The Last Great Day

That Great Day of the Feast

In the seventh chapter of John, we read that "the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand."(John 7:2) In the verses that follow, we are told that Christ's family urged him to avail himself of this opportunity to reveal himself to the world. (3-4) Jesus, however, sent his family on to Jerusalem without him - planning to quietly attend after the festival had commenced. (8-10) In fact, according to John, he didn't begin making public declarations or teaching until about midway through the festival. (14) And, as he had anticipated, his comments engendered a great deal of controversy and resentment. (15-36)

Then, we read: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37-39) How ironic is that? On this last day of the ACOG's attempt to celebrate the FOT, Jesus Christ invited ANYONE who wanted God's Holy Spirit to come to him!

The ACOG's love to quote John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." In the very next chapter, however, we have Christ issuing this invitation to everyone on the Last Great Day of the Feast! Did Christ really mean that salvation through him was open to everyone? What does that do to the exclusivity narrative promulgated by Herbert Armstrong and his successors? It appears that some folks are concerned with being first, and that Christ was thinking about salvation for EVERYONE! Hmmmmm, I seem to recall Christ having something to say about those who wanted to be first!

Lonnie Hendrix

Van Robison on "Trafficking in Man-Made Religion"

Trafficking in Man-Made Religion

There have always been those who take advantage of others for their personal ego, for the love of power and the love of free $money.   For whatever reason, many human beings have willingly submitted their lives and their pocketbooks to those who falsely assume authority unto themselves. 

Man-made religion is as old as human beings from the beginning of human history.   The assumption that religious gurus have some magical power is as old as dirt and it is always based upon fear.   Superstition has played a major role in human behavior for ages.

Is belief in "Holy" books really a superstitious belief?  We may all poke fun at and ridicule the superstitions of human beings who think rocks have spirits or that mountains have spirits, or that it is a curse of the spirits if it does not rain or a thousand other superstitious beliefs, but few see what they consider "sacred" as superstitious.    It is easy to look upon the superstitions of certain human cultures in this world as childish and juvenile, all the while thinking that what we believe is "mature" and "sensible."

Is it really sensible to submit your life to some human priest or pastor, as if they commune with God on a daily basis?   If in fact the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all individuals, then is it not sensible that every human being on earth has the potential of a direct relationship with God, without the interference of self-appointed religious rulers?   No pastor of any church on earth communes with God Almighty directly and in fact everything he or she preachers is simply personal opinion and nothing more.   Pastors have no authority, no special calling and no particular knowledge about God, that makes them over, above, and in authority over another human beings.

You may read in some verses in the New Testament that God gives authority to certain individuals and that they are to be "obeyed", but that is simply intentional deception by those who penned such words.   Did God really "inspire" some men to pen or write what is called "the Bible?"   If He did, then He is of all people a very confusing author who contradicts Himself in countless ways.   

Believing strongly in what one thinks is "truth", may be very sincere, but sincerity is no gauge or qualification of truth.   Anyone can believe deeply that their convictions are right, all the while not discerning that they may be very wrong.

Members of all Worldwide Church of God splinter groups are programmed by superstition that they are to follow and obey their church rulers, pastors or elders.   That is nothing more than religious superstition and has no basis in the truth of who God Almighty is.   Herbert W. Armstrong was and is no more, yet many still bow and worship at his grave as if he was a spokesman for God.   HWA was a spokesman for no one other than himself.   And all WCG splinter group heads who think HWA was God in the flesh are either complete con-artists or so naive and so gullible that they are juvenile in their mentality.

HWA no more spoke for Jesus Christ than the fake "apostle" Paul did, or for that matter any or all of the countless thousands of other church groups who make the pretense of representing Jesus Christ.

If it were possible and all human beings on earth suddenly and permanently stopped supporting all pastors and all churches and all 501C3 "not for profit" religious organizations, the world would change dramatically and immediately for the better.


Van Robison

Turn thou from Dave Pack

Good morning brethren. Turn with me in your Parody Hymnals, and rise, to page 76, right off of I-76, that is, to a song that is Wadsworth your time, I mean, worth your time, Turn thou from Dave Pack. Page 76. 

All together.......

Turn thou from Dave Pack, do what is good,

Seek truth pursue it earnestly.
Upon your cash are the eyes of Pack, 

His mind is closed down unto their cry.
But the Eternal's face is against

Self Centered leaders, doers of wrong.
He lets you run from the midst of them, 

Starting all over, a new rebirth.

When righteous men cry, God answers back; 

For He delivereth them from Pack.

Near unto them of a broken bank,

Not for a penny should he dost thank.

Many afflictions that Pack dost lend,

Troubles there be of shackled men;

But the Eternal delivereth

From Pack's afflictions the running man.

Turn thou Dave Pack, do what is good,

Seek truth pursue it earnestly.

God keeps the heart of the running man,

Not one of them shall broken be.

Tho Pack deceives and changes his mind,

Running from Pack such freedom you'll find;

But God redeemeth the soul that's His,

None shall be desolate trusting Him.

submitted by SHT

Philadelphia Church of God says "unprecedented bloodshed" may soon break out in the United States

One thing for sure about Armstrongism, it LOVES to scream bloodshed and destruction.  Nothing will please the church more than seeing 3/4 of humanity blotted off the face of the earth in order for them to be proved right.

With the massive corruption and endless attempts to take down the President by the Democrats, the PCG sees a civil war arising.

Attempts to remove United States President Donald Trump from office are tearing America apart. The president is closer than ever to being impeached, and prominent figures are openly discussing the possibility of “civil war.” On September 24, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi announced that she was initiating a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump. She accused the president of violating the Constitution, betraying his oath of office, and endangering national security by enlisting a foreign power to tarnish the reputation of a rival. 

Whatever the case, the 2020 U.S. presidential election is set to be extremely divisive. Bible prophecy foretells that this division will soon escalate into unprecedented bloodshed unless the nation as a whole turns to God in repentance! 

In The United States and Britain in Prophecy, the late Herbert W. Armstrong explained how modern Britain and America descended from ancient Israel. The Bible records that in the time just before Jesus Christ’s return, Israel’s sins will lead to government corruption and violent revolution.

How many decades have we heard this same screeching by COG leaders?  It has been the Germans, the Russians, the Chinese and the Muslims.  Add to that famine, disease, natural disasters, and one big old pissed off god, and things look pretty bleak for most people in the world, but especially for Americans, Britons, Canadians, and Australians.

Get your bags pack and be ready to flee to Petra, Pella or Bozrah.  Depending on which crazy Church of God leader you follow, you will be going to a special place to receive your final training, that is, if you survive the catastrophes that the COG desires to happen.

Just another day in the Church of God.

hat tip: Living Armstrongism

Wheat or Chaff? Which one are you? Living Church of God has the answer!

Dexter Wakefield of the Living Church of God has an article up talking about The Wheat and the Chaff.  Anyone who has even limited contact with the Church of God movement, knows immediately what he is talking about.  Non-COG members and backsliding church members = chaff; diligent COG members = true Christians and are the real wheat.

Now that the Church of God has imploded into hundreds and hundreds of upstart movements, all claiming they are the "true wheat" it is pretty difficult to do anything but laugh at this silliness.

Wakefield writes:

There is a recurring theme in the Bible of God’s separating out the good fruits from the bad, and our Father has both the will and ability to do just that. The annual Holy Days and their timing within the harvest cycle of ancient Israel work together to picture elements in the plan of salvation, and it is good to remember this great harvest theme during this season of the year. 

Jesus totally upends his comment above, but that makes no difference to him or most of the other COG's.

It’s important to remember that the good and bad often grow in close proximity to each other. Referring to the Father, Jesus said, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). In this age, the unrighteous often prosper more than the children of God living among them, but the time will come—pictured by the Feast of Trumpets—when God will separate out those who are His good fruits. 

It is interesting how the COG loves to focus upon weeding out the undesirables, but Jesus, once again, upends their nonsense by welcoming tax collectors, prostitutes, eunuchs, Samaritans, and even the thief on the cross, into the 'good fruits" of God's love.

Wakefield goes on to make a very specific claim directed to all COG members, who are the chosen ones:

At the spiritual harvest, when God’s begotten children enter His Kingdom, there is a separation involved.

The COG has always been giddy about seeing people removed from God's presence so that they, and they alone can bask in the glory of God as they are made into gods themselves.  This disgusting chaff will either be burnt to a crisp or if their god is merciful, it will give them a second chance to head the call of Herbert Armstrong's message.  It truly boils down to HWA's message instead of the message of Jesus.

Wakefield continues:

God says that we are to be patient while He works out His purpose in this age, but sometimes His children can become discouraged because they have manifold trials while the dishonest seem to prosper. During the long wait between the spring and fall Holy Day seasons, it’s good to remember that while the world loves its own, God loves His own much more. He has a desire for the work of His hands (Job 14:15) and will surely perform what He has said, separating the wheat from the chaff by making His children immortal. Our job is to be His faithful, fruitful, obedient servants until our Lord comes. He left us some good advice:

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place…. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming…. Therefore you alsobe ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:32–34, 42, 44).

How can COG members ever been encouraged when all around them abusive ministers make their lives miserable.  They watch as one group after another breaks away to start a new COG while claiming they are the only true access to God. They watch as hard-earned tithe money is blatantly wasted on the church elite and their progeny. They sit in church, week after week, getting lambasted about one thing after another that they are doing wrong.

One has to stop and wonder as to just WHO is the chaff in the church and WHO is the wheat?