In his message to the faithful as they head out to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, Doug reminded everyone to remember prophecy and that LCG has the "more sure word of prophecy."
All of this "more sure word of prophecy" announcements by various splinter groups of the mother church (Worldwide Church of God) leaves one to wonder just who has it? How can Living Church of God have it when Bob Theil claims he has it? How can Bob have it when Dave Pack claims he does? How can Dave and the rest of the guys have it when Gerad Flurry has it? Of course, this leaves UCG and COGWA as the most perfect purveyors of prophecy out there since they claim to have the "most sure word" too.
Given the fact that every single one of them has been epic failures in prophecy, why oh why would anyone care what they have to say?
Also, Winnail reminds us of the awesome and SERIOUS responsibility that Gerald Weston and the LCG has as being the true watchmen. How many times have we heard splinter leaders claim that they and they alone were the true watchmen? Isn't Bob Thiel the true watchman? Or, was it Dave Pack. It is all so confusing.
All of this prediction addiction leads us to one clear understanding. And that is... Oh, wait! Prediction addiction is a tool of Satan to misguide sincere people in the COG into not believing the prophetic junk of the leadership. That Satan sure is a wily guy! Always looking for some way to discredit COG leaders. Who would have thought?????? The only thing we have all noticed is that all of the COG leaders have done a pretty good job in discrediting themselves by the stupidity they say. They don't need Satan's help.
Pay Attention to Prophecy: Jesus told His disciples to stay alert and watch for the fulfillment of specific prophecies that will mark the approaching end of this age (Matthew 24:3, 42–44). He also warned in the parable of the foolish virgins that many will be caught napping and unprepared by the surge of events preceding the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (Matthew 25:1–13). It is amazing and sobering how God has given His Church a “more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV) so we can warn the nations of Israel and this world about the prophetic significance of current and impending world events. We also need to realize that it is a serious and awesome responsibility to be a watchman (Ezekiel 3 and 33). However, it is instructive to notice how Satan has used misguided individuals to ridicule the Church’s understanding of prophecy by accusing members of suffering from “prediction addiction” or believing in fairy tales about the future. As we see world events building to a prophetic crescendo, let’s make sure that we are building a closer relationship with God and that we are learning to really live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4) so we are prepared for the dramatic events ahead of us.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail