Progressive Revelation
more commonly used in COG groups: "new revelation," "new understanding,"
or "God is revealing more truth",
is a key doctrinal mechanism in Armstrongism that lets members reinterpret failed prophecies as "incomplete earlier understanding" rather than outright lies or false prophecy.
It keeps many loyal because it turns potential disillusionment
into renewed hope and commitment.
What "Progressive Revelation" Means in Armstrongism
Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) taught that God reveals His truth gradually—first the basics, then deeper insights as the end times near. He didn't always call it "progressive revelation" exactly, but he practiced it: adjusting doctrines over decades (e.g., on divorce/remarriage, healing, or prophecy timing) and presenting them as God opening new understanding through him as God's apostle.
Post-1986 splinter groups kept this idea but supercharged it. Current leaders claim God is now giving them fresh revelation or clearer insight into prophecy, end-time events, church government, or specific details HWA "didn't fully understand." This is not the standard Christian idea of progressive revelation (where later truth builds on earlier without contradicting it). In COG splinters, it often means revising or spiritualizing past predictions when they fail.
Examples tied to the leaders you asked about earlier:
- Gerald Flurry (PCG): Heavily pushes "new revelation." Malachi's Message was called a "new vision from God." He has introduced things like the "new stone of destiny" (HWA's prayer rock) as a major divine update that "clarifies" prophecy and moves the throne of David to PCG. Failed timelines (e.g., Obama/Trump predictions) get reframed as God giving "sharper focus" or additional revelation.
- David Pack (RCG): Constantly announces "new truth," "new doctrines," or "growth in understanding" revealed directly to him. Dozens of specific return dates or reunification prophecies that failed are explained as partial earlier understanding—God is progressively revealing the full picture through Pack.
- Ronald Weinland (COG-PKG): Adjusted his 2008/2012 timelines and Two Witnesses claims by saying God revealed more as events unfolded.
- Crackpot Bob: While Crackpot Bob often criticizes "progressive revelation through tradition" in other Christian churches, he still uses the functional equivalent: special dreams, the "double portion" mantle, and his unique prophetic role give "new understanding" of current events as prophecy fulfillment. Failures or unfulfilled expectations get folded into "God is revealing more through the Philadelphia remnant" narrative.
Why do members stay in spite of failed prophecies?
It solves the cognitive dissonance problem perfectly for those who want to stay:
- It absolves the leader (and God) of error: Deuteronomy 18:21-22 says a true prophet's words must come to pass. "Progressive revelation" dodges this: "It wasn't a false prophecy—it was based on incomplete revelation at the time. God has now given us more light." Members aren't forced to call their leader a false prophet; instead, they see him as the humble channel for ongoing divine updates.
- It turns failure into excitement and urgency: Every missed date becomes proof that "we're getting closer—the revelation is accelerating!" It creates a cycle: prediction → failure → "new understanding" → new prediction → renewed zeal and tithing. Members feel privileged to be part of the "cutting-edge" group receiving God's latest instructions.
- It reinforces loyalty to the current leader: Leaving would mean rejecting God's current channel of revelation. You're not just leaving a church—you're becoming "Laodicean," blind to what God is doing now. Staying shows you're submissive to the "mantle" and willing to grow in understanding.
- It fits the sunk-cost and fear psychology: Many have decades invested (family, friends, identity, tithes). Progressive revelation lets them salvage all that: "We weren't wrong; we just didn't have the full picture yet." Plus, the fear of the Tribulation and "place of safety" only for the faithful remnant makes questioning risky.
In short, "progressive revelation" (in its Armstrongist form) is the escape hatch that lets members stay psychologically and spiritually comfortable despite the track record of unmet prophecies. It keeps the system going by promising that this time—with the latest revelation—the end really is near and the leader really is God's man. That's why, even with all the documented failures across PCG, RCG, COG-PKG, CCOG, and others, some dedicated members double down rather than walk away.
33 comments:
Look at Proverbs 4:18: "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." From a COG perspective, God does not dump the entirety of His master plan onto a human mind all at once. Even the Apostles in the New Testament didn't fully understand the timing of Christ’s return or the inclusion of the Gentiles initially. If the early Church had to grow in understanding, it is only logical—and scripturally consistent—that the "End Time" Church would undergo a similar process of refining its vision as the "Day" approaches.
If a leader were a true "con artist," they might stick to a failed narrative to save face.
By announcing a "New Understanding," the leader admits that the previous view was incomplete. This requires humility. It shows the group is more committed to seeking the actual truth than to maintaining a false sense of infallibility.
A watchman’s job is to warn of approaching danger based on what he sees at the moment.
As world events (the "horizon") change, the watchman’s perspective must shift.
If a leader sees a geopolitical alignment that looks like the "King of the North" and warns the flock, he is fulfilling his duty. If that alignment shifts, providing a "New Revelation" isn't a failure of prophecy; it’s a real-time update to a warning system.
God intentionally allows for "incomplete understanding" to test the patience and loyalty of the "elect."
Much like the Parable of the Ten Virgins, where the bridegroom "tarried," the delay reveals who is truly converted and who is merely following for the sake of a date.
"Progressive Revelation" keeps the membership in a state of constant spiritual urgency, preventing the "Laodicean" lukewarmness that comes from thinking one has all the answers.
Just so glad the god they worship is not the real one! Their "god" is clearly on 'ludes.
God intentionally leads his people through confusing or shifting prophetic timelines to test their loyalty, perseverance, and willingness to follow a leader who is "learning" in real-time.
Bob Thiel's so-called double blessing being used as an excuse to start a new group is a complete lie. He knows it is a lie, but has told it so many times that he now believes that is what Gaylyn Bonjours' intent really was. His dreams are also a lie. Because he has told so many lies, his subconscious now tells him he is specially sent by God to start a new church. It's not true at all. Deep down, he knows he is deceptive and manipulative, but cannot see any way out of the rabbit hole he has dug for himself.
I appreciate the insight of this essay. Millerites in the 19th century did something similar to "progressive revelation." They combined it with something very much like "bait and switch." Prophecy never failed - it was just something that had not been expected.
If people want to believe for a variety of self-serving reasons, these methods provide them with the rationale. The grave aspect of this is that these methods are deceptions. And Jesus said that the Elect could not be deceived. I do not know how Armstrongists rationalize this.
-- Scout
While others may interpret the 'double blessing' differently, Bob Thiel’s actions are consistent with someone who sincerely believes they have been given a specific commission. In the history of faith, many leaders have had to step out on their own based on personal revelation and events that others didn't fully understand at the time. To call it a 'lie' ignores the possibility of a deeply held religious conviction that guides his life and work
This post is really about religious 'group think'. That reigned prominent in silent and baby boomer generations. Whatever subject the preacher or top leader was taken with, at any given moment, was to become your theme of thought too.
But those days are over with generation x. Mill's, and generation z.
You should question about whether or not the true church is one organization or many organizations.
The J W have used progressive revelation as an art form to justify their failed prophecies and also the scores of doctrinal changes Rutherford made to Russell.. Perhaps Bertie learnt from them?
Deeply held religious conviction, or delusion? Which ever it is has not made him or his life's work effective. And, that, my friend, is the real bottom line. It ain't goin' nowhere!
A new YouTube video that's relevant to this topic has just appeared. It's entitled: "1975: How Millions of Families Were Destroyed by Jehovah’s Witnesses’ False Armageddon"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qAYSvp8_5Q&t=215s
That's a question 11:33 that was addressed in the 1990's. You assume much on others thinking.
Look, the herd of elephants in the room is that you can't rehabilitate this great failure of Armstrongism. Looking to possible good attitudes or humility cannot bring Herbert W. Armstrong or his latter day successors into parity with the exemplary "real" prophets of Biblical times who communicated the revelations they received from God with sureness and authority, and what God had revealed to them actually did come to pass in a timely fashion. God says that if what prophets say does not come to pass, then these "prophets" have spoken presumptuously, are not of God, are false prophets, and that they will face great condemnation. If you believe otherwise, regardless of intention, you have been deceived. God does not allow any room for what ifs, and neither should you!
Herbert W. Armstrong proved he did not have the witness of God behind him via the second "Great Disappointment", the one which occurred during 1972-75. William Miller had earlier proven Jesus' words that "Nobody knows except the Father", and Herbert and his followers who seem to believe it's all a function of proper math, have constantly proven Jesus' words again and again. This is something about which humans apparently require constant reminder. Backpedaling is not a mark of humility, it is proof that God is simply not revealing His actions in advance through you.
One of the greatest nonsequiturs one can imagine is the "lovable a$$hole". Why? Humans who present with great charisma can do much greater damage than those who have obvious tells and warning signs about them! You cannot give them a pass on the old axiom "prove all things" just because they seemed to have the right attitude while being wrong! You must go deeper in holding those who want to control your life accountable!
BB
Dr Bubba is in delusion land from the dark side via Witchdoctors. Their spells work on him because he's a false Prophet and he's arrogant and not humble. God has handed him over to the Witchdoctors. True Christians that have God's holy Spirit are not affected by the Witchdoctors, Bubba is because he is blinded by his imaginary Prophet role that God never ordained him in. Example he believes Radson and Evans Bull shit stories, when a normal person can see right through it. So many testaments and pictures. Bubba is doomed to be in that spirit bottle buried in the cult of his African Nightmare.
The Alternative Outcome Side-step
A case in point. My label above sounds like a dance and in some ways it is. When Jesus did not return on October 22, 1844, which the Millerites believed was the correctly calculated Day of Atonement, they developed an alternative outcome. Millerites, after the fact, decided that this was not the date of the return of Christ but was the date when the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary began. In other words, Miller was not a false prophet and the prophecy for Oct 22 did not fail.
I remember folks around Big Sandy saying, back in 1972, that we did not flee to the place of safety but ground was broken for the auditorium in Pasadena. But a prophecy is a miraculous foretelling. It is not fitting some unforeseen fact to the date after what was foretold did not take place. The is not prophecy. That is retrofitting. That is not a prediction but a postdiction. And postdiction has not theological support as a form of prophecy in any theology that I know of.
Then this whole choreography can be labelled "progress" when it is really regression.
Scout
Yet if II Peter 3:18 says we're supposed to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," doesn't that mean "progressive revelation" is growth?
This verse is all about personal spiritual growth, or transformation.
[2Pe 3:16-18 NIV] 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
It is about grace, and knowledge, of our Lord and Saviour. Something very different to doctrinal or prophetic so called revelations. It is Christ centred - concerning the believer - not relating to machinations of systems of men such as various organizations who use the term.
The so called new revelation is often as riffled with faults.
Hey Scout, wasn’t this about the time the earth was shaken by an ad in the Reader’s Digest?
“Progressive Revelation In Armstrongism Is An Escape Hatch For Members To Turn A Blind Eye To Outright Lies”
Progressive Revelation
This is how “progressive revelation” really works in actual practice: We now know that the end of this age was not 92 years ago (when HWA started his R/WCG in 1933), or 80 years ago, or seventy years ago, or 60 years ago, or 51 years ago (when JC was expected to return in 1975), or 40 years ago (when HWA died in 1986), or 30 years ago, or 20 years ago, or 10 years ago.
We are getting closer all the time to the end of this present evil age.
Feastgoer
If fact A is predicted but does not happen then one cannot substitute fact B after the fact for A and still have something called a prophecy. In this model, neither fact A nor fact B were predicted. Foretelling fact A was a failed prophecy and fact B was a postdiction.
Only a duplicitous politician would try to assert that switching from fact A to fact B is progress.
Scout
We do not read of personal growth in terms of ability to prophesy accurately as it would apply to any of the prophets documented in the Bible. The prophets were basically God-whisperers. God does not speak to just anyone and everyone, but He did speak to certain carefully chosen individuals, and they conveyed the message he gave them. Jonah thought he knew better than God, and did not want the evil Ninevites to repent, because he hated their sins so much.. Jonah wanted them punished, so God had a whale eat him to teach him a lesson. There was indeed personal growth on Jonah's part, but it certainly didn't involve Jonah spewing a couple false prophecies before actually getting the message right. I hope everybody recognizes the distinction!
Imagine how ludicrous it would be if Elijah, Isaiah, or Jeremiah made countless prophecies which did not come to pass, and then suddenly, through the right attitude and personal growth made a prophecy which actually was fulfilled. How would that reflect on God's wisdom in choosing a messenger? What about trust and reliability? Dave Pack wants to see himself in the Bible, but what if there had been a prophet named David who made over a hundred false prophecies? Dave would probably change his name to Bill or George, or even Sue!
Where do we read about supposedly wise men listening to the town crier and interpreting the news he brought in a prophetic manner? There wasn't any of that, either! The prophets were reliable because God used them to convey His message, not because they learned to guess accurately. Welcome to Armstrongism where supernatural gifts are pretended and faked, and the brethren ignore their failure and pretend that the church actually has special gifts.
If you really believe this good luck to you. Such updating watchman explanation becomes an excuse for failed predictions. It's made out to be an update.
In the Bible we read of the watchman warning of a present or soon coming danger, - one does not read of “new revelation” when the first one failed.
This theory does away with the test given for the false prophet and is thereby in danger of distorting scripture.
Anonymous 8:02
I recall that the Reader's digest ad was given great prominence about this time. It turned out to be a tempest in a teapot.
Scout
I think these pastors are carnal. They pretend to obey God but do not. The carnal mind is not subject to the law of God.
Too bad we were following Armstrong. It was all a waste. The fact that there was no successor that everyone felt confident united behind demonstrates a Gamaliel-mimd meld.
So the flock is suppose to. be watching out for the King of the North? Meanwhile the rest of the world braces themselves and watches out for America and Trump, and the pope that's American I am not saying the latter is the beast, but those energy prices are a beast. "In the next 5 to 10 years"
Hey Paul, Fourscore!
Very true 12:50. 2 Timothy 3 describes the terrible religious times we live in.
The irony is not lost on me that the current Pope displays more godliness character and goodness than men in the very Church of God, who have become cheap sex addicts, perverted cheap men always on the look out for weak women and men to fulfill their selfish desires, always lusting with their eyes for their next victim.
Fearing nothing, achieving nothing, building nothing, leaving nothing, desiring nothing but illicit sex.
If there was a God, and if he wanted to reveal truth slowly and progressively, like a sort of spiritual striptease, he could of course do so.
With a date, for example, he could first reveal the date was between 2012 and 2036. Then he could progressively narrow the period. Then he could eventually get down to one year, one month, one week, and finally the specific date. That would be progressive revelation. That never seems to happen though. Revealing a series of incorrect dates seems to happen all the time.
Does it not say in the Bible that God is not the author of confusion?
Great comment, and don’t forget about Daniel the prophet. Image him having the wrong interpretations while in the kings court. Those men were connected to God.
Someone above seems to be arguing that continually identifying false dates constitutes “progressive revelation”, on the basis that each new date is that bit closer to the true one.
That is a fallacy. Let’s take Pack and his repeated predictions for the date of Christ’s return as an example, and let us assume for the sake of the argument that Christ will indeed return at some point.
In that case it is true that, simply by the effluxion of time, each day that passes takes us closer to the date of His return. But it is NOT true that each false prediction takes us closer to knowing the true date. A false prediction provides us with no information about what the correct date is. The poor folk in RKG are no closer to knowing the date of Christ’s return than they were when Pack started his interminable sermon series.
No progressive revelation is involved.
Post a Comment