The Place of Safety vs The Rapture

Armstrongism has always loved to mock the 'Rapture' belief of some Christians. But, when you look at the sheer stupidity that Armstrongism prompts as 'fleeing to Petra/Place of Safety' our beliefs are just as crazy.

Of course our version will have our God gather our members up on tired, worn out airplanes after our governments expel us from our respective countries. We will fly these worn out planes (held aloft by angels) to some God forsaken desert in Jordan where Muslims will greet us with open arms. Then the tired and homeless brethren will file in through the narrow gate into the glories of Petra while the leadership will be housed in the Marriott and Crown Plaza located outside the entrance to Petra.

Those lucky to make it inside will not have food, water, toilet's, blanket's etc. The Muslims will be giving that all to us because we are the True Christians.

A cloud of God will hover over Petra so that NATO bombers and the Anti-Christ's armies cannot kill us all.

We will spend three and half years having sing-a-long's in the amphitheater.

We will get to hear Meredith and Flurry preach to us day in and day out.

Health issues will disappear, cavities will be filled, contacts and eye glasses will not be needed because God is either going to cure us or we will be so glad to be 'saved' from the tribulation that we will not care.

Here's where the Church leaders will stay:

And here is where you will be staying:

So who's crazier?

Here Is A COG That Is Just As Crazy As Armstrong's COG's

I guess having the name Church of God in your church name does not make you one of the true churches! Here is a COG that has no affiliation to the 700 some splinter COGlets of Armstrongism, but reading their story it sounds just like our version.  Abusive ministers, families broken up, legalism, whining about hymns, hair and clothing regulations, money, sex and child abuse, Christmas, and countless splinter groups.

Church of God Restoration

One of many bulletin boards detailing abuse
The topic's these people are dealing with are just the same as COG Armstrong

Organizational splits and schism's


It should be quit obvious to any person who sees a church with the word's Church of God in it to run as fast as you can the other direction!

More Split's, Merger's in the COGaWA Future?

Malm has been making some very bold comments that through his sources there may be an coming split/merger between COGaWA and LCG.  It seems many of the die hard legalistic ministers in COGaWA are in line with Spanky's legalism. He also is predicting that when COGaWA has another break-up that some will go with LCG and some will go back to UCG.  He says many of the men who left UCG left without thinking things through and did it on emotion or peer pressure.  These men will go back to UCG while the rest coexist with Spanky. Of course this also includes more silly predictions that the end times is close at hand with the tribulation looming in 3 1/2 years.

I have speculated on a merger between the COGAWA and the LCG sometime in the future. We are still in the very early days yet and the COGAWA does not even have any permanent governance structure set up, however certain major pieces of the puzzle are coming in and such a merger may well take the form of a kind of cooperative effort; with the two groups maintaining their own leadership and identities as a means of resolving the important issue of who gets to be the leader; while at the same time engaging in very close cooperation in their activities.  More will be coming in the next few days.

The COGAWA is likely to split further and some will go to LCG others will go back to UCG or scatter. The leaders of the COGAWA are very strong for a dictatorship, which will offend some others. The two sides believe that there will be a seven year peace treaty with 3 1/2 years of peace and after that the tribulation. They also believe that the first 3 1/2 years is to start very soon. I can’t let everything out now, that’s a teaser for the next few posts. James

Any merger with LCG and the Rod of Iron will certainly NOT be including Larry Salyer who has participated in two blow-up's involving Rod Meredith already.  Spanky certainly is not going to be welcoming Salyer back into anything.  UCG will not want him back either.

The remaining UCG are opposed to much in LCG. Those who have formed the COGAWA are divided into those who have masterminded this and have much in agreement with the LCG; and those who have been swept along by emotion and argument [who do not necessarily want anything to do with LCG]. This is still a big mix. A portion of the new COGAWA may possibly connect with the LCG because they both believe that an “Elijah work” is essential and imminant. Because of certain things there may yet be more splits in the COGAWA. The UCG is a different situation. The other major groups will be shaken up as well but that may still take a few more months. This will all come out with more info over these next few posts. James

A reader of Malm writes:

The congregation I attended always talked about the UCG and how they hoped their friends in the UCG would see that God is working through the LCG and hoped they would “see the light” before the tribulation. This means to join the LCG.
I believe the LCG is looking for qualified laborers to finish the end time work,(no organization will have any part in the end time work as the two witnesses will have a part to play in that)as they believe this is part of God’s plan to provide these laborers.This is now the second fast for the UCG and its members as the last one occurred approximately 6 months ago.
I would be surprised if they would allow outsiders to be in leadership roles as the LCG is their baby and they treasure the LCG because they believe it is God’s church. If Rod and Richard can physically hold up it is hard for me to see them giving up power.
However, they are shorthanded and desperately need laborers so it will be very interesting how these negotiations turn out. I would not totally rule anything out.