The Church of God International and Herbert W Armstrong’s Legacy

 

Please note: 

 "Miller Jones requests that you direct all commentary on this piece to him and that you leave his father alone."

The Church of God International and Herbert W Armstrong’s Legacy

The late Ian Boyne once wrote: “I am happy for the CGI, to which I belong, which retains the finest teachings of Herbert Armstrong without the dross and the excesses. I am NOT saying it is the only true church! For all GTA’s moral weaknesses and reprehensible personal behavior, he reformed a system without throwing out the baby with the bathwater.  Ron Dart’s work in the CGI has also been invaluable in preserving an intellectually respectable brand of Armstrongism.”

This sentiment (that CGI has gotten rid of all of Herbie’s errors and kept the good stuff) is/was NOT peculiar to Ian Boyne. Indeed, similar comments have been posted here in relation to many of the things which I’ve posted over the years relative to that group. In fact, some commentators have even suggested that my refusal to acknowledge this “fact” is proof that I was never actually affiliated with the group (never mind the numerous articles written by me for The International News over the years). Hence, I thought that it would be instructive to take another look at this claim and see how it measures up to the reality on the ground.

First, I have always been willing to acknowledge that CGI made significant changes to Herbie’s teachings about church government. CGI should be applauded for its more enlightened views on the meaning of servant leadership, but it should also be noted that the group still occasionally practices censorship and disfellowshipping within its ranks. And, while folks like Ian Boyne rejected Anglo-Israelism, Pastor Bill Watson continues to incorporate it into his messages and insist that it is an integral part of the church’s teachings. Also, to be fair, CGI has abandoned some of Herbie’s bizarre notions about things like divorce, make-up, healing, and personal finances.

Nevertheless, I must dispute in the strongest terms available to me that CGI has retained “the finest teachings of Herbert Armstrong.” For instance, the group continues to maintain that Christians are obligated to keep many of the tenets of the Old Covenant (Sabbath, Holy Days, Tithing, Clean/Unclean Meats). Likewise, they have retained many of Herbie’s twisted notions about prophecy, the “incredible human potential,” the “world tomorrow,” angels, Binitarianism, the meaning of Holy Day symbolism, the “truth” as the marker of a real Christian, the “true” gospel and the rejection of all things “pagan.”

I can hear it now, “Well, what’s wrong with those things?” Unfortunately, the plain truth is that the Church of God International has retained MOST of the core doctrines/teachings of Herbert W Armstrong. Yes, a search of their website may not turn up any mention of the man, but his fingerprints are all over the teachings and traditions of the Church of God International – whether or not they’re willing to acknowledge it!

 

--Miller Jones

Ron Weinland: "I am the last apostle for the Church of God"

Ronald Weinland's Groundhog Day

Poor Bob Thiel, always the bridesmaid and never the bride. We have been told to assume Bob is the end-time know-it-all that will lead the faithful into the hellhole of Petra, BUT NO, Ron Weinland has sent Bob whimpering into the backroom of his little storefront in Grover Beach. Ron Weinland is the man to lead the COG into glory as the LAST prophet the Church of God needs.

Candidly, I cannot help but be reminded of the prophet Jonah who tried to escape having to tell Nineveh what God told him to say about their destruction. I am not Jonah, but what I am to inform others concerning the writing of this book is that I am a prophet of God and have been sent by Him to do this job. In addition, I am the last apostle for the Church of God in this final age of mankind.

So from this point forward, there will be things that I will state as a prophet and an apostle that have to do with those things that God has revealed to me to give. I am not as one of the prophets of old who were given prophecies that were given for the purpose of being recorded as scripture. Instead, I am one who has been given to interpret many of those prophecies that apply to this end-time about those things that are now going to come to pass.

That Other Fake COG Prophet Claims He Has Been "BLASTING" All Over The Place Lately.

 

It's another day in COGland and another crackpot self-appointed prophet has set sights on a future date for the tribulation and the coming of his creature he likes to call "christ", but not before "BLASTING" other self-appointed prophets for being false prophets.

The Great Bwana to the Continent of Africa and Chief Overseer of 299 Caucasians, is ridiculing how wrong some Christan doomsayers were/are, including Dave Pack and Gerald Flurry, over their string of failed prophecies while boasting that he has been right on every single thing he has ever said. Though, like any good self-appointed prophet, Bwana Bob ignores his own lies while condemning theirs.

Each year, various ones point to their predictions and/or calculations as to when they believe the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) will begin. 

 

Consider, for example, that although some claimed that the blood moons in 2014 and 2015 may have marked the beginning, I correctly denounced that years ago and was proven right. I also denounced the so-called Shemitah year and the claimed devastation that was supposed to hit the world economy, etc. in late 2015, and again was right. On January 1, 2017, I blasted the idea of the claimed ‘Jubilee of 2017″ would mark the end. Furthermore, I blasted the idea that the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 or Planet Nibiru would begin the tribulation or destroy the Earth. I also denounced the view that because of the formation of the tiny nation of Israel in 1948, that the Great Tribulation needed to start 70 years later, like in 2018. Some wrongly claimed that something from the “Sabbatical Code” as well as a shemita-decree calculation or a message from Fatima predicted 2019. Some pointed to astronomy and even John 20″20 as proof for 2020 as the beginning, but this was denounced as well.

It's hilarious that he assumes he is the one true authority in denouncing these foolish speculations when myriads of scientists, Christian ministries, and others were and still are doing the exact same thing. All Bob ever does is ride in on the coattails of others and then pretend to take the accolades as if he is the most intelligent human God has ever placed on this earth (after Dave pack, of course).

Bwana Bob claims that even though these guys were all wrong, that time is actually short and the crap is soon to hit the fan. His excuse for this is:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The problem with quoting this, especially from a COG self-appointed prophet is that it perfectly describes the current leadership of the Church of God today, INCLUDING Bwana Bob!  Never have we seen such a harem of men who are such lovers of themselves, boasters, blasphemers, unholy, unforgiving brutal, headstrong, and haughty men as we have today leading the Churches of God.

The Great Bwana goes on to ridicule Wade Cox...

The unitarian Wade Cox reportedly believes that the sixth trumpet (which comes years after the 5th seal and the start of the Great Tribulation) could be sounded already and Jesus could come in 2022:

and Gerald Flurry and Dave Pack

I have seen one claim that the Great Tribulation will begin March 6, 2021 and end September 16, 2024, but that is not possible. Another has speculated that it will start during Passover in 2021 (that which begins after sunset March 26 2021). Again, not possible.

While all of these COG leaders are wrong, Bwana Bob is not and sets his own dates.

While we are close to the end of the 6,000 years, having read all of those “fathers,” I do not believe that they specified 2028, only that there was a 6,000 year plan. 

 

A true prophet of God realizes that any who claim prior to 2024 are in error. There is NO possibility that the Great Tribulation will begin in 2021, 2022, or 2023 nor that Jesus will return before 2028. 

 

There is no possibility that the Great Tribulation can happen in 2021 or 2022 and those who rely on the Bible have realized this. It is only those who overlook scripture and rely on their own views and/or false traditions who make the mistake of thinking that the Great Tribulation can, or could, happen in 2021.

Therefore, while the Great Tribulation is coming, it will not begin in 2024. 

 

Christians, Philadelphian ones, are to understand Jesus said tribulation related events tie in with Daniel. Yet, most who profess Christ do not fully get it. Anyway, after Daniel 11:31 and the fleeing (Matthew 24:15; Revelation 12:14-17), the Great Tribulation begins:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)

This cannot possibly happen before 2022 and I do not believe the Great Tribulation can start before  2025.

Bwana Bob will end up like Dave Pack and will keep moving the goalposts as his dates all come and go and he is still sitting in his depressing little storefront in Grover Beach peddling quack holistic medicines while still thumping his big thick bible in front of his dingy curtains and crooked bookcases as he bounces in his chair and flails his arms trying to impress us.