RCG “What If?”
While reviewing "The Greatest Unending Story! (Part 409)," delivered yesterday, December 10, 2022, something David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God said sparked an interesting line of thinking that captured my attention.
@ 04:08 I’ve gotta be faithful with this. He that handles the word of God cannot do it deceitfully. I know there are people in the church and people who’ve been with us who would do it much better than I would…They don’t face the pressures…The pressure is staggering. I have chest pains you wouldn’t even believe…it’s not a good thing because of the pressure to get it right. I fear God…the pressure is staggering. And over 15,000 hours of study didn’t readily reveal the problem.
The fuller comments are less than one minute.
There will be a more complete analysis when the article covering Part 409 is published.
These statements pulled me into a line of thought I would not have shared two months ago. In interviews and privately, folks ask me what I think will happen to David C. Pack and The Restored Church of God. Since I am an unordained non-prophet/non-psychic, I still say I do not know.
However, I have my theories.
For David C. Pack to admit he has chest pains is a big deal. He historically hides that type of thing. The pressure he feels to get things right flies in the face of the idea that God is guiding him into truth. God’s Spirit is moving him to unveil the Mystery of God. The Greatest Untold Story! Series is a prophecy being fulfilled.
With his admitted chest pains, his mental reality is crashing, and his body is telling him so. The physical world is colliding with his imaginary world.
The following is a work of "reasonable" fiction based on my understanding of the players inside RCG. I know these men. I worked with them for over eight years. All of this could happen. Whether it does or not is in God's hands.
David C. Pack is killing himself. The best thing for him and all the members of The Restored Church of God is to declare that he is not fit to lead. He should resign as Pastor General immediately. He should admit he has been wrong and was seduced by the excitement of figuring out Bible prophecy. After he set his first date and failed, he knew there was no turning back. The train can never stop.
Surrounded by weak enablers, he was encouraged to continue. Nobody shouted, "The Emperor is naked!" from the crowd or the third floor.
By far, 2022 has been the worst, with the continual date-setting and failures followed by even more date-setting and failures. Excuses, excuses. Blame and boo hoo. It is all figured out, but then there is something “we” missed. David C. Pack has become the very thing he warned RCG about. But, he has also become what the Bible has warned about.
He needs to stop and admit he fell into an addiction. And like all addicts, he must focus on sobriety to begin the recovery process. Until then, he cannot be trusted. He needs to put his Bible down, spend quality time with his wife, and get professional help so he can heal.
For the sake of his own health, David C. Pack steps down as President and CEO of The Restored Church of God. He resigns as Pastor General. He stops preaching.
The structure of God’s government dictates that the only living evangelist steps in to lead, which no brethren disagree with. Bradford G. Schleifer is rewarded for his years of suffering under an insufferable man. He leads a “Great Reset” on doctrine. He restores 95% of Herbert W. Armstrong’s understanding. He instructs the ministers to focus on Christian growth sermons and diminish the need to “figure out” prophecy. “God will do it in His own time,” will be a comforting principle.
There is a Great Reset Damage Control Campaign to reassure the brethren that RCG is still God's church and that this nine-year trial by fire has ended. Since Jesus Christ is the head of the church and not a man, losing David C. Pack as Pastor General is a small matter not to be concerned about. After all, Joshua took over when Moses died. Solomon became king after David. This is the Bible pattern.
RCG endures a MASSIVE wave of resignations across the globe. About half the church evaporates within the next few weeks. The hirelings at Headquarters and in the field smell the blood in the water and scatter like cockroaches when the light comes on. Some staff members see this as their chance to bolt. And bolt, they do.
Splinter groups COGwa, UCG, and LCG have a sudden influx of new members seeking refuge from a burning house. The RCG Exodus is talked about throughout the entire COG community.
The Restored Church of God putters along. For a while.
Mrs. Pack files for divorce before the U-Haul arrives. Dave’s children still do not accept his calls even though they know what is happening.
Coffee Kid and Pepper Boy are demoted for their contribution to the attempted destruction of RCG. They can keep their ordinations but are sent out into the field to learn how to shepherd. Some real pastoring experience will do them good, it is thought. But, both resign after a few weeks, deciding it is better to focus on real life and their families rather than continue to support a broken system that God is not supporting.
Brad addresses the “rising star” inside RCG, that has had his eyes on the throne. Edward L. Winkfield is sent into the field, probably to Australia or another country. This removes him from Headquarters so that he is no longer a threat to the new head honcho.
The three horses are sold at a discount or shipped off to make glue. All the properties along Hartman Road are put up for sale. The Campus land extending from Eagle Point to Hartman is on sale for development or farming.
The previous owners are offered to get their land back for pennies on the dollar. They accept and allow the grass to grow wild again in the sight of Dave's house.
Once those financial resources are depleted, the homes along Akron Road are sold. One at a time, just in case attendance and Common turns things around. But, the hull has been pierced, and the Titanic will flounder.
Without warning, Brad resigns from RCG and flees to settle someplace nice with the self-insulating nest egg he legally created with his corporate position. “How did his golden parachute get so big so fast?” will be a question former RCG members will wonder about for years.
I told you he was a savvy guy.
By this point, Dave grows a beard and wears a robe all day. He has secretly begun to study Bible prophecy again. God reveals some amazing things he wishes he had known years ago. Now, it all makes sense. It fits perfectly. The picture is finally complete. He preaches to the mirror but manages to keep it under 90 minutes each time. Part 502 is a barnburner of a message. Very inspiring.
He watches the Campus and church he built collapse from his window. It grieves him. As does the eviction notice on the chair that doubles as a dining table.
If only he had not eaten the forbidden fruit of setting dates for the return of Jesus Christ.
If only he had not self-ordained himself an apostle.
If only he had not come to see he was Joshua, the High Priest of Zechariah 3.
If only he had not believed he was Elijah the Prophet.
If only he had not taken on a name of Christ for himself, claiming he is actually That Prophet.
If only he had seen what was so plainly presented before his own eyes.
The reality is David C. Pack will not admit fault. He will not see his errors, and he will not quit. He will continue to set dates and watch them fail. The enabling hirelings will continue to agree. The brethren will continue to wait to be disappointed.
Those pressure-induced chest pains are not a sign of God's Spirit comforting him because he is right on track and fulfilling God's good pleasure. It should be a stark warning of where he is and where he is heading.
The end of him and RCG will be far worse than the scenario presented.
May God have mercy on David C. Pack.
Marc Cebrian
See: What If?
29 comments:
"..he restores 95% of .. Armstrong[ism].."
Which means back to full-on British-Israelism:
"the key that unlocks the Bible"
Dave's "pressure" is self-inflicted. Who ever told him that he needs to make a fetish and living out of exactly when Jesus will return if one is so inclined to believe such things? Where does he get the idea that it's all about him? From himself! Dave has never gone off the track on this theological fairytale. It never left the station. Like a Hollywood movie, Dave has been sitting still in a non-moving prop with fake scenery passing by the window to give Dave the illusion of movement. He is going nowhere but taking a very long time to get there.
I said before that his ship is sinking (members fleeing) so he's turned to vain prophetic speculations (a subject that he's commented on in Ancient Aliens) just to keep them interested and hanging on.
So it's not going to work out unless he repents and gets back to the gospel and faith in Christ to do the revealing. Repentance? A novel idea for many of us who don't know what the Day of Atonement is about.
As for the chest pains, those are probably heart pains due to his many sins. "The whole heart is sick (davvay)." (Is 1:5) "The heart has waxed gross (pachuno; thick, callous, heavy, burdened)." (Mt 13:15) Once he gets the poison out he'll be able to understand these spectacularly detailed prophecies.
Pack may have chest pains, but he certainly knows how to be A PAIN THE ASS!
"he restores 95% of Armstrongism".
That is your solution??? That stuff has failed over, and over, and over again! It corrupts leaders, breaks up families, and causes people to waste their lives.
"He that handles the word of God cannot do it deceitfully."
Ho ho ho.
The RCG needs a coup.
If only he had not been deceived in the first place by HWA. The cycle could have, and should have, stopped with Herbie's death. There is a reason Christians consider WWCG and splinters, slivers to be cults.
It is nothing short of a needless tragedy that so many could see coming, but the cycle continues with those leaving RCG (THANK GOD), yet going from the frying pan into other fires (COGWA, etc).
Well, theyre always extra miserable at this time of year, obsessing ovee Nimrod's testicles and all that.
He claimed to have chest pains. Is this a ploy for sympathy? Can you believe anything he says? I wouldn't believe he has been having chest pains until he suffers a cardiac arrest. Hopefully he has a DNR bracelet on his wrist.
Dave's job of extorting money is painstaking.
100% wrong, all the time! Try selling cars Dave.
I'm really quite surprised .... my mother, a member of the Australian branch of RCG, a member since approx 2012 is in all appearances planning to keep Xmas with her spiritual family this year?!!
Yep ... seems several people (probably the entire sum of members) from the eastern states are all going to travel to her house (as much as 1,000kms away), stay overnight and partake in a spiritual family meal together and listen to the ramblings of Pack on xmas day.
Of course all done in great anticipation that God's Kingdom will be starting.
Now I remember when I was a teenager we couldn't do anything that looked remotely worldly, or bad or give the wrong impression because we wouldn't be exhibiting God's way of life. If we did worldly stuff we would be giving "the impression of evil, of sin, of partaking in the worldly customs". These are words/instruction straight from Herbie's mouth.
We had to do everything we could to avoid giving that impression to our neighbours, our community and our outside family members.
So why is she doing this now and why are the so called members of God's 'true church' even prepared to join in on this?
So by their actions it's certainly going to look like they are keeping xmas, a worldly custom.
I believe it's even been sanctioned by the minister there, a Mr Johnson(?) all under the guise of waiting for God's kingdom to start.
How is this any different to normal families travelling from all over the state to meet up with other family members at a designated house to enjoy a meal together and celebrate the "return of a young God"?
I can only assume Pack and hence RCG approves of this participation in a very obvious worldly custom?
Are all RCG members doing this xmas thing on xmas day (travelling far and wide and meeting up for a meal and communion with their spiritual family this year?
How else could the prophecy about the rise of scoffers who come in these last days (2 Pet 3:3-4; Jude 18-19) be fulfilled? Their basis of mocking is a failed promise of Christ's coming and no other person in the churches of God has given many variations on the subject of the timing of Christ's coming than the leader of RCG. God is surely working with him to fulfill prophecy about the rise of scoffers as the attitude of Matt 24:48 becomes more pronounced.
Chest pains? That is a rather odd symptom. I should think that his nose would start to grow. Or that his pants would catch fire.
If God was working with DCP he would have gotten Christ's return correct back in 2013 when he first predicted it.
The rise of scoffers has certainly happened at the end of the age, however, so has the rise of false prophets. Numerous scriptures, including Deut.18:22, Numbers 12:6, II Peter 2:1-3, and many, many others, prove DCP is not being led by God. DCP has certainly helped bring in the fulfillment of II Peter 2:1-2, but not because God is working with him: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."
People do speak evil of God as a result of DCP's prophetic theories, and it has led to a stain on God's way of life and Christianity as a whole.
I believe we are at the end of the age solely based on DCP's constant false prophecies and also because of many others like him that are out there today. It is not scoffing to believe what the Bible makes clear about men like DCP. God is not the author of confusion and cannot work through someone who is seeking to elevate himself (saying he is "Elijah" and "That Prophet" which is a title that belongs to Christ) and he has no authority to determine what God said no one knows. Even Christ Himself does not know. No scripture indicates it is possible to know the exact day, only that we are to watch for the signs of the end as outlined in Matthew 24 and other places.
My hope is that this is a troll post and that you are not actually an RCG member. If you are indeed a member, I would highly recommend reading through the discontinued book "Is That Prophet Alive Today? The Rise of False Prophets." DCP warned us not to follow him if he ever went off into false prophesying and strange teachings, and many who have left RCG have come to recognize that after a deep examination of their Bible and old literature on the subject of false prophets. It is a dangerous thing to blindly accept a man's teachings without doing a deep study to prove whether what he is teaching the things of God. And sadly, many in RCG blindly adore DCP without realizing that he is leading them in a dangerous direction.
I do not believe that many are saying they could of done the prophecy series better I think many believe it should of never happened or should of stopped years ago.🤷
Anonymous The Rise of Scoffers said... Monday, December 12, 2022 at 4:26:00 AM PST
How else could the prophecy about the rise of scoffers who come in these last days (2 Pet 3:3-4; Jude 18-19) be fulfilled?
God is using DCP in order to fulfill prophecy alright but not the way you are suggesting. The scoffers that are mentioned in the end time are scoffers of Christ return, not mocking DCP lies and announcing failed dates of the Kingdom of God returning.
There will always be scoffers, DCP is fulling prophecy by announcing he is Christ by taking his Titles such as "That Prophet", Joshua, Elijah. DCP will pay, judgement is coming for him and his disqualified Ministers and members that are still supporting this apostacy.
Christ said don't believe them when they I'm here or I'm there. False Prophets will come and lie to you, especially in the end times to fool God's people but not the very elect. They will not be fooled by DCP. The very elect will be praying and studying the truth and growing in grace and love and keeping the doctrines of God they love.
DCP and the members are fast asleep, accepting strange doctrines, having itching ears loving the fairytales now over 400+ and will need to go through the Great Tribulation. I pray they have enough of God's spirit left to stand strong in the end. They will die and be martyred but still not lose their eternal life if they wake up in time and repent. God says only fifty percent will enter into his Kingdom that fallen asleep by accepting false doctrine but all them that have fell asleep and accepted false doctrines will have to prove they love him by a panful physical death.
How else would God fulfill end time prophecy other that by splitting the power of his Church into different groups after Mr. Armstrong died, some led by the most arrogant of men. DCP being raised by God to test his faithful people and see which one love his Truth enough to leave RCG and stand strong in the final years before he returns.
Packs god. A god of confusion...
There's a huge difference between scoffing false leaders and scoffing God.
Christ scoffed at the religious leaders of his day for teaching heresy and not following God with a pure heart, their worship was not true, it was rotted in a prideful heart full of greed and by spreading their lies and not maintaining God's truth.
The stubbornness of DCP and his ministry is bringing a judgement to be feared and it's calling down God's wrath upon them.
We should pity all of RCG members and you ministers your judgement is coming, repent!
The member's blood will be on your hands!
Bear in mind that the context of scoffing in 2 Pet 3:3-4 is about the promise of Christ's coming. The word promise is also translated message in 1 John 1:5 and can also mean announcement. Hence 2 Pet 3:3-4 can be read, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the message [announcement] of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. "
The object of scoffing is a message or announcement about the return of Christ. Who else in the churches of God has been giving this type of message except DCP? The final message to a announce Christ's coming has not happened in the past 9 or so years, hence the conditions are ripe for scoffers to rise and the Lord delays His coming attitude to prevail. God is fulfilling prophecy by allowing His final messenger of the 7th era of the church to give many messages about the timing of Christ's return. Its the only way that scoffers can rise in the context of mocking about a message of the return of Christ.....
And again, Christ and the apostles warned at the end of the age that false prophets would arise and deceive many, by saying Christ's return is imminent or even that He is already here. Setting dates repeatedly makes one a false prophet. That is a simple and unchangeable fact. To say God is behind DCP's confusion, doctrinal shifts, and self-appointed titles would make Him the author of confusion, an unmerciful trickster, and okay with idolatry (DCP elevating himself claiming the title of That Prophet and seeking a following for himself is idolatry). And that is not the God we serve. DCP has become self-willed in trying to figure out something Christ said we cannot know, and God cannot speak through someone who is not seeking His will.
How RCG lost sight of these basic truths, is just beyond strange to me. DCP himself has said many times in the past (keep in mind I was a member of RCG for ten years, so I heard him say these things) that one date failure makes a person a false prophet. He basically has condemned himself with his own words from the past.
And it is also incorrect to say that the other COG groups are not preaching and warning about the end times. There are many sermons and articles out there from the other groups that do show they are aware of where we stand in prophecy. LCG in particular talks a LOT about the end times in their media and articles. (I am not a member of any of the COG groups BTW, I just research their literature and teachings. I have no intention of joining any of them.)
Scoffers at the end of the age are not limited to those who once followed DCP. Those scriptures in II Peter 3 are directed at this world as a whole, as there are millions of people who do not even know DCP but mock Christians for believing Christ's return is near. A quick reading of a comment section on a news article on any hot button subject would reveal people who jump down other's throats for believing Christ is about to return.
Also, the 7th messenger of Revelation 10:7 is an angel, not DCP.
Again, I highly encourage you to read DCP's That Prophet book. Typically, when I see people respond in defense of DCP's teachings they do not have a firm grasp on what a false prophet is and the scriptures that explain the function of a true prophet.
And for the record, I am not a "scoffer." I truly believe we are at the end because the explosion of so many false teachers like DCP and others makes it obvious to me that we are in the times Christ warned us about. It is my sincere hope you will prove all things in your Bible regarding prophets and not just accept blind teachings from a man who is clearly spiritually unstable.
Scientists are the best prophets these days. Want to know about the end? Read up on climate change.
He needs to eat more butter, fatty red meat, more ice cream, more fat! That ought cinch it. Soon I hope
There's a difference concerning rebuking and scoffing false leaders like DCP and scoffing the return of Christ. Ex-RCG members have every duty to scorn the highly unbiblical teachings of DCP(RCG) out of the love for the Brethren left that have fell asleep and accepted his dangerous false teaching. RCG ministry should be ashamed of themselves for not protecting God's sheep. The members that understand the eternal dangers will do what they can be calling it like it is. God will take care of the rest! God speed his coming!
Every age is relevant to the return of Christ if you really think about it. God planned it perfectly. Everyone thinks Christ will return in their lifetime and once they are resurrected he will be.
RCG: Destruction Not Sleeping for their Teachings . . .
But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” Deuteronomy 18:20
God says these evildoers prophesy lies, offering “false visions, divinations, idolatries, and the delusions of their own minds.” Jeremiah 14:14
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:28-30
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2
EX-RCG members will not quite shouting warning messages to their brothers and sisters stuck in their seats barely alive trying to ignore DCP. We will never stop warning them out of love for them and we will be able to tell God when he asks us what did we do to try and safe them we can answer, "We did everything we could think of in order to help them so they didn't lose their eternal life".
God knows RCG ministry cares only for their pocket book and cozy life they have set up. God will take that from them soon! I pity them for not doing their job God in trusted them. God giveth and God taketh.
RCG property taxes are due in a couple months. DCP wanted a big campus and all those homes now, he has to pay taxes on all of it. Probably having trouble sleeping and heart pains thinking about how he will be able to afford making the check out for that with all the members leaving with their tithes and offerings now going to other legitimate Churches of God.
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