David C Pack: Will The Great COG Reunification Happen On April 1?

Dave writes:

The next four dates are all mentioned in Haggai, and are according to the civil Persian calendar based on Darius’ reign. The reader will have to recall all that has been explained about the crucial meanings of each of these dates. For now, we are merely clarifying when they would be in our calendar—the general time of year that God had in mind.

Haggai 1:1 records the third overall date—the first day of the sixth month. This would be early March our time.

The fourth date is in Haggai 1:15—the 24^th day of the sixth month. It describes the people coming to work in God’s House. Again, this would be about April 1 in our calendar.

The fifth date is in Haggai 2:1—the 21^st day of the seventh month—and would be late in April. We originally thought this was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, but it would be more like right after Passover.

The sixth date is in Haggai 2:10—the 24^th day of the ninth month—and continues through Haggai 2. This would be the equivalent of late July.

How convenient.  The great reunification is an April Fool's joke!

David C Pack: The Great Church of God Reunification Will Happen Pre-Passover

David C Pack:  I was such a stupid idiot to assume the date was late summer/early fall.

The Jews began building Zerubbabel’s Temple one-and-a-half years into Darius’ reign, in the spring of 519 BC on the 24^th day of the sixth month—about April 1 in our calendar. Further proof is that EVERY biblical and historical source states that it took four years to build this Temple. No one disputes this. ALL these sources recognize that the work of building was completed in early March 515 BC—or what would be five-and-a-half years into Darius’ reign. This is important. Notice what the book of Ezra records: “The elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it [the temple], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king” (6:14-15). The third of Adar would generally correspond with our early March.

This means the temple in Haggai 1:1 is referencing an event in the spring of the year, not late summer or fall. This is the FIRST proof that the prophecy applies to the spring, not the fall. This does not mean we know the exact timing of the prophecy’s fulfillment—either the exact day (or the year) in the spring. But there are THREE more powerful proofs/indicators that the prophecy is fulfilled in the spring not the fall. These immediately “sprang out of the woodwork” the moment we realized the season that God had in mind to fulfill Haggai—PRE-PASSOVER.

David C Pack: I was Wrong Because I Used The The Damned Persian Calendar

Unable to admit a mistake, Dave resorts to blaming everyone else but himself.  Besides, God used the Persian calendar to HIDE the truth.  It is all code!  Of course, you know who, can only crack that code.

Originally we took the “sixth month” to be the sixth month of God’s sacred calendar, which is Elul. This was wrong. Upon closer examination, it became clear that the reference to the “sixth month” is simply to the sixth month and second year of King Darius’ reign from when it started. This date is according to the civil, lunar Persian calendar! God did not once mention the sacred calendar through Haggai. He does in Zechariah—but not Haggai. He simply refers to the second year within Darius’ reign. PERIOD! I (we) assumed that what He states in Zechariah applied to Haggai. In retrospect, it is obvious that God used HIS calendar for Zechariah and the PERSIAN calendar in Haggai to keep the prophecy hidden in code—harder to be understood before its time to be revealed had come. We missed this. Anyone can read the two books and see that one contains dates of the month that apply to God’s calendar and one does not. We made a connection that did not exist.

A series of clues point to Haggai 1:1 being in the SPRING of the year, NOT the fall. Let’s see.
To find the second year of Darius’ reign, we must look at when his reign began. Historians agree that Darius’ reign began in late September-early October 521 BC. Many sources could be included that say this. For instance, the 11th Edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica (widely seen as the most reputable edition) records that Darius came to office in October, 521 BC—and probably on the 10^th of Tishri, or the Day of Atonement that year (October 10).

David C Pack Says The "Enemy's Of All Good" Are Accusing Him

Dave quotes HWA:

“Emphatically, if we—in our dedicated enthusiastic zeal to get God’s warning of the end of mankind’s world before this sick, sick world—do, even though we intend not to, appear to set a date, I feel I do not need to apologize! No one but the enemies of all good will accuse!”

Then goes on to say that he is begin persecuted by enemies for his August 31, lie:

There are plenty of “enemies of all good” accusing God’s Church today. I see them exactly as Mr. Armstrong did—as no more and no less.

“…Making a mistake is not any evidence at all that a man is not being used of God. But these men [speaking of Moses, Abraham, David, Elijah and Peter] corrected their mistakes! AND SO HAVE WE!..”
“The big point is—we have been getting the job done—and no one else on earth has!”

Mr. Armstrong’s words are as true for God’s Church now as they were in 1972! Despite misunderstanding one element of timing of the Haggai/Zechariah prophecy (to be clarified momentarily), God’s Work is today exploding in size!

David C. Pack: Because I am The ONLY Apostle Today, All Splinter Group Leaders Are Beneath Me in Rank

The rank of Apostle  (which I David C. Pack holds) 

is OVER the rank of Evangelist 

(which all the weaker, impotent COG leaders hold.)

David C. Pack, the chief narcissist is on a roll:

This unwillingness to admit error is occurring throughout the splinters today—while brethren are (falsely) told almost routinely that I teach error. Yet I teach exactly what Mr. Armstrong taught. Instead of returning to God’s Church, brethren remain in places where they are drenched in false teachings straight from the apostates who took them straight from the Protestants! But they will not come with us—God’s true Church—because they are being deceived by false leaders about what The Restored Church of God teaches—and about what Mr. Armstrong actually taught.

“Yet they are all human. They are all subject to error, and so are you—and so am I—and so is this Work of God. Even though it is God’s Work, directed, empowered and blessed by Him, He carries it on through frail, weak humans, and we humans are ALL of us subject to mistakes!’
“…Repent means confess your sins …”
“If I were looking for God’s one true Church, I would assuredly look for one that had confessed and corrected its errors! For all have had them—even the early churches…”
“Any criterion that assumes God’s true Work through humans is absolutely perfect, unable to be wrong or make mistakes or hold to any error, is a false measuring stick and will mislead you.
“You may ask, do I, then, feel that we in this Work are full of errors, misleading the people? Most emphatically NO! We have not had to correct error many times. But each time we have corrected an error, we have had one fewer error left. If we knew of any error still remaining, now, we would change it! If and when we find one in the future, we shall correct it! The one who follows that principle is the MOST free from error!”

I and The Restored Church of God do the same. Mr. Armstrong continues:

“So, confessing such an error is one of the surest proofs to identify the people through whom the living Christ is working—and whom He is using!
“If you are looking for a leader who claims that he is perfect, and you think you have found him, and he is human, he is a false leader. There is only the one Leader who is perfect today—and He is the living Christ! We follow Him—and we trust you, with us, will do the same.”

It is quotes like these from Mr. Armstrong that are often used out of context by splinter leaders who hold offices below the rank of apostle. They claim, “We can change (translate: overthrow) teachings of Mr. Armstrong because he admitted he got things wrong.” They cite Mr. Armstrong for authority to change what they absolutely have NO AUTHORITY to change!

David C Pack Admits He And The 16 Were Wrong But Really Wasn't

Dave has to use HWA's "spiritualizing" away the 1972 failure as the "start" of something bigger and more powerful.  Dave is doing the same thing. He now thinks bigger and greater things are ahead for his little cult:

I have been well aware for over 40 years in the ministry of Mr. Armstrong’s position on setting dates. But in the case of the Haggai prophecy, I and every minister at our Headquarters concluded that the prophecy came in a manner that was inseparable from timing—that timing was directly attached to it. Later you will see what part of this thinking was wrong. Mr. Armstrong continues, explaining that some venturing into matters of timing, chronology and setting dates is natural and almost unavoidable:

“But we are only human, and it is natural that we should have been curious to know, as far as possible, how much time we had to get the job done …
“That, however, in fact, is not our main purpose, or Commission—which is to proclaim Christ’s Announcement of the advance good news of the coming Kingdom of God to rule all nations…”
“Let me say now, that in early July last year (1971), I could not have said that had as yet been done. But, in the literal Scriptural meaning of that commission, as of January 7, 1972, it had been accomplished [reaching all nations]! Six months before we had not yet gotten the Message into Japan, nor into the Scandinavian countries. Now we have!”
“BUT—the unanswered question is—how intensively does God intend all these countries to be reached? That is the question He has not answered—in the Bible. (Unless by one implication of which I will cover later.) But, by what happened on that very day, January 7th, and since, it appears He has now given us the answer—He intends the nations to be reached more intensively than as of now!”

Does this now mean that Dave is going to double down on the COG's and do everything he can to poach members?

Dave then goes on to make another startling admission.  Is he about to start all over again?

We know in hindsight that the Work done under Mr. Armstrong was more intensive after 1972, but also that everything has to be done all over again (Rev. 10:11).

David C Pack Says He Is Just Like Herbert Armstrong and Cannot Escape The Attacks Against His Prophetic Failure

Dave is trying to use the epic failure of Herbert Armstrong's January 1972 prophetic failure as proof that his latest failed prophecy was not actually a failure because he is not a prophet.

Mr. Armstrong’s 1972 Tomorrow’s World Personal

All older brethren will remember when Mr. Armstrong wrote a long letter to the Church about an expected date that God’s Work would end, which did not come to pass in the way we thought (January 1972). As an Ambassador College student I was taught and believed that we were part of the last graduating class (June 1971). The year 1972 was thought by virtually everyone to be when the Work would end. I came to college in 1967 under the common belief that I/our class would not have time to get married or have children. Brethren for some time had stopped getting their teeth fixed or replacing bald tires on their cars because January 7, 1972 was “the end.” This thinking led to what would later be many stories that would be told and retold. Mr. Armstrong had also come to generally believe this timeframe.

In the February 1972 edition of Tomorrow’s World magazine, Mr. Armstrong addressed how Christians should view elements of prophetic timing. He wrote an article titled “The 19-Year Time Cycles – What HAPPENED January 7 – What My Commission IS!” He explained what it means when a date passes unfulfilled—in this case the timing of events that were directly connected to Christ’s Return. (Realize that the date of the remnant’s return is not nearly as important as when the Work is over and the Church is taken to safety—which the Church for years believed we could know absolutely.) Brethren who may be disillusioned or discouraged about the timing of the Haggai prophecy should find it helpful and encouraging to read Mr. Armstrong’s words. Due to the article’s length, I can only include excerpts. The serious reader will find and read the whole article.

 Dave then goes on to quote HWA's comments after his 1972 meltdown:

“Thousands know that I, personally, have been called and chosen for a very definite commission in God’s service. But I have definitely not been called to be a prophet—except as that word, Biblically used, does sometimes refer to a minister or speaker—one who proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 “Emphatically I am not a prophet, in the sense of one to whom God speaks specially and directly, revealing personally a future event to happen or new truth, or new and special instruction direct from God—separate from, and apart from what is contained in the Bible. And I never have claimed to be.

 “There is no such human prophet living today!”

“The Bible is the written Word of God—and, for our time now, it is complete! Never have I believed or claimed that God reveals to me new truths not contained in the Bible—in addition to, or apart from, the Bible.”

Dave now wants you to know that he is being mocked and ridiculed because of his August prophecy failure, just like HWA was mocked after 1972 never happened.  HWA then had to spin the failure  to the fact that he was NOT a prophet.  Dave is doing the same thing right now.

Mr. Armstrong understood and made clear to all that he was NOT a prophet. This recognition will momentarily become more important. I recognize the same of myself, and have said so several times. Mr. Armstrong never once claimed to be a prophet and neither have I. Yet thousands have accused him of being a false prophet. (Whole websites are dedicated to listing his supposed “failed prophecies.”) Thousands today in the splinters make the same accusation of him. I will hardly escape similar attacks.