How many decades did we hear Rod Meredith, while he was in WCG, GCG, and LCG, claim we had less than 5 years till the crap hits the fan? LCG is still on that bandwagon. In a letter to the faithful and co-workers, Gerald Weston stirs up the fear factor once again.
We will all see rough times in life—and so will this Work of God—but God will always bring us through those difficulties if we love Him, as shown by our actions in obeying Him, and put our trust in Him. I urge you, dear brethren and co-workers, to have faith in God. He will see each of us through whatever difficult times there will be, and there will be extremely difficult times going forward. I doubt that any of us can imagine how traumatic the next one to five years will be, but as Jesus encourages us, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
Of course, there is no other Church of God on earth who is as qualified as the Living Church of God is in preparing its people for a soon coming trauma. Remember, the COG needs tragedy and trauma to happen in order to prove they are the possessors of the truth and that salvation is only available through them because they are so enlightened.
One fact is for certain—God is in control. While He is allowing mankind sufficient rope to “hang itself,” He will not forsake His Work here on earth. Nor will He forsake those of you who are His. King Solomon declared, “The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:3). David wrote, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
And how can we forget Paul’s reminder: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). The late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith reminded us to read that verse carefully. Too many quote the part that says, “all things work together for good” without noticing the qualifiers—“to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Loving God is more than an emotion. The Apostle John explained: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). And Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
As usual, time is short and the end is nigh, thus LCG members need to stop their revelry, lust, strife, and drunkenness:
Paul also reminds us of this comforting truth, while giving us vital admonitions to go along with that truth: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:11-14). Octobr 12, 2021 Coworker/Member letter
23 comments:
If you look at history through a glass darkly, secular bull-markets often end with a global crisis which leads to a boom and then bust.
In 1997 there was the Asian-tiger financial crisis and then in 1998 there was the collapse of LTCM and the Russian devaluation, default on their domestic debt and a moratorium on repayment of their foreign debt.
After the crisis the tops in the US sharemarkets came in early 2000 - the Dow rose 55% from its 1998 low.
Covid in 2000 may parallel 1997 and the crisis soon? to occur with China’s Evergrande may parallel 1998.
https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/jim-chanos-chinas-leveraged-prosperity-model-is-doomed-and-thats-not-the-worst
In the 1920s the global crisis came in 1927 and the top in 1929.
History maybe suggesting that after a stockmarket rally and top, the post-Cold War boom will go bust sending the world economy into a great depression.
From the high on the Dow on September 3, 1929 to the outbreak of WW2 on September 1, 1939 it was nearly ten years to the day. So even if a descent into a global depression occurs in the next few years, history suggests that there is still quite some time? before WW3 to break out.
But of course, history repeats until it doesn’t.
Group calls wolf many many many times?
A broken clock is actually right twice in 24 hours?
Seriously, whatever could possibly happen, Armstrongism lost its credibility big time back in 1975. Being wrong so many times then and since means they don't get any bragging rights if any of what they said actually happens. Who would change the course of their lives if such a shaky group totally by accident finally ended up being right about a few things? You couldn't possibly call that validation, although that is what they would be screaming!
The amazing thing is that we've been overdue for a depression for decades now, so either the powers that be have discovered ways to avoid depression, or it could still happen. Right now, there is talk of inflation. With negative interest rates in so many countries over the past 10-15 years, the big fear was deflation, which is by definition depression. Economists were examining ways of reflating their economies.
Anything could happen. If Trump comes back, the USA could end up being the fourth Reich! How would Armstrongism deal with that? There would be a worse deer in headlights moment than there would be if a UFO landed in Arkansas!
Not to be a gloom and doom type of individual but they may be on to something. Even a broken clock is correct twice in 24 hours. I know I will be called a radical conservative even though I have voted for democrats as well as Republicans, the economic policies of the Biden administration are untenable. I have frequent interactions with those in finance and other related fields and they are very worried about the out of control spending and hyperinflation that they are bringing about. These very same individuals said the same thing in 2005 prior to the recession. Biden will likely be pressured to resign by his own party soon due to his flagging popularity and his aura of incompetence & probable dementia. His VP does not inspire confidence but sometimes you have no choice but to put in your back up. I was watching a recent NFL game that was in NYC and after the commercial break I noted that the crowd was chanting "F*ck Joe Biden." It would be one thing if this in the South or some area like that but this was New York City, nor exactly a hotbed of conservative opinion.
Of course times won't be so rough for millionaire Armstrong-cult leaders!
A Tale Of Two Cities Opening Lines (Charles Dickens)--
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way..."
Romans 8:28s " all things work together for good to those who love God" is a mistranslation. Observation and personal experience shows the above translation untrue. It's a popular translation since it gives comfort to people, and the morally challenged love it since it trivializes their sins against others.
The correct translation should go something like "God is with us in all our trials."
There is always turbulence in the world. This whole “trouble is coming in 1-5 years” angle might be a little more believable had they predicted COVID and all the fallout and change that has brought about. Typical hollow predictions coupled with the melodramatic tone that LCG has from watching the kind of media that is more political gossip/tabloidism than actual news or analysis.
The New York Times contributor Paul Krugman concerning Dr. Leon Festinger's research:
"Back in the 1950s three social psychologists joined a cult that was predicting the imminent end of the world. Their purpose was to observe the cultists’ response when the world did not, in fact, end on schedule. What they discovered, and described in their classic book, “When Prophecy Fails,” is that the irrefutable failure of a prophecy does not cause true believers — people who have committed themselves to a belief both emotionally and by their life choices — to reconsider. On the contrary, they become even more fervent, and proselytize even harder."
They key dynamic is "who have committed themselves to a belief both emotionally and by their life choices." People who does this, like the Millerites back in 1844, do not recant when presented with reality. This causes my stomach to churn a little. Think for a moment - people who will not acknowledge blatant reality. Its a free country. People can do most anything they want. But ultimately, country be dashed, we will answer to God. And what must he do to these people to get them to awaken to reality?
******** Click on my icon for Disclaimer
If the LCG members stop their revelry, lust, strife, and drunkenness, they'll have to abolish the fall feast, and probably the LCG as well!
So will joining (or at least tithing to) the LCG make the next 0 - 5 years any better, or only give you new problems to worry about?
A local Protestant pastor (who is scratching for new members) announced that one of his deacons will give a study on Revelation (as he doesn't know enough to give it himself). He did come up with a little gem that is applicable here: the study will be about the future, but don't let that take your mind off life now.
Yoda similarly warned Luke that his mind was concerned with the future, and it should be about the here and now.
Weston said, God is in control. He is allowing mankind sufficient rope to hang itself.
According to LCOG, God is a vengeful god, always looking to kill all these wicked people. The world needs to be “spanked”. Seems like I once read a scripture that said “God so loved the world”. But I probably am mistaken. I am sure he hates the world. Only the LCOG will be good enough to RULE with Christ.
Love, joy, kindness, patience, long-suffering, forgiveness. Forget those things! Those evil worldly people need to be SPANKED.
Jim-AZ
Lcg is full of bs, God doesn't always help those who were doing their best,the moment troubles come he's outta here doesn't know you anymore....
“LCG: The next 1 – 5 years will be traumatic!”
The Dying Church of Rod already caused plenty of trauma when it came up with such things as the two-fold or hybrid gospel message, the marriage supper in heaven, and the falling away in the world. Some old people had gone to Rod's GCG splinter group, and then to Rod's LCG splinter group, thinking that an old timer like Roderick C. Meredith would be more doctrinally sound than he has turned out to be. Now there will be only more trauma in the LCG.
Roderick C. Meredith taught a two-fold or hybrid gospel message to try to compete against Herbert W. Armstrong by combining HWA's teachings on the topic with the world's teachings on the topic. So, the apostle Paul's double curse on those who pervert the true gospel is going to continue to befall the LCG.
Roderick C. Meredith also taught that the falling away will be in the world, to get people's minds off of the relatively huge work that HWA and the WCG had done in the past, and the Great Apostasy of January 1995 when the apostate Tkaches threw out of the WCG virtually everything that HWA had taught and turned the WCG into a ham-eating, Sunday-keeping church that quickly imploded.
RCM tried to make it sound like almost nobody had ever heard of HWA and the WCG but that the LCG with not even one-tenth of the WCG's people was going to “shake the nations.” It might be traumatic for LCG members to accept the facts about RCM's own falling away.
It is amazing how ancient history begins to repeat itself.
Noah was a preacher of justice according to the Bible and began to build because he found justice in the eyes of God.
In the last days the scripture also says that there will be scoffers ... Scoffers? Who knows the Church of God to scoff at her?
Frustrated people like you ... are the only ones today who can mock and make cartoons and worst of all, they have no fear of God and what may happen to them in the future for doing this.
The world does not know anything and they will have their chance, but those who knowingly make fun of it, I would not like to be in their shoes, because everything they do is unfair and dangerous.
It is amazing how ancient history begins to repeat itself.
Noah was a preacher of justice according to the Bible and began to build because he found justice in the eyes of God.
In the last days the scripture also says that there will be scoffers ... Scoffers? Who knows the Church of God to scoff at her?
Frustrated people like you ... are the only ones today who can mock and make cartoons and worst of all, they have no fear of God and what may happen to them in the future for doing this.
The world does not know anything and they will have their chance, but those who knowingly make fun of it, I would not like to be in their shoes, because everything they do is unfair and dangerous.
Anonymous said...
Yoda similarly warned Luke that his mind was concerned with the future, and it should be about the here and now.
Yoda? Who is this Yoda dude? I don't recall his name in the Gospel of Luke or in the Book of Acts, yet you say he interacted with Luke. Hmmm... much there is to ponder.
8:17: Skywalker, Baby! Ain't you never heered a the movies? Must be miserable living a life without humor!
Weston writes: "...I doubt that any of us can imagine how traumatic the next one to five years will be...
...One fact is for certain—God is in control. While He is allowing mankind sufficient rope to “hang itself,” He will not forsake His Work here on earth. Nor will He forsake those of you who are His."..
******
Does Weston know what traumatic means? Hasn't life been traumatic for billions of human beings ever since the days of Adam and Eve?
If God is in control, then what's the big deal? What if Weston's statement were slightly changed to say the following:
"One fact is for certain—God is in control. While He is allowing former WCG hirelings sufficient rope to “hang themselves,” He will not forsake His Work here on earth. Nor will He forsake those of you who are His."??????
What is God's work? Why isn't God doing His own work? Why would God need living group? Weston, nor Winnail, have proven they are God's Church or God's work on earth.
Would God inspire His work on earth to teach a Mickey Mouse millennium with "another Jesus" very soon to arrive and reign on earth for 1,000 years........and then allow Jerusalem to be attacked and destroyed after that 1,000 years?
Oh, and then there is some "third resurrection" being taught. Would God inspire that, or are these theories originating from "another source" into the minds of these hirelings.
Time will tell...
John
You can mock all you want, but the Church of God from the hand of Mr. Weston will continue forward and the entire ministry from North America to Patagonia and each member around the world will continue as one man united until the end, one day you will give account of this just like the vile soldier who slapped our Lord Jesus Christ.
@ 8:22: I think you have been doing too much Koke, and it has messed with your cognitive faculties.
8.17 PM
You obviously don't know your book of Luke. It plainly says: "Use the Force Luke..let go."
Traumatic in the next 1-5 years?!
My life unfortunately has already been a series of one traumatic experience after another over the past 9 years and counting! So beat that!
I don’t believe a word out of Weston’s mouth!! LAST I checked he was NOT the head of the church!! What HE says means NOTHING!! **
T H I N K !! What does the Bible say??
Post a Comment