Are You Giving Thanks to Ceres or God?

My friend, xHWA, has been posting a great series of posts on Samhain over at the blog As Bereans Did. As my readers know, this blog has pushed back on an unfortunate phenomenon which began during the Protestant Reformation - a claim that has been advanced by certain over-zealous and mostly well-meaning folks that most of the holidays we celebrate are rooted in pagan practices of the past. And, as xHWA and others have pointed out, most of these claims are based in whimsy and apophenia (seeing connections or patterns in data which do NOT exist and consequently lead to false conclusions).

Now, while this phenomenon has focused more on traditional holidays (like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween), there are a few rabid individuals who have even attempted to paint the American Thanksgiving holiday with this pagan brush! Don't think so? Try typing "pagan origins of Thanksgiving" into your search engine and see what happens!

My Bing Copilot picked up this: "Thanksgiving has roots in ancient pagan harvest festivals, reflecting traditions of gratitude and celebration of the harvest season." It continued:

Historical Context
Thanksgiving, as celebrated in the United States, is often traced back to the 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. However, the concept of giving thanks for the harvest predates this event and is deeply rooted in various pagan traditions. Many ancient cultures held harvest festivals to honor their deities and celebrate the abundance of the season.
Pagan Harvest Festivals
Cerelia: In ancient Rome, the festival of Cerelia was dedicated to Ceres, the goddess of agriculture and grain. This festival celebrated the harvest and involved various rituals and feasting, similar to modern Thanksgiving practices.

Lughnasadh and Samhain: The Gaelic Celts celebrated Lughnasadh around August 1st, marking the beginning of the harvest season, and Samhain on November 1st, which signified the end of the harvest. These festivals included feasting and community gatherings, reflecting the themes of gratitude and abundance.

Harvest Home: In Britain, the tradition of Harvest Home evolved from pagan customs, where communities would celebrate the completion of the harvest with feasts and festivities. This practice continued even after the Christianization of the region, blending pagan and Christian elements.

The information was then summarized by noting paganism's "Influence on Modern Thanksgiving:"

The modern Thanksgiving celebration incorporates many elements from these ancient harvest festivals. The act of gathering with family and friends to give thanks for the harvest mirrors the communal feasting of past cultures. While Thanksgiving is now a secular holiday, its roots in pagan traditions highlight the universal human practice of celebrating abundance and expressing gratitude. 

 

In summary, while Thanksgiving is often viewed through a contemporary lens, its origins are intertwined with ancient pagan customs that celebrated the harvest and the changing seasons. These traditions have shaped the way we observe Thanksgiving today, emphasizing gratitude and community.

Google's AI Overview offered much of the same information. Their lead paragraph read:

Thanksgiving has roots in ancient pagan harvest celebrations from various cultures, which honored the earth's bounty through feasting and rituals. Examples include the Roman Cerelia festival for the harvest goddess Ceres and the Celtic Harvest Home, which featured parades and feasts for the final harvest. Modern Paganism, specifically Neopaganism, observes a similar celebration called Mabon, which marks the autumnal equinox with feasting and gratitude for the harvest.

"Well, they must be right! Thanksgiving is nothing but a pagan celebration to honor Ceres! True Christians shouldn't be partaking in this pagan holiday!" If that was your reaction, you may want to examine the AI sources behind these statements.

The actual history of this celebration is drilled into every school-aged child in America! Most Americans will tell you that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians in the fall of 1621. Surprisingly, many of them will also be able to tell you that Abraham Lincoln was the first president to make it an official national holiday. In other words, the genesis of the holiday is clearly found among a group of Christian people who wanted to give thanks to God for their survival and a bountiful harvest at the conclusion of their first year on this continent. The truth is that these humble folks didn't have a pagan thought in their heads at the time!

It is my hope that in pointing out just how absurd this notion about pagan origins can be - that it will give some of my Armstrong Church of God and Jehovah's Witnesses brethren some pause about our other holidays which have been painted with this brush. The real truth is that almost all of our current holiday traditions were founded in the Christian era and do NOT have pagan origins. The fact that pagans observed harvest festivals devoted to their gods and goddesses does not mean that we borrowed our celebration from them. If anything, this entire exercise should generate a little intellectual curiosity. and a willingness to dig a little deeper and engage our brains in some good old critical thinking and common sense! What do you think?

 Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix

Gerald Flurry: Apologize to me for ignoring my awesomenss

 

Why is it that so many ministers and particularly church leaders think they are elevated to almost adoration status, and when the sheeple don't slobber up to them, they get their royal knickers all tied up in a knot?

Exit and Support Network had this appalling letter up about Gerald Flurry doing this exact thing:

GF Demanded an Apology Letter From My Sister:
November 18, 2025 

 

This is something I have wanted to write about but haven’t until now. 

 

Years ago when I and my sister were in our early 20’s, my sister used to write letters to Gerald Flurry like many people did. She would hear a message and write and thank him for the sermon, etc. She worked in the PCG office at the time. 

 

One time Gerald Flurry visited our country during PYC [Philadelphia Youth Camp]. We were all told not to overwhelm the “prophet” when he came here and let everyone have an opportunity to speak to him. Well, there were no big line ups of people waiting to talk to him for fear they would be taking up his time. This included me and my sister and many others. However, Gerald flurry must have felt he had a connection with my sister, or something weird. So he told the regional director at the time that he was not happy she didn’t even come and say hello to him and he demanded an apology letter. So she, like a naughty child, had to write an apology letter to him. That should have rung alarm bells back then. My whole family thought it was weird but brushed it aside. Crazy looking back. 

 

GF also told my father, who was a minister at the time, “In the real world, you and I would never be friends.” My dad was gutted. This is a man of God over His people? Doubtful. Years of evidence shows GF is all about himself. 

 

Thanks for the opportunity to write and expose. –[name withheld]

Crackpot Prophet On New Lost Truths That HWA Was Too Stupid To Understand

 

During Herbert Armstrong's lifetime, he claimed to have restored all sorts of lost doctrines that the church had somehow bungled preserving over 1,900 years. God must have been asleep at the wheel too, since He apparently couldn't keep His own words intact for humanity to grasp. All those so-called Christians down through the centuries? Total idiots, blindly following what they thought was God's word, but really just pawns in Satan's grand deception scheme.

Then along comes HWA, swooping in like a hero to restore the word, and suddenly humanity has access to salvation once more. But oops—he dies, and poof, the word vanishes again until Bob Thiel bursts onto the scene and restores even more lost teachings.

God's supposed gift to the church makes these bold claims:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them … (1 Timothy 4:16)

Notice that we MUST CONTINUE with the doctrines of the true faith.

As far as “from whom you have learned them,” consider that we have restored a lot in the Continuing Church of God that hopefully you have learned.

HWA only managed to reveal a few tidbits, so Bwana Bob has had to swoop in and complete those teachings with shiny new and improved revelations and doctrines. Who knew!

He goes on to claim that in the last days, a new and improved COG leader would arise, keep learning fresh insights, and reveal them to the faithful flock:

Herbert Armstrong wrote:

In these last days, according to biblical prophecy, knowledge, spiritual as well as material, was to be increased. The true Church of God was to be set back on the track, restoring the glorious knowledge of the faith once delivered to the saints in the days of the original apostles. (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages, 1985)

Notice Herbert Armstrong believed that knowledge of church history–the original faith once delivered (Jude 3), and spiritual knowledge (which would included, for example, dreams and prophecies from God-would need to be increased in the last days–this has happened in the CCOG in the 21st century! 

What miraculous new truths has the Great Bwana restored?

1) Why did God make you?

Your purpose in this life is to build character so you can maximize your potential and increase how much better you can improve eternity. God made YOU so that you will be able to use your unique talents (Matthew 25:14-23; Luke 19:11-19) to give love in order to make eternity better! … God’s plan for all who will respond to Him is to be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for them personally and everyone else.

2) Now why did God create anything?

God created what He did so eternity would be better. (cf. Hebrews 6:9, 11:16; Philippians 1:23). 3) Thirdly, why did God make others? In the Continuing Church of God we teach:

God’s plan for all who will respond to Him is to be able to give love in a unique way to make eternity better for them personally and everyone else.

HWA and all the other COGs were apparently too dense to uncover these three earth-shattering truths, and if you truly believe them, you'd automatically flock to the improperly named "Continuing" Church of God.

Those are three BASIC TRUTHS which were not fully restored by Herbert W. Armstrong nor the other COGs, but were restored via the Continuing Church of God. 

Do YOU understand them? Do YOU agree with them?

These restored truths are based on scripture–the source of the truth to help Christians become complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

If you believe those truths, then you should support the Continuing Church of God consistent with the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:14. 

The Great Bwana didn't stop with these three amazing new truths; oh no, he has more!

Here is a summary of some other matters restored in the CCOG:

Dreams & Signs of Acts 2:17-18: That was done by God, not man, consistent with the prophesies in Acts 2:17-18. The giving of confirmed dreams shows Divine confirmation of the CCOG. No true Christian church has had so many confirmed dreams and signs as the Continuing Church of God in the 21st century. Hopefully, YOU FULLY ACCEPT how God has chosen to work. 

Teaching all things Jesus taught as Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20. The Continuing Church of God has intentionally covered every verse in the New Testament where Jesus’ words are recorded–is not that something the most faithful Christian church would do?

Church History–Jude wrote that Christians are ” to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)–by better documenting that, the Continuing Church of God has done more that way than any Christian church in the 21st century.

Laying on of Hands Succession and List: While there were attempts at a succession list in the 20th century, the most complete laying on of hands succession list in the Church of God was produced in the Continuing Church of God this century. 

This is an outright lie! Every single Church of God group out there REFUSED to ordain Bob. If he claims Gaylyn Bonjour ordained him, he is a liar. Not a single one of them! Zilch! He had to resort to having one of his African associates ordain him.

Next up, God had to reveal to the Great Bwana how awful football is. It’s a doctrinal and salvational issue, apparently.

Violent Sports/merican Football Evil?  Early Christians would not watch violent sports, despite the popularity of American tackle football in the USA, the ContinuingChurch of God put out a biblical and historically-appropriate teaching against that.

And the list continues with things no one really cares about. 

Details and Ramifications of Being Non-Trinitarian–by better documenting that, the Continuing Church of God has done more that way than any Christian church in the 21st century.

The Final Phase of the Work and Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word: We are in the last days before the start of the Great Tribulation. The ContinuingChurch of God has done more to teach about the final phase of the work as well as preparing for the short work of Romans 9:28 and the famine of the word (Amos 8:11-12) way than any Christian church in the 21st century.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God translated into more languages under the CCOG than any COG in church history. Furthermore, we seem to be the only COG in the past several centuries to more fully distinguish between the millennial and post-millennial phases of the Kingdom of God.

Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles: While this had been taught in the 20th century, to a degree, more has been taught and emphasized about it, as well as trying to fulfill part of it by the Continuing Church of God than any Christian church in the 21st century.

Major and massive details, including more scriptures complied, on God’s plan of salvation  than looks to have been done before. Would not the most faithful Christian church  have put together the most scriptures about God’s plan of salvation?

Prophecy. The Laodicean churches have so many errors in prophetic understanding that they will not know when the Great Tribulation will start nor when it is time to flee to the wildernes. Is not that not something the most faithful Christian church would know? The Continuing Church of God has restored numerous prophetic truths as well as has pointed out errors that the non-Philadelphian COG churches teach.

Habakkuk 2 and Debt While a previous COG started to do this after my urging, it then backed away from it. So, the truth about how debt is a prophesied part of why the United States of America will be destroyed was restored by me, now in the Continuing Church of God.

Identity of the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2: The Church of God in the 20th century had this wrong. Several leaders once in it, such as Aaron Dean and certain leaders in the Living Church of God, admitted that the position taught by the Continuing Church of God is the correct one, yet their respective churches teach the scripturally-wrong position.

Daniel 11:39 and the Start of the Great Tribulation: All the headquarters-based evangelists at the Living Church of God told me I was correct on that and that LCG would change its official statement of fundamental beliefs to reflect that, yet they still improperly teach the start of the Great Tribulation is Daniel 11:40, not 11:39. And unless they, and most of the other COGs, change, they will not know when the Great Tribulation will start until afterwards. Hence, they will not know when to flee in time (cf. Revelation 12:14-17).

USA-Samaria Identification: Although many groups understand the connection between the United States of America and the tribe of Manasseh, they do not seem to understand that prophesies related to Samaria also are for the United States. The doctrinal letter answerer at LCG concurred that I was correct about that, but LCG never adopted the view.

Mark of the Beast: The mark of the beast is MORE than Sunday and may well involve a type of cross. That is also consistent with what Christians taught centuries ago and that has been restored in the Continuing Church of God.

Attaining the Unity of God. Roman Catholics teach that the trinity is the unity of God. In the CCOG, we teach that is not, but restored the truth about what early second century Christians taught.

Why Do Christian People Die?: The truth is that people die when it is best for them. We have added scriptural truths to what the Church of God taught in 20th century.

Information on the Third Resurrection. The third resurrection is NOT just for the incorrigibly wicked, despite what many were taught in the 20th and 21st centuries. The fact that it is for all who were not part of the first resurrection is a truth restored by the Continuing Church of God.

The reason there was both a Passover and Atonement sacrifice representing Jesus. The Day of Atonement comes after the Feast of the Trumpets. Its final fulfillment is after the end of the church age. In the Continuing Church of God we have pointed out that while Christians in this age follow the Passover service Jesus instituted, the Atonement sacrifice points to the fact that God has a plan for those not called in the church age.

The Great Bwana ends with these absurd claims and warns anyone who does not join his cult is in danger of losing their salvation:

It was the Continuing Church of God that is restoring all things, having the fruits consistent with Jesus’ words (Matthew 17:11). Those who believe them absolutely should be in the ContinuingChurch of God–as the Apostle Paul wrote, “you MUST CONTINUE in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”

The Continuing Church of God has the fruits and does best represent the remnant of the Philadelphian portion of the Church of God in the 21st century.

Brethren, do not reject the truths restored by and to the Philadelphians because of critics and those who think their pet doctrine or assessment of how a church should be run affect you. NO OTHER GROUP HAS RESTORED THE TRUTHS THAT THE CCOG HAS–AND PROPHETICALLY THAT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PHILADELPHIAN REMNANT TO DO.

Rest assured that your salvation is NOT at stake if you do not join the Great Bwanas cult. The truth is, your salvation WILL be at stake if you do join up with his heretical nonsense. 

 

 

Gerald Flurry: God Just Gives Me Something He Does Not Give You!

 

Why is it that Church of God leaders are such appalling narcissists?

United Church of God - Pitting Brother Against Brother?

Armstrongism has always tried to paint itself as this oh-so-unifying church, the kind that magically turns the hearts of the children to their fathers. Rainbows and lollipops everywhere, folks—pure utopia! Yet, almost every member knows this fairy tale is about as close to reality as Bob Thiel qualifying as a genuine Christian. Shattered marriages, obliterated families, lives snuffed out by suicide and murder. Ah, yes, the glorious ninety-year legacy of Armstrongism, leaving a blood-soaked trail in its wake.

One of those charmingly dysfunctional clans is the Kitchen family. Things aren't exactly rosy in Kitchen-land—shocker, right? 

They've treated us to some spectacularly public meltdowns several times over the past few years, especially after Samuel's botched bid to herd folks off to Petra a couple years back. That little fiasco sparked massive division among the Kitchen brothers. Then their younger sibling had the audacity to decide he wanted zilch to do with the steaming pile of Armstrongist nonsense they were peddling. Naturally, he got branded the villain—because why not blame the sane one?

Now, brother Timothy's cozied up at the United Church of God, where he's probably spilling the beans to Aaron Dean about what a total whack-job Samuel has devolved into. Oh, to be a fly on the wall for those chats! Fingers crossed Timothy can finally kick back from all the absurdity, plop down with Aaron over a cold beer, and cackle their heads off at the whole ridiculous mess.

The UCG is more of a senate of Rome type of government. Far from what was restored through Mr Armstrong. 

 

The outside is outside. Those inside are inside. To support the UCG and its organization, is to step away to the outside. 

 

No there isn’t a second church of God, but there are organizations of men pretending to be the succession of the church, while the wolves got them surrounded. Our Good Shepherd just wants repentance and trust in Him. 

 

Faith. Not our puny human faith, but the living faith of Jesus Christ! 

 

My brother received attacks for what I’ve been saying, and he’s been attending with the UCG. Your people put my brother against me! That was the reason why he came out in a bashing article! 

 

He was already against me, but insult was added to injury. Why should he be attacked? Why are cowards attacking their own members, because of something i am saying here? 

 

Who devours who? Some sheep aren’t sheep. They keep the sheep in line. 

 

Who opposes the apostle? Who says he isn’t part of the foundation of the Church? A sheep? A Shepherd? Or a wolf? Sometimes men have let Satan use them too much, that a wolf comes out when it should have been Christ in them. 

 

When will have to change, before it’s too late?

Sinning COG men who celebrate birthdays while sitting on doctrinal committees are wearing colored shirts as they rob God

 

Since when is it a salvational issue that COG men serving MUST be dressed in a white shirt? Samuel Kitchen claims it is shameful towards God to wear a colored shirt in church, especially if you are a leader. Rod Meredith pulled a stunt like this in 1974 when he popped his veins, screaming about men wearing pink Izod polo shirts. The next time the class met, most of the class wore them just to piss him off even more.

People are also supposedly asking Samuel Kitchen to take on the reins of a minister. What the holy hell!

This is the result of decades of pulpit pounding men focusing on irrelevant things instead of being followers of Jesus and teaching about Him and what He accomplished.

More eternal words of wisdom from Samuel Kitchen:

God says we’ve been robbing Him of tithes and offerings! Haven’t you given to your church organization? 

Haven’t you benefited from tithes and offerings in these churches? 

Why then is the Temple of God in ruin? Who among you seek to restore what God has ordained? 

God says to put the tithes and offerings into the storehouse, so there may be meat in HIS HOUSE.

Yet it is spent in the houses among Babylon, these variety of church groups and works. 

Not one of these groups is supporting the Worldwide Church of God. They all expect those who came from the Worldwide Church of God to support them.

Who came out of whom? Who convinced us to feel shame towards what God ordained holy? Sounds like Adam and Eve after sinning. Now we are made to feel shame of the Worldwide Church of God, that which God ordained, because of sin and wickedness.

Just as they were barred from the garden of Eden, so will anyone who tries to enter the Kingdom any other way.

Why is priority and importance placed on these church organizations over the Worldwide Church of God? 

 

Why are women wearing makeup? Why are birthdays celebrated? Why do men serve with no white shirt? Why is a doctrinal committee established? Why was a “regional pastor structure established by Victor Kubik in 1993, and used to form the UCG? Mr Armstrong abolished and gave instructions! Why wasn’t he obeyed? Oh….because he died? Is that a valid reason?

I’m not here to call upon destruction to befall anyone. But God giving you all a chance to repent and turn things around.

Dave Pack News Flash: Headquarters Couple Leaves The Restored Church of God

 

Newsflash: Headquarters Couple Leaves The Restored Church of God

David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God was a little salty last week because a couple and one other person attending at Headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, quit his spiritually corrupt organization. During “The Greatest Untold Story! (Part 606)” on November 8, 2025, the Pastor General lamented this “naïve” wife just “strolled away with her husband” out the door because he “broke her because she’s the weaker vessel.”

Ever deflecting and never the direct reason why people flee The Restored Church of God, David C. Pack’s fingers have not gotten tired of blaming external evils for his biblically fraudulent organization’s dwindling numbers. But certainly not the 600 sermons of malarkey.

Part 606 – November 8, 2025
@ 53:15 It's the lies and the half-truths and the misrepresentations that can cause this.

What lies, Dave? What half-truths? What misrepresentations?

Those sound like the talking points Headquarters trains the field mollusks to say when concerned members bring up documented facts and uncomfortable reminders archived at exrcg.org.

Lies are not necessary for valid reasons to leave The Restored Church of God.

Half-truths are not necessary for valid reasons to leave The Restored Church of God.

Misrepresentations are not necessary for valid reasons to leave The Restored Church of God.

If anyone wants to find verifiable facts free of lies, half-truths, and misrepresentations, please visit exrcg.org. The channel on YouTube hosts the video evidence.

@ 53:20 Think. This husband could not possibly have believed a kingdom was just weeks away. Impossible.

No discerning, critical-thinking, bible-believing person would either. The failure of Kislev 16 on December 5 is inevitable, like the 135 others before it, and is just one uncomfortable suspicion away from being disproven by the man who taught it. At that point, the couple were not rebels. They were ahead of the curve.

One of David C. Pack’s strategies is to pit husbands and wives against each other. When couples have a doctrinal issue, they try to separate them to manipulate them individually. Two men will team up to work on a woman to get her to flip on her husband. That is standard operating procedure in The Restored Church of God.

@ 1:01:24 And you can't be a pastor like I am …without weeping over people that leave.

Raise your hand if you believe David C. Pack weeps for anyone.

As an added bonus during Part 606, David C. Pack paid homage to his "father in the gospel" by explaining 23 prophetic understandings that his mentor got wrong. Herbert W. Armstrong, Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), was forbidden by God to understand bible prophecy correctly despite being an apostle and the Messenger to the Sixth Era who led a church of over 100,000 members for fifty years.

Dave humbly admitted there were only 23 examples because he was reciting HWA's errors without a prepared list. He confessed that there are many more.

In contrast, only Pastor General David C. Pack understands bible prophecy accurately because the Book of Revelation and Daniel have been unsealed to him. Please disregard the painful truth that he has been wrong since August 2013.

Despite being free of corporate debt, The Restored Church of God limps along without any discernible plan for the future, with no will to herald the good news of the coming Kingdom of God. No new literature. No new videos. No new advertising campaigns. No new fruits letters.

Members are aging out, and more in the Headquarters congregation have their eyes on the exits. David C. Pack will now need to ponder if that is a lie, a half-truth, misrepresentation… or a proven fact. Stay tuned.

Marc Cebrian

See: News Flash: Headquarters Couple Leaves RCG

The Debbie Downer Of COG Leaders Has Another Depressing Sermon

 

Traditional speechwriting typically starts with something positive, elaborates on that, moves to the message, and then ends with something positive again. Oh, but not with God's greatest gift to the human race and the Churches of God—how utterly depressing! Everything he writes and speaks kicks off with one bombastic evil or negative thing after another, and then, right in the midst of it all, he humbly brags about how perfect he and his little church are, having restored all things to their glorious pinnacle. And then to top it off, he wraps up with even more delightful negativity. What a brilliant formula for inspiration!

Can you imagine the sheer bliss of spending 3½ years cooped up in Petra with this Queen of Negativity? If he's not graciously bitching about something wrong, he'll be modestly extolling how wonderful he is, only to lovingly berate those present for continually failing to meet his impeccable standards. Ah, what a heavenly paradise that would be—pure utopia!

Armstrongism has always tended to be grace-deficient in its message, hasn't it? Doom and destruction were the name of the game, with just a few tantalizing glimpses of the lion dwelling with the lamb thrown in for good measure. Have you ever heard a COG minister preach an entire sermon on grace and how deeply loved the people of God sitting before him are, and how precious they are in God's sight? Of course not—it would ruin the fun! 

This is the Great Bwana's latest sermon (always in multiple parts since he can't edit his words). Oh, and there will be consequences for resisting Bob's messages because they are directly from his god, which apparently dislikes paragraph breaks.

2 Timothy 3-4: Scripture and Truth Restored
This is the second part of a 2-part sermon series covering each and every verse of the Apostle Paul’s second epistle to Timothy. In this sermon, Dr. Thiel covers the last two chapters of Paul’s letter. Paul tells Timothy how terrible people will be in the last days, and that many are always learning but not coming to the knowledge of the truth. Dr. Thiel quotes passages in scripture showing that God’s word is truth, yet that many suppress the truth in unrighteousness and promote sexual immortality and other evils. He also quotes information about the possible identity of Jannes and Jambres, and warns that there are consequences in resisting God and His messages. He also cites Jesus who essentially warned that the Sardis and Laodicean Christians also resist the truth and need to repent. Dr. Thiel also covers the fact that Paul was persecuted, that Philadelphian Christians will be persecuted, but that later they will be protected per Revelation 12:13-16, but that the non-Philadelphian Christians will then be subject to persecution during the Great Tribulation. Prophetic errors that certain Laodiceans hold are also pointed out. He also explains why Richard Dawkins’ book, The God Delusion, is not scientific. He warns that Greco-Roman Catholic and Protestant teachers have accepted traditions over the word of God, when instead they should be faithful. Dr. Thiel quotes various passages of scripture from the Apostle Paul showing that Christians are to continue in the original faith and doctrine, as well as grow in spiritual knowledge. He also goes over many truths that have been restored in the Continuing Church of God and gives biblical reasons why the most faithful in the 21st century should support the CCOG. He quotes the Apostle Paul who says ministers are to preach the word of God and mentions some of how the CCOG does that. He warns that throughout church history, people have rebelled against church government as well those who loved the world more than the truth of God. Some information related to the canonization of scripture is touched upon. The faithful couple, Priscilla and Aquila, are mentioned, including places they had lived for a time. Dr. Thiel concludes by saying that all need the Lord Jesus Christ to be with us, we all need God’s grace, God will strengthen us, His word is more of a guide than a GPS, and we simply need to do things His way which includes obeying Him, resisting Satan, not following the ways of the world in these last days, growing in knowledge, and supporting the most faithful Church in these end times.

Where is Bob Thiel's Love If He Has Restored All True Spiritual Knowledge?

 

I couldn't help but comment again on Pastor Dr Bob's latest rant in Cogwriter, 

Bob states everyone must look to the CCOG as he/it has restored so much knowledge and is the only COG holding the Philadelphia Mantel. The problem with this is even if this were true, it doesn't mean jacksquat as the Bible states if you have not Love, all knowledge, all prophecy, all signs, all anything else doesn't matter at all without Love. 

Is Bob showing Love when he betrayed Priscilla and her children? 

Is Bob showing Love, covering Radsons' lies and sins, so he can maintain his Delusions of Grandeur? 

Is Bob showing Love, allowing his leading ministers to practice witchcraft and desecrating babies' bodies to get demonic favors? 

Is Bob showing Love, covering up Evans' sex scandals? 

Is Bob showing Love, covering up a Former CCOG leader's sin, lying to a member of Hope of Israel, saying it was a rumor, but admittedly saying publicly that it was in fact true? 

Is Bob showing Love covering up Evans Ocheing and his son Bradox Ouma Ocheing's political scandal of 2017 and 2022? 

Is Bob showing Love when Ministers and Deacons under Radson and Evans come forth telling him the truth, only to be dismissed and handed over to Evans and Radson's cruel punishment and death threats? 

All these things Bob talks about don't mean a thing to God, as God is concerned about Love first and what is true. Dr Pastor Bob Thiel is without excuse. Many have tried to help him, but being he only loves himself above all else, he fails BIG TIME. 

Dr Pastor Bob Thiel, show some LOVE won't ya!!!!

Terry Nelson

Apostle Paul Foretold The Current Vicious Satanic Attack Against Bob Thiel

That crafty, fork-tongued abomination of a serpent is throwing yet another epic tantrum, zeroing in on the unparalleled, godlike genius that is the Supreme Overseer, the Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel. Can you even fathom the depths of Satan's soul-crushing jealousy over Bwana Bob's utterly revolutionary drivel—er, I mean, literature—spewed forth in literally hundreds of tongues, complemented by the most hyper-mega-ultra-superfantabulous websites ever half-baked by any ragtag Church of God splinter group? Satan's pathetic posse of shadowy Google gremlins sicced a swarm of digital demons to wreak absolute, laughably amateur havoc on the Great Bwana's oh-so-impregnable online fortress. Heaven forbid the masses miss out on the Great Bwana's brain-melting masterpieces—scribbles so staggeringly, coma-inducingly brilliant that Old Satan himself had to drop everything and DDoS the servers in a fit of infernal rage.

As us puny humans have oh-so-heroically evolved our pitiful computer smarts, poor Satan—bless his blackened heart—has been dragged kicking and screaming into inventing brand-new, convoluted plots to pester the church. No doubt he's got this gargantuan, brimstone-belching server farm humming away, cackling maniacally as it torpedoes COG tech and churns out AI hallucinations of perpetual doom. Personally, I'd peg him as a die-hard "pen and parchment" purist, but hey, if he's gone digital, it's surely just to snoop through your browser history for some premium blackmail fodder.

But wait, there's more infernal innovation! Satan's got bio-engineered nano-devils swimming through fiber-optic cables, sabotaging COG servers with precision strikes that make the CIA look like toddlers with crayons. He's even time-traveled (because why not?) to retroactively invent the blue screen of death just to foreshadow his assaults on Thiel's throne of theological triumph.

Satan Servants Again Strike! 

In the past week we have had to endure physical as well as software hacks. 

 

These hacks cost time and money, as well as discourage people from viewing our materials. 

 

A ‘google bot’ hack on Tuesday greatly slowed down viewers’ abilities to access information on our websites. People were often delayed, sometimes so much as to get timed out and not able to view information. 

 

We asked our man in Portugal to assist on Tuesday related to the bot slow down, as well as had a hardware/software man help recover from a series of costly hacks this week. 

 

So, we have been working on these matters, as well as taking steps to try to further protect our websites from being hacked.

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

12 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. (Ephesians 6:12) 

 

Satan does not want Matthew 24:14 to be fulfilled as that is an important sign of the end, which will lead to the countdown of his end. 

 

Remember:

We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22-23) 

 

Since Satan is the “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2), he has directly or indirectly, various of the disobedient in his service to attack our websites.

A Creation Without Grace: The Brutal Armstrongist Concept of Pre-adamic Man

 

Homo Naledi 

A Creation Without Grace

The Brutal Armstrongist Concept of Pre-adamic Man

By Scout

"A person's a person, no matter how small" – Dr. Seuss

 

Decades ago, Herman Hoeh mounted the stage in the Field House in Big Sandy and delivered a startling message.  I sat in the middle of a large audience and listened spellbound.  He explained that ancient man was not only pre-Flood but pre-adamic.  Up to that point, Armstrongist history maintained that ancient humans, such as Neanderthal, were descended from Adam but lived before the Noachian Flood and within the boundaries of the 6,000-year period.  Hoeh further stated that the pyramids of Egypt were not built by our “Israelite” ancestors in Egyptian slavery but were built by pre-Flood peoples.  Later on, I don’t know when or where I first heard it, this understanding included the idea that pre-adamic man was not really a true human and that salvation was not applicable to him.  God, then, was a great being who created sentient or near-sentient beings throughout hundreds of thousands of years and discarded them.  It was unsettling. It was not a picture of grace. 

(Note: Oddly, while there was a published Armstrongist article based on the Young Earth Creationist idea that all ancient men were descended from Adam, there was never an official publication asserting Hoeh’s profound revision of Armstrongist history presented that day in the Field House.  I searched an archive of WCG literature and could not find the term “pre-adamic man” or its variant spellings. Any downstream theological implications of Hoeh’s idea were halted by neglect.  I have no explanation for this.) 

Hoeh’s presentation was unsettling because it was a view of God that one would need to process. If there is anything that we can learn from the anthropomorphic portrayal of God in the Bible, it is that the creation reflects the creator.  The corollary proposition is that your understanding of the creation informs your view of God.  I paint using watercolor or acrylic and sometimes mixed media.  What I create in a work of art reflects my aesthetics, interests and viewpoints.  My work is unsurprisingly not perfect because I am not perfect.  I would like my art to be perfect but it never will be.  God works in the medium of reality.  He is perfect and, when he is finished with it, so will be his creation.  The question is how does pre-adamic man fit into this picture. 

Redemption of the Cosmos by Renewal

God created the Cosmos and the Cosmos reflects who he is.  That is why he is going to fix it, restore it and in its final perfect disposition it will be beautiful, shining, new, at peace and redeemed.   There is the creation, then the Cross and finally the renewal of all things or the Apokatastasis.  Joh 3:16 reads in Greek, “For God so loved the Cosmos that he gave his only begotten son…”.  We find in Romans 8, “that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”  

Jesus spoke of the Apokatastasis when he stated, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal (Greek, palingenesia from the words for “again” and “generation”) of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory …”.    In Acts 3:21, Peter refers to it as the “restitution of all things (Greek, apokatastasis).” Paul sees in this restitution later that all Israel will be saved, not just those who become Christians during the present era but all Israel for all time. Restitution is a time-spanning principle. It covers not only the living but also the dead.   God created all things from the beginning and what he created he will restore in the Eschaton.  If this line or reasoning yet seems tenuous, consider the explicit statement in Revelation 21:5, “"He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new’”.   Nowhere does scripture suggest that God created things blithely.  Nowhere does it suggest that he regards any of what he created to be discardable.  This would include ancient man such as, say, Homo Naledi.

Homo Naledi

They were a different species of hominid genus.  They lived 300,000 years ago and they were small. They stood at about 4’9” and weighed around 100 pounds.  Their brain volume was about a third of ours.  Their brain size was only slightly larger than that of a chimpanzee.   The archaeology indicates that they were around about 100,000 years and then went extinct about 236,000 YA.  They co-existed with early modern humans who appeared on earth around 300,000 YA.  In fact, God made all kinds of hominids.  The more scientists sift through the strata the more types they find. 

The Homo Naledi were not just animals that God created nonchalantly.  They had human characteristics.  At the Rising Star Cave in South Africa there is a rich deposit of Homo Naledi fossils and artifacts.  It has been startling to paleo-archaeologists that these ancients were in some ways so human-like.  They had reverence for the treatment of their dead.  They were driven by emotion to sequester away their loved ones so their dead bodies would not undergo visible decay or destruction by animals. They went way out of their way, over difficult descents, to bury their dead in a deep chamber of the cave.  This has a ceremonial quality to it. They illuminated the way with fires.  At one point in the descent, they had to engage in teamwork to get the body of the deceased across a deep chasm.  Someone had to jump to the other side of the chasm so the body could be passed over.  In the cemetery chamber, there were markings on the wall.  The conjecture is that it identified who was buried there.  Finally, in one of the excavated graves, the interred person seems to have a tool in his hand.  The tool might have been a graver for making marks on the cave walls.  

So, we have a group of human-like beings who were to some degree sentient.  The complexity of their burial ritual indicates they must have had some form of communication, probably speech, to coordinate team efforts.  They revered the dead in a way that is ceremonial: considerate burial in a cave requiring difficult passages to accomplish.  The tool in the hand of one of the deceased may indicate a belief in the continuation of life beyond death.   Animals don’t do any of this.  And the profound conclusion that we must acknowledge is that they were created by God.  Does God create anything as a lark?

The Armstrongist Version of Evolution

I believe that evolution happened.  It was a tool that God used to order the biological creation on earth.  I do not, however, believe that evolution was wholly random.  I believe it was directed by God.  Evolution is theistic. Yet, some literalist interpreters reject evolution as omitting God from the creation picture.  I believe Armstrongists fall into this category. 

In considering the case of Homo Naledi as an archetypical pre-adamic human, it is important to recognize that evolution asserts a continuity between us and ancient humans.  We are not descended from Homo Naledi but we are descended from similar hominids and probably had an ancient common ancestor with the Naledi.  Armstrongism rejects biological evolution and also, along with this, rejects any continuity between humans and what Armstrongism considers to be pre-adamic humans.  But it is ironic that Armstrongists believe in another form of evolution – one that diminishes God. They believe in the progressive development of God.  They believe that God undergoes development and that we may become God-as-God-is-God by also following a line of progressive development.  Progressive development, aka evolution, is the pathway to Godhood. 

So, Armstrongists believe in an unusual form of evolution. I cannot furnish documentary evidence of this. Like the topic of pre-adamic man, there is nothing officially published on this that I know of.  What I found to support this were notes from in a file in the Ambassador College Big Sandy library.  The unpublished notes were from a WCG Ministerial Conference held in Pasadena where Herman Hoeh was one of the speakers.  I have since misplaced these notes.  They are probably somewhere in a box in the garage.  I’ll probably die without ever seeing them again. 

Hoeh explained at the Conference that God functions just like a human engineer.  He must make models and then test the models to see if they will work. He would then evaluate the results of testing and make improvements.  And this experimentation by God is what generated the fossil humanoids (I believe Hoeh used that word) we find preserved in the geologic strata.  (After all, someone has to explain why there is the progressive development of hominids in the fossil record without recourse to evolution.)  So, there is no continuity between modern humans and, say, Neanderthals.  Neanderthal apparently was a failed experiment and is now extinct. The complication in this case is that almost all non-Africans (There were no Neanderthals in Africa but there was some later back-migration.) are part Neanderthal.  Get yourself a genetic test.  So, there is some biological continuity between modern humans and some ancient humans.  Other ancient hominids may be reflected in our genome.  The jury still out.  

What the Armstrongist view means is that evolution did not take place at the biological level but took place in the mind of God.  God had to learn to make man.  He had to start with a simple understanding and through experimentation progressively develop a more sophisticated understanding.  So, Armstrongists see God as evolving.  As you might guess, I think this is malarkey.  God is absolute.  He creates reality.  He makes things exist.  He does not evolve. He is not a Gnostic demiurge. He is not like us and we will never, ever rise to his level as created beings.  And in this view of God evolving there is a brutalness and gracelessness that becomes an inherent part of the creation.

The Brutality of the Armstrongist Pre-adamic Man Belief

In the view of God as engineer, making and discarding progressively more sophisticated hominid models, there is a hierarchy of the results of experimentation.  The failed and unacceptable occupy the lower tiers and at the pinnacle is modern man. The hominids in the lower tiers can then be discarded. There is no grace for them. They are not salvable or redeemable.  They were just experimental biobots or “crash dummies”, a means to an end, that we need not be concerned about no matter how close they might have been to us.  In the case of Homo Naledi, God let them live and propagate for 100,000 years and then cavalierly discarded them, supposedly.  They had emotion, families, care for one another, reverence for a lived life, marked the loss of life, used symbols and tools and all this was simply trash-canned.  Some local sage may kick-back in his armchair and wax philosophical and say “That’s the way life is.  Its harsh.”  Yet, a major theme of both the OT and NT is that “life in the fallen world is not the way it’s supposed to be.”  So, how Homo Naledi, et al, is viewed makes a difference. 

What Difference Does It Make?

The way we think that God treats his creation forms our view of the nature of God. It tells us who God is. It forms our view as to what is acceptable for us to do with the creation.  If influences how we treat other people. The God who is a God of grace and cares for his creation is a different God from the God who values hominids according to a hierarchy and discards the ones that don’t meet expectations.  A church that follows the latter God just might value people in its congregations according to some hierarchy with some people being more important that others and maybe with some people being just a nameless resource.   The topic of ancient man may seem like just another subject for nerds but it is profound spiritually and shapes one’s view of God and denominational social practice.

C.S. Lewis said that nobody would deduce that there is a benevolent God based on observing Nature.  Nature is brutal and competitive.  Lewis instead deduced that the understanding of a God of grace must then be revealed knowledge.  And, as most Christians see it, the present state of Nature is a cross-sectional – just for the present.  It is the final disposition, wrought by God in grace, that is telling. And it is my view, that in the last analysis, Homo Naledi will be restored and will have a role.  When Jesus said “all things” I believe he meant “all things."

Summation

God has no reason to experiment.  He transcends us.  Hoeh conjectured that God learns and makes like humans.  That is not so.. The Cosmos is not a sandbox where God builds sandcastles and destroys them as he tries to figure out what to do next.  I do not know the destiny of Homo Naledi.  But I do know that the God of grace certainly does not discard beings who are at some stage of sentience.  He may not discard anything – including even your pet cat.   Theories that posit such a God are in error and besmirch God’s character of grace.  Extinction is counteracted by restoration.  In the short term it may seem that all is in disarray but in the long term all is ordered.  God created Homo Naledi and I look forward to seeing what God will do for them.  One day we will arrive at the New Earth and New Heavens and all will be restored and beautiful and right.  All things shining. 

Reference

A good summary of the research on Homo Naledi is the Netflix documentary titled “Cave of Bones,” part of the Unknown series. 

 

 

Armstrong International Cultural Foundation: Is It Really A "Humanitarian" Organization?

When Gerald Flurry decided to split off and start his own splinter group, reportedly to "preserve" the perfect words of Herbert Armstrong, little did we know just how hilariously he'd imitate HWA. Oh, his preaching style evolved into a spot-on mimicry, complete with yelling and bombastic threats from the pulpit—because nothing says "divine inspiration" like a good old-fashioned rant. Then he went all out building a college campus with its own "House of God," in a desperate bid to cosplay the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. How original!

Lawsuits started flying faster than you can say "copyright infringement" after Flurry began publishing HWA's books, booklets, and articles without so much as asking permission from the Worldwide Church of God. Found guilty—shocker—he ended up shelling out over $3,000,000 for the rights to a myriad of those sacred tomes. Not long after, the PCG "discovered" some major issues between HWA's interpretations and the oh-so-revelatory messages Flurry was getting from his god. Flurry's blatant disregard for his followers, coupled with his stunning lack of transparency and accountability, led him and the Philadelphia Church of God to edit the "divinely inspired" words of Armstrong whenever they clashed with Flurry's divine ego trips.

Armstrong's writings were the icing on the cake for them—until they decided to erect their mini-me Ambassador Auditorium as a gleaming monument to Herbert Armstrong himself. Then, when the WCG decided to sell off items from the real Ambassador Auditorium, Flurry pounced like a kid in a candy store, snagging one of the Steinway pianos and those two Baccarat crystal candelabras from the lobby. He then proceeded to imitate every little thing the WCG had connected to the Auditorium. He started a concert series (because who doesn't love recycled culture?), launched the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation (AICF—how utterly original), and claimed to spearhead humanitarian projects around the world. And that's about as "humanitarian" as they got: some buildings, concerts, and a few thousand dollars tossed overseas into a couple of projects that no one's ever heard of or even pretends to care about.

Exit and Support Network has an excellent article about how "humanitarian" Flurry and the Philadelphia Church of God really are, and it's exactly what you'd expect—pure gold for anyone who enjoys a good laugh at hypocrisy.

Does the Philadelphia Church of God have a humanitarian work?

First, let’s define our terms. Merriam-Webster defines humanitarian as “a person promoting human welfare and social reform.”

Visit the PCG website, and at the bottom you’ll see an image with the word “Humanitarianism” superimposed over it. Click on that and you’re introduced to the wonderful world of PCG humanitarianism, all of which is framed under their “Armstrong International Cultural Foundation” and Armstrong Auditorium.

The PCG gives the following context to their lofty humanitarian activities under the foundation:

The two-pronged concept behind all of the foundation’s goals and activities is: 1) that man is a unique being, possessing vast mental, physical and spiritual potentials—the development of which should be aided and encouraged, and 2) that it is the responsibility of all men to attend to and care for the needs of their fellow men, a precept professed by the vast majority of religions of the world—appropriately summed up in three biblical words: ‘Love thy neighbor.’

Oh, "Love thy neighbor"—what a bizarre, utterly alien concept for any COG group to actually grapple with, right? The tired, worn-out mantra they trotted out as their go-to excuse for ignoring their neighbors was, "Why waste money now when God will fix everything in the Kingdom?" Because, you know, divine procrastination is totally a thing.

Garner Ted tried this noble little outreach in the Pasadena area, using the Student Center as a kitchen to feed the homeless and destitute. Oh boy, did the crap hit the fan on that one—big time! Another minister even teamed up with other Pasadena churches to start a program for people battling addictions. But Herbert slammed the brakes on that real fast. After all, never forget that alcohol was basically the church's second god—priorities, people!

The ESN post continues:

One wonders about all spiritual AND physical aid and help they’ve provided to the impoverished, needy, homeless, widows and orphans! Let’s dig in to see how they are serving their community. 

 

Quick refresher: the PCG headquarters is in Edmond, Oklahoma, in the United States.

Surprisingly, a quick review of the page is startlingly bereft of humanitarian efforts for actual neighbors. Here’s some highlights: 

• they did some archeological excavations in… Jerusalem 
• they refurbished a Liberty Bell in… Jerusalem 
• ah yes, back in 1996 they helped some handicapped children in… Jordan 
• they “lent support” to the Petra National Trust (whatever that means) also in… Jordan 

You have to keep reading for the real juicy humanitarian efforts, though:

• in 1998, (wait for it) they sponsored a small concert series that attracted tens of thousands of guests
• in 2004 they “obtained some of the treasures” from an old auditorium (you read that correctly) 
• in 2010 they completed construction of a new auditorium to house these treasures!

It should be mentioned that they participate in an archaeological dig in Jerusalem at this time, but not as a humanitarian project. 

ESN continues:

They incompletely quote this passage: “ ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

 

Absent in this “humanitarian” endeavor is mention of a single dollar, outreach program, or volunteer effort that serves the physically needy who comprise the actual Edmond-based neighbors of the PCG. That’s because they don’t actually do any of that. They don’t donate to food pantries, visit the elderly or sick, provide for those impacted by floods or storms, etc. They don’t help the homeless, victims of domestic violence, or the widows and children of dead soldiers. They give away a LOT of printed propaganda, but they don’t even give away FREE Bibles. I know, because I used to be a member. 

 

One thing that Joe Tkach Sr. had going for him was that he actually donated to various organizations and helped those in need locally in Pasadena and elsewhere, much to the chagrin of some pearl-clutching church members. 

The United Church of God does some good works through Vic Kubik's organization, which surprisingly helps non-church members, too. So, hey, there are a few COG groups that do love their neighbors—unlike the four oh-so-elitist COG groups that couldn't care less: the Philadelphia Church of God, Continuing Church of God, Church of God Preaching the Kingdom, and Restored Church of God.

Perhaps they didn’t read James 2:16:

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

 

The entire PCG humanitarian “work” is a facade for building their own fame and reputation. Sure, they host a lot of high-class, quality musical performances, but not for free. You have to buy a ticket. And those performances don’t fill hungry bellies, provide shelter from cold and rain, or pay the rent of recently widowed mothers. 

 

Even based on their own standard, the PCG is failing to live up to the biblical principle of “love thy neighbor.” 

 

They are the same as every other grifting church, transferring wealth from the rank and file members to the elites of their gated Edmond compound under the guise of ‘good works’, and even invoking the Bible to do so. 

 

I can only imagine what Christ actually thinks about the PCG. 

 

By Ivan (former PCG member)
July 17, 2025 The Humanitarian Side of the Philadelphia Church of God 

 

LCG Members Accused Of Not Being "Team Players"...Again...

 

What an absolute thrill it must be to slog through life as an LCG member, getting your nose rubbed in the fact that you're the church's crowning achievement in epic failures—like, congratulations, you've out-screwed-up everyone who's ever darkened their doorstep! Those hapless LCG folk can't catch a break, perpetually hauled over the scorching coals for daring to breathe wrong, all while their oh-so-merciful God simmers in eternal rage mode, because nothing says "divine love" like non-stop fury.

And let's not forget, true-blue team players would never stoop to criticizing the sacred church or its infallible ministry—oh no, perish the thought!—or that brain-meltingly tedious sermon from last week that could cure insomnia worldwide!

But gosh, imagine the sheer genius of actually shifting their gaze to Jesus Christ, you know, like they're supposedly meant to? Poof! No more drowning in that glorious swamp of rebellion, petty bickering, and seething envy. Revolutionary stuff, folks—who could've thunk it?

Are You a Team Player? God has called us to be part of a team—with a mission. Effective team players have skills and perspectives that can be identified and learned. Christian team players must be focused on the same goal—the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)—and work together to preach the Gospel to the world (Mark 16:15). They strive to avoid saying or doing things that offend others (1 Corinthians 10:32; Matthew 18:6–7). They are forgiving and able to overlook slights and insults (Proverbs 10:12; 17:9). Team players don’t criticize or sit in judgment of others on the team; instead, they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1–5; James 4:11). Effective team players have learned to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), and they treat others gently and respectfully, willing to listen (James 1:19). They appreciate that the team is made up of individuals with different talents, and they let other team members know that they are appreciated. In short, good team members have learned to love their neighbors. Let’s strive to develop these vital qualities.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

COGWA Says That The American Flag Is NOT Evil! Whew! Glad THAT is Settled!

 

Words of astute wisdom from those fun boys in McKinney, Texas.

COGWA: Prophecy Comes Alive! There Are Lots Of Cars On The Roads Running To And Fro!

Those rapidly aging fun boys down in McKinney, Texas, are absolutely killing it right now, aren't they? They're churning out a list of oh-so-prophetic signs that we're definitely, positively in the end times—like, for real this time. It's as if COGWA and Bob Thiel all dipped into the same dusty old playbook of exhausted Armstrongist nonsense. But oh boy, the absolute gem is their very first one: the top indicator of impending doom is... wait for it... all those cars zipping around, making people "run to and fro." Seriously? That's their blockbuster revelation? Armstrongism just keeps plumbing new depths of desperation every single day!

Of course, they merrily prattle on with the same worn-out Church of God claptrap, stuff they happily milk for all it's worth when it suits them. Computers and AI? Total boogeymen, until these geniuses need them to power their "awesome" work. And thanks to those evil machines and the internet, news flashes around the globe in an instant, so folks hear about every famine, earthquake, and disaster the second it hits—instead of waiting weeks or months like in the good old days. But hey, facts keep screaming that these things aren't actually ramping up; nope, it's just the news traveling faster. Shocking, right?

The rest of their brilliant collaboration with Bob Thiel is here:

Specifically, the time of the end is when all of the following prophesied circumstances will be in place. Looking at the list below, consider that these dynamics were not present throughout most of human history—or even the first half of the 20th century. But together, they give the picture of a world on the brink of the Great Tribulation. Reading through these identifiers, there now seem to be only a few details yet to materialize before the final 3½ years of this age commence.

• “Many shall run to and fro” (Daniel 12:4): This prophetic trend comes to mind whenever we’re on a crowded road or in a busy airport. There are now over a billion cars around the world, and millions of passengers fly rapidly through the skies every day.
• “Knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4): The last few years have witnessed an explosion of knowledge, manifested in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), self-driving vehicles, wearable technology, cloud computing, 3D printing, quantum computing, instantaneous language translation, advanced robotics and many other jaw-dropping developments.
• The capability for humanity to destroy all life: “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:22). The capacity for humans to destroy all life on the planet did not exist until after 1945, with the advent of the atomic era. Since then, the proliferation of nuclear weapons has made human annihilation possible—multiple times over.
• Increase in famines, disease epidemics and earthquakes: “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7). Luke 21:11 calls them “great” earthquakes. There have been food shortages, pandemics and earthquakes many times throughout human history. But Christ’s specific mention of them in the context of end-time events shows that they will become a much more notable, frequent phenomenon.
• Ability to view an event around the world: Revelation 11:3-11 reveals that shortly before Christ returns, His “two witnesses”—who will testify to the world from Jerusalem for 42 months (3½ years)—will be killed. “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations will see their dead bodiesthree-and-a-half days” (verse 9). For people all around the world to view this, the technology will need to already exist. Not only is this now possible, most of us now see images from other nations daily via satellites and Internet networks.
• An army of 200 million can be fielded: Revelation 9:13-19 describes another event near the end of the 3½ years, during the sixth trumpet. Verse 16 shows that an enormous army will be fielded at that time: “The number of cavalry troops was 200,000,000. I heard how many there were” (International Standard Version). Furthermore, this comes after staggering numbers of humans have already died, as revealed in Revelation 6 through 9. The ability to field such an exceptionally large army was not possible until recent times, when the populations of some nations (such as China and India, for example) or groups of nations grew so dramatically.
• Sacrifices at Jerusalem begin: Daniel 12 points specifically to events at the end of this age (verses 4, 9). Verse 1 calls it the worst time of trouble in human history, which coincides with Christ’s words in Matthew 24:21. How long until all these things are finished? Daniel 12:7 answers that it will be “for a time, times and half a time.” This expression, also mentioned in other prophecies, equates with the final 3½ years (or 1,260 days) before Christ returns.

Verse 11 gives even more details: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety [1,290] days.”

In order for sacrifices to be taken away just before the final 3½ years, they will first need to be started again. At this time, a number of Jews are advocating and preparing for a restoration of the sacrificial system in Jerusalem. Thus far, those efforts have been stymied by both political and civil opposition. However, Bible prophecy makes it clear the day is coming when animal sacrifices will be instituted and then taken away. Read more in our blog post “Does Bible Prophecy Require a Third Temple to Be Built?”

• Jerusalem surrounded by armies: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20). Verse 24 adds that Jerusalem will then come under gentile (non-Israelite) control. Matthew’s account adds the detail that the “abomination of desolation” (connected with the ending of sacrifices) will be part of this takeover of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15).

In Zechariah 12:3, which also refers to Jerusalem in the end times, God says, “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”

If there’s any city on earth that’s in the news almost daily—as a focus of conflict, division, bloodshed and controversy—it’s Jerusalem. It is easy to see how military activity could quickly begin and escalate there at any time. For more about what the Bible reveals regarding Jerusalem, see our article “Jerusalem in Prophecy.”

• Final revival of the Roman Empire: Students of Bible prophecy know that God foretold the rise and fall of four great empires. The fourth was the Roman Empire, and the Bible shows that it would be revived again at the time of the end (Daniel 2:42-44).

The end-time revival of the Roman Empire (which has always been centered in Europe) will be a union of 10 “kings” (or kingdoms or states) who agree to come under the authority of the “beast” spoken of in Revelation 17. “And the ten horns which you saw [in verse 3] are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” (verses 12-13).

These 10 “kings” will not be perfectly unified, but will cooperate to accomplish their mutual goals. This reality is pictured by the 10 toes of the image shown in Daniel 2:42-44. The 10 toes are referred to as “kings” that are together at the end of this age, shortly before God sets up His Kingdom on earth.

Today, multiple voices are encouraging Europe to stand on its own two feet and greatly increase its own military might. And eyes are now turning to Germany, expecting it to take on a greater leadership role. History and prophecy indicate Germany will have a leading role in this future European power.