Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Imagine Being Such A Pathetic Self-Appointed Prophet That You Need To Trot Out Norm Edwards To Legitimize Yourself

  

It's another sunny day in COG prophetland and our favorite COG prophet is getting so tired of being mocked that he is not a legitimate COG prophet that has to drag out Norm Edwards to bring him some legitimacy. 

You remember Norm Edwards, another self-appointed church leader who thought he was the final authority on all kinds of church matters, so much so that started The Shepherds Voice magazine and bought land in Port Austin, Michigan where he thought COG members would flock to for all kinds of classes. That never materialized, but he did start a recovery program for addicts at the campus which did help a lot of people in recovery and integration back into society. Edwards later sold the campus and moved on to other things.

Our most superfantabulous COG prophet to ever lead a COG in the history of humanity, who in spite of being the Great White Bwana to Africa, is still seeking to find legitimacy in the eyes of COG members who continue to mock and ignore him. Bwana Bob Thiel probably has this emblazoned upon his mirror in  his bathroom so he can see it every day, 

"A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country,
and among his own kin, and in his own house." Mark 6:4)

The Great Bwana has once again posted a long article by Norm Edwards on the "need" for prophets in the church today more than we need their "prophecy". Jesus apparently isn't good enough, so, like all corrupt humans, there needs to be someone physical to look up to. Jesus is not adequate. 

Bwana Bob writes:

Many are fascinated with prophecy and speculative interpretations. 
 
But less interest in any possible genuine prophets at this time. 
 
Norman Edwards, a former board member of the old Global Church of God, wrote an article Need Prophets More than Prophecy.

After a long screed by Norm, Bwana Bob has this to say:

Norman Edwards runs Nashville Christian Media and has been the editor for Shepherd’s Voice magazine. He is not part of the ContinuingChurch of God, where, I function as its human leader (and am an anointed prophet; the only known such prophet in any legitimate Church of God group)
 

It still fascinates me how Bwana Bob can lie so much about his self-appointment and ordination. God never planned this, was part of it, or sanctified him as a prophet. That is a fact that he can't refute.

But of course, I am an unconverted backsliding Laodicean heathen who refuses to acknowledge Bob's prophethood status. Bwana Bob has some choice words for people like me (and you):

While Norman Edwards and I have long disagreed about aspects of church governance and various matters of doctrine (and I would have suggested a different title, etc. for his article), we both agree that many who are in or claim to be in the Church of God (COG) wrongly do not accept that God has any prophets today. We also agree that most have severe difficulty to identify one who really is a prophet because of various unscriptural biases and improper criteria that they have.

What improper criteria? 

This?

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matt 7:15

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matt 24:24

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 1 John 4:1-6

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Cor 11:13-15

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. Deut 18:20-22

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. Jer 23:16

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:18

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2Tim 4:3-4

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matt 7:15-20

The Bwana continues with this: 

Because of false prophets in a couple of COG-related groups and a disbelief in prophets by most of the COG groups, the non-Philadelphian COGs have a lot of severe prophetic misunderstandings. 

The entire COG movement has NEVER had any PROPER prophets in their midst in its modern-day history and this includes Herbert Armstrong, Richard Ritenbaugh, Gerald Waterhouse, Rod Meredith, Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland, and the host of other self-appointed know-it-alls over the decades.
 
As Norman Edward’s article points out, it is scriptural to now have prophets according to the New Testament. But many who truly believe that they live by the word of God have discounted or overlooked what the Bible actually teaches and/or have been influenced by others who have done the same or worse. The COG has at least one demonstrably true prophet today, yet most in the greater COG world seem to be able to ignore the truth about that, like most ignored John the Baptist and others in their day.

What utter bullshit! Bob Thiel is NOT a true prophet and that is a fact! 

The Great Bwana also says:

The current problem is that most end time Christians are Laodicean and instead of using God’s criteria, they use their own.

More smelly bullshit! If anything that the COG's do have right. its the fact that most do not see the need for yet another beta-male liar standing up pounding their underdeveloped chest proclaiming, "look at me!"

All any of these fools do is take the focus off of the One they are supposed to be following but refuse to.



Don’t listen to the sermons of the prophets. 
It’s all hot air. Lies, lies, and more lies. 
They make it all up. 
Not a word they speak comes from me.
Jeremiah 23:16 


20 comments:

  1. Well....there is going to be some butthurt in the Five Cities tonight! Beware those bears coming out of the woods to devour you!

    Beta-male...LMAO! This so describes him!

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  2. Bobs ignorance shines as a beacon in the darkness of the Armstrong movement.
    Did not Jesus Himself say the prophets were until John.
    What people believe prevails over the truth-Socrates.
    The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance-it’s the illusion of knowledge, and that sums up Dr Bob Thiel.

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  3. Bob must have hidden mental problems such as poor self esteem.

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  4. Bob, as others of his ilk, seek validation even by those whom they disagree and discredit.

    Remember the oft-repeated validation of HWA's BI tome, by Andrew Dugger's "you surely are right".

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  5. Bob must have hidden mental problems such as poor self esteem.

    Bob desperately seeks the approval of a strong male father figure. RCM filled that need for a time, but now Bob is alone, trying to have that relationship with an invisible sky daddy.

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  6. I am reminded of an event that happened long ago (the penchant of old men). I drove my girlfriend and some of her friends from the Big Sandy campus to Longview, TX for pizza one Saturday evening. There was some kid in the back seat of my car who was highly talkative and witty. I tried not to be distracted from my driving. His name was Norm Edwards.

    I have a theory about prophecy in the Church. I think there may have been prophets in the early days of the church - up until the time of John of Patmos and the Book of Revelation. For instance Agabus was a prophet. But John of Patmos writes something interesting at the end of his prophecy (John labels Revelation as a work of prophecy packaged specifically for the Eschaton in Rev 1:3).

    "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

    While I believe there was a gift of prophecy that persisted in the church for a little while, the statement above seems very much to me like a closing out of that gift by John of Patmos. Think about it for a moment. Aren't all the latter day, novel apocalyptic Millerite prophecies somehow an addition to or subtraction from the Book of Revelation? By "novel" I mean de novo origination of prophecy that is not an interpretation of something that is already in the canon. It seems like to me that John of Patmos laid out a comprehensive prophecy of the Eschaton with the warning that "you don't need anything else."

    (Sidebar: And, also, if we give credence to modern day Armstrongist prophets why not honor David Koresh. He was of the same ilk. He was an apocalyptic Millerite of sterling credentials. Kept the Sabbath; avoided pork; believed we were in the end times. He prophesied that the Feds would come and mess up Waco badly. Guess what?)

    The Book of Revelation has a checkered history in the church. Gregory of Nyssa did not believe that it rose to the level of scripture. At the time it was canonized only half the church regarded it is scripture. So it was voted into the canon on a thin margin. If you believe Athanasius was right about including it, I think you must conclude that John of Patmos clearly stated a closure of open vision concerning the Eschaton.

    Note: Most denominations believe they have a fixed canon. Armstrongism departs from this. For instance, it was taught from the pulpit at one time that HWA's co-worker letters would be added to the Book of Acts. This is a radically liberal view point for a denomination that always demonized liberalism and touted themselves as conservative. But this liberal viewpoint aligns with the present belief that prophets are actively modifying and augmenting the word of God.

    ******* Click on my icon for Disclaimer

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  7. No man alive in all the COG that can cut through the waffle as Jeremiah could. Fakes beware of the Judgment of Jesus.

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  8. It's time to get out the Straightjacket and bundle him off to the Funny Farm
    ..where Life is Beautiful all the time,
    and he'll be happy to see
    those Nice Young Men
    in their Clean White Coats at the Happy Home
    ..with Trees and Flowers and Chirping Birds,
    and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes..

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    Replies
    1. And someday, they'll come to that him and Pack awayyyy.....

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  9. Bobby:

    The answer again, is so simple.

    Simply give an UNMISTAKABLE, double blind, very specific, irrefutable prediction, ie the exact time , geological coordinates, and exact magnitude of an Earthquake, and then maybe someone can take notice.

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    Replies
    1. Tonto: Give a double blind well you should know all about that.

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  10. Bob trots out Norm who doesn't think Bob is a true prophet. Funny stuff.

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  11. I think Norm leaves the possibility open, but not in the person of thiel. Norm wants to help people and is not tied to church structure. I don’t agree with him on several things, but he’s not quick to call issues salvational. He’s a good man from all I know about him.

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  12. Bob Thiel reminds me of former President Trump in numerous ways. Good thing Bob has a much lower profile, so the damage he can do is very limited.

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  13. Some very bad things came out of the now bankrupt GCG cult:

    Norman S. Edward's SN newsletter

    Roderick C. Meredith's LCG cult

    David C. Pack's RCG cult

    Robert J. Thiel's CCG cult

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  14. Norman S. Edwards left Roderick C. Meredith's first splinter group called the Global Church of God (GCG) -- apparently with a stolen mailing list -- to start his Servants' News newsletter that strung people along and wasted their time for a while before it fizzled out. Norman sent letters to people that might still believe in such basic doctrines as the Sabbath and the laws of clean and unclean animals, hoping to find followers from among the wreckage of what Herbert W. Armstrong had built up and what Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. had torn down.

    Besides his newsletter, about the only other thing that Norman Edwards produced was a lengthy paper early on called How Does the Eternal Govern Through Humans? that attempted to refute Herbert W. Armstrong's teachings on hierarchical government in the church. Though he thought he had everything figured out, Norman Edwards wanted other people to write articles too about the topic of church government and send them to him for his consideration and for possible publication in his Servants' News newsletter. He claimed to be willing to consider pretty much anything and everything under the sun. This would have sounded very open-minded and reasonable except that Norman Edwards went on to say that the only thing that he would not publish, and would not even consider, and did not even want to receive, were articles that supported the hierarchical government ideas that Herbert W. Armstrong had taught in the Worldwide Church of God.

    Far from honestly searching for the truth, Norman Edwards was clearly a rebel with an agenda. In a fitting case of getting what he deserved for teaching people not to follow anyone or submit to anyone, nobody wanted to follow or submit to Norman Edwards. Bob Thiel had once described Norman Edwards as the "leader" of the "leaderless independents,” but Norman Edwards' attempt to lead and herd cats rather than sheep turned out to be a dismal failure.

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  15. If you've suffered all these iterations, from Herbie to Diploma-mill-Thiel
    - you might be ready for the Funny Farm
    ~ where Life is Beautiful all the time ~
    ..and you'll be happy to see those Nice Young Men in their Clean White Coats,
    -- at the Happy Home
    with Trees and Flowers and Chirping Birds, and Basket-weavers who sit and smile..

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  16. Noble Tonto, in response, I'd say, In your dreams because your request will certainly not be answered in his!

    We're so used to Bob's explaining natural and man-made disasters after they happen, then be told he had made, years ago, a broad-brush possibility prediction of something like that kinda-sorta-maybe happening. I'd be satisfied with a ballpark on any natural disaster being used as divine punishment, with the condition of telling the soon-to-be afflicted a simple when, where, and why, and what they must do to prevent the disaster -- something like Jonah's warning to Nineveh.

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  17. Bob Theil is on the path to full out Marshall Applewhite territory, and is about as much of a prophet as Applewhite was…expect Theil to announce that he has determined that his “place of safety” is the spaceship behind the next comet.

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