 When Does the Sabbath Day Start and End?When I first began observing the 7th day Sabbath I assumed the day began after midnight on Friday and went through to midnight that Saturday. However, when I came into contact with the Church of God they showed me from the bible that God’s way of reckoning time was different. If you would like to learn more about the biblical 7th day Sabbath and its importance for you get our free bible study guide on the subject here: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/sunset-to-sunset-gods-sabbath-restKeep Reading »

UCG Raleigh

When Does the Sabbath Day Begin

The Early Church and the Biblical PassoverLast year leading up to the Passover I walked through three NT scriptures often used to teach against the observance of the biblical holy days. Using the setting and context I showed that Paul was teaching against human customs and traditions rather than the commanded holy day observance of scripture. That message is available online titled: “The Apostle Paul and the Biblical Holy Days”.Our purpose today is to use references from written history to demonstrate that the Church Jesus established observed the biblical Passover on the 14th of Aviv/Nisan for the first 200 years of its existence.  And that is was only after significant political pressure that most Christian congregations changed the date of this observance to what is now called Easter Sunday.If the apostle Paul taught against the observance of the biblical holy days as many falsely proclaim then why was the church still observing holy days for 2 centuries after his death?  Was he just a really ineffective teacher? I&#39;ve had people boldly tell me how Paul&#39;s instructions about dumping the holy days are so clear and obvious ... yet the record of history shows the very congregations he established in Asia Minor were upholding the biblical Passover for 200 years later.And they kept it on the 14th of Aviv/Nisan just like it says to in the book of Exodus and Leviticus 23:5To learn more about this important subject please request a free copy of Holidays or Holy Days Which Should We ObserveKeep Reading »

Quartodecimans & the Council of Nicea 325 A.D.

 Are You Ready?The Passover pictures and calls us to remember many things, redemption from the bondage of slavery, the sacrifice of the lamb of God [Jesus Christ] as the payment of the death penalty we earned through our sin. Self-examination, covenant renewal, baptism into the death of Christ... there is so much to cover at this important time of the year.There is yet another message embedded in the spring holy days which we don&#39;t often dwell upon. A message that is especially relevant to us in light of the national and global  meltdown over the COVID 19 virus. That message [which I am going cover today] is haste. In the past few weeks  we have seen life on the entire planet turned upside down. It happened very quickly. One week we were living the life of Riley, watching our retirement investments grow, planning weddings, graduation ceremonies, looking forward to the spring holy days... the next week we woke up to a world shutting down border crossings, stopping travel, ordering citizens to stay in their homes, closing businesses, schools etc.A lesson you should get from this global calamity is: to realize through experience how easily, and how quickly EVERYTHING can change. Over the years many of us have said things like "yup, things can change quickly... and we have to be prepared for that before Christ returns"... but now I think many of us  born after WW2 have seen it actually happen. The entire world can turn very quickly indeed.This present distress will most likely pass and things return "normal", although with a slightly modified sense of what defines "normal". But looking ahead there are prophesied changes coming before Christ’s return. Changes which will also come quickly... but after THESE changes there will be no return to "normal".  Jesus Christ, your lord, master, head of the church, future bridegroom... wants you to prepare now for that time.Get a Free copy of God&#39;s Holy Day Plan to learn more about the biblical festivals and their significance for followers of Jesus Christ.Keep Reading »

Eat the Passover in Haste - Be Ready For Rapid Change

The Ongoing Problem of Sin The 7 day feast of unleavened bread follows the observance of the Passover… which is fitting since It pictures what must take place after the Passover. The central theme and message of the days of unleavened bread is addressing the ongoing problem of sin.Each Passover is a memorial of Jesus death which pays the penalty we earned through our past sins. After the wonderful forgiveness and redemption comes the long painful process of separating our self from sin. Even for the believing baptism person... the problem of sin remains and must be confronted 1 John 1:8 - 2:6.Our purpose today is to discuss two approaches to the ongoing problem of sin:1. Getting sin out of our lives [pictured by removal of leaven from our homes]2. Getting our self out of sin [Getting our self out of sin being removed from the society and culture of Egypt … their outlook on life, what they considered good and evil]Keep Reading »

Get Your Self Out of Sinful Situations

Some biblical prophecy concerned the first coming of Christ and some of it looks ahead to the time His return in great power and glory. We read of kingdoms rising and falling, troubles of persecution, war, disease. All these were present from the time the prophecy was given through the intervening 2,000 years of human history, yet seem to insistent as the final days approach. Deception and false prophets are another area prophecy addresses... deception has been present since the days of the apostles, it is present today... and deception is predicted to intensify as the time of the end approaches. Matthew 24:22-25Have you ever wondered or worried about being deceived in the time of the end? If some prophet is at large doing amazing miracles how could you not be swayed... their instruction and teaching would appear to have the power of the spirit realm backing it up. How will you be able to tell what is "of God" and what is "of the evil one"?Revelation 13:11-14 the false prophet makes your task of discernment even harder because he/she makes them self look like a teacher of Christ while teaching a message that is actually against Christ (so you have to look past any miracle or sign and pay attention to what they actually say). The false prophet will appear to be on the side of all that is right and good... and they will have power to perform amazing signs and wonders. Today I would like to explain the biblical guidelines for determining the validity of prophets and prophecies and determine if they are "of God" or "not of God".Request your free copy of --- Who Is The Anti-Christ? https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/who-is-the-antichrist-0 Read this message on our blog ➤ https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2021/01/deception-and-false-prophet-of.htmlKeep Reading »

Deception and The False Prophet of Revelation

Some biblical prophecy concerned the first coming of Christ and some of it looks ahead to the time His return in great power and glory. We read of kingdoms rising and falling, troubles of persecution, war, disease. All these were present from the time the prophecy was given through the intervening 2,000 years of human history, yet seem to insistent as the final days approach. Deception and false prophets are another area prophecy addresses... deception has been present since the days of the apostles, it is present today... and deception is predicted to intensify as the time of the end approaches. Matthew 24:22-25Have you ever wondered or worried about being deceived in the time of the end? If some prophet is at large doing amazing miracles how could you not be swayed... their instruction and teaching would appear to have the power of the spirit realm backing it up. How will you be able to tell what is "of God" and what is "of the evil one"?Revelation 13:11-14 the false prophet makes your task of discernment even harder because he/she makes themself look like a teacher of Christ while teaching a message that is actually against Christ (so you have to look past any miracle or sign and pay attention to what they actually say). The false prophet will appear to be on the side of all that is right and good... and they will have power to perform amazing signs and wonders. Today I would like to explain the biblical guidelines for determining the validity of prophets and prophecies and determine if they are "of God" or "not of God".What Was the Ancient Prophet?The  prophet served as a spokesperson for the gods interpreting events and passing along visions, whereas the priestly role is to perform various rites of appeasement and service to a deity on behalf of humans. The two can be combined in the same person or they might operate separately. The role of prophet is found in both biblical and pagan belief systems. There are notable similarities between pagan and biblical prophets:· Both are seeking to provide a closer relationship with the divine and transcendent, to help us know the divine will and be guided by it· Both look forward to a restoration of universal peace, joy, bliss, etc.· Both can use signs and wonders to validate their messageThese similarities are significant contributors to confusion and deception between what is of God and what is not.Differences between pagan prophecy and biblical prophecy:First: the goals of a relationship with the divine and seeking universal bliss sound the same but are quite different. The biblical framework achieves these goals through a close personal relationship with the living God and advocates submitting ourselves to Him. Whereas pagan [and even materialist] systems seek this unity and bliss through aspiring to abstract ideas... universal love... universal peace... unity with creation.Second: biblical prophecy proceeds from God according to His agenda. There is nothing a true prophet can DO to generate prophecy. Pagan prophecy is generated by the will and actions of human beings. Such as: seeking guidance through omens, astrology, contact with the dead, processes of their own mind, like dreams or visions induced by ecstatic dancing along with drugs or punishment of the flesh, incantation, spells, repetitive prayers, chanting etc.Third: biblical outcomes involve submission to reality and right behavior as defined by God. Humanly devised outcomes involve freedom from all boundaries. Note: absolute freedom is the goal of the secular and materialist prophets of our own day.Fourth: the role of the biblical prophet was both moral and spiritual. The prophet's commentary on current events or lessons of the past came with a moral lesson. Five: Biblical prophecies are not inevitable. Disaster or punishment can be lessened or avoided though repentance and submission. Pagan prophecy and divination is absolute… seeking to reveal the course of fate or destiny which couldn't really be altered.Biblical Tests for Validation of Prophets and ProphecyDeuteronomy 18:14-22 - here we see the establishment of the office of prophet among Israel as a spokesperson for God. It points to the great final prophet [which is Jesus Acts 3:22] but also to the prophets God would appoint and work through along the way [from Moses though John the baptist]. At first glance Deuteronomy 18 seems like an effective test... but what about a prophecy that extended way off into the future, 20, 50, or even hundreds of  years? Future generations might be able to use this test, but the people hearing the prophecy when it is first spoken have no way of knowing.Deuteronomy 13:1-5 the prophet was a legitimate means of revelation in Israel and was ripe for abuse of that authority. So we need more ways to evaluate the prophet and his words.Signs and wonders are morally neutral: they can be used to deceive, or they can be used to validate truth. In fact, the signs and wonders themselves have to be validated against something else! That ultimate validation is through the moral position of prophet himself. Is what he says grounded in scripture, is it in accordance with God's express commands, is pointing us down the path of redemption, repentance, submission and deliverance from sin God began by drawing Israel out of Egypt.Note: the Jews doubted Jesus legitimacy as a prophet even though He did miracles. They interpreted what He was saying as strange new religion, satanic even... but how did he answer them?Time and time again He pointed them back to the written word of God showing that what He was teaching was in accord with both the prophets of the past and the law once delivered. If you take the law and commandments out of the mouth of Jesus He loses His most powerful means of validating himself as the true prophet in the eyes of His contemporaries... most of the prophecies about Him were not fulfilled until it was too late and He was already dead in the tomb, at that point it would be too late.John 7:16-24 and Matthew 5:17-20.Signs and Miracles Demonstrate PowerOur world reveres power whatever its nature or character might be. Demonstrations of, or perceptions of, POWER are why people follow dictators, politicians, or spiritual gurus.However, the biblical perspective is that character and nature are more important than displays of power. God's perspective is to respect human beings based on character regardless of that person's power status… rich poor or otherwise. In fact, God Himself is to be revered and worshiped because of His character and nature... not because of His power Psalm 97:1-12 [righteousness and justice are the foundation of His power, instead of the other way around].The False Prophet Hananiah and Jeremiah [28]Background: Babylon had militarily overwhelmed Judah, ransacked and pillaged the temple, carted away the best and the brightest as slaves, deposed the king and installed his cousin as a puppet ruler. In chapter 27 God had instructed Jeremiah to say they would serve under the yoke of Babylon for 70 years, but that their tiny remnant would be allowed to remain in Jerusalem along with whatever was left in the temple.But the prophecy was conditional... it would come to pass only if they would repent and submit themselves to the punishment God had meted out through Babylon. Submit obediently to the yoke of Babylonian rule. Jeremiah 28:1-17 notice that Hananiah's prophecy did not contain any moral element to it. No call to obedience, or submission, or repentance... just good stuff for no reason.Jeremiah public critique of Hananiah was this: what you are saying certainly sounds good, however it is in direct contradiction to the prophets of God who went before who foretold 1) the punishment of God and 2) that it would last a long time [Isaiah, Micah, Amos, Hosea]. Therefore, the only validation for your prophecies of peace is to apply the criteria of Deuteronomy 18 and wait to see if they come to pass. But, God is going to take your life in 7 short months because you preach rebellion against His will.Personal application for dealing with false prophets: is the prophecy I am hearing in accord with the previously expressed will and prophecy of God. Does it reject submission to God's will? Note: to perform this test you have to 1) know what the previously expressed prophecies of God are 2) know what God's will is through both the prophets and through knowing His commandments, statutes and judgments. Isaiah 8:18-22 the prophet of God tells you to verify voices that claim to speak for the divine by comparing them to the word of God. Consider this: the bible was put together by servants of God guided by the holy spirit. However, if you think about it with a clear head... we [the church of God] are not the keepers and custodians of the bible. We work with the translations and printed copies provided to us by the very people who oppose us and our message. We agree with them that this is the authorized word of God... we disagree with them on interpretation... but, we work with the SAME TEXT as everyone else.The church and its ministry are here to help you see for yourself what the bible really says... anything we write or publish is all about pointing you back to same text shared by everyone and point out to you what it says rather than relying on humanly devised traditions or authority.You will need this clarity and understanding to see you through in days of darkness and deception.1 John 4:1-3 here's a great example of understanding. If you believe Jesus was the Word/Logos come to earth as a flesh and blood human being then you should also believe what He taught.1. He said, "I have walked in my Father's commandments" [which He did as an example for you to follow]... 2. He said, "Do not think I have come to abolish the law"... [anyone who teaches against the law and commandments will be nothing in the KOG]The False Prophet and the Time of the End2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 false teaching is always with us, including false teachings and ideas about the time of the end itself. However, the clear biblical teaching is that there is a distinct time in history when Christ will return and there are distinct prophesied events that will precede it. There will be a time of intense spiritual rebellion lead by a personality who is characterized by lawlessness [who teaches against God's laws, commandments and even perhaps the laws written in to creation itself such as DNA]. That teacher of lawlessness is the ultimate false prophet.2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 the false prophet perform many signs and wonders to back up his teaching of lawlessness and many people fall for it.Notice how Christ Himself will do battle with the false prophet. First by the word of God, and only then by the power and glory He possesses. You also have this primary weapon to fight against false prophets among us today... and to prepare personally for the possibility of the  false prophet of Revelation to appear in your own life time and draw you into deception. Revelation 19:11-15 His primary weapon is the sword of His mouth, God's word... a weapon of battle you have in your hands right now. Revelation 19:19-21Conclusion: The elect will not be deceived the false prophet, or signs and wonders... because carefully compare and test what they see and hear against the biblical record. Is it in accord with God’s commandments, statutes and judgments, is it in accord with the teachings of the prophets who have gone before?Miracles and wonders are nothing... truth, character, and the will of God are everything.  

Vows and CommitmentEach new year that comes makes us all think about what the year ahead will be like. Many people decide to start off the new year with some plans... very often called "new year&#39;s resolutions"... usually focused on some form of self improvement. New year&#39;s resolutions are a running joke in our culture... because they are most often abandoned sometime within the next few months. Modern culture has a low expectation of commitment [we don’t expect much of our self and we don’t expect much of others]... this affects marriage and families, business and employment, politics, international relations etc.People might have logical or emotional reasons for avoiding commitment... but having a good reason for avoiding commitment does not protect us from the harm that a non-committal approach will inevitably bring... both personally or socially.Commitment and follow through are an essential ingredient of a functional healthy society, and for our purposes in this message commitment is necessary for a person who is growing in grace, knowledge and putting on the mind of the God family.Today I will approach the subject of commitment by looking at what the bible says about vows. Then I&#39;ll follow up with a brief section on setting some spiritual goals based on the gifts of the spirit. blog URL for syndicates https://ucgraleigh.blogspot.com/2021/01/pay-your-vows-to-god.htmlKeep Reading »

Pay Your Vows to God

The Riddle of the BeastThe book of Revelation is Jesus Christ&#39;s final written words to His church. These words foretell future events as they relate to the Church of God. The book is both a revealing and a riddle.A riddle is a word puzzle in which the answer is understandable based upon what is said, yet not understood by anyone but the riddler. Here&#39;s a classic riddle you may have heard; "what is black and white and read/red all over?" The person hearing the riddle is misdirected by the clever word play based on the word red/read. The meaning is concealed but yet fully spoken.Most people don&#39;t get good riddles until they are given the answer. Then when the answer is revealed it all seems quite obvious.Keep Reading »

The Riddle of the Beast of Revelation and Daniels Dream

The Riddle of the BeastThe book of Revelation is Jesus Christ's final written words to His church.These words foretell future events as they relate to the Church of God. The book is both a revealing and a riddle.A riddle is a word puzzle in which the answer is understandable based upon what is said, yet not understood by anyone but the riddler. Here's a classic riddle you may have heard; "what is black and white and read/red all over?" The person hearing the riddle is misdirected by the clever word play based on the word red/read. The meaning is concealed but yet fully spoken.Most people don't get good riddles until they are given the answer. Then when the answer is revealed it all seems quite obvious.  for this same reason:First, through a riddle He can speak about matters that have not yet happened without altering or affecting their outcome. [If God foretold you would be in an car accident in your 30th year which would badly cripple you but leave you spiritually stronger and better prepared for eternal life...you might hide in your basement from age 29 to 31 hoping to avoid the painful trial and derail the process].Second, once the event happens we can look back at the original riddle and see that God did indeed accurately speak about the future. [If God foretold your accident through a riddle, you wouldn't alter your actions between age 29-31. Then, when you figured out the riddle after the fact you would clearly see the hand of God at work. This would build your confidence and faith in the trial we were about to live through to prepare us for eternal life] John 14:18-31 Jesus death solved many OT riddles… but many riddle still remain… today we are going to review the riddle of the beast.Nebuchanezzar's DreamWhen Jerusalem finally fell to the invading armies of Babylon a young man named Daniel was taken as a captive back to Babylon where he was educated and prepared to serve as a civil servant in the Babylonian government. Through Daniel prophecies were recorded which provide a grand sweeping picture of the future of human governments stretching from the demise of Israel to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Daniel 12:4, 8-9 These writings were not understood [or intended to be understood] a the time written. But, would only be understood as the time for Christ's return drew closer… and knowledge increased. Daniel 2:1-3 Babylonian culture placed a high importance on dreams as messages from beyond. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know the significance of His dream. The dream had indeed been given to him from YHWH Himself, it was a riddle regarding the future of human self government from the fall of Israel up to the very end. The Babylonian wise men were unable to answer the king's questions and Nebuchadnezzar ordered them executed. Daniel heard about it and decided to try to save all their lives by offering to interpret the dream for the king. Before attempting to answer the king Daniel went home, talked about the situation with his companions, and asked them to pray together with him for God's help. Daniel's prayers were answered in a vision Daniel 2:19-23.Daniel takes the answer to the king but is very careful to ensure the king knows the answer is given by the God of Israel Daniel 2:27-28.The Content of the DreamFirst Daniel told the king the content of the dream Daniel 2:31-35Then what it meant Daniel 2:36-45· Part of the riddle could be understood then and there: Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was the head of gold.. but the rest could only be understood at a later time. · The chest and arms of them image would turn out to be the Medo-Persian empire. This transition actually happened in within Daniel's own lifetime [539 B.C.  when Babylon was conquered]. Persia now controlled the land that had been Israel.· The belly of bronze was the Greco-Macedonian empire of Alexander, which gobbled up the territory of the Persians [including Israel] and ruled for 300 years.· The legs of iron are the Romans who took over much of what had been held by the Greeks [including Israel].We can look back now and see how these empires fulfill the symbolism of the prophecy very well. Most people who know and read the bible agree on these fulfillment which are based on well known historical facts of history.Daniel's Has His Own DreamDaniel had his own personal dream about these same 4 sequential empires which add important details that will allow us to tie the prophecies back to the book of Revelation.Daniel 7:1-14 here we have a parallel sequence: 4 successive kingdoms that carry on until the coming of Christ to establish the rule of God over all people and nations. We sync them up with the Nebuchadnezzar’s dream  and see:  the lion is Babylon, the bear is Persia, the leopard is Greece, and Rome is the final terrible beast who cannot be compared to any animal known in creation.Daniel wonders especially about the horns of the 4th beast. And they are important, and they are part of the riddle that can point you in the wrong direction. Like the double meaning of the word red/read in our sample riddle. But Daniel does not know the full meaning of the riddle, God does not tell it to him, and it is sealed/hidden until the time of the end. John's Vision of Human Government.The book of Revelation was recorded about 90 A.D., when the 4th beast was in power. John too sees a beast which is similar to the vision given to Daniel... but different Revelation 13:1-4. John's vision is an updated version of the prophetic sequence we saw in Daniel. Updated because by 90 A.D. the first three phases were completed: Babylon, Persia, and Greece were matters of history centuries old. But Rome [the 4th beast] was in its heyday.The strange beast of Revelation is basically the same as the 4th beast of Daniel but with some modifications and additional details. It too rises up out of the sea, it combines all the features of he lion, bear,and leopard.However, it has a configuration of heads and horns that remind us of Daniel's vision... but they are different. This beast will be at war with Christ and actually rises up to fight Him when He comes. Where is Rome Today?The Roman empire is a thing of the past, its not in power today. So how can these prophecies be referring to Rome as the 4th beast, or the legs of iron that are in place when Christ returns? At this point there is a parting of the ways among people seeking to interpret prophecy. Many  teach that the prophecies ended with Christ. They say the victory of Christ recorded by Daniel over the 4th beast and the golden image was accomplished through His first coming. And that the kingdom of God He established is accomplished either spiritually within the hearts of humans or through the rule of the great universal Church... this is nature of Christ's victory over the beast.This is the basic explanation of the visions which was formulated long ago. Actually, it goes back to the days when the Roman empire was still standing.The Church of God does not agree with this take on the prophecies. We do not believe the KOG is realized in the hearts of humanity, or in the rule of a great and victorious church. Subsequent centuries have passed and significant elements of the original prophecy have come to pass which could not have been understood back then. Knowledge has increased… and the riddle has unfolded.  UCG Explanation: history has seen multiple revivals of the Roman empire over the centuries and the final revival will be the one in place when Christ returns in all His glory and power… which has not yet happened. These revivals are pictured by the 10 horns on the beast of Daniel, and the seven heads of the beast in Revelation.How does 7 equal 10: Remember that 3 of the 10 horns of Daniel's beast were "pulled out by the roots" leaving 7 horns. These 7 remaining horns equate to the 7 heads of the beast in Revelation. Similar, but not the same... a key ingredient in many good riddles. The Revivals of the Roman System in HistoryRevelation 13: 3,12 the beast received a deadly wound to the head but was brought back to life. In 476 A.D. the original empire of Rome was invaded, the city sacked, and the deadly head wound delivered. The emperor Romulus Augustus was deposed. What had been Rome was ruled over by 1) the Vandals 2) the Heruli 3) the Ostrogoths. These are the three horns "plucked up". They are different from the remaining 7. The remaining 7 all of which work in a partnership with the universal religious power based in Rome... 7 horns, 7 heads.1) Justinian - 554 A.D. sought to revive the western Roman empire as a Christian empire. He decreed that the bishops of Rome should appoint magistrates who would administer the "empire". This imperial revival worked for a while, then waned over time and broke up.2) Charlemagne 800 A.D. - crowned by pope Leo III with the title Holy Roman Emperor [Most Serene Augustus Crowned By God Great & Pacific Emperor governing the Roman Empire]. It was a marriage of church and state. After   His death the kingdom was divided among his sons and later dissolved. 3) Otto the Great 962 A.D. - crowned by pope John XII. He called himself "Ruler of the Roman Empire". Lasted about 300 years. The dream of a restored empire lived on. This iteration was widely recognized by Christians as the 4th empire. 4) Hapsburgs 1273 A.D. -- 1740 A.D. the greatest of these Hapsburg emperors was Charles V who owned most of central Europe, Germany, Spain, and vast portions of North and South America.5) Napoleon 1799 -- 1814 crowned emperor by Pope Pius. His was a short and frantic revival. Napoleon dreamed of rivaling Charlemagne in uniting all of western Europe. At his height of power he ruled most of Europe.6) The Reich 1871 - 1945 first Italy unified under Garibaldi, then Germany under Bismark. Next the two joined forces through Mussolini and Adolph Hitler and managed to gain control over most of Europe. They signed a peace treaty with the pope.It was around this time in the 1930's that the Church of God recognized the answer to another part of the riddle... 5 of the revivals of the beast pictured by the successive heads of the beast in Revelation, [or the horns of the Beast in Daniel] had now come to pass Revelation 17:6-10.The 6th revival of the beast was happening at that  And the Church of God began shouting the news using radio, printing press, and then TV. Over the next 50 years that understanding grabbed the attention of millions of people and many were brought to deeper understanding of God's truth. But now the message seems like old news... hundreds of self proclaimed teachers have taken up the message, many taking it in strange directions, looking for the next new thing. Where is the Church of God? We are back to pondering the portion of the riddle that is not yet solved... concerning events that have not yet taken place. There is One More Revival of The Beast To Go!6 of the 7 revivals of the beast have now come and gone. By reviewing history we can see how an empire can exist, disappear, then re-appear in a different form... what was, is not, and yet is ... the final reappearance of the Roman system is yet to come. It will arise quickly, and as if from nothing [ascending out of the bottomless pit].The riddle regarding the final revival has a feature not yet been solved. The image with the head of gold moves down the body and ends with its 10 toes of clay. The toes are smashed by the stone that is Christ at His glorious return. The final appearance of the beast is also pictured by the 7th head of the beast of Revelation. This final head has 10 horns which are leaders. We believe these are the same as the 10 toes. The final version of the beast will be a whole made up of 10 separate parts. Leaders who band together and give over their authority and sovereignty to a single power... which is the beast. The Church of God believes these 10 parts may be 10 European countries who band together to form a political, economic and military union. But its still a riddle... and its still unsolved... we won't know the full answer until it comes to pass. What's The Point of Pondering This Riddle?It would be good for you to know about the prophecies recorded in the bible. You can get a lot more detail concerning the beast of the end time in our booklet "The Final Super-Power". I recommend you get yourself a copy and go through the scriptures so you know, and know that you know. Some who are in Christ will be alive at this future time… possibly you. By knowing the terms, facts, features of the riddle you will be better equipped to recognize when is comes to pass. Those who are caught up in the terrible events surrounding the rise of the final beast will be able to more clearly see those terrible times as the obvious working of God… it will provide an important reassurance of faith.We cannot stop the beast, or avoid the beast... but we can be prepared to meet the future with faith and confidence in the God. Knowing He has brought these things to pass... knowing He is still in charge and has not lost control of the situation... knowing He will not let you slip through His fingers... and He can deliver you even from death Isaiah 44:6-8.

Mercy is part of the emotional makeup of the living God... when God wants to tell us about himself to us and reveal some of the inner workings of His being... MERCY tops the list.But what is mercy? When referring to God&#39;s mercy are we merely using another means of saying God&#39;s grace? Does God&#39;s mercy serve the same function as His forgiveness? IF different … how are they different?I believe God&#39;s mercy is intimately related to His grace and His forgiveness yet mercy is a more intimate revealing of the mind of God that either grace of forgiveness.  Today we will review mercy in the old testament, then in the new testament as God&#39;s revelation to us of who and what He is. Also, that developing mercy in our own way of thinking is crucial in God&#39;s plan for us to grown into fully mature children in His eternal family.Exodus 33:18-20, 34:6-7a Moses had asked God if he might see Him in all his glory... God answered, "I will cause my goodness to pass before you". God is not known by seeing His appearance, He is know though His character… especially seeing that character in action. In revealing Himself God does not focus on His power, His all knowing wisdom, or His transcendence of all things physical and material... He reveals Himself through mercy, grace, and forgiveness [but also on justice]. Understanding these qualities is essential to understanding and knowing God. Today we will concentrate on mercy.Request this free bible study booklet: Who Is God?https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/who-is-godKeep Reading »

The Mercy and Compassion of God

The ox in a ditch principle is found in Luke 14:1-6. From this short section of scripture we get an important perspective on Sabbath keeping: It is right and proper to alleviate the suffering of others on the Sabbath. The example of the ox falling into a hole it cannot get out of also adds the element of an emergency and danger where immediate action is required. Actions required to alleviate suffering could take the form of work you would otherwise not perform on the Sabbath but which needs to be addressed right away. In Luke 13:10-15 another example is offered by Jesus where the regular work of feeding and tending animals is cited. If the animal&#39;s owner does not perform the necessary feeding and watering on the Sabbath then the animal would suffer. We know the animals would not die without water or food for 24 hours, but why should they suffer in even a minor way so that we might keep the Sabbath more strictly. Request a free bible study guide - The Ten Commandments Keep Reading »

Sabbath Keeping - An Ox in a Ditch and Healing on the Sabbath

Sabbath Keeping: An Ox in a Ditch and Healing on the Sabbath

 The 7 day Festival of Unleavened Bread was given to Israel so they would remember their deliverance from the clutches of Egypt. That same festival is now given to the Church of God under Jesus Christ so that we will remember our own deliverance from the clutches of sin and futility.Just as Israel was commanded by God to come out of Egypt.. you were told [and today are being reminded] to come out of a way of thinking and acting that has no positive future… because sin separates you from God and cuts you off from eating of the tree of life.Lets take a few minutes to review some scriptures on coming out of Egypt:Hebrews 11:24-28 leaving behind temporary pleasures for a reward… a reward with a positive future.Revelation 11:8 the idea of a humanly devised society, built up as an alternative to God’s society, endures and persists until the day of Christ’s return. The scriptures here speak of the God hating society of the end which is of the same spirit as Egypt… and Sodom. His command to come out of a sinful society is as real in our time as it was in the past. And so we can draw lessons, and warnings from the biblical record we have… given those commanded to come out of Egypt and Sodom.Request a free copy of: The Road To Eternal Life https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/the-road-to-eternal-lifeKeep Reading »

Leaving Sin Behind - Israel Leaving Egypt

 The Hardening of The HeartThe hardening of the heart is a biblical way of indicating a spirit that is stubborn, obstinate, resistant, self righteous, unmerciful, and [the most dangerous of all] oblivious to their own spiritual condition... Hard hardheartedness is offered up in scripture as an explanation for the unbelief of humanity at large, but also as a warning to the household of God. Hardness of heart is a spiritual condition that can creep up on you and cause you to miss out on the glory and inheritance of the first-fruits.1. Romans 9 is where hardheartedness among unbelievers is addressed. The example of hard hardheartedness given is the Pharaoh of Egypt.2. Hebrews 3 is where the Church of God is warned about their own hardness of heart. The example given is indifference and disregard for the weekly Sabbath.Today we will walk through both sections of scripture. In the process learning how hard hardheartedness happens, and how it can affect us.Request a free copy of "What Does the Bible Teach About Grace" https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/what-does-the-bible-teach-about-graceKeep Reading »