Commercial Break: YES Lesson: "Incoming!"

 

"And I saw Satan fall as lightening from Heaven. He got all tangled up in the power lines before falling right into the Nave"

The story of Satan's Fall is an Astro theological explanation of the Planet Venus and the puzzling rise and fall it, as an inner planet, experiences in all it's pre-sunrise brilliance that puzzled the minds of those determined to explain it theologically. Back in the day, the stars were considered spirits. Venus has always been the "Lucifer" or "Light Bringer", i.e., the morning Sun. It was not generally realized that the planet Venus in the post sunset sky was the same thing. If it was, it was considered "The Morning Star" escorting Lucifer, the Lightbringer back to the darkness of the Underworld, i.e night.

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Planet-Venus-is-the-Light-Bringer-and-the-Story-Behind-the-Fall-of-Satan-in-Isaiah-14&id=238438

Incoming!

Leave it to an artist!

Holy Trinity Church, in Marylebone, Westminster, London, is a Grade I listed former Anglican church, built in 1828 and designed by John Soane. In 1818 Parliament passed an act setting aside one million pounds to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon. This is one of the so-called "Waterloo churches" that were built with the money. 

The first burial took place in the vault of the church in 1829, and the last was that of Sir Jonathan Wathen Waller in 1853.^[2]

By the 1930s, the use of the church had declined, and from 1936 it was used as a book warehouse by the newly founded Penguin Books. A children's slide was used to deliver books from the street into the large crypt. 

The Holy Trinity Church in Marylebone, Westminster, built specifically to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon, hasn’t been used as a place of worship since the 30’s, but that didn’t stop artist Paul Fryer from making a religious statement by hanging this terrifying statue of Satan inside.

The piece, titled “Lucifer (Morningstar)” is a wax sculpture depicting the devil snared in a set of power lines. The statue is equal parts grotesque and beautiful, showing Lucifer as an oily, black creature with immense white wings (created from real feathers). Even creepier in the fact that it’s lit via the church’s stained glass windows, an ironic juxtaposition that won’t be lost on many.

"Well, that didn't work..."

LCG: We Are Sighing And Crying For The Starving Children Around The World But Not Enough To Help Them

 

LCG sends each week The World Ahead Ministerial Publication with items they think are related to prophecy happening before their eyes.

This week they have two items:

Eroding American-European Relations: The relationship between the United States and Europe has been suffering, especially since 2016, and contrary to what many hoped, it has not improved with the arrival of a new American administration in 2021. As the U.S. continues to pivot toward Asia, it also pivots away from Europe (Politico, January 10, 2022). Actions like America’s unilateral withdrawal from Afghanistan and the creation of the AUKUS security pact among Australia, the UK, and the U.S. have kept Europe on the outside. 2022 will put increasing pressure on the transatlantic partnership, as will the added stresses generated by Russia and China. 

 

Many Europeans are worried about the tenuous nature of American democracy. According to the Pew Research Center, “a median of only 18 percent of the publics in nine European nations believes that American democracy is a good example for other countries to follow.” A concerned New York-based foreign policy expert recently noted, it is no longer the sick man in Europe people are talking about, “it’s America that is the sick man.” 

 

It should be no surprise to see the eroding relationship between Europe and America and the rapid decline in respect for the U.S. Bible prophecy has long foretold that as we approach the end of the age, the influence of and respect for the Israelite-descended nations (such as the U.S., Britain, several western European nations, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and others) will dramatically fall, as their allies turn against them (Jeremiah 4:30) and they become the “tail” instead of the head (Deuteronomy 28:42–44)—events that will happen very suddenly (Deuteronomy 28:20; Isaiah 30:13). To learn more about what lies ahead for these nations, be sure to read “Sudden Calamities Ahead!” 

No news here. News publications around the world know this, but let's take Bible verses and assign them to stories we think fit our doom and gloom scenario. It works every time! Many fall for it.

Hunger Producing Premature Babies in Afghanistan: Since the U.S. and coalition forces pulled out of Afghanistan and the Taliban regained control, hunger has dramatically increased in that nation (Wall Street Journal, January 28, 2022). Half the country’s population—about 20 million people—are facing conditions of acute hunger as the economy continues to collapse following the Taliban takeover and the Western sanctions that have followed. While Taliban officials blame drought from God for the famine, there are additional challenges. Relief efforts are complicated by the sanctions and the government’s lack of international recognition, and the Taliban has focused most of its resources toward military control rather than relief efforts. Food prices are soaring, and many must choose between food, fuel, or medicine. 

 

Extreme hunger has many consequences. Pregnant mothers are giving birth prematurely to babies with very low birth weights. “The Wardak provincial hospital’s director in Maidan Shahr, Muhammad Nadir Rahmani, said the hospital is seeing the birth weight of babies reduce alarmingly, as the bodies of malnourished mothers are unable to carry their children to full term.” Many of these little ones are too premature to live. Breastfeeding mothers who lack food lose their milk supply and cannot feed their own infants. As one mother said, “We have always been poor, but things have gotten so bad I don’t have words to describe it. 

 

Many other nations around the globe, especially in the horn of Africa, are also experiencing extreme hunger (UN News, February 8, 2022). Sadly, it is often the youngest who are hardest hit. While many in the Western world suffer from “first-world problems”—such as not having their favorite brand available at the grocery store—those in developing nations are far worse off. Such conditions should move us to “sigh and cry” for the suffering we see in the world around us and pray that God will hasten the return of Jesus Christ to set up the Kingdom of God that will bring peace and abundance—and an end to hunger. To learn more about signs of the end of the age, be sure to read “The Black Horse of Famine.”—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater

LCG could give some of their precious tithe money to relief organizations that can help these starving children, but no, let's tell them that Jesus is coming to fix the problem.

LCG could send money to relief organizations that deliver dried milk and water to feed these children, but no, let's tell them about how Jesus is coming to fix it at some point in the future.

LCG could send money to deliver rice, corn, and other dried food staples to these people, but no, let's tell them about our Jesus, whom we rarely talk about, that will be coming to fix this all at some point in the distant future.

All of those starving children will appreciate this news so much!

What LCG should be doing, if they truly believed in that glorious kingdom to come they long for, is to share that excitement and help that kingdom break forth in a hurting world and help others. But it cannot and will not because it only looks inward seeking to draw in co-workers with money to fund their lackluster tv programs and youtube videos. Giving hurting people a foretaste of that glorious kingdom is not a priority. Never has been.

Well, I do have to admit, they DID mention Jesus in the next to last sentence. Priorities matter.

Are You Anxious About The Future? Let LCG Fix That For You Because THEY Have The Sure Word Of Prophecy!!!!! Woo Hoo!

 

Living Church of God still is claiming to have the sure word of prophecy, Bwana Bob begs to differ as he and he alone has the only true interpretation of prophecy. What a crap fest this is all turning into when NONE of them have any sure word but are just trundling forward on their own speculations that have no basis in reality with none of them winning the argument.

Importance of Prophecy: 

Today, many are anxious about the future. People are told that no one can accurately predict the future and that the Bible is just a collection of myths and stories. Yet, the Bible actually reveals the future. The Bible plainly states that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16)—and that includes nearly one-third of the Bible that is prophecy. We also read that only God can predict the future and bring it to pass (Isaiah 46:8–11). The Apostle Peter writes to the Church, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy” that needs to be recognized, especially as we approach the end of the age (2 Peter 1:16–21, KJV). God has given His servants an understanding of prophecy so they can warn this world of coming events and offer hope for the future (Isaiah 58:1; Revelation 1:1; 10:7; 22:6). However, the Scriptures also reveal that the people and leaders of Israel will be blind to what lies ahead because they have turned away from God (Isaiah 56:10; Jeremiah 2:17–19; 5:20–21). Let’s be thankful for what God has opened our minds to understand about the future (Matthew 13:10, 16–17), and let’s use this knowledge to fulfill our mission of warning the world and preaching the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God!

Have a profitable Sabbath, Douglas S. Winnail

At least this wasn't the usual Friday Night Smackdown with LCG members being accused of doing something else wrong. 

LCG's Mario Hernandez Claims To Know Why So Many Are Getting Sick

 

The Living Church of God has produced a lot of crazy ministers over the decades and some of them we make fun of here, like Bobby Thiel. There is another crazy LCG minister running loose in LCG, Mario Hernandez. He had a poor reputation when he was in WCG so it is only natural that he jumped ship into LCG. He recently lectured students at the most astounding COG college ever to exist, Living University Education, on why people get sick.

Read this in awe and wonder at the magnificent thinking of Mario. You will be astounded!

Mr. Mario Hernandez opened his recent lecture by commenting on why he thinks so many people are getting sick.

He believes that God might be foreshadowing what is to come. He spoke about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, reminding the students of what each horseman symbolizes and the order in which they appear. He stressed the importance of knowing and understanding these things, since these horses will begin galloping in the future. We are to take the illnesses occurring around us as a warning, especially considering that the first horseman, symbolizing deceptive religion, has not yet intensified his ride. 

Now admit it, that made a lot of sense, right?  

He strongly urged us that we need to take the opportunities that are provided at Living Education seriously, because God will require more from us than He will from those who have not had these opportunities. We cannot allow the distractions of the world to keep us from doing what God wants us to do. We must have zeal to do the work of God. He mentioned that we live in a world filled with perversion, and that these sins are spreading like wildfire. He stated that God is being provoked by humans and that He will bring punishments once the children are completely corrupted. 

The god of LCG is such a weak impotent god that it is getting provoked, ignoring the fact that they believe that same god knew from before the foundations of the world that people would be rebellious and thus had to make a plan of redemption through killing Jesus Christ. If that god knew people would be doing these things in this age, why is it being provoked now?

Developing Integrity and Character 

 

Mr. Hernandez encouraged the students by stating, “Your future is bright.” If we are able to resist the temptation around us, we will be protected from what is coming. He mentioned that no society has been exposed to so much evil, in such concentrated amounts, and in such a short period of time, as our society today. We must have integrity and character, which are defined by what we do when no one is looking at us.

Mr. Hernandez pointed to Ezekiel 14:12–23 to show that God will punish the nations for their perversions and sins. In the days of Noah, God preserved him along with his wife, sons, and sons’ wives. Yet, in our generation, a father will not be able to save his son by his righteousness, but only himself. But, as Mr. Hernandez also noted, God does offer protection. 

 

Overcoming the Dragon 

 

Mr. Hernandez read 1 John 2:12–14, reminding the students of the importance of overcoming Satan, the dragon. He stated that even in many stories written for younger audiences, the dragon is slain with a sword, and this case is no different—we need our sword, the word of God, in order to overcome the adversary. Mr. Hernandez stressed the importance of “putting oil in our lamps” daily: “Do you know who the foolish virgin is? The one who does not read his or her Bible every day.” He urged the students that if we do not read our Bibles daily, our lights will be so dim that they will not be useful to us. 

Satan,  the devil, the dragon, etc, is the most powerful god of Armstrongism. Way more powerful than that guy they call Jesus Christ.  

We must offer our spiritual incense daily as well, by praying to God. Aaron physically offered incense to God in ancient Israel, and we are given the same duties as the priesthood on a spiritual level. He also encouraged the students to quickly go to the Scriptures whenever we enter temptation. He closed his lecture with this inspiring sentence: “The key to enjoying life is to obey God.”

Never once does Mario even mention finding rest in Jesus, that inconvenient dude that the LCG dislikes talking about. Resting in confidence in the one that redeemed humanity should be something that the LCG and Mario encourage the students at Living Education to be doing instead of living in fear. That is the belief of Christians around the world, down through the centuries, have consistently understood, but not LCG.

Instead, it is a constant stream of gloom, death, and damnation constantly lurking in the shadows just waiting to destroy people. 

Top Down Power In The Church

 

Church of God governance chart

We have all watched over the decades as the Worldwide Church of God and all of its hundreds and hundreds of splinter groups placed heavy emphasis on "proper church government" which translates power is at the top and trickles down till nothing is left for the members other than to submit and be treated like dirt.

Exit and Support Network has an interesting letter posted showing how this top-down government the COG has ties to Communism, all thanks to Herbert Armstrong. Dave Pack and Gerald Flurry have taken this power to the extreme end where it is truly communistic in its overreach.

Sickened to Find Out Where GF and HWA Modeled Their Organization After: 

 

February 16, 2022 

 

While listening to GF’s latest sermon given at HQ on February 5 (“The Antiochus / Obama Warfare”), I was just sickened when I realized where exactly HWA and subsequently GF modeled their organizations after. 

 

In the sermon, GF said HWA wrote some powerful articles on communism in the early 50’s and 60’s. Please notice this quote–an exact quote–of GF quoting HWA describing communism: 

 

“A ruthless totalitarian dictatorship. It is run with absolute power, a few men at the top, all of whom are completely subservient to one man who is dictator absolute. This one man dictatorship is supposed to be necessary because there may be different interpretations of the Marxist philosophy. Therefore, to prevent division they must have a supreme interpreter.” 

 

The above quote came from an article by Herbert Armstrong in the 1962 Plain Truth: 

 

“It is a ruthless, totalitarian dictatorship. It is run with absolute power by a few men at the top–all of whom are completely subservient to one man who is Dictator Absolute! This one-man dictatorship is supposed to be necessary because there may be different interpretations of the Marxist philosophy. Therefore, to prevent division, they must have a Supreme interpreter (“Communism, ‘Christianity’ and Double Talk” by Herbert W. Armstrong, February 1962 Plain Truth, p. 26) 

 

If this doesn’t describes the PCG “church” government precisely, then nothing does! And just like communism, everyone is required to protect the government structure at all costs. Anyone who questions or stands up against that government and its injustices that the government inflicts, are immediately “dealt” with. 

 

Upon further research from HWA’s own mouth. (Which I highly recommend everyone do). I came across a co-worker letter from February 1st, 1939. In this letter it shows HWA’s original form of governance–completely different from today. He later changed it when he realized he had to have complete control! [Note by ESN: You can also read it here: Did Christ Reorganize the Church? (February 1939 Good News article showing Herbert Armstrong condemned hierarchal church government in his early years.) [offsite article in PDF]

Then, notice a co-worker letter from November 24, 1967. In here, HWA describes in his own words how he began to study and research communism! Here’s a quote to get you started:

“I knew the Communist purpose and goal. I knew the Communists methods and tactics. I knew their philosophies and teachings. I knew how actual Party members are yielded completely to Communist Party discipline, obedient at any cost–willing to make any sacrifice for it.” (November 24, 1967 Brethren & Co-Worker Letter from Herbert W. Armstrong)

PCG members, did you know this?? Tell me you’re not living this? Prospective members do you know this?? 

 

HWA also stated in the above referenced co-worker letter that he had arranged to receive regular weekly bulletins, containing inside information in regard to communist’s activities in the USA.

Exact quote: 

 

“In the early years of The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast, beginning 1934, I had an arrangement with a secret investigator, working in connection with a major city police department, to receive regular weekly bulletins, containing inside information in regard to Communist activities in this country.” (November 24, 1967 Brethren & Co-worker Letter from Herbert W. Armstrong)

You can find these co-worker letters all over the internet, but I like to use this site because I know they are legitimate [Note by ESN: Dates to the co-worker letters are on the left side in the box.] This site has all HWA’s original material) Please do your research. Look into the history! 

 

PCG government was designed after communism. HWA and GF may claim that communism is the counterfeit of God’s government. Nowhere in the Bible is this form of government described or used.   
–TC