Waiting for the King to Die: PCG’s Long, Awkward Interregnum

August 28, 2026, will mark a full twelve months since Gerald R. Flurry last graced The Key of David with a live appearance. One entire year of the “That Prophet,” the “end-time Elijah,” the man who wrote 70–80 books and booklets explaining how he alone continued Herbert W. Armstrong’s work… simply not showing up.  

The organization has lost Andrew Locher, watched more long-term members walk out the door, and watched those same departing members get publicly accused of “returning to the 6th Era teachings of HWA.”  

Meanwhile, over the last twelve months, roughly 90% of Stephen Flurry’s Key of David themes have been about… Herbert W. Armstrong.  

It is a masterpiece of contradiction so pure it deserves its own prophetic fulfillment chart.  

The ministry scolds leavers for supposedly clinging to HWA’s “6th Era” doctrines, while the heir apparent has effectively skipped the last 37 years of his own father’s writings. Those 70–80 books and booklets Gerald produced? Brushed aside like last week’s Philadelphia Trumpet. Why quote the man who claimed new revelation after revelation when you can just keep recycling the founder your dad claimed to succeed?  

It is almost as if the family is already rehearsing the post-Gerald era. Dust off the old HWA clips, soft-pedal the more embarrassing “new truths” that only Gerald received, and hope the remaining members don’t notice the stage is being reset while the original star is missing in action.  

Many inside and outside the group are, of course, waiting. Waiting for Gerald to die so that Stephen might “change things,” eliminate the most abusive doctrines and teachings, and usher in a gentler, kinder Philadelphia Church of God.  

How touching. 

How naïve.  

Even if Stephen decides to dial back the most theatrical excesses, the core remains the same. The PCG still rejects the New Covenant. It still demands Old Covenant-style law-keeping, hierarchical control, and the belief that this tiny group alone holds the “key of David.” Abusive structures do not evaporate because the aging founder finally stays off camera. A cult that insists grace is insufficient and that members must continue under a heavy yoke of performance will remain an abusive cult, no matter how many HWA reruns it airs.  

What will the next twelve months bring? More premature deaths, more quiet departures, tighter finances, and—according to one observer—the likely liquidation of the Edstone property in England for around £4 million to keep the lights on a little longer.  

Gerald Flurry is missing in action. Stephen is busy ignoring everything his father spent decades writing. The members who remain are holding their breath for a changing of the guard that will somehow make the whole enterprise less controlling.  

And the rest of us get front-row seats to the spectacle of a group that spent decades declaring “God is not the author of confusion” while its own succession plan looks like pure improvisational theater.  

The Key of David still opens the door, they insist. These days it mostly seems to open onto an empty set, a pile of ignored books, and a “For Sale” sign on the English estate.  Charming.

Twelve Months Since GRF’s Last Live KOD:
August 7, 2026 

 

August 28th will be 12 months since GRF’s last live Key of David program, and much has happened since then; e.g., the death of Andrew Locher and many more long-term members leaving the organisation. 

 

Many of these long-term-members have been publicly accused of returning to the “6th Era” teachings of HWA. 

 

Over the last 12 months, 90% of the themes of Stephen Flurry’s Key of David have been about HWA, which is a huge contradiction to the public accusations coming from the ministry towards those that have left. It’s as if Stephen Flurry has skipped out 37 years of his Dads teachings–70-80 books–almost entirely brushed over. Why would that be the strategy from Stephen? 

 

It’s as if they are already preparing for life after GRF. What will the next 12 months produce? I suspect more premature deaths, more members departing and more financial pressure. Edstone will probably be liquidated for around 4 million pounds to free up some much needed cash. –[name withheld]