Commercial Break: Uh Oh... Catholic Tainted Bobalonia Challenges Dr James Tabor On the Virgin Birth

Big Mistake should Dr. James Tabor ever responds to Bob's lack of understanding concerning Jesus Birth Narratives in Matthew and Luke. The problems with them as well as the motive and intent of them is not difficult to research. 

Mark has no birth narrative of Jesus and Paul says Jesus was "Born of a Woman", so nothing unusual there. 

Dr Tabor's point is that the Apostle Paul paved the way with his Cosmic Christ in the Heavens and certainly not the Jesus of the later written Gospels.  Paul merely comments once that Jesus was "born of a woman".  Nothing unusual there. 

It's an easy study and Dr Bob Thiel had better hope Dr James Tabor does not challenge him on his rebuttal of the origins of and problems with the Virgin Birth stories of Jesus. 

One fun one is that the Gospel of Mark portrays a Mary that forgot what she pondered in her heart in Luke when Angels had a chat with her concerning her pregnancy. Mark's Mary and Jesus' brothers showed up in Capernaum to take Jesus home, "because they thought he was insane" Mark  3:20-22

While Matthew and Luke copied Mark 90% and 80% respectively, this story was never again repeated, and they wrote to refute such an embarassing tale in Mark. 

Dr. Tabor on whether the Apostle Paul ‘invented the virgin birth’

COGwriter

Dr. James Tabor, once part of the old Worldwide Church of God, does not believe many doctrines it once taught. He had an article published titled Did Paul Invent the Virgin Birth? Here is some of what it said:

Paul never explicitly refers to Jesus’ virgin birth nor does he ever name either Mary or Joseph. What he does affirm is that Jesus pre-existed before his human birth and subsequently gave up his divine glory through his birth as a human being. He writes that Jesus “though existing in the form of God” emptied himself and took on human form, “being made in the likeness of humankind” (Philippians 2:6-7). He says further “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He has to be referring here, metaphorically, to the “riches” of Jesus’ pre-existence with God, since all our sources have Jesus born of a poor peasant family. Paul also writes “In the fullness of time God sent forth his Son, made of a woman . . .” (Galatians 4:4). The implication of these texts is that Jesus’ mother was merely the human receptacle for bringing Jesus into the world. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-d-tabor/did-paul-invent-the-virgin-birth_b_2355278.html

While Dr. Tabor does mention the accounts in Matthew and Luke in his article, he also suggests that Roman mythology may have played a role in the “virgin birth” doctrine.

The Bible, and early writings, clearly support the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin (Mary). And the first suggestion of it precedes the Apostle Paul by centuries.

Was the Virgin Birth Prophesied?

Was Jesus’ birth from a virgin prophesied?

It was if you believe what was written by the prophet Isaiah:

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, NKJV throughout).

According to Matthew’s writings, Jesus fulfilled that prophecy:

Living Church of God - Lock It Up Boys!

From LCG Skeptic

This past week, Gerald Weston gave orders that all LCG congregations must lock their doors shut as soon as services begin and remain locked for the duration of services. There are rumors that someone may have threatened them. We all know about the shooting years ago…

Or it could be another form of control on their part to make sure everyone is there on time. It seems more and more people come in late now. 

 

Does anyone know anything about this? Weston hasn't even explained to the area "pastors" the reason for doing this. Nothing like being open with "the brethren".

Dave Pack: Another Day of Failures

 

Half-Minded NOT

 

Today is another day of failure.

 

A lesson David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God never learned is: Just keep your mouth shut for one extra day, and you will avoid a ton more embarrassment.

 

I thankfully halved the article covering “The Greatest Unending Story! (Part 409)” from December 10, 2022. At the time, Dave made a big deal out of a “half a day” because it fouled up all his biblical math. But then, he was right on track.

 

As it turns out, it only took two days for him to discover it did not matter so much. This Pathetic Update was posted in Member Services on Monday, December 12.

 

Prophecy Update – December 12, 2022

There is much evidence that the first period is no more or less than 10 days. It came to be that when God says 10 days of tribulation, we should not add or subtract time. Think of His precision with 1,335 days or 3.5 days! The only variable is whether Christ wants to spend time with us before the 10 days begin. This seems unlikely, but not impossible. Your watch could start as laid out in Pt 409, but don’t be surprised if 10 days is exact—with everything starting a half-day later than 409 explained.

 

It is anyone’s guess what else Dave taught this weekend that he will soon recant.

 

Peering through the lens of physical reality dispels the need for concern fueled by hope or faith. He is failing again on Wednesday, December 14. It has now become a fact of history. And the interwebs is not kind to such information.

 

 

In honor of his 10-day-whatever or 10-and-a-half-day-whatever failure TODAY, we will continue to examine the other half of Part 409. 

 

The quote where Dave blames God for things not panning out is worth repeating.

 

Part 409 – December 10, 2022

@ 18:38 The only way we go further if Christmas and all the proofs were a ruse by God to throw us off. And all the things that point to Sunday…were a ruse by God to throw us off…And God deliberately…threw us off.

 

Not only does Dave accuse God, but the more times he fails, the more new places he appears in the Bible. Why those are parallel is a great mystery.

 

Elijah is the man in linen who measures the temple in Revelation and Ezekiel. Elijah is the man in linen who speaks with Daniel from the middle of the river in chapter 12. Elijah is also the Mighty Angel of Revelation 10:1

 

@ 29:13 How many of you think when you look at it this way that the Lord Jesus Christ is just "another mighty angel?"

 

Dave explains the Mighty Angel is the Seventh Angel, which means Seventh Messenger, which means Elijah the Prophet, which means David C. Pack. The Bible keeps pointing to him.

 

@ 29:59 So, start with the fact that [Revelation] chapter 10, Mr. Armstrong never believed was Jesus Christ. I’ll tell you from chapter 11 why I went that direction.

 

Went that direction? No, he declared it as an expert who knows where the Father is and where Jesus Christ is throughout the Bible. To disagree inside RCG is to be rebellious, stubborn, and arrogant to think you know better than God's chosen apostle.

 

Part 394 – September 24, 2022

@ 17:24 So, we never knew that Christ Himself to open [Revelation] chapter 10, who’s called a Mighty Angel is Jesus Christ. We thought it was maybe Michael or Gabriel or somebody…We just never saw those things. Right there in plain sight. Thundering at us. Screaming at us.

 

What is screaming and thundering now, Dave? The echoing “Dooh!” all across Wadsworth is for you.

 

The seeds of doubt might bud in the minds of some in RCG. If Dave thought this was Jesus Christ, but now it is not, what about all those other places he claims to know "exactly" where the Father and Jesus Christ are? Could he be wrong about that in other places, too? It is just a question.

 

@ 33:09 But you should at least understand that [Revelation] chapter 10 is pretty obvious that it’s Elijah.

 

The Obvious Elijah sightings are crystal clear to Dave. Seems hard to believe there is room for anyone else in the Old or New Testament.

 

In Revelation 11, John will not be around to measure the temple, but that is a similitude, meaning that he is also Elijah. Who just so happens to be David C. Pack. You can see this same man in Ezekiel measuring the temple.

 

The Seventh Angel is the Seventh Messenger is the Mighty Angel is Elijah is That Prophet is David C. Pack. Move over, Kevin Bacon. It does not even take six degrees in the Bible to link David C. Pack all over the place.

 

 

Dave tumbles deeper into the Jerusalem Syndrome rabbit hole of his own self-delusion. How there were no uncontrollable snickers in the audience during some of these outlandish claims is another great mystery. Of course, nobody walked out.

 

The Two Witnesses are sent by Elijah, not Jesus Christ.

 

That was not a stutter. Elijah sends the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3, not Jesus Christ. They work under Elijah. And Elijah is David C. Pack.

 

The reasoning is so convoluted that quoting the text would look like Morse Code. For those with a stomach, you can watch his explanation.

@ 44:14 I know the Bible well.

 

I am going to leave that one for the Comments section.

@ 45:08 If we understand the 1335 correctly, it’s now set. It’s certain. It’s just which day in the next three or so.

 

Statements like this are sure to cause Dave even more chest pains.

 

The 1335 of Daniel 12:12 did not begin today. Again. I probably should have counted how many times the 1335 was a no-show for 2022. Maybe that could be a side project for 2023.

 

 

Dave cannot keep himself from seeing comparisons to John the Baptist.

 

When John the Baptist is resurrected, there will be some pretty uncomfortable moments when Dave tries to introduce himself.

 

@ 45:46 The parallel with John the Baptist, if there’s one, if John was an Elijah and there’s another one that’s coming as an Elijah, then we’ve gotta go back and remember what I said last week and dismiss the other parts of it. He was a messenger…I’ve been a messenger.

 

Dave has been a messenger of malarkey. A messenger of fraud. A messenger of lies. A messenger of blasphemy. A messenger of fear.

 

@ 46:03 He was a prophet and more than a prophet. I been more than a prophet.

 

A false prophet and false apostle, to be sure.

 

@ 46:08 He was a Levite. So am I. God raised him. Well, nobody thinks I came to this office by myself.

 

Yeah. Do not ask for a show of hands. That would be awkward.

 

@ 46:15  He prepared a people. A people have been prepared here. He just came outta Nowheresville, the wilderness. Just poof! You know? When God gave him an utterance in Luke 3:2. 

 

Notice how Dave skipped admitting he has never received an utterance from God. Be prepared for it because that day is coming. It will be a game-changer for everyone.

 

@ 46:28 I’m sort of a guy in the wilderness. I made the Bible’s greatest prophecies plain, a voice cries out.

 

He cannot be referring to his own gutted, retired book. A book removed in shame years ago.

 

You can purchase an out-of-print hard copy on Amazon for $97. That is a much better deal than on eBay, where you can own a piece of church history for $162.

 

At this point, if David C. Pack stood at the lectern in the Main Hall of The Restored Church of God Headquarters and drank his own urine, the brethren would continue to sit quietly and motionless in their chairs, accepting it as God’s will for His servant.

 

Ken Orel, please test this theory and see if that kind of blind obedience would extend to you.

 

@ 46:36 He came before Jesus Christ. And he did no miracles…I cast out many demons in my life…I anointed them. And they were healed instantly…But, it’s funny, once I came to this assignment, I’ve never done any of that anymore.

 

Yeah, Dave, it is funny. It is almost as if God did not want any actual proof of your office. He did not want you to exhibit any signs of an apostle so that people could not confirm you have God’s authority. However, the long list of failed dates proves what assignment you fulfill.

 

And by the way, why are you unable to complete your assignment or get even one thing correct after nearly 20,000 hours of Bible study? Will it take 30,000 hours? 40,000 hours?

 

@ 47:33 But, I don’t do any miracles. Not for years…But, it’s almost as though if God were to create a parallel, you can’t have me walking up and down the street and everybody’s healed…Or people mighta come here for the wrong reasons. You’d have Catholics coming here if I could do that.

 

God cannot have you be like Peter and Paul and Stephen. You might be mistaken for a true apostle or a true prophet. Catholics repenting and converting on the spot following the New Testament pattern? We cannot have any of that.

 

 

While addressing recent mistakes, Dave avoided calling it a mistake or taking any blame.

 

@ 48:59 …as I was learning all kinds of things that God was opening up. Let’s put it this way, maybe I over-thought some things. Then, the men around me did, too.

 

He is referring to his Meat Puppet and Meat Shield. They do not need to be at the lectern to be useful for Dave’s protection.

 

@ 49:06 But I was the captain. And then, I over-built trying to figure out how many kingdoms are there. Turns out there's two, but you could look at it and see three as recently as a week ago.

 

First, he "over-thought," then he "over-built." Which means he is trying super-hard. Maybe he is trying too hard. Being wrong, in error, or false is too hot a potato to hold in his hand.

 

So, one week ago, God's apostle, who will be raised as Elijah, who is the Seventh Messenger, the Mighty Angel of Revelation 10, a similitude of John the Baptist, thought there were three Kingdoms, but this week teaches there are two.

 

One could ask, “How many Kingdoms of God will there be one week from now? If those who believed you a week ago were proven wrong, why should anyone risk believing you this week, when it is completely plausible by next week, the answer will change again?”

 

These are questions only an antichrist serpent more wicked (almost) than the devil could think up. They are foolish questions, I admit. But I would really like to know. Dr. Ranney, please write me at exrcgwebsite@gmail.com or call me. You have my number.

 

@ 54:55 Remembering as we do, there’s Mount Everest. We’re not gonna get past the night of December 24^th.

 

Please do not remember this on Christmas Day. Just close your eyes and move past it.

 

Part 405 – November 16, 2022

@ 1:34:37 Now, if it is not this Sabbath, I don’t understand Luke 12, Matthew 24. I don’t understand the math. And I don’t understand Zechariah or Habakkuk chapter 2. I don't understand how all of those verses point to he's gonna speak on the Sabbath, but it isn't.

 

It is unfair to quote Dave from so long ago as proof of his fraudulent teachings.

 

Part 403 – November 5, 2022

@ 03:03 Every last bit of that picture was settled…this framework can no longer change. It’s settled. We can trust all the scriptures that hold it in place.

 

Bringing up this again is just a downright dirty trick.

 

Part 367 – May 14, 2022

@ 1:31:20 I am telling God’s people I believe the Kingdom of Israel and eternal life comes tomorrow night. If I’m wrong…I’m wrong by a whole year because I know the day it happens.

 

Only a perverse, evil mind would ever think to hit below the belt like this.

 

Part 285 – February 1, 2021

@ 1:12:09 But, of course, all of this crashes if Christ does not come this Friday.

 

The devil’s favorite weapon is the truth. Right, Dave?

 

 

Another one of those stupid little Dave Pack teachings based on presumptive hot air leaking from his ears comes forward. It is not on the same scale as Stephen from Acts 7 being killed because he attacked the Jewish Christmas tree, but it is from the same spirit of nonsense.

 

@ 1:20:02 “…and they have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time.” A time is a season. Brethren, how long is a season? A day.

 

The Greek word for “time” in Mark 4:17 is proskairos (G4340) and means “for the occasion only, that is, temporary.” It appears four times in the New Testament.

 

The word means “a day” because Dave needs it to. Just like “seven times” briefly meant “a week” back in Part 387. The actual definitions of words in the Bible mean nothing to Dave. He distorts them into what he needs them to be and will discard them as soon as the jig is up.

 

 

It is maddening how often Dave reads Habakkuk 2:2 without any understanding and keeps recycling the same ideas over and over and over again.

 

@ 1:25:24 “And the Lord answered and said, ‘Write the vision, make it plain on tables, that he may rush that reads it.’” I believe that’s happening today.

 

David C. Pack has the most astonishing

piss-poor reading comprehension skills

of anyone I have ever heard.

 

If he bothered to slow down and pay attention to the printed words in the book, it would be clear that there are two people in that verse. 1) One who writes. 2) One who reads. They are not the same person.

 

The writer makes it plain on the tablet. The reader is the one rushing. But, even that is not entirely true because the actual meaning of the verse is that the words are so easy to read that someone running past the tablet would be able to understand it. Like driving past a billboard. Those are designed to be plain and readable in a short space of time as you move past.

 

But Dave does not get it. Once he reads anything a certain way, replacing words like he just did while reading it, he will not be able to grasp the actual concept of what God was saying. This is the David C. Pack conundrum. He can know the Bible in his sleep and read it but cannot understand it.

 

Higher math, please meet the cow.

 

 

While explaining a new discovery in Hebrews 10, Dave almost admitted something.

 

@ 1:28:02 I don’t know, brethren, why I couldn’t see it before. I take…you know, heart that nobody else ever saw it.

 

Ah, man. He almost said “responsibility," but luckily, he caught himself. Admitting fault would have been too humble an act for Elijah-Elect and the future Joshua, the High Priest. And the Seventh Messenger, who is the Mighty Angel, among so many other things.

 

Instead of accepting any blame for not seeing Hebrews 10 the way he does now, he is the first to see it, which should count for something. The pathology of his thinking process in real time is a curious thing to behold. He is less restrained than he used to be, making his deterioration all the more evident to anyone paying attention.

 

@ 1:28:10 I give myself grief. Probably one reason why I get chest pains. You know, because I know that people are counting on me to get this straight.

 

Anyone inside The Restored Church of God still counting on Dave to get this straight is setting themselves up for a lifetime of disappointment. That day will never arrive because God is not guiding him. 

 

 

Dave has no fear of tempting God, either.

 

@ 1:28:23 And I’m still alive. I’m fine. I feel great.

 

Famous last words.

 

I recall the “Mr. and Mrs. Pack are fine” moment when they got COVID-19 after the Feast of Tabernacles in 2020. I also remember Dave hiding his tachycardia condition for months, though the effects were visible on his face during messages.

 

RCG is not known for being a “full disclosure” organization. There are brethren and ministers inside The Restored Church of God who still do not know Headquarters bought a $500,000 house in August.

 

@ 1:28:26 Turned 74 this week, and I don't feel a day over 73 and ten months.

 

See. The guy who teaches birthdays are evil cannot help but mention it in sermons.

 

@ 1:39:46 One last message on a last Sabbath that’s possible is sposta trigger everything. Then, it’s just watch.

 

Today, we watched the 1335 not happen. Folks will continue to watch nothing happen as they have been since 2013. The days leading up to December 24 will produce nothing. Christmas Day will produce nothing. Whatever David C. Pack ever teaches will always produce nothing.

 

If he had even half a mind left, he would shut his pie hole and resign.

 

But, as Gary posted on his blog, one-half of Dave's mind ran away. The other half went looking for it.

 

Rest assured, Part 410 will explain what went wrong.

Marc Cebrian

See: Half-Minded NOT