Who is David C. Pack?

 

Who is David C. Pack?

Who is David C. Pack, Pastor General of The Restored Church of God?

2 Peter 1:20 – Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Matthew 24:48 – But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming.

Luke 21:8 – And He said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go you not therefore after them.

2 Peter 2:3 – And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.

Zechariah 11:5 – Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

Ezekiel 34:3 – You eat the fat, and you clothe you with the wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock.

Revelation 3:17 – Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Acts 20:30 – Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Matthew 7:15 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Jeremiah 14:14 – Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shalt not be afraid of him.

1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Peter 2:1 – But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Zechariah 11:16 – For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that stands still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

2 Peter 3:16 – As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ephesians 4:14 – That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Matthew 16:4 – A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.

Psalm 31:18 – Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Psalm 10:7 – His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

1 Kings 20:11 – And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girds on his harness boast himself as he that puts it off.

Isaiah 59:3 – For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.

James 3:11-12 – Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Isaiah 37:23 – Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom hast you exalted your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

Amos 8:12 – And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

2 Corinthians 11:4 – For if he that comes preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.

Matthew 12:31 – Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.

Revelation 22:18-19 – For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Exodus 20:7 – You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.

1 Corinthians 14:8 – For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

James 1:8 – A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

2 Timothy 3:7 – Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now you know David C. Pack.

Marc Cebrian

See: Who Is David C. Pack?

Good Friday: And the dead walked out of their graves

On Good Friday, you know Jesus died.

That the sun went dark. The curtain tore.

--And the dead walked out of their graves---

-

Most Christians skip that part.

But the Gospel of Matthew doesn’t

“Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split. Tombs broke open.” —Matthew 27:50–52 Not metaphor. Not parable.

“The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection 

and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” —Matthew 27:53 The Gospel says this happened. No explanation. No follow-up. Just: the dead walked.

We don’t know their names or what they looked like. 

We don’t know who saw them—only that “many” did. 

Imagine: you buried your grandfather years ago. 

You see him walking through the city gate. 

Would you be terrified or happy?

This moment appears nowhere else in Scripture. Only Matthew records it. Theologians debate why. Is it a foretaste of the general resurrection? A symbol of victory over death? Or did something crack open that day which couldn’t be undone?

The Gospels don’t shy away from the strangeness of Good Friday. -Darkness at noon. -The veil in the Temple torn top to bottom. -An earthquake. And then this— Holy dead walking into the city like silent witnesses.

Early Christians believed this happened. The dead walked. Not as zombies, not as spirits—but as a sign. A moment when the old world was undone. A hinge in history when death itself faltered.

St. John Chrysostom believed the dead who rose were prophets and martyrs. Others say it was “holy ones” known to the people of Jerusalem. Not generic souls. People with names.

And what did they say?

Did they speak? Did they vanish again? Matthew doesn’t tell us. He leaves it hanging with this mystery in the middle of salvation. Was it terror or joy the living experienced at the sight?

This moment is not the Resurrection. It’s not Pentecost. It’s not joy yet. It’s grief and rupture and shaking earth. A world destabilized. As if creation itself could not bear what had happened on Golgotha.

For early Christians, this wasn’t just a sign. It was a warning. That Christ’s death didn’t just forgive sin—it judged the world. It split history in two. The end had begun. And the dead knew it.

We like to rush from Cross to Resurrection. But there is a deep, dark pause between them. On that Friday, it was not only the Savior who died. The world that had *been died with Him. And the dead rose to prove it.

The grave loses its grip not when Jesus rises— but the moment He dies. That’s the terror of Good Friday. And its hope. Even in death, Christ is Lord.

. Sources: -Gospel of Matthew 27:50–53 -Early Christian interpretations (e.g. Chrysostom homilies) -NT Wright on resurrection theology -Catechism of the Catholic Church (638–640) -Various commentaries on the passion narrative What do you make of the graves breaking open?

From X

AiCOG:Comparing Cults: Armstrongism vs. Adventism Spiritual Cousins or Doctrinal Doppelgängers?

Armstrongism and Adventism—two groups that claim to have restored the “true faith while branding traditional Christianity as hopelessly corrupted. At first glance, they may seem like distant theological relatives, but a closer look reveals just how much they have in common. Both movements emerged from the ashes of William Miller’s failed 1844 prediction, both are obsessed with the Sabbath, both demand legalistic obedience, and both thrive on exclusivity and fear-based theology. And while they insist they are vastly different, the reality is that they are spiritual cousins, marching to the beat of the same doctrinal drum.

But how do these groups stack up against biblical Christianity? Let’s take a deep dive into their tangled beliefs, theological missteps, and their tendency to major in the minors.

A Tale of Two Prophets: Ellen G. White and Herbert W. Armstrong

Adventism has Ellen G. White, Armstrongism has Herbert W. Armstrong—two self-proclaimed spiritual authorities whose followers treat their words as infallible. White’s endless stream of visions and writings gave rise to doctrines like the Investigative Judgment, dietary restrictions, and an almost obsessive emphasis on the Sabbath. Meanwhile, Armstrong took a different route, declaring himself the sole revealer of God's truth in the 20th century, weaving together British Israelism, feast-keeping, and end-times hysteria.

Both figures left behind an undeniable legacy, but the real problem is how their followers treat their writings. While Christians rely on the Bible as the final authority, these groups give their founders’ interpretations a level of reverence that should be reserved for Scripture alone. When your theology is built around a single person's writings rather than the Word of God, you're already off to a bad start.

The Sabbath Obsession: A Badge of Honor or a Theological Distraction?

Few doctrines unite Armstrongites and Adventists more than their shared love for Sabbath observance. Adventists claim that worshiping on Sunday is the mark of the beast, while Armstrongites insist that failing to keep the Sabbath is proof that mainstream Christianity is deceived.

The irony? The early church worshiped on Sunday as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2). Paul even warned against making Sabbath-keeping a requirement (Colossians 2:16-17). Yet, both groups insist that proper worship hinges on this one issue, elevating a ceremonial law above the gospel itself. If the apostles had emphasized the Sabbath as much as these groups do, one would expect the New Testament to be filled with stern warnings about Sunday worship—but it’s not. Instead, we get repeated affirmations that salvation is by grace, not by law-keeping.

Prophetic Faceplants: When Your Predictions Have a 0% Success Rate

Both movements were born out of prophetic failure. William Miller, the grandfather of Adventism, confidently predicted Christ’s return in 1844. When that didn’t happen, his followers scrambled to explain the blunder, leading to the invention of the Investigative Judgment doctrine—a theological band-aid designed to salvage their credibility.

Armstrongism took a different approach, with Herbert W. Armstrong predicting Christ’s return multiple times, each one proving just as wrong as the last. His successors have continued the tradition, adjusting the timelines and insisting that “this time, we’ve got it right.” Meanwhile, Scripture is clear that false prophets are marked by their failed predictions (Deuteronomy 18:22). But why let a little thing like biblical truth get in the way of a good doomsday forecast?

The “One True Church” Syndrome

Both groups suffer from an exclusivity complex. Armstrongites claim that only their splintered mess of groups represents God’s true work on Earth, while Adventists teach that they are the remnant church, holding the final truth before Christ’s return. This mindset creates a cult-like atmosphere where questioning leadership is forbidden, and leaving the group is seen as abandoning God altogether.

The New Testament, however, paints a different picture. The church is not defined by a denomination or adherence to Old Covenant laws, but by faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10). Salvation is not found in a particular group, but in the person of Jesus Himself. Yet both Armstrongism and Adventism build walls of legalism that separate their followers from the broader body of Christ.

The Law, the Feasts, and the Never-Ending To-Do List

While Adventists fixate on the Ten Commandments (especially the fourth one), Armstrongites go even further, insisting that Old Testament feast days are mandatory for Christians. Never mind that Paul explicitly calls these things shadows that have been fulfilled in Christ (Colossians 2:16-17)—for these groups, grace isn’t quite enough. There must always be an extra layer of works, lest their followers become too comfortable in their salvation.

The gospel, however, tells a different story. Christ’s work on the cross was sufficient (John 19:30). The New Covenant sets believers free from the burdens of the law (Galatians 5:1). Yet these groups continue to chain their followers to a system of rules and regulations that Christ Himself fulfilled.

The Fear Factor: Scaring People Into Obedience

Armstrongites warn of an imminent Great Tribulation where only their faithful remnant will be spared. Adventists, not to be outdone, insist that the world will soon enforce Sunday worship, leading to mass persecution of Sabbath-keepers. Both rely on fear-mongering to keep their followers in line, using worst-case scenarios to drive compliance.

Contrast this with the message of orthodox Christianity: assurance in Christ, security in salvation, and a faith built on love rather than fear (1 John 4:18). The gospel invites people to rest in Christ’s finished work—not to live in perpetual anxiety over whether they’re obeying enough rules to make the cut.

Conclusion: A Gospel Distorted

At their core, both Armstrongism and Adventism fail the gospel test. Instead of pointing people to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), they burden their followers with law-keeping, exclusivity, and theological fear tactics. Their leaders claim to have rediscovered “lost truths,” yet in reality, they have simply repackaged old heresies under new names.

So, are Armstrongism and Adventism spiritual cousins? Absolutely. Are they legitimate expressions of Christianity? Not even close. If you want legalism, fear, and theological confusion, these groups have plenty to offer. But if you want the true gospel, look to Christ—not to a prophetess in the 1800s or a self-proclaimed apostle with a failed track record.

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

::Armstrongism investigated:: is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell ::Armstrongism investigated:: that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless they enable payments.

 

Elder Rev. Dr. Percival Thaddeus Grone Responds to Pagan Pools

 

An Urgent Clarification on the Theology of Chlorination

While I commend Brother Gregory F. Attbaum for his bold exposé on the pagan underpinnings of backyard pools, and give thanks that the trumpet has at last begun to sound regarding the dangers of backyard immersion basins, I fear his analysis, though well-intentioned, is perilously shallow. The spiritual implications of recreational water containment go far deeper than he suggests. It is not merely the pagan root of the swimming pool that imperils the soul—but its place in the final sequence of abominations preceding the great and dreadful Day of the Lord. Swimming pools may, I regret to report, play a direct role in ushering in the Beast System foretold in Revelation.

Chlorination and the Sixth Vial

Attbaum rightly notes the pagan roots of public bathing. But he fails to account for the chemical component – specifically, chlorine. This “cleanser” is marketed as a purifier, but as any faithful chemist will confirm, chlorine was first weaponized during World War I. That modern Christians voluntarily immerse themselves in a diluted form of trench gas is nothing short of spiritual Stockholm Syndrome. Chlorinated water, I argue, is a counterfeit baptism—ritually cleansing the body while calcifying the soul.

We have long warned that the pouring out of the sixth vial in Revelation 16 coincides with the drying of the Euphrates—yet few dare to ask: what fills our pools, if not waters drawn from rivers now spiritually desiccated? I submit that chlorine, that acrid deceiver, is the antithetical anointing of the modern Babylonian system. It cleanses not the heart, but masks the stench of moral decay. As in Daniel’s day, the wise shall understand – others shall simply cannonball.

Diving Boards and the Spirit of Rebellion

Let’s now turn to the diving board. What is this spring-loaded plank, if not a launchpad for prideful ascension? In Isaiah 14:13, Lucifer declares, “I will ascend into the heavens.” And so too does the adolescent diver, arching through the air in an act of defiance. The afore-mentioned cannonball is chaos, and the belly flop – though painful – is no less symbolic of man’s fall from grace. What is the backflip, if not a visual metaphor for spiritual backsliding? What is the synchronized dive, if not the ecumenical compromise of the Laodicean age?

Inflatables and the Rise of the Ten-Horned Flamingo

We mustn’t overlook the insidious theology of flotation devices. Is it a coincidence that the unicorn float – a beast of fable – has risen in popularity during this morally compromised age?  Each inflatable is a blasphemous totem, bobbing mockingly and drawing children toward apostasy with their satanic squeakiness.

Consider the flamingo float, pink and grinning, its neck raised in mockery of the humble dove. Only last Tuesday my wife Fabiola had a dream about a great ten-horned flamingo, of which all who hear have attested that it was certainly a vision. In this dream, Fabiola beheld the great flamingo, pink as the sins of Sodom, seated upon many waters. Upon its back rode children, laughing, unmindful of the time. From its ten beaks issued a maddening cacaphony of the phrase “Marco... Polo,” which I have since discerned is an encoded reference to the Mystery of Lawlessness, derived numerologically from the Book of Numbers and The Farmer’s Almanac (1891 edition). Much more can, and will, be discussed about Fabiola’s Flamingo Vision, in the days ahead.

The Deep End: A Gateway to the Abyss?

Here I must speak plainly: the deep end of the pool may, in some cases, serve as a literal portal to the abyss. I have received several troubling electronic mails from concerned saints who report inexplicable cold spots, bottomless shadows, and in one case, a sudden and unexplained craving for shrimp cocktail—clearly a Levitical red flag. I am currently conducting a full spiritual sonar scan of my neighbor’s in-ground pool using a consecrated ladle and an infrared King James Bible.

Prescriptions for the Remnant

•     It is no longer enough to fill the swimming pool with dirt. Dirt can be seduced. Should any faithful reader still possess such a fixture, I urge immediate redemptive action:

•     Drain the pool entirely at sunset on the fifth day, during a waning gibbous.

•     Line the former pool basin with goats’ hair and ash.

•     Fill it with dry hay and a single uncut sheaf of barley.

•     Surround the perimeter with stones engraved with Habakkuk 2:14.

•     Cover it with oilcloth until the third trumpet sounds (or the 1290th day, whichever comes first).

•     Seal the area with a concrete slab inscribed with Psalm 69:15: “Let not the floodwater overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up.”

Over time, this site may be converted into a small, controlled fire pit, assuming the proper blessings are performed and no one brings marshmallows.

Closing Exhortation

Attaboy Attbaum, you have opened the conversation. Now we must complete it. As Christians, we cannot afford to tread water on this issue. We must drain the swamp, the spa, and the above-ground baptismal mimicries that litter our suburbs. Only then can we reclaim our backyards from Baal.

I entreat all saints, sober and watchful, to gird themselves with sackcloth and mosquito netting. The time for splashing is ended. The time of threshing is at hand. Forsake the pool. Flee the deck chair. And remember: “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days” (Daniel 12:12)—preferably dry. Let the Sabbath-keeping remnant and true followers not be found floating when Yah Sohach-El returns.

Yours in prophetic anticipation,

Elder Rev. Dr. Percival Thaddeus Grone 

Senior Lecturer in Applied Eschatology, The Institute for Scriptural Hydraulics

Still Watching Since 1844

Dave Pack: "I Can't Waste My Time With A Bible"

 

Everything is Pagan! Even your pool!

From a reader:

It’s that time of year! People are coming out of the woodwork to tell you that everything you enjoy is pagan. 

The Pagan Peril of the Backyard Pool

By Gregory F. Attbaum, Tomorrow’s World Contributor

In an age where modern conveniences masquerade as progress, discerning Christians must remain vigilant against the subtle encroachments of paganism. One such danger lurks in the backyards of countless homes: the swimming pool. While it may appear as a harmless luxury or a place for family fun, the swimming pool is, in fact, a direct descendant of ancient pagan rituals that glorify false gods and sensual indulgence. In this article, we uncover the shocking truth about this seemingly innocent feature and urge believers to reject its deceptive allure.

The Historical Roots of Pool Paganism

To understand the spiritual peril of swimming pools, we must trace their origins to the ancient world. Archaeological evidence reveals that the earliest pools were constructed by pagan civilizations, such as the Minoans, Egyptians, and Romans, who used them not for recreation but for religious ceremonies. The Minoans, for example, built elaborate water basins in their temples, believed to be offerings to sea deities like Poseidon. Similarly, the Roman piscinae—ornate pools in bathhouses—were dedicated to Neptune and Venus, gods of water and sensuality. These pools were often sites of hedonistic rituals, where participants indulged in fleshly pleasures under the guise of “cleansing” or “worship.”

The Bible warns us against adopting the practices of surrounding nations: “Do not learn the ways of the nations” (Jeremiah 10:2, NIV). Yet, the modern swimming pool is a direct echo of these idolatrous practices, repackaged for today’s unsuspecting homeowner. The very act of immersing oneself in a man-made body of water mirrors the ancient rites of baptism to false gods, a clear affront to the one true God who commands us to “flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).

A Symbol of Worldly Excess

Beyond its pagan roots, the swimming pool embodies the materialism and self-indulgence that characterize our fallen world. The apostle Paul admonishes us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). Yet, what is a swimming pool if not a monument to earthly pleasure? Its construction requires thousands of dollars, countless hours of maintenance, and an obsession with outward appearances—whether it’s the perfect pH balance or the latest pool float shaped like a flamingo. Such vanity distracts from the pursuit of godliness and aligns with the “lust of the flesh” (1 John 2:16).

Moreover, pools foster immodesty, as they encourage scantily clad gatherings that entice both men and women to sin. The backyard pool party, with its focus on sunbathing and socializing, is a modern equivalent of the orgiastic festivals of ancient Babylon. Christians must ask themselves: Can a true follower of Christ justify owning a pool when it so clearly promotes behaviors contrary to biblical standards of purity and humility?

The Environmental Argument: Stewards, Not Squanderers

God entrusted humanity with the care of His creation (Genesis 2:15), yet swimming pools are an ecological disaster. They consume vast amounts of water—a precious resource—in a world where millions lack access to clean drinking water. The chemicals used to maintain pools pollute the environment, harming wildlife and seeping into groundwater. By installing a pool, homeowners not only indulge in pagan-inspired luxury but also violate their God-given responsibility to be stewards of the earth. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Dare we squander His resources for our own fleeting pleasure?

A Call to Repentance

The swimming pool may seem like a harmless fixture of modern life, but its pagan origins, promotion of worldliness, and environmental toll reveal its true nature. As believers, we are called to “come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins” (Revelation 18:4). Owning a pool is not a neutral choice; it is a step toward compromise with a world that rejects God’s truth.

We urge our readers to examine their hearts and their backyards. If a pool sits on your property, consider its spiritual implications. Drain it, fill it with earth, and reclaim that space for godly purposes—perhaps a garden to reflect God’s provision or a prayer space for seeking His will. Let us reject the pagan trappings of this age and live as a “royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9), untainted by the seductive ripples of the swimming pool.

For more resources on living a life free from pagan influences, visit tomorrowsworld.org or request our free booklet, “Unveiling the Idols in Your Backyard.”

Why Do the Churches of God Need So Many Physical Reminders to Keep Them on Track?

The Armstrong Churches of God Need Physical Reminders to Keep Them on Track

The United Church of God (UCG) featured an article on their website titled The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Replacing Sin With the Bread of Life. According to the UCG, "The Days of Unleavened Bread remind us that with God's help we must remove and avoid all sin—symbolized by leaven—and live genuinely by God's commandments in all areas of our life." The article continues: "Today removing leaven from our homes for seven days reminds us that we, too, through prayer and God's help and understanding, must recognize, expel and avoid sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is thus a time of personal reflection. We should meditate on our attitudes and conduct and ask God to help us recognize and overcome our shortcomings." They went on to justify this logic: "We learn by doing. We learn spiritual lessons by doing physical things. Performing the task of deleavening our homes and avoiding leavening for a week reminds us to vigilantly watch for sinful thoughts and actions so we can avoid them."

Unfortunately, the above excerpts from the article are NOT scriptural! Reading through those quotations again one passage of Scripture came immediately to mind. In the book of James, we read: "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:19-27, NLT)

The Bible (Old and New Testaments) teaches us that Jesus Christ has removed our sins (think Atonement). In the book of Psalms, we read "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:12, NLT) In the Gospel of John, we read: "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29, NLT) In the tenth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we read that it was impossible "for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Verse 4) Only Jesus Christ can truly take away our sins! Continuing the thought, we read: "First, Christ said, 'You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them' (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, 'Look, I have come to do your will.' He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand." (Hebrews 10:8-12, NLT)

In that same passage, we are given yet another witness to the same truth (that only Christ can remove our leaven). We read: "And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 'This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day,' says the Lord: 'I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.' Then he says, 'I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.' And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices." (Hebrews 10:15-18, NLT) In other words, we DON'T need to be reminded of sins every year! Christ has removed our leavening - PERIOD!

God does NOT expect Christians to scrupulously remove all of the leaven from their homes - Christ has removed the leavening from our tabernacles, and HE did it one time for ALL sins (past, present, and future)! As Paul wrote to the saints at Philippi, "I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

A TRUE Christian, one who has accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, will have internalized the Two Commandments which motivate every iteration of God's Law: To LOVE God and each other! A real Christian does NOT need to return to the Torah and scrupulously try to follow all of the dos and don'ts listed there! The real Christian needs to be living the Law of LOVE and continuously repenting when he/she becomes aware of sin. A real Christian knows that he/she is a sinner saved by what Christ has done for him/her. A real Christian knows that Jesus Christ FULFILLED everything in the Law, Prophets, and Writings of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of the Christian reality in the UCG article we have been discussing. They flirt with the reality of the symbolism of the true unleavened bread, Jesus Christ. They quote Christ's own commentary on this statement in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John:

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you . . . Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world . . .I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst . . . I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world . . . This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:27-58).

In other words, Jesus Christ is the TRUE unleavened bread - without sin - meant for us to partake of both in our daily lives and in the Eucharist. If we have truly accepted Jesus as our Savior, we will be celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread for the rest of our lives! In short, Christians do NOT need to observe the festival outlined in Torah for the children of Israel. Christ is the epitome of what that festival portrayed. This should be burned into our consciousness. We should NOT need the same physical reminders given to a people who did NOT have access to the Holy Spirit or the Father!

Posted by Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix 

Vic Kubik's Whitewashing Of WCG Implosion And Birth Of UCG

 

Victor Kubik has a long-running blog about his life, church, LifeNets, and personal travels, Victor Kubik's Home Website. He has done a lot of good through his LifeNets organization by helping people all around the world, particularly in Africa and Ukraine.

One of the bigger draws to his blog is his personal reflections on life in the church and his exit from the Worldwide Church of God. He has a recent entry up, Ground Zero — Chapter 12 — From Turmoil to Transition detailing his leaving the WCG during the Great Apostasy, as so many of the splinter groups call it.

One thing for sure about his latest entry it is a huge whitewash of church history and a major gaslighting to those impacted by his maneuverings and shenanigans during those eventful days. He presents himself as an innocent bystander as UCG was being planned and as a poor picked on minister having to deal with the doctrinal changes. Everybody was wrong except for him and a few of his co-conspirators.

Since he wrote this close to Passover, he based the jist of his article on how horrible the Passover season was in the mother church as compared to today with life in the eternally blissful rainbow and cotton candy-filled world that UCG is currently in.

He used this photo to illustrate these two different worlds. The mother church is dark and evil, and UCG is the millennial kingdom of peace and calmness. Excuse me while I go and vomit.

Why this history of Ground Zero? As I write this chapter detailing the final days of our direct engagement with the Worldwide Church of God, there is inescapable irony. I write now just a short time before the Passover of 2025. As I prepare to publish this chapter, thousands of members of the United Church of God plan to peaceably gather around the world for the solemn annual observance of the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Allow me a moment to briefly contrast today with the tumultuous time 30 years ago. In prior chapters I have outlined the internal turmoil associated with unwanted and unasked-for doctrinal dissolution. But also during those years the entire prior focus of the Worldwide Church of God was being forcibly dismantled amidst growing chaos.

Yep, you can tell already this is going to be a barn-burner of a post lamenting the changes to the church and his position as minister as he contrasts this "Passover" season with "Passover " in mid 1990's.

As those in the Church of God fellowship well know, the biblical events of the Passover are crucial to salvation and eternal life. The weeks leading up to the Passover traditionally include intense Bible study and review of the life and standards set by Jesus. During this time, we conduct a thorough examination of where we are in our relationship with God and how we can continue to steadfastly grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We often typically distinguish our present state of a Child of God (1 John 3:2) with the times of our former, pre-baptism thoughts and actions. To one degree or another, we have all come of out of a spiritual Egypt. 

 

Why bring this up? In this pre-Passover season three decades ago, instead of purposeful plans for a traditional peaceful assembly, there was turmoil and pain, even agony. As friends and families were being ripped apart by foreign teachings, no road map or prior planning guided us.

Thirty years ago, we yearned for peace and a place to worship in peace, beginning anew the annual Holy Day cycle that we had learned and understood directly from the Word of God. For many thousands of people, the time of the 1995 Passover was a tough stretch.

A time to remember

The irony? This year of 2025, 30 years removed from the Passover of 1995, there are many baptized members who will observe the Passover this year who had no part in the Worldwide Church of God. To them, the city of “Pasadena” is a place where there is a major annual parade and football game. Church leaders of the day and their actions in the 1980s and 1990s seem all but unknown, perhaps even somewhat irrelevant to a younger generation. While today we have doctrinal peace in our fellowship, we must remember that such peace is something that must be vigilantly safeguarded. 

 

Kubik writes: 

In the history of our fellowship from the 1930s, we saw direct intervention from God to preserve the integrity of the Church, often in the form of an unexpected turn in events or personnel. There was powerful global growth in those times, but not without major challenges.

But this time, it was different. This difference was personally reflected to me by the job and mission that I loved in Church Administration — one where I had the privilege of collaborating with many ministers and members around the world suddenly coming to an abrupt halt. This ended a relationship that began in 1966 with the Worldwide Church of God, one that lasted nearly 30 years before I resigned. 

 

What next?

Suddenly in March of 1995, I was unemployed. Neither my wife Bev nor I had any plans for what to do next or where to go. I went from a high-paced environment to a brief time of wandering and wondering, initially grappling with uncertainty. While Bev and I remained committed to the precious spiritual understanding of what we knew from the Bible, there were few alternatives. Certainly the thought of starting something altogether new was unappealing.

It was well known by many employees in the Landscape and Custodial Depts that many of the men who were soon to jump ship into the "instantaneous and miraculously formed " United Church of God splinter met regularly together in the many months prior to Worlwide Church of God Texas and UCG being formed. Employees watched as these men met in 360 SOG Apts on a regular basis. 

The formation of what later became UCG was a well-planned and well-thought-out entity that was going to provide a secure financial base for as many ministers as possible to jump ship and still keep tier salaries. After all, MONEY is vitally important for a Church of God and to keep one's expected lifestyle fairly intact during the ship jumping.

In those early days before the formation of the United Church of God, just thinking about picking up the pieces was often overwhelming. These were pre-internet days and widespread communication was not simple. There was no widespread network of cell phones with texting capacity and instant 24-7 access to emails. There were no social media platforms with video messaging and links to online resources.

This is pure gaslighting. There were several internet mailing lists actively detailing the doctrinal changes and the rank apostasy of ministers pissed off at the changes. The Good News Grapevine was one excellent course that had a huge internet following. Many readers here today were part of that mailing list and know the truth from the fiction of Kubik's article. There was also the alt.religion.w-w-church-god newsgroup that had a long life and is now nothing more than a giant slobber fest of pro-HWA articles. Members were not in the dark about the shenanigans of Kubik and his crew. The GNG was a major reason more people did not go with UCG. We saw what they were doing and it was disgusting. 

Not soon after GNG started, AOL COG groups formed, and they kept spilling the beans on the changes, then Yahoo groups formed. Armstrongism would never again be the same as it was in the so-called glory days. The long-hidden underbelly of hypocrisy and lies was exposed for all to see, including the United Church of God. This is why today, there is no COG splinter group that is doing an effectual ministry that is world-encompassing and making an impact. The COG presence here in the Los Angeles basin is unknown. No one knows who they are.

Kubik then goes on to portray himself and the other dissenters as beacons of faith in a cruel world.                  

Our faith, however, remained strong and intact, even in the face of unexpected internal persecution from people we once regarded as friends and trusted leaders. A huge chasm was yawning open with alarming speed, sundering long-time relationships. 

 

Now we relied on and trusted God, His Word, and His promises not to abandon us. The Bible is filled with stories of heroes of faith who stood firmly against hostility toward their beliefs and consciences. We drew strength from them often. 

 

Thankfully, we did not have to endure anything close to what the brave and faithful individuals of Hebrews 11 experienced.. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t difficult and trying times. There exist countless tales of valor and courage displayed by ministers and brethren alike during this challenging and complicated time.

It cannot be ignored that the manner in which the changes came down the pipeline was distorted, underhanded, and unethical. Many blatant lies were said during the times by those in charge. "There are no changes coming" was supposed to be the rallying cry, but everyone, including those who agreed with the changes, knew it was untruthful.

Those who lived and worked in the Pasadena/Los Angeles area knew for decades that the church was a cesspool of corruption, manipulation, power control, and outright degeneracy at times. Even before HWA died, the church was littered by one scandal after another. What worked in their favor at the time was that the internet was not widely spread among members, and also, the threat of disfellowshipment by seeking out church gossip and criticizing Pasadena was forbidden. Being held over the lake of fire by a thin thread was always a good deterrent of control in the church.

This is part of the reason why so many in Pasadena understood the changes so well and agreed with them They saw what was working was not actually working. Grace and mercy were never useful standards in the church.

As I written earlier, what bewildered me was how people I had known for years, who shared my faith and ministered alongside me, could be so mercurial and impulsive about the most critical and essential aspects of their lives. We were admonished for years concerning the warnings in the Bible to be alert to possible deceit and heresy. Yet, when the time came, once-rock-solid pillars of spiritual strength dissolved before my eyes.

Those "once-rock-solid pillars of spiritual strength" finally let the grace of God to enter into their lives and to see that there was a better way. They too were equally bewildered as to why so many willfully continued to be blinded and sought to remain in the security of the old ways.

It has always been fascinating to watch all of these splinter group leaders and ministers portray themselves as martyrs for the truth. They were anything but that! Kubik even invokes Paul to his side:

We were firmly lodged in a spiritual and psychological war, as described by the Apostle Paul: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13). 

 

This spiritual warfare savaged pastors who objected to the "new teachings." If they openly objected, they were picked off and summarily fired one by one.

Others bided their time. They quietly waited on the sidelines of the conflict to see what and how the front line of those opposing the new teachings and resisting spiritual regression would do. It was a confusing time for multiple thousands of people, members and ministers alike. 

 

Rumors and questions abounded. Would the resisters and those who resigned or were fired succeed in forming something new? If so, would any emerging organization be “good enough” in terms of doctrine and organization? As talk of new assemblies grew, others resigned themselves to thinking thoughts like, “Why should I leave one imperfect organization and join another imperfect one?”

So went the talk as the WCG state of affairs further deteriorated. Sadly, the faith of many was pierced through. Betrayed, many walked away, angry and suspicious. With betrayal at such a high level, who could be trusted? The spiritual debris field was tragically wide and deep.

The spiritual debris field of Armstrongism has left a wide and deep field of people whose lives were damaged, ruined or actually lost due to the church. That debris field has been going on since Herbert Armstrong let Loma con him to thinking he was some great man sent by God to lead people to all truth. Like Eve in the Garden of Eden, Loma held out a delicious apple to tempt Herbert, who was at her side, both seeking something greater than the poverty they were living in. Religion was the way out of that poverty, particularly if you conned people into giving you their money, as tent preachers at that time were prone to do.

Kubik, Meredith, Flurry, and many other splinter leaders have actually left a debris field in their wake. These men are not pillars of light that they love to imagine themselves being.

Kubik ends with this:

As ministers were resigning in growing numbers, Guy Swenson and Bev were assembling a list of people for a possible meeting with the Regional Pastors who had resigned (or shortly would resign). In one of many ironies, the earlier effort we had taken to assemble a group of experienced and faithful longtime ministers to serve as regional administrators was now coalescing into the core leadership of what would become the United Church of God.

This was truly an ironic outcome that we never envisioned. 

 

This list grew on a daily basis. John Anderson, who was still working in Church Administration in Pasadena, would regularly update us about who had resigned from the ministry.

There were many ugly confrontations. As ministers resigned or were fired, momentum started building for a new assembly. Many openly taunted us for considering the possibility of starting something new. Ironically, it reminded some of the times when we had visited with the Church of God Seventh Day leadership, which organization Herbert W. Armstrong split from to form the Radio Church of God (later renamed the Worldwide Church of God).

One minister chided and sternly warned me about establishing something new, saying, “If you split once, you’ll split again and again.” Unfortunately and sadly, that prophecy came to pass on many levels. There was much anger as relationships were torn asunder, even painfully within my own family.

The COG has always been really good at gaslighting members as its own leaders rip it to shreds. One apostasy after another has left us with a debris field with so many blithering idiots today, all thinking they are doing it the right way. 

While I find some truthful things in Kubik's story there is a lot that is blatantly false and is a deliberate cover to make his underhandedness during the changes a moot subject. Far too many know differently.

You can read his story here.

The Cult Next Door Podcast: Ep.59: "Boring-Ass Racist White Church"

Commercial Break: Nothing New Under This Sun

 "Easter"

 

 

 

 The Astro-Theological Nature of Modern Christianity

 

The Vatican Obelisk is an Egyptian obelisk, one of the thirteen ancient obelisks of Rome. This obelisk is located in St. Peter's Square, in Vatican City. It is the only ancient obelisk in Rome that has never fallen.^[1][2]

Made of red granite, it has a height of 25.3 meters and, together with the cross and the base (composed of four bronze lions, by Prospero Antichi), it reaches almost 40 meters.

It is of Egyptian origin, devoid of hieroglyphs and comes (titles), according to Pliny,^[3] from the city of Heliopolis on the Nile. Before coming to Rome, it stood the Forum Iulii of Alexandria in Egypt. Emperor Caligula had it shipped to Rome in 40 AD, and placed it at the center of the Circus of Nero, the site of which is, in modern times, mostly in Vatican City. It remained in this position after the circus fell into disuse, occupied by a necropolis. In the 16th century it was moved next to the Old St. Peter's Basilica, at the Rotonda di Sant'Andrea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_obelisk

==========================================

 

The obelisk and Vatican Square are actually a sundial that marks the Sumer and Winter Solstice (Sun stand still) and Spring and Autumn Equinoxi. (Equal Nights). It aided the Medieval Church in marking "Easter" when the Spring Equinox occurred marking the exact point where the Sun rose at 90 degrees East. The causeway points to this exact location and the shadows cast at 12 and 6 marks on the pavement the exact day. 

The actual date of Easter, determined by the Church so as never to fall on the Jewish Passover, is the first Sunday, after the first Full Moon (which was last night) after the Spring Equinox, which was March 20th of this year. 

No one knows the actual date of Jesus death so this method is employed to pretend there is one. 

 

. 

Mainstream Christianity is merely another form of ancient Sun worship also exemplified, to the ignorance of the congregants, in the Easter Sunrise Service. 

The "Cross" at Easter Sunrise, or more accurately the Spring Equinox, is literally the moment when the Sun passes over the intersection of the Celestial Equator and the Ecliptic. This occurs twice a year at the Spring and Autumn Equinox. 

This is when the Sun gets "Crossified"

 

The Sun returns at Easter, "crossified" and finally takes away and overcomes  the darkness of winter at the Spring (Easter) Equinox where days now get longer and nights shorter. 

Later to return in the clouds

(I think the possible Roman/Greek authors of the Gospels and "Jesus of Galilee meaning "Jesus of the Circuit", knew EXACTLY what they were doing:)

================

Bonus Image 

The Eucharistic Monstrance, held high by the Pope belies the solar cult that Christianity sprang out of.

After all, the Sun IS the Light of the World