Exposing the underbelly of Armstrongism in all of its wacky glory! Nothing you read here is made up. What you read here is the up to date face of Herbert W Armstrong's legacy. It's the gritty and dirty behind the scenes look at Armstrongism as you have never seen it before!
With all the new crazy self-appointed Chief Overseers, Apostles, Prophets, Pharisees, legalists, and outright liars leading various Churches of God today, it is important to hold these agents of deception accountable.
Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders
Dawn Blue of How It's Done TV and Marc Cebrian of exrcg.org had a mini-Watch Party across the street from The Restored Church of God Headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, on June 25, 2023.
RCG had an Open House event. They invited the residents of Wadsworth to tour the Campus. The event was held from 1pm to 5pm. The total attendance was counted to be 96.
Dawn and I had an impromptu interview while we sat on the grass across the street in the Giant Eagle parking lot.
David C. Pack made a surprise appearance at 18:15.
In his booklet Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?, Herbert Armstrong asserted that human religious leaders influenced by paganism had done away with God's Sabbath and replaced it with Sunday observance. Likewise, in a 1984 article in The Plain Truth magazine (Why Churches Observe Sunday), Armstrong claimed that Catholic and Protestant Christians acknowledged that Scripture taught Sabbath observance, and that men had taken it upon themselves to change the Christian observance to Sunday. Was Herbert Armstrong right? Is that really what Catholics and Protestants teach about Sabbath vs Sunday observance?
In the online Catholic Encyclopedia's very detailed article on the "Sabbath," we find the following statements:
"The Sabbath was a day of rest 'sanctified to the Lord' (Exodus 16:23; 31:15; Deuteronomy 5:14). All work was forbidden, the prohibition including strangers as well as Israelites, beasts as well as men (Exodus 20:8-10; 31:13-17; Deuteronomy 5:12-14)."
"The Sabbath was the consecration of one day of the weekly period to God as the Author of the universe and of time. The day thus being the Lord's, it required that man should abstain from working for his own ends and interests, since by working he would appropriate the day to himself, and that he should devote his activity to God by special acts of positive worship. After the Sinaitic covenant God stood to Israel in the relation of Lord of that covenant. The Sabbath thereby also became a sign, and its observance an acknowledgment of the pact: 'See that thou keep my sabbath; because it is a sign between me and you in your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord, who sanctify you' (Exodus 31:13)."
"Under the influence of pharasaic rigorism a system of minute and burdensome regulations was elaborated, while the higher purpose of the Sabbath was lost sight of. The Mishna treatise Shabbath enumerates thirty-nine main heads of forbidden actions, each with subdivisions. Among the main heads are such trifling actions as weaving two threads, sewing two stitches, writing two letters, etc. To pluck two ears of wheat was considered as reaping, while to rub them was a species of threshing (cf. Matthew 12:1-2; Mark 2:23-24; Luke 6:1-2). To carry an object of the weight of a fig was carrying a burden; hence to carry a bed (John 5:10) was a gross breach of the Sabbath. It was unlawful to cure on the Sabbath, or to apply a remedy unless life was endangered (cf. Matthew 12:10 sqq.; Mark 3:2 sqq.; Luke 6:7 sqq.). This explains why the sick were brought to Christ after sundown (Mark, I, 32)."
"Christ, while observing the Sabbath, set himself in word and act against this absurd rigorism which made man a slave of the day. He reproved the scribes and Pharisees for putting an intolerable burden on men's shoulders (Matthew 23:4), and proclaimed the principle that 'the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath' (Mark 2:27). He cured on the Sabbath, and defended His disciples for plucking ears of corn on that day. In His arguments with the Pharisees on this account He showed that the Sabbath is not broken in cases of necessity or by acts of charity (Matthew 12:3 sqq.; Mark 2:25 sqq.; Luke 6:3 sqq.; 14:5). St. Paul enumerates the Sabbath among the Jewish observances which are not obligatory on Christians (Colossians 2:16; Galatians 4:9-10; Romans 14:5). The gentile converts held their religious meetings on Sunday (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) and with the disappearance of the Jewish Christian churches this day was exclusively observed as the Lord's Day. (See SUNDAY.)"
"The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is the Hebrew word sabat, which means 'to rest or stop or cease from work.' The origin of the Sabbath goes back to Creation. After creating the heavens and the earth in six days, God 'rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made' (Genesis 2:2). This doesn’t mean that God was tired and needed a rest. We know that God is omnipotent, literally 'all-powerful.' He has all the power in the universe, He never tires, and His most arduous expenditure of energy does not diminish His power one bit. So, what does it mean that God rested on the seventh day? Simply that He stopped what He was doing. He ceased from His labors. This is important in understanding the establishment of the Sabbath day and the role of Christ as our Sabbath rest."
"The various elements of the Sabbath symbolized the coming of the Messiah, who would provide a permanent rest for His people. Once again the example of resting from our labors comes into play. With the establishment of the Old Testament Law, the Jews were constantly 'laboring' to make themselves acceptable to God. Their labors included trying to obey a myriad of do’s and don’ts of the ceremonial law, the Temple law, the civil law, etc. Of course they couldn’t possibly keep all those laws, so God provided an array of sin offerings and sacrifices so they could come to Him for forgiveness and restore fellowship with Him, but only temporarily. Just as they began their physical labors after a one-day rest, so, too, did they have to continue to offer sacrifices. Hebrews 10:1 tells us that the law 'can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.' But these sacrifices were offered in anticipation of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, who 'after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right of God' (Hebrews 10:12). Just as He rested after performing the ultimate sacrifice, He sat down and rested—ceased from His labor of atonement because there was nothing more to be done, ever. Because of what He did, we no longer have to 'labor' in law-keeping in order to be justified in the sight of God. Jesus was sent so that we might rest in God and in what He has provided."
"Another element of the Sabbath day rest which God instituted as a foreshadowing of our complete rest in Christ is that He blessed it, sanctified it, and made it holy. Here again we see the symbol of Christ as our Sabbath rest—the holy, perfect Son of God who sanctifies and makes holy all who believe in Him. God sanctified Christ, just as He sanctified the Sabbath day, and sent Him into the world (John 10:36) to be our sacrifice for sin. In Him we find complete rest from the labors of our self-effort, because He alone is holy and righteous. 'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God' (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can now cease from our spiritual labors and rest in Him, not just one day a week, but always."
"Jesus can be our Sabbath rest in part because He is 'Lord of the Sabbath' (Matthew 12:8). As God incarnate, He decides the true meaning of the Sabbath because He created it, and He is our Sabbath rest in the flesh. When the Pharisees criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus reminded them that even they, sinful as they were, would not hesitate to pull a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. Because He came to seek and save His sheep who would hear His voice (John 10:3,27) and enter into the Sabbath rest He provided by paying for their sins, He could break the Sabbath rules. He told the Pharisees that people are more important than sheep and the salvation He provided was more important than rules. By saying, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath' (Mark 2:27), Jesus was restating the principle that the Sabbath rest was instituted to relieve man of his labors, just as He came to relieve us of our attempting to achieve salvation by our works. We no longer rest for only one day, but forever cease our laboring to attain God’s favor."
"There is no other Sabbath rest besides Jesus. He alone satisfies the requirements of the Law, and He alone provides the sacrifice that atones for sin. He is God’s plan for us to cease from the labor of our own works. We dare not reject this one-and-only Way of salvation (John 14:6)."
"The phrase 'the Lord of the Sabbath' is found in Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5. In all three instances Jesus is referring to Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath or, as Mark records it, 'The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath' (Mark 2:28). In these verses, Jesus is proclaiming that He is the One who exercises authority even over the rules and regulations that govern the Sabbath day."
"As such, Jesus was proclaiming to the world, especially to the legalistic Pharisees, that He was greater than the Law and above the laws of the Mosaic Covenant because, as God in flesh, He is the Author of those laws."
"As Creator, Christ was the original Lord of the Sabbath (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:10). He had the authority to overrule the Pharisees’ traditions and regulations because He had created the Sabbath—and the Creator is always greater than the creation. Furthermore, Jesus claimed the authority to correctly interpret the meaning of the Sabbath and all the laws pertaining to it. Because Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, He is free to do on it and with it whatever He pleases."
"The Lord of the Sabbath had come, and with His death and resurrection He became the fulfillment of our 'Sabbath rest.' The salvation we have in Christ has made the old law of the Sabbath no longer needed or binding. When Jesus said, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath' (Mark 2:27), Jesus was attesting to the fact that, just as the Sabbath day was originally instituted to give man rest from his labors, so did He come to provide us rest from laboring to achieve our own salvation by our works. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, we can now forever cease laboring to attain God’s favor and rest in His mercy and grace."
Hence, from these excerpts, we see that Herbert Armstrong's characterization of Catholic and Protestant attitudes toward God's Sabbath were simplistic and inaccurate. Indeed, the above statements make very clear that Traditional Christianity has a great reverence for the concept of the Sabbath rest, and see Christ as the embodiment and fulfillment of that rest! For these Christians, the Sabbath is clearly viewed through the text of the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews. In other words, they look to both Christ and Scripture as the standard for their beliefs about the Sabbath - NOT to pagans or the traditions of men!
It's been almost seven months since I left The Restored Church of God, led by Pastor General David C. Pack.
My life after has been freeing, explorative, liberating, and restorative (almost). I feel like a bird flying for the first time. It sounds corny, but that's literally how I feel. I can spread my wings to fly and be myself. I’m not worrying about how my wings look, how long they are, what color they are, or how I'm flying and where I'm going. I was losing who I was in that place.
But sadly, part of me still struggles to work through the anger, hurt, and betrayal I feel toward The Restored Church of God. The process has been a journey that's intertwined with my fathers' death. For better context, I suggest you read my Exit Letter first.
There was an incident with my father that happened before I entered RCG. I vividly remember my dad telling me about a book he read and mentioning it at Sabbath Services amongst brethren. A minister overheard him, or more accurately, a minister eavesdropped, covertly listening in. You know they have to "shepherd the flock” by making sure everyone is in line. *insert eye-roll here* I wasn't a member yet, but I can tell you it upset my dad greatly. It further affected his already failing health.
My dad was an avid reader. He loved reading, and he loved learning. I am the same way. He taught me to read everything I could get my hands on. Educate yourself on big things, little things, and even silly things. He always said that I would be able to mingle with any crowd.
My dad was suspended from RCG for mentioning a book at Sabbath Services. Yep. A grown man isn't allowed to read or mention certain books to other brethren. Ridiculous right? What is more ridiculous is that the minister who suspended him NEVER read it. So he had no clue what it was about. The book’s title is The Bible Code. How can a "minister of God" have a legitimate reason for suspending a member over a book he never read? Easily.
When you have an agenda that pressures members to keep giving more money to the church, you have to fiercely protect that cash flow. This unbiblical doctrine in The Restored Church of God is known as “Common.” (Marc Cebrian has spoken and written about it.)
They feared my dad would cause others to falter, go off into other doctrines, or possibly leave the church. You know, for mentioning reading anything other than RCG material. Even if the minister had read the book, it wouldn’t have mattered.
Why was the burden put on my dad of how others "weak in the faith" might be shaken by mentioning other reading materials? We're not to place a stumbling block in front of our brothers and sisters, but he casually talked about a book he was reading. God says to prove all things and to fear GOD with fear and trembling. That's the responsibility of each individual.
RCG's Ambassador Center claimed it presented students with "a well-rounded education." Taking that same principle, how can anyone further their knowledge without researching topics in other areas? Oh, wait. RCG controls which knowledge is worthy of inclusion.
My father was just reading a book he found interesting. That’s all. How often has David C. Pack mentioned other religions, reading up on them and telling brethren what they believe? Plenty of times, but only because he's the all-knowing guru of faiths in the world. (That was sarcasm, by the way).
The Restored Church of God is in the money-making business to live comfortably off the backs of its members. And they've been succeeding at that for years. Well, for the most part. DCP just announced layoffs at their Headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio.
My father got very sick due to stress during the weeks of his suspension. RCG also has a strict policy that no one can talk to a member while they are suspended. This is to enhance “the sting” of separation.
Imagine being suspended for mentioning a book and then being completely cut off from your church "friends.” Friends who constantly said they loved and cared about you and hugged you every time they saw you, and now there is not a phone call, a text…nothing. Imagine how stressful this was on my mother. Who, by the way, took care of my dad every day and drove to Services with him. All of this over a book.
He never was the same after that whole ordeal. His health deteriorated further. This is where my anger, hurt, and heartbreak stem from as I reflect on this. I can't get that time back with my dad. I want to tell him so badly how wrong he was about David C. Pack. I want to tell him how they twist verses, steal money from members, and use fear tactics to keep members staying put. And I want to rip out half the flower beds, knock down a tree or two, and then ride off on one of the stupid horses.
I can't believe I still joined that place after all of that. I guess I felt a tug to be in the same place my dad was in after he died, along with the fact I felt God was directing me to go down that path. I needed to know where my dad went spiritually. So yeah, I've been taking one day at a time to recover from that profound hurt.
Everything since has been a wonderful process of unlearning the lies and relearning the truths God is showing me!
This is the real purpose of this article. I do it hoping that some members of The Restored Church of God can receive what others have gone through. Maybe some have experienced similar situations but are confused. If you still trust David C. Pack, then hear the words of David C. Pack.
I went into my closet a few days ago and pulled out some old notes and RCG literature I had not yet burned. One of those items is the book Is “That Prophet” Alive Today? The Rise of False Prophets, written by David C. Pack. It was my last “line in the sand” before leaving RCG. And just after reading only two chapters.
This book was removed from RCG’s library after David C. Pack proclaimed he was Elijah the Prophet in 2015. Hmm. Interesting. This book should now be of particular interest since he has reaffirmed he is a prophet and Elijah on June 6, 2023.
I re-read some of that book's more interesting chapters and want to share them.
After revisiting a few more chapters, I am again mind-blown at what David C. Pack wrote. It's amazing how God uses humans to play out His plan for humanity. DCP wrote the book to answer Gerald Flurry of The Philadelphia Church of God. But in actuality, DCP wrote about his own downfall years in advance. I highly recommend you read this book.
If you would like a copy, you can download it HERE.
Brethren still sitting in RCG, please heed these warnings.
Chapter 8: A False Christ – Christ Gives Offices-Men Cannot Take Them (pp. 54–56)
"Men truly chosen of God are always able to LOOK BACK over the years to see how God has used them. They do not need to invent reasons why they WILL hold a particular office, and then take it to themselves. The reader must see the tremendous difference between one who is truly GIVEN an office by Jesus Christ, and a man who is a presumptuous, self-promoting IMPOSTER who sees one or more offices and titles that he desires, declares himself to have these offices and roles, and then sets out to prove to others that he does.
Where in scripture did Christ tell us there would be a new apostle, messenger, Elijah, or prophet? If you can find it, please share.
"The critical element that separates those to whom Christ gives an office is HUMILITY. The man would have never thought of himself as holding a high office until long after he was already doing the job. The one who takes offices on his own authority is driven by VANITY, which eventually always turns into EXTREME ARROGANCE and worse.The latter is a person who was seeking to exalt himself. This is either because he is not, or was never, humble.”
Raise your hand if you think David C. Pack is arrogant. The man talks about himself nonstop, is always boastful, and is never humble. Anyone can easily see this in his sermons. Satan also wanted to exalt himself above God.
Isaiah 14:13
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
Pay attention to what DCP writes about in this next section! It gave me goosebumps!
"Even in the world, ‘ignorance of the law’ is never permitted as a valid defense. It has been my experience that only very, very rarely will—or can—one return to a sound mind after going even remotely this far. Only God can heal a mind gone so far wrong—but even then only if the man truly yields himself and submits to God as clay to the Potter!
“Demons want to be considered the saviors of the world. Demons want to rule the earth as king of kings...Demons (specifically Satan) want to be considered the mighty god (‘of this world’– II Corinthians 4:4). Similarly, demons are generally aware of prophecy.
Did you read that, brethren? Go re-read it!
Hold on. There are more chilling statements...
“A demon spirit would love to be considered That Prophet—and would love to influence a human vessel to this end.Appropriating that title to itself, through a human agent, is very attractive to a demon—especially if it could gain control of many of God’s people in the process!
WOW! Are any of these words shocking you yet?
“From a demon’s perspective, the worst possible thing that these followers can be exposed to is the Spirit of God within those outside his group who are able to see how wrong-headed is the thinking of the leader they are using. This is also another way that fear is being used in the ever more dangerous cult environment that such false prophets create. They want their followers to be afraid to talk to ‘outsiders.’ These false leaders know that knowledge dispensed outside their controlis a threat to their ability to retain control.Hence, the implementation of what could only be called the tragic policy of forbidding followers all contact with members of other ‘Church of God’ organizations.”
I’ll add that this also applies to current members. This is why they indoctrinate and brainwash everyone to not speak to any members after they leave RCG.
Chapter 10: Taking Action – Attacking His Flock (p. 66)
“Anyone claiming to be That Prophet, The Lawgiver, “Father,” etc., has literally attacked his flock with blasphemy and rank idolatry. Like any cult leader, his only possible objective is to seek ever greater adoration and worship—and that may currently include you!
“Such a one is an outright antichrist! This cannot be viewed any other way. The Bible is plain that there have always been “many,” and this is still true today (I John 2:18).
“Christ determines who is a Philadelphian and who, therefore, goes to the Place of Safety… But it is blasphemous and abominable for any man to tell you that he has your “ticket to the Place of Safety…”This is the classic fear hysteria that David Koresh, Jim Jones, and Marshal Applewaite (San Diego Heaven’s Gate cult) used to elevate themselves and lead people to their death!
“Such claims are very serious business!"
David C. Pack preaches that members will NOT receive salvation if they leave The Restored Church of God. That is a lie straight from Satan. Show me in Scripture where God states human beings will only receive salvation if they attend the church based in Wadsworth, Ohio. You will never find it.
More goosebumps.
Chapter 11: Source of Persecution? (p. 69)
"I have become convinced that some of the final greatest persecution, prophesied to come on God’s people at the end, will be driven by the cult-leader mentalityof certain splinter leaders… But it may be that the bizarre, absurd, odd and strange actions of many brethren, and certain particularly unsound and unbalanced leaders, claiming to follow the truth, will be one reason that Christ’s true disciples will eventually be “hated of all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9)—and will be pursued by an army described in Revelation 12:17! Surely, it is false Christs and false prophets who exhibit the very worst of strange, cult-like behavior!”
Do you hear these words from David C. Pack? He is speaking to YOU, brethren of The Restored Church of God! Your Pastor General is that cult leader exhibiting " the very worse of strange, cult-like behavior!"
This next paragraph is "The pot calling the kettle black." I couldn't believe what I was reading.
Chapter 11: Source of Persecution? – Zealous People (p. 70, 2008 Edition)
"In recent years, I have known many who left the imposter who calls himself That Prophet.Sadly, so many of these have been virtually ruined by their time in his organization. They were so violated and abused, and witnessed so much attack, slander and accusation of others from their leaders that, in many cases, they now seem no longer able to remember how a Christian is to conduct himself, even in the most basic matters. It has been painful and truly heart-rending to hear of so many who were torn to pieces over their dilemma before leaving.”
My mouth dropped open when I read this. I had to re-read it a few times. I cannot tell you how many ex-members I have spoken to feel exactly what he stated here. But most are thriving since leaving RCG. I feel all of this and more.
I had to laugh when I read that last line of his paragraph. He is a cold-hearted wolf in sheep's clothing. He only cares about members' wallets. That’s it.
I am continuing to heal with the help of a supportive family and friends. If only David C. Pack, the RCG ministry, and brethren could see how "torn to pieces" I was "over our/my dilemma before leaving." It would be shocking to most.
We/I weren't given that time, though. We got shut down when questioning anything. And then got reprimanded, suspended, slandered, spiritually abused, or disfellowshipped. Most are afraid to openly share because members are taught to be spies—loyal to David C. Pack and his ever-changing false teachings.
DCP makes fun of, lambasts, and yells during his sermons when speaking about ex-members. There are plenty of video clips on this YouTube channel if you want to see it yourself.
Section II, Matthew 24 – The Rise of False Prophets – The Role of Pride (p. 80)
“When such suddenly-elevated leaders give themselves over to urges of ‘new understanding,’they are actually completing the cycle of ‘falling into the condemnation of the devil.’ Too unskilled in the scriptures (particularly passages about prophecy) to resist the ‘deeper insights’ they feel are coming to them, they wind up yielding to demonic whisperings in their ears. As these men become conduits for fallen spirits, they pour out pure garbage on their followers.
This perfectly describes over seven years of "The Greatest Untold Story!"
The result is that they destroy far more people than just themselves— and in the end they do always destroy themselves!”
There you have it. The warning from a false prophet about a false prophet. The Pastor General of The Restored Church of God has spoken the truth here. It’s about time.
Are you listening, brethren? This should make you sit up straight. How many times has DCP come to a "new understanding?" He pours out PURE GARBAGE on all the members of The Restored Church of God.
Chapter 11: Source of Persecution? – “That Prophet” Is Alive Today! (p. 71)
“Understand. You are the captain of your own ship. You must determine where you will steer it. You must point it toward God... Be willing to help your friends do the same. Take a moment to read James 5:19-20, Galatians 6:1-2, Proverbs 24:11-12 and Jude 21-23. They will encourage and inspire you to help others save themselves from the deadly trap described in what you have just learned."
Do not let fear rule you!
James 5:19-20
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Proverbs 24:11-12
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Jude 21-23
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Brethren, I sincerely pray you will take every word written here to heart. Read your Bible. Read the words of David C. Pack. I don't wish any bad for anyone still attending The Restored Church of God.
I am trying to do my part to help you, just as other ex-members are. You are not alone. If I was still stuck in a false church, I would want my friends to warn me repeatedly, pray for me, and help me see the light.
May God have mercy on you, guide you, and bless you.
