On March 11, 2006, Rene Messier and Brian Gale will give split sermons.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

We often stop and examine the actions of our individual lives to be
certain we understand the path upon which we are traveling; the way we
are living our lives. This is the season when we are told,
specifically, to be examining ourselves. Is our present path in line
with the calling which we have received?

Once God allows us to
begin receiving the precious knowledge of His Way and allows us to
receive the gift of His Spirit, He does expect to see us moving more in
the direction of His Way. And God’s Way is totally contrary to the ways
of this world.

With this being Satan’s world (See Ephesians
2:1-3; Matthew 4:8-9; John 12:30-32; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4), we find the
world moving more in the way of war, in the way of hate, in a way
totally opposite from God’s approach to life to which we have been
called. God’s Way is the way of peace!

How are we doing, collectively and individually?

James makes a profound statement in James 3:13-18, which says:

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

“But
if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast
and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not come from above, but is
earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist,
confusion and every evil thing will be there.

“But the wisdom
that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to
yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who
make peace.”

Thus we have been called to be a people of peace–not a people of war!

Through
the power of God’s Spirit within us, and with the true knowledge of
God’s Way, which He is revealing to us, we have the ability to receive
true wisdom and understanding within our lives. It is this wisdom, this
understanding that should be motivating us to be able to live peaceably
within our homes, within the Church and in the community as a whole.

How are we doing?

In
the new world, which God the Father and Jesus Christ will be
establishing soon on the earth, this approach will be the order of the
day. But in the meantime, the world we live in is at war–nation
against nation, kingdom against kingdom–and people cannot seem to get
along peaceably within the boundaries of their own households.

We
have been called to move in a different direction from the way the
world is living. We have been called to live a new and a better
way–the way of love, the way of peace, the way that will bear the
fruit of righteousness!

How are we doing?

Germany Emerging as Europe’s Leader

The EUobserver reported on March 7:

“Germany has indicated that it might be willing to lead EU peacekeeping troops to secure elections in Congo, but member states are reluctant to provide soldiers to the mission. According to Reuters, when asked if he expected Germany to drop its initial reluctance to lead the mission, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said ‘I think so’. At a meeting of EU defence ministers in the Austrian alpine resort of Innsbruck on Monday (6 March), German defence minister Franz-Josef Jung appeared to soften Berlin’s reluctance to lead the operation, but insisted that he expected others to offer troops for the mission. ‘We have always said we will not sidestep a responsibility, but there is an overall responsibility for Europe here,’ Mr Jung said. ‘We have always said very clearly that it must be a combined European effort, there must be a fair distribution. Germany can’t commit to sending 1,500 soldiers,’ he added… Britain and France both refused to lead the mission meaning Germany was the only member state left with sufficient military capacity to do so. Portugal and Austria have said they might ‘symbolically’ send half a dozen soldiers. Spain has been asked to send soldiers, but despite foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos expressing ‘good intention’, Spanish diplomatic sources at the meeting in Innsbruck said that the chance of Spanish troops being deployed in Congo were ‘minimal’, writes daily ABC. Finnish defence minister Seppo Kaariainen said that Finland might consider contributing a few staff officers to the operation, but no troops.”

In a related article, Der Spiegel Online wrote on March 8:

“The European Union has once again postponed deciding whether to send peacekeeping troops to Congo during elections this June… any mission to the strife-torn African country threatens to become a farce… Germany, which has reluctantly been pushed into taking the lead of any eventual EU mission, apparently can’t even find enough other European countries willing to contribute troops. Poland on Tuesday pledged 30 troops and Austria promised to send 10… Whether even a determined mission by the EU could help turn things around is questionable. But some observers fear a wishy-washy deployment that only appears to be ensuring Westerners have a safe getaway when things fall apart could even do more harm than good. Still, members of the German government seem convinced Europe cannot afford to stand by and do nothing. ‘Europeans have a special responsibility for Africa,’ said German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, explaining Europe must finally follow words with deeds. ‘Anything else would be an admission of failure.'”

The EUobserver added on March 7: “Germany, who had earlier indicated that it might be willing to lead the EU force, insisted more talks were needed with Congolese leaders before deploying soldiers for the operation. German defence minister Franz-Josef Jung told reporters in Innsbruck that Berlin would not agree to take the lead until it had clear offers of support from other EU members and firm agreement from Congolese authorities.”

Even though these events show again how reluctant Europe is to get involved in trouble-spots outside Europe–and that Europe presently does not have one mind and does not speak with one voice–it is still interesting that GERMANY is being pushed into a leadership position in Europe. THAT is exactly in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy (compare Revelation 17:12-13). For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.”

Did the Soviet Union Try to Kill the Pope?

On March 2, 2006, AFP reported the following:

“Leaders of the former Soviet Union ordered the assassination bid on Pope John Paul II in 1981, the head of an Italian parliamentary commission announced. But the post-Soviet intelligence service of President Vladimir Putin immediately dismissed the allegation as an absurdity. Italian Senator Paolo Guzzanti said the findings of the commission showed ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’ that Moscow’s military secret service, the GRU, was responsible for the shooting as the late pope greeted pilgrims in St Peter’s Square. The assertion, for years a favourite of conspiracy theorists in Italy, reopened old Cold War wounds. ‘This commission believes, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the leaders of the USSR took the initiative to eliminate Pope Karol Wojtyla [John Paul II] and that they communicated this decision to the military secret service ….to commit a crime of unique gravity, without equal in modern history,’ said a draft made available to journalists…

“Historians have long held that John Paul II’s support for the Solidarity-inspired democracy movement in Poland was a thorn in the side of the Soviet Union, and the late pope has been credited with helping to tear down the Berlin Wall in 1989… The Russians had also used the East German secret service, the Stasi, to spread ‘disinformation and media poisoning…'”

Venezuela Prepares for War with the USA

The Telegraph reported on March 3:

“Venezuela begins training a vast army of civilian reserves today to fight off the attack its Left-wing president, Hugo Chavez, says the United States is plotting against it. The oil-rich state aims to teach up to two million volunteers, from the unemployed to office workers, shop assistants and housewives, basic military skills such as marching in step or shooting to kill. If it reaches that size, the force will be the largest civilian reserve army in the Americas, double the size of Washington’s reserves. Its creation will further inflame relations between Venezuela and the US, already characterised by insults and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats… Mr Chavez has been buying military hardware, including Russian helicopters, 100,000 AK-47 rifles and Brazilian and Spanish equipment he says Venezuela needs to defend itself.”

But what are Chavez’ real intentions? The article continued:

“… many Venezuelans see Mr Chavez, not the US, as the real threat. They are increasingly afraid the civilian reserves will be used to intimidate and, if necessary, suppress the opposition as he campaigns to win six more years in power later this year. A message written in the dusty window of a Caracas van sent a silent plea to the US not to invade but to rescue the Venezuelans from their maverick leader. ‘We are counting on you, Condoleezza [Rice]. Intervene, please.'”

U.S. House Panel Votes to Block Ports Deal

The Associated Press reported on March 8, 2006, that “a House panel dominated by Republicans voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to block a Dubai-owned firm from taking control of some U.S port operations. By 62-2, the Appropriations Committee voted to bar DP World, run by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports. Bush has promised to veto any such measure passed by Congress, but there is widespread public opposition to the deal and the GOP fears losing its advantage on the issue of national security in this fall’s elections… By its vote, the House committee attached the ports language to a must-pass $91 billion measure financing hurricane recovery and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The full House could consider that measure as early as next week. While GOP Senate leaders hope to delay a quick showdown with Bush on the issue, the House panel, including members of Bush’s own party, showed a willingness to defy him.”

Did God Tell Tony Blair to Go to War?

AFP reported on March 4 about Tony Blair’s recent highly controversial comments on God and the Iraq war:

“Details emerged Friday of Blair’s interview on an ITV1 television talk show where he said God and history would judge his action in joining the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. ‘That decision has to be taken and has to be lived with…’ Blair… a devout Christian [said]. ‘If you believe in God, it’s made by God as well.’… Blair’s remarks reminded him of US President George W. Bush who was quoted as saying last year that God told him to invade Iraq and Afghanistan… Blair is seen by some as the most religious British premier since William Gladstone (1809-1898), who gave up his vocation as a pastor to enter politics… There is speculation he plans to convert from High Church Anglican to Catholicism after leaving office. Blair’s wife Cherie is a strong Catholic and he regularly attends Mass with her and their children at the prime minister’s country residence in Chequers. The Catholic priest of that parish, Timothy Russ, has revealed that Blair asked for advice on moving between the churches. But Blair says he has no plans to convert and only attends Catholic services so the family can worship together.”

War With Iran?

The Guardian reported on March 6:

“The US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, has told British MPs that military action could bring Iran’s nuclear programme to a halt if all diplomatic efforts fail… While the US and Britain keep a united front over Iraq in the UN security council, there are clear differences over Iran. Britain has ruled out a military option… The US has not… Some believe Iran has secret facilities that are buried so deep underground as to be impenetrable. They argue that the US could never be certain whether or not it had destroyed Iran’s ‘capability’.”

On February 16, 2006, Der Spiegel Online had stated:

“Thousands of soldiers and civilians would likely be killed if the United States or Israel were to attack Iran. The strikes would also spark a lasting regional crisis in the entire Middle East and the risks would be enormous, a new British study warns.”

The Associated Press reported on March 8:

“Iran threatened the United States with ‘harm and pain’ Wednesday for its role in hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program. But the United States and its European allies said Iran’s nuclear intransigence left the world no choice but to ask for Security Council action. The council could impose economic and political sanctions on Iran.”

Reuters added on March 8:

“If the U.N. Security Council is incapable of taking action to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel will have no choice but to defend itself, Israel’s defense minister [Shaul Mofaz] said on Wednesday…’The Israeli approach is that the U.S. and the European countries should lead the issue of the Iranian nuclear program to the table of the U.N. Security Council, asking for sanctions. And I hope the sanctions will be effective,’ Mofaz said… At a news conference with Mofaz, [German defense minister Franz-Josef] Jung told reporters Germany was already discussing with the five permanent Security Council members — Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France — what the council could do to prevent Tehran getting the bomb. ‘Everything must be done to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons,’ Jung said.”

Bird Flu–and No End in Sight…

The Associated Press reported on March 6:

“Three cats have tested positive for the deadly strain of bird flu in Austria’s first reported case of the disease spreading to an animal other than a bird, state authorities said Monday… The World Health Organization called bird flu a greater global challenge than any previous infectious disease, costing global agriculture more than $10 billion and affecting the livelihoods of 300 million farmers. Poland reported its first outbreak of the disease, saying Monday that laboratory tests confirmed that two wild swans had died of the lethal strain.”

China and India’s New-Found Friendship

Der Spiegel Online reported on March 6 about the relationship between China and India. The article was titled: “When Former Enemies Become New Friends.” It was stated:

“Though the people of India and China may still be keeping prejudices alive that have divided the two countries for decades, a rapprochement is taking place on the political level. In recent years, New Delhi has signaled that it may align with its former military enemy and current economic competitor in its battle for shares of the world market and to increase Asia’s military clout. Together, the countries aspire to move up into the league of rich nations. Last year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao negotiated an economic cooperation partnership with the Indian government which would see an increase in trade from the current $13 billion a year to $20 billion by 2008. A declaration of intent states that more cross-border businesses, roads, rail and flight connections should be created. Cooperation should also be strengthened ‘in the development and use of oil and gas resources in third countries.’ If these new Asian friends successfully implement their plans, a partnership that first caught Europe and the United States by surprise could soon fuel fear in the West. The most ambitious idea being floated in Beijing and New Delhi is that of creating a joint Sino-Indian common market based on the European model. If that effort ever prevailed, it would result in the world’s largest economic unit, with around 2.5 billion consumers, one-third of the world’s population…  by aligning its economy with China’s, India might still emerge as an economic powerhouse. ‘When China awakens, the world will tremble,’ French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is believed to have said about 200 years ago.”

In an earlier article, titled, “Can the Dragon and the Elephant Be Friends?”, the magazine wrote on April 18, 2005:

“Asian giants China and India may be teaming up. It’s a development that is sending shockwaves around the world and may threaten the global balance of industrial and political power… China and India — two nuclear powers whose populations account for close to 40 percent of the globe — are growing closer… Strategists at the CIA… insist the emergence of the two giants has political and economic consequences as ‘dramatic’ as the rise of Germany in the 19th century and the rise of the United States in the 20th century… In [a] plan, China is looking to use battleships outside its own borders to secure its oil supply. In fact, in the fight over natural resources, the new Asian partners remain bitter opponents. Both China and India are desperately trying to gain oil and gas supplies from all over the world. But even in this dealing, the Indians and Chinese are using a pragmatic approach: In Sudan, an Indian company is building a pipeline while Beijing is supplying the corresponding refinery. And in Iran, India holds 20 percent of an oil field, while 50 percent belongs to China.”

These are interesting developments. The Bible predicts that in the end, China and India will become strong allies, even militarily, together with such countries as Russia and Japan. Europe will feel more and more intimidated and threatened by rumors emerging from that region of the world–so much so that it will unsuccessfully attack this new emerging power bloc (compare Daniel 11:44-45). For more information, please read our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy.”

Iraq’s Coming Civil War

On March 6, Der Spiegel Online wrote about the real threat of civil war in Iraq–because of religious animosity in that country. The article was titled: “Religious Strife Is Pushing Iraq towards Civil War.” It was pointed out: “The conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Basra is overshadowing the insurgency against occupation forces, as armed groups controlled by radical clerics take over power in the country. As Iran systematically expands its influence in southern Iraq, the Americans are being relegated to a secondary role.”

South Dakota’s Fight Against Abortion

On March 6, 2006, The Associated Press reported:

“Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday that would ban most abortions in South Dakota, a law he acknowledged would be tied up in court for years while the state challenges the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. The bill would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman’s life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest. The governor issued a written statement saying he expected a lengthy legal battle over the law, which, he said, would not take effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it.”

New Solar Storm Coming

On March 7, ScientificAmerican.com reported about the increased danger of solar storms. A new model is supposed to predict the intensity and timing of solar storms. The article stated: “This model proved more than 98 percent effective in predicting the relative strength and duration of the past eight solar storm cycles… it calls for the next cycle–so-called Cycle 24–to be 30 to 50 percent stronger than the present one. Solar outbursts have effects on everything from satellites to the electrical grid here on Earth.”

The article pointed out that, according to the model, Cycle 24 will begin in late 2007, or early 2008, but some scientists disagree, stating that it will begin in late 2006.

In a related article, the Stanford Solar Center speculated whether solar storms might cause global warming, stating: “Some solar scientists are considering whether some part of global warming may be caused, by a periodic but small increase in the Sun’s energy output. An increase of just 0.2% in the solar output could have the same affect as doubling the carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.”

Since there were clearly solar storms in the past, which would have changed the carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere, this proves the inaccuracy of the postulated age of fossils according to the radio carbon method. After all, that method requires, in order to give accurate results, that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was constant at all times and never changed.

Finns Unhappy with Europe

The EUobserver reported on March 8 that “One in four Finns would like their country to withdraw from the European Union, according to a poll published on Tuesday (7 March)… On the budget, nearly 70 percent… said that Finland’s contribution to the bloc’s common coffers was too high compared to what the country got back. Finns also have reservations about the euro. Some 44 percent said they were unhappy with the common currency… The poll comes just ahead of Helsinki’s time at the helm of the EU, with the country set to take over the bloc’s presidency in July. Among the reasons given by Finns for being discontent with the EU are the dominance of the largest member states.”

According to Biblical prophecy, there is a strong possibility that countries like Finland and Sweden, as well as the United Kingdom, will NOT be part of the final configuration of the United States of Europe.

Poland Against Europe?

The EUobserver reported on March 8 that “Polish president Lech Kaczynski has said it is too early for the creation of an EU foreign minister post, following calls from Paris for a strengthened role for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana… adding that the time is not ripe for the creation of a European diplomatic service either. The Polish stance comes amid French calls for quicker implementation of single elements of the EU constitution to strengthen the EU’s voice in the world… Small states like the Netherlands are also wary of a strengthened role for Mr Solana as he is seen as following the agenda of big member states France, Germany and the UK… Mr Kaczynski reiterated his opposition to attempts to revive the EU constitution… The Polish leader also pushed the idea of a NATO-style EU energy security pact, rebuffing German proposals that EU energy security should be modelled along the looser structure of the OSCE which also includes Russia… Energy is set to be one of the topics dominating talks between Mr Kaczynski and Ms Merkel, amid frequent criticism by Warsaw of Berlin’s signing of a bilateral deal with Moscow on a direct German-Russian gas pipeline bypassing Poland.”

Poland’s position is very understandable, especially in light of past occupations of Germany and Russia. However, it is very likely (although not necessary) that Poland will become a strong supporter of European unification under German leadership.

EU Joint Defense Research Fund

On March 7, 2006, the EUobserver reported: “EU defence ministers have given the green light to create a common defence research and technology… fund, aimed at narrowing the gap between the US and Europe in high-tech military equipment… One EU proposal suggests member states pool a small part of their defence budgets for EU cooperation on military research… the move has been heavily criticised, with opponents saying it would constitute a threat to national control over military affairs. Britain is among the states that has strongly opposed the fund, which would be managed by the EU’s European Defence Agency… and controlled by national governments… the British have now agreed to spending more money on research and technology in the bloc, although London has stressed that the money should be spent on concrete projects, and not be paid to Brussels ‘in blanco'”.

It is again Great Britain which seems to be slowing down European unification. The Bible strongly suggests that continental Europe will finally decide that they are “better off” without British participation in the formation of a United States of Europe.

Before addressing 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, we need to give a brief
background on Herbert W. Armstrong and the Biblical teaching about
“apostles.” Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986) was led by God to
establish the Radio Church of God in the early 1930’s–later to be
renamed the Worldwide Church of God. This powerful work focused on the
Biblical guidelines that characterize the true followers of Jesus
Christ. Mr. Armstrong’s ministry was based on the understanding given
to him, and he often spoke of his personal growth in understanding. He
even mentioned in his old age that he had been learning more within the
last year than ever before–and as it occurred, this was the last year
of his life. He continually taught what the Bible records in 2 Peter
3:18: “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Many
who were members of the Worldwide Church of God recognized the
tremendous zeal and the obvious fruits of Mr. Armstrong’s leadership in
his service to God. Based on this and the Biblical examples, many also
came to believe that Mr. Armstrong fulfilled the office of an apostle.
Beyond the original twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ (compare
Luke 6:13), the New Testament identifies others who became apostles in
the Church of God in that first generation of believers (compare Acts
1:15-26 regarding Matthias, who replaced Judas; Acts 14:14 regarding
Barnabas and Paul; and Galatians 1:19 regarding James, the half-brother
of Jesus Christ). That others in subsequent times would also become
apostles in the Church of God is supported by Scripture, as we will now
explain:

Consider that in the organized administration of the
Church, God has established offices through specific ordination. 1
Corinthians 12:28 states: “And God has appointed these in the church:
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

Ephesians
adds to this: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, FOR the equipping of
the saints FOR the work of ministry, FOR the edifying [margin: building
up] of the body of Christ” (4: 11-12).

Paul reminded the
Corinthian Church of his work with them: “Truly the signs of an apostle
were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders
and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12). In his earlier letter to this
Church, Paul also addressed the proof of his apostleship: “Am I not an
apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you
not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet
doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal [Margin: certification] of
my apostleship in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 9:1-2).

The Biblical
principle that these verses reveal is that an apostle will be known by
his fruits (Compare Matthew 7:16, 20). We see the example of a sorcerer
named Simon who wanted the “power” that was associated with the work of
an apostle: “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the
apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may
receive the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 8:18-19). Quite obviously, Simon wanted
the same office and abilities as the apostles, but he wanted them for
entirely wrong purposes!

Others arose in the Church of that day
claiming to be apostles. Their fruits did not build up the body of
Christ! Here is Paul’s very poignant warning–a warning we must
continue to heed in our time: “For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no
wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform
themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according
to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

In the message to the
churches, Jesus addresses the problem that this first generation of the
Church (Ephesus) faced, and He encouraged them in having a right
approach: “‘I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you
cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they
are apostles and are not, and have found them liars'” (Revelation 2:2).
His concluding statement includes something He sternly cautioned each
era of the Church to be mindful of and to do: “‘He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Verse 7).

Even in
our day, some have arisen, falsely claiming to be apostles. We must
continue to judge according to the fruits we observe–regardless of
what some may claim, when their statements are not supported by God’s
Word! Paul wrote to the Church of God at Corinth and chastised them for
trying to divide Christ. They had become followers of one or another of
those who led the Church. Evidently, some even rejected all of the
apostles and claimed they followed Christ. Conveniently, that would
remove them from Paul’s oversight and authority (compare 1 Corinthians,
chapters 1, 2 and 3). However, Jesus Christ has clearly shown that the
leadership of His appointed ministry was to be followed. If fact, the
living Jesus Christ has continued to lead the Church of God to this
time through the organized administration He has appointed. As in the
lifetime of Herbert W. Armstrong or any of those who served the Church
in earlier generations all the way back to the original apostles,
faithful ministers will be known by their fruits!

With this
background, let us address 1 Corinthians 11:1-2, where Paul states:
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Now I praise you, brethren,
that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I
delivered them to you.” It is difficult to see how someone can argue,
based on these passages, that the Church of God must not correct any
error today, when the Bible clearly reveals such error; but there are
indeed some who take this strange position. They reason that we must
follow an “apostle,” no matter what–even if an apostle should be
incorrect in teaching or action–as we are to follow an apostle as we
would follow Christ. This is, however, NOT what 1 Corinthians 11:1-2
conveys. In fact, just the OPPOSITE is true.

Matthew Henry’s
Commentary explains this passage as follows: “Yet would not Paul be
followed blindly. He would be followed himself no further than he
followed Christ. Christ’s pattern is a copy without a blot; so is no
man’s else.”

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown state: “We are to follow Christ first, and earthly teachers only so far as they follow Christ.”

One
translation of 1 Corinthians 11:1 says: “Be imitators of me, EXACTLY as
I am of Christ.” Certainly that translation would clearly show that we
are to follow another individual only as long as he imitates Christ
exactly. Paul was encouraging people to follow his good example, which
was in direct contrast to the one that many Corinthians seemed to be
setting. At the start of this epistle, in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul
addressed the problems regarding contentions over men (compare verses
10-12). The same has happened in this modern age, showing that
nothing really changes.

1 Corinthians 11:2 states that Paul
delivered traditions to the Corinthians, but he was the deliverer, not
the originator. This is being said in the context of him having seen
and spent time with Christ personally (Acts 9:1-9; Galatians
1:11-12,18).

The Church was built on the foundation of Jesus
Christ and the apostles and prophets because Christ was perfect and,
while the apostles and prophets weren’t, only that which is correct
doctrine has been preserved and canonized.

This is not to
say that the Bible DOES NOT report of wrong conduct of the early
apostles, both before and after their conversion. Quite to the
contrary! Are we to assume that Church members had to follow the
apostles, even if they acted wrongfully? Let us not forget that Judas
Iscariot was an apostle. Should he have been blindly followed in spite
of his example?

When converted Peter, who was also an apostle,
played the hypocrite and refused to eat with the Gentiles (Galatians
2:11-13), so that even converted Barnabas, another apostle, was
influenced by this hypocrisy, should the Church have followed Peter and
Barnabas? That would be following apostles irrespective, as some
teach today; but Paul–a third apostle–did not approve of such a wrong
concept. He challenged, rebuked and corrected Peter openly, explaining
that he was no longer following Christ in that incident, and that Paul
could not follow Peter in that regard. In fact, Paul asked Peter to
change. Should Peter have been blindly followed at that
time in spite of his example?

Before he died, Mr. Armstrong
exhorted members to follow the new Pastor General after his death. But,
it should have been clearly understood that Mr. Armstrong did not mean
that we were to follow the new Pastor General in ways opposite to the
Word of God. Sadly, many in the Church did so and adopted false
teachings and practices, especially, when the new Pastor General began
to claim that he was an apostle (even though his fruits showed that he
was not). This wrong concept, which is only a variation of what some
teach TODAY, ended in disaster, as under Mr. Armstrong’s successor,
much truth was removed from the Church and gross error introduced.

Mr.
Armstrong stated many times in his life that we were ONLY to follow him
AS he was following Christ, and that we would have to REJECT him or his
teachings if he was to CEASE following Christ. Many will remember how
Mr. Armstrong told the Church time and time again: “Don’t believe me.
Believe the Bible.” The Church, under Mr. Armstrong, taught its
students at Ambassador College that Paul was telling the Corinthians,
in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Follow me as I follow Christ, but don’t follow
me if I don’t follow Christ.”

In 1 Corinthians 3:10 Paul
states that “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a
wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on
it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” The foundation
must always be that as revealed by God and if an apostle is in accord
with God’s revelation of truth, then he may be imitated as he imitates
Christ. The original apostles who were eye witnesses, recorded the acts
and teachings of Jesus when He was here on earth, together with other
much needed information which, when added to the Hebrew Scriptures,
give us God’s complete and perfect revelation to mankind. But even
these apostles should not be followed blindly, as Scripture clearly
reveals.

Acts 4:8-12 sets out that there is salvation only
through the name of Christ and not through any other third party:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the
people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good
deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let
it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised
from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is
the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the
chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is
no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1
Corinthians 11:1 can, and must be taken at face value: We are to follow
Paul or any other servant of God ONLY to the extent that he follows
Christ.

Lead Writers: Norbert Link, Dave Harris and Brian Gale

On March 4, 2006, Norbert Link will give the sermon, titled, “Why Not Heaven?”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

There are times when we really need help!

That need may arise
because we find ourselves caught up in disaster–such as the terrible
plight we have witnessed in the devastating tidal waves of Asia; or the
hurricanes in the southeastern United States; or the heart-rending
starvation in parts of Africa; or the countless other traumas that
continue to scar this earth with unrelenting persistence.

Many
governments, as well as individuals, have generously responded with
help for those who could not help themselves, but the need is simply
greater than either the willingness or the ability of those who can
help.

In that massive landscape of trouble, we might feel helpless–but that is not the case at all! Not for those who serve God!

Note
what God says–a statement that we need to be reminded of, especially
when we need help: “‘Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is
there anything too hard for Me?'” (Jeremiah 32:27).

Among many
Psalms that reveal God as our Helper, one by the sons of Korah is
particularly reassuring: “God is our refuge and strength, A very
present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the
earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of
the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains
shake with its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3).

Add to this the
confirmation that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, now stands as our High
Priest: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Sadly,
this world and its inhabitants in this age of Satan’s rule do not have
this help (Compare Ephesians 2:11-13; 1 John 5:19; John 18:36). But it
is different for those whom God has called out of this world.
Considering this contrast of Satan’s rule to our unparalleled promises,
we have reason for hope in times of need. However, along with this
comes responsibility to fulfill our own calling by being willing to
help–to do as Jesus did by doing our part in proclaiming the good news
of God’s Kingdom to this world–and to continue teaching those who
respond.

Speaking of the time that immediately precedes God’s
intervention in order that He might help and save this world, this is
stated: “He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no
intercessor…” (Isaiah 59:16); Also: “‘I looked, but there was no one
to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold…'” (Isaiah
63:5).

That indictment testifies to the utter helplessness of a
world that will soon face its own destruction, should God not intervene
to save it! The way we can help (and find help for ourselves) is to
continue to proclaim the wonderful truth and the certain hope that God,
with whom all things are possible, ultimately will give this world the
greatest possible help–He “will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no
more pain…” (Revelation 21:4).

US Port Takeovers No Security Risks?

Many reports and news analysts have taken the position that the contemplated takeover of US ports by an Arab company, which is controlled by the government of the United Arab Emirates, does not pose a security risk. However, others are convinced that it does. We are quoting from a commentary by Karl Day, which was published on February 24, 2006, by WorldNetDaily.  Karl Day is a former senior editor for Family Research Council, a West Point graduate, a former Ranger and Green Beret (trained in guerilla warfare and counter-guerilla efforts) and a Vietnam veteran of the Tet Offensive. Here is Day’s analysis:

“South Carolina’s legislators have it right. To hand over the operation of six of our most important ports to an Arab company is questionable at best, and potentially suicidal at worst… Saudi Arabia is considered an ally, yet 17 of the 19 terrorists who perpetrated the events of 9-11 were Saudis. Osama bin Laden, the most wanted terrorist in the world is a Saudi. Nineteen Americans were killed in the bombing of the Kobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 1996… Did not the U.S. Navy consider Yemen friendly when they chose to refuel ships there? Seventeen Americans died when the USS Cole was attacked on Oct. 12, 2000. Has Lebanon ever been declared our enemy? Yet 241 American servicemen died when their barracks were bombed there in 1983. Was not the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 perpetrated by Arabs? U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed in 1998–again by Muslims, if not by Saudis…

“In addition to the tens of thousands of illegals who walk or swim across our borders, over a million trucks enter the country every year and our Customs officials cannot monitor them effectively with their limited resources… Budget-driven downsizing and a mandated reduction from 72 hours to 24 hours for advanced notification of the planned arrival of foreign vessels have already crippled the U.S. Coast Guard, responsible for port security and inspection of incoming vessels. Port operations involve the handling of bills of lading and ship manifests–any or all of which can be altered if those persons involved in the process have evil intent. To add fuel to the fire, hundreds of times a year, container ships operated by COSCO (China Overseas Shipping Company) enter our major ports. Is there anyone on the planet who would declare that Communist China is our ally? Some of these ships carry over 5,000 containers. Containers can be shipped, transshipped, and routed around the globe and at each point, the manifest and/or bill of lading can be altered by anyone who wishes to conceal either their origin or their contents and there is no trustworthy way of tracking or detecting such alterations.

“As a former officer in the U.S. Special Forces, I have trained with nuclear devices small enough to fit in the trunk of a sports car. Modern developments have certainly improved the lethality of such weapons, while diminishing their size and weight. Think of trying to find a nuclear device, not much larger than a suitcase, concealed in one of the thousands of containers arriving daily in our major ports and then being trucked–most likely by innocent drivers–to a destination somewhere in the country where it can be detonated on command by a local or long-distance operative. The Israeli Mossad (secret service) took out a Palestinian terrorist by planting explosives in his telephone. How hard would it be to actuate a cell phone driven trigger for a nuclear device by merely calling it from a continent way?

“This is a dangerous world and the United States is rapidly becoming a lonely, albeit powerful nation. We have very few true friends in what is evolving as a global economy. The coercive force of growing Muslim populations threatens a number of our former allies. Sadly, our leaders are unwilling to declare what is patently true: We are engaged in a global conflict and the enemy is not just a scattering of Islamic extremists. The enemy is fundamental Islam and its commitment to the eradication of Israel and the ultimate domination or elimination of the infidels–that’s us. In recent years, the United States has demonstrated a level of naivete or ineptitude in the practices of espionage, intelligence gathering and threat deterrence. Our lack of finesse in such activities reflects a national mindset which, to date, has been one of self-satisfied complacency. It is time to recognize that we are dealing not with a smattering of cowardly gangsters, but with sophisticated fanatics who are committed to our undoing.

“It may be beyond our comprehension that individuals willingly strap explosives to their bodies and walk into public places for the purpose of blowing themselves and dozens of innocents to smithereens for some jihadist cause. It may be beyond comprehension, but it is reality. To give the enemy any possible entree into the security of our major ports is foolhardy. Hurting the feelings of so-called allies pales in comparison to assuaging the grief borne by those who have lost loved ones thus far in this war on terror.”

The Vatican Speaks to Muslims

On February 23, 2006, Reuters reported about the following ironic twist of events, which may lead to the growth of the Catholic faith in the aftermath of the violent demonstrations in the Arab world:

“After backing calls by Muslims for respect for their religion in the Mohammad cartoons row, the Vatican is now urging Islamic countries to reciprocate by showing more tolerance toward their Christian minorities. Roman Catholic leaders at first said Muslims were right to be outraged when Western newspapers reprinted Danish caricatures of the Prophet, including one with a bomb in his turban. Most Muslims consider any images of Mohammad to be blasphemous. After criticizing both the cartoons and the violent protests in Muslim countries that followed, the Vatican this week linked the issue to its long-standing concern that the rights of other faiths are limited, sometimes severely, in Muslim countries. Vatican prelates have been concerned by recent killings of two Catholic priests in Turkey and Nigeria… At least 146 Christians and Muslims have died in five days of religious riots in Nigeria.”

We should realize, of course, that these violent demonstrations in the Arab world are being instigated by radical elements and governments. Nevertheless, the Vatican is trying to capitalize on these developments. The article continued:

“Reciprocity — allowing Christian minorities the same rights as Muslims generally have in Western countries, such as building houses of worship or practicing religion freely — is at the heart of Vatican diplomacy toward Muslim states… Saudi Arabia bans all public expression of any non-Muslim religion and sometimes arrests Christians even for worshipping privately. Pakistan allows churches to operate but its Islamic laws effectively deprive Christians of many rights…”

The article pointed out another disturbing, but well-documented development in Iraq:

“Iraqi Christians say they were well treated under Saddam Hussein’s secular policies, but believers have been killed, churches burned and women forced to wear Muslim garb since Islamic groups gained sway after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.”

U.S.-Arab Split Deepens

Reuters reported on February 24:

“Saudi Arabia deepened a U.S.-Arab split over Hamas on Wednesday, joining Egypt’s rejection of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s appeal for neighbors to deny aid to a Palestinian government led by the militant group. Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest donors to the Palestinians, warned against the U.S. position of stopping aid before seeing what policies the anti-Israel group adopts in government.”

The article continued:

“The Palestinian government needs about $1.8 billion in aid each year and officials in the interim government say it is heading for a financial crisis. Hamas has so far been unswayed by pressure to change its anti-Israel stance and says threats to stop aid are blackmail… despite hours-long meetings with regional leaders, Rice’s Middle East tour has underscored the distance between the United States and its allies on how hard to press Hamas. Senior U.S. officials traveling with Rice to lobby against Hamas were at a loss to cite any country that has pledged to the United States it will immediately end aid when the group takes over the government in the next few weeks. Rice also acknowledged allies diverged from the United States hard line.”

Hamas Won’t Recognize Israel

As MSNBC reported on February 26, “Hamas’s prime minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday denied he had suggested the Palestinian Islamist group might one day recognize Israel… Reiterating a long-standing position by Hamas, Haniyeh said the group would never recognize Israel but could agree to a long-term truce if Israel withdrew from lands captured in the 1967 war, freed prisoners and allowed the return of refugees… ‘Hamas will never recognize the legitimacy of the Zionist entity on any part of our land of Palestine,’ senior Hamas leader Khalil Abu Laila said, enunciating Hamas policy.”

Iran Prepared to Attack Israel

On February 25, www.haaretz.com published the following article: “Dr. Abasi, an advisor to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, said Tehran would respond to an American attack with strikes on the Dimona nuclear reactor and other strategic Israeli sites such as the port city of Haifa and the Zakhariya area. Haifa is also home to a large concentration of chemical factories and oil refineries. Zakhariya, located in the Jerusalem hills is… home to Israel’s Jericho missile base.”

Al Qaida At It Again!

The Associated Press reported on February 25: “Al-Qaida suicide bombers will attack more Saudi oil facilities, the terror group purportedly threatened Saturday in an Internet statement that claimed responsibility for the foiled attack on the Abiqaiq plant in eastern Saudi Arabia. Two suicide bombers tried to drive cars packed with explosives into Abiqaiq, the world’s largest oil processing facility, on Friday afternoon, but security guards opened fire and the vehicles exploded outside the gates, killing the bombers and fatally wounding two guards. The guards died in the hospital.”

The article continued:

“Al-Qaida had long threatened to attack Saudi Arabia’s oil plants, but Friday was the first time it actually attempted to do so. Previously militants linked to al-Qaida had killed foreigners working in the industry, but not at oil facilities. Friday’s assault suggested the militants were adopting the tactics of insurgents in neighboring Iraq, who have repeatedly targeted the oil industry.”

“Don’t Attack Iran,” Mubarak Says.

On March 1, 2006, The Associated Press reported the following:

“Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak strongly advised the United States not to attack Iran, warning that military action would create more terrorists in neighboring Iraq… Mubarak also told Egyptian newspaper editors he warned Vice President Dick Cheney that ground troops ‘will have a hard time’ in such a conflict… He said Shiite Muslims in the Gulf region also could turn against the United States because ‘Iran generously provides for Shiites in every country and these people are ready to do anything if Iran is attacked.’ ‘Listen to my advice for once,’ he recalled telling Cheney in English. ‘You have vital interests in the Gulf region, especially oil.’… When asked, he said it was unlikely Israel would launch a nuclear attack against Iran ‘because Iran owns ballistic missiles that it will launch against Israel and there will be huge destruction.’ Mubarak added that such an attack also would spark revenge from Iraqi groups, extremists religious parties and organizations such as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

The Da Vinci Code’s Blasphemies!

On February 23, Zenit published the following interesting article about the blasphemous fictitious novel, “The Da Vinci Code”:

“Millions have read ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and many are expected to see the movie version when it is released May 19. That is why Mark Shea and Ted Sri — an apologist and theology professor, respectively — have co-authored ‘The Da Vinci Deception’… In an interview with Zenit, co-author Shea explained:

“… tens of millions of people have read ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and many have had their faith in Christ… shaken. This blasphemous book has become a major cultural phenomenon, largely by attacking the very person and mission of Jesus Christ… [Author Dan] Brown is attempting to establish a neo-pagan feminist creation myth. The basic myth is: Jesus was actually a feminist, [teaching] neo-paganism. The Church supposedly covered up all this with lies about his divinity. Brown’s point here is: Let’s get back to goddess worship as Jesus intended… it’s written with the express intention of destroying faith in Jesus Christ and replacing it with neo-pagan goddess worship.”

Among many other fallacies, Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” claims that Jesus Christ did not die and was not resurrected, but that He, instead, married Mary Magdalene. It is easy to see how readers, who begin to believe such nonsense, are being led away from the truth, as revealed in Scripture. Surely, Satan, the “god of this world,” attempts everything imaginable to discredit the inspired record of God’s Word, the Bible.

Brussels Pressures the USA

The EUObserver reported on February 24 about another, potentially hot dispute between the EU and the USA:

“The EU is mounting pressure on the US to introduce a visa free regime towards the bloc’s ‘new’ member states. While American citizens can travel throughout the EU with no visa, the countries that joined the EU in May 2004–minus Slovenia–have still not been accepted to the US visa-free regime for tourists staying in the country for up to 90 days. Of the 15 ‘old’ member states, Greece is also not a part of that regime… EU interior ministers suggested after their meeting on Tuesday (21 February), that the commission should include in its report ‘possible measures to be taken in relation to third countries with which full visa reciprocity has not been achieved.’ Sanctions like visa obligations for the countries’ diplomats have been mentioned in the past as a possible retaliatory move… Washington argues that it is holding bilateral talks with individual countries on the matter, not with the EU as a whole.”

As the Bible predicts, the USA will soon find itself in the undesirable position that it will HAVE to deal with the EU “as a whole.” The EU will unite, and it will speak with one voice–as unimaginable as this may seem at the moment. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy.”

Civil War in Iraq–Inevitable?

TimesOnLine reported on February 26 about the real fear of a civil war in Iraq, and what the potential disastrous consequences would be:

“It was not only the golden-domed mosque in Samarra that lay in ruins. [The] strategy of building a broad-based government of national unity in Iraq was suddenly threatened by the prospect of civil war. Since the bombing last Wednesday up to 200 Iraqis have lost their lives in an outpouring of sectarian revenge… Influential figures close to the US administration have long been emphasising the dire consequences should sectarian divisions escalate into all-out conflict. Andrew Krepinevich, a Pentagon adviser who heads the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a military think tank, warns that if civil war breaks out ‘the outcome may be that we help the rise of another Saddam Hussein who is ruthless enough to deal with the problem.'”

The article continued to point out that “… a vicious sectarian conflict could spread to other parts of the Arab world. In a report… the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based security think tank, warns that nations should begin planning for the ‘next Iraq war’ — the one after the country falls apart… The violence has brought home how little power Iraq’s politicians have compared with the clerics. Many Iraqis refused to heed prime minister Jaafari’s appeal for calm, while Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani appeared to call on sectarian militias to protect religious sites. Previous pleas for restraint by Sistani have been heeded, but his ability to control Shi’ite radicals appears to be waning and the country has faced a dangerous power vacuum since elections last December.”

Der Spiegel Online added on February 24:

“At least 200 people, mostly Sunnis, have now been killed amid violence sparked by the bombing of Samarra’s Shiite al-Askari shrine on Wednesday. In an attempt to prevent further deaths, Iraq’s government on Friday placed a curfew on Baghdad and three provinces. Despite the curfew, a large crowd attended Friday prayers at Baghdad’s Abu Hanifa mosque, the city’s most important Sunni site. The imam there denounced the [attack] against the Shiite mosque, but Sunni politicians, in protest against the reprisals, have pulled out of negotiations to set up a coalition government of national unity. As emotions continue to run high, many observers are becoming worried the latest sectarian strife will spark a civil war. Some German commentators on Friday fear the violence has only just begun.

“For the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) the destruction of the Golden Mosque in Samarra and the ensuing outbreak of violence have destroyed the hopes created by the Iraqi elections in December. ‘Just how out of control the situation is, has been shown by the interventions of the occupation forces. The British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, has called the Iraqi parties to urgently form a government. The US ambassador in Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, even threatened with cutting off American financial support.’ Like many observers, the FAZ suspects that foreign terrorists, under the leadership of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, are behind the bombings. ‘It is not surprising that in a perverse grouping of interests, the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is also fanning the flames of the Iraqi fire.'”

On March 1, 2006, The Associated Press added:

“Bombings in Baghdad killed 26 people and four others died when mortar rounds slammed into their homes in a nearby town Wednesday, the second day of surging violence after authorities lifted a curfew that briefly calmed sectarian attacks… A spokesman for the powerful Association of Muslim Scholars blasted the government for failing to stanch sectarian attacks that have pushed the country closer to civil war.”

Most Feel Iraq War Was Wrong

AFP reported on February 28:

“Most people in 33 out of 35 countries worldwide believe that the US-led war in Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism, a survey for BBC World Service radio suggested… The survey of 41,856 people by Canadian pollsters GlobeScan and the US Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) also claimed there was overall support in 20 countries for US forces to withdraw in the next few months… Other responses suggested that 21 countries thought the removal of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was a mistake; overall, 45 percent were against removing him from power… Greatest criticism of the move came from Argentina (74 percent), with strong opposition from Spain (65 percent) and Germany (61 percent). In Britain, whose government backed the US-led campaign and still has about 8,000 troops in southern Iraq, 40 percent thought removing Saddam was a mistake; in the United States, the figure was 32 percent and in Iraq, 23 percent… In Britain, 77 percent of those questioned thought the terrorist threat had risen since the war, with 55 percent in the United States saying likewise and 75 percent in Iraq.”

German Government Not THAT Peace-Loving?

Der Spiegel Online reported on February 24:

“One can’t blame Germans these days if they no longer know what to believe. First, the news was that German secret service agents had helped US forces identify bombing targets during the Iraq war. Then, the German intelligence agency BND convincingly denied it. On Wednesday, though, following a closer look taken by the congressional committee charged with overseeing the BND, the Green Party politician Hans-Christian Ströbele gave an impromptu press conference… He revealed that German agents did, in fact, pass on information regarding bombing targets to US forces…

“That the BND may have been fibbing is of secondary concern for most Germans. The previous government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was unbending in its rejection of the Iraq war. BND target hunting would seem, however, to indicate that German politicians, both then and now, weren’t telling the whole truth. Needless to say, German commentators are not impressed… According to the center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung the controversy surrounding the deployment of German intelligence services in Iraq was so great, that for once it has been important to make the activities of the secret agents public. ‘That there even was such a cooperation (between German and American intelligence) is quite staggering, considering the dogmatic rejection by the Schröder/Fischer (SPD/Green Party) government of the Iraq war… the question of how delivering information to American intelligent services could be aligned with the official government anti-war policy, remains unanswered.”

On February 26, Der Spiegel Online filed this report:

“Rarely has a denial been as categorical as the one delivered by official Berlin. The Monday article by the New York Times, reporting that German intelligence officials stationed in Baghdad during the US invasion of Iraq had provided the Americans with a diagram of Iraqi defense plans for the city, is simply untrue, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm says… The New York Times… stands by its story. On Monday evening, the paper published an editor’s response to the German government’s denials. The story, written by Michael Gordon, is based on a classified study undertaken by the Joint Forces Command in 2005. The editor’s response quoted the study in more detail and made it clear that at least three German agents were implicated… German media on Tuesday seem skeptical of the government denials in Berlin. Indeed a number of commentators proved susceptible to conspiracy theories making the rounds…  The theory seems to be that the United States is getting back at Germany for its opposition to the Iraq invasion — and that this most recent leak could be in response to German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s demand that the Guantanamo prison be closed.”

The magazine pointed out the crux of the matter, when continuing:

“But conspiracies aside, the Times report, if true, could present major credibility difficulties for both the former government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and the current government under Merkel. Schröder was one of the most outspoken critics of the war on Iraq. Many are of the opinion that, if German intelligence agents provided the American military with strategic information, it would indicate a high degree of hypocrisy. Germany did allow US troops overfly rights and access to their German bases during the Iraq invasion, but consistently refused any active support. Even the new government under Merkel, which took office in November 2005, would be vulnerable if the Times revelations are proven. The government is a coalition formed by Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and Schröder’s Social Democrats, and Merkel’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was Schröder’s chief of staff. He was also responsible for coordinating with Germany’s intelligence services. Should the Times report prove correct, Steinmeier could become the first political victim.”

In addition to the usual German suspicion of United States’ activities, at stake is nothing less than the new-found trust of the German people in their current government. If that trust is shaken, the consequences might be severe.

IRS vs. “Political” Churches

The Washington Times reported on February 27:

“The Internal Revenue Service said yesterday it found a ‘disturbing’ amount of illegal politicking in churches and charities after investigating complaints coming out of the 2004 election. To prevent a repeat in the upcoming congressional elections, the agency said it is gearing up to quickly investigate and quash any violations that arise this year… More than 100 complaints were filed with the tax agency after the closely contested 2004 presidential election charging that some evangelical and black churches and various nonprofit groups violated their tax-exempt status by overtly campaigning for the candidates. The agency completed investigations of 82 cases, and found that nearly three out of four of the groups violated the tax law at least once. It did not release any of the groups’ names but said they represented ‘the full spectrum of political viewpoints.’…

“The IRS has fined one group, moved to revoke the tax-exempt status of another three, and sent 55 organizations, including 39 churches, letters of warning not to violate the law again. Investigations are ongoing in another 28 cases… Common violations in the 2004 elections included distributing campaign literature and lists recommending candidates, endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit, and inviting candidates to appear at church meetings or other social functions… Some groups blatantly violated the law by making cash campaign contributions, while the political activities of others were more vague and harder to discern..”

The Bird Flu’s Deadly Outreach

The Associated Press reported on February 28:

“The deadly strain of bird flu has been found in a cat in Germany, officials said Tuesday, the first time the virus has been identified in an animal other than a bird in central Europe. Health officials urged cat owners to keep pets indoors after the dead cat was discovered over the weekend on the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, where most of the more than 100 wild birds infected by the H5N1 strain have been found. The cat is believed to have eaten an infected bird, said Thomas Mettenleiter, head of Germany’s Friedrich Loeffler Institute. That is in keeping with a pattern of disease transmission seen in wild cats in Asia… Maria Cheng of the World Health Organization in Geneva said there was not enough information on how the disease is transmitted to be sure. She noted that tigers and snow leopards in a zoo in Thailand became infected after being fed chicken carcasses, dying from H5N1 in 2003 and 2004… Scientists are particularly concerned about bird flu infecting pigs, because swine can also become infected with the human flu virus. The fear is the two viruses could swap genetic material and create a new virus that could set off a human flu pandemic.”

The article continued:

“Forty-three countries–including the United States–have partially or totally banned French poultry products after H5N1 was confirmed in commercial birds over the weekend. A group of veterinary chiefs meeting in Paris said Tuesday no country should consider itself safe from the deadly strain and that it is ‘highly likely’ the disease will continue its spread in poultry stocks in Europe and beyond.”

Der Spiegel Online reported on March 1:

“Now that the virus has killed a housecat, worries are increasing that it could become easier for humans to get infected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most of the people who were infected with the virus had direct contact with infected live or dead poultry. Of the 173 cases of avian flu in humans, 93 were fatal. Vietnam has seen the most cases thus far — 93 in total with 42 fatal infections. Closer to Europe, in Turkey, 12 cases have been detected in humans, with four fatalities. Currently, the disease can’t be transmitted from human to human, but scientists fear that if it does, it could cause a pandemic of a magnitude not seen since the Spanish flu H1N1, which killed as many as 50 million people between 1918 and 1920.”

Actually, Christ spoke at least twice about the body attracting eagles. His words are recorded in Matthew 24:28 and in Luke 17:37. In both cases, He spoke about His return to this earth. However, we might note a few distinctions, as we look at His statements more carefully.

Let us review His sayings one at a time.

In Matthew 24:26-28, Christ says: “‘Therefore if they say to you, “Look, He is in the desert!” do not go out; or “Look, He is in the inner rooms!” do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.'”

The Greek word for “carcass” is, “ptoma,” which “denotes, lit. a fall (akin to pipto, to fall); hence, that which is fallen, a corpse” (W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).

The Nelson Study Bible comments to Matthew 24:28: “This sweeping statement conveys an image of the horrible carnage that will take place in the judgment at the coming of the Son of Man.”

The Broadman Bible Commentary offers a similar explanation for Matthew 24:28. It says: “When the Son of Man comes at the end of the age there will be no secrecy about it. His coming will be as apparent as the lightning that flashes across the sky. Further, his coming in judgment is as inevitable as is the gathering of the vultures where there is a carcass. Eagles is the literal Greek word, and there may be, but probably is not, a veiled reference to the coming of the Roman ‘eagles’ upon Jerusalem. The Greek word ptoma normally designates a corpse or carcass, not a living body. The word for the coming of the Son of Man is Parousia, an apparent reference to his coming at the end of the age.”

These explanations as to Christ’s sayings in Matthew 24:28 seem to be correct. Christ is indeed speaking about the MANNER of His return at a time of GREAT DESTRUCTION on this earth. As eagles descend on a carcass, so the destruction of this world and the manner of Christ’s return will be VISIBLE to everyone. Christ is not coming in secret–nor is He coming at a time of peace. Christ said that “there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [alive]; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-24). God the Father will shorten these days of utter destruction by sending His Son Jesus Christ to this earth. And Christ will be “coming with clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM” (Revelation 1:7).

When turning to Christ’s sayings in Luke 17:37, He seems to be emphasizing here a SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ASPECT regarding His coming. However, most commentaries fail to see the distinctions in Matthew 24:28 and Luke 17:37, and give the same identical explanation for both passages. Note, however, what Christ is saying in Luke 17: 24-37. Although He is addressing in this passage the general time of His return (verses 24, 30), He also introduces the thought that at that time, “‘…two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.’ And they answered and said to Him, ‘Where, Lord?’ So He said to them, ‘Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together'” (verses 36-37).

As mentioned, most commentaries state that the meaning of both sayings in Matthew and Luke is identical. The German commentary, Rienecker, Kommentar zur Bibel, refers to parallel expressions in Ezekiel 32:3-5 and Habakkuk 1:8, comparing God’s judgments with eagles descending on world powers to devour them. Regarding Matthew 24:28 and Luke 17:37, Rienecker concludes that Jesus used this picture for His return, which–like eagles descending on a carcass–will be sure, sudden and obvious.

Vine’s gives a similar explanation: “In Matt. 24:28 and Luke 17:37… the meaning seems to be that, as birds of prey gather where the carcase is, so the judgments of God will descend upon the corrupt state of humanity. The figure of the eagle is used in Ezek. 17 to represent the great powers of Egypt and Babylon, as being employed to punish corrupt and faithless Israel (Cp. Job 39:30 [In referring to eagles, see Job 39:27, the passage continues in Job 39:30: “Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.”]; Prov. 30:17…).”

The Ryrie Study Bible comments that Luke 17:37 is a “reference to the carnage of Armageddon (Rev. 19:17-19).”

The Nelson Study Bible and the Broadman Bible Commentary agree with this interpretation of Luke 17:37, but they add some additional thoughts regarding Christ’s statements that some would be “taken,” while others would be “left” behind.

Commenting on Luke 17:34-37, the Nelson Study Bible states: “‘Taken’ here suggests judgment, such as when the soldiers took Jesus to crucify Him. Verse 37 makes it clear that those who are taken are taken to final judgment… On that day, the Son of Man will divide humankind into two groups: those who are taken to judgment and those who are left to live and reign with Christ. Other commentators suggest the opposite. The righteous will be taken into God’s kingdom. Either way, Jesus is clearly saying that a person’s eternal destiny is not determined by being close to those who are righteous. Each person stands before God alone… When the disciples asked where Jesus’ return would take place, Jesus did not answer directly… The term for eagles here refers to vultures that gather over dead animals. When the judgment comes, it will be final and terrible, with the stench of death and the presence of the vultures everywhere. No one will need to look for the place of judgment; the presence of the birds will reveal where the carcasses are.”

Regarding Luke 17:37, Broadman points out: “When the end comes, it will cut across the closest relationships of this world order. The coming is pictured as taking place toward the end of the last watch (cf. 12:38), that is, when the fainthearted have given up hope. The men are still in bed, but the women are already in the initial stages of the arduous task of preparing bread for the day. ‘Will be taken’ means to be taken into salvation by God, probably by His angels. The disciples are still asking where. The reply is another case of those difficult sayings to which no dogmatic interpretation can be given. [Some identify] eagles as Roman standards, whose emblem was the eagle. It is taken as a reference to the conquest of Jerusalem by the Roman army. But it seems better to relate the passage to the Parousia [Christ’s Second Coming]. The eagles (perhaps vultures) are symbols of judgment. There is no answer to the questions of time and place. Jesus simply affirms that judgment is inevitable and that it will take place when in God’s purpose the time has come.”

Many of those comments are worthwhile contemplating–ESPECIALLY IF APPLIED TO MATTHEW 24:28. Still, it must be noted that all these commentaries, as quoted above, fail to point out and consider an OBVIOUS DISTINCTION between Christ’s words in Matthew 24:28 and in Luke 17:37.

While the Greek word for “carcass” in Matthew 24:28 designates, in fact, a DEAD body, this is NOT the case in Luke 17:37, where the Greek word is “soma.” This word does not have to describe a dead body. In fact, in most cases, it refers to a LIVING body. Vine’s explains: “soma is the body as a whole, the instrument of life, whether of a man living, e.g. Matt. 6:22, or dead, Matt. 27:52; or in the resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:44…”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary seems to have seen this distinction. As a consequence, it gives a slightly different explanation for Luke 17:37, stating two possible ways of understanding this passage:

“(1) Wherever the wicked are, they shall be found out by the judgments of God; as wherever a dead carcase is, the birds make a prey of it. The judgments of God shall fasten upon them, as the eagles do upon the prey. (2) Wherever the godly are, who are marked for preservation, they shall be found happy in the enjoyment of Christ. Wherever Christ is, believers will flock to him, and meet in him, as eagles about the prey, by their instinct of the new nature. WHEREVER THE BODY IS, WHEREVER THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED, thither will pious souls resort, there they will find Christ. Wherever Christ records his name he will meet his people, and bless them.”

With these comments, Henry seems to be referring to CHRIST’S CHURCH AS THE BODY. In other words, it is Christ’s Church, the body, which will be preaching the gospel (compare Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20). This seems to be a correct way of understanding this passage. The Greek word “soma” refers in many cases to the living body of Christ–the Church (compare Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). While the statement in Matthew seems to be addressing the ACTUAL EVENT of Christ’s return, Christ might have had SOMETHING ELSE in mind in Luke. Although He is describing events leading up to His return, the fact that some will be taken, and some may be left behind, could be a reference to a short time span of 3 1/2 years JUST PRIOR to His Second Coming, when His Church will be taken to a place of safety here on earth, to be PROTECTED from the terrible things to come (Revelation 3:10). We note that God’s protection is many times associated with eagles, or eagle’s wings. God will give His Church, often pictured as a “woman” or “virgin,” “two wings of a GREAT EAGLE, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time [3 1/2 years], from the presence of the serpent [Satan the devil]” (Revelation 12:14).

In similar ways, God protected ancient Israel when they left Egypt. Please note Exodus 19:4: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on EAGLES’ WINGS and brought you to Myself.” Isaiah 63:9 identifies the “eagles’ wings,” as follows: “In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the ANGEL of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them All the days of old.”

We note that the Bible does at times refer to angels as “eagles,” or that certain angels are described as having characteristics of eagles (Ezekiel 1:10; 10:14; Revelation 4:7).

It is therefore possible that Christ was addressing, in Luke 17:37, a SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION of God’s Church, through ANGELIC involvement, at a specific place of safety here ON THIS EARTH, just PRIOR to His Second Coming. Those who qualify for such a protection will be “taken” to this place, while others, who are not considered worthy, will be left behind. Christ admonishes us in Luke 21:36: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass [by escaping to the place of safety on this earth], and to stand before the Son of Man [when He returns].”

We are NOT told HOW, exactly, God will bring those whom He considers worthy to the place of safety. We do know, however, that He will do so SUPERNATURALLY, WITH SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION (Revelation 12:15-16). Ancient Israel left Egypt BY FOOT. Similarly, we read that Christ asks us to pray that our FLIGHT would not happen in winter or on the Sabbath (Matthew 24:20). This seems to indicate that SOME will go to the place of safety “by foot” or by means of physical transportation. But even then, supernatural protection during this “flight” will be guaranteed, in the same way as God protected ancient Israel on their exodus out of Egypt.

At other times, God protected human beings by SUPERNATURALLY TRANSPORTING them–or “taking them”–to another place on this earth (as in the case of Enoch and Elijah, please read Updates #128 and 130. Compare, too, Acts 8:38-40 for another supernatural “transport” of one of God’s disciples). So, it appears that some might, in some way, “physically” flee to a place of safety, while others will be taken there supernaturally. In any event, they all will have angelic protection.

We therefore conclude that Christ described, in Matthew 24:28 and Luke 17:37, EVENTS LEADING to His coming (including the physical protection of His worthy disciples), as well as His ACTUAL coming and the terrible CONDITIONS of this world at, AND THE MANNER of, His coming:

Eagles or angels will be gathered together to protect Christ’s body–the Church, as implied in Luke 17:37. And as everyone can observe when eagles or vultures descend on a carcass, so Christ’s actual return to this earth, as implied in Matthew 24:28, will be obvious and visible to all. Since eagles can refer to angels, it is even possible that Christ’s picture of descending eagles in Matthew 24:28 (and not only in Luke 17:37) refers to angels, in the sense that God will send symbolic eagles or angels to descend on the dead body or the carcass of this spiritually dead world, to render punishment and judgment on those who do not know or obey God.

We read that God will “give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

Lead Writer: Norbert Link

Our new booklet on the Mysteries of the Bible has entered its final review cycle.

On February 25, Dave Harris will give the sermon, titled, “Perfect Love.”

The
services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific
Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live
Stream.

Several weeks ago, I watched an interesting movie in black and
white, which was made in the early sixties. It did not contain the kind
of violence and perverse scenes, which a lot of the modern movies have.
The story line was about a four-star general and head of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, who was not happy with the manner in which the U.S.
President was administering his policies towards Russia. He felt the
President was weak in a lot of areas and that he, the general, could do
a much superior job in leading the country.

This general
convinced four of the five generals of the other branches of the armed
forces that he would be better suited to rule as President. With their
help, he planned to overthrow the President and take the office for
himself.

His plan would have succeeded but for a colonel under
his command who became suspicious of this plot. He reported it to the
President, who set in motion steps to successfully thwart this coup. At
the end of the movie, the President was addressing the nation. His last
statement struck a chord in my mind. He said that in due time people
would come out of the corridors, caves [referring to the North American
Air Defense Command, or NORAD] and bunkers, to embrace freedom.

I
found that this movie contained a remarkable parallel to what Satan
did. He determined that his way was better than God’s. He turned the
minds of his top lieutenants to his way of thinking, and then he did
the unimaginable. He attempted to throw God off His throne and take
over the universe. He was, of course, thwarted in his efforts and shall
receive a just reward for his actions (Jude 12-13).

Just like in
the movie, there is coming a time when men will come out of their caves
and hiding places. This will happen when Christ returns to this earth
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. At that time, He will dethrone
Satan and his demons as the present rulers of this earth. Instead, He
will authorize His faithful saints to rule with and under Him during
the Millennium. Then, we shall truly have “Freedom At Last.”

US Port Takeovers

Money Telegraph reported on February 21:

“Hillary Clinton is to introduce legislation in the US which would block the take-over of P&O by Dubai Ports World. The US senator for New York claims the deal poses a threat to national security because it would place operations at six major US ports under the control of the government of the United Arab Emirates [UAE], which owns Dubai Ports World. ‘Our port security is too important to place in the hands of foreign governments,’ said Mrs Clinton, who is backed by New Jersey senator Robert Menendez… Mrs Clinton’s legislation would prevent US ports from being owned by any foreign government, but much of the concern in this case arises because DP World is owned by the government of the UAE. The country was used to wire money to the September 11 hijackers, say US officials, though it has been a staunch ally of President Bush in his war on terror.”

The Associated Press added on February 21: “Two Republican governors are threatening legal action to block an Arab company from taking over operations in major U.S. ports and some… lawmakers say the deal should be closely examined. In the uneasy climate after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration decision to allow the transaction is threatening to develop a major political headache for the White House… The Bush administration got support Monday from former President Carter, a Democrat and frequent critic of the administration. ‘My presumption is, and my belief is, that the president and his secretary of state and the Defense Department and others have adequately cleared the Dubai government organization to manage these ports,’ Carter told CNN. ‘I don’t think there’s any particular threat to our security.'”

In a related article, The Associated Press reported on February 21:

“Brushing aside objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover… He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement… Bush, who has never vetoed a bill as president, said on the White House South Lawn: ‘This is a company that has played by the rules, has been cooperative with the United States, from a country that’s an ally on the war on terror, and it would send a terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go through.'”

The Associated Press reported on February 22: “President Bush was unaware of the pending sale… until the deal already had been approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday. Defending the deal anew, the administration also said that it should have briefed Congress sooner about the transaction, which has triggered a major political backlash among both Republicans and Democrats… THE FIRST-EVER SALE INVOLVING U.S. PORT OPERATIONS TO A FOREIGN, STATE-OWNED COMPANY is set to be completed in early March. It would put Dubai Ports in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.”

This development is interesting in light of the fact that the Bible prophesies that in these end-times, foreigners or aliens will control and rule over the United States of America (compare Deuteronomy 28:43-44).

Russia and Iran

The Associated Press reported on February 16:

“Russia’s top military chief on Thursday WARNED THE UNITED STATES against launching a military strike against Iran… He said that while Iran’s military potential cannot compare to the United States’, ‘it is hard to predict how the Muslim world will respond to the use of force against Iran. THIS MAY STIR THE WHOLE WORLD, and it is crucial to prevent anything like that’… Moscow is deeply concerned about the current Iranian regime’s prospects for acquiring nuclear weapons, not only because Russia is geographically located close to Iran, but also because of the impact that could have on other Middle East players’ nuclear aspirations, including Saudi Arabia’s, [an unidentified Russian] diplomat said. “

Europe and Iran

Der Spiegel Online reported on February 14:

“When Danish embassies began going up in flames last week, some in the European Union wanted a firm response. But nothing happened. The most the EU could agree on were a few wishy-washy statements… Ever since a Danish newspaper published 12 caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad and triggered sometimes violent protests against Denmark and the West in the Muslim world, the European Union has been casting about for a common position. So far, though, without success — and as the EU lack of action on the issue becomes more and more obvious, the realization grows that the 25-member European club has let a golden opportunity slip through its fingers. For years, Europe has repeated the mantra that real international relevance will only come with the development of a common foreign and security policy. The problem, though, has been that whenever difficult decisions need to be made, EU MEMBERS CAN’T AGREE.

“The idea last week — given that European embassies were being set alight in a number of Muslim countries — to call a meeting of all European foreign ministers, or even heads of government, was chucked out. Too dangerous was the verdict. On the one hand, there was NOTHING EVEN APPROACHING UNANIMITY AMONG EU MEMBERS as to where they stood on the conflict between freedom of the press and respect for religious sensibilities. On the other hand, it was felt, such a meeting had the distinct risk of further inflaming Muslim passions. Instead, Europe retreated into the safe harbor of soothing platitudes. ‘Violence is unacceptable’ quickly became a favorite. Or: ‘We stand by our Danish friends but we also have understanding for the hurt feelings of the Muslims.’ The media was likewise quick to come around and began calling for restraint on all sides to avoid more violence. But SUCH BANALITIES DID LITTLE to satisfy the European public — nor did they go far in calming the violent demonstrations in the Middle East… Even French President Jacques Chirac — head of a country which plays host to 6 million Muslim citizens — suddenly sounded like a spokesman for the religious of the world. Reprinting the caricatures in a French satirical paper was a ‘provocation,’ Chirac said…

“There were some voices on the other end of the spectrum. The Italian right called for a crusade. Roberto Calderoli, a minister in Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s cabinet, called in all seriousness for POPE BENEDICT XVI TO LEAD THE CHRISTIAN WORLD AGAINST THE ‘THREAT OF ISLAM’ JUST AS HIS PREDECESSORS DID IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. Just as a major reaction was necessary then to beat back the Turks from the gates of Vienna, Calderoli said, counter-measures are necessary. Calderoli didn’t have to wait long for a response. ‘Berlusconi must fire his minister and ask Islam for forgiveness,’ demanded Seif al-Islam al-Gadhafi, son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Otherwise, al-Gadhafi threatened, ‘Libya, the Arabic world, and ISLAM WOULD BE FORCED TO REACT.'”

The Bible predicts that Europe will unite under a powerful religious influence. And then, Europe WILL speak with one decisive voice–albeit, only for a very short time, and with disastrous consequences. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Europe in Prophecy.”

Germany and Iran

Der Spiegel Online reported on February 16:

“Amid ongoing concerns that Iran wants to build a nuclear bomb, the West is quietly mulling the possibility of a military strike. Diplomacy may not yet be exhausted, but already the question of using force against the mullahs in Tehran is threatening to split the German government… Whereas [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel’s conservatives generally believe Iran will not be cajoled into giving up its nuclear ambitions without the prospect of military confrontation, many members of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) want to make clear Germany will not support the use of force. Should the dispute between Iran and the West continue to escalate, Merkel could quickly have a major domestic political crisis on her hands.”

Iran’s Radical Clerics Justify Nuclear War

The Telegraph reported on February 19:

“Iran’s hardline spiritual leaders have issued an unprecedented new fatwa, or holy order, sanctioning the use of atomic weapons against its enemies… The pronouncement is particularly worrying because it has come from Mohsen Gharavian, a disciple of the ultra-conservative Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah-Yazdi, who is widely regarded as the cleric closest to Iran’s new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad… The comments, which are the first public statement by the Yazdi clerical cabal on the nuclear issue, will be seen as an attempt by the country’s religious hardliners to begin preparing a theological justification for the ownership–and if necessary the use–of atomic bombs.”

USA and Venezuela

AFP reported on February 20:

“Responding to remarks before the US Congress last week in which Rice called Chavez a ‘challenge to democracy’ in Latin America, Chavez warned the top US diplomat to back off… On Friday, Chavez had warned that he was taking steps to potentially cut off oil shipments to the United States if Washington attacks his country.

“US-Venezuelan relations have gone downhill since Chavez was elected seven years ago. He frequently accuses Washington of plotting against him, and has charged it backed an aborted coup in 2002. Relations hit a new low earlier this month when Caracas expelled a US naval attache on espionage charges, prompting Washington to retaliate by kicking a Venezuelan diplomat out of the United States. Despite the war of words, Venezuela remains the fourth-largest supplier of crude oil to its northern neighbor, selling it about 1.5 million barrels daily.”

Greenland In Danger

USA Today reported on February 17:

“Greenland’s glaciers are dumping ice into the ocean twice as fast as they did 10 years ago, most likely because of global warming, researchers said Thursday. Melting glaciers raise the level of the world’s oceans, and the finding raises fears about the impact of climate change on coastal areas… The researchers found that in 2005, the glaciers discharged more than twice as much ice as they did in 1996–enough fresh water to supply Los Angeles for 220 years…  A United Nations climate panel suggested in 2001 that temperatures worldwide would rise 2 to 10 degrees over the next century, driven in part by emissions of man-made greenhouse gases, chemical compounds that trap heat in the atmosphere.

“The world’s largest island, Greenland sits frozen atop the North Atlantic, with an ice sheet roughly the size of Mexico covering more than 80% of its surface. Only about 50,000 people live there… The ice sheet, which NASA says is more than a mile thick, would raise sea levels about 23 feet worldwide if it melted completely…”

Bird Flu On the Rise

The Associated Press reported on February 19:

“Health officials and farm workers in protective gloves and masks slaughtered thousands of chickens Sunday in western India a day after the country’s first reported outbreak of deadly bird flu… Some 500,000 birds will be slaughtered…

“In Italy, a dead wild duck and six wild swans tested positive for the highly virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu, bringing the country’s number of confirmed cases to 16… Italian poultry sales have dropped 70 percent despite government efforts to isolate outbreaks and reassure consumers, and poultry farmers warned that, without state aid, thousands would be out of business within a week.

“German authorities also ordered a limited slaughter of poultry on a Baltic Sea island to prevent the spread of H5N1 from wild birds to farm stocks… as Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the region.”

AFP reported on February 23: “Germany recorded its first case of flu in DOMESTIC birds following initial tests on a duck at a poultry farm on the Baltic Sea island where thousands of wild birds have succumbed to H5N1 since its discovery there last week… Germany becomes the second EU country to report the disease in domestic birds after H5N1 was found in two chickens in southern Austria on Wednesday.”

Syria Switches to Euros

Reuters and Economy News reported on February 14:

“Syria has switched all of the state’s foreign currency transactions to euros from dollars amid a political confrontation with the United States… Most of the government’s foreign currency flows goes through the Commercial Bank, whose US assets were frozen by Washington in 2004 as relations with Syria deteriorated. The bank, which dominates the Syrian market, also stopped dealing with dollars for international private flows, such as imports, exports and letters of credit. The latest official figures show Syria imported $6.7 billion goods in 2004 and exported $5.4 billion. Oil output is about 400,000 barrels a day… One economist said the euro move by the Commercial Bank of Syria ‘looked like a kind of pre-emptive action aimed at making their foreign assets safer and preventing them from getting frozen in case of any conflict.'”

According to the prophecies of the Bible, it is safe to say that the Euro is destined to become the most powerful world currency, while the U.S. dollar and the British pound will gradually decrease in value. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.”

Violent Muslim Protests in New York City

CBN.com reported on February 18:

“So far, the violent riots that have erupted throughout the Muslim world over the Mohammed cartoons have not been repeated here in the U.S. But yesterday in New York City, one radical Islamic group was preaching a message that is anything but peaceful. It wasn’t Pakistan or Gaza. It was Manhattan’s east side.The group calls itself the Islamic Thinker’s Society–ITS, for short. The purpose of the demonstration was to condemn the now infamous cartoons. But there was another message as well: that Islam will one day dominate the world. One ITS member said, ‘We are here to tell you that there is nothing you can do–and that your days are numbered…all of you who disbelieve: speak good, or Allah will silence you.’

“The protest began in front of the Danish Consulate. ITS members stomped on Danish flags and warned Denmark that it would suffer ‘Allah’s wrath.’ The group then moved to the German Consulate, where they trampled on German and Israeli flags–and called non-Muslims ‘scum.’ All of this took place under the watchful eye of the NYPD. Onlookers we spoke to were outraged… Members of the ITS declined to be interviewed for this story. But off-camera, their leader told CBN News that the group consists of mostly college students who live in New York City… Although this event lacked the violence that has been so prevalent in cartoon protests throughout the Muslim world, the message was eerily similar: America and Europe, your days are numbered.”

Spirit of Violence Prevalent

On February 18, Reuters reported:

“Deadly protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad spread in Africa, killing 16 people in Nigeria on Saturday a day after claiming 11 lives in Libya. Many of those who died in northern Nigeria were Christians, killed after a Muslim protest over the cartoons turned violent and rioters torched churches, shops and vehicles, police and local officials said… ‘They went on the rampage, burning shops and churches of the Christians. The protesters killed the others. Some were even killed in the churches,’ said Joseph Hayab, north-west secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)… In Nigeria, whose 140 million people are divided about equally between Christians and Muslims, 15 people died in the northeastern state of Borno and one died in the north-central state of Katsina, police spokesman Haz Iwendi said. He said 11 churches had been torched in Borno and the army had been called in to state capital Maiduguri to impose order.”

These violent outbreaks and demonstrations are clearly prompted by a SPIRITUAL influence. Please don’t neglect to view our latest StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Much Violence?” We also encourage you to read or re-read our free booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World.”

Destruction Does Not End in Iraq!

On February 23, 2006, Der Spiegel Online reported about the most recent terrible destructions in Iraq. The magazine stated:

“Following an attack on the Askariya golden mosque in Samarra, Iraq on Wednesday, violence between Shiites and Sunnis has rapidly escalated. Police on Thursday reported that more than 80 bodies pierced with bullet wounds have been delivered to Baghdad’s morgue in the past 24 hours. And more ominous, most of the dead were of Sunni origin. Police believe they were killed in retaliation for the Wednesday bombing of the mosque, one of the four most important holy sites for Iraqi Shiites… For Iraqi Shiites, Wednesday’s 6:55 a.m. attack on the mosque at Samarra is seen as a massive provocation, perhaps even comparable to the effect an attack on Peter’s Square at the Vatican might have on Catholics. Shiites represent the majority of the Iraqi population (approximately 60 percent), but for hundreds of years they were suppressed — until the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. With the introduction of democracy in the country, Shiites have taken on the most influential roles. The situation has angered Sunnis, who clung to power for decades.”

In a related article, the magazine pointed out:

“Bombings are nothing new in Iraq. But the destruction became even more senseless this week, when one of the holiest sites in Shiite Islam was destroyed… [In ‘retaliation,’] dozens of Sunni mosques have been attacked all over Iraq and a wave of violence has resulted in the deaths of countless Iraqis. Tens of thousands of people have also staged protests, waving flags and calling for justice. The biggest question now is whether this shocking event will push Iraq into civil war, or whether it will help unify the government against radicals who clearly want to see the country descend into chaos. German commentators are pessimistic.

“The center-left daily Die Süddeutsche Zeitung believes that the country already is in a sort of civil war… The paper draws a direct parallel between Saddam Hussein’s regime and the current US administration: in 1990 UN resolutions stipulated that, in the case of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the aggressor must be held responsible for the consequences of an invasion. ‘The US may not have actively sought out the complete break down of public order. However, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS, just as Iraq once had to.’ For the right-wing daily Die Welt it is hard to overemphasize the significance of Samarra’s destruction. ‘The attack is comparable to blowing up the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem [although] this is not the result of religious mania, but rather an act of premeditated evil. However terrible the killing of Sunnis by Shiites and vice versa may be, this attack has the potential to do much more damage by unleashing civil war in Iraq.’… The financial daily Handelsblatt is equally pessimistic. ‘ALL THE REPORTS ABOUT A STABILIZATION OF THE SITUATION IN IRAQ HAVE BEEN PREMATURE. The country remains a powder keg.'”

Man’s wars and violence only produce more war and violence. Man will NEVER be able to solve his problems through violence. This is THE lesson of history, which man is UNWILLING to learn. And so, we will see more and more hatred, bloodshed and violence in the future. For more information, please read our free booklet: “Should YOU Fight in War?”

Afghanistan’s Continuing Nightmare

AFP reported on February 22: “Afghanistan has ‘huge problems’ and NATO troops will be in the country for ‘years and years’, the commander of Canada’s forces in Afghanistan [Major General Michel Gauthier] told a British newspaper [the Guardian daily]… A bomb fixed to a bicycle struck a convoy of NATO peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding 13 others including a German soldier. [The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)] troops are frequent targets of an insurgency blamed primarily on militants allied to the hardline Taliban government ousted in a US-led campaign in late 2001. The insurgency, which has seen a rash of suicide blasts in the past months, has been focused on eastern and southern Afghanistan from where the ultraconservative Taliban rose to control most of the country by 1996… ‘What is clear [is that] narcotics, criminality, terrorism and insurgency are all linked,’ [Gauthier] added.”

Abortion Limits in South Dakota

The Associated Press reported on February 23 about an interesting, but perhaps only short-lived development. The article explained: “South Dakota moved closer to imposing some of the strictest limits on abortion in the nation as the state Senate approved legislation that would ban the procedure except when the woman’s life is in danger. The bill [is] designed to spark a courtroom showdown over the legality of abortion… The legislation targets Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.”

If the bill passes, it is expected that it ultimately will be reviewed by the US Supreme Court. Supporters of the bill feel that the recent appointment of Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito make the U.S. Supreme Court more likely to consider overturning Roe v. Wade now.

Pope Names First Cardinals

On February 23, AFP reported:

“Pope Benedict XVI named a fierce critic of the Chinese government and John Paul II’s private secretary among the first 15 cardinals of his pontificate, as he began selecting the men who will elect his successor… Hong Kong Archbishop Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun… is seen as an activist for greater religious freedom in China and a prominent critic of Beijing, which does not recognize the Vatican. Zen is one of two Asian archbishops to be elevated to cardinal…

“Benedict also named two cardinals from the United States, former San Francisco Archbishop William Levada and Boston archbishop Patrick O’Malley. Levada is now the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrinal enforcer, having assumed the pope’s former position. The bearded O’Malley was chosen by John Paul II to succeed the disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law after he resigned from the Boston archdiocese, tainted by a spate of sex scandals involving paedophile priests.”

Scientists Question Darwin

On February 21, WorldNetDaily reported the following:

“More than 500 scientists with doctoral degrees have signed a statement expressing skepticism about Darwin’s theory of evolution… The statement, signed by 514 scientists, reads: ‘We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.’… ‘Darwin’s theory of evolution is the great white elephant of contemporary thought,’ said David Berlinski, a signatory and mathematician and philosopher of science with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. ‘It is… almost completely useless, and the object of superstitious awe.'”

The article pointed out that the signed statement “includes endorsement by members of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Sciences.” It continued: “The list includes 154 biologists, 76 chemists and 63 physicists. They hold doctorates in biological sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, computer science and related disciplines. Many are professors or researchers at major universities and research institutions such as MIT, The Smithsonian, Cambridge University, UCLA, University of California at Berkeley, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State University, University of Georgia and University of Washington.”

For further information, please be sure to read our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution–a Fairy Tale for Adults?”

A new StandingWatch program
has been posted on the Web. It is titled, “Why This Much Violence?” In
the program, Norbert Link discusses the spiritual reason for the
current violent demonstrations in the Arab world.

by Cali Harris

In building my relationship with God, I’ve
learned that when we ask for understanding, He really does give it to
us.  It may seem obvious, but lately I have realized how important
it is to ASK! 

I have asked for understanding in many
parts of my day-to-day life: understanding about what it means to be in
the fields of journalism and ethnic studies at college; understanding
about my job as a sales manager and what it is teaching me; and
understanding in how to be a positive influence in the lives of my
worldly friends.  But I have especially asked for understanding as
I study God’s Word–the Bible.  In my asking, God has answered me
more abundantly than I ever thought possible. 

Recently I
was surfing the Internet and came across the following quote, and was
struck by its poignancy in our lives as Christians: “Man’s mind, once
stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”
Attributed to former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes,
this statement can be applied to our experience as Christians when God
grants us understanding.  Our minds are indeed stretched by the
understanding He gives us, and we should never allow our minds to go
back to their “original dimensions.” We must take the knowledge we have
been blessed with, and constantly and continuously move forward, always
ASKING for more!

On February 18, Edwin Pope will give the sermon, titled, “A Key to Faithfulness.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Many of us probably have friends or neighbors who would consider
themselves to be patriotic, and supporters of the United States of
America. Maybe they take the time to display the flag on the 4th of
July, remember the men and women who sacrificed in the wars of this
country, or with pride hold their hand to their hearts when the
national anthem is played.  Service to one’s country still holds
true as a virtue and serving those around you are still ideals held by
many.

But are these the ideals to be held by Christians? 
And should Christians practice patriotism?  The answer is,
Yes!  But to whose country should we show our true allegiance?

During
the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, through God’s Spirit, interpreted
the king’s dreams, and because of that service was made “ruler over the
whole province of Babylon” (Daniel 2:48). Continuing in verse 49, we
read that Daniel appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego to be “over
the affairs of the province of Babylon.”

In that particular case,
for God’s specific purpose, He chose to have men performing civil
service for a foreign county (as they had been deported from Judah to
Babylon), who also had God’s Spirit guiding them. Undoubtedly, they
performed their duties as was prescribed by the appointments Daniel
gave to them.  But when decrees were set before them to disobey
God, by worshipping an idol of gold, what was their response? 
“…let it be known to you, O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor
will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:18).

God
came before ALL men for these three, and because of their belief God
saved them from their trial, and the king honored them greatly (Daniel
3:28).

What are our duties, then, in our respective
countries?  While we are to honor and submit to those in
authority, we are not to obey them when their demands conflict with
God’s instructions.

But we are expected to be patriots–patriots
of a kingdom that has yet to be set up, but is no less real.  We
are “…ambassadors for Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:20), and as
ambassadors we are required to show complete patriotism for God’s
soon-coming Kingdom. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippines 3:20).
While coming out of our earthly country, in a spiritual way, we are
desiring a better country: we are waiting for God’s heavenly kingdom to
be set up here on earth (Hebrews 11:14-16). We are to be patriots of
God’s very Kingdom.

A patriot is defined as: “One who loves,
supports and defends one’s country.” Can that be said of us in how
proudly we “show our colors” to those around us? Matthew 5:14 states:
“You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden.”

It is our responsibility and duty, not just to ourselves, but to mankind as a whole to let the light of God’s truth so shine.

“Democracy Is Great–Or Maybe Not”

On February 15, MSNBC published an article discussing democracy in certain countries. The article was titled, “Democracy is great–or maybe not.” It continued:

“Democracy is a great idea. Or maybe not. The early returns are in on the Bush administration’s strategy of trying to democratize the Middle East and elsewhere. The news isn’t as the president and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would have hoped. All around the world, countries and peoples–Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinians, Venezuela, Bolivia–keep having elections and keep electing candidates committed to terrorism or virulent anti-Americanism. The victory of Hamas, a group listed on the State Department’s terrorist roster, in last month’s Palestinian balloting is only the most recent in a run of elections leading to bad outcomes. ‘Bad’ from the point of view of those opposed to terrorism and anti-Americanism; ‘good,’ of course, from the point of view of Hamas.

“On Wednesday, several members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee demanded that Rice explain whether her strategy is working in the interests of America. Are the elections making the world safe for democracy and for America?… While neither Rice nor any of the senators seemed to come away from Wednesday’s sparring session fully satisfied or clearly victorious, the hearings showed that the committee is growing even more weary and wary of the Rice-Bush democracy crusade.

“Implied in some of the senators’ questions was this idea: The logical outcome of that crusade might be a geo-strategic situation in which the people of the world, if free to elect who they want, choose anti-American leaders, and the United States — beset by antagonists — will be worse off than it was in the old days of authoritarian governments. But Rice seemed undaunted in her enthusiasm for democracy as a subversive force against dangerous regimes: she used the opening comments of her testimony to request $75 million in funds to support democratic groups in Iran, groups which presumably would lead to the peaceful overthrow of the mullahs in Tehran.”

The Bible predicts that anti-Americanism–as well as anti-British feelings–will increase worldwide. The Bible also tells us the reasons for this development. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of Britain and America.”

No More Marriages in Canada?

According to a report published by LifesiteNews.com on February 7, “Prominent American conservative commentator Stanley Kurtz has uncovered a chilling plot for Canada–the former Liberal government, in collusion with liberal courts, has been attempting to ‘abolish marriage’ entirely. The first obvious reality is that the past Liberal governments, with the courts, have already caused critical damage to marriage–the advent of so-called same-sex marriage is a major step towards abolishing marriage. A next step will be legalization of polygamy, as the Liberals have already considered…

“As Kurtz describes, ‘Legalize gay marriage, followed by multi-partner marriage, and pretty soon the whole idea of marriage will be meaningless. It’s like this,’ he adds. ‘The way to abolish marriage, without seeming to abolish it, is to redefine the institution out of existence. If everything can be marriage, pretty soon nothing will be marriage.’ Kurtz explains that the introduction of polygamy, arguably because that would appeal to Muslims in our multicultural society, would lead to ‘the creation of a modern, secular, “non-patriarchal” relationship system that would allow for marriage-like unions in any combination of number or gender.'”

Laura Bush and the Pope

On February 9, 2006, Zenit published the following report about Laura Bush’s comments following her visit with the Pope:

“I just was very, very privileged to have the chance to meet His Holy Father, the new Pope, Pope Benedict… it was a huge privilege to have the chance to meet him and to bring the very best wishes of the people of the United States and of the president, of course, to him… we talked about religion, and we talked about the separation of church and state and religion… I talked about how many, many people in the United States are religious… He gave me a beautiful rosary, and I gave him a silver bowl from the president and me.”

The Bible predicts that the Catholic Church will become the most influential religion in the world–including in countries which are presently non-Catholic. The meeting between the Pope and Laura Bush, and her evaluation of this meeting, is therefore very interesting and telling. We need to note, however, that the growing influence of the Catholic religion will not foster true understanding of the truth of the Bible.

All-Time High US Trade Deficit

ABC News reported on February 10 that the “Commerce Department Reports U.S. Trade Deficit [or Trade Gap] Soars to All-Time High of $725.8 Billion in 2005.”

The article continued: “The chief culprit in pushing the deficit up last year was record global oil prices and increased U.S. demand because of a loss of Gulf Coast production following Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. foreign oil bill soared to a record $251.6 billion, up 39.4 percent from 2004… Analysts predicted that the 2006 trade gap will be even worse, with Global Insight forecasting it could hit $810 billion, reflecting lagging economic growth overseas that could hold back U.S. exports… Economists worry that if foreigners suddenly decide they want to hold fewer U.S. assets, they could send the value of the dollar, stocks and bonds all plunging… critics contend the trade deficits have contributed to the loss of nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs since mid-2000 as U.S. companies moved production overseas to lower-waged nations. Many economists believe those manufacturing jobs will never come back.”

The Daily Mail added on February 11:

“The US racked up its biggest ever trade deficit last year, leading to renewed fears that the world economy could be hit by a slump in the dollar… The dollar slide against the Euro and the Yen immediately after the numbers were released, on fears the US will struggle to finance its appetite for foreign goods… The deficit has tripled since President George W Bush took office, making it a major political headache… The possibility of a major slump in the dollar is one of the nightmare scenarios for global political leaders, because it could force a big boost in US interest rates and make it far harder for Americans to continue their debt-fuelled spending binge.”

USA Prepared to Strike Against Iran?

The Telegraph reported on February 12:

“Strategists at the Pentagon are drawing up plans for devastating bombing raids backed by submarine-launched ballistic missile attacks against Iran’s nuclear sites as a ‘last resort’ to block Teheran’s efforts to develop an atomic bomb… The prospect of military action could put Washington at odds with Britain which fears that an attack would spark violence across the Middle East, reprisals in the West and may not cripple Teheran’s nuclear programme.”

On February 11, WorldNetDaily had reported that “Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today echoed his earlier threats to ‘wipe Israel off the map’ by telling a mass demonstration in Tehran, commemorating the 27th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, that Palestinians and ‘other nations’ will remove Israel from the region, adding a warning to the West that harsh measures against the nation’s nuclear program would result in Iran walking away from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.”

The Bird Flu in Europe

The Independent reported on February 12:

“Scientists have confirmed that wild swans in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria have tested positive for the deadly strain of bird flu. More than 20 swans in the three countries have died from the H5N1 strain which experts say was probably brought by cold weather in the Balkans… H5N1 has killed birds in 20 countries and infected at least 166 people, killing 88 of them. The ‘majority’ of the 17 dead swans found in southern Italy tested positive for the lethal strain and all three swans found in northern Greece were killed by it.”

On February 14, Reuters added:

“Three more countries said on Tuesday they had detected cases of deadly bird flu in wild swans, with Germany, Iran and Austria the latest to find the virus that has killed 91 people worldwide… Germany said it would bring forward to February 17 a ban on keeping poultry outdoors, and Italy said police had impounded more than 80,000 chickens and 7,000 eggs from farms in the south that were not respecting health norms… Across Europe and into Africa, countries have reported sharp drops in poultry sales as the number of outbreaks grows… The virus could soon spread further into Europe as migrating birds return after wintering in Africa, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization… said.”

AFP stated on February 14:

“The French food safety agency AFSSA warned of a heightened risk of the deadly bird flu virus reaching the country, and called for poultry to be kept indoors wherever possible… France is Europe’s biggest poultry producer, with free-range birds accounting for 17 percent of its production — as well as western Europe’s main crossroads for migratory birds, potential carriers of the virus. According to a member of the AFSSA expert panel [Jean Hars], it is only a matter of time before bird flu arrives in France… ‘All migratory species either fly over or stop in France,’ he added, warning that the deadly virus could be carried by pigeons, sparrows or birds of prey as well as by geese and ducks.”

Major Storm in the USA

The Associated Press reported on February 12:

“A major storm slammed the mid-Atlantic and Northeast states on Sunday with nearly 2 feet of windblown snow, nearing record levels as it blacked out thousands of customers and shut down air travel from Washington to Boston. Wind gusting as high as 60 mph blew the snow sideways and threatened coastal flooding in New England… By late morning, 22.8 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park [in New York], the city’s second heaviest snowfall on record, surpassed only by the 26.4 inches that fell in December 1947… More than 80,000 customers were without power in Maryland… More than 60,000 customers were blacked out in northern Virginia, some 15,000 homes and businesses had no power in New Jersey… Most airlines canceled all flights at LaGuardia Airport, some of them until Monday… Hundreds of flights were canceled at Kennedy and Newark airports.”

Katrina Response a “National Failure”

AFP reported on February 13:

“The US administration led a ‘national failure’ in its response to Hurricane Katrina, while millions of dollars were lost to fraud after the disaster, Congress charges in an upcoming report. Emergency planners failed to act on warnings before Katrina laid waste to New Orleans and the surrounding region last August. They then failed to give speedy help, House of Representative lawmakers assert in excerpts of a damning report to be released in full on Wednesday. President George W. Bush’s administration also faces scathing criticism from a Congress watchdog which says millions of dollars in Katrina aid were given to people who provided false identities and addresses… [The report says:] ‘At every level — individual, corporate, philanthropic and governmental — we failed to meet the challenge that was Katrina.'”

Collaboration With China to Censor the Internet

BBC News reported on February 10 that “The internet giant Yahoo has been accused of providing China with information that led to the jailing of a second internet writer. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders claims that Yahoo released data which led to the arrest of Li Zhi. The online writer was jailed for eight years in 2003, after posting comments that criticised official corruption. Last year Yahoo was accused of giving information to Beijing which led to the imprisonment of reporter Shi Tao… Yahoo spokeswoman Mary Osako insisted that in its dealings with China, the company ‘only responded with what we were legally compelled to provide, and nothing more’… But she added that: ‘The government of China is not required to inform service providers why they are seeking certain information, and typically does not do so.'”

The article continued: “The Chinese government enforces strict laws on internet use, blocking content it considers a threat, including references to the Tiananmen Square massacre and notable dissidents… Four major US-based companies–Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Cisco–have been accused of collaborating with China to censor the internet…  US lawmakers are due to meet later this month to discuss the ethical responsibilities of US-based internet companies doing business in China.”

The Associated Press reported on February 14:

“Google Inc. and other U.S. Internet companies under fire for assisting in China’s censorship efforts are insisting they must obey Beijing or risk limiting access to their most promising market… China encourages Internet use for education and business, but the government also runs what is widely regarded as the world’s most sweeping and successful effort to control the Internet. Thousands are believed involved in efforts to scan the Web and impose filters that block access to material deemed subversive or obscene. Companies that host Web logs are required to ensure their customers obey censorship rules.”

Reuters added on February 14: “Google Inc.’s Chinese search engine, for example, blocks many terms associated with topics related to democracy or independence for Tibet, part of China, and Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China considers its own.”

Atheist Lost Court Case in Italy

BBC News reported on February 10:

“An atheist who sued a small-town priest for saying that Jesus Christ existed has had his case thrown out of court. The judge said Luigi Cascioli should himself face charges for slandering Father Enrico Righi. Mr Cascioli sued Father Righi in 2002 after the priest attacked him in print for casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Christian gospels… He brought his case under Italian laws that forbid conning the public. He said he was now considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights… The priest countered that millions around the world had long believed in the evidence that appeared in the Gospels as well as thousands of other religious and secular writings.”

Berlusconi’s Outrageous Remarks

Reuters reported on February 12 about some outrageous comments by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi: “‘I am the Jesus Christ of politics,’ Italian media quoted him as saying at a dinner with supporters on Saturday night. ‘I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone.’… Pierferdinando Casini, a sometimes uneasy Berlusconi ally and outgoing speaker of parliament, distanced himself. ‘I live on Earth. I don’t want to mix foolish things with serious things,’ the Ansa news agency quoted him as saying when asked about Berlusconi’s Christ comments. On Friday, Berlusconi compared himself to Napoleon, saying only the French emperor had done more for his country.”

British Army under Fire

The Times reported on February 13 that “Islamic leaders demanded last night the swift prosecution of British soldiers caught on video beating Iraqi youths, as the scandal provoked further fury among Muslims… Tony Blair promised that the allegations would be investigated ‘very fully indeed’ but said that the overwhelming majority of British forces behaved properly and deserved public support… Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that the images posed a danger to 8,000 British troops already in Iraq and the 3,000 pledged for Afghanistan… Anas Altikriti, former president of the Muslim Association of Britain and an Iraqi, said that he had heard of many similar attacks.”

The Double Standard of the Islamic Press

Der Spiegel Online reported on  February 10, 2006, “Even as the Muslim world protests against the Muhammad caricatures printed in the West, a number of Arab newspapers publish virulently anti-Semitic cartoons. But nobody’s paying much attention. After all, Jew baiting in the Arab world has become the norm.”

The article continued:

“A quick glance at the Anti-Defamation League’s Arab Media Review from July to December 2005 illustrates the point. A cartoon depicting the Jewish Star of David superimposed onto a swastika appeared in the Saudi Arabian paper Al-Yawm in late November. A December cartoon in Al-Bayan, a paper from United Arab Emirates, shows a grinning Jew playing with a globe-shaped yo-yo. [Other cartoons portray the] popular anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews control the United States, the United Nations, Denmark, Europe and the world. And that’s before the Muhammad caricature scandal cranked up the volume of Muslim indignation. Since the beginning of February, there has been a tendency to conflate the appearance of the Muhammad caricatures in the Western media with Jewish perfidy. For example: a cartoon from Bahrain calling for a boycott against Danish products showed a Danish flag emblazoned with a Star of David sticking out of a chunk of havarti cheese. The cartoon’s title? ‘The Penetration of Zionism to Denmark.’…

“Even as the Muslim world continues its calls for mass protests and boycotts of Danish products, Jew-bashing continues unabated in the Islamic press. Indeed, in perhaps the most insulting bit of cartoon combativeness, the Iranian paper Hamshahri at the beginning of the week launched a contest to find the 12 ‘best’ Holocaust cartoons — ostensibly to test Europe’s commitment to freedom of speech by challenging editors here to republish them just as they did the Muhammad caricatures… But that’s a fine line to walk. Israel is a favorite target of the Arab media and many in the region see the Jewish state as a thorn in the side of the Middle East. There is no shortage of cartoons depicting incapacitated Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with blood on his hands as he gleefully slaughters Palestinian…

“A November cartoon in the major Egyptian daily al-Ahram — a paper which officially ‘does not commission or support anti-Semitic material in our newspaper’ according to a spokeswoman for the English version — provides a concise illustration. It depicts the United Nations, in human form, hunched under the crushing weight of a number of UN resolutions passed against various Middle Eastern countries. On top of the pile sits a Jew wearing a Star of David hat holding a bloody axe. Although the Jew is unobtrusively labelled ‘Sharon,’ it is clearly meant to indicate Jewish domination of the UN and by extension — especially given the globe-shaped head of the UN figure — the world.”

Mixed Rules for Free Speech in Europe

The Christian Science Monitor reported on February 8:

“The violence over cartoons satirizing the prophet Muhammad has highlighted often inconsistent rules in Europe governing free speech, tolerance, and the boundaries of public expression. Muslims in particular charge that hate-speech laws are implemented unfairly. Many countries, they say, do not abide anti-Semitic outbursts, but will tolerate cartoons that to many Muslims are deeply offensive… 

“Roger Koeppel, editor in chief at German newspaper Die Welt, which published the cartoons last week, says that European societies have a right to make their own choices. ‘Every society has the right to have taboos, the things they don’t talk about,’ he says. Mr. Koeppel says the cartoons were not published to annoy but to question a growing tendency for press self-censorship in delicate matters. At times, he says, it may appear there is a double standard. ‘Evenhandedness cannot be a goal,’ he says. ‘It has to be clear that the majority culture rules and the minority culture has to accept the rules. If the rules are not acceptable, no one is forced to live there.’… Europe is generally warier of free speech than is the US, with its First Amendment. Laws against inciting hatred and violence have sprung up in countries such as France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, resulting in criminal cases, convictions, and, in the case of foreigners, expulsions.”

More Violence in the Isamic World

The Associated Press reported on February 15 about the ongoing and still growing spirit of violence in Muslim countries: “Gunfire and rioting erupted Wednesday as more than 70,000 people joined Pakistan’s biggest protest yet against Prophet Muhammad cartoons, burning movie theaters, a KFC restaurant and a South Korean- run bus station. Three people died and dozens were injured in two cities, police and witnesses said. The massive crowd went on a rampage in the northwestern city of Peshawar, torching businesses and fighting police, who struck back with tear gas and batons. It was the third straight day of violent demonstrations in the Islamic nation… Intelligence officials say members of outlawed Islamic militant groups have joined the protests, and may be inciting violence to undermine the pro-Western government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf… Police also battled protesters in the northwestern town of Tank, where 2,000 people rallied and set fire to 30 shops selling CDs, DVDs and videos, said police officer Attiq Wazir. One policeman was reportedly injured when a protester opened fire to resist arrest. Suspected militants have previously warned music shops in the town to close–saying music and videos are against Islam.”

The article continued:

“Elsewhere in Asia, hundreds of protesters from the small Muslim minority ripped apart and burned Danish flags in a rally at the Danish honorary consulate in Manila, the Philippines capital. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, the government ordered Guang Ming, the country’s third largest Chinese-language newspaper, to halt publication of its evening edition for two weeks as punishment for printing a photograph in which the cartoons were visible. And in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia’s importers association said it was boycotting Danish goods to protest the publication of the cartoons in Denmark.”

Evolution Sunday vs. God

The Chicago Tribune reported on February 12 about “Evolution Sunday.” If that wasn’t bad enough, the article continued to point out that “Evolution Sunday” was celebrated by nearly 450 “Christian” churches. The article explained this incredible event, as follows:

“Nearly 450 Christian churches around the country [USA] plan to celebrate the 197th birthday of Charles Darwin today with programs and sermons intended to emphasize that his theory of biological evolution is compatible with faith and that Christians have no need to choose between religion and science… Darwin’s theory holds that all life on Earth, including humans, shares common ancestry and developed over millions of years through the mechanisms of natural selection and random mutation. The concept is repugnant to many conservative Christians because it conflicts with their belief that man was specially created in the image of God.

“‘Evolution Sunday’ has drawn participation from a variety of denominational and non-denominational churches, including Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Congregationalist, United Church of Christ, Baptist and a host of community churches.”

Let us be perfectly clear: A true Christian believes in the Bible. The Bible condemns the theory of evolution. One CANNOT believe in Evolution and the Bible at the same time. In addition, science does NOT prove the accuracy of Darwin’s evolution theory–just the OPPOSITE is true! For more information, please read our free booklet, “Evolution–a Fairy Tale for Adults?”

As a general rule of understanding, there is a difference between teaching and preaching in Church–preaching can be, and often is more of a corrective nature. Preaching, in that sense, should be left to the ministry, whereas non-ordained men can of course teach during Church services, if asked by the ministry to do so.

We should also note that the task of “preaching” includes proclaiming the gospel or good news to the world. The responsibility of preaching the gospel in all the world is reserved for the ministry or to be undertaken under the direction, guidance or supervision of the ministry. Matthew 28:19-20 points out that the Church is to first “go… and make disciples of all nations (verse 19).” This summarizes the Church’s responsibility of preaching the gospel in all the world (Romans 10:14-17), including the need of repentance, faith and baptism. Before a person is to be baptized, he or she must repent of his or her sins and accept, in faith, the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:36-38). The Church’s ministry will baptize those who respond correctly to the preaching of the gospel (Mark 16:15-16; compare Luke 24:46-47). At the time of proper baptism and the laying on of hands by the ministry, the baptized person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is then that the Church is to fulfill the second part of its commission, by “teaching them [the converted disciples] to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).” As distinguished from “preaching” or proclaiming the gospel to the world, “teaching” the truth in depth applies to activities within the Church. We must have God’s Holy Spirit within us to grow in the understanding of God’s word (John 16:12-13), and to obtain the strength and power or might to obey God as God’s Spirit continues to give understanding through His Word (Ephesians 1:13; 3:14-21; compare Romans 1:5; 16:26).

But even in regard to teaching God’s truth to others in the Church, unordained men who have been asked to speak in Church must be careful that they don’t appear to try to fulfill the role of a minister. They are not to “correct” others, nor are they to “teach” “new” understanding, or, even worse, to challenge Church doctrines and practices.

The ministry has specific areas of responsibilities–for example, pertaining to the laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17); healing (James 5:14-16); and the authority to cast out demons (Mark 16:17). All of these responsibilities, and more, are areas of accountability for which the ministry, specifically, is responsible to God.

The original twelve apostles and the seventy disciples were sent by Jesus Christ to preach–BEFORE they were “converted.” This was a unique occurrence. Later on, when the Church was established, ordinations were conducted for the express purpose of preaching and of administering the Church of God (compare Acts 6:1-7; 13:1-3).

In considering the qualifications of ministers and deacons in Timothy and Titus, it is apparent that a developmental process based on mature approaches and goals was to be in place within the Church. Paul speaks to Timothy about having deacons being first tested before being ordained (compare 1 Timothy 3:10). This has been the practice of the Church of God over the last many decades–something we continue to do in first TRAINING individuals before they are ordained. Men who are capable teachers (“able to teach,” compare 1 Timothy 3:2), and who exemplify Biblical qualifications in their lives, are the ones considered for ordination.

Preaching and teaching, when it comes to establishing doctrines and their administration, solely fall to those ordained to the ministry. However, ALL Church members should strive to have the spiritual maturity to explain the Truth–especially those introductory occasions when someone new asks a member about the Church (Compare Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1-2; 1 Peter 3:15). As was explained in the Q&A in Update 230, ALL should likewise seek deeper and deeper understanding of those things God is revealing to those who seek Him.

All of our roles should blend harmoniously, but they still remain distinct. For instance, a really poignant question brought to the ministry may indeed lead to a deeper understanding that, in turn, solidifies doctrinal points. This is to be done in an orderly process and not just based on anyone’s whim.

Qualifications showing that God is calling someone into the ministry generally become apparent through that individual’s conduct. An over-arching consideration is given in James 3:1: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” We would note that this specifically refers to teachers of Christianity.

Lead Writers: Norbert Link and Dave Harris

Our annual Church Conference will be held during March 10-15. Please
pray for a successful preparation of the conference. We will update our
readers about the progress.