Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Prophet Roach: Took His Powerful Witness to Waffle House and was Ignored…Until...

 


We reported the other day about the Church of God's newest prophet, Tony Roach, that pushed Bwana Bobalina Thiel off his self-righteous pedestal.

Roach says God has given him information in a dream, just like Bob Thiel claims. Roach also had multiple dreams, just like the false prophet Thiel. Which one is right? Thiel will claim Roach is not receiving godly dreams like he does.

A reader here asked our most accurate prophet a few questions. Here is what transpired.

Reader asks:

I read a bit about what you wrote. You said you knew something was going to happen on 9/11 and wrote to several TV news casts along with President Bush. They ignored you till it happened. Then they were calling you constantly. My question is what exactly did you say in your letters and how did you know about 9/11? Was It a dream that or something like that? And also what did the press say to you assuming you talked to them or left you a voice message. I'd appreciate your reply.

Tony's reply:

No the news station never contacted me but everyone I had told along the way was calling me> I was over all the Waffle Houses from Tallahassee to Destine so I met a lot of people and I was telling everyone that would listen... No one believed... Until the day it happened and everyone was calling me amazed... The way God shows me things.... One through the scriptures reading and searching them daily.... two when I speak with people about the Bible many times I'll tell them it's not for their benefit because they will continue on never to think of it again.... But while I'm speaking with them... It will just come out of my mouth like I've known it all along.... Or when I'm answering emails through my website it happens also... Now the dates I'm releasing now after God showed them to me I would ot release them because I did not want the evil to know.... I'm hard headed... So He gave me a dream... So I released 2 of the dates... But would not release the others.... So He gave me another dream and told me release them and He would handle it when He gets here.. Trying to save space... All this on one of my post on Facebook and my website... Now 9/11 it just came out of my mouth one night and I counted the days of Daniel... Ended up with the date the WWCOG sold the church warned everyone... Counted the dates from when they changed the Sabbath and no longer was required to keep it to come up with 9/11... Then God led me through the scriptures showing me the verse of what would happen on that day...

Reader:

Thanks for answering my question. I won't take up too much of your time but I've got to ask these 2 next questions: you claim to be a prophet but you need some proof to back your word up for obvious reasons because it seems everyone and their grandma claims to be a prophet these days. Lol. Do you have undeniable proof from your past, other than telling your friends about 9/11? Because I've only known about you a few days and I need more to consider someone being a prophet. And secondly you prophecied 9/16/23 as a day "sound an alarm for the War of Armageddon." For arguments sake, what if that doesn't happen? Will you admit you're not a prophet or will you do what Ron Weinland did and say God changed his mind and will give mankind more time?

Tony:

LOL... God never changes..... In Malachi 3:6 it is recorded.. "For I am the LORD, I CHANGE NOT... It will happen my God is not a deceiver... I never listen to man... Only God.... No offense but I never feel I have to prove myself to any man.... I tell everyone Never believe me... Prove all things.... and search the scriptures daily to prove these things are so... The only way to prove these dates is wait and see. or seek the Lord with ALL your heart and soul.... And be tho perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect.... I NEVER assume anything... No private interpretations.... Now if I am wrong on anything I will be the first to say so... I'm not infallible.... And that's why I will always know I have the truth.... I am willing to admit when I am wrong.... And one more thing as you see by Isaiah 48 that I included with the chart... It is not me foretelling these things... It is God... He wanted me to put those verses with the chart...

Reader:

I understand. I will keep 9/16/23 in mind and see how it plays out. Thanks for your time

Tony:

Anytime you have a question feel free to ask... I have several post on my page showing more into my life... If you would like to read them.... Maybe give you a better insight into my soul... But man I'm nothing... I'm No One... I have sinned in my past much worse than you probably... Don't think of me.... I'm No One... God uses me because I'm hard headed and won't give an inch... I enjoyed talking with you and hope to be able to do it again sometimes....

One thing I do have to hand to Roach is that he will answer questions about what he predicts. Thiel will not. Thiel knows he will get raked over the coals and exposed as the liar he is. This is one of the reasons people mock Thiel so much.

Roach is as big a fraud as Thiel is, but at least with Roach you probably would be made to feel right at home with him in a conversation. With Thiel, if he would even dare share his righteousness and his holy space with you, would ignore you and piss you off immediately.

More from his Facebook Page:

"God had a job for me to do and that was to release these dates... I was hard headed not wanting to release these dates... I did not want the evil of this world to know.... I am jealous of my God as He is me... He had to give me two dreams before my hard head would release these dates... After the first dream I released only two...I would not release the others... After the second dream He told me to put it out there and He would handle it when he comes... So I did... I am NOT a preacher if I was to preach to you I would just overload your mind and you would have a meltdown... I am a SEER only because of my Great Lord Jesus Christ... NOT for my righteousness... I am exactly what He says I am... I am base, poor, foolish and week... I am hated by the world... I understand Jealousy provokes you to anger... I can understand that I'm very Jealous of my Lord... But I am No One... Just a dusty dirt road God has made me from and there I will return.. But I love the Lord with ALL my heart... I fear the Lord with ALL my soul... And I sought the Lord many years ago with ALL my heart and ALL my soul... I could NOT care less if you believe a word that proceedeth out of my mouth... Most of the time I never know what is going to come out of my mouth... When I prophecy the words just come out of my mouth like I’ve always new it... I have a job to do not for man but for my Awesome Lord... I knew you would deal very treacherously with me and I know you are called a transgressor from the womb.... But I am here with the knowledge, wisdom, secrets, and mysteries of God.... For you to reject my Dear Lord one last time... So believe it or NOT I could NOT care less...."
 
"At Armstrong's death God gave me the job at the age of 27 to keep His Word and lead His people... I had a thirst for the Word of God like I can't even describe... He started pouring wisdom and knowledge in me like I was an empty vase... I had no idea that was what He was doing... I started my website just to have a place to keep my notes..."  Facebook page 






Friday, March 18, 2022

LCG Members Marching To The Beat Of Their Own Drums Causing Them To Lose Sight Of The Mission Of The Church


 

It's time for the Friday Night Smackdown!

LCG members are at it again! What's a person to do???????????? Apparently, some LCG members dare to march to their own drum and think differently. When they do so they break up the wonderful unity that the LCG experiences on a daily basis. 

When the world needs to see a unified church, LCG sets the example!

Blessings of Unity: David wrote, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm133:1). Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30), and He prayed that His disciples “may be one as We are” (John 17:11). While the disciples at times had different personal perspectives (Acts 15; Galatians 2), they learned to work together to achieve their mission (2 Peter 3:14–16). They obviously realized that if they each marched to their own drum, they would not accomplish their mission. This is why the Apostle Paul stated that as we do the Work of God, we must be respectful and patient with each other, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3). Paul also emphasized that there is “one body and one Spirit” (v. 4) and the work of the ministry involves fostering the unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:11–16). As we are led by God’s Spirit, we will have more of God’s mind and fewer divisions that can disrupt relationships within families and within the Work of God.
Have a profitable Sabbath, Douglas S. Winnail

“One body and one Spirit”? Really? LCG has NEVER been this since the day Meredith plotted with Don Davis and others to form the breakaway Global Church of God to provide Meredith his rightful place as the true COG leader. That spirit of unity was fraught with division and rebellion from its inception and soon resulted in LCG splitting off into their own group taking Global's money and members. True Christianity at its finest, but this is the Church of God, after all.

Something deeper must be going on in LCG when Winnail is not only talking about church divisions but divisions going on in families right now. That is a very telling statement!

LCG Seeking People To "Catch The Vision"




Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art…Oh, wait, wrong vision! Sorry! My mistake!

LCG's real vision is impending doom, rampant sex, famines, gay-sex, wars, straight sex, pestilence, sex, money collapse, sex, Russia, sex, China, sex, the Great Whore, sex, king of the north, sex, king of the south, sex, the law, sex, the Beast, sex, and more sex. Instead of preaching about that inconvenient dude they shy away from and everything that grace, justification, and sanctification bring, they wallow in the pit of impending doom and seek to scare people into joining up with them instead of inspiring people to walk on a restful journey to a  peaceful kingdom they claim is waiting for them.

We were very encouraged by the Tomorrow’s World Presentations given by Mr. Ames last weekend. There were 52 guests in Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. We began the congregation there several years ago in large part due to a TWP, but it has remained small, with about a dozen members. We are hoping some of those 52 will catch the vision and we will see some growth. Mr. Ames then traveled to Augusta, Georgia, for another TWP on Sunday with 44 guests attending—another fine response. Mr. Rod McNair held a TWP in Charleston, West Virginia, but several inches of snow blunted our expected attendance. Still, our members were pleased to see four zealous souls drive an hour or more to hear Mr. McNair. On Sunday, he was in Bristol, Virginia, with 17 guests. We had follow-up presentations in several other cities where our members had the opportunity to visit with 22 guests. This week, Mr. Ames will be giving a presentation here in the Charlotte area; Mr. Wallace Smith will be giving presentations in Arcadia and San Louis Obispo, California; and I am scheduled to be in Memphis, Tennessee, for a presentation. Mr. Lawdi Ferreira is on a ten-day trip to visit our brethren in Zimbabwe and Malawi, returning on March 20. This is the first ministerial visit conducted in those nations since the start of the COVID restrictions, and it is no doubt greatly appreciated by our members there.—Gerald Weston 

I cannot imagine how mind-numbingly boring it would have been to sit there and listen to Richard Ames preach the same words he has never expanded upon for the last 40 some years.

Why does LCG see the need to send these boring men out to "inspire" communities into joining their "vision"? What should be happening is that those 12 members in Columbia should be filled with the love of Christ, live that love, and share that love with others so much so that people are drawn to them and want to share in their joy.

Christianity has its greatest impact by the day-to-day actions of its followers touching the lives of others than it does with any pope, evangelist, Chief Overseer, apostle, prophet, Pastor General, minister, priest, or any of the other titles vain men give themselves. While some of these figureheads may actually be inspiring people to be followers of Christ, it is the regular everyday people who make an impact.


 
Columbia, MO Population: 121,000+
52 attending with at least 25-30 of them LCG members

Augusta, Georgia.  Population: 197,000+
44 attending with at least 20 LCG members in attendance

Charleston WV   Population: 48,000+
4 guests from outside the city, no one from Charleston attended. Unmentioned how many members were there. Snow to blame.

Bristol, Virginia. Population: 16,000+
17 guests with at least half or more  LCG members.



Thursday, March 17, 2022

Gerald Flurry Freely Wastes Over $78,000 Of Tithe Money For A Vanity Trip To Israel

 

Gerald Flurry has been over in Jerusalem trying to impress the Israelis with his magnificence. Like Bob Thiel, Flurry thinks he is God's end-time man who was set apart by God to bear witness to the world and turn people to the one true church, whatever that is.

Exit and Support Network has this appalling news about the Flurry clan's latest trip to Isreal and how much it is costing. 

Gerald Flurry Gallivanting to the Middle East in His Expensive Jet Plane:
March 15, 2022 
 
Here are some “fun” math facts to consider about GF’s jet plane: (Gerry=GF; Steve=SF) 
 
1. Gerry’s G450 holds 4,370 US gallons of fuel. 
2. It gets 5000 miles per tank.
3. OKC to Jerusalem is 8,663 miles. 
 
According to globalair.com, the average cost per gallon of jet fuel (in the central USA) is $5.18/gallon. To fill Gerry’s 4370 gallon tank for approximately 5000 miles costs $22,636.00. 

 

Jerusalem is approximately 8660 miles away. So a one-way trip, fuel only, no international fees, pilots costs, airport fees etc., is a cool $39,205.00. Round trip is $78,410.00 fuel only! 
(These numbers are not exact but are definitely well in the ball park) 

I was in the PCG for many decades and I can assure you there are very few people who even make $78,410.00 a year. 
 
While Gerry is gallivanting to the Middle East on the members’ dime, most struggle to fill their tanks, put food on the table and put off dental care. And for what?? A library in Jerusalem. He’s going to educate the Jews on their history. He’s trying to hobnob with some archaeologist, following in HWA’s footsteps. This involves payoffs to insert a few students into a dig so he can fool the members into thinking they are a part of something significant in order to keep them chasing the ever-moving horizon, and lining his, Steve’s, and Laura’s pockets. 
 
At the moment, a business class ticket from Oklahoma City to Jerusalem is $4,900.00 round trip. For under 5K Gerry can fly comfortably, enjoying all the food he desires, and can get as drunk as he likes without having to worry about bribing any Oklahoma police officers. –Former PCG member [name withheld]


Readers here may remember the main reason Flurry bought this plane...he was disgusted at the idea of sitting beside unclean heathens on a commercial plane when traveling. These unclean people might speak to him or cough in his direction and give him some horrible disease (this was pre-covid). Even worse, someone might recognize him as a major preacher of God and might ask him difficult questions.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

As in the Days of Noah?


 

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



Prophet Roach Kicks Bob Thiel's Wimpy Butt To The Curb

Who knew that in 2022 we could add a Roach to our end times bingo card?

I received notice today from the one true prophet that replaced Herbert Armstrong at his death. No, it was not from Ron Weinland or Bob Thiel, it was from Tony Roach. A fitting name for the many self-appointed pests that plague the Churches of God with stupidity.

Tony Roach writes:

I am the prophet that took over after Armstrong's death... If you want to see the truth about Herbert W Armstrong and the WWCOG checkout my facebook page facebook.com/TonyRoach101.... or my website... revelationsofthebible.org... I'll tell you your future... The tribulations and the war of Armageddon starts Sept. 16, 2023... The "Secret Rapture (Spring Harvest of Souls)" has past 5/24/2020 - 4/16/2021... Cloaked in a veil of the corona virus like a thief in the night... Other dates in your immediate future can be seen on my facebook page and website... So kiss your ass goodbye my friend...Because it is now "Just as the days of Noah" 
 


On Roach's website he says:

I AM NOT A PREACHER... I am a Seer... Sometimes a Prophet... If I were to preach to you I would overload your mind and you would have a meltdown... But I can tell you what your future holds.... Don't believe anything I say or anyone else... Prove ALL things as recorded...

Just like Bob Thiel, Roach whines that no one listens to him, not even President Bush or Ancient Aliens!  Bob Thiel needs to up his game to match this!

I am only ONE man.. I am NO One... So when you hear NO One listened... They are talking about me... :) I am the only one that listened... And by doing so God revealed 9/11 to me among many other things... I wrote Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, all the news networks numerous times and gave them the exact date... Of course NO One listened... I even wrote President Bush... Of course he didn't listen... I'm No One... Although the day it happened my phone started blowing up... Everyone I had told was calling... Did it change them?... NO... Do they BELIEVE?... NO... God has allowed me to always show His people things NO One can show them... I showed you the Mark of the Beast, by God's definition.. and the Mark of God... and the 10 nations joining them mentioned in the Bible... Who else could do that?... NO ONE... I showed you who the two witnesses will be.... Who else could do that?... NO ONE... I showed you the abomination that maketh desolate... Who else could do that?... NO ONE... I've shown you the secrets of Lucifer... Who else could do that?... NO ONE... In 2010 I told you Trump would be president.... Who else could do that?... NO ONE... I told you who the UFOs are and were... Who else could do that?... NO ONE... Not even the most brilliant educated minds of Ancient Aliens... I could actually answer all their questions... I've written Giorgio Tsoukalos a few times and I'm pretty sure he never read them... Because I am NO ONE... I've shown you many things NO ONE could show you... And now I'm showing you and warning you once again and have been for 20 years of the soon to be war between the USA and Russia, China, Iran, and others as God gathers the nations as recorded.... and again NO ONE is listening...

I am NOT a preacher... I am a Seer and sometimes a Prophet but NEVER a preacher... If I were to preach to you I would just overload your mind and you would just have a meltdown...

Here is our new prophet in all of his glory, yet no one listens to him:

So you can see by my picture why No One believes me... I am NO One... I don't try to be someone I'm not... I don't try to impress anyone... I can't wear the Roman tie or get the Roman haircut that most men have today... And for a footnote I don't color nor curl my hair it just happened... And for those that don't know... Long hair is not a sin... Samson gave his hair credit for his powers not God... That was the sin... If you want to judge me... Go for it ... I could not care any less what any man thinks of me... I'm not here to please man... I'm here to please God...

Roach even sets specific dates, something wishy-washy Bob is too cowardly will not do:

Poor Bob, always a dollar short and a day late.

Click above for web site

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

It Isn't Information That Defines You As A Christian!

 



IT ISN’T INFORMATION THAT IDENTIFIES YOU AS A CHRISTIAN!

By

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones

 

Anyone who has ever been a part of one of the Armstrong Churches of God will immediately recognize this ice breaker question when introduced to others within the culture: “How did you first learn/hear about THE TRUTH?” And we all understood exactly what that question suggested about what identified someone as a “TRUE” Christian (as opposed to all of those deluded “so-called” Christians who adhered to a more traditional understanding of what it meant to be identified as a follower of Jesus Christ). You see, for Armstrongites, a “TRUE” Christian was distinguished by his/her ability to understand and accept the teachings of Herbert Armstrong. The acceptance of this “TRUTH” was the proof/evidence that the Holy Spirit was working with you or dwelling within you! Folks who didn’t understand or accept those teachings simply weren’t being “called” or guided by the Holy Spirit!

Never mind that Christ clearly stated that it was the presence of an EMOTION that would identify his followers – NOT the understanding or acceptance of some package of doctrines! We read in the Gospel of John that Christ told his disciples: 

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35, NLT throughout, unless otherwise specified) So, according to Christ, it was this love for each other that would mark them as his disciples. Notice too, the ONLY understanding that he ever mentioned in this regard was the understanding that HE was the Messiah, the Christ! (Matthew 16:16-18)

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul also identified the presence of LOVE as being much more important than the depth of someone’s understanding. He wrote to the saints of Corinth: 

“If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:2) 

He went on to say: 

“Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless…Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:12-13)

Moreover, the Apostle Paul also wrote to the saints of Galatia about the fruits or evidence that would characterize those who had God’s Spirit dwelling within them. He said: 

“the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) 

Notice, please, that knowledge or understanding didn’t even make the list!

Likewise, in the first epistle of John, we read: 

“If anyone claims, ‘I am living in the light,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.” (I John 2:9-11) 

A little later, we also read: 

“If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.” (I John 3:14-19)

So where did this fixation with spiritual understanding originate? The short answer is: “in the mind of Herbert Armstrong!” The longer answer is found in Mr. Armstrong’s interpretation of a passage from Paul’s first letter to the saints of Corinth. According to Herbert, the prooftext for this notion about the understanding of certain things being the thing that identifies one as a Christian is found in the second chapter. We read there: 

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” (Verses 9-16, KJV)

Laying aside Herbert’s musings, let’s look at the context of these remarks and examine what kind of deep knowledge is imparted to a person by the presence of God’s Spirit. And both of those things are accomplished by simply reading the eight verses which precede Herbert’s favorites (quoted above). Paul wrote: 

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (I Corinthians 2:1-8, KJV

So, we see that this information which the Spirit imparts to the human mind involves “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Which, of course, is consistent with what Christ revealed to his disciples about who he was, why he came to this earth, and what that meant for us (hint – salvation)!

And we should make one additional point about THE TRUTH before we close. Jesus Christ once told Thomas: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) So, we see that Jesus Christ is the ultimate manifestation of God’s TRUTH! 

In other words, there is absolutely NO suggestion in this scripture that the understanding and acceptance of a package of teachings (more particularly, those of Herbert Armstrong) are indicative of one’s status as a “REAL” Christian! Christ once told his disciples: 

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So, every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:15-20) 

What kind of fruit has the Armstrong Church of God tree produced? Do we see evidence that the members of those churches love each other? Do we see evidence of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control among these folks?

Judging whether someone belongs to God or not is above my pay grade. Maybe that’s why Christ insisted that his followers NOT judge each other? After all, who are we to judge another man’s servant? Moreover, Christ did give his followers the Parable of the wheat and tares and suggested that it would be the job of his workers (angels) to separate the weeds (false Christians) from the grain (the folks who were really his) at the end of the age! Hence, I would say that Scripture clearly refutes the notion that spiritual understanding is the hallmark of a “TRUE” Christian. What do you think?  

 

 

Monday, March 14, 2022

Tell Me Your Stories of Racism in the PCG - Kieren Underwood


 

Tell Me Your Stories of Racism in the PCG


Hi all ex-PCG members!

I am an ex-PCG member who attended HWA College and wrote for the Trumpet magazine. I grew up in the church and eventually left in late 2017. While I was almost completely oblivious to the PCG's racism while I attended, I slowly grew more aware after I left of not just the racist legacy of the WCG, but the continuing racist practices the PCG pursues, all while denying that any of these things exist.

I have been thinking about writing an extensive piece on racism in the PCG, but while I can do all the research on the PCG's doctrines, attempted scriptural backing, or their origins in the WCG, I don't have any personal experiences to draw on, since I was a white male who went through 22 years of the PCG with little to no thoughts on race.

While there are lots of small stories here and there, there aren't any deep dives like the WCG has in Jerald Walker's book Growing Up In Flames: A Black Boyhood in a White Supremacist Doomsday Cult.

If you have a story that you would like to tell about your experiences dealing with racism in the PCG, I would like to hear them. Or if you know someone who would love to tell their story, please direct them my way. Without these first-hand stories, I doubt I will publish anything on race in the PCG, since I don't exactly feel qualified to be the one to do so.

You can get in contact with me through my email: kierenjunderwood@gmail.com.

Thanks,
Kieren Underwood

Sunday, March 13, 2022

PCG: Famine of the word will happen when Gerald Flurry's booklets are no longer available..Wut?


Just when we think Armstrongism cannot get any crazier, along comes Wayne Turgeon of the Philadelphia Church of God cult that is based in Edmond, Oklahoma. Wayne is not known to be the brightest bulb in the box, even when he was a student in Pasadena and worked in the Auditorium.  Wayne was just one of many narcissists the college pumped out and dumped on the church as being educated in the truth. Like so many that were failures in the WCG, he jumped to the Philadelphia Church of God as a ready place of employment.

Wayne has a long history of spiritual abuse in the PCG at members and other fellow ministers that have been talked about here and on other websites.

Turgeon was sent to England to oversee the Edstone campus of the so-called :college: of the PCG while Lil's Stevie had more important things to do in planning a new office and institute in Jerusalem.

Today we add yet another entry to Dumb Things Wayne Turgeon Says file:

Wayne Turgeon and GF’s Messed Up View of Bible Prophecy:
March 12, 2022 
 
Wayne Turgeon gave a Bible Study from England last week on “Isaiah” Chapter 6, Part 2.” He barely mentioned “Ukraine” when he started out and that was only because “his wife wanted him to.” There “were more important things” to cover than Ukraine. 
 
In Turgeon’s messed-up view of Bible prophecy he linked Isaiah 22:22 to PCG because the verse mentions the words “Key of the house of David” which he said means the descendants from David, meaning PCG. GF is so hung up on his “New Throne of David” that Turgeon said GF wrote that the only way it would be possible for all the splinter groups to unite is if they “all united through the Key of David.” 
 
Turgeon said GF believes Isaiah 22:25 is talking about “the famine of the Word.” Then people in the world “will wish they had every book and booklet of Mr. Flurry’s”; therefore, Turgeon said, “get those booklets and study them and mark them.” (i.e., underline all over in them) Since when has GF’s booklets been more important than the Bible? Since when does someone need GF’s interpretation of the Bible? A good Bible commentary will explain these verses much better than GF’s “new revelations.” 
 
PCG believes Amos 7:10-11 is referring to Joseph Tkach Jr. going to the leader of the land, that he called, Mr. Jeroboam–and said “Mr. Donald Trump is his official name.” How the h*** is Tkach Jr. going to go to the “leader of the land” when he (Tkach Jr.) retired at the end of 2018 and Greg Williams replaced him as GCI’s President?! He added, “So he (Trump) has got to get back in office” and for members to “be patient.” Does GF have inside info that the rest of us don’t have? Or has he merely lost his marbles? 

Then, like any good COG false teacher/prophet/apostle/Elijah, Wayne goes on to claim that intense persecution is coming due to what they preach. Wayne is about as dumb as Bob Thiel is in this department. 

He said, “We are making ourselves a target for some intense persecution” by broadcasting and printing about the rising Beast of Revelation 17 and warning that the nations of Israel are “quickly losing their power” in this so-called God is cursing America mantra of GF’s. “We have had it good so far” Turgeon said, “The grass is still green,” etc., “compared to the terrible persecution that is coming.” 
 
Turgeon is losing it, along with GF. No matter who is in the presidential office in the future, Tkach Jr. isn’t going to go to him and cause PCG to receive “intense persecution” by being kicked out of the country. This is nothing but lunacy. If he is interested in true persecution, he needs to take a hard look at what Christians in other countries like Nigeria (or even Ukraine) are enduring. But that doesn’t count in Turgeon’s well-worn fear book. 
 
GF absolutely cannot get his head out of the O.T. Even when he does go to the O.T., have you noticed that you never hear him reading from the Psalms? It’s always some minor prophet book where he tries to see “modern-day Israel” in it. You never hear him talking about Jesus or grace or salvation, the most important subjects in the entire Bible. That’s too “dull” for him. God have mercy on his soul at the Judgement seat. –Anonymous Exit and Support Network

Not only is Gerald Flurry unable to get his head out of the Old Testament but almost every single COG group out there is in the same boat. The Old Covenant trumps the New Covenant in every aspect. Jesus still embarrasses the Church of God 80 some years down the line. They would much rather be seen worshipping at the feet of false prophets/ministers who preach false prophecies than being seen as followers of Jesus.