Church of God News

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Kai Moerk 2012)

COGwriter

Hillary Clinton made the news today:

February 18, 2013

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton looks set to enter the lucrative speaking circuit as early as this spring, in the first phase of her public life after four years in the Obama administration.

The popular Democrat has signed on with the Harry Walker agency, which also handles speaking engagements for her husband, former president Bill. She is expected to draw fees in the high six-figures for some talks. The news was first reported by Politico, the Washington-based politics site.

The former secretary’s next moves are being closely watched for signs that she is running – or not – for the presidency in 2016…

A survey this month by Quinnipiac University, a major pollster, found that Clinton is the most popular political figure in the United States, with a 61-34 split in her favorability rating.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/18/hillary-clinton-enters-speaking-circuit

Hillary may or may not run for the US presidency.   However, back in April 2012, her husband and former US President, Bill Clinton, said he would be happy if she did (Bill Clinton hints of Hillary running for US Presidency and there have been some other hints that she might (see also Hillary Clinton to run for US presidency in 2016?).  As far back as 2006 (News of The Churches of God) and 2007 (News of The Churches of God) I also commented about a possible Hillary Clinton presidency, and feel that it remains a possibility–though not a certainty.

After Ronald Reagan failed to get the Republican nomination for president in 1976, he did a lot of speaking (including being on the radio). This kept his name in front of potential political supporters.

By accepting the speaking route, Hillary Clinton can have control of her workload, make money, keep her name in the news, and meet with various supporters should she choose to run for the presidency of the USA.

Ever since Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of the United Kingdom, I have felt that it is likely that the USA would end up with a female president or at least a highly influential woman in a top level federal government job. And Hillary Clinton has been fulfilling the latter for four years (as also have various female Supreme Court justices, etc.).

A female presidency can partially fulfill a prophecy in Isaiah 3:12:

As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths…

Of course, women are influential in the English-speaking nations and it is not absolutely required that the USA itself have a woman president, but I do feel that if we do get one, that this would be a partial, but significant, fulfillment of that prophecy.

When Barack Obama was re-elected I posted that I did not believe that the Great Tribulation would begin until after his second term ended (see Obama Re-Elected, So What is Ahead?).  However, presuming she actually gets elected to become US President, the Great Tribulation could be during a Hillary Clinton term.

But we will see first if she if fact does decide to run.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? 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?
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? What is prophesied to occur to the USA and its English-speaking allies? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject.
Women and the New Testament Church Were women important in the New Testament Church? Which women and how were they involved?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

The front page of today’s issue of Barron’s magazine has a photograph of USA President Barack Obama.  The front page also states:

If we follow President Obama’s plan, the U.S. in 25 years will be in worse shape than Greece is today.

The article itself (on page 25) states:

According to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, adjusted by Barron’s to account for recent tax increases and other factors, if the U.S. doesn’t raise taxes further and cut spending dramatically, the national debt could easily reach 153% of economic output by 2035. These are not just numbers. If the U.S. national debt continues ballooning, we can be sure of a deep, long-lasting recession — very likely a depression — sometime in the next two to three decades…The CBO has been issuing warnings about the looming risk of a debt crisis for three years.

While I do not wish to get into all the politics of the spending cuts vs. tax increases (both of which at this stage could cause certain harm to the economy), the reality is that the plans that seem to be coming out of Washington D.C. that are most likely to be really implemented are resulting in increased debt.

Bible prophecy shows that problems associated with debt accumulation for some will be far worse than anything that modern Greece has experienced or than nearly all economic experts in the USA have speculated.  Notice what God had the Prophet Habakkuk write:

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. Because of men’s blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. (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.

Sudden destruction will occur 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)

8… A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly…
13 Your wealth and your treasures
I will give as plunder without price,
Because of all your sins,
Throughout your territories.
14 And I will make you cross over with your enemies
Into a land which you do not know;
For a fire is kindled in My anger,
Which shall burn upon you.” (Jeremiah 15:8;13-14)

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)

Borrowing money that will not be paid back is a “dishonest profit” which the American and British peoples have been living on for the past several years (as is the “quantitative easing” programs for the US Federal Reserve; see also Doubling QE3 is not good and the YouTube video The Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Most Imagine). The Anglo-power will be scattered for this and their filthiness (see also Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided?). Sexual immorality and abortion are simply some outward signs of this filthiness.

At some point in time, the USA will likely start to experience massive inflation (which is something that Barron’s and others should realize). And afterwards, its creditors will rise up (Habakkuk 2:7). The fiscal policies of the government of the U.S.A., unless dramatically altered in a different direction relatively soon, are setting the stage for hyperinflation in the U.S.A.–have no doubt about it.

The USA needs national repentance and I saw no call for that in the Barron’s article, the recent State of the Union address (see The State of the Union is not good), nor the official Republican responses to the current economic matters.

People need to turn to Jesus and His Kingdom.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
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?
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.

COGwriter

Dixon Cartwright of The Journal sent me the following related to CEM’s Ronald Dart:

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

UPDATES

Ron Dart: Just got a report from Tyler that Mr. Dart is battling pneumonia and is being rushed to the hospital tonight (2/9). Please pray.

UPDATE: It’s only been 4 days since the last post and I’m amazed how quickly things happen and change. The fluid on the lungs is still a concern and led to other tests. The bottom line is that Ron is scheduled for open heart surgery that will replace the mitral valve in his heart where the staph infection seems to be growing (it’s still not showing up in his blood stream and he is taking strong antibiotics but it’s not helping after more than 3 weeks). The surgery is planned for Monday the 18th. If you have other questions, I will try and answer them as you post comments here. But for now, I know that Allie–who is tired and overwhelmed with all the decisions and information she is having to deal with; and Ron–who is more tired, having breathing treatments and lots of prep type stuff done–would very much appreciate and they openly say they NEED your prayers. I was with him last night and then Allie came back from her short break…she stays with him at the hospital every night.

Ron Dart has had a lot of health issues in the past several years.  Prayers for him and his wife Allie are requested.  Ronald Dart was once with WCG, then left with the Garner Ted Armstrong, and later left him and went out on his own.  He used to have a fairly large radio presence with his “Born to Win” broadcast.

Bernadette Soubirous (Rabanus Flavus) 

COGwriter

Today, many in France will honor Bernadette Soubirous.  She is famous for her what some refer to as “incorruptibility” (limited decay of the flesh after death) as well as claims about seeing visions of a “Lady” in Lourdes, France.  On 18 February of 1858, she claimed that “vision” asked her to return to a particular grotto every day for a two weeks and Bernadette passed on various messages that she claimed to have received.  Her shrine is a popular destination for certain Catholics.

Probably because her now waxed body has been so well preserved, her face in on the front cover of a famous Catholic book by J.C. Cruz titled The Incorruptibles (Nihil Obstat: HC Bezou, November 11, 1974.  Imprimatur + PM Hannan, Archbishop of New Orleans, November 19, 194. TAN Books, 1977)–most other Catholic “incorruptibles” have not been as well preserved.  Although  on  the  internet  it  has  been  claimed  “for each incorrupt body discovered, after research has been done  to  determine  who  the  person  was,  it  has  always been  determined  that  the  person  was  an  extremely devout Catholic,” that claim is in error. This type of “incorruptibility” has happened to others who were not Catholic, as well as Catholics who were not devout.

Concerning physical incorruptibility, the New Catholic Encyclopedia of 1967 stated, “Many cases could possibly have a natural explanation or be caused by diabolical power.”  But many Catholics tend to overlook that fact.

My experience with talking to some suggests that one of the reasons that some affiliated with Rome will not see the truth about certain matters is because they rely on physical signs such as “incorruptibility” as proof that their church has God’s favor, hence they often believe that this validates their church’s positions overall.

Last year, partially related to Lourdes, the Roman Pontiff Benedict XVI said:

…let us turn to her who is the Queen of all the Saints, the Virgin Mary, thinking of Lourdes, stricken by a grave overflowing of the Gave, which has also flooded the grotto of the apparitions of Our Lady. Today we would especially like to entrust missionaries to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary – priests and laity, who sow the good seed of the Gospel in every part of the world. We also pray for the Synod of Bishops, which, over the course of these weeks, is confronting the challenge of the new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith. http://www.zenit.org/article-35781?l=english

Of course, the Bible never refers to Jesus’ mother Mary as the ‘queen’ of anything–the only ‘queen of heaven’ (an expression that some also try to apply to Mary) that the Bible refers to is condemned (Jeremiah 7:18-20; 44:17-23). Also, the only ‘virgin’ ‘Lady of the Kingdoms’ (other terms sometimes improperly applied to Mary that the Bible tells of (Isaiah 47:1-5) is also condemned (Isaiah 47:5-15).

Here is some of what my book Fatima Shock! said about the “Immaculate Conception” and the Lourdes apparition:

In the 19th century, there was a female apparition in France, known as the Lady of Lourdes. One of the statements she reportedly stated in 1858 was, “I am the Immaculate Conception!”

Now this is an unusual and biblically contradictory idea as the Bible teaches that all have sinned (Roman 3:23) except Jesus (Hebrews 4:15), as He is the only one who had a biblically immaculate conception, but not the Marian kind.

For non-Catholics, let me explain that what became an extra-biblical Catholic doctrine was that Mary was conceived unlike all other humans and free of what many refer to as “original sin.” Specifically this “dogma” has been explained in Dr. Ludwig Ott’s 20th century book Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma as:

“Mary’s freedom of original sin was an unmerited gift of God, and an exception from the law that was vouchsafed to her only.”

His book also teaches:

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is not explicitly revealed in scripture… Neither the Greek nor the Latin Fathers explicitly (explicite) teach the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

So where did it come from?…Jumping forward to the 12th century, a British monk Eadmer began to promote the idea of an Immaculate Conception of Mary. When he did so, “St. Bernard of Clairvaux… (about 1140), warned the faithful that this was an unfounded innovation…”

So was the Catholic saint Bernard wrong in condemning Monk Eadmer’s heresy here? Of course not! Others, at least as late as the 17th century supported Bernard’s position on this. (Fatima Shock! pp. 85-86)

Eastern Signs and Faiths

While “Mary” is known throughout the Middle East and West, she is less known, though revered by some like a goddess, in Eastern religions:

Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and other pilgrims regularly worship at famous Roman Catholic shrines to the Virgin Mary such as Lourdes in France and Fatima in Portugal…Many venerate her like one of their own goddesses…(Fatima Shock! p. 188)

There is a prophecy that indicates that certain end-time Marian supporters will eliminate Protestantism:

Saint Louis de Montfort (18th century): These great souls…singularly devouted to our Blessed Lady… shall fight, overthrow and crush the heretics with their heresies, the schismatics with their schisms…

Yet, some Protestant leaders have gotten more accepting of Marian aspects of faith:

Archbishop Williams…said…at Lourdes that when Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 “she came at first as an anonymous figure, a beautiful lady, a mysterious thing, not yet identified as the Lord’s spotless mother…” he said.  The Archbishop later was criticized by the England-based Protestant Truth Society, a group of Anglicans and non-conformists committed to upholding the ideals of the Protestant Reformation…Jeremy Brooks, the group’s director of ministry, said: “All true Protestants will be appalled that the Archbishop of Canterbury has visited Lourdes and preached there. “Lourdes represents everything about Roman Catholicism that the Protestant Reformation rejected, including apparitions, Mariolatry and the veneration of saints…The archbishop’s…sermon — which included a reference to Mary as ‘the mother of God’ — is a complete denial of Protestant orthodoxy.”

Protestants need to understand that by eliminating heresies, Catholic prophecies sometimes specifically mean the elimination of Protestantism.  Mary was not called the “Mother of God” by early faithful Christians or those who kept their practices. (Fatima Shock! pp. 219-220)

Mary is not one to pray to or to entrust oneself to–including Catholics, Hindus, etc.

Jesus is.

Yet, there is a great tendency within the Church of Rome to rely on signs, apparitions, and wonders to support teachings that do not square with the Bible. All who profess Christ, including those who are COG, Catholic, Protestant, or anything else, should understand that Jesus is the center of the plan of salvation and that the Church of Rome intends to promote a further Marian reverence that will likely deceive nearly all (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17-18–and this includes nearly all who profess Christ (cf. Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).  And those who honor people such as Bernadette of Lourdes are unknowingly helping set this up.

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

COGwriter

The Arabic “Kingdom of Bahrain” believes it dismantled a Shi’ite Muslim terrorist cell today:

February 17, 2013

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry says it has dismantled an alleged terrorist cell following widespread clashes in the Gulf nation during protests marking the second anniversary of an Arab Spring-inspired uprising.The ministry said in a statement Sunday it has arrested eight members of a suspected terrorist network who have received training and financial support from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.Bahrain’s Sunni-ruled kingdom has frequently accused Shi’ite power Iran and its allies of aiding the uprising of Bahrain’s majority Shi’ites. Iran denies the charges. http://www.voanews.com/content/bahrain-dismantles-terrorist-cell/1605264.html

The Sunni Kingdom does not wish to be overthrown by Shi’ite Muslims.  Yet, the time will come when it will at least be involved with a confederation of likely Sunni Muslim Arabic states that will be part of what the Bible refers to as the final King of the South.

Bahrain itself consists of an archipelago of 33 islands, the largest being Bahrain Island, at 34 miles long by 11 miles wide. Saudi Arabia is to its west and it is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway.

Bahrain is a member of the Arab League of nations, hence seems to be a nation that will be supportive of the final King of the South.  Here is a list of the members of that league:

Member states of the Arab League  (Arab World, Wikipedia, viewed 02/17/13)

Algeria (Arabic: الجزائر‎ al-Jazāʾir)  Bahrain (Arabic: البحرين‎ al-Baḥrayn)  Comoros (Arabic: جزر القمر‎ Juzur al-Qamar) (Comorian and French are the other official languages)  Djibouti (Arabic: جيبوتي‎ Djībūtī ) (French is the other official language)  Egypt (Arabic: مصر‎ Miṣr)  Iraq (Arabic: العراق‎ al-ʿIrāq) (Kurdish is the other official language (minority))  Jordan (Arabic: الأردن‎ al-ʾUrdun)  Kuwait (Arabic: الكويت‎ al-Kuwayt)  Lebanon (Arabic: لبنان‎ Lubnān)  Libya (Arabic: ليبيا‎ Lībyā)	Mauritania (Arabic: موريتانيا‎ Mōrītānyā)  Morocco (Arabic: المغرب‎ al-Maġrib) (Berber is the other official language)  Oman (Arabic: عمان‎ ʿUmān)  Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين‎ Filasṭīn) (Full member of Arab League and recognized by the majority of the countries in the world)  Qatar (Arabic: قطر‎ Qaṭar)  Saudi Arabia (Arabic: المملكة العربية السعودية‎ al-Mamlakah al-ʿArabiyyah as-Saʿūdiyyah)  Somalia (Arabic: الصومال‎ aṣ-Ṣūmāl) (Somali is the other official language)	Sudan (Arabic: السودان‎ as-Sūdān) (English is the other official language (minority))  Syria (Arabic: سوريا‎ Sūryā)  Tunisia (Arabic: تونس‎ Tūnis)  United Arab Emirates (Arabic: الإمارات العربيّة المتّحدة‎ al-ʾImārāt al-ʿArabiyyah al-Muttaḥidah)  Yemen (Arabic: اليمن‎ al-Yaman)

These nations are mainly descended from the peoples listed in Ezekiel 30:1-9, Psalm 83:5-7, and Daniel 11:40-43.

The Bible tells of the rise of a power that seems to include mainly Arab and Islamic peoples.  Here are some scriptural passages on that:

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre (Psalms 83:5-7)

2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’
3 For the day is near,
Even the day of the Lord is near;
It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
4 The sword shall come upon Egypt,
And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia,
When the slain fall in Egypt,
And they take away her wealth,
And her foundations are broken down.

5 “Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”

6 ‘Thus says the Lord:

“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall,
And the pride of her power shall come down.
From Migdol to Syene
Those within her shall fall by the sword,”
Says the Lord God.

7 “They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries,
And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste.
8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,
When I have set a fire in Egypt
And all her helpers are destroyed.  (Ezekiel 30:2-8)

4 And the Egyptians I will give
Into the hand of a cruel master,
And a fierce king will rule over them,”
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.   (Isaiah 19:4)

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.  (Daniel 11:40-43)

So, while Bahrain has been able to foil some potential terrorists, it likely will have to deal with a greater one in the future.

Now, it is possible that Bahrain may be amongst those who will betray the King of the South (Daniel 11:25-26) and escape the King of the North at the end (Daniel 11:43).  Yet, even so, those in Bahrain will apparently face problems, as the Bible also warns about cooperation with those affiliated with the King of the North (Revelation 14:8-11).

Repentance and the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God will be the real solution.

Here are some articles of possibly related interest:

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?
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?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel?
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?
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
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?

Pope Benedict XVI

COGwriter

The Pontiff of the Church of Rome spoke today and here are a couple of reports:

17 February 2013

Vatican City. Pope Benedict XVI called Sunday on the Church and its faithful to “renew” and “refocus on God by disowning pride and egoism” in his penultimate Angelus prayer before he steps down, AFP reported.
“The Church calls on all its members to renew themselves…”   http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n299664

17 February 2013

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI called on the Roman Catholic Church and its faithful on Sunday to “renew themselves” as tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists attended his penultimate Angelus prayers…

Benedict, whose surpise [sic] announcement last Monday that he would step down after eight years rocked the Church, called on the world’s faithful to “refocus on God by disowning pride and egoism”.

His words were seem by some to hold a veiled reference to internal bickering within the church in recent months, as well as the jostle for power as cardinals from all over the world prepare to vote in his successor. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Pope-Benedict-XVI-calls-for-Roman-Catholic-Church-to-renew-thousands-flock-to-Angelus/articleshow/18544907.cms?

If Benedict’s successor is the last pope, I believe that the type of “renewal” that he will end up pushing for will basically lead to the end of the Church of Rome (cf. Revelation 17:15-18).

Another matter that has come up is the idea that the election rules for the next pope be changed to speed up the process:

While Pope Benedict slips away to a Lenten retreat, the Vatican struggles to determine whether it can legally speed up the process for choosing his successor. That’s a bad idea, experts say…

The Vatican’s vague announcements feed the fire. The latest was spokesman Rev. Frederico Lombardi comments Friday that they were examining whether they can legally speed up the election for Benedict’s successor.

Current church law is clear that a conclave is to be held no earlier than 15 days after the papacy is vacated.So a change would require finding a loophole in the densely woven canon laws on conclaves– or getting a dispensation. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/17/pope-benedict-st-peters-conclave-lent/1925713/

So the idea of changing certain procedures and/or timing related to the election of the next pope is being considered.  It could,  presuming it happens, get some to later conclude that the next pope is or could be an antipope.  Changing anything related the election of the next pope should be considered as dangerous.  If the next pope is the last pope, he will be an antipope.  He will feign acceptance of the Catholic faith, ultimately do signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9), but ultimately promote non-Catholic beliefs (Revelation 11:15) and lead to the destruction of Rome (Revelation 17:15-18).

Certain Catholic prophecies warn that a major “antipope” is to come, as well as warn that its church will be changed, have some type of  clever “renewal,” and also be destroyed:

Frederick William Faber (died 1863):…Antichrist…Many believe in a demonical incarnation—this will not be so—but he will be utterly possessed…His doctrine as apparent contradiction of no religion, yet a new religion…He has an attending pontiff, so separating regal and prophetic office (Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 87).

Anna-Katarina Emmerick(19th century): The Church is in great danger…The Protestant doctrine and that of the schismatic Greeks are to spread everywhere.  I now see that in this place (Rome) the (Catholic) Church is being so cleverly undermined, that there hardly remain a hundred or so priests who have not been deceived.  They all work for the destruction, even the clergy.  A great destruction is now at hand…I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with ideas that were dangerous to the Church.  They were building a great, strange, and extravagant Church.  Everyone was admitted in it in order to be united and to have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, sects of every description.  Such was to be the new Church…I saw again a new and odd-looking Church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it… (Dupont Y. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, pp. 66, 71, 116)

Yves Dupont {writer interpreting A. Emmerick}: They wanted to make a new Church, a Church of human manufacture, but God had other designs…An anti-pope shall be set up in Rome (Dupont, p. 116).

Oba Prophecy: It will come when the Church authorities issue directives to support a new cult, when priests are forbidden to celebrate in any other, when the highest positions in the Church are given to perjurers and hypocrites, when only the renegades are admitted to occupy those positions. (Dupont, p. 115)

Ted and Maureen Flynn (20th century): Catholic prophecy warns us of severe problems facing the papacy in these end times…chaos will be within our midst.  An Antipope will seize papal authority…It will be those who hold fast to the truths of the faith who will be labeled as the perpetrators of this horrible schism, according to some visionaries. (Flynn Ted and Maureen. The Thunder of Justice. MaxKol Communications, Inc. Sterling (VA), 1993, p. 255)

Jeanne le Royer (d. 1798): I see that when the Second Coming of Christ approaches a bad priest will do much harm to the Church (Culligan E. The Last World War and the End of Time. The book was blessed by Pope Paul VI, 1966. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 128).

Bl. Anna-Maria Taigi (19th century): At the end, he will have the gift of miracles (Birch DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996, pp. 362-363).

Saint Zenobius (died 285): Antichrist will work a thousand prodigies on earth. (Connor, p. 73)

Priest O’Connor (20th century?): This final false prophet will be a bishop of the church and will lead all religions into becoming one. (The False Prophet.  Living in the Final Generation. http://www.geocities.com/rebornempowered/ApparitionsofMary.htm 10/12/07)

Priest Paul Kramer (21st century): The errors of Orthodoxy and of Protestantism will be embraced by that false church, it will be an ecumenical church because the Anti-Pope will be recognized by the world—not by the faithful, but by the world—by the secular world and the secular governments. (Kramer P. The Imminent Chastisement for Not Fulfilling Our Lady’s Request. An edited transcript of a speech given at the Ambassadors of Jesus and Mary Seminar in Glendale, California, September 24, 2004.THE FATIMA CRUSADER Issue 80, Summer 2005, pp. 32-45 http://www.fatimacrusader.com/cr80/cr80pg32.asp viewed 4/15/08)

Blessed Joachim (died 1202): Towards the end of the world Antichrist will overthrow the Pope and usurp his See (Connor, p. 76).

St. Francis of Assisi (d. 1226): There will be an uncanonically elected pope who will cause a great Schism, there will be divers thoughts preached which will cause many, even those in the different orders, to doubt, yea even agree with those heretics which will cause My order to divide, then will there be such universal dissentions and persecutions that if these days were not shortened even the elect would be lost (Culleton, p. 130).

Gregory the Great, Pope (d. 604): In those days, near the end…an army of priests and two-thirds of the Christians will join the Schism. (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Reign of Antichrist, p. 122)

Yves Dupont {reader and collector of Catholic prophecies}: “prophecies are quite explicit about the election of an anti-pope…Many prophecies predict an anti-pope and a schism” (Dupont, pp. 34,60-61)

G. Rossi (1873): We must observe that St. Malachy does not mention the last Pope as a distinct person from the preceding one, whom he styles Glory of the Olive. He merely says, “During the last persecution of the Church, Peter II, a Roman, shall reign. He shall feed the flock in many tribulations, at the end of which the City of the Seven Hills (Rome) will be destroyed, and the awful Judge shall judge his people.” According to St. Malachy, then, only ten, or at most eleven, popes remain to be in future more or less legitimately elected. We say more or less legitimately elected, because out of those future popes it is to be feared that one or two will be unlawfully elected as anti-popes. (Rossi, p. 139)

Priest E. Sylvester Berry (20th century) As indicated by the resemblance to a lamb, the prophet will probably set himself up in Rome as a sort of antipope during the vacancy of the papal throne . . .(Berry E.S. The Apocalypse of St. John. First published 1921. http://journals.aol.com/langosh5/Father_E_Sylvester_Berry/ 10/12/07)

Priest Herman Kramer (20th century): In accord with the text this is unmistakably a PAPAL ELECTION . . . But at this time the great powers may take a menacing attitude to hinder the election of the logical and expected candidate by threats of a general apostasy, assassination or imprisonment of this candidate if elected. This would suppose an extremely hostile mind in the governments of Europe towards the Church, because an extended interregnum in the papacy is always disastrous and more so in a time of universal persecution. If Satan would contrive to hinder a papal election, the Church would suffer great travail … one…destined for the papacy at the time will institute the needed reforms. A general council may decree the reforms…The lax clergy at the time will extol the conditions then existing…The dragon is a symbolic term for the evil world powers…They will try to make the Church a “state church” everywhere. This is only possible if they can subject the pope to their wills and compel him to teach and rule as they direct. That would be literally devouring the papacy. (Kramer H.B. L. The Book of Destiny, pp. 278,285).

Bishop Malachy (12th century): During the persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit upon the throne, Peter the Roman…the City of Seven Hills (Rome) will be utterly destroyed (Culleton, R. Gerald. The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin. Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 138).

Thus there are many Catholic writers who have warned of some type of an antipope, and that there could even be issues with his election–it will seem fine, but perhaps it was not.  Irrespective of Catholic writings, the reality is that if the next pope is the last pope, he will be the final Antichrist.

During the final phase of the work, the faithful in God’s Church will take a stand against the views of those who will support the compromised persecuting religious power (cf. Revelation 17:1-6). And though aspects of this have occurred throughout history, in the end it will be a major testing of their patience (Revelation 14:8-12). Related, however, to this when the more faithful in the COG (which would seem to be led by the Continuing Church of God) publicly identifies the King of the North as well as keeps reporting about the final Pope/Antichrist (the initial reporting about the final pope will likely get lost in the media until later as many will write about the final pope) and media coverage gets generated, the Catholic scholars (probably getting some direction from the last pope) will tear through COG literature and attempt to challenge the credibility and the integrity of the COG message–this will initially cause “vigilante-type” persecution, but will also be followed by more institutionalized persecution (Matthew 24:-10; Daniel 11:28-35; 7:25).

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce a new video on our YouTube channel called Bible New Prophecy. BibleNewsProphecy uploaded a video:

13:58

Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?

Did the Bible teach that Jesus raptures Christians prior to the start of the Great Tribulation? What did Jesus Himself teach? Do the scriptural passages that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins point to prove their left behind pre-tribulation rapture assertions? Do all Christians get protected from the Great Tribulation? Who does the Bible teach will get protected? Is the Great Tribulation the ‘wrath to come’ that Christians are promised protection from?

The above YouTube video goes through biblical prophecies and compares it with the pre-tribulation rapture view that some in the evangelical Protestant community hold to.

Damage from Syrian Conflict

COGwriter

Syrian opposition troops reported making military progress:

16 February 2013

Syrian rebels have captured a military airbase in the north and geared up for a major battle against regime forces as the opposition says it refuses to accept President Bashar al-Assad in talks on the 23-month conflict…

Rami Abdel Rahman, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. The Syrian army “is preparing a large-scale operation to take back control of Base 80″…

The UN has also said the number of Syrians who have fled the country could hit 1.1 million by June.  http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/20132167823784815.html

The opposition to Syria’s government has gotten stronger and been having military victories. But the regime of President Assad has not given up and expects to win–yet there will be a change in Syria.

Syria, which is currently mainly composed of people of the Sunni branch of Islam, while being ruled by one from the Shi’ite branch of Islam (its President Assad) is apparently destined to be part of the “King of the South” and that is why I have long expected changes in Syria.

The Sunni Arabs want a caliphate (Islamic confederation/empire) and the Bible tells of a time in the not too distant future when the final King of the South (who apparently is Arabic and/or Islamic) will rise up (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:5-7).  Furthermore, although the Bible does not mention the term Sunni Muslim, the nations mentioned in the confederation are currently mainly Sunni Muslim:

3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot.  (Psalms 83:3-8)

Here is an explanation of the above that was published over three decades ago:

King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations–a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south”–a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.

“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…

But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)

So, according to the above, the Hagarenes of Psalm 83 are represented by modern Syria.  It probably should also be mentioned that some others consider that the Syrians are better identified as Ishmaelites as opposed to being Hagarenes. Descendants of Ishmael’s eldest son Nabajoth/Nebajoth–Genesis 25:13–seem to have been identified with Syria in the Zenon papyri which dates from 259 B.C. (some consider that the Hagarenes are better identified with Iraq–yet since Ishmael’s mother was Hagar–Genesis 16:15–they would all tend to be related). Whether they are identified better as Hagarenes or Ishmaelites, Syria is prophesied to be part of a confederation that will decide to eliminate Israel.

And currently, it looks like the opposition to the Assad regime is gaining strength and at least parts of it claim that Israel is the real enemy.

As most readers of this page realize, Damascus, Syria’s capital, will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).  Change will occur in Syria.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

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, Syria, 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?

Trail of Chelyabinsk Meteor (Nikita Plekhanov)

COGWriter

As reported yesterday, a meteor exploded over Russia and has been called “Chelyabinsk Armageddon.”  This explosion was more powerful than what the news originally reported and caused greater injuries:

16 February 2013

Russian meteor hit with force of 30 Hiroshima bombs

The meteor that streaked across the skies over Russia in a blinding fireball on Friday exploded with a force about 30 times greater than the Hiroshima bomb, Nasa scientists have said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9874662/Russian-meteor-hit-with-force-of-30-Hiroshima-bombs.html
16 February 2013

Cleanup efforts are underway in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region after a meteor exploded over the area, blowing out an estimated 200,000 square metres of windows.

Workers began cleaning up the mess Saturday from Friday’s shocking event that shattered windows in more than 4,000 buildings and injured 1,200 people. Most of the people were injured from the flying glass…

By Saturday, 15 people remained in hospital, one in a coma, the regional health ministry said.

The region’s governor Mikhail Yurevich estimated the damage from the explosion to be around $33 million.  http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/russia-meteor-damage-pegged-at-33m-cleanup-efforts-begin-1.1159395#ixzz2L4dAg5D

16 February 2013

Russian comet was “like the end of the world”…

Residents fled for their lives as fireballs slammed into the Earth after exploding with the force of a nuclear bomb…Witnesses described it as “like a war zone”…

Video footage showed screaming children battling to flee through school corridors. Teacher Valentina Nikolayeva said: “An unreal light lit up all the classrooms on one side of the school.

“That kind of light doesn’t happen in life, only at the end of the world, then a trail appeared like from a plane but 10 times bigger.”    http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/378026/Russian-comet-was-like-the-end-of-the-world

16 February 2013

What experts agree was a meteor or a small asteroid wreaked havoc in the densely populated and highly industrialized Urals, injuring hundreds, causing millions of dollars worth of material damage, disrupting phone and Internet communication and prompting residents and leading scientists to draw new lessons from the small Chelyabinsk Armageddon.

“When a small piece of rock would fall on the Earth 100 years ago it could have caused minimal damage and would have stayed largely undetected, but  Friday’s accident fully demonstrated how vulnerable the technological civilization of today has become,” Vladimir Lipunov, head of the Space Monitoring Laboratory with Moscow State University, said in an interview Saturday.  http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-wn-fg-chelyabinsk-meteor-lessons-20130216,0,4643856.story

Of course, Armageddon itself is the staging area for a massive military battle (see Revelation 16:12-16), so the Chelyabinsk meteor explosion was not Armageddon, but seems to be a sign as part of the beginning of sorrows.  Notice the words of Jesus:

4…”Take heed that no one deceives you.  5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8)

5…”Take heed that no one deceives you.  6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.  7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.  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 13:5-8)

Notice that Jesus said that the sorrows are not the end.  But certainly what happened in Russia can be categorized as troubles.

Now, the Bible is clear that there will be signs in the heavens and destruction from them, but this 2 1/2 years or more after the start of the Great Tribulation (which has not yet began):

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…29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  (Matthew 24:15-16)

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood.  A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.  (Revelation 8:10-12)

So, the Bible clearly teaches that the “end of the world” events will include problems that will come from space (called the heavens above).  (More on Revelation 8:10-11 can be found in yesterday’s post Meteor explodes over Russia and asteroid 2012 DA14 coming today. Does the Bible warn of devastation from space?)

Part of Russia yesterday, got to experience just a small foretaste of what objects from outer space can do.  Will this help any of them, or you, repent?  Civilization as we know it will end.  And there will be destruction coming from the heavens.  But never forget that God is in charge of the universe and that Jesus will return.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
Just What Do You Mean Conversion? Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
False Conversion Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this article on this important subject.
All About Water Baptism What is baptism? Would you like to know more about it. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. As far as early history, see also Baptism and the Early Church.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hinderance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach?  Will God save the Gentiles?
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel?
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?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
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?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? 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?

COGwriter

Today’s suggested sermon by the Continuing Church of God today is at the ContinuingCOG YouTube channel and is titled Might Petra be the Place of Safety?

It covers information such as:

The Bible teaches that a portion of the Christians will be protected in a wilderness area during the Great Tribulation.  Might this place be Petra in Jordan?  Which places do the show can and cannot be the place of safety?  Is the idea of Christians fleeing to an area with caves during the reign of the Beast and Antichrist an old one or a modern invention?  Which Christians get this protection and which do not?  Will those who do not go be subject to persecution?  Do Catholic prophecies warn against this place of protection?

As far as Petra goes there are several clues in the Bible that suggests Petra or a place similar to it.  But part of this is based upon where the place of protection is not.

Some Clues about Where the Place Isn’t

Although some have suggested that the Bible gives no clue about where the place of safety will be, this is inaccurate. First notice that apparently some of God’s people will apparently be in the area of Judea and Jerusalem around this time:

5 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:

“Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry, ‘Gather together,’
And say, ‘Assemble yourselves,
And let us go into the fortified cities.’
6 Set up the standard toward Zion.
Take refuge! Do not delay!
For I will bring disaster from the north,
And great destruction.” (Jeremiah 4:5-6)

The above passage is suggesting that there will be a time that will come that those in Judea and Jerusalem will have to flee into a place of defense.  This is consistent with what Jesus told His followers to do in Matthew 24 :15-16 when they see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel (which happens right after the sacrifices, which have not yet started, have been stopped).  And Jeremiah is basically warning that disaster will come from the north–in this case apparently the King of the North. And this may be because some of God’s people have fled to Judea/Jerusalem in order to escape from some of the persecutions from this northern power (for more information on WHEN to flee, please see the article Who is the King of the North?).

In Luke 21:20-21, Jesus confirmed the concept that some of His people would be in the same area and would need to flee:

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

It thus appears that the place of safety is not in Jerusalem or Judea.

Since the Bible also warns that God’s people should flee Babylon and go out of Chaldea (Jeremiah 50:8;51:6,44-45; Zechariah 2:7; Revelation 18:4), Babylon and Chaldea apparently are not the places either.

Notice the following,

“Flee from the land of the north”, says the LORD…Up Zion! Escape you that dwell with the daughter of Babylon (Zechariah 2:6,7).

This not only suggests that the place may not be in a northern land, but that some Christians will have need to flee from the land of the north.

Since the Bible seem to forecast near total destruction to the islands of the world (Revelation 6:12-14; 16:17-21), no island seems to be a likely place (more information can be found in the article Islands and Bible Prophecy).

More Information About the Place

“He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure” (Isaiah 33:15-16)…”Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations” (Isaiah 45:20).

Isaiah thus indicates this place will be a fortress of rocks for those that escape from the nations (note: the escaping from the nations suggests that groups with origins in CGI, such as ICG and CEM, are in error for teaching that God intends to protect people where they are).

It is also of interest to note that those that escape will be assembled–they are not lone independents–this is also consistent with Zephaniah 2:1-3

Gather yourselves together, yes gather together, O undesirable nation, Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the day of the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you! Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger.

The Hebrew words translated as Zephaniah means “Yahweh Hides” or “Yahweh Has Hidden” (Holy Bible: Vine’s Expository Reference Edition, p. 826). Notice that a decree is issued, apparently by a church leader–and I believe that the leader will be part of the Continuing Church of God. This would seem to happen after the gospel has been preached enough to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14), Jewish sacrifices are stopped, and the abomination is set up (Daniel 9:27; 11:31) per Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24:15-16.

It remains my prayer that those who are Philadelphians and are scattered in groups will soon assemble together, before it is too late.

Furthermore, Zephaniah continues by suggesting that the place will not be in Gaza, at the seacoast, nor Canaan, the land of the Philistines,

For Gaza will be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast; The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines (2:4-5).

According to the commentary at Nelson’s Study Bible on these verses Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron are major cities of the Philistines and Cherethites is simply another name for Philistines. The land mentioned is currently primarily occupied by the Palestinians.

Since people are to leave Judea, are not to go to Gaza, nor Canaan, nor to various places in the north, which direction can they go? Well, they cannot go west because the Mediterranean sea is in the way. This would seem to suggest going east, south, or possibly southeast (southwest would take one to Gaza).

Where is the Place?

David wrote, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5). This may have a dual meaning. It may be referring to the tribulation and may also be referring to an interesting event in David’s life. David was hiding in the woods from Saul (I Samuel 23:19), and “When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon…So David made haste to get away from Saul…so they called that place the Rock of Escape” (I Samuel 23:25,26,28). The word translated ‘Rock’ is Sela and the word translated as ‘rock’ are derivatives of the same word. Thus there was a Sela of Escape for David.

Jesus taught, “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” (Matthew 24:20) which is consistent with Revelation 12:14 which clearly states that it is a place to go to, it is in the wilderness, and it is away from the presence of the serpent. The word translated as wilderness, is translated as desert in the NIV. This word is eremos, which Strong’s defines as lonesome, waste, desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness. Thus, it is not protection in our own houses (as some have erroneously suggested), nor is it protection in a large city. It is somewhere in the wilderness.

Petra, the rocky outpost in Jordan has been speculated to be the place. And where is Petra?:

Situated within the harsh desert, Petra’s vitality was dependent upon an intricate hydraulic system fed by a perennial spring. This spring, the Ain Musa (Spring of Moses), is fabled to have been one of the places where Moses struck the rock with his staff to produce water for his wandering people after their flight from Egypt. Not surprisingly, the valley in which Petra is situated, the Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses) is also named after the Biblical patriarch. In addition, Moses’ brother Aaron is believed to be buried atop the Jebel Haroun (Mount of Aaron), a mountain just south of the city. The belief that Aaron was buried so near Petra is especially noteworthy because it played an important role in Petra’s rediscovery by John Burckhardt (Petra: History, Myth, and Earthquakes; Standford.edu website).

In terms of its location from Jerusalem, Petra (Sela on some Bible maps) is mainly south and slightly east of Jerusalem.

Philadelphians and the Wilderness

In the New Testament, while not all Christians are promised physical protection, the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the Great Tribulation and this place is in the wilderness according the the Book of Revelation:

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:7-10)

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13-17)

Places, such as Petra, are in the wilderness and in a biblically possible location.

While Petra may not be the place, it is a place to be considered.  A YouTube video of interest could be Might Petra be the Place of Safety?

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Might Petra be the Place of Safety?  The Bible teaches that a portion of the Christians will be protected in a wilderness area during the Great Tribulation.  Might this place be Petra in Jordan?  Which places do the show can and cannot be the place of safety?  Is the idea of Christians fleeing to an area with caves during the reign of the Beast and Antichrist an old one or a modern invention?  Which Christians get this protection and which do not?  Will those who do not go be subject to persecution?  Do Catholic prophecies warn against this place of protection?
This is PETRA! This is a 1962 Good News article by the late Dr. Hoeh.
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.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? 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?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now essentially the most faithful in the Church of God.