Dave Pack Continues To Financially Bleed His Members Dry

 

David C. Pack: Desperato

 

David C. Pack achieved the next level of desperation within the pearly gates of The Restored Church of God during “The Greatest Unending Story! (Part 478)” on November 4, 2023. Digging through the Bible with an X-Acto knife and magnifying glass, he discovered a new way to staunch the financial bleeding by pressuring brethren to give him more money more often.

 

The Mystery of God must almost be over if salvation cannot be gained unless true Christians understand they have been paying Third Tithe incorrectly for the past eighty years. Herbert W. Armstrong got so many things wrong in The Worldwide Church of God that you can almost wonder if he was really an apostle after all. Do not panic. Millerism, British Israelism, and “the truth about the races” are still holding fast.

 

As attendance continues to decline (excuse me, continues flat), the moving trucks and pods at two of the Akron Road homes this week signaled changes were afoot for the faithless among the RCG Campus inhabitants. Why would you shuffle the Campus occupants if the return of Jesus Christ was so imminent?

 

In a way, it is almost too bad the Kingdom of God is right upon us because that will thwart BAO’s ability to mismanage existing funds and escalate overextending the Headquarters Campus’ spending. How wise does that $500,000 Eyesorepurchase last year feel today? At least Dave got his well-manicured lawn.

 

The Kingdom of God did not arrive “in the midst of the years” on October 29 or November 4, 2023. The good news for the brethren is that these are not failures. They are drills.

 

Part 478 – November 4, 2023

@ 2:42 And here we still are. I hoped we wouldn’t be here. I thought for a while we wouldn’t until I discovered some of the very dramatic things we're going to cover today. You'll know immediately that the the uh um the Mystery of God was not over. I’ve got some big things to tell you. This’ll be a very, very (I think) a very, very interesting sermon.

 

As Little Red Riding Hood would say, “Oh, what big lies you tell, grandpa.”

 

 

Sabbath Services in The Restored Church of Another god continue to focus on the chosen being, David C. Pack. The sanctimonious Pastor General never skips an opportunity to preach about himself with a humble and contrite attitude, especially when he can throw two thousand WCG ministers under the bus.

 

@ 09:38 Turn over to Psalm 89. Now, this is reading about Elijah, but it would be just as easily put your name in it. Psalm 89. I could never understand this but suddenly my [chuckles] I went back to these verses that all these years of studying so intensely now caused to just pop into my mind. I’m sure God’s Spirit guiding it and then they just click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. 

 

God’s Spirit is not guiding David C. Pack.

 

I have long wrestled with the implications of invoking the unpardonable sin upon myself for stating such publicly, never mind out loud privately. The mountain of evidence to the contrary that David C. Pack is God's end-time servant unsealing Daniel and ending the Mystery of God is too overwhelming for a critical thinker to deny. The prophetic failures beginning in August 2013 cannot be ignored by any Bible student claiming to be honest with the Scriptures.

 

I, Marc Cebrian, am a sinner. Probably the chiefest among the former members I know. I do not proclaim righteousness or to be a biblical authority. I am no minister, and I do not place God's fingerprints on my efforts to expose the biblical fraud of David C. Pack, The Restored Church of God, and the cowardly hirelings at Headquarters. But, reporting on the overt heresy and hypocrisy of David C. Pack has become a personal passion that brings tremendous peace to my heart. I will continue to do so for as long as I can.

 

These articles are not me holding my Bible to confront David C. Pack holding his Bible. The exrcg.org website and YouTube channel place a mirror in front of David C. Pack so he can be measured against himself. His own words are the most remarkable commentary on whether or not God is using him to preach the real Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom of God. The reflection of his foolishness and bitterness does more damage to his reputation than any of my bitching and moaning.

 

Since 2013, David C. Pack has consistently revealed himself to be a documented false apostle, false prophet, blaspheming liar, hypocrite, and antichrist advocate. If I were the devil, I would be so very pleased with his career progression and the work he has done in the past decade. Demons must take wicked delight in performing “attaboy” pats on his back daily for all the personal devastation he has inflicted upon earnest, well-intending, Bible-believing brethren.

 

@ 10:45 “…and as a faithful witness in heaven.” So, I would read that, and I would think [laughs] (‘cause, you know, you could say it of yourself), but I’m reading about myself thinking, “What is why would my throne be in heaven forever?

 

There is no waffling or wishy-washy maybes with this.

 

God’s Spirit is not guiding David C. Pack.

 

@ 1:00:08 There are people who are in this church, and some will have left the church and attack us.

 

Dave cannot be referencing insignificant little ole me since my efforts mean little to the brethren. Maybe one day, I will find a purpose that actually makes a difference. But, until then…

 

 

After Dave left the topic, some brethren may have been relieved to hear about things other than their angel of light. But, no. He had to remind them why they REALLY assemble on the Sabbath.

 

RCG members may now safely remove Luke 12:42-44 from their Bibles because that is not about them.

 

@ 55:05 “Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his Lord when he comes shall find so doing? Of a truth, I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all that he has." [Imitating WCG ministers] "We'll inherit all things, brethren, 'cause that's what Hebrews says." They had no idea (it was sincere) they had no idea how to read that. How to understand a verse about Elijah. One particular person.

 

The entire Worldwide Church of God ministry did not understand that Tishrei 1 did not begin any type of year. During the Feast of Tabernacles, those ignorant ministers falsely taught gullible people about biblical rewards that were never meant for them.

 

It is a hard fact to suck up and face when you realize some Bible verses only benefit one man. Hallelujah! Dave is here to set us all straight.

 

Herbert W. Armstrong—Dismantled One Doctrine At A Time™

 

@ 55:43 We-din-how to read it. So, we just thought it was a great verse for everybody to apply and sort of blacked out, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward…"

 

This present truth removes the brethren from the Scriptures and replaces them with Dave’s favorite subject: himself. They should not feel too bad, though. Jesus Christ has been dealing with that for months.

 

In classic David C. Pack fashion, he reads the verses he desperately wants to apply to him but skips the ones he prays on his knees with blood, sweat, and tears that do not. The very next verse is a good example.

 

God has a sense of humor and is a fan of irony. Dave longs to be the subject of Luke 12:42-44 but refuses to keep reading. Come on, Dave. You said this was you. Just keep reading.

 

Luke 12:45-46

But and if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

 

Of any COG, who teaches more about the “Lord delays His coming” than David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God? For a decade, Dave has been reinventing the multiversal interpretation of “tarry” based on his uncomfortable feelings when the electric anvil falls out of the sky and lands on his noggin.

 

@ 55:55 "Whom his lord when he shall come shall find so doing." [Imitating WCG ministers] "So, brethren, we should all be busy doing the Work of God." Now, was that evil? No.

 

But it was wrong, according to David C. Pack as of Part 478.

 

The RCG brethren should fret no more about being found so doing. Or being wise and faithful, for that matter. It is a shame all those ignorant dopes through the 1980s went to their graves thinking that building holy, righteous character was a way to get into the Kingdom of God. They just happened to be born in the wrong decades because brethren of The Restored Church of God now know their ticket to the Kingdom involves paying Common and believing Dave.

 

What a blessing for this to be revealed to the Seventh Messenger before the First Kingdom of God arrived. It could have been very awkward for those alive and remaining to presumptuously assume they would receive a reward for doing the Work of God, only to find out it was a semi-wasted effort.

 

@ 56:05 Should we all be found so doing? Yes. We all should be found doing.

 

Really? Then, why even teach this? Why defuse the brethren’s enthusiasm and optimism? How does this new understanding benefit anyone in The Restored Church of God? This only benefits the insatiable narcissistic ego of spiritual vampire, David Crowl Pack.

 

This entire subject could have been kept locked away in the dark recesses of the Third Floor Executive Imaginarium, where Dave sprays Coffee Kid and Pepper Boy with his explosive biblical diarrhea. The stink seeping from underneath the closed doors should have been left for Ryan Denee’s wife to clean up again.

 

Instead, the brethren must hear this toxic perversion with no discernable purpose other than to declare, “Look at what I know, Herbie! That’s me right there in the Bible, not you. In. Your. Face.”

 

Herbert W. Armstrong—Well…He Tried™

 

Ed, your boss is a chief wolf and a dragon. Woe unto you and all those who follow him. By the time the lying wonders are underway, your escape will be prevented. Woe unto you all.

 

 

Desperation invokes action that we would otherwise negate. Dave has been more public about the financial pressure than in years past, so it must be wearing on him. Knowing some brethren have not yet given up all their Common must be like nails on the chalkboard in his mind.

 

Since he cannot threaten or guilt members into giving up their retirement and savings due to the lack of biblical support for Common, he returned to the drawing board. He found something else he knew he could capitalize on in the Bible: the Third Tithe.

 

With Jesus Christ coming just around the corner, it seems odd to be so focused on money. But that is how things are in The Restored Church of Another god. Dave weaves the Third Tithe concept in and around when the "midst of the years" is and how Tishrei 1 does not begin any type of year in God's eyes.

 

@ 30:44 We're gonna come to a fascinating thing about Third Tithe and year of release in a moment. And I’ll show you how the church misunderstood that.

 

@ 37:10 And I’m trying to be faithful to what I was taught. And like, well, Millennium. Was Mr. Armstrong right? He was certainly sincere and righteous. But, was he right?

 

Herbert W. Armstrong—Sincere. But Sincerely Wrong™

 

If anyone is curious about the entire 8-minute Third Tithe explanation, another former member began their own YouTube channel.

 

If there was ever one like a lamb who spoke like a dragon, it is David C. Pack. An evil spirit has captured his mind. He teaches doctrines of demons with a twisted perspective that should delight the devil.

@ 39:47 I wanna read something to you because the church had one other thing that was incorrect. We just knew something changed after the Feast of Tabernacles when you went home within your gates and you started paying Third Tithe of the strangers, and orphans, and widows, and the Levites, and so forth. We knew something, but we mixed some things. And so this is, again, we’re straightening out certain doctrines, we’re straightening out the plan of God and laying it out whether it’s getting rid of Tishrei, [chuckles] you know, and getting rid of earth. Or it’s correctly understanding how turth Third Tithe should have been paid but never was. So, let’s understand. If time went on, this would be this would be applicable. What I’m gonna tell you would be applicable for The Restored Church of God.

 

If time went on? Puh-lease.

 

@ 41:21 If the entire nation had kept Third Tithe in the same year, the widows, the strangers, the orphans, and the Levites would’ve starved to death for two years.

 

Dave presents the Third Tithe argument as if his heart yearns for the poor, unfortunate souls.

 

@ 43:19 But, the church sorta saw these two things happened at the same time. So, here’s what the church taught. I wish I’da thought about this long ago, but one of the things I’m to do is (as an apostle) is to make these things clear. So, you know, releasing people from a debt has nothing to do with feeding hungry people in four categories, you know, starting with Levites who don’t have their own land and, therefore, their own harvest.

 

It is actually funny listening to Dave trying to sell the idea that he cares at all about “feeding hungry people” in ancient Israel or The Restored Church of God. The logistics of the installed bureaucracy at Headquarters shielding Third Tithe payouts says otherwise.

 

@ 43:43 So, here's what we did: we said you pay Third Tithe, you skip two years, pay it, and we mingled the seven years [of release] and said now you skip three years and pay it…we always said you pay it on the third year and sixth year out of a seven-year cycle.

 

@ 46:20 You do not get a year off because of the year of release per debt. It has nothing to do with debt. So, if we went on, all of God’s people (‘cause we’re comin’ into Cheshvan) you would have to literally (and you should, I guess for whatever [chuckles] days we have left), you should begin to pay tithe. If you paid Third Tithe two years ago…then you should start. And you should never take three years off.

 

Lucky break for Dave: the Kingdom of God has not yet arrived. He is already pacing at the Mail Building, waiting for those fresh checks to start rolling in to calm the nerves of concerned bankers.

 

@ 46:52 Maybe if we looked in more carefully, we were Mr. Armstrong was absolutely sincere. Everybody knows I believe he was a great servant of God. He’s one of the Seven Messengers, but he didn’t live in the time when the Mystery of God would be made plain.

 

Herbert W. Armstrong—A Great Servant Of God. Just Not Allowed To Be Right™

 

@ 47:09 I can tell you that the church (little RCG) if we had just paid Third Tithe correctly and people paid it two out of every six years insteada two out of every seven years, our income over our lifespan would be in the seven figures…so I think to myself, Wow. That’s a huge amount of income that was lost.

 

Stop.

 

Third Tithe is not “income” and it was not “lost.” It is a biblical safety net providing for the needy in Israel and the church. David C. Pack is increasingly unable to hide his true motivations from the brethren. His own lips betray him.

 

The entire point of this doctrinal precision about Third Tithe is to find a way to bring RCG more money because he desperately needs it. Income to be spent on what exactly? He leaves the answer as implied rather than what his true intent is.

 

@ 47:41 So, that’s something else we’re clearing up. And we would go on if time goes on. That has to be the doctrine of God. It's not my policy. There's no way to argue it. It’s every three years.

 

Despite the 8-minute plea to reason from the Scriptures, the one concept that never enters the discussion is how this new understanding benefits the widows and orphans in The Restored Church of Another god. Dave already knows what he plans to do with that "lost income," and sending out checks to select brethren is not part of it. Because that has never been the most significant part of it.

 

 

Here are some uncomfortable facts David C. Pack will not tell you about Third Tithe in RCG.

 

• Third Tithe funds are already in a surplus situation every single year. They take in much more than they pay out. Even skipping one year, RCG brethren provide far beyond the intended needs for Third Tithe Assistance.

 

• Third Tithe is the "hidden cash cow" that RCG counts on every year, NOT being spent for the intended purpose. A lot comes in. A little goes out. The system in place is designed to keep it that way so the unspent reserves can be factored into their financial planning.

 

• Highly invasive forms exist in RCG to discourage applications for Third Tithe Assistance, Third Tithe Loans, and Third Tithe Exemptions.

 

• There are widows in RCG and maybe "an orphan," but the concept of a "stranger" is MIA. They rarely engage with the general population of Wadsworth. This means very few in RCG are even eligible for a payout.

 

• When Third Tithe is donated to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, that money is designated as “restricted funds” which means it can only be legally spent on the purpose for which it was given. However, at the beginning of a new fiscal year, unspent restricted funds are rolled into the “general fund.” The general fund is discretionary. That means the Third Tithe someone gives today can be spent on trees, horses, and mortgages next year.

 

This is not unique to RCG and is perfectly legal. Is that ethical? Is that what God intended?

 

• No ministers pay Third Tithe because they are part of the Levitical priesthood. Dave can hammer this revealed knowledge well aware he will not be burdened by the implications.

 

• All Headquarters employees are exempt from paying Third Tithe because they are considered to be performing a Levitical duty. The guys mowing the lawn do not pay it. Dave's half-time secretary does not pay it. This is only for the brethren.

 

Dave skipped one vital element of Third Tithe, which should also be enforced as the Word of God. He seems to neglect this type of detail when it does not benefit him.

 

Deuteronomy 14:28

At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates.

 

Whoopsie Daisy. This nuance must be in the Bible just to add flavor and not really part of the command.

 

In RCG, tithes are to be paid bi-weekly immediately after you receive a paycheck. Dave once called it “stealing" if you delay sending in your tithes at the end of the month. The Restored Church of God expects members to pay their Third Tithe throughout the year alongside their First Tithe and not wait until the end of the year. So much for claiming doctrinal purity.

 

If RCG members try to bring this up to their local hireling, they will surely get an ear full. “But, the Bible says…” never wins the argument against policy. That field man does not want the wrath of Headquarters to fall on his head. Those passive, rubbery mollusks who fear Dave more than they fear God will stutter and stammer through their reasoning for why that part of the verse does not really mean what it seems to.

 

 

David C. Pack is very selective about which doctrines are to be obeyed word-for-word and which have the edges smoothed over. If he were really so concerned about doctrinal precision when it comes to God’s financial laws, he would have to make more fiscal changes without decrying “church tradition” as cover.

 

You want brethren to pay Third Tithe every three years without skipping? Okay, Dave. Let’s play that game. Do that, but then you would also have to do this:

 

• Discontinue “Excess Second Tithe.” Nowhere in the Bible are people commanded to turn in unspent Feast of Tabernacles funds to the church.

 

During my time in UCG and RCG, I kept rolling the surplus over to afford better accommodations and travel the following year. Nothing in the Bible commanded this surrender, so I did not do it. Excess Second Tithe is an invented scam.

 

• Remove the monetary offerings on the seventh day of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Trumpets, Atonement, and the Last Great Day. NONE of those are found in the Bible. They are assemblies and holy convocations, but we are not commanded to give money.

 

"Offering by fire" is not about money, and that is for the priesthood to perform. Offerings by fire happen every day of the Feasts, every Sabbath, and every new moon. If that really meant brethren were to give money, their checkbooks could never leave their pockets.

 

David C. Pack has specific righteous indignation when it comes to ensuring God's word is adequately obeyed. Is it not interesting that the more he learns, the more of a replacement for Jesus Christ he is, and the more brethren should be paying him? It never swings the other way.

 

 

Desperato David C. Pack needs to get more of your money right now and will continue to comb through the Bible so he can squeeze out every last mite and farthing.

 

If you are curious about what RCG hoops you would have to jump through to become exempt from giving Third Tithe, click HERE to download the PDF.

 

Enjoy the invasiveness widows must endure to receive Third Tithe Assistance from the caring folks at Headquarters. Click HERE to download the PDF. K-Y Jelly is available for an additional fee.

 

Marc Cebrian

See: David C. Pack: Desperato

UCG Members Prefer Going To The Lake or Ball Game Over Listening To Another Canned Sermon By Their MInisters

United Church of God has a list of things posted for their members to do so that they do not lose thier Fatih. Apparently. their members are getting distracted by spending a relaxing day by the lake or enjoying a ball game.

One of the items is this:

Let’s face it, going to the lake or to a ball game sounds like it may be more fun than attending a church service. This is what a carnal minded person might want to do. The apostles warned about having this kind of mentality creeping into our lives. Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

Carnal minded? What a load of crap. Why do COG ministers have to constantly denegrate thier members? 

It is awfully hard sitting in church week after week listening to the same canned sermon and same viewpoint of every single minister in the church, week after week, year after year. Far too many have never advanced from COG-related booklets as their source material or even taken classes in Bible at a local seminary. Most of these guys are pulling source material from the same sermons they preached while in the Worldwide Church of God.  

When we keep our eyes on the goal of the kingdom of God and place our trust in Him, we will never be disappointed. We will never be separated from God’s love, and our Father will always answer us in times of need if we persistently seek Him.

The focus of UCG and the rest of the church is never upon the Christ they claim to follow, but on other things that their members need to be doing good works in order to be admitted to the magical kingdom. 

A real follower of Jesus knows that through justification, sanctification, and grace they can never be separated from God's love. COG ministers need to constantly remind members they can lose their faith and salvation. This is the main way they can keep members under their control.

UCG members need to understand their salvation or faith will not be compromised by going to the beach, a ball game, or a birthday party over some lame-ass sermon you have heard a gazillion times.

UCG Now All About Accountability, Unity in Spirit, And Upholding The "faith once delivered"

 

Interesting topics for a church that was started in a state of rebellion with rebellious leaders who plotted and schemed while still employed by the mother church. These very same men at the start of UCG promised to be open and accountable to the membership and so far never have been. And as for the "faith once delivered", do they even know what that is? Is it what Jesus taught? Paulian Christianity? Or, what Herbert claimed he "restored" as the "faith once delivered" that his impotent god had been unable to keep alive for 1,900 years?

There were many hours of instruction and discussion focusing on the overall theme of “speak the same thing” taken from 1 Corinthians 1:10. The conference began with a session from our president, Rick Shabi, on the pastor as a disciple. He focused on the ministry’s unwavering calling to preach, teach and live by God’s Truth and uphold the “faith once delivered.” 

 

The next interactive presentation was instruction on being “accountable” elders. Steve Myers emphasized the direction given in 1 Peter 5 and the weighty responsibility to shepherd, oversee and lead God’s people by example. He emphasized the duty of the ministry and that we are “those who must give account” (Hebrews 13:17). 

 

Darris McNeely then spoke on the importance of being a pastor “for the vision.” He encouraged all to “keep the unity of the Spirit” as we fulfill the admonition to equip and edify the people of God.

Living Church of God's Phobia Over Germany Continues

 

Poor Rod Meredith, he had no idea what he wrought when he became so obsessed over Germany and concentration camps. In spite of his whacky beliefs, the Living Church of God carries that obsession on today in 2023.

In LCG's eyes, Germany now is preparing to take over the world. Oh, Noes!!!!!!!!!!!! Get those meat hooks ready! Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is gathering his armies behind the scenes to swoop in and take captive Americans. Bob Thiel's wet dream will soon come true!

Of course, all you have to do in order to save your Laodicean butt is write in for thier booklet and all things will be ok.

Crackpot Prophet Believes He Is Helping Usher In The End Times

“Death on the Pale Horse,” Benjamin West 1796

 

Ever since Denis Rohan, a lunatic Armstrongite follower, attempted to burn down the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, on 21 August 1969 some have wondered if there would be another crackpot Armstrongite attempting to bring about the end times.

Gerad Flurry is too inept to do anything and no longer has the finances to start digging up Hill Tara in Ireland to bring to light the Ark of the Covenant. Dave Pack is absolutely bonkers now with each passing day as every new prediction fails as his Jesus languishes in the seventh heaven waiting for the green light to come on so he and the ophanim can return to earth.

This leaves us with the greatest Church of God leader to ever exist in human history doing a work that other COG leaders can only dream of. Located in an absolutely depressing storefront in Grover Beach, CA this three-time rebellious apostate Church of God pretender imagines he is doing an amazing work.

By using the very thing he wets his pants over, artificial intelligence, this self-appointed false prophet brags about how he is using that very thing to translate one of his more boring and poorly researched "books", The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Now claiming that his book has been translated into over 900 languages and dialects, it is a sure sign that the end times are rapidly approaching, all thanks to the Great Bwana Mzungu Thiel. He is helping speed up the end times.

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities Region of California.

Jesus said that the end, meaning the Great Tribulation, would begin shortly after Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled. Other scriptures point to Jesus’ return after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31).

Meaning?

Jesus will return a little over 3 1/2 years after Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled.

To aid in that fulfillment, we continue to receive additional translations of our our English booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. On Monday, we received another 28 translations. We have well over 900 different languages and dialects now. This has never before occurred in the history of the Church of God. We are getting closer to the end as we strive to do our part in preparing for the “short work” that the Apostle Paul wrote of Romans 9:28 (see Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word) which is also part of the final phase of the work (e.g. Revelation 7:9; see also The Final Phase of the Work).

We all should be grateful that God is allowing us to support His end-time Philadelphian (Revelation 3:7-13) work.

COGWA Dances YMCA And the Kitchens Melt Down

@wwcga.com A video from COGWA's Family Dance, Feast of Tabernacles 2023. Is this God's Holy Spirit? Would God approve? repent. #cogwa #fot2023 #bransonmo ♬ original sound - WWCGA.COM

 

It is another day in the Church of Godland and another self-appointed guardian of the church is having a coronary. It seems that those fun-loving folk in COGWA did the YMCA dance at their Branson, Missouri Feast site and as you can see from the notations on the TikTok above, the Kitchens did NOT approve! Bad COGWAites! Bad!

I was disappointed when I first saw it, I thought it was Bob Thiel's group, but alas, it was not. Bwana Bob apparently prefers the Mr Grumpy Pants dance.

Can you imagine being in Petra or the so-called "kingdom" these guys think they are all going to be part of and how incredibly depressing and boring it will be?

CGI Adrian Davis: John 3:16 Doesn’t Mean What We Think It Means?

 

So-called Christians outside of Armstrongism are too focused on Jesus...

John 3:16 Doesn’t Mean What We Think It Means?

Lonnie Hendrix

The latest installment of the Church of God International’s Armor of God program, featuring Adrian Davis, was very disturbing to this correspondent. According to Pastor Davis, the majority of Christians do NOT understand their favorite passage of Scripture! He said that this passage has been mistranslated and taken out of context for centuries, and that Christians better be doing a whole lot more than just believing in Jesus! Davis believes that Christians are much too focused on Jesus and the New Testament. According to him, “Israel is the means by which God will save the world.”

I know, you’re probably thinking that Jesus Christ is the means by which God will save the world – me too! I bet you and I could probably think of a great many other passages to support what is revealed in John 3:16 about salvation through Jesus (e.g., Matthew 1:21, John 3:36, 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, etc.). By the way, I’d like to take the Pastor up on a closer look at the famous verse and its context.

In the third chapter of the Gospel of John, we find Christ having a private conversation with one of the leading Jewish religious leaders of that day – a man named Nicodemus (verses 1-2). Jesus begins by telling Nicodemus that “unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (Verse 3) This statement, however, greatly puzzled the Pharisee (verse 4). Jesus elaborated: “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’” (Verses 5-7) Nicodemus was still puzzled, and Jesus was incredulous that Nicodemus didn’t understand what the Scriptures revealed about these things (verses 9-10).

Jesus then proceeded to get to the root of the problem that Nicodemus and the other Jewish religious leaders had in understanding what he was saying. He said: “I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” (Verses 11-15) In short, they didn’t believe in Jesus or his testimony.

For Pastor Davis, however, the chief take away from this passage is the comparison to what Moses did with the bronze snake in the wilderness. Davis pointed out that God used the symbol to save the Israelites from the snakes which he had sent among them to punish them. However, it apparently never dawned on the pastor that Christ was saying that he would have to be lifted up on a pole to save all of humankind! For Mr. Davis, God intended for Israel to be the light to the Gentiles. Again, he apparently doesn’t comprehend that they failed at that mission, and that God made his Son into a light for the Gentiles (John 8:12, 9:5). Unfortunately, like many in the various Armstrong Churches of God, Mr. Davis does not seem to comprehend that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

In this context, the remainder of that passage in the third chapter of the Gospel of John is made plain to most Christians. We read there: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (Verses 16-21) In other words, by refusing to believe in Christ and his message, the Jewish religious leaders had committed a grave sin.

In the first epistle of John, this commandment is made even more explicit. John wrote: “And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.” (I John 3:23-24) Isn’t that interesting? John echoed the same thing that Christ had told to Nicodemus! According to John, God expects us to believe in Jesus and his instructions. Hmmmm, I’m thinking that it’s Mr. Davis who doesn’t understand John 3:16 – I think most Christians understand it perfectly!

Littlest COG Prophet Ever, Still Angry At Living Church of God

 

After reading our post here from Doug Winnail yesterday, the Great Bwana to Africa and 100 Caucasians, the Chief Overseer, Grand PooBah of Mayan and Catholic myths, the COG Dreamslayer, the highly chosen above all together Church of God leaders, Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel, let it be known that he is STILL pissed at Rod Meredith and the Living Church of God for ignoring him! 

How dare they! 

How dare they not do what he says!  

Don't you realize that the Holy Family preplanned Bwana Bob being born in these terrible last days to warn the world with a final message and to correct the wrong teachings of the Living Church of God's errors? 

Seriously dudes, get your act together.

11/06/23 a.m. On 11/02/23, LCG posted the following written by its Dr. Doug Winnail:

Watch World Events! Jesus told His disciples to watch for the fulfillment of Bible prophecies that indicate the coming end of the age and His imminent return (Matthew 24:36–44). Yet, these same scriptures indicate many will be shocked and surprised because they have not been told what to watch for! This is why God has given His Church “a more sure word of prophecy” so the Church can function as a watchman to proclaim the real significance of specific world events (2 Peter 1:19–20, KJV; Ezekiel 3:17–20). 

Dr. Winnail would do well to tell those of LCG that he Richard Ames, and the late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith, in multiple meetings with me, said that I was correct on a variety of prophetic matters that they also admitted that LCG was wrong about. To this date, despite Dr. Meredith promising to resolve this and correct LCG's errors by the end of January 2012, they still remain. LCG does NOT have the "sure word of prophecy" and unless its leaders repent of teaching prophetic errors and teach the truth on matters many of them realized, those in LCG will NOT possibly know when the Great Tribulation will start (to cite one example) until it is too late for most to flee. 

I continue to pray for the leadership and others in LCG.

LCG: Those Damn Germans Are Providing Food To Africa! Watch Out! They Are Going To Take Over The World!

 

The Living Church of God has never been able to let go of Rod Meredith's perverse obsession with Germany. Germany has been a necessary element in their prophetic utterances. From Rod Meredith's obsession over concentration camps in the United States and Canada to his lustful desires to see Americans hung up on meathooks before they were burned alive in the crematories of the camps, the obsession over Germany has controlled the minds of those in the Living Church of God for decades.

LCG is not happy that Germany is concerned over the impact of grain supplies from Ukraine not reaching Africa.

Germany to Increase Trade with Africa: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier are in Africa strengthening economic ties with Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia (Deutsche Welle, October 29, 2023). In the wake of the war in Ukraine, which is greatly impacting food availability and prices in Africa, and as a counter to China’s growing influence in Africa, Germany feels it imperative to improve economic relations and trade with nations in Africa. Germany is working to reform its “Compact with Africa” as German companies look for greater economic opportunities there. 

 

This week, Chancellor Scholz met with Nigeria’s president to also talk about regional security and global events. Nigeria’s economy is seen by many as on par with Egypt’s, and it is Africa’s most populous nation. As Chancellor Scholz meets with West African leaders, President Steinmeier will meet with East African leaders. “Steinmeier’s subsequent state visit to southern Zambia on November 1 will be the first ever by a German president.” 

 

Such investment in global trade by Germany bears watching. Bible prophecy reveals that a German-led European “beast” power will arise at the end of the age. This entity will be a religious, military, and financial superpower that will impact the world in numerous ways. The Scriptures refer to this end-time mixture of religious and worldly power as “Babylon the great” and state that the nations of the earth will become rich by trading with her before her fall (Revelation 18). Today, Germany is on the move around the globe. Watch for Germany to grow in influence, wealth, and power in the years ahead. To gain further insight about this important nation, be sure to read or listen to Germany in Prophecy.

Trust Us! We Have The Sure Word of Prophecy!

For close to eight decades, Armstrongism has been looking backward to the Scriptures where they think they can find scriptures that supposedly fit current world events going on around them. Given that their entire scriptural background is focused on the Old Testament, far too many groups are not comfortable replacing the fear factor they have found in the Old Testament with reliance upon Jesus so that no matter what happens, their confidence in salvation is assured.

Armstrongism has been watching world events for over eight decades now, confident that the world is going to blow up around them. For eight decades they have never gotten anything right. Yet, these same people think so highly of their selves and their messages that they believe they will be whisked off to Petra to be trained for 3 1/2 years in some final training done by whoever their current guru is. Imagine 3 1/2 years listening to Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, or Gerald Flurry imposing their draconian warped values on their followers. What an absolute hell that will be.

Right in the middle of that rat pack are Doug Winnail and Gerald Weston struggling to keep their members whipped into a frenzy of end-time scenarios they see spinning out of control around them.

Each and every one of them claims to have the sure word of prophecy. They love to quote:

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19.

Yet they quickly overlook the following scripture that holds them accountable for the junk they say:

“Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.” Isaiah 41:22, 23. 

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Scripture challenges the bloviating fools to prove to us they know what they are talking about. So far the track record of prophets in the Church of God movement is hitting a not so astounding ZERO! 

False prophets have littered the ground of the Worldwide Church of God/Armstrongist movement for over eight decades. Every one of them is a proven liar.

Matthew 7:20 says:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

The fruits of Church of God leaders have been found lacking. Their lives bear the fruit of their self-righteousness. Many are filled with lying, prideful, and greedy hearts and minds. They are deceptive in all their actions.

2 Peter 1:20 warns us about these lying men and their outlandish interpretations. None of these guys have any idea of what letting the Holy Spirit guide them would be like.

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the greatest Prophet that ever lived, gave us a solemn warning against false prophets who would appear in these last days: 

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24.

Armstrongism is infected with false prophets who lie and deceive the members under their supposed care. The Church of God does not have a single prophet in its midst as we come to the end of 2023. We certainly have a lot of liars and false ones though. 

I find it funny how certain COG groups get all huffy and defensive when they get accused of crying wolf. This is the United Church of God...

Anyway, back to Doug Winnail who wants you to believe that those in the leadership of the Living Church of God have the sure word of prophecy. 

Watch World Events! Jesus told His disciples to watch for the fulfillment of Bible prophecies that indicate the coming end of the age and His imminent return (Matthew 24:36–44). Yet, these same scriptures indicate many will be shocked and surprised because they have not been told what to watch for! This is why God has given His Church “a more sure word of prophecy” so the Church can function as a watchman to proclaim the real significance of specific world events (2 Peter 1:19–20, KJV; Ezekiel 3:17–20). The moral decay and declining influence of Israelite nations (Leviticus 26:14–17), the resurgence of militant Islam in the Middle East and other parts of the world (Daniel 11:40), the growing focus of the world on violence and turmoil in and around Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2–3; 14:1–2), and the revival of a European power with links to ancient Rome—all point to end-time events outlined in Bible prophecies. We need to be watching, and we need to be ready so we are not caught by surprise.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail