That's exactly why "Laodicean" became the ultimate scare-tactic buzzword, swung around like a flaming sword to terrify the sheep into lockstep obedience and keep everyone nicely controlled in their little pen of fear.
Just today (or whenever the Great Bwana deigns to drop his latest revelation), the self-anointed, His Magnificance, the Great Bwana Bob Thiel—dream-certified prophet extraordinaire, apostle, chief overseer, and undisputed Great Bwana, sovereign lord of all legitimate spiritual insight, prophecy, and double-blessed dreams—has bestowed upon us a video featuring one of his devoted acolytes. This loyal minion piously warns the trembling faithful to steer clear of any dreaded Laodicean "characteristics" listed below. Because, clearly, if you're one of those pathetic, lukewarm backsliders who dares to believe any of these so irrelevant notions, you're basically spitting in the face of Bob Thiel's divine appointment. How dare you refuse to bow down and acknowledge him as the infallible fountainhead of all truth? That is literally what this all boils down to. People not acknowledging Bob and his church as correct.
The audacity!
Repent, or face the wrath of the one true end-time overseer!
55 things Laodicean backsliders may believe
(I removed the names of the various COGs he attached ot each accusation below,
and it highlights the complete absurdity of this list.)
Many COG groups do not officially teach and/or do not believe in the idea of Church eras
Many COG groups do not believe that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God still needs to be preached to the world as a witness per Matthew 24:14 , do not really make that a high priority, or do so in less than truly loving the truth, hence do not have the real Philadelphian work. As only the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the hour of trial that will come on the whole world, they will not understand when Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled or when to flee per Matthew 24:15. Hence they do not have or lead the Philadelphian work. Only the Philadelphians are promised to be protected from the hour of trial that will come on the whole world
At least three groups misunderstand the Gospel and COG doctrines so much that I question if their top leaders are actually converted members of the COG. The leaders of those groups have had major predictions be proven false.
Many, if not most, COG groups do not realize that the Great Tribulation begins with the King of the North invading the USA. UK, and/or their Anglo-Saxon descended allies
Many COG groups misunderstand the identity of the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43),
Some teach that there is no biblically-required King of the South
Some have insisted that the final King of the South will be from the nation of Ethiopia. This is partially based upon a mistranslation in the KJV version of the Bible as well as a position that the late Herbert Armstrong once held. However, he changed his position in the 1960s and 1970s to an Arabic-Muslim confederation.
Several COG groups clearly misunderstand Daniel 9:27, the second half of which ties in with Daniel 11:31 and Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:15. Those who misunderstand it will not have a proper pre-warning of what is happening nor likely know when the Great Tribulation will begin
Various COG groups have so many areas of undefined prophecy that they will not know what certain events will mean
A couple of groups, have been repeatedly proven wrong about their dates for the start of the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ. Those who rely on the leaders of those groups really do not understand biblical prophecy.
Certain groups teach improper interpretations of the 1335, 1290, and 1260 days of Daniel 12 or have other problems with that that they will not understand when the Great Tribulation will start.
Most COG groups fail to understand Habakkuk 2:2-8 and hence are not properly getting the warning out to the USA and UK
At least one group (LCG) is no longer certain that France or certain other Israelitish nations will support the Beast power
Many COG groups have various ‘Elijah heresies’
Some think that either there is no Elijah to come
Some independents and some groups insist that the late Herbert W. Armstrong was the final ‘Elijah to come’ despite the fact that he has been dead since 1986, and that death disqualifies him according to his writing about that
Leaders of at least two groups who once insisted publicly that Herbert Armstrong must be the final Elijah, now falsely claim that they hold that role.
At least one group has confused the final Elijah with the return of Jesus
Many groups do not understand the differing persecutions (and other matters) to come in Daniel 7:25, 11:30-39, Matthew 24:9-22, and Revelation 12:14-17, hence when the prophesied wave of persecution initially hits the Philadelphians primarily (and not them), they will not see this persecution as evidence that the Great Tribulation is about to begin.
Most groups that came out of groups once led by the late Garner Ted Armstrong do not seem to teach that there is a physical place of safety (despite what Revelation 12:14-16 teaches), hence they will not be inclined to flee towards one just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation
One CG7 group has the place of safety as the 'sea of glass' and before the Bible says Christians will be there.
Most ‘independents’ do not believe that they need to ‘gather together’ prior to the time to flee despite what Zephaniah 2:1-3 teaches, hence it is not likely they will be inclined to flee together when a group they are not part of does just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation
At least one group misunderstands the final Prince of Rosh. Those who insist on a pre-return of Jesus Christ for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 will be disappointed as that is in scriptural error
At least one COG group basically teaches that most of the events of Revelation have already taken place and no one needs to be concerned about coming persecution as none supposedly is coming
At least one COG group erroneously believes that the abomination of desolation of Daniel 11:31 occurs after the King of the North invades the King of the SouthAt least one group totally misunderstands various prophecies in Haggai and Zechariah and have expected a type of COG reunification that is not prophesied. Those who rely on this and other misinterpretations will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin.
At least one group erroneously teaches that the ‘Falling Away’ warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2 has mainly to do with the world and Protestants and not the Church of God
Some groups teach that the man of sin who sits in the temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) is the Antichrist/false prophet, not the Beast of the Sea. Yet, it is this Beast of the Sea, the final King of the North (Daniel 11:35-36). So, when this happens, those who hold to the wrong position will not understand its prophetic ramifications. The Beast identity of the ‘son of perdition’ (cf. Revelation 17:7-11) is important to understand in the end times.
At least two groups teach that the ‘man of sin’ is (or could be) Joseph Tkach, Jr.
At least one group has improperly declared Satan will enter a COG leader to make him the man of sin
A few teach that a Jewish temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt before Jesus returns
At least two groups teach that the Beast power will consist of 10 or 11 current nations in the European Union
Some groups teach that the ten kings are to be in charge of ten regions around the world as opposed to being a primarily European power
None of the Laodicean or Sardis COGs seem to teach that the "strongest fortresses" in Daniel 11:39 refers to the USA--but it does
At least two groups seem to teach that the first verse in the Daniel 11 sequence relating to the beginning of the Great Tribulation is Daniel 11:40
The leader of at least one former group has claimed that the Great Tribulation could begin within a year for the last dozen or so years.
One group (CGF, a PCG split) claimed that the Great Tribulation would begin in 2023--but that was too early
At least one group has publicly claimed that God has no prophets today and will not have any until the two witnesses are empowered.
At least one group teaches that the Beast power is not European.
At least one group teaches that the European Union will collapse like the old Roman Empire.
One group erroneously teaches that Vladimir Putin is the Prince of Rosh of Ezekiel 38
One group taught that Hillary Clinton would be President of the United States by now; whereas one strongly asserted that Donald Trump would remain in office and Joe Biden would not assume office.
One group erroneously taught that half of the Laodiceans would die before April 30, 2021
At least two groups assert that the three angels of Revelation 14 are (or may be) humans, not angels
Two groups have falsely asserted that the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 was Herbert W. Armstrong.
At least two groups have taught that a US president is the King of the North or could be the Antichrist.
Many groups do not teach much about prophecy
Although one group was told in 2004 that Daniel 11:30 involved the USA having a naval confrontation with Europe, it does not teach it.
Many groups wrongly assert that Benito Mussolini was the sixth king of Revelation 17:10 that "is," but that was too long ago
Nearly all COG groups and independents do not accept that God has been fulfilling prophecies of Acts 2:17-18
Laodicean groups often say the end is near, but do not have a history of explaining when each of the first three seals of Revelation 6 may have been opened, or at least an ante-type of those has been happening.
One group has published, without retraction, that Russia is/may be one of the two legs of Nebuchadnezzar's vision.
One group has published that Ukraine may be the leading nuclear force against Europe. Ukraine, however, has no nuclear weapons
Most groups have no teaching about Iran and Isaiah 22:6-9 or teach wrongly about it, hence this is another area that are lacking knowledge in
Most groups do not teach that Gaza will end up with terrritory that Israel now dominates
I can simplify the list for Bob.
ReplyDeletePhiladelphian Christians (a) have all the correct doctrines, and (b) display a spirit of brotherly love and humility that doesn't let them consider themselves more favored or better than other Christians.
(b) clearly disqualifies Bob from being a Philadelphian Christian. No need for a longer list.
Both the ACOG'S and the Evangelical/Fundamentalist types are endless prophecy speculaters. Both need to put this nonsence aside, and consentrate on the Gospel, namely teaching their people about Jesus Christ, his dying to shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins, his resurrection that gave us the way to eternal life, and the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ himself warning people to watch the signs and the times they find themselves living in and to pray.
DeleteThank you Bob for pointing out the many errors of the cog movement.
ReplyDeleteIt clears up much confusion. Although some will say it adds to it.
You alone are right. We just couldn’t see it. Silly us.
On a serious note, my heart goes out to the victims of the terrible shootings in the US and in Australia at a Jewish community celebration of Hanukkah. Tragic events. Thy Kingdom come.
This era thing is actually antithetical to Christianity when you carefully consider all of the implications and unintended consequences! Is the only reason we desire to be Christians to save our own asses by making it to the place of alleged safety??? And wasn't that HWA's hook back in the 1950s and '60s??? You can be spared if you join "God's True Church"? A real Christian attitude would be one of sacrifice for others, like giving up our own place for someone else who was perhaps infirm, had less stamina, or lower tolerance for pain. Someone with a family if we were a loner. Paul implied that he would willingly give up his eternal salvation if it meant that the Jews who did not buy into the message of Jesus Christ could somehow believe and be saved. Speaking of shootings, when the shots were fired at the Country Western concert up in Las Vegas a few years back, older people who had pretty much lived their lives were laying on top of their younger loved ones, shielding them from the bullets. I knew some of the people who were at that concert, one of whom was interviewed on talk radio! That was one situation which sorely tested people. When it was all over, you really knew where they stood!
ReplyDeleteI believe many people were shocked about ten years ago when studies in behavioral science demonstrated that the children who were born to parents in cults and high demand religions exhibited the same types of symptoms and behavioral anomalies as did children born to narcissistic parents who were into their own hobbies or careers to the extent that they did not properly administer to their childrens' emotional needs, or make them feel secure. The children in the study groups knew that they were in second place, and expendable, relegated to nearly afterthought status for their parents. Some experienced a plethora of problems and anxiety.
This is just one of many areas in which the doctrines and beliefs of Armstrongism do more harm, tearing members down rather than buliding up. They call it understanding, but it is no such thing. It is fear-mongering and coercion, and you just don't earn any reward for modifying your behavior because you were coerced.
BB
Who cares about some genocidal scum who got a taste of their own medicine?
ReplyDeleteWhatever in the world are you flapping your piehole about?
DeleteBob is a medical quack, but the problem isn't the taste of his medicines, it's their ineffectiveness. And it's a leap to call him or his patients genocidal, though his spiritual lies may be genocidal to their eternal destiny.
DeleteAnon @ 5:31:14 PM PST
DeletePlease elaborate.
Otherwise I’d think you were drinking radiator coolant.
Oh, that's ol' Adolf, commenting about Bondi Beach, 5:54. Every once in a while Gary lets him through so we know there are still some sick puppies lurking around. Happy Hanukkah, Adolf!
DeleteBob's points are academic trivia. They have absolutely nothing to do with everyday living. The man is lost in a sea of non essentials.
ReplyDeleteWhat about personal growth? Where's articles on practical living such as understanding and dealing with narcissists? Rather the ACOGs hide such knowledge in order to keep their members ignorant and controllable.
Items in the list that are intended to show that only the author properly knows prophecy.
ReplyDeleteThis motive illustrates he sheer emptiness of it all. The reason being a whole lot of prophetic commentary is just conjecture and one can't be dogmatic.
Armstrong had the same flaw and his failures numbered in the scores if not the hundreds.
Louis Rubin should really investigate what's going on in Africa 🌍 instead of Making Dr Bobby his Prophet God. I have no respect for Louis or Steve Dupee-as they should know better and have a brain to think with- you don't follow a person that has Bad fruits. You all can pretend and say it doesn't matter and you must follow Church Government- but if you knew it all was true ? Could you follow Bob Thiel? I don't think so. Best prove all things Guys, otherwise your without excuse. Keep paying your tithes to Witchdoctors and Adulterers, that's so righteous isn't it.
ReplyDeleteNow that Africa is falling apart, Bob needs a second career. Let's see! He's already making people laugh, so I'm thinking he could turn to comedy, and do an ACOG version of Jeff Foxworthy!
ReplyDelete"If you're headin' out to the Feast of Tabernacles lookin' to pick up chicks, you might be a Laodicean!"
"If you sneak off to a superbowl party, and it's the sabbath, you might be a Laodicean!"
"If you voted for President Trump because you thought he could stall the tribulation, you might be a Laodicean,"
"If you got behind on your tithes, and are playin' the Lotto hopin' to catch back up, you might be a Laodicean!"
"If you spray your mouth with Binaca before services on the Day of Atonement, you might be a Laodicean!
Oh well, maybe not. That material isn't really funny, and even if it were, it's got a really small audience. Guess he's better off with his witch doctors.
Whoa! Little Booby Thiel must have too much time on his hands to keep track of the teachings of all these various ACOGs and their grandparent COG7D (claimed to be the dead Sardis era by HWA). Perhaps this is why we haven’t seen Booby Thiel morph himself into his animated alternative identity, Cartoon Bob, lately.
ReplyDeleteOf course, missing in Booby Thiel’s list of 55 useless nuggets of worthless information is any references to Jesus Christ’s biblical message to the Church of Laodicea found in Revelation 3:14 – 19:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
So Bob, where is your list in the above referenced scriptures? I can’t find any (even remotely) relevant of your 55 useless items in the Message to the Church of Laodicea. Therefore, you are preaching unbiblical useless information with your list!
Typical of a delusional person.
Richard
The only purpose of his 55-point list was to highlight himself and show the COG groups that he alone is correct. It was more about proving he is "correct" than proving them all wrong. His narcissism bleeds through everything.
Delete