Did early Christians have crosses or similar icons? Is the word cross actually in the inspired original text of the New Testament? What about the word crucify or crucifixion? Did early Christians teach that Jesus was impaled on a tree? What did Peter, Polycarp, and Melito write? What about the influence of the pagan sun god worshiping Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena. What did Eastern Orthodox Bishop Timothy Kallistos Ware say was the “triumph of orthodoxy” in 843 related to the “Seventh Ecumenical Council”? …
Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation
Are differences between Protestants and the Continuing Church of God more than the day of the week we worship on? Are there major differences on teachings about salvation? Does the God of love have a plan of salvation that makes sense? Is there a millennial Kingdom of God? Is this part of God’s plan of salvation for those who are called and properly respond to that calling in this age? What will resurrected Christians be doing during the millennium and the ‘Last Great Day’? …
God's Holy Day of Pentecost...what does it mean?
Pentecost is listed in Leviticus, chapter 23 as one of God's Holy Days. What is the significance of Pentecost? What has God revealed about His plan to offer salvation to all mankind through the Holy Day of Pentecost? Should people still observe Pentecost today? Will this and the other Holy Days be observed in the future? …
17 Last Days' Signs of the Holy Spirit
Are there 'last days' signs or manifestations of the Holy Spirit prophesied? If so, should we be seeing and accepting them today? The Apostle Peter preached a sermon on the Day of Pentecost in c. 31 A.D. where he quoted the prophet Joel. Is that relevant today? Will you believe the word of God? Does any Church of God (COG) have 17 or so confirmed last days' manifestations/signs of Holy Spirit shown in Acts 2:17-18? Should any? …
Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestants or COG?
Although Seventh Day Baptists (SDBs), Seventh-day Adventist (SDAs), and Messianic Jews keep some version of the seventh day Sabbath, are they Protestant or Church of God. What do they claim? What do they teach? What do SDAs and Messianic Jews teach about their history? Do SDBs cite groups who held Church of God (COG) and not SDB doctrines? Which group teaches the original biblical Christian faith? How do the SDAs, Messianics, and SDBs agree with Protestants on issues such as …
Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God's Plan
What were early church services like? Were they mainly focused on entertainment or scriptural messages? Were they like musical concerts or time to learn from the word of God? Did early Protestants condemn the bishops of Rome for changing the day of the Sabbath to Sunday? Did early Protestants end up proving to Roman Catholics that they did not believe in ‘sola Scriptura’ because of the Sabbath? What about the plan of God? Did early Christians …
Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday
Protestants claim to base their doctrines on the Bible. ‘Sola Scriptura’ (Latin for ‘Bible Alone’) was the official rallying cry of the Martin Luther’s Reformation movement. Yet, Roman Catholics and others have noted that Protestants have many practices, such as Sunday, oaths, and baptismal matters, that were adopted out of tradition. Even Harvard Protestant scholar Harold Brown wrote that Lutherans learned “the usefulness of tradition” when …
Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism
What are views ‘Protestant’ and Greco-Romans such as Marcion, Constantine, John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, and Martin Luther have towards Jews? What about modern Lutherans and other Protestants? How does that contrast from the views and actions of Church of God leaders such as Herbert W. Armstrong and Bob Thiel? Were Christians supposed to be hateful and murderous persecutors? Can the USA be identified in prophecy? …
Ten Plus Steps to Rid Yourself of Fear
Billions of people are afraid for many reasons, including COVID-19. Are any fears good? Are there mindless fears and phobias? Can autosuggestion be deceptive? Can you deal with mental torment? What are some causes of bad dreams (nightmares)? Does Satan try to exploit fears through his lies? Can the weak become strong? Were Christ's disciples ever fearful? Are there biblical ways to deal with fear? …
Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation
Vasnetsov’s 1884 impression of the Fourth Horseman and the Apocalypse
The 6th chapter of the Book of Revelation tells of the ride of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. What do each represent? Is the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, part of the fourth horseman? Does the Bible point to around 2 billion people dying from hunger, war, and the beasts of the earth? Was the ancient Roman Empire impacted by pestilences? What about the black death, also known as the Bubonic plague? Are disease epidemics part of the beginning of sorrow and troubles that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24 and Mark 13? Does the pale green horseman represent Islam? Could genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or synthetic biology cause or contribute to coming pandemics? Is chemical and biological warfare (CBW) a real threat to humanity? What about a doomsday bug or antibiotic resistant superbugs? Is fear a contagion that will help people move away from democracy? Will scientists be able to stop what is coming? It the good news that the Kingdom of God will? Could COVID-19 be setting the stage for the rise of the 'prince,' who will become the totalitarian Beast of the Sea (also known as 666 and the King of the North)? Is this leader similar to the Great Monarch of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies? When is the Great Monarch supposed to arise according to the Eastern Orthodox? Why might Europe be less affected by the ride of the third horseman that the US, Canada, and the UK? Are governments taking steps now, consistent with the words of Adolf Hitler? What seal represents the start of the Great Tribulation? Which Christians did Jesus promise to protect from the coming "hour of trial"?
A written article of related interest is available titled "Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse" URL: https://www.cogwriter.com/fourth-hors...
