The following letter was on Exit and Support Network and is about how Gerald Flurry is trying with all his might to cover up his uttered false prophecies. The author's term of "weasel words" is quite accurate. Armstrongist leaders and false prophets have been well-documented for the lies and false prophecies they have uttered, starting with Herbert Armstrong and Gerald Waterhouse. See: Herbert W Armstrong's Prophetic Record.
This is not limited to Gerald Flurry, though. Bob Thiel does this constantly. Dave Pack does this on a daily hourly basis as everything he utters is invalidated a few hours later by some new vision or brain fart. Then there is Ron Weinland! Has there ever been a bigger liar and failure than him? Oh, wait, there is Alton Billingsley. He is like all of the resident whack-a-doodle COG prophets all wrapped up into one.
GF Backpedaling and Using Weasel Words:
November 20, 2024
Many already know that Gerald Flurry (who labels himself a ‘prophet’) dogmatically stated, “a Joe Biden presidency is contrary to Bible prophecy.” That statement should have been the end of the PCG as a “church” and the end of this letter.
But since the election of Trump, he’s now backpedaling and digging in deeper.
His latest article in the November 14, 2024 Trumpet (“Trump Victory: Fulfilled Prophecy!”) is full of weasel words that you won’t find any prophet using in the Bible. Case in point:
“I know these prophecies will be fulfilled, I am 99.9 percent sure my understanding of them is correct, and anyone can prove them!”
After dogmatically telling the membership from the pulpit and in writing for years that he is a prophet and God speaks to him, this article walks back previously incorrect “prophecies” by downgrading the language–Flurry is now just a news forecaster. GF writes:
“This has been one of my consistent forecasts, based on Bible prophecy, over the past four years.”
It’s remarkable that a man who tells PCG members that he is a prophet (amongst other titles) won’t state in unequivocal and detailed terms exactly what the prophecy is that God revealed to him: there is always an “out” and always use of weasel words.
Another turn in messaging that no member will admit to: for almost the entire existence of the PCG they claimed America was in an unrecoverable downwards spiral that would end in the Tribulation, slavery and captivity “within three to five years” (something they then rescheduled at the end of every three to five year timeline with a new twist). This new, politically-oriented fascination with Trump is a complete and 180-degree pivot from that messaging. GF writes:
“Prophecy says that Donald Trump is going to lead a resurgence in America.”
The PCG has NEVER prophesied about a “resurgence.” So, were they wrong then, or now? And if it was a prophecy, was God not aware of what was going on?
It couldn’t be clearer that Flurry is just making things up as he goes along and shoe-horning political figures into “Bible prophecy.” After all, he’s done this historically with “the strong man of Europe”; previous Popes, the identity of the King of the South and other assigning of Bible roles and titles, all of which had to be revised.
The Bible is full of admonitions about false prophets, and a self-proclaimed prophet only needs to be wrong ONCE to be discredited.
God is not the author of confusion; he doesn’t have to “revise” or provide “clearer understanding” of His prophecies. As a former member, I’m ashamed of the members of this “church” that have laid both common sense and understanding of the Bible at the doorstep as they continue to support this nonsense. –E. L.
‘My consistent forecasts’……perhaps Jerry can go into weather forecasting. Our own weather forecasts are not always accurate and sometimes are received with a wink and a nudge but they have a little more credibility than the dime a dozen ‘forecasters’ within a certain cog denomination. As to Trump leading an American resurgence, time will tell. My own opinion, for what it’s worth ,but as a non American I hope to see a resurgent prosperous USA and believe better days are ahead for this colossus of a gentile nation.
ReplyDeleteWhat we're witnessing here is delusion, caused by belief in the Armstrong prophecy mold, followed by COGnitive dissonance when the delusions do not become reality. They spiritualize these things away, and their members allow them to get away with it. Carte Blanche!
ReplyDeleteWe live in times when all manner of things are happening around the globe, and Armstrongites feel a false sense of security because Putin threatening nukes has nothing to do with Germany rising and the Pope suddenly enforcing global Sunday-keeping. We know from 9/11 that very bad things outside of the Armstrong prophecy mold can, and do strike at any time. COGlodytes who were watching world news about Germany were surprised, no, make that dumb-founded, when an attack came from Ishmael's sons instead! Osama bin Laden, rather than the Beast!
So long as people attach world news events to the Armstrong prophecy mold, they will continue to get it all wrong, and to make a mockery out of prophecy. Cheech Wizard was more accurate! (heh! Blast from the past!). Anyone else turn to National Lampoon in the aftermath of the Great Disappointment of 1975??? Oh no! Now the COGlodytes will comment that Banned is full of Hippies!
BB
E.L. commented writing:
ReplyDelete"November 20, 2024
Many already know that Gerald Flurry (who labels himself a ‘prophet’) dogmatically stated, “a Joe Biden presidency is contrary to Bible prophecy.” That statement should have been the end of the PCG as a “church” and the end of this letter.
But since the election of Trump, he’s now backpedaling and digging in deeper.
His latest article in the November 14, 2024 Trumpet (“Trump Victory: Fulfilled Prophecy!”) is full of weasel words that you won’t find any prophet using in the Bible. Case in point:
“I know these prophecies will be fulfilled, I am 99.9 percent sure my understanding of them is correct, and anyone can prove them!”
After dogmatically telling the membership from the pulpit and in writing for years that he is a prophet and God speaks to him, this article walks back previously incorrect “prophecies” by downgrading the language–Flurry is now just a news forecaster. GF writes:
“This has been one of my consistent forecasts, based on Bible prophecy, over the past four years.”
It’s remarkable that a man who tells PCG members that he is a prophet (amongst other titles) won’t state in unequivocal and detailed terms exactly what the prophecy is that God revealed to him: there is always an “out” and always use of weasel words..."
Byker Bob hit the nail on the head - Gerald Flurry is following in the footsteps of his idol, Herbert Armstrong. Every prophecy that is based on the completely discredited assumption of Anglo-Israelism is obviously going to be flawed (likewise, with Assyrian Germany and Europe = Beast). In just two to three years, or within the next five to ten years, has been recycled repeatedly since the 1930's - we're coming up on a hundred years. When will it grow old? When the last Armstrongite draws his/her last breath!
ReplyDeleteIt never grows old so long as there are people who allow themselves to be deceived by these apostles and prophets of denial. Yes, your last sentence is correct,
DeleteE.L. commented with writing:
ReplyDelete"November 20, 2024
Many already know that Gerald Flurry (who labels himself a ‘prophet’) dogmatically stated, “a Joe Biden presidency is contrary to Bible prophecy.” That statement should have been the end of the PCG as a “church” and the end of this letter.
But since the election of Trump, he’s now backpedaling and digging in deeper.
His latest article in the November 14, 2024 Trumpet (“Trump Victory: Fulfilled Prophecy!”) is full of weasel words that you won’t find any prophet using in the Bible. Case in point:
“I know these prophecies will be fulfilled, I am 99.9 percent sure my understanding of them is correct, and anyone can prove them!”
After dogmatically telling the membership from the pulpit and in writing for years that he is a prophet and God speaks to him, this article walks back previously incorrect “prophecies” by downgrading the language–Flurry is now just a news forecaster. GF writes:
“This has been one of my consistent forecasts, based on Bible prophecy, over the past four years.”
It’s remarkable that a man who tells PCG members that he is a prophet (amongst other titles) won’t state in unequivocal and detailed terms exactly what the prophecy is that God revealed to him: there is always an “out” and always use of weasel words..."
******
Trump will not bring about an American resurgence anywhere to what God has planned via Psalms 22 for a future resurgence of this world, and a time beyond the 1000 year MMM (Mickey Mouse Millennium most hirelings of the former WCG continue to preach to this day: of a Jesus "very soon" to return to earth and reign for 1,000 years).
Psalm 22:26 "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
:28 For the kingdom [is] the LORD S: and he [is] the governor among the nations."
And when God turns the hearts, none will depart (Jeremiah 32:40) from that LORD!
When will this world, including all considered to be Americans, turn unto the LORD?
But there is one "catch!" There must be a "dirt-nap" for all, but we'll have patience, although there is no choice on our part(s) in this:
:29 "All [they that be] fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul."
It's going to be a good news time, isn't it? Didn't the apostle Paul say God had concern for this world (2 Cor 5:19)? Time is telling.
And for the likes of Gerry Flurry, Weinland, Pack, Winnail, Franks, Shabi, Weston, Kitchen, Thiel, etc.?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Will these men's ideas of some worthwhile American resurgence, compared to what God has in store (Psalms 22:26-29), including their "very soon" return of their Jesus to reign on earth occur before their dirt-naps occur?
Time will tell...
John
I was thinking of pitiful Clayton Steep's old article on The Empire Strikes Back earlier and dug up this gem. They couldn't even get mundane predictions right...
ReplyDelete"Star Wars and The Empire fans will have to wait for the next movie to find out whether the scriptwriters will make Vader's
assertion true or whether it was only a lie used by Vader to mentally overcome Luke. Just because Vader says it doesn't mean it's true. If Vader is anything like Satan, he is a liar (John 8:44). The only proof that Vader can show Luke of the assertion is Luke's feelings at the time, and feelings are never reliable. "
Actually, I'm wrong, it was a Jeff Catkins... a name that I don't recall.
ReplyDeleteQuite true Biker Bob @ 3:58:31,
ReplyDeleteI do remember Raymond McNair saying from the pulpit one day as the USSR unravelled ‘Russia’ must remain strong. And what we see today is an economically weak and militarily incompetent action by a nation who is struggling to defeat a vastly smaller Ukraine. Hardly one who is going to sweep through the ME as Gog Magog etc etc. They were blindsided by the Gulf War and as you pointed out 9/11. And Afghanistan. We have witnessed the dismemberment of the Armstrong ‘empire’ and the fallacy and illusion of BI before our own eyes. We have seen Europe grow into more than 10 nations, divided weak and arguing amongst themselves. We see a USA with vast mineral/fossil reserves that vastly outnumber the Saudis and may well become energy dominant on the global scene. Providing Europe and the Uk and Japan with their energy needs for decades to come. But the incredible atoning work of our Lord and Saviour is so often overlooked as the foundation of our faith, not prediction addiction which is rampant in these groups who are diminishing daily in numbers. Good observation from you thanks.
Well, 6:27, the thing is that unlike most people walking the face of the earth, Armstrongites do have their entire lives, behavioral patterns, and financial pictures based on a package of prophecy. This prophecy motivates them to adhere to a life of sacrifice and suffering at the hands of their church which is unlike anything most other Christians experience. People are existing at poverty level and make themselves into social pariahs even as they live in times of plenty in the richest, most inclusive nation in the entire history of mankind. The only way their minds can justify this is the fervent belief that they will witness the fulfillment of the prophecies during their lifetime and if they maximize their efforts, they will be counted worthy to escape the extreme troubles through which nonmembers will suffer. And this is bolstered by the fact that they believe that the Holy Spirit has inspired these prophecies.
ReplyDeleteSo, as things change in opposite ways to the Armstrong mold, members devise methods of muting what they can plainly see, as they continue to stick to the HWA script. The biggest event to which they once looked was the reunification of the two Germanys of 1989-1990. That was to them an indicator of the imminence of the coming Beast and False Prophet, and here we are, nearly 35 years later, with no such things on the horizon. You may see the Russians as being weak and disorganized, but the Armstrongite believes that the Ukraine war is the first stage of the reacquisition and domination of the countries which once made up the old USSR. And the miasma of another Donald Trump presidency is seen as "giving us a bit longer to get God's work done" in spite of his threats of another thing HWA forecast, tariffs and massive trade wars. Not that any of the ACOGs are actually equipped, credible, or capable of getting an other than invisible message out in the first place! They see the obvious and growing threat of global climate change as being simply a competing apocalypse, possibly the atheists' counterfeit of the real event. They say that it is a hoax by the Chinese to destroy the US, even as we watch the Chinese vigorously participate in clean energy and technology, exporting it to other nations, and winning awards for it.
This is a crazy, crazy, meshuggeneh world, with random events happening all the time. Mankind was created in God's image in that he stands alone amongst the animal kingdom in the ability to exercise dominion over his environment. Yet he is cursed with his human emotions. Man can fix things, and extract what he needs for his existence, or he can destroy and make them worse. What we see is a mixture, a whack-a-mole, with various factions and events continuously popping up in our faces. Nobody has the blueprint for history, or even half the answers, yet HWA presented his version of "truth" and as a total solution for his members. The theories he used were more devastating than the theories which he condemned, and have been conclusively disproven on so many levels that nobody need fear them.
If there is one thing I've learned in my years on this planet, it is that beliefs often have little to do with fact. There is also very little original thinking. People are generally repeaters. It's why God gave us parrots, so that we can see what we really look like! People pick and choose from what the original thinkers have to offer, and believe those things which appeal to their own likings, wants, and needs. The success and quality of our lives, and collectively, our nation or our world is based on these choices.
BB