PCG Dennis Leap: "Who can and will properly explain Bible prophecy to you?"

 

One of the stranger men in charge at the Philadelphia Church of God cult compound in Edmond Oklahoma is Dennis Leap. He used to write a lot for the PCG propaganda magazines but has somehow made fewer and fewer appearances.

He is back once again with an article about Daniel 12:3 and the potential for PCG members to be shining as bright as the stars of heaven because of their worthiness and ability to remain true to the one true prophet of God and his teachings.

As usual in the PCG and COG's as a whole, church members are encouraged to emulate Old Testament heroes and sayings. Seldom are they asked to follow Christ or do anything he says. It's too inconvenient to be a Christ-follower and much more easy to be a law keeper, at least in their eyes.

Dennis asks:  

We need to be honest with ourselves. Are we living by Daniel 12:3?

He claims PCG members must be wise and diligent as they prepare for the rapidly approaching end times and their trip to Petra. PCG members must constantly be doing something in order to impress their god and their dear leader. 

Word came out at the Feast this year that they are excitedly awaiting that phone call to flee. 

To help us respond quickly and urgently to Daniel 12:3, God ensured that two action steps were coupled with the two poetic images. Notice the first part: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ….” The English word wise in the Hebrew is sakal and can mean to act, be, or make wise. To fully comprehend what God wants us to understand here requires all three of these definitions. It is also important to recognize the context of Daniel 12.

Verse 1 tells us it is the time period just before God’s people must flee to a place of safety—your people shall be delivered. That time period is rapidly approaching. Now is the time that God’s people must work diligently to become more wise and to act on that wisdom. Time is short. Jesus Christ’s return is imminent. How do we get such wisdom? Christ has shown us the way and provided the means to obtain it. 

In these wild end times and the intense persecution being dished out upon the church by Satan and the world around them, PCG members need to be attuned to the one true prophet of god in their midst. Many false prophets (like Bob Thiel and Dave Pack) have rised up in the church deliberately used by Satan to deceive PCG members. Only Gerald Flurry has the truth and the true interpretation of scripture. 

Who can and will properly explain Bible prophecy to you? Jesus Christ warned that many false prophets would arise just before His Second Coming (Matthew 24:24), so we must beware of what men we listen to and follow. “God wants His prophecies understood, so He reveals that understanding through His faithful servants. ‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets’ (Amos 3:7),” wrote Royal Vision editor in chief Gerald Flurry in his May-June 2020 Trumpet personal, “Prophecy Is Proof of God.” This personal is a must-read to understand the connection between Bible prophecy and world events! If you have not subscribed to the Philadelphia Trumpet newsmagazine, now is the time to do so. This magazine consistently and expertly brings Bible prophecy to light!

Realize, there are many church denominations in existence today that call themselves Christian. But how much of their religion is Bible-based? One of the largest denominations does not view the Bible as the sole source of its doctrine. Its members are not typically Bible readers. Prophecy is not a line item in its religious instruction. Regrettably, many other denominations follow that example. Jesus Christ said that His one true Church would be a small and persecuted flock (Luke 12:32; John 15:20). So we should not be fooled by religious groups with large members. You need to prove where Christ’s Church is today so that you are taught properly about God’s prophecies. A truly wise Christian is a student of prophecy and watches carefully, noting prophecies as they unfold. How wise are we?

The Philadelphia Church of God is on a mission to "turn people to righteousness."  Considering how morally bankrupt they are as a church they have a hard mission ahead of them. But, that is of no concern because money is. PCG members become active in "turning people to righteousness" by giving money to the church so it can support its ministers in spreading its message. Of course, like all COG's out there, there has to be one prophet in charge who has a direct channel to God who regularly dumps prophetic nonsense into their empty minds.

How do Church members turn many to righteousness today? By supporting the work of the Church. This work involves getting God’s warning message out to this sin-sick world. God has trained ministers to teach the members and help prepare them for their future. But God’s chosen apostle and, to a lesser extent, his evangelists also speak out God’s message to this world, primarily as a warning. These faithful men still cannot do it alone. It is the encouragement, daily prayers, offerings and tithes of God’s faithful members supporting God’s Work that greatly helps hasten righteousness today. God also uses that warning message to call new members into His Church so the work of the Church can continually expand. Again, what an opportunity!

What new members is Leap talking about?  PCG has been declining in membership for years, as has all the other Churches of God. 

This world’s immediate future will be full of some black days and nightmarish calamities. The vast majority of humanity will be caught off guard and shocked mentally and emotionally. At Christ’s return, many will be depressed and hopeless. But that is where God’s resurrected and changed saints come on the scene. We will be as brilliant as the clearest blue sky and shine like the stars forever and ever. Let’s take these poetic images—our hope—and use them to prepare for the future God has prepared for us. Our final brilliance depends on what we do today!

The world has certainly seen some dark times recently. Wars and rumors of wars abound. Famine, pestilence, fires, earthquakes, all make the news gatherers in the COG's go into orgasmic fits as they claim these are sure signs of the end.  the problem we all have with this is that we have lived through eight decades of these self-appointed liars spouting one false prophecy after another. They lie and lie and lie without any sense of guilt or embarrassment. 

What does embarrass them all is that if they actually followed the teachings of Jesus they would not need to sit around worrying day in and day out about how awful things are as they need to see things. There is a reason Jesus said that with him  the yoke is easy and the burden is light.

Matthew 11:28 - 30

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. 

I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

October 19, 2020 - The Day of Christ!

 

Woo Hoo!  Dave Pack's creature he calls "christ" will be returning on October 19, the last day of Tishri! I could not have asked for a better birthday present! What a birthday this will be! Imagine eating birthday cake with Jesus Christ!

In spite of Dave's recent spate of failed prophesies with the non-appearance of his creature he calls "christ" appearing at his cult compound in Wadsworth, Dave is still sticking to his October 18/19 date for the return of his creature. Apparently, this creature cannot decide which side of the international dateline to return on, so he may come on the 18th or 19th. Such hard decisions for "christ" to figure out.

Feast of Tabernacles Observations This Year: "A sobering realization fell upon the whole crowd for one long deafening embarrassing moment"

 

Every year, the members are inevitably asked to give a show of hands on how many feasts they have attended. This year, it was even asked what generation folks were. My, how the pride oozes from each raised hand. People who have attended 60 feasts. Impressive. And here is a child that is 5th generation. Wow. But here is the most important statistic from the whole feast. It was the first time I have seen this happen in 3 decades. I was at a very large feast site. The question was asked, "How many are here observing your very first Feast of Tabernacles?" Not a single hand was raised. You could have heard a pin drop. A sobering realization fell upon the whole crowd for one long deafening embarrassing moment. The minister moved on, wishing he had never asked. We all knew in that moment...the church of God is dead.

Dave Pack: "Remember, most of Nostradamus’ prophecies failed. And again, this could not occur with a prophet of God."

 

From a reader:

I know that this year's Feast in RCG has gotten a lot of press on this blog (due to all the leaked sermons) as it should. If anything, it highlights how crazy the prophetic teachings (and other teachings) are in RCG, so that's a good thing. Perhaps it can stimulate some of those who are there to wake up to the insanity.

However, for those who don't know, this is the same exact thing that happened last year. There were multiple streamed/distributed messages from the "Pastor General" all covering Christ's supposed return by the end of the Feast. This is literally a repeat of what happened last year. When Christ failed to materialized on the LGD, then Dave proclaimed he would come throughout November. With a new date Every...Single...Saturday... Then when that didn't happen, he claimed Christ would come in the Christmas season and on and on. So we are still going here. It is insane but honestly not a lot more insane than last year. We all bought it up to a point but hey, there is no better time to leave...it's just so obviously wrong.

In order to stay with Dave's group, you either need to be a hireling or invent a new portion of HWA's theology to allow for false prophecies. From talking to members there, it is clear there is a mix of both.

Perhaps after the Feast, the membership could review the following RCG article. I will provide a few helpful quotes for those who don't want to read it.

Did God Send Nostradamus?

"These events clearly did not happen. Based on number and size of failures, Nostradamus is a particularly poor prophet. Among false prophets, he falls into extra false.

Now ask: Could the God of the Bible inspire prophecies that did not come to pass? What about even one? No. If so, He becomes a liar. Read what He says: “...I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isa. 46:9-10).

Only God can declare the future. And Hebrews 6:18 says it is impossible for Him to lie. His Word is certain. What He foretells—God does not predict—will come to pass. Even one failed prophecy means one was not sent by God."

"Remember, most of Nostradamus’ prophecies failed. And again, this could not occur with a prophet of God. Let’s see: “We [Christians] have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place...” (II Pet. 1:19). God’s prophecies are sure. They never miss. Not one! And they do shed light in dark places.

Here is God’s command regarding prophets: “And if you [ask] in your heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? [God’s answer] When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him” (Deut. 18:21-22). This states that men can presume to speak for God. This is very serious to God. It should also be serious to you. You must know if God sent a man—or if the man sent himself." 

The Story of Dave Pack and the Restored Church of God Just Gets Sadder and Sadder

Gary has asked me to listen to Dave Pack's last sermon of the Feast because he is out having fun at the beach.  I will find a way to return the favor.  

If Dave was to build you a house the same way he wanders around the Bible seeking to make himself correct on this issue of Jesus returning on the last day of the Feast and then, oops, that didn't happen, so now it's the Last Great Day....oops again,  your windows would be firmly set in the crawl space, your walls would be made of roofing and the kitchen would be on the roof with the toilet where the stove should be. 

Dave is a foolish shepherd and master in all the wrong ways of making scriptures mean what they never meant and putting them together in ways that were never intended, ever.  He sees what is not there and hears the voices of scripture that weren't really talking to him. 

Since the entire mess cannot be posted due to be copyright protected , let me summarize the issue.

Dave is/was convinced that Jesus was going to return on the last day of the Feast this year, which was Friday last. That did not happen.  Then , with meandering and cobbling of scripture, Dave got it to mean on the Last Great Day. That did not happen as that was yesterday, Saturday.  Bummer but predictable of course.  Now the round Earth where all the brethren, some still in services and some on the way home troubles him and his scenarios.  

But, with sleep and having passed deadlines....

"I went to bed last night absolutely knowing nothing was going to happen....suddenly all these verses lined up for late in the day (End of last great day instead)  

Dave plays the same game of "Why would God reveal the time when it wasn't the time?" ....

"Would God suspend the watch for a whole year?  .....watch watch watch...suspended...I don't believe that at all"  

"For all I know, Christ could come during the afternoon service. And I just thought that incase that happened, ...it doesn't mean we're late at all."

Then Dave struggles with reality....

 "I know that if Christ does not come this year, they would be crushed"

"They could say my Lord delays his coming"  

"Maybe they could rightly say humanly speaking..."

"The mockers and scoffers would sorta be right"

"Our enemies would hear ....and unnecessary  reproach would come on the church with me saying things too early or God saying things too early." (NOTE:  It would actually be necessary reproach)

So fear not!  Dave cannot yet let this failure go yet.  I imagine he is having a bad Sunday today, But a few tweeks are in order.

"So back to the dynamic learning process I go through I wanted to share them with you"

A few simple thoughts...I could give you 30 points....

"I absolutely believe Jesus Christ will return today...."

"Those are points that suggest we are right on track'

"This may go longer than we think. Even longer than Mr. Pack thought"  Speaking of himself

'Well I'm anticipating him  today and I have a general idea of the hour"

But still....

"We have to roll with things..."

But some things are sure! And I'm pretty sure Dave will come up with some reason He had to be back in Wadsworth for Jesus to come to his Temple at Wadsworth in the next week.  

"October 18th, 19th is the the day of Christ." 

Are we talking Sunday night, Monday night?  I don't know..."

But Dave is still sure...

It's over...the days of my voice now echo away...  I could be wrong,...watch...I doubt it. You'll know in a few hours anyway..."  

And now we do. 

I have known Dave both in college and from 1973 on in the ministry. I have pastored around him and my parents both babysat his children and my Dad spent hours in the car with him visiting.  He is very competitive both in sports and in ministry always having done the most, pastored the most, known the most, baptized the most raised up the most churches blah blah. I have seen him redraw church boundaries such that he could have more people attend his church than the ones next door. 

Dave Pack is no theologian. He's not really intelligent or if he is or could be, his gross misunderstanding and self centered view of the Bible erodes it. Dave Pack is not a credible source for anything either Biblical or scientific. 

I feel for those who have to sit during his Feast and listen to his drivel. Yet they do so by their own choice. Sometimes I feel sorry for Dave, but then again, he should know better but doesn't or won't. Ignorance is not just what you don't know, it is also what you won't know.  And ignore-ance is what one ignores. Dave ignores a lot and seems to learn NOTHING from his numerous mistaken views of scripture. 

I don't personally believe any of this will end well for Dave or those who put their trust in him as Shepherd. It's pretty much going to be a mess in time. 

Dave may not get out of this without a great falling away from his Post Feast Church. Of course, it will all be predicted in scripture and "WE never fully understood, but I do now, what God is so obviously doing, So get back here, let me rock and gyrate you in your seats over the next year and send it in....."

"