AiCOG: Comparing Cults: Armstrongism vs. Mormonism The Odd Offshoots of Christianity

 

Comparing Cults: Armstrongism vs. Mormonism

The Odd Offshoots of Christianity

by AiCOG

Christianity has seen its fair share of offshoots, but few have managed to build full-fledged religious empires out of creative reinterpretations of doctrine quite like Armstrongism and Mormonism. Both claim to be the one true restoration of the faith, both thrive on apocalyptic urgency, and both have an unhealthy obsession with their human founders. If we put them in a room together, they might just form a new sect called the Church of Fraud of Latter-Gay Snakes.

Despite their theological differences, Armstrongism and Mormonism share an eerie number of similarities, especially in how they twist scripture, demand cult-like loyalty, and add extra-biblical revelations. While orthodox Christianity remains rooted in the teachings of Christ and the apostles, these two movements have concocted alternate histories, bizarre eschatologies, and extra-scriptural authorities that would make even the most eccentric televangelist blush. So, let’s take a ride through the land of self-proclaimed prophets, angelic encounters, and prophetic date-setting, all while contrasting these heretical hijinks against real Christian doctrine.

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1. Self-Appointed Prophets and the Art of Self-Promotion

Cults:
Both Armstrongism and Mormonism are built on the charisma (or narcissism) of their founders. Joseph Smith and Herbert W. Armstrong were men of vision—quite literally, in Smith’s case, since he claimed to see angels giving him golden plates. Armstrong, on the other hand, didn't need plates; he simply received "truth" that had supposedly been lost for 1900 years.

Christianity:
Orthodox Christianity, by contrast, isn’t reliant on a single human figure for legitimacy. Jesus Christ alone is the foundation (Ephesians 2:20), not a conman with an overactive imagination or a failed ad-man turned apostle. Real Christianity doesn’t hinge on the latest visionary’s new revelations but on the unchanging truth of the gospel.

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2. Extra-Biblical Scripture: Because One Bible Just Isn't Enough

Cults:
Mormons have the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Armstrongists don’t technically have a second Bible, but they may as well, given the sheer volume of Armstrong’s writings treated as inspired. Reading Armstrong’s "Mystery of the Ages" is practically a rite of passage for the faithful, much like a young Mormon memorizing passages from Joseph Smith’s works.

Christianity:
Orthodox Christianity, however, sees the Bible as a complete and sufficient revelation from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). No need for hidden plates, angelic visitations, or restored truths from men who conveniently declare themselves the only ones to receive them.

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3. The Cult of Personality: When Leaders Become Demigods

Cults:
Mormonism has Joseph Smith and a long succession of "prophets, seers, and revelators." Armstrongism had Herbert W. Armstrong, and when he died, the movement splintered into various factions, each with its own leader vying for the title of supreme Restorer of Truth™. The legacy has continued, with figures like Jon Brisby and Stephen Flurry ensuring that devotion to Armstrong remains alive and well.

Christianity:
Meanwhile, Christianity revolves around Christ (Colossians 1:18). No apostolic succession of self-proclaimed prophets is needed. Christians are called to follow Jesus, not the latest leader who claims divine authority.

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4. Restored Truth Syndrome: Everyone Else Got It Wrong Until NOW

Cults:
Armstrongism and Mormonism both thrive on the belief that historical Christianity completely lost the truth for centuries—until their respective leaders conveniently rediscovered it. Mormons claim the church went apostate after the death of the apostles, while Armstrongists believe Christianity went off the rails shortly after the first century, only to be corrected by Armstrong in the 20th century.

Christianity:
But if Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18), how could Christianity have been lost for nearly two millennia? Orthodox Christianity doesn’t suffer from this messiah complex; it trusts that God preserved His word and His church throughout history.

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5. Eschatology: The End is Always Near!

Cults:
Both movements have a flair for the dramatic when it comes to the end times. Mormons have their elaborate prophecies about America’s role in the last days, while Armstrongists have spent decades predicting the Great Tribulation (spoiler: it’s always just a few years away). When dates fail, they just move the goalposts—a strategy that would make doomsday cults proud.

Christianity:
Meanwhile, biblical Christianity acknowledges that while Christ will return, we don’t set dates or indulge in conspiracy theories (Matthew 24:36). The gospel isn’t about fear-based urgency but about faith in Christ.

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6. Works-Based Salvation: Jumping Through Hoops for the Kingdom

Cults:
Mormonism and Armstrongism both preach a form of works-based salvation. Mormons require temple rituals, celestial marriage, and a lifetime of good standing with the church to reach the highest heaven. Armstrongists insist on Sabbath-keeping, holy day observance, and dietary laws, treating grace as something to be supplemented with proper rule-following.

Christianity:
Christianity, on the other hand, teaches salvation by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). No temple endowments, no required feast days—just faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel is simple, but that doesn’t sell as well as an intricate system of legalistic hoops.

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7. Secretive Doctrines: Because a Good Cult Always Has Hidden Knowledge

Cults:
Mormons have secret temple ceremonies with handshakes that resemble something out of a Freemason playbook. Armstrongists have their "deeper understanding" of prophecy and hidden knowledge about the identity of modern-day Israel. Both groups pride themselves on having access to truths that outsiders just don’t get.

Christianity:
Christianity has no need for secret knowledge. The gospel is openly preached to all (Romans 10:9-10). There’s no need for secret handshakes, coded language, or obscure prophetic interpretations that only the enlightened few can grasp.

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Conclusion: Christianity Versus Counterfeits

Armstrongism and Mormonism share a lot in common—man-centered leadership, extra-biblical revelations, legalism, and esoteric doctrines. They twist the Bible to fit their theological narratives and demand loyalty to their self-proclaimed prophets. While they differ in specific doctrines, they both function as counterfeit versions of Christianity that elevate their founders and institutions over the simple, powerful message of the gospel.

Orthodox Christianity, by contrast, has no need for secret doctrines, apocalyptic fear-mongering, or new revelations from modern-day prophets. It stands firm on the gospel of Jesus Christ, who alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). No Armstrong, no Smith—just Christ.

Perhaps the next time a pair of young men on bicycles or a zealous Armstrongite tries to hand you a booklet, you can hand them a Bible and remind them that the real restoration happened 2000 years ago—and it was finished on the cross. ✝

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Comparing Cults: Armstrongism vs. Mormonism © 2025 by Ai-COG is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

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Dave Pack Reveals New Truth That Is For Certain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is for sure this time!

Jesus arrives on March 29, 2025

 

 Dave  Pack - Christ Returns March 29, 2025 

   

 Dave Pack - I'm More Certain Christ Will Return March 29, 2025

Misunderstanding the Intent of the Torah: A Fundamental Armstrongist Mistake

 

The Coming of Grace (Fair Use)

Misunderstanding the Intent of the Torah

A Fundamental Armstrongist Mistake

By Scout

 

When I was a teen, I became aware of Jews and Judaism.  And one of the first things I learned about Jews is that they did not believe in an afterlife.   That was not quite accurate.  But this was the view among some midwestern Protestants.  According to an article in the Jerusalem Post newspaper more than half the Jews in the United States believe there is no heaven or hell.  The same article states, “…with the exception of some kabbalistic texts, there is virtually no mention or description whatsoever of heaven in the Tanach (Bible).”  So, it is no wonder that the afterlife does not get much air time in Judaism. 

In fact, the book of the Bible that some scholars believe was most likely written by Moses, the Book of Deuteronomy, offers no promises concerning a salvation that involves life eternal.  The Torah was never presented as a pathway to a heavenly salvation.  It was offered as the way that the descendants of Israel could live an earthly life of blessing.  Leviticus 18:5 states, “You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.”  It’s all about living by the laws while you’re alive on this earth.  You might have noticed that many of the laws are earthbound.  They involve the seventh day, which food you should eat, what is clean and unclean, how you should treat your slaves – concerns that are not likely to exist in heaven. 

So, it is odd that someone would conclude that the Torah is the pathway to eternal life.  But someone did.  And I have no idea how it happened.  The Pharisees during the time of Christ came to believe somehow that there was a resurrection.  The Sadducees, the priestly caste, the people whom one would believe to be closest to the scripture, did not believe in a resurrection.  And the Pharisees stirred up some dust in the early Christian church over this.  Those Pharisees who professed belief in Christ began to push the idea that circumcision and Torah observance were required for salvation.  

Fast forward to the Twentieth Century.  Herbert Armstrong, Herman Hoeh and Rod Meredith concluded that Torah observance, which did not contain any kind of promise of a wonderful world tomorrow, was a requirement for salvation.   Meredith wrote, “Paul shows right here that God’s law is not abolished — that it is "written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart" (II Cor. 3:3).  God's laws — His commandments, statutes and judgments — are to be in our hearts — we are to live them by the power of God's Spirit.”  (Rod Meredith in “Is Obedience to God Required for Salvation?”)  Hoeh observed that the “statutes and laws magnify the Ten Commandments.”  So, the Torah is just as binding as the Decalogue in Armstrongist doctrine.  In doing this, they were recruiting the Torah to do something that it was never intended to do – be a pathway to salvation as defined by Jesus. 

There is a revealing contrast in John 1:17.   John wrote, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”   And it is grace that leads to salvation as we know from Ephesians 2.  Paul wrote in Galatians 5, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”   The Armstrong-Hoeh-Meredith model of using the Torah to secure salvation is like trying to use a wet noodle as a crowbar.

 

 

 

"It's not your fault you were born in this generation and will not get eternal life like the rest of us"

 

Are you in danger of being infected by spiritual herpes?

 

More words of wisdom from the Kitchen Bros on returning to the one true Worldwide Church of God. If you have joined any splinter group and fail to return to the true WCG then you are choosing to stay in the bed of harlots and will be infected by spiritual herpes. Who knew!!!!!! 

Is it any wonder that in 2025 Armstrongism continues to reach new levels of absurdity?

So this Bible Study touched on a scripture in Song of Solomon 5:3, of Christ or the King desiring to have those who have separated to repent and come back as His Bride a/k/a the Worldwide Church of God!

But notice, in verse 6, getting ready too late, the King withdrew Himself! He led His future wife to a place of safety in final preparation for their marriage!! He was no longer there to gather the ones who weren’t zealous in getting closer to Him!

But they ended up in that position through separation! That’s how Satan gets ahold of some of us in the Church! He gets them uninterested in God’s Work, gets them separated from those of the Church, and feeds them heresy to keep them away.

So he sent wolves to create a “break”.

Then he used that “break” and creates a solution, namely another church group is formed. Then he says “you can’t return, that church has died!” That is the blinders or strong delusion, that keeps the people attending the new groups.

So the warning to those who have fell victim to Satan’s work, is to spare them as Jewels meant for saving! If they don’t respond soon enough, they will get left behind, and Satan will wage war on them as God says He will. Because he too was also watching them run to the door too late.

So it behooves us to remember, and to get back to being the Worldwide Church of God, and draw close to Jesus Christ! Because yes, it may feel good to stay in that bed of a harlot, but the spiritual herpes will grab you and you won’t make it to Christ in time unless you become ZEALOUS and repent quickly and adjust yourself to run run run to Jesus Christ! For He alone in your savior! He alone is your King! He alone is your husband! There is no other! What are you waiting for dear brethren? We are to be ready for marriage! So Run!

Rick Shabi: Responding to unexpected trials and other musings

 

United Church of God recently voted out Rick Shabi as President of the church. It came as a shock to many in the UCG. His detractors are quick to point out that all Presidents have to go through the same "vetting" process every 3 years to see if they will have their presidency extended, so it should be no concern if anyone is not asked to return, so everyone should stop whining. Of course it should be pointed out that there was MUCH prayer and fasting that went into this demotion, if you really believe that.

It apparently came as a shock to Shabi as he writes about the ordeal but couches it in such a way that all UCG members need to live with unexpected diversions in their lives and or bumps along the way. Only by surviving ordeals can one prove to God that they are loyal to the truth once delivered. All of these trials make the United Church of God one united body. Whatever that is.

There is a lot to be read into his comments below:

From the President…

Greetings brethren around the world, 

 

It is a pleasure to be able to write to you from the home office, especially having had the opportunity to meet so many of you over the last few years. Indeed, we are a worldwide family whom God has called and is in the process of making us one. 

Yet, almost 30 years alter they STILL are not one.  

During our lives, there are things that come about that we may not understand now. Some have had unexpected early deaths in their families, others have had serious health issues that forever altered their lives, others have had businesses or homes just taken away. 

 

We may question why at times, but through it all we learn to have faith and know God is in control. When we go through tests or trials, God is looking at what is in our hearts. Ultimately, it is our hearts that God is most concerned with. 

 

How do we respond to unexpected trials? How do we handle setbacks in our lives? And what are the real motives in our hearts? In Psalm 139:23, David asked God to search his heart. As we approach Passover, do we ask that of ourselves? And when going through trials, do we wait for God, as David says (Psalm 27:14) or do we take matters into our own hands? 

What would the Church of God do if everything were not a "pre-Passover trial"? This excuse has been thrown about so many times it carries no weight any more. Remember, the god of Armstrongism has given Satan, the great tempter and trial maker extraordinaire, the most powerful position in the church. He/It welds the power because Jesus has never been let out of his box where the church has kept him securely confined in that mystical land of "someplace".

God is watching us all. We are in a training program for eternity, and only those who truly put their faith in Him and look and trust in Him will be there when Christ returns. Jeremiah 17:10says: “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

If you follow basic Christian understanding, we have all been found wanting, but Christ has justified, redeemed and sanctified his followers. It's not an endless training program to see who gets a passing grade and who doesn't.  

As we are just six weeks from Passover, when we appear before God having examined ourselves and done the necessary preparation, so we may take the Passover in a worthy manner, keep that scripture in mind, and another one like it that we find in Proverbs 3:5-6, which I have quoted regularly over the past few weeks. 

"done the necessary preparation"? What? This just goes to show how little the church really understands the New Covenant. COG Jesus is still confined to his room, out of view, where he watches them all with hidden cameras to see who is doing the most work and striving the hardest. Gold stars are ready at his fingertips to place on the redemption chart next to him (for those who qualify, of course).

 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

That trust in the Lord has not worked too well for UCG since its inception. Division and rebellion has been its hallmark.

Shabi continues:

Thank you 

 

Let me thank all of you for the very gracious and kind emails, texts and phone calls you have sent my way in light of the Council’s decision not to renew me to a second term as president of the United Church of God. Much has been accomplished in moving the work forward during my first term, and my prayer is that the work will continue with vigor, zeal and boldness—always keeping Christ’s commission in mind, always following His lead. Jesus Christ is the head of His Church. 

 

Many have asked if I will continue doing the Biblical Worldview (BW) episodes. The answer is yes. Those will continue, as the Council has asked me to do (and I am happy to do so). Expect a new BW next week. We live in a world that is quickly changing, and it is imperative we continue to preach the gospel and warn the world of what is to come. 

 

Many have asked if I will continue the weekly Wednesday evening Zoom Bible Studies that we have been doing since 2020. The answer is also yes. Even after we relocate from Cincinnati, we will continue with those studies for the many who join us each week. Those have been a joy to do, and it is wonderful to have so many from so many places join us online each week. If you would ever like to join, you can find the link, and all past Bible Studies, at www.ucg.org/congregations/home-office-bible-study.

It will be interesting to see how long UCG puts up with this before they put the brakes on him for drawing too much of a following. We have seen that happen in every CG splinter group since the great apostasy. 

Pre-Passover daily Bible reading program 

As I close this letter for this week, let me bring your attention to a Bible reading program we have assembled which will lead us with scriptures each week up to Passover and through the First Day of Unleavened Bread. 

 

Beginning tomorrow (Friday, March 7), a link to the reading program for each day of each week will be available on the home page of UCG.org. Please see the full announcement about it below.
The program begins in Exodus as God prepares Moses and the people of Israel for their departure from Egypt, then progresses into the epistles where we are admonished what to “put out” of our lives then “put in” as we eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Then, the New Testament scriptures that speak of Christ’s days and words leading to His final Passover on earth, remind us of His love for all mankind and His desire for us to be “one.” 

Instead of focusing on Galatians, Hebrews, and the redemptive qualities of the New Covenant and what it has already accomplished for them, they still look backwards at all of the cucumbers, leeks, and garlic, placing their focus on things past and the law that kept them as slaves in a classroom under a schoolmaster.  

It will be pleasing to God and unifying for His people, all over the world, to be reading, meditating and examining ourselves in light of the scriptures we read each day. The word of God is unifying—if we read it, heed it and apply it into our lives. My prayer is that we all do this and strive to come together as one, bringing glory to God’s name as we live our individual and collective lives.
Take care, brethren. Our thoughts and prayers are with and for all of you. 

 

In Christ’s service,
Rick Shabi

As real life Christians are currently being slaughtered in Syria, with men, women and children crucified on crosses, being brutally murdered while being told to crawl and bark like dogs, COG leaders and far too many members think they need to be "one" and loyal to a certain COG splinter group or leader. Today's COG groups have no idea what being a real follower of Jesus is. Maybe instead of focusing upon oneself this "passover season" focus upon what being a real follower of Jesus entails and ask yourself if you are really ready to die for him or that it is more important to you to have strength to remain as "one" in order to please your group leaders?

Armstrongism has proven one thing over and over again, the hundreds of splinters have never been one and never will be.

Why is there such a lack of empathy in the Churches of God?

 

The following was on Exit and Support Network from a former LCG young adult. I could go on and on about similar issues in various COG groups, including the old Worldwide Church of God and the complete lack of empathy that they all exhibit/ed. The blog has had endless posts about the disrespect that the COG's have towards their followers going on 15 years and they STILL cannot do what is right.

I was a third generation Christian. My grandparents (on both sides) started attending WCG when my parents were children. My parents met as students at Ambassador College. They started attending United (UCG) shortly after Armstrong passed and the whole Grace Communion International controversy started. As a child, I attended multiple WCG splinter groups. When I was in middle school we started attending Living (LCG). I was disfellowshipped during high school. I have family members who still attend. I am in my twenties now and incredibly happy with my life. 

 

I endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from my family and the cult members. After I stopped attending, I was stalked by “church” [cult] members on social media and in person. I wish I had someone like me to confide in when I was young. 

 

I was very aware of the hypocrisy and hateful gossip spread amongst WCG members from a young age. For a while, i thought it was just my family. One instance of this that really set my views in stone was when there was a skiing accident at one of the youth camps. A young woman passed away in said accident. Due to the well known negativity surrounding her family, there were adults and teens saying they were glad she had died and hoped her family would learn from her death. I had never witnessed such a lack of empathy and remorse from a group of people calling themselves godly.

I started internally questioning why men in leadership roles were also supporting this negativity. Well respected parents with ordained titles who have children the young woman’s age saying her parents DESERVED to experience this loss. And then those same people would turn around and speak about “loving thy neighbor.” 

 

This same instance with different topics happened time and time again. I got sick of it quite quickly when I recognized the pattern. After speaking up about this amongst peers and eventually adults, I was disfellowshipped for spreading “bad gossip” and dishonoring the ordained. I was told to stop, apologize, and repent, but I said no.