Is There A Future King of the South?

Is There A Future King of the South?
By COGwriter
Does the Bible teach that there will be a future King of the South? Did the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) teach that there would be another one? And who is the King of the South? This article will answer those questions.

In the July-August 2004 edition of the Living Church News, R.C. Meredith of the Living Church of God (LCG) wrote:

The final fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming King of the South are certainly yet to come. But, even now, it is obvious that many events now indicate that the stage is being set for the powerful Muslim leader indicated in Daniel 11:40–43. Our recent attack on Iraq, our constant backing of the state of Israel, and many other acts by the U.S. and Europe, have infuriated the Muslim world. The current situations in Israel and Iraq are causing the Arab world to unite in a manner unprecedented in recent times. This will certainly carry over into their backing for a truly powerful pan-Arab leader when God’s time comes.

What surprised me was not that statement (which is consistent with both the Bible and historical teachings), but critical statements that I received from some once part of the Global Church of God (GCG), but who are not part of LCG, that disagreed with it.

Specifically, they stated that Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) did not teach that there would be a future King of the South and that the Bible does not require a future King of the South.

Are they correct?

Church of the Eternal God and other GCG Splits

The Church of the Eternal God (CEG), which once had two of the board members involved in the GCG takeover, wrote this in its July 30, 2004 News Update:

...the prophecy in Daniel 11:40 has ALREADY BEEN FULFILLED. And verse 40 is the LAST TIME where the king of the South is mentioned! Beginning with the second half of verse 40, we read exclusively about the king of the North and his activities, and, in verse 44, about rumors from the east and the west. This means, then, that there DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ANOTHER end-time king of the South. If there were to rise one, following the historical and Biblical records, as set forth in the 11th chapter of the book of Daniel, it would have to be -- mainly -- modern Ethiopia. But, as we said, ALL WHICH STILL NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED (and which the previous king of the North -- under Mussolini -- did NOT fulfill), is the invasion of the Glorious Land by the future and final king of the North (verse 41), including Jerusalem (verse 45), as well as the overthrow of "many countries" (verse 41), including Egypt, and the "Libyans and Ethiopians" following at his heels (verse 43).

Although CEG had referred to a 1972 article by HWA prior to reaching this conclusion, this is NOT what HWA actually concluded.It should also be pointed out that GCG-UK (a group with ties to CEG) posted about the same thing in August 2004. These statements are similar to those made by Harold Smith of Church of God Fellowship, Northwest (Harold Smith went along with the GCG takeover and is a former GCG member). Thus at least three groups that split off from the GCG takeover now have taken the position that the old WCG and the Bible do not require that there be a future King of the South.

Furthermore, David Pack, another who went along with the GCG takeover (now the head of his Restored Church of God, RCG), and who claims to stand for "precision of doctrine", essentially re-wrote HWA's Middle East in Prophecy booklet. But there is at least one editorial change that stands out. HWA's version states

Verse 43 says the Libyans and Ethiopians (observe that after its conquest by Mussolini, Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the south) shall be at his steps" (Armstrong, HW. Middle East in Prophecy (1972 version).

RCG's David Pack seems to have eliminated that insert from his version,
"Then, verse 43 says, “the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.” shall be at his steps.” (Pack, David. The Mid-East in Prophecy. Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2004 by David C. Pack).

Furthermore, RCG's position is clearly that Ethiopia is the King of the South, as David Pack specifically wrote:

The King of the South is Ethiopia

Once again, only Ethiopia continued and remained independent in East Africa from the time of the Roman Empire. Therefore, no other country or government could fit as the king of the south—i.e., by having been a part of the ancient land controlled by the “king of the south.” Remember, verse 40 explains that the setting is the time of the end. Once again, only Ethiopia continued and remained independent in East Africa from the time of the Roman Empire. Therefore, no other country or government could fit as the king of the south—i.e., by having been a part of the ancient land controlled by the “king of the south.”

David Pack also wrote:

The King of the South is Ethiopia

Once again, only Ethiopia continued and remained independent in East Africa from the time of the Roman Empire. Therefore, no other country or government could fit as the king of the south—i.e., by having been a part of the ancient land controlled by the “king of the south.” Remember, verse 40 explains that the setting is the time of the end (Pack, David. The MID-EAST in Bible Prophecy. RCG Booklet, online 12/17/06).

And although HWA once felt that Ethiopia was a king of the South, HWA changed his position on the future king of the South by 1963, but RCG has not.

Therefore, while many once part of the GCG takeover no longer believe that there will be a future King of the South, those that do seem to feel that if there is, it would seem to be Ethiopia.
For those unfamiliar with Ethiopia, perhaps it should be pointed out that Ethiopia is not Arabic, is only about 40% Moslem, does not have a powerful military (its recent fighting in Somalia suggested it only has a small amount of force), and does not have economic might (it is one of the poorer countries of the world), thus it is not likely to lead an Arab-Moslem dominated king of the South. It is not the type of country that would seem to be able to push at the King of the North and cause it to respond with a military whirlwind. And while this does not mean that it is not possible that one may rise from Ethiopia to lead the king of the South, it does not seem that Ethiopia itself is the likely leader.

It is dangerous to be wrong about the king of the South, for those that are clearly wrong will not understand when certain end-time prophecies are being fulfilled.

Perhaps I should add here that CG21's Raymond McNair holds a position like LCG does on this matter as he wrote:

Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).

Notice that Raymond McNair realizes that Egypt or some other Muslim country is where the king of the South will come from and that the term translated as Ethiopians really means the Cushite peoples who live in southern Egypt as well as elsewhere.

LCG has also reported:
The northern Sudan, anciently referred to as Cush, was once part of the Egyptian empire—a region where the future King of the South may headquarter (News and Prophecy. World Ahead Weekly Update, May 24, 2007).

It may be of interest to note that Isaiah 30:6-7 seems to tie the "beasts of the South" with "the Egyptians", which is further support that the Egyptians will most likely have significant involvement with the king of the South.

Additionally, Isaiah 31 lists the destruction of "the Egyptians" (1-3) ahead of "Assyria" (vss. 8-9), just like the Book of Daniel places the destruction of the king of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) ahead of the king of the North (11:45).

Iran and the Philadelphia Church of God, Intercontinental Church of God, and the United Church of God

Other COG-like groups seem to hold different position.

For example, who is the king of the South according to Gerald Flurry of the PCG?

Well, Iran.

A non-Arabic (though Muslim) country that is north, north-east of Jerusalem.

As Gerald Flurry wrote:
Daniel 11:42 implies that Egypt will be allied with the king of the south, or Iran...The king of the south, or Iran, is going to “push at him”—that is, the king of the north (the European Union)... The king of the south is about state-sponsored terrorism. That is how Iran became king! Daniel 11:40-43 is an end-time prophecy. It is about a nation that is always pushy in its foreign policy. It pushes until it starts a war. Having such power means that it must be a large oil-producing country. This king is close to Jerusalem, Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya. Who else could it be in this end time but Iran? Iran is extremely radical and the king over radical Islam" (Flurry, G. The King of the South. PCG Booklet).

Notice this prophecy in Daniel 11:40: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” Iran leads this “king of the south” (Flurry G. From the Editor: Why You Must Watch Europe. Philadelphia Trumpet. Nov-Dec 2006).

Hence, PCG clearly and repeatedly teaches that Iran will be the King of the South.

ICG's Mark Armstrong taught:

Even the UN’s IAEA worries in public that Iran is concealing the military ambitions of their nuclear program. There are further reports that Iranian bases involved in training and supplying insurgents in Iraq may soon come under U.S. attack. What should we make of all the talk of war? Is Iran the “King of the South” of Bible prophecy? Would military conflict with Iran by either the United States or Israel signal the beginning of “tribulation”? As many advances as we’ve seen in the overall scenario, it seems that there are major portions of the equation that are simply not yet in place (Weekly update. 6/06/08).

So, ICG believes that Iran may be the future King of the South, but it is not sure.

Like ICG, the United Church of God takes a more guarded position. In a UCG World News & Prophecy article titled Could Ahmadinejad Be Daniel's "King of the South"?:

Because Iran is, to this point, intractable in its demand to develop nuclear power, and because it produces the second highest amount of oil in OPEC, neither it nor its new president can be ignored.

Back to Daniel's enigmatic prediction. He spoke of two geopolitical configurations, kings of the south and north. It's too soon to tell whether Ahmadinejad will become the first "king," but it is possible that the group backing that king of the south could well be some form of the Islamic ummah (community) (Maranville C.E. Could Ahmadinejad Be Daniel's "King of the South"? World News & Prophecy, December 2005).

Hence, UCG's position once seemed to be that Iran may be the King of the South.

And although UCG confirmed that in something else I recall reading, two later UCG World News & Prophecy articles stated:

Eventually Israel will become subject to a European-centered superpower (the "king of the North") who will invade the Holy Land as a result of a "push" by the "king of the South" (possibly an Islamic group of peoples) as explained in Daniel 11:40-45. Schroeder JR. New Middle Eastern Conflicts: A Wake-up Call for Mankind. World News & Prophecy, August 2006).

...Daniel 11:40-45. These verses tell of a "king of the South" doing something so provocative to a "king of the North" that he reacts by taking over the region of Palestine. On the basis of what we can observe today, we anticipate that the king of the South will be an alliance of Muslim nations from northern Africa through the Middle East and that the king of the North will be a core of European nations, smaller than the present EU configuration (Maranville C.E. China Looks to Africa. World News & Prophecy, June 2007).

UCG tends to be a bit guarded and seems to change its position more easily than LCG does, but currently has a position similar to LCG's.

Though, LCG's R.C. Meredith has repeatedly and publicly stated that Iran will not be the King of the South (Meredith R.C. Last Great Day Sermon. Clearwater, Florida. October 25, 2005). But LCG does teach that Iran may support that king.

He has also specifically stated,

The King of the South is not Iran...The King of the South cannot be Iran. Iran is north of Jerusalem (Meredith RC. Endure with Faith. Sermon, Charlotte (NC), September 10, 2005).
I should probably add here that the Iranians are Persian, and not Arabic. They primarily speak Farsi, which is not an Arabic language. While the Iranians tend to be strict Moslems, they are NOT Arabs ethnically, but could provide some support to the King of the South.

The Old WCG Taught About the King of the South

Who is the 'king of the South' according to history and the old WCG?

Most worldly scholars and HWA felt that there were different ones at different times.
From HWA's Middle East in Prophecy booklet:

Here is verse 5: "And the king of the south [Egypt] shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion"...Syria's ruler, the king of the north, at this time was Antiochus II, called Theos. His wife was named Laodice. And, says Rawlinson's Ancient History, page 251, "Her influence ... engaged him in a war with Ptolemy Philadelphus [king of the south], B.C. 260, which is terminated, B.C. 252, by a marriage between Antiochus and Bernice, Ptolemy's daughter"...Verse 25 — Rawlinson, pages 255-256, says, "Threatened with war by the ministers of Ptolemy Philometor [now king of the south], who claim Coele-Syria and Palestine as the dowry of Cleopatra, the late queen-mother, Antiochus marches against Egypt ... B.C. 171" (pp. 277-278)...Who is today the "king of the south"? It cannot be the king of Egypt, for in 31 B.C. Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire, swallowed up by the king of the north. Today Egypt is a republic ruled by native Arabs. It has no king of its own...Since that time, the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica says (article "Ethiopia") Egypt and Ethiopia were two or three times under the same government. Thus, the two were as one land. And the only portion of that land of the "king of the south" that remained independent until the 20th century is Ethiopia!...(observe that after its conquest by Mussolini, Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the south).

Thus, HWA and others taught that Egypt was the king of the South, that Egypt and Ethiopia had been under the same government at times, and that after Mussolini's conquest that Ethiopia is not again referred to as the king of the South.

Now, it is easy to demonstrate that HWA's WCG did teach that there would be a future King of the South and who WCG believed it would be.

One is a quote from the July 1963 Plain Truth article by Garner Ted Armstrong titled "And when you see the Abomination...":

Notice! And at the TIME OF THE END (this prophecy, then, is absolutely DATED as pertaining to OUR DAY, NOW) shall the king of the south push at him (the "king of the north") and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over" (verse 40). Bible scholars have recognized the FIRST, TYPICAL fulfillment of this surprising prophecy, but have failed to see its LITERAL application to OUR TIMES!...

The king of the South? EGYPT, of course. But not Egypt of today. Egypt of a few more years from now--Egypt as she continues to expand the U.A.R., bringing more and more of the North Africa Mohammedan nations into the same Afro-Arabian power block!. (p. 22).

Another is a quote from the August 1974 Good News article by Raymond McNair titled Watch the Middle East where he stated:

The longest prophecy of the Bible, the eleventh chapter of Daniel, specifically concerns the Middle East...verses 40-45 are yet to be fulfilled. They reveal that startling events are yet to take place in the Middle East... (p.12).

Thus, WCG was teaching, under HWA for at least the last 22 1/2 years of his life, that at least from verses 40 and on, that portions of Daniel 11 were yet to be fulfilled.

Daniel 11:40 states:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through" (NKJV, except when noted or citing other writings).

It is clear that even in 1963 & 1974 HWA's WCG taught that there would be a future king of the South.

Garner Ted Armstrong in a May 3, 1975 Plain Truth article titled Watch the Middle East wrote
Prophecy says some sort of a 'shoving match' precipitated by the 'King of the South' will unleash whirlwind lightening-like MILITARY response by a 'King of the North'.

So the first two quotes from the literature show that WCG did believe in a future 'King of the South', but did not clearly identify who.

In a December 1979 Plain Truth article by Keith Stump titled The Arab World in Prophecy it states
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...But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived...And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]...The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion.

(Note: There is actually a Shiite prophecy that some believe points to Barack Obama as one who will help the final "Mahdi" (Arabic for "the guided one"), please see Obama in Islamic Prophecy?,Prophecies of Barack Obama?, and The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy.)

In the Plain Truth of December 1980--the year that HWA often claimed he now had the Church back on track--another article states:

Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as the 'king of the south' (Daniel 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events (Stump, K. Plain Truth. December 1980, p.26).

A related Plain Truth article states:
Bible prophecy reveals the coming emergence of an Arab-Moslem confederation in the Middle East. It is referred to in prophecy as "the king of the south" (Dan. 11:40). This confederation will play a crucial role in end-time events. (Stump K. Seeing the World Through Islamic Eyes. Plain Truth, June 1983, p.44).

These quotes make it clear that WCG's written position was that there would be a future King of the South--an Arabic-Islamic confederation.

Some Islamic Prophecy

Some in Islam have taught several things about the Mahdi that suggest that he is the King of the South of the Bible. Notice the following:

Rasaullah [Muhammed] said: "There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans [Christians]. The fourth agreement will be mediated through a person who will be the progeny of Hadrat Haroon [Honorable Aaron -- Moses' brother] and will be upheld for seven years (Richardson J. Antichrist: Islam's Awaited Messiah. Pleasant Word, 2006, p. 48)

The above sounds similar to the seven year (one week in biblical language) agreement discussed in Daniel 9:27 that involves a "prince" who appears to be the one the Bible warns will become the King of the North and apparently the nation of Israel. It certainly would make sense that there would be Muslim representation in a peace deal.

However, the Bible shows that this deal will be broken (Daniel 9:27) and the King of the North will invade Jerusalem (Daniel 11:31) and ultimately the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). Notice that this too, however, seems to be consistent with some Islamic prophecy:

...a life of peace as a result of a peace agreement between you and the Banil Asfaar (Romans) which they will break and attack you (Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah. http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 06/21/09).

More on the Madhi can be found in the article The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy.

What Did Herbert W. Armstrong Teach About the King of the South?

While Herbert W. Armstrong apparently felt that there was a partial fulfillment of this when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia before the USA entered World War II and that Ethiopia was the "king of the South" then, HWA did not feel that Ethiopia was the final king of the South, but that another would arise.

In addition to being the editor in chief of those official WCG publications previously quoted, HWA himself taught that there would be a future King of the South.

Specifically, RC Meredith told me (in August 2004) that HWA had him teach that there would be a future King of the South at HWA's Ambassador College. Additionally, former LCG evangelist Charles Bryce told me (also in August of 2004) that he heard HWA personally state that there would be a future King of the South.

The printed quotes and statements cited in this article clearly prove that HWA's WCG did teach that there would be a future King of the South, that it was probably not Ethiopia, that it may EMERGE in the same manner as the King of the North, and that it would apparently involve an Arab-Moslem confederation (Ethiopians are neither predominantly Moslem nor are they predominantly Arabic).

I should also add that in other literature, HWA's himself personally taught that even though there were historical fulfillments, that there would be a future fulfillment of many verses in Daniel 11 beginning with vs. 31 as well as events at least 45 days earlier:

And the abomination that maketh desolate set up." What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15...From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ's coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days." Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us--GOD"S CHURCH--who wait and endure until the 1335 days--approximately 1335 days prior to Christ's coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear--the revival of the medieval "Holy Roman Empire." We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later "the beasts armies" will surround Jerusalem PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT - VOL.1, NO.15 NOVEMBER 20, 1979 The Time We Are In, Now by Herbert W. Armstrong. Page 2; see also Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).

As the above shows, HWA himself admitted that he had questions about some of his earlier writings about the fulfilling of the sequence of Daniel 11. And he also told this to others including Raymond McNair who related that to me through his late brother, Carl McNair a few years ago. Furthermore, the Plain Truth magazine itself publicly admitted some ambiguity on some Middle East-related prophecies (see The Arab World in Prophecy in the Plain Truth, December 1979, p.12)--yet it (and earlier and later editions) clearly did teach that there would be a future king of the South and that it would appear to be an Arab-Moslem confederation of some sort.

And HWA himself clearly wrote that there would be a future fulfillment of Daniel 11:31 and other verses in Daniel. And as the above shows, he taught that something would stop the work forty-five days prior to Daniel 11:31 (more information on that is included in the article Who is the King of the North?.

The Bible Teaches About the King of the South

Of course, the main issue is whether or not the Bible teaches that there must be a future King of the South, and the 11th chapter of the book of Daniel (the only place where the term 'king of the South' is mentioned) does make this clear.

Daniel wrote:

He [the king of the North] shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South...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 11:25,27).
Notice that these two kings make a deal together, but both sides are lying to each other. Thus, whatever agreement they make is not destined to be permanent.

Now when is the "end"? Verse 29 states:

At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.

The 'he' in verse 29 is the king of the North. This verse says that the 'appointed time' is not only different than before, but, combined with vs. 27, that it is the appointed time that leads to the final end of both the king of the North and the king of the South (cf. vs. 27).

I state this because there is an ‘appointed time’ (Strong’s word #7150) in both vs. 27 which suggest it is in the future and vss. 29 and 35 which appear to be the specific time. The specific word translated as ‘the end’ is the same word (Strong’s 4150) in vs. 27 and vs. 45 where the king of the North comes to his final end it is also in vs. 40 when the king of the North invades the king of the South (which is the last time the term 'king of the South' is mentioned as this leads to his end).

Daniel 11:35 states:

And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

Daniel 11:40 states:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.
Since the king of the South is prophesied in vs. 27 to come to his end at the appointed time, and I believe the Bible is clear that this particular appointed time of coming to his end has not come yet (especially since the king of the North is also supposed to come to his end during that appointed time), the Bible thus demonstrates the need of a future king of the South.

Notice that the King of the North is going to come into the Arabic portions of the world. And when the final contest between the King of the South vs. the King of the North occurs, the King of the South will lose:

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40-42).

It may be of interest to note that currently, many of the states of the European Union and the states of Northern Africa have gotten together in something that they call the "Union for the Mediterranean". An interesting part of this is that while they do not call them kings, at this time their is a president of the North (the president of France) and a president of the South (the president of Egypt) (for details, please see the article The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy).

Does Daniel 11 Refer to Ethiopians or Nubians?

Although Daniel 11:40-42 is only mentioning peoples in predominantly Arabs lands, some may point to verse 43 as proof that Ethiopia is involved. Here is what the NKJV, perhaps incorrectly, shows:

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.

The problem with the above translation is that the word "Ethiopians" is not in the Hebrew in the Old Testament. The word translated as "Ethiopians" is the plural of the word Kuwshiy, which according to Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary means descendants of Cush. Or in other words, people of dark color--and it is commonly translated as Cush or Cushite in many Old Testament passages.

It is not necessarily those from Ethiopia. There is one famous person that the Old Testament translated into English refers to as from Ethiopia, the famous Queen of Sheba. Yet, even term Sheba' does not usually refer to Ethiopia in the Bible, as it most of the time refers to specific, non-Ethiopian, people. Furthermore, notice the following from two different commentaries (bolding/italics theirs):

Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.).

The queen of Sheba has been identified as the ruler of the Sabeans (Job 1:15), who inhabited Arabia Felix (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press).

Thus the fact that Jesus referred to her as "the queen of the South" (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31), indicates that she was not necessarily from Ethiopia. And if she was from Ethiopia, Jesus could have clearly stated that, but He did not. Thus Jesus did not declared Ethiopia to be the kingdom of the South.

The New International Version translation of the Bible seems to get Daniel 11:43 translated correctly as follows:

He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.

And while Ethiopians might possibly be indicated here, the reality is that Nubians makes a lot more sense.

Why?

Because the Nubians are Moslems and historically lived amongst the Egyptians and the other Arabs. The Nubians have been in so much contact with Arabs that Nubians speak that some of their peoples have been "Arabized" (http://www.thenubian.net/nubtoday.php 8/05/06).
Interestingly, although it uses the term "Ethiopians" while discussing Daniel 11:43, Matthew Henry's Commentary says that these are people who anciently lived next to Egypt.

Well, Nubians currently live in Egypt as well as in neighboring Sudan. The Sudanese, like the Nubians, are also Cushites, and are also mainly Moslem (especially since they recently killed many of the non-Moslems in the southern portion of their country)--plus Sudan is between Egypt and Ethiopia. Thus, even Daniel 11:43 is not teaching that those now called Ethiopians must be even be involved when the king of the North retaliates against the king of the South--and this is apparently one of the reasons that HWA changed his position on the identity of the future king of the South.

(It is also interesting to note that gold, silver, and other riches will be taken from Egypt--Egypt recently reopened an ancient gold mine which may become its largest source of wealth--see the news item Gold of Egypt; Egypt also has some oil resources that are now being developed. Thus even today we are seeing the prophetic scenario being fulfilled before our eyes--Egypt had to have significant amounts of gold, silver, and other wealth for the King of the North to invade it and take its gold, silver, and other treasures for Daniel 11:43 to come to pass. This did not happen in the 20th century. It also interesting to note that gold will be valuable at this time, it also apparently will be until sometime after the sixth trumpet, cf. Revelation 9:20)

The Final Fulfillment of Daniel 11 Has Not Come to Pass

Anyway, those who teach that the king of the South's 'end' occurred in the 1930s (which is what certain details from CEG, etc., suggest) are simply not being biblically logical.

The king of the North and the king of the South are supposed to come to their end reasonably close to one another (vs. 27). A seventy-eighty year gap between the end of the king of the South and the king of the North (as even they acknowledge that the king of the North has not yet come to his end--which occurs in vs. 45) does not seem to square with the intent of Daniel's writings in the Bible.

HWA's Middle East in Prophecy booklet also taught:

Verse 45 — the coming Roman Empire shall establish its palace, as capital of the revived Roman Empire, and eventually its religious headquarters, at Jerusalem! Zechariah 14:2 says the city shall be taken! "Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him"! This language signifies the end of the "beast" and the "false prophet" at the hand of God! You will find this end described in Revelation 19:19-20 and Zechariah 14:12. And now what is the time of this end, at the close of this marvelous prophecy? The next verse, Daniel 12:1, says at the time of the resurrection of the just — at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! This prophecy begins with the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt, soon after the death of Alexander the Great — 2,300 years ago. But it ends at the time of the resurrection and the Second Coming of Christ to bring peace at last to the region — and to the entire world! It is so plain, there can be no doubt of its right application!

Thus, the end is not yet. Yet, some now doubt its right application.

Jesus told His followers to "watch" (Mark 13:33-37).

This watching of events would certainly seem to include watching who logically could be a King of the South. World events seem to be showing that some type of Arab-Moslem confederation is coming to pass. And that is what HWA's WCG taught as well. Watching for Ethiopia to develop into a military power that others will rally around seems to be a longer, and probably fruitless, watch.

However, watching the Islamic world increase its military capacities and attempt to obtain nuclear weapons of various types (which they will undoubtedly use) seems to be a more biblically appropriate area to watch.

Furthermore, look at what Psalm 83:4-8 states:

They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.

Note that this passage of scripture is suggesting that the descendants of Israel (which not only includes the modern state of Israel, but also much of the English-speaking world) will be bothered by a confederation of basically Arabic/Islamic peoples from the Middle East (not Ethiopians), and Assyria (most likely the German led EU, which will also become the king of the North) will assist them--this apparently why the Plain Truth article of December 1979 stated:

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...Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations...But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived...the 'king of the north' will ultimately turn against the Arab 'king of the south'...The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion...

Since Daniel 11:27 suggests some type of deal between the king of the North and the king of the South and Psalm 83 shows an Arabic/Turkish confederation that will make a deal with a northern representative, it appears that the idea of an Arab-Moslem confederacy representing the king of the South also has a biblical basis. The nations in Psalm 83 all tend to be Arabic or Turkish, hence the position that the king of the South is likely to be Arabic has biblical support.
It is of interest to note that Iran is not part of Psalm 83 (and this is something that PCG admits, though it will not change its view because of this).

Also notice that the Bible shows that a time is coming when the confederation with Egypt will be destroyed:

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"'Wail and say, "Alas for that day!" 3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush. When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 "'This is what the LORD says:
"'The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her,declares the Sovereign LORD.
7 "'They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities. 8 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9 "'On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt's doom, for it is sure to come (Ezekiel 30:1-9, NIV).

And this seems to be the destruction of the King of the South by the King of the North in Daniel 11:40-43.

Concluding Comments of the King of the South

It is clear that LCG's position that there will be a future King of the South, and that the King of the South will lead an Arab-Moslem confederation is totally consistent with the Bible the teachings of HWA's WCG, and HWA himself. The view that the King of the South will most likely be an Arab-Moslem confederation is also consistent with world events.

It is also clear that the Bible shows, that since the end has not yet come, that there needs to be a future King of the South. Although the Bible does not make it absolutely clear who the King of the South must actually be (contrary to RCG's and PCG's positions), the old WCG's and current LCG's view is certainly not in contradiction of the Bible, and is the position that those who believe the Bible should hold--it is sad that many who once believed these things no longer wish to.

Those that do not have a correct understanding of who the King of the South will be simply will not understand the fulfillment of vital biblical prophecies.

There is a future king of the South who will eventually be destroyed by the future king of the North (a European confederation). Those who do not understand will probably not know who to listen to, nor when to flee, to the wilderness for protection as the Bible teaches (please see the articles Laodicean Warning for God's People, There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? and There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
Thus, the subject of the king of the South is a matter that should be of vital interest to true Christians.

Two articles of related interest may include The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy and Who is the King of the North?

Back to home page
Thiel B. Is There A Future King of the South? http://www.cogwriter.com/
2004/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009 0626

Obama is a hypocrite!

The Miami Herald:

President Obama should do what he says about secrecy

OUR OPINION: President Obama promised transparency but often sides with secrecy

************"

WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"

Why did Obama originally say on his website that he was "governed" by the British Nationality Act? Why does he pay lawyers to work hard to keep America in the dark? Why does he refuse to open up? What's he hiding?Demand your representatives get long overdue, honest answers to these serious questions. America can't afford to wait!

www.davidbenariel.org

The Covenant: God's relationship with Jews, Israelites and Gentiles

Art Braidic (a minister of the Sabbath keeping Church of God) and I have enjoyed a biblical discussion about whether or not God's covenant with Judah is still active. I trust others may glean something profitable from our fellowship. I start with his intial response and add my comments:

My conclusion is that God brought the Jews back to fulfill prophecy, not to re-establish them as a nation permanently.

Thank you, Art, for prayerfully considering all this about Judah's return under Ezra and Nehemiah and taking the time to respond. May God bless our fellowship and inspire us all to a better understanding of this holy subject. Such discussions prove true that "iron sharpens iron."

God did indeed bring Judah back (but not all were willing to return just like today) to fulfill prophecy, but I must question if that was the only reason why did God not only send a scion of David (Zerubbabel), and a governor (Nehemiah), but a PRIEST to instruct the People in the Torah? Ezra had his Work cut out for him and did a marvelous job (Ezra 7:10).

His NATIONAL CONGREGATION repented of their Sabbath breaking (Nehemiah 13:17-22) and mixed marriages and entered into a COVENANT WITH GOD. We have no record of the Gentilized Israelites ever repenting, even in part, or returning and submitting to any biblical instruction (Ezra 10:1-3).

Judah had sinned worse than Israel originally, but THEY REPENTED and were brought back. Israel never repented and was never brought back. Some of Judah remained repentant from THE RETURN to the time of Yeshua, the New Testament bearing them record:

The priestly parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:6), Simon and Anna - two holy and elderly witnesses and the Torah-observant Yosef and Miriam (Luke 2:25, 36-39).

And Yeshua said of the Gentiles and testified about the Jews:

John 4:22
22 You [Gentiles] worship what you do not know; we [Jews] know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

He couldn't say that about the Gentilized Israelites who had lost it all!

The Old Testament was to have seven eras.

I know the Church of God teaches this and I have shared it with others, but the Church of God isn't consistent when they reject the God-given authority of the scribes and the Pharisees that Christ acknowledged on the matters of the sacred calendar and responsibility to properly proclaim the holy days.

Christ was to come from Judah. All this was fulfilled and then, God destroyed the nation and scattered them exactly like He did their sister Israel.

God had already destroyed the former Judah and Jerusalem and scattered the Jews, but many of them repented and returned (part of true national repentance is to return to the Land, not just the Law). Those faithful Jews, the parents of John, the parents of Yeshua, Simon, Anna, and others like them remained faithful and accepted the Light that God had sent Judah and when the others rejected Him they were rejected.

But the physical and spiritual foundation of converted Jews continued without fail! The early Church of God was entirely Jewish, as you know. That Jewish/biblical foundation was most instrumental in the construction of the spiritual Temple that includes Gentile converts into that holy Branch. Most of Judah were temporarily cut off, just like the Gentilized Israelites, but SOME of them never were and continued right on as pioneers of faith towards the "New Jerusalem!"

Antiocus went through the land devastating it it and putting the abomination in the temple. I submit that if these people were God's people, in a covenant with them, then they would have not suffered so.

Isn't that a gospel of peace and prosperity? Don't true believers suffer persecution? If God wasn't in covenant with Judah, why did Yeshua call the defiled and CLEANSED Temple "My Father's House?" God sent Judah - still His covenant people at that point - the Macabbees as in the days of the Judges, just as the Church also teaches that Daniel prophesied of them as the "people who know their God and do (military) exploits," and they formed part of the seven eras of the Old Testament. Another traditional inconsistency!

To me, after Christ's death, any relationship was completely over.

Yes, I agree that after the unwarranted hatred Yeshua experienced at the hands of His brethren, like our father Joseph did earlier as a type, the Anointed One who came to purify Judah's religion and correct their misunderstandings and rebuke idolatrous traditions (which is why He spent so much time with the God-ordained Pharisees). He warned Judah of the Temple's imminent destruction and their dispersion and they rejected Him and His warning message and many of them paid for it with their lives, God was through - for the most part - with collective Judah. However, as stated above, God kept His Word to be the God of our fathers and our God to a remnant, folks like the righteous I've mentioned whose kind made up the early Church.

As Paul writes... Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

I do know your point, but to be technical, it's speaking of US being dead to sin (and its penalty) and resurrected in Christ, able to now marry Righteousness - it doesn't state that about Christ.

So, in the marriage to Israel, God was married to Judah. Once He died, He was able to remarry. He now is espoused to those He has called, and He will marry them at His return.

I know and have also shared this Church of God teaching, but the Scriptures reveal God saying to physical Israelites in these last days, God pleading with us to return to Him as our Husband, that He never divorced us! Judah and Israel are still married to God even if we've broken our part of the covenant relationship and God has "SEPARATED" us from Him due to our unrepentant sins. But He wants us back! (Isaiah 50:1, Jeremiah 3:14).

The Church of God, like the Prophets, ought to call our people back to the Law and the Covenant that God made with our Fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and confirmed with our fathers at Mount Sinai) and wants to RENEW with us and improve upon it by writing His Torah upon the tablets of our converted hearts and minds, so help us God!

I actually do not know what replacement theology is.

It is denying the spiritual importance of physical Israel to God forever, regardless of our present sins that will soon be history.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

All this is saying is that race alone isn't sufficient. That a physical Israelite must also have a spiritual Israelite identity or they're nothing more than physically circumcised spiritual Gentiles! And that physical Gentiles can be spiritual Israelites and join the Body of converted Israelite believers: the remnant of physical Israel who isn't blinded!

Rom 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.

Replacement theology would say it doesn't matter because spiritual Israel has replaced any need for physical Israelites to be in a covenant relationship with God and such a damnable heresy is dead wrong! Paul then stresses his PHYSICAL TRIBAL IDENTITY - he didn't dismiss it as unimportant. God must always have at least a chosen few physical Israelites to keep His Promise to our Fathers to be their God and the God of their literal descendants.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

So, there is a remnant according to grace, not race. Who is that remnant comprised of?

Not so! The very example Paul used were ALL ISRAELITE. Why speak of a remnant except to refer to the relatively chosen few ISRAELITES who have not gone astray or been blinded? The remnant pertains to physical Israelites who are converted Israelites!

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

The election or remnant of physical ISRAELITES! Just like the vast majority of Jews rejected Jesus but a remnant of physical Jews remained faithful and formed the foundational Church of God in Jerusalem!

Rom 11:16
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree

While not the firstfruits, they are still holy because they are God's people.

It is converted physical Israelites who are the firstfruits, converted physical Israelites who are the roots, a converted physical Israelite olive tree that converted Gentiles can be grafted into! We are the Israelite Church of God, as Herbert W. Armstrong taught, and it is counterfeit Christianity that is a Gentile Church that seeks to replace physical Israelites in every way, physically and spiritually.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Blindness IN PART, a partial blindness among Jews and Israelites. I really don't understand why God had to blind any of our people, maybe you know? Why couldn't He just work with Gentiles and Israelites at the same time like He does in the Church? Ancient Israel always accepted Gentile converts and they weren't at the expense of any Israelites. I really don't understand this part of the mystery and pray to grasp it better!

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Back to physical Israel, showing their physical descent from Jacob-Israel remains important to God despite "spiritual Israel." Again, it's because of the covenant that God made with our Fathers. That's why the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" will be cut short - mainly for the ethnic election, the physical Israelites' sakes! not the spiritual Church of God alone.

Matthew 24:22
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

Isaiah 1:9
9 Unless the LORD of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Leviticus 26:44-45
44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.'"

This GOOD NEWS is why the first chapter of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall is gladly called "Survival Guaranteed!"

Rom 11:28
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

Just like Elijah was opposed by most of his nation of Gentilized Israelites, and the 7,000 were the chosen few (COG - Cave of God), all physical Israelites, so most of the nation of Judah rejected My God Yah in the flesh except for the chosen few physical Israelites who became converted and were the Church of God in Judea! The election, the ethnic elect, the Chosen People, will finally respond to our calling to become a Kingdom of Priests, a Light to all Nations, so help us God! Hosanna in the Highest!

Rom 11: 30
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This is the mystery I wrote of above that I would like to understand better.

As you stated, their time will come again, but I believe it is not now.

I agree that the vast majority of Joes and Jews are presently blinded, but I believe there are individuals with whom God is working, His Holy Spirit is WITH THEM (not yet in them, like with His disciples originally), as part of the process of national redemption, laying the groundwork, preparing the way, for when God chooses to call us all again into a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with Him, like Gershon Salomon of the Temple Mount Faithful and other faithful Jews, exceptions, just like Simon and Anna.

Even as Herbert W. Armstrong taught the children of Worldwide Church of God members are SANCTIFIED (I Corinthians 7:14), so too are the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ezra 9:2). I believe this revelation needs to be better understood and taught in the congregations.

I love the Jewish people. I find them among the most bright, professional, and talented people in the world.

I know you do. I never doubted it. I also know that Judah offers the best and the worst in this world! We can either become "stars" (as the descendants of Abraham) or so much "dirt" (grains of sand).

May God bless klal Yisrael (all Israel/12 Tribes) to fulfill our incredible NATIONAL potential! (Isaiah 62:1-2, 6-7).

************

The English-Speaking Nations of White Israelites

The Plain Truth about the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives

Performance Report for David Ben-Ariel

June 2009 EzineArticles.com Performance Reports for David Ben-Ariel

Article Views:
June 2009
43,311

Lifetime
451,893


Top 3 Performing Articles (Lifetime):

Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
Lifetime Views: 26,644

Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
Lifetime Views: 17,416

The Plain Truth About The "Lost Ten Tribes" And Why You Need To Know
Lifetime Views: 16,210


Top 3 Performing Articles (June 2009):

Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
June 2009 Views: 5,234

Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
June 2009 Views: 3,725

The Covenant: God's Relationship to Jews, Israelites, and Gentiles
June 2009 Views: 3,436

The New South Africa is a warning to America!

Hierdie blog poog om 'n kroniek te wees van die ekstreme geweld en geheime volksmoord wat gepleeg word teen die blanke minderheidsgroep van Suid-Afrika. Tien duisende blankes is alreeds vermoor sedert 1994. Brutale marteling en verkragting is volop en nie eers jonk of oud word gespaar nie.

The New South Africa blog attempts to chronicle the extreme violence and secret genocide being committed against the white minority of South Africa. Tens of thousands of whites have been murdered since 1994. Brutal torture and rape is common and not even the young or elderly are spared.

http://www.dienuwesuidafrika.com

http://www.farmmurders.com

http://www.plaasmoorde.com

WHO Has The Correct Holy Day Count?

WHO Has The Correct Holy Day Count?
- The Jews, or the Original WCG?

If you belong to one of the WCG splits don't answer this too quickly... Douay-Rheims Bible - Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

The original Worldwide Church of God and most of the modern day splits from the WCG differ from the Jews in calculating two of the main Holy Day Calendar dates. They should NOT differ!
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE understanding God's Holy Days means understanding GOD'S SIGN of WHO are GOD'S PEOPLE.

Exodus 13:6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread … Continuing in verse 9 And it shall be for a SIGN unto thee upon thine hand (people work with their hands, so this involves working), and for a memorial between thine eyes (ie. in their forehead, where the mind is, so this also involves thinking).

By contrast, the Revelation 13:17 'Mark of the Beast' is Satan's SIGN of WHO are Satan's People.

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; Rev 13:17 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name. Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.

HOW to Avoid the 666 Mark of the Beast...

A certain person may yet more directly fulfil the number 666 in prophecy, but that's not the only reason for the use of the number 666.

666 falls short of 777.

SEVEN is God's special number. God expects true Christians to focus on three 7's, not three 6's.

The first 7 to focus on is the Sabbath, to be kept on the seventh day.

The second 7 is found in God's SEVEN ANNUAL Holy Days (Levit. 23) which are commanded.

A third 7 is found in the symbolism and ultimate fulfilment of the Sabbath and Holy Days, which show the plan of God, ...looking forward to the establishment of God's rule over this earth, which is timed to occur on the 7th. one thousand year 'day' since Adam was created.

Therefore keeping ALL God's correct Holy Days on the correct dates is the opposite SIGN to the Mark [or SIGN] of the Beast in people's hand and forehead in Revelation 13:16-18.

All those who fall short in these THREE SEVENS, --all those who do not love them, are AUTOMATICALLY branded with THREE SIXES instead!

Anyone who scoffs at these sevens, who is MORE concerned about pleasing MAN, rather than GOD, will take on the number of a man. Although it could happen,*** a microchip will NOT be needed --they will take on the 666 Mark of the Beast by default.

This will condemn a LOT of people ...which is why Zephaniah 1:2,3 (NIV) says:

"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the Lord."I will sweep away both men and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off MAN from the face of the earth," declares the Lord.
In verse 6 God says this will happen to "those who neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him."

*** Read more about why having a microchip implant breaks God's law here.

Determining the correct holy day count is easy when you simply look at which days are marked on a Jewish calendar, but to PROVE they are correct to people who will not accept this is a very complicated subject. I believe all the URL links on this page give enough proof to prove that the majority of the WCG church splits have it wrong.

1. PASSOVER

Traditional WCG understanding of the timing of Passover is incorrect. It is the time period around the end of the 14th. of Nisan, not the sunset beginning the 14th. Here's proof.

Exodus 12, verse 6 and Exodus 12 verse 18 in both cases must remain consistent with each other.... Verse 6 ...and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening. (talking about the lamb)
Verse 18 says: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. (talking about the first day of ULB)19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found... Compare these two verses together. The 21st day should have the same rules applied to it, as to which evening. The fourteenth at evening MUST mean near the start of the sunset beginning the FIFTEENTH in order to make it 7 days.

From the start of the 14th to the end of the 21st is 8 days... traditional WCG reasoning keeps the 21st as the last day, and yet tries to tell us that includes an extra day for Passover, but the Bible says this period is 7 days, not 8.

The expression at evening is more accurately translated between the evenings... but we'll come to that later.

It's a shame that the Book of Jubilees ( Wikapedia entry ) is not part of the Bible, as Chapter 49 makes it VERY plain:

Remember the commandment which the Lord commanded thee concerning the Passover, that thou shouldst celebrate it in its season on the fourteenth of the first month, that thou shouldst kill it before it is evening, and that they should eat it by night on the evening of the fifteenth from the time of the setting of the sun.

For on this night -the beginning of the festival and the beginning of the joy- ye were eating the Passover in Egypt, when all the powers of Mastêmâ had been let loose to slay all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh to the first-born of the captive maid-servant in the mill, and to the cattle.

And this is the sign which the Lord gave them: Into every house on the lintels of which they saw the blood of a lamb of the first year, into (that) house they should not enter to slay, but should pass by (it), that all those should be saved that were in the house because the sign of the blood was on its lintels.

And the powers of the Lord did everything according as the Lord commanded them, and they passed by all the children of Israel, and the plague came not upon them to destroy from amongst them any soul either of cattle, or man, or dog.

And the plague was very grievous in Egypt, and there was no house in Egypt where there was not one dead, and weeping and lamentation.

And all Israel was eating the flesh of the paschal lamb, and drinking the wine, and was lauding, and blessing, and giving thanks to the Lord God of their fathers, and was ready to go forth from under the yoke of Egypt, and from the evil bondage.

And remember thou this day all the days of thy life, and observe it from year to year all the days of thy life, once a year, on its day, according to all the law thereof, and do not adjourn (it) from day to day, or from month to month.

For it is an eternal ordinance, and engraven on the heavenly tablets regarding all the children of Israel that they should observe it every year on its day (not the day before) once a year, throughout all their generations; and there is no limit of days, for this is ordained for ever.
And the man who is free from unclearness, and does not come to observe it on occasion of its day, so as to bring an acceptable offering before the Lord, and to eat and to drink before the Lord on the day of its festival, that man who is clean and close at hand shall be cut off: because he offered not the oblation of the Lord in its appointed season, he shall take the guilt upon himself.

Let the children of Israel come and observe the passover on the day of its fixed time, on the fourteenth day of the first month, between the evenings, from the third part of the day to the third part of the night, for two portions of the day are given to the light, and a third part to the evening.

This is that which the Lord commanded thee that thou shouldst observe it between the evenings.

And it is not permissible to slay it during any period of the light, but during the period bordering on the evening, and let them eat it at the time of the evening, until the third part of the night, and whatever is left over of all its flesh from the third part of the night and onwards, let them burn it with fire.

And they shall not cook it with water, nor shall they eat it raw, but roast on the fire: they shall eat it with diligence, its head with the inwards thereof and its feet they shall roast with fire, and not break any bone thereof; for of the children of Israel no bone shall be crushed.

For this reason the Lord commanded the children of Israel to observe the passover on the day of its fixed time, and they shall not break a bone thereof; for it is a festival day, and a day commanded, and there may be no passing over from day to day, and month to month, but on the day of its festival let it be observed.

And do thou command the children of Israel to observe the passover throughout their days, every year, once a year on the day of its fixed time, and it shall come for a memorial well pleasing before the Lord, and no plague shall come upon them to slay or to smite in that year in which they celebrate the passover in its season in every respect according to His command.
And they shall not eat it outside the sanctuary of the Lord, but before the sanctuary of the Lord, and all the people of the congregation of Israel shall celebrate it in its appointed season.

And every man who has come upon its day shall eat it in the sanctuary of your God before the Lord from twenty years old and upward; for thus is it written and ordained that they should eat it in the sanctuary of the Lord.

And when the children of Israel come into the land which they are to possess, into the land of Canaan, and set up the tabernacle of the Lord in the midst of the land in one of their tribes until the sanctuary of the Lord has been built in the land, let them come and celebrate the passover in the midst of the tabernacle of the Lord, and let them slay it before the Lord from year to year.
And in the days when the house has been built in the name of the Lord in the land of their inheritance, they shall go there and slay the passover in the evening, at sunset, at the third part of the day.

And they shall offer its blood on the threshold of the altar, and shall place its fat on the fire which is upon the altar, and they shall eat its flesh roasted with fire in the court of the house which has been sanctified in the name of the Lord.

And they may not celebrate the passover in their cities, nor in any place save before the tabernacle of the Lord, or before His house where His name hath dwelt; and they shall not go astray from the Lord.

And do thou, Moses, command the children of Israel to observe the ordinances of the passover, as it was commanded unto thee; declare thou unto them every year and the day of its days, and the festival of unleavened bread, that they should eat unleavened bread seven days, (and) that they should observe its festival, and that they bring an oblation every day during those seven days of joy before the Lord on the altar of your God.

For ye celebrated this festival with haste when ye went forth from Egypt till ye entered into the wilderness of Shur; for on the shore of the sea ye completed it.

However, the Book of Jubilees is NOT part of the Bible, but there IS much additional BIBLE PROOF, including NEW TESTAMENT events.

Download
http://www.nicetiming.com/passover1.pdf
and
http://www.nicetiming.com/passover2.pdf.

Also read http://darwinlauralee.com/thecogmessenger0048/a2008-048-07.htm.

The wording of Leviticus 23, vs. 5 and 6 in many translations is confusing.

Here is how the King James version reads:Verse 5 - In the 14th day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.Verse 6 - And on the 15th day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

To many, this is saying the beginning of Passover starts on the evening of the 14th day of the first month and from the 15th to the 21st is Unleavened Bread.

But here is the Young's Literal Translation of these verses:

Lev 23:5 in the first month, on the fourteenth of the month, between the evenings, is the passover to Jehovah;

Lev 23:6 and on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast of unleavened things to Jehovah; seven days unleavened things ye do eat;

This link PROVES that between the evenings means about 3 p.m.

http://www.herealittletherealittle.net/index.cfm?page_name=Between-the-Evenings

I believe it must mean that at about 3 p.m. on the 14th the lamb was slain, which Christ fulfilled exactly at this time as shown in the New Testament. The actual death angel then passed over at midnight afterwards when the 15th begins as we count dates today, but again referring to the above link I don't think Lev 23:5 can mean midnight exclusively here when it refers to the Passover, but rather the reference to the Passover here is referring to the beginning of the whole sequence of events, which starts with the slaying of the lamb. Quoting from this link http://bibleresearch.org/observancebook5/b5w30.html (please read the whole page) the original Passover was a ceremonial process that contained the following events:

Passover lambs were killed from approximately 3 p.m. until just before sunset.
Each lamb was roasted whole—this roasting took approximately 3 to 4 hours.
The lamb was eaten after sunset—perhaps another hour or two.

The whole ceremonial process could take approximately 12 hours, depending on when the lamb was killed, how long it took to roast the lamb, and how long it took to eat it.

This makes it clear that the Passover began on the Preparation day of the 14th. and then just a few hours later the first day of Unleavened Bread began, which includes the eating of the lamb and the pass over time when the death angel passed over. So the first day and the Passover overlap on the sunset to sunset way of calculating the 15th, but technically Passover begins a few hours before the evening leading into the 15th. In no way does it begin a whole 24 hours before on the evening that began the preparation day.

God gave the Jews the authority to keep track of the correct dates and said in Mat. 23:1-3. "Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples saying, ‘The Scribes and Pharisees (not the Sadducees which the Church has followed) sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do. . ."

You would think the Jews would know the correct days of their own Holy days. It is crazy to think God would allow them to get it wrong when Christ said to observe the days they keep.
Christ instituted the bread and wine symbols to replace the Passover symbols, therefore I believe the New Testament Passover ceremony itself, taking unleavened bread and wine, should be taken after sunset on the beginning of the 15th after Christ actually died, as he died towards the END of the 14th of Nisan... For a final URL link on this subject read http://www.davidbenariel.org/cog/passover-memorial.htm
When Christ changed the symbols in the NT it was because he had to fulfil them the next day and could not very well do it at the same time he was enduring the fulfilment, so the new symbols should be kept on the same day they picture and were fulfilled, not the day before.

2. PENTECOST

The Jewish Pentecost (Shavuot) in 2009 is Friday May 29th. For anyone with a Church of God /Herbert W. Armstrong - former WCG background, who doubts the Jews (and my) understanding of which day is actually the correct day to count to, and then observe Pentecost, they can prove this for themselves. Here are some very important research links:

http://darwinlauralee.com/a2002-010-02.htm
http://darwinlauralee.com/a2004-024-01.htm
http://darwinlauralee.com/a2005-029-01.htm
http://darwinlauralee.com/a2004-020-01.htm
http://www.herealittletherealittle.net/index.cfm?page_name=Sivan6
Young's LITERAL Translation of Luke 24:1 reads as follows: And on the first of the Sabbaths, at early dawn (which would have been Nisan 17), they came to the tomb, bearing the spices they made ready, and certain {others} with them. In modern day terminology this is saying Saturday, near sunrise. The following link http://www.herealittletherealittle.net/index.cfm?page_name=Jesus-Resurrection explains in full exactly when Christ was resurrected, which also explains the above verse.

The wave sheaf (representing true Christian firstfruits) was waved on (Friday) Nisan 16. It does NOT refer to Christ, but was offered with a lamb because it is made possible BY the Sacrifice of Jesus, which precedes it in time sequence as the following link explains:

http://www.elderwalterprestonjr.com/custom4.html
http://yourarmstoisrael.org/Articles_new/notes/bringing_back.php
http://www.triumphpro.com/wave-sheaf-secret.htm
http://cogpt.org/pentecostacountdowntofreedom.htm (This is a whole book about the correct count to Pentecost. Note especially chapter 5.)

To verify the Septuagint translation of Leviticus 23:11 go to http://www.ecmarsh.com/lxx/
http://beyondbabylon.blogspot.com/2007/06/did-herbert-armstrong-ever-observe.html

God's true church lost much vital information over the last 2000 years, but it began to be restored in the 1900's and new truth is continuing to surface for those who can humble themselves enough to accept it.

Obama disrespects Jerusalem

Top Obama advisors say time for Israel to surrender Jerusalem
Think tank that feeds foreign policy to Obama admin wants international forces to administer Jerusalem more»

Let Jews and Israelis demand Obama/Soetoro/Obama (if and when did he legally change his name?), "Surrender your birth certificate, Obama!"

Furthermore,

UN Resolution 181: Blueprint of the Beast?
As Hitler clearly outlined his plans in Mein Kampf (and furiously put them into practice his first opportunity), so the United Nations passed an ominous resolution in 1947 concerning the fate of Jerusalem: UN Resolution 181 demands the Holy City submit to the status of an "international city." That's a glorified term for ENEMY OCCUPATION!