Head of "God's" Church Announces Date of Second Coming

Where would the Church of God be without all of its looney prophets, apostles, Senior evangelists, Pastor Generals and Chief Overseers?  Just imagine how much more enjoyable and peaceful life would be for COG members to not have to listen to these guys!

Sadly, every once in a while, the public notices their lunacy and reports on them.  From far right conspiracy-laden radio stations interviewing Bob Theil as some kind of "spiritual" authority to screeching zealots pounding their computer keyboards in some dank apartment, the COG has produced an endless supply of mockable know-it-alls who claim they have the inside track to Gods innermost secrets.

This brings us to one of our favorite COG villain who carries the impressive distinction of being the first COG leader that is a convicted felon.

The Moscow based Sputnik International has a small article about felon Ron Weinland where they let the world know that an idiot Church of God leader has once again predicted the date of Christ's return.

The prophetic countdown is ticking, says the founder of the Church of God Preparing for the Kingdom of God, who is concurrently a self-appointed watchman for the second coming. Although the Bible does not provide an exact date for this event, he says that he has figured it out using clues in Scripture.

The write of the article notes that Weinland's previous predictions have all failed:

He believes that the second coming should coincide with the holiday of Pentecost, which falls on the 7th Sunday after Easter. He earlier predicted that Jesus Christ would return either on 27 May, 2012 or 19 May, 2013. However, there were no news reports of the second coming on either of those dates.

The next and far more meaningful 'count' and alignment for Christ's coming is on Pentecost, June 9th of 2019", says the unwavering Weinland, the author of apocalyptic books with self-explanatory titles, "The Prophesied End-Time" and "Prophesy Against the Nations".

He adds that Jesus will come again if WW3 erupts by February or March 2019; he says that there are high odds for a global conflict, given the tumultuous relations between the world leaders.  Head of 'God's Church' Announces Date for Jesus Christ's Second Coming

Never in the entire history of the modern-day version of the Church of God has any man, pretending to be a church leader, made an accurate prophecy or predicted anything truthful.

2019 will come and go as Ron Weinland and his loony wife, Second Witless Witness Laura will be predicting another future date because church members were NOT ready, forcing Jesus to remain in heaven for another year.  Jesus must really be tired of this by now.  He had such high hope for Weinland, but now has to look to Bob Thiel to spring open the gates of heaven so He can be released to destroy most of humanity.

O Holy Night

Isaiah 9:2-7 New International Version (NIV)

2 The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Luke 2:1-14 The Message (MSG)

The Birth of Jesus

2 1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

An Event for Everyone

8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

The Christ Centered Christmas

While the Armstrong Churches of God focus on separating themselves completely from God-fearing Christianity, spewing hateful "Bah-Humbugs" towards those they condemn as pagan and sinful, let's take a moment to look at Christmas through the eyes of a Christian. 

These are some of the things a Christian focuses on during the Christmas Season: 

JESUS CHRIST

• A time to honor, reflect, and meditate on the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ (regardless of date).
• A time to sing songs of celebration and honor of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.
• A time to bring the warmth and beauty of lights in the darkness of winter in honor of the Light of Life. 
• A time to love others, and show others the miracle of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

• The Opportunity to spend time with distant relatives rarely seen.
• A time to enhance, develop and strengthen emotional bonds and relationships
• A time to bless others with gifts in honor of the gift of Christ's gift of salvation to us. 
• An opportunity to create positive, lasting memories. 

THE WORLD

• A time to share the Gospel Message of the Coming of Jesus Christ into the World. 
• A time to share to Gospel of the Kingdom of God through the dwelling of Christ within you. 
• A time to bring attention to the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. 
• A time to give the gift of joy, laughter, and love - and the message of peace on earth and goodwill towards men. 

Tell me what in the above is "sinful" in any way shape or form. 

The Churches of God relish in their own deep hypocrisy:

- Condemning ornaments, decorations, and the tree while constructing idolatrous temples of gold and silver.
- Condemning Christmas as pagan and evil, while trampling on the Biblical commands of how to keep Holy Days.
- Condemning Christmas songs about Christ, while singing songs that have nothing at all to do with Christ.
- Condemning Churchgoers who worship Jesus on Christmas with pure hearts - while single-handedly extorting their own members for sordid gain in wickedness all year.
- Blasting those who observe Christmas while (UCG) holding the Winter Family Weekend at a Christmas Holiday Hotel.
- Condemning those who give gifts to others on Christmas, so they can gain that money themselves, regardless of what needs are being filled or what blessings are being administered. 

YES, there are legitimate concerns about Christmas that Christians of ALL faiths care about. 

Christmas is a highly commercialized, monetarily driven day for many non-believers. 

Christmas can be centered on myths and falsehoods for many believers. (Who are the COG's to talk about myths and falsehoods, by the way? ??)

Christmas can be a time non-believers to engage in drunkedness, illicit behavior, parties, and all of the things Paul preached against over and over again, and Christ condemned.

Christmas can be a day of selfish, get-driven philosophy if approached wrongly. 

YET, let us not forget:

• The Feast of Tabernacles can be a highly commercialized, monetarily driven festival for Feastgoers. 
• The Feast of Tabernacles can be centered (and usually is) on myths, outright lies, and falsehoods. 
• The Feast of Tabernacles can be a time for Feastgoers to engage in drunk behaviour, illicit behavior, parties, and all of the things Paul preached against over and over again, and Christ condemned. 
• The Feast can be a festival of selfish, get-driven philosophy if approached wrongly. 

When it comes down to it, it all comes down to what is in a person's heart, mind and soul - whether it's Christmas or the Feast. Both can be abused. "But one's in the Bible, and one's a man-made pagan day!" I can hear echoing through COGdom. What is important is what is in the heart - whether you are observing a day celebrating Christ's Birth, or a festival celebrating Christ's reign. That - and that alone - is what God looks at, and always has looked at - even in the days of paganism, in the days Christ walked the Earth, and now in the age of grace and reconciliation. It's all about one's relationship with Jesus Christ. Because both a tree - and a Podium Church Seal - can be idolized in exactly the wrong way. It depends on your heart, not on what's made of stone or plastic, or wood, or glitter, or garland. 

As the scripture says - against LOVE, there is no law. Because LOVE is the fulfillment of the Law. 

submitted by SHT