Happy 10th Anniversary
to Bob Thiel
The only Church of God leader to ever self-appoint himself as a church leader and then have one of his followers ordain him as a prophet.
The only Church of God leader that has been rejected by 99.98% of the people with COG affiliations.
The only Church of God leader who can "preach" a sermon on 40 different topics in an hour and a half and still leave his followers wondering what the hell he was talking about.
All seriousness aside, this is the 10th anniversary of the so-called "continuing" Church of God. It came into existence on December 28, 2012, when Bob Thiel, in a bitter act of rebellion, apostatized from the Living Church of God after Dr. Roderick C Meredith refused to heed the demand from Bob to change Living Church of God teachings. Appalled that Meredith would ignore him, which just added insult to injury after the people of the Living Church of God refused to follow him into another version of apostasy, The Dr then had to turn to Africa where he poached disenchanted Adventists, Sabbatarians, and former Worldwide Church of God related groups for members. Once they started showing him blind devotion, Bob bounced forth as the greatest leader the church has ever seen, and here we are today, the only Church of God that is restoring lost things to the church.December 28, 2022 marks, on the Roman calendar, the tenth-year anniversary of the official declaration of the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) as a separate entity, a corporation sole.
Is the CCOG just another COG that has popped up or could it be the Philadelphia remnant that it claims?
Has it been restoring things that were lost?
How is the CCOG unique.
Well, the CCOG has been unique in its start, prophetic ordination, connections 10 Acts 2:17-18, its growth, its literature, and its focus on the final phase of the work.
The Great Bwana says:
The old Radio Church of God (RCG) formed after a woman (Loma Armstrong) had a dream and a man (Herbert W. Armstrong) wanted to teach doctrinal truths that his then COG agree with, but decided not to teach.
That is consistent with the start of the CCOG.
A lady named Fesilafai Fiso Leaana of New Zealand had a dream after going to bed on December 8, 2012.
Where would we be if Bob failed to mention that HE, the Great Bwana also had a dream...
But before I get to that, let me relate a dream that probably happened in 2008 or 2009.
I was about 50 at the time (which essentially makes me an ‘old man’ per Numbers 8:25; cf. John 8:57). At first the dream made little sense. Yet, the Prophet Jeremiah at least once wondered about a message he received and later determined it was from God (Jeremiah 32:6-8), and the Apostle Peter at least once had a vision that he did not understand (Acts 10:9-17) until later as well (Acts 11:5-17). The same goes for Daniel (Daniel 8).
In my dream, there seemed to be two parallel lines. The then presiding evangelist of the Living Church of God (LCG) Roderick Meredith was on the top line and I was on the line much below. In the dream, I kept calling up to Dr. Meredith, but he never would respond. This lack of response made no sense to me during the dream. Then after what seemed to be a long time, the lines-crossed with his line dropping and my line going up.
One reason that I did not understand it at the time was that I was on relatively close speaking terms with Dr. Meredith then (he repeatedly told me he considered me to be his friend, plus he had appointed me an adviser to LCG on matters of doctrine and prophecy), so that aspect made of the dream made no sense. Also, since I had no intentions of leaving the Living Church of God then (and certainly no plans to start a separate church), it was not clear what the dream was saying. Over time, Dr. Meredith became more distant from me, would not keep various promises to me, and ultimately stopped speaking with me.
After watching a couple of inaccurate "must play" sermons from Charlotte--the last one I saw was December 15, 2012, it became apparent that LCG had to change its direction and keeps its promises to make corrections or I could not stay there as it was not the place for the Philadelphian mantle. Somewhere between December 15th and December 24th, the name Continuing Church of God was discussed and agreed upon to be adopted, if needed.
But I still held out hope that it would not be. Despite being promised a telephone call with Dr. Meredith on 12/28/12, he sent a nasty letter. After reading it was clear to me that there was no way that the Philadelphia mantle could be with him or any of his remaining leaders (see Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel). These subsequent events showed me that the dream was being fulfilled. This dream gave an outline of what would happen in the future and that has happened.
Anyway, let it be pointed out that the then three evangelists at LCG's Charlotte headquarters admitted I was right on a number of docrtinal and prophetic matters and that they would fix LCG literature to correct them in December 2011--but on 12-28-12, the top evangelist made it clear that they would not--and they have not seemingly made the corrections yet.
The Bob also believes he is the final Elijah sent to restore all things:
Jesus prophesied the restoration of all things when He stated:
11 ... Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. (Matthew 17:11)
In Matthew 17:11, the term translated “will restore” is the Greek term apokathistemi which means “to reconstitute” or “restore (again)” (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.) and is preceded by the Greek term men which means “truly” in the asseverative sense.
The final Elijah must be on the earth and restore "all things" prior to Jesus' return.
The Bob then has to make excuses as to why all of his followers are from Africa...
By the way, it should be mentioned that I did not go out and seek growth from Gentiles per se. Basically, what I did was to put out websites, articles, literature, sermons, and messages to reach around the world (Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20), and various ones contacted me.
Laodiceans, however, often refuse to accept the biblical need for the African Gentiles.
In the CCOG we have 8,000 who claim to be part of us.
And yes, the bulk of those are people in Africa.
And yes, many do not have the depth of doctrinal understanding that we want them to have--but we have been working on that.
The Bob then says his group is the only COG to have a real prophet...
The only x-WCG group that claims to have a prophet, that has the substantial fruits of a prophet, is the CCOG.
On that note, the prophet situation in CCOG is different than all other groups we are aware of.
First, although God says He will pour out His Spirit and have prophets in the last days per Acts 2:17-18, most COG groups do not recognize any as true prophets.
Second, the claimed COG prophets we are aware of have all made demonstrably false prophecies, which eliminates them.
The Bob then is not happy that COG members lump him in with false prophets like Gerald Flurry and Dave Pack:
Now, many play a "guilt by association" game and try to lump me in with the false prophets. Guilt by association has been used throughout history--the Pharisees used it related to Jesus and various ones have used it since.
Sadly, instead of concluding false prophets are false or cold, but that true prophets are right and true, most endtime Christians were prophesied to be lukewarm and feel that they are fine and do not need any prophet.
The Bob thinks COG members are too stupid to understand he is the chosen one:
Most endtime Christians are lukewarm and will not except how God is working during this Laodicean age.
The Laodicean churches tend to have major errors in prophetic understandings.
After 10 years of being rejected by the Church of God, The Bob has this to say:
Jesus also said:
40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. (Matthew 10:40-41)
The Laodiceans refuse to accept true prophets in this age.
The factual reality is that the CCOG has been the fastest growing x-WCG group in the 21st century--and is the only COG with a prophet without making false prophetic pronouncements and was anointed for that role.
These are the 10 unique things The Bob believes about himself and his little group:
10 Years
Unique start: consistent with the separation of Philadelphia from Sardis. In CCOG's case a separation of Philadelphia from what had became Laodicean.
Restoration: We have restored much--my previous COG almost nothing--and seems to be losing that (having to do with Daniel 9:26-27)--and it lost Habakkuk 2:6-8 and some other matters I helped them restore.
The bringing in of Gentiles has resulted in unique growth--faster and more than any other xWCG group. And we restored the teaching on the fulness of the Gentiles.
God restored dreams--as His word promised in the last days.
God restored a prophet--as His word promised in the last days.
That one prophet has restored truths, pointed out errors in the remnants of Thyatira and Sardis, as well as the numerous Laodicean groups.
A prophet has called out and warned about prophetic errors of the those groups.
A prophet has not uttered false prophecies.
CCOG has the literature in the most languages to help prepare for the short work--and more is coming.
CCOG has a significant electronic media presence via websites, video platforms, radio stations, and even one television station.
CCOG is leading the final phase of the work.
CCOG has had ten unique and productive years.
Most readers here know a bullshitter when they see one and that's what we see in the Great Bwana to Africa. Instead of reading Bob's literature, and watching him bounce and flounce in his chair with crooked bookcases, threadbare curtains, and out-of-place door knobs, I would recommend reading this book, you will learn more useful things than you ever will reading or listening to Bob Thiel.
If you want to read the entire narcissistic post by the great bloviator himself, check it out here: CCOG: 10 Unique Years
15 comments:
So many words, yet NO2HWA didn't answer the burning question that needs to be answered:
"Shiny side in, or shiny side out?"
One way in which God examines Christians is by testing them for hypocrisy.
When Bob was in GCG/LCG, he more than once claimed that Joe Tkach's GCI was falsely boosting its numbers by counting 30,000 Angolans as GCI members. Today, however, he promotes his 8,000 African members as evidence of CCOG's significance.
To be fair, there is one important difference. Those 30,000 in Angola were legitimate Christian members of one legitimate Christian group that had allied/joined with GCI. Bob's 8,000 African members include many, perhaps a majority, who "attend" four or five different churches, depending on which American leader happens to be in town that weekend.
Imagine if you would, another anniversary, perhaps twenty years in the future. Someone notices that it's Bob's thirty year anniversary as a prophet, and calls him up to congratulate him. A somewhat wiser Bob responds by telling the well wisher, "You know? I thought that all these great things were going to happen, that at least I'd have a part in the end times events. But, as it turns out, the very apex of CCOG's impact on the world was the mocking I always got at Gary Leonard's site. Can you believe it? It's the only recognition I ever got! Nothing I did ever took off in a positive direction. As it turns out, I was just fooling myself!"
Bob truly is the most pathetic COG leader out there. He takes no responsibility for anything. At least Flurry and Pack tend to stand behind their words, Bob is nothing but a waffler. I was in LCG when Bob was clawing his way up in the ministry. It was a pathetic sight as one minister after another rejected him. LCG members never trusted him and it is obvious now why.
I’m sorry, Bob who?
Eat Your Heart Out BOB! TOP THIS....
I am the leader of 397.9 Million people living on the planet Spinchter in the galaxy of Andromeda. I communicate with them thru dreams as well, just like your communications.
Funny I haven't seen a prophetic/pathetic "Told ya" from Bob about the unfortunate injuries of poor Damar Hamlin. Maybe Bob was sensitive enough to know how unkind, unfeeling, unsympathetic such a remark would be.
This is so appropriate! Wasn't HWA an aluminum siding salesman? Was it not then, that old Pervert decided to go into the business of starting a religion so he could afford to buy aluminum siding for his shack?
Good old Bob. Always wise in his own eyes, yet a fool to those of us with eyes to see. He will be the last one to learn the truth of his "prophet" status when he is condemned to hell for eternity.
It is strange that Thiehl's group begins on December 28, Flurry's PCG begins on Dec. 7, Frank's COGWA begins on Dec. 23, Living church of god begins on Dec. 10. Steve Andrews and Peter Nathan start their independent organization in late december, UCG also creates its permanent organization structure in late December.
Why do these organizations choose to start their recreation of Armstrongism in the dead of Winter? So close to the winter solstice? Why so close to or within Saturnalia? Why do they embrace what they claim is pagan time to raise their banner? Are all these organizations based in paganism as they rise up with the Unconquerable Sun (Sol Invictus)?
Wasn't HWA an aluminum siding salesman?
Yes, also aluminum cookware. I read that HWA said he would disfellowship anyone who claimed aluminum pots and pans were not got for your health.
And years later, when WCG members started selling Amway, there was a dem to prove how Amway stainless steel utensils were superior to aluminum utensils, which they proved left a residue of aluminum oxide.
And like Bob's naturopathic products - didn't Dave Pack inherit a health food store?
Thanks for answering my question Anon @8:18. I thought HWA had a history with it. And now, tin pot Bob!
To answer your question, yes, Dave did inherit a health food store from his parents. I am sure others can give more details, but Dave has mentioned in sermons that it was a million dollar enterprise and he gave it all to his siblings, declining his share of the inheritance. I could be mistaken, but I believe I heard him speak about this in his disgusting 4 hour "common" spiel. Just think how many more tulips he could have tiptoes through had he stayed in the family business! His poor members might have actually been able to feed and clothe their families, rather than feed his horses. Greedy, evil bastard.
I just met someone insisting they were Malachi's Elijah...
Why do these organizations choose to start their recreation of Armstrongism in the dead of Winter?
Follow the money. Ministers have usually been given assignments at their group's Feast of Tabernacles, with expense accounts to settle up soon afterward. Members have often paid for their Feast accommodations many months in advance and cannot cancel/change them easily. As a result, you want to start your new group after Feast expenses are paid and before the next year's Feast expenses have been incurred. Typically, planning for the split began well before the Feast, and the splitters are eager to go, so the split will happen sometime after Thanksgiving, with the new split in place in time to suck up members' end-of-year donations before the new tax year begins.
Anon 1049,
It could just be a spirit of paganism, whether the Cogs know it or not. Perhaps the COGs are in rebellion and are drawn to Saturnalia and Sol Invictus. They go back annually in late December to celebrate together at their Winter celebrations. They can look each year to the December anniversary of their rebirth as a new COG entity.
They may just be blinded to Satan's deception that draws them to paganism They claim to be acting and worshipping the God of the Bible, but can that be more believed than the claims of Christians who say they have not the slightest pagan thoughts during Christmas. Why should they be viewed differently?
Matt. 7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Or perhaps paganism indeed requires the worship and veneration of nature or a pagan entity, and perhaps neither Christmas nor the COG Winter celebrations are pagan. Maybe intent matters...who knew.
Above, someone mentioned the Prophet Bob being condemned to hell.
I hope the Prophet Bob will not experience anyone’s rendition of eternal damnation.
However, the possibilities do stir interesting debate.
Too bad for Bob that he does not seem to believe in Grace, as evidenced by his lack of preaching on grace and the saving work of Jesus.
Indeed, the Prophet does not seem to make his feelings on Jesus known; regardless of that fact, it’s possible, even given the lack of evidence in Bob’s publications, that Bob has accepted Jesus as his Savior.
If Jesus is Bob’s Savior, has not Jesus saved Bob from all of Bob’s sins?
Would that include forgiving and covering all of Bob’s sins of lying about everything, stealing tithes and offerings under false pretense, vanity, and on and on?
In my limited understanding of grace, yes, Jesus’ work does include forgiving the Prophet for all those heinous sins and Jesus covering Bob with his righteousness.
However, my confusion about Bob’s plight is centered on his seeming denial of Jesus as an all-sufficient Savior and Bob’s rejection of the gift of grace – because Bob preaches that salvation depends on joining Bob’s church, believing what Bob preaches, and doing what Bob preaches.
The conundrum lies within the possibility of Bob both accepting and rejecting Jesus all at once.
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