Just how many "watchmen" does the Church of God need? Almost every single group claims they are the watchman actively watching world events and shouting the most amazing warnings ever to be heard. All we really have is a bunch of blowhards running off at the mouth and saying crap that ends up being an utter failure. From Bob Thiel to Dave Pack, the sheer nonsense is overwhelming at the craziness they spout out.
Living Church of God also continues that tradition. Somehow we are expected to believe that they are the only real watchmen out there. At least Doug Winnail thinks so.
All of these self-appointed potentates love blasting the world for all their sins but never seem to care much about the corruption and rampant sins going on their own groups.
The Role of a Watchman: Many churches today feel their mission is to tell people that God loves them and that Jesus came to save sinners. However, there is much more to the biblical message. Jesus told His disciples to be alert and watch for events that will mark the approaching end of the age and His return (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). Events making news today, including increasingly severe weather, wars and spreading violence, religious confusion and moral corruption—especially in modern Israelite nations—are prophesied to occur. They will coincide with the rise of a political power in Europe with links to the ancient Roman Empire and which 4will be promoted by an ecumenical-minded Roman Church, as well as the rise of adversarial powers in Asia and the Arab world. Just as God raised up a series of prophets to warn the ancient nations of Israel and Judah that their ungodly ways would bring serious consequences, God has given His Church a similar role today—to function as a watchman and warn of the consequences of our sinful ways (Ezekiel 2:3; 33; Isaiah 58:1). Delivering this powerful warning message will accompany the preaching of the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14). This is the role we have been given today.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
12 comments:
I just checked their Tomorrow's world magazine. They've definitely improved from the flatness from a few years ago. To my surprise, there's bite in their warning articles.
Well done.
You can never have enough "Watchmen." That may have been a message of the Chicago Mayor's race.
None. But we do need watchmen watching those who claim to be watchmen.
I agree with the first commentator in this thread. The answer to the question is NONE - ZERO! The Scriptures quoted by Winnail refer to the prophets who wrote those words - NOT the church. The commission which Jesus Christ gave to HIS Church is found in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Which, incidentally, encompasses the Gospel of the Kingdom referenced in the twenty-fourth chapter of the same Gospel (Matthew).
Sure, part of that message is repentance from past sins, but it is focused on individuals - NOT nations. Jesus came to save individuals, NOT nations. According to the Gospel message (and those Old Testament prophets whom they are so fond of quoting) ALL of the nations of this world are part of this world and are destined to be overthrown and replaced! This "warning" message which these folks have proclaimed is both unnecessary and self-serving. It allows these folks to talk about current events and showcase their unique and hopelessly flawed interpretation of Biblical prophecy. This is the definition of heresy and deception!
By "watchman" I assume they mean any minister paid well enough to wear a Rolex.
Know what would make this role even more important? If it were actually visible or perceivable by mass numbers of people. The only "street buzz" from these groups is right here! We discuss people whom we once knew, and critique them, but they are largely invisible to the rest of the world. They may say the words which could be construed as a warning, but nobody ever hears them because nobody even knows about them. If God were using someone to get out a message, making people accountable, you would not be able to avoid them!
Ahhh bit rich coming from this blog. How many cheap anti-God blogs do you run ?
There are so many WATCHMEN now, that we have to add a few layers of management to this.
Perhaps "Regional Watchman Director", "Intercontinental Watchman Director" , "Global Watchman Overseer", and finally, "Intergalactic Watchman Pastor General".
10.58 pm
Blogs like this exist because the ACOGs are run as cults. Cult members typically don't believe that they are in a cult, so your accusation is unsurprising. I suggest you study what the bible has to say about lording it over members lives and faith. Try confronting your minister on this point, and please tell us what happened?
ACOGs push their mission as proclaiming the "True Gospel" to all the nations, but they've always specialized in side-interests - either false prophecies or something to watch for. Miller had his false advent, HWA his 1972, Dave and his continual clarification of a false date. GG Rupert had his watch for 'The Red Menace" and HWA his Germans. Good ways to waste time.
Glad the LCG is the Watchmen of the Germans; I'm eagerly awaiting their updated prophesies and status report on the zany antics of those wily Germans.
Instead of being focused on Jesus, Doug Winnail and LCG ensures that the people are focused on things that are not actually in the Bible.
Doug is the chief foolish virgin and he is tricking too many to follow him in his folly.
The $profitable$ Douglas S. Winnail concluded his message writing:
"...Delivering this powerful warning message will accompany the preaching of the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14). This is the role we have been given today..."
******
Who gave Doug's group that role? Where's the proof? Doug's belief, held for decades, in a very soon coming of another Jesus to reign on earth for 1,000 years and then fail after Satan is loosed from the bottomless pit, has not, to date, materialized, so why need to cite some role?
It sounds a Mickey Mousie/mousey kingdom!
What profitable group/inc./ass. has the most powerful warning mousiest message? Former WCG hirelings such as Pack, Flurry, Wineland, Franks, Thiel-no! (not qualified as a former WCG hireling),Shabi, each believe their group is some "king of the mountain" for delivering powerful warning messages about the future of the returning Jesus Christ. Who would want to have a role in any of that? I mean, any besides $profitable$ Doug?
Doug wrote: "...Many churches today feel their mission is to tell people that God loves them and that Jesus came to save sinners. However, there is much more to the biblical message..."
What role has Doug believing that there is "much more?" I mean; God's love and saving sinners (like Doug himself) should have lots of value...unless one is in a group thinking they have the role to give their followers Fear Religion, making them think they much do something to earn their salvation, and if they don't it's adios. Oh, and God forbid, one of their followers commit some unpardonable sin (a phrase like second coming nowhere found in the Bible)!
Hasn't God provided enough information in the Plan of Salvation He authored? 7 Vials haven't happened yet. 7 Trumps haven't happened yet? 2 Witnesses "of God," not of Doug, are not evident yet? Did God lie? Did Doug lie? Well, yes, the Mickey Mouse Millennium has not come as soon as Doug preached, for decades, it would come! Somethings not right?
Doug, God is love! Does it get any better than that?
Doug, Jesus Christ told us:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Doug, that is a done deal!
:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
God didn't send His Son to blame/judge and condemn this world, or give us a prophecy of a Mickey Mouse millennium, which is contained within your role: it's not God's role to you!
Doug, believe the Apostle Paul, who told us this:
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;..." 2 Cor 5:19
Doug, how do you think God, who is not into Mickey Mouse, is going to fulfill what He said He is going to do? Fear religion won't "cut it." John 3 is true; your view of that very soon "second coming" of another Jesus as part of some warning message, is not!
So, did $Doug$ and his group make up a role that God never gave them?
Time will tell...
John
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