Stephen Flurry: You have the right to choose (unless you choose to go against anything we say)

 

One thing the Church of God has always preached, though never truly believed, was that we are all free moral agents who have the ability to choose right from wrong. That sounds logical to anyone outside of Armstrongism, but not to members. To choose to reject utterances from a leader, or understand that certain teachings are piles of crap, or even discern when church leaders are liars, carries a weaponized reaction. To choose differently than the established order was a direct pipeline to the lake of fire and being screamed at by a minister or some ordained flunky, or worse, being tortured by the Germans and placed into concentration camps. No one wanted to see their children hung up on meathooks because of disregarding the words of a minister or church leader.

It also always seems that the most abusive and aberrant COG's out there are the ones who claim members have the right to choose, and that is what Stephen Flurry is doing in the Philadelphia Church of God. PCG is considered by most in the COG movement to be a disgusting legalistic church that is damaging its member's lives (and wallets). 

Lil'Stevie writes:

When you hear the word power in the context of the Bible or God, you probably think of seas parting, dark clouds rolling, lightning striking, the universe—God’s power. But there is another power talked about in the Bible—that God gives to each of us. In fact, it’s a power we’ve had since birth. Though it is not God’s spiritual power, it is a tool that God uses to help us grow, overcome and build righteous character.

This gift is the power to choose. Not even God controls this power (except in Himself, of course). Wow! Could there even be such a thing as that? 

 

This power of choice is so significant that it determines whether you are blessed or cursed. We can choose the way that will result in much happiness, joy and abundance. Or we can choose the way that inevitably leads to heartache, struggle and frustration. 

Right off the bat, Stevie has to subtly threaten PCG members. If they choose differently than him or his daddy, then they are cursed. If they are cursed and leave the church then they will live miserable lives filled with frustration and struggle. Anyone who has left PCG or any other COG group and is totally free from Armstrongism knows that this is a lie.  

There is cause for every effect. That is a law! God says that whatever we sow, we will eventually reap. Whatever the effect, there was an original cause. We must truly realize the power we have in choosing! 

To choose to go against the PCG and its leaders is to go against God himself. Members need to be constantly told that their lives will be miserable and worthless because God has totally abandoned them. God is just waiting for people to choose wrongly so he can make them all miserable.

What are you doing with this power? Is the way you use it setting you up for a productive and fruitful career in God’s Family? 

Here is the just of the matter. To be loyal to the PCG is guaranteeing you a place in the godhead as a future god or goddess where you will be able to pass out judgment and rule over people and possibly even be given a world where you will be its god. 

The Bible shows clearly that without God’s Holy Spirit working in and leading our lives, we will never attain true happiness and success. We need God’s power—no doubt about it! But this article is not about God’s power. It’s about your power—and what you are doing with it!

Stevie then goes on to quote from two books, one from 1930 and the other from 1906. God forbid if anyone in the PCG  ever quoted from a book that was published within the last 5 years or so. But, because Herbert quoted it, it just to be considered scripture, worthy to be added to the continuing book of Acts. These books are about right "thinking" and setting goals.

Lil'Stevie then adds:

Herbert W. Armstrong said in his autobiography that he “often wondered if it is not really better for a young upstart to be conceited, self-confident, cocky—and with it, ambitious, energetic in trying to accomplish something—than to be an ambitionless, spineless, lazy, shiftless fellow utterly lacking in spark, drive, and the zeal to try to accomplish something worthwhile.

Now we know why PCG and so many of the other COG's are filled with such bombastic self-righteous cocky leaders. Herbert said it was ok! And, when you are in the PCG and read something that Herbert said then it is as if God himself put it into his mouth.

Stephen Flurry Is Just As Crazy As His Dad

We have reported here in the past about Gerald Flurry's weird obsession with his idea that Donald Trump will soon be brought back in as President and Joe Biden removed from office. Flurry claims this is a prophecy he got straight out of his big fat bible. Flurry needs this to happen soon because he also is calming that Trump will then turn around and expel all PCG members from the United States where supposedly Jordan will open their borders to these crazy Americans. It does not take much brainpower to realize that Furry is off his rocker, big time.

So where does that leave Lil'Stevie, the heir apparent? Well, he has an entire article up explaining his viewpoint and it is just as crazy as his dad. 

He has a long essay about the supposed corruption, voter fraud, evil democrats, and more that I am not going to post here.

Lil'Stevie ends with this: 

“It is practically an open secret that radical Democrats stole the 2020 United States presidential election,” my father wrote in his article “What Will Happen After Trump Regains Power.” “Polls show that over 70 percent of Republicans believe the election was stolen. A lot of Democrats also believe the election was stolen; I think many of them know it was. Even official totals show a record 74.2 million people voted for President Donald Trump—nearly 5 million more than anyone in American history! … To understand the election fraud in America, you must understand a passage in 2 Kings 14. The book of Kings is part of the Bible called the former prophets. The former prophets are prophets: The men who wrote them were prophets, and prophets are used by God to prophesy. These books contain history, but they are highly prophetic.” 

 

“For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:26-27). This passage is not only history but also prophecy for the descendants of Israel. Those descendants are mainly the United States, Britain and the Middle East Jewish nation named Israel. “Jeroboam the son of Joash” refers prophetically to an end-time president who saves Israel from destruction.

There are people working to blot out the name of Israel—and many of them work for the Democratic Party and scandal-plagued voting technology companies owned by shadowy private equity firms pursuing the same agenda as the Democratic Party. For President Trump to defeat these people and regain power, he is going to have to fight like no president has ever fought before. This prophecy in 2 Kings 14 is why the Trumpet continues to assert that President Trump will return to power. We do not know exactly how this will unfold, but look for nation-shaking election fraud to be exposed this summer!

If you are inclined, you can read this shitfest here:  The Real Insurrection

PCG Gerald Flurry Doubles Down On His Prophetic "Accuracy"

 

The blog Living Armstrongism follows the Philadelphia Church of God cult very closely and does not hesitate to expose their lies and deceptions. Gerald Flurry and his boys in Edmond have been infuriated that Joe Biden was elected President of the United States, especially after Gerald Flurry received a revelation from his resident demon that Trump was going to be reelected or would be put back into power after Biden's election was exposed as illegal. Gerald Flurry went on his video broadcasts and spouted this nonsense, preached it in sermons, and wrote extensively about it in his church rags.

Here we are in April of 2021 and Flurry is having to eat his words, or is he?

In early February 2021 PCG released the March 2021 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Here Gerald Flurry's false prophecy that Biden would not assume the presidency met with ignominious failure and the PCG leadership had to desperately explain it all away. PCG's false prophecy of Biden not assuming the presidency is merely one of many false prophecies produced by PCG since its founding in 1989. 

 

This issue had a circulation of 248,523 issues. 

 

Gerald Flurry has an article trying to explain away his false prophecy that Trump would remain as president by implying that Trump would later return to power.

The side article condemns President Biden's inauguration. 

 

Stephen Flurry has an article denouncing President Biden and attacking his legitimacy to lead as president. It is absurdly insinuated that the January 6 insurrection was the work of left wing infiltrators. He cites the presence of one individual, John Sullivan, amongst the insurrectionists as evidence that the January 6 insurrection was somehow the work of left wing infiltrators. But a little fact checking reveals that Sullivan's presence proves nothing as may be seen here and here. 

 

Stephen Flurry has a side article insisting that sometimes a leader is not legitimate if PCG's God does not recognize that person.

Gerald Flurry has this to say about his failed prophecy: 

I do feel badly about some people being upset or angry, but that’s OK if God has something He’s trying to get across to them. We don’t ever have to apologize for God! He is always right in every prophecy and every word of the Bible. If we make a mistake, we have to realize that and apologize. I’m a flawed human being. We’re all going to make mistakes. But maybe this mistake is a little different from other mistakes. Maybe it led us into some understanding we direly need. 

 

Sometimes God does things very differ- ently than how we would. After all, He does have to get our attention. He knows how to put His message across. 

 

Even looking at it the way I’m talking about it, you could say, Flurry made a four-year mistake in his prophecy. But the first-century apostles thought Jesus Christ would return in their day—so they were 2,000 years off in their thinking! And they certainly were much greater in doing God’s work than I ever will be! It shows you that there is much we don’t know that we have to wait and let God show us. 

 

Finishing God’s Work 

 

One thing is certain: God is going to bring Mr. Trump back. We know he’s coming back—it’s in the prophecy! It’s just a matter of when. It will happen at most in four years—yet I can’t con- ceive of it being anywhere near that length of time. It could be much quicker—we will see. 

 

Why? Because with radicals in power, how could God’s work be completed? When the devil is motivating people, God’s work is their number one target! Already God had to intervene and stop the evil that was happening, or the name of Israel would have been blotted out—and God’s work is at the heart of that name of Israel. The devil would like most of all to get rid of us. WHY I STILL BELIEVE DONALD TRUMP IS COMING BACK

And here we thought Bob Thiel was crazy!

 

Gerald Flurry Cracks Down On Smartphone Usage By Ministers and Church Members

 

There is nothing that infuriates Church of God leaders more than people having access to the internet. The internet had a direct impact on the spectacular implosion of the Worldwide Church of God into hundreds of hundreds of little worthless splinter groups, starting in the early 1990s and onward. Various members started newsgroups on AOL, mailing lists like Good News Grapevine, and other sites. Church of God members could no longer be kept in the dark and church leadership no longer had control of how information was dispersed.

During the 1960's all kinds of books started being written about the church but they had little impact upon church members. Most never even knew they existed. That all changed with the internet. Information flowed freely and swiftly as more and more people began to own computers. 

Today there are numerous websites, blogs, and Facebook groups dealing with COG splits and spiritual abuse. All of those groups exist thanks to the groundbreaking work of the Ambassador Report starting in 1975. Church members were no longer afraid to spill the beans on anything happening in the church. 

The next big leap in information technology was cell phones with internet access. As primitive as they were earlier on, they still allowed quick access to information. Then, smartphones hit the scene. Who could have imagined that a little phone held in your hand was more powerful than the WCG/AC computer system at HQ that took up an entire floor of a building!

Smartphones have led to the dissemination of Church of God shenanigans faster than anything else. Members have instant access to the latest COG news, prophetic utterances, and some of the most idiotic ass-numbing sermons ever delivered.

In spite of all of this, most COG groups embrace this amazing technology and make use of it. Some don't though. Dave Pack has railed on and on about the internet and how demonic it is. Bob Thiel says the technology is tuned in to Satan's wavelength but yet he prostrates himelf at the feet of that technology multiple times a day as he ignores his family.  

And then there is Gerald Flurry, who is in a class all by himself.

Gerald Flurry has tried many times to get all the ministry and all members to stop using smartphones. Many have blatantly ignored him and continue owning them. In one of his fits of rage recently, he lashed out again at ministers and members using smartphones. Exit and Support Network has this up:

March 30, 2021 

 

Smartphones were forbidden to be used by those on campus last year (read November 19, 2020 letter: “PCG Ruling Says No Smartphones Allowed“). It was January 24, 2020 when Andrew Locher gave a sermon about “Technology Use” where he said using smart devices will “destroy our teenagers.” That was the time G. Flurry put in place policies that would eliminate Smartphones on campus to “set the example for the brethren,” even though some did not obey that policy at the time. 

 

The February 21, 2020 phone policy update said full time ministers were “expected to switch from their Smartphones to a future phone.” However, if some needed a Smartphone for their business, that was okay. G. Flurry “approved” the use of i-pads if you needed one. Then the April 2020 Pastor General’s Report reiterated again that the cell phone policy for ministers was that ministers should not be using Smartphones unless they were required to use one for their business. There were no exceptions for this policy. Minister’s wives were likewise expected to make the transition away from Smartphones. 

 

Not all members have been following this policy because this subject about Smartphones was brought up again at the recent PCG Ministerial Conference when Stephen Flurry gave a lecture. He talked about what he called “the signs of warning and danger” for the congregation if they used Smartphones. One of the warning signs he said was “too much technology.” 

 

Wayne Turgeon on day two of the conference gave a lecture on “Materialism” [Note by ESN: Why then did Turgeon in a 2021 sermon refer to all the materialism, riches and luxuries at HQs as “perks and fringe benefits” for being the few first fruits on this earth?] and said, “Materialism [not Charles Darwin] is the father of evolution and what we call human nature is really Satan’s nature. [Note by ESN: Human nature is that which makes us distinctly human] … People change a little at a time in the direction of the masses as they are influenced a little at a time.” This sounded to me exactly how PCG members change a little at a time as they are influenced by the leader’s mind control. 

 

I know several members in PCG who all have Smartphones. But if G. Flurry continues his crack down, the day could come when we’ll see them with a flip phone again. It’s ridiculous to what lengths PCG will go to in order to keep members from finding out the truth about PCG. I know GF is also worried about someone recording their sermons with these Smartphones. 

 

Members have been told that if they want to overcome they must hear what God (i. e., PCG government) is saying about this. 

 

Members, however, are still using Smartphones. –[name withheld]

PCG: New Blog Holding Doctrinal Issues and Teachings of Gerald Flurry To Account

 

There is a new blog up that is holding PCG accountable.

PCG Watch is a site dedicated to analyzing the claims, doctrines and predictions made by Gerald Flurry and the PCG. In order to do this we will also need to analyze many of the doctrines and predictions of Herbert W. Armstrong. 

 

Gerald Flurry and Herbert W. Armstrong have through the years made many specific prophecies—predictions that can be confirmed or falsified. While many members forget these claims, it is our purpose to make you remember and judge for yourself whether they came true. Many other claims, about the history of Christianity, about the origins of doctrines, about the whereabouts of historical peoples, about the nature of ancient prophecies, have been made by Flurry and Armstrong which we will ask you to reconsider in the light of facts and perspectives the PCG and Gerald Flurry—whether by ignorance or by willful deception—do not mention. 

 

The authors of the website believe there is more independent thinking within the PCG than many members may realize. We have received numerous articles from members discussing PCG doctrines in the light of previous Armstrong teachings, biblical scriptures, historical facts, or secular writings—most times this independent thinking is rewarded with a suspension or a disfellowshipment.
We welcome any submissions from members or past-members who believe they have something to say about the accuracy of PCG teachings. 

 

We would also like to encourage responses or rebuttals from PCG authorities, which we will freely post here. One of the defining features of the PCG is that their leaders spend almost no time addressing criticism of their doctrines from the outside, choosing instead to ignore them and hope their members have not heard.

Please check out PCG Watch here.

 

Stupid Things Stephen Flurry Says

We are heading into the most important and sacred time of the year in the Church of God as it celebrates its version of the Passover. It is a time of would searching and even fasting to makes sure one is prepared to partake of the bread and wine. It is the one night of the year when COG members feel washed free of their sins. Sadly, it is only that one night, and for some, the sin starts as soon as they get angry at someone in the parking lot who won't let them out of a parking space or cuts them not the freeway. Damn ti! Now they have to wait till next year to be cleansed of their sins.

That's the merry-go-round that COG members are condemned to by lackluster ministers who refuse to follow Christ and preach about grace, justification, and spiritual rest, but instead spend their every breathing moment finding something wrong that members are doing or wrong in society. It is the eternal condemnation that no Passover service will ever cleanse away.

From Exit and Support Network (links in the letter lead to articles on the E&S site and not the Flurry cult):

March 6, 2021 

 

[The following were notes were sent to us by a PCG source and L. S. has added comments.]
SF in a recent sermon “Focus on the Lamb of God” (which did not focus on the Lamb of God but on sin and the Law), was filled with what I call lies. He also quoted from HWA many times. 

 

SF says, “Jesus had to be crucified because God won’t compromise with his Law.” Lie. Christ willingly shed his blood on Calvary and rose again in order to pay for the sins of the entire world. He was foreordained (chosen) to be the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8. 

 

SF says, “The view [in the world] is that He [Jesus] did it all for us and that is a cop-out.” Lie. The truth is that He did do it all for us. Ephesians 1:7; II Corinthians 5:21, and many more Scriptures. This is the gospel of grace. 

Any Christian who understands grace understands this concept. It is finished. All of it!  

SF says, “What Christ went through is proof that God’s Law is active and valid and in force.” He added that Luke 24 says it. Lie. The Bible says no such thing. Jesus is telling His disciples in Luke 24 that Moses and all the prophets spoke of the things concerning Him—not the law. (See Luke 24:25-27) Read our articles: The Law of Moses and the Grace of God and Must We Keep the Law for Salvation? (many Q&A). 

 

SF says, “Jesus had to die because God won’t compromise with His Law.” Lie. Quoted HWA as saying it is false what “people in the world are saying that Jesus did these things for us because we can’t keep the law perfectly.” Quoted HWA as saying, “We have to keep the Law in order to be saved” and “God won’t receive you just as you are.” Lie. The Scriptures say “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (II Corinthians 5:21) There are no works of the Law involved in salvation. It is a free gift. John 3:16. Read some of our articles in our section Law & Grace and especially many of Bob George‘s “A Closer Look” booklets. 

 

SF continually quoted words by HWA from his sermons and articles, which will always sound good and right until you exam them in the light of God’s Word. Read our article: Why Herbert Armstrong Could Not Have Been God’s True Apostle. 

 

SF says, “Young people have left PCG recently; they weren’t making the necessary changes they should have. In the end Satan overcame them.” Lie. Maybe these young people wanted out from under the burdens in PCG and to be able to make their own decisions. 

 

SF says, “If you don’t commit to a life of overcoming you will become calloused and drift away from God.” Lie. Victory comes by resting in Christ, not struggling. Go to our article: Must We Keep the Law for Salvation? and search for the word “overcome.” 

 

SF’s voice, the same as all top level PCG ministers I’ve heard gets very loud in the middle of this sermon. 

 

SF says,”We are living it first now and then will teach the whole world how to do it.” Lie. Members are not able to keep the Law perfectly so how can they teach the “whole world” in the future how to do it? 

 

When we focus on the Law it arouses sin, and causes sin to have more power. See Must We Keep the Law for Salvation? and click on the question “Can you explain more about the works of the Law and salvation?” 

 

This sermon will keep members in bondage to the Law not cause them to focus on “The Lamb of God” who took away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) –PCG source (additional comments by L. S.)

The law has become the god of the Church of God. The law trumps everything, even Jesus Christ. Nothing is more important or more necessary than keeping the law and following proper church government. Jesus be damned! Obey your pastor general or chief overseer, bow at the feet of Moses and keep all 613 laws, follow church government, and read Mystery of the Ages, and you too can be saved.

Escaping from the Philadelphia Church of God

 

As Gerald Flurry Descends Further Into Madness He Demands His Follows Fast To Force Their "god" Into Action

 

Heard that PCG has called for a fast so that their god can make true the made-up prophecy that Flurry made of Trump being Jeroboam. If their populace goes with this fast, unaware that they're also wanting to be evicted from their country, at least the US, so that they could go to their Place of Safety based on Flurry's prophecy. Again, they're forcing their god to do this.

This is also a double whammy that Flurry is hoping that something significant will happen either on their most honored Jan 16 HWA death anniversary, never mind that the true God doesn't recognize this for anything since it doesn't even align with His calendar; but PCG is also expecting something to happen on Jan 20, a miracle to keep Trump in office. Gerald Flurry is not so much concerned about Trump staying in office but more about proving him, Flurry, as a prophet. Failure of this prophecy to come to pass will, once and for all, prove Flurry to be a false prophet and would open the door for the exodus of people from PCG.

They will never learn nor will they wake up from this stupid stupor of Armstrong/Flurry worship that they just go along with what they're commanding. They all have really lost their objective thinking and their critical thinking. Are they not thinking that as they go through this fast? Flurry with his minion ministers are also already planning a spin doctor on their messaging in the good chance that Biden is sworn in. May this organization finally implode soon.

Scott Terred

(I give you permission to use my full name)

Why Are COG Leaders Such Horrendous Liars?

 

Have you ever noticed that in the Church of God telling "the truth" is always publicly deemed the honorable and right thing to do, besides that, it is one of the 10 commandments to not lie? Yet, COG leadership is filled with self-appointed prophets, apostles, chief overseers, pastor generals, multiple Elijah's and Elisha's, and scores of other agents of doom and gloom, and through all of their predictions, sermons, and writings do openly and blatantly lie to the church and the world. 

When caught in their lies and their prophecies that fail, do any of these little men ever apologize for lying to us?

Rod Meredith lied about Leona McNair in front of 700 ministers and their wives at a ministerial conference. She sued him and the Worldwide Church of God. They spent hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to intimidate her and get the case thrown out. Meredith was found guilty and the church had to pay Leona McNair a huge sum of money, besides paying legal fees.  Did Meredith ever apologize to Leona? Did the WCG ever apologize to Leona?

Dave Pack has repeatedly lied about Christ returning for many years now. He has lied about three COG leaders being killed and all of their followers coming over to join the Restored Church of God.  He has lied about his "all things common" teaching, which is not a new covenant command. Will Dave ever apologize for lying to us?

Ron Weinland has lied for many years about his "christ" returning. Even while sitting in prison with his new "bunkmate" Big Bubba, he continued to send out lies to his few faithful. He lied to us when he said he and his dingy wife Laura will be the two witless witnesses. Will Ron ever apologize for lying to us?

Bob Thiel has lied to us from day one about God speaking to him in dreams, that he is the only COG doing the work, that he is a prophet, that he is Elisha, Elijah, Zephaniah, Joshua, and many other appropriated personalities (about the only thing left to call himself is Legion). Has Bob ever apologized and will he EVER apologize for lying to us?

Gerald Flurry lied about God sending him "Malachi's Message" after plagiarizing it from another source. He has lied that he is following in Herbert Armstrong's footsteps. He has lied about HWA's prayer rock, its significance, and that it will be the new coronation stone that Jesus is returning to. He has made so many false prophecies that even the demonic realm stands in awe of him. He has lied about Trump, Biden, Obama, Clinton, and Bush. He has lied that the Philadelphia Church of God WON the lawsuit for Mystery of the Ages. Flurry has told more lies than I think Dave Pack has. Will Gerald ever apologize for lying to us?

That brings us to Stephen Flurry. I am not even going to get into his book he wrote that was one lie from the first page to the end but will feature a few of his current lies that he and his father are promoting about the Trump/Biden shit show.

Stephen and his dad have been working overtime in stating that Donald Trump will remaining office and that Biden will never be President. Stephen doubled  down with this way of thinking on January 1, 2021, when he stated the following:

The God of the Bible is absolutely trustworthy. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. When He issues a prophecy, you can stake your life on it coming to pass!

I have lived my life by this truth for over four decades. And I have seen God deliver miracle after miracle. Never has God failed to do what He said He will. 

 

Back in November, I wrote an article titled “Why Donald Trump Will Remain America’s President.” This article is based on some prophecies in the Bible, and to this day I remain convicted that it is 100 percent reliable. All the evidence may look contrary, but that doesn’t shake my conviction. God will ultimately stop Joe Biden from being America’s next president. Read that article to see what God prophesied. Those prophecies are sure. Keep your eyes on events, and watch what God does!

No prophecy in the Bible concerns this election, never has and never will. That has not stopped the Flurry clan and tabloid papers in England from attempting to legitimize their nuttiness:

This article understandably garnered quite a bit of attention, even from news sources. It was quoted by the United Kingdom’s Daily Express website, which receives around 100 million visits each month—the UK’s most visited website. In an article titled, “Donald Trump Prophecy: Bible Preacher Claims Trump ‘Will Remain President,’” they wrote: “After a month of failed lawsuits and unsubstantiated cries of electoral fraud, Democrat Mr. Biden looks to have his victory certified on December 14 by the Electoral College. … A popular U.S. evangelist and founder of the Philadelphia Trumpet magazine has announced President Trump will retain his seat in the Oval Office by the grace of God. According to Pastor General Flurry of the Philadelphia Church of God, Mr. Biden’s presidency is contrary to ‘Bible prophecy.’” They then quoted several other portions of my article.

Nothing strokes the prostates of COG leaders more than having worldly people looking to them as bearers of truth. They bask in this glory and actively seek it out (i.e. Bob Thiel). In the eyes of gullible church members, they think this is one more proof from God that their leader is right while everyone else looks at them as being completely nutters.

Then Lil'Stevie goers ballistic:

They then concluded, “According to Stephen Whitmore of the Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, Massachusetts, all attempts to foretell the return of Jesus Christ are futile and possibly un-Christian.”

The man they quoted claims to follow Christ. Over a hundred Bible prophecies thunder loudly that Jesus Christ is going to return in this generation! But this so-called Christian says it is un-Christian to talk about the Second Coming! That’s about as mad as any statement you could make about the Bible. This man is spiritually mad! He is insulting God!

I love when all of these little man-boys in leadership positions in various COG's try to be masculine powerful he-men. Even Jesus laughs at their futile attempts!

Lil'Stevie then goes on to make the only truthful statement in the entire article:

Who are you going to believe? Are you going to believe God—or a man?

Why are Church of God members such suckers for the crafty words of these men in COG leadership positions? None of them have ever told us the truth!

As this year progresses on Church of God leaders will continue to lie. They will continue to set dates. They will continue to claim nightmares are dreams sent by "god." They will claim to be prophets, apostles and most likely one of them will soon claim to be Christ on earth. They will do this without even blinking an eye and think they are God's true servants.

The Holy Child Who Resides In The PCG

In the Church of God history, there have been few sons of leaders that ever made their father proud and where they became second in command in their father's work.  Garner Ted did for a while till he couldn't keep his pants zipped and then turned on his father. Rod Meredith's boys (from both marriages) have been absolute failures when it comes to morality and leadership skills and were so bad Meredith had to bring in Gerald Weston. Dave Pack's boys left the church their father started. Joseph Tkach's son went on to lead the Worldwide Church of God into a new version of the church that no one ever imagined.

This brings us to Stephen Flurry, the most holy child of Gerald Flurry. A man/boy so significant that PCG youth are told the amazing story on how Lil Stevie read Malachi's Message and the heavens opened up for him and his mind was opened to the truth. To this day, Herbert W Armstrong College takes its students and church youth to Robbers Cave where they commemorate this historically spiritual event. They even gaze in awe at the cabin Lil'Stevie stayed in during that glorious time when the angels in heaven rejoiced at the lost child returning to the father.

As God was revealing Malachi’s Message, my children were at Ambassador College in Pasadena, California—my daughter, Laura, in her senior year; my son, Stephen, in his freshman year. That was where I felt they could get the best education on this Earth. But I became increasingly uneasy as I detected the wrong direction the leaders were taking God’s Church. Both of them were alerted to problems in the Church. I convinced Stephen to continue his education at the Ambassador campus at Big Sandy, Texas, closer to where I was in Oklahoma. 

 

That summer, on his way to Big Sandy, my son visited us in Oklahoma. I picked him up at the airport and took him immediately to our July 14 weekend church campout at Robber’s Cave, Okla. (My son was keeping a diary at the time, and recorded these events.) It was a tense weekend, because I had a rough draft of Malachi’s Message with me that I had decided to share with my son. When I gave it to him on that Sabbath, he was the first to see it, and I was very concerned about how he would respond. 

 

Some others in the Church were already suspicious about what I was doing. Stephen was also slightly unsure of where I was spiritually and didn’t read my manuscript immediately (on July 15)—he didn’t want to be accused of blindly following his dad. 

 

We need to remember that Mr. Armstrong had provided strong leadership in the Church for 57 years. We were usually suspicious of anybody who spoke against Church headquarters—that includes me! Anybody who left the Church in that period was considered to be rebelling against God. Also, Stephen’s teachers at Ambassador College had been teaching against “heretics.” 

 

So I waited in vain, and rather tensely, on that Sabbath day for my son to read Malachi’s Message.
Finally, my son read the rough draft of Malachi’s Message on Sunday, July 16, 1989—exactly 3½ years after Mr. Armstrong died! My son was positive in what he said, but he didn’t say much. I could tell he had been sobered by what he read. The sanctuary had already been cleansed, but it took a few months before that rain began to reach beyond the altar, or ministry.

For me to give Malachi’s Message to my son placed a heavy responsibility on him. I knew this was going to be a test for my son. When something like that happens, we have to make the right decision! Clearly, the way God viewed it, that was a far more significant moment than it would have appeared. 

 

Young people, realize: My son really wrestled with that choice—as probably any unbaptized person would have. He loved college, yet here was his dad doing something that many members dismissed as rank rebellion! God made him choose—just as He makes each of us choose. It would have been so easy to turn away from God at that point and to miss all the blessings. But if we make the right choice, God can accomplish tremendous things in our lives! We must always strive to get ourselves out of the way and let God lead us.  

In the summer of 1992, three years after my son made that choice, I received the understanding that Malachi’s Message was actually the “little book” spoken of in the 10th chapter of Revelation. (This truth is explained in our free booklet The Little Book.) I first delivered this revelation at our Philadelphia Youth Camp that summer. That is the only time I have given new revelation to a group of unbaptized young people. I didn’t make that choice, God did!  Gerad Flurry: Robbers Cave And New Revelation

As I mentioned above, students go to Robbers Cave every year to commemorate this historical event. 

Robbers Cave in Wilburton, Oklahoma (Grant Turgeon) 

 

Robbers Cave can provide any number of things for Herbert W. Armstrong College students: a much-needed rest from the rigors of college life, a respite from the bustle of our interconnected society, time for reflection on the site’s integral role in the Philadelphia Church of God’s history, appreciation for creation, strong bonds within the college family, an improved relationship with God, or a life-turning point. Never mind the lack of heating, “actual beds,” or pleasant shower conditions, as some might point out. What's it like at 'Robbers Cave'

In England/Scotland they have "Robbers Cave Sunday"

‘Robbers Cave’ in Galloway, Scotland (Paris Turgeon) 

 

We got back from ‘Robbers Cave’ Sunday evening. It’s odd calling it that because comparatively, it was nothing like our usual Oklahoma Robbers Cave experience. I could go into detail about how we had heat and actual beds, and that I didn’t have to wear flip-flops in the shower, etc., but that seems unfair. I will just say that it was a different experience—a wonderful, beautiful, mesmerizing experience.

Idolatry is nothing new in the Philadelphia Church of God, but the absurdity of this is hilarious. It would be like Bob Thiel having a Feast site in Arroyo Grande where everyone comes to his home and stares at the holy place he has his dreams and thumps his big fat bible. The sad thing is that there are enough stupid people in his church that would do that.

EDMOND—“So what do you think?” the minister asked when his son paused while reading the manuscript. “Well, that definitely will get you fired,” his son responded.” It was July 1989, and the young 19-year-old was on a Y.E.S. camping trip with his father at Robbers Cave in southeastern Oklahoma during the summer break. But this turned out to be more than your everyday summer camping excursion. It became a pivotal moment in the history of God’s Church and marked Robbers Cave State Park as an important historical location for the Philadelphia Church of God.

Right there, in that cabin at Robbers Cave Campsite Number One, the revelation in Malachi’s Message was being shared for the first time. After the death of Mr. Armstrong, the Worldwide Church of God was being torn apart; yet off in remote rural Oklahoma, the first person besides Mr. Gerald Flurry was learning God’s revelation about what was really happening.

“I think I still have the first manuscript I received after we printed the first 1,000 [copies of Malachi’s Message ],” Mr. Stephen Flurry said. “But as for that stack of typewritten papers he handed me that weekend at Robbers Cave, I’m not sure where those ended up.”

“Its content certainly rang true,” he wrote in Raising the Ruins, “it was inspiring in fact—but I couldn’t yet commit to accepting the material without first digging into Mr. Armstrong’s foundational teachings. [My dad] agreed the content would undoubtedly get him fired. But believing it was from God, he fully intended to deliver the message to church leaders in Pasadena.”

The manuscript indeed got then-Preaching Elder Gerald Flurry fired on Dec. 7, 1989. The Philadelphia Church of God was raised up less than five months after Malachi’s Message was first delivered to his son at that wooded campsite. Because of this history-shaping event, Robbers Cave has become a significant landmark for the pcg. Herbert W. Armstrong College has retreated to the campsite almost every year since 2002, and Mr. Stephen Flurry has never missed a campout.

Every year, he returns to the campsite with his family and dozens of others whose lives were also changed by that book he was the first to read nearly 25 years ago: Malachi’s Message.
A Significant Hisotoric Landmark

All of this is made even more pathetic considering Gerald Flurry stole the entire book from Jules Dervaes who was widely distributing it in Pasadena in 1986.  See: The Letter to Laodicea

Just like everyone else in Armstrongism, new and upcoming COG leaders do not have an original concept in their heads and have to plagiarize or rewrite other's booklets and articles. Gerald Flurry is particularly crafty in this.

PCG worships a stupid book that they say has a rightful place next to the Bible, alongside Mystery of the ages. PCG, like most other COG's place their emphasis upon the holy words of their prophets and apostles and shove Jesus onto the back burner where he stays until Passover each year when they reluctantly drag him out so they can crucify him over and over year after year. Then, as soon as Passover is over, he goes back into the closet in the local Masonic Lodge or some school gym, where he remains hidden till the following year where he is seldom ever mentioned again. 

Every day we wake up the COG sinks further into madeness.

Satan attacks Philadelphia Church of God by using Hamas and Orthodox Jews

The Philadelphia Church of God has been working overtime in promoting their Hezikiah find from their archaeological dig in Jerusalem.  They claim that one miracle after another is happening because this dig has been blessed by their god.  However, Satan is also busy at work attacking the dig and the PCG.

Satan hates the Philadelphia church of God!

One day, Brianna Weeks was helping the dig registrar, Alexandra, collect and register finds. One small animal figurine leg had gone missing—the fear was that it had been thrown out near the washing area. Alexandra was desperately looking for the piece in that location, but returned without finding it. Brianna said a silent prayer, asking God to help Alexandra find it. I’ll let Brianna summarize the rest:

It wasn’t long before Alexandra got up to go look for the leg again. She looked in the exact same spot that she had looked before—only this time, I heard a gasp. She had found it! She brought it over to me with a look of total disbelief on her face. She couldn’t believe it. She told me over and over how she just couldn’t believe she’d found it. Then she said that she knew it was a miracle. I was throwing a little party in my head; it was absolutely amazing to see God answer my prayer like that and to see that even she realized that this was a special thing that had happened. She came back to me for days after that, telling me over and over about how she had found the leg and how she still just couldn’t believe it.

The miracles kept on coming.  

Another was the general energy on the dig site. It is a rigorous routine, especially for the students: waking up around 4 a.m., beginning the dig at 6:30 a.m., finishing at 2:30 p.m., taking college classes throughout the afternoon and on into the evening. Yet somehow, we felt more energized than one would expect, considering the regimen. Callum Wood (a 2012 digger) recalled trying to maintain the (incredibly productive!) schedule after the dig was over—in his words, “Not a chance.” The ability to handle the intense workload “was one of the biggest miracles I remember from the dig,” he said. There are the general aches and pains, but it is common for the students to report that, upon entering the dig site, the aches and pains disappear—until the dig day is over and we walk back out of the gate. 

Of course, anything that God loves, Satan hates. And so there are the clear satanic attacks that come with digging—particularly on this excavation. For that initial 2017 meeting for the dig to start, Stephen Flurry was originally intended to go—instead, he was grounded in the Philippines, his wife sick and unable to secure a doctor’s note to fly. One of the students who came in to participate on the dig was hassled at the airport by an immigration officer. Despite having the correct paperwork, he was lambasted as a “liar.” Archaeologist Brent Nagtegaal, waiting on the other side of Customs, talked on the phone with this officer—he was also castigated as a “liar.” One day there was a massive gas explosion just down the road from our apartment. We noticed what had happened as we neared home, returning from the dig site. The hunt for survivors was being conducted in the parking garage where it had happened; one person was killed and three injured.

One day, a sinister event happened. A man stopped by the dig site to meet with Dr. Mazar—he had worked with her and us about 10 years ago during the City of David excavations. The meeting was nothing unusual. But just two days later, he was stabbed to death a few hundred yards away in the Old City. The tragedy struck us as particularly unusual—we had no contact for a decade, and within two days of meeting him, he was killed. It was a stark reminder of how much Satan hates these excavations and that we must pray for God’s protection. 

And who could forget Operation Pillar of Defense, which occurred during our 2012 excavation? Hamas had, for the first time, fired long-range rockets at Jerusalem from Gaza. The air around us was sporadically filled with the howling of air raid sirens and the thump! of the rockets as they crashed in the distance, fortunately causing little harm or damage. Hearing the sirens was an eerie experience—that was the first time they had ever been used in Jerusalem. 

Then there was the strong verbal abuse and protests by Orthodox Jews attempting to shut down the City of David excavation in Area G, accusing us (falsely) of digging up tombs. Hundreds of Jews had succeeded in shutting down an excavation there a decade before, pelting the excavators with rocks. This one, though, they couldn’t run us off. That area yielded up the important finds of the Gedeliah bulla and the exciting tunnel continuing underneath the Stepped Stone Structure. During later digs on the Ophel, we were on the receiving end of rock throwing—from Arabs atop the southern wall of the Temple Mount. The stones could have done immense damage had they hit their mark—yet we were protected and the dig was allowed to continue.

Update About Father Searching For Children Trapped In Gerald Flurry's Philadelphia Church of God

It’s been 6 years since I’ve heard from my children. I’m always searching the web for information or pictures of them. They are not allowed to contact me because of the evil no contact ruling imposed on them under penalty of death by the evil cult leader Gerald Flurry. 

Just the other day a recently freed member of the PCG got in touch with me with information on my son Nathan and daughter Elise Moffett. Thanks to this person escaping the evil cult I was given some insight into what my children are going through. I am so thankful for the information and so thankful that this person took the time to send it to me. Because of it, I’m hopeful that my children will be among those that will soon be free from this evil mind-controlling cult.

Let me say that I was not told this information was confidential. So I feel free to publish it in hopes that it will encourage and help others that are going through this loss. I hope to hear more from this courageous person.

Here is some of what I was told (emphasis mine):

“Elise was working for Mr. Turgeon, as his personal assistant. Before that, she was working in the AC kitchen. I think she was happy to get out of the kitchen…. Personally, I think it would be excruciatingly boring to work for a guy like Mr. Turgeon, but at least its not Mr. Davis.... Nathan worked landscaping for the college for a while, but then moved out to start his own business.

There is one story I think you'll find interesting (and ridiculous). There used to be a rule about how much an AC student could drink when they were off campus. There was a 2-drink limit if you were over the drinking age, but if you were under it and you were at a married couple's house, you could have 1 drink. So I believe some freshmen went out and had two drinks at someones house, and it got back to Mr. Burns and Mr. Turgeon through the usual spies... (ugh... don't even get me started). So they came back and "reiterated" that the rules were you could only have 1 drink, and if you were under the drinking age, you could only drink if you were at a married couple's house. Now, since the rule had always been 2 drinks, some of the older students spoke up in their meetings and asked why it was being changed. Why punish responsible students by lowering the drink limit just because of freshmen? Mr. Burns and Mr. Turgeon replied that it had always been a 1 drink policy--which was clearly wrong, and every student could tell you that. Elise, being Mr. Turgeon's assistant, told him that it had originally been 2, but Mr. Burns told her "no, it has always been 1." Then, when Elise was telling this story to me she said "it was like 1984 up in there." "We're not changing the rules, it's always been a 1-drink limit!" 

So, yes, the story and the rule is all a little bit trivial, but I could tell it was a time where Elise was just frustrated about the ridiculous micromanaging and dishonesty among the higher ups. I, for what its worth, actually think that they are so used to doing this kind of thing that they begin to believe their own lies. Elise and Nathan are both very smart, and I am waiting for a lot of smart people to leave in the next 2 years when Trump leaves office. I am not sure if you know, but GRF says President Trump is the Jeroboam of Amos 7 who will kick the church out of the US and into "Judah." So if any of my family members are still in the church after Trump leaves office, I'm going to be ******************  “ (redacted to protect identity. but lets’ just say “upset”.

Again, THANK YOU to the caring person that sent me this information and congratulations that you had the courage to leave the cult. I pray that this person does not have to go through the loss of family because of their brave decision to leave. Let’s all pray for those newly freed and those still enslaved. We all know what they are going through.

Dan Moffett

PCG: "...why is Flurry allowed to prosper and live the high life--buying multi-million dollar jets while people are killing themselves? Why is his pampered and arrogant children/grandchildren getting great jobs/perks at Edmond HQ ..."

From Exit and Support:

Gerald Flurry Will Face Judgment One Day (concerning recent suicide):

June 16, 2018

Just wanted to drop you a short letter to express my outrage and disgust concerning the recent suicide of the young man from the Philippines. [see May 31, 2018 letter above] How tragic that another death has to be announced because of Gerald Flurry's insane doctrines. I am so angry right now. I keep asking WHY?!?!

Gerald Flurry will face Judgment one day because of what he has done. I have to believe in that. You see, many of my ex-PCG friends have turned their backs on God and have become atheists because of what they experienced in "God's church"--and because of what is continuing to happen in the PCG. Their mentality is that there is no God because of (what they perceive as) God's non-intervention in punishing Gerald Flurry for what he has done to people. All I can say to them is wait. God has his own timing. It is not God's fault. He has given us free will.

I also read on your site how the people at HQ are feasting on fine foods and wine at the Night to Be Much Observed while some cannot afford to attend the Feast or Holy Days. Makes me sick!! I know we want to ask why is Flurry allowed to prosper and live the high life--buying multi-million dollar jets while people are killing themselves? Why is his pampered and arrogant children/grandchildren getting great jobs/perks at Edmond HQ while so many PCG members are pressured by sermons into writing checks they do not have the funds to cover? It makes us all so angry I know.

Also, see:

PCG: Gerald Flurry and Elite Grandkids Travel In Luxury While Members Stay In "...nasty fleabag motels."

PCG: While Some Members Struggle To Survive The PCG Elite Hire Private Chef's For NTBMO

PCG: Fundraising For God. After All, It Is Always About The Money

PCG's Hezekiah Exhibit: Making Biblical Archeology "Sexy" Again

If you have been following Philadelphia Church of God's recent media blitz you would imagine that they have once and for all proven that they are the one true church because they have been participating in a dig in Jerusalem for several years with Dr Eliat Mazar. No other COG understands biblical archeology or truth better than the PCG.

The Times of Israel is reporting about PCG's new exhibit in the Armstrong Auditorium lobby.

Why a world premiere of precious biblical artifacts is in quiet Oklahoma

A rare world premiere exhibit of ancient biblical-era artifacts was launched this week at the Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond, Oklahoma. Located in the middle of lush green fields, the massive, pillared auditorium — complete with a water sculpture at its entrance — is an unlikely forum for the first ever display of tangible proof of the biblical King Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah.

For the first time in the world, seal impressions or bullae discovered in 2009-2010 in Jerusalem’s Old City at the Ophel excavations conducted under Hebrew University archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar are on show to the general public in the exhibit “Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered.” Other finds, such as a large cache of 2,000-year-old coins from the Jewish revolt discovered earlier this year in a cave near the Ophel, are also having their premiere.

Still more rare First Temple Period artifacts are also on display, largely taken from Tel Lachish and Tel Beersheva excavations. The weapons, ceramics and weigh stones are striking. But the explainer films, interactive programmed tablets, reproductions of key finds, including the British Museum’s Lachish relief, as well as a huge scale cross-section of Hezekiah’s tunnel in Jerusalem, all shore up the historicity of the biblical story and the 8th century BCE Assyrian siege. This narrative is clearly spelled out in the showcases throughout the attractive auditorium lobby.

The article goes on to mention that the PCG has dropped over a $500,000.00 in putting on this production.  A half million dollars in tithe money that the poorer PCG members struggle to send in. 

The exhibit is the fruit of a 50-year partnership between a group of steadfast Christians and generations of the archaeological Mazar family. And it is impressive.

But who will see it?

When the Ambassador Foundation put on exhibits from Thailand and China in the 1980's it had a ready audience by the fact it was in the middle of the Los Angeles basin.  Thousands came to see the exhibits.  PCG is right in the centre of cow pattie fields.

Now take a look at how many the PCG expects to have in attendance:

Edmond, a suburb of Oklahoma City, is located smack dab in the Bible Belt. Several church bus tours are already scheduled to make their way there, according to the exhibit’s curator, Brad MacDonald, bringing 40-50 visitors each.

But in conversation in Jerusalem the day after the grand opening, vice president of the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation Stephen Flurry seems untroubled when he estimates that only some 10-15 individuals will trickle in each day.

After the Herbert Armstrong College students and local PCG members all stop by to the see the exhibit, scant few of the public will ever see it. 

The Times of Jerusalem goes on to state that far more will see it online than ever in person:

That’s where the exhibit’s smart online presence takes up the gauntlet.

Interested surfers can attend the exhibit virtually through its dramatic YouTube videos, highlighting the thoughtful artifact display and the surrounding explanatory material.

In many ways, the Armstrong Foundation’s online presence is of much more relevance than its onsite exhibit.

The Times of Jerusalem also states a fact that PCG refuse to acknowledge, what if their biblical "facts" are not necessarily true?

Only a click or two brings a viewer to a seemingly endless font of information about the artifacts themselves and the biblical history. It is all housed on the WatchJerusalem.com website, one of the several media outlets connected to the foundation, its associated Philadelphia Church of God, and its seminary, the Herbert W. Armstrong College.

There is no pretense of scientific skepticism in the exhibit. The foundation’s goal is to “bring the Bible to life,” says Flurry, who lives outside of Birmingham, United Kingdom, at a second Armstrong College seminary.

The article also questions the disproportional amount of money spent on the Jerusalem digs:

The Philadelphia Church of God poured half a million dollars into supporting the excavations this year, including student expenses. Flurry estimates many tens of thousands more were spent on this exhibit. These expenses are disproportionately large swaths of the church budget, which flows from a 5,000-strong membership and up to 20,000 additional donors.

Brad McDonald justifies the money spent by stating that they want to get young people engaged in biblical history by making it "sexy".

“We want to make archaeology great again,” laughs Australian exhibit head curator Brad MacDonald, sitting on a dainty couch next to Nagtegaal in the King David ahead of the Jerusalem event.

“We are actively looking for opportunities to play a role or collaborate and make it sexy — something young people can get into,” says MacDonald. 

The Times of Jerusalem also goes on to state that the PCG and Eilat Mazar may have "suspended belief" by some of their dogmatic statements about the artifacts.

Suspension of disbelief

Accuracy is definitely the goal in all research, including archaeology. But when the subjects of study are long dead, many facets are open to interpretation.

The main stars of the Oklahoma exhibit, the Hezekiah and Isaiah seal impressions, are one such example. Could they really have belonged to the biblical king and his chief adviser? 

Dr. Eliat Mazar says:

According to Mazar, “the identification of the seal impression of King Hezekiah is very certain, beyond any shadow of doubt, as you can read for yourself.” She reads out the clear Hebrew inscription at the King David event, “‘Belonging to King Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, King of Judah.'”

The other seal, she acknowledges, is much less certain. Upon its publication earlier this year as a goodbye present to the longtime, retiring editor of the Biblical Archaeology Review Hershel Shanks, the claim that the seal impression was connected to the famous prophet was met with skepticism. In her King David Hotel presentation, Mazar herself introduces the find as “maybe the seal impression by Prophet Isaiah.” 

It's all a "may be!"  Now there is a good Church of God statement!  That's standard operating procedure for most COG prophets who spout nonsense today.  

Suspended belief, no pretense of skepticism, and over half million dollars spent. What more could we expect from a Church of God in 2018?

Read the entire article here:  Why a world premiere of precious biblical artifacts is in quiet Oklahoma