Gerald Weston has written a pre-Feast letter to his declining faithful. In it he says the following:
As we know, and as we celebrated earlier this year at the Feast of Pentecost—the last of the annual Festivals so far to have had its historical fulfillment in this age—God is not calling everyone to salvation at this time. I have previously asked the simple question, “If God is not calling everyone, why is He calling anyone?” As a member of God’s Church, you should know the answer. He is calling some—that is, you and me—to do a Work now. If we fail to do that Work, we fail to fulfill the incredible calling we have been given. We dare not do that. Seeking only personal salvation and neglecting the Work for which we’ve been called will end in disaster (Ezekiel 33:1–7; Proverbs 24:11–12).
When Jesus walked the dusty trails in Israel, He worked through the physical body given Him. Now He is at the right hand of the Father, and it is abundantly clear that the Church is now His body (Colossians 1:18, 24; 2:17; Ephesians 1:22–23). This is vital knowledge we must deeply understand. It is part of the big picture that both Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong and Dr. Roderick C. Meredith passed down to us. We lose sight of it at our own peril.
Then he proceeds to ridicule both the men and women in the Living Church of God. LCG members just cannot do anything right in this man's sight! He has to get a dig every letter he writes. While we may all know of vainglorious men who feel the need to be seen in the church (Bob Thiel, for example) they are few in numbers. Most men could not give a rats ass about being an LCG leader considering how abusive they have been and still are.
God made us with the potential for incredible variety. Some are tall, some are not so tall. Some are slender, some are not. Some are light-skinned and blond, some are darker and have black hair. More than outward appearance, though, we all have varying degrees of abilities. A brilliant computer programmer may know nothing about plumbing or electrical work. A gifted engineer may be lost when it comes to surveying land, running an earth mover, and mixing concrete. It is obvious that we need them all: computer programmers, plumbers, electricians, engineers, and construction workers. It is a beautiful thing when everyone knows his part and plays his part.
In the same way, the Apostle Paul explains that the body of Christ is made of many different parts (1 Corinthians 12), and we know it is human nature to desire to be one of the comelier parts of the body (1 Corinthians 12:22–25). How many men have striven to hold an office in Spokesman Club or to be in front of the congregation leading hymns or speaking? And it’s not just the men. We’ve seen ladies get into what we sometimes call “coffee pot wars,” fighting each other over where best to place the pickles on the serving table. This may sound humorous and even preposterous, but those of us who have been around for any length of time know that these things really do happen!
Then he has to get ina veiled dig against Sheldon Monson for failing to grasp the "bigger picture" and stay unified for unity's sake.
As Paul explained, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). Then, one of the clearest passages of Scripture—yet one of the most difficult for most people to accept—is found just after that. Christ has placed in the body positions of responsibility so we can have unity and, “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (vv. 15–16).
To those who really get the big picture and faithfully hold on to it until the end, God will give a great reward. The current spirit ruler who directs the course of this world, along with the angels who fell with him when he “got the big head” and thought he knew better than God, will be removed and replaced (Revelation 12:4; 20:1–4). His removal is emphatically shown in the Day of Atonement. And the fact that we will replace him and his minions is stated in numerous scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments (Daniel 7:27; Matthew 19:27–29; Luke 19:16–19; Revelation 20:4, 6).
Unity in the Church of God is a comedy routine any more. The Church of God is more fractured than the Protestants they love to mock in their denominational divisions. Unity is nothing more than a control buzz word to keep the members in line. Any questioning or disagreements is an immediate assault upon unity and therefore leads to expulsion and loss of salvation and your chance to become a god!
Further, we are not to become angels or some kind of super-humans in the resurrection, as so many professing Christians mistakenly believe. You do not need me to remind you that we in God’s Church have been called to become sons and daughters of God, the very children of the living God—brothers, sisters, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14–21; Hebrews 2:10–18; 2 Corinthians 6:18). Can there be a more glorious future for such flawed beings as we now truly are?
The question needs to be asked again. Can LCG members EVER do anything right in this guy's sight?
8 comments:
The answer to your ending questions is, "No, we cannot."
I for one am getting tired of the constant put downs and his fault finding in everything he writes and says from the pulpit. My wife and I are getting pushed quicker and quicker towards the exit door.
I would go before it's too late on your own accord. Seems to me that the leadership is too high and mighty. From what I know they're too keen to listen to their own thoughts. They're quite bad decision makers from my understanding. Dibar Apartian said before he died "LCG is not God's church anymore." Why do you think he was in contact with other Church of God leaders at the time before his death? But take my word with a grain of salt. Do your own research. But have an open mind. But remember, God always needs to be in the picture. Remember that LCG!
The lack of love inside the LCG organization is astonishing. Your church should be a safe place, a place where you feel at home, welcomed and loved. LCG is as cold and cruel as ever.
I feel sad for those in it that feel it's their Christian duty to see how much abuse they're willing to take because they've been lead to believe it's a sign of how deeply converted they are. If God is a God of love, if Jesus said if you do this to the least of these, you've done it to me....then these guys are so twisted and wrong.
-Sad In Charlotte
Looking at the transition in the early 30's, Herbert Armstrong surmised that the organization he was leaving constituted the Sardis era and was dead because they had lost almost all truth and rejected present truth presented to the leadership by himself. Secondarily to this, they failed to realize "someone" had to shouting the testimony of Matt. 24:14 to the world.
Weston wants to continue this thinking concerning Matt. 24:14 in a way that Monson and Fritts don't agree with in the least. Fritts in his last week sermon pretty much laid it all on the line. He essentially asked; how do you draw the membership (yourself) back further away from God with physical restrictions and how do you do a powerful work (of faith) by enjoining one's self to the world and what it is offering.
What Weston fails to understand is that Herbert Armstrong was woefully wrong concerning the organization he was leaving. The first most obvious question to ask would be why would God call X amount of people unto his one true Church during the Sardis era for the sole purpose of giving a testimony that they had no idea they were to give. Add to that, the lost 18 truths that they had no idea they lost and they were now termed guilty of being a dead church by Jesus Christ himself.
With the end of all things not happening in 1986, the proof of a stolen commission (work) is evident. That Weston wants to hold to such a fallacy and continue to rope and hog tie his membership into that thinking is a death sentence.
Monsoon and Fritts ain't going anywhere with their declared warn this nation and the gays and lesbians message either. What they are accomplishing and will accomplish is transitioning people into a no holds approach to living the Bible - that's it.
What Weston, Monson, Fritts and Theil should be worrying about is the consequences of stealing and bearing a false witness are concerning Matt. 24:14.
Some 90 years in the Herbert Armstrong transition and the testimony and gospel still has not been grasped. For the member that discovers and finds it - IT WILL END WELL FOR THEM!
Gerald Weston writes:
“And the fact that we will replace him and his minions is stated in numerous scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments (Daniel 7:27; Matthew 19:27–29; Luke 19:16–19; Revelation 20:4, 6).”
But.
Lk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Lk 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (lit., “in the heavenlies”).
If the Church, now comprised of spirit-beings, is going to replace Satan and his minions are the ‘saints’ going to replace them “in the heavenlies”?
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 2:13 I know where you live - where Satan has his throne ... in your city where Satan lives. (NIV).
If Satan wasn’t literally living and reigning in Pergamos when the letter was written then it may follow that the ‘saints’ will not be literally reigning on the earth in the future.
Having the ‘saints’ on earth would be like replacing the Senate and putting the incoming Senators in the House of Representatives.
This Scripture was referenced:
Da 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Ac 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
The “son of man” in the vision of Daniel is the kingdom of Israel as explained to him:
Da 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Da 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
In context the ‘saints’ refer to the people of Israel - Kingdom saints; not Church ‘saints’ who will be in heaven.
In relation to the interpretation of the ‘man’ in Daniel 7, compare an interpretation of a woman:
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
8.46 PM
The saints is Israel? You must be reading some other groups religious literature. The bible is being tortured to come up with these interpretations. People could not communicate if everyone twisted each other's words the way you are doing.
You forgot to add the 'Time will tell' ending to your post.
12:48 wrote: "The saints is Israel? You must be reading some other groups religious literature. The bible is being tortured to come up with these interpretations. People could not communicate if everyone twisted each other's words the way you are doing.
You forgot to add the 'Time will tell' ending to your post."
I would suggest that if you said to a rabbi that ‘saints' are not Israel, he would accuse you of torturing the Tanakh. Rabbi Shelomah Yitschaki, aka Rashi noted that "the saints" are a reference to the people of Israel, see the Jewish Soncino Commentary on Daniel 7:18.
Ps 16:3 As for the saints [qadosh] who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. (NIV).
Ps 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints [qadosh]: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Da 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven
Mk 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
It is suggested that without the sensus plenior of the NT the interpretation of "the saints" as Israel wouldn't be questioned. The vision provides some comfort for the Israelites/Saints of a brighter future.
Ex 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy [qadosh] nation.
Lev 11:44 and ye shall be holy [qadosh]; for I am holy
Deut 14:21 for thou art an holy [qadosh] people unto the LORD thy God
Da 7:18 But the saints [qaddish] of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Da 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints [qaddish] of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (AV).
Da 7:27 The mighty kingly authority of the kingships under the whole heavens will have been given to a holy people [qaddish] to a holy people on high. Its kingship will be one that stands for ever; every authority will honor and show obedience to it. (John Goldingay).
The Biblical Aramaic qaddish corresponds to the Hebrew qadosh.
How about this for torturing:
Eze 43:4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
The implication of 43:4 is that Christ will not be on the earth during the Millennium. The UCG's Bible Reading Program, now renamed, noted:
“Returning to the east gate, Ezekiel is now given a glimpse of the awesome and thrilling arrival of Jesus Christ (identified by Ezekiel as the coming of the "glory of the LORD") to this newly completed temple ... Ezekiel 10:18-19 had specifically mentioned God leaving the temple, after which it was destroyed. Here we have God returning again.” (BRP, February 19-20 2004, p.24).
The temple that Jesus Christ left was of course Solomon’s Temple.
2Ch 6:1 Then Solomon said...
2Ch 6:2 I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever." (NIV).
2Ch 6:29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this temple:
2Ch 6:30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwellingplace...
In the preface to the dedication of the First Temple Solomon noted that he had built a house for God to dwell in, but in his prayer he states eight times over that God actually dwells in heaven.
Eze 43:7a And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever
Christ will ‘dwell’ in the Millennial Temple while in heaven, with God and the Church “saints” (cp. Rev 7:14-17).
(Revelation 7 is a retro-prospective insert in the chronological story-flow of Revelation).
I am not the person who employs “time will tell.” Contrary to him I believe in a Mickey Mouse Millennium, that is, Mickey Mouse as used by some in Australia and NZ with the meaning of ‘excellent’
"Christ will ‘dwell’ in the Millennial Temple while in heaven, with God and the Church “saints” (cp. Rev 7:14-17)."
Amen! Someone finally understands the truth. Not to mention the fact that the Church is Israel because we are grafted into the true vine, just as Israel will be re-grafted in one day.
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