New Book: The God Followers by Rand Zacharias

Here's what happens when you try to literally live 

by a human interpretation of the words from the Bible. 

Here is another book that has been written about life in Armstrongism.  The God Followers by Rand Zacharias 

 Imagine trying to grow up and do everything right. You're six years old and you know that Jesus is coming back...soon...and the world the way you know it will all change into a perfect world, an Utopian dream, a world tomorrow.

Rand Zacharias weaves an eerily humorous autobiographical tale of very creatively-enhanced non-fiction (with a little fiction added for a twist).

His story begins graduating from a world-renowned institution of excellence. He's graduated from the cult's unique learning institution--Ambassador College. Zacharias moves back in time and tells the genesis of their capture involving his loving father, who brought the family for the ride after a fiery explosion during the winter of love--1969.

Did Zacharias find the narrow path that leads to God? You'll find out.

Amazon has this blurb:

The God Followers is the autobiographical trauma-dy, tragic comedy, of growing up in a cult after Rand's father is caught in a fiery explosion. This real life account may make you question the inner workings of any organized religion--while taking you through the challenges of living in a manner of a literal interpretation of that ancient text--the Bible.

In paper back form it is here on Amazon where you can also read a small excerpt:  The God Followers

By eBook, Kindle, and other formats it is here:      The God Followers and here eBook

Follow Rand on his blog:  Randillusions

New Book: Genocide Revealed by Aleksandar Veljic

There is a new book that has been published by a former COG member Aleksandar Veljic.  It is about the massacre of Serbs, Jews and gypsies by Hungary during WWII.   Genocide Revealed: New Light on the Massacre of Serbs and Jews under Hungarian Occupation    Amazon has this review from Wade Frannson who is soon to publish his own book about life in Armstrongism - The People of the Sign.

Aleksandar Veljic has spent seven years doing primary research on events that were covered up 70 years ago. The list of accomplices is long and is not limited to Europeans. In the wake of WWII Miklos Horthy was given an unprecedented get-out-of-jail free card, as stated by the Wikipedia article on Horthy "But American trial officials declined to present charges against Horthy, a kindness that may have been the result of the influence in Washington of Horthy's admirer, the former ambassador John Montgomery." In other words, if we recall the geopolitical context - Horthy's strong anti-communist record was enough for the U.S. and others to turn a blind eye to his overt support of racist facists like Hitler, and the genocidal activities he endorsed and supported in regions under his control.

While under arrest, he made appearances at trials in which he helped convict others, but during which he was never required to testify. After his release from the Nuremberg prison, in December 1945, Horthy was supported by John Montgomery, Pope Pius XII and others. He could also count on admirers such as Joseph Stalin to plead for mercy on his behalf.

I would not have been aware of any of this if it weren't for the work of Aleksandar Veljic. In recent months the BBC has picked up on his work, Serbian news media and agencies are getting involved, and respected members of various Holocaust Societies in Israel and elsewhere are highlighting the importance of this book.

One thing is for sure, Veljic's work is important and explosive enough to stir up interest in atrocities that have been buried for too long. It's not just that the victims' blood cries out, it's that Horthy's reputation has been laundered, that his memoirs have been published in several languages, and that statues of Horthy are on display in his honor, and that schoolchildren in Hungary and elsewhere are reading stories about his role as a heroic leader, with no idea that in other ways he was a very evil man.

The facts, for example, that he was the first anti-Semitic European Leader, and that he had close ties to Hitler, who admired him during Hitler's own ascent to power, need to be surfaced, examined, and judged. Not to mention his record of endorsing genocidal atrocities.

This book is destined to cause a re-examination of those facts.

Congratulations to Aleksandar Veljic for his diligence and fortitude, in the face of opposition, with no resources and very, very little official support, on having created a work of original history that is destined to be cited in every subsequent work on this and related subjects, of which we can be sure there will be many.

Wade Fransson
Managing Partner
Something Or Other Publishing, LLC

Is Dave Pack Ready To "Squeal Like A Stuck Pig?"

The small group of apostate church jumpers at Restored Church of God have this little blurb up today about Dave Pack ridiculing Ron Weinland and his idiotic May 27th prophecy:

New Open Letter Addressing Ronald Weinland’s Prophecies

Mr. Pack has written an extensive Open Letter to followers of the Church of God – PKG. It is titled “Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!”

Over recent years, Ronald Weinland fell into ridiculous teachings on many topics, but especially his framework of prophecy. He has announced a series of failed predictions. He is most noted for predicting that Jesus Christ will return on May 27, 2012.

Opening with a more than cursory overview of the truth of prophecy, including some brief statements from Mr. Armstrong, this article goes on to identify and refute Weinland’s bizarre, totally unscriptural prophetic scenario. Addressing a number of topics in a way you have not seen, it is a tool to help misled followers untangle themselves from a web of error and delusion.

Apostle Pack says:

 Some time before (referring to Harold Camping), a lesser known “prophet,” Ronald Weinland (of the Church of God – PKG), had spun his own theory about how Christ would return on May 27, 2012. He began pushing in earnest his end-time scenario—through extensive ad campaigns much like Harold Camping—five and a half years earlier in late 2006, in belief that the Great Tribulation would begin on December 14, 2008. (Also paralleling Harold Camping, Ron Weinland has had to recompute events and dates because of failed prophecies.)

Dave does not recognize the fact that Herbert W Armstrong had hundreds of failed prophecies. Gerald Waterhouse had hundreds of them, Dean Blackwell had his share, John Rittenbaugh has his embarrassing failures.  The list could go on and on.

The most magnanimous Apostle to ever walk the face of the earth has this to say:

True ministers of God strive to never attack other human beings. They are for the truth rather than against people—and there is a big difference. Therefore, I have determined to actively resist and teach against any false doctrines that are deceiving people among the splinters. However, this subject presents a unique problem with this policy.

Dave then goes on to say this:

When a leader teaches a false concept or doctrine, it rarely has anything to do with himself. Generally, the heresy can be clearly singled out and countered without having to necessarily address the man who teaches it. 

This is going to come back and  bite Dave in the ass big time!   RCG is all about DAVE!  It's all about HIMSELF!  Hersey in the Restored Church of God is centered squarely in Dave Pack's shoulders!

Dave goes on to say this about prophets, which of course does not apply to him:

The Bible says prophets fall into one of two categories—true or false. All prophets—past, present or future—are one or the other. They cannot be both, and they cannot be in-between. Within the category of false prophets are two types: Those who claim to be a prophet, but falsely foretell events, not being inspired by the true God—and those who do not necessarily claim to be a prophet, but who teach falsely about prophecy—and for that matter any other aspect of God’s Word. The latter would include false teachers and false ministers. Like false prophets, false teachers assert they are vested with God’s authority. Rather than falsely prophesying future events, they teach false doctrines supposedly from the Bible. Therefore, Jesus’ warnings about false prophets also apply to false teachers, who work in the same way.

Ronald Weinland is a complete fraud, and one who is breathtakingly ignorant of even the most rudimentary elements of prophecy—of events that should be impossible to misunderstand. He is utterly wrong—and in his case spectacularly so, and on virtually every point! The Bible does not validate any of his prophetic ideas. You are about to see this.

We can rightly says:

 Dave Pack is a complete fraud, and one who is breathtakingly ignorant of even the most rudimentary elements of prophecy—of events that should be impossible to misunderstand. He is utterly wrong—and in his case spectacularly so, and on virtually every point! The Bible does not validate any of his prophetic ideas. You are about to see this.

Dave says:

Tragically, most who read Bible prophecy remain in near total ignorance of its size and scope. They are completely unable to recognize the speed, sequence and timing of its prophecies. And this is on top of not truly comprehending what any of them means! So many just cannot untangle the maze of what happens when, as well as where and to whom—and WHY!

 Then says this  about his prophecies.  He knows EXACTLY how they will all come about:

The interested reader will want to view my 2-part World to Come broadcast series titled “26 Prophetic Events in Exact Sequence Before Christ’s Return!” It reveals in detail all that lies ahead.)

Dave then goes into a look screed about the specific things that will happen in a specific order.  Just typical Armstrongite prophecy silliness.

 Dave does write some good things in his letter that are spot on about Weinland.

...seeing through Ron Weinland should be a snap. Incredibly, he has managed to get almost nothing right—NOTHING! It has been said that even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut. Not Weinland! He seems unable to get anything right, even accidentally. Again, if Elijah mocked the ancient prophets of Baal, I can mock a modern one.

Pack has this to say about lying false prophets.

A final word of caution: When their silliness is exposed for what it is, false prophets usually squeal like stuck hogs in protest. With his “credibility” now at stake, I realize this article might cause Ron Weinland to smear my credibility. He virtually has to. But at best his words will only carry “weight” until May 28 when his prophecy fails. The even barely discerning person will realize Weinland cannot use God’s Word in any intelligible fashion to do this.

I can see that very soon we will see Dave squealing like a stuck pig because of his lies.

Beware all you splinter cult leaders, Dave has his sight set on you next!  God's most powerful Apostle over the largest web based minister on earth today is coming after you!

I will address more splinter leaders in the future—and in detail. This includes certain other deceivers within these groups.

Dave's letter is long and boring, filled with typical Armstrongite theological stances with a Dave spin added to them.  Read it at your leisure because it is all fantasy:  Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!