UCG has been around since May of 1995. During this time, they claim they have been proclaiming a gospel, yet most people have no idea who they are and what they are about. After three decades of numerous groups splintering off of them and losing a large percentage of their ministers to COGWA, they now realize they should have been proclaiming a gospel message.
Now that Trump has been elected, they claim they have a small opportunity open before them to successfully get their message out. Of course, that will take money, and they are begging for "resources" once again. In COGspeak, "resources" means money (tithes, offerings, estate donations, and more).
Thirty years and their accomplishments are minimal. Sure, they have had numerous office buildings and that stuffed blue puppet named Jelly representing them, but that is about all that they present to the world. They have no dynamic speakers who can arrest the attention of the public. Repackaging old WCG booklets, articles, and World Tomorrow broadcasts has not accomplished much of anything.
People are turned off and will continue to be turned off, with or without Jelly as their public face. They have an unforgiving battle ahead of them when they think they are going to be preaching a gospel "boldly, directly, and authoritatively to all nations".
Oh, and they will be preaching this to ALL CREATION! Even Jelly laughed at this!
The COG's are always on that final gun lap that has never seen a finish line since 1933.
Here in the United States, the long, hotly contested presidential campaign finally and mercifully came to a close a few days ago. You’ve likely heard of the results of the election, and we are thankful to God for the clarity He has provided.
In Romans 13:1, we are reminded, “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” It is God who we worship, trust and follow. He “removes kings and raises up kings” (Daniel 2:21) and we live and carry out His work in the physical environment He provides.
As we look at the physical “landscape” shaped by the direction God has given, we see that now it is time to be earnestly about His “business.” There is a window of time, however long He determines, for us to preach the gospel boldly, directly and authoritatively in all nations to “every creature” (Mark 16:15), which means to all creation. As God continues to open our eyes, there is still a big work to do to fulfill this aspect of His commission to His Church.
It is a daunting commission when we consider how much has to be done, but we know Jesus Christ is the Head of this Church, and only with His guidance and direction by His Spirit will it be accomplished. We are fully committed here to do that work, but we need and ask for your prayers that God lead us and provide the resources needed to accomplish what needs to be done. Many of you have knowledge and expertise in areas that can be of great help as we do God’s work. God will provide those opportunities for all of us to work together, offering the talents and skills that will contribute to this effort (Ephesians 4:16).
75 comments:
The key sentence is one that the poster chose not to highlight:
Many of you have knowledge and expertise in areas that can be of great help as we do God’s work.
The problem facing UCG is that there are indeed eager UCG members who do have knowledge and expertise they are eager to share, but WCG/UCG culture makes it almost impossible for the ordained ministry to submit to the guidance of the laypeople who have the knowledge and expertise required to get the job done. The lay members whose help might be tolerated will be those with the brownest of noses, not the brightest of ideas.
The ‘gospel’ has been around for a few millennia UCG.
It was not dependent on TV, magazines, YT, podcasts, but on men and women guided and moved by the Spirit of God to proclaim a message of hope of salvation in Jesus Christ who was predestined before the foundation of the world to come and give us freely this gift made possible by His atoning sacrifice. It was not dependent on magnificent auditoriums or campuses or tv studios but by word of mouth. It did not and does not include BI. By their own works the Armstrong movement has discredited the gospel message sadly. But God is merciful and untold numbers are coming to Him globally not dependent on who is in the Oval Office or not. In that I rejoice.
“UCG: We Now Have A Small Window Of Opportunity To Get The Gospel Out”
The original founding commission of the UCG in May 1995 was to get paychecks and retirement plans for some of the former WCG ministers who had been terminated when the WCG's income quickly collapsed after the Great Apostasy of January 1995 in the WCG.
After COGWA split off from the UCG in December 2010, all that was left to do was for the UCG to disappear back into the world.
Does UCG now, finally, after 29 years, think that it has a “small window of opportunity” to do some additional little thing?
"Members"? The UCG governing documents make it plain that only the ordained elders are "members" of UCG. Everybody else just attends.
Comment was made saying: "...UCG has been around since May of 1995. During this time, they claim they have been proclaiming a gospel, yet most people have no idea who they are and what they are about..."
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Most people have no idea b/c the leadership by those hirelings who fled from the former WCG still struggle to figure out who they are and what they are about.
With the ucg man-made group, organization, association it is either God or mammon. Resources? Mammon to financially keep their ministry.
Initially in 1995 United sought to publish the "Good News" magazine to show those who pray/pay may "see" the "work" being done by them. Then, the "Good News" was abandoned.
You could probably pick a dozen members of that organization and ask them to put in writing what the "Good News" is and you would probably get 12 different answers.
Who wrote the following? "...As God continues to open our eyes..."
Where is the proof that the eyes of United's leadership, even its membership, has eyes needing to be opened? Weren't those eyes opened in 1995? Weren't they opened when those of cogwAss. broke off to form their own man-made association? Did those of cogwAss form b/c of so many "blind" eyes, unopened, in the United Ass.?
Time will tell...
John
I'm turned off by the attitude that God gave the church "the truth", and the church is doctrinally complete, and so the job of the church is to preserve and defend the "faith which was once for all delivered", rather than "grow in grace and knowledge". I guess the idea is that the church itself has already reached peak doctrinal truth, and there's nothing more to be added. Individuals should grow in grace and knowledge, by digesting the collection of booklets and materials provided.
I grew up in WCG and then UCG. I reckon I reached "peak UCG" years ago (except for prophetic interpretations). I have questions and doubts but there's nothing I can do with my questions — they are treated as evidence that I'm not well-established in true doctrine, and a threat to unity.
Is UCG pleased to have an incoming president similar to emperor Nero, under whom the early New Testament church had a window of opportunity to accomplish so much?
“It is a daunting commission when we consider how much has to be done, but we know Jesus Christ is the Head of this Church.”
Yes, Christ is the head of His Church, but that BI is not a part of His Great Commission. Just make disciples among all nations. As long as WCG/UCG boast about the British throne, birthright blessings, along with Germany and their prophecy gospel than you can forget it.
Those apostles went out and spread His gospel message and they mentioned nothing about British Israel. That’s Armstrong’s gospel and his commission.
Romans 9:8 This means that children born by natural descent ⌞from Abraham⌟ are not necessarily God’s children. Instead, children born by the promise are considered Abraham’s descendants. (GW)
Tank
This frame of mind is totally predictable. It's what HWA always said in the aftermath of Republican victory. The only thing that would make it funnier would be if Doug Winnail added it to his reruns.
But, it's also totally inappropriate this time around. The real Republicans have been hijacked. The MAGA party is taking control and nobody really knows what will happen as a result. There sure are some rad ideas being circulated!
One thing is certain. There will
be no revival for Armstrongism. These churches are a spent force, doing an exhausted, slowly collapsing run towards the finish line. They'll fall as they cross it if they make it at all!
Be careful what you wish for, COGlodytes!
The prophesies of the book of Revelation are a certainty. They're not going to remain unfulfilled for ever. In the Old Testament, God always warned before allowing disaster, so any informed group needs to make this part of their message.
Then the answer always rests in looking to Jesus Christ, either in his character, his teachings or what he did during his ministry on earth.
He called young fishermen and tax collectors as his disciples whilst the bigheaded religious leaders strutted their stuff in the Temple oblivious to what was happening outside.
So many continue to equate "numbers" with "success". It is God who draws people into The Church. All The Church is to do is preach the gospel, even if no one responds. Those God is working with will hear and respond at the proper time, and we don't know who that is, or when they will respond.
The problem with that, 8:34, is that the collective group known as "Armstrongism" has totally burned its credibility as people whom God has chosen to deliver the message. They've been "Chicken Littleing" the end, the tribulation, and the return of Jesus Christ for many decades now. They had the visibility and the power to be heard up into the '90s, but had already gotten it wrong in 1975, and with their "in 3-5 years" numerous times thereafter.
If this is the time period described in Revelation, another group untainted by past prophetic error will need to emerge and be used by God. Another thing. The messenger can't be someone with secret sins, such as incest. "The world" cannot have an excuse such as that to dismiss the messenger.
In past years, UCG might have been pleased to see Mr. Trump taking office. Many members are.
But President Shabi talked against both Trump and Biden during the campaign. He may be more realistic than some members: https://www.ucg.org/watch/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/biblical-worldview-would-you-vote-jesus
Be sure, UCG, to incorporate the truth of Eze 45:21 into your "gospel message".
T.H.E.Y. W.O.N.'T.
Leave. Read your Bible with God. The Holy Spirit is in fact God. He will lead you and teach you. Then be led to what’s next.
Another thing 8:34 the one thing is certain with the prophets and the apostles received the message directly from either an angel or the Lord Himself. Whether from Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Paul, John etc. So the two witnesses in Revelation will also have the same correspondence. All that private interpretation within Armstrongism gotta stop.
Tank
Wrong.
''It is a daunting commission when we consider how much has to be done,..''
Armstrong said he had carried the gospel to the world essentially completing the 'work'. So why is it others say there is still much to be done ?
You’ve likely heard of the results of the election, and we are thankful to God for the clarity He has provided.
In Romans 13:1, we are reminded, “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
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LOL, that's all I got.
As usual, a pitch for money. Boorringgg!
5.50, do you really think that God doesn't consider how a person will be treated if He draws them into the Church? Why should he draw people into an organization if they are going to be fed spiritual milk and persecuted if they show signs of Christian growth?
Okay, then God draws them to UCG, then what happens when people leave and go to COGWA? Does God draw them there?
Sounding very certain in those comments John. Is certainty not dangerous anymore.
Wow, the response to that comment says a lot about the mindset of the people here. But then we knew that already.
You know, the ending of The Book doesn't change because of who won the election.
Sure, had Harris been installed as President things would have moved along much more quickly. Even though Trump won and his policies are much more proper than Harris', the stage will still be set for the total downfall of the USA. For example, pulling back from NATO and forcing the European countries to contribute more will lead to the development of an army that will be used to take us down.
Apparently God has slowed things down a bit but make no mistake, the other side will return with a vengeance and the Left will get the country they desire and the USA will collapse (and deservedly so) . We just don't know when.
In the book of Revelation there are 2 entities other than the church who are quite capable of taking the gospel to the world before the end comes (see Rev.11:3, 14:6). I don't think God has placed all His chips on the splinters. As usual, He has it all planned out and under control.
Not necessarily 9:19. Joseph, David and Esther did not.
Anon, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 10:58:46 PM PST, wrote:
"Sounding very certain in those comments John. Is certainty not dangerous anymore."
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Well, I did have the opportunity to be one of the eyewitnesses to the Indianapolis (Indy) Conference, May 1-2, 1995. It isn't much, but I'm certain of some things, perhaps more certain today than ever, that the United Ass. (initially Ucgaia) was all a man-made organization of men wanting to be financially supported somehow, and that God wasn't in it, that God was perhaps doing something somewhere else. Just look at the history of all of the fractions/factions fall-out from the United Ass. since it began...and all of them leaders voting themselves in and out of office, especially that "President" office.
Local boards were to be formed with each congregation to be associated with Ucgaia. Oh, yes, the leadership had to eventually get rid of one of them “a” with their acronym, but before too long after the Conference the “board” idea was out the “kitchen” window as the Ass. proceeded to create WCG 2.
It is a man-made association started by a bunch of hirelings who fled from the former WCG thinking they would do better than what they believed was done by God's inspiration through HWA. Time has been telling regarding all of the confusion among them, and where is the Ass. today?
They couldn't imagine God inspiring some Joseph Tkach Sr., while allowing numerous WCG hirelings among them, who were lukewarm, neither hot or cold, to flee, to scatter like they did, because those hirelings had no idea that they were thinking things like: "...I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;..." ; however, God knew that they: "...knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"
The hirelings took their “bat and ball” and went “home (something Dave Hulme said he was searching for) to Mommy/daddy (John 8:44; Eph 2:2; James 4:5 2 Tim 2:26, etc.), creating another organization, where they would remain employed, “rich,” and still “increased with goods.” Some of those “WCG goods” were taken with them when they fled from WCG to their newly-invented association. Oh, they did what seemed right in their own eyes, but what is their fruit today? Well, what is their work today?
Again, I will ask who was it that wrote the following: “…As God continues to open our eyes, there is still a big work to do to fulfill this aspect of His commission to His Church. …”
I inserted more context this time, but “…There is still a big work to do?” Huh! This is 4 December 2024!
Did the author of those words ever read the following words?
2 May 1995, last day of the Indy Conference some of Victor Kubik’s words at the final session to one and all there were: “…I don’t want to add anything more to what David Hulme said, but I am very positive. But we have a big work ahead of us, organizing and being able to reconstitute. But the work has been done here…”
I am certain those were the words I heard that day: “…a big work ahead of us…”
To those hirelings of the former WCG, what have you been doing since 2 May 1995 in accomplishing that “big work ahead?” Was the creation of cogwAss., with another “big work ahead” of them a part of that “big work ahead, too?”
How much more time do y’all need? Are y'all certain of that?
Time will tell…
John
Anon 1:12, I know right.
The left knows that there's no one to replace Trump after his last term. Which is why they've "played nice" since his election. They're not burning cities this time. They know they'll be back and on steroids. Another possibility is that God has handed America over to Trump to deal the the country's inevitable economic collapse. Trump would probably make the transition to third world status more orderly. This would parallel WWCG's influence collapsing after HWA's death.
Thank you for your comment 6:20.
I was basically referring to the building currently being constructed mentioned by Paul and others.
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
What I could have further said was that the correspondence involves either the Lord, angel and/or visions or dreams that come from the 3rd heaven. Sometimes an angel is involved but not directly like to the prophets. For instance David was a king not a prophet, but and angel was involved when he had some failures (Census of Israel and Judah 2 Samuel 24)
1 Chronicles 21:18 Therefore, the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:16 Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
And Joseph, well he gets the visions and dreams. And those dreams came from God from heaven. Or that man of God has the interpretation of that dream like Joseph just like Daniel would later have.
Genesis 37:5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.
Genesis 40:8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
We are talking about prophecy, so the ACOGs come with this prophecy gospel. However they don’t (not yet) have the correspondence of visions/dreams, angels or the Lord Himself directly revealing the specific future to these groups' leaders. (2 Corinthians 12:1-3, Daniel 1:17)
Book of Esther in the Bible never explicitly mentions God's name, many religious interpretations view Esther as deeply connected to God. It may have to do with the female aspect, but the book is inspired and there are wonderful lessons.
That's a great statement.
Tank
While I’ll agree with you on the fact that Europe is getting tired of America’s foreign affairs and military industrial complex. The hypocritical nation that then it’s this administration it does one thing, then the other administration comes in and does another. It’s a house divided (from the inside and out), which cannot stand. It’s just as the Right fault as the Left.
For instance many in the Right can rail against illegal immigration, but if you are business owner, say like owning a few hotels, well you don’t mind hiring a bunch of illegal immigrants so that you don’t have to pay full salary or benefits. Cheap labor, See
I am not at liberty or anyone else to say God has slowed things down, as His ways are higher than our ways. We can simply say, He's right on time. The issue that the ACOGs have is that they look at America as this israelite darling, instead of an empire that it actually is.
Yes, and plenty of time. Today is Kislev 2, 5785. And that is from the Jews, keepers of the oracles and traditions.
John Gill has this to say on Revelation 14:6:
“And I saw another angel,.... This is to be understood not of one of the ministering spirits so called; for though wings are sometimes ascribed to angels, and Gabriel is said to fly swiftly; and though they desire to look into the mysteries of the everlasting Gospel, yet the preaching of that is not committed to any of them; but a minister of the Gospel is intended, who is the angel of the church, for in this book pastors of churches are so called, Rev 1:20; and not a single minister of the Gospel is meant, but a set of Gospel ministers”.
Is this angel picturing a future “cosmic reality” that will underline human history?
Eze 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem...
The observations below on the events of Ezekiel’s earlier “visions of God” may help in providing a guide in interpreting what John saw in his earlier visions in Revelation:
[Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth].
Eze 9:2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
Eze 9:5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
Eze 9:6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
2Ch 36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
“Certainly the carnage in the Temple (v.17) depends on the visionary slaughter carried out by angelic executioners (Eze 9:5-6), who were to show no compassion, and the killing was to begin at the sanctuary and to embrace old men, young men, and young women. THE DESTROYING ANGELS TURNED INTO FLESH AND BLOOD, WEARING BABYLONIAN UNIFORMS...” (Leslie C. Allen, 1 & 2 Chronicles, NIB, Vol.3, p.656).
“The Lord “summons six “guards,” each of whom appears armed with a club. The guards would normally have had the responsibility of standing at the gates, protecting the realm of the sacred from profane intrusions. Here they appear together with a priestly figure dressed in linen, armed only with a writing kit.
“These figures are normally interpreted as angelic beings because of their superhuman role in the vision and the symbolic nature of their total number (seven). However, it is worth noting that if 9:1-2 existed as a fragment, without the surrounding context, we would naturally understand it as speaking of normal human figures obeying the summons of the king. This helps us to remember the dual nature of the these figures. On the one hand, in the vision they are the angelic servants of the Most High, wreaking his judgments on the earth; on the other hand, those same judgments are carried out in history through human agency, so the six destroyers may equally aptly be seen to represent the Babylonian invaders...” (Iain M. Duguid, Ezekiel, NIVAC, pp.133-34).
Part 2
“When interpreting these chapters, it is essential to remember that what is recorded here is a vision. That does not mean that the events recounted here are unrelated to reality. For instance, the destruction of Jerusalem that Ezekiel witnessed was the foreshadowing of the very real destruction of that city by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. But it does mean that are not directly related to historical events. THE SIX ARMED GUARDS REPRESENT THE BABYLONIAN FORCES, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME AS THEM...” (Iain M. Duguid, Ezekiel, NIVAC, p.135).
Eze 10:2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
2Ki 25:8 And ... came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:
2Ki 25:9 And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.
“Chapter 10 opens with a continuation of the judgment scene of Ezekiel 9. There we saw the city overrun by divinely appointed executioners, scattering dead bodies in their wake as if starring in a cosmic Rambo movie. Now, on the top of the that destruction of life, follows the destruction of property. The seventh angel returns to the fray. This is a priestly figure, who in Ezekiel 9 is the sole mediator of life in the midst of the cataclysm, marking out for salvation those who sigh and mourn over the abominations of the city. This time, however, his actions are not intended for salvation but for destruction. At the Lord’s command, he takes burning coals from beneath the heavenly throne in order to burn the city to the ground (10:2). Like the city of Sodom, who Ezekiel calls Jerusalem’s sister in 16:46, Jerusalem will be burned up by fire from in high.
“Ezekiel is here simply giving us a glimpse behind the scenes at the cosmic realities that underlie history. When the physical Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar and was raised to the ground in 586 B.C., the Babylonians were nothing more than the human instruments in the hands of an angry God...” (Iain M. Duguid, Ezekiel, NIVAC, p.146-47).
All good points - the previous is done and dusted and can't be resurrected . The whole system became tainted including offshoots that came from it.
Around a month or so ago the Wall Street Journal commented that sales of the Bible were up 22% on year to date compared to the previous period while book sales were up only just over 1% for the same time. One wonders what is driving this upsurge. So certainly a hunger there within society for something beyond the realm of what we see in the physical. One cannot believe that the Armstrong cog movement can take credit for this. Or use these remarkable figures to their advantage. Their message is almost invisible and drowned out by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But the two witnesses appear after the beast power's military victories. The victims need to be warned beforehand. The famines at this point must be the result of a nuclear winter.
I do remember when the pandemic occurred many people started visiting many national parks around the country. People wanted to be connected with the creation. America has so many beautiful wondrous parks.
I think perhaps what was happening in Israel might have led to the increase in sales of the Bible, who knows. Bible sales is not the same thing as church attendance.
Tank
7:19 AM,
UCG characters like Rick Shabi ought to be ashamed to bring up any alleged sexual indiscretions of Donald Trump, but these UCG types are such a bunch of useless hypocrites.
Americans who care about their country are hoping that Donald Trump will be able to do great things for America in spite of anything sexually imperfect that great lover of beautiful women might have done in the distant past. Make America Great Again (MAGA). Make America Healthy Again (MAHA).
The so-called Church of God scene has always had all sorts of sexually immoral types over the years, from big fucking hypocrites like GTA (whose sins his own father HWA always tried to cover up) to all sorts of little fucking hypocrites. The UCG allows men to divorce their wives so they can remarry other women, and kicks out innocent people for such adulterers. The UCG leaders will never make the church great again. Make UCG Great Ever (HA HA HA).
Which seems easier to do, to vote for a political leader to defend your country, or to pay huge chunks of your income each year to support useless leaders of little cults full of immoral people?
It remains to be seen what Donald Trump will be able to do for America.
It has already been seen that the religious leaders cannot do anything for the UCG.
7:19 AM,
UCG characters like Rick Shabi ought to be ashamed to bring up any alleged sexual indiscretions of Donald Trump, but these UCG types are such a bunch of useless hypocrites.
Americans who care about their country are hoping that Donald Trump will be able to do great things for America in spite of anything sexually imperfect that great lover of beautiful women might have done in the distant past. Make America Great Again (MAGA). Make America Healthy Again (MAHA).
The so-called Church of God scene has always had all sorts of sexually immoral types over the years, from big fucking hypocrites like GTA (whose sins his own father HWA always tried to cover up) to all sorts of little fucking hypocrites. The UCG allows men to divorce their wives so they can remarry other women, and kicks out innocent people for such adulterers. The UCG leaders will never make the church great again. Make UCG Great Ever (HA HA HA).
Which seems easier to do, to vote for a political leader to defend your country, or to pay huge chunks of your income each year to support useless leaders of little cults full of immoral people?
It remains to be seen what Donald Trump will be able to do for America.
It has already been seen that the religious leaders cannot do anything for the UCG.
1:53 Yea I go back to the jewish/hebrew calendar from time to time to check and see where they are at. Yea at times God gives some great kingdoms, empires or nations around 400 to 500 years, some less.
Genesis 15:13-14 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
Genesis 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Acts 13:20 “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
The Roman Empire not republic was like from 27 BC to 476 AD. America was before 1776, but you can start there and currently 248 years since its independence. But any nation or kingdom can fall at any time.
Maybe UCG’s Jelly and the animated version of little Bobby Thiel, Cartoon Bob, are the two animated witnesses of the book of revelation. Cartoon Bob and Jelly! Move over tax cheat Ron Wieland and his witless witness wife.
"We" 5:42? Of course the gang.
It is you who doesn't follow the instructions of Jesus which says slot about your mindset.
Some like to point out Trump's moral transgressions to show that he's not fit to lead the nation. If moral perfection is a requirement for leadership then no one will qualify. Just look at the morality of the current occupant of the White House. The best we can hope for is someone that will follow the Constitution, and Trump does that much better than anyone is recent memory.
There is no doubt that the Constitution was inspired by God. The principles it contains are the closest match you will find to God's principles. Of course, man has a way of perverting everything.
Anon 6:26:33
According to HWA'S faulty timeline you would be right. According to my timeline (for what it's worth) a warning DOES go out first because the ministry of the 2 Witnesses occurs during the first half of the final 7 year period, called 1260 days- (Rev.11:3), while the Beast's reign is the last 3.5 years, termed 42 months (Rev.13:5). These 2 -3.5 year time periods are NOT synchronous!
Also, if I'm correct, the 2W, by virtue of shutting up the heavens that it rain not (Rev.11:6) are responsible for seals 2-4 (Rev.6:3-8, 11:6).
It is at the 5th seal (the time of the great Tribulation, Jacob's trouble, martyrdom of the saints) the Beast, who's deadly wound inflicted by the 2 W (Rev.11:5, 13:3) is healed, rises, kills the 2 W, then starts his 42 month persecution of the saints (Rev.11:7, 13:7, Matt.24:9, Dan.7:25).
I hope you're preparing for the Fourth Reich, 9:42! Not that you could!
5:54 the Constitution was not inspired by God. God's word in His canon is inspired by God. The constitution is a great document, but it has things like freedom of religion. Therefore anyone should have the freedom to worship whatever god they like. It's dangerous and especially for those tho consider themselves in God's church to believe that the constitution was inspired by God.
And to think that Trump follows the Constitution is crazy my guy. He was the better option but just like convicted felons have difficulty finding occupation. A convicted felon shouldn't be running the White House. But it is what it is. But to believe that is something else. That's like saying you believe in BI , and understand all the Kings of Judah and Kings of Israel, and how God was not pleased with that king or this king, and this king did evil in the sight of the Lord. But somehow when it comes to Trump, morality doesn't mean anything, please.
7:19 AM relates(let's skip the curse words)
"UCG allows men to divorce their wives so they can remarry other women"
Picking on UCG misses the point, almost all COG's follow the original WWCG change in D&R, and then tap dance around the translation for fornication in the Quotes by Jesus Himself in Math 5:32, Math 19:9 and others. . .
Those of you out there that still seek Jesus, read His words, take them seriously, don't put too much stock in "booklets" over the Bible
One last point, is it coincidence that from D&R onwards WWCG no longer grew 30% a year?
The Milwaukee UCG congregation has either bought of have leased a building for their meetings. Driving past the location I noticed that the name, UCG on a sign in front of the building. Upon inquiry I understand that this used to be a funeral home. How ironic!
Hi there! My take: the gospel - under the new covenant: The 10 commandments are to be observed. No tithing. Freely give. Feasts observed are the three: 7 days of UB, Pentecost, FOT. Sabbaths observed will be those in the three festivals including the 14th of Nisan as the first day of UB, and the weekly sabbath (maybe Tishri 1, 10, 22 but doubt it).
Didn’t the WCG put a booklet out on divorce and remarriage? Yea I knew some men in a splinter group that was married three times.
Tim Lahaye and associates believe in a 7 year tribulation, referencing Dan 9:27, with the last three and a half years of this period the great tribulation.
1 Macc 1:11In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us."
1 Macc 1:13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.
1 Macc 1:14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom
1 Macc 1:15b They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.(NRSV).
My own opinion is that the first three and a half years will be a time of peace and prosperity for the world during which the Temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices reinstituted. The building of the gymnasium is a negative type for the future building of the temple.
I suggest to understand the NT tribulation a look at the OT tribulation is helpful; Antiochus Epipanes, the eight king of the Selucid dynasty, provides a type for the Antichrist, who is the seventh/eighth king of the Roman system - before his assassination the beast is the seventh king and after his resurrection he is the eighth.
Reading Daniel 9:24-27 with 1 Maccabbees 1, 2 Maccabbees 5 (though they don't always agree) and secular historical sources is helpful.
The first half of Christ’s prophetic week also supports the contention for a peaceful first half week of the beast; both Christ’s and the Antichrist’s second half weeks are characterized by war.
Why are two witnesses introduced when six seals and six trumpets of the Seventh Seal have already taken place? Why does the vision revert back to just before the Great Tribulation?
It is suggested the measuring of temple leaving out the outer court parallels the man with the inkhorn setting a mark upon those who would be protected from Nebuchadnessar destruction of Jerusalem (Eze 9:3-7). Compare also the two spies and the scarlet cord for the protection of Rahab and her family.
It is suggested that the two witnesses are killed prior to the start of the Seventh Trumpet of the seventh seal.
It is suggested that with an adequate knowledge of Joshua, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zachariah one can arrive at a general outline of the events of Revelation. For example:
"You shall march around the city, all your men of war, you shall go all around the city once" (Joshua 6:3a).
"And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priest took up the ark of the LORD. Then seven priests bearing seven TRUMPETS [SALPIGX, LXX] of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and BLEW [SALPIZO, LXX] with trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued SOUNDING [SALPIZO, LXX] the trumpets" (Joshua 6:12-13).
"This shall you do six days" (Joshua 6:3a).
"And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven TRUMPETS [SALPIGX]" (Revelation 8:2).
"And the seven angels which had the seven TRUMPETS [SALPIGX] prepared themselves to SOUND [SALPIZO]" (Revelation 8:6).
Rev 8:7a The first angel sounded
The six days of marching, of once around Jericho, picture the sounding of the trumpets by the first six angels of the seventh seal.
"But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall BLOW [SALPIZO, LXX] the TRUMPETS [SALPIGX, LXX]" (Joshua 6:4b).
After the seventh time around Jericho, on the seventh day, the battle begins. After the seventh of seven plagues is poured out "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Revelation 16:14) begins. This battle in the chronological story line of the book of Revelation occurs in chapter 19, after the retro-prospective insert of Revelation 17:1-19:10.
3:11 PM, An older guy in the PCG still called himself “single” because he never married any of the women that he had sex with, including one that he had a couple kids with.
12:10 PM, those were not meant to be “curse words.” They were used as a technical description of what a lot of people were doing with other people that they were not married to.
You're repulsive on these post's and full of anger. Who's the man with a knife trying to start a gun fight now?
UCG will not stop teaching their erroneous tithing doctrines as they obviously want new ways to raise money to spend on new vanity projects. The Gospel was preached to the world, and continues to be so by many people on places like YouTube. UCG's output is rather old-fashioned and not at all appealing other than to existing older UCG members. The UCG leadership and ministers certainly need to learn modern skills, but will they leave their comfort zones?
There is an increase in the number of cultural christians, those who identify as christian because it is socially acceptable or advantageous to do so. They are buying more Bibles. Personally I generally read multiple versions online at sites like BibleGateway.com which is cheaper than buying printed Bibles.
Annon 446
You speak of a chronological story line and inset chapters in the book of Revelation. This is the challenge we face in negotiating the book to where it makes sense. This is why getting the time markers right is critical for our understanding.
I have commented before on the symbolism associated with the 1260 DAYS and 42 MONTHS. (see banned--Greco Roman Crackpot, 11/8/24 comments). Both Lahaye and HWA agree that the last 3.5 years start the Great tribulation, which according to Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 is the 5th seal (see Bullinger's Companion Bible chart at Revelation 6, page 1892).
If seals 5-7 last 3.5 years (42 months), where do seals 1-4 fit in and how long do they last? Also, these seals (1-4) don't exactly sound like a time of peace and prosperity do they?
Let's do the math. If the 2W are introduced after seals 6-7 have taken place, how does the timing of 1260 days fit in? Or, If they are killed prior to the start of the 7th trumpet of the 7th seal, the numbers still are confusing and we are left with a weird overlap of time.
There are MANY reasons why the the 2W and the Beast of Revelation 13 have their own unique time period. I will give you 2.
In Revelation 12 the woman is protected (by the 2W) for 1260 days. Yet, the saints are given into the hands of the Beast/ Little horn for 3.5 times (Rev.13:7, Daniel 7:25). This can't be the same time period!
Also, the 2W are given absolute power by God for 1260 days even to destroy their enemies (Rev.11:3-6). Yet the Beast has unlimited power for 42 months where no one can make war with him (Rev.13:4-5). Same time period? No!
There is more I could add but I think you get the drift.
??? Or, the 70 weeks are all the time from Cyrus, not Artaxerxes - Isaiah 44:28; 45:13 to the Second Coming: 70 years of the desolations of Jerusalem 605 BC to 535 BC; 133 years from 535 BC are 7 19 yr cycles with 7 13 months each = 7 weeks (a week is a time period that is sevened, that is, has a number of periods of time that is divisible by 7, or the week has 7 parts); 434 years of 7 years each = 62 weeks; total of 567 years from 535 BC to 33 AD, the year Jesus died; no 0 BC/AD.
The 70th week: from Friday or Sunday, crucifixion or resurrection, to any future Friday or Sunday, a time that is sevened. In the first half ("midst") of this time the sacrifices ceased in Jerusalem in 70 AD. Three days/nights? Days Nisan 14,15,16; darkness Friday PM, Friday night, Saturday night, in whole or part.
They just announced today in church that they're putting their sermons on their website under lock down. You now have to register and have a password to watch/listen to sermons! How is that making the gospel available to the world!? SMH....they're doing the exact same thing as LCG and PCG. Stop saying you want to preach the gospel to the world and then hide it away behind permissions and passwords. What you're really doing is exerting control. Can't any group do something different for a change without all following down the same controlling, cult-like path???
Hi BP8, it looks like we will have to agree to disagree on various points.
As I have mentioned to you, I have Bullinger’s Commentary on Revelation - there are things I agree with him on and other I don’t. (Also is somewhat polemic style of writing makes it some what laborious to read).
But it is good to see that you also don’t agree with Bullinger on everything. (The chart you refer to in The Companion Bible is on p.272 of the commentary).
Some comments from the commentary below maybe of interest.
“[Rev] vi. 1, 2. The False Christ going forth to make war on the saints (1st Seal)...” (p.250).
“The first Seal, therefore, must mark the first rising of this false Christ... Further details of this are given in Rev. xiii., where it is expressly said that “it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them...” (p.252).
“The Seals, as we have said, are a summary, in brief, of the whole period of the Tribulation...” (p.272).
“We have shown that the six Seals cover not only the whole of the Great Tribulation, but that the sixth bring us right up to the great day of wrath...” (p.293).
“This shows that these Witnesses are upon the earth during the thirteenth chapter; and the Beast is on the Earth during the eleventh chapter” (p.360).
"Chap. xi., etc., is the fulfilment of the command "Thou shalt prophesy" [Rev 11:3]: taking prophesying as being witnessing in the wildest sense" (p.344).
“The second Woe consists of two parts: The Horsemen, and the Two Witnesses” (p.368).
“The second Woe ends with the earthquake following on the ascension of the Two Witnesses” (p.368).
“The Vision [The Sealing of the 144,000], though seen after the Sixth Deal, really describes what will take place before chapter vi. and before a Seal is broken...” (p.279).
Compare my note and reference on Ezekiel 9:3-7 in previous post.
“The whole section (chaps. xii.—vv) is not only Episodal in subject and Parenthetical in form, but is a good example of HYSTEROLOGIA, by which the events, though written down later, took place earlier than those which immediately precede in historical narration. That is to say, we have in chaps. xii.—vv a prophetic record of events which will take place before chap. vi., and will lead up to, and run parallel with, what is recorded in chaps. vi.— xi” (p.385).
Cp. also the use of “hysteron proteron” in Revelation.
An example of a disagreement with Bullinger:
“We believe that it is Babylon revived and restored (as other cities have been), and that this state of magnificence will characterise her in the day of the Lord’s Apocalypse” (p.560).
He believed that ancient Babylon will be revived and restored to fulfil prophecy.
BP8, Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 6:11:52 AM PST, wrote:
In the book of Revelation there are 2 entities other than the church who are quite capable of taking the gospel to the world before the end comes (see Rev.11:3, 14:6). I don't think God has placed all His chips on the splinters. As usual, He has it all planned out and under control.
******
Yes, God has it all planned out and under control:
Acts 15:18 "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."
Hebrews 4:3 "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."
Time continues to tell...
John
BP8, Friday, December 6, 2024 at 10:55:20 AM PST, wrote:
"...There are MANY reasons why the the 2W and the Beast of Revelation 13 have their own unique time period. I will give you 2.
In Revelation 12 the woman is protected (by the 2W) for 1260 days. Yet, the saints are given into the hands of the Beast/ Little horn for 3.5 times (Rev.13:7, Daniel 7:25). This can't be the same time period!
Also, the 2W are given absolute power by God for 1260 days even to destroy their enemies (Rev.11:3-6). Yet the Beast has unlimited power for 42 months where no one can make war with him (Rev.13:4-5). Same time period? No!..."
******
Daniel 9:27 "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,..."
Jesus Christ's life was cut off in the midst/middle of the week, because of His death as our Passover sacrificed for us.
Jesus' God, His Father, gave His only begotten Son a 3 1/2 year ministry before being cut off. Jesus was the First of the Firstfruits to be sealed by God the Father, that God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Acts 13:3). Shortly after Jesus was accepted by His Father as that Wave Sheaf Offering, the rest of the Firstfruits to be sealed by God could begin, and it did begin on Pentecost when more were added to the Body of Christ: Christ being the Head. Jesus was the first member, with preeminence, with God adding more members to God's Church.
The week is about God's Church. What about that last 3 1/2 year period? Jesus Christ and His disciples came in with a bang at the beginning of God's Church.
At the end will be 3 1/2 year period with the 2 witnesses (2W) and they will be involved with the Wrath (partial destruction with 1/3 of this and 1/3 of that destroyed) of the Lamb in announcing the Trumpets. The end of this period will complete the sealing of God's Church.
Jesus was given 3 1/2 years.
The 2W were given 3 1/2 years.
Is there another 3 1/2 years? Yes, but over a thousand years later, after Satan exits the pit to again deceive the entire world one more time, and at the end of that period will be involved with the Wrath of God (not partial, but total destruction) to finally put an end to Satan's works on earth and cause the death of Satan and his angels.
God seems to have some fairness about what He does with allowing 3 1/2 years for His Son, His 2W, and even Satan the Devil. Who would have thunk it? Incidentally, what the 2W do is bring down Satan's governments/kingdoms and prepare that thing to go into the pit, sort of a "pit-stop" to last only 1,000 years, then like a "jack in the box" pop out on the world scene again.
So, yes, the 2W and the Beast (as Gog and his angels) do have their own unique periods of time to “do their thing.”
Does God have this all under control (Acts 15:18; Heb 4:3) with apparently some simplicity?
Time will tell...
John
Saddam Hussein was slowly rebuilding Babylon at the time of his demise. That failed, so I gave up on Bullinger.
I personally believe that the false Christ will arise on January 20, 2025, and the tribulation will follow. Beats the hell out of anything the ACOGs are saying.
COGaic (David Hulme) have been doing that for years. You cannot access anything on their websites unless you have the password, with no option to even ask for a password. Hulme believed in preaching the gospel, and through his magazine Vision to various non-believers. But now you need a password for that.
And in COGWA-BI on their YouTube channel, it used to be you could watch their live Sabbath services, but now they broadcast that on cogwa.tv and you need a password.
If these churches are preaching the gospel, why are they only preaching to those they give a password to? How is that preaching to the world?
Anon 401
I also have Bullinger's Commentary and you are right, it is a hard read. He does acknowledge that Revelation is not a continuous story flow because of inset chapters and parenthetical passages, yet the 7 seals themselves, along with Matthew 24, offer a uniform outline, even as Daniel 2 is the great outline of Gentile dominion. In fact, Bullinger confirms more of my position than you might think. He does however, contradict himself in several places.
The positives I agree with:
1. The 7 seals and Matt.24 are a summary of the whole period of Tribulation (with the Great tribulation proper including the martyrdom of saints being the 5th seal). Pages 262, 517
2. He clearly identifies the the divisions of the final 7 years as the 1st half of the week, the middle of the week, and the last half of the week (412).
3. The Beast's career consist of 2 stages or risings, Seals 1 and 5, separated by a deadly wound and resurrection. To summarize this we find in the 1st half of the week the Beast exists in his mortal stage (412, 421, 516, 518, 527-529, 542-43). This is also the SAME TIME the 2W witness (541-42) which establishes the 1260 days as being in the first half of the week.
In the middle of the week, after the deadly wound is healed, the Beast comes out of the abyss, kills the 2W, makes war against the saints and overcomes them, which begins the 5th seal (412, 500, 517, 531, 541-42).
In the last half of the week, the Beast reigns in his superhuman stage (412, 428-29, 516-18, 527-29, 543), which is the time of Rev.13--42 months, the time of his brief millennium, the time of the final embodiment of Satanic power. (421, 426, 518).
Questionable statements made by Bullinger:
1. The 2W are on the earth during Ch.13 and the Beast on the earth during ch.11, yet he is not sure if the 1260 days and 42 months are the same time or not (353). He admits to the possibility of an overlap (542) but in other places they are separate.
2. He implies the 2nd woe (7th seal) consists of 2 parts, the Horseman and the 2W (368)?? This contradicts where he has these parts in the first half of the week (541-42). The 7th seal obviously falls in the last half!
3. He indirectly applies the 42 months to the first half of the week (541) which contradicts statements made elsewhere (428-29, 518).
4. He says the 3rd woe (7th seal, Day of the Lord) begins in the middle of the week (412), yet this is also the time of Satan's brief millennium where man will be happy (426)?? This makes no sense!
According to HWA and I think he's right, the Great tribulation beginning at the 5th seal is Satan's wrath on God's people, the time of Jacob's trouble, the abomination of desolation with the Beast sitting in the temple of God, while the Day of the Lord , the 7th seal, is God's wrath on the Beast's Babylonian system. Neither will be happy times.
This is a very very broad subject!
Hi BP8,
Thanks for pointing out Bullinger's contradictions. It is some 25 to 30 years since I have read his commentary from end to end. As it is a hard read I only skimmed it to see some points that were opposed to your view. It appears that the agreement that you have with Bullinger are the ones I disagree with :).
When a question comes up on Revelation, Robert Mounce's and Alan Johnson's commentaries are the ones I go to first and then the others that I have, and it is only at somewhat rare last resorts that I look at Bullinger.
My present understanding, seen from my comment, is that the two witnesses are God's representatives in Jerusalem during most of the Great Tribulation (GT).
For me, Revelation 11:1-2 is just prior to the GT when some of God's people will be measured for protection — cp. being marked in Eze 9:3-9; and the seal on the forehead of the 144,000; cp. Matt 24:15-16); scarlet thread in the window (Jos 2:18-19);and the outer court of God's people will experience the GT up to the sealing of the great multitude for protection just before the wrath of the Lamb (Rev 6:16).
1 Macc 1:29 ... the king [Antiochus] sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute [Apollonius 2 Macc 5:24], and he came to Jerusalem with a large force.
1 Macc 1:30b ... he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a sever blow, and destroyed many people of Israel (NRSV). (Cp. Dan 9:26ba and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;
1 Macc 1:44 The king sent messengers with letters to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah ordering them...
1 Macc 1:46b to build pagan altars and temples and shrines.
1 Macc 1:50 Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king should be put to death. (NAB)
While looking at Daniel and Revelation I also look at the history of Antiochus in Maccabbees and other historical sources for that time. I also use the typology of Joshua, son of Nun, and his conquest of Canaan as a type for Joshua, Son of God and His conquest of the World - Jericho and Jerusalem being the two entry point battles, respectively. I also look at the typology of Elijah the Tishbite; as I believe that one of the two witness will be Malachi's Elijah the prophet; and note that John the Baptist, a type of Elijah, was killed just before Jesus began his Galilean ministry.
Below are excepts from an old unfinished article:
The two witnesses and upper living
This "scribble" provides a typological scenario which suggests that the two witnesses (Rev 11) will be living in Jerusalem, upstairs, in a household led by a Gentile woman during the Great Tribulation. Rahab and the Syrophoenician woman provide the type.
Jos 2:1 And they went, and came to the house of ... Rahab, and lodged [shakeb] there.
Jos 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them,
Jos 2:8 And before they were laid down [shakeb], she came up unto them upon the ROOF;
1Ki 17:9a Arise, get thee to Zarephath ... and dwell [yashab] there:
1 Ki 17:9b I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
1 Ki 17:: 19 the UPPER ROOM [huperoon, LXX], where he abode [yashab] ... his own bed.
[Cp. also 2Ki 4:10 Let us make a little chamber [huperoon, LXX], I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him [Elisha] there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.]
"Elijah is commanded to go and reside in the heart of the very land from which the Baal worship now being promoted in Israel had come" (NIVSB).
Part 2
"Zarephath ... lay in Phoenician territory controlled by Ahab's father-in-law. Elijah was visiting enemy territory and showing the power of God in an area where Baal was worshipped, though ineffective, through drought" (Donald J. Wiseman, 1 and 2 Kings, TOTC, p.177).
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Da 11:45a And he [the Antichrist/Beast] shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain;
Along with "the residue of the people" will be God's two witnesses. The "beast" will reside in Jerusalem, which will be the centre of Beast/Antichrist worship set up by the false prophet.
Ahab/Jezebel and Beast/False Prophet typology
1Ki 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he [Ahab] took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
1Ki 16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
1Ki 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; [cp. the abomination of desolation]
1Ki 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) [cp. Rev 11:1; 7:3; 12:6].
"Omri's alliance with Ethbaal of Tyre and Sidon (Omri's son Ahab married Ethbaal's daughter Jezebel to seal the alliance) led to widespread Baal worship in the northern kingdom (vv. 31-33) and eventually to the near extinction of the Davidic line in the southern kingdom (see 2Ki 11; see also note on 2Ki 8:18)...
"16:32 temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab imported the Phoenician Baal worship of his wife Jezebel into the northern kingdom by constructing a temple of Baal in Samaria, just as Solomon had erected the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
"16:33 Asherah pole... Ahab elevated the worship of Baal to an official status in the northern kingdom at the beginning of his reign.
"17:1 Elijah. Elijah's name (meaning "The LORD is my God") was the essence of his message (18:21,39). HE WAS SENT TO OPPOSE VIGOROUSLY, BY WORD AND ACTION, BOTH BAAL WORSHIP AND THOSE WHO ENGAGED IN IT" (NIVSB).
Briefly, Ahab and Jezebel are types of the beast and false prophet. At the beginning of the reign of the Antichrist, that is, after his assassination and resurrection, the false prophet will set up a worship-system to worship the Beast. In this typology the religion of the southern kingdom pictures Sabbath-keeping people of God; the religion of the northern kingdom (Jeroboam introduced) pictures Sunday-keeping people of God and Baal worship pictures the religion that will replace both the above worship systems with the false prophet to "cut off" those who won't worship the beast-person. The 100 prophets hid in two caves picture a place of safety for some of God's people.
1Ki 22:8 And the king of Israel [Ahab] said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.
The two witness will oppose vigorously, by word and action, both beast worship and those who engaged in it.
But time will tell.
Daniel 9:27 is quoted above; this is my two cents:
Da 9:26b and the people of the PRINCE that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and THE END thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Da 9:27 And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week HE shall cause THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION TO CEASE [shabat], and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until THE CONSUMMATION, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
In Daniel 9:27 “HE shall” do three things:
(1) make strong a covenant; (2) cause the sacrifice to cease; and (3) and cause “desolation”. Who is “He”? The nearest antecedent is the “prince” of 9:26.
Da 12:11 And from the time that THE DAILY SACRIFICE SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, and the abomination [siqqus] that maketh desolate [somen] set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
At the beginning of his prophetic week the Beast/Antichrist will make a covenant with the Jews; which will most likely include a building of a temple, that he will get to sit in it in the middle of the week. In the middle of the week he will then bring the end of sacrificing which will include the daily sacrifice.
(Christ will restore the sacrificial system at His return — during those days the Levitical priests will not lack a man to make smoke (Jer 33:15-21).
Da 9:27 “abomination [bdelygma] of the [ton] desolations [eremoeon]” (Swete, LXX).
Da 12:11 “the abomination [bdelygma] of the [ton] desolation [eremoseos])” (Swete, LXX).
Mt 24:15 “the abomination [bdelygma] of the [ton] desolation [eremoseos]”
This will be the time to flee as the Great Tribulation will begin.
Jesus was cut-off in the middle of a prophetic week, but as He was killed on a Friday it was not during a 7-day week.
Ex 12:6 and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it between the evening.
1Co 5:7b Christ our passover is sacrificed for us
Lev 23:10b ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Lev 23:1b on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall elevate it.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Christ fulfilled the OT typology by being killed between the evenings and rose from the dead on the morrow after the Sabbath — just as the physical harvest began on the first day of the week so did the spiritual harvest.
Mt 16:21b and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Lev 19:6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.
Eight times Christ said that he would be raised the “third day”. “The third day” is a Hebrew idiom for “the day after tomorrow”; cp. Lk 13:32 where the literal idiom provides the basis of the non-literal idiom.
Friday was the first day, the Sabbath is the “morrow” and Sunday is the “third day” or day after the morrow).
The one occurrence of “three days and three nights” is also a non-literal idiom, because if it was literal it would contradict the eight occurrences of the “third day” idiom used by Jesus.
Rev 13:5b and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:7b And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:
Da 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Da 7:25b and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Gog is not the Beast. The Beast/little horn is the end time ruler of the Roman/Babylonian system.
There are four beast that come out of the sea (Da 7:3) that span the time from Nebuchadnezzar to when Christ appears a “second time” (Heb 9:28).
The Beast in Revelation, as a kingdom, is the fourth beast of Daniel. Rev 13 and 17 provide more detail on this kingdom and its end-time leader, known as the beast and Antichrist.
Then why not request a password ? What have you got to hide?
Leave comfort zones? Some of them don't even believe. The people of God have always been used for money.
Why is it always about the leadership? Perhaps God is not so concerned about the leadership as the leadership are about themselves.
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