Dennis Muses on:

The Great Dilemma

What words don't we understand...

Matthew 24 was never written for us today.  It was written for them about the times in which they lived.  Nothing in the context indicates it would apply 2000 years later.  No serious theologian today believes "this generation" means and meant anything but "their generation" just prior to the fall of Jerusalem and the Roman destruction of the Temple then. 

Ok .... this is how it works for sure, for sure

Matthew 24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.

 ² “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me........ 

²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.²⁸ Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

Gospel Jesus, as presented in the story, fully expected his generation to see the routing of the Romans from Jerusalem and the "Son of Man" coming in the clouds of heaven.  "This generation" meant that generation he was speaking to and not "the generation that all these things will happen to somewhere down the road."  The audience and the events he was predicting were one and the same time in history. Any projection 2000 years into their future is merely a construct and done because none of what Jesus said would happen in their time happened as predicted. The Romans won and while predicted by the author of Revelation to be routed in 42 months, the Romans just took 8 months to defeat Jerusalem.  Revelation was also a sincere but failed prophecy of the day.  The author of Revelation who said he was speaking of "things that must shortly come to pass," was not kidding.  When Jesus of Revelation said, "Behold I come quickly," he was not kidding either.  "This generation" used in Matthew 24,  is used more than 20 times in the New Testament and every time means that generation of those days. 

Matthew 10:23

New International Version (NIV)

²³ When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Revelation 1:3

New International Version (NIV)

³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

The Key to the Book of Revelation is found in the first three verses not anything come up with 2000 years later by Evangelists who cannot admit the book is not for them today.  These books were included in th canon to keep what clearly failed to looking like it actually did and to keep the hope alive.

Revelation 22

New International Version (NIV

⁶ The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

What word don't we understand?

Hebrews 1:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, (Which is why we no longer have to consider anything the Gerald Flurrys, Ron Weinlands, Dave Packs and Bob Thiels of the world have to say) ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

What word don't we understand?

1 John 2:18

New International Version (NIV)

Warnings Against Denying the Son

¹⁸ Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

Hebrews 9:26

New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

1 Peter 4:7

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you (Not us today ) may pray.

1 Corinthians 7:29

New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;  (This no doubt caused some domestic problems back then)

1 Corinthians 7:25-28

New International Version (NIV)

Concerning the Unmarried

²⁵ Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. ²⁶ Because of the present crisis,  (Time being short)I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. ²⁸ But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. (Again, end time advice that impacted real people then)

Clearly things were not going well...

2 Peter 3:3-10

New International Version (NIV)

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days  (Which are soon but not as soon as we thought)scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: (First we have heard this) With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (Now we have more time to reach people...sounds familiar)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. (Not obviously as we first thought) The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a]

What words don't we understand about this progression of being disappointed and having to realize they were very wrong about their own times.  Their leaders were wrong, not because it was yet in the future and they didn't now it but because the concept of the end is wrong.  Gospel Jesus no doubt thought he was correct yet he was wrong.  I suspect based on "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me!" Jesus was surprised at his non deliverance and impending death.  The "God had to turn his back on Jesus" is the apologetic for failure of Jesus words in the Gospels to come to pass as stated for those people.  No one predicts to people then things that have nothing to do with them. There would be NO motivation to care what Jesus said if that were so.

2 Peter is a later written apologetic by someone not Peter actually but claiming to be Peter  (forgery) to explain why Jesus had not returned and is used to this day.  Written in perfect Greek, this is no Peter the fisherman writing.  It, typical of today even, blames "scoffers" rather than the failure of Jesus words to come to pass along with Peter and Paul's.  Scoffers are nothing less than "noticers of that which is true."   

Romans 13:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

What words don't we understand?

The answer to "we know now it was not for them which proves it is for us" is not the correct conclusion to draw from this.  These men in the early church and Jesus himself were simply wrong about their perceptions about how the times they were living in were going to work out.  This is what the text reveals.  It is a mental habit, a gift of the church, to read and hear these words in print as if they were written yesterday to us.  They were not.  

"We"

Ok..it is not all of you but it still is me

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

New International Version (NIV)

⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

New International Version (NIV)

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Finally the truth of his times dawned on Paul.  One can't see the day approaching if it is not possibly approaching in one's lifetime. But alas...

2 Timothy 4

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

No wait...this is it

It is natural to read the Bible in any one's lifetime since it was written long ago and get the impression it is for whoever reads it and whenever they do.  This has been true for 2000 years.  The Bible is like that.  The problem is having it read to you in this manner and then saying that since time is short, no more marriages, send in your retirement, send in what you'd leave in your will, pull big triggers, you don't need it and such foolishness as that.  Misunderstanding scripture can lead to personally terrible decisions that do not have to be made and losses one does not have to incur for the reasons given by a minister who doesn't get it either. At lleast we hope he is just as ignorant of scripture and not doing it knowing he speaks with forked tongue.

The reasons the Church of God don't seem to get the spiritual message of the New Testament and the stated purpose for Jesus is because they are consumed with prophecy, soons and shortlys that don't concern them.  They build religious empires, or try to, on the Book of Revelation, Daniel which was used by the author of Revelation as a template and Matthew 24ish texts to give an immediacy to something that will prove to not be as immediate as thought.  In short, they are reinventing the mistaken notions of the early church described in the New Testament.  It will end the same way.

It seems impossible for COG leaders to say "hide me in the grave until thy wrath be passed."  Screw that...I want to be changed and skip the dying stage.  Well everyone from the Apostles on wanted that. 

Gerald Waterhouse would only believe HWA would be dead after three days and three nights as he told me.  He believes it now.  Ron Weinland just knew 2012 was "it".  Well it was it but not as he thought.  Gerald Flurry will soon learn he won't survive until Christ comes and he was not as special as he thought.  Dave Pack will learn all the lessons again that Herbert Armstrong learned and those that followed him felt wasn't' quite right but refused to bring to his attention.  Dave is paticularly odious because he is reinventing and recreating the same mistakes of the past and ridiculous title taking started by HWA.  Joe Tkach Sr evidently learned that "if I am wrong, may God strike me dead" may not have been a wise challenge to throw out there.  And no I don't think God killed him.  I have to wonder what he thought towards the end.  All the current COG leaders and all of us will pass and also not see our soons and shortlys come to pass.  They weren't written about us or for us.  They weren't types and duality is not at play here.  

It is a mistake to live one's life "just around the corner," "just over the next hill,"  or in the mode of "3-5 years brethren, no more than 10, 15 at the outside and 20 max." mentality.  You'll find your real life passing you by and making decisions that others think you should make when in time you find out that none of it was necessary or even wise.

Think about it....

Dennis Muses: Cognitive Dissonance: A Church of God Malady

"In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the excessive mental stress and discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, and/or values at the same time. This stress and discomfort may also arise within an individual who holds a belief and performs a contradictory action or reaction."

Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance focuses on how humans strive for internal consistency. When inconsistency (dissonance) is experienced, individuals largely become psychologically distressed. His basic hypotheses are listed below:

1. "The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance"
2. "When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance" 

"Humans are not a rational animal, but a rationalizing one" -Leon Festinger

Sound Familiar?

"If you read last week’s announcement you know we hold no doubt that God’s prophecy in Haggai and Zechariah is still very much “on.” This announcement explains additional expansive elements of the Haggai/Zechariah prophecy that none of us had yet understood. In fact, what you will read this week and next time may help you understand why more time was needed for us to prepare for God’s fulfillment of the prophecy. This included understanding more of what was going to happen. As mentioned in previous announcements, this one will OPEN YOUR EYES to things God has long intended to do with His end-time Church and Work.

God’s Word is crystal clear!"

Apostle David C Packstrong--Awesome Knowledge and a Great Parallel

"Dissonance is aroused when people are confronted with information that is inconsistent with their beliefs. If the dissonance is not reduced by changing one's belief, the dissonance can result in restoring consonance through misperception, rejection or refutation of the information, seeking support from others who share the beliefs, and attempting to persuade others.

An early version of cognitive dissonance theory appeared in Leon Festinger's 1956 book, When Prophecy Fails. This book gives an account of the deepening of cult members' faith following the failure of a cult's prophecy that a UFO landing was imminent. The believers met at a pre-determined place and time, believing they alone would survive the Earth's destruction. The appointed time came and passed without incident. They faced acute cognitive dissonance: had they been the victim of a hoax? Had they donated their worldly possessions in vain? Most members chose to believe something less dissonant to resolve reality not meeting their expectations: they believed that the aliens had given Earth a second chance, and the group was now empowered to spread the word that earth-spoiling must stop. The group dramatically increased their proselytism despite the failed prophecy."

Wikipedia--Cognitive dissonance

Flailing Bob Thiel Indignant Over Those Who Share Valentines

Bob Thiel is at it again, flailing away, as he reads from his laptop.  A laptop that is bigger than his head and blocks the people sitting in his garage church from seeing his face.  I can only imagine what it is like sitting there and seeing a pair of hands flailing about from the side of the laptop as his head is hidden.

That laptop is a great indicator that Thiel is ineptly unprepared to discuss things that he claims to know so much about.  Most of his videos and so-called sermons are of him reading from his lap top.   A well planned sermon does not require a laptop, 11th Edition Encyclopedia Britannica, or the use of 110 Bible verses to get a point across.

One of his greatest proofs against Valentines Day is that the Muslims don't keep it and they consider it pagan.  Thiel never speaks about about many of the immoral things that Islam teaches.  He never speaks out against Christians being beheaded and slaughtered by Muslims around the world because in his eyes these people are not REAL Christians like he is.  He never speaks out against the young girls being mutilated with female circumcision.  None of that bothers him as long as they support his view on things "pagan."

Thiel also uses a Dear Abbey letter from a woman complaining that her boyfriend ignores her on Valentines Day.  Thiel thinks this is a good and appropriate thing that this guy does to the woman and is ecstatic that Dear Abbey says that the day has pagan roots.

February 10, 2014

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 1/2 years, living together for two. He says Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday to get people to spend money. I told him every holiday is geared toward people spending money.I find myself feeling angry and hurt that I’m not receiving anything for Valentine’s Day. He never buys cards or flowers for me. How do I communicate to him that this is important to me without making things worse? — CRAVING A LITTLE ROMANCE

DEAR CRAVING: Your boyfriend may be cheap, but he also has a point. According to a report on npr.org, the celebration of Valentine’s Day started in ancient Rome and contains elements of both Christian and pre-Christian religions. In the third century A.D., two men named Valentine were executed by the emperor Claudius II in different years on Feb. 14, and a few hundred years later, a pope (Gelasius I) combined St. Valentine’s Day with Lupercalia — a fertility feast — to replace the pagan ritual. (Research this online if you wish, because I found it fascinating.) The holiday didn’t become romanticized until the Renaissance.

That said, allow me to point out that there are few things more unpleasant than feeling forced to give someone a gift.

Theil then goes on to say that the woman is filled with LUST because she wants a card or some flowers or to even be acknowledged.

Her lust for the things of the world is not Christian.

He then proceeds to spit out scriptures in his usual vitriolic way:

Valentine’s Day has pagan origins with direct ties to idolatry.  All who profess Christ should consider what the Bible teaches about such practices:

29 When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31 “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it (Deuteronomy 12:29-32, NKJV).

Thiel never speaks out with righteous indignation about homelessness in his own community.  He never goes out to help work in the neighborhood soup kitchen with other so-called Christians where he could be such an amazing light that everyone would convert to his religion. He is not worried about children being slaughtered in Syria.  These things don't bother him, but buy a card or some flowers does.  Thiel is yet another reminder on why Armstrongism has no power or worth any more.