{"id":83013,"date":"2023-08-11T07:00:56","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T15:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=83013"},"modified":"2023-08-11T17:03:30","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T01:03:30","slug":"ap-at-least-55-people-died-on-maui-residents-had-little-warning-before-wildfires-overtook-a-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/prophecy\/ap-at-least-55-people-died-on-maui-residents-had-little-warning-before-wildfires-overtook-a-town\/","title":{"rendered":"AP: At least 55 people died on Maui. Residents had little warning before wildfires overtook a town"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">55 fatalities confirmed amid active Lahaina fire <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5qDWktNhzl\">https:\/\/t.co\/5qDWktNhzl<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R3G0GLuesx\">pic.twitter.com\/R3G0GLuesx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 County of Maui (@CountyofMaui) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CountyofMaui\/status\/1689898086003544064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 11, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"\/cogwriter.htm\">COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are a couple of reports related to the Maui wildfires:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"pg-headline\" data-act-id=\"article_head_0\">At least 55 people died on Maui. Residents had little warning before wildfires overtook a town<\/h2>\n<p>August 11, 2023<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) \u2014 Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens sounded before people ran for their lives from wildfires on Maui that killed at least 55 people and <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">wiped out a historic town<\/a><\/span>. Instead, officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations \u2014 but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.<\/p>\n<p>Hawaii boasts what the state describes as the largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system in the world, with about 400 sirens positioned across the island chain to alert people to various natural disasters and other threats.<\/p>\n<p>But many of survivors said in interviews Thursday that they didn\u2019t hear any sirens or receive a warning that gave them enough time to prepare, only realizing they were in danger when they <span class=\"LinkEnhancement\"><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">saw flames or heard explosions nearby<\/a><\/span>. <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/hawaii-fires-maui-lahaina-sirens-c0f3cc5c7718bd41dd54d38479fb29b2\">https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/hawaii-fires-maui-lahaina-sirens-c0f3cc5c7718bd41dd54d38479fb29b2<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"content__title \">Maui wildfires death toll at 55 as warning sirens&#8217; silence questioned<\/h2>\n<p>August 11, 2023<\/p>\n<p>Maui residents who made desperate escapes from oncoming flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii&#8217;s famous emergency warning system didn&#8217;t alert them as <span class=\"link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/satellite-images-show-scale-hawaii-wildfires-devastation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=\"\">fires raced<\/a><\/span> toward their homes.<\/p>\n<p>Hawaii emergency management records show no indication that warning sirens were triggered before a <span class=\"link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/how-did-maui-fire-start-cause-lahaina-hawaii-wildfire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=\"\">devastating wildfire<\/a><\/span> killed at least 55 people and wiped out most of the <span class=\"link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/maui-wildfires-lahaina-banyan-tree-burned-historic-capital-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-invalid-url-rewritten-http=\"\">historic town of Lahaina<\/a><\/span>, officials confirmed Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The toll is expected to rise as crews search scorched areas for survivors and those who lost their lives. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/hawaii-wildfires-maui-lahaina-death-toll-warning-sirens\/\">https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/hawaii-wildfires-maui-lahaina-death-toll-warning-sirens\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}\">The Maui wildfires, which haven\u2019t been fully contained, are the deadliest to occur in the United States since 2018, when 85 people died in northern California\u2019s Camp Fire, the most destructive in the state\u2019s history.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}\">The death toll and damage from the fires in Hawaii were unimaginable, officials said. Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (D) said Lahaina had been \u201cdecimated\u201d and \u201cforever changed.\u201d The fires are testing Maui residents \u201clike never before,\u201d Mayor Richard Bissen said. \u201cWe are grieving with each other during this inconsolable time.\u201d &#8230;<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}\"><a class=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/history\/2023\/08\/10\/lahaina-hawaii-history-capital\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">Destroyed Lahaina was once the Hawaiian kingdom\u2019s capital, global trade hub<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}\">While wildfires take place every year on the Hawaiian islands, this week\u2019s inferno was uncommon in its ferocity. At least 1,700 structures were destroyed, Green told CNN, while nearly 11,000 people are still without power in Maui, according to <a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"http:\/\/poweroutage.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">PowerOutage.us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}\">Months of drought set the stage for the fires by drying out vegetation, which <a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/weather\/2023\/08\/10\/maui-wildfires-why-weather-climate\/?itid=lk_inline_manual_9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">has become more flammable in recent decades because of the spread of nonnative grasses<\/a>. But it was the advent of unusually powerful winds that caused the fires to spread out of control so quickly. Gusts as high as 67 mph were reported in Maui County.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}\">As the fast-moving fires tore through dry grasslands, many of those who evacuated their homes on Maui said they felt lucky to survive. 08\/10\/23 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/travel\/other\/hawaii-s-worst-fires-leave-lahaina-in-ruins-as-death-toll-rises-to-53\/ar-AA1f7dIA\">https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/travel\/other\/hawaii-s-worst-fires-leave-lahaina-in-ruins-as-death-toll-rises-to-53\/ar-AA1f7dIA<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Wildfires happen every year. But they have been worsening, noticeably.<\/p>\n<p>Here is some of what the Bible has about God and fires:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>11 The Lord said:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Surely it will be well with your remnant;<br \/>\nSurely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you<br \/>\nIn the time of adversity and in the time of affliction.<br \/>\n12 Can anyone break iron,<br \/>\nThe northern iron and the bronze?<br \/>\n13 Your wealth and your treasures<br \/>\nI will give as plunder without price,<br \/>\nBecause of all your sins,<br \/>\nThroughout your territories.<br \/>\n14 And I will make you cross over with your enemies<br \/>\nInto a land which you do not know;<br \/>\nFor a fire is kindled in My anger,<br \/>\nWhich shall burn upon you.&#8221; (Jeremiah 15:11-14)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>12 O house of David! Thus says the Lord:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Execute judgment in the morning;<br \/>\nAnd deliver him who is plundered<br \/>\nOut of the hand of the oppressor,<br \/>\nLest My fury go forth like fire<br \/>\nAnd burn so that no one can quench it,<br \/>\nBecause of the evil of your doings.<\/p>\n<p>13 &#8220;Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley,<br \/>\nAnd rock of the plain,&#8221; says the Lord,<br \/>\n&#8220;Who say, &#8216;Who shall come down against us?<br \/>\nOr who shall enter our dwellings?&#8217;<br \/>\n14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,&#8221; says the Lord;<br \/>\n&#8220;I will kindle a fire in its forest,<br \/>\nAnd it shall devour all things around it.&#8221;&#8216; (Jeremiah 21:12-14)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>11 The Lord has fulfilled His fury,<br \/>\nHe has poured out His fierce anger.<br \/>\nHe kindled a fire in Zion,<br \/>\nAnd it has devoured its foundations. (Lamentations 4:11)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>15 There the fire will devour you,<br \/>\nThe sword will cut you off;<br \/>\nIt will eat you up like a locust. (Nahum 3:15)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>My prayers are with those affected by the fires.<\/p>\n<p>As far as fires go, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/philadelphia-remnant-beliefs.htm\"><em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> has the following video related to weather and fires on our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/BibleNewsProphecy\">Bible News Prophecy<\/a> YouTube channel:<\/p>\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope ytd-feed-entry-renderer\">\n<div id=\"dismissable\" class=\"style-scope ytd-video-renderer\">\n<blockquote><p><a class=\"yt-simple-endpoint inline-block style-scope ytd-thumbnail\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DqaG2UmkHR4\" aria-hidden=\"true\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"img\" class=\"style-scope yt-img-shadow\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DqaG2UmkHR4\/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEXCPYBEIoBSFryq4qpAwkIARUAAIhCGAE=&amp;rs=AOn4CLAln6hIDtPkFr4C5OJml2LGRrSIuw\" width=\"246\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"mouseover-overlay\" class=\"style-scope ytd-thumbnail\"><span class=\"style-scope ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer\" aria-label=\"13 minutes\"> 13:23 <\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div id=\"meta\" class=\"style-scope ytd-video-renderer\">\n<div id=\"title-wrapper\" class=\"style-scope ytd-video-renderer\">\n<h3 class=\"title-and-badge style-scope ytd-video-renderer\"><a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-video-renderer\" title=\"Fires and the Wrath of God\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DqaG2UmkHR4\" aria-label=\"Fires and the Wrath of God by BibleNewsProphecy 3 hours ago 13 minutes 31 views\"> Fires and the Wrath of God <\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fires have hit many places; Significant wildfires have hit California. Shortly after the start of the Thomas Fire, then California Governor Jerry Brown warned that the US President did not have \u201cthe fear of the wrath of God.\u201d Does God use fire to encourage people to change? What are some of the scriptures associated with fire in the Bible? What is sin? What are some of the scriptures associated with the wrath of God in the New Testament? Is Governor Brown being hypocritical here? What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Is this relevant now? What did Jesus teach about the time of Sodom and the coming time of troubles? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Sanhedrin pushing animal sacrifices\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=gyjQV5HyOIbBuwKQ8Zv4Bw&amp;feature=c4-feed-u&amp;ved=CNsBEL8bIhMI0b_c8b_9zgIVhuBOCh2Q-AZ_KJsc\">Here is a link to our video: <a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-video-renderer\" title=\"Fires and the Wrath of God\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DqaG2UmkHR4\" aria-label=\"Fires and the Wrath of God by BibleNewsProphecy 3 hours ago 13 minutes 31 views\">Fires and the Wrath of God<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, because God does use fires, does this mean that those most affected by the fires were necessarily worse sinners than those less affected?<\/p>\n<p>The biblical answer is no.<\/p>\n<p>Notice the words of Jesus:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>45\u2026He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)<\/p>\n<p>4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4-5)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>But Jesus did prophesy wars, earthquakes, famines, and troubles:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>We continue to see troubles in many parts of the world.<\/p>\n<p>That said, consider that various news reports on the fires in Maui suggest that many had almost no warning and that the warning sirens were either not working or loud enough to help. People thought that they we respond to warnings in time, but many did not.<\/p>\n<p>In the 21st century, most real Christians are Laodicean. According to Jesus&#8217; words in Revelation 3:14-18, they think that they are spiritually fine, when they are not.<\/p>\n<p>Most Laodiceans believe that they will see the signs and heed the call to flee when it is time. Yet, according to other passages in scripture, such as Revelation 12:17, they will not.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike those in Maui, scripture says that God&#8217;s people should NOT wait until the last minute to flee.<\/p>\n<p>If you are not truly supporting the Philadelphian work at this time, do not deceive yourself that you will know when it is time to flee&#8211;Jesus only promised that to the Philadelphians in Revelation 3:7-13.<\/p>\n<p>God inspired the Prophet Zephaniah to also write the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, (Zephaniah 2:1)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Although it has certain misunderstandings, the <em>Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary<\/em> realized that the gathering together was intended for a religious group or assembly:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Zephaniah 2:1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gather yourselves together \u2013 to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers, (Joel 2:16, \u201cGather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,\u201d etc.) (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright \u00a9 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>When are they to gather together?<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord\u2019s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord\u2019s anger comes upon you! (Zephaniah 2:2)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The gathering is to take place well before the day of the Lord (which happens about 2 1\/2 years after the Great Tribulation of Matthew 24:21 begins) and before some type of decree is issued.<\/p>\n<p>Who does God want to gather together?<\/p>\n<p>The end time Christians. Notice what Jesus stated and something the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/peter.htm\">Apostle Peter<\/a> wrote:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19, NKJV)<\/p>\n<p>9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10, KJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is a peculiar people. These are people who the world does not desire. These are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">Philadelphian Christians<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>How do we know that Zephaniah 2:1-3 is related to Christians? Because the decree is for the end time and because of what else God inspired Zephaniah to write:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. (Zephaniah 2:3a)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The above is a reference to Christians as they are to be the \u201cmeek of the earth\u201d (Matthew 5:5) and to Philadelphians who \u201chave upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility.\u201d These are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">Philadelphian Christians<\/a> who understand that church leaders need to have integrity and are willing to be humble enough to accept the authority of a church led by a low-level prophet in the absence of a clear apostle (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-15). They are humble enough to not think that they should remain \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/ind.htm\">independent<\/a>,\u2019 as many who once were part of the old Worldwide Church of God, during this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/laodiceachurch.htm\">Laodicean time<\/a>, have done.<\/p>\n<p>Laodicea basically means \u201cpeople decide\u201d and most Christians in the end time have sadly decided not to follow true church governance for many reasons that they feel are justified, but that goes against what they biblically should do (see also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/church_governance.htm\">The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Why does God tell them they may wish to be gathered together? So:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>3\u2026It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord\u2019s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3b)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Interestingly, the Hebrew words translated as Zephaniah means \u201cYahweh Hides\u201d or \u201cYahweh Has Hidden\u201d (Holy Bible: Vine\u2019s Expository Reference Edition, p. 826).<\/p>\n<p>Why have I written that Zephaniah 2:1-3 has to do with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">Philadelphian Christians<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>For <strong>they are the only ones who will actually \u2018gather together\u2019 as they should<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n<p>Because it is they who will lead the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/final-phase-of-the-work.htm\">final phase of the work<\/a> and it is only to the Philadelphians that Jesus promises to protect from the coming hour of trial, also referred to as the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>7 \u201cAnd to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,<\/p>\n<p>\u2018These things says He who is holy, He who is true, \u201cHe who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens\u201d: 8 \u201c<strong>I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door<\/strong>, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie \u2014 indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, <strong>I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth<\/strong>. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.<\/p>\n<p>13 \u201cHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.\u201d\u2018 (Revelation 3:7-13)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Notice that the Philadelphians are doing the work of God, have kept God\u2019s word, have not denied Christ\u2019s name\/authority, and are persevering in the truth.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, other churches around at the end, such as the remnants of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/thyatiachurch.htm\">Thyatira <\/a>(Revelation 2:18-29) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/sardischurch.htm\">Sardis<\/a> (Revelation 3:1-6) are not promised that protection. Nor are the many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/laodiceachurch.htm\">Laodiceans<\/a> (Revelation 3:14-22)\u2013even if they are somehow gathered together\u2013as they have gathered together in places that Jesus did not wish them to.<\/p>\n<p>Are not all real Christians going to be protected?<\/p>\n<p>No. The Book of Revelation is clear that after the Philadelphians are persecuted (cf. Daniel 7:25a; 11:29-36), that group will flee to a place of protection, while the rest of the true Christians will not flee and then be subject to severe persecution:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13-17)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>What kind of decree will be issued?<\/p>\n<p>A decree that may allow those who are gathered together and who listen to it an opportunity to be protected (Zephaniah 2:1-3). A decree that the Philadelphians will listen to and flee.<\/p>\n<p>When is a decree to be issued? After an event that Jesus told of that He tied to the writings of the Prophet Daniel:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>15 \u201cTherefore when you see the \u2018abomination of desolation,\u2019 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place\u201d (<strong>whoever reads, let him understand<\/strong>), (Matthew 24:15)<\/p>\n<p>14 \u201cSo when you see the \u2018abomination of desolation,\u2019 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not\u201d (<strong>let the reader understand<\/strong>), (Mark 13:14a)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>What did Jesus say happens next?<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>16 \u201cthen let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:16-21)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Notice also:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>5 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBlow the trumpet in the land;<br \/>\nCry, \u2018Gather together,\u2019<br \/>\nAnd say, \u2018Assemble yourselves,<br \/>\nAnd let us go into the fortified cities.\u2019<br \/>\n6 Set up the standard toward Zion.<br \/>\nTake refuge! Do not delay!<br \/>\nFor I will bring disaster from the north,<br \/>\nAnd great destruction.\u201d (Jeremiah 4:5-6)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The decree to \u2018gather together\u2019 will be repeated in the area of Judah just before the time of great destruction.<\/p>\n<p>Why a decree?<\/p>\n<p>Apparently, to make it easier for people who read what Jesus said to better be able to understand that Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 and Daniel 9:27b and Daniel 11:31 had been fulfilled.<\/p>\n<p>By whom will the decree be made?<\/p>\n<p>The Bible says:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,<br \/>\nUnless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.<br \/>\n8 A lion has roared!<br \/>\nWho will not fear?<br \/>\nThe Lord God has spoken!<br \/>\nWho can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The prophet may make the decree personally and\/or pass it on to another authority in the church to make.<\/p>\n<p>Who is the only Church of God in the 21st century to teach all of this?<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\"><em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you are not with the group that is leading the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/final-phase-of-the-work.htm\">final phase of the work<\/a> will you not see that you will not be able to flee if you wait until the last moment? While that may be remotely possible for some, remember that God inspired Zephaniah to admonish God\u2019s people to \u2018gather together\u2026before the decree is issued.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Most will discount this and many will scoff. Most COGs do not have anyone considered to be a prophet, and in those other than the CCOG who claim to, have prophets that have been proven to be false (e.g. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/pcg.htm\">PCG<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/cgpfk.htm\">CGPFKG<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/triumph.htm\">TPM<\/a>). But the Bible says that there will be prophets in the last days and that God does communicate with them in dreams (see <a title=\"Dreams, the Bible, and the Continuing Church of God\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/dreams.htm\">Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the <em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> and\/or watch <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XdXwWy4U7pQ\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=c4-overview&amp;ei=ql8_VpfFGcONqQXr8p6IDA&amp;ved=CB0Qvxs\">Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Most end time Christians do not accept how God truly works. If so, they would accept the last days&#8217; signs that were prophesied, such as those in Acts 2:17-18. To see if the <em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God has them, check out the article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/does-the-ccog-have-the-confirmed-signs-of-acts-217-18\/\">Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jesus taught paying attentions to world events and prophecy is important:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>34 \u201cBut take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 <strong>Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 21:34-36)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Notice Jesus said to watch and pray ALWAYS. He was referring to prophetic matters. THIS CAME FROM JESUS, BUT MANY SCOFF AT PROPHECY for differing reasons (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-7)\u2013yet being a prophetic scoffer is a mistake (cf. 2 Peter 3:8-9).<\/p>\n<p>Jesus realized that if people did not pay attention to prophecy and pray always, they would not properly take the steps to \u201cbe counted worthy to escape all these things.\u201d Yes, God uses prophecy as a motivator for people. Remember that God used Jonah to warn Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-4) and they repented (Jonah 3:5-9), and they did not get the punishment they were going to get then (Jonah 3:10).<\/p>\n<p>Jesus specifically told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/laodiceachurch.htm\">Laodiceans<\/a>, in a prophecy, that they needed to repent (Revelation 3:19) or face consequences (Revelation 3:14-19, and that they would be rewarded for doing so (Revelation 3:20). The Laodiceans are Church of God Christians \u201cwho keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ\u201d (Revelation 12:17).<\/p>\n<p>And Zephaniah is clearly telling God&#8217;s people to not try to wait until the last minute to flee.<\/p>\n<p>Do not be like those of Siloam or Maui who did not know and then perished.<\/p>\n<p><em>Some items of possibly related interest may include:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/place.htm\">There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra<\/a> This article discusses a biblical \u2018place of safety\u2019 and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject\u2013thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/rapture.htm\"> rapture<\/a> theory. There is also a video on the subject: <a title=\"Might Petra be the Place of Safety?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bkC895lBBNk\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=plcp&amp;ei=oaAeUYaiCceXhgHItoCIDg\">Might Petra be the Place of Safety?<\/a> Here is something related in the Spanish language: <a title=\"Permanent Link to Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. \u00bfPuede ser Petra?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\/hay-un-lugar-de-seguridad-para-los-filadelfinos-puede-ser-petra\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. \u00bfPuede ser Petra?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/petra.htm\">This is PETRA!<\/a> This is a 1962 <em>Good News<\/em> article by the late Dr. Hoeh.<br \/>\n<a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Zephaniah's 'Gather Together' Prophecy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=u88D5ETnYTM\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=u3P7U8DNHZOH-QPKv4HYAw&amp;feature=c4-feed-u&amp;ved=CCwQvxs\">Zephaniah&#8217;s &#8216;Gather Together&#8217; Prophecy<\/a>\u00a0Is it safe to be &#8216;independent&#8217; or in a non-Philadelphian Church of God?\u00a0 What did God inspire Zephaniah to write?<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/ind.htm\">Independent\/Unaffiliated: Independent Members of the COG: Herbert W. Armstrong Comments, Plus Questions and Answers<\/a> What did Herbert W. Armstrong teach about being independent of the organized Church? Should independents who claim to accept Herbert W. Armstrong&#8217;s teachings support the end time Philadelphian work? <span style=\"font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;\">Here is a link to a related sermon:\u00a0<a id=\"video-title142\" title=\"Church of God Unity\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QPRGDkdBBMs\" aria-label=\"Church of God Unity by ContinuingCoG 27 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes 3 views\">Church of God Unity<\/a>.<\/span> Watch also <a id=\"video-title45\" title=\"Zephaniah's 'Gather Together' Prophecy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=u88D5ETnYTM\" aria-label=\"Zephaniah's 'Gather Together' Prophecy by BibleNewsProphecy 3 years ago 23 minutes 1,513 views\">Zephaniah&#8217;s &#8216;Gather Together&#8217; Prophecy<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/does-the-ccog-have-the-confirmed-signs-of-acts-217-18\/\">Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?<\/a> Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdlidd.es\/tiene-la-ccog-confirmadas-las-senales-de-hechos-2-17-18\/\">\u00bfTiene la CCOG confirmadas las se\u00f1ales de Hechos 2: 17-18?<\/a> Here is a link in the French language: <a href=\"https:\/\/ccog.eu\/est-ce-que-leglise-continue-de-dieu-confirme-les-signes-dactes-217-18\/\">Est-ce que l\u2019\u00c9glise Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d\u2019Actes 2:17-18?<\/a> A related sermon in the English language is also available: <a id=\"video-title176\" title=\"17 Last Days' Signs of the Holy Spirit\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TU4v841R5y8\" aria-label=\"17 Last Days' Signs of the Holy Spirit by ContinuingCoG 16 minutes ago 1 hour, 16 minutes 6 views\">17 Last Days&#8217; Signs of the Holy Spirit<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/weather-sorrows.htm\">Weather Blessings and Sorrows <\/a>Are weather problems a warning? What should be done? Here is a related YouTube video <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Does God Use Weather?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rIj7AAQvDGE\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=OHWeUbCPBN6QhgGop4CYDw&amp;feature=c4-overview-u&amp;ved=CBkQ-SUoAA\">Does God Use Weather?<br \/>\n<\/a><a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-video-renderer\" title=\"Fires and the Wrath of God\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DqaG2UmkHR4\" aria-label=\"Fires and the Wrath of God by BibleNewsProphecy 3 hours ago 13 minutes 31 views\">Fires and the Wrath of God <\/a> Fires have hit many places; Significant wildfires have hit California. Shortly after the start of the Thomas Fire, California Governor Jerry Brown warned that the US President did not have \u201cthe fear of the wrath of God.\u201d Does God use fire to encourage people to change? What are some of the scriptures associated with fire in the Bible? What is sin? What are some of the scriptures associated with the wrath of God in the New Testament? Is Governor Brown being hypocritical here? What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Is this relevant now? What did Jesus teach about the time of Sodom and the coming time of troubles? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/when-will-the-great-tribulation-begin.htm\">When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025?<\/a> Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the &#8220;beginning of sorrows&#8221;? 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: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdlidd.es\/puede-la-gran-tribulacion-comenzar-en-el-2020-o-2021-es-el-tiempo-de-los-gentiles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00bfPuede la Gran Tribulaci\u00f3n comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? \u00bfEs el Tiempo de los Gentiles?<\/a> A related video is: <a id=\"video-title18\" title=\"Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sV5_F8axVOU\" aria-label=\"Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? by ContinuingCoG 1 hour, 15 minutes 10 views\">Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027?<\/a> A shorter video is: <a id=\"video-title250\" title=\"Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=r77vMOawdlQ\" aria-label=\"Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? by BibleNewsProphecy 5 hours ago 23 minutes 50 views\">Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023?<\/a> Notice also: <a id=\"video-title252\" title=\"Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d20hfKzPWCE\" aria-label=\"Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024? by BibleNewsProphecy 20 minutes ago 14 minutes, 45 seconds 6 views\">Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024?<\/a> Here is a video in the Spanish language: <a href=\"https:\/\/cogwriter.com\/Es El 2021 el a\u00f1o de La Gran Tribulaci\u00f3n o el Grande Reseteo Financiero\">Es El 2021 el a\u00f1o\u00a0 de La Gran Tribulaci\u00f3n o el Grande Reseteo Financiero<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/cog-leaders-prophets.htm\">Church of God Leaders on Prophets<\/a> Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: <a id=\"video-title134\" title=\"Church of God Leaders on Prophets\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ag40EXQTAwM\" aria-label=\"Church of God Leaders on Prophets by ContinuingCoG 50 seconds ago 1 hour, 21 minutes No views\">Church of God Leaders on Prophets<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/true-prophet.htm\">How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God<\/a> There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled <a title=\"How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Bk8UifSxKRg\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=plcp&amp;ei=07hyUdioEtuQhgGLkID4DQ\">How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God<\/a>. Here is a related link in Spanish\/espa\u00f1ol: <a title=\"\u00bfC\u00f3mo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/como-determinar-si-alguien-es-un-verdadero-profeta-de-dios\/\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>55 fatalities confirmed amid active Lahaina fire https:\/\/t.co\/5qDWktNhzl pic.twitter.com\/R3G0GLuesx \u2014 County of Maui (@CountyofMaui) August 11, 2023 COGwriter Here are a couple of reports related to the Maui wildfires: At least 55 people died on Maui. Residents had little warning before wildfires overtook a town August 11, 2023 LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) \u2014 Hawaii emergency management [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prophecy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83013"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83027,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83013\/revisions\/83027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}