years ago wrote a booklet related to coming weather problems titled Who Controls the Weather?

2012 is already seeming to be a turbulent year.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? What is “the beginning of sorrows”? Have we begun or are we about ready for “the beginning of sorrows” to begin.
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 Jerusalem and 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 about Jerusalem? 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?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)
بشار الأسد

COGwriter

Notice the following:

Pro-Assad rallies mark anniversary of Syria revolt 15 March 2012

(Reuters) – Huge crowds took to the streets of Syria’s cities on Thursday in an orchestrated show of support for President Bashar al-Assad on the first anniversary of a bloody revolt against his rule that shows no sign of ending.

State television showed thousands of people in central Damascus, waving portraits of Assad and flags of Syria, Russia and China. Moscow and Beijing have not joined Western nations in backing an Arab League plan for Assad to step aside.

“We sacrifice our blood and souls to you, Bashar!” the crowds chanted as three helicopters flew past in a military salute, trailing the national colors on a blustery day.

How Bashar al-Assad fooled the world‎ CNN 15 March 2012

(CNN) — One long, brutal year has passed since the Syrian people launched their revolution, demanding an end to the dictatorship of President Bashar al-Assad. Since then, the regime has killed at least 8,000 people, according to the U.N., and it has sent the rest of the world a quiet but blunt message: You are fools.

Syria’s Assad Withstands Pressure That Toppled Other Arab Leaders‎ Voice of America 15 March 2012…

Assad may derive some of his confidence from a system built by his father, Hafez al-Assad, that has let the family stay in power for the past 40 years.

“This regime came about as a result of a coup in 1970 and was designed from the beginning to resist rebellion, to resist coups,” explains Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

Syria Loses 20000 Troops as Desertions Surge, Turkey Says

BusinessWeek – 15 March 2012 By Donna Abu-Nasr and Emre Peker on March 15, 2012 About 20000 Syrian soldiers have deserted from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in less than a month, according to Turkish intelligence reports cited by a Foreign Ministry official.

So, while Assad according to CNN has “fooled the world,” it may be that the loss of so many troops should also indicate that perhaps he is also fooling himself.  Also, if Assad really believes that Russia and China will truly support him much later if the entire West and Arab League support a real war against him, he is in serious error.

The situation in Syria is simply not as good as Assad hopes it is and there still is major internal strife in Syria.  So much so, the Syrian government is getting more desperate and increasingly isolated on the world scene. The sanctions against it, combined with internal dissent, must be providing a lot of pressure against its President Assad and his supporters. And one of his closest international supporters is Iran.

Something will have to change in the region.  I have been warning for some time that Syria’s President Assad might decide his personal best option is to more closely support Iran and perhaps be involved in an invasion of Jerusalem and Israel. If so, this might be how certain scriptures involving Syria/Damascus is fulfilled.

Notice what the Bible shows will happen to to Syria’s capital Damascus:

1 An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid. 3 The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,and royal power from Damascus;the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the LORD Almighty. (Isaiah 17:1-3)

3 Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment…5 I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,
And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden.
The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir,”
Says the Lord. (Amos 1:3, 5)

Of course technically, Syria is still at war with Israel as it never did sign a peace deal with Israel. So an actual war involving Syria and Israel (and possibly involving Iran and the USA) is quite feasible.  And Syria is aware of that and may possibly some day release chemical or biological weapons.

If so, Israel may hit back so hard that it might eliminate Damascus as Isaiah 17:1 says will happen. Iran may also get “neutralized” in such a regional conflict (either militarily and/or politically) as it is not shown to have an important direct role in scripture until after the King of the South is eliminated (Daniel 11:40-43), and that King has not risen yet (nor will he be Iranian).

Much is going on in the Middle East.  Pretending that it is not will be a mistake.

As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should 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? What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
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? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?

Roderick C. Meredith (Photo by Joyce Thiel)

COGwriter

In his latest co-worker letter (3/15/12), Presiding Evangelist R.C. Meredith of the Living Church of God (LCG) reported the following (bolding in the letter):

It is sobering to read the Apostle John’s warning written near the end of his life, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). So, today, we increasingly read and hear about professing Christians being sorely persecuted all over the world. In a news bulletin I heard just this morning on the radio, a famous preacher was describing how ferocious the persecution of professing Christians is becoming in many African and Middle Eastern nations. Even in the United States, Canada and Britain, Christians are quite often persecuted or prosecuted if they truly stand up for what the Bible says.

It is soon going to get much worse…

Remember, dear brethren and friends, our Creator is the God who gives us life and breath. He gives us the sunshine and the rain, the food we eat, the clothing we wear. Overall, especially to the degree that we try to serve Him, He guides our lives in hundreds of different ways. As God inspired David to tell us in the Psalms, “The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works” (Psalm 33:13-15). May God help us each be sensitive to His will and try with all of our hearts to “walk with God” as did Abraham, and all the great men and women of God throughout human history. Are you “walking with God”? Are you profoundly studying the Bible as the Instruction Manual to learn God’s way of life? Are you meditating on God’ s Word and picturing how you ought to put it into action? Are you fervently praying to God for understanding and for the strength to do what God says—regardless of persecution?

We in this Work are moving ahead to warn our peoples of what is just ahead. We are also commanded by Almighty God, “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). As we see our beloved nations descending into the cesspool of deeper and deeper immorality—men “marrying” men, literally millions of young people simply “living together” without benefit of marriage or involvement from Almighty God in their lives, increasing vilification of all professing Christians and those who try to stand up for the Truth—it should become increasingly evident that the time is near when God will say “enough” and will send Jesus Christ back to this earth as King of kings. For Jesus is the prophesied “Rock” who will, in love and understanding have to crush the rebellious nations of t his earth and all rebellious institutions in order to bring about an entire different way of life based on His spiritual Law (Daniel 2:44-45)…

Let all of us pray fervently for one another. And may God give all of us the understanding and knowledge that we need to go through these coming years of trial, test, persecution and ultimate joy and exhilaration in His coming Kingdom.

The rest of the co-worker letter can be viewed at the following link News of the Living Church of God at the 03/15/12 p.m. post.

Persecutions will get much worse.  Many do not wish to hear about their sins and many have hatred of anything connected to Christ.

We in LCG are serious about trying to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and hope others will catch the vision and join us, even though more persecutions are expected.

But we remember that Jesus said:

23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23).

12… they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake (Luke 21:12).

20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Persecutions will worsen and affect the most faithful (Daniel 11:32-35).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
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?
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
True vs. False Conversion Are you really converted or willing to be? What is true conversion? What is false conversion? What are the dangers of false conversion? Evangelist Roderick Meredith provides information on those important questions.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
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.
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.

Pope Benedict XVI

COGwriter

Pope Benedict XVI made a variety of improper theological statements about Mary yesterday.  Here is the first:

“If the Church does not exist without Pentecost, neither does Pentecost exist without the Mother of Jesus, since she lived in a wholly unique way what the Church experiences each day under the action of the Holy Spirit,” the Pope said in the general audience.  (Naab K.  Benedict XVI: Mary Invites Us to Pray for More Than Ourselves.  Zenit, March 14, 2012.  http://www.zenit.org/article-34459?l=english)

It should be understood that the only mention of Mary around the time of Pentecost in the Bible is in Acts 1:14.  Here are two Catholic renditions of that portion of scripture:

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James.  14 All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  15 In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty: (Acts 1:13-15, Douay-Rheims).

13 and when they reached the city they went to the upper room where they were staying; there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude son of James. 14 With one heart all these joined constantly in prayer, together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15 One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers — there were about a hundred and twenty people in the congregation, (Acts 1:13-15, New Jerusalem Bible).

Thus, while the Apostle Peter seemed to have a certain prominence then, even the two Catholic versions cited for those scriptures do not indicate that Mary was essential for Pentecost.  The Pope has crossed the line here.

Notice carefully some more of what the Pope stated:

“The Mother of Jesus was placed by the Lord in the decisive moments of salvation history, and she always knew how to respond with complete availability — the fruit of a profound bond with God that had matured through assiduous and intense prayer. […] As Mother of God and Mother of the Church, Mary exercises her maternity until the end of history.  “Let us entrust every phase of our personal and ecclesial lives to her, not the least of which is our final passing…”  (Naab K.  Benedict XVI: Mary Invites Us to Pray for More Than Ourselves.  Zenit, March 14, 2012.  http://www.zenit.org/article-34459?l=english)

Notice that the Bible shows that the only name that is needed for salvation is Jesus, and not Mary, again according to two Catholic renditions of scripture:

10 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.  12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12, Douay-Rheims)

10 you must know, all of you, and the whole people of Israel, that it is by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, and God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man stands before you cured. 11 This is the stone which you, the builders, rejected but which has become the cornerstone. Only in him is there salvation; 12 for of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’ (Acts 4:10-12, New Jerusalem Bible)

Sacred scripture does not give any hint that Jesus placed His mother Mary in the decisive moments of salvation history.  Nor does it give any hint that we are to entrust anything to Mary, let alone every phase of our personal and ecclesial lives to her.  The only scriptural “command,” if you will, about Mary is that Christians will call her blessed.  And we do.  The Pope has publicly crossed the line here.

Many non-Catholics will say that this is nothing new and that Bishops of Rome have long overlooked scripture to teach traditions that they embraced that were not in the Bible nor held by the original apostles.

My reporting of this today, however, is related to the fact that since becoming Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Ratzinger took positions that were not as supportive of certain “Marian” dogmas and beliefs as many Catholics seemed to have preferred.

For example, because of his writings on Fatima, Mary, and ecumenical matters, in 2002 certain Catholic priests (who are still part of the Church of Rome and have not been defrocked) wrote that Pope Benedict, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger had, “sheer audacity,” writings “that should disturb any Catholic,” “blatantly falsified” “Our Lady’s prophecy” through “tampering,” caused “butchery of the message of Fatima,” “taken the lead in attempting nothing less than the murder of the Message of Fatima,” “conspired, and then acted publicly, to impose upon the Church a version of the Fatima Message that bears no resemblance to the Catholic prophecy,” become one of “many collaborators” in “auto-demolition of the Church,” committed a “crime” through his explanation of Fatima, tried to “bury the Fatima Message,” contributed to a “jig-saw of truths, half-truths, and lies,” presented something “wholly lacking in credibility,” wrote at least one “lie,” written another statement that “borders on heresy and blasphemy,” become “at least a material heretic,” made “citations to Scripture which…obscure the simplicity of God’s truth,” made “a patently fraudulent interpretation,” made a “bogus—bordering on blasphemous—interpretation,”  made “not only lies but clumsy lies,” been “deceptive,” emanated “lies,””blatantly undermined” at least one Catholic “dogma” in a manner that was “outrageous,” committed “fraudulent witness tampering,” “deliberately tampered with the words of the Mother of God,” “deliberately ignored the Virgin’s prophecy,” promoted “exegetical frauds,” committed “grotesque and blasphemous interpretation” which “debases the Mother of God,” flatly contradicted his own testimony in 1984,” caused “a shameless deconstruction of the Message of Fatima,” “produced only confusion,” “caused untold damage to the Church,” changed “his prior testimony,” and produced commentary that “scandalizes the faithful” (Kramer P. The Devil’s Final Battle. Good Counsel Productions, 2002, pp. 65, 66, 109, 130, 132, 136, 141, 142, 164, 165, 178, 210, 232, 233, 246-247, 259, 275).

Yet in 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger, who actually did (prior to 2002) make several biblically-appropriate statements related to Mary and Fatima, was made pope.

My concern is that since becoming pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI has started to change and make more “traditional” and less biblical statements related to Mary.

This is important because I suspect that in the future, one or more apparitions that many will believe are Mary the Mother of Jesus will become more public and be part of the signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) that the Bible warns about (cf. Isaiah 47:1-12; Revelation 18:7,23).  Teaching people that they should “entrust every phase of our personal and ecclesial lives to her” is a step towards getting them to accept apparitions that may become public in a relatively short time from now.

Some type of global religious unity is prophesied in scripture before Jesus returns (Revelation 13:4,8) and not in a favorable light.  It is likely that public appearances (as opposed to apparitions seen by relatively few) of something that people will claim to be Mary of the Bible will be a factor in this unity.

Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI made public statements that seem to be setting people up to accept Mary and consider that she still has an integral role in personal salvation, despite what the Bible teaches.  Pope Benedict XVI crossed several serious theological lines for those of us who believe sacred scripture.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
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.
Pentecost: Is it more than Acts 2? Many “Christians” somewhat observe Pentecost. Do they know what it means? It is also called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks, and the day of firstfruits. What about “speaking in tongues” and being led by the Holy Spirit?