Constance: The Wannabe Prophetess to the Church of God

Through the decades the Church of God has been in existence (Armstrong era) there have been literally hundreds and hundreds of self-appointed prophets who have claimed to be the modern-day conduit of God's hidden prophetic knowledge. Almost all of them have been men.  Men usually without much education other than spending far too many hours immersed in Armstrongism. These men would take the words of HWA and others and create scenarios that would frighten God so much that he would delay the tribulation.

On occasion, there have been a few women who have claimed the status of being a prophetess.  They never gained much ground in the church because the men would immediately dismiss them with one simple verse:

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak;

Or, from the Message Bible:

1 Corinthians 14:34-36The Message (MSG)

34-36 Wives must not disrupt worship, talking when they should be listening, asking questions that could more appropriately be asked of their husbands at home. God’s Book of the law guides our manners and customs here. Wives have no license to use the time of worship for unwarranted speaking. Do you—both women and men—imagine that you’re a sacred oracle determining what’s right and wrong? Do you think everything revolves around you? 

Some would still persist and gain a few people who would listen to them, but they mostly fall upon deaf ears.

Once more, we have another prophetess who seeks to rise up and proclaim a message of doom and gloom to a church that is lacking in zeal.  This modern-day prophetess is none other than Constance, the sidekick to James Malm, the Official Church of God Pharisee.

Prophetess Constance has written an entry on James Malm Blog of Zealotry where she seeks to defend her prophetic status.  Her holiness writes who many in the COG today do not look towards women to be speaking.

In some circles, there is the theological belief that women must be silent and are not permitted to teach men ever. We will look at the two often quoted passages that some use to substantiate this teaching. How do we rightly divide these verses which make up the Word of God? And how to we reconcile them with so many other verses in the Bible that quite plainly say that women are to speak and teach others biblical truth and to encourage all the brethren, whether they are male or female?

These two places in the Bible seem to be saying that it is not permitted for women to teach because they then would be teaching men. It is from these verses that many mainstream Christian theologians derive their position that God forbids women from being teachers in the church. Even though some of the large corporate COG groups are now allowing women to write articles for woman’s magazines and blogs, there are a few elders and church members who still hold this position in the COG’s as well, among both men and women. The apostle Paul is the author of these two oft quoted passages that at first glance appear to be forbidding women from ever teaching; this is what he wrote:

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Nothing new in the above comments, as this has been standard COG teaching.  However, like any good acolyte of James Malm, she has a better understanding than the blithering Laodiceans in the various COG's who are lacking in truth and zeal.

She writes:

If taken out of the context of which it is written it may appear that these verses are telling the women of the Ekklesia that they are not permitted to teach, period. Also that it is a shame for women to even speak in the church. In order to rightly divide the word of truth, we can ask some questions in regard to what this is actually saying and look to Scripture for the correct application of these verses. We should not take these verses out of the context of the whole message that Paul is trying to convey in these passages, but instead seek to understand exactly what he was referring to. We must put all Scriptures together if we want to know the truth about a particular subject and the Bible clearly tells us in other places that women are to “prophesy” in the church. It helps us to understand if we know that the definition for “prophesy” is another word for “to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, and comfort.” 

Apparently, the only people who take things out of context when quoting the Bible is everyone one except for the reigning prophets, prophetesses and church leaders.  That has been the standard practice of the church for eighty-some years.

That does not stop Constance though.  She is so sure of her prophetess status that she has to look for other scriptures that can support her desires. She twists the word prophecy to fit what she is doing on Zealot Malm's site where she has become his mouthpiece on several issues while his health sufferers.

Let’s begin by addressing the “to be in silence” part. If women are to be silent and are not permitted to speak or teach, how do we explain the numerous other passages of Scripture that seem to imply that women are exhorted to prophesy; which simply means to speak, to teach, reprove, admonish, proclaim, comfort and edify the church? In Joel, the prophet foretells that at a certain time in the future, that both men and women would be prophesying.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [latter days] that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Constance then goes on to say that when the Holy Spirit descended on those gathered at Pentecost that the men and women became prophets and prophetesses.

On the day of Pentecost in 31 AD when the Holy Spirit manifested itself in the form of cloven tongues of fire, Luke the author of Acts, says that all who were present were filled with the Holy Spirit and all began to speak with other tongues (foreign languages). We can assume that there were both men and women disciples present. This does not say, just the men, but all began to speak. Peter quoted this very verse from Joel 2 to explain what was happening which clearly says that in the last days the sons, the daughters, and handmaidens shall prophesy. 

Pharisee Malm has been using Constance to write "Chicken Soup for the Soul" style letters to his followers to make them feel all warm and fuzzy as the exclusive brethren of Malm's god after he has scared the crapola out of them with his end-time orgy of hellfire fury.

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. [prophēteuēte] 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

In verse 3 Paul states “he who prophesies speaketh” and goes on to define in what way this person is to speak; namely to edify, exhort and comfort.  To “speak” is the exact opposite of being silent. This verse does not have a clause excluding women from edifying the Ekklesia. Men and women who prophesy will speak. How and what will they speak? This verse tells us that to “prophesy” will be words spoken that edify, exhort, and comfort others. He repeats in verse 4 that “he that prophesieth edifieth the church”. That is to whom we direct our prophesying primarily, to our brothers and sisters in the Ekklesia. Paul exhorts all, which includes both men and women, to prophesy which means to edify, exhort, and comfort one another.

Constance has been searching for many years trying to find a place she could hang her hat and be recognized.  Going from one Sunday keeping church to another and then with a foray into Wicca, the prophetess found James Malm's zealotry to her liking.  After being spurned by other churches, she now can put her talents to use for Malm as a teacher who reproves, refutes, admonishes and comfort Malm's  aging flock. By interpreting it as she has below, she now has a place alongside Malm, whom she believes is a prophet.

“Prophesy” can also be translated as: teaches, refutes, reproves, admonishes, or comforts (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). When “prophesy” is used in 1st Corinthians 11 and 14 it is translated as “teaches, refutes, reproves, admonishes, or comforts”; it is not meaning here in this passage to foretell future events.

One of Malm's cultish teachings is that all women who are tied to his personality cult must have their heads covered when they are in church or in prayer, much like Yisrayl Hawkins commands all of his women to do.

We also note again that in 1st Corinthians 11:5 Paul teaches about head coverings in conjunction with a woman prophesying.

1 Corinthians 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Constance then expounds more as to why she should have prophetess status by using Paul's words to justify her rantings.  Constance was meant to prophecy, Paul says so!

If the apostle Paul forbids women from prophesying (speaking, teaching and edifying) why would he say a woman must wear a head covering when she prays and prophesies? It does not make sense that Paul would say this if he had in other epistles told women they could not prophesy [speak or teach] as per what some teach 1st Timothy 2:11 forbids.

Therefore if a woman is commanded (as per Paul states in 1st Corinthians 11:5 and 1st Corinthians 14:1-4) to edify the church, that means she will have to “speak” words of edification in order to do so. But if she is on the other hand not permitted to speak or teach, how can she remain silent and edify at the same time? Does this make sense and is this possible? No, of course it does not make sense and needs further exploration, for the Bible does not contradict itself. The same apostle Paul who admonishes women to prophesy in 1st Corinthians 11:5 and in 1st Corinthians 14:1-4 meaning to edify the church, is the same apostle that wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1st Timothy 2:11-15.

Constance, for some hair brained reason, imagines herself

If women are never to teach men then why was Priscilla permitted to help in expounding “the way of God more perfectly” to Apollos who needed more instruction in how to teach others himself. To expound is the same as to “teach” and Priscilla in this instance was used by God to help teach a man. 

The Greek word for “expound” is ektithémi: (Strong’s #1620) and means to set forth, figuratively to declare. (Strong’s Concordance)

When Priscilla and her husband Aquila heard Apollos speak in the synagogue, they took him aside and showed him what he needed to be teaching about Jesus, the Messiah. Apollos must have been very teachable for after they instructed him, God was able to use him in an even more powerful way in publicly proclaiming the Gospel to convince the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. There is no hint whatsoever by the writer of Acts that Priscilla had overstepped her bounds by not remaining silent; but rather Luke goes on to write of the fruit of her teaching Apollos along side of her husband. 

The Bible states emphatically without exception that both men and women are to prophesy, teach and preach God’s word and speak to the church words of edification, exhortation, comfort, and building others up by encouraging and strengthening them.

Constance is setting the terms of her reign as a prophetess in the church. Malm has been using her for a while now to write words of edification, exhortation, comfort, and slick words to make Malm's followers believe they are being strengthened.

The meaning of “prophesy” has the same meaning, whether it is referring to a man prophesying or to a woman prophesying. This kind of prophesying or teaching was predicted in Joel 2:28, and then quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17; that God would pour out His spirit upon all flesh, and that His sons and His daughters would prophesy.

God’s faithful know that the Bible does not contradict itself. So how do we explain the verses that state that women must be silent in the church when comparing them to other verses that exhort women to prophesy, to edify and encourage? We know that the Bible does not contradict itself, and God is not the author of confusion and that includes this subject of women teaching. The gifts of the Holy Spirit were given to both men and women for the edification of the body (with no gender qualifications).

So just how does Constance get around being able to teach men? All of the scriptures she quotes tells her that she is not teach men in worship situations, but what about elsewhere?  That elsewhere is how she gives herself permission to teach and prophecy OUTSIDE worship services.  Websites, letters, articles, etc. are her happy mediums by which to teach men.

Just as he addressed maintaining order when church members come together in 1st Corinthians 14, here, again, he instructs the brethren about proper authority roles in the church when it comes to formal church services. A woman is permitted to prophesy as per the other verses we looked at, but she is not to usurp authority over men as God has decreed in other places in the Bible when doing so. Paul is referring to the authority of a man over his wife that God has ordained when he goes on to talk about Adam and Eve and the order of things. A woman can prophesy or teach in other venues but she is not to speak or teach as an authoritative speaker in formal church services. God is telling us in these Scriptures that He has assigned the leadership role to men; to fathers and to husbands.

The Malmites have instituted the same forms of worship that Ysraeyl Hawkins group uses for their cult worship.  Men with lifted "holy" hands and women covering their heads with scarves.

In his instructions about how to conduct worship services, Paul tells the men how to pray (without anger or disputing, lifting up holy hands), and the women, how to adorn themselves (not being overly concerned about fine fancy clothing but being clothed with good works), and from this he moves to the topic of the prohibiting of women from teaching or usurping authority over a man.

The subject of authority is also mentioned in chapter 11 of 1st Corinthians which instructs the manner in which women are to pray and prophesy with head coverings; but then also goes on to explain that the head coverings represent the authority roles between men and women. In the following passages Paul goes into more detail about men and women roles which reiterates what he taught in 1st Timothy 2 and 1st Corinthians 14.

The command that women are not to teach in the two controversial passages cannot be taken as an absolute command that “no woman should ever teach a man” for if that were true, Paul would have rebuked Priscilla for having a part in instructing and teaching Apollos. The words “usurp authority over” provide us the key to understanding this passage. Women should not be permitted the role of authoritative leadership in the church and is supported by the verses that follow: “to ask their husbands” in 1st Corinthians 14 which is referencing back to Adam being formed first, and then Eve, who was created second and as a helpmate for Adam. After the first couple’s disobedience to God by taking of the forbidden fruit, Eve, who represents all the women that would come after her, was told that her husband was to be in authority over her. This is what is being referred to in verses 1st Timothy 2:11-15.

Constance continues to dance around and make excuses for why she needs to be considered a prophetess who can teach men.

Women are not to hold positions of authority or become pastors or give sermons in formal church services because God has decreed that it is the responsibility of men to exercise the leadership role, and women are not to take that responsibility away from them. We are not advocating, at all, the ordination of women or that women should be allowed to become pastors or church leaders or to get up front and speak or give sermons at formal worship services.

Paul, in all of these verses, is focusing on the fact that women are forbidden to take leadership roles in the Ekklesia over men which is very much in tune with the subject of the correct line of authority within the home and family system. Christ is the head of the man, and the man is the head of his wife, their children being subject to both their parents. It is a matter of church government within the family as designed by God.

“This issue is much misunderstood. It is all about  legitimate godly family structure and is not meant as a slight against women.  Women are not to preach in the church service, because it would be unseemly for a lady to be exercising authority over the husband that she vowed before God to obey.” (Women’s Role in the Church – James Malm)

God intends, most certainly, that women are to worship Him along with the males at formal assemblies. God desires that women sing hymns during services, and talk to others, fellowshipping before and after services; she just must not do so as one having the position of leadership in the congregation. This understanding is in complete agreement with Paul’s discussion in 1st Corinthians 11, a chapter that demonstrates that women did participate in prayer and prophecy in the early church. 

We can draw obvious conclusions then from all of these Scriptures; that women can certainly teach and declare the works of God by exercising their gift of prophecy. In Titus the older women are specifically commanded to teach the younger women and the children; Paul even describes what they are to teach. The older women are to teach the younger women, among other things, the proper order of headship in the home and how to love their husbands and their children. 

Can you imagine sitting there having Constance teach you how things should be!  That is just as horrific as listening to James Malm squeal about being zealous and worshipping at the feet of Moses.

Neither one of these two prophets of Moses need to be preaching at or teaching anyone. Bastardizing the Bible and church history to fit their own perverted message is not worthy of being heard.  No man in his right mind would let Constance teach him anything.  Especially a woman who dabbled in Wicca after being asked to leave several evangelical Christian churches.

Armstrongism has produced many crazy people over the decades and unfortunately, it continues to this day. While the church may certainly have many women who are actually qualified in teaching, Constance is not one of them  Let the buyer beware!

Prophecy Fails--Don't Live For It

One of the hallmark traits of most Fundamentalist Christians is their obsession with Bible Prophecy. Prophecy has a rather mystical draw to it and implies that the future is not so unknowable after all. Most humans spend their waking time either in the past feeling angry or in speculation of the future feeling anxious. It goes with not having the ability to live the real day one is currently experience. Many Christians have raised knowing the future to an art form and have learned that it is also quit profitable for the church in keeping members in line with fear, anxiety and a perverse kind of hope.
Bible prophecy and making it the center of one's life, reading the newspaper as one would the Bible, is a slippery slope and a very negative way to live one's life.

With enough study, one can learn that there are other explanations for that which many hold so near and dear as predictions of things that will happen "shortly" in the future. No one seems to think that "shortly" for whoever really wrote Revelation has now been over Two Thousand Years! I hate to think what "I'll be back later" would mean!

We have learned to develop the bad habit of reading Paul's predications of "time is short" with the same generous deference to the fact that short for Paul never really quite worked out for him either. We all know the cycle Paul went through of telling the Church to be ready, act as if you had no family and support the Church, to his final realization that "oh well, I fought a good fight, it was fun while it lasted, I was wrong... I still win... see ya."

On the other hand, we have areas of scripture that have always been used as prophecy which, to me, are simply not and never were intended to be by the original authors.

Isaiah 7 is an example of such a use of OT scripture by NT authors. This virgin birth prophecy ranks as one of the most questionable uses of scripture Matthew used to tell his story of Jesus birth. Matthew had a habit of mining the OT for anything that seemed like it fit the story he wanted to tell about Jesus. When one examines the OT context, we have to conclude that, that at least in it's original meaning, it was never meant to have the meaning Matthew assigned it. In fact, in its original context, it has absolutely nothing to do with prophecy but is merely a historical account of events going on at the time. It was never viewed as a prophecy of the birth circumstances of either the Jewish Messiah or Jesus until Matthew mined it for it's story telling value to his perspective. Matthew took the parts that fit his story but left out parts of that same story in Isaiah that obviously made no sense to his perspective on Jesus. If you simply look at Matthew's accounts of Jesus birth story, it is easy to see he cobbled it together in the style of the day from OT scriptures and not real events that he knew of. It is not my point to explain all this here, and I have touched on it in past columns.

Another aspect of "prophecy" we miss is that much of what the COGs use to promote their urgency upon the membership is probably prophecy written after the fact, which makes it really non-prophecy.

Either the book of Daniel was written during the time of the events recorded, 585 BC, or as many scholars now feel, it was written much later in the 160's BC to encourage the Maccabeans in their revolt against Rome. It was written AFTER all the events prophesied took place, which is why Daniel 11 is so specific. Daniel 12 then becomes rather generic because after the rise of Rome, the authors didn't really know the rest of the story much after the specifics of the 160's ended.

The point is that we all know that OUR lives were lived, and many still live their lives out, linking Daniel to Matthew 24, which also was written to address issues now long past from our times.

Again it is not my purpose to prove that to you, but I have accepted that much of what we call history prophesied is really "prophecy" historicized, or the conforming of later writings to fit events as they had already occurred. If the detail of Daniel 11 is the kind of thing that is able to be locked in stone for future fulfillment, then we as humans have no choice in the part we have to play in the game as it is already decided for us evidently down to the details. It's a philosophical problem to me about choices and free will.

Modern Tyre

Took a licking-Kept on Ticking

Other problem with prophecy is that they simply didn't come true. We all were groomed with the fantastic story of the fall of Tyre and how it would be scraped bare never to be inhabited etc. The problem is it wasn't and the city of Tyre existed in NT times and does to this day. The Tyranians rebuffed Nebuchadnezzar and only succumbed to Alexander the Great, yet still exists. It's a cop out to point out ancient ruins in the water as proof of prophecy fulfilled when the city called Tyre is just over your shoulder. These facts are easily found in a simple search on the topic.

Ezekiel's Failed Prophecies on Tyre and Egypt are examples.

Ezekiel made a prophecy that, at the time he wrote, seems most likely to be fulfilled. The prophet was writing, in 587 BC, at the time when Nebuchadnezzar was laying siege on Tyre. With such a powerful army like Nebuchadnezzar's, it was not surprising that Ezekiel prophesied the fall of Tyre to the Babylonian king.

Ezekiel 26:7-14: For thus says the Lord: "Behold I will bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a hosts of many soldiers. He will slay with the sword your daughters on the mainland; he will set up a siege wall against you. He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers...With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will slay your people with the sword and your mighty pillar will fall to the ground...they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses... I will make you a bare rock...you shall never be rebuilt, for I have spoken," says the Lord God.

The whole passage clearly prophesied the sack and complete destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar. However, the vivid description of the sack and fall of Tyre never happened. After a siege of thirteen years, until 573 BC, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his siege on Tyre and had to arrive at a compromised agreement. Thus Nebuchadnezzar did not destroy Tyre. Tyre was destroyed by Alexander the Great, 240 years later. And furthermore, despite the prophet, the city of Tyre was eventually rebuilt.
When Nebuchadnezzar broke the gates down he found the city almost empty. The majority of the people had moved by ship to an island about one half mile off the coast and fortified the city there. The mainland city was destroyed in 573, but the city of Tyre on the island remained a powerful city for several hundred years.

The implication of this paragraph is clear: that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed a major portion of Tyre. Tyre's main city was always on the island. The part of the city on the mainland is nothing more than a suburb. In other words, Nebuchadnezzar could achieve no more than take over a relatively minor part of the city. Furthermore it is obvious from the passage in Ezekiel that the complete destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar was prophesized. Ezekiel himself admitted that this prophecy was a mistake!

Ezekiel 29:17-20: ...the Lord God came to me: "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre; every head was made bald and every shoulder was rubbed bare; yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had performed against it... (Website: Rejection of Pascal's Wager)

The prophecies of both Isaiah and Ezekiel against Egypt also fell far short of reality in their "fulfillment."

"The prophet Isaiah, for instance, foretold the drying up of all the waters of the Egypt, and the destruction of all land used for plantation due to this drying up of the River Nile.
Isaiah 19:5-7: And the waters of the Nile will be dried up, and the river will be parched and dry; and its canal will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away. There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will dry up, be driven away, and be no more.

This part of Isaiah, widely accepted by scholars to be written around the eighth century BC, is about 2750 years old. And in all this period of two and three quarters millennia, this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled! Moreover it is clear from the context that Isaiah prophecy was meant for the Egypt of his time. For it was with that Egypt that Isaiah and his people had a grievance against, and the prophecy was a warning to them. Obviously this is a clear example of an unfulfilled prophecy." (Website: Rejection of Pascal's Wager)

I only point these out because so many would NEVER entertain the idea that any prophecy of the Bible didn't come true and will launch any number and kind of apologetic to defend what was said would be from what really occurred in history. Some of you are doing that right now.. :)

And now we again live in a time where "prophecy" can manipulate real lives. There are any number of those who just know how it will all be. The kings of all directions are doing this and that..."just read my article and see for yourself." Every world news event , like in the 60's or 70's or 80's, is worthy of note. The last Pope would be the last Pope and now this Pope will be the last Pope and I expect the next Pope will also be the last Pope. Meanwhile we get older but not the wiser for the experience. What we'll end up with is drawing every imagined prophetic event to ourselves in reality as some government leaders even seem to base policy on "what the Bible says." It is very possible to cause things to happen because one expects them to happen. The problem is you end up with all the damage and none of the salvation. In short, an end of the world scenario can be acted out based on false subconscious beliefs and yet still you end up with no Second Coming, World Tomorrow or Kingdom of God. You end up screwed up.

So why might it be better not to LIVE your actual life around the alleged reality and truth of prophecy and the "imminent" return of Jesus which has been imminent now for a couple thousand years?

I've been there, I've done this. I've lived my real life ahead of my actual life while it quietly slipped by. I've made life decisions in the past based on a preoccupation with the future. I've also let a lot of precious life time go by thinking about things that proved to be untrue and teaching things that weren't. I thought they were, but when one realizes they aren't, it would be hoped one would stop that. I did.

I've been there, I've done this. I've lived my real life ahead of my actual life while it quietly slipped by. I've made life decisions in the past based on a preoccupation with the future. I've also let a lot of precious life time go by thinking about things that proved to be untrue and teaching things that weren't.

Basing a life on what may or may not happen in the future, and Bible types did it all the time and were wrong too, is to miss the present. And whether one admits it or not , the present is all we ever actually really have to work with. Your kids really are their ages they are NOW and one does not postpone making memories with them now because the future is a more serious consideration. They will NEVER again be kids, and you and I will never again be any younger.

For Paul, to live might be loss and to die gain, but that theological rhetoric and let's face it, Paul never, from what we can note, ever had to enjoy his children, mate or life in the now. He was in the imminent future right up until it bit him in the bum. He may have had the power to have a wife, great word there, "power", but I bet he was basically not one the women would flock to to begin with.

If you are still in a COG, does your Sabbath experience, weekends that your kids also have to call their free time, only consist for them of coming, sitting and going? How often we forget that the parents generally got to make their life decisions but then deny them to their children. I know, "raise up your child in the way he should go.." Problem I have is with the "should go."

I used to take my kids to the local zoo on Sabbaths after church. This was in the 1970's. I have never regretted spending MANY a Friday night with them when little swimming at the YMCA and stopping at Dunkin Donuts on the way home. That ritual of the "now" is far more remembered than any sermon I may have given that day. But for some, depending on their prophecy laden pastor, life is just one big "around the corner", "just a little longer" and never ending "gun lap." I had kidded for years that we have been in the gun lap so often, we run the risk of running out of bullets. Little did I know that was a prophecy that would come true!

Prophecy means NOTHING to me at this point in my life. It may mean a lot to some of you depending on who is feeding the need to know what I don't think we can know in this world. We can hide behind the idea that we know God is doing this or that, but that's pretty iffy knowing.

Whatever your position, at least know that even the Bible got it wrong at times, not matter what your pastor says or how your church motivates you with prophecy to live on the edge of your chair, just a bit ahead of the now, in somewhat a fearful or at least anxious, "what's going to happen" state. Isaiah was wrong, Ezekiel was wrong, Paul was wrong and yes, even Jesus was mistaken in his own perceptions of his own experience. That's another story.

If we can be wise enough to see that even Bible prophecies indeed have failed, that some prophecies are not really prophecies , and that reading the newspaper as if it were the Bible come to life is not wise, we might actually have a life in the now we can say was a real life. A life lived in anticipation of some alleged future is not a real life. It's disillusionment in the making.

I'm going to go out on my own limb of prophecy here. I predict that all the leaders of any COG who promote prophecy first and have not really ever given a sermon using the ideas in this article, will live out their lives and come to the same conclusions Paul did. They kept a Faith and now it's time to pass on.

I predict that Churches like PCG and RCG will pass from the scene when their me only leadership does. One can only get so much mileage out of playing the sermons on world events by those who died years ago. Yet I guess we do that when repeating Paul's admonitions of the shortness of time forgetting it is long since past when he felt it would end. We do it when we say "Behold I come quickly" when that quickly was over 2000 years ago.

I predict that WCG  will become a meaningless footnote to the Christian experience. I mean why belong to something in California that is everywhere you live? What holds scattered groups together is being special and having special insights into "The Middle East, What Next." And "Will You Be in the Place of Safety." Don't get me started!

I predict more people will avail themselves of the Internet to do their own studies and come to their own conclusions. I always had to ask a pastor because somehow I thought he must know. After all, he was an "expert" on the Bible. Now you can ask lots of pastors and scholars and even those who used to be and no longer can abide it.

 I predict the era of Guru's will end for those who learn to think and search a matter out from many and not just one source. I would hope that people in congregations dominated by one grand idea spoken by one grand human being will finally wake up and not care if asking a question or questioning a sermon or concept gets them kicked out. Being kicked out, terminated, fired, marginalized or blocked at the door can be the greatest freedom you'll ever experience if you ever choose to reclaim your own brain and perspectives. Remember...ANY TIME you are listening to another human being tell you how it is, and your get that little "uh oh" in the tummy....listen to it! It's the truth trying to have a chat with you.

I predict many will keep on believing the unbelievable because that's what humans do to keep fear and uncertainty at bay. I do it, you do it.

Don't live in anticipation of possible future. We can't know and no one has ever gotten it right. All prophecies about the Second Coming of Jesus have failed to date 100% ! Don't miss your NOW for that idea that just around the corner, me and mine will be justified in forgetting to enjoy the one life we know we NOW have on this planet. It's a dangerous world to be sure, this does not mean it is the result of prophets who themselves missed their own marks way back

A life based on Prophecy as interpreted by someone who thinks they know and enforced upon one as fact , just wait and see, is going to be a stressed one at best. You are also going to have to give up a few bucks hard earned to keep the mythology and the grand poopa in prediction mode. Remember there is Addiction to Predictions. Don't allow yourself to wake up decades older with grown kids having regrets you didn't go to the zoo, go for a Friday night family swim or stop at Dunkin Donuts in their jammies on the way home....even on the Sabbath.  No God or Angel is taking names.

Welcome to the Feast of Tabernacles 2017

For decades the Church of God put out well edited and manicured video productions that were designed to inspire the members to give even more money to support the "work."  Those days quickly drew to an end with the death of Herbert Armstrong and the dismantling of the church.  

Never fear though, numerous self-appointed upstarts started producing their own videos.  Some of them were just as slick in their brainwashing methods as the early days of Feast films.  

And then there is this...

Church of God Zealot Releases Another Prophetic End Time Timeline

Courtesy of the screeching zealot James Malm and his side-kick Constance:

• The pope could go to the Temple Mount triggering the occupation of Jerusalem and the beginning of the 42 month Great Tribulation, as early as December 2018 or within a year or two  (or three  or four, or five, or six, or seven, or eight, or ten, or fifteen, or twenty, or...) after that; depending on how long it takes to conclude a Middle East peace agreement.  

• Once the New Federal Europe rises as a political union, the EU will remain in some form as a simple trade organization.   

• Britain will be leaving the EU in March 2019 and will then be cut off from the coming European prosperity, economically allying with America instead of Europe. 

• As for America, the Arabs will join with Europe and abandon the Petrodollar while hiring European countries to do the unimaginably massive rebuilding throughout the region. 

• During the first winter Britain and America will lose economic traction as Europe takes the economic lead and conditions will begin to decline in the USA and her Anglo Saxon brethren,  

• Then during the first spring/summer as the economy fails, a severe drought will gripe the nation,   

• Suddenly there will be no money to finance America’s drug habits, its energy, food and medical needs, or anything else,  

• During the second winter a population weakened by a lack of proper nutrition due to the drought and the inability to import provisions, will be susceptible to epidemic diseases greater than the Spanish Flu and other such disasters

• The second summer will be worse than the first, and riots over food, race and other issues will set America ablaze. 

• The third winter will be worse than the second with even greater malnutrition and many more dying.  

• Then after the sixth seal of Revelation has been opened, the first 144,000 (Rev 7)will be called out; 12,000 from each tribe [the Judeo Anglo Saxon nations] of Israel, to witness that the Eternal is God and if they would only trust and obey him, he would save them.  

• This 144,000 scattered throughout the nations of Israel will be witnessing as the New Europe goes to attack Asia and the Seven Trumpet Plagues are poured out according to the preaching of God’s Two Witnesses, sometime into the third year.   

• Then after the third and final winter, God will allow his Two Servants (James Malm and his sidekick wannabe prophetess Constance 0r James Malm and Bob Thiel)  to be killed and then the seventh Trump will begin to sound and these two along with all the chosen, will rise to life eternal as spirit. 

• This will be seen by all the earth and many Gentile rulers will be angry fearing the loss of their authority and power, but the nations of Israel will remember the preaching of God’s Two Servants (Ron Weinland and Dave Pack) and the preaching and witnessing of the first 144,000, and they will see the plagues and heavenly signs; and they will begin to repent and turn to the Eternal seeking his deliverance.   

• A few days later after the Wedding Feast in heaven and the pouring out of the seven last bowls of plagues, Christ will come WITH his chosen and will deliver both Israel and all of humanity out of bondage to Satan and sin.  (James and Constance will come riding down on white horses along side their "christ" and start reeducating the world to be zealots) 

• Then Judah and all Israel will welcome their Deliverer with great rejoicing 

• This 42 months of famine, riots and economic collapse will be accompanied by other natural disasters, one of the chief being great earthquakes which will be so great as to change the surface topography of the earth.   

When all else fails for Malm, and it will, he can encourage his side-kick prophetess Constance to engage her Wiccan spells and ask her god and goddess to intervene so that Malm is not so embarrassed.

When will all of these Church of "god" fools tear down their prophetic shingles and just shut up?

Worldwide's Lost Chance to Grow Up

In the 1970's Worldwide under Herbert Armstrong had one chance to grow up.  The Systematic Theology Project, under Dr. Robert Kuhn and others, had the potential of bringing WCG into the modern world. Systematic theology is  "a branch of theology concerned with summarizing the doctrinal traditions of a religion (such as Christianity) especially with a view to relating the traditions convincingly to the religion's present-day setting."

 HWA crushed it in his ignorance and arrogance and condemned the WCG and all it's splits, splinters and slivers to a continuation of the ignorance and arrogance we see today in so called theologians such as Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Ron Weinland , Robert Thiel and a host of wannabes. None of these men are trained in the rigors of theology and history much less that of good science done well.  And yet they know it all...just ask them

Theirs is the Chaotic Theology Project and it won't end well for any of them. 

Herbert Armstrong, as well as these clones (get it over with...clowns) of his, view themselves only as the source of final truth.  I can not imagine any of them ever sitting down with the great minds of cosmology, physics , paleontology or any other hard scientific discipline and daring to tell these men and women how it all was back in the the garden where  "there were two trees....." If they did they would be met with the derision they deserve and put nicely in their theological, scientific, philosophical  and historical places. 

Dr. Robert Kuhn went on to continue the quest for real answers to real questions in the real world we see around us.  

Kuhn first came to prominence in 1972 when "Why the Vast Difference between Animal Brain and Human Mind?" appeared in The Plain Truth magazine published by Ambassador College, an institution of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). The WCG's Systematic Theology Project^[6] was coordinated by Kuhn, but later banned by WCG Founder Herbert W. Armstrong. Kuhn severed his connection to the WCG and its affiliates, including the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation (classical music concerts, featuring musicians including Vladimir Horowitz and Luciano Pavarotti), which Kuhn had created and managed.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl9StMQ79LtEvlrskzjoYbQ

Robert Lawrence Kuhn^[1] (born 1944) is a public intellectual, international corporate strategist andinvestment banker. He has a doctorate in brain research and is the author and editor of over 25 books. He is a long-time adviser to China's leaders and the Chinese government, to multinational corporationson China strategies and transactions, and is a frequent commentator on China politics, economics, business, finance, philosophy and science. He is a columnist for China Daily and South China Morning Post and appears on the BBC, CNN, China Central Television, Bloomberg and other major media. Kuhn is the creator and host of the CCTV News show Closer to China with R.L.Kuhn.^[2] Kuhn is the creator, writer and host of the public television series Closer to Truth, which presents scientists and philosophers discussing fundamental issues (cosmos, consciousness, philosophy/religion).^[3] His essays are featured on LiveScience.com and Space.com.^[4]

Kuhn received a bachelor's degree in human biology from Johns Hopkins University (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1964, a PhD in anatomy / brain research from the University of California at Los Angeles' Brain Research Institute in 1968 and a master of science in management as a Sloan fellow from theMIT Sloan School of Management in 1980.^[5]

Dr. Kuhn's work can be found at:

https://www.closertotruth.com/

United Church of God Takes "gospel" To Times Square

A UCG member sent me this:

Vik Kubik is literally twitterpated on Twitter right now over the recent ad by UCG that appeared in Times Square.  It is the miracle of the century as God opened a door for the world to learn about UCG.  It all stemmed from a press release that UCG sent out that it was about to celebrate the coming kingdom of God, October 5-12."

God is an amazing door opener that will cause hundreds of thousands to see this ad and join the one true church.  What magical miraculous times we live in!  Never has any COG had such publicity!

The Pithy Quotes of Vic Kubik

A UCG source sent me these pithy quotes of Vic Kubick from his Twitter page.  Is Vic starting to believe he might be wrong in the message he has been trying to prove right all of these years?

Is he finally realizing that all of the words he has been speaking actually avoids the deep thinking and reality of what it means to really follow Jesus instead of Moses?

Nah, I don't think so either...sigh

Feast of Tabernacles 2017: A Foretaste of Millennial Bliss or A Present Reality of Disharmony?

It is that time of year again as Church of God members pack their bags, load their cars up for road trips or hop on planes to go to exotic locations somewhere in the world. Children are pulled out of school with various wild excuses as to why they will be leaving for 8-10 days just a few weeks after school has started in August or September. Friends and family member will be excited to meet together and share adventures.  Hunger pangs will set in for new foods or gatherings in favorite restaurants.  Many members who struggle financially will go into debt in order to live up to God's high standard that they deserve the best hotels, food, and alcohol.  Ministers will be delighted to be staying in the finest resort rooms available, for free in many cases, and having daily access to the free food and alcohol in the ministerial dining rooms.  Thousands will be spent on extravagant gift baskets for top ministers, evangelists, and Festival Coordinators because they have sacrificed sooooooo much over the past year.

It is all so heartwarming and millennial, as God has placed his name on hundreds of different locations around the world with hundreds of different COG's preaching hundreds of different messages by men who claim they are the direct channel for God's word.

But just how millennial is it?  Some COG's will try and book Feast sites in areas that other COG's have traditionally used for years, all as a way of usurping them and hoping to be able to draw in a few of their members who are loyal to certain destinations.

Some cities, resorts, or convention destinations will have several COG's meeting in the same city, often within blocks of each other, and in some cases in the exact same location, but in different rooms.

In many of these locations, COG members will be told that under no circumstance should they associate with the Laodiceans down the hall or road.  God is only in one location and he is NOT with them!

Take a look at Branson, Missouri.  United Church of God, Church of God a Worldwide Association, Intercontinental Church of God, Church of God in Truth and the International Congregation of Yahweh will all be meeting there.  Uncomfortable moments are sure to be felt when going out to dinner, or a stage show, or at the local go-cart racing facility as different COG's all happen to meet up.  Warm greetings will pour out and then awkward silence will quickly develop as they realize that they were told to not fellowship with apostate unbelievers who are not part of their only true church.

Missouri—Branson: UCG, http://feast.ucg.org. Branson: CGWA, http://feast.cogwa.org. Branson: ICG, http:// intercontinentalcog.org/ tabernacleshome.php. Branson: Oct. 3-10, Church of God in Truth, http://www.postponements.com/ id15.htm. Branson: International Congregation of Yahweh, http://www. icyahweh.org. Lake of the Ozarks: LCG, https://fot2017.lcg.org.
The Journal: News of the Churches of God

Then there is Myrtle Beach with Church of God Big Sandy, Intercontinental Church of God and Church of God International meeting in the same city.  This is sure to be awkward with all three groups having ties to Garner Ted Armstrong.

South Carolina—Hilton Head
Island: LCG, https://fot2017.lcg.org. Myrtle Beach: Church of God Big Sandy, http://churchofgodbigsandy.com, Lyle Kerby,(304) 354-7147. Myrtle Beach: ICG, http:// interconti- nentalcog.org/tabernacleshome.php. Myrtle Beach: CGI/CFN, http://cgi.org/feast-of-tabernacles. The Journal: News of the Churches of God

Granted there are many COG members who ignore the admonitions of their ministers and Feast site coordinators to not fellowship with Laodicean former members.  They will still see family and friends in other groups as some plan their Feast sites in order to do so.

Many others will skip several services in order to enjoy their location attractions unencumbered by other church members for a few hours out of the day.  Others show up the first day and make their presence known and then disappear till the last day when they reemerge acting as if this was the best eight days of sermons they have never heard.

Here it is 2017, decades into the future of a time when Petra should have been over and the Kingdom of God already established.  Apostles, prophets and leading evangelists are dead.  The church has imploded into hundreds and hundreds of splinter groups who all claim exclusive inside tracks to the kingdom.  Families have been ripped apart and marriages shattered.  Thousands of church youth have left the church of their parents.  Former friends ignore each other.  Grandparents refuse to see their grandchildren who are in the same city they are in for the Feast.  Millions of dollars pour into the church coffers of the various COG's, and yet they dig into their member's pockets with one money grubbing sermon after another, or worse yet, pit Feast site against Feast site to who can give the most money.  People will travel to Feast sites with sick children or they themselves will be sick.  They go because they are commanded.  They will spread the sickness to many others leading to possible health department violations, as has happened in the past.

Yes, it is 2017 and none of the Churches of God can coexist together in a foretaste of the heavenly Kingdom of God and yet they all believe they will soon be heading to Petra where they and they alone will be protected by their god during the tribulation.

For decades the church taught that we would make the desert bloom like a rose as we worked for 3 1/2 years in the place of final training. Future Kings and priests would be trained to rule cities and worlds.  We would be taught how to unify and bring peace to a remnant of civilization who had just survived the nuclear war.  Church members would live in harmony as the Spirit of God trained us and hovered over us protecting us from the evils going on outside the Petra mountains.

It all sounds slightly wonderful and heartwarming.  But, given how almost all of the Church of God's in 2017 will not work together, gather together, or even believe the same things, can you imagine what a hell hole Petra will be!

When all of the various COG's leaders show up at the same place who is going to be the one true unifier?  Almost ordained Bob Thiel?  Vik Kubik? Mark Armstrong?  Ron Weinland?  Gerald Weston? Gerald Flurry? James Malm and his Wiccan sidekick Constance?  What an appalling mess it will be!  Why would any COG member sit there and watch this appalling mess as they realize they have 3 1/2 more years of this utter shitfest before them?

Does this really sound like a foretaste of the Kingdom of God?

All Laodicean Church of God's Are Going Into Tribulation Because They Don't Follow Me

God has been really busy or completely forgetful over the past 30 some years as countless Church of God prophets have claimed his complete and exclusive blessing over their prophethood status. The problem all Church of God members have is knowing who God actually has appointed and who have self-appointed themselves.

For 8 decades, the Church of God has been plagued with one self-appointed prophet after another.  Many of them would show up in Pasadena with documents proving their sainthood. Others would show up in robes and picket signs declaring their superior knowledge. Almost all of these were just "regular" Church members who claimed to receive some kind of enlightenment. That all changed with the death of Herbert Armstrong. Without HWA in power, this opened wide the door for one mentally disturbed man after another to came forth. Even a few women made it into the fray this time around.

Nothing compares though to the number of men who have claimed prophethood over the last 15 years or so with the likes sof Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, James Malm, Alton Billingsley, Gerald Flurry and others. Each one of these men self-appointed themselves to their positions.  God was not a part of their appointments no matter how much they lie and create mindboggling scenarios.

Each one of these men believes they have the exclusive hot-line to their god who speaks to them daily with one revelation after another.  That is what Almost-ordained Bob Thiel believes.  His god has hand-delivered, through telepathy, the exclusive inside track for the end times.  Those that do not believe Almost-arrested Thiel are going to be in for a huge shock.

Almost-ordained Elijah Thiel claims that he and he alone knows what exactly will be happening as the tribulation swiftly approaches and that those in all the other COG's will be heading directly into the tribulation because they are ignorant of the signs of the end times.  Of course and as usual, Almost-ordained Thiel claims his group is the ONLY Philadelphian Church of God out there in COGlet land and that ALL the others are deceived and Laodicean.

Many fail to realize that the Bible teaches that Jesus will protect ONLY the Philadelphians from the ‘hour of trial’ (Revelation 3:7-10; 12:14-16), the rest of the Christians will go through the Great Tribulation and Day of The Lord (Revelation 12:17), and the place the Philadelphians are protected is in the wilderness (Revelation 12:14-16). Heaven is not a wilderness and Christians are not going to be there during the Great Tribulation as the rapturists teach.

Yet, because they have teachings against certain biblically revealed prophetic matters, those in the Sardis and Laodicean Church of God groups will not possibly known when to flee prior to the start of the Great Tribulation unless they repent according to what Jesus taught about them (Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22). Thus, most saints will be left behind. But you, if you are willing to believe what the Bible teaches and live accordingly, do not have to be left behind yourself.

There you go, follow Almost-arrested Thiel and you will NOT be left behind!