Church of God News

Logo of the Chaldean Catholic Patriarche
(Via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Pope Leo XIV met with leaders from the ‘Churches of the East’ this week:

Eastern church leaders welcome election of Pope Leo XIV

May 16, 2025

Church leaders in the Christian East welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, noting his first words to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square were about peace.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was at an event in his honor in Athens when he learned of the election, according to a report in The Orthodox Times. …

The ecumenical patriarch, who had hoped to visit Iznik, Turkey, with Francis in May to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, said he hoped Leo would “combine a visit to Nicaea with an official visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, on the occasion of our feast of St. Andrew on Nov. 30.” https://www.ncronline.org/news/eastern-church-leaders-welcome-election-pope-leo-xiv

It was the Council of Nicea that declared that certain aspects of original Christianity be officially changed. This was not a proper Christian things to do. Nor is it to celebrate that. True Christians, according to the Bible are to diligently contend for the original faith:

1 JUDE, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to the Gentiles who have been called and are beloved by God the Father and are protected by Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy and peace, with love, be multiplied to you. 3 My beloved, I write to you with all diligence concerning our common salvation, and it is needful that I should write and exhort you also to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. (Jude 1-3, Lamsa Bible)

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you about our common life, it was necessary for me to write to you, as I am to persuade you to compete for the faith, which was once delivered to The Holy Ones. (Jude 3, Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

3 My dear friends, at a time when I was eagerly looking forward to writing to you about the salvation that we all share, I felt that I must write to you encouraging you to fight hard for the faith which has been once and for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude New Jerusalem Bible)

Note the three above are used by various “Churches of the East” (including the first group which is NOT in communion with the Church of Rome) with the last one a Roman Catholic translation.

Anyway, those at Nicea agreed to changes that were NOT part of the “faith once delivered to the saints.”

That said, here is more related to Pope Leo XIV’s visits with leaders from the ‘Churches of the East’  (bolding in source):

May 15, 2025

Pope Leo XIV welcomed Eastern Catholics to the Vatican with the traditional Easter greeting, “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!”

Addressing the faithful from the 23 sui iuris Churches in full communion with Rome, … “The Church needs you!” Pope Leo said. “The contribution that the Christian East can offer us today is immense,” … “It is vital then, that you preserve your traditions without attenuating them,” he said. …

“Who better than you,” he asked, “can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence.” …

He went on to thank God for all those who are “sowing peace,” …

“Today more than ever,” concluded Pope Leo XIV, “the splendour of the Christian East demands freedom from all worldly attachments, and from every tendency contrary to communion, in order to remain faithful in obedience and in evangelical witness.” https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xiv-to-eastern-catholics-the-church-needs-you.html

May 14, 2025

On the morning of Wednesday, May 14, the Pope received in a special audience in the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican City Catholics from various Eastern rites, accompanied by their Patriarchs, Major Archbishops, and clergy. … We now offer the English translation of the Pope’s words.

I would also like to mention Pope Leo XIII, the first Pope to devote a specific document to the dignity of your Churches, inspired above all by the fact that, in his words, “the work of human redemption began in the East” (cf. Apostolic Letter Orientalium Dignitas, 30 November 1894). Truly, you have “a unique and privileged role as the original setting where the Church was born” (SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Orientale Lumen, 5). It is significant that several of your liturgies – which you are now solemnly celebrating in Rome in accordance with your various traditions – continue to use the language of the Lord Jesus. … Over a century ago, Leo XIII pointed out that “preserving the Eastern rites is more important than is generally realized”. (Pope asks to define principles, norms, and guidelines for Latin rite priests accompanying Eastern rite Catholics arriving in the West. ZENIT, May 14, 2025 https://zenit.org/2025/05/14/pope-asks-to-define-principles-norms-and-guidelines-for-latin-rite-priests-accompanying-eastern-rite-catholics-arriving-in-the-west/)

Yes, the Church of Rome needs to return to the original beliefs–that would help more than immensely. We have an e-book that would assist the Vatican: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Who better than those who hold to the beliefs of the original catholic church, those of us who have remained pacifists, can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence? That would be us of the Continuing Church of God! See also Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare or Encourage Violence? We are sowing peace, not attached to politics of this world, and faithfully looking for the coming Kingdom of God. But telling the Eastern Churches not to attenuate, it seems like Pope Leo XIV is unknowingly advocating for Jude 3.

Note that while the ORIGINAL eastern rite practices should be retained, what is happening in those eastern churches in communion with the Church of Rome is NOT that. Nor do they speak quite the same language as Jesus did (Was the New Testament Written in Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic?)–they speak Syriac Aramaic, whereas Jesus spoke Palestinian Aramaic.

But we in the CCOG do hold to the liturgy and rites of the ORIGINAL CHURCH OF THE EAST.

Regarding what else could be called the Church of the East, the 17th century historian and Sunday-keeper William Cave reported that the early Christians, both Jews and those in the east, kept the Sabbath:

… the Sabbath or Saturday (for so the word sabbatum is constantly used in the writings of the fathers, when speaking of it as it relates to Christians) was held by them in great veneration, and especially in the Eastern parts honoured with all the public solemnities of religion. For which we are to know, that the gospel in those parts mainly prevailing amongst the Jews, they being generally the first converts to the Christian faith, they still retained a mighty reverence for the Mosaic institutions, and especially for the sabbath, as that which had been appointed by God himself, (as the memorial of his rest from the week of creation,) settled by their great master Moses, and celebrated by their ancestors for so many ages, as the solemn day of their public worship, and were therefore very loth that it should be wholly antiquated and laid aside. … they assembled on Saturdays, not that they were infected with Judaism, but only to worship Jesus Christ, the Lord of the sabbath. …

Thus stood the case in the Eastern Church; (Cave William, D.D. Primitive Christianity: or the Religion of the Ancient Christians in the First Ages of the Gospel. 1840 edition revised by H. Cary. Oxford, London, pp. 83-85)

Notice also the following 19th century report:

There has been no period since the time of Christ when there were not Sabbath-keeping Christians in the church … 302 A.D. From that time until English missionaries entered Armenia early in the present century, Sabbath keeping continued without interruption. The … Chaldean Christians have also continued their original practice of Sabbath keeping through the present century. (Sanford EB. A Concise Cyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Biblical, Biographical, Geographical, Historical, Practical and Theological. S.S. Scranton, 1890, pp. 853,854)

Commenting on that 19th century report, then evangelist in the Worldwide Church of God Dean Blackwell wrote, “They were the ancestors” (Blackwell D. A HANDBOOK OF CHURCH HISTORY: A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate School of Theology. April 1973, p. 182)–meaning they were the spiritual ancestors of certain later faithful Sabbatarian Christians.

That said, it should be pointed out that the Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full communion with the Pope in Rome. Like other Greco-Roman Catholic churches, it observes Sunday as the day of worship.

Roman Catholic priest Malachi Martin lived and worked in Vatican City for years. He was deeply involved in researching and writing about Church history, theology, and the inner workings of the Roman Catholic Church. He wrote:

Jewish Christians … occupied the oldest Christian churches in the Middle East and whose leaders were always from the family of Jesus himself.  … their first bishop was James, first cousin of Jesus. …

Jewish Christians had composed the only church ever in Jerusalem until the year 135. … Jewish Christian churches were set up all over Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia … observe the Torah … (Martin M. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Church. Bantam edition, 1983, pp. 30-31).

Throughout the church age, the faithful have often had to move, and that impacted people in the east.

But the beliefs and practices of the original church of the east are still taught by the Continuing Church of God which still contends earnestly for them. Since Pope Leo XIV alluded to that, perhaps he and others associated with him will look more into the truth about what the original beliefs were.

More details on history, beliefs, and original practices can be found in the free ebook: Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?

Some items of related interest may include:

Early Christianity in Edessa and the Church of the East Could there have been Christian leaders there? Might Judas of Jerusalem went there? Could Macarius have been a faithful Christian?

Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.

The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis could be number 112–if he counted. What about Pope Leo XIV? Could he reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist? Here is a link to a related sermon: Pope Leo XIV & Antichrist Prophecies.

The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV? This 154 page book has biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies related to the last pope, an antipope who will be the final Antichrist. It is also available on Kindle: The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV?-Kindle.

COGwriter

The May 2023 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel put out by the Bible Sabbath Association, which is not a Church of God group (though it has members that are in the COGs, as well as members who are not), had the following:

Peter Waldo, Waldensians, and the Sabbath

By Dr. Bob Thiel

Some have asserted that those who have called themselves some version of the term Waldensian (sometimes also referred to as Vaudois) always kept Sunday.

Did any of the Waldensians keep the seventh-day Sabbath?

Did all of them?

What about Peter Waldo?

Seventh-day Adventist scholar Gerard Damsteegt has stated:

Although there is no record that Waldo and his followers observed the seventh-day Sabbath, we know that several movements related to the Waldenses were reported to observe this custom. [i]

Actually, the above scholar actually provided evidence that Peter Waldo and his followers kept the Sabbath in the same article, more of which will be cited later.

Now, let it be made clear that scholars who have looked into the Waldensians have concluded that at least some of them kept the seventh-day Sabbath—despite the fact that they do not today.

Here is an old report from old English (where the letter ‘f ’ was often used instead of the letter ‘s,’ so it is changed below) from a Baptist historian in the 18th century:

Some of the inhabitants of the Pyrenees, and of the adjacent states, and not those of the vallies of Piedmont, were the true original Waldenses, … Some of these christians were called Sabbati, Sabbatati, and Insabbatati, and more frequently Inzabbatati. … one says, they were so named from the hebrew word sabbath, because they kept the saturday for the Lord’s day. Another says, they were so called because they rejected all the festivals, or sabbaths, in the low latin sense of the word, which the catholick church religiously observed.[ii]

So, there were multiple types of Waldensians, and many kept the seventh-day Sabbath.

Notice the following:

One of the primary sources of evidence of Waldensian Sabbathkeeping during the first half of the thirteenth century comes from a collection of five books written against the Cathars and Waldensians about 1241-1244 by Dominican inquisitor Father Moneta of Cremona in northern Italy.

Moneta passionately defended himself against criticism from Waldensians and Cathars that Catholics were transgressors of the Sabbath commandment. In the chapter De Sabbato, et De Die Dominico he discussed the significance of the seventh-day Sabbath of Exodus 20:8, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” and contrasted it with the value of the Lord’s day, his term for the first day of the week. …

Sabbathkeeping among Waldensians was most widespread in Bohemia and Moravia, places to which they fled during papal persecution.

A fifteenth-century manuscript, published by church historian Johann Döllinger in History of the Sects {Beiträge zur Sektengeschichte des Mittelalters (Munich: Beck, 1890), Vol. II, p. 662} reports that Waldensians in Bohemia “do not celebrate the feasts of the blessed virgin Mary and the Apostles, except the Lord’s day. Not a few celebrate the Sabbath with the Jews.” [iii]

Here is a report from the Lutheran historian Johann Mosheim concerning a group in the 12^th century with Waldensian connections and two of their tenets:

the denomination of the Pasaginians … The first was a notion, that the observance of the law of Moses, in everything except the offering of sacrifices, was obligatory upon Christians; in consequence of which they circumcised their followers, abstained from those meats, the use of which was prohibited under the Mosaic economy, and celebrated the Jewish sabbath. The second tenet that distinguished this sect was advanced in opposition to the doctrine of three persons in the divine nature. [iv]

So, they kept the Sabbath, abstained from unclean meats, and were opposed to the trinitarian view. While not all the views that Mosheim had about the Pasaginians were Church of God views, apparently some called by that name were Church of God Christians. It should also be noted that Mosheim believed that there were two types of Waldnesians. One considered that the Church of Rome was a real Christian church, whereas the other considered the Church of Rome to be the harlot of Revelation 17.[v] Others have written that one type of Waldensian was fairly close to the Greco-Romans, whereas the other type was much more independent of them.[vi]

In the 17^th century, Peter Allix reported about beliefs of the early Waldensians from a critic and then made his own comments:

That the Law of Moses is to be kept according to the letter, and that the keeping of the Sabbath, Circumcision, and other legal observances, ought to take place. They hold also, that Christ the Son of God is not equal with the Father, and that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, these three Persons, are not one God and one substance; and, as a surplus to these their errors, -they judge and condemn all the doctors of the Church, and universally the whole Roman Church. Now, since they endeavour to defend this their error by testimonies drawn from the New Testament and Prophets, I shall, with assistance of the grace of Christ, stop their mouths, as David did Goliah’s, with their own sword. [vii]

But here, first of all, we are to take notice, that the Waldenses and Albigenses had both of them the same belief… the difference between the Waldenses and the Church of Rome was not so small, that they could be looked upon only as schismatics, as the Bishop of Meaux has been pleased to imagine … the Waldenses, or disciples of Waldo, having been particularly famous for their refusing to swear, … Peter Waldo’s translating of the Bible, which must have been done before the year 1180, shews, that in France there was already a language different from the Latin tongue, [viii]

The above suggests that they held several Church of God doctrines including: binitarianism, non-swearing of oaths, and Sabbath-keeping.

The Petrobrusians (considered related to the Waldenses) kept the Sabbath and were condemned for it by the Roman Catholic saint Bernard in the 12th century.[ix] Notice the following from a Sunday-keeping writer (where I have typed it as originally written–knowing that now, the ‘f ’characters below would have been an ‘s’ in modern writing):

the feventh day Sabbath … In S. Bernard’s dayes it was condemned in the Petrobufiani. [x]

So, yes, some of the immediate predecessors of Peter Waldo and the Waldensians kept the seventh-day Sabbath and were condemned for it. Peter Waldo likely was in contact with some considered Petrobrusians.

The Patarenes (considered related to the Waldenses) kept the Sabbath and were condemned for it by Cardinal Damian around the same time. [xi]

Now what about Peter Waldo himself? Here is more from SDA scholar Gerard Damsteegt:

With few exceptions, Waldensians today deny that the ancient Waldenses kept the seventh-day Sabbath. However, historical evidence indicates that many did observe Sabbath during the Middle Ages. During the early part of the seventeenth century, the Swiss histo-rian Melchior Goldastus (1576–1635) commented on Emperor Frederic II’s Constitution of 1220 against heretics. He reasoned that the label insabbatati was used to describe heretics during the thirteenth century “because they judaize on the Sabbath,” that is, they kept the Sabbath like the Jews. He mentioned that the “Valdenses” were often called “Insabbatati,”indicating that during that time there were Waldenses who kept the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest. …

Primary sources show that, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, there were two groups of Waldenses–one group that observed Sunday as the Lord’s day, the other that kept the seventh-day Sabbath of the Bible. Our research reveals that the title insabbatati could apply to (1) Waldenses who rejected Catholic festivals and holy days, or sabbaths, and observed only Sunday as the Lord’s day and (2) Waldenses who, in addition, rejected Sunday as a Catholic institution and kept the seventh-day Sabbath of the Bible. The title sabbatati, as applied to heretics, was used to characterize Waldenses who stood out because of their observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. (Damsteegt PG. The ancient Waldenses: Did the Reformation predate Luther? Ministry, October 2017, pp. 23,24)

The Waldensian historian, Emilio Comba, admits that northern Italy was a stronghold of various dissident groups associated with the Waldenses, some of which kept the Sabbath and often influenced and merged with the various groups of the Poor of Lyon and Poor Lombards. Sabbath keeping among the Waldenses was most widespread in Bohemia and Moravia. An inquisitor’s manuscript from the fifteenth century reports that Waldenses in Bohemia “do not celebrate the feasts of the blessed virgin Mary and the Apostles, except the Lord’s day. Not a few celebrate the Sabbath with the Jews.” … Most historians identify Tourlupins with the Picardian branch of Waldenses. A company of them was arrested in 1420. Well-preserved manuscripts mention that they “upheld that the Saturday must be celebrated instead of Sunday.”

From the end of the twelfth century, opponents of the Waldenses called them insabbatati, insabbatatis, xabatati, xabatenses, sabbatati, sabatatos, inzabattati, insabbatatorum, and insabbatatos. These words can be traced back to the basic forms of insabbatati and sabbatati, because of Latin declensions. … The first time the word insabbatati appeared in the existing Latin literature is in an edict issued in 1192 against heretics by Alfonso II, King of Aragon, (1152–1196), Count of Barcelona, and Count of Provence. This edict warned against the Valdenses (Waldenses) and identified them as Insabbatatos and Pauperes de Lugduno (Poor of Lyon). The edict, however, did not explain why Waldenses were called Insabbatatos. The next use of this term was in an 1197 edict issued by the son of Alfonso II, Peter II, King of Aragon, (1174–1213) and Count of Provence. This document called them Sabatati and Pauperes de Lugduno. …

From the various accounts of Waldenses rejecting holy days, festivals or sabbaths, it is not surprising that, as late as the time of archbishop James Usher (1581–1656), there were many who believed that insabbatati referred to those Waldenses who worshiped by judaizing on the Sabbath. Concerning the word insabbatati, Jesuit Inquisitor Pegne also admitted that “many used to think it came from Sabbath, and that they [Waldenses] observed the Sabbath according to the custom of the Jews.” …

Since the Middle Ages, historians have characterized the Waldenses by the uncomplimentary names insabbatati and sabbatati to indicate their unique attire by the type of shoes they wore, or their unique belief in rejecting Catholic holy days or festivals and practices. The research underlying this article has tried to decode the confusion surrounding these names. This has led to the following insights for historiography, previously unnoticed. From the analysis of the shoe theory, the research brought out that the wearing of perforated shoes was not introduced by or was not the custom of the Waldenses or the Poor of Lyon, but it was a custom introduced by the Poor Catholics and the Reconciled Poor. …

The term sabbatati also could have been used to describe some groups of Waldenses who followed the Jewish practice of resting on the Sabbath. This fits the meaning of both Insabbatati as depicting the rejection of Catholic holy days, Sabbaths, and teachings, and sabbatati describing the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Primary sources show that one inquisitor in the thirteenth century wrote a book against the Waldenses and Cathars in which he refuted their criticism that Roman Catholics observed Sunday instead of the seventh-day Sabbath. This is evidence that there were Waldenses and Cathars who kept the seventh-day Sabbath during the high Middle Ages. Additional evidence shows that several groups closely associated and considered part of the Waldensian movement did indeed keep the seventh-day Sabbath as early as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. [xii]

While there may be debate regarding the precise year of Alphonso’s decree, notice the following:

Again to the South-West, about AD. 1190, we read of a public discussion between certain Valdenses and Catholics near Narbonne:and in 1194 of a Decree of Alphonzo II of Arragon against them …

[596] “Waldenses sive Insabbatatos, qui alio nomine se vocant Pauperes de Lugduno,…ab omni regno nostro, tanquam inimicos crucis Christi,…et regni publicos hostes, exire ac fugere praecipinius.” [xiii]

I have translated the above as follows:

“The Waldenses, or the Insabbatatos, who call themselves the Poor of Lyons by another name, … from all our kingdom, as enemies of the cross of Christ, … and the public enemies of the kingdom, to go forth and flee from the headlands.”

The fact that the followers of Peter Waldo may not have been publicly accused of keeping the seventh-day Sabbath until the late 12^th century could possibly suggest that some who were earlier categorized as Waldensians did not then do so.

Yet, since Peter Waldo lived until 1205 in the 13^th century, the fact that his people were called insabbatati by the end of the 12^th century looks to be evidence that Peter Waldo and his followers were keeping the seventh-day Sabbath by then.

As far as Peter Waldo goes, it is my view that he initially (c. 1160-1179) may or may not have been a Sabbath-keeper, but was one, probably no later than 1180, after exposure to some others in his region who held Church of God-type doctrines.

Dr. Thiel has been interested in the Church of God for over 50 years. He was baptized by a Worldwide Church of God minister in 1977. He writes extensively. He is currently the Overseeing Pastor of the Continuing Church of God (www.ccog.org), one of the top four groups (in terms of congregants) whose leaders were once part of the old Worldwide Church of God. Hundreds of thousands know him as “COGwriter” as he writes over 1000 news posts and articles per year at www.cogwriter.com.

End Note References

[i] Damsteegt PG. DECODING ANCIENT WALDENSIAN NAMES: NEW DISCOVERIES. Andrews University Seminary Studies, Vol. 54, 2016, No. 2, Autumn 2016, p. 254)

[ii] Robinson R. Ecclesiastical Researches. Francis Hodson, publisher. 1792, pp. 299-304

[iii] Damsteegt PG. Were Waldensians Sabbath-keepers? Adventist World, September 6, 2017

[iv] Mosheim JL, Coote C, Gleig G. An Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern: In which the Rise, Progress, and Variations of Church Power, are Considered in Their Connexion with the State of Learning and Philosophy, and the Political History of Europe During that Period, Volume 1. Translated by Archibald Maclaine. Plaskitt & Cugle, 1840, p. 333

[v] Moshiem, p. 333

[vi] Froom LE. The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Volume 1. Review and Herald, 1950, p. 831

[vii] Allix P. Some Remarks upon the Eccelisastical History of the Ancient churches of Piedmont. Originally published 1690, Oxford reprint 1831, p. 169

[viii] Ibid, pp. 173, 183, 184

[ix] Andrews J. History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week. Reprint by Teach Services, 1998, p. 421

[x] White F, Bifhop of Ely. A Treatise on the Sabbath Day …. Richard Badger, 1635, p. 8

[xi] Wilkinson B. Reprint by Teach Services, 1994, pp. 234-235

[xii] Damsteegt PG. DECODING ANCIENT WALDENSIAN NAMES: NEW DISCOVERIES. Andrews University Seminary Studies, Vol. 54, 2016, No. 2, 237–258

[xiii] Elliot EB, ed. The Horae Apocalypticae. Originally finished in 1860. Cross The Border Publishing, reprint 2018, Chapter VII and reference 596

Now, someone later asked me if I let Seventh-day Adventist scholar Gerard Damsteegt know about this, and I checked my emails, and yes, I had.

As it turns out, the predecessors of the Waldensians, often called Paulicians, considered themselves to be catholic Christians and those associated with the Church of Rome apostates:

They called themselves the Apostolic Catholic church, but …  nicknamed Paulicians by their enemies … (Paulicians. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: Mun to Pay. 1911, p. 961; Blackwell D. A HANDBOOK OF CHURCH HISTORY: A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate School of Theology. April 1973, p.29)

In Kurtz’s Church History, article Nostic and Manichean Heretics:

The Catholics, this sect called Romans, gave them the name Paulicians.

See how they received that name. The Catholics, whom this sect called “Romans.” … Paulicians. They did not give themselves that name.

But they designated themselves Christians.

Yes, the Bible had said they had not denied His name. And when you read about the Paulicians, that is one thing that is mentioned quite often. They were named Paulicians by the Catholics. They considered themselves Christians and they would not call the Romans “Christians.” They called them Romans. (Blackwell, p. 48)

The Paulicians They called themselves only Χριστιανοí {Christians} (Kurtz JH, Jr., Macpherson J. Church History: Volume 1. 1891, p. 423)

The Paulicians did not call themselves Paulicians or Tonrakians, but the Universal and Apostolic Church.  To them the orthodox churches, … had   apostatized from the faith, lost their orders, and forfeited their sacraments.  As to their Mariolatry and adoration of saints and pictures and  crosses, it was all nothing but idolatry. (Arpee L. Armenian Paulicianism and the Key of Truth. The American Journal of Theology, Vol. 10, No. 2, Apr., 1906: 267-285)

The Paulicians claimed to be THE ‘holy universal and apostolic church’ founded by Jesus Christ and his apostles. Of the false churches, they would say: “We do not belong to these, for they have long ago broken connection with the church.” … 6^th century.  (Lesson 50 – What Became of the Church Jesus Built? 58 Lesson: Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, 1968, p. 13).

So, these Paulicians considered that they had apostolic succession, were the true catholic church, and that the Roman churches were not. They appear to have continued with beliefs of the original church whose remnants in Antioch passed them on to Armenia no later than in the 5^th century (Conybeare, p. cix).

A 19^th century Sabbatarian publication referred to the persecuted Paulicians, Albigenses, and Waldeneses as “martyrs of Jesus” (Rock. Prophecy in its Bearing on the Present Crisis. Hope of Israel. February 27, 1872, p. 132).

The Waldenses, some of whom held to COG doctrine during the time of Thyatira, claimed to have originally descended from the Greek church (Martin JH. Historical Sketch of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania With Some Account of the Moravian Church. Philadelphia, 1873, pp. 8, 52,78; Benham D. Notes on the Origin and Episcopate of the Bohemian Brethren. Dalton & Lucy, 1867, pp. 7,94,126; Staunton W. An Ecclesiastical Dictionary. General Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union and Church Book Society, 1861, p. 658), which would have been Asia Minor or possibly Antioch.

The Waldenses recognized that they were the true successors of the apostolic church. They kept the SABBATH, also the yearly PASSOVER. (Lesson 51 – The Light In The Dark Ages. Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, 1968)

“Their enemies confirm their great antiquity. Reinerius Saccho, an inquisitor, and one of their most implacable enemies, who lived only eighty years after Waldo, admits that the Waldenses flourished five hundred years before that preacher (600 A.D.), Gretzer, the Jesuit, who also wrote against the Waldenses, and had examined the subject fully, not only admits their great antiquity, but declares his firm belief that the Toulousians and Albigenses . . . were no other than Waldenses.’ In fact, their doctrine, discipline, government, manners, and even the errors with which they have been charged [by the {Greco-Roman} Catholics], show that the Albigenses and Waldenses were distinct branches of the same sect, or that the former sprang from the latter.” — Dr. Rankin’s History of France, vol. III, p. 198, 202; Jones’ Church History, p. 233. (as cited in Dugger AN, Dodd CO. A History of True Religion, 3rd ed. Jerusalem, 1972, Church of God, 7th Day. 1990 reprint, Chapter 10, p. 108)

Furthermore, those ancient peoples objected to being called Waldenses:

“From E. Comba’s work, Guild Hall Library, London, we get the following. ‘The Waldenses objected to being called after Peter Waldo. They teach that We are a little Christian flock, falsely called Waldenses’” (Dugger, p. 142).

There was reportedly a written list of successors from the original apostles all the way into the 16^th century that the Waldensians once had (Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association: … Annual Meeting with Constitution and By-laws and List of Members, Volume 17; Volume 19. The Association, 1919, pp. 190-191; The American Universal Cyclopaedia: A Complete Library of Knowledge. A Reprint of the Last Edinburgh and London Ed. of Chambers’s Encyclopaedia, Volume 15. S.W. Green’s Son, 1882, p. 201; Martin, pp. 8, 52, 78).

That said, we earlier put together the following sermonette related to the Waldensians having laying on of hands succession from the time of the apostles:

Waldensian Apostolic Succession

Jesus said that the true church would continue to the end of the age. Did any in the groups called Waldensians (or Waldenses), Vaudois, or Moravians have apostolic succession? Were there such claims over 500 years ago?  Did any group claim to have an actual apostolic succession list of bishops? Was such a list at least partially accepted by the British Parliament in the 18th century or the Greek Orthodox Church in the 15th century or others centuries ago? Could the Waldenses have came from the true church in Antioch or Asia Minor in the 3rd or 4th centuries? Do modern American Waldensians claim to have such a list? What about the ones associated with that church or its Archivo Della Tavola Valdese in Italy? Did Dr. Thiel put together such a list and share it with them? Can such a list be seen today? Dr. Thiel goes over that and some of his research into this topic, while also asking for others to help fill in the gaps or assist in improving the list in this video. Dr. Thiel also discusses its symbol with a candle on a lampstand pointing to the fourth star and Jesus words in Revelation.

Here is a link to our video: Waldensian Apostolic Succession.

The true Christian Church of God, and all of its true ministers, have laying on of hands succession from the original apostles to present.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

Another Look at the Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath Did Ignatius write against the Sabbath and for Sunday? What about the Didache? What does the actual Greek reveal?
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church? Here is a related sermon video The Christian Sabbath and How and Why to Keep It.
The Christian Sabbath. This is a series of articles from the Catholic Mirror essentially proving that the biblical Sabbath was Saturday, that the Lord’s day in Revelation 1 is not a reference to Sunday, that the Church of Rome implemented Sunday, and that nearly all Protestants followed Rome.
Early Sabbath Keeping in North America When did Europeans first keep the Sabbath in North America? Did the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower keep Saturday or Sunday?
How to Observe the Sabbath How should you keep the Sabbath? This is an old article by Raymond Cole, with updated information for the 21st century.
The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers This reformatted Good News article from 1955 discusses Sabbath-keeping in China in the 1800s.
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true? Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 一个不合理的神？
Should You Observe God’s Holy Days or Demonic Holidays? This is a free pdf booklet explaining what the Bible and history shows about God’s Holy Days and popular holidays. A related sermon is Which Spring Days should Christians observe?
Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? Most Protestant scholars say Sunday is the Lord’s Day, but is that what the Bible teaches?
Sunday and Christianity Was Sunday observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians? Who clearly endorsed Sunday? What relevance is the first or the “eighth” day? A related sermon is also available: Sunday: First and Eighth Day?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Polycarp of Smyrna: The Heretic Fighter Polycarp was the successor of the Apostle John and a major leader in Asia Minor. Do you know much about what he taught? A YouTube video or related interesy may be: Polycarp of Smyrna: Why Christians should know more about him.
Theophilus of Antioch This is one of the second century leaders of some Christians in Antioch and is considered a Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free draft/unedited pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.

COGwriter

Germany is racing towards once again having a massive army:

Germany Now Wants ‘Strongest Conventional Army in Europe.’

15 May 2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged on May 14, 2025, to transform the Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Forces) into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” …

“This is appropriate for Europe’s most populous and economically powerful country,” Merz told lawmakers, vowing to provide “all financial means necessary” to overhaul the long-underfunded Bundeswehr. …

“Strength deters aggressors, while weakness invites aggression,” he said, reaffirming support for Ukraine but clarifying Germany’s non-combatant stance: “[W]e are not a party to war, and we don’t want to become one.” https://thenationalpulse.com/2025/05/15/germany-now-wants-strongest-conventional-army-in-europe/

15 May 2025

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday that Berlin accepts in principle the demand from the United States that NATO member states increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Speaking on the sidelines of an informal gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, Wadephul said: “The result is the 5% that President [Donald] Trump has called for, and we will follow him in this respect.” …

Germany currently spends just over 2% of its GDP on defense and new Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that each additional percentage point would mean further annual expenditure of €45 billion ($50.5 billion). …

Markus Söder, the leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of Merz and Wadephul’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), also backed an increase in defense spending.

“3.5% will be the core minimum that we’re going to have to invest, possibly extended to 5% of GDP,” he said at a meeting of defense industry representatives in Munich in Thursday. “That means at least €150 billion per year extra.” …

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Merz declared his intention to reinvest in Germany’s armed forces in order to transform the Bundeswehr into the “strongest conventional army in Europe.”

In his first major address to parliament since his new coalition government was inaugurated last week, Merz promised that Germany would take on greater responsibility within NATO and the European Union.

“This is appropriate for Europe’s most populous and economically powerful country,” he said. “Our friends and partners expect this from us. Indeed, they practically demand it.” https://www.dw.com/en/germany-backs-5-nato-defense-spending-target/a-72549909

There has been a shift going on in Germany. Notice also:

Germans no longer see US as trustworthy partner

7 March 2025

The conservative CDU/CSU and the center-left SPD, the parties most likely to form the next government after the recent German election, have already agreed on massive investments into Germany’s ailing infrastructure and the military.

A credit-financed special fund is to be set up for this purpose. In order to be able to incur debt for higher defense spending, the debt brake enshrined in in the Basic Law, Germany’s constitution, is to be relaxed.

These plans generally meet with broad public approval, according to Infratest-dimap’s monthly representative survey of 1,325 eligible voters conducted from March 4 to March 5. …

US no longer reliable

Trump has been back in office for only six weeks and has already been calling into question core policies, which is having a massive impact on how Germans view Trump and the United States.

One in two respondents to the infratest poll say their opinion of Trump has worsened since he took office. Just one in seven expresses a favorable opinion of the US president. The United States’ reputation is plummeting to new lows.

This month only one in six voters described the US as a partner who Germany can trust. Three quarters believe that NATO members cannot currently rely on the United States for protection.

The Germans polled are not skeptical of NATO itself: 84% said that the North Atlantic defense alliance is important for securing peace in Europe. Nevertheless, there is growing support for greater European independence. One in two said they favor establishing a European military alliance. https://www.dw.com/en/germans-no-longer-see-us-as-trustworthy-partner/a-71858094

On November 7, 2016 (the day before Donald Trump’s first election), I posted:

If Donald Trump is elected, the Germans will see this as proof that they cannot rely on the USA for their defense, etc. Germany will push for a European army. (see ‘Why Europe Secretly Roots For Donald Trump’?). (Thiel B. Germans opposed to Donald Trump, but not too optimistic about Hillary Clinton. COGwriter, November 7, 2016)

The above has been confirmed.

As far as NATO goes, it has long been my view that Europe will likely attack the USA and/or the UK under the guise of a NATO (or some other defense treaty) military exercise and that is consistent with the following prophecy about the coming European King of the North Beast:

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

Notice that he pretends peace then devises a plan against the strongholds. This looks to be a reference to the nation with the strongest military, the “strongest fortresses,” that Daniel 11:39 shows he will conquer–that is the USA and its British-descended allies (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

While now is not the time–“the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6; see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?)–many in Germany and elsewhere in Europe are unwittingly taking military steps that will allow this to come to pass.

Notice also:

A Brussels Reich? Van der Leyen’s ‘ReArm Europe’ Plan

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has introduced the “ReArm Europe” initiative. The ReArm Initiative represents an extensive €800 billion strategy designed to enhance Europe’s defense capabilities and a strategic response to increasing global uncertainties …

She warns about the “dangerous times” that characterize the present and, even more likely, the future. “I do not need to describe the grave nature of the threats that we face. Or the devastating consequences that we will have to endure if those threats would come to pass” because, she points out, “we are in an era of rearmament,” and at this stage, the EU intends to respond with a five-point European rearmament plan, the name of which — Rearm Europe — already suggests much. https://21stcenturywire.com/2025/03/04/brussels-reich-van-der-leyens-rearm-europe-plan/

Let me add Ursula von der Leyen is also German. Note also the term “reich” in that headline.

Could Donald Trump, various fears, pandemics, migrants, economic issues, or other ‘crises’ lead to a ‘fourth reich’?

Notice something about Germany’s history published decades ago by the old Worldwide Church of God:

In 1933 Adolf Hitler, using Germany’s growing economic crisis as a stepping-stone to power, gained control of Germany, inaugurating the Third Reich of German history.

It quickly became clear that Hitler’s geopolitical aims far transcended his own country’s borders. Hitler held an unshakable conviction that his German Reich would one day rule all of Europe — and from there seize the leadership of the world! He dreamed of a “new world order” that would remake the political face of the earth, with himself at its helm.

In 1939 Hitler began in earnest his struggle for the mastery of the world. (Stump K. Coming Soon – A New World Order. Good News, 1985)

Adolf Hitler used an economic crisis to rise up and form his so-called third reich.

Could there be some type of a ‘fourth reich’ this century to follow the ‘third reich’ of last century?

The old Radio Church of God thought so, even decades earlier:

The “German Problem” is not dead. Germans are thinking more than ever of an undivided Reich – and of an undivided Europe! … On the 17th of June, Germans celebrated a national holiday a day dedicated to AN UNDIVIDED GERMANY. Stores closed. No one worked. The striking thing is that this day signifies something that has not happened yet! Most holidays commemorate an event – something that has already taken place. Not this one – it looks forward to an event which all Germans hope for and even pray for – AN UNDIVIDED GERMANY! (Kelly R. The March for an Undivided Germany. Plain Truth, September 1964)

Well, since that came out, East and West Germany united, the European Union formed, and a European currency has been implemented.

So, is a ‘fourth reich’ in the process of forming? Some in Germany and elsewhere seem to think so.

Now this does not mean that everyone in Germany wants it to militarily dominate the world, but Bible prophecy shows that deep down, those there do want to dominate.

Notice the following prophecy:

5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
8 For he says,
‘Are not my princes altogether kings? (Isaiah 10:6-8)

Notice that the leader of the final empire will not think that he wants to destroy nations, but he really does, and really will.

Notice that Isaiah tells of a time when the end time Assyrian power will be sent against an ungodly nation (NKJV), translated as “an hypocritical nation” in the KJV. The Hebrew word used signifies being “soiled” or impious, and certainly that is now the case for the nation known as the United States.

What exactly is the ‘fourth reich’? Notice one interpretation:

The Fourth Reich (German: Viertes Reich) is a theoretical future German empire, following the First Reich (the Holy Roman Empire, 962–1806), the Second Reich (Imperial Germany, 1871–1918) and the Third Reich (Nazi Germany, 1933–1945). (Wikipedia, accessed 04/03/15)

Some believe that Germany already has a type of fourth reich as it has been able to dominate European matters at least for the past decade or so.

Biblically, the final European King of the North will lead a revived ‘Holy Roman Empire.’ This will be the empire of the Beast power of Revelation 13. This new world order, which will have German dominance, will in a sense be its fourth militaristic reich (reich means reign).

The Bible prophesies that Europe will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25), various weapons, and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40).

Germany’s chancellor, yesterday, basically said that Germany would work to get both.

Furthermore, technology will, in my view, be key in the establishment of a militaristic fourth reich, consistent with scriptures such as Revelation 13:4. And yes, Europe is working on military-related technologies.

Here is a link to our video: Should Europe Still Consider Itself a US Ally?

A ‘fourth reich’ is in the process of being made, but it is not here yet.

Of course, Germany was defeated twice last century. But notice the following prophecy from the Book of Revelation:

14 … the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:14)

Germany, along with remnants of the old ‘Holy Roman Empire,’ were wounded by the swords of WWI and WWII, but has Germany has lived and now is mainly recovered from its prior wounds. And the EU is rising to be the final version of the old Holy Roman Empire.

Germany is more and more committed to becoming a major military power again.

Many in Europe are supporting that.

There will be many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: ¿Deben los Diez Reyes gobernar sobre diez naciones? A related sermon in the English language is titled: Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
The Large Hadron Collider has Military Potential Some say this European project is only peaceful. So why is it working on capturing antimatter? Here is a link to a related video: Could the Large Hadron Collider lead to destruction?
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
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? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
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? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen. The link takes you to a book available at Amazon.com.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Kindle edition is available for only US$3.99. 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 Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?

 
5G Connections (Public Domain)

COGwriter

Michael Snyder posted the following:

Can Your Phone Read Your Mind?

May 14, 2025

Have you ever been thinking about something and then an ad for that very thing comes up on your phone? It isn’t just a coincidence when that happens. Our phones are the greatest surveillance devices that have ever been created in the entire history of humanity. When you carry a phone with you, you are carrying around a microphone, a camera, a location tracking device and a social media hub all rolled into one. Tech companies are literally collecting thousands upon thousands of data points on each one of us, and all of that information is fed into extremely sophisticated algorithms. …

There are some apps that are specifically designed to pick out keywords from conversations that you are having with your contacts.

That is just one of the reasons why you may notice an ad for something that you were just discussing with a friend pop up.

Your phone has the ability to track everywhere that you go as well.

So if you driving down the highway, you may get an ad for a nearby hotel.

That is just the way that it works. …

And those algorithms are very good at showing us eerily accurate ads…

Imagine this: you’re casually chatting with a friend about planning a trip to the Maldives. A few hours later, you open your smartphone, and guess what? You’re bombarded with ads for tropical getaways, swimsuit sales, and “best hotels in the Maldives” suggestions. Coincidence? Or is your phone secretly tuned into your every thought? Welcome to the era of advanced AI technologies that sometimes make it feel like our smartphones are practically reading our minds.

Of course what we are experiencing now is just the beginning. …

So what could a tyrannical government do with this sort of technology?

If authorities had access to every single detail of your life, there would be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/can-your-phone-read-your-mind/

Yes, mobile telephones are one of the many ways that humans are surveilled. You could call that the mark of the cell phone.

Back in 2019, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill warned about this type of technology:

Russian Patriarch Warns ‘Antichrist’ Will Control Humans Through Gadgets

8 January 2019

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church has said that humans’ dependence on modern technology will result in the coming of the Antichrist.

In an interview with Russian state media, Patriarch Kirill explained he does not entirely oppose gadgets, but warned against “falling into slavery” to smartphones.

Patriarch Kirill said that the collection of user data including “location, interests and fears” will make it possible for humans to be controlled by external forces.

“Control from a single point is a harbinger of the coming of the Antichrist,” Kirill told the state-run Rossia-1 TV network …

“The Antichrist is a personality that will be at the head of the world wide web controlling the entire human race. Thus, the structure itself presents a danger,” he said.

The church leader stressed that “if we don’t want to bring the apocalypse closer, there should be no single [control and access] center.” https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russian-patriarch-warns-antichrist-will-control-humans-through-gadgets-64060

Well, technology will be something the Antichrist supporters will use.

In 2012, one man wrote:

“Forget a chip in your forehead – the ‘mark of the beast’ is the cell phone.”

April 10, 2012

The development of a new microchip for cell phones that knows the user’s location to within a few centimeters confirms the fact that contrary to biblical fears about mandatory implantable microchips, people have willingly exchanged their privacy for convenience and that the cell phone itself is the de facto “mark of the beast”.

…reports MIT Technology Review.  “In theory, the new chip can even determine what floor of a building you’re on, thanks to its ability to integrate information from the atmospheric pressure sensor on many models of Android phones. The company calls abilities like this “ubiquitous navigation,” and the idea is that it will enable a new kind of e-commerce predicated on the fact that shopkeepers will know the moment you walk by their front door, or when you are looking at a particular product, and can offer you coupons at that instant.”

Over 82% of Americans own cell phones, with around half of these being smart phones. In the near future, the majority of Americans will own smart phones that will have the ability to track their location down to a few centimeters.  http://www.infowars.com/new-microchip-knows-your-location-to-within-centimeters/

Back in 2012, in that article about cell phones, I wrote:

The ability to control buying and selling, etc. would be vastly aided by modern technology. (Thiel B. Writer claims cell phone is “mark of the beast.” COGwriter, April 11, 2012)

Since then, cell phone technology has gotten faster. 98% of Americans have cell phones, with 91% having smart phones. A decade ago, 95% of Europeans had mobile phones, and that percentage has likely also increased.

5G on these phones can speed up attaining knowledge. There is also something called 10G:

5G stands for next-generation wireless; 10G, on the other hand, connotes cable’s ramp up to 10 gigabits-per-second speeds. And while overlap and competition exist between these two approaches to broadband – the former is wireless tech, the latter wired – the technologies are also complementary. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2019/01/09/5-g-10-g-cable-industry-makes-case-keep-broadband-your-home/2514506002/

Consider that faster development of knowledge was also prophesied in the Bible to occur during the time of the end:

4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Daniel 12:4)

What is called ‘artificial intelligence,’ along with technologies like 5G (and even 10g)  is consistent with that prophecy. Not all increased knowledge is good as humans often do bad things with knowledge.

As far as AI goes, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel related to it back on April 22, 2018:

15:30

Artificial Intelligence and Prophecy

Billionaire Elon Musk declared he was worried that artificial intelligence (AI) may lead to the rise of an “immortal dictator,” a “godlike” entity that could take over the world. Is this accurate, or at least, close in some ways? Does Bible prophecy foretell of the rise of an immoral leader who considers himself above all gods? Will this result in great destruction? What is AI? How might it fit in with various prophecies? Was the increase in technological knowledge we now have prophesied over 2000 years ago? Will 666’s control over buying and selling involve any form of AI? Dr. Thiel goes over many scriptures, including prophetic ones, that involve human knowledge–which is the basis of AI. He also points out that when various prophesies were made, there was no technology capable of fulfilling them, but that because of computers, such ability exists now. Dr. Thiel also points out what Jesus will do about it.

Here is a link: Artificial Intelligence and Prophecy.

We have put out more videos related to AI since.

We have also seen the ‘Digital Wallet’ and more and more ways to make purchases over cell phones.

Those look like other marks of the cell phone.

Bible prophecy shows that a militaristic European dictator will arise and his supporters will apparently use something like AI. Mobile telephones and other technologies may well be utilized.

One ‘mark of the cell phone,’ is that the combined 666 Beast and Antichrist power will likely get surveillance ideas from it.

Notice what is coming with the European dictator Beast of the Sea and his Beast of the Earth Antichrist ‘partner’:

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:1-18)

The ability to control buying and selling, forced worship, etc. would be vastly aided by modern technology. The type of control that was written about in Revelation 13 was not possible over 1900 years ago when Revelation was written–but in the 21st century it is.

While cell phones are not the mark of the Beast, they and related technologies are making it easier for the Beast to gain control once he rises up.

A time of totalitarian control is coming and Patriarch Kirill is correct that technology will be used by the Antichrist and those he is supporting.

UPDATE 05/18/25: We just uploaded the following related video:

14:52

Mark of the Cell Phone?

How common are mobile telephones? With their sophisticated algorithms can they read your mind? Can governments monitor you, your location, and even purchases through modern technologies like cellular telephones? Could a cell phone be the Mark of the Beast of Revelation, the 666 of Revelation 13 ? Did Russian Patriarch Kirill warn that people are “falling into slavery” from technologies that collect data on “location, interests and fears”? Did he specifically point to the Antichrist using such technologies? Did Patriarch Kirill state, “if we don’t want to bring the apocalypse closer, there should be no single [control and access] center”? Can computers, Artificial Intelligence, and cell phones help fulfill prophecies about knowledge increasing in the end times? What about the ‘666’ control of buying and selling by the Beast and the Antichrist? Dr. Thiel addresses those issues and others related to the ‘mark of the cell phones.’

Here is a link to our sermonette video: Mark of the Cell Phone?

While cell phones cannot read our minds, mobile phones, AI and other technologies will work to put in the coming ‘666’ controls the Bible has prophesied. Cell phones are already making some 666-related marks.

Some items of related interest include the following:

The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
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 are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.

(UnSplash photo)

COGwriter

Each year thousands of Palestinians rally in Jerusalem to celebrate ‘Nakba Day’:

14 May 2025

Palestinians have taken to the streets of the occupied West Bank to mark the 77th anniversary of Nakba (Catastrophe) Day. 

It marks the 1948 forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes in historical Palestine as Israel proclaimed its illegal existence.

On Wednesday, Palestinians rallied in the province of Ramallah and chanted, “We will not leave, Palestine is for the Palestinians”, stressing their right to return to the areas from which they were forced to leave in 1948 and their refusal of all schemes to displace them.

Similar rallies also took place in Tulkarm and other Palestinian provinces on the eve of Nakba Day.

Nakba Day is commemorated on May 15 every year, marking the day after Israel declared its existence in 1948. That year also saw a war between Israel and a coalition of Arab states over the control of Palestine, during which some 700,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homes and hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages were destroyed.

According to Mohammed Alian, the coordinator of the “Nakba Day” commemoration events, the activities will continue tomorrow and upcoming days. https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/05/14/747940/palestinians-west-bank-nakba

Here is a report related to last year:

15 May 2024

What does Nakba mean?

The Arabic word Nakba means catastrophe, or disaster. In reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the term Nakba or al-Nakba refers to the Palestinians having lost their homeland during and after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. …

May 15, 1948 was the beginning of the Arab-Israeli war and has long been a day that Palestinians take to the streets to protest against their displacement. Many carry Palestinian flags, bring the keys of their former homes or carry banners with the symbols of keys, illustrating the hope of returning home and what the community sees as their right to return.

In the past, some protests have turned into violent clashes. Israel has accused Hamas and other organizations that are listed by the EU and other countries as terror organizations of using the day to further their causes.

The term Nakba Day was coined in 1998 by then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He set the date as the official day for the commemoration of the loss of the Palestinian homeland. …

According to the UN’s dedicated Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, most Palestinians in the region still live in refugee camps which over time have turned into refugee towns. They are mainly based in the Gaza Strip, in the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and east Jerusalem.

The international Palestinian diaspora is estimated to have increased to some 6 to 7 million people. If accurate, this would put the total number of Palestinians close to 13 million people. https://www.dw.com/en/what-is-the-palestinian-nakba-and-why-does-it-matter/a-65539735

May 15, 2024

Palestinians across the world mark Nakba Day on Wednesday, an event commemorating the mass expulsion from their homes during the conflict that created the State of Israel in 1948. …

Amjad Abukwaik, a Verona resident, said his family fled fighting in 1948 “assuming they would come back the next day.” As refugees, they settled in Ramallah in the West Bank, in Jordan and in Gaza, where he was born.

The situation for Palestinians today is far more dire, Abukwaik said.

“The level of destruction, the level of killing, it’s just so much worse now,” he said. “Even [wars in] ‘48 or ‘67 were a few days long. This has been going on for seven, almost eight months now.” …

Israel does not want Hamas to return to power after its attack on Oct. 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis, with another 250 taken hostage. The government said the goal of its ongoing military campaign in Gaza is to eliminate Hamas, which it views as a threat to Israel. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and others. …

Gaza is growing “uninhabitable” amid bombings that have destroyed or damaged most homes, schools, health care facilities and infrastructure, say UN experts.

About 100,000 Gazans have crossed into Egypt, but Egypt and Jordan have said they will not accept Gazan refugees. They cite the potential impact on society and economy, but also maintain that they do not want to be complicit in Gazan’s permanent expulsion from their land. https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/2024/05/15/nakba-day-2024-palestine-gaza-israel/73692783007/

Here is some additional  information about it:

Nakba Day , Yawm an-Nakba, meaning “Day of the Catastrophe” is generally commemorated on 15 May. The day was inaugurated by Yasser Arafat in 1998. For the Palestinians it is an annual day of commemoration of the displacement that preceded and followed the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. During the 1948 Palestine War, an estimated 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled , and hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages were depopulated and destroyed. These refugees and their descendants number several million people, divided between Jordan (2 million), Lebanon (427,057), Syria (477,700), the West Bank (788,108) and the Gaza Strip (1.1 million), with at least another quarter of a million internally displaced Palestinians in Israel. The displacement, dispossession and dispersal of the Palestinian people is known to them as an-Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” or “disaster”. 05/14/18 https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/abbas-blasts-u-s-embassy-move-an-insult-to-world-and-palestinians-1.6091355

There is a real social division in Jerusalem. A formal political division may also come.

Now with the Hamas-Israel war, there is massive destruction in Gaza and there have been numerous protests around the world.

That being said, in 2018 Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu made some statements:

May 14, 2018

Amid violent Palestinian protests, the U.S. officially opened a new embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, drawing effusive praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Today, today, the embassy of the most powerful nation on earth, our greatest ally, the United States of America, opened here,” Netanyahu at a ceremony marking the event.

“God bless the United States of America and God bless Jerusalem, the eternal undivided capital of Israel,” he said.

Meanwhile, the health ministry in Gaza run by Hamas, a U.S.-declared terrorist organization, claimed dozens of Palestinians protesting at the border were killed by Israeli fire. The Israeli military said it was repelling an effort by Hamas to breach the border. http://www.wnd.com/2018/05/this-is-history-u-s-embassy-opens-in-jerusalem/#QCHpZIu03Pu887So.99

He is in error. Jerusalem WILL NOT remain the tiny nation of Israel’s eternal and undivided capital.

He also made some more recent comments:

May 15, 2024

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s decision to back a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member as the Israeli government rejected upgrading the status of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

“No reward will be given for the terrible massacre of October 7, which 80% of the Palestinians, both in the West Bank and in Gaza, support. Israel won’t allow establishment of terrorist state,” said Netanyahu. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy/artc-netanyahu-on-un-ruling-we-won-t-allow-establishment-of-terrorist-state

The situation with the Palestinians, Gazans, and Jerusalem will not turn out as he now hopes.

The Bible also suggests that Jerusalem will be divided (although this could be more of a Palestinian vs. Catholic division or one between Beast supporters and non-supporters as it is to occur during the Day of the Lord):

1 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.

2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

The longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the current conflict between Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas & Israel, the conflicts with Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other Islamists rising up in the Middle East, combined with European/United Nations/USA views are setting the stage for the dividing of Jerusalem in the 21st century. And based upon other prophecies about the Gentiles controlling Jerusalem for a certain period (e.g. Revelation 11:2), it suggests that it will be the Israelis that will ultimately be taken captive.

The European Union and the former UN Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) want to divide Jerusalem now to partially satisfy many Palestinians. Possibly through the treaty of Daniel 9:27, the dividing will happen and the captivity of 1/2 of Jerusalem ultimately will come to fulfill Zechariah 14:2 (see Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

The Bible clearly warns of a time of armies and Gentile domination of Jerusalem:

20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. (Luke 21:20)

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. (Matthew 24:15-16)

23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:23-24)

2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2)

As far as Jerusalem being “surrounded by armies,” years ago USA President Barack Obama proposed something just like that (see Will Obama’s Plan Have Jerusalem Surrounded by Armies?). Biblical prophecy will be fulfilled.

Various rallies by the Palestinians show that they remain committed to Jerusalem. To a degree, some in the international community will support them.

Related to prophecy and Gaza, we put out the following video:

14:33

Gaza and Bible Prophecy

Israeli officials such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have claimed that all those in Hamas will be killed or eliminated. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen added that the plan is to make Gaza shrink. Where do those of Gaza and other Palestinians come from? Does the Bible show historical animosities between the descendants of Israel and those of the Gazans and the Palestinians? What does the Bible show that Gaza and Hamas mean? Do biblical prophecies in Amos and Jeremiah point to Gaza ending up with territories that Israel now controls? Can Israel lose territory? Will Hamas achieve some of its objectives? What does the 83rd Psalm prophesy? Might terrorism be involved? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Gaza and Bible Prophecy.

That being said, the Bible tells us to:

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: (Psalms 122:6)

We all should do that as well as to heed Jesus’ admonition to, “Watch” (Mark 13:37).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
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.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025? 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? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Notice also: Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero.
Could 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? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or ? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
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? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
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 are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Euro bank notes (Pixabay)

COGwriter

Martin Armstrong (not related to any COG Armstrongs) reported that Spain is limiting cash withdrawals:

Withdrawing large sums in cash is no longer possible in Spain without the government’s approval. Those withdrawing €3,000 or more must notify Spain’s tax agency, Agencia Tributaria, in advance. Withdrawals at or exceeding €100,000 require a 72-hour approval process, and the tax agency is requesting a 24-hour mandatory notification for any amount over €3,000.

A few news outlets are reporting that the Spanish government will impose a €150,000 fine on those who fail to report, but Project Veritas found that to be false. Article 4 of Order EHA/98/2010 states that these new measures are safeguarding institutions against money laundering and terrorism, the typical scapegoats.

In truth, these measures are intended to provide the government with control over capital. …

Citizens are expected to notify the government of how they plan to spend their money by providing personal identification to their banks.

Governments believe that all currency in circulation truly belongs to them. All transactions should be traceable and taxable. 05/13/25 https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/taxes/spain-limits-cash-withdrawals/

Notice something related to the United Nations pushing a globalist goal of using digital identification as a way to monitor and change behavior:

UN to Use Digital IDs to Track Energy Use & Change Behavior

The article title, UN Pushes Digital IDs to Fight ‘Global Warming’ by Forcing ‘Behavior Change’ Among Public, gives away their intent. They plan to use these IDs to control our behavior. It will all be done to benefit the fake climate crisis.

“Leveraging digital legal ID data to track energy consumption, inspire behavior change, and enhance sustainability measures can mitigate climate-related disasters,” the article states.

They plan to track our energy use and then “inspire” our “behavior change.”

This looks like the next generation of vaccine passports.

We now have our incoming president pushing AI. That can be equally concerning. It will prove to be smarter than all of us and will collect our information and broadcast it if asked. It can track us. It can be very dangerous, especially in the hands of a government. They can feed bias or incorrect data into it. It can be hacked.

If you feel the walls closing in, they are. 01/15/25 https://www.independentsentinel.com/un-to-use-digital-ids-to-track-energy-use-change-behavior/

Here are excerpts from the United Nations’ article the above referred to:

Why legal identity is crucial to tackling the climate crisis

Digitalization offers a pathway to bridging the global identity gap

Legal identity serves as a fundamental gateway to accessing both public and private services. However, a staggering 850 million people worldwide lack the means to establish their identity. Embracing digitalization offers a pathway to bridging this global identity gap, with digital legal identity serving as a cornerstone of digital public infrastructure, fostering interoperability among diverse systems.

At the core of evidence-based policymaking lies the invaluable data sourced from foundational registries like civil and national ID databases. …

Amidst the escalating risks of climate-induced disasters, targeted interventions informed by data can yield multiple benefits. These interventions enhance predictive capabilities, bolster preparedness efforts, and streamline response mechanisms to mitigate the uncertainties associated with climate-related risks. Furthermore, leveraging data can significantly contribute to emission reduction initiatives, thereby aiding in climate mitigation endeavors. …

Leveraging digital legal ID data to track energy consumption, inspire behaviour change, and enhance sustainability measures can mitigate climate-related disasters.

Governments can use digital IDs to facilitate renewable energy incentives in disaster-prone regions, encouraging the adoption of clean energy technologies. 05/15/24 https://www.undp.org/blog/why-legal-identity-crucial-tackling-climate-crisis

In other words, governments can use digital identification, particularly presuming it is tied to purchases, as a way to monitor, change, and control people.

Regarding financial controls, notice the following related to the International Monetary Fund:

IMF Chief Boasts CBDCs Can Harvest ‘Very Useful Data’ for Public’s ‘Social Credit Score’

January 13, 2025

The head of the International Money Fund (IMF) has reassured his fellow globalists that a universal Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) will provide enough data to give every member of the public around the world a “social credit score.” https://rumble.com/v64mr2a-imf-chief-boasts-cbdcs-can-harvest-very-useful-data-for-publics-social-cred.html?e9s=src_v1_mfp

The World Economic Forum (WEF) seems pleased that most nations are intending to adopt Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs):

Cashless Society: WEF Boasts That 98% Of Central Banks Are Adopting CBDCs

April 25, 2024

The WEF recently boasted in a new white paper that 98% of all central banks are now pursuing CBDC programs.  The report, titled ‘Modernizing Financial Markets With Wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency’, notes:

“CeBM is ideal for systemically important transactions despite the emergence of alternative payment instruments…Wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC) is a form of CeBM that could unlock new economic models and integration points that are not possible today.”

The paper primarily focuses on the streamlining of crossborder transactions, an effort which the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has been deeply involved in for the past few years.  It also highlights an odd concept of differentiated CBDC mechanisms, each one specifically designed to be used by different institutions for different reasons.  Wholesale CBDCs would be used only by banking institutions, governments and some global corporations, as opposed to Retail CBDCs which would be reserved for the regular population. …

By extension, the adoption of CBDCs by governments and global banks will ultimately lead to what the WEF calls “dematerialization” – The removal of physical securities and money.  The WEF states:

“As with the Bank of England’s (BOE) RTGS modernization programme, the intention is to introduce a fully digitized securities system that is future-proofed for incremental adoption of DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology). The tokenization of assets involves creating digital tokens representing underlying assets like real estate, equities, digital art, intellectual property and even cash. Tokenization is a key use case for blockchain, with some estimates pointing towards $4-5 trillion in tokenized securities on DLTa  by 2030.” 

Finally, they let the cat out of the bag:

“The BIS proposed two models for bringing tokenization into the monetary system: 1) Bring CBDCs, DTs and tokenized assets on to a common unified ledger, and 2) pursue incremental progress by creating interlinking systems.

They determined the latter option was more feasible given that the former requires a reimagination of financial systems. Experimentation with the unified ledger concept is ongoing.”

To interpret this into decoded language – The unified ledger is essentially another term for a one world digital currency system completely centralized and under the control of global banks like the BIS and IMF.  The WEF and BIS are acknowledging the difficulty of introducing such a system without opposition, so, they are recommending incremental introduction using “interlinking systems” (attaching CBDCs to paper currencies and physical contracts and then slowly but surely dematerializing those assets and making digital the new norm).  It’s the totalitarian tip-toe.

The BIS predicts there will be at least 9 major CBDCs in circulation by the year 2030; this is likely an understatement of the intended plan.  Globalists have hinted in the past that they prefer total digitization by 2030.

A cashless society would be the end game for economic anonymity and freedom in trade. https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/cashless-society-wef-boasts-98-central-banks-are-adopting-cbdcs

Yes, the WEF wants all financial transactions to be digital. Yes, a cashless society ends “economic anonymity and freedom.” Such is also basically prophesied to come to pass in the Bible in Revelation 13:15-18.

Back in 2022, the Dutch Finance Minister, Sigrid Kaag, who has a close connection to the World Economic Forum (WEF), wants more financial controls and essentially to cancel cash:

Cancelling cash

In the slipstream of “big” issues, there is a stubborn struggle in many countries to keep cash. Many governments want to gradually phase out cash and are aiming for purely digital currencies in the future. European citizens have long feared this step towards the abolition of cash and tighter controls: in public consultations, almost every second response was concerned about the protection of privacy.

Published: November 14, 2022, 1:42 pm

The fact that this course is quite controversial was made clear recently by the new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – she announced that she wanted to increase the upper limit for cash payments in Italy from the current 2000 to 10 000 euros, the same amount as in Germany.

WEF-star, The Netherlands, meanwhile is marching full steam ahead in the opposite direction. If Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag has her way, all transactions over 100 euros will be monitored by the banks in the future – a massive invasion of privacy. In addition, unsurprisingly, the minister is campaigning for the introduction of the digital euro.

According to the Dutch news agency Business AM, the finance minister is currently working on a relevant draft law. Transfers that exceed the amount of 100 euros are to be stored in a separate database accessible to the government. …

In addition, Kaag is pushing for the launch of an EU-wide central bank digital currency. No surprise really since Kaag is a Schwab acolyte par excellence. “The introduction of the digital euro is becoming more and more real. I think it’s important that we in the Netherlands, with our innovative and open economy, take an active part in these considerations,” the minister was quoted as saying in a letter she sent to the House of Representatives in the summer.

Transfer monitoring from 100 euros would be a clear step in this direction. …

The ECB plans for the digital euro are taking on more and more concrete forms. The Brussels grandees are leaving no stone unturned and their henchmen in governments are implementing the plan to control citizens. Pretending that the alleged fight is against money laundering and terrorism when governments invite in ISIS terrorists to stay, or claiming that it’s about a reconstruction of the devastated economy in Europe – all these fabrications are supposed to serve as a pretext for their totalitarian project.

ECB boss and WEF foundation board member Christine Lagarde has been harping on about the advance of foreign corporations in European payment transactions. https://freewestmedia.com/2022/11/14/cancelling-cash/

Many members of the WEF, including its founder Klaus Schwab, want to basically eliminate privacy and be able to monitor, and also control, buying and selling.

Getting rid of cash as well as creating a massive database of transactions are steps in that direction.

Consider the following:

ECB Says Cash “Not Fit” For Digital Economy, Dismisses CBDC Privacy Concerns

August 24, 2022

In the digital economy, cash is no longer a useful tool, and a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is the “only solution” to continue the existing monetary system, according to a new paper from the European Central Bank (ECB).

The eurozone’s central bank recently published a paper titled, “The Economics of Central Bank Digital Currency.” Authors assessed the implications for the financial system and examined data privacy and digital payments.

Researchers concluded that a CBDC, like a digital euro, would be the “only solution” to facilitate a “smooth continuation” of the present monetary system. Despite widespread concerns that CBDCs would limit the credit supply and function as a disruptive force in the financial markets, the paper rejected these concerns as being unfounded.

Digital money is critical in a digital economy, the ECB noted. Since “cash is losing its appeal as efficient means of payment,” a CBDC is a necessary tool to install. Although the research identified drawbacks of instituting a uniform digital monetary system, such as the sluggish pace of settlements, market developments, and adoption, the paper noted that “a digital update of cash” is crucial to advancing “the two-layer system of public and private money.”

Ultimately, cash possesses “large economic costs without clear benefits,” so “it is by construction not ‘fit’ for the digital age.”

Digital money might generate privacy concerns, authors warned. …

The paper also rejected cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, calling them a “threat to monetary sovereignty.” https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/ecb-says-cash-not-fit-digital-economy-dismisses-cbdc-privacy-concerns

Here are some excerpts from the ECB paper:

We argue that public digital money in form of a CBDC could replace banknotes as the monetary anchor of today’s two‐layer monetary system and help retaining monetary sovereignty if global stablecoins became widely used. …

Bindseil (2020) notes that in a negative interest rate environment demand for CBDC would be potentially unlimited if it were remunerated at a zero interest rate. At the same time, a CBDC carrying a negative interest rate might face adoption obstacles as users would perceive cash as a less costly means of payment. …

Since cash is only available in physical form, it is by construction not “fit” for the digital age. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpwps/ecb.wp2713~91ddff9e7c.en.pdf?79062191677f6bb6f617909e6a7a9ba8%C3%A4 accessed 08/24/22

The ECB wants to increase its influence and control of finance.

According to the Bible (cf. Revelation 13:1-18), a coming European beast 666 power will control buying and selling.

As far as Europe’s digital plans go, back in January 2022, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

9:03

EU to be ‘Sheriff’ of BitCoin & Digital Currencies

Will Bitcoin remain unregulated? The European Union does not think it should be and it released a paper titled “Proposal for EU Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets.” Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, earlier endorsed EU regulation of crypto and digital currencies. A Belgian declared that the EU was the “new Sheriff in town” to deal with the “wild west” of Bitcoin, blockchain, and other cryptocurrencies. The European Union now also has the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in operation, mainly to deal with financial matters? Will the Europeans end up controlling buying and selling associated with 666 in Revelation 13:16-18? Is Europe taking preliminary steps to do so now? Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: EU to be ‘Sheriff’ of BitCoin & Digital Currencies.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office officially started operations on 1 June 2021 (https://www.eppo.europa.eu/en/background).

So, yes, there is an enforcer for 666.

A few years back, my wife Joyce and I visited Sweden, which is almost cashless. We put together a video about its moves towards cashlessness on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel: Sweden going to ‘666’ cashlessness?

We have had trouble in France and Italy in the past to simply exchange money. There have been limits in Italy and some other EU nations for some time, but now Spain has been added to the list.

The world in general, as well as Europe in particular, is moving more towards a cashless society.

The Bible, itself, prophesies that totalitarian financial controls are coming to Europe:

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18)

The type of controls prophesied in Revelation 13:16-18 were something that was not possible when Jesus had the Apostle John pen the above. But it is possible now with digital technology–particularly if cash is eliminated and made inconsequential.

The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) recently put together the following video related to digital currencies on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:17

Cashlessness and 1984

The government of Belgium is in the process of ordering small businesses to accept credit cards. In Sweden more and more cashless transactions are occurring. The European Central Bank as well as the government of the United States is working on developing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Could this be used for ‘1984’-type monitoring? Is something like this needed for ‘666’ control of buying and selling as warned in the Book of Revelation? Does the European Union now have a unit that could do ‘666’ monitoring? What about the use of gold? Steve Dupuie asks Dr. Thiel various questions related to these topics.

Here is a link to our video: Cashlessness and 1984.

Are there threats associated with governments going cashless? Are CBDCs a good thing?

The Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel discussing various views and scriptures about that:

14:37

CBDCs and a Cashless Society

“Bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.” This one of the mandates of the Continuing Church of God. The Beast of Revelation is shown as controlling all buying and selling. Might CBDCs fill a role in that control? The Bank of International Settlement predicts there will be at least 9 CBDCs in circulation by 2030. Globalists would prefer a faster pace. What nations or groups of nations are pushing for a Central Bank Digital Currency? There is one group of nations that has claimed it wants to be the dominant force in a CBDC. Will this group of nations become a tie-in to the 666 Mark of the Beast? How close are we to CBDCs? Dr. Thiel uses verses from Bible prophecy to shine the light of understanding on the dangers of the coming Beast power and the cashless society promised by CBDCs. You can read the corresponding article to this video titled “Yes, there are threats of cashlessness, most in NZ, Canada, the US, & Australia oppose CBDCs, yet the IMF continues to push for CBDCs.”

Here is a link to our video: CBDCs and a Cashless Society.

Are you paying attention to what is going on in the world?

The WEF and world political leaders are moving in this direction.

The 666 prophecies will be fulfilled.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
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 are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
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? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here are links to a two-part sermon series: What are Some of the Parts of Satan’s Plan? and Satan’s Plan is More Dramatic than Many Realize.

(Source USGS via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

Michael Snyder put out the following warning:

Another Prophecy About The Great New Madrid Earthquake That Will Divide America In Half Someday In The Future

The greatest earthquakes in the history of the continental United States occurred along the New Madrid fault zone in the middle of the country. In 1811 and 1812, there was a series of catastrophic earthquakes that were so powerful that they jolted people all the way up in Canada.  Those quakes made the Mississippi River run backwards, they made church bells in Boston ring, and they were even felt inside the White House.  Today, millions of Americans live in the New Madrid fault zone, and most of them don’t think much about the enormous “geological scar” that exists deep inside the ground under their feet.  But scientists assure us that it is just a matter of time before that very deep “geological scar” rips wide open, and when it does it will create a disaster on a scale that most of us can’t even imagine right now. …

In recent years, we have witnessed a lot of noteworthy earthquakes in the heartland of the United States.

To me, they are reminders of what is coming. …

In September 2020, a friend of mine named Donna Hazlett shared a vision of the coming New Madrid earthquake that she had in 2019…

Hi Michael,

Last year, I had a vision during the day. I was wide awake and all of a sudden I was transported and was standing next to a man and I had peace with him. I don’t know who it was or if he was an angel. But I had perfect peace with him and knew I was safe. I felt calm standing next to him. Where we were standing, in front of us there was black asphalt like a small parking lot, but there weren’t any painted markings where cars would park, but it was an area of black asphalt and beyond that there were trees and hills. It was daytime. We stood and looked ahead. Then it was as if the earth began to wobble on it’s axis. Those were the exact words that came to my mind as it happened. In your book, someone described it as the ground rolling up and down. That’s how it looked. But underneath my feet, it felt as though the earth was wobbling on it’s axis. Then he showed me a highway with cars driving on it. It was still daylight and the highway was dry. One moment the cars were driving along like normal and the next moment they were completely engulfed underwater. It was all under water. The highway was suddenly under water. The cars were turning over underneath the water. I didn’t know for sure where this was at the time so I emailed a Pastor in Florida, because of the highways going under the water. I ordered your book and it arrived yesterday, August 24th. As I was reading the prophecies last night, I realized that it was my area that was being shown to me. I am minutes from the Mississippi River and the bridge to St. Louis. Our country was split in two and that’s why the water gushed over the cars and highway, the highway sank under the water. It was St. Louis sinking. Like it was swallowed up in the water. Our country was split in half and divided by the water.

Michael, I don’t know if this had anything to do with it, but it was shortly after that vision there were three separate times where Jesus was face-to-face with me and told me to stand. It happened three different times after that vision. I told that same Pastor about it in an email. I don’t know if it’s connected though. I’m going to finish reading your book and if there’s anything else I remember or the Lord speaks to me I will send it to you in an email. Thank you.

I can still see it all, even as I looked down at the ground, before the earth started to wobble, I can remember the little pebbles around our feet. Little rocks on the edge of the asphalt where we stood.

… I find it interesting that she specifically brought up St. Louis.  That city is right in the heart of the New Madrid fault zone, and it has been mentioned in many prophecies.

But we know that this great earthquake will not occur yet, because as I have extensively documented, many others have been shown that it comes after the land of Israel is divided. 05/12/25 https://endoftheamericandream.com/another-prophecy-about-the-great-new-madrid-earthquake-that-will-divide-america-in-half-someday-in-the-future/

Well, first let me agree that the Great Madrid Fault is a major threat.

As far as timing goes, it appears that Michael Snyder has misunderstood prophecies related to which land gets divided.

For example, notice the following prophecy:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)

That dividing could not possibly be referring to the tiny nation called Israel today.

Why?

It has nothing resembling the strongest fortresses in the world in the 21st century.

That distinction belongs to the United States.

Things will not remain as they have.

In addition to land being divided by the coming Beast to multiple nations–which will happen, the land could also be divided by the Great New Madrid fault.

Michael Snyder also warned about supervolcanoes. Notice the following:

A supervolcano that covers 77 square miles is being shaken by one earthquake after another, but we are hearing very little about this in the United States.  A full-blown eruption of the Campi Flegrei supervolcano in southern Italy could potentially cause a volcanic winter that would absolutely devastate global food production and result in a horrific worldwide famine.  So it should deeply alarm all of us that the Campi Flegrei supervolcano was just hit by a “major” earthquake swarm that caused local residents to panic so much that many of them were literally running into the streets…

Meanwhile, it is being projected that a giant volcano off the coast of Oregon could erupt some time in 2025…

About 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, an underwater volcano appears to be rumbling to life.

Scientists who have been monitoring the vast submarine volcano for decades say a flurry of recent activity — including an uptick in earthquakes in the vicinity, and swelling of the structure itself — signals that it’s ready to erupt.

Current forecasts project that the volcano, known as Axial Seamount, could erupt anytime between now and the end of the year, according to Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University.

Scientists are assuring us that the west coast will not be affected when this volcano erupts.

Hopefully they are right about that. 05/13/25 https://endoftheamericandream.com/is-one-of-the-worlds-largest-supervolcanoes-about-to-erupt/

In my 2025 Kindle book, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as the Amazon print edition, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?, there is the following:

The debt situation of the USA is putting it at risk of being unable to recover should it be hit by weather problems, terrorist acts, war, riots, solar flares, severe earthquakes, civil unrest, devastation of its genetically-modified food supplies, food shortages, and/or various pestilences–. A combination of these events would lead to an intensity of “sorrows” such as Jesus discussed in Matthew 24:4-8, leading up to the time of the Great Tribulation. Political issues, climate change, trade policies, communication’s deals, and other events are pushing the USA into a more weakened state that will someday encourage its takeover. Disasters, especially if there is an ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack or a severe solar flare storm, devastating hurricane (s) something like a massive volcanic eruption and/or massive earthquake could be part of a so-called “perfect storm” of events that could set up the U.S.A. for destruction.

Consider the devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina the 2025 fires in Southern California. Multiply that by other disasters. The U.S.A. is at risk. Notice, also, the following related to Dr. Michio Kaku’s assessment of Yellowstone:

Scientists assure us that one day the absolutely massive Yellowstone supervolcano will once again experience a Category 8 eruption, and if it happened today it would “literally tear the guts out of the United States of America” … “Instead of having 50 states of the Union, we would have 30 states of the Union.” [i]

A ‘perfect storm’ of disasters, internal strife, and misplaced confidences will make the U.S.A. a nation that can be defeated.

Many sorrows that the USA will face, like severe weather problems, diseases (ride of the 4^th horseman of the Apocalypse) and earthquakes, will happen in the future, irrespective of who is in the White House (Amos 4:7-10; Luke 21:11). Donald Trump (and some others), however, may hasten or delay the day of destruction.

[i] Snyder M. As Yellowstone Awakens, Dr. Michio Kaku Warns That It Could “Literally Tear The Guts Out Of The United States Of America”. Economic Collapse Blog, February 2019

Yes, a massive eruption of Yellowstone or other supervolcano in the USA and/or or massive quakes could severely weaken the nation and make it more susceptible to attack. The Great New Madrid fault could be a major factor!

The Bible is clear that God controls the weather and various calamities, but wants people to heed His prophets:

6… If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:6-7)

The Bible tells of weather-related blessings for obedience and weather-related curses for disobedience. Weather is not as random as many people seem to want to believe.

As far as repentance goes, the Bible shows:

30 God … commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)

And weather problems are one tool that God uses to urge people to repent (cf. Haggai 2:17; Amos 4:7-12). But most will not. Nor will most Christians as they should (cf. Revelation 3:14-18; see also The Laodicean Church Era).

Most will ignore weather changes and simply believe that weather changes all the time and the changes do not have to do with God or disobeying His laws.

Jesus taught:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

This is the time to get your spiritual life in order.

Are you doing that?

In order to “be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” you need to get your spiritual life in order. You not only need to watch, but also to pray and change. (2 Timothy 2:15-16, KJV)

Believe what the Bible teaches.

There are many biblical signs related to the Great Tribulation and Jesus’ return that few understand today.

Yes.

It has the potential to cause massive destruction.

For many years, I have warned readers that Yellowstone poses a threat (e.g New Madrid earthquake risk and Iceland’s subglacial volcano erupting; any risk from Yellowstone?).

Of course, it is not just North America that could be affected by supervolcanoes or earthquakes.

Consider also the following related to New Zealand:

The North Island of New Zealand is chock full of volcanoes—and big volcanoes at that. No less than four major calderas sit in the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) that stretches from White Island in the north to Ruapehu in the south. One of the most violent volcanic eruptions in human history took place in ~186 AD from Lake Taupo. That rhyolitic (high silica) eruption produced an ash plume that may have towered 50 kilometers (164,000 feet!) over the caldera, what we call an “ultraplinian” eruption (and anything that is “ultra” has to be big). More recently, Tarawera in the Okataina caldera erupted in 1886 in one of the most explosive basaltic (low silica) eruptions on record that had ash plume that reached 10 kilometers (~32,000 feet) and buried a number of towns along with blasting a new valley out of the landscape. The North Island is definitely a place where volcanic unrest is taken seriously.

So, the somewhat surprising steam explosions that took place this week at Lake Rotorua have caught a lot of people’s attention. On November 28, a large steam explosion occurred near Ohinemutu near the shores. Then, on December 30, the caldera had a second, smaller explosion. The first explosion sent water and volcanic gases 25-30 meters (80-100 feet) up in a geyser-like blast. The event was brief and over by morning, so very few people actually saw the explosion happen. This was the first hydrothermal explosion at Rotorua in 15 years and came as a surprise to GNS Science, the volcano monitoring agency of New Zealand. People near the explosion reported hearing low, rumbling noises prior to the blast, which likely were caused by the movement of hot water and steam subsurface. 12/01/16 https://www.wired.com/2016/12/steam-explosions-rock-new-zealands-rotorua-caldera/

I should mention that my family and I visited Rotorua, New Zealand twice and we visited Taupo once.

Now could Yellowstone, Rotorua, or some other area with major volcanic potential possibly explode before (Mark 13:8) or during the time of the Great Tribulation?

It would seem possible.

Jesus warned about a time of earthquakes and troubles:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be…troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

The beginning of sorrows that Jesus prophesied begin BEFORE the start of the Great Tribulation. We are now in that time.

A supervolcanic eruption such as one at Yellowstone could cause major “troubles,” and truly impact the USA and Canada. An earthquake could trigger this. Volcanic eruptions spew out melted elements and can cause much destruction.

While in New Zealand, we made a video about this while I was standing on top of a supervolcano:

8:30

Are supervolcanoes a real threat?

Are supervolcanoes, such as Yellowstone in the USA or various ones in New Zealand a real threat? If so, what type of threat? Are supervolcano issues consistent with biblical prophecies? If so, which ones? Could the eruption of a supervolcano make the USA, New Zealand, or other lands vulnerable to takeover in the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Dr. Thiel answers these questions while standing atop a supervolcano in a geothermal area of Rotorua, New Zealand.

Here is a link to our video: Are supervolcanoes a real threat?

For years (e.g. Weather Affected Fall of Rome, Will it Affect the USA’s Fall?), I have warned that the USA could be hit with a ‘perfect storm’ of events and disaster that could weaken it during the ‘beginning of sorrows’ so that it would be easier for it to be taken over at the start of the Great Tribulation. Now, we see that the space agency NASA sees Yellowstone as a serious risk. And while some will scoff and say that the probability is too low, less statistically ‘probable’ events have happened. Plus, because of the decline in morality in the USA, destructive events are going to hit it.

Of course, it is not just North America that could be affected by supervolcanoes before the coming Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

There are volcanoes in many parts of the world and nearly all can cause major problems. But as Yellowstone is in the USA, it would be those in the USA, and probably Canada, that would be the most affected by it should it erupt.

Consider also what God inspired the Apostle Peter to write:

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation — as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:1-18).

Things will not remain as they have. Yellowstone could erupt. Elements will melt. Get your spiritual life in order.

Also AFTER the start of the Great Tribulation, there is a prophecy that sounds like destruction from a volcano:

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)

Volcanoes do pose a threat.

Life can end suddenly and unexpectedly.

Are you really ready spiritually?

Again, here is a link to our video: Are supervolcanoes a real threat?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Are supervolcanoes a real threat? Are supervolcanoes, such as Yellowstone in the USA or various ones in New Zealand a real threat? If so, what type of threat? Are supervolcano issues consistent with biblical prophecies? If so, which ones? Could the eruption of a supervolcano make the USA, New Zealand, or other lands vulnerable to takeover in the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Dr. Thiel answers these questions while standing a top of a supervolcano in a geothermal area of Rotorua, New Zealand. This is a video.
Earthquakes and Bible Prophecy This article goes over facts about earthquakes. It also explains what Jesus taught about earthquakes and how the Bible describes “the big one” (as well as when it is expected).
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic 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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2025, 2026, or 2027? 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? A short video is available titled: Great Tribulation Trends 2025.

Monks Valley, Cappadochia, Turkey (Pexels)

COGwriter

Should people who claim to believe the Bible live as monks?

No.

But what is a monk?

Wikipedia has the following:

A monk (/mʌŋk/, from Greek: μοναχός, monachos, “single, solitary” via Latin monachus) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy.

The Greek word for “monk” may be applied to men or women. In English, however, “monk” is applied mainly to men, while nun is typically used for female monastics. (Monk. Wikipedia, accessed 05/10/24)

So, monks basically live alone. Those in monasteries often only take care of themselves and their focus is on themselves. In pagan religions, monks are often considered to be holy men.

Yet, let’s notice a Jewish perspective from the Temple Institute about this:

Iyar 2, 5784/May 10, 2024

“You shall be holy, for I, HaShem, your G-d, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2) That is, to say the least, a very tall order! How, exactly, is one to be holy? …

Kadosh, the word in Hebrew translated as holy, in its literal sense, means to be separate, to be distinct, to be unique. When we makdish something, (from the word, kadosh), we are dedicating it, setting it aside, imbuing it with a special status and purpose. G-d is, by definition, holy, because He is unique, He is One. So how are we to express our uniqueness in a way that we can attain holiness? Are we to separate ourselves from others? Become recluses? Live as monks far from the madding crowd? Astonishingly, Torah prescribes the exact opposite. We attain our uniqueness not by removing ourselves from society or distancing ourselves from others, but by reaching out and touching others. And this is what parashat Kedoshim comes to teach us.

So, that Jewish organization is pointing out that living alone for yourself is not how you become holy as God intends.

Now let’s look at something that the Bible teaches:

31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)

Yet, what is the ONLY THING THAT GOD MENTIONED RELATED TO THAT CREATION THAT WAS NOT GOOD?

Now, let us see something about being alone from the Book of Genesis:

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18)

Monasticism is a move away from what is good, towards that which is not good. God does not want people to hermits.

Well, some may argue that is from the Old Testament, what about the New Testament?

Well, on the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught:

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

People cannot see your good works if you are living as a hermit.

Everyone knows that Jesus taught:

19 You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 19:19).

But how can you properly do that if you are living as a monk?

Also notice what the Apostle Paul taught:

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification (Romans 15:1-2).

In order to be help others we must support others and not just try to please ourselves. Monks do not strive to please others for their good, leading to edification.

Monks mainly attempt to please themselves, though they often will produce wine or beer to support themselves.

Perhaps it should be noted, that although the out-of-context writings of Paul are sometimes cited by those endorsing monasticism, Paul seemed to argue against it when he wrote:

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).

While it is true that Paul once probably took a Nazarite vow (Acts 18:21), and apparently a few others in the New Testament may have as well (Acts 21:23-24), these vows were only temporal and were not intended to be permanent as both the Old (Numbers 6:1-21) and New Testament show (Acts 18:21;21:23-24), as in every New Testament passage discussing them, it discusses them being ended.

Yet notice that Paul is stating that Christians are not to go out of the world like monks try to do.

Let me add that many Christians, while not becoming physical monks, have become spiritual monks. They do not believe that they should be subject to hierarchical church governance and do not believe that they need to support any church organization. They think that they are better being off on their own. That is basically what monks think.

Jesus warned that most end time Christians would be Laodiceans. Laodicea is made up of two words which basically mean that people decide. Just like monks, Laodiceans do not support the true Christian work as they should. Jesus tells them:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘” (Revelation 3:14-22)

Unlike Laodicea, Philadelphia means love of the brethren. Philadelphian Christians support the end time work to fulfill the commissions that Jesus gave in Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20 about reaching and teaching the world. They do not live just for themselves, but also to love and serve others.

Laodiceans are often weary about doing good. They do not seem to fully support matters such as the following that the Apostle Paul wrote:

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)

Like monks, independent Laodiceans are not truly doing good “to those who are of the household of faith.”

Notice also something that the Apostle John taught:

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also (1 John 4:20-21).

Living a truly hermetic, monastic lifestyle does not fit with this. It is a selfish thing that does not generally show love toward neighbors (though there are some monastic orders that do not neglect these scriptures, many seem to).

Notice the following from Jesus:

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  (Matthew 25:14-30)

The monk or independent Christian is like the man who hid his talent–Jesus refers to him as a wicked and lazy servant—that servant never took enough time to prove all things and to serve where God would have wanted him to serve. Jesus expects us to work with others and to bear fruit. Do not deceive yourself otherwise that you are better off alone.

As far as history goes, even The Catholic Encyclopedia recognizes that monasticism, as it now recognizes it, did not begin until the 3rd century among any who professed Christ:

The first home of Christian monasticism is the Egyptian desert. Hither during persecution men fled the world and the danger of apostasy, to serve God in solitude. St. Anthony (270-356) is counted the father of all monks. His fame attracted many others, so that under Diocletian and Constantine there were large colonies of monks in Egypt, the first laurai (Fortesque A. Transcribed by Marie Jutras. Eastern Monasticism. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

The introduction of monasticism into the West may be dated from about A.D. 340 when St. Athanasius visited Rome accompanied by the two Egyptian monks Ammon and Isidore, disciples of St. Anthony (Huddleston G. R. Transcribed by Marie Jutras. Western Monasticism. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Thus since monasticism, as we now understand it, did not begin until the late 3rd century, nor did it become popular until the fourth century, it is fair to conclude from Roman Catholic sources that the early church did not have monks, sisters, or similar monastic orders.

Being a monk was not part of the original Christian faith.

There is a place in Cappadocia, Turkey called Monks Valley. My wife and I visited once when we were in Turkey. Basically, many monks would be in an individual cave  in various rocks. Monks Valley was so far from anything else that the monks were not really assisting or helping others.

That is not reaching out to or assisting others.

What about the shaved appearance of some practicing Greco-Roman Catholic monks cause concern? Is this a Christian practice or did it come from somewhere else?

(Wikipedia source)

Wikipedia’s “Tonsure” article states:

Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp (while leaving some parts uncut) of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members. Tonsure, usually qualified by the name of the religion concerned, is now sometimes used more generally for such cutting or shaving for monks, devotees, or mystics of other religions as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem, e.g., by Buddhist novices and monks, and some Hindu streams…

The origin of the tonsure remains unclear, but it certainly was not widely known in antiquity. There were three forms of tonsure known in the 7th and 8th centuries…

It is true that for centuries, various monks have shaved the center of their heads to make themselves bald. But I would like to help make its origins clearer.

First, it seems to have existed for a long time, as something like it has been prohibited by sacred scripture for thousands of years:

1 “Speak to the priests…5 ‘They shall not make any bald place on their heads, nor shall they shave the edges of their beards nor make any cuttings in their flesh. (Leviticus 21:1,5)

15 “But the priests, the Levites…20 “They shall neither shave their heads, nor let their hair grow long, but they shall keep their hair well trimmed. (Ezekiel 44:15,20)

Despite what the Bible teaches, various ones who claim some version of ‘Christianity’ (those who prefer tradition over the Bible) persist in this type of practice today. Bald shavings were practices of some pagan priests who were involved in sun-god worship in ancient times. This may be why God prohibited it.

Irrespective of claims to the contrary, the type of shavings commonly seen were not an original practice of the apostles or those in the early church. Furthermore, even the late 4th/early 5th century Roman Catholic saint and doctor Jerome condemned some versions of it:

Tonsure A sacred rite instituted by the Church by which a baptized and confirmed Christian is received into the clerical order by the shearing of his hair and the investment with the surplice…St. Jerome (in Ezech., xliv) disapproves of clerics shaving their heads. Indeed, among the Greeks and Romans such a custom was a badge of slavery. On this very account, the shaving of the head was adopted by the monks. Towards the end of the fifth, or beginning of the sixth, century, the custom passed over to the secular clergy. As a sacred rite, the tonsure was originally joined to the first ordination received, as in the Greek Church it still is to the order of lector. In the Latin Church it began as a separate ceremony about the end of the seventh century, when parents offered their young sons to the service of God…In Britain, the Saxon opponents of the Celtic tonsure called it the tonsure of Simon Magus. (Fanning, William. “Tonsure.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 10 Apr. 2013 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14779a.htm>)

The tonsure originated prior to the time of the apostles. Notice the following references:

The tonsure of the priests and monks is an exact imitation of that of the priests of Isis; (Higgins G. Anacalypsis an Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil of the Saitic Isis: Or an Inquiry Into the Origin of Languages, Nations and Religions, Volume 2. Longman, 1836. Digitized March, 29, 2010, p. 78).

Isis…Her worship advanced over nearly the entire Roman world…The tonsure (shaving of hair from the head) of her priests prefigured that of Christian monks. (Dunstan WE. Ancient Rome. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011, p. 465)

the infant Brahmin…in India…In the second or third year, after his birth, the ceremony of tonsure must be performed; this was an old practice of the priests of Mithra, who, in their tonsures, imitated the solar disk. (Maurice T. Indian antiquities: or, Dissertations, relative to the ancient geographic divisions, the pure system of primeval theology … of Hindostan: compared, throughout, with the religion, laws, government, and literature of Persia, Egypt, and Greece, the whole intended as introductory to the …, Volume 7. T. Maurice, 1806. Digitized August 24, 2007, pp. 339-340)

Mithraism had its monks and nuns, as Tertullian admits, with the tonsure in honour of the disc of the Sun. To be shorn of hair is, doubtless, a sign of asceticism ; but it is the form of the tonsure (Khwaja K. The Sources of Christianity. The Basheer Muslim Library, 1924. Original from Oxford University Digitized 21 Dec 2007, p. 100)

Those monks and others who practice the tonsure are following a pagan religious practice that the Bible opposes. This should not be for those that claim to follow Jesus of the Bible–and He did not have a tonsure either. While the Bible does tell of a shaving of the head related to a Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:18), which the Apostle Paul did once do (Acts 18:18), this was not a permanent situation for display like the practices of ancient pagan priests and as various Greco-Roman Catholic monks do. And the hair shaving came AFTER a period of separation and hair growth (Numbers 6:5)–which is another difference from the tonsure.

The tonsure is in conflict with Leviticus 21:5 and Ezekiel 44:20, and while some may suggest that those prohibitions were done away, Jesus and His apostles did not teach that Christians should attempt to look like pagan priests. And those that do so give those, such as Muslims, reasons to question and dismiss the whole idea of Christianity.

So, how are Christians supposed to live?

Here are a couple of summary scriptures from the Old Testament:

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

What does the New Testament teach?

Jesus said:

15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15)

17 if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 … “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 19:17-19)

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

As mentioned before, Jesus also warned that Christians needed to not be lukewarm about supporting the work of the church.

If you are a Christian, didn’t you want someone who was not lukewarm to share the true gospel of the kingdom with you.

Luke recorded that Jesus said:

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)

So, no, we are to be physical or spiritual hermits.

Remember that the Temple Institute taught:

We attain our uniqueness not by removing ourselves from society or distancing ourselves from others, but by reaching out and touching others.

While being alone will make also make you unique, it will limit your development of giving love in this age as well as in the age to come.

Now, here is something from our free book The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?:

What is your purpose?

YOU are not the same as anyone else. The Bible teaches that “all the members do not have the same function … individually … God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:18).

So, you are different. Your destiny is unique and important. Your life has meaning.

What is the biblical meaning of your life?

Who are you?

YOU are one who can give love in a unique way.

And that is something you will be able to do eternally.

In the middle of the last century, the Church of God (Seventh Day) published:

The Christian lives not only for today; he anticipates a better tomorrow. (What the Church of God Believes. The Bible Advocate and Herald of the Coming Kingdom. October 3, 1949, p. 7)

But a Christian does not simply anticipate a better tomorrow. A true Christian builds character now through the tests, opportunities, and trials in life (cf. Romans 5:1-4) which will help the Christian be able to personally contribute to the “better tomorrow.”

Ultimately God has special plans for YOU personally.

God made you to give love in your own individual way (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:20-13:10).

But how?

Essentially, by now living by faith and obedience to God in this life.

By being obedient, making biblical choices, having faith, practicing love, and enduring to the end, Christians will not only build character but make eternity better for themselves and others. …

Notice, now, passages in the New Testament:

¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit is operating in all these things, dividing separately to each one as God Himself desires. … ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and you are all individual members. (1 Corinthians 12:11, 27, AFV)

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

¹⁰ For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name … (Hebrews 6:10)

God has a plan for ALL! That includes YOU INDIVIDUALLY whether you are called in this age or not. And He considers ALL OF YOUR WORKS.

All that you have been through, all that you have suffered, all of which you accomplished, etc. is preparing YOU to make eternity better (unless you will ultimately refuse to support God’s Kingdom). Everything you have been through has been preparing you for the calling and work God has for you! YOU will be able to give in a unique way and help make eternity better!

The Bible mentions that just like the body has parts like hands and eyes and parts for smelling, hearing, and other things (1 Corinthians 12:12-26), we all have our unique part in the eternal plan God has. Yes, your role could be quite different from the other billions of humans—don’t think God does not have a real plan for YOU.

Furthermore, you are accountable for what you do (Romans 14:12). God will judge based on what you do (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Revelation 20:12) as well as what you fail to do (Matthew 25:24-30). The more you do what you should do, the more you will make eternity better for your own self and others. The more you do not do what you should not do, you will make eternity better for your own self and others. God is a righteous judge (2 Timothy 4:8).

The Bible teaches that we shall be rewarded according to our works (Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Revelation 22:12)! And we will be able to help more people because of that (cf. Luke 19:15-19). The Bible says that after death, our works follow us (cf. Revelation 14:13)—which basically means that what we learned and developed while physical will shape how we will be able to give and work throughout eternity.

We are not called to live as monks at this time.

And never to live as the pagan monks have.

What most of the world (including Wikipedia) believes represents original Christianity is a compromise with paganism and does not represent the practices of Jesus or His original apostles. The tonsure should be a sign to everyone that sees it that those who practice it are not being faithful to the Bible or the practices of the early apostles.

The idea of a permanent monastic lifestyle neither is scriptural, nor consistent with the teachings or practices of the first and second century Christians.

We also have the following related video:

14:48

Christian Monks?

What is a monk? Is this something Christians should strive to attain? What does the Jewish ‘Temple Institute’ teach? What about the Hebrew scriptures? What about the New Testament? What was the one thing that God said related to the Creation in the 2nd chapter of the Book of Genesis that was not good? What did Jesus teach about one’s light shining and burying one’s talent? Are there both physical and spiritual monks? Are Christians to live as monks or serve others? When does the Church of Rome teach that monasticism started in the West? Are tonsures, such as those worn by priests of the Egyptian god Isis and the sun-god Mithra condemned in the Book of Leviticus? What did Jesus warn end-time Christians? How are Christians supposed to live? Do Philadelphian Christians have the type of love to support the fulfillment of Jesus’ commissions in Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20? Where is Monks Valley, Cappadocia? What work should you support? Are ‘independent Christians’ like spiritual monks? What is your purpose? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Christian Monks?

The Bible shows that Christians are to love their neighbors, which means that they would tend to have neighbors to love and assist. Including ones that do not profess Christ. A monastic lifestyle looks to be in conflict with that.

Sadly, many who claim Christianity do NOT hold to its original teachings. And many end time Christians also do not hold to the right teachings when it comes to loving others.

Do not be like them.

God has a plan for you! Do not sell yourself short by living as a physical or spiritual monk.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Did the Early Christian Church Practice Monasticism? Does God expect or endorse living in a monastery or nunnery? Here is a link to a related video: Christian Monks?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity? A sermon video from Vatican City is titled Church of Rome, Mithras, and Isis?
Were the Early Duties of Elders/Pastors Mainly Sacramental? What was there Dress? Were the duties of the clergy primarily pastoral or sacramental? Did the clergy dress with special liturgical vestments? Can “bishops” be disqualified as ministers of Christ based on their head coverings?
Independent/Unaffiliated: Independent Members of the COG: Herbert W. Armstrong Comments, Plus Questions and Answers What did Herbert W. Armstrong teach about being independent of the organized Church? Should independents who claim to accept Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings support the end time Philadelphian work? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Unity. Watch also Zephaniah’s ‘Gather Together’ Prophecy.
Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God? Did the old Worldwide Church of God essentially predict a Philadelphian remnant? Is a Philadelphian remnant needed for end-time prophecies to be fulfilled? Here is a link to a related sermon: The Philadelphia Remnant.
Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.

(Photo from Pixabay)

COGwriter

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made comments about immigrants:

13 May 2025

A number of MPs criticised Keir Starmer when he said the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers” if steps were not taken to address integration. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/13/keir-starmer-immigration-speech-completely-different-to-enoch-powell-yvette-cooper

Starmer insisted that new migrants must “learn the language and integrate” once in the UK. He said: “Britain is an inclusive and tolerant country, but the public expect that people who come here should be expected to learn the language and integrate.” https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/12/keir-starmer-defends-plans-to-curb-net-migration?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The prime minister promises net migration will fall “significantly”, vowing that every area of the UK’s immigration system will be tightened.

Changes made in the White Paper, which will be published today, will “finally take back control of our borders”, he adds.

Without immigration controls, the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together” 05/12/25 https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ce810e3z6dkt?page=2

Such statements may trigger unrest in the UK.

ZeroHedge posted the following:

Is Britain On The Brink Of Civil War?

May 13, 2025

According to David Betz, Professor of War in the Modern World at King’s College London, many of the preconditions for civil war exist in Britain today. 

Using academic studies on social cohesion, civil war causation theory and social attitudes surveys, he argues that the following preconditions are in place: elite overreach, factional polarization, a collapse in trust, economic pressures, and the perceived downgrading of the majority population in a previously homogeneous society, are all present in contemporary Britain.

The current dynamics, he continues, point to an emerging conflict between radicalized factions within the Muslim community and an incipient nativist white nationalism. Professor Betz goes on to claim – using the Maoist model that divides insurgencies into three phases – that the nativists are in phase one, the so-called defensive phase in which the group begins to organize, disseminate propaganda and build a conscious community of followers.

Islamists, on the other hand, are in phase two – when violent attacks occur on a semi-regular basis, a military structure is being developed, but they are not yet strong enough to challenge the state’s monopoly on violence. (Professor Betz believes that, due to the absence of clear geographic divisions between the antagonists, Britain is unlikely to reach phase three – the offensive phase. This is when the insurgent groups are strong enough to challenge government forces.)

It is an arresting and troubling thesis. It is also convincing.

The preconditions outlined above undeniably exist in modern Britain.

There has been a collapse of public trust in the state, for example. …

The white, native population is in the midst of an elite driven programme to downgrade their status in the United Kingdom – a phenomenon that Professor Betz cites as a precondition for civil war. 

That it could lead to a backlash by those being downgraded is self-evident.

Britain is already facing factional polarization within some of its communities. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/britain-brink-civil-war

Last Summer, Elon Musk predicted that civil war in the UK is inevitable:

UK civil war ‘inevitable’ – Musk

August 4, 2024

The UK is at risk of sliding into a civil war, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said, commenting on the ongoing anti-immigration protests in the country that have turned violent.

Several cities in the UK, including Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Belfast, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool, and Hull, were plunged into chaos after a knife attack in Southport, England left three children dead and several others injured. The attack was carried out by Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old born in Britain to Rwandan parents. Meanwhile, there are rumors circulating online that the culprit was a Syrian migrant who went to Britain by boat.

The tragedy has sparked numerous protests, with videos showing demonstrators chanting anti-immigrant and anti-Islam slogans, setting fires, and setting off fireworks as cars were burned and buildings damaged, though the protests have not all been violent. Some activists have clashed with police, resulting in dozens of arrests and injuries to officers.

Commenting on a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing the unrest which was shared by a social media user who suggested the chaos was caused by mass migration to the UK and open-border policies, Musk responded: “Civil war is inevitable.” https://www.rt.com/news/602111-uk-civil-war-inevitable-musk/

Yes, there will be more civil unrest in the United Kingdom.

Something resembling a civil war will happen in the UK.

Of course, the UK has been in decline for some time, as its massive empire is no more.

Consider that:

In 1913, 412 million people lived under the control of the British Empire, 23 percent of the world’s population at that time. It remains the largest empire in human history and at the peak of its power in 1920, it covered an astonishing 13.71 million square miles – that’s close to a quarter of the world’s land area (McCarthy N. The Biggest Empires In Human History. Statista, December 19, 2019).

The British Empire is basically no more as the UK lost most of the land it once controlled.

The Bible warns:

58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues — great and prolonged plagues — and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. (Deuteronomy 28:58-63)

24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.  (Leviticus 18:24-28)

23 ‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, 24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.  (Leviticus 26:23-25)

So, those that were promised blessings were also told that they would be subject to losing those blessings if they disobeyed God. As far as being plucked from the land, see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?

Now notice some statements from the Apostle Paul:

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  (1 Corinthians 6:18)

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.  (1 Timothy 2:8-10)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. …

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18-19, 26-32)

Overall, the Anglo-descended nations do not care what the Bible says about flaunting or condoning sexual immorality.

The Anglo-nations need national repentance. Notice that lack of repentance is listed as a reason that the King of Assyria (the final King of the North) will become Ephraim’s king:

3 I taught Ephraim to walk…5…But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6 And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him. (Hosea 11:3a, 5b-7)

The prophesied shame is starting to come upon the Anglo-American powers. Without repentance, increased pride is occurring, and this will be followed by the prophesied destruction of the Anglo-nations. And yes, other nations have their sins, but they will be punished later.

People individually and the nations collectively need to repent, because truly the end is near.  Those who think that they will be able to wait until the last moment (which will probably be sometime in the next decade) are deceiving themselves as a strong delusion will come upon the world then.

The New Testament further teaches:

16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:16-17).

Anglo-American religious leaders should all know that they need to denounce sin, but most have compromised on several points.

And terror is prophesied:

5 They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation. … 25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:5,25)

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

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

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

Though the Anglo-descended peoples often call to God, they have backslidden and will not repent. So, the Assyrian will be their king and devour their lands. While they will have troubles (Mark 13:8) prior to the Great Tribulation, when the time for destruction comes, it will be sudden (cf. Jeremiah 15:8).

Last Summer, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

15:26

Will there always be an England?

Although there is a British song from 1939 that has the line “There will always be an England,” is that true? Some have noted cultural dissolution, enough so that they have wondered if England will remain. Does the Bible point to the end of England? While the British Empire was the world’s largest, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has less than 1% of its 1920 empire. Will the UK lose more land such as Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands? Will it be conquered? Do biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies point to the end of the UK? Could the British people be descendants of Joseph’s son Ephraim? Why does the Bible show it will be conquered? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie go over these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Will there always be an England?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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?
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?
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam. Here is a shorter video: Afghanis: Potential terrorists?
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There are also videos related to this, titled Transgender ‘Woe to those who call evil good’, Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children, Disney’s abominable promotions!, USA pushing gender confusion, and New Transgender Study.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality and the LGBTQ agenda?  Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? A short video is available titled: Gay Gene? Born That Way?
Pornography: A scourge on society Is pornography harmless fun? Does the Bible teach anything about it? What are the views of some involved with it? A related sermons is titled: Pornography, False Comfort, and False Religion. Here a shorter YouTube video Pornography: Harmless Fun or a Scourge on Society?
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here is a link to a related sermon: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

COGwriter

Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats have resulted in a temporal pausing of increased tariffs to China:

Faisal Islam: US and China deal is significant, but not an end to the trade war

13 May 2025

It’s a ceasefire on the main front of the global trade war. Global markets are rising again, and container ships can set sail across the Pacific.

The progress made in US-China talks in Switzerland was far greater than expected. The prohibitive triple-digit tariffs are now down to just moderately high levels, at least for three months.

The details were a little complicated, perhaps by design to enable both sides to save face.

The bottom line is this: the retaliatory tit-for-tat rise in tariff rates has been cancelled, and the so-called “reciprocal” tariff rate of 34% is lowered for at least 90 days to 10%.

The rates applying now are 30% from the US (which includes an existing 20% component aimed at curbing the illegal trade in fentanyl), and 10% from China. …

It is not an end to the trade war, but it is a very significant truce.

China was facing a 2008-style factory shutdown and potential significant unemployment. It should be averted now.

At these tariff levels, prices will go up somewhat, but the trade will flow. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgv5n00e0jo

While many in the media expected major inflation rate increases for last month because of the tariffs and threats of them, that, officially, did not happen:

Inflation eased after Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, defying fears

May 13, 2025

Consumer prices rose 2.3% in April compared to a year ago, cooling slightly from the previous month and defying fears of an inflation surge in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs last month. The reading — which marked the lowest inflation rate since 2021 — matched economists’ expectations.

Egg prices fell 10% in April compared to the previous month, offering some relief for shoppers, data showed. Still, egg prices stand much higher than they did a year ago.

By contrast, gasoline prices dropped 12% over the past year. The nationwide average price of a gallon of gas is $3.15, AAA data shows.

Trump’s tariff escalation, announced April 2, set off concern among economists and consumers about a possible burst of inflation, since importers typically pass along a share of such taxes in the form of price hikes.

Government data on Tuesday showed sharp price increases have not come to pass – at least for now. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inflation-data-reveal-impacts-trumps-liberation-day-tariffs/story?id=121706453

The truth is that tariffs are inflationary in the sense that they cause the cost of goods to rise.

The other truth is that much of the mainstream despises Donald Trump so much that they repeatedly put forth “experts” who exaggerated the likely impact of Donald Trump’s trade policies.

That said, there will be many unintended consequences of Donald Trump’ tariffs, sanctions, and threats.

Like the mainstream media, Donald Trump often exaggerates. Notice the following:

President Trump said the “European Union is, in many ways, nastier than China,” during a news conference on Monday.

Why it matters: The stakes of a prolonged U.S.-EU standoff over Trump’s tariffs are high. With nearly a trillion dollars worth of trade last year, U.S. companies exported more than twice to the EU what they sent to China.

Driving the news: During the news conference, Trump announced an executive order aimed at cutting prescription drugs and pharmaceutical prices.

• He said that Europeans should have to pay more for health care and take on financial burdens.
• Trump said the U.S. has “all the cards” in trade deals with the EU.

What he’s saying: “The health care companies should make pretty much the same money,” Trump said. “I really don’t believe they should be affected very much because it’s just a redistribution of wealth.”

• “Europe’s going to have to pay a little bit more. The rest of the world is going to have to pay a little bit more,” he added. “And America is going to pay a lot less.”
• He said the U.S. has been “subsidizing” Europeans’ health care.

By the numbers: Trump, in his remarks Monday, insisted Europe sells the U.S. 13 million cars a year and the U.S. sells none in return.

• The European Automobile Manufacturers Association has said it’s not quite that stark, according to a March fact sheet.
• About 750,000 cars were exported from the EU to the U.S. last year, against about 170,000 cars exported from the U.S. to Europe. https://www.axios.com/2025/05/12/trump-european-union-trade-war-china-tariffs

Donald Trump continues to insult and push against the European Union (EU). Notice also:

Trump’s tariff deals send Europe to the back of the line

“Europe is not a priority for the U.S. I don’t think that in any field — be it trade or defense or anything else actually — Europe is a priority. And of course, that is a bit of a surprise for Europeans in [their] discussions with U.S. officials,” said Agathe Demarais, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Trump struck a pact with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer late last week to reduce U.S. tariffs on U.K. auto and steel exports — the first such move since the U.S. president imposed a swath of tariffs in early April on goods from across the world.

And on Monday, China nailed its own breakthrough, with Washington and Beijing slashing their tariffs to 30 percent and 10 percent, respectively, on each other’s goods.

Hours later, Trump called the EU “nastier than China.” His vitriol is enduring: “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States,” he said in March before launching his full-scale trade war.

As Washington cuts deals with friend and foe alike, the appeals for tariff relief from Brussels are going unanswered. The bloc — and the €1.6 trillion transatlantic trade relationship — are languishing at the back of the line. 05/12/25 https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-tariff-deal-send-europe-back-line/

Last year, I wrote that Donald Trump would make a trade deal with the United Kingdom in my December 2024 article titled 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:

Expect the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to try to increase trade with each other.

Donald Trump feels that the USA and UK have a special relationship and he will look to make a more favorable trade deal with the UK than with the rest of Europe. https://www.swineweb.com/canada/canada-faces-growing-trade-tensions-with-u-s-diversification-becomes-key-priority/

Earlier this month, such a deal happened (see Donald Trump announces trade deal with UK, hence confirming another COGwriter prediction).

Why mention that again?

Donald Trump was perhaps the leading political figure, outside of the United Kingdom, that publicly pushed for the UK to leave the EU–Brexit.

That was an insult to the EU, as was the deal with the UK and the pause deal with China.

As far as trade and Europe go, notice something from my book available at Amazon Kindle: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? as well as Amazon print Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Trade

Historically, Donald Trump has called for “fair trade” and indicated that various nations, including several in Asia, are not engaged in fair trade, so he has proposed high tariffs.[i]

Donald Trump has called tariffs, “the most beautiful word in the dictionary” and even proposed massive tariffs (up to 2000%) on Mexico if it will not do what he wants.[ii] He has basically also proposed a minimum of 10% tariffs on goods from much of the rest of the world.

Some believe that Donald Trump’s positions on trade will lead to a global trade war.[iii] Europe has said it will hit back against Donald Trump’s tariff policies.[iv] It is my position that trade disputes will be a factor in Europe taking military action against the USA one day.

One of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and other trade matters is that it is motivating nations he has threatened to look to trade more with each other. … (pp. 51-52)

The USA itself, as well as Donald Trump specifically, have repeatedly shown the Europeans that it does not trust them, yet it sometimes will trust them too much. According to the Bible, the time will come when the USA will find that continental Europe will be an enemy (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11) and not an ally (Ezekiel 23:4,9-10; Lamentations 1:1-2). (p. 58)

The USA will be attacked by “friends” consistent with the following:

¹ How lonely sits the city
That was full of people!
How like a widow is she,
Who was great among the nations!

The princess among the provinces
Has become a slave!

² She weeps bitterly in the night,
Her tears are on her cheeks;
Among all her lovers
She has none to comfort her.

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies. cf. Lamentations 1:1-2).

Notice the one who was “great among the nations” will be conquered by friends, who will become enemies. (pp. 140-141)

• Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade. (p. 210)

[i] ^{Trade: Donald J. Trump’s Vision. https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/trade accessed December 16, 2016}

[ii] ^{Pan J. Donald Trump calls tariff ‘the most beautiful word,’ threatens up to 2,000% tariff to block Mexican car imports. Yahoo News, November 3, 2024}

[iii] ^{Islam F. Will Trump’s victory spark a global trade war? BBC, November 7, 2024}

[iv] ^{Vella JH. EU’s game plan for Trump trade war: ‘Hit back fast and hard.’ Polico.eu, October 21, 2024}

(Thiel B. Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Nazarene Books, 2025)

So, what is the EU doing? Notice the following:

BRUSSELS — U.S. President Donald Trump has two gigantic trade blocs in Europe and the Pacific now eyeing each other and considering a previously far-fetched idea.

It’s a plan leaders in Brussels and the 12-nation Indo-Pacific club have been turning over in their minds since Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs. As Trump’s trade war smashes the economic order globalization built into little bits: Why not band together?

Nations are lining up to join the likes of Japan, the U.K., Canada, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia and others in the difficult-to-pronounce economic alliance known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — CPTPP.

Trump exited Barack Obama’s negotiations to found the Indo-Pacific bloc to counter China in one of his first moves after his first inauguration in 2017. But as the president’s full-blown trade war hits America’s allies today, the 27-nation EU is now looking to diversify its trading relationships.

EU chief executive Ursula von der Leyen is increasingly thinking that turning to CPTPP, ratified in 2018, might be the best plan B as Trump fragments the rules-based trade order. https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-trade-war-eu-pacific-free-traders/

Let me add, that at least partially because of Donald Trump’s statements and policies, the EU has made, or at least accelerated, trade deals with Mexico (see Trade war escalates as European Union hits back against Donald Trump’s tariffs), Asia (see European Union’s reputation and influence growing with ASEAN and Central Asian nations), South America (see Donald Trump is end of ‘American Century’? The British ‘Century’ also ended. so what is next? Plus, EU makes Mercosur deal consistent with COGwriter prediction!), and India (see European Union seeks to improve trade ties with India as it faces Donald Trump’s tariff threats).

Regarding how the international trade situation will end up, the The Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel discussing various views and scriptures about that:

14:49

Trade Wars – and the Winner will be …

US President Trump imposed tariffs on a global scale. Those tariffs were imposed on friend and foe alike. It seems as if President Trump is no respecter of nations. But how will this work out for the United States? Will these tariffs result in other nations drawing closer together that have had rather cold, and even not so cold, relations in the past? Will global tariffs result in trade wars? Were the events which are happening predicted by any in the Continuing Church of God? Is Europe drawing closer to China? Is Europe drawing closer to Latin and South America? With the exception of a few of America’s allies, is the net result of these tariffs a worldwide scramble to create new alliances and new trading partners to the exclusion of the United States? What will be the future result of these new alliances? Many of the nations that are now seeking new alliances were just recently America’s allies. They were her friends. Dr. Thiel brings to light the fate of America and her allies at the hands of her former friends, as revealed in the book of Lamentations. As we rapidly approach the end times listen in as Dr. Thiel brings to light world events. Then listen as he shines the light of Bible prophecy directly on the questions raised from these world events.

Here is a link to our video: Trade Wars – and the Winner will be …

Church of God warnings on trade are coming to pass.

In the Continuing Church of God:

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19, KJV)

We continue to see international affairs that are aligning with properly explained biblical prophecies.