Were the teachings of Herbert Armstrong "beautiful truth" as Gerald Flurry claims?

I was busy earlier in December with year-end holiday jobs and the Rose Parade when Gerald Flurry came out with an "open letter" to the Churches of God.  It waxes with a deep longing for the "good old days" of Armstrongism, a myth that some in the COG believe was actually a good thing, and yet today, have never been able to achieve any of those things they look longingly back upon.

Herbert W. Armstrong was part of something great. That Church was a work of miracles.

Do you remember that glorious history? Too many of God’s people don’t. God challenges us to always keep the big picture. 

Over Mr. Armstrong’s 55 years in Jesus Christ’s ministry, the work blossomed. It started as nothing and grew into a huge, Spirit-led work that spread God’s beautiful truth throughout the world.

What "beautiful truth" did the church spread around the world? What impact did "a strong hand from someplace" ever accomplish in the Philippines or elsewhere? How can "beautiful truth" end up being a law enforcement hierarchy that made Church of God member's lives miserable? How can "beautiful truth" lead so many COG members into suicide and even murder? How can "beautiful truth" lead over 400 some self-appointed lying despots to set themselves up as the REAL "one true church?" Even worse, how can a church that was filled with so much "beautiful truth" deny and continue to deny the One whom they claim to follow?

Oh, but what about the "beautiful truth" of "give vs get?" Church member's bank accounts were bled dry by Herbert Armstrong and others demanding tithes and offerings be sent in for one emergency after another.  Many times when Herbert Armstrong sent out those letters he was buying art, gold, and silver to furnish his home and office with. My family mortgaged a paid-off home to fund Herbert in one of his money demands.  How is that a 'beautiful truth?"

How can we forget the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation as "beautiful truth?" AICF ended up being an enormous money drain on the church.  When it could have been using the money for good, it was spending untold millions on concerts, dinners, and receptions in order to entertain the elite of Los Angeles and around the world.  Thankfully, Tkach Sr. closed it all down, while today we have Flurry and Pack building or planning to build their own mini-me auditoriums to further drain followers pocketbooks.

Do you remember that history? God put our tithes and offerings to magnificent use, and we were happy to be a part of such a noble cause.

The Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, which Mr. Armstrong founded in 1975, freely sponsored humanitarian projects including archaeological digs, schools and anthropological excursions. Its activities stretched from Bombay to Brussels; the Philippines to the Netherlands; Tokyo to Cairo. We hosted projects in Jerusalem, Jordan, London, Nepal and Okinawa. Why? Because Mr. Armstrong wanted to preach the gospel “for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14).

Using the international contacts Mr. Armstrong established through the cultural foundation, God opened doors for him to meet high-ranking officials around the world. Mr. Armstrong was invited to speak publicly on many occasions, and he took those opportunities to preach the gospel—to tell people about God’s master plan and about their incredible human potential. These events opened the way for personal appearance campaigns, where he spoke to hundreds of thousands of leading people in various countries.

How was a "beautiful truth" proclaimed when the church dumped millions of dollars into rebuilding the Globe Theater in London, the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, and the Reagan Library in California? How did establishing Everest House Publishing create a "beautiful truth" that the world needed? With books and a magazine on sex, witchcraft, and glowing books on a mass murderer that committed genocide in the Congo, just how was this "beautiful truth?" How was dumping money into funding a Hollywood movie a "beautiful truth?"

Under Mr. Armstrong, the Church of God practiced the way of give—of godly character, generosity, cultural enrichment, true education—of beautifying the environment and caring for fellowman. Mr. Armstrong never deviated from his God-given commission, and the work prospered! His work acknowledged God’s desire to have all men saved and brought to the knowledge of His truth (1 Timothy 2:3-6). It was an inspiring display of God’s love for all mankind.

Just who was "saved" by Herbert Armstrong's message" when the law replaced Jesus as the ultimate authority, just how was that "beautiful truth?"

What about today in Church of Godland?  Who has that "beautiful truth" to share?

Now, did Mr. Armstrong do all that? Certainly he worked hard to implement God’s law and government and to walk by faith. But was the work so powerful and effective simply because of Mr. Armstrong’s intellect or advertising expertise? Did Mr. Armstrong swing open all those mighty doors?

No—the great God did that!

It doesn’t take great spiritual discernment to recognize that God was behind that work—God was blessing that work—God was empowering and multiplying that work—as Mr. Armstrong submitted to Him.

No man could have ever built such a marvelous and wondrous work in this satanic world. It was built and sustained by the miracles of the living God!

No Church of God leader today has any "marvelous and wondrous work" that is delivering a "beautiful truth."  Almost all are impotent self -appointed men who dreamed up their positions as god's anointed.  God certainly was never part of the picture. That is the main reason all of the splinter groups are such epic failures today. Dave Pack's campus will never be finished so the feet of Jesus can walk the grounds with Dave as they plan Jesus' third coming.  Gerald Flurry's campus is still nothing more than a boil on the Oklahoma landscape, despite the Holy Prayer Rock, and Lil Stevie's presence.

Right at the heart of Mr. Armstrong’s teaching was his instruction about the God-plane institution of family (Malachi 4:5-6). He taught us how to build beautiful marriages and to rear happy children. We educated our children with Youth Educational Services lessons; we provided our teens rich experiences through the Youth Opportunities United program—with its sporting events, talent shows and summer camps.

A trail of broken marriages, divorces, suicides, broken family relationships, suicidal children and members, is NOT a legacy of Armstrongism that needs to be celebrated.  Herbert Armstrong was not even able to keep his own family in the church, with most of them despising him for what he had done to the family. Youth Opportunities United gave pedophiles in the church fertile ground for new meat. Flurry's own cult has ripped families asunder with his perverse "no contact" law.

How can the son of an evangelist who was mistreated by fellow Imperial students and shunned by his own father be "beautiful truth" when he took a gun and shot himself in the head in his front yard?

How can the documented cases of ministers who were pedophiles be "beautiful truth" as they broke a sacred trust and sexually assaulted little boys and girls?  How can it be "beautiful truth" when parents are sent for jail for beating their children with 2x4's?

Do you remember what life was like in the Church under Mr. Armstrong? If you were applying God’s family education, then you have personally experienced the blessings that come as a result! Do you remember that?

Yes Gerald, we sure as hell do!

Never fear though, God was just testing you to see if you would stay in the church and especially in Gerald's "beautiful truth." It really did not matter that you were sexually abused or assaulted, or that you lived on the verge of poverty. Even when Terry Ratzman killed you in church services, it was all a test to see how you would react.

Naturally, the Church wasn’t perfect; there were problems. Some members and even ministers did not implement God’s loving family government the right way. But the problem went beyond simple neglect. Revelation 3:9 tells us that “the synagogue of Satan” was actually at work within the Church of the Philadelphia era—under Mr. Armstrong!

The Bible is filled with prophecies that show how God knew this crisis would happen—and actually allowed it in order to test our loyalty to Him. The Bible also shows that He is going to bring every abuse to judgment. God will not be mocked! I strongly encourage you to request a free copy of my book Malachi’s Message for a very thorough scriptural study of God’s perspective on what happened to His Church.

If there is a "synagogue of Satan", it is surely being run by Flurry, Pack, Malm, Thiel, Weston, Weinland, Kubik and many other COG leaders today.  Never has the church seen so many despicable men in its midst than it has today in 2020.

Today in 2020, the Church of God has at least five Elijah's in its midst.  Every single one is a self-appointed fool who was NOT set apart by God to do any kind of work. We have Flurry, Malm, Pack, Thiel, and Weinland, all claiming they are Elijah. All five of them are certified lairs and abusers of the brethren. God certainly had no part in their appointment to their apostate ministries and certainly is not blessing their ministries, despite how much they lie that "it" is.

Just what is the single greatest truth that the church has today in its midst?

And—most importantly—God has continued to bless us, as He did Mr. Armstrong, with new revelation. The living God did not stop speaking to His people when Mr. Armstrong died. He has continued to give us “present truth” (2 Peter 1:12) that builds upon the foundation of the truth He restored through Mr. Armstrong. The pcg produces over 100 books and booklets, the large majority of which contain new biblical understanding from the great God.

That is the single greatest proof that the God who inspired Mr. Armstrong is behind our work.

Is god speaking to Flurry? Is god speaking to Thiel?  Is god speaking to Weinland? Is god speaking to Pack? Is god speaking to Weston?  Is god speaking to Kubik?  Is god speaking to Malm? They all claim "it" is. What "beautiful truth" have you ever seen these men utter?

If you are a follower of Christ, then that is the only beautiful truth you will ever need.  None of the buffoonery of today's pack of Armstrongite leaders will ever be beautiful.

"...little is left of perhaps $1 billion of believers’ money that was squandered over the years"

• America’s all-time champion evangelist was Garner Ted Armstrong, whose national broadcasts drew $75 million a year to the Worldwide Church of God run by Garner and his father, Herbert W. Armstrong. (That’s double the amount collected by Billy Graham.) Money poured in from followers, many of whom met in secret groups and donated 30 percent of their incomes. Garner lived like a maharaja in a California mansion with his own private jet, elegant sports cars — and, allegedly, female believers in bed. Trouble hit in 1976 when some members published a protest. They accused Garner of sex and Herbert of self-enrichment. Chess champion Bobby Fischer said the elder Armstrong had used “mind control” to take nearly $100,000 from him. In 1978 the father fired the son, who started a new television religion.

In 1979 the California attorney general filed a receivership suit accusing Herbert and treasurer Stanley Rader of “pilfering” at least $1 million a year for themselves. Gold bullion owned by the sect was reported missing. Financial records indicated that Herbert and Rader each got salaries of $200,000 plus fabulous expense accounts. Garner accused Rader of taking $700,000 from the church in one year. Garner’s sister said Rader had three homes, a horse stable, a Maserati, a Mercedes and a limousine. On June 2 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the attorney general’s right to investigate the church. Meanwhile, little is left of perhaps $1 billion of believers’ money that was squandered over the years.

From The God Biz, Part 1

And today, in 2020, "men" like Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland, and many other COG leaders continue to squander money in order to fund their lifestyles.  It's not about any gospel message but the gathering in of money.  How can they preach a gospel message when they all deny the one about who the gospel is about?

Gerald Flurry's Mental Illness Causes Him To Compare Joe Tkach Sr With The 1st Antiochus

If you think the craziness out of Edmond Oklahoma from the Flurry family cult compound can't get any crazier, then think again.

Gerald Flurry has spent over two decades dreaming up every imaginable scenario to fit his perverted occupation with prophecy.  So far, Flurry, like every other COG leader has a zero track record in predictions.  Just like Bob Thiel, Flurry lies as if his god is inspiring him to say the things he does. God is NOT and WILL NOT speak through any of these malignant men who are tumors in the church.

The First End-Time Antiochus

Let’s see how the role of Antiochus is fulfilled in this end time. “And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered” (Daniel 8:10-12). These “stars” are the angels who look after God’s obedient people. An evil power rejected the protection of these angels and “stamped upon” the rebellious people “by reason of transgression”—because they broke God’s law.

“Host” can refer to an army of angels, demons or men. In my booklet Daniel—Unsealed at Last, I write: “God has an army of angels and saints. Satan has an army of demons and men—in this case sinning saints.”

This part of Daniel 8 reveals the first Antiochus: a wicked man inside God’s own Church. He “cast down the truth to the ground.” It’s impossible to destroy God’s truth if you never possessed it in the first place. This man rejected every doctrine restored to the Church by the late Herbert W. Armstrong. Bequeathed with tremendous spiritual riches to preserve, he decided instead to ruin the legacy of Mr. Armstrong. (Request my book Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today and my son’s book, Raising the Ruins, to expose the heinous attack on God’s Church within the past several decades. All of our literature is free.)

God’s Church is spiritual Israel. God’s plan is all about what He is doing through Israel, both physically and spiritually. One day, the whole world will become part of spiritual Israel through obedience. The first end-time Antiochus fights against God Himself! He’s trying to blot out the name of spiritual Israel.

The Second End-Time Antiochus

Daniel 8 also reveals the second end-time Antiochus: “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up” (verse 23). Just as with the Antiochus inside God’s Church, this Antiochus thrives because “the transgressors are come to the full”—everybody is sinning! These men are a curse upon the sinning people!

This second end-time Antiochus will lead the seventh and final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people” (verse 24). The sixth head of the Holy Roman Empire was Adolf Hitler. Led by Germany once again, the seventh resurrection of this empire will destroy mightily.

“And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (verse 25). This Antiochus destroys through peace. He is crafty, appearing harmless while plotting violence. He is a traitor. Satan, himself a liar (John 8:44) and often disguised as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), empowers this man.

The second end-time Antiochus seeks to blot out the name of physical Israel—primarily America, Britain and the Jewish state. The good news is “he shall be broken without hand”! Christ Himself will stop this Antiochus and the Holy Roman Empire from ever again inflicting damage on the world!

The preoccupation with these certified liars in the Church of God over their perverse obsession with seeing the US and British commonwealth nations destroyed is appalling. As they scream and shout, with fists pounding their desks, like Herbert Armstrong, these little guys end up looking like fools.

Can any of them ever be trusted to tell the truth?

Then like all the other perverted COG leaders, he lets us know just who the savior of the church is.  It certainly is not Jesus, but Gerald himself.

God’s man has the honor of delivering God’s warning to the end-time Jeroboam: “Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land” (verses 16-17).