Chief Palestinian justice" Sheik Taysir Tamimi can foam at the mouth against the biblical and historical facts that Jerusalem was and is Jewish, hosted two temples of the God of Israel, and will soon be graced with the Third Temple upon the TEMPLE Mount, but reality remains...
Remove the mosques and sweep away Muslim lies!
http://www.davidbenariel.org/
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Clone Wars?
Commentary: Will there ever be real Clone Wars?
A few decades ago, a virtually unknown screenwriter created a nine-part, feature-length saga, telling of an intergalactic fight between good and evil. The screen writer, George Lucas, shot to stardom virtually overnight with the release of his blockbuster film Star Wars, over 30 years ago. Read more
See what you're missing - follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/lcginfo
A few decades ago, a virtually unknown screenwriter created a nine-part, feature-length saga, telling of an intergalactic fight between good and evil. The screen writer, George Lucas, shot to stardom virtually overnight with the release of his blockbuster film Star Wars, over 30 years ago. Read more
See what you're missing - follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/lcginfo
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Order Isaac's Empire
Isaac’s Empire: Ancient Persia’s Forgotten Identity
[P-ISAACS]
by Cam Rea
ISBN: 978-1-60047-342-5
Paperback (6x9): 148 pgs.
Persia, an empire that dominated the known world 2500 years ago, has been written about and romanticized by many throughout history. But that is about to change. Cam Rea, author of The Assyrian Exile: Israel's Legacy in Captivity, has brought up a new question. Is it possible that the ancient Persian Empire was really an empire made up of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?
http://www.wastelandbooksonline.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=489
[P-ISAACS]
by Cam Rea
ISBN: 978-1-60047-342-5
Paperback (6x9): 148 pgs.
Persia, an empire that dominated the known world 2500 years ago, has been written about and romanticized by many throughout history. But that is about to change. Cam Rea, author of The Assyrian Exile: Israel's Legacy in Captivity, has brought up a new question. Is it possible that the ancient Persian Empire was really an empire made up of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?
http://www.wastelandbooksonline.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=489
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Commentary: What, me worry?
Remember the old MAD Magazine character, Alfred E. Neuman, whose line was "What, me worry?" It was a humorous spoof making light of the need to worry about anything. Worry is a mental exercise that all of us engage in, though some more than others. It doesn't produce anything. It uses up valuable time and resources, and it doesn't give us joy or peace of mind. Read more
Monday, August 24, 2009
Giving & Sharing (Christian resources)
Serving Sabbath-Keepers Around the World...Since 1978.
"Freely ye have received, freely give," Matthew 10:8.
PO Box 100, Neck City, MO 64849
Phone: (417)525-4211 E-Mail: Earl Lewis
Alphabetical List of Topics
Babylon Belief, Fundamentals of Bible Studies Booklets, FREE Book Reviews Church History Church of God News Description of Literature Doing: What Should You Be Doing? Downloads, zip files Evolution Family and Marriage Health and Healing Islam Israel Holy Days Laws of Bible Library of Online Books Links Military Service and War Music Newsletters Order Form Origin of Nations Persecution Prophecy Seventh-day Adventists Sharing Library Spanish Tapes, Audio Tithing Youth
Order Recommended Bibles and Bible Helps Online, at Discount!
Printed copies of our recommended Bibles, Bible Study helps, and articles are available on a suggested donation basis, which usually covers our costs. If you cannot afford to send a donation, we will send an item free, or on loan. For a complete listing, please see our Order Form .
Assistance Line. Helping the needy is a requirement for all believers in the Messiah. We have an Assistance Line for those who need financial help in North America. Call Steve Kieler at 515-576-5743 for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Giving & Sharing? God gives generously to us. He wants you to do the same for others. The more you give, the more you receive! "Freely ye have received, freely give," Matthew 10:8. Let us live the "giving & sharing" way! Giving & Sharing Goals; Giving & Sharing Financial Statements.
Who are we? Richard C. Nickels is the founder and President of Giving & Sharing. Earl and Wanda Lewis operate the Giving & Sharing Bookstore, Box 100, Neck City, MO 64849. Phone: (417) 525-4211, E-Mail: Earl Lewis. Click here for photos and more information about Giving & Sharing.
More Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: November 23,2006.
postamble();
Christian Zionists
Should We Embrace Christian Zionists?
(IsraelNN.com) Broadcasting live overlooking the Temple Mount, Rabbi Tovia Singer & Jeremy Gimpel answer your questions on Israel and Judaism. Today's question: Should we embrace Christian Zionists?
************
Christian Zionists, Jews, and Israel
I am a Bible-believer, a Christian-Zionist (one who believes the Prophets foretold the restoration of Jews first of all 12 Tribes of Israel to the Promised Land of Israel before the end of this world as we know it). I am not a Protestant or a "Jew for Jesus" and certainly not a member of the Roman Catholic Cult. I am a baptized member of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God...
Sunday, August 23, 2009
What Is The Purpose of the New Testament Church? by HWA
What Is The Purpose of the New Testament Church?
Is it to BUILD AN ORGANIZATION?
The first kingdom and government was set up by Nimrod -- the first ancient Babylon (Genesis 10). The Devil is the god of this world, and since Nimrod the kingdoms have built civilizations based upon the Devil's ways of SELF and GET, contrary to God's ways of LOVE, and OBEDIENCE, and of GIVE, as defined in GOD'S LAW.
So God formed Abraham's children into a NATION, giving them HIS LAWS, to show how a nation would be blessed that would build its civilization according to his Commandments. At Mt. Sinai, Israel was united to the Lord in MARRIAGE, as HIS GOVERNMENT, both state and church.
When His nation went after the ways of other nations, breaking the Commandments, God DIVORCED Israel, and gave over the GOVERNMENT (which included CHURCH GOVERNMENT as well as state) to the Gentile kingdoms symbolized by Daniel's image and the four "beasts." He gave the GOVERNMENT into Gentile hands UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, when the government, church and state shall be RESTORED to Israel!
When Jesus comes with POWER and great glory -- power to RULE, and the SAINTS possess the kingdoms of this world -- he will make a NEW Covenant with Israel and Judah, which NEW Covenant will be the MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB!
As the Old Covenant MARRIAGE ceremony set up Israel as a NATION, so will the new.
Now TO WHOM will Christ be married, at the marriage of the Lamb? Notice it, IN YOUR OWN BIBLE -- Revelation 19:7 -- he shall marry HIS WIFE! Note it!!!
Yes, his WIFE whom he divorced. A wife who is divorced is not free to remarry until the death of her husband! And so Christ, Israel's husband, DIED to REDEEM ISRAEL! And now Israel is FREE to MARRY AGAIN!
And who will the New Covenant be made with? Notice Hebrews 8:8 -- with the same wife he made the first covenant with but later divorced -- ISRAEL!
Then he shall RESTORE the Kingdom to Israel -- both Church government and state, Christ will rule not only as King of kings, but also LORD OF LORDS -- Church government, as well as state!
Christ's FIRST coming was to REDEEM -- not to restore.
Jesus never set up an organization, nor did he establish any church GOVERNMENT. He did not RE-ORGANIZE the Church!
Instead, he came calling INDIVIDUAL disciples out from among the church organizations, sects, and denominations -- out from among the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes -- out from among worldly Gentile organizations and contacts -- he called his saints to be SEPARATE - - to COME OUT!
The very word "ekklesia" from which "church" is translated, means "called-out ones" as well as "assembly".
The New Testament Church is not a kingdom -- not a church government --but an assembly of individuals CALLED OUT -- Spirit-filled individuals, and therefore a SPIRITUAL ORGANISM, not an organization.
The OBJECT of the Church is not to build up an organization, or a movement. Let us see this great purpose clearly.
The CHURCH is Israelitish. Not a Gentile Church just called "Israel." It IS Israel. But those who do not come by faith, and who are disobedient, are CUT OFF, the Israelitish-born, while Gentile converts, thru Christ, are ADOPTED into Israel. Thus, spiritually speaking, Israel IS the CHURCH.
And it is the CHURCH who shall be married to Christ -- Israel REDEEMED by the blood of the Lamb of God!
The CHURCH is God's instrumentality thru which, and in which, he is selecting a people for his name -- gathering OUT of "Babylon" -- OUT of worldly ways, worldly organizations,, various individuals, -- one here, one there -- to repentance, faith in Christ, receiving of and being led by the Holy Spirit, thus having HIS LAWS written in their minds and hearts -living, individually, a life of trial and test, of OVERCOMING, that they may be thus fitted and trained for positions as kings or priests in the KINGDOM OF GOD, after Christ's second coming!
The CHURCH of God shall then become the KINGDOM of God. It is the CHURCH which shall be married to the Lamb, establishing God's GOVERNMENT on earth -- restoring the KINGDOM to Israel!
So THE CHURCH is God's instrumentality for overcoming the FAULT of the Old Covenant. That FAULT was disobedience. The NEW will be made with those in whose minds and hearts GOD'S LAW has been written, by his Holy Spirit! (Heb 8:10).
And this MARRIAGE will not be made with some organization! It is THE INDIVIDUAL SAINTS -- not some organization -- which shall possess the government, and rule (Dan 7:18; Rev 2:26-27, 3:21, etc.).
His WIFE shall have made herself READY! But how? By a "reorganization", or some "new movement"? What folly! Read Ephesians 5:25-27. The CHURCH is the collective body of individual saints who are sanctified and CLEANSED by Christ! Let us stop speaking of some organization as "the Church", or "our Church".
Jesus said,
"Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be ROOTED UP."
Our heavenly Father never planted any super-organization, or established any church GOVERNMENT, or set men IN AUTHORITY over either spiritual or financial affairs, in the New Testament Church.
Any such "plan" was never planted of God -- and therefore IT SHALL BE ROOTED UP!
Our fellowship is first with God, and with Christ -- then with each other, in LOVE! The saints, as far as they know one another are not to forsake assembling together for their mutual edification. For this purpose, - and that all things may be done decently and in order -- the Scriptures give us instructions for ordaining local elders and deacons, in every city --every local congregation, or Church. But there is no super-organization over and above local congregations IN THE NEW TESTAMENT! Any such "plant" is certain to be ROOTED UP!
All such organizations and governments came out of BABYLON -- and are today a part of BABYLON!
Brethren, let us have the kind of co-operative FELLOWSHIP, based on LOVE, that was practised by the early saints, as recorded in the book of Acts. Let us work together, in unselfish effort to GIVE of the Gospel truth to the world -- to GIVE of the "waters of life" to as many precious souls as we can reach -- to GIVE out the last warning message with great POWER!
But let us drop all effort to BUILD UP A MOVEMENT or AN ORGANIZATION. Let us quit working FOR organizations, and work FOR THE LORD -- and the salvation of souls!
What has split and divided up the saints in the Church of God? Nothing but ORGANIZATION -- which has led to politics, ministers lusting for rule and for power -- striving against each other, lining up the brethren on THEIR side, against the other! It is SUCH PREACHERS who have split up and divided our brethren!
God's Word commands us to COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, and be separate. God's last warning is, "COME OUT OF BABYLON!!"
Organization and church GOVERNMENT has brought us only strife, jealousies, divisions, bitterness! It is not of God, and it can bear no other fruit.
The CHURCH OF GOD needs more of the POWER OF GOD -- more of HIS LOVE -- of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, that the work may now begin to go forth IN MIGHTY POWER! We ought to be ASHAMED of the pitiful, puny, weak, feeble work that has split up and divided brethren, reached but so very FEW with the message, with almost no real conversions! All this, while leaders desiring power to RULE send out misleading, exaggerated, deceiving statements designed to convince tithe- payers that "the Work is progressing". What a mockery! What a tragedy! What a pity!
We praise God that many of the more spiritual HAVE COME OUT! Let us obey GOD!
Excerpts HWA 1939
Is it to BUILD AN ORGANIZATION?
The first kingdom and government was set up by Nimrod -- the first ancient Babylon (Genesis 10). The Devil is the god of this world, and since Nimrod the kingdoms have built civilizations based upon the Devil's ways of SELF and GET, contrary to God's ways of LOVE, and OBEDIENCE, and of GIVE, as defined in GOD'S LAW.
So God formed Abraham's children into a NATION, giving them HIS LAWS, to show how a nation would be blessed that would build its civilization according to his Commandments. At Mt. Sinai, Israel was united to the Lord in MARRIAGE, as HIS GOVERNMENT, both state and church.
When His nation went after the ways of other nations, breaking the Commandments, God DIVORCED Israel, and gave over the GOVERNMENT (which included CHURCH GOVERNMENT as well as state) to the Gentile kingdoms symbolized by Daniel's image and the four "beasts." He gave the GOVERNMENT into Gentile hands UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, when the government, church and state shall be RESTORED to Israel!
When Jesus comes with POWER and great glory -- power to RULE, and the SAINTS possess the kingdoms of this world -- he will make a NEW Covenant with Israel and Judah, which NEW Covenant will be the MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB!
As the Old Covenant MARRIAGE ceremony set up Israel as a NATION, so will the new.
Now TO WHOM will Christ be married, at the marriage of the Lamb? Notice it, IN YOUR OWN BIBLE -- Revelation 19:7 -- he shall marry HIS WIFE! Note it!!!
Yes, his WIFE whom he divorced. A wife who is divorced is not free to remarry until the death of her husband! And so Christ, Israel's husband, DIED to REDEEM ISRAEL! And now Israel is FREE to MARRY AGAIN!
And who will the New Covenant be made with? Notice Hebrews 8:8 -- with the same wife he made the first covenant with but later divorced -- ISRAEL!
Then he shall RESTORE the Kingdom to Israel -- both Church government and state, Christ will rule not only as King of kings, but also LORD OF LORDS -- Church government, as well as state!
Christ's FIRST coming was to REDEEM -- not to restore.
Jesus never set up an organization, nor did he establish any church GOVERNMENT. He did not RE-ORGANIZE the Church!
Instead, he came calling INDIVIDUAL disciples out from among the church organizations, sects, and denominations -- out from among the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes -- out from among worldly Gentile organizations and contacts -- he called his saints to be SEPARATE - - to COME OUT!
The very word "ekklesia" from which "church" is translated, means "called-out ones" as well as "assembly".
The New Testament Church is not a kingdom -- not a church government --but an assembly of individuals CALLED OUT -- Spirit-filled individuals, and therefore a SPIRITUAL ORGANISM, not an organization.
The OBJECT of the Church is not to build up an organization, or a movement. Let us see this great purpose clearly.
The CHURCH is Israelitish. Not a Gentile Church just called "Israel." It IS Israel. But those who do not come by faith, and who are disobedient, are CUT OFF, the Israelitish-born, while Gentile converts, thru Christ, are ADOPTED into Israel. Thus, spiritually speaking, Israel IS the CHURCH.
And it is the CHURCH who shall be married to Christ -- Israel REDEEMED by the blood of the Lamb of God!
The CHURCH is God's instrumentality thru which, and in which, he is selecting a people for his name -- gathering OUT of "Babylon" -- OUT of worldly ways, worldly organizations,, various individuals, -- one here, one there -- to repentance, faith in Christ, receiving of and being led by the Holy Spirit, thus having HIS LAWS written in their minds and hearts -living, individually, a life of trial and test, of OVERCOMING, that they may be thus fitted and trained for positions as kings or priests in the KINGDOM OF GOD, after Christ's second coming!
The CHURCH of God shall then become the KINGDOM of God. It is the CHURCH which shall be married to the Lamb, establishing God's GOVERNMENT on earth -- restoring the KINGDOM to Israel!
So THE CHURCH is God's instrumentality for overcoming the FAULT of the Old Covenant. That FAULT was disobedience. The NEW will be made with those in whose minds and hearts GOD'S LAW has been written, by his Holy Spirit! (Heb 8:10).
And this MARRIAGE will not be made with some organization! It is THE INDIVIDUAL SAINTS -- not some organization -- which shall possess the government, and rule (Dan 7:18; Rev 2:26-27, 3:21, etc.).
His WIFE shall have made herself READY! But how? By a "reorganization", or some "new movement"? What folly! Read Ephesians 5:25-27. The CHURCH is the collective body of individual saints who are sanctified and CLEANSED by Christ! Let us stop speaking of some organization as "the Church", or "our Church".
Jesus said,
"Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be ROOTED UP."
Our heavenly Father never planted any super-organization, or established any church GOVERNMENT, or set men IN AUTHORITY over either spiritual or financial affairs, in the New Testament Church.
Any such "plan" was never planted of God -- and therefore IT SHALL BE ROOTED UP!
Our fellowship is first with God, and with Christ -- then with each other, in LOVE! The saints, as far as they know one another are not to forsake assembling together for their mutual edification. For this purpose, - and that all things may be done decently and in order -- the Scriptures give us instructions for ordaining local elders and deacons, in every city --every local congregation, or Church. But there is no super-organization over and above local congregations IN THE NEW TESTAMENT! Any such "plant" is certain to be ROOTED UP!
All such organizations and governments came out of BABYLON -- and are today a part of BABYLON!
Brethren, let us have the kind of co-operative FELLOWSHIP, based on LOVE, that was practised by the early saints, as recorded in the book of Acts. Let us work together, in unselfish effort to GIVE of the Gospel truth to the world -- to GIVE of the "waters of life" to as many precious souls as we can reach -- to GIVE out the last warning message with great POWER!
But let us drop all effort to BUILD UP A MOVEMENT or AN ORGANIZATION. Let us quit working FOR organizations, and work FOR THE LORD -- and the salvation of souls!
What has split and divided up the saints in the Church of God? Nothing but ORGANIZATION -- which has led to politics, ministers lusting for rule and for power -- striving against each other, lining up the brethren on THEIR side, against the other! It is SUCH PREACHERS who have split up and divided our brethren!
God's Word commands us to COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, and be separate. God's last warning is, "COME OUT OF BABYLON!!"
Organization and church GOVERNMENT has brought us only strife, jealousies, divisions, bitterness! It is not of God, and it can bear no other fruit.
The CHURCH OF GOD needs more of the POWER OF GOD -- more of HIS LOVE -- of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, that the work may now begin to go forth IN MIGHTY POWER! We ought to be ASHAMED of the pitiful, puny, weak, feeble work that has split up and divided brethren, reached but so very FEW with the message, with almost no real conversions! All this, while leaders desiring power to RULE send out misleading, exaggerated, deceiving statements designed to convince tithe- payers that "the Work is progressing". What a mockery! What a tragedy! What a pity!
We praise God that many of the more spiritual HAVE COME OUT! Let us obey GOD!
Excerpts HWA 1939
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Gerald Flurry & the Philadelphia Church of God
Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his own sight or mind God used him and now, unfortunately, it appears to have gone to his head, all the new revelation (simply a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it (1 Cor. 4:7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he fails to see that he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warning God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief! He had better heed his own words...
Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)
"It's certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that he would have time to read your whole book."
Stephen Flurry and The Philadelphia Church of God
Stephen Flurry, son of Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God (based in Edmond, Oklahoma), has published a book that Amazon sells, Raising the Ruins: The Fight to Revive the Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.
The Work of God Must Go Forward!
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).
PCG: Carrying on Business as Usual
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!
The Church of God Must Warn the World!
We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).
Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress
Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.
Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?
Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study.
The Watchmen
"I have set Watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem"God has called us to do a Work! Anyone can and should do good works in private, but God has called us collectively to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and deliver His Message! We're to help save individuals and nations from the coming Holocaust!
Fox 25 Special Report on Philadelphia Church of God
Gerald Flurry
Philadelphia Church of God minister's review of Beyond Babylon
The Philadephia Church of God & David Ben-Ariel
I'm not a terrorist
Is David Ben-Ariel a terrorist? Did he try to blow up the mosques in Israel? Is that why he was deported from Israel? Or is he simply somebody who has been targeted for exposing the German-Vatican plot against Jerusalem and highlighting the Nazi Muslim occupation of the Temple Mount?
God-given love for Jews (mentions my volunteer service on 8 kibbutzim throughout Israel)
Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel
Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist? (Apparently Gerald Flurry and Stephen Flurry would mislead you to believe so!)
The Temple Mount Faithful is not a terrorist organization! (Although Gerald Flurry and Stephen Flurry strongly insinuate it is, to their shame)
A little known blogger
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his own sight or mind God used him and now, unfortunately, it appears to have gone to his head, all the new revelation (simply a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it (1 Cor. 4:7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he fails to see that he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warning God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief! He had better heed his own words...
Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)
"It's certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that he would have time to read your whole book."
Stephen Flurry and The Philadelphia Church of God
Stephen Flurry, son of Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God (based in Edmond, Oklahoma), has published a book that Amazon sells, Raising the Ruins: The Fight to Revive the Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.
The Work of God Must Go Forward!
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).
PCG: Carrying on Business as Usual
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!
The Church of God Must Warn the World!
We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).
Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress
Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.
Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?
Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study.
The Watchmen
"I have set Watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem"God has called us to do a Work! Anyone can and should do good works in private, but God has called us collectively to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and deliver His Message! We're to help save individuals and nations from the coming Holocaust!
Fox 25 Special Report on Philadelphia Church of God
Gerald Flurry
Philadelphia Church of God minister's review of Beyond Babylon
The Philadephia Church of God & David Ben-Ariel
I'm not a terrorist
Is David Ben-Ariel a terrorist? Did he try to blow up the mosques in Israel? Is that why he was deported from Israel? Or is he simply somebody who has been targeted for exposing the German-Vatican plot against Jerusalem and highlighting the Nazi Muslim occupation of the Temple Mount?
God-given love for Jews (mentions my volunteer service on 8 kibbutzim throughout Israel)
Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel
Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist? (Apparently Gerald Flurry and Stephen Flurry would mislead you to believe so!)
The Temple Mount Faithful is not a terrorist organization! (Although Gerald Flurry and Stephen Flurry strongly insinuate it is, to their shame)
A little known blogger
Kingdom of God
How Adam and Eve Reflect the Kingdom of God
"For we are members of his Body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they TWO shall be ONE FLESH. This is a GREAT MYSTERY: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Ephes. 5:30-32).
Overcome in Christ Daily
GOOD NEWS: Yeshua is able to break the bonds of sin and set free those who are slaves, saving us from both sin's eternal death penalty and delivering us from the sin. Some deny this POWER and only want the pardon but the Throne of Grace offers both.
Man Questions Whether We'll Be Angelic Or Divine
Even as we have been fully mortal and human like Adam, we shall be fully divine and holy Spirit like Christ the Second Adam, being born again into the literal Kingdom-Family of God. How Satan is insanely jealous of this fact!
Born Again and Heaven and Hell
Yeshua said that which is born of the flesh is flesh (like we are now in this life), but that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT. He also said you can't even see or enter into that Kingdom of God unless you're born again...
Sneak Preview of the Kingdom of God
If I may, as God is my Witness and Judge, when I was only 17 years young, God UNEXPECTEDLY gave me a VISION while I was in prayer. I was within that vision as a glorified Spirit-Being, whiter than glistening snow and like a brilliant white cloud with the sun shining on it, appearing smooth, dressed in a white robe - even my hair was that brilliant white - holding a Book in my hands and teaching two flesh and blood mortals who were sitting on the ground, in an outdoor setting like a park or meadow.)
Born Again: The Kingdom of God!
GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's the glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD announces the GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout the universe and eternity (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18).
A Higher Calling: Quest for the Kingdom of God
Jesus clearly said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father who has sent me draw him..."(John 6:44). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Christian calling includes recognizing Jesus is the only way to the Father, learning all about Him as the Incarnate Word of God and walking in that light as a way of life, following Jesus by the lead of the Holy Spirit, the power and influence of God (Romans 8:14, 1 John 2:6).
Kingdom of God-Beings to Rule Earth from Jerusalem!
Yeshua has gone to Heaven and is preparing for the coming Kingdom of God, making room for us (converted Christians then transformed) in His Administration, preparing our positions and government seats in the Kingdom-Family of God, and will then return and receive us to Himself, sharing His glory and power and honor with us from Jerusalem, the seat of God's government, the Throne of David, the Throne of the LORD.
The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah
So there is a physical preparing, as well as a spiritual, in preparing the way for Messiah's Coming! Further, God says we are to SHOUT, with amplified power, to the CITIES OF JUDAH the glad message that the Messiah is soon coming" - Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong, Volume II, pages 469-470
"For we are members of his Body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they TWO shall be ONE FLESH. This is a GREAT MYSTERY: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Ephes. 5:30-32).
Overcome in Christ Daily
GOOD NEWS: Yeshua is able to break the bonds of sin and set free those who are slaves, saving us from both sin's eternal death penalty and delivering us from the sin. Some deny this POWER and only want the pardon but the Throne of Grace offers both.
Man Questions Whether We'll Be Angelic Or Divine
Even as we have been fully mortal and human like Adam, we shall be fully divine and holy Spirit like Christ the Second Adam, being born again into the literal Kingdom-Family of God. How Satan is insanely jealous of this fact!
Born Again and Heaven and Hell
Yeshua said that which is born of the flesh is flesh (like we are now in this life), but that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT. He also said you can't even see or enter into that Kingdom of God unless you're born again...
Sneak Preview of the Kingdom of God
If I may, as God is my Witness and Judge, when I was only 17 years young, God UNEXPECTEDLY gave me a VISION while I was in prayer. I was within that vision as a glorified Spirit-Being, whiter than glistening snow and like a brilliant white cloud with the sun shining on it, appearing smooth, dressed in a white robe - even my hair was that brilliant white - holding a Book in my hands and teaching two flesh and blood mortals who were sitting on the ground, in an outdoor setting like a park or meadow.)
Born Again: The Kingdom of God!
GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's the glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD announces the GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout the universe and eternity (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18).
A Higher Calling: Quest for the Kingdom of God
Jesus clearly said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father who has sent me draw him..."(John 6:44). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Christian calling includes recognizing Jesus is the only way to the Father, learning all about Him as the Incarnate Word of God and walking in that light as a way of life, following Jesus by the lead of the Holy Spirit, the power and influence of God (Romans 8:14, 1 John 2:6).
Kingdom of God-Beings to Rule Earth from Jerusalem!
Yeshua has gone to Heaven and is preparing for the coming Kingdom of God, making room for us (converted Christians then transformed) in His Administration, preparing our positions and government seats in the Kingdom-Family of God, and will then return and receive us to Himself, sharing His glory and power and honor with us from Jerusalem, the seat of God's government, the Throne of David, the Throne of the LORD.
The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah
So there is a physical preparing, as well as a spiritual, in preparing the way for Messiah's Coming! Further, God says we are to SHOUT, with amplified power, to the CITIES OF JUDAH the glad message that the Messiah is soon coming" - Autobiography of Herbert W Armstrong, Volume II, pages 469-470
The seventh day Sabbath
Shabbat Shalom!
That's Hebrew for "Sabbath Peace." The seventh day Sabbath starts from Friday sunset and lasts until Saturday sunset, just as it always has since God created it from the Beginning! Here's an article to give you some kosher food for thought on this holy subject:
Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?
http://www.davidbenariel.org
That's Hebrew for "Sabbath Peace." The seventh day Sabbath starts from Friday sunset and lasts until Saturday sunset, just as it always has since God created it from the Beginning! Here's an article to give you some kosher food for thought on this holy subject:
Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?
http://www.davidbenariel.org
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
United Church of God Weekly Commentary
Weekly Commentary
Pope Benedict's Call for One-World Authority
Is the pope's letter advocating that a world-ruling power should initiate a social order that conforms—by coercion if necessary—to Catholic morality?
Bible Study Course Lessons
Only one book gives us the answers to life's crucial questions: Why are we here? Where is the world headed? What does the future hold? Our eye opening 12-lesson Bible Study Course will make the Bible come alive as it leads you through the biblical answers to these and other questions.
Pope Benedict's Call for One-World Authority
Is the pope's letter advocating that a world-ruling power should initiate a social order that conforms—by coercion if necessary—to Catholic morality?
Bible Study Course Lessons
Only one book gives us the answers to life's crucial questions: Why are we here? Where is the world headed? What does the future hold? Our eye opening 12-lesson Bible Study Course will make the Bible come alive as it leads you through the biblical answers to these and other questions.
Monday, August 17, 2009
EzineArticles.com Reports
Top 3 Performing Articles (Lifetime):
Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
Lifetime Views: 27,198
Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
Lifetime Views: 17,651
The Plain Truth About The "Lost Ten Tribes" And Why You Need To Know
Lifetime Views: 16,373
Top 3 Performing Articles (July 2009):
Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
July 2009 Views: 551
Third Temple Coming Soon to Jerusalem!
July 2009 Views: 277
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11
July 2009 Views: 234
Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
Lifetime Views: 27,198
Herbert W. Armstrong Was Ahead of His Time!
Lifetime Views: 17,651
The Plain Truth About The "Lost Ten Tribes" And Why You Need To Know
Lifetime Views: 16,373
Top 3 Performing Articles (July 2009):
Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?
July 2009 Views: 551
Third Temple Coming Soon to Jerusalem!
July 2009 Views: 277
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11
July 2009 Views: 234
Sunday, August 16, 2009
"The Prayers That Are Speedily Answered"
"The Prayers That Are Speedily Answered"
by Jack Hertzog
Many of us believe in prayer, but most people use prayer in a vague way of last resort, like "I've tried everything else, so I will try prayer"! Or praying is my "good luck charm"!
Some use prayer like the seamen did in the book of Jonah, "Every man called upon his god....(Jonah 1:5), and that was because they were in trouble and they called, each on their own gods in desperation. But what is prayer? It should be speaking to God! It should be the most important communication that we have in our life, because we are created for a relationship with the Father and the Son, and there is nothing more important than having communication with our Creator.
We humans are cloaked in the flesh, and by nature know very little about the Creator of all things, and we think it is strange to pray to an unseen God. But this is precisely why God has placed us in the flesh in these circumstances! He makes it difficult, and at least in this time, if we desire a relationship with God, then we are going to have to work at it, and prayer and communication with our God is a vital factor for having a relationship with our God.
First we need to know "Who" we are praying (speaking) to, but only God can reveal "Who" He is (Isaiah 65:1), so in accordance with His purpose, the purpose of desiring that we live like He lives, He first reveals that "He Is", and that He is the Creator, and then He starts revealing what he desires for us to do, and "how" we should do it.
So the next step is, that He starts revealing His commandments and holy laws, the laws that He keeps by nature, and these laws go together with our understanding (Psalms 111:10), and our line of communication is then opened, but for it to stay open, we need to do the things that are pleasing to God (Isaiah 58:7-12), and the Sabbath is very important to having a communication with the Lord (Isaiah 58:13), but if we sin, we stand in the way of our "opened door" with God (Isaiah 59:1,2), also (Rev.3:7,8) Showing that an "opened door" depends on us obeying our Creator.
When we speak to the Creator, much to often, we take on a "give me this, give me that" attitude, and this attitude comes from the fact that we are dwelling in the flesh and it is easy to be more interested in fleshly things that we can see. The prayers that are always answered very quickly are the prayers in which we ask the Creator to take our minds off of the fleshly human world, and to place our minds on our God, and the spiritual realm; because God knows our weak state He will come to our rescue very quickly.(Isaiah 41:14)
Unselfish prayers are often answered very speedily, because God sees a lot of selfishness out there, He takes delight in those that strive to be unselfish. Another prayer that God will hear and answer very quickly, is when we fall down to sin or sins and acknowledge it, then God will run to help, because He sees His children falling, and the fact that they are concerned about disobeying Him, but the fact that they know that they cannot obey Him on their own strength shows God that they are dependent on Him for His strength, and this is very pleasing to Him, (Psalms 51:11,17~ Isaiah 1:18 ~ 1 John 2:1).
We can notice that King David did not take his own sins lightly, and after he acknowledged them, he sought repentance and the help that only God can give, and God did help him, and put away his sins ( 2 Sam. 12:13); yet, even when we commit very bad sins, and we repent of them; and when God forgives us, He forgets them and removes our sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:11-14), we still after repenting of sins, might have to suffer the consequences of the sins, to impress in us, just how bad sin is.( 2 Sam.12:10 ), but our Advocate and Helper is there for us, providing we do seek to improve and overcome (Heb. 4:14-16).
The prayers that God hears and answers very quickly, are the prayers that show God that we want to live as he lives, and do as He does, and to be like Him, which is the very most important thing that we can do in this life.
These prayers and petitions that God speedily answers, are not magic and vague "give me this, give me that" prayers, but they are practical living solutions for asking God to help us to be like "He Is"! As Christ said "Seek the Kingdom first, and then all of these other things will be added!" God and His Son are much more interested in giving Their children the true riches of having more of the mind of God, than they are in giving Their children silver and gold.
by Jack Hertzog
Many of us believe in prayer, but most people use prayer in a vague way of last resort, like "I've tried everything else, so I will try prayer"! Or praying is my "good luck charm"!
Some use prayer like the seamen did in the book of Jonah, "Every man called upon his god....(Jonah 1:5), and that was because they were in trouble and they called, each on their own gods in desperation. But what is prayer? It should be speaking to God! It should be the most important communication that we have in our life, because we are created for a relationship with the Father and the Son, and there is nothing more important than having communication with our Creator.
We humans are cloaked in the flesh, and by nature know very little about the Creator of all things, and we think it is strange to pray to an unseen God. But this is precisely why God has placed us in the flesh in these circumstances! He makes it difficult, and at least in this time, if we desire a relationship with God, then we are going to have to work at it, and prayer and communication with our God is a vital factor for having a relationship with our God.
First we need to know "Who" we are praying (speaking) to, but only God can reveal "Who" He is (Isaiah 65:1), so in accordance with His purpose, the purpose of desiring that we live like He lives, He first reveals that "He Is", and that He is the Creator, and then He starts revealing what he desires for us to do, and "how" we should do it.
So the next step is, that He starts revealing His commandments and holy laws, the laws that He keeps by nature, and these laws go together with our understanding (Psalms 111:10), and our line of communication is then opened, but for it to stay open, we need to do the things that are pleasing to God (Isaiah 58:7-12), and the Sabbath is very important to having a communication with the Lord (Isaiah 58:13), but if we sin, we stand in the way of our "opened door" with God (Isaiah 59:1,2), also (Rev.3:7,8) Showing that an "opened door" depends on us obeying our Creator.
When we speak to the Creator, much to often, we take on a "give me this, give me that" attitude, and this attitude comes from the fact that we are dwelling in the flesh and it is easy to be more interested in fleshly things that we can see. The prayers that are always answered very quickly are the prayers in which we ask the Creator to take our minds off of the fleshly human world, and to place our minds on our God, and the spiritual realm; because God knows our weak state He will come to our rescue very quickly.(Isaiah 41:14)
Unselfish prayers are often answered very speedily, because God sees a lot of selfishness out there, He takes delight in those that strive to be unselfish. Another prayer that God will hear and answer very quickly, is when we fall down to sin or sins and acknowledge it, then God will run to help, because He sees His children falling, and the fact that they are concerned about disobeying Him, but the fact that they know that they cannot obey Him on their own strength shows God that they are dependent on Him for His strength, and this is very pleasing to Him, (Psalms 51:11,17~ Isaiah 1:18 ~ 1 John 2:1).
We can notice that King David did not take his own sins lightly, and after he acknowledged them, he sought repentance and the help that only God can give, and God did help him, and put away his sins ( 2 Sam. 12:13); yet, even when we commit very bad sins, and we repent of them; and when God forgives us, He forgets them and removes our sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:11-14), we still after repenting of sins, might have to suffer the consequences of the sins, to impress in us, just how bad sin is.( 2 Sam.12:10 ), but our Advocate and Helper is there for us, providing we do seek to improve and overcome (Heb. 4:14-16).
The prayers that God hears and answers very quickly, are the prayers that show God that we want to live as he lives, and do as He does, and to be like Him, which is the very most important thing that we can do in this life.
These prayers and petitions that God speedily answers, are not magic and vague "give me this, give me that" prayers, but they are practical living solutions for asking God to help us to be like "He Is"! As Christ said "Seek the Kingdom first, and then all of these other things will be added!" God and His Son are much more interested in giving Their children the true riches of having more of the mind of God, than they are in giving Their children silver and gold.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Hoping your President is a liar? Really?
Living Church of God: Commentary
Commentary: Hoping your President is a liar? Really? A recent Best of the Web Today feature on the Wall Street Journal's website (8/3/2009) had a great section titled "Cynicism: The New Trust" that I found fascinating. It discussed the fact that some actually seem to want hypocrisy in their leadership, in particular at this time, in the American Presidency. Read more
Commentary: Hoping your President is a liar? Really? A recent Best of the Web Today feature on the Wall Street Journal's website (8/3/2009) had a great section titled "Cynicism: The New Trust" that I found fascinating. It discussed the fact that some actually seem to want hypocrisy in their leadership, in particular at this time, in the American Presidency. Read more
Monday, August 3, 2009
Letter from the Chairman, Council of Elders
United Church of God, an International Association
Letter from the Chairman, Council of Elders
July 31, 2009
Dear Fellow Elders,
Serving on the Council of Elders represents a high-profile responsibility that is demanding and rewarding at the same time. This responsibility is demanding in the sense that most of our Council members are also church pastors or work full-time in other positions, which makes additional demands on a Council member’s limited time. It is rewarding in the fact that we on the Council have a humbling opportunity to render service in a unique way.
As a result of the last General Conference of Elders annual meeting, the Council has undergone some changes with new members being added. After serving on the Council for the previous two years, I was named as the Council’s new chairman. It is in that role as chairman that I am writing to you to openly inform you of two additional changes.
Effective Monday, July 27, Richard Thompson resigned from the Council for personal reasons. On Tuesday, July 28, Clyde Kilough, who of course serves as the president of the United Church of God, resigned from the Council for personal reasons. Clyde will continue in his role as president, and Richard will continue serving as a pastor for the United Church of God and as a member of the Church’s Ministerial Services Team.
Both men have served faithfully and well on the Council in a multitude of responsibilities. There is no question that they have made and will continue to make important contributions to the work of the Church. Both contributed directly to the development of the Church’s strategic planning process, and that plan will go forward.
Knowing firsthand of the workload and commitment required to serve on the Council, we respect both their past contributions and their current decisions to step away and focus on other duties within the Church.
A natural question now arises: Who will replace them in the now-open positions on the Council? Thankfully, the United Church of God has an orderly process in place for such an occasion. The Church’s Bylaws stipulate that the next in line (as selected in the last General Conference of Elders’ ballot) be notified of their opportunity to serve. Given the weighty responsibilities that a Council member bears, it is logical that time be allowed for the potential new members to consider this new role before they agree to accept. This process is now being followed.
This is not the first time a Council member has resigned while still serving a term, and the orderly process of bringing in a new member has worked well. We believe that this time will be no different.
I should also point out that it was the Council’s original intent to announce both the resignations of the two men and the two new Council members at the same time. To rightly accommodate the required and wise process of notification and reflection by the potential new members, the Council thought it best to openly communicate these changes in a timely manner. It is said that nature abhors a vacuum, and I have found that the same can be true of speculative comments filling an information void. Hence this communication to you now.
For those of you who follow the Council reports, I might point out that the Council reporter was unaware of the resignations when he prepared the traditional report earlier this week. In his official report, he thus erroneously (albeit honestly in the absence of the current information) listed the two former Council members as not being in attendance. That honest error will be corrected.
I am personally grateful that the Church has in place an orderly process that addresses developments such as these. The United Church of God is growing and we will continue to execute on the formal Strategic Plan to which so many have made worthy contributions. We will notify you of the new Council members once the process is complete and they are confirmed. You of course are welcome to share news of this development with our members.
Respectfully,
Roy Holladay
© 2009 United Church of God, an International Association
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Church of God
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.
Mormon Book of the Dead
The Book of Mormon, a false gospel and spurious scripture, amounts to a mishmash of stories, like a confused child or schizophrenic person would tell, mixing truth with error; The Book of Mormon is a spoof from Satan - a demonic comedy - an abomination.
Apostate Christians
Despite warnings about another Jesus, different gospels and spirits, the rise of a counterfeit Christianity has deceived the whole world
A Nation of Drunks and Whores
We’ve been living a lie and have loved to indulge in deception. “Don’t confuse me with the facts” has been our shameful attitude, and truth has been treated like some social outcast. Therefore, God threatens to use Europe to wake us up...
Rome rules the world - not NYC!
The Israelite United States is not Babylon! New York City is not Babylon! Yes, we are in spiritual Babylon (as is the whole world, Catholics and Protestants); yes, we are in economic Babylon (as is the whole world enslaved by globalist banksters), but the biblical Babylon yet to fall has been clearly identified by Alexander Hislop in The Two Babylons as ROME and the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Watchmen
"I have set Watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem"
God has called us to do a Work! Anyone can and should do good works in private, but God has called us collectively to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and deliver His Message! We're to help save individuals and nations from the coming Holocaust!
Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?
Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study.
Jesus GAVE His Life To Give Us LIFE!
The passionate anti-Semites/anti-Zionists would do well to note Jesus' words of life and forgiveness: "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, for they know not what they do...". Who are puny men to continue a blood libel against every Jew for the actions of a relative few?
Plea to Diehard Catholics & Protestants to Repent
Having clearly seen how the practice of homosexuality is a sin (as I testify in God and the Gays), I can now see clearly how SPIRITUAL HOMOSEXUALS, the bloody Roman Catholic whore and her Protestant prostitute daughters (Rev. 17:5), prefer tradition over truth.
The Plain Truth About Ron Weinland
Ron Weinland is drunk on his delusions...
Ron Weinland is a FALSE PROPHET and illegitimately claims to be one of the Two Witnesses.
The Suffering Servant
"For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee (individuals), and people (nations) for thy life" (Isaiah 43:3-4). And, again, "For I am with thee, says the LORD, to save thee: though I will make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee..." (Jeremiah 30:11).
Yeshua is the Suffering Servant
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man (not a nation, a man) of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we (collective Israel, especially Judah) hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He (one man) was despised, and we (Israel/Judah) did not esteem Him.
The Plain Truth About Race And Responsibility
Why leave others with distorted views of what the Bible says? Why not present our God-given understanding of cause and effect for today's increasing racial divides? Precisely because it is a BOMBSHELL to those who have been lulled to sleep, drugged by PC poison and who, once awakened would be enraged and shoot the messenger!
The Passover Memorial
When did God decree that Jesus could declare "it is finished" and die on the stake? Why at the very same time that THE JEWS were sacrificing their Passover lambs at the Temple! The Jews had always killed the Passover lambs during the final hours of the 14th. It was towards the end of the 14th, not at the beginning of the 14th, that the Passover lambs were killed.
Passover and Pentecost Differences Settled!
The correct dates to observe God's holy days should not be a Church of God issue, having been settled by God thousands of years ago and preserved throughout the ages by faithful Jews.
The Oracles of God
God's empowered the Jews - despite themselves - to preserve His Word. They are the only people on Earth that God has blessed and ordained to fulfill such a calling! God will not retract His Word or renege on this gift and responsibility that He's graciously bestowed upon Judah.
Don't Fall for the Rapture!
We meet the returning Christ in the air and RETURN TO EARTH - to the Mount of Olives - and reign with but under Him, composing the Kingdom of God: just like the Bible clearly says once we remove traditional blinders.
Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress
Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.
Unclean Christianity vs. Peter's Vision
Unclean traditional Christianity teaches the religious lie that Jesus "did away with" the dietary laws, sinning against both God and man (1 John 2:4; Matt 5:17-20).
Synagogue of Satan?
"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." (Rev. 2:8-9)
God Doesn't Ordain Women Preachers!
I just read an abominable article written by a proud and stubborn woman attempting to justify rebellious women doing what only God has ordained men to do: preach from the pulpit as ordained ministers.
Did Jesus Call Jews the Children of the Devil?
Jesus acknowledged that Abraham is the father of the Jews physically, but not always spiritually (John 8:37, 39, 42, 44). The same can be said and is true about all Twelve Tribes of Israel. In fact, the commission of the Two Witnesses - in the spirit of Elijah - is to restore our relationship with our Fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and thereby through their true religion reconcile us to our Heavenly Father (Malachi 4:6; Isa. 49:5-6).
Brokeback Mountain Blues
I wanted to see it, but I didn't want to see it. I'm talking about the "gay cowboy" movie called Brokeback Mountain (even though I read Jake Gyllenhaal, one of the two major actors - "Jack Twist," wants it to mean much more than that to its audience).
Race Matters
It seems evident that the resurrected Noah will head a vast project of the relocation of the races and nations, within the boundaries God has set, for their own best good, happiness and richest blessings. This will be a tremendous operation. It will require great and vast organization, reinforced with power to move whole nations and races. This time, peoples and nations will move where God has planned for them, and no defiance will be tolerated.
The Pharisees
Who isn't aware of the sins of the Pharisees? Especially the Accuser of the Brethren? But does that mean the truths they teach, even if they don't live them, are no longer true?
Don't Give Up!
If you begin to cry out to God for help, even if it's only a whimper because you're so weak, He'll see and hear and respond. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit... none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate" (Ps. 34:18, 22).
The REAL JESUS Can't Return Until...
Prophecy clearly reveals that the REAL JESUS CHRIST will not return to Earth from Heaven (in full view of all mankind -- not from some secret EU or Vatican chamber or desert cave) until after Jerusalem has suffered under a Gentile EU occupation for three and one half years
Scarlet Letter: A Christian With AIDS
The following is a actual letter I sent to a close Christian friend in 1999, immediately after I was diagnosed with HIV. Since then the HIV has progressed on into AIDS.
Does God Heal Today?
When I was first diagnosed with the HIV virus, I read innumerable articles on it and later suffered from an information overload and depressing confusion. One article would speak in favor of taking the highly toxic HIV/AIDS medicines, and then I'd read another one that spoke against it with just as convincing of an argument.
Onward Christian Soldiers!
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn't have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?
Separation of Church and State? Says Who?
God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men.
God's One Government Has Two Branches!
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that remains faithful to the plain truth of the Bible that Herbert W. Armstrong taught) has heard a lot about government, but many seem to have forgotten that God's ONE government has TWO branches: Church (Priest) and State (King).
Should Christians Judge?
All judgment must be tempered with mercy. Jesus clearly taught that we can see others imperfections (the "mote" in their eye) and help to remove it once we have first gotten the "beam" out of our own eye. The purpose is to help and not hurt: constructive criticism, not self-righteousness or sinister motivations.
Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?
Going into debt certainly isn't biblical, so why not break free from the trance? The "Christmas" rush is a "drug" pushed by commercial pimps prostituting a supposedly Christian holiday for their ungodly profits! They hold hands around the cash register and sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus."
C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism
First, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English. Secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition
Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?
"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression [the Church and Synagogue], And the house of Jacob [the family of Israelite nations - all Twelve Tribes of Israel] their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God" (Isaiah 58).
When Caesar Plays God: When the State Oversteps its Bounds
I read the Book of Acts, making it much more meaningful and relevant, during my detention in Jerusalem's Russian Compound jail. If you examine the evidence surrounding Paul's frequent arrests and imprisonments, you'll see a pattern of trumped up charges, misunderstandings and misguided zeal against him. It's a miracle that Paul didn't say "enough is enough" and quit.
Jesus Upheld the Biblical Dietary Laws
Unclean traditional Christianity has misled many with their lack of understanding of the Bible as a whole. They often take Scriptures out of context and totally twist their meanings, like they do when it comes to abusing Matthew 15 and slaughtering it to teach we can now eat anything.
Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?
If anybody is honestly interested in knowing whether or not this or that doctrine is actually biblical or merely traditional, all they have to do is objectively search the Scriptures like the noble Bereans did in Acts 17:11, after hearing Paul out, to see whether what he taught was true...
Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?
The Plain Truth About Easter
Has it ever occurred to those stuffing their faces with Easter ham that Jesus would puke at the thought? Neither Jesus or Peter, James or John ever ate forbidden foods. They wouldn't feel too comfortable at plenty of people's dinner tables.
Yom Kippur at Sdot Yam
Tradition - even empty, hollow, shallow - has assisted Jewry to preserve this Day, however imperfectly; yet I also couldn't help but think of God & Kahane who might dismiss such "worship" as vain and such "devotions" as void. Liberal, Hellenist, humanists who have nothing to do with God and are ignorant of or deny His Word as a general rule, as hypocritical & unacceptable as professing Christianity on the pagan days of Christmas and Easter...
The Rapture or Place of Safety?
We know those who are accounted worthy to escape WWIII, those with a prayerful attitude and watchful spirit, growing and overcoming and sensitive to the lead of the Holy Spirit (Luke 21:34-36), will be more than provided for in "Her Place," as our gracious Lord of Hosts has promised (Revelation 12:14).
Will the Church of God Welcome the Two Witnesses?
Church of God minister Arlen Berkey, in "The Work of God in the Laodicean Era," makes a statement nobody in God's Church would disagree with: "The whole world will soon know about the two witnesses. They will not be welcome by this world."
David Pack & the Restored Church of God
When David Pack said something to the effect that the Global Church of God was not for me, I asked him why he invited me then and he then acknowledged he only invited me along with the others because he felt they were good candidates for membership. In other words, he was being deceitful.
Israel Work History (Worldwide Church of God)
Ilan Itzhayek wrote a full length article that was published in the entire Galilee region. It was about my former drug addiction, wandering in different religions looking for the truth, and how by a series of miracles God brought me into the Worldwide Church of God, mentioning some of our beliefs about Europe, and how we considered Herbert W. Armstrong in the spirit of Elijah.
Princess Diana, a Dream, and King David's Dynasty
"If you send us a copy of the information on King David and his relationship to the English Royal Family, plus a verification that such information has been validated and by whom, we will see to it that it gets to Buckingham Palace and that your name will accompany it." Immediately I wondered what to send to satisfy the newspaper. The chart seemed obvious, but I still sought counsel from my minister. He advised writing a Church official at our Headquarter's in Pasadena, California who is English and involved with our Media Coordinator. The Church official replied: "I believe the most prudent course of action would be to send the chart 'The Heritage of the Anglo-Saxon Race' to the newspaper for their further action."
Mama Evans
Erma Evans, a widow in the Church of God, served as a perfect example of what the apostle Paul called for from our senior women (Titus 2:3). She touched the lives of many and was affectionately called "Mama Evans"
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11. Who are these two prophets? What do they have to say? Why are they called the two witnesses? How will their message be proclaimed? And is there any special significance to the fact that they're headquartered in Jerusalem?
Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas
I was blessed to grow up in Risingsun, Ohio next door to my Grandma and Grandpa Hoover on their farm that embraced where we lived, surrounding us with its loving arms on both sides (until the age of 11) and behind, with our woods over yonder a bit, that I loved to walk through as a boy, always looking for my "brother" hawk, circling overhead, to greet me...
The Church of God Must Warn the World!
We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).
PCG: Carrying on "Business as Usual"
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!
Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?
Abominable Christians, those who have the perverted religious preference of tradition over truth, are just like every other sinner unwilling to confess and forsake their sins and seek to whitewash or justify them. The difference is such professing Christians often pretend to be better or more righteous than those physical idolaters and immoral folks (who also refuse to repent) while they engage in spiritual idolatry (putting tradition over truth) and spiritual immorality (whoring around with other gods and foreign ways) bringing divine judgment upon our nations.
The Work of God Must Go Forward!
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).
Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his own sight or mind God used him and now, unfortunately, it appears to have gone to his head, all the new revelation (simply a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it (1 Cor. 4:7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he fails to see that he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warning God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief! He had better heed his own words...
Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)
"It's certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that he would have time to read your whole book."
Stephen Flurry and The Philadelphia Church of God
Stephen Flurry, son of Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God (based in Edmond, Oklahoma), has published a book that Amazon sells, Raising the Ruins: The Fight to Revive the Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.
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.
Mormon Book of the Dead
The Book of Mormon, a false gospel and spurious scripture, amounts to a mishmash of stories, like a confused child or schizophrenic person would tell, mixing truth with error; The Book of Mormon is a spoof from Satan - a demonic comedy - an abomination.
Apostate Christians
Despite warnings about another Jesus, different gospels and spirits, the rise of a counterfeit Christianity has deceived the whole world
A Nation of Drunks and Whores
We’ve been living a lie and have loved to indulge in deception. “Don’t confuse me with the facts” has been our shameful attitude, and truth has been treated like some social outcast. Therefore, God threatens to use Europe to wake us up...
Rome rules the world - not NYC!
The Israelite United States is not Babylon! New York City is not Babylon! Yes, we are in spiritual Babylon (as is the whole world, Catholics and Protestants); yes, we are in economic Babylon (as is the whole world enslaved by globalist banksters), but the biblical Babylon yet to fall has been clearly identified by Alexander Hislop in The Two Babylons as ROME and the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Watchmen
"I have set Watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem"
God has called us to do a Work! Anyone can and should do good works in private, but God has called us collectively to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and deliver His Message! We're to help save individuals and nations from the coming Holocaust!
Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?
Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study.
Jesus GAVE His Life To Give Us LIFE!
The passionate anti-Semites/anti-Zionists would do well to note Jesus' words of life and forgiveness: "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, for they know not what they do...". Who are puny men to continue a blood libel against every Jew for the actions of a relative few?
Plea to Diehard Catholics & Protestants to Repent
Having clearly seen how the practice of homosexuality is a sin (as I testify in God and the Gays), I can now see clearly how SPIRITUAL HOMOSEXUALS, the bloody Roman Catholic whore and her Protestant prostitute daughters (Rev. 17:5), prefer tradition over truth.
The Plain Truth About Ron Weinland
Ron Weinland is drunk on his delusions...
Ron Weinland is a FALSE PROPHET and illegitimately claims to be one of the Two Witnesses.
The Suffering Servant
"For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee (individuals), and people (nations) for thy life" (Isaiah 43:3-4). And, again, "For I am with thee, says the LORD, to save thee: though I will make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee..." (Jeremiah 30:11).
Yeshua is the Suffering Servant
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man (not a nation, a man) of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we (collective Israel, especially Judah) hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He (one man) was despised, and we (Israel/Judah) did not esteem Him.
The Plain Truth About Race And Responsibility
Why leave others with distorted views of what the Bible says? Why not present our God-given understanding of cause and effect for today's increasing racial divides? Precisely because it is a BOMBSHELL to those who have been lulled to sleep, drugged by PC poison and who, once awakened would be enraged and shoot the messenger!
The Passover Memorial
When did God decree that Jesus could declare "it is finished" and die on the stake? Why at the very same time that THE JEWS were sacrificing their Passover lambs at the Temple! The Jews had always killed the Passover lambs during the final hours of the 14th. It was towards the end of the 14th, not at the beginning of the 14th, that the Passover lambs were killed.
Passover and Pentecost Differences Settled!
The correct dates to observe God's holy days should not be a Church of God issue, having been settled by God thousands of years ago and preserved throughout the ages by faithful Jews.
The Oracles of God
God's empowered the Jews - despite themselves - to preserve His Word. They are the only people on Earth that God has blessed and ordained to fulfill such a calling! God will not retract His Word or renege on this gift and responsibility that He's graciously bestowed upon Judah.
Don't Fall for the Rapture!
We meet the returning Christ in the air and RETURN TO EARTH - to the Mount of Olives - and reign with but under Him, composing the Kingdom of God: just like the Bible clearly says once we remove traditional blinders.
Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress
Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.
Unclean Christianity vs. Peter's Vision
Unclean traditional Christianity teaches the religious lie that Jesus "did away with" the dietary laws, sinning against both God and man (1 John 2:4; Matt 5:17-20).
Synagogue of Satan?
"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." (Rev. 2:8-9)
God Doesn't Ordain Women Preachers!
I just read an abominable article written by a proud and stubborn woman attempting to justify rebellious women doing what only God has ordained men to do: preach from the pulpit as ordained ministers.
Did Jesus Call Jews the Children of the Devil?
Jesus acknowledged that Abraham is the father of the Jews physically, but not always spiritually (John 8:37, 39, 42, 44). The same can be said and is true about all Twelve Tribes of Israel. In fact, the commission of the Two Witnesses - in the spirit of Elijah - is to restore our relationship with our Fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and thereby through their true religion reconcile us to our Heavenly Father (Malachi 4:6; Isa. 49:5-6).
Brokeback Mountain Blues
I wanted to see it, but I didn't want to see it. I'm talking about the "gay cowboy" movie called Brokeback Mountain (even though I read Jake Gyllenhaal, one of the two major actors - "Jack Twist," wants it to mean much more than that to its audience).
Race Matters
It seems evident that the resurrected Noah will head a vast project of the relocation of the races and nations, within the boundaries God has set, for their own best good, happiness and richest blessings. This will be a tremendous operation. It will require great and vast organization, reinforced with power to move whole nations and races. This time, peoples and nations will move where God has planned for them, and no defiance will be tolerated.
The Pharisees
Who isn't aware of the sins of the Pharisees? Especially the Accuser of the Brethren? But does that mean the truths they teach, even if they don't live them, are no longer true?
Don't Give Up!
If you begin to cry out to God for help, even if it's only a whimper because you're so weak, He'll see and hear and respond. "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit... none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate" (Ps. 34:18, 22).
The REAL JESUS Can't Return Until...
Prophecy clearly reveals that the REAL JESUS CHRIST will not return to Earth from Heaven (in full view of all mankind -- not from some secret EU or Vatican chamber or desert cave) until after Jerusalem has suffered under a Gentile EU occupation for three and one half years
Scarlet Letter: A Christian With AIDS
The following is a actual letter I sent to a close Christian friend in 1999, immediately after I was diagnosed with HIV. Since then the HIV has progressed on into AIDS.
Does God Heal Today?
When I was first diagnosed with the HIV virus, I read innumerable articles on it and later suffered from an information overload and depressing confusion. One article would speak in favor of taking the highly toxic HIV/AIDS medicines, and then I'd read another one that spoke against it with just as convincing of an argument.
Onward Christian Soldiers!
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn't have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?
Separation of Church and State? Says Who?
God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men.
God's One Government Has Two Branches!
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that remains faithful to the plain truth of the Bible that Herbert W. Armstrong taught) has heard a lot about government, but many seem to have forgotten that God's ONE government has TWO branches: Church (Priest) and State (King).
Should Christians Judge?
All judgment must be tempered with mercy. Jesus clearly taught that we can see others imperfections (the "mote" in their eye) and help to remove it once we have first gotten the "beam" out of our own eye. The purpose is to help and not hurt: constructive criticism, not self-righteousness or sinister motivations.
Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?
Going into debt certainly isn't biblical, so why not break free from the trance? The "Christmas" rush is a "drug" pushed by commercial pimps prostituting a supposedly Christian holiday for their ungodly profits! They hold hands around the cash register and sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus."
C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism
First, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be sung in Latin or in English. Secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and consequently, its observance is a superstition
Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?
"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression [the Church and Synagogue], And the house of Jacob [the family of Israelite nations - all Twelve Tribes of Israel] their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God" (Isaiah 58).
When Caesar Plays God: When the State Oversteps its Bounds
I read the Book of Acts, making it much more meaningful and relevant, during my detention in Jerusalem's Russian Compound jail. If you examine the evidence surrounding Paul's frequent arrests and imprisonments, you'll see a pattern of trumped up charges, misunderstandings and misguided zeal against him. It's a miracle that Paul didn't say "enough is enough" and quit.
Jesus Upheld the Biblical Dietary Laws
Unclean traditional Christianity has misled many with their lack of understanding of the Bible as a whole. They often take Scriptures out of context and totally twist their meanings, like they do when it comes to abusing Matthew 15 and slaughtering it to teach we can now eat anything.
Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?
If anybody is honestly interested in knowing whether or not this or that doctrine is actually biblical or merely traditional, all they have to do is objectively search the Scriptures like the noble Bereans did in Acts 17:11, after hearing Paul out, to see whether what he taught was true...
Remember the Sabbath
Did you ever stop to think why Christians keep Sunday? Did they get it from the Bible? Is there a clear-cut command that says, "Thou shalt keep Sunday?" Why did Jesus worship on Saturday? Was it only because He was a good Jew? Or does it go beyond that?
The Plain Truth About Easter
Has it ever occurred to those stuffing their faces with Easter ham that Jesus would puke at the thought? Neither Jesus or Peter, James or John ever ate forbidden foods. They wouldn't feel too comfortable at plenty of people's dinner tables.
Yom Kippur at Sdot Yam
Tradition - even empty, hollow, shallow - has assisted Jewry to preserve this Day, however imperfectly; yet I also couldn't help but think of God & Kahane who might dismiss such "worship" as vain and such "devotions" as void. Liberal, Hellenist, humanists who have nothing to do with God and are ignorant of or deny His Word as a general rule, as hypocritical & unacceptable as professing Christianity on the pagan days of Christmas and Easter...
The Rapture or Place of Safety?
We know those who are accounted worthy to escape WWIII, those with a prayerful attitude and watchful spirit, growing and overcoming and sensitive to the lead of the Holy Spirit (Luke 21:34-36), will be more than provided for in "Her Place," as our gracious Lord of Hosts has promised (Revelation 12:14).
Will the Church of God Welcome the Two Witnesses?
Church of God minister Arlen Berkey, in "The Work of God in the Laodicean Era," makes a statement nobody in God's Church would disagree with: "The whole world will soon know about the two witnesses. They will not be welcome by this world."
David Pack & the Restored Church of God
When David Pack said something to the effect that the Global Church of God was not for me, I asked him why he invited me then and he then acknowledged he only invited me along with the others because he felt they were good candidates for membership. In other words, he was being deceitful.
Israel Work History (Worldwide Church of God)
Ilan Itzhayek wrote a full length article that was published in the entire Galilee region. It was about my former drug addiction, wandering in different religions looking for the truth, and how by a series of miracles God brought me into the Worldwide Church of God, mentioning some of our beliefs about Europe, and how we considered Herbert W. Armstrong in the spirit of Elijah.
Princess Diana, a Dream, and King David's Dynasty
"If you send us a copy of the information on King David and his relationship to the English Royal Family, plus a verification that such information has been validated and by whom, we will see to it that it gets to Buckingham Palace and that your name will accompany it." Immediately I wondered what to send to satisfy the newspaper. The chart seemed obvious, but I still sought counsel from my minister. He advised writing a Church official at our Headquarter's in Pasadena, California who is English and involved with our Media Coordinator. The Church official replied: "I believe the most prudent course of action would be to send the chart 'The Heritage of the Anglo-Saxon Race' to the newspaper for their further action."
Mama Evans
Erma Evans, a widow in the Church of God, served as a perfect example of what the apostle Paul called for from our senior women (Titus 2:3). She touched the lives of many and was affectionately called "Mama Evans"
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11. Who are these two prophets? What do they have to say? Why are they called the two witnesses? How will their message be proclaimed? And is there any special significance to the fact that they're headquartered in Jerusalem?
Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas
I was blessed to grow up in Risingsun, Ohio next door to my Grandma and Grandpa Hoover on their farm that embraced where we lived, surrounding us with its loving arms on both sides (until the age of 11) and behind, with our woods over yonder a bit, that I loved to walk through as a boy, always looking for my "brother" hawk, circling overhead, to greet me...
The Church of God Must Warn the World!
We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).
PCG: Carrying on "Business as Usual"
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!
Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?
Abominable Christians, those who have the perverted religious preference of tradition over truth, are just like every other sinner unwilling to confess and forsake their sins and seek to whitewash or justify them. The difference is such professing Christians often pretend to be better or more righteous than those physical idolaters and immoral folks (who also refuse to repent) while they engage in spiritual idolatry (putting tradition over truth) and spiritual immorality (whoring around with other gods and foreign ways) bringing divine judgment upon our nations.
The Work of God Must Go Forward!
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).
Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his own sight or mind God used him and now, unfortunately, it appears to have gone to his head, all the new revelation (simply a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it (1 Cor. 4:7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he fails to see that he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warning God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief! He had better heed his own words...
Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)
"It's certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that he would have time to read your whole book."
Stephen Flurry and The Philadelphia Church of God
Stephen Flurry, son of Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God (based in Edmond, Oklahoma), has published a book that Amazon sells, Raising the Ruins: The Fight to Revive the Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.
Oxymoron: Women pastors
God never ordains a woman to a position He has reserved for men, but Satan will gladly have them.
God Doesn't Ordain Women Preachers!
I just read an abominable article written by a proud and stubborn woman attempting to justify rebellious women doing what only God has ordained men to do: preach from the pulpit as ordained ministers.
News of the Churches of God
The Journal: News of the Churches of God
News and Web site updates - August 2009 BULLETIN
Unconfirmed reports say Clyde Kilough and Richard Thompson resigning from UCG council of elders
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/clyde-kilough-richard-thompson-resigning-from-ucg-council.html
Lead Articles
List of Feast of Tabernacles sites for 2009 from The Journal
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/the-journal-lists-feast-of-tabernacles-sites-for-2009.html
United Church of God elder reports on recent general conference
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/ucg-elder-reports-on-general-conference.html
UCG elders sound off and ask hard questions at recent conference
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/ucg-elders-sound-off-and-ask-hard-questions-at-conference.html
United Church of God Elders approve $24 million dollar budget http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/churchwide-discipleship-theme-for-ucg-elders-conference.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Attend AFFORDABLE, Uplifting Midwestern Feast site!
The Church of God, Ministries International is sponsoring a family-orientated feast sitein Auburn, Indiana that is within close driving range of many Midwestern cities!
Bible studies, seminars, family events and more are being planned for the Feast site.
For more info visit http://www.cogmimi.org/auburn-indiana-feast-info.htm or call Feast Coordinator Bruce Chapman at 616-636-9209 (9-5 PM EST Mon-Fri)+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Feature Articles
Ross Jutsum's circuit takes him out of town 40 weekends every year.
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/circuit-takes-ross-jutsum-out-of-town-forty-weekends-a-year.html
Web Site now averaging 10,000 daily visitors
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/web-site-averaging-10k-daily-visitors.html
Commentaries, Columns and Essays
Escape from this perverse generation by Dave Havir http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/escape-from-this-perverse-generation.html
Take it from a retired meat cutter, iron sharpens iron by Gerald Gill
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/take-it-from-a-retired-meat-cutter-iron-sharpens-iron.html
###############################################################BibleStudy.org averaging 10,000+ daily visitors for first half of 2009
In the first six months of 2009 BibleStudy.org had:
- 1,865,230 visitors or 10,305 average a day - a 31% INCREASE over 2008- 4,078,562 Web pages viewed - a 21% INCREASE over 2008- 785 Questions sent from the GENERAL PUBLIC and handled by site's Email Evangelists
God willing, the Web site will surpass 2008's totals during 2009's Feast of Tabernacles. Info on financially supporting this HIGHLY effective means of reaching the world
with God's truth is located at https://dxdc2.secureserving.net/~barnabas/order.php
###############################################################
Letters, Notes and Quotes, Life Events View Issue 135: Letters to Editor, Notes & Quotes and Life Events Page
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/letters-from-our-readers.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/notes-and-quotes.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/life-events.html
View Issue 134: Letters to Editor, Notes & Quotes and Life Events Page
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/letters-from-our-readers.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/notes-and-quotes.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/life-events.html
Front Page of The Journal Newspaper Issue 135: http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/front-page.html
Issue 134: http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/front-page.html
To Subscribe to The Journal Newspaper visit:
http://www.thejournal.org/contact.html
News and Web site updates - August 2009 BULLETIN
Unconfirmed reports say Clyde Kilough and Richard Thompson resigning from UCG council of elders
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/clyde-kilough-richard-thompson-resigning-from-ucg-council.html
Lead Articles
List of Feast of Tabernacles sites for 2009 from The Journal
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/the-journal-lists-feast-of-tabernacles-sites-for-2009.html
United Church of God elder reports on recent general conference
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/ucg-elder-reports-on-general-conference.html
UCG elders sound off and ask hard questions at recent conference
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/ucg-elders-sound-off-and-ask-hard-questions-at-conference.html
United Church of God Elders approve $24 million dollar budget http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/churchwide-discipleship-theme-for-ucg-elders-conference.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Attend AFFORDABLE, Uplifting Midwestern Feast site!
The Church of God, Ministries International is sponsoring a family-orientated feast sitein Auburn, Indiana that is within close driving range of many Midwestern cities!
Bible studies, seminars, family events and more are being planned for the Feast site.
For more info visit http://www.cogmimi.org/auburn-indiana-feast-info.htm or call Feast Coordinator Bruce Chapman at 616-636-9209 (9-5 PM EST Mon-Fri)+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Feature Articles
Ross Jutsum's circuit takes him out of town 40 weekends every year.
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/circuit-takes-ross-jutsum-out-of-town-forty-weekends-a-year.html
Web Site now averaging 10,000 daily visitors
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/web-site-averaging-10k-daily-visitors.html
Commentaries, Columns and Essays
Escape from this perverse generation by Dave Havir http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/escape-from-this-perverse-generation.html
Take it from a retired meat cutter, iron sharpens iron by Gerald Gill
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/take-it-from-a-retired-meat-cutter-iron-sharpens-iron.html
###############################################################BibleStudy.org averaging 10,000+ daily visitors for first half of 2009
In the first six months of 2009 BibleStudy.org had:
- 1,865,230 visitors or 10,305 average a day - a 31% INCREASE over 2008- 4,078,562 Web pages viewed - a 21% INCREASE over 2008- 785 Questions sent from the GENERAL PUBLIC and handled by site's Email Evangelists
God willing, the Web site will surpass 2008's totals during 2009's Feast of Tabernacles. Info on financially supporting this HIGHLY effective means of reaching the world
with God's truth is located at https://dxdc2.secureserving.net/~barnabas/order.php
###############################################################
Letters, Notes and Quotes, Life Events View Issue 135: Letters to Editor, Notes & Quotes and Life Events Page
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/letters-from-our-readers.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/notes-and-quotes.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/life-events.html
View Issue 134: Letters to Editor, Notes & Quotes and Life Events Page
http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/letters-from-our-readers.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/notes-and-quotes.htmlhttp://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/life-events.html
Front Page of The Journal Newspaper Issue 135: http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue135/front-page.html
Issue 134: http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/front-page.html
To Subscribe to The Journal Newspaper visit:
http://www.thejournal.org/contact.html
What Are The Times Of The Gentiles?
Edited By David Smith
www.cognwm.org
When speaking of the Jews, Jesus told his disciples that “they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the “Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).
Notice that this prophecy is not speaking of a period of peace, but of war. It is a time when the Gentiles are conquering and destroying, when they are ruling themselves contrary to the way of God who is Creator and Ruler.
Remember that one of the keys to understanding this prophecy and all prophecy is duality. There is always a forerunner which is a type of another final great fulfillment. Christ was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Roman legions as a type of terrible world war prophesied to surge through our United States. Even Palestine and Jerusalem will again be trodden down by Gentile armies until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
It is the common assumption that the times of the Gentiles are a period of blessing on the nations. It is argued that since God took away the blessing of being great and dominant from Israel and Judah and since the Gentiles for centuries have been dominant nations, that human rule is a blessing bestowed upon the Gentiles.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Then again, many claim that the times of the Gentiles are synonymous with the times of Judah’s punishment, that the Gentiles times have already ended, some say in 1914, others say in 1917 or 1936. But all these supposed dates for the ending of the times of the Gentiles are mere guesses!
The truth is that almost no one really knows what the times of the Gentiles are. And yet without an understanding of the meaning of this prophetic period you cannot grasp the real significance of present day world-shaking events or understand what’s going to happen in the next several years. Let’s not assume, let’s study the Bible itself to see what these times really are.
Israel was promised great national blessings, including national greatness if they would obey God. But God also promised that if they obstinately refused to obey Him, if they refused to follow His laws and let Him rule their lives, then He would punish them for a period called seven times (Lev 26).
The Bible itself defines this period of seven times for us. If you turn to Revelation the 12th chapter, and compare vs. 6 and 14 you will see that the word time in prophecy simply means a year, hence seven times would be seven years or 2520 days.
Now let’s notice another key. In Numbers 14:34, God said Israel would bear their iniquities in the wilderness after the number of days they searched the land of Canaan, forty days, each day for a year.
Then seven times or 2520 prophetic days would equal 2520 literal years! This period of seven times or 2520 years punishment did come upon Israel because they went their own way and would not submit to the rule of God. Israel went into captivity about 721 B.C. and did not become a great people again until their times of punishment ceased about 1800 A.D. At that time the descendants of the ancient House of Israel – America and Britain -- and the democratic peoples of the world, began to rise to such wealth and power as the world has never seen before – all because of the promises made to Abraham.
Also Palestine, after a punishment against the House of Judah, that began about 604 B.C., was brought back from the Gentile Turks in 1917 – exactly 2520 years later, when it came under the control of Great Britain, and finally the Jews.
The seven times of Israel’s punishment was a period of great privation and suffering, of slavery and war, because they would not submit their wills and their ways to God, because they would not allow Him to rule their lives by His perfect laws, which could have brought them peace and prosperity and dominion.
Now that we understand the seven times punishment on Israel, let’s understand the meaning of the times of the Gentiles.
The original prophecy to which Jesus had reference is found in the 4th chapter of Daniel. Christ understood that this prophetic vision of the great tree had reference to the times of the Gentiles as well as to Nebuchadnezzar’s literal punishment.
Notice Daniel 4:17. This striking vision was not only to teach Nebuchadnezzar that God rules, but it is also “to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the basest of men.”
So the Bible itself interprets this prophecy to have reference not only to the king of Babylon in that day, but also to teach the living – yes, all of the nations today that God is Supreme Ruler. Notice verses 20 and 22 of Daniel 4. The great tree represented the king. And what was to happen to him? “Let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given him; and let seven times pass over him” (v. 16).
The king was to lose his understanding, to be cursed with insanity, he was to act and think like a wild ravenous beast, until he learned that the Creator rules over the affairs of men, till he learned that the only way to peace and security is through submission to the rule and laws of God instead of yielding to lust and human pride.
But the world and its leaders have not yet learned this needed lesson. The nations today still devour one another in war like wild beasts as they struggle to gain world conquest.
Most of the misunderstanding about this important prophecy results from not realizing that the seven literal times or years that passed over King Nebuchadnezzar were a type of the seven prophetic times of punishment upon the Gentiles.
Now turn to Daniel 2:38-39 where this is clearly explained. The king saw a great image composed of different metals and clay. The head of this image represents the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar, “Thou are this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom.”
The divisions of the great image represented various kingdoms of the Babylonish system. Yet Daniel designated the first kingdom by its supreme dictatorial king Nebuchadnezzar. The king, then, was a type of the kingdom of Babylon, because he had absolute power. Also by comparing Daniel 7:17,23 you will see that king and kingdom are used synonymously.
Remember that one of the punishments on the king was that his heart should be changed “from man’s, and let a wild animal’s heart be given him.”
Have you ever noticed that Babylon, after it ceased conquering and when God began to deal with its leaders, was also given the heart of a man? Read Daniel 7:4. It stood “upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.”
Now let’s notice what happened. King Nebuchadnezzar had the heart of a man but because of his sins he was afterward punished seven literal years. The ancient Chaldean kingdom had the heart of a man – it ceased to attack, conquer and destroy other nations, but because Babylon continued to sin and live contrary to God’s ways it was punished for seven prophetic years or 2520 years.
Notice how the type is being fulfilled in the antitype. King Nebuchadnezzar because of his stubborn refusal to submit to the rule of God, the only way that would have brought him peace of mind and satisfaction was punished seven years by having his mind changed to that of a wild animal, until he learned that God ruled. He was dethroned and lived among the wild beasts.
In like manner, the Chaldean Empire of which he was a type was defeated and its dominion was taken from it. But just as Nebuchadnezzar continued to live like a wild beast, so the Babylonish system has continued with leaders having the minds of wild beasts. The Persians, Greeks, Romans – Europeans even to the days of Hitler and Mussolini have all been cursed with leaders who think and act like wild animals, leaders who glory in war and conquest. (Today, for the first time in the history of Israel (United States of America) a Gentile will sit on the throne of Israel.
Not one of the beasts, which followed the Chaldean Empire as described in Daniel 7, was given a man’s heart. They all were like ferocious wild animals, conquering, pillaging, and destroying one another by intrigue, and alliances and war.
Nebuchadnezzar was forced to live among the wild beasts just as the successor nations of the Babylonish system have had to fight and struggle constantly against other Gentiles nations who are also cursed with the same mind, the same desires to conquer and rule the world. That is why the Babylonish system under Hitler and Mussolini struggled against Russia. The leaders of Russia think and act like cunning wild beasts.
The ancient Chaldean Empire would not submit to God’s rule and ways but wanted to rule its own way, the greatest curse that could happen to any nation. As a punishment God has allowed even to this very day the Gentile nations to rule themselves until they learn that only His ways are right and that He rules in the kingdoms of men. Just as Nebuchadnezzar finally regained his right mind and acknowledged God’s authority, so the Gentile nations when their punishment is over, will come up to the kingdom of God and ask to learn of his way (Micah 4:1-3) so that they also may become begotten and finally born into His kingdom as members of the ruling Family of God.
Notice how present day events are explained by this prophecy. “All nations have been made drunk with the false teachings of the Babylonish system that has gripped this world for thousands of years until this world has become so confused and divided that people don’t know which way to turn “(Rev. 18:3).
The return of Jesus Christ is getting closer all the time, but many catastrophic world events are going to happen between now and the time that this punishment upon the Gentiles is finished! These terrifying world-shaking events could possibly take place in our life time, this very last generation that may live in two worlds!
Remember what Jesus said in Luke 21:24? That Jerusalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles until the very completion of the times of the Gentiles! Since Zech. 14:1-3 shows that Jesus Christ will return in order to deliver Jerusalem from the Gentiles, it is plain that the 2nd coming of Christ will occur shortly before the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled! (Isa. 27:13; I Corth. 15:52.
As Christ said, of the second coming, “But of that day, and hour, knows no man!” But today’s world-occurrences warn us that even now, it is near! Yes, it’s later than you think!
www.cognwm.org
When speaking of the Jews, Jesus told his disciples that “they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the “Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).
Notice that this prophecy is not speaking of a period of peace, but of war. It is a time when the Gentiles are conquering and destroying, when they are ruling themselves contrary to the way of God who is Creator and Ruler.
Remember that one of the keys to understanding this prophecy and all prophecy is duality. There is always a forerunner which is a type of another final great fulfillment. Christ was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Roman legions as a type of terrible world war prophesied to surge through our United States. Even Palestine and Jerusalem will again be trodden down by Gentile armies until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
It is the common assumption that the times of the Gentiles are a period of blessing on the nations. It is argued that since God took away the blessing of being great and dominant from Israel and Judah and since the Gentiles for centuries have been dominant nations, that human rule is a blessing bestowed upon the Gentiles.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Then again, many claim that the times of the Gentiles are synonymous with the times of Judah’s punishment, that the Gentiles times have already ended, some say in 1914, others say in 1917 or 1936. But all these supposed dates for the ending of the times of the Gentiles are mere guesses!
The truth is that almost no one really knows what the times of the Gentiles are. And yet without an understanding of the meaning of this prophetic period you cannot grasp the real significance of present day world-shaking events or understand what’s going to happen in the next several years. Let’s not assume, let’s study the Bible itself to see what these times really are.
Israel was promised great national blessings, including national greatness if they would obey God. But God also promised that if they obstinately refused to obey Him, if they refused to follow His laws and let Him rule their lives, then He would punish them for a period called seven times (Lev 26).
The Bible itself defines this period of seven times for us. If you turn to Revelation the 12th chapter, and compare vs. 6 and 14 you will see that the word time in prophecy simply means a year, hence seven times would be seven years or 2520 days.
Now let’s notice another key. In Numbers 14:34, God said Israel would bear their iniquities in the wilderness after the number of days they searched the land of Canaan, forty days, each day for a year.
Then seven times or 2520 prophetic days would equal 2520 literal years! This period of seven times or 2520 years punishment did come upon Israel because they went their own way and would not submit to the rule of God. Israel went into captivity about 721 B.C. and did not become a great people again until their times of punishment ceased about 1800 A.D. At that time the descendants of the ancient House of Israel – America and Britain -- and the democratic peoples of the world, began to rise to such wealth and power as the world has never seen before – all because of the promises made to Abraham.
Also Palestine, after a punishment against the House of Judah, that began about 604 B.C., was brought back from the Gentile Turks in 1917 – exactly 2520 years later, when it came under the control of Great Britain, and finally the Jews.
The seven times of Israel’s punishment was a period of great privation and suffering, of slavery and war, because they would not submit their wills and their ways to God, because they would not allow Him to rule their lives by His perfect laws, which could have brought them peace and prosperity and dominion.
Now that we understand the seven times punishment on Israel, let’s understand the meaning of the times of the Gentiles.
The original prophecy to which Jesus had reference is found in the 4th chapter of Daniel. Christ understood that this prophetic vision of the great tree had reference to the times of the Gentiles as well as to Nebuchadnezzar’s literal punishment.
Notice Daniel 4:17. This striking vision was not only to teach Nebuchadnezzar that God rules, but it is also “to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the basest of men.”
So the Bible itself interprets this prophecy to have reference not only to the king of Babylon in that day, but also to teach the living – yes, all of the nations today that God is Supreme Ruler. Notice verses 20 and 22 of Daniel 4. The great tree represented the king. And what was to happen to him? “Let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given him; and let seven times pass over him” (v. 16).
The king was to lose his understanding, to be cursed with insanity, he was to act and think like a wild ravenous beast, until he learned that the Creator rules over the affairs of men, till he learned that the only way to peace and security is through submission to the rule and laws of God instead of yielding to lust and human pride.
But the world and its leaders have not yet learned this needed lesson. The nations today still devour one another in war like wild beasts as they struggle to gain world conquest.
Most of the misunderstanding about this important prophecy results from not realizing that the seven literal times or years that passed over King Nebuchadnezzar were a type of the seven prophetic times of punishment upon the Gentiles.
Now turn to Daniel 2:38-39 where this is clearly explained. The king saw a great image composed of different metals and clay. The head of this image represents the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar, “Thou are this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom.”
The divisions of the great image represented various kingdoms of the Babylonish system. Yet Daniel designated the first kingdom by its supreme dictatorial king Nebuchadnezzar. The king, then, was a type of the kingdom of Babylon, because he had absolute power. Also by comparing Daniel 7:17,23 you will see that king and kingdom are used synonymously.
Remember that one of the punishments on the king was that his heart should be changed “from man’s, and let a wild animal’s heart be given him.”
Have you ever noticed that Babylon, after it ceased conquering and when God began to deal with its leaders, was also given the heart of a man? Read Daniel 7:4. It stood “upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.”
Now let’s notice what happened. King Nebuchadnezzar had the heart of a man but because of his sins he was afterward punished seven literal years. The ancient Chaldean kingdom had the heart of a man – it ceased to attack, conquer and destroy other nations, but because Babylon continued to sin and live contrary to God’s ways it was punished for seven prophetic years or 2520 years.
Notice how the type is being fulfilled in the antitype. King Nebuchadnezzar because of his stubborn refusal to submit to the rule of God, the only way that would have brought him peace of mind and satisfaction was punished seven years by having his mind changed to that of a wild animal, until he learned that God ruled. He was dethroned and lived among the wild beasts.
In like manner, the Chaldean Empire of which he was a type was defeated and its dominion was taken from it. But just as Nebuchadnezzar continued to live like a wild beast, so the Babylonish system has continued with leaders having the minds of wild beasts. The Persians, Greeks, Romans – Europeans even to the days of Hitler and Mussolini have all been cursed with leaders who think and act like wild animals, leaders who glory in war and conquest. (Today, for the first time in the history of Israel (United States of America) a Gentile will sit on the throne of Israel.
Not one of the beasts, which followed the Chaldean Empire as described in Daniel 7, was given a man’s heart. They all were like ferocious wild animals, conquering, pillaging, and destroying one another by intrigue, and alliances and war.
Nebuchadnezzar was forced to live among the wild beasts just as the successor nations of the Babylonish system have had to fight and struggle constantly against other Gentiles nations who are also cursed with the same mind, the same desires to conquer and rule the world. That is why the Babylonish system under Hitler and Mussolini struggled against Russia. The leaders of Russia think and act like cunning wild beasts.
The ancient Chaldean Empire would not submit to God’s rule and ways but wanted to rule its own way, the greatest curse that could happen to any nation. As a punishment God has allowed even to this very day the Gentile nations to rule themselves until they learn that only His ways are right and that He rules in the kingdoms of men. Just as Nebuchadnezzar finally regained his right mind and acknowledged God’s authority, so the Gentile nations when their punishment is over, will come up to the kingdom of God and ask to learn of his way (Micah 4:1-3) so that they also may become begotten and finally born into His kingdom as members of the ruling Family of God.
Notice how present day events are explained by this prophecy. “All nations have been made drunk with the false teachings of the Babylonish system that has gripped this world for thousands of years until this world has become so confused and divided that people don’t know which way to turn “(Rev. 18:3).
The return of Jesus Christ is getting closer all the time, but many catastrophic world events are going to happen between now and the time that this punishment upon the Gentiles is finished! These terrifying world-shaking events could possibly take place in our life time, this very last generation that may live in two worlds!
Remember what Jesus said in Luke 21:24? That Jerusalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles until the very completion of the times of the Gentiles! Since Zech. 14:1-3 shows that Jesus Christ will return in order to deliver Jerusalem from the Gentiles, it is plain that the 2nd coming of Christ will occur shortly before the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled! (Isa. 27:13; I Corth. 15:52.
As Christ said, of the second coming, “But of that day, and hour, knows no man!” But today’s world-occurrences warn us that even now, it is near! Yes, it’s later than you think!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
