How many times in the Church of God have we heard this saying, "as in the days of Noah"? The church was constantly looking for the latest crisis as a sure sign of the end times. The world around the church was perverted and falling apart, just like in Noah's time...while ignoring the fact that the church was falling apart and was also perverted with child molesters, rapists, stalkers, serial adulterers, and even murderers in its midst.
Churches, prophets, and false preachers have been saying this since the time the scriptures were first set to print. Whether it was the Romans, Greeks, Europeans, Germans, Russians, gays, abortionists, corrupt government leaders, etc. there was always someone out there that was causing the world to fall apart. The problem we face today is that when things go down the response is instantaneous and the world knows about it immediately. Before the internet and phone lines, news traveled slowly and reached people days, weeks, and months after something happened. The frequency is no higher today than it was in the previous generations. Though if you listen to the fake prophets of Armstrongism (Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland, Gerald Weston, Tony Roach, Zerubbabel, and others) you would think that the end was hitting us tomorrow.
Are there problems in the world? Absolutely! The problem in the COG is we have had false prophets in our midst who latch on to these stories in order to scare members into submission. Take a look at Doug Winnail's latest fear-mongering in the latest Tomorrow's World magazine. The exact same thing that he, Weston, and Meredith have been crowing about for 40 plus years now.
"When the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3), He told them, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6–8; Mark 13:7–8; Luke 21:8–10). And, while wars have certainly raged throughout history, there is no denying that the twentieth century saw the scope and magnitude of warfare and international conflict reach unprecedented levels."
"Jesus’ prediction that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” is an accurate description of what is happening today. The biblical Greek word for nation—ethnos—refers to a people, race, tribe, or ethnic group. The biblical Greek word for kingdom—basileia—means a nation, realm, or empire. Jesus prophesied that ethnic strife and wars between nations would dominate the news at the end of the age. "
AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
Jesus warned of other conditions that would prevail just before His return. While cautioning that no one would know “the day nor the hour” of His coming, He warned that “as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 25:13; 24:36–39). Scripture reveals that in the days of Noah, “the earth was filled with violence… all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11–13).
Our modern society is permeated with violence—in our homes, our schools, our “entertainment,” and everywhere on the world scene. Jesus explained that, because of escalating violence, war, and immorality, “unless those days were shortened [by the return of Christ], no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:21–22). Jesus clearly understood the danger of human extinction, which became a real threat with the advent of the atomic bomb in the mid-twentieth century!
And the danger has persisted into the twenty-first century, exploding to new levels after the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. soil. “In the two decades since [the 9/11 attacks, the] 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force has been formally invoked to justify counterterrorism (CT) operations—including ground combat, airstrikes, detention, and the support of partner militaries—in 22 countries…. During that same time, the number of terrorist groups threatening Americans and American interests has, according to the U.S. State Department, more than doubled.… The 2001 AUMF has… already been invoked by Biden to cover an unknown number of military missions in 12 countries: Afghanistan, Cuba, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Niger, the Philippines, Somalia, and Yemen” (“The war on terror is going great—for terrorist groups,”
BusinessInsider.com, January 6, 2022). Peace? There is no peace!
We are living in perilous times, but the news is not all bad! Jesus concluded His prophecies of the end of the age on a positive note, saying that “when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:28–33). In the days of Noah, God intervened with a flood to put an end to human corruption and violence, yet He saved Noah and his family to repopulate the earth. In the years ahead, God will intervene again to put an end to corrupt human behavior and global violence. The Second Horseman of the Apocalypse, though he portends terrible ruin on the earth in the end times, also will precede the glorious soon-coming reign of the Savior, Jesus Christ! The Second Horesman: Violence and War
18 comments:
All it took for a Plain Truth article, on the end of days, was a picture of a dead sheep on parched ground.
Herbert and company loved to quote the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew and talk about our responsibility to be watching world events (the headlines). As with many other passages of Scripture, they miss the entire point of what is being discussed! Jesus Christ clearly didn't want his disciples to take their eyes off of the prize and begin slipping back into the ways of the world around them! He said: "You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." (Verse 44) In other words, he expected their focus and attention to be on living the life of a Christian, so that they would always be ready - regardless of what was going on around them or when God decided to send Christ back to this earth! Instead, the only thing that Herbie and company gleaned from this passage of Scripture was that Christ expected them to obsess over current events and how they relate to biblical prophecy! That whooshing sound that you hear is this passage of Scripture going right over their heads!
There will be "marrying and giving in marriage" right to the Second Coming. How can that be when the false prophets are predicting 3.5 years of GREAT tribulation and to look for the "abomination of desolation"? One even thinks the "beginning of sorrows" has not yet occurred. It has. The great tribulation of Mat 24:21 was in Judea in the first century. Since then the tribulation is as today: false Christs, false apostles, false prophets - verse 24 - as well as famines, earthquakes, wars, etc.
Jesus returns immediately after the tribulation of Mat 24:24, not immediately after the great tribulation of 24:21.
We are indeed living in perilous times today.
No doubt the generation of WW1 and WW2 said the same thing. And how many different nations have been confronted with war and famine and pestilences, floods, earthquakes, revolution and drought down through the ages? Since time began this is what humanity has faced. Today is no different. Yet today is a more dangerous time with the weapons available to destroy on a scale unheard of in history. News is instantly relayed around the world giving many a profound sense of unease. Witness the terrible events in Ukraine, broadcast live each day into our own homes. Yet Jesus said come to Me and He would give us rest in spite of what is whirling around us. Perhaps if Armstrongism focused on the Messenger and the hope before us, instead of what’s obvious on our news bulletins each day they would be in a period of growth instead of stagnation and decline.
HWA and most of it's spin offs have defocused the message off of Christ and too many times shown the focus on that particular corporation's church leader. As a result, they have tended to go off the rails and trend downwards. If one questions the direction they are going or a particular belief they usually react with the line that that leader was installed as Christ's leader on earth and thereby one is questioning God. This has been used for centuries going back to the divine right belief that kings and czars used to justify their position.
Nicely said. Though Armstrongism wouldn’t be Armstrongism if they did as you said.
The criticism that this article makes is totally out of context to what the church asks,
Can the author of the article explain how to understand then "the days of Noah"
Instead of criticizing and mocking as you like, try to explain said writing.
What did Jesus mean by that phrase?
What will happen to the evident increase in evil in the world?
finally.
What are they doing standing there like those scoffers in Noah's time?
Comment was made saying: "...The problem in the COG is we have had false prophets in our midst who latch on to these stories in order to scare members into submission. Take a look at Doug Winnail's latest fear-mongering in the latest Tomorrow's World magazine. The exact same thing that he, Weston, and Meredith have been crowing about for 40 plus years now.
"When the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3), He told them, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6–8; Mark 13:7–8; Luke 21:8–10)....''
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And Doug again exposes himself, like Bob Thiel, as a blind speaker for God, while exposing his blindness in the living "ditch" where he finds himself.
Here are some words of Jeremiah, a true speaker for God, for any like Doug Winnail, professing to understand the prophecy of God's Word:
Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Jer 23:32 Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Doug repeating himself over and over with the same false ideas on prophecy just spreads more err, lies, false visions, etc. Doug’s vision is of a Jesus to return with a “second coming” very soon to reign on earth. Why doesn’t Doug, a professing evangelist, teach Christ’s second coming, which has been witnessed by 100(s) of people, who will awake someday in a resurrection? Acts 1:3, I Cor 15:4-6
Doesn’t that expose some of Doug’s blindness and prove he cannot be representing the truth of God?
And because of that blindness, whether willingly or by ignorance, Doug remains confused with the Mickey Mouse millennium he preaches with any future true coming of Jesus Christ: and there are several.
Doug is also confused over phrases not found in the Bible like that “second coming,” “unpardonable sin”, which enables him, in his blindness, to preach about one’s qualifying to receive salvation by fulfilling what he considers to be prerequisites/requirements for that salvation, etc.
To be continued…
John
Continuing…
I found it interesting in Doug quoting the book of Matthew (above), but doing a “song & dance” around the following two verses that he did not acknowledge:
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Oh, Doug would not want any of us to focus in on those two verses as “signs of Jesus’ return!” Doug can’t expose himself, nor possible expose others in other xcogs who think just like himSELF!
Doug, again striving to speak for God and Jesus wrote: “Jesus explained that, because of escalating violence, war, and immorality, “unless those days were shortened [by the return of Christ], no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:21–22).”
Yes, we are another day closer, and that’s about it. In the meantime, where are the 2 Witnesses? 7 Trumps (wrath of the Lamb), which occur before the 1,000 years? First resurrection when Christ comes in clouds, but does not touch down on earth, but returns to heaven? 7 Vials (wrath of God), which occurs on the other side of the 1,000 years, after Satan exits the pit, near the tail-end of that short/little time/season?
7 Trumps against Satan’s kingdoms ruling through humans on earth only destroy a 1/3 of this and 1/3 of that. 7 Vials are total destruction: utter destruction…and all life, all flesh, including Satan and his angels, on earth will be destroyed. Read Rev 16 about them Vials! When the air is impacted: it is done: no flesh saved! Doug errs trying to apply Jesus words to anything on this side of the 1,000 years!
But, I think Living and virtually all spin-offs from the former WCG teach that the 7 Vials occur before the 1,000 years. Well, if that were true, who would be around to teach whom? It’s utter destruction!
Will the Wrath of God occur on this side of the 1,000 years, or on the other side of it?
Time will tell…
John
How can that be asked Anon 8:07. Have you not noticed in the news how Ukrainians caught up in the fighting with Russia are still finding a way to get married. It brings hope, hope of a future.
Perhaps that is why God specifically mentioned people getting married, was he explaining humans would still be planning for a future still hoping even in the great tribulation?
"While cautioning that no one would know “the day nor the hour” of His coming, He warned that “as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be”" - from post
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… these are the beginning of sorrows”. It was like that in the time of Jesus and these events culminated in 70 AD. And it has been like that over the past 2,000 years. I have never been able to figure out how apocalyptic Millerites pick out today as the time of the end when there is nothing really different about today. Just a lot of apocalyptic Millerite arm-waving. And this is not scoffing - don't pretend. It is taking a hard look at history. The same hard look that Armstrongists need to take.
There is that old saw about "no flesh saved alive" referring to the age of nuclear weapons. There are some serious problems with that interpretation. I think we are gingerly skirting a nuclear war right now. But, if it happens, I don't think it will kill everyone.
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I wouldn't be surprised if it were the 22nd century before Christ returns, but of course none of us us will be alive to witness the second advent.
FROM CHARLES DICKENS BOOK- "THE TALE OF TWO CITIES"
"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--i
This Noah thing would not be quite as big an issue if it had not become such a hackneyed explanation or excuse for the continued and total failure of the Armstrong prophecy mold. Similarly, they use the story of Gideon as an excuse for the death by splintering and attrition which Armstrongism has suffered as a bogus religion which once appeared as if it had mass appeal as did Scientology, the Moonies, and other passing cultish phenomena such as EST and Lifespring. And the story of David and Bathsheba is referenced more as an excuse for the moral failures of the founders of Armstrongism than mainstream Christianity ever boiled down the life of David to the tale of David and Goliath for the use of children. And if nobody pays attention, or worse, raises their voices to mock the fact "they" have made such stories so trite as they try to justify their continued existence, then "Let the dead bury the dead" comes into play. Or, "Don't cast your pearls before swine!" Or, "Just wait! You're going to he weeping and gnashing your teeth!" Ol' Hog Jowls always used to angrily sputter about Korah, Dathan, and Abiram when confronted with inconvenient truths.
Armstrong gnosticism has always been supported by cliches and shibboleths. Bad weather, wars, diseases, atrocious politics, and economic difficulties always lead to these little groups trotting out their prophecy mold as an ersatz solution, as opposed to digging in and doing what they can to assist others in coping or making things less bad. What a waste!
The Noah thing would not have been such a big deal if the 1st century church hadn't of used it either
For there shall arise false Christs..... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Or is in the HWA splinters? They all(?) say they're the church of god, or god's church, or, Christ is here in our church. Don't think so. HWA's seven feasts and required tithing are two of their false doctrines. Is Christ divided among several human organized churches? No.
Ah, another Armstrong cliche, 10:42. And since you guys are their spiritual heirs, exactly like the first century church, you can't help yourselves! Got it. (wink, wink.)
I don't know, 10:44. I liked the pattern set in the Christian flick "Joshua". It was a theophany film, with Tony Goldwyn playing the part of Joshua/Jesus. Joshua visited and fellowshipped with different groups of followers of Jesus Christ, rebuilding a Baptist church, doing some work for a Catholic Church, visiting a tent revival meeting. I've come to the realization that Jesus is like good art, or music, or literature in that He means different things to each individual, based on our personalities, experiences, level of intelligence, social proclivities, filters. That's the only logical conclusion, and the only way by which He can become real and personalized to us. Commies and Nazis can enforce uniform behavior and create automatons, much the same as a totalitarian Pharisaic church. Jesus keeps things real and allows flourishment and development of His followers.
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