Exposing the underbelly of Armstrongism in all of its wacky glory! Nothing you read here is made up. What you read here is the up to date face of Herbert W Armstrong's legacy. It's the gritty and dirty behind the scenes look at Armstrongism as you have never seen it before!
With all the new crazy self-appointed Chief Overseers, Apostles, Prophets, Pharisees, legalists, and outright liars leading various Churches of God today, it is important to hold these agents of deception accountable.
Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders
It is that time of year as COG members are scurrying about preparing to head off to various Feast of Tabernacle sites around the world. Excitement is in the air as foreign destinations promise exciting adventures. Children fret about being pulled from school for 10-12 days, missing loads of lessons and homework. Parents have to take off work, sometimes using vacation pay and other times with no pay at all. Some have built up sizable 2nd tithe funds for grand adventures as others struggle to have enough money for gas and accommodations at some Feast sites.
Ministers receive their large Feast stipend checks from HQ as they make reservations at resorts that provide them free rooms where they get to pull out old Feast sermons from years before and recycle their message. Seriously ask yourself when have you EVER heard an original sermon at the Feast that was unique and truly memorable? We can all probably write out ahead of time the seven points that will be delivered and check them off one by one as you are bored out of your mind. If you are listening to Bob Thiel you will get to hear his 45+ speaking points during each sermon. Imagine how fun that checklist would be!
Then, add to that the expectation that you will be dumping hundreds of dollars into offering baskets during this time, and suddenly the fun is a little less. But it has been ingrained in all that we must sacrifice and be tested so this is a test, one of an endless stream of tests COG members are subjected to in the church.
But never mind those trials, God has personally picked out this Feast site for you to attend at. God sent his angels, unbeknownst to the various resort owners, to scout out locations for a celebration focused upon old covenant teachings. The angels scoured the surrounding area for hotels and fun activities for members to engage in, or better yet, skip services and go and really have fun at. Never once should you imagine a team of men sitting around a table discussing Feast site locations and which would offer the most opportunities for members. That NEVER happens! But, if it did, then God personally impregnated their minds with those specific locations where members can have fun.
Every COG makes this claim, so the one below from Rick Schabi represents them all:
We embrace that vision of God’s Kingdom and show Him our desire and faith in Him by leaving our homes to go to the place where He has put His name. We stay there all seven days of the Feast, plus the Eighth Day, living in temporary dwellings. And our focus while there is on that Kingdom and living in the “zone” with each other apart from the world.
Apart from the world? Yeah, right. You picked convention centers or locations in some of the busiest towns and/or some of the best resorts. Members are no more apart from the world than they are at Winter Family Weekends held at resorts decked out to the nines with Christmas decorations.
There will be few sermons at the Feast discussing Jesus, and if he is mentioned it is that he is really ticked off and so angry that he is coming back to punish people, kill a whole bunch and THEN usher in peace and glory of his Dad's kingdom.
I'll address this to the Wadsworth Collective, but it's for the one who grew up in the Philadelphia Church of God.
The move from PCG and its sphere of splinters to the Restored Church of God truly was a step forward in your spiritual life. I have no doubt that God guided you in that. But we both know that spiritual growth within RCG has been stagnate these many years. We must endure to the end (which wasn't today apparently), and you know that you can't stay in Restored. So what are you going to do?
Reflect upon why you left Fluffy in the first place. Did he take a number of Biblical/historical/divine titles to himself? Did you think that he was effectively teaching the gospel? Was there spiritual growth in your own personal life, and in the lives of those that you were close with? Did his prophetic teachings make sense to you? Could you effectively explain them to others (could you effectively explain Mr. Pack's prophecy doctrines/timeline in your role as a minister?). How did Mr. Pack's book on "That Prophet" help you in coming out of PCG? Well, at least Mr. Pack has never claimed to be That Prophet, I'll give him that......(sarcasm alert)
You're about to go and keep the Feast of Tabernacles. I truly hope that you have a special time there. Take the time to go out with a group of people for dinner, and do so several times. I know that you will look out for the widow, orphan, and poor among the brethren because that is the type of person that you are. Realize that most people can be a little awkward and shy around ministers from HQers, but you are a sincere and humble person in my estimate. Softly "push"/guide others to talk about the sermons that they've been hearing during the Feast. No doubt Mr. Pack will continue the prophecy series on a daily basis, rushing to call out the final message several times. Get those people to talk about the prophecy sermon, and analyze what you hear. Listen to them, don't dominate the conversation. Listen to them, listen to what you hear, and what you DO NOT hear. Many will not say a word, or will make comments like "wow," or will do their best to dodge the subject. Those people mostly will jump at the opportunity to change the subject, or the chance to let a "talker" take over. People no longer talk about the Millennium during the lunch hour. It was not so when we were younger and breaking bread at the Feast!
Then listen to those who are eager to talk about prophecy. Can they correctly summarize what Mr. Pack is currently teaching (i.e. within the last few hours, not an outdated sermon from yesterday)? Or does it come across as a mangled mess of prophetic teaching, one that painfully demonstrates confusion? As people are talking look into their eyes; also take time to observed the eyes of those who are not talking. Be polite and encouraging the whole time, but notice the eyes of the others. How many are confused, bewildered, zoned out, or sad? And for those who truly are excited by Mr. Pack's latest prophecy, do they strike you as balanced people? I'm not asking you to do this as some kind of judgmental jerk, but as one who truly cares for the people of God. Know the state of your flock. Listen to what is being said, and not said.
Other points to analyze while listening to people:
-Were they baptized after the prophetic nonsense started? What is their depth of understanding, application of God's way, and spiritual maturity? How confused are they, specifically? Because yes, those are the people who sadly have not been fed the basics.
-Are they old WCGers? How comfortable are they with series? And did they strive all these years to stay close to God by constantly trying to find the "correct" splinter group? Or did they just stay home for these past 30 years? I've noticed some interesting trends there.
I do not envy you your position. Of all the ministers at HQers, you perhaps have the most to lose by doing the right thing. Are you going to be a shepherd who lays down his life for the flock? Will you stand in the gap in order to defend the truth, not only for your own spiritual state before God, but for the sake of others? Redeem the time, old friend. Are you willing to lose your life in order to gain it? Or in order to help someone else who is spiritually dying?
Take the time to analyze yourself. What did you discern in Flurry's voice those many years ago that helped you to see that he was a false prophet? Do you hear the same "voice" from behind the pulpit in Restored? (Or multiple voices? - there's way too many doctrinal storylines going on at the same time in Wadsworth. Good thing Marc has the gift of discerning prophetic gobbledegook). What's disturbing you about being in Restored?
Gerald Weston sent out a letter to the faithful on September 15 using Queen Elizabeth's service to her country as a sign for LCG members to serve to their utmost ability so that they too can be crowned Kings and Queens in the kingdom to come.
Weston claims that LCG members never slink back but put duty first. One would never know that considering how every Friday LCG makes a point of letting members know they are screwing things up and constantly falling sort.
And yes, I am confident of good things from you brethren and co-workers as well. We are not of those who slink back, but of those who put duty first. “‘Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:38-39). The fact that you have become members or co-workers indicates you recognize this duty and take it seriously. Thank you, and may God reward you greatly!
You take it so seriously that you will turn over 20-30% of your income to us whenever we ask. Remember brethren, the more you give the richer your blessing will be in the kingdom!
We must not deify Queen Elizabeth—after all, she was human and had personal shortcomings—but we can learn from her example of recognizing and embracing her calling. We do not live so much in the public eye, but we live in the eyes of God, and He is looking to us to fulfill our duty. We must put personal desire second to the will of our Savior (Luke 14:26).
"We must put personal desire second to the will of our Savior" when pray tell, have many of the ministry in LCG ever done this?
The duty we have been called to involves a personal relationship with our Creator, and that involves heartfelt prayers for His Work and personal giving according to His will and our ability. Though we are small, we are doing a significant Work. As of this letter, along with sending the hardcopy Tomorrow’s World magazine to approximately 600,000 subscribers ten times a year, entirely free of charge, we are also reaching a significantly different audience of nearly 587,000 French, Spanish, and English YouTube subscribers who say, by subscribing, that they want to see more of what we have to give.
God needs your money! He cannot do his work without your money!
We also have more than 825,000 combined followers on Facebook in English, Spanish, and French, and our French version of “Three Things Nailed to the Cross” gained 950,000 social media views in less than two months. We also provide literature and have active websites in Dutch, Afrikaans, German, Hindi, Russian, and Chinese. So far this year we have conducted 176 Tomorrow’s World Presentations in the United States—far surpassing our previous record of 89 in 2018 and 2019. Our recent presentation in Sherbrooke, Quebec was successful enough that we have begun a new congregation there.
All of these efforts—and so many more—are made possible by those of you who understand your calling and duty. As always, thank you for your dedication and zeal to get out this important message before our world sinks into the unimaginable. And may the God who has called you, and desires to add you to His royal team at Christ’s return, bless you even now for your dutiful service.
It was obvious that Pastor General David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God had a big breakfast this morning because he still had egg all over his face.
Instead of walking up to the lectern, declaring “April fools!” and then stepping down, Dave repeated history with his laughable “Special Comments” which were basically, “There was something WE missed. It happens at sundown somewhere in the world tonight.”
Pulease.
I would like to request that either The Meat Shield or The Coffee Kid please cut out Habakkuk and Zechariah from Dave’s Bible. Those books do absolutely no good for your boss.
I commented this morning on the Banned by HWA website predicting the spin Dave would grasp on to today. He did not disappoint. It is freaky how I have that guy figured out.
For the skimmers: Jesus Christ was supposed to arrive today at sunrise in Jerusalem, which would have been 5:30am eastern time. Dave "discovered" late last night that He will not arrive reckoned by Jerusalem time but by Joseph time (the United States and Canada). It will still be Trumpets in the west when sundown strikes Wadsworth, Ohio, at 7:17pm.
Being more than a blogger now, I feel a particular responsibility as a Restored Church of God chronicler; a whistleblower that gives commentary with a humorous slant, but also fact-based news reporting.
Due to this, I do my best to analyze events in a timely fashion.
When these “Special Comments” were posted, I was faced with the reality that if I wanted to get anything posted before the sunset deadline Dave set during the 20-minute excuse-rich blather, I would have to change my evening dinner plans which were made days ago.
I decided that I was not going to alter my schedule due to the erratic (if not predictable) nature of David C. Pack. I spent years in The Restored Church of God changing my plans (along with the whole Headquarters congregation) because “Mr. Pack” whatever. Those days are over.
So, you are reading this well after the sunset deadline because I opted to have dinner with a friend and thumb my nose at Dave's nonsense. Of course, his new idea was going to fail.
The man is destined to fail in all his prophetic endeavors.
Breaking the usual format, here are a string of quotes that tell the story:
"Two choices: It's too late for this year, or WE missed something.”
“Habakkuk 2:3. A truly enigmatic statement…and, suddenly, God gave me that corroboration.”
“And as I was sitting, and eventually it got toward 2 o'clock, and I was pondering this, not because I any longer believed it was gonna be last night…”
Sounds like Dave was up until at least 2am last night. The man is not getting enough sleep.
“…and I finally figured out…”
“…‘rush that calls it out.’ So, I’m still calling it out, by the way.”
“What is that moad? Well, we now know it’s the Feast of Trumpets.”
That tune will change starting tomorrow.
“There’s a delay.”
“…after I noticed a verse we had never seen before in the light that we will.”
Dave only preaches darkness. His teachings are not of the light.
“…look at something we never saw.”
“But, what we read over and over again, and never saw for what it meant…”
Zechariah 14:6-7 bitch-slaps Dave with some new truth.
“…they tell you how and when everything begins.”
Until Tishrei 2. When the prophetic blueprint needs to be redesigned. Oh yeah, that is tomorrow.
“When does that happen? And here’s the plain answer.Impossible to argue with.
And it absolutely qualifies and agrees with Habakkuk 2:3.”
"So, it wouldn't turn on sundown or dusk in Jerusalem. It would have to be some later place."
“Jerusalem saw that the Feast of Trumpets disappear at 11:30 this morning.
And I knew they would.”
This contradicts what he told the church on Saturday night. Dave was right about being wrong again. Sad.
“7:17pm…if it’s here.”
“But fortunately, I figured this out late last night.”
All the best biblical knowledge manifests around 2am. That is when a sound mind is at its strongest, right Dave?
A few minutes ago, God gave this information to him. But now he figured it out. Interesting.
“Over in Zechariah 1…a series of eight visions that all appeared…
as happening in the shade. I never understood it.”
In the winter of 2019, Dave was utterly fixated with darkness and night and winter. He went through the first half of the book of Zechariah line by line because RCG was experiencing winter. Not figuratively, but the actual season.
He revisits those same ideas as if he had never taught that concept before. Maybe if he got more sleep, he would have remembered this is recycled material. The Meat Shield…well, shielded Dave from the embarrassment. The Coffee Kid kept his lips sealed. The Enabler-in-Chief just nodded.
“I do the best I can…maybe God wants this as a record.”
That would make me a scribe. And I believe God wants this to be recorded for all to see. These futile and pointless twenty minutes broadcast to all the members of The Restored Church of God that David C. Pack is a prophetic fraud.
“Maybe this is the very last day of my voice when I’m about to sound in four hours.”
I am transcribing this quote at 10:17pm. I laughed out loud.
“I do not believe for a split second we’re gonna go next year.”
“It's not Jerusalem, and I knew it, and I sat with the ministers this morning. We were all convicted about it.I said, ‘You’re gonna watch 11:30 pass…in Jerusalem…it can’t be.’”
I said that too. What does that say about me? An antichrist serpent more wicked almost than the devil knew Trumpets would come and go in Jerusalem with nothing occurring. A week before “God” revealed it to you. Why does that not fascinate anyone at Headquarters?
If you want to hire me back, Brad, I am willing to negotiate.
Dave fills the rest of his time with a Queen Elizabeth / Queen Victoria story about how they knew they were descended from King David.
Special Comments. The end.
Sunset came to Wadsworth. Sunset came to California. Maybe something biblical will happen on Maui in three more hours.
I will be asleep by then, but I suspect Dave will be pacing a bald spot in his carpet, waiting for inspiration from “God” to come in the wee hours of the night as it did for Nostradamus. You should start staring at a bowl of water, Dave. Maybe then one of your goofy ideas will pan out.
Brad and his wife will be giggling themselves to sleep, coming up with ideas for what excuses Dave will dream up next.
When he walks into your office tomorrow, Brad, just take a deep breath and try not to laugh.
It is a special day when you can wake up to David C. Pack failing before your first cup of coffee and then go to dinner as David C. Pack fails the same day again just in time for dessert. That is a remarkable accomplishment, and we should all take note.
David “Passover” Pack, the Elijah, the Messenger to the Seventh Era, Joshua the High Priest, The Watchman, The Good and Faithful Servant, The Goodman of the House, the Porter who “rushes to call it out” while giving a final ration about the Feast of Trumpets.
