Tiananmen89

The Philippines in prophecy

LIGHT OF THE GENTILES

"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles" (Isaiah 42:6)

We have just concluded the observance of Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. God’s deliverance of ancient Israelites from Egypt was the paramount theme during this season. God with His strong hand brought His chosen people out of slavery in Egypt.

Egypt is a type of sin. In this present time that we live in, this evil world is what characterized spiritual Egypt. But there is another spiritual picture for Egypt in our time. An Egypt that we are not aware of. It is a nation mentioned in the Scriptures that will play a major role in the last end prophecies.

What is this symbolic Egypt of this day and age? And what is yet to happen to this spiritual Egypt in the near future?

The prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah had all mentioned the nation of Egypt quite significantly in their prophecies. Whole chapters were written focusing mainly on prophecies for this nation. A casual look at these prophecies can make a reader deem that what is being discussed about in these verses refer to the physical nation of Egypt. Even Bible commentators and historians regard all these Bible passages as relating to the Egypt of the Middle East.

Chapter 19 of the book of Isaiah is one example. This chapter talks about Egypt and what is yet to befall this nation. Notice the timing of this prophecy in verse 1. This is just before the Day of the Lord – the day of His vengeance.

The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. (Isaiah 19:1)

God is seen coming to Egypt to vanquish its idols and inflict punishment. Though God’s wrath shall be upon all His enemies, Egypt shall not escape.

Isaiah gives us a picture of what has happened to Egypt that provides us with a clear evidence of the nature of Egypt that he is talking about in this chapter.

The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. (Isaiah 19:14)

This verse suggests that an unadulterated spirit once existed within the very heart of Egypt. God’s righteous spirit was the only spirit extant. If Egypt here applies to the physical nation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, then one might ask, “Why is there a presence of a righteous spirit within it?”

Moreover, verse 22 indicates a cleansing and restoration of Egypt. The Egyptians will be healed by God and they will return to Him.

And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. (Isaiah 19:22)

The physical nation of Egypt has no history with God. They have not known the true God as the Israelites have known Him. Even today, God is unknown to them.

So, how can the Egyptians return to the great God when they have never known Him in the first place? As Mr. Gerald Flurry said you cannot return to God if you didn’t have any previous relationship with Him. This Egypt is a country or kindred that has known God but allowed a perverted spirit to be mingled with the righteous spirit of God in them. (See Isaiah 19:14) Hence, this is talking about a spiritual Egypt or figurative in the sense.

Now, if this is referring to a spiritual Egypt, which nation is being alluded to here? Let us look for more cues in other biblical passages about the nature of this Egypt being perceived in this prophecy.

Consider another prophecy that cites Egypt in the 43rd chapter of the same book. This chapter is ascribed to God’s witnesses. It talks about their calling and the commission given to them by God. Verse 3 of this chapter mentions three specific nations which were given to them in the course of their ministry. And Egypt is one of them. The other two nations are Ethiopia and Seba.

Notice that among the three nations that were given, only Egypt was given to them for the purpose of their ransom.

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. (Isaiah 43:3)

Why only Egypt? Why do God’s witnesses need a ransom? Let’s examine the word ransom to get an idea of why Egypt was given to them for this purpose.

Strong’s Concordance defines ransomas:

properly a cover, that is, (literally) a village (as covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and the hennaplant (as used for dyeing); figuratively a redemptionprice: – bribe, camphire, pitch, ransom, satisfaction, sum of money, village.

Ransom means a cover. A cover is a means to hide from view, to obscure, to keep secret, or to prevent disclosure or recognition. Notice the other meanings of ransom: bitumen, henna, and pitch. What attribute do these substances have that is common to all?

Here’s what www.silknstone.comsays about henna:

Henna (Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, henna tree, mignonette tree, Egyptian privet) is a flowering plant that grows 12-15 feet high and comes from the sole species of the Lawsonia genus. The English name “henna” comes from the Arabic (ḥinnā). The name henna also refers to the dye prepared from the henna plant and the art of temporary tattooing based on those dyes. Henna has been used for centuries to dye skin, hair, and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool, and leather.(http://silknstone.com/About-Henna.html)

www.archaeology.about.com has this to say about bitumen.

Bitumen is a black, oily, viscous material that is a naturally-occurring organic byproduct of decomposed organic materials. Also known as asphalt or tar, bitumen was mixed with other materials throughout prehistory and throughout the world for use as a sealant, adhesive, building mortar, incense, and decorative application on pots, buildings, or human skin. The material was also useful in waterproofing canoes and other water transport, and in the mummification processtoward the end of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt.

The use of bitumen in Egyptian mummies was important beginning at the end of the New Kingdom (after 1100 BC)–in fact the word from which mummy is derived ‘mūmiyyah’ means bitumen in Arabic. Recent studies in Mesoamerica (pre-Classic and post-classic periods were included) have found bitumen was used to stainhuman remains, perhaps as a ritual pigment as red ochre is. But more likely, say researchers Argáez and associates, the staining may have resulted from using heated bitumen applied to stone tools which were used to dismember those bodies. (http://archaeology.about.com/od/bcthroughbl/qt/bitumen.htm)

And the word pitch is defined in Merriam-Webster Dictionary as:

a black or dark viscous substance obtained as a residue in the distillation of organic materials and especially tars

any of the various bituminoussubstances

Observe that a common quality that these substances (henna, bitumen, and pitch) possess is that of being dark or black. When these by-products are used, they can conceal the natural color or look of the surface on which they were applied like when dyeing hair or tattooing skin.

This black or dark attribute of these staining agents has everything to do with the meaning of the word Egypt.

The origin of the name Egypt is unknown. Egyptus is said by some to have been an ancient king of this country. (See Barnes Commentary).

In the Scriptures, the land of Egypt is given the name Mizraim or Misrim, who is the second son of Ham and the grandson of Noah. (Gen. 10:6) Lange’s Commentary provides more insights.

Mizraim, is not the native name for the land of Egypt. The ancient Egyptians never used it. It is neither to be found in the hieroglyphic inscriptions, nor can it be explained from the Koptic language. The Egyptians called their land (the Nile valley) Cham; Koptic, Keme, Kemi, Chemi (i. e. “black“). Mizraim is the name given to the land by its eastern, Semitic neighbors.

Did you notice that? The ancient Egyptians called their land black! Egypt’s name in Koptic is an attribute of henna, bitumen, and pitch. Indeed, Egypt, in the figurative sense, has everything to do as the nation chosen by God as a ransom or a cover for His servants.

God intended to conceal His witnesses in this concluding days of His work just before He unleash His fury in the day of His judgment. Their true identity has to remain hidden in order to fulfill His divine purpose of witnessing for Him. And He uses Egypt for this very purpose – as a cover for them.

Now stop and think. If this nation is what provides cover to God’s witnesses, which country is being alluded to as Egypt in Isaiah 43:3? Without a doubt, this nation can only refer to their own country – the Philippines!

Indeed the Philippines, specifically God’s church in this part of the world, has been the bitumen and henna of God’s witnesses. These two individuals, arrayed in sackcloth, have been witnessing for God for the past couple of years. These are the men who watches for God from a far country.

Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah. As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD. (Jer. 4:16-17)

They give out their voice from a far distance to Jerusalem (PCG HQ in Edmond) and to the cities of Judah (PCG). God commands them to declare His prophecies against His own people because they have become rebellious against Him. These men are the keepers of His field. And God has determined to keep them incognito during the period of their commission.

One reason why God has shrouded their identity is because of man’s proclivity of looking to man rather than to Him. God is very jealous when His people look to the ministers instead of him. Mr. Gerald Flurry saw this problem happening in the PCG and warned against it. The members have been looking to the ministers like gods. They have become their idols. Hence, God is so angry of the despicable idolatry in His own church. The same is true for God’s church in the Philippines. (See the article Philadelphia Church of God – A HOUSE FULL OF LEAVEN, IDOLATRY – Worship of Ministers section) Evidently, a wicked spirit has been mixed with God’s righteous spirit in these people.

The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. (Isaiah 19:14)

As a result, the entire country wobbles like a drunken man. The perverted counsels of their leaders are causing them to commit blunder in every work that they do. They have become like the drunkards of Ephraim.

These drunkards of Ephraim have no idea about God’s strange work in this last end. They are blind to what God is doing inside His own church. God Himself has removed wisdom and understanding from them.

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, evena marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (Isaiah 29:14)

In his sermon, Mr. Brian Davis lambasted God’s witnesses for not revealing their true identity to readers of their website. This minister has no knowledge, not even a slightest idea of why their identity has to remain undisclosed. He has no understanding of how God is doing His work through His witnesses. He is not aware that God has set things up this way in order for them to see first-hand the injustice, oppression, wickedness and abominations being committed by the 25 ministers of Ezekiel 8 and their supporters in God’s church today.

As we observe all these evil being perpetrated by these ministers inside God’s church in this last end, still God’s perfect love for His begotten children is present. He has sent forth His watchers to warn His people by embedding them into His church, concealing their identity, so they can witness and warn for Him.

As God’s servants inside His church perform their job of removing blindness in the eyes of the people, they see this work as a deception and an attack against them. As a consequence, we see a discord happening right within God’s own church. There is a contention taking place amongst spiritual Egyptians. Two factions of the same kindred are warring against each other – the Egyptians against the Egyptians or Filipinos against Filipinos.

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. (Isaiah 19:2)

Notice the meaning of the Hebrew word for set. Barnes Commentary has this to say about this word:

This word sakak means properly “to cover,” to spread over, to hide, conceal, to protect. Another signification of the verb is, to weave, to intermingle.

There is one group that God hides and protects as they fight against the other faction. Although this group has been intermingled with the other group, the other faction has no idea who they are fighting against. God has been concealing and protecting them.

Now, let’s take a look at another prophecy in the book of Isaiah that indicates this modern-day spiritual Egypt is indeed the country of the Philippines.

Chapter 45 of Isaiah is a prophecy devoted to Cyrus, the shepherd of God. (Please see the article “Cyrus, the Ravenous Bird from the East and the Two Witnesses.”) Let’s consider what God has purposed for him. Notice the resemblance of the names of nations that have been given to him and God’s witnesses with emphasis on Egypt.

Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there isno God. (Isaiah 45:14)

God said that the labor of Egypt shall be given to Cyrus. The word labor in Strong’s Concordance means toil, hence a work, produce, property (as the result of labor). This means that the harvest or the fruits of labor of God’s witnesses in Egypt shall be given into the hands of Cyrus being a shepherd of God (Isaiah 44:28).

As peoples’ eyes are opened and see the light of the Gentiles, they begin to leave God’s church and come over to Cyrus and become part of the flock that he shepherds. This also explains why the majority of God’s flock in the wilderness are Filipinos.

Study very carefully our article about Cyrus (link to the article) and understand why the work of God is also called “Cyrus Work.” Believe it or not, God’s strange work in this present time is now centered in the land of spiritual Egypt, the Philippines. God said to the Gentiles that He will work a work in our time and people will not believe it even though they heard about it.

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for Iwill work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.(Hab. 1:5)

Let us consider some original Hebrew words from Strong’s Concordance to better understand verse 5:

Behold

H7200: Consider

Heathen

H1471: Gentile, a foreign nation

Regard

H5027: have respect

Work

H6466: ordain

Putting all the other meanings together, verse 5 can now be read like this:

“Consider you among the Gentiles, and have respect, and wonder marvelously: for I will ordain a work in your days, which you will not believe, though it be told you”

What?! God shall ordain a work among the Gentiles? Do you think anyone will believe it? No way! In actual fact, whether we believe it or not, it is a very, very strange act done by God Himself. Imagine, ordaining a strange but a marvelous work and a wonder, among the Gentiles? These Gentile spiritual Jews are the same watchers from a far country who give out their voice by reason of Jerusalem because the Eternal has chosen Jerusalem and not any other estate (Isaiah 28:21; Isaiah 29:14; Jeremiah 4:16-17; Zechariah 3:2).

He has chosen an insignificant Gentile nation to do His last end work just before He sends Jesus Christ back to this earth. To most people, this would seem implausible, perhaps even a demented assertion. But consider these words from the Almighty God.

In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. (Isaiah 19:19)

Mr. Gerald Flurry says that the expression “in that day” always refers to this end time. God said that an altar and a pillar for Him shall exist in the midst of the Philippines today. Do we see it? Have we heard about it?

Barnes Commentary has this to say about the word altar:

An “altar” is properly a place on which sacrifices are offered. According to the Mosaic law, but one great altar was to be erected for sacrifices. But the word ‘altar’ is often used in another sense to denote a place of “memorial;” or a place of worship in general(Jos_22:22-26. … his (Isaiah’s) description is evidently taken in part from the account of the religion of the patriarchs who erected altars and pillars and monuments to mark the places of the worship of the true God. The parallelism here, where ‘pillars’ are mentioned, shows in what sense the word ‘altar’ is used. It means that the worship of the true God would be established in Egypt, and that certain “places” should be set apart to his service. “altars” were among the first places reared as connected with the worship of God (see Gen_8:20; Gen_12:7; Gen_35:1; Exo_17:15).

Do we see or heard about God’s altar in the midst of the Philippines? Did God chose this far-eastern country, mark the place, and set it apart to His own service? Spiritually, an altar represents the ministry. Is God’s ministry in the midst of this Gentile land?

Consider these verses in chapter 12 of Hosea:

And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egyptwill yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. (Hosea 12:9-10)

God is now declaring His voice from this remote country in the East. He is now working through His servants from this part of the world. He does speaks to His prophets continually even increasing revelations using similitudes or duality in prophecy.

There now exist an altar for God in the Philippines. Spiritual sacrifices are being offered for God that are acceptable to Him. This is a total opposite of what God is saying to the PCG today.

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it isiniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (Isaiah 1:13-15)

God hates the spiritual sacrifices being offered by PCG today. Abominations and killings are rampant in PCG congregations around the world. This is the reason why an altar for the true God has to be erected in midst of the land of the Philippines.

Now, what does the pillar stands for in Isaiah 19:19? A pillar is defined in Strong’s Concordance as “something stationed, that is, a column or (memorial stone)”

Here’s what Barnes Commentary says about a pillar.

And a pillar – That is, a memorial to God. Thus Jacob set up the stone on which he had lain ‘for a pillar,’ and poured oil on it Gen_28:18. Again Gen_35:14, he set up a pillar to mark the place where God met him and talked with him(compare Gen_31:13; Lev_26:1; Deu_16:22). The word ‘pillar,’ when thus used, denotes a stone, or column of wood, erected as a monument or memorial; and especially a memorial of some manifestation of God or of his favor. Before temples were known, such pillars would naturally be erected

In our day, what comes to mind when we think of an object that serves as a pillar in the midst of the Philippines? What is it that we can corroborate that God has given the Philippines a great favor? What item serves as a memorial of His manifestation in this place? Without a doubt, the answer to these questions is The Last End book – The Book of Remembrance!

Even the title of this book bears the meaning of pillar. Look closely at the cover page of the book and you will see the two pillars of the last two eras – Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong and Mr. Gerald R. Flurry. Consider also the two houses (Ambassador and ArmstrongAuditoriums) in the background that they built during this end time – they were “erected as a monument or memorial.” Indeed, God has spoken to his Two Witnesses in the land of the Philippines that made it possible for this book to be written. This book represents and serves as a memorial stone to God in the Philippines.

Observe also the phrase at the border thereof in Isaiah 19:19.

At the border thereof – Not in one place merely, but in all parts of Egypt. It is not improbable that the “name” of Yahweh, or some rude designation of the nature of his worship, would be inscribed on such pillars. It is known that the Egyptians were accustomed to rear pillars, monuments, obelisks, etc., to commemorate great events, and that the names and deeds of illustrious persons were engraven on them; and the prophet here says, that such monuments should be reared to Yahweh. (Barnes Commentary)

Have you got hold of a copy of this book? Has it reached your area in the Philippines? Have you read it? Of all the countries in the world where there are members of the PCG, only in the Philippines has this book sent in all areas. This prophecy has already been fulfilled. Everyone in God’s Church will eventually be able to see that the Lord God will be magnified even in the Philippines!

You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even BEYOND THE BORDERS of Israel!’ (Malachi 1:5, NIV)

Now going back and let’s notice what the altar and pillar are for in verse 19.

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. (Isaiah 19:20)

These altar and pillar shall serve as a “sign” and “witness for God” in this land. These shall be on the scene when people are crying out to God because of oppression being committed by those 25 ministers of Ezekiel 8 and their supporters. Have you witness this scenario in our time? Have you seen or heard about a “savior” that God has sent to His people to deliver them from affliction and injustice? All of these developments have come to pass in the land called the Philippines. God’s work in this Gentile land and His memorial book, the Book of Remembrance, should serve as a grave warning to all members of the PCG. Only the Island of the Philippines for now has seen what God is doing during this LAST END while some scattered brethren around the world are beginning to draw near and come to take notice as well.

Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. (Isaiah 41:1-6)

IT IS TRULY ASTOUNDING AND AMAZING TO ME THAT MANY OF GOD’S PEOPLE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS GREAT WORK TILL IT IS TOO LATE AS I TRY TO TELL THEM WHAT GOD IS DOING IN THIS END TIME—THEY JUST DON’T SEEM TO GET IT .—ALL I CAN DO IS KEEP TRYING—MAYBE SOME WILL PAY ATTENTION–?

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Yusa Kanade

July 13, 2016 at 2:10 pm Reply

This is not true at all! The country Philippines is not indicated or even the word is not written on the bible. Only in the bible we must believe. ‘Cause the author of the Bible is God and we must believe only in God and on what he already said. There is no connection on the verses that you put on this website to the country of Philippines.

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Jacob Israel Cyrus

July 13, 2016 at 2:39 pmReply

Even the word “America” is not even written in the Bible, yet we know in prophecy that it’s referring to the tribe of Manasseh.

Romans 10:15-21
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

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anonymous

July 14, 2016 at 2:23 am Reply

Let the LORD GOD do as He please, He is GOD, if His great work for mankind finishes with Gentiles, then this only declares the greatness of GOD, that He is not a respecter of persons. He respects you if you OBEY His LAWS and every statue, precepts, commandments. HE IS GOD, He chooses and we servants are only to follow His bidding. So if HE SAYS He will chose Gentiles at the end, no one can go against that. Anyone who go against what is already written in the passages of the Bible, will only be broken by it.

Yusa kanade,, Philippines was named after the king of Spain in the 15th century so of course the name wasn’t mentioned in the bible. Ancient name was Ophir where king Solomon got his gold. Just because it wasn’t mentioned it doesn’t mean it didn’t exist in the bible. It’s the only gentle nation in the east, far away land at the end of the earth, the isles was mentioned meaning islands, many islands facing china towards the sea. Read your bible. I doubt you have.

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Anonymous

June 12, 2017 at 1:14 am Reply

Let me correct myself, the only gentile nation in a far away land in the east surrounded by muslim, buddhis, shintos, hindus, confucian etc. Read your bible before you write anything.

Warriorship and spirituality in the Tagalog tribe

July 26, 2014 9:13 pm

by Perry Gil S. Mallari FIGHT Times Editor

The Tagalogs are members of an ethnic group inhabiting the central part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines… “The word taga meant a native inhabitant, and tagalog was apparently a contraction of taga ilog, river dweller, presumably in distinction from taga bundok, mountain dwellers between Nagcarlan [Laguna] and Lamon Bay, though they spoke the same language,” wrote William Henry Scott on the etymology of the term Tagalog, in his book, Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society.

Let’s read from other sources:

Tagalog Origin
The origin of the Tagalogs is still disputed and speculation among linguists that the ancestors of the Tagalogs originated from their cultivating homeland or what is now Taal, Batangas, or from northeastern Mindanao or eastern Visayas (according to linguists such as Dr. David Zorc and Dr. Robert Blust) where their closer linguistic kinsmen (the Visayans) dwelled. The primary centers of Tagalog civilization were based in riverine deltas, especially those in what are now Manila, Taal in Batangas, Pila in Laguna, and scattered townships along Manila Bay…

(I)t is widely accepted that the term Tagalog came from the word ‘Taga-Ilog’ o river dwellers, (referring to the Pasig River of former Rizal province towns and Manila),

Tagalog people
The Tagalog are a major ethnic group in the Philippines. They form a majority in Manila, Marinduque and southern Luzon, and a plurality in Central Luzon and the islands of Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon.

The name Tagalog comes from either the term tagá-ilog, which means ‘people living along the river’, or another term, tagá-alog, which means ‘people living along the ford’ (the prefix taga- meaning “coming from” or “native of”)

(A “ford” is shallow place in a body of water, such as a river, where one can cross by walking or riding on an animal or in a vehicle.)

The Tagalog are part of the Austronesian migration from Taiwan into the Philippines at around 4000 BCE. (Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia by James B. Minahan. This is way before the Spaniards came here in 1521, and even way before Solomon’s Temple was built in 970-964 BCE)

The earliest written record of the Tagalog is a 9th-century document known as the Laguna Copperplate Inscription which is about a pardon of debt on behalf of the ruler of Tagalog Tondo. Contact with the rest of Southeast Asia led to the creation Baybayin later used in the book Doctrina Cristiana which is written by the 16th century Spanish colonizers.

The Tagalog played an active role during the Philippine Revolution and many of its leaders were either from Manila or surrounding provinces. The Katipunan once intended to name the Philippines as “Katagalugan” or the Tagalog Republic.

Tagalog settlements are found on riverbanks, specifically near the delta and the “wawa” or the mouth of the river.

The traditional clothing of the Tagalog, the Barong Tagalog, is the folk costume of the Philippines.

The whole chapter 12 of the book of Daniel is all about the Book of Remembrance as stated in verse 1 and also about the TWO WITNESSES as written in verses 5 through 7. Notice what they did as they stood by the river:

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

Here’s what Gill Commentary wrote about this expression “when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven;”

the lifting up of the right hand is a gesture used in swearing, and the lifting up of both hands is either for the greater solemnity of the action, or with respect to the two …that stood one on one side of him, and the other on the other, that both might be eyewitnesses of this solemn affair; though lifting up both hands is often a prayer gesture, and there may be a mixture of both in this action, of both praying and swearing; Christ, as the High Priest, intercedes for his church and people, that their faith fail not till the end of their troubles comes:

Whereas Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary has this to say:

Usually the right hand was held up in affirmation as an appeal to heaven to attest the truth (Deuteronomy 32:40; Revelation 10:5-6);. Here both hands are lifted up for the fuller confirmation

Raising the right hand is like taking the oath when witnesses take the stand to offer testimony at trial in a courtroom. Same has been written about verse 7 for both Gill and JFB Commentaries, while at the same time, it may also show a prayer gesture. Notice how the Filipinos were Christianized by the Spaniards from the journal of Antonio Pigafetta:

Chapter XXXIV

On the last day of March, [March 31,1521 is Sunday which was] Easter, the Captain General had the priest prepare to say mass, and through the interpreter he sent a message to the king that he would not come ashore to dine with him, but to hear mass.

And for this reason the king sent him two slaughtered pigs. And when the time of the mass had come, about fifty unarmored men went ashore, in the finest dress that they had, and carrying their other arms. And before arriving in the launches, they had six bombards fired, as a sign of peace, and they jumped ashore. And the two kings embraced the Captain General, and they went in marching order up to the place of consecration, not far from the shore. And before the mass began, the Captain bathed the bodies of the two kings with musk water. At the offering of the mass, the kings went to kiss the cross just as they did, but they made no offering. At the elevation of the Host, they remained on their knees, and adored with clasped hands. And as the body of our Lord was elevated, all of the artillery was fired having been signaled from the land by muskets. And some of our men took communion. The Captain arranged a fencing match, which delighted the kings enormously. Then he had a cross brought with the nails and the crown, and at once they made a deep reverence. And through the interpreter they were told that this standard had been given to them by their lord the emperor. And for this reason everywhere they went they set up this sign. And that he wanted to set up one there, for their convenience, so that if any of our ships came, they would recognize by this cross that our men had been there, and that they would not do anything to displease them, nor to their goods, and if they took anything of theirs, by showing this sign, they would return it at once, and would let them go. And that it would be a good idea to put this cross at the top of the highest mountain, and adore it, and so they did. And that thunder, lightning, and tempest would not harm them in the least. And they thanked them very much, saying that they would gladly do all these things. Again the Captain had them asked if they were Moors or pagans, and what they believed in.

They replied that they did not worship in any other way than by RAISING THEIR JOINED HANDS TO THE SKY AND CALLING ON THEIR GOD ABBA. For which thing the Captain was overjoyed. And seeing this the THE FIRST KING RAISED HIS JOINED HANDS TO THE SKY…

Is this NOT a description of a people in the prophecy in Daniel 12:7? Even anciently, the Filipinos don’t worship MEN nor any IDOLS, they only worship their God, ABBA by RAISING THEIR JOINED HANDS TO THE SKY. This word “Abba” can be found in the Bible as an intimate name for God the Father.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:14-15)
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. (Mark 14:36)
Their ancestors most probably knew about this prophecy in Isaiah chapter 60 and they thought that it was the Spaniards whom God sent.

Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:9)

This could be the reason they readily accepted the Roman Catholic religion thinking it was the same God whom they worship. But who could be the God of the Tagalog tribe?

Bathala

In ancient Tagalog theology, Bathala (or Batala) was the supreme being and the omnipotent creator of the universe… It was after the arrival of the Spanish missionaries on the Philippines in the 16th century that Bathala came to be identified as the Christian God, thus its synonymy with Diyos (God) or Dibino (Divine, e.g. Mabathalang Awa), according to J.V. Panganiban (Diksyunaryo-Tesauro Pilipino-Ingles); in some Visayan languages Bathala also means God.

Pre-Christianity

An excerpt from the Boxer Codex (1590b, 367) about Bathala according to the “heathen” Tagalogs:

“They said that this god of theirs was in the air before there was heaven or earth or anything else, that he was ab eterno (from eternity) and not made or created by anybody from anything, and that he alone made and created all that we have mentioned simply by his own volition because he wanted to make something so beautiful as the heaven and earth, and that he made and created one man and one woman out of the earth, from whom have come and descended all the men and their generations that are in the world.”

Even before the Spaniards came, this Gentile people from the far east were worshipped only the TRUE GOD who created the whole universe. From this group of people, God has fulfilled the prophecy about the Book of Remembrance to be written in this last end. (Malachi 3:16; Daniel 12:1)

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. (Daniel 12:5)

Now, does this prophecy in verse 5 really point us to those TWO that is STANDING BY in Daniel 12 who came from a people who has been known as river dwellers or TAGA-ILOG or most popularly known as TAGALOG?

I will set his hand (referring to a type of David who is Mr. Armstrong) also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (Psalms 89:25)

They are from the ISLES OF THE SEA and they are from a people known as RIVER DWELLERS or TAGA-ILOG or TAGALOG, yet they are from God’s sacred tent of Mr. Armstrong who is also a descendant of King David!

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,… My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (Psalms 89:3, 28-29)

Look at how merciful God is to His people:

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. (Psalms 89:30-37)

That is why those TWO that STOOD BY in Daniel 12 was raising their hands because they are affirming a faithful witness in heaven as promised by God to David and Mr. Armstrong that even if their children or followers forsake His law and keep not His commandments, He will still continue to establish His throne or His government among them – IN HIS MERCY SHALL THE THRONE BE ESTABLISHED!

THE LAWGIVER

Look again at the prophecy in Genesis 49:10. It reads, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” From verse 1 of Genesis 49, we can understand that this entire passage is for the “last days”— the time we are living in now. So, in the last days, God said there would be a scepter, or a ruler on David’s throne, at the same time there is a lawgiver.

Concerning the scepter promise, we have always believed it refers to a kingly line that would rule from the time of David right up to the Second Coming of the Messiah. The scepter also refers to the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Verse 10 refers to a lawgiver from between Judah’s feet. The Companion Bible says this lawgiver comes “from between his feet,” which means he is to come from Judah’s descendants.

There is to be a scepter and a lawgiver in the “last days.” The lawgiver is a Jew who is here when Christ returns.

Source: p. 117, The Key of David

“The scepter also refers to the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ” – the spiritual aspect of the scepter or the throne is more important than the physical aspect because of its great implication – ETERNAL LIVES ARE AT STAKE! Notice the prophecy in Isaiah 66:1

Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

What is more important is His THRONE or His RULE inside His Church! We know that this “lawgiver” during the Laodicean era points us to Mr. Gerald Flurry in this end-time after Mr. Armstrong died. Yet we have witnessed that Mr. Flurry became defiled as what God has shown us in his Key of David program about King Hezekiah’s bulla that he now promotes the Egyptian TWO-WINGED SUN GOD, Horus! The KEY TO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT has now been given to his son Stephen who ostentatiously lead the PCG to more VANITY, FALSEHOOD and ERROR!

In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2:10-14)

The 24th day of the ninth month fell on December 7, 2015, the same time the prophecy about KEY TO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT has been made available online. The whole priesthood or ministry of the Philadelphia Church of God became UNCLEAN so what will God do? God cannot break what He promised that He will always have a lawgiver who will come from Judah’s descendants specifically from David’s:

This is the same twofold covenant referred to in Jeremiah 33:17-18: “For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want [or lack] a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel [the scepter promise]; Neither shall the priests the Levites want [or lack] a man [the lawgiver] before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually [a type of spiritual sacrifices].”

The coronation chair of the kingly line of the tribe of Judah continues to this day in Westminster Abbey in London.

God said in Genesis 49:10 that a lawgiver would parallel that scepter promise, which continues until Christ returns. Traditionally, we have believed this lawgiver to be Christ.

In principle, that is true. Christ always gives the law. He is the source. But notice, the scripture says this lawgiver would not depart from Judah’s feet “until Shiloh [Christ] come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”

Source: p. 118 The Key of David

Notice that the “lawgiver” will have to be a descendant of Judah and of Levi as well. That is a promise from God. One may ask: Can a Gentile be used by God in His Work? That is the mystery that the apostle Paul has been talking about – the FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES coming in (Romans 11:25-26). Is it possible that these Gentiles are also a descendant of David from the tribe of Judah and a descendant of Levi as well? Consider a news clip from the MANILA TIMES website:

Strong Philippines-Israel Friendship

February 28, 2014 11:46 pm

by Rick Ramos

Not many people know that there are the bonds that tie the special relationship between our country and that of Israel. In fact, there have been Jews in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in our shores in the mid-1500s. This is not surprising because Jews have been in diaspora for over a thousand years, reaching Iran and India.

According the book The Christianization of the Philippines published by the University of San Agustin in Manila in 1965, the Jews had already been in our country even before the Spanish times. Don Pacheco Maldonado reported to the King of Spain in 1570: “The greater part of the inhabitants of Luzon are Muslims and Jews.”

In God’s mercy, He established the throne or the SEAT OF HIS AUTHORITY among Gentile looking Jews and God the Father allowed His Son Jesus Christ to be brought forth and come in the flesh for this purpose: TO JUDGE, TO SEEK JUSTICE and TO BE PROMPT IN DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS – That is the commission of the REMEMBRANCERS. God’s THRONE has now been set up through His Two Witnesses and it’s here right now. It’s God’s kingdom in embryo. God has guaranteed that this kingdom will stand forever! This kingdom has started very small with the 2015 Mount Zion Dig as prophesied:

And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord‘s. (Obadiah 1:21)

Notice here the time sequence: when the work of the TWO WITNESSES began in Mount Zion (“And saviours shall come up on mount Zion”) on June 2015, then what happens NEXT? As it reads in the following thought, “and the kingdom shall be the Lord‘s” – GOD ESTABLISHED HIS THRONE, HIS KINGDOM THROUGH THE REMEMBRANCERS IN MERCY with the A.R.K. of God Foundation on August 2015! Coincidence? Certainly NOT! But it was meticulously planned by God to fulfill the Isaiah 16:5 prophecy:

And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. (Isaiah 16:5)

IN HIS MERCY, GOD ESTABLISHED HIS THRONE, HIS GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE REMEMBRANCERS TO JUDGE THE SPIRITUAL EDOMITES, TO SEEK JUSTICE AND TO HASTEN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

A New Song

God commanded Moses to write a song as a form of teaching and will serve as a witness of God against Israel (Deut 31:19). A song is then a message of God to the people. As a song it signifies a form of praising God (Psa 40:3). Receiving a teaching from God would imply praising him according to the knowledge we receive. Christ said,

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:22-24

Once we come to know the truth, we then worship and praise God in truth.

Now a “new song” is sung because of the revelation of the salvation of God. Psalm 98:1-3says:

1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

The salvation that was not known before is revealed through the gospel of Christ, and thus a “new song” is sung by the elect who heard it.

There are two groups of people whom we will hear the “new song.” It is heard from the “144,000” that are redeemed from Israel (Rev 14:3-4; Rev 7:4). And the other is from the “isles”, a nation of gentiles that will wait for the law of Christ (Isa 42:10; Isa 24:14-16).

A keen observer would note Revelation 14:3, and would ask, “Why is it that only the 144,000 Israelites understand the New Song? What about the gentiles to whom the apostles and disciples had preached, didn’t they heard and were also illumined of the mystery of the gospel?”

The gospel was indeed sent and heard by the gentiles during the apostles’ time. But as per what Paul said unto the Jews at Rome, he said,

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.Acts 28:28

The gospel was already “sent”, meaning, the gospel was already preached and heard by the ear by the gentiles. But the phrase “will hear”refers of hearing by understanding. And so thus, what Paul implies as “will hear” is that the understanding of the gospel by the gentiles will happen in a future, not in their (the apostles and disciples) present time.

To add more to the mystery is the issue of why are the “isles” being mentioned would “wait” for Christ’s law (Isa 42:4). Don’t the gentiles, during the apostles’ time, also received Christ’s law, and is passed in the succeeding generations? Why is the isles’ waiting of Christ’s law seem of importance, as the Scripture seemed to treat it?

But as for anyone who would come understand the mystery of the “new song”, and of why only the 144,00 Israelites could sing and understand the new song. It implies that the gentiles who received also the gospel, received the gospel without understanding it. And that as implied in Paul’s words, the hearing, or of coming to understand, the gospel by the gentiles is yet to happen in their future.

And without further ado, a renewed preaching of the gospel by the “isles” is prophesied:

18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. Isa 66:18-21

And to further clarify that from the “isles”will take place the renewed preaching of the gospel, the prophecy thus say:

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Isa 42:10

It does not say that the new song is heard from different parts of the world, but rather, specifically, heard from the isles. Again, the prophesy said thus,

15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea. 16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. Isa 24:15-16

Praise the Lord! Let us glorify him in all his works.

The Isles Shall Wait for His Law
Matthew 12:14-21 quotes the prophesy in Isaiah 42:1-3 and referring of its fulfillment in Christ. The last verse of Matthew’s quote is actually a quote from Isaiah 11:10, which says: “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.“ It is clear in the prophecy that Christ will reign over a certain group of gentiles.

But as we know, Jesus never reigned over a group of gentiles when he came. And that, rather, he made Paul an apostle unto the gentiles. Christ himself said that he is sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt 15:24). And also, he directed the apostles, before he was yet to suffer crucifixion, to preach only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matt 10:5-6).

And as far as we know from the book of Acts, it was only the gentile centurion, Cornelius, who heard of the gospel from Peter at Christ’s command. Afterwards, we never hear anymore of Cornelius.

There were gentiles, indeed, that believed with Peter, Paul, and the disciples. But we do not hear any hint, even from Paul, who is the apostle to the gentiles, to whom the prophecy of Christ reigning over these gentiles is fulfilled.

And in another twist of mystery, gentiles are not allowed to reign with the apostles and disciples, at which time the Jews are not yet blinded. If there are Jews who were not blinded and are faithful to God, then the promises of God is still in effect to the Jews. So, at a time when some Jews were still faithful, the priesthoods, and the services of God, and the oracles, and the promises of God are still in effect to the Jews. Read my blog, “The Jew First…”, touching this issue.

So, to get on our main subject, we will ask: Who are the Gentiles to whom Christ will reign?

The proceeding verse that Matthew quoted in Isaiah 42, the fourth verse, says:

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Isa 42:4

The underlined part of the quote above refers of gentiles that will wait for Christ’s law. The gentiles do not refer to every gentiles for it is clear that the gentiles referred here are located in the “isles.” Further, another description of the isles was given:

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Isa 42:10

Also in Isaiah, we are also given description of the people singing in the isles:

14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea. 15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea. 16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous… Isa 24:14-16

Again, another description about the isles was given in Isaiah 49:1:

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Isaiah 49:1 is clearly calling a people from far; and surely these people do not refer to the Greeks, nor the Romans; for even the apostle Paul was silent about these prophesies being fulfilled to them. Isaiah 51:4-5 will give us another description regards the isles, it says:

4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

So the above gives us a another description of the isles that wait upon the Lord, and of his law. Firstly it is a “nation” that Christ will call. And, secondly, it is a people that will put their trust in Christ.

Isaiah 55:3-5 further gives us further description of the nation that Christ will call:

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

I hope it will not be hard for me to convince you, the reader, that the person in the above prophecy, concerning the witness, leader, commander, and to whom is given the sure mercies of David, is referring to Jesus Christ. And in the above prophecy we will read of Jesus Christ calling a “nation” that “he does not know.” So then, the nation that Christ will call, and is referred as the isles, is obviously not the Greeks, nor the Romans, nor any nation that is known to Christ.

So the descriptions of the isles that will wait upon the Lord are:

referred as “isles”
a nation that “Christ will call”
a nation that is “not” known to Christ
located from the “uttermost part of the earth”
it is a people from “far”
located where it “goes down to the sea.”
These descriptions clearly exclude any nation that were reached by the apostles and disciples.

The Philippines is the nation that Christ will call, and is the “isles” that will wait for the law of Christ.

The Jew First….
Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16)

What Paul meant of saying “the Jew first“?

Paul refers about the salvation having offered first to the Jews, before salvation came to the Gentiles. Paul said of the Jews,

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Rom 9:3-4

When Christ came, the promises of God was still in effect to the Jews. And so Christ himself said, “… salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Not only that, he also said, “… I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Israel” (Matt 15:24). And when he sent his apostles and disciples, he said, “… Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt 10:5-6)

Even after Christ’s resurrection, and when he sent those who believed him, we have a good proof that the apostles and disciples preached first to the Jews. We can read the story of Peter, as implied in the story in Acts 10, that he, Peter, is not at all intending to preach unto the Gentiles except after that time he was told by Christ in a dream to preach to the Gentiles also. And we will read further, that in the meeting in Jerusalem, Peter announced how the Gentiles believed through his preaching. (Acts 15:7). That meant, that the apostles never actually preached directly to the Gentiles before. The people whom Peter preached at Pentecost were not Gentiles, but Jews with different nationalities, or possibly, referring of their place of birth.

Even Paul , who is himself called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, have to preach first to the Jews. Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews, “… It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46) What Paul and Barnabas implied in their words is that unless the Jews rejects the gospel, the preaching of the gospel will remain directed to the Jews because the promises of God would remain to the Jews. If the Jews would be faithful, then God will also keep his promises unto them; simple as that.

And even when Paul reached Rome, he first meet and shared his gospel, with the Jews. (Acts 28:17-20) And when the Jews did not agree with Paul, he said to them, “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” (Acts 28:28)

Peter and Paul had preached unto the Gentiles, thus the gospel was already sent to the Gentiles. However, the understanding of the gospel were not yet given to the Gentiles during the apostle’s time, as implied by Paul’s words: “they will hear“; which is referring of a future. Gentiles were not yet learned, though they received the preaching of the depth of the gospel. And, as per instructed in the Council at Jerusalem, the Gentiles were given not much burden but to “…abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” (Acts 15:1-20)

The promises of God is still in effect to the Jews during the apostles and disciples’ time, seeing the apostles and disciples are Jews and were still holding to the promises of God. And the gentiles who were saved in those times were saved according to the promises given through the apostles and disciples.

But there will come a time that total blindness will happen to all Israel, and such time had come, for which the total rejection of Israel came, and the salvation of the Gentiles came to effect. The Scripture made a clear prophecy of the word of God becoming hid to the Jews:

11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. 14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again. Amos 8:11-14

The blindness of Israel had come indeed. Even according to the prophecy, the remnant that will believe Christ will last for only a generation, and that they will be witnesses of Christ unto “a people that shall be born.” (Ps 22:30-31) Obviously, there will be a cut off of witnesses because of the blindness that will happen. And thus, the witness to be received by “the people that shall be born” will come from the witnesses of those who believed and served Christ for a generation.

The Philippines in prophecy

The GOLD OF OPHIR

On Wednesday, July 20, 2016 an infamous anti-Herbert W. Armstrong group has posted an article discussing a tangled tale of a new group from the Philippines who came out from the Philadelphia Church of God to revive the legacy of the end time Elijah in Jerusalem. Here’s an excerpt from their post:

Now, let’s look at another group that has also dedicated the same dirt pile to Herbert Armstrong. This is a group out of the Philippines, who at one time halfway endorsed Flurry, but now consider him a liar and a heretic. That group is called the A.R.K of God Foundation. The long version is this:

Armstrong Remembrancers and Keepers of God Foundation

is an independent community foundation dedicated to reviving the legacy of the late Herbert W. Armstrong in Jerusalem and in the whole world through an approach centered on remembering his teachings on God’s give way of life that will bring about peace among the peoples of different races, ethnicity or belief; and also to keep the covenant that God made with him.

This is another group that feels that the legacy of Herbert Armstrong is not being preserved and that it is their duty to do so. To them, Gerald Flurry and the PCG are apostate, Irish dancing, heretics.

They too have paid to have their name engraved on another price of marble and installed on the wall of the dirt pile.

Source: COG’s Battle Over Children’s Playground At Liberty Bell Park In Jerusalem

While this story as posted in their website may have been about another breakaway which has become the name of the game among the several Church of God groups following the demise of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, yet this breakaway, “A.R.K. folks” as the writer called them have a unique story behind them, that is, they chose Jerusalem which the Eternal has chosen. These “A.R.K. folks” are also filled with so much hope and vision which is evidently lacking in those people behind such an anti-Armstrong website that offers no hope nor vision, but only bitterness and hatred in their hearts. Right now these kind of people who once knew the God of Elijah together with the other COG groups out there, they are all perishing spiritually because they don’t have God’s vision with them (Proverbs 29:18).

A TANGLED TALE

The story of this breakaway group from the Philippines can be considered as one of the most controversial narrative ever to land in the pages of the human course of events involving God and His people and this tale would definitely generate several questions such as the following:

What made this Gentile nation from the FAR EAST to think that they will be used by God to do His Work?

Who do they think they are to be able to continue God’s Work in this last end? Are they of the tribe of Israel to begin with?

Is there any prophecy written in the Bible that foretell about these Gentiles?

And so the question will go on and on because God’s own people are not used to seeing brown skin toned complexion doing God’s work, much more so, leading God’s work in His chosen city, Jerusalem, even to prepare it for the return of the Messiah.

To be able to find the answers to all the questions that may be generated, let us begin our quest for the truth with this news clip:

Work of ancient goldsmiths of the Philippines on display in New York

by New York Times News Service
September 25, 2015 (updated)

NEW YORK — More than half a millennium before Ferdinand Magellan reached the archipelago now called the Philippines in 1521, a number of related societies thrived there. Little is known about them. They left no enduring architecture, monuments or literature. One thing is certain, however: They were astoundingly skillful goldsmiths.

A generous sample of those underknown peoples’ work in gold is presented in “Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms,” a gorgeous and historically intriguing exhibition of about 120 pieces from the 10th through the 13th centuries.

Organized by the Asia Society’s Adriana Proser and, as consulting curator, Florina Capistrano-Baker of the Ayala Museum, to which most of the items on view belong, the show includes bracelets, bangles, necklaces, pendants, pectorals, collars, finger rings, dishes, bowls, a balance scale made entirely of gold and triangular pieces with rounded corners called “chastity covers” designed to be worn by women over their genitals…

The star of the show and the biggest piece is a gleaming sash that could be mistaken for a futuristic ammunition belt. Made of myriad gold beads, it’s designed to be worn over one shoulder, across the chest and to the hip where one end threads through a loop and concludes with the setting for a now lost finial. Nearly 5 feet long and square sectioned (about 1 inch on a side), it weighs about 9 pounds…

How was it that knowledge of a culture — or collection of cultures — capable of such exquisite and sophisticated metalworking was forgotten and left without a name? That is a tangled tale.

Gold was always plentiful in the Philippines, readily collected by panning.Today the country is said to have the world’s second richest gold deposits. When the Spanish landed, they found natives sporting much gold jewelry and regalia. Illustrations in a book from around 1590 called “The Boxer Codex,” on view in the exhibition, depict indigenous people wearing ostentatious gold adornments over flowing, colorful garments. But the Spanish colonizers wasted little time in decimating the native cultures and making off with their gold, which they melted down for their own purposes.

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UNIR
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The first modern discoveries of precolonial gold were made by French explorer Alfred Marche, who, in 1881, uncovered about 10 pieces in wooden coffins and Chinese export jars in burial sites on the island of Marinduque. (By carbon dating the ceramic vessels that gold pieces were regularly found buried in, archaeologists later determined that most of the gold that has come to light was produced from the 10th through the 13th centuries.) More gold artifacts turned up here and there over the ensuing decades, but it was not until a hundred years later that the next major find occurred. One day in April 1981, a heavy machinery operator named Edilberto Morales was working on an irrigation project in Surigao del Sur province in the island of Mindanao when he accidentally unearthed a metal bowl, which turned out to be made of gold. That partly dented, elegantly simple vessel is in the exhibition. During the rest of the day, Morales uncovered many more gold pieces — 22 pounds’ worth — of what came to be known as the Surigao Treasure.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/work-of-ancient-goldsmiths-of-the-philippines-on-display-in-new-york/#jPqY46jK18Wj2hXl.99

The writer was a bit perplexed as to “How was it that knowledge of a culture — or collection of cultures — capable of such exquisite and sophisticated metalworking was forgotten and left without a name? That is a TANGLED TALE.” In this article we will unveil the knowledge of THAT CULTURE that is “capable of such exquisite and sophisticated metalworking” and how it relates to our Work in this last end and even to our future in God’s Kingdom. Now to be able to uncover the mystery of THAT CULTURE, let us first consider what Mr. Gerald Flurry wrote about the significance of HISTORY.

HISTORY WAS BOTH MEMORY AND PROPHECY. It provided the counsel and the solace of the LONG VIEW both to the past and to the future… “(H)istory followed great cycles: the same themes recurred, again and again, the same drama was played out, from age to age; and as men had somehow survived the vicissitudes of the past there was ground to hope that they might survive those of the present and the future… Manfred Weidhorn, in his book Sword and Pen, said this about Winston Churchill: “In attempting to assess the ultimate significance of events, Churchill grapples with the problem of historical perspective. Incidents have one meaning at the time of their occurrence and another when they have become part of history.” Many people have called Mr. Churchill a prophet. Here is the main reason: He tried “to ASSESS THE ULTIMATE SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS” IN A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. All human beings are weak in this area, but WE MUST STRIVE TO SEE NOT JUST THE PRESENT, BUT ALSO THE PAST AND THE FUTURE. Mr. Churchill also said that THE FURTHER YOU SEE INTO THE PAST, THE FURTHER YOU CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE. What we really need is God’s perspective. We should avoid human reasoning (2 Corinthians 10:5). Instead, we should reason with God (Isaiah 1:18). Source: (p. 284-286, The Former Prophets: How to Become a King)

The Former Prophets - How to Become a King

For emphasis, “HISTORY WAS BOTH MEMORY AND PROPHECY” wherein as defined in the dictionary, MEMORY is the instance of remembering, recalling and recollecting the past; while PROPHECY is a message of divine truth revealing God’s will. So it is really very important to know one’s history in God’s perspective. And for us to be able to understand the reason behind Gentiles working in Jerusalem, we need to ASSESS THE ULTIMATE SIGNIFICANCE OF EVENTS IN A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. WE MUST STRIVE TO SEE NOT JUST THE PRESENT, BUT ALSO THE PAST AND THE FUTURE. Now let us dig deeper into the past of this Gentile nation to be able to see what lies ahead into their future, because as Mr. Churchill said that, “THE FURTHER YOU SEE INTO THE PAST, THE FURTHER YOU CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE.” Let us consider briefly what has been written about the history of the Philippines:

When the Spanish ruled the Philippines, they purposely destroyed books and other documents on History of the Filipinos so that they can easily Christianize the people and make them forget their belief. The old books that were not destroyed by the Spaniards were the Tarsillas of the Muslim, the Book of Datu Sumakwel (which was the History of Panay) and that of Datu Kalantiaw.

Source: p. 43, PHILIPPINES 2 MILLENNIUM HISTORY” by Luzano Pancho Canlas

Why did the Spaniards PURPOSELY DESTROYED the books and other documents on HISTORY of the Filipinos? When we look at God’s perspective, it is actually instigated by Satan the devil because he wanted the TRUE IDENTITY of this nation to be blotted out. But why? The reason behind that will astound every one even in God’s own Church. Why did God used the Gentiles to write His Book of Remembrance? It’s all about God educating us through HISTORY or the real version of HIS STORY (or God’s story):

God is trying to educate us to teach the whole world and to work at headquarters with Jesus Christ for all eternity. That is why we were chosen to do this Work! That is a towering responsibility – one we must be educated to fulfill. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name” (Malachi 3:16). Even this will be somewhat of a history book that God has for those who remembered what God taught through them.

Source: p. 9, The Former Prophets: How to Become a King

The Book of Remembrance according to Mr. Flurry is “somewhat of a history book that God has for those who remembered what God taught through them.” And truly, it is a HISTORY BOOK and you can easily prove it. As Mr. Churchill said that THE FURTHER YOU SEE INTO THE PAST, THE FURTHER YOU CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE. Now to better understand and SEE OUR FUTURE, let’s go FURTHER INTO THE PAST. We may have heard of several prophecies concerning the land Ophir because it was where King Solomon got the gold which he used to garnish the temple with ornaments of gold from this place. Who is Ophir? And where is that Ophir today?

THE LAND OF OPHIR

Let us begin the narrative of the past in Genesis chapter 10 where the name Ophir has first been mentioned:

The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east. (Genesis 10:22-30)

Ophir went to a mount of the EAST. So in order to find where the descendants of Ophir settled, one has to consider the EAST. The land of Ophir became famous because it was where the gold that King Solomon used in building God’s temple in Jerusalem. He even made navy of ships to send his servants to fetch those precious metal from that place in the east.

And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the Lord, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the Lord. So he finished the house. And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. (1 Kings 9:25- 28)

But where in the world can we find the land of the Biblical Ophir? Let us consider some resources:

Ophir- Ancient name of Islas del Oriente – The Philippine Islands

What the Spaniards believed

After the death of King Solomon, Ophir was abandoned and soon forgotten. After the passage of hundreds of years nobody would know where or what is Ophir. The other word associated with Ophir is the word “Tarshish.” Nobody also knew what it meant. In old translations of the Bible it was supposed also to be a place. However, in new translations of the Bible, it is used to refer to the fleet that went to Ophir. What happened to the Hebrew or Jewish settlements that were established to process the gold before they were shipped back to King Solomon? Nobody also knew. However, we knew that because of their religious beliefs the Hebrews tend to survive as a separate enclave wherever they settled.

Historical facts

In Spain there is a book called Coleccion General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas. It is found in the Archivos de Indias de Sevilla. It was reprinted in 1920 in Barcelona, Spain by the Compania General de Tabaccos de Filipinas. Its Tomo III (1519-1522), pages 112-138, contains Document No. 98 describing how to locate the land of Ophir.

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This same volume also contains the official documents regarding the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan. It also contains the logbook of Francisco Albo, the chief pilot of the ship Victoria. This logbook is also one of the main references regarding the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.

Since this book contains important documents, we can discern that the Spaniards did not really believe that Ophir was in India. In fact the Cabot expedition that left Spain on April 3, 1526 had a secret mission, “to search for a route to Tarsis, OPHIR, Oriental Cathay (China), and Japan.”

Document No. 98 describes how to locate the land of Ophir. The travel guide started from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to India, to Burma, to Sumatra, to Moluccas, to Borneo, to Sulu, to China, then finally Ophir.

Ophir was “…in front of China towards the sea, of many islands where the Moluccans, Chinese, and Lequios met to trade…”

This group of islands could not be Japan because the Moluccans did not get there. It could not be Taiwan because it is not “of many islands.” Only the present day Philippines could satisfy the description.

Source: http://addiebantug.blogspot.com/2012/08/ophir-ancient-name-of-islas-del-oriente.html

The land of Ophir has been given a new name after the King of Spain, King Felipe and it has been observed even by a Jesuit historian then about the “mystery and obscurities of the Hebrew language” that can be found in the native language spoken in that land.

OPHIR: The Ancient-Name of the Islands of the Philippines

The western writers and ocean navigators called the islands Ophir before the Western people arrived and re-named it as Felipinas from the name of King Felipe of Spain. When the first European historian set their foot in the land of Ophir, it was written by historian Gregorio F. Zaide in page 2 and page 24 of History of the Filipino people, that Padre Chirino an eminent Jesuit historian found in Tagalog language that “it has the mystery and obscurities of the Hebrew language” Therefore in the island of Ophir the people speaks ancient Hebrew language.

The Tagalog language has 30,000 root words, 700 affixes, and the root words which are famous about 5,000 words from Spanish, 3,200 from Malay-Indonesia, 1,500 words from Hebrew, 1,300 from English, 300 from Sanskrit, 250 words from Arabic and very few words Persian, Japanese and Russian.

Ever wonder why the Philippine anthem was titled “Lupang Hinirang” (The Promised Land) by our heroes over a century ago? Filipino heroes know about our identity. When Dr. Jose Rizal penned the famous expression, “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at mabahong isda” (He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and stinky fish). Let’s ask ourselves this question, “Of all the languages around the world and all the knowledge that Rizal was able to acquire, why would he don’t want the Filipino people to FORGET about the LANGUAGE?”

Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/78713593/Philippines-is-Ophir

Here’s another source on how the Spaniards were able to locate the land of Ophir:

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In a book found in Spain entitled Collecion General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas, the author has described how to locate Ophir. According to the section “Document No. 98”, dated 1519-1522, Ophir can be found by travelling from the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, to India, to Burma, to Sumatra, to Moluccas, to Borneo, to Sulu, to China, then finally Ophir. Ophir was said to be “[…] in front of China towards the sea, of many islands where the Moluccans, Chinese, and Lequios met to trade…” Jes Tirol asserts that this group of islands could not be Japan because the Moluccans did not get there, nor Taiwan, since it is not composed of “many islands.” Only the present-day Philippines, he says, could fit the description. Spanish records also mention the presence of Lequious (big, bearded white men, probably descendants of the Phoenicians, whose ships were always laden with gold and silver) in the Islands to gather gold and silver. Other evidence has also been pointed out suggesting that the Philippines was the biblical Ophir.

Source: Philippines is Ancient Ophir

Former Prime Minister Pedro A. Paterno said in one of his works on conjectural anthropology that the land of Ophir is the Philippines

Ophir (Hebrew: אוֹפִיר) is a region of islands mentioned in the Bible, most famous for its wealth. Accounts mention that King Solomon received the riches of the region every three years. At the emergence of the hydrography of Spanish colonies in Asia in the early 17th century, Dominican Gregorio García wrote that Ophir was indeed located in the Moluccas and the Philippines. In 1609, Juan de Pineda wrote a diverse collection of literature relating Biblical accounts of Solomon, Ophir and the islands. Former Prime Minister Pedro A. Paternosaid in one of his works on conjectural anthropology that Ophir is the Philippines because the scented wood Solomon received from Ophir also exists in the Islands. This notion was however, later dismissed by modern historians as merely alluding and comparing the Philippines’ position to the Spanish economy with that of Ophir to Solomon’s kingdom—the sudden discovery and colonisation of the Islands bringing wealth and prosperity to the realm.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_the_Philippines

THE LOST TRIBE OF LEVI

Another gripping story that must be told is about the tribe of Levi. We may already have heard or read about the Lost 10 tribes of Israel which Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong has already covered in his book, The United States and Britain in Prophecy. But how about those sons of Levi – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (1 Chronicles 6:1)?

In Joshua 21:1-8 and 1 Chronicles 6:63-81 we can read how the three sons of Levi, were distributed to each tribe.

Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle. And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs. And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities. And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. (Joshua 21:1-8)

Reuben – Merari

Simeon – Kohath

Judah – Kohath

Dan – Kohath

Nepthali – Gershon

Gad – Merari

Asher – Gershon

Issachar – Gershon

Zebulun – Merari

Ephraim –Kohath

Manasseh – Gershon / Kohath

Benjamin – Kohath

Yet something happened when Jeroboam became the king of the house of Israel – he ordained his own priesthood from among the lowest of the people which were not of the tribe of Levi.

If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he (Jeroboam) made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were NOT of the sons of Levi. (1 Kings 12:27-31)

Again, what does this verse mean? It means that the Levites that were assigned to the 10 tribes were of no more of use to the house of Israel under King Jeroboam. So what happened to them?

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the Lord: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. (2 Chronicles 11:13-17)

Notice carefully that the displaced Levites from the kingdom of Israel led by king Jeroboam went to Judah and Jerusalem and they joined with the kingdom of Judah only for THREE YEARS. Then what? Read the shocking truth in chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles that only the children of the Kohathites were found performing the priestly functions.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. (2 Chronicles 20:18-19)

So where did the children of Gershon and Merari went? Did they go back to the kingdom of Israel? Did they become part of those that were carried away out of their own land?

For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. (2 Kings 17:22-23)

We must remember that after every three years the ships of Tarshish went to Ophir to get gold and silver (2 Chronicles 9:21-22). Is it possible that the children of Gershon, Merari and few descendants of Kohath reached the island of Ophir? The answer would definitely surprise every one including God’s own people. And it has been prophesied in the book of Isaiah. More on that later.

At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark… At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him. (Deuteronomy 10:1-2, 8-9)

Notice that Levi HAS NO PART NOR INHERITANCE WITH HIS BRETHREN. If the tribes of Israel led by America and Britain are prosperous, can we expect the tribe of Levi to be prosperous as his other brothers? No! As prophesied, God would be his ONLY INHERITANCE and it is in His purpose to separate the tribe of Levi to bear the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders. Can we find any tradition from among the nations of this world which is similar to this?

Trivia : “Bayanihan”- The Best of Filipino Traditions

The picture of Filipino men carrying a house on their shoulders in this “More fun in the Philippines” picture might seem odd to other nationalities and the younger Pinoy generations. But in the olden days this is actually how houses are moved or how people “change address” as the caption of the pictures says. And Yes! this is really fun with much bantering during the lifting and moving of the house.This is called Bayanihan.

What is Bayanihan?

This is a description of Bayanihan. “Bayanihan” is commonly a term applied to a group of neighbors helping another neighbor in need of help for a work to be done which requires group effort. This is normally done by the neighbors without any monetary compensation. In the olden days, when most of the houses were made of bamboo, wood and palm or grass roofs (thatched roofs), it is common to transfer houses of such materials from one location to another by lifting the whole house atop wood beams. The group effort of lifting and transferring the house is called “bayanihan” or the “spirit of bayanihan”. The picture below is the iconic cultural image of “bayanihan”( see picture below). The term can also be applied to other group endeavors such as the planting and harvesting of rice, helping victims of disasters like typhoon, earthquake and flood. To these days, specially in the provinces, you can still see the people transferring houses the bayanihan way.

Definition : Bayanihan is a Filipino term taken from the word “bayan,” referring to a nation, town or community. The whole term bayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective.

Where in the world could the Filipinos have acquired the tradition of bearing a house on its shoulders as they transfer it to another location?

And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 15:15; see also 2 Chronicles 35:3)

The Ark of the Covenant has to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. That is the where the Filipinos acquired that tradition of Bayanihan. And how about the skills of mixing gold with wood and other metals, where did the forefathers of the Filipinos got it?

Jewelry, Metal Work and Mining

Mines dating back to at least 1,000 BC have been found in the Philippines. When the Spanish arrived the Filipinosworked various mines of gold, silver, copper and iron. They also seemed to have worked in brass using tin that waslikely imported from the Malay Peninsula. The iron work in particular was said to be of very high quality in somecases, and occasionally in some areas, even better than that found in Europe.When the Spanish arrived, the Philippines were so gilded with gold that most of the gold mines had been neglected…

Pigafetta wrote:

“On the island of Butuan where the king came to the ship, pieces of gold as large as walnut or eggs are to be found, by sifting the earth. All the dishes of the king are of gold, and his whole house is very well set up”

Pigafetta goes on to describe the huge gold ornaments, gold dagger handles, tooth plating and even GOLD WAS USED TO DECORATE THE OUTSIDE HOUSES! On the gold work of the Filipinos is this description: “they possess great skill in mixing it (gold) with other metals. They give it an outside appearance so natural and perfect, and so fine a ring that unless it is melted they can deceive all men, even the best of silversmiths”

Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/77975262/Filipinos-Are-Among-the-Lost-Tribes-of-Israel

Notice the striking resemblance of the technology and skill given by God to make the Ark of the Covenant.

And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. (Exodus 25:10-13; see also Exodus 37)

Who has been given by God the knowledge and the skill in overlaying gold to the shittim wood? The ancient Filipinos have that same kind of technology and skill. The question is WHERE have they learned about it?

Another tradition being practiced by the Filipinos in olden times was that of CIRCUMCISION which traces its roots to the covenant made by God to Abraham and his descendants. (Genesis 17:12-14).

Yet if we will assess it historically, are those traditions being mentioned enough proof that some (if not all) Filipinos could have descended from the Lost Tribe of Levi particularly, from the bloodline of Gershon and Merari? Moreover, it is already a known fact in history that Jews have also settled in the Philippines even before the Spaniards came.

BRING GOD’S SONS FROM FAR

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (900 AD) proves that even before the Spaniards came in 1521, there was already a civilized society that practices jubilee.

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Laguna Copperplate Inscription

Discovery

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription was found in 1989 near the mouth of the Lumbang River near Laguna de Bay, by a man who was dredging sand to turn into concrete. Suspecting that the artifact might have some value, the man sold it to an antique dealer who, having found no buyers, eventually sold it to the National Museum of the Philippines, where it was assigned to Alfredo E. Evangelista, head of its Anthropology Department.

A year later, Antoon Postma noted that the inscription was similar to the ancient Indonesian script of Kawi. Postma translated the script and found the document dated itself to the Saka year 822, an old Hindu calendar date which approximately corresponds to 900 CE. This meant that the document pre-dated the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and is from about the same time as the mention of Philippines in the official Chinese Song dynastyHistory of Song for the year 972.

Significance

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription, among other recent finds such as the Golden Tara of Butuan and 14th century pottery and gold jewellery in Cebu, is highly important in revising the ancient Philippine history, which was until then considered by some Western historians to be culturally isolated from the rest of Asia, as no evident pre-Hispanic written records were found at the time. Philippine historian William Henry Scott debunked these theories in 1968 with his Prehispanic Source materials for the Study of Philippine History which was subsequently published in 1984.

The inscription is a document demonstrative of pre-Hispanic literacy and culture, and is considered to be a national treasure. It is currently deposited at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Copperplate_Inscription

So even before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, there was already an established culture “capable of such exquisite and sophisticated metalworking” and the people are literate unlike what the Spaniards would like the people to believe otherwise.

As proof of such a culture that “possess great skill in mixing it (gold) with other metals. They give it an outside appearance so natural and perfect, and so fine a ring that unless it is melted they can deceive all men, even the best of silversmiths”; recent discoveries show that gold jewelry of Philippine origin was even found in Egypt near the beginning of the era. These finds are mentioned in Laszlo Legaza’s “Tantric elements in pre-Hispanic Philippines Gold Art,” – from Arts of Asia 1981, no. 4, p. 54

Current studies even prove that the Philippines is rich in gold and other precious metals; one of the world’s largest producer of gold, copper, and other precious metals and elements. The total value of metals that can be mine in the Philippines is USD 4.3 trillion.

Other recent discoveries would put the Philippines in the spotlight. In fact, the deposits of this methane ice in Benham Rise are believed to be so huge, it could make the Philippines one of the richest countries in the world.

Benham Rise: Philippines’s ‘new territory’

The Philippines has gained a “new territory” through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)’s ruling on the 13 million-hectare Benham Rise…

The awarding of Benham Rise to the Philippines brought to 43 million hectares the total land area of the country – from 30 million hectares.

Benham Rise has been part of ancient Filipino culture. Ancient Catanduanes (Bicol region, to Benham’s south) people fished and roamed the area long before colonial times, Wikipedia noted.

In recent years, several scientific surveys have been conducted on Benham Rise.

The Philippine government has also been exploring the possibility of mapping new gas fields on the ridge.

Aside from the expansion of territory, the Philippines will also benefit from mineral and gas deposits in the region.

Initial research findings have shown that there are massive mineral and gas deposits in the plateau. Furthermore, solidified methane was found during mapping operations. Hence, the region is believed to have vast oil deposits.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/18/1584439/benham-rise-philippiness-new-territory

Other wealth of the sea that were found just lying in the depths of the ocean is Deuterium:

Deuterium deposits make Philippines “The Richest Country in the world”

What is DEUTERIUM? Deuterium is HEAVY WATER or HYDROGEN WATER without oxygen. This is obtained from the deep trenches of the World and the WORLD’S LARGEST DEPOSIT OF DEUTERIUM IS IN THE PHILIPPINES – A big deposit of 868 miles long, 52 miles at widest point, and 3 miles at deepest point, replenished by nature 24 hours a day after Deuterium traveled more than 12,000 kilometers from Central America to the Philippines through the span of the Pacific Ocean when Planet Earth turns on its axis from West to East in unending perpetual motion.

USES OF DEUTERIUM

Deuterium is used in the production of (Hydrogen) Li-Hy Fuel now used in Canada, America , Germany and some parts of Sweden to provide fuel for cars, trucks, jet planes, etc. including solid Hydrogen for Spacecrafts Challenger and Columbia . Deuterium can replace gasoline, LPG, LNG, Avgas, etc. in powering all types of internal combustion engines. It does not emit pollutants or any harmful carbon monoxide and does not cause any environmental problems because it is in the water family as emissions are nothing but water vapor or steam. Deuterium as Hydrogen Fuel can be used for cooking, lighting, heating, and as Heavy Water fuel for Reactors in electric power generation…

BENEFITS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

At 12 million barrels per day capacity priced at US$7.00 per barrel, this is US$84 million per day or US$30.66 billion per year, enough to wipe out all existing foreign debts of the Government in one year, revenue-wise in Foreign Exchange.

Public works, private construction, economic and financial booms are expected to happen in the Philippines in the same manner as those which happened in the Middle East and financial centers of the world from 1974 to 1984, with everybody earning their respective comfortable livelihood, while pricing basic prime necessities at reasonable and affordable levels.

Deuterium and Hydrogen Fuel is the final and lasting hope of the Filipino People and the Government to be great again. This untapped source of energy supply will make the Philippines one of the richest country in the world.

Source: http://newsgru.com/deuterium-deposits-make-philippines-the-riches-country-in-the-world/

These news about the wealth in the seas is just part of the fulfillment of the prophecy written by the prophet Isaiah whose name means “‘The Lord is salvation.’ The work of the great prophet was to turn the Jews to the Lord as the only hope of their salvation.” This is actually connected to several prophecies concerning God’s salvation of the spiritual Jews in this last end through a short Gentile work in the context of a Book of Remembrance(Malachi 3:16-18; Daniel 12; Revelation 11:2-13; Acts 13:41, 46-47; Habakkuk 1:5; Isaiah 29:14; Romans 10:19-20; Deuteronomy 32:21; Romans 11:26; Obadiah 1:21; Revelation 14:1-4; Romans 9:25-33; Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 40:3-9; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 45; Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 60; Isaiah 62, etc.)

The Gentiles finishing God’s last end work is a far fetched idea that no one in God’s Church will ever believe (Habakkuk 1:5). But how can anyone of them be able to explain what Isaiah described in the 60th chapter concerning the abundance and wealth of the sea?

Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces (wealth) of the Gentilesshall come unto thee. (Isaiah 60:5)

And how about its conclusion in verse 22? Will they be able to have the understanding to expound its intended realization?

A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. (Isaiah 60:22)

This little insignificant group who was given the honor to finish God’s last end work is directly connected to a small Gentile island nation from the far east becoming strong and as God promised, He will personally hasten its fulfillment as He prophesied it.

Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them,unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:9)

We can read here in verse 9, an irrefutable proof of where the Lost Tribe of Levi went. First we need to have the key to understanding this prophecy by knowing the identity of Tarshish.

Tarshish in Fausset’s Bible Dictionary Tartessus (as Asshur became Athur, Bashan, Batanoea), a Phoenician city South of Spain; the portion of Spain known to the Hebrew(Psalm 72:10).

Tarshish in Smiths Bible Dictionary established). 1. Probably Tartessus, a city and emporium of the Phoenicians in the south of Spain, represented as one of the sons of Javan. Ge 10:4; 1Ki 10:22; 1Ch 1:7; Ps 48:7; Isa 2:16; Jer 10:9; Eze 27:12,25; Jon 1:3; 4:2

Tarshish in Easton’s Bible Dictionary a Sanscrit or Aryan word, meaning “the sea coast.” (1.) One of the “sons” of Javan (Gen. 10:4; 1 Chr. 1:7). (2.) The name of a place which first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. The question as to the locality of Tarshish has given rise to not a little discussion. Some think there was a Tarshish in the East, on the Indian coast, seeing that “ships of Tarshish” sailed from Eziongeber, on the Red Sea (1 Kings 9:26; 22:48; 2 Chr. 9:21). Some, again, argue that Carthage was the place so named. There can be little doubt, however, that this is the name of a Phoenician port in Spain, between the two mouths of the Guadalquivir (the name given to the river by the Arabs, and meaning “the great wady” or water-course).

Source: http://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=40&sub=695&cat_name=Bible+Cities&subcat_name=Tarshish

So the identity of Tarshish in Isaiah’s prophecy is referring to Spain. Notice how the prophecy in verse 9 has been fulfilled physically and how it transpired (emphasis mine):

The first Catholic mass in the Philippines was on Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521 officiated by Father Pedro de Valderrama in the shore of a town islet named as Limasawa in the tip of Southern Leyte. Limasawa is dubbed as the birthplace of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines…

On March 31, 1521, an Easter Sunday, Magellan ordered a mass to be celebrated which was officiated by Father Pedro Valderrama, the Andalusion chaplain of the fleet, the only priest then. Conducted near the SEAshores of the island, the Holy First Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines. Rajah Colambu and Rajah Siaiu were the first natives of the archipelago, which was not yet named “Philippines” until the expedition of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in 1543, to attend the mass among other native inhabitants.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mass_in_the_Philippines

Notice here that there were already royalties among the people – TWO KINGS for this instance, they were Rajah Colambu and Rajah Siaiu. Let’s consider the eye-witness account of this historical event from the pen of Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice who traveled with Ferdinand Magellan.

On the last day of March, [March 31,1521 is Sunday which was] Easter, the Captain General had the priest prepare to say mass, and through the interpreter he sent a message to the king that he would not come ashore to dine with him, but to hear mass…

Then he had a cross brought with the nails and the crown, and at once they made a deep reverence. And through the interpreter they were told that this standard had been given to them by their lord the emperor. And for this reason everywhere they went they set up this sign…

Again the Captain had them asked if they were Moors or pagans, and what they believed in.

They replied that they did not worship in any other way than by RAISING THEIR JOINED HANDS TO THE SKY AND CALLING ON THEIR GOD ABBA. For which thing the Captain was overjoyed. And seeing this the THE FIRST KING RAISED HIS JOINED HANDS TO THE SKY…

Source: From the Journal of Antonio Pigafetta:

Is this NOT also a description of a people in the prophecy written in Daniel 12:7?

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

Even anciently, the pre-colonial people of the Philippines don’t worship MEN nor any IDOLS, they only worship their God, Abba by raising their joined hands to the sky!

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:15; Mark 14:36)

These pre-colonial ancestors most likely knew about this prophecy in Isaiah chapter 60 and they thought that it was the Spaniards whom God sent. This could be the reason they readily accepted the Roman Catholic religion.

Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:9)

God has to fulfill this prophecy in Isaiah chapter 60. The people in the island of Ophir knew that the ships of Tarshish or of the Spaniards has to come first in the order of time sequence. And these people were described by the prophet to be associated with silver and gold (emphasis mine).

The Lequios is a group of Hebrews who settled around Ophir, which the Spaniards considered the Philippine islands to be, before its colonization.

In Spain there is a 16th Century Book entitled “Coleccion General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas.” It is found in the Archivos de Indias de Sevilla. It was reprinted in 1920 in Barcelona, Spain by the Compania General de Tobaccos de Filipinas. Its Tomo III (1519-1522), pages 112-138, contains Document No. 98 describing how to locate the land of Ophir…

Ophir was “…in front of China towards the sea, of many islands where the Moluccans, Chinese, and Lequios met to trade…”

Along the route described by Document No. 98 are locations of old Jewish settlements…

Also, according to Documents 98, the Lequios were big, bearded, and white men. They were only interested in GOLD and SILVER when trading at Ophir. Okinawans, Koreans, and Vietnamese people are not big nor are they white. Their beards are just small goatees and could not satisfy the word “bearded”. Therefore, they were not the Lequios. The Lequios were thus deemed to be the remnants of Hebrews and Phoenicians who have made enclaves in their trade with Ophir proper.[2]

These Lequios were scattered among the islands of the Philippines. Eventually, they too were converted to Christianity: along with the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Animists of the Pre-Hispanic Philippine states after active Hispanic settlement via the Americas became uninterrupted in the 333 years of Spanish colonization.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lequios

As Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong taught us that God always use the principle of duality in implementing His plan. Considering the duality in this prophecy in verse 9, i.e., there is actually a physical and a spiritual aspect to it, which further prove where this prophecy in Isaiah chapter 60 is being fulfilled:

BREAKING THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH

For the first time in the history of God’s Church, we will be able to understand a very unusual prophecy concerning the subject, “the ships of Tarshish.” Now, God has given us His revealed truth about it.

“Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.” (Psalms 48:7)

Here is what Barnes Commentary wrote about this verse:

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish – On the ships of Tarshish, see the notes on Isa_2:16. The allusion to these ships here may have been to illustrate the power of God; the ease with which he destroys that which man has made. The ships so strong – the ships made to navigate distant seas, and to encounter waves and storms – are broken to pieces with infinite ease when God causes the wind to sweep over the ocean. With so much ease God overthrows the most mighty armies, and scatters them. His power in the one case is strikingly illustrated by the other. It is not necessary, therefore, to suppose that there was any actual occurrence of this kind particularly in the eye of the psalmist; but it is an interesting fact that such a disaster did befall the navy of Jehoshaphat himself, 1 Kings 22:48 : “Jehoshaphat made “ships of Tarshish” to go to Ophir for gold; but they went not: “for the ships were broken” at Ezion-geber.” Compare 2 Chronicles 20:36-37. This coincidence would seem to render it not improbable that the discomfiture of the enemies of Jehoshaphat was particularly referred to in this psalm, and that the overthrow of his enemies when Jerusalem was threatened called to remembrance an important event in his own history, when the power of God was illustrated in a manner not less unexpected and remarkable. If this was the allusion, may not the reference to the “breaking of the ships of Tarshish” have been designed to show to Jehoshaphat, and to the dwellers in Zion, that they should not be proud and self-confident, by reminding them of the ease with which God had scattered and broken their own mighty navy, and by showing them that what he had done to their enemies he could do to them also, notwithstanding the strength of their city, and that their “real” defense was not in walls and bulwarks reared by human hand, anymore than it could be in the natural strength of their position only, but in God.

Zion in Bible prophecy refers to God’s own Church. Notice carefully what Barnes Commentary had noted, that this “breaking of the ships of Tarshish” is a symbolism of God’s displeasure with so much pride and self-confidence among his ministers. He is reminding His own people through His remembrancers that He can easily scatter and break their own mighty organization and that their real defense was not in the Ezekiel 4 wall (NO CONTACT POLICY) reared by their own human hand. Now God’s remembrancers are in the high place of Mount Zion in front of the Valley of Jehoshaphat to JUDGE those spiritual Korahs (Edomites) in His own Church – the Philadelphia Church of God.

How can we be sure that it is speaking of the PCG? Let us consider the prophecy in Isaiah 2:16 concerning this same thought about Tarshish (emphasis mine in bold): Barnes Commentary

Tarshish – Tartessus in southwest Spain, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir, near Gibraltar. It includes the adjoining region: a Phoenician colony; hence its connection with Palestine and the Bible(2 Chronicles 9:21). The name was also used in a wide sense for the farthest west, as our our West Indies (Isaiah 66:19; Psalms 48:7; Psalms 72:10). “Ship of Tarshish” became a phrase for richly laden and far-voyaging vessels. The judgment shall be on all that minister to man’s luxury (compare Rev. 18:17-19) – Barnes Commentary:

What Church of God group in this last end has A CONNECTION WITH PALESTINE (i.e., Jerusalem) and THE BIBLE? Who among the Church of God group has left the Jerusalem work and traveled into the West wherein Spain is situated geographically, which is in the European continent? What does the word “ships” imply? The original Hebrew word of “ships” in Brown-Driver-Briggs tells us that it originated from H590 which means: “fleet.” Here is the meaning of “fleet” in the dictionary:

a group of military ships that are controlled by one leader.

In this last end, who has a group of spiritual military men that are being controlled by one leader? It’s none other than JOSHUA AND HIS FELLOWS (Zechariah 3:8) – the same 25 men of Ezekiel 8 who has turned their backs on God by travelling to the WEST like a fleet.

It is even noted in the book written by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, The United States and Britain in Prophecy (1945 edition) that the ships of Tarshish is specifically referring to Dan (Ireland).

“And David declared of Dan, “He breaketh (driveth) the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. An east wind travels west.”

Notice that this thought has been removed by the PCG in their latter version of the book. Notwithstanding, God has now revealed this group of people in His Church who have descended from the tribe of Dan (Irish descent) to a RICHLY LADEN AND FAR-VOYAGING VESSELS TRAVELING TO THE WEST – the fulfillment of the “ships of Tarshish” in prohecy! He even associated this people with the name EDSTONE – a RICH, PROPEROUS RULER. And according to Barnes Commentary, the phrase “the ship of Tarshish” is an apt description of “THE JUDGMENT ON ALL THAT MINISTER TO MAN’S LUXURY.”

How can we be so sure that the prophecy about TARSHISH really does pertain to EDSTONE? Let us look it up in the original Hebrew meaning from Strong’s Concordance:

Tarshish (H8659): (as the region of the stone, or the reverse)

Did you get it? Tarshish means the REGION OF THE STONE! It does refer to EDSTONE in Warwickshire, England! The ships of Tarshish can also refer in modern times to the FLEET OF EDSTONE, which points us directly to the last end Joshua, Stephen Flurry and his fellows, and to those Church members who support the work in Edstone.

Source: https://lightofthegentiles.com/2015/06/27/mount-zion-stands-most-beautiful/

So again, this time another ships of Tarshish in this last end has been sent to to bring God’s sons from far, and with them is far more precious than silver and gold – they have God’s WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING.

Happy is the man that findeth WISDOM, and the man that getteth UNDERSTANDING. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of SILVER, and the gain thereof than fine GOLD. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (Proverbs 3:13-15)

With the spiritual ship of Tarshish (Edstone) already on the scene, God is now bringing His sons from the land of Ophir with spiritual silver and gold with them – the Book of Remembrance and the overflowing revelations in this last end (Malachi 3:16-18; Zechariah 10:1).

THE TWO MESSIAH TRADITION

Among the Jewish rabbis, there has been an established tradition of the two Messiahs, which they identified as Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David (Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David). But there is another version of the two Messiah tradition which has been preserved in the writings found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Whatever the case may be, one thing is common – there is indeed the Jewish expectations of two Messiahs.

THE TRADITION OF TWO MESSIAHS

Within Judaism, however, there is another way of approaching the anticipation of Messiah that deserves special attention. This idea is not simply messianic in principle, but is a way of explaining descriptions of the great King Messiah that is deeply rooted in the Jewish Scriptures. An often repeated concept within the tradition of Israel is that there is not one Messiah but TWO: Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David (Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David).

Like the kippah and the candles we’ve already mentioned, this is a tradition established by the rabbis a long ago and a matter we shall examine in closer detail. Pick up almost any Jewish dictionary or encyclopedia, look up the word messiah, and you will find references to not one messianic figure but TWO: Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David.

Source: page 9, The Jewish Tradition of Two Messiahs

Yet there is another view of this two Messiah tradition which was discussed in an article written by one of the Mount Zion Dig directors, Dr. James Tabor (emphasis mine):

Essays on John the Baptist: Messianic Expectations (Part 2)

By Dr. James Tabor

Posted on June 12, 2015

The Qumran group has been emphasized as a breakaway movement of priests from the Essenes. They moved to the desert and set up a community along the shores of the Dead Sea, possibly following the doctrine of separation and preparing the way in the wilderness philosophy set forward in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. Fortunately, scholars have been able to recover some writings of this community dubbed “The Dead Sea Scrolls.” One important piece of this puzzle of their views on apocalypticism and messianic material is the Community Rule (1QS). Column VIII instructs its members to separate from ungodly men and go into the wilderness to prepare the way of Him. Column IX states, “this is the time for the preparation of the way in the wilderness.” Both these phrases reflect the groups awaiting of a coming messiah and following the words of Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3…

This Qumran TWO MESSIAH TRADITION is visible in Column VII when it speaks of Israel submitting to Levi and through Judah (priest and king) because it is from them salvation will come. PLURAL MESSIAH ARE IMPLIED HERE. One of the most fascinating finds was a copy of Malachi from Qumran that differs from modern day texts. In chapter 3, the text is talking of God sending a messenger to prepare the way and in verse 2 states, “BUT WHO CAN ENDURE THEM, THEY COME.” Present day texts state “who can endure the day of his coming.” HERE WE HAVE A FIRST CENTURY BCE TEXT NOT AFFECTED BY TIME OR TRANSLATION, SHOWING A PLURAL MESSIAH TRADITION. What can be said of the Qumran group at this point? They appropriated messianic materials of the Hebrew Bible in such a way as to transform their way of life. First by moving to the desert and preparing the way Isaiah 40:3 for the coming messiahs.

For emphasis, the Qumran group was responsible for the writings found as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which is “A FIRST CENTURY BCE TEXT NOT AFFECTED BY TIME OR TRANSLATION, SHOWING A PLURAL MESSIAH TRADITION“contained in the prophecy written in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. As Dr. Tabor pointed out, “This Qumran TWO MESSIAH TRADITION… speaks of Israel submitting to Levi and through Judah (priest and king) because it is from them salvation will come. PLURAL MESSIAH ARE IMPLIED HERE.”

This is also connected to the prophecy written by Zechariah regarding A PRIEST (of Levi) and A KING (of Judah):

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:12-13)

Imagine A PRIEST sitting on a THRONE? This just indicates that two Messiah concept is actually unified through the BRANCH, Jesus Christ (read Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 5:5; Revelation 19:16) – the counsel of peace shall be between the TWOFOLD: (According to Mr. Armstrong, there are actually TWO THRONES – the throne of David and the throne of Satan into which Christ shall sit upon.)

As for the Hebrew word “messiah,” it actually means “anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest)

The Branch, Jesus Christ is prophesied in Zechariah chapter 6 to build the spiritual temple of God, and He did it by coming in the flesh through an end-time Zerubbabel, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong who has laid the foundation of that spiritual temple as prophesied in the 4th chapter of the book of Zechariah:

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. (Zechariah 4:9)

Then who will continue the BUILDING process after Mr. Armstrong was taken away by God? “His HANDS shall also finish it” – The TWO HANDS of Zerubbabel, the two Messiahs or the TWO ANOINTED ONES are those who will finish that spiritual temple to which Christ shall return into. Christ coming in the flesh through the TWO OLIVE BRANCHES, or or the TWO ANOINTED ONES or the TWO MESSIAHS will finish the temple of God in this last end – “and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zechariah 6:13)

And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lordof the whole earth. (Zechariah 4:12-14)

The prophecy in Zechariah 4:9 is actually the same prophecy written in Malachi chapter 3:

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

We know that the phrase “my messenger” being referred to here in this verse is none other than the end-time type of John the Baptist, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Well how about this “messenger of the covenant”? What is the identity of this character?

The Dead Sea Scrolls can shed a great deal of light into this prophecy as written by Dr. Tabor (emphasis mine): “One of the most fascinating finds was a copy of Malachi from Qumran that differs from modern day texts. In chapter 3, the text is talking of God sending a messenger to prepare the way and in verse 2 states, ‘BUT WHO CAN ENDURE THEM, THEY COME.’ Present day texts state ‘who can endure the day of his coming.’ HERE WE HAVE A FIRST CENTURY BCE TEXT NOT AFFECTED BY TIME OR TRANSLATION, SHOWING A PLURAL MESSIAH TRADITION.”

The copy of the book of Malachi that the Qumran group preserved have a SINGULAR MESSENGER to prepare the way, while “the messenger of the covenant” have a PLURAL MESSIAH concept as indicated in verse 2 – “but who can endure THEM, THEY come” (Modern day translation:who can endure the day of his coming)

“But who can endure THEM, THEYcome“ – there ought to be at least TWO PERSONAGES to be able to show a plural Messiah and it directly relates to the TWO HANDS of Zerubbabel (Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong)! Notice the job description of the TWO MESSENGERS OF THE COVENANT:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law… I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (Isaiah 42:1-6)

Here is the other MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT:

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name… And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will ALSO give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth… Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, andgive thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; (Isaiah 49:1, 6-8)

Now notice carefully the distinction between the two entities in Isaiah 42 and Isaiah 49 when God inspired in verse 6 the word “ALSO” (which means, IN ADDITION). So the description in chapter 49 is IN ADDITION to the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT in Isaiah 42. And those two chapters in Isaiah clearly explained the TWO MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT as written in the Dead Sea Scroll copy of Malachi which was “NOT AFFECTED BY TIME OR TRANSLATION, SHOWING A PLURAL MESSIAH TRADITION.” And what will those TWO MESSIAHS do according to prophecy?

And he (or the two messiahs) shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver… (Malachi 3:3)

So this is a very strong scriptural proof that the REMEMBRANCERS are indeed the SONS OF LEVI being discussed here! God cannot lie. Although the physical features suggest otherwise, yet as God is revealing it now, we are the SONS OF LEVI! Notice carefully the two identities and their association to each other as mentioned in Malachi chapter 3: (1) THE TWO MESSENGERS OF THE COVENANT who do the purification; (2)THE SONS OF LEVI who shall be purified and purged AS COMPARED TO GOLD AND SILVER. Now let us compare that with the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 60:

Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them… (Isaiah 60:9)

In this prophecy, GOD’S SONS FROM FAR is associated also with their SILVER AND their GOLD with them.