Church of God News

Gold and Euro notes (Pixabay photo)

COGwriter

The European Central Bank has concerns about US trade policies and the price of gold:

ECB’s Escriva sees risks to global financial sector from U.S. trade policies

20 May 2025

MADRID (Reuters) -Geopolitical and trade tensions stemming from U.S. tariffs pose a risk to the stability of the global financial system and to global economic growth, European Central Bank policymaker Jose Luis Escriva warned on Tuesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened an array of punitive measures against trading partners, only to revoke some of them at the last minute, baffling world leaders and spooking business executives. …

“All these factors have a decisive impact on the global growth outlook and pose risks to the stability of the international financial system,” Escriva, who also chairs the Bank of Spain, wrote in its annual report. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ecbs-escriva-sees-risks-global-110801493.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGlGdb6jQ4MSO0CHstUd044x9ElCtwXU4yfMmZS7p3GoXBvja4w4dwMRJwom6Q3HfwvSFuQdVxJuZjy0dGUl0BFziWDo8EzzL97rkO3D7saJuJvLeYZgy7FC0x3_F7qjHdvVzlezlw6cCv80sveqjlga96y1thrb-FjiDQI0JCrp

European Central Bank sounds alarm: Under geopolitical pressure, the gold market may threaten financial stability in Europe

The latest research from the European Central Bank shows that the structural vulnerabilities in the gold market, combined with geopolitical risks, could pose a significant threat to financial stability in the Eurozone.

Influenced by Trump’s global tariff policies, gold prices soared to a historic high of $3,500 per ounce last month. Although prices have since retreated, ECB economists believe that potential risks still exist.

Four economists from the European Central Bank, Maurizio Michael Habib, Oscar Schwartz Blicke, Emilio Siciliano, and Jonas Wendelborn, stated in a research report released on Monday, “Commodity markets are often dominated by a few large institutions, highly reliant on leverage, and exhibit high opacity due to the use of over-the-counter derivatives, all of which contribute to market vulnerabilities.”

Data shows that currently, the Eurozone’s exposure to gold derivatives has reached €1 trillion, a 58% increase since November 2024, with a large amount of over-the-counter trading and non-centralized clearing increasing systemic risk. 05/19/25 https://longportapp.com/en/news/240844727

ECB Sounds Alarm on Gold Surge – Fears Will Trigger Financial Collapse

When central bankers start warning about an asset, you know it’s doing something right. According to Frank Holmes, CEO and CIO of U.S. Global Investors, the European Central Bank’s sudden anxiety over gold isn’t about volatility or stability—it’s about control. “The ECB is afraid of gold as much as they are afraid of Bitcoin,” Holmes told Daniela Cambone in a recent interview. And it’s not hard to see why.

Both gold and Bitcoin operate outside the reach of unelected bureaucrats and their printing presses. They’re decentralized. Portable. Uncensorable. In other words, the stuff monetary technocrats have nightmares about. When institutions like the ECB issue dire warnings about assets like these, it’s not the asset that’s broken—it’s the system.

“They’re trying to paint the picture that gold is possibly broken,” Holmes explains. “But what it’s really showing… is that the financial system is broken, and gold’s just sounding that alarm.” https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2025-05-19/ecb-sounds-alarm-gold-surge-fears-will-trigger-financial-collapse

While the ECB is concerned about Donald Trump and the price of gold, ultimately, Europe will embrace gold for reasons of economic stability.

There will be many unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s statements and policies.

Notice something from my latest 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?:

The USA dollar will ultimately crash and be worthless. That “pride” of American power will be broken (cf. Leviticus 26:19). …

European leaders have been working for years to establish a new reserve currency for the world, partially with the intent to remove the USA dollar from its current position as a reserve currency. …

Daniel 11 … 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians* shall follow at his heels.

* Note: The Hebrew word is כשׁים kushı̂ym, meaning Cushites, like from Sudan, and is not specifically a reference to the land of Ethiopia.

The “he” is the King of the North. This is the same King of the North that valued gold and silver in Daniel 11:38. Although other scriptures also show that gold and silver will have value around this time (like Revelation 9:20; 18:12,16), the Bible is clear that gold and silver will be worthless for a short time before Jesus returns (e.g. Ezekiel 7:19).

The fact that the King of the North himself will accumulate gold (and some silver) is consistent with several Byzantine (“Greek” Orthodox) prophecies of their predicted Great Monarch:

Emperor Leo the Philosopher (died 912): You will amass gold … And you will be the leader of the surrounding nations …

Addressed to Emperor Manuel II, Palaeogous (died 1425): The Emperor … will discover gold and silver…

Saint Andrew Fool-for-Christ (c. 4^th century):  God will reveal to this king all the gold wherever it happen to lay concealed from view …[i]

One side note is that, in Egypt, major gold deposits were found in 2006 [ii] and the government announced increasing investment in gold mining in 2022. [iii] This is relevant as it does suggest that Egypt seemingly has enough gold that a foreign power could be interested in taking/using it as Bible prophecy teaches.

It may be of interest to note that back in the 1970s Europe was looking for a gold-backed currency.[iv] European central banks have, overall (there have been sales too by the European central banks), been accumulating gold since, and some in 2024 believe that the Europeans are still planning on having some type of gold-backing (or at least implied) of a European currency.[v]

Since many are now questioning the role of the USA dollar as the world’s reserve currency, more are looking into other currencies as well as gold.

Gold will set records in U.S. dollar terms.

In 2017, I also published that last statement in my book related to Donald Trump, and it did hit records in July and August in 2020. [vi] Now, despite having ups and downs, as well as records hit in 2024, gold will set further records in U.S. dollar terms in the relatively near future.

It has been asserted that:

The only replacement for fiat {currency} is a currency credibly backed by gold.[vii]

Although the above can be debated, the reality is after the elimination of the USA and the crash of its dollar, the world will want something more stable than unbacked currency. Thus, it is likely that some type of gold-backed currency will emerge as the preferred reserve currency in the world.

It has long been reported that various nations around the world are already in the process of accumulating gold to one day overthrow the U.S. dollar—and that the “U.S. is unprepared for this strategic alternative to dollar dominance.”[viii] Various steps were also taken in 2022 and 2024.[ix]

When the U.S. dollar totally collapses people all around the world will consider that even if the euro (or something similar) is strong, having a more gold-backed currency would be safer.

The collapse of the USA dollar will shake a lot of the world’s confidence in non-gold backed currencies. The Europeans do not have to have a perfect currency, only one that is perceived to be in better shape than the USA dollar or various other currencies.

Having the European power acquiring more gold to back the Euro or possibly another future European currency (that might potentially replace the Euro or even a basket of currencies) may greatly increase European credibility, prosperity, and influence around the globe, even if the backing is only implied.

[i] Tzima Otto, pp. 76, 102, 114

[ii] A Gold Mine Worth LE 23 Billion (and counting).  Egypt Today, August, 2006

[iii] Hosny H. Egypt to invest in gold, mineral mining. Al-Monitor, June 13, 2022

[iv] ^{Nieuwenhuijs J. Europe Has Been Preparing A Global Gold Standard Since The 1970s. SeekingAlpha.com, July 16, 2020}

[v] ^{Nieuwenhuijs J. Europe Is Finalizing Preparations for a Gold Standard. ActivistPost.com, November 9, 2024}

[vi] Gold hits new record, posts best month since 2016 CNBC, July 30, 2020; Woodall T. Gold surges to new highs as US dollar weakens despite growing macro risks. S&P Global, August 10, 2020

[vii] ^{MacLeod A. Designing a new currency is impractical. Goldmoney Insights, March 24, 2022}

[viii] Rickards J. Axis of Gold. The Daily Reckoning, December 20, 2016

[ix] ^{Guistra F. Why the U.S. dollar will be replaced as the dominant global currency — sooner than you think. Toronto Star, July 5, 2022; Bezek I, Duggan W. De-Dollarization: What Would Happen if the Dollar Lost Reserve Currency Status? US News & World Report, November 2024}

Since the above came out in mid-January 2025, gold has hit record prices in US dollar terms many times.

Now the ECB officials in the news items referred to at the beginning of this post expressed concerns about a major banking crisis. Various crises will end up pushing Europe further towards gold as well as one day reorganizing as prophesied (cf. Revelation 17:12-13).

As far as Europe facing a systemic banking crisis, notice something the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, said in a sermon on July 7, 1984:

And I can see now, the event that is going to trigger the formation of the reunification in Europe; the resurrection of the medieval Holy Roman Empire that we’ve been looking forward to that is prophesied to come…

But I believe that some event is going to happen suddenly just like out a blue sky that is going to shock the whole world and is going to cause the nations in Europe to realize they must unite! … Well now I think I can see what may be the very event that is going to trigger…that is the economic situation in the world…

The whole banking structure in the United States is a network all jointed together. But not only that, one nation has to deal with other nations and imports and exports. And so they have to have a means of transforming money from one nation to another. And so the banking structure is international and interwoven…

Now when the financial structure breaks down, all civilization is going to break down…

So, an economic or banking crisis is what Herbert W. Armstrong concluded would drive Europe to unite.

And, I agree that it will take some type of crisis, or more accurately a combination of crises, for Europe to reorganize.

There were elections in three European nations earlier this week. Here are two reports about that:

EU elections Super Sunday shows centre-left parties remain in freefall

20 May 2025

Experts told Euronews that centre-left parties are losing connection to voters across the continent in a period of time when social issues are pressing.

European leaders have been quick to congratulate centrist Nicusor Dan on Sunday’s dramatic victory in Romania’s presidential election over his hard-right rival George Simion.

Dan won 53.6% of the vote, ahead of Simion, who during the campaign portrayed his movement as championing nationalist values and conservative policies similar to those of US President Donald Trump. …

Jean-Michel De Waele, a political scientist at the ULB University in Brussels, told Euronews that only time will tell if this proves a setback for European nationalists, but stressed that leaders cannot ignore the anger of the anti-establishment voters.

“There are many problems to be solved. And the citizens of the European Union in this part (of Europe) are not convinced by the EU,” he said.

“After all, 46% of Romanian citizens voted for Simion. So the EU can rejoice, but it must not forget and must not say: ‘We understood the message, we will change the communication. Business as usual’.” …

In Poland, pro-European candidate Rafał Trzaskowski won the first round, ahead of conservative Karol Nawrocki. The pair will face each other in a runoff on 1 June.

In Portugal, the ruling centre-right AD alliance won snap parliamentary elections yet fell short of a majority, while the far-right Chega made record gains. Meanwhile, the left-leaning PS lost 20 seats in parliament, resulting in the resignation of party leader Pedro Nuno Santo.

The traditional left-wing parties were in free fall in all three elections.  …

De Waele believes that the crisis of leadership is one cause of the turn many voters towards action-oriented leaders.

“I think citizens are demanding concrete policies, and governments are taking strong positions. That’s also why … Trump is so successful. He’s this kind of very virile, very strong populist leader.” https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/20/eu-elections-super-sunday-shows-centre-left-parties-remain-in-freefall

Romania, Poland, Portugal election results: Who are the winners and losers?

Pro-EU forces prevail on electoral ‘super Sunday’, but far right gains ground.

Millions of voters across three European countries cast their ballots in an electoral “super Sunday” over the weekend amid fears of far-right gains, particularly in Romania and Poland. However, the centrists held their ground in the two European Union and NATO member nations bordering war-torn Ukraine, providing a boost to the West.

Portugal’s centre-right governing party also secured a parliamentary win, but the far right made record gains. … while the centre is holding for now, far-right populist forces continue to grow in all three countries, the latest in a string of far-right surges in Europe.

Last summer, EU elections witnessed a clear turn to the right in the European Parliament, shaking up governments across the 27-member bloc and leaving mainstream political parties at a crossroads. Despite “super Sunday” results, eurosceptic parties continue to garner support. …

Romania’s presidential election concluded with a clear victory for centrist candidate Nicusor Dan, who secured 54 percent of the vote against nationalist rival George Simion’s 46 percent. …

Coming on the heels of the annulment of a previous vote in December, due to alleged Russian interference, the stakes of Sunday’s election were very high.

Many saw the contest as a referendum on Romania’s future political direction and its role within the EU and NATO. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/romania-poland-portugal-election-results-who-are-the-winners-and-losers

The increases in ‘right-wing’ supporting voters shows that a shift is going on in Europe. Part of that is because of the ‘Trump effect.’

Europe will shift so much that its government will change massively from what we have seen.

The Bible shows that a major reorganization is prophesied to happen and push Europe under totalitarian control:

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)

Economic issues, migrant matters, and citizens moving more to ‘the right’ look to be factors that will get Europe to decide to reorganize and support a dictator that the Bible calls the Beast.

Biblical prophecies will come to pass.

Things will NOT continue as they have been.

Do NOT place your confidence in the US dollar, democracy, the Euro, silver, or gold, but “seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Plain Truth About Gold in Prophecy. How Should a Christian View Gold? What About Silver? What do economists and the Bible teach about gold? Gold and silver may drop in value. Inflation/deflation? What do Christians need to know about gold and silver? Two videos of related interest may be: Germany, Gold, and the US Dollar and Silver, Science, and Scripture.
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.
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in over 1,500 languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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?

Gaza Strip and Israel as shown on Wikipedia May 5, 2025

COGwriter

Various nations are expressing concerns that Israel is allowing starvation in Gaza:

Australia demands Israel allow aid into Gaza, stating ‘the population faces starvation’ in joint statement

20 May 2025

Australia has joined 22 other nations in condemning Israel over its decision to allow limited aid into Gaza while announcing a military expansion to “take control” of the besieged strip.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his troops were “making progress” on taking control of Gaza after Israel’s military had earlier declared a central city a combat zone and killed more than 60 people in airstrikes, while a senior minister said Israel’s army would “wipe out” what remains of Palestinian Gaza.

The escalation comes as those in Gaza face a looming famine following Israel’s 11-week blockade of food, fuel and aid supplies from entering the territory.

In a statement on Tuesday morning Australian time, 23 countries, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, urged Israel not to politicise humanitarian aid for the starving population. …

“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate,” the three countries said, marking a change in tone from the UK and Canada in particular, which have broadly backed Israel’s war after the 7 October Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/20/australia-joins-demand-israel-allow-aid-into-gaza–starvation

Over 700 years ago, a Roman Catholic abbot made an end time prediction related to Israel:

Abbot Herman of Lehnin (died 1300) Towards the end of the world “Israel will commit a terrible crime for which it will suffer death.” (Culleton, R. Gerald.  The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin.  Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941.  Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 151)

Roman Catholic priest and writer R. Gerald Culleton (20th century): After the birth of Anti-Christ and shortly before the rise of the Great Monarch, the false doctrines were to multiply …In the last days before Anti-Christ, there are to appear many anti-christs… Towards the end of the world the Jews are to commit some atrocious crime for which they will be greatly persecuted…the Great Monarch…This Lion Monarch… together with the Great Pope or Angelic Pastor, shall appear after socialism…(Culleton, pp. 25,27,28,50)

Note that there was no nation called Israel when Herman of Lehnin made his prediction.

Back on October 7, 2023, the day when Hamas launched its attack against Israel, I also referred to his statement and said that Israel’s response to that attack could be considered as a war crime:

A strong Israeli response may upset the world if its response is considered to be some type of “war crime.” (Thiel B. Hamas attacks and Netanyahu says, ‘We are at war’. COGwriter, October 7, 2023).

Israel has already taken steps related to its responses that many consider to be war crimes.

Furthermore, related to its current limited aid plans, that is being looked at as a possible war crime:

Israel’s Gaza aid plan could lead to ‘war crime’, UN agency chief says

20 May 2025

The chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said Israel’s new aid delivery plan in Gaza could facilitate a war crime, ruling out the UN’s participation in the initiative. Israel this week began allowing limited quantities of aid into the strip for the first time since March, following mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave. …

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said the scheme — under which Gazans would potentially have to travel across the war-shattered strip to secure life-saving supplies — falls short of “any basic humanitarian principle”. “The aid plan which is being proposed is a tool which facilitates the forced displacement of the people,” he told the Financial Times. “And ultimately we know that in [the] context of war, forced displacement of people may constitute [a] war crime.” https://www.ft.com/content/8f080842-1d45-4c37-8612-bc6e3c7967b1

Notice also:

May 20, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply condemned the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada for their recent demand that Israel halt its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu argued that calling for an end to the conflict before the terrorist group is fully defeated rewards the attackers behind the October 7 assault.

In a statement from his office on May 19, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is fighting a war for survival after Hamas militants crossed its borders, killing 1,200 civilians and abducting hundreds. He accused the European and Canadian governments of effectively offering Hamas a “huge prize” by urging a premature ceasefire and pushing for the establishment of a Palestinian state amid ongoing hostilities. …

The joint statement from London, Ottawa, and Paris, issued earlier the same day, expressed grave concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemned the expansion of Israeli military operations. While reaffirming Israel’s right to defend itself, they described the recent escalation as disproportionate and warned of further actions if Israel did not ease restrictions on aid and halt its offensive. https://israel365news.com/408918/netanyahu-rejects-ceasefire-demands-houthis-declare-naval-blockade-on-haifa-and-iran-hosts-hamas-leaders/

Yes, we have seen condemnations as well as calls for a ceasefire.

Shortly before he left office, US President Joe Biden declared that a ceasefire deal his Administration had proposed was how “permanent peace” would be attained in the region. In response to that, I posted:

Permanent peace will not come to the Middle East until AFTER Jesus returns. (Thiel B. Joe Biden announces Hamas-Israel deal and claims a “permanent” peace–but what about Daniel 9:27? COGwriter, January 15, 2025)

Related to that ceasefire deal, we put out the following related video:

14:47

Hamas Israel Ceasefire and Daniel 9:27

Peace at Last! Peace at Last! World News Item: Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire! But will this ceasefire really bring about peace in the mid-east? There are three phases to the ceasefire agreement. Is it possible that both Israel and Hamas will abide by the conditions set forth in all three phases? Would their past performance be any indication of their future performance? Dr. Thiel sheds the light of Bible prophecy on these world events in addition to giving us insight into a future peace deal spoken of in the book of Daniel. A peace deal between the King of the North and the King of the South. Will that peace deal result in peace? If the cease fire between Hamas and Israel and the peace deal between the Kings of the North and South don’t bring about peace – what will?

Here is a link to our video: Hamas Israel Ceasefire and Daniel 9:27.

Despite how the world views things, one day the Gazans will end up with territory that Israel now dominates.

Here is more of what I posted here on October 7, 2023:

Yet, one day, the nation of Israel will lose territory (for details, see the prophecies in the article Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy).

The entire 47th chapter of Jeremiah is a prophecy involving the Philistines, including Gaza–notice also that Ashekelon is mentioned:

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

2 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, waters rise out of the north, And shall be an overflowing flood; They shall overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell within; Then the men shall cry, And all the inhabitants of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping hooves of his strong horses, At the rushing of his chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers will not look back for their children, Lacking courage, 4 Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is cut off With the remnant of their valley. How long will you cut yourself? 6 “O you sword of the Lord, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still! 7 How can it be quiet, Seeing the Lord has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.” (Jeremiah 47:1-7)

Problems were thus prophesied for the Palestianians including those of Gaza–since there is a duality to some prophecies (e.g. Malachi 4:5 & Matthew 17:10-13), this looks to have future application. It should be noted that Ashkelon is currently part of Israel, Hamas recently targeted it, and the Palestinians will either control it again or be so numerous in it that they are affected.

Ultimately in this age, Jerusalem will not be the ‘undivided’ capital of Israel (cf. Daniel 11:31) like former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted. Furthermore, the nation of Israel will lose territory to the Palestinians. (Thiel B. Hamas attacks and Netanyahu says, ‘We are at war’. COGwriter, October 7, 2023)

While that has not happened yet, it will.

Here is more of what I posted here on October 7, 2023:

Contrary to past statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem will NOT remain the “undivided capital of Israel.”

The situation will change.

The Palestinians will, for a time, accept a temporary peace deal according to the Bible.

Peace deals normally happen after major conflict.

Thus, it is probably safe to conclude that the acceptance by the Palestinians and the Israelis of the Daniel 9:27 deal is likely to come after an escalation of violent conflict in the Middle East–probably involving Iran (cf. Isaiah 22:6-9).

Expect violence to get worse in the future, before a temporal peace deal is somewhat accepted. (Thiel B. Hamas attacks and Netanyahu says, ‘We are at war’. COGwriter, October 7, 2023)

Prophetically, things will NOT turn out as many Israeli officials seem to hope.

In the October-December 2019 edition of Bible News Prophecy magazine, we had the following in an article about Gaza and the Palestinians:

Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy

By Bob Thiel

The Palestinian-dominated areas of the West Bank and Gaza have been in the news a lot. A violent-prone group known as Hamas essentially runs the region called Gaza.

What will happen to Gaza? Does the Bible teach anything about the Palestinians? …

Bible Prophecy Tells About Gaza and Palestine

Zechariah had a prophecy of change coming to Gaza:

5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 “A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7 I will take away the blood from his mouth, And the abominations from between his teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for our God, And shall be like a leader in Judah, And Ekron like a Jebusite. 8 I will camp around My house Because of the army, Because of him who passes by and him who returns. No more shall an oppressor pass through them, For now I have seen with My eyes. (Zechariah 9:5-8)

Some (see Matthew Henry’s Commentary, etc.) believe that this was fulfilled in the past. However, as future prophecies tell of a time Gaza and the Philistines having problems (see below), the above could still have future fulfillment. …

Some of those lands, Ashkelon (located 50 kilometres south of Tel Aviv, and 13 kilometres north of the border with the Gaza Strip), Ekron (modern Tel Miqne, which is 35 kilometers west of Jerusalem), and Ashdod (located 32 kilometres south of Tel Aviv, 20 km north of Ashkelon, and 53 km west of Jerusalem), are currently dominated by the nation of Israel.

Ashkelon, Tel Migne, and Ashdod are claimed to be part of Israel. They are not in the Gaza Strip (they are all north of it) nor part of the other Palestinian controlled region known as the West Bank. Therefore, it looks like the Palestinians will either control those cities again or be so numerous in it that they are the ones affected in Jeremiah 25. It is my current view that the Palestinians will gain land that the nation of Israel thinks it will continue to control. Since these are not lands currently considered to be ceded in a peace deal, this looks like losses from the State of Israel after the deal of Daniel 9:27 is broken (cf. Daniel 11:31). …

Amos specifically recorded a prophecy about Gaza:

6 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they took captive the whole captivity
To deliver them up to Edom.
7 But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
Which shall devour its palaces.
8 I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn My hand against Ekron,
And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
Says the Lord God. (Amos 1:6-8) …

Also notice what Zephaniah prophesied:

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken,
And Ashkelon desolate;
They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday,
And Ekron shall be uprooted.
5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
The nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the Lord is against you,
O Canaan, land of the Philistines:
“I will destroy you;
So there shall be no inhabitant. (Zephaniah 2:4-5)

Though there was a partial fulfillment near the time this was written, the time has not yet been when there was no inhabitant in Canaan, hence this prophecy is for the future. Gaza will change and be forsaken!

Although Palestinians will one day end up with more land that Israel now dominates, Gaza will be forsaken.

One way I suspect that this could happen would be if a regional war occurred directly involving Iran and likely nuclear weapons. The head of Iran commented today about proposals by the Trump Administration to eliminate its nuclear program:

20 May 2025

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has derided demands from the United States that it halt nuclear enrichment as negotiations between the two countries hang in the balance.

“Saying things like ‘We will not allow Iran to enrich uranium’ is nonsense. No one [in Iran] is waiting for others’ permission,” said Khamenei in a speech reported by the country’s semi-official Mehr News Agency on Tuesday. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/20/irans-khamenei-slams-nonsense-us-nuclear-demands

Bible prophecy points to an Iranian-led force, with at least some Syrian involvement, that will cause great damage to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:6-9). US pressures combined with actions by Israel may soon trigger the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Jesus told of a time of wars and rumors of war in Matthew 24–and this could be one of them–but it will NOT be the Great Tribulation as “but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).

However, the end is getting closer (cf. Romans 13:11).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons:  The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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.
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.

Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Imagined Depiction of Hosea

COGwriter

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer believes his administration just made a great deal with the European Union:

Keir Starmer hails UK’s reset deal with EU as a ‘win-win’

19 May 2025

Keir Starmer has vowed his EU reset deal will deliver cheaper food and energy for British people, heralding a “win-win” as he sealed the high-stakes agreement with concessions on youth visas and fishing.

“Britain is back on the world stage,” the prime minister said after shaking hands on the deal with the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen in London. “It gives us unprecedented access to the EU market, the best of any country … all while sticking to the red lines in our manifesto.”

Von der Leyen described it as “a historic moment … opening a new chapter in our unique relationship”. But attacks came immediately from rightwing parties, which said the deal would make the UK a “rule taker” from Brussels.

Starmer emphasised the tangible benefits the deal would do for Britons, including cheaper food in supermarkets and an end to passport queues at European airports with a deal for travellers to use European e-gates. No 10 hopes both can be clinched within a year. …

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, one of the biggest Europhiles in the cabinet, said Monday’s agreement was “the best deal with the EU for any country” and would show “Britain now is the place to put investment and do business, because we’ve got preferential deals with the biggest economies”.

But the price for the trade boost was controversial. The UK will grant EU fishers access to British waters for an additional 12 years, an eleventh-hour concession from the UK three times as long as it had originally offered, which led to cries of betrayal from the Conservatives and industry figures. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister who signed the Brexit deal, said Starmer was “turning this country once again into the orange ball-chewing, leather-trussed gimp”. …

The wide-ranging deal struck at the Lancaster House summit on Monday includes:

• A defence pact as the first step towards securing British access to a new €150bn (£126bn) EU rearmament fund, though the UK will pay into the fund.

• Faster access for travellers who will be able to use e-gates at airports on the continent, although the timeline is unclear.

• A landmark emissions-trading deal, meaning UK exporters will avoid £800m of carbon border taxes.

• Closer cooperation on crime and migration, including access to the EU facial recognition data, a key request from Starmer. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/19/keir-starmer-uk-eu-reset-deal-win-win

Here is part of the official announcement from the UK and EU:

UK-EU Summit 2025 – Joint Statement, 19 May 2025, London

1. We, the Leaders of the United Kingdom (UK) and of the European Union (EU), held our first UK-EU Summit in London on 19 May 2025.

2. Reaffirming our shared values and our commitment to deeper cooperation against the backdrop of an evolving and complex global geopolitical landscape, we agreed a new Strategic Partnership between the UK and EU. We agreed this would build on the stable foundation for our relationship set by the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and reaffirmed our commitment to their full, timely and faithful implementation.

3. We reflected on the need to develop an ambitious, dynamic relationship which meets the needs of our citizens. In this context, we welcomed a renewed agenda for European Union-United Kingdom cooperation – Common Understanding agreed between the United Kingdom and the European Commission, which covers our commitments on security, defence and development cooperation, to put people at the centre of our relationship, to strengthen our economies while protecting our planet and its resources, and on internal security, judicial cooperation, and irregular migration. We agreed to proceed swiftly with the undertakings set out therein, in accordance with our respective procedures and legal frameworks. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukeu-summit-key-documentation/uk-eu-summit-joint-statement-html

The above deal may help the economies of the UK and EU, though there will be costs (like to the UK fishing industry).

The Book of Hosea specifically shows that there will be problems with Israel, Ephraim (the British), and Judah–as well as issues with end-time Assyria (Europe).

Notice what Hosea 5:5 teaches will be fulfilled:

5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them.

Hosea is showing that Israel/U.S.A., Ephraim/United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand, and Judah (the nation now called Israel) will have problems. This prophetically may be because of an attack by the Germanic King of the North on the U.S.A. and some of its English-speaking allies (Daniel 11:39)–which also will be the start of the Great Tribulation. The U.S.A. probably will have had pride in its military power which then will be broken and its cities made desolate (cf. Leviticus 26:19, 28-33).

Hosea 8:14 discusses the cities being devoured by fire. Sodom and Gomorrah were partially destroyed to be examples to those who would go for “sexual immorality” and “strange flesh” (Jude 7)—truly those sins are becoming more in the Anglo-lands (see also The Bible Condemns Homosexuality). Those who do not believe that these words apply to the modern descendants of Jacob will not apparently understand this (cf. Deuteronomy 29:29).

Those who trust in oppression and perversity will have sudden destruction come upon them (Isaiah 30:12-13). The Anglo-nations should know better, but will not repent, and Hosea was inspired to write:

5… the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. (Hosea 11:5)

This is not to say that non-Anglo peoples do not have sin or that they will not be punished. The Bible is clear that Assyria–Europe–will be an end time, northern power that God will punish per Zephaniah 2:13-15, which seems to go along with Revelation 18:1-10. Many will be made slaves (see also Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

Just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation, the Philadelphia remnant will have fled (Revelation 12:14-16; see also Matthew 24:15-21) since Jesus promised them protection from that “hour of trial” (Revelation 3:7-10).

Then Hosea shows that the following also comes about:

6 “With their flocks and herds

They shall go to seek the Lord,

But they will not find Him;

He has withdrawn Himself from them.

7 They have dealt treacherously with the Lord,

For they have begotten pagan children.

Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage. (Hosea 5:6-7)

Because of the “sin of Samaria” (Amos 8:14; which looks to be a reference to the modern U.S.A.) there will be a famine of the word that God will have happen (Amos 8:11-12) to at least the North Americans—the place where some of the Philadelphia remnant would have fled from (between Daniel 11:30-39).

Hosea continues to record terrible distresses for these people, then notice what follows in Hosea 5:13-14.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah saw his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria And sent to King Jareb; Yet he cannot cure you, Nor heal you of your wound. 14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.

So then Ephraim tries to make a deal with Assyria. Prophetic Ephraim is the United Kingdom and its British-descended allies. Prophetic Assyria is Germany and its European allies. Perhaps part of the reason for the UK to call out to Europe will be because of various economic and defense agreements–like the one agreed to today.

Also notice Hosea 8:8-9 where Ephraim apparently tries to pay for help while Israel (perhaps when the U.S.A. or/and Judah) is essentially gone:

8 Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles, Like a vessel in which is no pleasure. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers.

In Hosea 12:1 Ephraim tries to make a deal with the Assyrians:

1 Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians. And oil is carried to Egypt.

By attempting to establish better relations with the Europeans, this new agreement, as well as efforts by King Charles III, looks to be helping set the stage now for the UK to ask Europe for help in the future.

And in Hosea 7:11-12, notice that Ephraim also tries to make a deal with Egypt and Assyria. This deal seems to be made after the USA has been eliminated or is on its way out.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense—They call to Egypt, They go to Assyria. 12 Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them, According to what their congregation has heard.

There would seem to be no point in going to Egypt if the King of the South has already been overwhelmed by the King of the North (cf. Daniel 11:40-43), so this attempt to make deals might happen fairly early in the Great Tribulation.

There is nothing that I am aware of in world history that shows that Ephraim calls to Egypt after Hosea was written in a manner to fulfill that prophecy. Since this is a prophecy that must come to pass, this is one more reason why I believe the Bible supports the concept that the King of the North invades the U.S.A. and its English-speaking allies before it invades the King of the South–this is something several COGs do not understand nor teach correctly (see also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?; here is a link to a related video: 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors).

Notice that Ephraim will eat unclean things in Assyria:

3 They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean things in Assyria. (Hosea 9:3)

These verses in Hosea suggest that the Ephraimites (United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and the Jews (modern Israel) think they should get some protection from Assyria (Germany), probably because the U.S.A. (Manasseh) was the primary reason the King of the North attacked the strongest fortresses and/or because they have made various treaties.

Ephraim, Manasseh/Samaria, and Judah are also prophesied to turn on each other to some degree (Isaiah 9:21).

This seems to be consistent also with a Roman Catholic prophecy:

St. Senanus (died 560): They (English) themselves will betray each other… (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 128)

Hosea 10:9-11 suggests that Ephraim and Judah will be forced into hard labor, perhaps around this time as well; while 11:1-8 says that Assyria will be the king of Ephraim and Israel, because they refused to repent, and that the sword will devour their cities.

The famous third century Roman Catholic theologian and Bishop Hippolytus tied Assyria in with the Antichrist/King of the North power:

But Isaiah also speaks thus: “And it shall come to pass, that when the Lord has performed His whole work upon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will punish (visit) the stout mind, the king of Assyria, and the greatness (height) of the glory of his eyes“…For when he has the power, he will begin to exalt himself against God, neither in truth fearing God, nor regarding the Son of God…And Isaiah also to the like effect: “Forasmuch as the people refuses…therefore, lo, the Lord brings up upon you the water of the river, strong and full, even the king of Assyria.” By the king he means metaphorically Antichrist…(Hippolytus. On the Antichrist, chapters 16, 57).

Although he believes that the final Antichrist springs from the tribe of Dan (Ibid, chapter 15), Hippolytus seems to be connecting attributes of the King of the North who exalts himself above God (Daniel 11:36-37) with the king of Assyria (Isaiah 8:3-8; 10:5-11) who is punished in Isaiah 10:12. The Bible is clear that Assyria will be an end time, northern power that God will punish per Zephaniah 2:13-15, which seems to go along with Revelation 18:1-10. Jerome, in his passage involving Assur and Germany, also mentioned Antichrist (see Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History for details), hence he may have continued with Hippolytus’ view.

The famous third century Greco-Roman Catholic theologian and Bishop Victorinus tied Assur the Antichrist/Beast power:

7:2…”Then shall there be peace for our land, when there shall arise in it seven shepherds and eight attacks of men; and they shall encircle Assur,” that is, Antichrist…

11:7. And the beast which ascends from the abyss. After many plagues completed in the world, in the end he says that a beast ascended from the abyss. But that he shall ascend from the abyss is proved by many testimonies; for he says in the thirty-first chapter of Ezekiel: Behold, Assur was a cypress in Mount Lebanon. Assur, deeply rooted, was a lofty and branching cypress— that is, a numerous people— in Mount Lebanon, in the kingdom of kingdoms, that is, of the Romans. (Victorinus. Commentary on the Apocalypse. Translated by Robert Ernest Wallis. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0712.htm>)

Notice that Victorinus tied end time Assur (Assyria) in with representing the Beast and kingdom of the Romans during the time of Antichrist. This is somewhat consistent with prophecies in Isaiah 10:5-11, though his reference was Ezekiel 31:3-9.

It should also be noted that the Roman Catholic saint and doctor of that church, Jerome, realized that the Hebrew scriptures had future prophecies related to the King of Assyria, but that the Septuagint got them wrong. Notice the following from Jerome:

And first all, one should know that whatever is said of the king of the Assyrians in the future tense is recorded in the Septuagint as having been accomplished. (Jerome. Commentary on Ezekiel. Translated by Thomas P. Scheck. Newman Press, New York, 2017, p. 359)

So, while Greco-Roman Catholic writers have suggested a tie between Assyria and the final Beast power leader, those who rely on the Septuagint will be misled.

The connection between Assyria and the final Beast power leader that some Greco-Roman Catholic writers have noted seems to be consistent with biblical connections between Assyria/Asshur and the final King of the North.

The last verse in Hosea (14:9) begins with:

9 Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them.

Note that the word translated as “prudent” above is the same Hebrew word biyn that is in Daniel 11:33/35 as understanding. Since I believe that the Philadelphian portion of the Church is to have the wise and prudent, I believe that Hosea is giving more insight as to why it may be tied into Daniel 11.

Very few in the Church of God have tried to connect the prophecies of Hosea together. Most will not know when it is time to flee and when the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late.

Related to some of these matters, in the past we put out the following video:

14:52

King Charles Setting Prophetic Stage?

Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will be making his first international state visit from March 26-31, 2023 by going to France and Germany. Some believe this is intended to attempt to smooth over some relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Could there be any connection to the goals of the World Economic Forum? Could this visit possibly help set the stage for the UK (prophetic Ephraim) to fulfill certain prophecies related to Germany (prophetic Assyria) after the start of the Great Tribulation? Are there biblical prophecies that suggest that the United States of America and its British-descended allies may turn on each other? Did Nostradamus also seem to predict that as well as some events that now seem to be happening–such as opinions not being free? Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by a European power? Is King Charles knowledgeable about any biblical prophecies concerning the British peoples being descendants of the Israelite tribe of Ephraim? Are the North American and British peoples prophesied to have a European king over them because they refuse to repent? What to prophecies by Hosea, Daniel, Amos, and Isaiah show? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: King Charles Setting Prophetic Stage?

There will be prophetic ramifications from King Charles’ upcoming trip.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (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-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
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?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
The King’s Pedigree This is an article published by the Otago Witness in 1902 related to connections of the British Throne to the throne of King David of Israel. This also has some modern commentary inserted in italics.
THE QUEEN’S ROYAL DESCENT FROM KING DAVID THE PSALMIST This is a listing from Adam to the Kings of Judah through Queen Victoria put together in the 19th century. A list from 19th century to present is also included.
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy,Roman Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
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.
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.
Germany in Biblical and Roman 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 version of the article in the Spanish language: Alemania en la profecía bíblic. Here are links to two English language sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy. Here is one in the Spanish language: Alemania en profecía Biblica.

Euro blockchain image via Pixabay

COGwriter

A reader in Italy sent me a link in Italian (https://luogocomune.net/economia/tutti-i-pericoli-dell-euro-digitale-cbdc) which I machine-translated into English. Here are some excerpts:

All the dangers of the digital euro (CBDC)

19 May 2025

Using a credit card to make payments is not a CBDC transaction but only an alternative means through which you can transfer real euros from your bank account to the destination account. Making a payment in euros with a credit card, and making the same payment in digital euros are profoundly different operations.

Having clarified this point, when the first version of the digital euro is introduced in October 2025, it will be necessary to remember a simple concept. The money deposited in your current account or invested in government bonds or private funds will remain in euros and will not be automatically converted into a digital euro (CBDC).

The trick is exactly this, to create confusion in the mind of the common citizen so that he cannot understand the real difference between the two currencies, thinking they are the same currency. To make us believe that, when we make an electronic payment to buy for example on our trusted site, a bouquet of flowers, it is equivalent to using digital currency while, walking to the little shop in the center with cash is equivalent to buying in traditional euros.

As soon as CBDCs become legal tender, their value will be pegged to the reference currency and citizens will be given the free option to convert euros into digital currency and vice versa. Initially, advantages or tax relief will be offered in choosing ‘freely’ to use the new currency for everyday payments such as fuel or the supermarket, or for salary/pension crediting.

Many of us, attracted by these advantages or simply feeling in step with the times, will change all the old euros into digital euros. Some will think of protecting themselves, against the possible unforeseen events of life, by hiding a nest egg of emergency banknotes under the mattress. Still others will boycott credit cards and digital payments, not fully understanding the subtle mechanism underlying the new monetary system.

The ‘Great Reset’, thought up and imagined over the last two hundred years by the ‘Universal Masters’ and which is so much talked about, is nothing other than the monetary transition towards CBDCs, the true definitive weapon through which it will be possible to individually control every citizen of the world.

Private property will disappear forever and every good will be available only as a rental service: from the television to the smartphone, from the car to the house up to the washing machine, the refrigerator or the hairdryer. Everything will be on loan, after all, CBDCs are famous for their expiration date and in any case you will no longer be able to accumulate money or sell used objects.

Even intermediary credit institutions will disappear completely because you yourself will be the bank, everything will be recorded through the Unique Digital Identifier (IDU), assigned as a boast to the birthright.

Above this storage space, all the information regarding our health situation, vaccination status, daily habits, what we eat, what we buy, which TV series we follow, which books or articles we read will be stored, in practice enough data will be stored to be able to reconstruct a virtual version of our personality even capable of predicting our future decisions.

The transition to an alternative digital currency will be the first real step towards a silent but powerful erosion of individual freedoms. This currency, managed and controlled, in our case by the ECB, will allow authorities to monitor, manage and record all economic transactions in real time. Without the anonymity guaranteed by cash or by privacy rules for classic credit card payments, every small purchase or movement of funds will be tracked and a detailed profile of each individual will be created. …

It will not be possible to avoid the control of private spending. Every transaction will be visible to the authorities and associated with an acceptability score. The purchase of books with content deemed sensitive, of non-recommended foods, of tools that can suggest independent or autonomous activities can be used to reduce one’s social score, influencing access to loans, subsidies or job opportunities.

The right to mobility will be another aspect that will be fully regulated by CBDCs. Long-distance travel may be limited for ecological reasons, preventing citizens from purchasing more than a certain number of plane or train tickets per year.

Travel between regions and cities may also be limited, especially for those who have exceeded their monthly CO2 environmental impact calculated through the programmed currency system. Leisure travel will only be granted to those who have maintained a behavioral profile compliant with the system’s social and ethical guidelines.

Entrance to sporting events, concerts, museums or places of worship may be subject to economic and behavioral criteria, allowing access only to those who meet certain conditions. …

Biometrics will also allow selectively blocking individuals or social categories from accessing their own funds, with the simple revocation of payment authorization. A citizen deemed unfit, dissident or dangerous can be economically excluded in a few seconds, without the need for physical seizures of assets or bureaucratic processes. Their access to money will simply be deactivated, instantly depriving them of the ability to purchase food, transportation or essential services.

Yes, having digital CBDCs, or something similar, will give governments even more control than they now have.

Number 13 of my list of has the following:

13. CBDCs and 666

Notice the following prophecy:

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 13:16-18)

This type of financial surveillance could not have happened during the time of the Apostle John as there was no real way to monitor many financial transactions then (despite the fact that ‘preterists’ believe this was fulfilled almost 2000 years ago, see also The Dangerous Rise of Preterists). The same was true for all the centuries that followed until the late 20th and now the 21st century. But now not only does the technology exist to monitor most financial transactions, the political will is there as well.

It will be a European power that will fulfill the above prophecy of 666 (watch Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

It will likely take supercomputers aided with artificial intelligence to aid in the fulfillment of the scriptures in Revelation 13:15-18, as well as cyber-spying/monitoring. I do believe that cyber monitoring will be used by the European Beast, King of the North, 666 power.

We are seeing a move to digital/electronic money. …

Europe has claimed that it will be the dominant force in cryptocurrency. A supercomputer may be able to trace all owners and users, as well as even decode blockchain technology.

The Europeans, themselves, will continue to push for a CBDC or other type of digital currency.

Many within BRICS will push for a CBDC or other form of digital currency.

While 2025 will not see a cashless world, expect to see more movements towards monitorable payments.

Expect to see more steps related to Central Bank Digital Currencies in 2025.

The fall of the US dollar and the trend towards digital money will concern many.

Look for more totalitarian steps to be proposed and/or implemented in 2025.

The truth is that there are 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.

The European ‘666’ will arise and control buying and selling.

We also know that 666 financial controls will be put in place in Europe, and likely elsewhere. While CBDCs, of themselves, are not the ‘Mark of the Beast’ they look to be involved in the type of controls the Beast and his associates will implement.

Globalists have been working on putting in such controls for a long time.

Related to CBDCs, the globalist World Economic Forum, and prophecy, we also put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Yes, Europe will adopt some type of digital currency.

It will take the coming Kingdom of God to fix what is coming.

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 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’?

25 items to prophetically watch in 2025 Much is happening. Dr. Thiel points to 25 items to watch (cf. Mark 13:37) in this article. Here is a link to a related sermon video: 25 Items to Watch in 2025.

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.

Arab League Flag

COGwriter

US President Donald Trump has been in the Middle East:

Trump’s Gulf tour reshapes Middle East diplomatic map

May 18, 2025

Trump’s whirlwind four-day tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week was more than just a diplomatic spectacle marked by lucrative investments.

It sealed the emergence of a new Sunni-led Middle East order – one that eclipses Iran’s shattered ‘axis of resistance’, and leaves Israel sidelined, according to three regional and two Western sources. …<

One senior regional source said Trump’s visit had crowned the influential role of Saudi Arabia as the leader of the Sunni Arab world. …

In Saudi Arabia, Trump agreed a record $142 billion arms deal with Riyadh, stoking Israeli fears over losing air superiority in the region if Riyadh gains access to Lockhead’s F-35 jet.

At the same time, in a recalibration of U.S.-Saudi ties, Trump offered Riyadh leeway on establishing relations with Israel, telling its rulers they could do so in their own time.

Now, Trump is negotiating a US-led civil nuclear investment for Saudi Arabia – another deal causing concern in Israel.

Sunni states also pushed their own diplomatic agenda. Trump’s surprise announcement during his tour that he would lift sanctions against Syria – another major shift in U.S. policy – came at the behest of Saudi Arabia and over the objections of Israel.

Until December, when Sharaa toppled Syrian autocrat Bashar al-Assad, Washington had a $10 million reward for his capture. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trumps-gulf-tour-reshapes-middle-east-diplomatic-map-2025-05-18/

As long time readers of this COGwriter Church of God News page realize, I long ago stated that the Assad regime would have to change or be replaced. That happened and Donald Trump has just strongly endorsed that change.

As far as Sunni Islam goes, it has wanted to push out the Shi’ite Muslim influence by Iran, and the Assad regime. That is happening.

The rise of the Sunni Arab nations is an unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s presidency. Unintended as he does not seem to realize the prophetic ramifications of what he has been doing there.

In my book, Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?, I had the following:

Expect the 47^th President Donald Trump to take steps that will help lead to the rise of the King of the South.

He has already taken steps that will assist in that.

Notice something else from Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

Donald  Trump supports the arming of various nations to defend themselves and not expect the USA to defend them. This suggests he would be supportive of the type of confederation that will lead to the formation of the final King of the South and deadly King of the North of biblical prophecy (Daniel 11:31-43).

Donald Trump’s willingness to sell massive amounts of arms to Sunni Muslim nations is consistent with this. Notice also the following from Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?:

The Bible tells of a leader called the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) that sounds similar to the Mahdi that various ones in Islam are looking forward to. Even without this Mahdi, 2016 saw the world’s largest military exercise (called North Thunder) composed of 20, basically Sunni-Muslim, nations, which are consistent with the peoples prophesied to get together in the future (Daniel 11:40-43). …

the “the Muslim World League issued a fatwa in October of 1976 commanding Sunni Muslims to believe in the concept of an Islamic Savior called the Mahdi.”

It should also be noted that some Sunni groups, like the Muslim Brotherhood want a Caliph to rise and rule an Islamic caliphate that includes all the territory from north-west Africa through the Middle East and even further east.

The lands of the King of the South are consistent with Islamic desires for a restored Islamic caliphate, which would include the Arab nations, including Syria.

That said, do NOT consider that the Sunni nations are going to be loyal to the United States.

Currently, the Arab League has 22 members.

And Russia wants more influence with them:

Putin invites Arab leaders to Moscow summit

18 May 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited the heads of state and government of Arab League countries to attend the first Russia-Arab summit, scheduled for October 15 in Moscow. …

We intend to further actively develop constructive dialogue with the League of Arab States, as well as friendly relations with all its members,” Putin said. “In this regard, I would like to invite all leaders of your organization’s member states, as well as the Secretary-General of the League, to take part in the first Russia-Arab summit, which we plan to hold on October 15.”

He added that the meeting will take place “in a difficult international situation,” referring to the “sharp escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation” and “numerous civilian casualties.”

The Arab League, he went on to say, has proven itself to be “an effective mechanism for multilateral dialogue and joint response to the challenges and threats faced by the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.” …

Russia and Arab nations have deepened relations in recent years, https://www.rt.com/russia/617781-putin-invites-arab-leaders-to/

That said, also understand that in many ways, the European Union has better relations with the Arab League than the United States does.

The Bible shows that the time will come when a leader of the Europeans and a leader of the Arabs will one day get together to make a lying deal:

27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:27)

The “kings” mentioned above are the coming European King of the North and Arabic King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:40).

Visits of European leaders to the Middle East are helping set the stage for this coming future deal.

Their peoples will also be involved in a destructive deal:

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

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

Most of the peoples mentioned above will be supporters of the coming King of the South. However, the reference to an Assyrian leader, is consistent with other prophecies (e.g. Isaiah 10:5-12), who is also the coming European King of the North.

The deal in Psalm 83 looks to involve war and terrorism–and that will be against the United States and its British-descended allies.

In 1966 and 1979, the old Radio/Worldwide CG taught that the Arabic King of the South would arise and make a deal with the European King of the North as shown in Psalm 83:

But who is the “king of the south”?…in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end”…The verse undoubtedly found partial fulfillment in the offensive of 1896…But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”…there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi…a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations… the revived Roman Empire will invade the United States and Great Britain as well!. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, pp. 11-12).

Turn to the astounding prophecy found in Psalm 83:1-8. David, inspired of God, predicted the coming time when ALL of Israel’s enemies would join together in an effort to crush out even the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! (Verse 4) “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” (verse 5). Notice the nations making up this confederation. “Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [Jordan], and the Hagarenes [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal {Lebanon}, and Ammon [Jordan] and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [whose descendants migrated to Germany] is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” {Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan). Here we see that the Arab nations mentioned are allied with Germany (Assur) which we know from other prophecies will be the military leader — naturally so — of a United States of Europe…Egypt…will provoke the prophesied United Europe (Dan. 11:40). This European power — called the “king of the north” in Daniel 11 — shall invade and occupy the “glorious land” of Palestine (verse 41). “And the land of Egypt shall not escape”(Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966)

The above quotes shows that the WCG believed it would involve some type of Arab-Islamic confederation. And that is consistent with Ezekiel 30:2-8.

In the 21st century, former WCG member Craig White had a slightly different identification of the nations in Psalm 83:

“Keep not Thou silence O God …

For lo, Thine enemies make a tumult …

They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people …

They have said, ‘Come and let us cut them off from being a nation:  that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.’

They are confederate against thee:

The Tabernacles of Edom [Turkey and Central Asia], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia], Of Moab [Jordan, with some in Syria and Iraq] and the Hagarenes [Saudi Arabia]:

Gebal [in Lebanon] and Ammon [Jordan], and Amalek [Central Asians]:  the Philistines [Berbers and possibly the Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [southern Italians, symbolic also of the United Europe]

Assur [Germany] also is joined with them” (Ps 83:1-8). (White C. : Rise of the King of the North. Email, received September 12, 2015)

The late WCG evangelist Raymond McNair wrote:

The coalition of nations mentioned in Psalm 83 is clearly intended as an end-time prophecy, that shows which nations will wage war against the modern-day descendants of Israel, and this includes the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, English-Speaking peoples. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! CG21, 2005)

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world 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.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica
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?

COGwriter

Pope Leo XIV gave his inaugural enthronement message at St. Peter’s Square:

Pope Leo XIV calls for unity in inaugural Mass at the Vatican

May 18, 2025

Pope Leo XIV called for unity in the Catholic Church during his inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square … During the Mass, the pontiff appeared to choke up when the two potent symbols of the papacy were placed on him – the pallium woolen stole over his shoulders and the fisherman’s ring on his finger.  …

“I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he said. “In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest.” …

“Let us build a church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,” Leo said, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-inaugural-mass-vatican/

In my book titled The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV? I have the following:

Leo XIV will be ecumenical. …

From May 20, 325 A.D./C.E. to August 325, the Roman Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea. One of his political objectives was to get ecumenical unity in certain matters. In 2025, there are meetings to mark the 1700^th anniversary of this, which are expected to include ecumenical discussions.

Pope Francis had expected to participate. So we would expect that his replacement, Pope Leo XIV, to get involved somehow in this. Actually, before the conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV was called, Patriarch Barthlomew of Constantinople extended an invitation for the next pope to attend the 1700^th anniversary of Nicea. Like Emperor Constantine, Pope Leo XIV would like to ecumenical reconciliation for religious and political reasons.

Last week, Pope Leo met with eastern Catholic churches  (see Pope Leo XIV met with ‘Churches of the East’–what did 1st century Christians believe?). He urged them to hold fast to their traditions–yet sadly, they changed from the original faith (watch: Original Church of the East).

His appeal towards unity is NOT limited Roman Catholics and churches that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome.

And there are other groups that he wants and that want to be more ecumenical with him.

Notice the following:

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by Metropolitan Job of Pisidia and Evlogios, Codicographer of the Holy and Sacred Synod, departed for Rome to attend the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV.

In Rome, Metropolitan Polycarpos of Italy will also join the Patriarchal delegation.

On the morning of Monday, May 19, the Patriarch will have a private meeting and discussion with the Pope and is expected to return to the Phanar late in the evening of the same day.

It is worth noting that Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, who serves in southern Turkey, is the Orthodox co-chairman of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. 05/17/25 https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-departed-for-rome-to-enthronement-of-pope-leo-xiv/

The Pope said he is “preparing” to visit Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

Reminded during his audience with reporters on Monday of Pope Francis’ plans to visit Iznik, the modern day site of the council, Pope Leo XIV replied: “I know, we are preparing for it.” It was understood that Francis had hoped to make the visit at some point in May.

Speaking ahead of the conclave, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I had said he hoped Francis’ successor would join him on the “pilgrimage” to the site of the first Ecumenical Council, but suggested it might take place in November instead.

Bartholomew was among the Orthodox leaders to welcome Pope Leo’s election last week, voicing hope that he would continue his predecessor’s efforts to promote Christian unity. 05/14/25 https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/pope-leo-plans-to-visit-turkey-for-nicaea-anniversary/

So, the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch is interested in ecumenical matters with Pope Leo XIV, and vice versa. Ecumenical steps are happening.

Notice some other statements in my book The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV?:

Abbott Joachim (died 1202): A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels … he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church … Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world …

Even though the Bible warns against end time Babylon (cf. Revelation 18:4; Jeremiah 50,51), Abbot Joachim is trying to teach that it is good. …

Here are some Roman Catholic warnings about the type of unification that some look forward to:

Michal Semin: Our Lady spoke of the annihilation of nations…The European Union is intent on destroying nation states, suppressing national identities and borders, so that we can happily live in an always progressing supra-national community of EU faithful.

Priest O’Connor (20^th century?): This final false prophet will be a bishop of the church and will lead all religions into becoming one.

Priest H. Kramer (20^th century): In the vision of the Seer now appears a second beast rising out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon…In other places he is called the false prophet … This prophet may re-establish the pagan Roman Empire and build the “Great Harlot”, Babylon … The False Prophet … will persuade all infidels, apostates and apostate nations to worship and adore him … Antichrist “sitteth in the temple of God” (2 Thes. II. 4). This is not the ancient Temple in Jerusalem … this temple is shown to be a Catholic Church … The False Prophet will proclaim the resurrection of the Roman Empire.

Thus, while some Roman Catholic prophecies praise a new religious order, many others indicate that a new type of ‘Catholicism’ will be false to that religion and not be good for Europe.  This also seems to be consistent with an Eastern Orthodox understanding of the last false religious power coming from Rome:

Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos (20^th century): The army of Antichrist is made up of the worldly powers, mainly the Roman Empire, symbolized by the two beasts and the harlot woman (Rev. 11:7; 13:1-17; cf. Dan. 7:11-12) … The final confrontation with evil is presented in chapters 19 and 20…The war is waged by the beast and the false prophet. Both of these are organs of Satan, representing the political and religious authority of Rome (Rev. 13:1-18).

Whatever new order that the Great Monarch (who is to be crowned the leader of the Roman Empire according to other writings) implements with Rome will not be faithful to the teachings of Christ or His original faithful followers.

Therefore a “false pope” is expected, and a great loss of Catholic members to his religion is prophesied.  Might this be in the works now? Could Pope Leo XIV work for this?

While Pope Francis took ecumenical steps, could Pope Leo XIV be the one that will seal unity with the Eastern Orthodox Catholics?

He may well be.

What I wish he would do, is to heed the following scripture–which is shown below from two Roman Catholic translations of the Bible:

3 Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. (Jude 3, DRB)

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 3, NJB)

If Pope Leo XIV would really do that, it would be an exciting and great course of action.

He hinted that the churches of the east, that are in communion with Rome, should do that–and they should.

But the Church of Rome, as well as all other churches, should do so as well.

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?Here is a link to a related sermon video: Original Church of the East.

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 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.

(UnSplash photo)

COGwriter

Can you trust Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots?

Should an AI bot be your friend?

Might governments use AI to push narratives as well as monitor human activities?

Related to those matters, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:46

Artificial Intelligence – A False Friend

Is it possible for a computer program to be a friend? Are Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots often programmed to flatter users? Do some people actually feel a romantic relationship with a computer program? Is it possible for a computer program to lie? Have studies shown that AI bots will lie 50% if answering correctly goes against goals it was programmed with? What if the computer program is Artificial Intelligence? Is it possible then? Computer programs, even Artificial Intelligence computer programs are written and programmed by human beings. What if those human beings had an agenda? What if those human beings wanted to mislead you? What if those human beings had a government mandate? Then would it be possible for a computer program to push lies? Dr. Thiel shines the light of Bible prophecy on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on humanity. With several verses from the Bible, from Psalms to Revelation, Dr. Thiel reveals the use of Artificial Intelligence in fulfilling future prophecies. Prophecies that will not bring the blessings that are being promised by the businesses that are developing the software. Software that is designed to lead the user to a specific conclusion. Does 666 ring a bell? Watch this video as Dr. Thiel cries aloud and warns the world of the coming famine of the Word of God.

Here is a link to our video: Artificial Intelligence – A False Friend.

We are getting closer to the day, with technologies unheard of when God inspired prophets of the Bible to warn what would happen.

The ‘Mary’ in the Basilica of Mary Major That Pope Francis Prayed To
(Photo by Joyce Thiel, June 2013)

COGwriter

The Associated Press (AP) posted the following:

Why popes and other Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary

May 17, 2025

Pope Leo XIV closed his first public blessing as pontiff with a Hail Mary, after invoking the feast day of Our Lady of Pompei. On his first papal trip, he went to the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in the medieval village of Genazzano and on the drive back stopped to pray by Pope Francis’ tomb in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

That’s just three of a myriad Virgin Marys around the world, whose veneration is central to Catholics from the pope to the ordinary faithful. Even many of the less-than-devout know what it means to throw a Hail Mary.

The month of May is dedicated to Marian celebrations, …

The oldest title for Mary is precisely “mother of God,” or Theotokos in the original Greek. It was chosen after heated theological debate in the first centuries of Christianity.

St. Mary Major is the oldest still-standing sanctuary dedicated to that, said Giuseppe Falanga, professor of liturgy at Pontificia Universita della Santa Croce in Rome. It was built on one of Rome’s hills in the 5th century — according to tradition, because of the pope’s dream and an August snowfall there on what is now also celebrated as the day of Our Lady of the Snows. …

There are three major categories of titles for Mary — first, those related to dogma and major events in her life.

The Assumption on Aug. 15, for instance, celebrates Mary being taken body and soul into heaven. …

Then there are titles related to apparitions. …

“It’s almost like there’s a Mary for everything,” said Kayla Harris, professor and director of Marian Library at University of Dayton in Ohio.

It’s also why the rosary is one of the most widely used prayers …

It’s that relatability as a mother figure that makes Mary so universally appealing as an intercessor before God, Harris said.

Since the 19th century, May has been devoted to the Virgin Mary — though already in Greek and Roman times, goddesses of fertility were celebrated in this month of springtime blooming, she added. https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-xiv-pope-francis-virgin-mary-rosary-rome-6ae8d6e94b83837f0a5fe74af85c1b6c

On the day in 2013 Francis became pope, he went and knelt down before the image claimed to be of Jesus’ mother Mary in the church known as the Basilica of Mary Major (officially called Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore). He also went and prayed to that image before and after his foreign trips. My wife Joyce and I visited that Basilica in June of 2013 and asked a nun there where it was that Pope Francis would kneel and pray there. She pointed to the location shown in the photo at the beginning of this post. Pope Francis was interned there after his death.

That said, calling Mary “Theotokos ” was NOT an original belief or practice.

Roman Catholic scholars admit prior to the 4th century (which is when the Council of Nicea was) that there was not much related to Marian veneration, but they suspect that it may have existed. Thus, it was NOT documented as a part of the original faith nor among the earliest faithful traditions. This is a MAJOR CHANGE, then, as Marian adoration is a big deal within the faith that now calls itself “Catholic.”

In the late fourth century, the Greco-Roman Catholic Bishop Epiphanius warned that some were worshipping Mary and were causing ”excess awe of the saint” (Epiphanius. Section VII, pp. 618-629)–he thus seemed to clearly condemn what is now referred to by Roman Catholics as veneration of Mary.

And in the fifth century, another Bishop complained that “If Mary is called the Mother of God, she will be made into a goddess…” (Chapman, John. “Nestorius and Nestorianism.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 4 Aug. 2011 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10755a.htm>).

Yet, the term started to pop-up, perhaps as early as the third century “from the Alexandrian Bishop Alexander, head of the Egyptian Church” (Mark Miravalle, Raymond L. Burke; (2008). Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons ISBN 978-1-57918-355-4 p. 178). Perhaps it should be mentioned that, the term Theόtokos, as such, is even older than Christianity and has a pagan origin” (Miravalle, p. 178)–Theόtokos means “God bearer.”

We in the Continuing Church of God do teach that Mary was the mother of Jesus and that Jesus is now God. However, since Mary cannot grant divinity and Jesus emptied Himself of His divinity when He came in the flesh (Philippians 2:7) and did not retain it until after His resurrection (cf. John 20:28), we do not use the expression “God-bearer” or “Mother of God” to describe Mary.

Holy Scripture does not contain the explicit titled, “Mother of God.” (Mark Miravalle, Raymond L. Burke; (2008). Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons ISBN 978-1-57918-355-4 p. 170)

Scholar Jesse Hurlbut observed:

About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, adored, worshiped. The adoration of the Virgin Mary was substituted for the worship of Venus and Diana (Hurlbut, JL. The Story of the Christian Church. Zondervan, 1967, p.62).

Therefore it should be clear that Marian worship/veneration was not originally part of the catholic faith, but was a later innovation that even some with ties to that faith denounced. Bowing down before images of Mary is a form of idolatry, thus much Marian veneration is essentially the same as Marian worship.

Here is some of what Wikipedia reports about that picture at the beginning of this post:

Salus Populi Romani (English: Salvific Health of the Roman People) is a Roman Catholic title associated with the venerated image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rome.
… in the year 1240 it began to be called Regina Caeli (English: “Queen of Heaven”) (Salus Populi Romani. Wikipedia, accessed 04/25/25)

So, this icon was named the ‘Queen of Heaven.’

The Bible warns against burning incense to the Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah 44), but many Roman Catholics do that with scented candles in various of their churches.

As far as the date of August 15th for the claimed Assumption of Mary, that was the same date that pagans celebrated the return to heaven by the goddess Diana–the two dates are NOT coincidental, but on purpose.

COGwriter

The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce this sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel:

1:16:29

Pope Leo XIV & Antichrist Prophecies

On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Could he possibly be the last pope of Irish Bishop Malachy’s prophecy list of popes? When did Roman Bishops first take the title of pope? What do the words pope and Pontifex Maximus mean? Are there Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies that point to an antipope being the final Antichrist? If so, does the Bible prophesy that he will do great signs, persecute, and one day betray the Church of Seven Hills in Revelation 17? How many antipopes have there officially been? What about the late Pope Francis? Was Cardinal Prevost the stated papal candidate for Freemason Giuliano Di Bernardo? Could Leo XIV be the dreaded ‘Peter the Roman’? Do the Bible and Greco-Roman Catholic prophesies point to the rise of an ecumenical interfaith religion with leaders that perform miracles and great signs and prodigies? What about the 325 A.D. and 2025 Council of Nicea? Do any Roman Catholic prophesies warn about the rise of a ‘secret sect’ that will cause the Vatican troubles? Will the final pope betray the Roman Catholic faith? Could the Malachy list have demonic involvement? What about Mystery Babylon, 666, the Beast, the Great Monarch, persecution, and the end of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom? What are similarities between the last pope of Greco-Roman prophecies and the two-horned beast of Revelation 13? What are the scriptures that mention the antichrist in the Bible? Will the last and final pope betray the Church of Rome? Dr. Thiel covers these issues and more.

Here is a link to our sermon video: Pope Leo XIV & Antichrist Prophecies.

Some items of related interest may include:

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? What about 2027? Here is a link to our video: Malachy Prophecy, Francis, Doom in 2027?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Roman Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety,’ Zephaniah 2 to ‘gather together,’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on fleeing to a place–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of related interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety?  Here are two related items in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra? and Existe un Lugar de Seguridad.
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.
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. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic?  Three related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency and  Donald Trump and Unintended Consequences.
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.
Mysteries of God. What is God? Is God omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent? Does the Godhead consist of a closed trinity or an expanding family? This is a free e-book. Here are links to related sermons: Mysteries: Is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient? and Where Did God Come From? What Does God Look Like? and How is God One? Creeds? and Jesus and Trinitarian Mythology and Mysteries: The Holy Spirit and God’s Names and Kingdom and Mysteries of the Gospel and Deification.
What is Your Destiny? Deification? Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? What is your ultimate destiny? What does the Bible teach? Is deification only a weird or cultic idea? Are you to rule the universe? Here is a link to the video sermon What is Your Destiny?
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Here is a video in Spanish: ¿Qué es un verdadero cristiano?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
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.
Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the ‘faith chapter’? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido. In German: Glaube für die von Gott Berufenen und Auserwählten. In French: La Foi pour ceux que Dieu a Appelés et Choisis. Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen.and here is a link to another sermon Faith and Courage. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese 一篇关于信仰的小文章. Here are links to the sermons Christian Faith and Increasing Faith.
Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
Proof Jesus is the Messiah This free book has over 200 Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus. Plus, His arrival was consistent with specific prophecies and even Jewish interpretations of prophecy. Here are links to seven related sermons: Proof Jesus is the Messiah, Prophecies of Jesus’ birth, timing, and death, Jesus’ prophesied divinity, 200+ OT prophecies Jesus filled; Plus prophecies He made, Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus?, Daniel 9, Jews, and Jesus, and Facts and Atheists’ Delusions About Jesus
Is God’s Existence Logical? Is it really logical to believe in God? Yes! Would you like Christian answers to give atheists? This is a free online booklet that deal with improper theories and musings called science related to the origin of the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and evolution. Two animated videos of related interest are also available: Big Bang: Nothing or Creator? and A Lifegiver or Spontaneous Evolution?
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free 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.
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 and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th 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.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. There are links to literature is about 100 different languages there.
Congregations of the Continuing Church of God This is a listing of congregations and groups of the Continuing Church of God around the world.
Continuing Church of God Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
Continuing Church of God, Africa, Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
Continuing Church of God, Canada, Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
Continuing Church of God, Europe, Facebook page This has news and prophetic information.
CCOG.AFRICA This is a website targeted towards those in Africa.
CCOG.ASIA We in the Continuing Church of God also have the url www.ccog.asia which has a focus on Asia and has various articles in Mandarin Chinese as well as some in English, plus some items in other Asian languages. 我们在继续神的教会也提供此网址 www.ccog.asia, 关注于亚洲并且有各种各样的中英文文章，其中一些用菲律宾语翻译的文章也正在进行中，准备添加到这个网站中。 Here is a link to our Statement of Beliefs in Mandarin Chinese 继续神的教会的信仰声明.
CCOG.IN This is a website targeted towards those of Indian heritage. It has a link to an edited Hindi translation of The Mystery of the Ages and is expected to have more non-English language materials in the future.
CCOG.EU This is a website targeted toward Europe. It has materials in more than one language (currently it has English, Dutch, and Serbian, with links also to Spanish) and it is intended to have additional language materials added.
CCOG.NZ This is a website targeted towards New Zealand and others with a British-descended background.
CCOGCANADA.CA This is a website targeted towards those in Canada.
CDLIDD.ES La Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. This is the Spanish language website for the Continuing Church of God.
CG7.ORG This is a website for those interested in the Sabbath and churches that observe the seventh day Sabbath.
PNIND.PH Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Philippines website Continuing Church of God. It has information in English and Tagalog.
CCOG Animations YouTube channel. The Continuing Church of God has some animations to teach aspects of Christian beliefs. Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/
Bible News Prophecy channel. Dr. Thiel has produced hundreds of videos for the BibleNewsProphecy channel. You can find them at them on YouTube at BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy, plus also on Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy as well as on Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp and Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
CCOGAfrica channel. This has messages from African pastors in African languages such as Kalenjin, Kiswahili, Embu, and Dholuo. Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/
CDLIDDSermones channel. This contains messages in the Spanish language
BibleNewsProphecy Podcast. This has audio-visual podcasts of the Bible News Prophecy channgel. It plays on i-Phones, i-Pads, and Windows devices that can play i-Tunes.
Bible News Prophecy online radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos. It is also available as a mobile app.
Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.
ContinuingCOG channel. Dr. Thiel has produced scores of YouTube video sermons for this channel. Note: Since these are sermon-length, they can take a little longer to load than other YouTube videos. Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
Study the Bible Course A free online course to help you learn and study the word of God.
Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God “Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, NKJV), “Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue” (Hebrews 13:1) ” & continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles” (Acts 2:42 YLT). So, what does that really mean in terms of specific beliefs–the Statement gives answers? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Declaración de las Doctrinas de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. Here is a related link in Tagalog: Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. Here is a related link in Mandarin Chinese ~ç~íy^v„eYOv„OáNðXðf. Here is a related link in Kiswahili: KATIKA LUGHA YA KISWAHILI. Here is a related link in Dutch: Verklaring van geloofspunten van de Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Deutsche (German): Glaubenserklärung der Continuing Church of God. Here is a related link in Italiano: Dichiarazione del Credo della Continuing Church of God. Here is related link in the French language: Déclaration des croyances de L’Église Continue de Dieu. Here is a related link in the Chichewa language: ZIKHULUPIRIRO ZA MPINGO WA CONTINUING CHURCH OF GOD. Here is a link in Romanian: Declarația de credințe a continuării Bisericii lui Dumnezeu. Here is a link in Portuguese: Declaração de Crenças da Continuação da Igreja de Deus. Here is a link in Russian: Утверждение верований о продолжении Церкви Божьей. Here is a link to a related English-language sermon: Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God.

Brasil logo for July 2025 BRICS conference

COGwriter

The BRICS+ alliance has grown:

BRICS is a key platform for the global majority – Lavrov

16 May 2025

The BRICS group has become a leading platform for aligning the interests of the global majority, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday in a video message to participants of the 2nd BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum.

With its current membership, Lavrov said, the organization now accounts for close to half of the planet’s population and around 40% of global GDP in terms of purchasing power parity – surpassing the combined economic weight of the G7.

Given these figures, Lavrov argued, it is natural that BRICS continues to attract countries from the Global South and East, as many “seek equal and mutually beneficial partnerships for the sake of joint development.”

“We view BRICS as a focal point for coordinating the interests of the World Majority’s leading countries, a key pillar of a multipolar world, and an important mechanism for advancing genuinely multilateral cooperation,” Lavrov said. …

Lavrov also emphasized that the initiatives put forward at the forum will certainly be considered in the run-up to the BRICS summit scheduled for July 6–7 in Rio de Janeiro, and will “contribute to the collective efforts.”

BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. In 2024, the bloc extended its full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.  https://www.rt.com/africa/617684-lavrov-brics-platform-global-majority/

On 24 October 2024, an additional 13 countries, namely Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, were invited to participate as “partner countries”. There are even reports that Georgia and Serbia, nations that have applied to become members of the European Union could be perspective candidates for BRICS–though Serbia, at least, has publicly still pushed to be a member of the European Union.

The European Union itself has 450,000,000 people. And according to its president Ursula von der Leyen, nations with an addition 150,000,000 people want to join in. She made that comment related to trade pressures from the Trump Administration (see EU President says because of Donald Trump ‘The West as we knew it no longer exists’).

I believe that time will come when the EU will make a deal with BRICS. And it has already taken steps to make deals with BRICS members and prospective partner nations (see European Union seeks to improve trade ties with India as it faces Donald Trump’s tariff threats and see European Union’s reputation and influence growing with ASEAN and Central Asian nations).

Getting Gentile nations to trade more with each other is one of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s trade policies and statements. Notice something from my latest 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?:

Donald Trump’s tariff and other economic policies are getting the Gentile nations of Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia to look to trade more with each other. An unintended consequence of his rhetoric and policies is that they are encouraging the end-time rise of the final time of the Gentiles.

(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)

As I wrote BEFORE Donald Trump look office this year, more of the world’s nations are starting to look away from the USA for trade.

While many are focused on Donald Trump and his plans to increase USA influence, consider that various others want the Gentile powers to rise up:

The era of Eurasia has come, and Hungary must seek out opportunities in this new world

February 2, 2025

The first Commentary Evening of the conservative magazine Kommentár was held, where Márton Békés, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, gave a welcoming speech, followed by a lecture by Dr. Levente Horváth, director of the Eurasia Center. Mandiner wrote up a review of the event.

Levente Horváth explained that after the 500-year Atlantic era, it is now the era of Eurasia. “Hungary is the foundation of Eurasian thought, therefore we must throw away Western glasses and step out of the Western information bubble,” he said.

“Brainwashing is taking place in the West with soft power and Hollywood. We believe that the Western world is a superior civilization, we look down on everything outside of it. We are used to the West leading the world, but there is a world outside of America. We have to understand that every civilization thinks differently about the world, now Asian countries are coming up,” he said.  …

András Kosztur, senior researcher at the 21st Century Institute, commented that Eurasia no longer refers solely to former Soviet territories. With Russia “opening up to the east and south to a greater extent,” it has come to signify the integration of Europe and Asia as a whole. “This partly coincides with the Chinese Belt and Road project, as they are trying to bring the two into harmony,” he said. …

According to Kosztur, “We need to clarify what we want. If we only pay attention to how the great power movements develop, it is easy to get lost in the struggles.”

While both the U.S. and China appear open to closer cooperation, Europe, and Hungary on its own, must “form a stable point.” https://rmx.news/hungary/the-era-of-eurasia-has-come-and-hungary-must-seek-out-opportunities-in-this-new-world/

Yes, between its Eurasian Economic Union and BRICS, Russia has been forging a new confederation to form. Add to that Donald Trump’s tariffs and other threats, plus China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the European Union’s expansion hopes, and we can see the rise of the Gentiles.

The USA has imposed many sanctions for many years. Sanctions are intended to punish a country, but they also have consequences for the nation that implements them. Currently, the USA benefits from most international trade as most of the time nations use US dollars for trade. Every time a nation stops doing that, or reduces doing that, it has a negative effect on the economy of the USA.

As I have written before, there is a price to pay for US sanctions (watch US Sanctions and Tariffs leading to New World Order?).

Pushing Gentile nations closer together looks to be at least one of the unintended consequences of US sanctions, bullying, and tariffs.

While much of the mainstream media in the USA seems focused on internal politics, much of the world is moving towards a type of integration that will result in the final time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24; see also The Times of the Gentiles) and the end of Anglo-American dominance.

While the European Union is not part of Asia, BRICS+, or China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative (also called the Silk Road project) its Global Gateway project connects Europe to more locations in Asia–and Europe itself has pledged to make more connections to Asia (see More action on India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which is a subset of Europe’s ‘Global Gateway’ program).

A de facto coordination of Gentile powers against the Anglo-Americans is occurring.

Based upon several biblical prophecies, I believe that the Asians and Europeans will cooperate, for a time, and eliminate the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies. They will divide their lands among them per Daniel 11:39, and many of the survivors will be made slaves (for more detail check out the article Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

Notice also the following prophecies from the Old and New Testaments:

23 ‘Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction comes;
They will seek peace, but there shall be none. (Ezekiel 7:23-25)

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)

Notice that Ezekiel, Jesus (whose words are recorded in Luke), and John (who penned Revelation) were talking about the same time.

The time of Gentile domination is prophesied (Ezekiel 7:24, 30:1-3, 34:25-30; Jeremiah 10:25; Luke 21:23-24; Revelation 11:2)–though it is not quite here yet. It will be here for the 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

The Great Tribulation itself is further described in Revelation 6:9-11 (the fifth seal, that seems to occur because the faithful church has suffered martyrdom, cf. Daniel 11:31-35; Matthew 24:9-10), Lamentations, Daniel, and other parts of the Bible. It starts with Matthew 24:21 and Daniel 11:39.

Some would call this World War III (WWIII; see also World War III: Steps in Progress and/or watch Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?).

What is commonly known as ‘Armageddon’ could perhaps be called WWIV.

Herbert Armstrong commented that the confederation is associated with the 200 million-man army–which means also that it will include nations not currently confederate with Russia (like apparenly the Chinese and other Asians):

The second woe, with its symbols of horses and horsemen … and is also referred to as an event in the Day OF THE Eternal in Joel 2:4. This refers to a tremendous military power–also to the NORTH–due north! They come with an army of two hundred million! Think of it–an army of two hundred million! (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last! 1972 edition. p. 38-39).

Notice something else from Joel that is related to this:

6 Before them the people writhe in pain;
All faces are drained of color. (Joel 2:6)

20 “But I will remove far from you the northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done monstrous things.” (Joel 2:20)

This is related because the northern, King of the North army of Europe, will be facing forces from the east–these would be forces most likely led by Russia.

Also the Hebrew word translated “writhe in pain” in Joel 2:6 is the same basic word used in Jeremiah 51:29 and translated as “and sorrow.” This also seems to tie all this together.

We are seeing steps for such a confederation beginning to come to pass.

When will it end?

The old Worldwide Church of God taught:

With the second coming of Christ, the “times of the Gentiles” will at last come to an end. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, p. 38)

For the final time of the Gentiles to arise, the Gentiles will need to cooperate together against the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies. The BRICS+, EAEU, SCO, and Silk Road arrangements are all intending to do that–as is the European Union–and the nations involved in them are all taking steps which align with properly understood biblical prophecies. A block of nations from North Africa and the Middle East will also be involved (cf. Daniel 11:27, 40-43)–this is something that US, EU, and others have encouraged (see How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About?).

Yet, most in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand do not understand what is now happening on the world scene and how they will be affected.

While in the USA, its President Trump is pushing his ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda, BRICS+, the EU, the EAEU, and others are looking at a massive alliance.

USA efforts will NOT stop what is coming and much of which is starting to form before our eyes now.

World events are aligning with properly understood biblical prophecies.

Steps towards Armageddon and the final time of the Gentiles are happening. Yet, most of the mainstream media seems oblivious to this as they do not respect the Bible nor understand how world events are aligning with many of its prophecies.

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

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.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now? Another could be Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code).
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? Here is a link to a related sermon: Asia in Prophecy. Two YouTube video are Is China THE Threat to the United States of America? and China: A King of the East.
The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.
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?
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.