Church of God News

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

COGwriter

Has Iran’s nuclear stance changed?  Does it only have peaceful nuclear plans?  Some doubt that:

Don’t Be Fooled by Iran’s Charming New Leader

30 September 2013

There are two main reasons to doubt the possibility of an Iran-U.S. rapprochement, an idea that gained new life after Iran’s charm offensive at the United Nations last week and a phone call between the presidents of the two countries on Sept. 27. The first is general to the Middle East, the second is specific to Iran.

The general reason is easy to understand, and all-encompassing: Nothing at all works in the Middle East, so why should the U.S. find success convincing Iran to give up its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions?…

The second reason is specific to Iran’s actions last week. Many people are forgetting that Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran and the commander of Operation Offensive Charm, is a moderate only in comparison to his predecessor, the unhinged Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rouhani has been a superior soldier for Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a defender of the regime, and an anti-American propagandist for much of his professional life. (Not often mentioned during last week’s love-in was Rouhani’s post-Sept. 11 commentary, in which he blamed the attacks on the “wrongs and mistakes of American policies,” and argued that the U.S. Air Force shot down Flight 93, which crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside.)

There’s no proof yet that Rouhani’s ultimate goals for Iran are different than those of the hardliners. Let’s look at what he didn’t do at the UN last week: He not only refused to comply with the many Security Council resolutions demanding that Iran cease all uranium-enrichment activities, he also refused to endorse the idea that Iran is obligated to pay any attention to the Security Council’s wishes.  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-09-30/dont-be-fooled-by-irans-charming-new-leader

Notice also the following:

President Obama could be hanging his hopes for productive nuclear negotiations with Iran on a hoax, according to one Middle East-focused think tank.

On Friday, Obama cited a “fatwa,” or religious edict, from Iran’s all-powerful Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, banning the pursuit of nuclear weapons.

“I do believe that there is a basis for a resolution [because] Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons,” Obama told reporters.

But although talk of such a fatwa has been around for at least eight years, there’s no evidence it was ever issued, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute, which flatly called the fatwa a hoax. MEMRI claims the phony fatwa is promoted by Iranian diplomats and Turkey’s Islamist prime minister, Recep Erdogan.

“There is no such fatwa. It is a lie from the Iranians, a deception, and it is tragic that President Obama has endorsed it,” MEMRI Founder and President Yigal Carmon told FoxNews.com…

The fatwa’s existence appears to date back to 2005, when it was cited by an Iranian diplomat. In a 2012 Washington Post op-ed by Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, it was cited again, without a link or other documentation.

In April 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking at a NATO conference, cited the supposed fatwa, but with a degree of skepticism. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/30/phony-fatwa-group-claims-iranian-anti-nuke-edict-cited-by-obama-hoax/

It was reported that many years ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei endorsed getting nuclear weapons to help set the way for a leader commonly referred to as the Imam Mahdi to arrive (Khamenei Has Claimed Iranian Nuclear Weapons Need for the Arrival of the 12th Imam).

What Ayatollah Khamenei’s personal view of nuclear weapons truly is can be debated, but few in Israel and elsewhere have a lot of trust in his words that suggest Iran only is pursuing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Though a more significant Islamic power will rise up for a short while in the 21st century, this power will not not be Iranian and will not last (Daniel 11:40-43). Ayatollah Khamenei should consider more of what the Bible says as Iran is not the going to be the primary instrument to truly make that happen.

Yet, also ignoring certain portions of scripture, Iran’s last president publicly stated that the purpose of the Iranian revolution was to prepare the way for an Islamic leader, the Imam Mahdi, also called the the 12th Imam, to rise up (this was several years ago, but he still seems to believe it). This Imam Mahdi sounds a lot like the final King of the South that the Bible warns against (though the actual one that many Shi’ites expect from “suspended animation” is not likely to be that King, but a Mahdi belief will likely be a factor in getting the final King of the South). A while back, Iran’s former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that it was the Imam Mahdi who was behind the revolutions in the various Arab lands as well as other events in the world (see Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: World Order About to Collapse, Mahdi Behind it).

Until the King of the South rises finally up, I would not be surprised if Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria get together to cause additional trouble (including possible war) with Israel as a means of hoping to provoke the rise of the Imam Mahdi, as well as to hope to get the Arab states to support the Iranian version of Shi’ite Islam (most of the Arab nations are mainly Sunni Islam). And while that latter item won’t happen as Iran seems to envision, it certainly may get the Arab states in more of a mood to cooperate closer.   A nuclear-armed Iran, or an Iran that Israel suspects is about to be nuclear-armed could trigger a regional conflict that could have major ramifications.

The USA may wish to reconsider what Iran is doing.

Some items of related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world, discusses Turkey and Iran, and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated Many want Jerusalem. Who does the Bible teach will control Jerusalem? Will the Jews be forced out of Jerusalem and many made captive? What did Jesus teach about this? Are nations even now considering providing the prophesied armies to surround Jerusalem? What is Jerusalem Day? What is Nakba Day? What events should Christians watch in Jerusalem as signs that the Great Tribulation will begin? What is the solution to Jerusalem? This is a video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem?
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?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
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 is the seven-year deal? 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?
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

A budget for the USA government is supposed to be in place by midnight tonight or an alleged shutdown of the government is supposed to occur:

September 30, 2013

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to meet on Monday afternoon, allowing itself just hours to reach a compromise with the House of Representatives on a spending bill before a midnight deadline for a partial shutdown of the U.S. government.

Republican lawmakers are insisting that any measure either delays or defunds President Barack Obama’s signature health care law intended to provide coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has promised that a spending bill passed by the House in the early hours of Saturday morning, which would delay key parts of the Affordable Healthcare Act, known as Obamacare, for one year, will not be approved.

The measure has highlighted the deep divisions between Republican and Democratic politicians.

Democrats say Obamacare has been duly passed and is now the law of the land. It gives low income individuals and people without health insurance the chance to buy a low-cost, federally subsidized policy so that families will not face financial ruin in the event of a serious illness.

Republicans say the program is confusing and not ready. They also say that the law hurts the economy by imposing more taxes and by forcing small businesses to provide coverage for their employees.

Obama has said he will not let the law be gutted.

If nothing is passed by both houses of Congress by midnight Monday, all but the most essential government services will start closing down. Tourists will find national parks and museums off limits while anyone needing a passport or help with taxes would have to wait. More than 1 million civil servants may not get paid during the shutdown. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-government-on-verge-of-shutdown/1759628.html

September 30, 2013

Unless Congress can reach a resolution, the government’s spending authority will expire at midnight. National parks are expected to close, homebuyers will probably face delays on government-backed mortgages, and an estimated 800,000 federal workers will face furlough.

The last time the government shut down, in late 1995 and early 1996, federal agencies stopped paying for veterans’ medical care, halted disease surveillance, shelved toxic cleanups, gated the national parks and sent hundreds of thousands of workers off the job without pay.  http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/27/20723677-showdown-in-washington-how-a-government-shutdown-would-hit-americans?lite

The federal government politicians are not coming up with the real solution to the US debt situation. Without going into all the details, let me simply state that the steps and delays that they have taken this year will contribute to the weakening of the US military (see also Pentagon concerned about additional looming defense cuts–prophetic ramifications? and the more recent US military being severely damaged by budget cuts) and have certain negative effects on the economy of the USA.

That being said, the reality is that even with some deal that could possibly happen soon, the total debt of the USA will rise.  The federal government has no intention of truly being shutdown.  Most employees will still be working for it even if the so-called shutdown occurs.

The reality is that something needs to be done (and it may essentially be some type of sham, like the “quantitative easing” programs are; see Doubling QE3 is not good and the more recent decision to continue with it US Federal Reserve announces plan to continue to debase the value of the US dollar). The politicians are making it clear to me, at least, that it will take massive devastation and the return of Jesus for the needed solutions to be implemented here.

Biblically, these debt increases are more dangerous than most in the USA realize. Notice what the Bible warns about those who increase debt in the end times:

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry…5 Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man… 6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? 7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you. 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 USA is in more debt than any country in the history of humanity. Despite biblical warnings, the USA continues to increase its debt and engage in political posturing. At some point in time, the USA will likely start to experience massive inflation and currency devaluation. And afterwards, its creditors will rise up (Habakkuk 2:7). The realities of USA debt as well as policies of the Federal Reserve like “quantitative easing” are setting the stage for the absolute end of economic dominance by the U.S.A.–have no doubt about it (although there could be some major positive economic events before that happens).

It seems like every several months that there is another ‘budget crisis’ that the USA federal government is facing (there have been several ‘crises’ this year and the number depends upon how you count them).  While the Republicans and Democrats have often used this as a major partisan fight and sometimes treat this like a political game, the reality is that the rest of the world is also watching and has been very disturbed by all of this (see IMF: Suspending debt ceiling hurts United States tremendously). The Europeans and others are realizing that the USA is losing its position of world leadership–and when it does, this will be the final “time of the Gentiles” that the Bible warns of (Ezekiel 30:2-3; Luke 21:23-24; Revelation 11:2). The leaders in the USA are causing the nation to err (cf. Isaiah 3:12; 9:16).

The policies and decisions in Washington, D.C. are helping to create the conditions for the upcoming European Beast power to fill the void in economic (and even military) leadership that the USA is in the process of making. The Europeans, and others, will watch what the politicians in the USA do in the next week and realize that the USA simply does not have a political system that will allow it to lead the world economically for too much longer.

Change is coming, and in several years, those in the USA (as well as their Anglo-allies) will not like the change that is coming.

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?
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? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Protestant and Church of God views of the United States in Bible Prophecy Is the USA mentioned in Bible prophecy? Some Protestants say yes, while others say no. What does the Bible really teach? Learn the truth about this. There is also a video available: Is The United States Mentioned In Bible Prophecy?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
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?
Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? The Book of Revelation tells of a beast power that will rise up. Some think that this must be Russia or could be Islamic, while others say that this power is European. The Book of Daniel tells of the rise of an end time King of the North that some think must be referring to a Russian leader, while others say that this power is European. How can you be sure? This YouTube video has all the scriptural proofs that you should need to prove that this power must be a European one.
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?
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 Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce a video about concerns about eating on our YouTube channel called Bible New Prophecy.

Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Kai Moerk 2012)

COGwriter

Former US President Bill Clinton made a couple of comments about his wife Hillary:

September 29, 2013

If Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president in 2016, her next campaign “will be better,” her husband says.

“It’ll be different,” ex-President Bill Clinton told ABC’s This Week…

While careful to say that former Secretary of State Clinton hasn’t decided whether to run in 2016, Bill Clinton said her loss to President Obama in the 2008 Democratic Party was partly the product of “complicated” circumstances.  http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/09/29/obama-bill-clinton-hillary-2016-election/2890765/

As I reported before, the fact that there is a Super-PAC called “Ready for Hillary,”combined with her public speaking, and her new book, etc. suggests that the foundational steps for a presidential run again are being laid.

US President Barack Obama put out a book or two before he ran for the US presidency. Hillary Clinton may not run again, but she certainly has taken steps that seem consistent with the possibility that she will.

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 strong possibility–though not a certainty.

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 many years herself as a US senator then Secretary of State (and have various female Supreme Court justices, senators, 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 (the USA may end up with a woman as chairman of the Federal Reserve, and there already have been women on the US Supreme Court), but I do feel that if we do get one, that this would be a partial, but significant, fulfillment of that prophecy. And whether she runs or not, she is causing people to err by her position on homosexual marriage and abortion.

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.

We will see first if she if fact does decide to run. But if she does, no one should expect her to reverse herself and take a lot of biblically-supportable moral positions that disagree with the politics of the day.

On other matters, the following was in the news today:

September 29, 2013

WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders said on Sunday that they still believed a government shutdown beginning on Tuesday could be averted if Democrats would accept at least some of their demands to scale back President Obama’s health care law.  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/us/politics/time-short-but-gop-leaders-say-shutdown-can-be-avoided.html

Without getting in the politics of that battle, let me simply state that it appears that both parties care more about WHO WILL BE BLAMED for any government shut down (which is not truly a shut down as the vast bulk of the US federal government would still be expected to operate) than the possible shut down itself.

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?
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.

The Black Flag of Jihad

COGwriter

There was another bombing in Pakistan:

September 29, 2013

Peshawar, Pakistan (CNN) — At least 40 people were killed and about 100 were wounded after a bomb exploded at a bazaar in Peshawar, officials at a Pakistani hospital said…

Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has endured a violent week.

On Monday, 81 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Protestant church in one of the deadliest attacks ever on the Christian community in Pakistan.

A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility, saying the attack was in response to U.S. drone strikes in tribal areas.

And on Friday, at least 17 people were killed and more than 30 others wounded in an explosion that ripped through a bus carrying government employees…

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack at the bazaar. The Pakistani Taliban decried the loss of innocent life but at the same time struck a defiant note. “We are targeting the government machinery and the law enforcement agencies but not general public,” said spokesman Shaidullah Shaid.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is rife with Islamic extremists and has been the site of clashes between Pakistani security forces and militants.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/29/world/asia/pakistan-attack/

September 29, 2013…

Pakistani authorities say the bomb exploded Sunday during morning rush hours in Pesahawar’s oldest, Qissa Khawani, bazaar and the blast inflicted widespread destruction.

The bloodshed took place not far from the All Saints Church, where last Sunday a pair of suicide bombers struck in a crowd of worshipers.  The carnage left at least 85 members of the country’s minority Christian community dead, nearly half of them women and children.

The church was repaired and reopened under extremely tight security on Sunday, offering special services and prayers for victims of the blast.  A local journalist, Sabookh Syed, says he was witnessing the rituals when the market blast took place nearby.

He tells VOA that “the powerful blast also shook the church building, causing a scramble among Christian worshipers while terrified women and children began crying and raised their hands towards the sky”.

On Friday, a bomb exploded in a crowded bus while it was travelling through the outskirts of Peshawar, carrying government employees to their homes. That attack killed 19 people and wounded dozens more.
Authorities blame Taliban extremists, who are waging a bloody insurgency in Pakistan, for  Sunday’s bombing and previous “acts of terrorism”.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has promised to engage the Islamist militants in peace talks to try to end the bloodshed, but many believe the latest violence has apparently left little room for his government to pursue a negotiated settlement.

The Pakistani prime minister “strongly condemned” Sunday’s bomb blast in Peshawar.  In a written statement, Sharif says “those involved in the killing of innocent people are devoid of humanity and all religions.”  http://www.voanews.com/content/at-least-33-killed-in-pakistan-blast/1759269.html

Pope Francis (Source: presidencia.gov.ar)

COGwriter

Several weeks ago, Pope Francis called for a fast on the vigil of Mary’s “birthday” to try to ask her to intervene in Syria. He also read some passages by the Catholic saint Thérèse of Lisieux.  VReportedly, he considers that this dead ‘saint’ responded the next day:

On Sunday 8 September, the day after the long prayer vigil for peace in Syria – when some passages from texts written by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux were read out – Pope Francis received a white rose as a surprise. Francis considers the flower to be a “sign” linked to the devotion of the saint. The Archbishop of Ancona and Osimo, Edoardo Menichelli broke the news, with Francis authorisation…

“The Pope told me he received the freshly-picked white rose out of the blue from a gardener as he was taking a stroll in the Vatican Gardens on Sunday 8 September,” Mgr. Menichelli said. “The Pope sees this flower as a “sign”, a “message” from Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, whom he had turned to in a moment of worry the day before.”…

Bergoglio mentions it in “El Jesuita” (“The Jesuit”), a book interview written by Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti when he was still a cardinal. In a description the two journalists give of Bergoglio’s library in Buenos Aires, they write: “We pause before a vase full of white roses standing on a shelf in the library. In front of it is a photograph of Saint Thérèse. “Whenever I have a problem,” Bergoglio explained to the journalists, “I ask the saint not to solve it, but to take it into her hands and to help me accept it and I almost always receive a white rose as a sign.” Pope Francis’ devotion for the Carmelite mystic who died at the young age of 24 in 1897, was canonized by Pius XI  and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by John Paul II in 1997, is common knowledge.  http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/28151/

We are increasingly learning about supposedly ‘signs’ associated with Pope Francis.  This should give pause to those those in the real Church of God:

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  25 See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Pope Francis is a big promoter of Mary as well as the apparition in Fatima. He consecrated his pontificate to ‘Mary and even further had his pontificate consecrated to the Lady of Fatima (Pope Francis’ pontificate consecrated to ‘Lady of Fatima’).

Thérèse of Lisieux is popularly known as “The Little Flower of Jesus” or “The Little Flower.”  She was declared a Catholic saint in 1925 and ‘doctor of the church’ in 1997.  She claimed to be healed of an illness after gazing a statute that was supposed to be ‘Mary.’  She reported on 13 May 1883 that she had seen the Virgin smile at her (Wikipedia).  I have reported about her in the past (see The Catholic Therese of Lisieux) and her remains have been viewed by millions.

The ‘Marian’ connection between Thérèse of Lisieux and Pope Francis is of interest.  Pope Francis remains a ‘person of interest’ as far as either being the final Antichrist who will end up betraying the Church of Rome or at least setting the stage for the one who will be.

Some items of related interest may include:

Chinese Soldiers

COGwriter

China’s lack of single females made the news:

China is moving forwards at an astonishing rate, but it lacks one vital commodity – young women. Men of marriageable age are confronted by a shrinking pool of potential female partners – and the competition to find a bride is fierce…

While China’s wealthiest men contract out the search for a spouse and have plenty of choice, at the opposite end of the scale some have no choice at all.

The country’s inexorable economic rise has put marriage out of reach for many men.

These days grooms are expected to provide a car, a good salary and real estate.

One young engineer I met in a Beijing park, Zhang Junfrei, told me that he would have to save up for 200 years to afford a one-bedroom apartment – and that is without eating or drinking…

Men in the poorest, least-developed areas suffer the most from the skewed sex ratio because of another inescapable trend in modern China – mass migration. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24264693

The situation with native females in China will tend to worsen over the next decade or so.  Some males there are looking at Vietnamese, North Korean, or other Asian women as there simply are not enough women in China for its number of men.  Female babies have often been aborted or otherwise killed in China, and that combined with its “one-child” policy has put the country in a difficult place.

Because of this more males than normal will be more willing to fight in the military. The imbalanced sex-ratio appears to be setting the stage for a potential large army in the 21st century.

Now, while the Chinese flag itself is basically red and yellow, it perhaps should be mentioned that the colors of the Chinese flag for its navy and air force is military is red, blue, and yellow.  Also, notice the colors of the insignia that many of its troops wear:

Why is that potentially important?

Because these are colors seem to be mentioned in the Bible.  Notice some of what the Bible states about a 200 million man army: from the east:

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed–by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths (Revelation 9:13-18).

Hence, presuming that China is a major provider of military men in this 200 million man army, it would make sense that it, and perhaps others, might march under colors like some of its military does currently.  I have long been warning readers of this page that although the Chinese will temporarily fall for the religion of the Beast and the final Antichrist, that they are a discerning people who will be among the first to realize that the religion of the Beast and the final Antichrist is NOT of God.  That, though, will be part of why they are apparently going to support the prophesied army.

The current reality is that only China, and possibly India and others in Asia (which may align themselves Russia), are capable of fielding a two hundred million man army.

Additionally, notice that the sequence involving the 200 million many army has to do with something related to the river Euphrates, which the Bible indicates will be people who represent the “Kings of the East”:

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).

While there are many peoples who live east of the river Euphrates, the Greek expression translated as “kings of the east,” literally means “kings of the sunrise.” This indicates that these are people in the far east, or at least relatively far east from the river Euphrates. China, India, and other lands are far east of that river. Thus, Revelation appears to be discussing an Asian role in the end-time prophecies. When the Book of Revelation was written there were not even 200 million men on the earth, hence the prophecy was intended for a later time (like the 21st century) when there would be enough willing males to support such an army.

Studies have suggested that decreased female availability tends to increase societal and other violence.  Thus, the fulfillment of end-time biblical prophecies related to a 200 million man army seems to be in the developing stages.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? China is the world’s most populace nation. China has the world’s largest standing military. China is a major economic power and it holds a lot of U.S. debt. China also has problems with corruption, pollution, and its hukou registration system. Will China face civil unrest? Is China prophesied to be wealthy in the end times? Will China takeover the U.S.A. or will it be another power? What does Bible prophecy reveal?
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? What do the Living Church of God and the Church of Rome teach?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?

Damage from Syrian Conflict

COGwriter

Notice the following:

September 28, 2013

Syrian rebels say they have captured a border post near Jordan, following several days fierce of clashes with Syrian forces.

Rebels say they took full control of the Dara’a crossing on Saturday, a day after the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution requiring Syria to eliminate chemical weapons.

The vote late Friday by the 15-member council ended weeks of intense diplomacy between Russia and the United States.

It is based on a deal between the two countries reached in Geneva earlier this month following a sarin nerve gas attack on a Damascus suburb that killed hundreds.

The U.S.-Russia deal averted punitive U.S. military action against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, which Washington blamed for the August attack.  http://www.voanews.com/content/fresh-clashes-in-syria-after-un-agreement/1758941.html

I would also add that partially because the USA ended up not bombing Syria, some of the USA’s so-called allies in the Syrian opposition have decided to support Al-Qaeda (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57604557/syria-rebel-factions-including-al-qaeda-linked-nusra-front-reject-authority-of-u.s.-backed-opposition-snc/).  The situation in Syria still is unstable and will change.

Since the Bible tells of a time when a confederation of territory, currently dominated by Islamic nations, will get together, there will be changes in Syria. Because the Bible predicts this type of confederation in the end times (see Ezekiel 30:1-8; Daniel 11:40-43), it will come to pass.  The Assad regime will change and/or be eliminated.

Since Syria is one of the countries that will support the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40), and its President Assad is basically on the outs with other Arabic nations, something (like him and his government) will have to change there.

Items of possibly related interest may include:

Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
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?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
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? See also the video Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013?
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce its suggested sermon for today which is at its ContinuingCOG channel.

1:04:09

Exodus, Judgments, and Jesus

This is a sermon that covers parts of Exodus 20-23 and Jesus’ statements in Matthew 5-7. Did Jesus teach that simply professing Him as Lord did not make one a real Christian?

Some items of possible interest may also include:

What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed? Here is a YouTube sermon titled Jesus: Son of God and Saviour.
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common “traditions of men” regarding them as well. Here is a version in the Spanish language:.¿Están vigentes todavía los diez mandamientos?
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background. [Português: Esperança do salvação: Como a igreja do deus difere da maioria de protestantes]
Overview: How Does the Church of God Agree and Disagree with Other Faiths Professing Christ? This overview answers that and explains what the Church of God basically stands for. In the appendices provides information about certain complaints and as well as an overview about many COG-related groups.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.

Chinese Renminbi Yuan

COGwriter

The Chinese keep taking steps to eliminate the US dollar as the primary reserve currency in the world and to get others to accept more of its currency:

China Steps Up Pace To Convertibility

Daily Pfennig® | Economic happenings around the world | SEPTEMBER 27, 2013…

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Why am I telling you this? Because two things happened in China yesterday, that make me believe they are stepping toward that replace of the dollar standard, with a quicker pace.  First,  yesterday we had China announcing that they will launch Certificates of Deposit (CDs) which can be traded in the interbank market in the near-term. This is HUGE folks. I know, I know, it looks to be a really dumb thing to hang one’s hat on. But think about this from a bank’s point of view. having CD’s that are traded, and can be traded before maturity date in the international market, provides a ton of liquidity. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said that they are also going to push for forward rate liberalization. (remember I’ve explained the forward rates in China before, but for those of you who missed class the 100 times I’ve explained this before. forward rates in freely traded/ convertible currencies is usually equal to the interest rate differential and the number of days between the two currencies being traded. But with China, India, Brazil and others, they are non-deliverable forwards, of which traders also speculate where they think the currency will be at the forward date in the future. China would have to get more trading desks around the world to take positions and deal in the renminbi/ yuan before this could be achieved, but it’s nice to think they are thinking of this).

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The second piece of news from China is an even bigger pink elephant in the room. China has announced that they are going to test convertibility of the renminbi / yuan in a free-trading zone being established in Shanghai.  http://www.dailypfennig.com/2013/09/27/china-steps-pace-convertibility/

After the USA dollar, it should be noted that the Euro is the second most traded currency in the world–China’s currency currently amounts is not that important (http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/09/24/225443718/currency-the-u-s-is-dominant-europe-is-fading-and-china-is-irrelevant-for-now), but it now seems to have made the top ten (http://thediplomat.com/2013/09/23/chinas-big-currency-strategy/).

It is the biblically-based view of the Continuing Church of God that Europe, and not China, will dominate the world’s financial scene in the end time.  The time of Jacob’s (which includes the USA’s) trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) is coming, which will be a time dominated by the Gentile powers (Luke 21:24).  And while China will have its own issues, it will help make certain steps happen.

A few years ago former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, went to China to work to replace the USA dollar with something that included the Chinese yuan and the EU’s euro (see France and China Working Hard to Replace Dollar). The fact that China has been actively working on something to cause this should show every one that they are serious, and that at some point in time, Europe will take further steps to eliminate the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

And, let us not forget that the USA keeps increasing its debt and inflating its currency through programs like ‘quantitative easing’ that financial experts should realize is diminishing its value–biblically it is adding ‘dross’ to its currency, which is not good (Isaiah 1:22,25; Proverbs 25:4a). At some point in time in the future, this will result in disaster for the USA according to biblical prophecy.

Now the point of this post is what is happening to the US dollar. What is happening in Asia, and elsewhere, shows that the world is moving away from the US dollar. All the arrangements that the Chinese, Russians, and others are doing are making it easier for the ultimate break from the dollar.

I would also add that WHEN the USA has to increase interest rates to keep foreigners (and others) lending to it, this will lead to a downward spiral, that while it likely will have some “ups,” while result in the USA being taken over and destroyed. The Bible warns about the indebted one getting taken over by its creditors at the appointed time of the end (cf. Habakkuk 2), and the USA is currently the greatest debtor nation in the history of the world. And after interest rates rise for the USA dollar, it will be worse in the USA than almost any economist will publicly admit.

The USA dollar will be replaced.   And while the Chinese currency will not of itself be that replacement, nations around the world are taking steps to replace it, and the USA itself continues to increase debt, which will help make the replacement of the US dollar biblically required.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? China is the world’s most populace nation. China has the world’s largest standing military. China is a major economic power and it holds a lot of U.S. debt. China also has problems with corruption, pollution, and its hukou registration system. Will China face civil unrest? Is China prophesied to be wealthy in the end times? Will China takeover the U.S.A. or will it be another power? What does Bible prophecy reveal?
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? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
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?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What 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? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
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.