LCG Roger Meyer: "Skeptics retort that wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes have taken place since long before the time of Christ..."

Roger Meyer, from Living Church of God, has a small entry on the Tomorrow's World site on the end times:

Jesus Christ gave a prophecy in answer to His disciples’ question about when the end of the age would arrive. He described various worldwide calamities, including wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Revealing that “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4–8), He went on to describe other events that will take place before the end of the age.

Skeptics retort that wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes have taken place since long before the time of Christ, and indeed, history shows that these things have occurred for millennia. One can go online and find lists of armed conflicts, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, and such catastrophes continue to plague us today.

What about famines? Currently, African nations such as Zimbabwe, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing severe food shortages. These countries have declared national emergencies in response to huge swarms of locusts, which are devastating crops in the horn of Africa and threatening their food supply. Pakistan has also declared a national emergency due to the locust infestation. These nations know they are facing genuine “food insecurity,” a modern term equivalent to the general meaning of “famine.” But millions more around the world are already undernourished.

Pestilences? We’ve seen many pestilences besides the current COVID-19. Ongoing pestilences include various iterations of influenza, SARS, Zika, Ebola, and AIDS, along with older pestilences (many of which continue to infect people today) include cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, Marburg virus, and the infamous Bubonic Plague.

Meanwhile, earthquakes happen daily. Most are very minor, but these have been interspersed with quakes of significant magnitude that cause immense destruction to property and end thousands of lives every year.

But none of this is in conflict with Jesus’ answer to His disciples’ question. Jesus described these disasters as taking place until the end of the age, which comes after an even more significant event: the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the world, as a witness to all the nations (Matthew 24:14).

Now, many might think that Christianity has already spent centuries preaching the Gospel to all nations. But if that were so, wouldn’t the end of the age have come—as Christ said it would? Since the end hasn’t come yet, might we conclude that the preaching of the Gospel to the whole world as a witness must not have yet been accomplished?

Consider that Christ’s first statement to His disciples was a warning to “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). He further warned that those deceiving many would preach about Jesus Christ and claim to be Christians (v. 5). Perhaps the “Gospel” being preached by mainstream “Christianity” is not the true Gospel of the Kingdom—and if it isn’t, it does not fulfill Jesus’ statement.

The so-called gospel of many of the present-day COG leaders is nothing more than self-aggrandizing drivel that is devoid of any New Covenant teaching and most certainly devoid of anything to do with what Jesus accomplished.

Considering that every single prophecy uttered by Herbert Armstrong and Rod Meredith has failed, should not LCG members and COG members realize they have been deceived?  Scripture says they were and still are. They love to conveniently forget that scripture plainly states that if just ONE prophecy fails then the self-appointed prophet is a false prophet.

And if that is truly the case, then maybe the time has come to find out what does…

Splinter self-appointed leaders have long proclaimed they and they alone have the "good news" and boldly preach it to the world.  Yet, none of them do and all end up being abusive controlling failures who blame their followers for the failure of their end times to arrive in blood-shedding glory.

Gerald Weston Delivers Another Uplifting Message To The Faithful

Various Churches of God are over-stimulated right now with all the different news stories going on in the United States and the world. From COVID-19,  locusts, mayflies, riots, people on lockdown around the world, and many more events, COG leaders see world unraveling before their eyes. They see prophecy coming alive in their time, even though every single prediction they all made in the past as been 100% wrong. This time it will be different!  They will be vindicated!

Gerald Weston, continues the Living Church of God tradition of dwelling on all the wrong going on the world as proof they are right. LCG has always loved giving encouraging messages to the faithful.

Apparently, Satan and God are both ticked off at the world.

Greetings from Charlotte,

How swiftly a nation can be brought down! The whole world is aware of what happened in Minneapolis a little over a week ago. We see a house divided and we know what Jesus said about that. We must remember that we in the Church are, above all else, followers of Christ and brothers and sisters begotten of the same Spirit. Rather than saying any more on this subject at this time, I have written a letter to all members addressing the bigger picture.   

We are not even halfway through 2020 and the world is reeling from one blow after another. COVID-19 has killed hundreds of thousands and destroyed economies around the world. Riots are tearing apart city after city in the United States. Desert locusts continue to eat their way across East Africa, the Middle East, and into Pakistan and India, threatening apocalyptic starvation. Who knows what else “the prince of the power of the air” will throw at us.   

Opening in-person services is going slowly, as many halls are not yet open for our use, and where they are open, there are restrictions limiting occupancy to 25 or 50 percent of capacity, and many halls are not large enough for social distancing at any percent. I encourage our ministry to think creatively, but prudently, not jeopardizing safety. And if members have ideas or suggestions, please work through your local minister.—Gerald Weston 

"...so please do yourself a favor and stop trying to break up the church! "

This was a comment just left on the Lily White Church of God Leadership post. 

Your thoughts?

Unknown said...

I am a black man, did any one notice God tells us in the Bible who his chosen people are, oh did I mention my name? Well it’s William f Butler, I was baptized in 1981, we know that what Jacob who’s name God Changed to Israel blessed his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, one would be a League of Nations, England, one a great Nation America, they are the only people that fit the description! Controlling the enemies sea gates And having the best farmlands which means having the most food, I go to living and have never been treated unfairly, Please show me in the Bible where the Other nations were in charge in the Church, how many of Jesus disciples were Black, Noticed how many nationalities in living! Because each has that same minister’s leading them, so you need to stop trying tear us apart God places in His Church whom He wants to, so please do yourself a favor and stop trying to break up the church! The Israelites are in Charge of Most of this earth in one way or another, God bless America,

June 11, 2020 at 4:51 PM

James Malm has died

James Malm, of the Shining Light blog, has died.  His son David posted this:

Hello Dear readers with a very heavy heart, I tell  you I found my father and best friend James Malm passed away this morning, James for those who don’t know had been struggling with diabetes, High blood pressure, And failing  eyesight for years. He was trying very hard to get better eating less and trying to control his BP      he wanted to see me happy one day in the refuge I just cannot believe this nightmare im in, he cared for me so much and tirelessly tried to warn the church of the state of pure idolatry that its in today. My father James had a vision once in a hotel room his troubles almost overwhelming and an angel said to him [ This is the time my son this is the time be strong and persevere ] Well this is still the time! his struggle may be over but he fought like a soldier for me and for all of you and I pray for him this beloved teacher and mentor my good friend and teacher in the faith who did persevere and was strong! The Shining Light

GCI: Lamenting Racism and Loving Your Neighbor

Grace Communion International has the following up in regards to the recent horrific deaths and racial tensions. Not many of the COGs out there are publicly expressing grief or sorrow as to what is happening in the United States right now.  Instead, they spend their time spitting and snarling about everything being a sure sign the end is near.  None of them feel inclined to get off their self-righteous pedestals and do something constructive during this time. We certainly do not see them loving their neighbors when they cannot even love their own members.

In our monthly GCI Prayer Guide for June 2020, we begin with these thoughts – “Togetherness is a theme throughout Jesus’ teachings. Through corporate prayer, we draw closer to one another, reconciling differences, focusing on the same events and opportunities…”

The US has once again been rocked by the horrific incident of excessive force by police that led to the tragic death of George Floyd and resulting in protests turned destructive in more than 30 US cities.

The US is not the only nation where injustice and outrage are a cyclical pattern. It is emblematic of human history and human nature. It is regrettable that we face this unrelenting pattern time and time again as humans treat fellow humans in unspeakable ways.

Considering the recent events, I am asking our church family to lament together for the tragic loss of George Floyd’s life and the deep-felt pain by his family and the African-American community.

Please pray for our cities even as government officials make reasonable appeals and attempts to restore peace for safe assemblies. And may restored peace bring about meaningful dialogue to properly address grievances and bring about positive change.

It is through these opportunities of corporate prayer that we as the GCI family draw closer together, and our hearts are broken for our broken world. I am proud that our fellowship is multi-racial, and we are empowered by the unifying Holy Spirit to display Christian brotherhood and sisterhood in ways that glorify Jesus. In our united prayers we seek reconciliation for our cities and citizens that can be accomplished only by the work of the Great Reconciler.

“Lord may the hate and rage of our world be replaced by the love and goodwill that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. And as we journey together through this fallen world, make us instruments of your peace. Amen.”

Greg Williams
President Grace Communion International

P.S. As members of the National Association of Evangelicals we stand in solidarity of their statement:

Recent events surrounding the wrongful deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and George Floyd in Minnesota illustrate severe racial injustices in the United States. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) laments the recurring trauma experienced by African Americans. We condemn racism and the violent abuse of power, call for justice for victims and their families, and exhort churches to combat attitudes and systems that perpetuate racism. We are grateful for law enforcement officers who honorably serve and protect our communities and urge our members to uphold them in prayer. (NAE)