LCG believes their message to the world is far superior than talking much about Jesus and the salvation work accomplished. They much prefer the death and damnation route to keep people living in fear. Nuclear war, famines, children being eaten by their parents, concentration camps, WWIII and so much more keeps people that come into contact with them living in a constant state of fear. End of days porn is far more profitable and titillating.
Sadly, this is not limited to the Living Church of God. The Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel hilariously claims he is a watchman. Gerald Flurry says he is. Dave Pack thinks he is...well, on second thought, that changes hour by hour. Alton Billingsly thinks he is. UCG and COGWA think their churches are.
Does anyone care? Especially when most of these churches are corrupt to the core. Would anyone in their right mind trust these guys?
The Role of a Watchman: Many churches today feel their mission is to tell people about Jesus and hold numerous social activities. Yet, Jesus instructed His disciples to be alert and watch for events that will mark the approaching end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). The events making news today—natural disasters, increasing violence and wars around the globe, and the increasing moral, religious, and political decline of Israelite nations (2 Timothy 3:1–5; Deuteronomy 31:29)—are occurring along with the emergence of adversarial powers in Asia and the Middle East (Leviticus 26:15–17). Just as God sent prophets to warn ancient Israel and Judah of their coming punishments, the Church of God has a similar mission to function as a watchman to warn modern Israelite nations of the coming consequences of their sinful ways (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:2–7). This powerful warning must accompany the preaching of the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14). Let’s stay focused on this God-given mission.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
25 comments:
The answer is ZERO. The ekklesia should be proclaiming Christ, his teachings, what he has done for us, and his kingdom.
All this, while another group has been claiming to be a "watchman" since 1933 - and close to Edmond at that!
Following Christ also means striving to become like Him. Even in high school I remember male students imitating the action heroes of that era. Christians need to do likewise with their Ultimate Action Hero. He's returning on His horse to beat the crap out of all the evil doers.
Anonymous Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 11:26:22 PM PDT,
Yes, we should strive to be like Christ - serving others in love, and all that that entails (patient, kind, humble, forgiving, etc.). But, no, my friend, Christ is not the "Ultimate Action Hero." He is our Savior, and he is returning to this earth to rescue us from ourselves, NOT "to beat the crap out of all evil doers." You are apparently reading a different Bible than the one that I am reading, but that tends to happen when you take a book that is full of symbolism and turn it into a literal account of God and his plans for us!
This Millerite preacher stated, “Many churches today feel their mission is to tell people about Jesus and hold numerous social activities”.
This statement is intended to be disparaging to Christianity. But what will we find if we unpack it a little. The preacher is ragging on Christian churches that tell people about Jesus. That strikes an odd note. He clearly makes telling people about Jesus sound like something very unimportant, even flawed. And my guess is that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Isn’t that in the Spokesman Club manual someplace? It leads to important questions that one might ask of this organization. Why is Jesus so unimportant to you that you consider the idea of telling others about him to be a mistake? Do you believe that there is something more important than telling people about Jesus and “the Gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians) that he brought? How do you arrive at that atypical conclusion?
And as for the statement about social activities. Is there something wrong with trying to build a sense of team spirit and mutual love and appreciation? Does the congregation this preacher attends have social activities? What then is their purpose? Are those social activities somehow different from those held by Christian churches?
And as for speaking about the decline of the United States and the world, the Westboro Baptist Church has already claimed that spot. How many Westboros do we really need? Many people in the United States have heard about the Westboro Baptist Church. Very few have ever heard anything about the denomination this Millerite preacher belongs to. Who is really more effective?
Scout
Would Doug prefer that instead of having "social activities" at LCG summer camps, the kids were sat down at desks and taught about British-Israelism?
I think the best answer is one! One who has a direct pipeline to God and speaks the truth accurately.
Unfortunately, no such person has surfaced. Even Herbie had his great disappointment of 1972-75! The church always taught degeneration as opposed to evolution, so by one of their own paradigms, recent specimens would be inferior to HWA. And of course HWA was already vastly inferior to Jesus Christ.
Do you mean ekklesia as in the whole body of the faithful?!
I've read it all now. Also 'should be'?
Matthew 23:13 springs to mind as Jesus said ' you yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to'
The ekklesia aren't allowed to say boo to the leaders never mind actually do something.
Every "Christian" has the potential of a direct pipeline to God. But for the pipeline to be turned on, there is the requirement that the person in question is striving to go down the narrow gate. Ah yes, the stumbling block. Too many "Christians" give themselves all manner of sinful perks and exemptions. Naughty, naughty.
Well, it's sad, isn't it? Armstrongism is such a useless pile of steaming shit, and yet here are people basing their entire lives on it, as if it can give them that pipeline and be the key that yields all the answers. They gleefully proclaim it, and it never yields the results they anticipate. It's incapable of doing that!
Doug Winnail focusing on his own mission wrote:
"...Many churches today feel their mission is to tell people about Jesus and hold numerous social activities. Yet, Jesus instructed His disciples to be alert and watch for events that will mark the approaching end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21)......the Church of God has a similar mission to function as a watchman to warn modern Israelite nations of the coming consequences of their sinful ways (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:2–7). This powerful warning must accompany the preaching of the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14). Let’s stay focused on this God-given mission...."
******
What God-given mission was given to Doug and other scattered hirelings of the former WCG? Smite a shepherd and scatter sheep? You're all scattered! And thank God He did not so love this world that He ever sent any committee!
Preach the gospel of the coming kingdom of God? But Doug preaches that Mickey Mouse Millennium (MMM) of some Jesus to "very soon" return to reign on earth for 1,000 years and then fail! Doug's MMM would be a failure (Remember Zech 14?--you sang that song in services for decades!...something like "through the windows leap", etc.)
Well, did Jesus focus on Himself? He did say of Himself He could do nothing (John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing:..." and John 8:28).
Didn't Jesus so often ask us to focus on His Father, and what His Father did/does through Him, and those who are the workmanship of His hands?
What did Jesus ask others to focus on? What did Jesus focus on for some 40 days after His Father, who only had immortality, resurrected Him and gave Him life?
"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" Acts 1:3
But for Doug and others thinking like him, that kingdom of God has nothing to do with the MMM, and it won't occur on earth until some time after Satan exits the pit and again messes up this world, and is then killed thanks to something called the wrath of God (which isn't the wrath of the Lamb). But time will tell...
John
Winnail writes, "emergence of adversarial powers in Asia and the Middle East (Leviticus 26:15–17) " That's a horrible scripture reference to that statement. What adversarial power in Asia or in the Middle East has anything to with my relationship with God and Christ? Is it China or Iran, who cares? Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) Doug!
I'll focus on this Winnail:
Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
See Anna the Prophetess and Simeon were of a certain age (Luke 2), where they were at peace with their relationship with God (in His first coming). Trying to be the kind of watchman" like Winnail will not. The original apostles didn't have to be watchmen, just focus on the great commission.
Just how many police officers does the U.S. need?
We need a lot of them. In nearly every city. Else we risk disorder.
So multiple "watchmen" should not be a threat. Not if you're obeying the Law.
Well, F/G, you only took your analogy so far. We need as many GOOD police officers as we can get!
The so-called "watchmen" who are steeped in Armstrongism are working from false premises, so even if they have otherwise good behavioral character, they are still doing incredible damage to their followers and acolytes. Much of HWA's heresy has even crept into mainstream Christianity! It is very telling that white supremacists have embraced his teaching regarding Anglo Saxons being Manassites and Ephraimites and have used it to justify their hatred.
There weren't superstar evangelists who lived amongst the rich and famous before HWA became their Archetype, either! All but a few of them lived exemplary modest lives.
Don't even get me started on prophecy. Inspiration and truthfulness in that are what define a prophet! It does not exist in Armstrongism!
HWA, like other crooks and liars, discouraged and forbade fact-checking using sources outside of himself and his organization.
Come to think of it, HWA's chief influence was to really lower the bar of societal norms. Considering what he did to Dorothy, I'm almost inclined to nickname him HW Diddy!
There is no watchman in any Church of God. Anyone who claims to be a watchman is a false teacher who belongs to the synagogue of Satan. In fact, all leaders in this Laodicean era who came from the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) and still keep the law of Moses (Feasts) belong to the synagogue of Satan. They deny the sacrifice of Christ (deny Christ's name), who nailed to the cross the handwriting of ordinances (law of Moses) that was against us (Colossians 2:14; Deuteronomy 31:24-26). The entire era will go into the Great Tribulation except very few who have not, "denied my name" (Revelation 3:8).
The Watchman of Ezekiel is Christ. Many do not realize that the Bible teaches about Christ’s second coming in the flesh for 3.5 years before the end
""emergence of adversarial powers in Asia and the Middle East " Oh, I thought the adversarial powers were the European Beast Power, now we have three continents to worry about. By the way do we still have that adversarial power of satan the devil?
Only people that think they are in the Old Covenant believe they need a watchman. That is why when you read the letters (epistles of Paul, John, James, Peter) they write concerning how their church members were to conduct themselves and what they were going through in their areas. They weren't watching this nation and that nation and trying to fit it into their gospel, they were dealing with real persecution and had real unity. These ACOG ministers are pressing and reaching for that two witness job opening.
Endtime watching depends on each one of us: We are told to watch and keep our garments clean.
Revelation 16:13-16 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings [of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Watchman in the New Covenant warns about spiritual danger, and that's the primary,
Anon, Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 2:02:12 PM PDT, wrote:
[[""emergence of adversarial powers in Asia and the Middle East " Oh, I thought the adversarial powers were the European Beast Power, now we have three continents to worry about. By the way do we still have that adversarial power of satan the devil?]]
******
Actually, you questioned with writing: "By the way do we still have that adversarial power of satan the devil?"
And, yes!
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:13
But, time will tell...
John
G.D, Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 12:06:26 PM PDT, wrote:
"...There is no watchman in any Church of God. Anyone who claims to be a watchman is a false teacher who belongs to the synagogue of Satan. In fact, all leaders in this Laodicean era who came from the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) and still keep the law of Moses (Feasts) belong to the synagogue of Satan..."
That's not true, b/c Laodiceans are still a part of God's Church. They just have different things to fulfill compared to the Ephesus congregation...Philadelphia congregation. The synagogue of Satan is not of God, but is of Satan, but time will tell!
Additionally, you commented with writing:
"...The Watchman of Ezekiel is Christ. Many do not realize that the Bible teaches about Christ’s second coming in the flesh for 3.5 years before the end..."
When Christ came the second time to earth it was after His murder, 3 days/nights in the earth, resurrection, ascend to His Father in Heaven to be accepted as that Wave Sheaf offering, then return to earth for a second time, His second coming, Biblically-speaking (not traditions of men), which only lasted about 40 days. Jesus had more to teach His disciples to prepare them to "feed God's flock/sheep" to be added to God's Church. Other comings would follow, but...
Time will tell...
John
The warning of spiritual danger is mostly applicable to the ekklesia. To the non ekklesia, it's repent of one's sins or face physical destruction by war.
John, Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 8:52:58 AM PDT, wrote:
'' ...That's not true, b/c Laodiceans are still part of God's church..."
I agree, except there is no watchman in these COG splinters. It’s important to understand what happened during the Philadelphia era's onset. The church was hijacked by the synagogue of Satan, who “...crept in unawares..." [lodged stealthily]. These men turned the grace of God into licentiousness to merchandise the flock of God by promoting the keeping of the law of Moses for personal gain, thereby “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4; 2 Peter 2:1).
Paul wrote extensively to dismantle the keeping of the law of Moses, i.e., the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which consisted of meat, drink, holy days, new moon, and sabbath days (all elements of Feast days), which was a shadow that pointed to Christ (Colossians 2:14-16). The law of Moses (keeping of Feasts not 10 commandments) was a “schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ… but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25). We are now justified by faith and there is no need to keep the Feast Days anymore, as that would be denying Christ's sacrifice. Those who escape the Great Tribulation, "...have not denied my name..." (Rev 3:9). Notice the entire Laodicean era is counseled to "...buy of me gold tried in the fire..." (Rev 3:18). They enter the fire of the GT and in another place are referred to as the flock of slaughter (Zechariah 11:4;7).
The synagogue of Satan is identified with the Philadelphia era primarily because of two actions:
1. They introduced the keeping of the law of Moses, which Jews sought to enforce on the NT church during the first era of the church.
2. They trace their lineage to King David to assert themselves as descendants of King David, a Jew.
This has been fulfilled to the letter by men who claim/ed to be apostles and leaders of God’s church in the Philadelphia era but are, in fact, false apostles or ministers of Satan, as Paul rightfully predicted in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. They appear as ministers of righteousness but are in reality grievous wolves who secretly introduced damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, i.e. introduced the law of Moses to deny the sacrifice of Christ. (Acts 20:29; 2 Peter 2:1)
I also agree that Christ’s second coming was the 40 days He spent with the disciples. However, there is another coming of Christ (the 3rd) in the flesh to restore all things as Elijah the Prophet, which Christ described as “…the days of the Son of man…” when “…the kingdom of God comes not with observation…” (Luke 17:20-22). Obviously, this topic requires a separate article.
Yes John, but they are focused on the armor of the military industrial complex and not the armor of God.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Anon, Monday, October 7, 2024 at 6:24:05 AM PDT, wrote:
"Yes John, but they are focused on the armor of the military industrial complex and not the armor of God.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,"
******
So true, they focused on the physical, and they couldn't do otherwise. It is so easy to blame/judge the physical and ignore the spiritual.
The original question I wanted to answer was: "...By the way do we still have that adversarial power of satan the devil?"
I cited Phil 2:13, and did not realize it until I read your reply that I did not answer that question. I intended to quote Phil 2:12, but quoted Phil 2:13 instead without thinking any more about it.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." Phil 2:12
Phil 2:12 answers that question of: "By the way do we still have that adversarial power of satan the devil?"
And you've shown the importance of the words in 2 Cor 10:4, which is an excellent supplement.
Thanks for sharing...
John
Your welcome John! Yea Phil 2:12 is right on the money.
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