Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Saturday, April 17, 2021

PCG's Andrew Locher Is A Perfect Example Of The Complete Idiocy Of So Many In The COG Ministry

 



There is one thing about the ministry in the Church of God movement and that it has some absolutely batshit crazy ministers who are theologically ignorant about the book they claim to follow. The problem is that so many of them do not follow that book and instead bow down at the altar of Herbert Armstrong and worship everything he said and did. To them, HWA was the most perfect thing to walk this earth since Jesus, that inconvenient dude they know nothing about.

From Exit and Support Network

Andrew Locher, April 9 Bible Study, spoke on the “Mark of the Best” and came up with the answer by quoting HWA who said the mark is “Sunday” and “those with the mark of the beast will suffer God’s wrath, but those without the mark will be tortured and killed by man. Do you want to die at the hands of man or by God?” (Quite an option.) “We can be protected in a Place of Safety during the Tribulation. It requires faith and obedience to God’s Law.” 

It absolutely does NOT require faith and obedience to the law. COG ministers continue to lie to this day that this kind of obedience is required. Jesus be damnd, the law rules the day. After all, Jesus is still in that high school gym or Masonic lodge where he was left on Passover night till they have to mention his name again as they re-crucify him. 

“Satan was cast down at the death of HWA. It was the transition into the Laodicean era. The 7th head, the Holy Roman Empire is here.” (There is no biblical basis at all for this.)
“We are the only ones that keep the Sabbath.” (Those tutored under HWA have heard this a thousand times.) 

Another lie of the ministry. Satan was not cast down to earth at the death of HWA. Herbert was not some bulwark that kept Satan at bay. The stupidity in this belief is astounding. 

The following notes were gathered from a recent PCG conference: 
 
GF admitted he doesn’t emphasize certain verses or words on his programs because he “will lose listeners.” 

Flurry doesn't mention certain scriptures because they condemn him. If he spoke about Jesus, grace, justification, and mercy, he would have no ministry to con people with. 

“God’s law is a law of love.” (Does the Bible say that? If so, I can’t find it. Your Q&A say the Law was given to ancient Israel, not to the Church.) 

Scripture says the law is death. "for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 

“God wants us to get it into our minds about the Father and the family.” (No, God wants us to understand about His Son who gave His life for us so we might have everlasting life.) 

Another deceptive lie. The emphasis in PCG and many COG's is the erroneous belief that COG members will become "mini gods" and thus equal with Jesus. 

The Laodiceans would forget everything in the Tribulation if it wasn’t for us. They will know they are being punished for their sins “.(I wonder if GF will know he is being punished for his sins when he finds himself in the Tribulation?) 
 
If we don’t have the Law we are going to be deceived by the Devil.” (No, if we hold to the Law, we will not understand the grace of God.) 

More idiotic theological bullshit that places the law about Jesus and anything he said, did, and accomplished with his death. The majority of Christianity understand what that means except for the Church of God fake theologians. 

There is the possibility that we will be martyred. So what if you have to give up your life?” (Yeah, so what? No big deal.) 

The chances of COG members dying at the hands of COG leaders and their blasphemous teachings are far greater than martyrdom for being Christians. The PCG and many COG's are the ministries of death.  

There is no way we can ever get in this Paradise without God teaching and correcting us.” (We will be in Paradise if we have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus; it has nothing to do with correction; He took our punishment on Calvary.) 
 
We will rule over all the universe and all the planets will blossom like a rose. (I thought it was the desert that would blossom like a rose.) 
 
God feeds us so much new revelation.” (No, GF thinks God is feeding him new revelation.)
“The Laodiceans have no new revelation. God cuts them off because Elijah [HWA] prayed that He would.” –name of country withheld

God has no more revealed any new revelation to Gerald Flurry than he has to Dave Pack and Bob Thiel. The blasphemous things these guys say come straight from the narcissistic minds and the darkness that dwells within them, not from God.

Mr Pack Says the Month of Lyar is IT: Personally I Smell Burning Pants


Jewish Pronunciation of the Second Hebrew Month of Lyar

  "Lie-ar"
Hebrew for:  "Pants on Fire"

From Dave Pack's Last Encouraging Note of Failure.


"A brief note is in order: We are all expecting events to unfold by the end of Abib, which is hours away. True to God’s pattern, we have continued to learn through to the end—and at a seemingly ever-faster pace.

Of course, the starting position for every discussion about timing is that we cannot have another year. The news alone screams this remains more true than ever! Every indication (and there is a vast amount of evidence) is that our wait is still almost over. 

But it will enter the month of Iyar, which begins tonight. While it looked for a long time that Christ would have to come in Abib, eventually it became clear for many reasons that He absolutely could not come in Abib—but in fact would come the next month—in Iyar.

This note could take a left turn at this point and add 6-10 pages, but that is what sermons are for. About two more would be needed."

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Doug Winnail equates his miserysters to Moses and Jesus, and if you don't like it then you are enmity toward God.

 

Here we go again, its the regular Friday love letter smackdown of Living Church of God members who just can NEVER do anything right. 

How DARE members ever question the ministry of the church or ever share different opinions!

To do so is playing right into the hands of Satan! 

The ministers in LCG are equal to Moses and Jesus and you CANNOT question them or offer an opinion!

To offer a holy LCG minister your opinion immediately tells him that you do NOT have the mind of Christ, like he does.

Can Gerald Weston and the LCG ministry be this pathetic?

  


Our Opinions or Christ’s Mind: 
 
How many times have you made or heard comments like, “Here’s how I see it,” or “Here’s what I think,” or “Here’s the way it should have been handled.” All too often, these comments are directed at people in leadership positions—even in the Church. Moses was criticized by men who held different opinions (Numbers 16), and Peter differed with Jesus over an issue and even rebuked Christ (Matthew 16:21–23). In both cases, the people expressing critical opinions did not recognize the real source of their negative and divisive thoughts and actions. Before we share our “different” opinions, we need to remember God’s warning, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8). As Christians, our focus should not be on going around spreading our own ideas, but on developing a godly perspective that reflects the mind of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5). Jesus told His disciples, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19) as He sought to think and walk in harmony with His Father. We also need to remember the Scriptural admonition, “the carnal mind is enmity against God” and His ways—including His government (Romans 8:7). Long ago, Solomon wrote, “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (Proverbs 29:11). It is always good to ask ourselves, “Are we promoting our own opinions and ideas, or are we developing the mind of Christ?” 
 
Have a profitable Sabbath, 
Douglas S. Winnail

Courtesy of an LCG source 

And Now a Word From Our Sponsors: "Hey, Hey, Hey......I'm Important"

 A Ministry of Arrogance 

They tend to rise to the top on the backs of  the genuine "Helpers of their Joy"

In 26 years of ministry, I had encountered many personalities in ministry. Most I knew were very sincere in WCG, of no particular reputation in ways that hurt the people who they served. This includes pastors of an number of denominations I befriended along the way as well as in WCG.  The pastors I met outside WCG and became friend with were much more educated in ministry, well loved and appreciated and wouldn't last ten minutes in their congregations if they were otherwise.  Congregants had a say in their future thus putting a check on the crazies, like some we see today in the splinters today who have no such scrutiny. Their members can like it or lump in terms of their options. 

The classic issue of "Church Government" in WCG and now too in most of the splinters of it, is ultimately their undoing. 

Apostle Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry and Ron Weinland being our best examples of this phenomenon. 

However, there were also "the difficult ones"  WCG allowed any number of them flourish where any other company would have sent them packing long ago. The concept of just moving these types around after their antics and arrogance disheartened their current congregation almost beyond repair , to do it all again always puzzled me personally. It was just as difficult for the sincere pastors to be around them as for the congregations they tormented. 

And no, there was never instruction at AC on how to be arrogant, controlling and "in charge". Never. These kids matured into the destructive personalities when they were on their own.  I once suggested to the HQ Administration of the time that all perspective pastors and even current ones be given a genuinely professional personality profile.  The reaction was telling and of course it never happened. 

 This guy reminded me of some of them...


And just for fun...

Best Feast EVER!






Wednesday, April 14, 2021

COG Groups Love To Dish It Out But Scream Like Hell When The Tables Are Turned




The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

Herbert Armstrong and his successors have decried the "persecution" which they have suffered at the hands of critics. In fact, critics within and without the ACOGs have been characterized as tools of Satan deployed by him to attack/destroy "God's Church." They say that former members have allowed a root of bitterness to well up within them and make them disgruntled and vengeful. Critics outside of the Church have been characterized as deceived and/or wicked proponents of lies and distortions. In short, anyone who makes negative comments relative to the ACOGs or challenges their work, teachings or behavior is said to be attacking and persecuting the Church (and are, consequently, enemies of God).

However, if criticizing the doctrines and teachings of an organization constitutes persecuting God's Church, then Armstrong and his successors were/are master persecutors. They have always been fond of pointing out what they considered to be the erroneous teachings of Mainstream or Traditional Christianity. Armstrong said that the vast majority of Christians worshipped on the wrong day (Sunday), had adopted pagan notions and practices, preached a false gospel and were drunk with the blood of the real saints (the folks who believed as they did). Armstrong and his followers have ridiculed Mainstream/Traditional Christian teachings about the trinity, afterlife, Christmas and Easter observances, grace, religious music, symbols, and prophecy (among other things).

Now, as far as the New Testament is concerned, the modus operandi of Jesus, Peter, Paul, John, and the other saints was to call out false teachings. Indeed, throughout those writings, Christians are constantly encouraged to ignore or dismiss teachings that contradict or twist what the founders of the religion have taught. Christ warned his followers that false messiahs and prophets would arise and attempt to deceive people. Paul warned the saints of Corinth about false apostles and deceitful workmen. He also chided the saints of Galatia for abandoning the Gospel of Christ and embracing a false gospel. John told his followers not to believe everything they heard and warned them that "many false prophets have gone out into the world." Peter warned the saints that there would be false prophets and teachers among them who would introduce "destructive heresies."

Hence, if we are following the example of Scripture, it would be reasonable for us to conclude that calling out false teachers and false teachings is the appropriate way to deal with this problem. Moreover, if it was appropriate for Herbie and his successors to call out the "false" teachings/doctrines of Mainstream/Traditional Christianity, how can they claim that anyone who does the same thing to them is persecuting them? My grandmother used to say, "What's good for the goose is good for the gander!" And, when an ACOG member alleges that my criticisms of their leadership and teachings amounts to persecution, I'm thinking of another grand old axiom: That sounds an awful lot like the pot calling the kettle black!

Miller Jones

Parcast: The Millerites


Thanks to William Miller your COG exists today
Another man with no theological training who found hidden messages in the Bible.


 

Monday, April 12, 2021

The Saga of Apostle David C Pack Just Gets Sadder and Sadder

 Here We Go Again!




"Prophecy Update" TODAY

(April 12, 2021)


A brief note is in order: We are all expecting events to unfold by the end of Abib, which is hours away. True to God’s pattern, we have continued to learn through to the end—and at a seemingly ever-faster pace.

Of course, the starting position for every discussion about timing is that we cannot have another year. The news alone screams this remains more true than ever! Every indication (and there is a vast amount of evidence) is that our wait is still almost over. But it will enter the month of Iyar, which begins tonight. While it looked for a long time that Christ would have to come in Abib, eventually it became clear for many reasons that He absolutely could not come in Abib—but in fact would come the next month—in Iyar. This note could take a left turn at this point and add 6-10 pages, but that is what sermons are for. About two more would be needed.

The expectation has been that we would see an antichrist first (and many more with him), with Christ arriving soon after. This is also still true, but in a slightly different way than first believed. In fact, Elijah and the faithful living saints receive absolutely massive power for a brief period, during which all living saints are united. What happens over the next several days (the last days) before Christ returns on “that day” is a story so staggering no email could begin to do it justice. Since our wait appears to be for a very brief additional period, there is not time to inform the Church of even a fraction of the evidence. If this brief period comes and goes, then everything would need to be explained—and the story is truly incredible! Mr. Pack would lay it out in detail if we were to enter a wait for another year. Let’s hope that we soon live the story rather than merely hear it.

This much can be said now. All of what happens appears to require exactly one month after all! First comes the empowering of God’s Church with great gifts and exousia through the antichrist period when Elijah rises and that the living saints must endure. This is followed shortly by Christ’s coming to the Great Supper to build the “Seed” Kingdom of God before the second brief period involving the Man of Sin. Finally, the Father arrives in glory to close the month, brings paradise, the Mountain/City, the Old Testament saints, the resurrection of all Israel, the Wedding Dinner and to expand the Kingdom beyond Israel to the whole world. (Of course God’s Spirit stands here present in a Temple after Christ arrives.)

Let’s leave you with a question to ponder: Might the one month be Iyar itself after having fully observed (guarded/hedged about) Abib? This would mean our wait is essentially over. How wonderful that the Work of God ends simply booming in every regard! Whatever the wait, may it be brief. God speed the time!"





"...these men expose themselves as an emperor with no clothes. They are poor. They are blind. They are miserable. And they are naked. "



It would be refreshing for a change if one of these guys actually pointed to Jesus Christ as our leader, rather than constantly pointing to themselves and pointing fingers at others, within their own movement. Frankly, I am tired as others are of the whole everyone else is Laodicean so therefore you should follow me mantra. It smacks of the very attitude God criticizes in that passage. "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing."(Revelation 3:17) In other words, "I" alone am righteous." "I" alone have complete understanding, the purest doctrines, the most godly "church government" etc. Fill in the blank. The truth is these men expose themselves as an emperor with no clothes. They are poor. They are blind. They are miserable. And they are naked. 

Their focus is on promoting their own name, their own imagined ecclesiastical authority, their own church, in an effort to attract or control their own "members." There is no love for one another in their writings. There is no humility of spirit. There is no thought process that perhaps they don't know as much as they think they might, and maybe they could learn a thing or two from someone else. There is no effort among any to work to come to any unity of the faith, but instead to cast blame, point fingers, and justify one's own position, or church group. 
 
Even efforts to preach a gospel are done almost solely as a "warning" and with the idea of self-promotion or preservation, rather than compassion or care for those who might be reached with such a message. If the motivation is skewed, the message won't be effective. You can scream all day about how you are the best, greatest, most mistreated, most persecuted, most favored by God, whatever. You might even attract a few people with grandiose statements of righteousness, claimed unique prophetic knowledge, etc. but if you aren't truly motivated by a love for God and a love for your fellow humans, your efforts will ultimately come to nothing, because God won't honor them, and unless God is building the house, your efforts are useless. (Psalm 127:1)

Concerned Sister

UPDATED: PCG Claims they do not do this kind of "repugnant" behavior: PCG Now Sending People To Protest Women and LGBT People?

 

UPDATE:Iradophilly corrected the name of the church group with the Westboro Baptist style protest. The protest was actually done by members of Key of David Christian Center. Apparently they have done several protests at colleges for the past few years typically around Pride Week.

This is the statement that PCG sent to them:

Correction* 04/12/21 - This group was previously identified as the identified as the Philadelphia Church of God based in Edmond, OK. In a statement sent to iradiophilly, "The Edmond, Oklahoma-based Philadelphia Church of God, Inc. is in NO WAY associated with this group... The Philadelphia Church of God condemns the repugnant behavior ascribed to us. Our members, located in over 60 countries worldwide, have never engaged in such behavior." 

That has to be the most hypocritical nonsense that the Philadelphia Church of God has published considering how antigay they are. Almost every single week there is some antigay comment from them. They constantly claim that LGBT people are responsible for floods, tornadoes, forest fires, droughts, and much much more, their behavior IS REPUGNANT and totally deceptive!

This strange news story came across my newsfeed this morning. Apparently, the Philadelphia Church of God is expanding its preaching of the gospel to now harass women and LGBT people.

Part of me wants to say they got their church ID mixed up with another group, but there is nothing that the PCG does anymore that surprises me

A Ursinus College student was arrested on Friday night, 4/9, supposedly after confronting Collegeville Police about the officers' lack of wearing masks in public. The exact details leading up to his arrest are not clear. The contentious arrest was caught on video by another student and posted on Instagram (see below). It showed the male student struggling with two officers on the ground as they tried to handcuff him. He is yelling profanities and makes numerous requests of the officers to make sure his mask is kept on. Ursinus College officials say they are working with police to determine what happened. "Our focus is on his well-being, and we are working hard to support a quick resolution to this matter that is least disruptive to our student and his future," said a statement from the college. 
 
This happened just off-campus around 7 p.m. on Main Street. Students had gathered to counter-protest an anti-LGBT 'church' hate group that was protesting outside campus. The group, identified as the Philadelphia Church of God based in Edmond, OK, was yelling disparaging remarks at women as well as LGBT slurs. This past week was Pride Week at Ursinus. Students say that this group demonstrates at the school once or twice a year. iradiophilly: Ursinus Student Arrested During Anti-Hate Protest

Women have never been a high priority in the PCG so I can see them disparaging women, but considering the number of gay men on the Edmond Campus I am surprised to hear them protesting LGBT people. In light of that, PCG needs to be protesting figs.





 

 


Sunday, April 11, 2021

Crackpot COG Prophet Claims He Is The True Successor To HWA And Carries His Mantle


Doubly-blessed, Elijah, Elisha, Joshua, Amos, Bwana Bob Thiel, 
the GREAT Savior of Africa, and 299 Caucasians,
receiving Herbert Armstrong's mantle.

It's been a few days or is it a few hours since we heard from our resident crackpot prophet in the Church of God. He is back and he is letting every single COG member out there know that He and ONLY He is the one true end-time leader of the Church of God. Even though this sad little man is only able to garner 299 white members out of 197 nations on the planet, and 3,000 - 4,000 church-hopping Africans, he believes he has the mantle Herbert Armstrong passed on when he died. Since Joseph Tkach Sr. refused to wear it and Rod Meredith was unworthy to wear it because he failed to implement all the changes Bob Thiel was asking him to do, it is only rightful that Bwana Bob inherits it, as there is no other man in the entire Church of God network more worthy, perfect, and righteous than he.

I can state for a fact that HWA would never have passed his "mantle" to Bwana Bob Thiel. To claim so makes Bwana Bob an even bigger liar than he already is.

HWA would have kicked Bob's ass out the door so fast his holistic buckwheat hull pillows would never have been able to absorb the shock as he hit the curb.

Notice that Herbert Armstrong believed that God mainly worked through the leadership of one man at a time to lead various phases of the work. Scripture, shows for example, that the mantle passed from Elijah to Elisha (2 Kings 2:9-15). The ‘mantle’ would currently be with the person/group that truly functioned as the ‘pillar and ground of truth’ (1 Timothy 3:15). 
 
For fifty years in the second century, according to Herbert W. Armstrong, that man was Polycarp:

It is significant that after his release John trained Polycarp elder of Smyrna, a city near Ephesus in the province of Asia. … At neighboring Smyrna, Polycarp presided over the Church of God for half a century after John’s death. Polycarp stood up boldly for the truth while many fell away and began having fellowship with the Catholic bishops of Rome. History relates that following the example of Peter, Paul and John, Polycarp wrote many letters to congregations and individuals, though all these have perished, save one in an edited version. (Armstrong HW. The Church They Couldn’t Destroy. Good News, December 1981) 
 
For over 50 years in the 20th century, it was Herbert W. Armstrong. 

No, he wasn't. 

And in the 21st century, that one man is not in any of the independent or more structures Laodicean groups.

299 guesses as to just WHO that "one man" is? 

It's that little "man/boy" who threw a temper tantrum when Rod Meredith rejected him and so he started his own little group. He lied about having dreams and double blessings and self-appointed himself as a minister, prophet, and leader of one of the most pathetic COG's to ever exist.

Support the remnant of the Philadephian era and God’s work today. 

By all means support any independent COG that is taking care of their neighbor, helping the poor, widows, and orphans but please don't support liars like Bwana Bob. 

Do not delay (cf. Zephaniah 2:1-3).

PCG Lays Down Lots Of Rules For The Feast, Especially For Women Who Cause Lust In Men's Eyes

Cover the cleavage women so that you do not cause our men to sin. 
It's your fault when you dress improperly and cause lust in men's eyes.


The Flurry cult is getting ready to send out Feast of Tabernacles registration forms to its dwindling membership. The cult has always felt the need to control every aspect of its member's lives and is cracking down even more on its members this year.

Some letters have come into Exit and Support Network detailing the demands of the Flurry cult in its members this year.

Members are expected to pay extra money for all lunches, dinners, and events that PCG puts on which will be recorded on the back of the name tags required of all attending the Feast. This helps the cult keep track of members and stops any outsider or Laodicean COG member from another group from slipping in to see friends or family, or God forbid hear a cult sermon. 

The cult is also following in Worldwide Church of God's footsteps and relegating families with small children to the basement of the Herbie Armstrong Auditorium during services. WCG did this in the Ambassador Auditorium because they did not want kids distracting the holy ministers, or even worse, make a mess in the royal purple carpet in God's House. God would not be happy.

The PCG cult is always looking for ways to portray its self as the perfect church and to do this they cannot have imperfect people on screen if the camera pans the audience. This year, seniors (or anyone) in wheelchairs, those hard of hearing wearing hearing aids that occasionally squeal, or those needing sign language interpretation, must sit in the balcony, out of sight, out of mind.

April 10, 2020
Members with small children are to be seated in the basement of Armstrong Auditorium during Feast services. If you are in a wheelchair, are hard of hearing, or have translation needs, you are to sit in the balcony. (Taken from “Important Instructions” for PCG members attending or not attending the FOT). –[name withheld]  Exit and Support Network

And, as usual, the women in the cult take the brunt of the rules due to the fact that some pervie ministers and male members can't control their roving eyes and lust in their hearts when they see females at church or at the beach who show some cleavage. It's never the men getting lectured on learning to control their lust, but always the women. If they forced the men to do that, half of PCG's ministry would be found guilty!

Females must wear one-piece swimsuits. One-piece swimsuits are the standard for females. The cut should not run too high up the thigh. A safe guideline would be for it to approximately follow the natural crease in the groin. Also, be sure it completely covers the buttocks. Tankinis are unacceptable unless the two pieces are sewn or tacked together so that they don’t come apart and expose the midsection. Swimsuits can be worn with skirts or shorts over them, but this is not required of our ladies. Lastly, as with shirts, no cleavage should be exposed. (Comment: We do not want our young men (or especially any of our ministers) gawking at the ladies and getting wrong ideas [as if they don’t have enough]. Read: What Happened At Robber’s Cave?) Exit and Support Network

Preferred dress for women at church:


 and at the beach:


             Good................Sinful................Borderline





 


Bobus the Prophet Sits in for Jesus on the Mount of Olives


 

The Destruction of the Temple and Possible Signs of the End Times

And Bobus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Possibly I tell you, could it be  one stone here will be left on another; every one possibly will be thrown down?.”

As Bobus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Bobus answered: “Could you possibly be deceived? Could many  come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and possibly deceive many?6 Will you hear of wars and rumors of wars?  Might you be alarmed?  Such things could very possibly happen, but  is the end is still to come?   Could Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom? There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 Is  this the beginning of birth pains?.

“Is it possible you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and  be hated by all nations because of me? 10 Will many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other? 11 Is it possible many false prophets will appear and deceive many people? 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, could  the love of most will grow cold? 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And , who knows, but  this gospel of the kingdom could possibly be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then, might the end will come?

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the possible abomination that causes desolation,’[a] possibly spoken of through the prophet Daniel—could the reader understand? — 16 Might possibly those who are in Judea flee to the mountains? 17 Will those on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house? 18 Could possibly those in the field go back to get their cloak? 19 Could it possibly be that in those days it could get dreadful for pregnant women and nursing mothers? 20 Should Christians pray their flight not be  in winter or on the Sabbath?  21 For then, quite possibly there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and possibly never to be equaled again.

22 “Will , If those days had not been cut short,  anyone survive?, Will you be among the elect for whom the days will be shortened? 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ should  you  believe it? 24 For there is a strong possibility that false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 Might I be the only prophet telling you all this?.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ should you go out? or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ should believe it? 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west,  might this possibly be a sign of my coming?. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, might  the vultures  gather?

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“‘Will the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken?

30 “Then could there appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.?  31  Will he send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they  gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other?

32 “Is there a lesson from the fig tree?  As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you might it be  that it[e] is near, right at the door.?34 Could  this generation  possibly not pass away until all these things have happened? 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but is it possible my words will never pass away?

The Day and Hour Unknown

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 Could it be  we are in the days of Noah, like at the coming of the Son of Man? 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. Might this possibly be how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man? 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left?

42 “Therefore keep watch, because, let's face it,  you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But might this be something to consider: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Could the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him?

Could he who hears possibly understand?