Concerns About Ronald Weinland's Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God

Opinions by COGwriter

This article will discuss several matters related to Ronald Weinland of Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CG-PKG). Like most of my Church of God (COG) group articles, this one will focus on how CG-PKG has teachings that differ from the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG).

Who is Ronald Weinland (sometimes misspelled as Ronald Wienland)?

Ronald Weinland was a minister in the WCG, then a minister in the United Church of God (UCG), but a number of years ago declared himself a prophet--he did that many years after the Philadelphia Church of God's Gerald Flurry did the same. If he has much of an actual following, I simply have not encountered it (PCG is many times CG-PKG's size). (Perhaps I should mention that we in the Living Church of God do not believe that Gerald Flurry or Ronald Weinland are God's prophets.)

Although he does have a certain calm demeanor and a fair amount of biblical truth (he was actually part of the Church of God for a while before he branched out and declared himself a prophet), I personally do not consider that Ron Weinland is faithful to God. In 2006, Ronald Weinland publicly declared he was one of the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation--and I disagreed about that then and now (to learn more about them, please see the article Who Are The Two Witnesses?). So far, all of my comments about why he is and how events would prove him false have come to pass, yet he still keeps at it.

Ronald Weinland leads the Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CG-PKG), a group he formed.

The About page of his website stated:

The organization of the Church of God-PKG was established to serve those scattered brethren of the Church of God who desired to hold fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. For the past several years, the church has been serving scattered brethren on every continent by sending published material and/or taped weekly sermons to those who have requested such service.

In the past few years the church has also been serving those scattered brethren who want to have fellowship with the Church of God-PKG by providing a teleconferencing system whereby people have been able to phone in to hear Sabbath services from any point in the U.S. or Canada.

The pastor of the church, Ron Weinland, has been helping scattered brethren come to understand how the recent, turbulent history of the Church agrees with those things that God gave testimony concerning His Church at the end-time, just before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (http://cog-pkg.org/about/ 01/14/06).

As this article will document, I do not believe that CG-PKG is meeting its purpose for being established as I do not believe that it properly "holds fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong" as it claims.

Note: There are daily news, doctrinal, and prophecy updates at the Church of God News page for those interested in how world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy. And there have also been frequent updates on Ronald Weinland at that page.

Ronald Weinland's First Book The Prophesied END-TIME

Ron Weinland wrote a book titled The Prophesied END-TIME, which he published in 2004, and which I have read in its entirety. The book cover states,

“Ronald Weinland was ordained a minister in God's Church in 1981. Then, in 1997, he was called to be a prophet for this end-time. A prophet, in this context, is 'one given inspired interpretation of recorded prophesies' ” (Weinland R.  The Prophesied END-TIME. 2004).

As far as I can tell, the main work of CG-PKG was to promote that book, as well as a second book which was released in the Fall of 2006. It has little other regular literature as far as I can tell.

CG-PKG's main website page stated:

God's Church observes the 7th day Sabbath and the seven annual Holy Days as given in Leviticus 23. Our purpose is to support, educate, and warn the scattered Church that was formerly united in the Worldwide Church of God. More than ever, now is the time to be preparing for the return of Jesus Christ. The prophesied events we have been experiencing, over the past few years, are the very events that announce His coming.The end-time has come. Hundreds of millions will die in the worst time of tribulation the world has ever known. You need to be informed so you can know how to respond .

The Prophesied End-Time will challenge readers as they consider catastrophic end-time events that are prophesied to begin very soon. Although many will not take seriously what is written here, they will gradually experience disbelief as the events covered in this book begin to unfold (http://cog-pkg.org/ 011406).

While everyone in any Church of God realizes that at least hundreds of millions will die in the great tribulation, his book makes certain prophetic/doctrinal points that disagree with what Herbert W. Armstrong taught.

Specifically, Ron Weinland claims in his book that the Philadelphia era ended in January 1986 (the month Herbert W. Armstrong died), the open door to proclaiming the Gospel was closed then (The Prophesied END-TIME, p. 109), and that there cannot be two eras at once/simultaneously. In addition, he states that Living Church of God (LCG) and UCG claim to be Philadelphia, which his book claims neither can be.

Regarding the work, he and any who think CG-PKG may be faithful need to read the article Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? This article documents, mainly from quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong why the open door was not closed when Herbert W. Armstrong died.

Regarding two simultaneous Church eras, his teaching is not consistent with what Herbert W. Armstrong taught. He forgets that Herbert W. Armstrong said that some in Sardis were still around during the Philadelphia era, which by extrapolation would indicate that some in Philadelphia could be around during the era of Laodicea--and this is the Living Church of God's position (and appears to be confirmed by Revelation 3:10-11).

FWIW, I should note that UCG does not claim to be Philadelphia, nor does it officially teach the concept of Church eras as Herbert W. Armstrong did. Ron Weinland’s book (The Prophesied END-TIME, pp. 177-178) is simply inaccurate about how LCG and UCG officially portray themselves regarding Church eras (for details, please see the article on Differences Between LCG and UCG).

He, like others, makes many errors regarding being faithful to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, and like others has changed the Gospel message.  For example, in the section of his book on The End Time Elijah (p.89) he states,

“The end-time Elijah had a commission to restore truth, but only to the Church”

Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that the message of the truth was only to the Church (also, more information on Elijah can be found in the article The Elijah Heresies). 

Is Ron Weinland One of the Two Witnesses?

Although I had heard reports that Ronald Weinland claimed to be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation, I at first questioned it as I had seen nothing at his website suggesting he was claiming this years ago.

Actually, originally, his website seemed to deny this as he wrote (apparently before claiming to be one of the two witnesses):

The job of witnessing has been set aside for "two" to accomplish by the power of God. No church organization is going to do it, and no individual is going to be able to set himself up as God's apostle to do it. It is for the "two" who are yet to be sent by God.

So today we find that the witness some organizations believe they are doing is actually a witness that God already did during Philadelphia. According to prophecy, the only great witness that remains is the one God will do through His two witnesses at the very end (Weinland Ronald. Time is Running Out. Copyright © the CHURCH OF GOD-PKG. 2005).

So, I emailed him and asked:

Dear Ronald Weinland: 

It has come to my attention that several over the internet are reporting that you now claim to be one of the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation.  While I know you claim to be a prophet, I have seen nothing in your literature that suggests to me that you make that claim. 

Do you now claim to be one of the two witnesses?

On 1/20/06, I received this reply:

Yes I do make the claim. I am one of the witnesses. The subject is already covered in sermons on our website and will be covered far more thoroughly in a new book that will be out before next Feast of Tabernacles.  

Ron Weinland

Ronald Weinland earlier wrote that the Church's correct work should be “addressing what was actually confronting Laodicea” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p. 177), but that is not (according Revelation 11) the emphasis of the two witnesses (though perhaps they may some role in that).

Apparently Ron Weinland is also into a bit of allegory regarding the two witnesses (and although I may have misunderstood him, he apparently does not intend to wear any type of sackcloth or send forth fire--nor has he done so as of 12/7/08) as he wrote:

Notice: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). The symbolism of “sackcloth” is given because these two will be filled with humility (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, pp.21-22).

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. They have power to shut heaven so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:5-6)...

The fire proceeding out of their mouth is symbolic of the power to pronounce exacting judgments upon anyone who would do them harm (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 89).

While it is remotely possible that the two witnesses will not wear actual physical sackcloth, Revelation 11:13 is not speaking of just humility, but specifically that the clothing of the two witnesses will not be fancy--probably in contrast to the beast, who is likely to be flashy/wealthy in appearance. And in particular, I also suspect that the two witnesses actually will sometimes wear some literal sackcloth, at least at times.  And that they will wear at least some black while they are publicly warning the world. I also believe that they will actually perform miracles, such as fire from them devouring their enemies--I do not believe that the fire mentioned in the Bible is only symbolic.

Since relatively few in the world have even heard of Ronald Weinland, he simply has not been an effective witness either.

Those truly interested in the two witnesses, should read the article Who Are the Two Witnesses?

Ronald Weinland's Second Book 2008 - God's Final Witness

In January 2006 , Ron Weinland told me that he was also producing another book, which he called God's Final Witness, which he planned to promote in late 2006 and beyond. Well, the title was slightly modified and is now called 2008 - God's Final Witness.

The book is 244 pages long and explains what Ron Weinland believes he understands from God and the Bible. And although I do not agree with his timing or many of his comments, he (like nearly all others in the COGs) does at least understand that the United States will be destroyed (though we have differences on the specifics).

Here is what his other website states about more Ronald Weinland prophecy:

From now until the latter part of 2008, many prophecies are going to begin to be fulfilled, especially the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John saw but was restricted from recording. Those thunders are revealed in this book, as well as detailed accounts of the final three and one-half years of man's self-rule on earth, which are recorded in the account of the Seventh Seal of Revelation.

Some of these prophecies concern the demise of the United States over the next two years, which will be followed by man's final world war. This last war will be the result of clashing religions and the governments they sway. Billions will die! This time will far exceed even the very worst times in all human history.

As these events unfold, the world will increasingly become aware of the authenticity of the words in this book and realize that Ronald Weinland has been sent by God as His end-time prophet.

This book is primarily directed to the people of the three major religions of the world (Islam, Judaism and Christianity), whose roots are in the God of Abraham. Ronald Weinland has been sent to all three. (http://www.the-end.com/ 11/26/06).

While I believe that Ron Weinland is sincere, I do not believe God has sent him to be one of the two witnesses. Nor do I believe his understanding of the seven thunders is correct--nor his prophesied timing of them--nor that the United States demise will occur by 2008.

Anyway, one of the points the book makes early on is:

The truth is, that eventually, in the United States alone, over 250 million will die. (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.7).

The above is probably correct. I say only probably because while the Bible indicates that over 90% of Jacob will ultimately perish, the United States has so many Hispanics and other non-Israelites, that it is not biblically certain that over 250 million must die in the United States as the USA does not have 250 million Israelites--but over 200 million would seem to be biblically expected to die.

The book also states:

The False Teaching
For Judaism, the real basis of the problem and great false teaching is this: Judaism claims to truly follow the God of Abraham, but doesn’t observe Passover as God instructed in Leviticus 23, “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even (Heb. “between the evenings”–ben ha arbayim) is the Lord’s Passover” (Lev. 23:4). Instead, Judaism observes Passover after the fourteenth day, on the beginning of the fifteenth, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread—a High Day—an annual Sabbath. But God clearly says it is to be observed in the fourteenth day (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 40).

While I agree that many of the Jews observe the Passover on the wrong day (please see the article on the Passover), I do not believe that that is the real basis for the inaccuracies of Judaism. The Jews rejected Jesus (biggest problem), most Jews do not even try to observe the Laws of God, and none of them are observing the sacrifices required by the Hebrew scriptures, but instead are relying on traditions of men to reason around all of those. The reliance on traditions of men is the real basis for why the Jewish religion is in error and why it misunderstands Passover, not mainly because of Passover's date as Ronald Weinland's writings suggest.

The book also states (bolding his):

Today, without exception, every theologian and scholar of the Bible is fully blind to the truths of God (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 68).

By every, I presume he means everyone in every COG other than his as well.

Furthermore, the book states this "prophecy":

Apparently he considers that since LCG is the most effective in getting its message out, it must go first, followed by those who are next in effectiveness. I hope none of his followers will help fulfill the above horrible prophecy.

The RonaldWeinland.com page claims:

Unlike The Da Vinci Code which is fiction, 2008—God’s Final Witness is true and reveals hidden secrets that man has not been able to uncover for thousands of years. No one in the three major religions of the world (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) has ever known the prophecies that are revealed in this book, which are beginning to unfold even now.

2008—God’s Final Witness reveals the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John was not allowed to record! It also gives more specific end-time prophecies that will sharply increase during the next year and one-half when the final tribulation of this world strikes (Quote online 6/13/07).

While it is true that the Da Vinci Code contains much error, it does have some truth (please see the article The Da Vinci Code: Some Good, Most Bad). Similarly, while 2008—God’s Final Witness is mostly error, it sometimes has some truth. But unlike the Da Vinci Code which is a novel, 2008—God’s Final Witness, is being claimed as truth.

In his second book, Ronald Weinland declared:

I am to announce, through God’s direct revelation, that I am one of those two witnesses. The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation—within the final three and one-half years of man’s era (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.16).

Although, it is most likely that the two witnesses are alive right now, and maybe we in the COGs will know who they are prior to the final 3 1/2 years, I do not believe that he is one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11 (I believe his writings on governance, the work, Jesus, and prophecy have pretty much ruled him out).

At his "personal website", Ronald Weinland posted:

This new site for 2007 is timely since this year will prove to be exceedingly important concerning end-time prophetic events...

Recent advertising in RTIR Magazine has helped stir interest in subjects like, 1) God’s plan to end this age of mankind and bring His Kingdom to this world with Jesus Christ as King of kings - a new world ruler over every nation on earth 2) false teachings in traditional Christianity, 3) prophecy relating to the demise of the United States beginning in 2008, 4) Ronald Weinland being one of the two end-time witnesses, 5) Ronald Weinland being a prophet of God for this end-time, 6) the prophecies in the Book of Revelation, especially those pertaining to current events that match prophecy (Weinland R. Welcome. January 16, 2007. http://www.ronaldweinland.com/ viewed 01/15/08).

This year of 2007 is nearly over. Looking back, it has proven to be prophetically eventful. This year has been marking a conclusion to mankind being allowed to freely follow the path of his own choosing. We are about to enter the period when God begins to bring a full end to man’s self-rule. The fulfillment to end-time prophetic events is about to be thrust upon the whole world, and man’s way, as well as Satan’s, is about to begin to be shut down!

The world economy is shaking/quaking worse each day and is coming more and more to the forefront of news commentary. Next year will see the Dollar collapse and the Euro become the new strength for the world’s economy. The thunders of Revelation are now going to begin to increase in intensity and frequency. Beginning in February, those thunders will increase dramatically, and by April this world will begin to be shaken to its foundations.

Everything I am doing, and everything the Church of God - PKG is doing is geared towards these realities. There is no wavering and there is no hesitation!...

February will be here soon! Don’t squander the time that is in front of you. Use it wisely! (Weinland R. YEAR NEARLY OVER. November 24, 2007. http://www.ronaldweinland.com/ viewed 01/15/08).

Hence Ron Weinland seems convinced that the end will begin in 2008. I am not sure what he part of the thunders he expects to occur in February 2008--but none actually happened.

Furthermore, notice the following from pages 23 and 116 of his book, 2008 God's Final Witness:

Yes, I do know the timing of events as the Seals of
Revelation are opening. I do know we are in the end-time and
that six Seals have already been opened. I know the exact day
the First Seal was opened. As will be covered in another
chapter, I know the exact day the Sixth Seal was opened, and
the world will be shocked and in horror on the day that the
Seventh Seal is opened...

Once the Seventh Seal is opened, the first of Seven Trumpets
will be blown. Each Trumpet will announce a specific phase of
great tribulation on the earth. The first four trumpets will
proclaim the demise of the United States and her closest allies.

The world was not in shock and horror on April 17, 2008, when Ronald Weinland claimed that the first trumpet was supposed to have blown. Nor was it a month earlier (March 18, 2008) when Ronald Weinland claimed that the 1290 days of Daniel 12:11 began and the seventh seal was opened (see also Ronald Weinland: Nothing Happened March 18th Because What Happened Was Spiritual?).

Thus events simply HAVE NOT gone the way the book 2008 God's Final Witness said they would.  The time to stop following Ronald Weinland is clearly here IF his supporters will simply face the facts.

The End (Meaning the Great Tribulation) Could Not Begin in 2008

Contrary to the claims of Ron Weinland (and some others), the great tribulation could not begin in 2008 nor could the seven thunders be fulfilled nor could the United States demise occur by then (as various writings from him state)--several prophetically required events were simply not in place for those events to occur in 2008.

In addition to originally teaching that the Great Tribulation begins in April 2008, notice what else Ronald Weinland claims on the last page of one of his books:

By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 244).

And while the United States will eventually fall, it was still a world power at the end of 2008.

Having had many European trips in past five or so years, I will state that the Europeans are simply not ready to fulfill their role as the supporters of the King of the North-the Final Beast Military Power yet. The Europeans do not consider that they are united, they have not accepted any type of universal religion (and while Pope Benedict XVI is working on that--this still is not ready), have not completed their Galileo project (a "GPS" system that will allow them to work independently of the US military's system), have not finished their systems for "international prosperity", have not acknowledged ten kings which need to be determined (Revelation 17:12), have not strengthened/unified their military enough, etc. The Europeans are NOT ready to destroy the United States this year or next.

And while "Galileo" itself is not a biblical requirement, the idea of Europe having its own powerful military clearly is (see Revelation 13:4). There are also events in Daniel 11, Matthew 24, and other prophecies that I do not believe have been fulfilled to the degree necessary for the actual final 3 1/2 year great tribulation to possibly begin in 2008 (though it will start in the future, and actually could begin several years from now). The King of the North simply will NOT attack the English-speakers unless he is certain that he will win.

Interestingly, even Roman Catholic prophecies indicate a great ruler to arise in Europe who will eventually destroy the English (for specific documentation, see the article Who is the King of the North?). But there simply was not such a person in place in 2008.

And even though events in Iraq and Iran may help lead to the ascension of a strong Muslim leader, the Arab League is still not united enough to be the prophesied King of the South.  And while I do agree that there are tensions in the Middle East, the infrastructure for a power there to challenge the European Union still is not there, even though it seems to be in the early forming stages (more information is in the article The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy).

2008 was not be the beginning of the great tribulation (and those interested in seeing more reasons why may wish to read a related article titled Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011?). Those who follow any who state that the great tribulation will begin in 2008 or 2009 are allowing themselves to be deceived.

Is David Pack One of the Two Witnesses?

There was a rumor going around, which I never posted at my news page, that Ronald Weinland claimed that David Pack is the other of the two witnesses. That rumor was not true.

When I asked him about it, I received the following response:

No I haven't said such a thing about Dave. We are not going in the same direction. 

Ron Weinland

I did post the above response so that those interested in the truth would realize that the rumor was false (Ronald Weinland declared his wife the second witness on April 17, 2008, though I am STILL unaware of her doing any significant public witnessing in that claimed capacity). I do have a concern that now that this rumor is out and now that Ronald Weinland claims to be one of the two witnesses, that it would not surprise me if one who has taken false titles to himself (Gerald Flurry comes to mind) may decide they need to claim to be one of the two witnesses.

The two witnesses prophesy (Revelation 11). Gerald Flurry has claimed to be a prophesying for years. David Pack claims that the Holy Spirit must work through him so powerfully, that he must be an apostle and suggests he will be the one to train the two witnesses (my best recollection is that David Pack has taught that as an apostle he is above the two witnesses, who are prophets). (An article of possibly related interest may be Why Not the Restored Church of God?)

Thus one of them, or someone less known, may (like Ronald Weinland has) make that claim to be one of the two witnesses (or to train them, in David Pack's case).

Comments on Differences

CG-PFK, on its FAQ page, has made the following statements:

As it was stated, there are over 500 splinter groups that have emerged from the scattering that took place during and after the apostasy of the organization of the Worldwide Church of God. Each organization claims to be doing the work of God. Doctrinally, this is impossible!

No individual has the time, resources, or intellectual ability to examine every organization to try to discern who, if any, is doing God’s work at this time...

But we are to be Laodiceans who have listened to God and followed the instruction Jesus Christ gave us to be zealous and to repent.

Candidly, the largest scattered group, which is the United Church of God, is one that Ronald Weinland joined from its beginning and continued for nearly two years. But after exposing the misappropriation of $4.5 million by its leadership, the political practices of much of the leadership, and doctrinal laxity, he chose to resign. It was through this stand on true principles of Godly leadership that God led him to begin this present work. Besides these matters, the United Church of God is guilty of tolerating large numbers in its ministry who hold to the false doctrine of a 14th/15th Passover, which is covered in the first book. Such matters reflect whether or not the spirit of God is working in those who claim to be faithful stewards of God’s word.

Actually, I have articles at the www.cogwriter.com home page that discuss details on around two dozen groups which essentially represent 98% of those 500 "groups" (as most of those "500 groups" are not really groups, but a couple of families who meet together, which I classify as "independents", hence I contend that it certainly is possible to be able to discern which group is the most faithful).

Yet it should be clear to any willing to look into the facts that CG-PKG simply does not hold fast to the truths and priorities of what Herbert W. Armstrong taught were what made the Philadelphia era different.

Specifically CG-PKG:

1) Does not teach the restored truth on governance as Herbert W. Armstrong did (though it now claims to),
2) Fails to mention that Herbert W. Armstrong taught that the Gospel of the Kingdom was to be preached until going to a place of safety, and
3) CG-PKG like several other groups, has changed the work from being a primarily a warning message to the world to a feed the flock message. 
4) CG-PFK like several groups, teaches that it is to be composed of repentant Laodiceans--Herbert Armstrong taught that until the Great Tribulation it would be the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God, and NOT the Laodiceans, who would get the warning message out.

Why? 

Because according to CG-PKG,

the end has come…Indeed the end-time has come upon the world, and the six prophetic seals of revelation have been opened.  The end-time did come, once the gospel was preached into all the world as a witness (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.95). 

The correct work according to CG-PKG should be “addressing what was actually confronting Laodicea”, and not “rebuilding ‘the work’ of Philadelphia” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.177). 

Like PCG’s original version of Malachi’s Message, CG-PKG teaches,

“Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. was the man of sin and son of perdition” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.178).

Like RCG's David Pack, Ron Weinland seems to think he has been appointed the messenger to Laodicea.

CG-PKG’s leader has apparently taught against government like Herbert W. Armstrong said God used him to restore to the Church of God.  Two examples can be found in his letters to UCG,

I am resigning because I can no longer conscientiously support the current practices of this organization. The organization is slowly slipping back into that from which we were jolted loose (Weinland, R. Letter 5/26/97)

What I as a pastor am concerned about at this time, is not doctrine…We are blessed with having a constitution and bylaws that give incredible strength to sound, basic doctrines we hold dear… Too many people have been deeply hurt because of an intolerance to different ideas, programs, and plans of local congregations. There is the distinct feeling from many in the church that H.O. is pushing and pulling for more control over everything (Weinland R. Letter, 12/27/96). 

By arguing against UCG's governance the way he did, Ronald Weinland is basically saying he is against what Herbert W. Armstrong stated was the restored truth about governance (please see the article You May Have Been Deceived About Herbert Armstrong's List of Restored Truths and WCG's Earliest Changes!).

It should be noted that UCG had made many doctrinal changes from what Herbert W. Armstrong taught, including governance when Ron Weinland was writing positive things about UCG’s doctrines (further documented proof can be found in the old article, Differences Between UCG and GCG). So, for CG-PKG to claim its was established to hold fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, does not make any sense to me.

Furthermore, in his latest book he stated (any bolding his):

The 144,000 will return with Christ on this same day after the seven last plagues are poured out upon the earth. It is at the beginning of this same day that the return of Jesus Christ becomes visible to the whole world (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 23).

The countdown for the end-time has already begun, and it began when Jesus Christ started to open the seals of Revelation, the first of which was opened on December 17, 1994 (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 24).

There will be only one great resurrection on the very day that Jesus Christ returns, and this will be the 144,000 (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 74).

#1: The First Thunder is the beginning terror of war for the end-time... The success of al-Qaeda’s terrorist attack on 9/11 was the beginning of the First Thunder. This was the very day the Sixth Seal of the Book of Revelation was opened (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92).

This first phase of this Fifth Thunder has already begun in a very small way upon the Church of God that was scattered, after the prophesied apostasy (2 Thes. 2)...Instead, these will stubbornly cling to their own ideas of how they believe God should teach them through their own organizations. This phase of the Fifth Thunder is one of my own choosing, which God has granted me as part of His own will and purpose for the Church (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92).

While I will not comment on the potential accuracy of the above statements, I will say that they are different than what Herbert W. Armstrong taught on those subjects (including that Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that it would take over 12 years to open the seals of Revelation, or that the First began this many years before the end, that a man will determine a phase of the Fifth Thunder, etc.). And speaking of Herbert W. Armstrong, here is what he wrote regarding the identity of the 144,000:

WHO Are the 144,000?

You have probably heard many interpretations. They are all in error. Men are unable to interpret this prophecy. The first thing to notice is that the TIME of the sealing of this 144,000 is yet in the future--it is after the Great Tribulation and the heavenly SIGNS, and just before the plagues of God's Judgments! It has not happened yet!

Second, this prophecy is plain, and means just what it says-- 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel--12,000 of each tribe. Where are they today? Where are the lost ten tribes?

But these 144,000 are not all! "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands... And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 13-14) (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at last!. WCG, 1972, p. 35).

In August 2008, Ronald Weinland announced another change, part of what he called "the 50th truth":

The 50th Truth

This truth concerns the revelation given by God of the actual timing that leads up to the return of Jesus Christ. The Church of God has long believed that Jesus would return as the King of kings on the Feast of Trumpets. This is not true! God has reserved this revelation, for this very end-time, to be revealed just prior to the actual date that serves as an announcement for the coming of His Son to reign over all the earth.

Thus, he admits that he again has changed doctrine--though he claims God did.

I should also state here that it was Jesus Himself who told the Philadelphians to:

Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (Revelation 3:11).

Hence, those who truly wish to follow Jesus should cling to the ideas, work, and practices that the Philadelphia church had, and not accept insults/threats from others to get them to change where they should not change.

Comments on Doctrinal Similarities

I have received emails from individuals without a Church of God background who are intrigued with some of the teachings that Ron Weinland has that are held by others in the COGs.

However, I caution those who are so intrigued to realize that there are other COG groups with much more of the truth than CG-PFK has.

Several articles of related interest may be:

Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church?
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther's writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Did you know that the doctrine of the offer of universal salvation is biblical?
Did The Early Church Millenarianism? Was a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium taught by the early Christians?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs, as well as to learn what the COGs are all about.

The 1335 Days Did Not Begin on February 2, 2008

On February 7, 2008, Ronald Weinland announced the following in a posted letter:

We are now feverishly trying to simply plan for the burst of activity that is coming our way over the next couple of months. We are there! As it was mentioned in this past Sabbath’s sermon, the final countdown has begun, as the 1335 days before the actual day Jesus Christ returns began on February 2, 2008…

Just over the last couple of months, the numbers of those God has brought to the Church has more than doubled our size. All indications are that over the next few weeks it will double again. Yet this is not about numbers, but it is about what God is doing at this end-time, and in a few months such numbers will be minor in comparison to those who God begins to call on a far greater scale worldwide…

Wayne Matthews is the presiding evangelist for Australia and New Zealand. Johnny Harrell is the presiding evangelist over the United States and Canada.

(Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Johnny Harrell above was also once part of the Worldwide Church of God then the United Church of God--he should not be confused with the 1970's militia leader with the same name.)

The seven year agreement with Israel referred to in Daniel 9:27 has not occurred yet--and since the 1290 days of Daniel 12:10 does not begin until the middle of this seven year agreement, it is not possible that the 1335 days could have began on February 2, 2008. The daily sacrifices (see Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:10) have not even started yet, hence it is not possible for the 1290 days of Daniel 12:10 to begin March 18, 2008 which is basically what Ronald Weinland is teaching.

If Jesus is to return in the Fall of some year (which is what Ronald Weinland teaches--and he is probably correct on that point--though he has the wrong year--he specifically teaches that the return will be September 29, 2011--and one of those times was his 3/15/08 sermon where he said. "September 29, 2011, Jesus Christ returns"), since the seven year agreement has not yet been made, the great tribulation basically cannot begin before 2012 (more on this is included in the article End of Mayan Calendar 2012--Might 2012 Mean Something?). Thus, Ronald Weinland's opinions of prophecy are again in conflict with scripture.

Although Ron Weinland claims to be faithful to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, he fails to realize what Herbert W. Armstrong taught about the beginning of the 1335 days:

And the abomination that maketh desolate set up." What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15...From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ's coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days." Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us--GOD"S CHURCH--who wait and endure until the 1335 days--approximately 1335 days prior to Christ's coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear--the revival of the medieval "Holy Roman Empire." (Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).

The organized work of proclamation has not stopped (even Ronald Weinland is not teaching that it has)--thus he has once again deviated from the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong on prophetic matters. Furthermore, the Bible supports Herbert W. Armstrong's position (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details).

Based upon February 2, 2008 allegedly beginning the 1335 days, this would mean that the 1290 days would begin on March 18, 2008 and the 1260 days on April 17, 2008. The abomination spoken of in Daniel 11:31 would need to be set up on March 18, 2008 as that begins the 1290 days and the Great Tribulation would need to begin on April 17, 2008 to begin the 1260 days. These two events were not (and are not) yet ready to occur (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details of that and other events that need to occur prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation).

Ronald Weinland teaches that the abomination occurred in 1994 and was spiritual:

The Abomination of Desolation
Look closely at what Jesus Christ said would follow after Mr. Armstrong finished his work. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso
reads, let him understand:) then let them who are in Judea flee into the mountains:” (Matthew 24:14-16).

Many prophecies have a “physical type” of fulfillment and a “spiritual type.”...

Only one man in this modern age was appointed—“set” in the Church of God. That man was Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. He had been given great trust and authority, but he betrayed Jesus Christ in the sermon he gave in Atlanta, Georgia on December 17, 1994. “Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing [“Showing” in the Greek means “to show forth, to expose to view, to reveal.”] himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). His actions exposed his rebellion...

After Mr. Tkach betrayed the trust placed in him by giving that defiant sermon in Atlanta, the Spiritual Temple of God became defiled. An abomination of unprecedented proportions had taken place within the Church...

Exactly 40 Sabbaths (to the day and very hour) after Mr. Tkach gave that sermon, he died. This was God’s own declaration. By taking his life, God revealed that Mr. Tkach was indeed the “son of perdition”—“the man of sin.” By this, God also revealed that the Church and the world had entered the end-time. This was finally the time, after 6,000 years, for end-time prophecies to be fulfilled. The process had begun. It all began on the same day Mr. Tkach gave his defiled sermon, but it was God who had to reveal it...

This also fulfilled other prophecies.“When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) then let them who are in Judea flee into the
mountains:” (Matthew 24:15-16). The fleeing that took place when the physical temple was destroyed was the “physical type”—fleeing into the mountains. Now came the “spiritual type.” It was time for spiritual Judea, the Church, to flee into the mountains...

The “abomination of desolation” that was about the destruction of the spiritual temple began when this seal was opened by Jesus Christ. The opening of this seal marks, reveals and actually announces the very beginning of the end-time. It reveals that a countdown has begun and Jesus Christ will soon return. It marks the beginning of great tribulation in this world. The end-time is already here. (Weinland R. The Prophesied End-Times, pp. 142, 146, 148, 150, 152).

Jesus specifically taught:

15 "...Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-16).

The above event did not occur in 1994, nor on February 2, 2008, nor March 18, 2008, nor April 17, 2008, nor did it occur on December 14, 2008 (nor any date in-between) despite various inaccurate statements from Ronald Weinland.

How can we be sure?

Because the one that Daniel spoke about was the King of the North:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

36 "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

40 "At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind..." (Daniel 11:31-40).

This could not have been Joseph Tkach. He simply did not fulfill the other prophecies related to the King of the North, nor was he the King of the North. Furthermore, the Tkach preaching incident occurred nearly 15 years ago. The 1335, 1290, and 1260 days would have long been over. And despite Ronald Weinland's two different dates (April 17 and December 14, 2008) for it to start, the Great Tribulation simply has not began yet.

Those following Ronald Weinland are being misled and need to open their eyes right now! They need to ignore his smooth talking and check out what the Bible really teaches happens on those days (check out the article Who is the King of the North? for more details of that and other events that need to occur prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation).

The 1335 Days Also Did Not Begin on September 30, 2008

On August 21, 2008, Ronald Weinland posted the following:

THUNDERS GROW STRONGER

August 21, 2008

First, before going into the purpose and content of this posting, I would like to announce that the 50th Truth has now been added to The 50 Truths of God that is in the “Publications” section of the Church website.

Postings to this site have been minimal since April…

There have been no interviews and the advertising being done on the Internet has been reduced dramatically…

Since things did not happen in the original time frame that was given because God had not given this 50th Truth, those who were responding solely out of fear and desire for self-preservation are no longer seeking God’s help. Those who are skeptics, critics and mockers have only grown bolder in their deceived and misguided confidence…

The reality is that all that has been given in the past will still come to pass, but simply a few months later than previously understood. As covered in the 50th Truth that has just been posted, on Trumpets of this year the final countdown for the return of Jesus Christ will have begun, but the world will not begin to respond to God until the Trumpets of the Seventh Seal begin to sound, and most will not begin to be earnest in their response until after the Fifth Trumpet has sounded…

One of the most astonishing events and loudest thunders since 9-11 is the conflict between Georgia and Russia…

The minds of peoples and leaders in ten European nations are now being molded so that one day soon they will agree to unite as the United States of Europe and it will be at that time that they determine to set their own course and control of the future—through immediate aggression in war. It will be this European union that plunges the whole world into war, and not Russia or the United States.

This is not a time to draw back, become slack, or let down from being spiritually on guard. Everything is rapidly moving forward, and on Trumpets of this year we will have entered the final 1335 days before the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the government of God over all the earth.

Actually, it is Ronald Weinland who has misguided confidence. He claimed that he and his wife were the two witnesses; that the 1335 days began on February 2, 2008; that the Great Tribulation would begin on April 17, 2008; that the USA would be nuked by June 8th (then changed to mid-July); and now he claims that the 1335 days will start on Trumpets (which is September 30, 2008).

The Bible did not support the start of the 1335 days on February 2, 2008 as I posted back then, nor does it support the 1335 days beginning on September 30, 2008 (which is what James Malm seems to be teaching–I denounced both Ronald Weinland and James Malm’s positions in 2007 see At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008, as well as throughout the year 2008).

Perhaps I should mention that Ronald Weinland never prophesied the Russia-Georgia situation as part of the coming thunders. He claimed that with the increasing thunders first COG leaders would die (none did); then the USA dollar would be worthless a little past April 2008 (it is worth perhaps more now, 12/7/08 than then); then his critics would be stricken and apparently die (none have as far as I can tell); then the nuclear attacks would affect the USA (this did not happen); then other countries would be involved.

Additionally, here is what the CGPFK website reports on Ronald Weinland's current timelines:

The truth is that none of the biblically required events for the 1335 days, 1290 days, nor 1260 days have happened yet, nor can they in 2008. For biblical reasons why, please see the articles Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? and Who is the King of the North?

People need to believe their Bibles over Ronald Weinland. The Bible is clear that Ronald Weinland is not one of God's true prophets. Notice what the Bibles recorded about prophets like Ronald Weinland:

21 “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’– 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

Ronald Weinland was wrong last time and is wrong this time! People do not heed him or fear what he says!

Despite His Claims, the 1260 Days Also Did Not Start on December 14, 2008

In a posted titled “1260 DAYS”, Ronald Weinland wrote:

December 13, 2008

…As I am writing today on the Sabbath (day 1261), this evening at sunset will begin the long awaited time of the final 1260 days that Daniel wrote about and wanted to see its fulfillment. Prophets and other teachers of God have longed for this day that we are blessed to see come to pass. We know that in a very short time this world will be God’s world and ruled by His Government.

1260 days is based on a time 360 days, plus times 720 days, plus a half a time 180 days–Daniel 12 mentions two other days, but numbers them as the 1290 days and the 1335 days (which Ronald Weinland declared began in November 14 and on September 30, 2008 respectively.

Of course, the 1260 days did not begin on December 14th.  If they did, notice some of what would have been fulfilled from the only two verses in Daniel that the “1260 days” come from (the only two that specifically mention “time, times, and half a time”):

25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:25).

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished (Daniel 12:7).

As nothing in those verses was fulfilled, so once again proves that Ronald Weinland is a false prophet.

Yet, if Ronald Weinland was correct (which he is not) either true Christians would have gone into the hand of the Beast power on the 14th (which they did not) or at least Ronald Weinland should have been forced off the internet (if we indulge him and indicate that he has something to do with “the holy people” as the internet is the only type of “power” his group seems to have).

But neither of those happened then.

Ronald Weinland, instead, is advising his followers to listen to him instead of paying attention to what the Bible says needs to happen:

The second trumpet, it is physical and it is spiritual...Much of what happens in the next 3 1/2 years is not about what happens on the earth...it is about Satan and his demons...It has been until today that some of these things have been revealed...And God will give more in time, but not today...

Revelation 8:1 "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour"...that started November 14th...So we recognize that prophetic time silence...Now everything is going to change in warfare...much of it is spiritual brethren...We are now past all the {seven} eras of the church...The last 30 days brought us to the 1260 days...The first four seals were all about the church...It is about a process and not an event...so much of this is not about something that is physical...All that will happen with this first trumpet has not been yet revealed...even the fifth and the sixth seal had to do with the church...physical things happened then too...

Rev 11 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Its all about humility. Some have asked about sackcloth..but its all about humility...

So the final end time is beginning.

(Weinland R. 1260 Days, Sermon in Jerusalem, December 13, 2008)

People around Ronald Weinland really need to read their Bibles and believe it above Ronald Weinland:

20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20).

Ronald Weinland is teaching contrary to the word of God–the testimony–there is no light in him.

The only thing that happened near the 14th was that Ronald Weinland ordained his wife Laura as a prophet (see news post Ronald Weinland Ordains His Wife). That did not fulfill anything related to the biblical start of the 1260 days as she is not one of the two witnesses.

Now the 1260 should have been the start of the Great Tribulation. Notice what Jesus taught about that:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:20-22).

Now while many are rightly concerned about the financial turmoil in the world today, the beginning of the greatest tribulation of all time simply has not began. In addition to the obvious where the saints were to be delivered into Beast power for persecution (Daniel 7:25), the world has had worse wars, worse famines, worse pestilences, and worse financial problems than this.

Even his church website teaches:

1260 Days: The blowing of the first Trumpet will occur/occurred on the 14th of December, 2008. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation and 3 1/2 years until the return of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost. The beginning of the fall of the USA and other Israelite countries begins from the start of the 1260 days (FAQ–Timeline Questions Answered.  viewed 2/25/09).

Yet, now Ronald Weinland wants to use a different term:

We're not calling it the great tribulation, it is the great tribulation, but it is not great, yet...We do set dates (Weinland R. Our Commission, Pt. 3. Sermon, February 21, 2009).

While we could be at the time that Jesus referred to as "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8, see also Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011?), the persecution that is to occur between that (vs. 9) and the Great Tribulation (vs. 21) did not happen. Thus it is NOT possible that the 1260s which starts with the Great Tribulation began when Ronald Weinland claimed that it did--despite the fact that he wants to indicate that it is not "great" yet.

Ronald Weinland clearly is in contradiction with the Bible when he claims that the Great Tribulation began then claims that it is not “Great”.  Can he not see that?

Of course, he made other errors and teaches some non-biblical doctrines--so no one who believes the Bible should follow him.

Does Ron Weinland Teach Unitarianism?

Ronald Weinland teaches unitarianism and that Jesus did not have a preexistence before His human birth.

Notice that in his booklet titled Time Has Run Out, Ronald Weinland wrote:

This restoration of truth, which occurred during the leadership of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong and the period of time we know as Philadelphia, should be an easy thing to acknowledge. Yes, God revealed foundational truth to His Church once again. This era kept His word and did not deny His name. Sardis was known for just the opposite- letting the word of God die out as they themselves were dying spiritually- denying the life of God to live in and through them.

Our history is a testimony to the truth that God used Mr. Armstrong to restore truth to His Church. Doors were opened by God that made this task possible- doors that no one could shut...

To deny that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was the Elijah to come before the end-time is either ignorant or willing denial of what is true concerning our history and what God did through him. It is God who restored necessary truth to the Church so that a people would be ready for the second-coming of Jesus Christ.

One of the foundation truths that Herbert W. Armstrong taught was that God is a family and that both the Father and the Son are God. Yet Ron Weinland denies the deity of Jesus. Ron Weinland teaches a form of Unitarianism and that Jesus did not pre-exist:

Although Mr. Armstrong understood that the Trinity was a lie, God did not give him full understanding of what was true concerning Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ. God did not fully lead him out from the pollution of the false Trinity doctrine. Mr. Armstrong still believed that Jesus Christ had eternally existed...

But there is only one eternally-existing member of Elohim and that is the ETERNAL ONE (Yahweh). Mr. Armstrong was never able to come to understand this about God. (2008 - God's Final Witness, pp. 204, 206).

Jesus Christ has not eternally existed (Weinland R. The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 2. Sermon, February 23, 2008--near 56 minute point).

Jesus Christ cannot be the Eternal One--ever! (Weinland R. The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4. Sermon, March 15, 2008--before the middle point).

Jesus Christ is not Yahweh Elohim (Weinland R. Our Commission, Pt. 3. Sermon, February 21, 2009--about the 1/3 point).

And while Ron Weinland is not mentioned, an article that comes to a different, and biblically supported opposite conclusion, is Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church?.

We in the Living Church of God do believe that the Word existed from eternity, that Jesus came in the flesh, and that Jesus is God (see Jesus is God, But Was Made Man).

Because we in LCG do believe the truth about Jesus, Ronald Weinland gave a sermon directed against our writings on February 28, 2009 in Lubbock, Texas (see Ronald Weinland Against Roderick Meredith on Christ). In it, he said that the those who wish to be part of true church now “are held accountable by God… “they must acknowledge this truth…this is foundational to them for repentance”.  How something this “new” can be considered as “foundational” then for repentance is another bizarre stretch by Ronald Weinland. Ronald Weinland further asserted that those who do not accept his teaching on Jesus from now on are "blind" and “have sealed their own fate”.

Notice what the Apostle Jude admonished Christians to do:

3... to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 3-4).

Ronald Weinland is claiming that a basic, FOUNDATIONAL (in his words), truth was not known until the 21st century. Ronald Weinland is clearly denying the truth about Christ. This is further proof that he relies on himself instead of the Bible and that he is one that Jude was warning against (warnings from the Apostle Peter also clearly apply to Ronald Weinland, see 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Ronald Weinland Interview on The Edge Radio on December 15, 2007

Ronald Weinland has repeatedly shown himself to be a false prophet and not reliable. One of the many times he made public statements that now are proof of this was on a radio interview on December 15, 2007.

Here is some of what Ron Weinland stated from my notes:

The proof is coming...

If it doesn't come to pass...starting in April, then I'm nothing but a false prophet...

Beginning in April, its important that people believe it...

What we're talking about happening in this country and around the world is a horrendous thing, it really is...

Things do start in 2008....It will be done by 2011...

There's already been six seals opened up...and the world is ignorant of it...The seventh seal they will know though...

The destruction of the United States, we are the first to suffer...I wouldn't want to be in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York...

By the fall of 2011, that's when Jesus Christ returns...

A little after April...a dollar bill won't be worth anything...We're going to be brought down the tubes, very quickly, starting in April...What happens when a nuclear weapon goes off in New York and Chicago?...

If we come to the point in time where what I've said doesn't come to pass, the reality is that I'm just a false prophet.  That's the bottom line...

The reality is if it doesn't happen, then you're just false...I'll acknowledge my error, my wrong, if I'm wrong...

The primary things...for the world...actually begin after April 2008...

The abomination of desolation has already happened...

By January 2009, we (the United States) will be down the tubes...

Ronald Weinland basically he also said that he would not follow Ellen White (SDA/LCG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 ) or others and recalculate an excuse or a different date, but that if it does not happen he when and how he says it, he will admit that he is a false prophet.  (In his The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4. Sermon, March 15, 2008 he stated that the seventh seal would be opened on March 18, 2008).

Comparing world events to what Jesus and Daniel taught that the "abomination of desolation" has NOT already happened:

Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matt 24:15-16).

And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11).

In his 2/23/08 sermon, Ronald Weinland stated that we were "getting close to the 1290" days (referring to 3/18/08), hence he since he teaches that the "abomination of desolation has already already happened" this is one more area that he is into allegory over the plain teachings of the Bible. Thus, he and his followers do NOT understand what they read even though Jesus told His followers to understand this.

The interviewer for The Edge also asked Ron Weinland about Wormwood hitting the earth and Ron Weinland actually said:

There's not going to be any planet that will hit the earth.

The Bible teaches otherwise (although it is probably more of a comet than a planet):

Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter (Revelation 8:10-11).

Ronald Weinland, in that interview, as well as many of his other writings "spiritualizes" away many literal teachings of the Bible, specifically including statements in the Book of Revelation (more on Wormwood can be found in the news item Comet Coming: Is One Prophesied to Hit the Earth?). 

The interviewer also asked who the second of the two witnesses is.  And Ronald Weinland stated:

I can't tell until April 2008.

On page 16 of his book, 2008 - God's Final Witness, here is another Ron Weinland prophecy:

The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation... 

Thus, he falsely claimed that the Great Tribulation would begin in April 2008--and that was not so (please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008). 

The interviewer asked Ron Weinland what made him different than the prophecy books in bookstores and his two word reply was "April 2008".

While my notes do not have precise quotes of everything stated, Ron Weinland indicated that he does not believe in a place of safety, that the nuclear attack on the USA might happen in mid-April 2008, and that no place of earth will be safe for long. He basically said that the only thing that people can do is study and repent--and while I do believe that people should study and repent, the Bible does show that some will be protected (please see the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

He also indicated that although he believes Europe and the Pope will be involved in the attack against the USA, that he does not believe in a final Antichrist.  Ronald Weinland stated that he will not go to Jerusalem in 2008 and that some reject him as one of the witnesses because of that (but he did go to Jerusalem in April 2008--hence this is another time he broke his word). 

Although I believe that David Pack of the Restored Church of God is also busily fulfilling the following, it also, in my opinion, specifically applies to Ronald Weinland who denies the pre-existence of Jesus:

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Sadly, false prophets, false apostles, and other false teachers continue to arise and make it so people simply will blaspheme the way of truth that we in the Living Church of God teach. Unlike those of us in the Living Church of God who believe Jesus is God, Ronald Weinland is also "unitarian"--hence he truly does deny the truth about the Lord. 

The external signs are just not in place for these occurrences that soon (for some specific reasons, please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).

Ron Weinland is in error in many points, including his assertion that the abomination of desolation has already recently been fulfilled (details of Daniel 11 prophecies, including the "abomination of the desolation" are included in the article Who is the King of the North?).

In towards the end of the 12/15/07 interview, Ronald Weinland was asked:

What do you see as a requirement for salvation? Be clear and to the point, please.

Ronald Weinland's answer began with:

Obey God. Ahh, it starts with the Sabbath day.

After explaining a little bit of the difficulties associated with keeping Saturday as opposed to Sunday, Ronald Weinland's answer ended with:

You obey God or you obey man.

Of course, one should obey God. But what about accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. Peter taught:

Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:38-39).

Ronald Weinland's lack of mentioning Jesus in a direct question about salvation above was disturbing:

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Instead Ronald Weinland basically stated that Sabbath-keeping was THE salvation issue--and while people should keep the Sabbath (please see the article The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad)--it appears that Ronald Weinland's focus is off regarding salvation. I feel that his answer reflected poorly upon faithful Sabbath-keepers as we certainly do believe that Jesus Christ is central to salvation.

(In his The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4 sermon of March 15, 2008, he essentially claimed that Sabbath-keeping and tithing were the two signs his ministers look at to determine if someone wanting to be baptized should be--his focus will sadly cause "the way of truth will be blasphemed" as 2 Peter 2:2 foretells.)

When the interviewer asked Ronald Weinland how God spoke to him to let him know that he was a prophet and/or one of the two witnesses, Ronald Weinland basically stated because of special insight through the Spirit while he studied the Bible.

Notice, however, what the Bible teaches:

If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream (Numbers 12:6).

Yet Ronald Weinland made no such claim. Although elsewhere he has claimed to have direct revelation from God, he has not (as far as I have seen) claimed a specific vision or a dream from God--nor did he do that when asked in the interview--thus this is even further evidence that Ronald Weinland is NOT one of the two witnesses, nor God's prophet. 

The Thunders That Ronald Weinland Claims Were Opened

In the interview 12/15/07, Ronald Weinland essentially stated that no religious person predicted the 9/11 attack or the Sumatra-Andamon earthquake and related tsunami of December 26, 2004, yet they act like these were acts of God, but that somehow Ron Weinland is different as he has specific predictions in his books in advance--and some others only claimed that they were God's punishment after they occurred.

There are two problems with that.  The first is that he claims that the seven thunders were revealed to him, that 9/11 was the first thunder, and that earthquakes (and he specifically mentions the Sumatra-Andamon earthquake) were the second. 

Yet, he did not predict them in advance--even though in his book he wrote:

The Seven Thunders have much to do with how God will reveal His two witnesses (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 91).

And what about his statement indicating that no other religious leader told of them before they occurred?

In his 8/04/01 sermon (five weeks before the World Trade Center attack and around 8 weeks before anthrax was detected), Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God warned that terrorists may bomb the World Trade Center and that biological weapons, specifically including anthrax, could be released in the U.S. at any time (Prophetic Prophecies on the Edge, San Diego, August 4, 2001)--and Roderick C. Meredith was correct.

R.C. Meredith wrote in his Personal for the Jan-Feb 2005 issue of Tomorrow's World magazine (which he wrote and had printed before the December 26, 2004 tsunami), bolding mine,

Events prophesied in your Bible are now beginning to occur with increasing frequency. In this Work of the living God, we are able to warn you about what is going to happen soon. We are not talking about decades in the future. We are talking about Bible prophecies that will intensify within the next five to 15 years of your life! Please understand. We are not "scaremongers." We love our fellow man. So it is our responsibility to warn our peoples—ahead of time—to prepare for the future. Most of our advice is spiritual in nature. However, in this editorial I want to give you some common sense advice involving your physical survival and your financial well-being...So we must each examine our own situation to determine what action we should take. Are we living in a low-lying coastal area where we may be in danger at a time of increasing hurricanes, tsunamis or similar natural disasters?

And the largest tsunami in recent history occurred.  The fact is that Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God warned of terrorist strikes less than two months of 9/11/01 and wrote warning about a tsunami in late 2004--hence it would seem that the Living Church of God, and not Ronald Weinland should have more credibility here. (I should perhaps emphasize the fact that R.C. Meredith does not claim to be a prophet--he simply wrote that these things would occur according to his understanding of the Bible and its prophecies.)   

Thus, if Ronald Weinland's statement about the thunders is to be believed, it would seem that he is inadvertently teaching that the Living Church of God will be the group that will be able to identify the two witnesses as it, and not he, actually taught about terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center towers and a possible tsunami before those events occurred.

In Ronald Weinland's Last Sermon of 2007, He Also Stated He Would Admit that He was False

The Shadows of WCG blog posted part of a transcript of a sermon from Ronald Weinland’s sermon titled Stay the Course, Part 1, which he gave the end of 2007.

Here is what it reported that Ronald Weinland himself stated:

“I wanna speak very plainly and try to speak openly about some of these things…

You know, one of the things as well, what if Ron Weinland, what he says doesn’t come to pass in April, what if these things don’t happen in 2008. I think about, you know, what have I said in interviews? There’s really a simple answer. False prophet. You know, I get tons of email, I get email every day from people saying, “Well I guess in 2009,” a lot of sarcasm comes out, “I guess you’re gonna be saying this or saying that or trying to explain to people”, No, I’m done.

Just to be real candid with you so people know and people out there listening who don’t believe this at all, they’re listening because they have a different intent, because they know someone else is listening with a different intent then them, again, that’s the only answer, that’s why I answer like I do during the interviews.

There were many times that Ronald Weinland claimed that he would tell the truth and admit he was false if events he predicted did not come to pass. Yet, when they did not, he instead changed his dates and failed to keep his word.

That makes him a liar and a false prophet.

Has Ronald Weinland not read the 15th Psalm? Notice that God shows that the man He approves keeps his word even if it hurts to do so:

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, 4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD,who keeps his oath even when it hurts, 5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. NIV

Ronald Weinland has not done so and does not have the approval of God.

I believe that the Facts Prove that Ronald Weinland is a False Prophet

While Ron Weinland apparently believes what he says, I consider him to be both delusional and a false prophet. After thinking about what Ron Weinland wrote in his latest book, I noticed that he seems to be praying for the deaths of the leadership of LCG, PCG, RCG, CGG, and UCG to show that he is one of the two witnesses. Notice the string of quotes (any bolding his) of Ronald Weinland prophecies:

This first phase of this Fifth Thunder has already begun in a very small way upon the Church of God that was scattered,
after the prophesied apostasy (2 Thes. 2)...Instead, these will stubbornly cling to their own ideas of how they believe God should teach them through their own organizations. This phase of the Fifth Thunder is one of my own choosing, which God has granted me as part of His own will and purpose for the Church (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92)...

#5 The Fifth Thunder is death (p. 100)...

Perhaps that is not what he is saying, but he seems to be teaching that if they do not die by early 2008, he (Ron Weinland) is a false prophet. Stay tuned as I suspect that I will eventually post more about why Ron Weinland is in error. I also believe that it is presumptuous for him to state that he can choose when some phase of the fifth trumpet will begin.

Notice what the Bible teaches:

...when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:22).

An article of related interest may be Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders?

His March 29, 2008 Sermon Claimed Destruction by June 8th, 2008

Notice what Ronald Weinland taught in a sermon given March 29, 2008:

If by Pentecost I’m just going to make this real clear to everyone. If by Pentecost it is not powerfully and abundantly clear that there has been a great deal of destruction that will clearly encompass a third of all plant life in the US and at least the clear results of this mingled with blood the death of very much animal life and the beginning of large numbers of human life then I will stop preaching. Just so all the critics and everyone out there will understand. I am true to my word in these things. OK? And for all the critics if by the end of July and for most likely around Pentecost if nothing has clearly caused great destruction and death I will make it very clear that I was a false prophet. I will do exactly what I said I would do on all of those interviews that I have held; to do less, aah well, would be quite insane. (Weinland R. Three More Weeks--quote from near the 1 hour 28 minute point from the CGPFK website version. Sermon given March 29, 2008).

Since Pentecost in 2008 was June 8th, by mid-June Ronald Weinland was to stop preaching according to his own words.

And by mid-July 2008 apologize and publicly admit his error.

Instead on April 19th, he pronounced curses on his critics and by April 26th, he changed one date. And by late June 2008, he changed his dates. And in August 2008, he declared his ideas about critics to be the "50th truth" he restored to the church.

Ronald Weinland's April 26, 2008 Sermon Claimed No Destruction by June 8th, 2008?

On April 26, 2008, Ronald Weinland preached the following:

Now that we’ve gone past the 17th, God has made a few things clear or clearer,

... So, we don’t know.  We will have to wait until God shows us. And that’s exactly how things are going to go all the way through this process. We’re going to know as we go along here a little more specifically, on some timing, I’ll discuss these things later on, again

... God has made it abundantly clear, and it’s also posted on the site, I want to clear some of this up, I’ve talked about the 45 days and the 90 days, that was done on the James Whale show, primarily to give an idea here on the general timing of events for his sake and the listening audience, we see how quickly he got onto that one, I’m joking, he didn’t, he never could get it, toward the very end I think he finally got it, you know, when I was saying 45 to 90 days. I want to make it real clear. Nothing will happen specifically about the second trumpet obviously until after Pentecost

...but uh, it is very clear that we will not have anything happen on a massive scale to prevent us from coming together on Pentecost (Weinland Ronald. Back to the Future. Sermon, April 26, 2008, given in Detroit Michigan).

Obviously, he has made changes to his teachings in the past month and is obviously now a false prophet.

Ronald Weinland Interview on The Mike McConnell Show Radio on April 7, 2008

Ronald Weinland made many public statements which were clearly false. Something that one who claims to be speaking for God would not make and then later change. Another example of this occurred in a radio interview on April 7, 2008.

The Weinland Watch blog typed a transcript which reported the statements in writing (which I verified by listening to the radio interview myself today).  Here is some from that transcript (without any added blogger comments): 

Mike McConnell (MM): And why would you have to be in Israel or why would you choose to be in Israel?

Ronald Weinland (RW): Well I’m going to be there when this all begins on April the 17th because that’s where my job begins and that’s where my job ends. It’s just uh something that I’m to do at this particular point in time…

MM: When you come back would you expect to be able to tell us what you saw, heard, or in any way witnessed that signaled the beginning of the end?

RW: Uh well certainly there we should be able to know very quickly here what’s beginning to take place um. That is the first trumpet that’s blown and it begins to talk about a period of time that this could trigger is going to have a third of everything as far as grass, trees, and so forth burn up um. Obviously then that has a tremendous effect then on agriculture and what that means for the rest of the world right now there’s a rice shortage and grain prices are shooting up there are shortages and it’s uh just the beginning it’s the first thing that begins to happen.

MM: I guess based on weather patterns there is a shortage of something every year isn’t that safe to say?

RW: Oh absolutely. But this is gonna get into the point where it’s so great it’s so strong so powerful that uh this is this is not a small thing this is going to upset a lot of people as as well as uh as well as animals and the like. It’s not a small thing. And by the time you get to the second trumpet it’s even gonna be more devastating and at that point in time there it uh definitely seem to indicate there’s gonna be nuclear weapons go off but I I really some of these things as far as the four seals exactly what they are uh specifically when the nuclear weapons go off and the like uh that’s what my job actually begins April the 17th that’s when I begin my job.

MM: Right then when would the second trumpet come following the first?

RW: Well there’s a period of forty-five days to ninety days that God hasn’t revealed yet and that could very well depend upon people’s response. To what’s taking place. Whether they listen whether they don’t how they respond to things that begins taking place in the first trumpet uh blast takes place so. Uh there’s a period of forty-five days uh that takes us up to about uh the beginning of June and the second trumpet could go at that time or it could take us up to uh a little bit later. Mid-July or even later than that.

MM: Likely June or July.

RW: Uh very likely very likely June or July.

MM: We should see we’ll see dramatic changes between now, now and June or July.

RW:Absolutely. Yeah there’s there’s not gonna be a question in people’s minds when these things begin. These are not gonna be normal things that just happen as a uh consequence of what normal weather patterns or things of that nature there that uh this is going to be of…intensity. It’s not’s going to be a small thing. These are going to be very widespread things that begin to take place.

MM: Well what’s likely to happen and I know this sounds facetious but I’m not. But if anything were to happen they’d just blame it on global warming.

RW: Well the first time they will but when uh nuclear weapons go off they can’t blame that on uh global warming. During this first stage the forty-five days to ninety days that’s exactly what people will do. You’re exactly right . But after that period of time it’s going to it’s going to change dramatically as things of terrorism begin to take place in this country because we have four trumpets that are going to take place here over six months to a year’s period of time and as they take place it’s going to bring this, the United States here to demise. We are we are not we are at our end as far as our country is concerned. I’ve made many comments on different interviews here that we may be able to scrounge together having elections in November but there will not be a new president take office in January…

RW: I wrote the book. And God gave an outline for various things he was very you know there were things very specific there about 2008 uh dates and so forth when things beginning the process uh just like by the time we get to the fifth trumpet we know exactly what’s going to happen that’s when Europe arises. That’s when Europe is given the power they’re given. They fill a vacuum that the United States leaves because we’re going to have an economic collapse here. We’re right at the brink of that anyway. And uh things are trying to hold on as best they can but the reality is this time they’re not gonna be able to hold on. We are going to have a collapse here this year. Before the year is over with we’re gonna have an economic collapse. The Euro has already replaced the dollar as far as strength and power in the world is concerned. And people are starting to move a little bit over there. But they’re panicking too because you know China starts moving over… what they do you know they’ll cut their own throats so. You know it’s it’s difficult for countries out here right now but when we finally collapse uh it’s all said and done and Europe arises and they’re gonna be ten nations in Europe.

MM: Right. You you say that’s when your job starts. What is your job?

RW:Well my job starts April the 17th.

MM: Right. And your job is what?

RW: I am one of the individuals the scripture refers to as one of the two end-time witnesses. One of god’s two end-time prophets.

MM: And you know who the other one is and you won’t reveal it until that point in time?

RW: Yeah next week.

MM: Next week?

RW: Yeah. It’s because it’s not something that’s to be given until that specific time publicly so.

MM: All right is this other person someone you know?

RW: Oh absolutely.

MM: So what uh it could be like your wife or something?

RW: Well. It’ll be announced at that time…

RW: If it doesn’t pan out the only thing I would do is uh . So if I responded to anything at all was to explain to people I was a false prophet that’s the only answer. That I’m no longer a minister.

MM: So if by Labour Day we’re still having a picnic.

RW: Well then I’m I’m through.

MM: Then you would find a different line of work.

RW: Absolutely…

MM: And do you know which cities are going to be nuked?

RW: Well uh, I’ve said many a time here I wouldn’t want to live in New York city or Chicago or LA and uh Houston Texas especially some of those areas uh the larger cities uh those are the primary targets.

MM: And this is something going on between us and Russia? Or us and who?

RW: No, this is uh, some of it’s going to be a matter of terrorism. But even after the terrorism uh actually Europe’s going to uh send a few our way as well. They’re uh we’re gonna be conquered that’s a part of the processes. By the time the fifth trumpet sounds we are going to be conquered by Europe…

Ronald Weinland earlier made it sound like nearly everything would happen in February through April 2008, then it appears that he gave himself more time. But even that did not help him as his prophecies have continually proven false. The fact that Barack Obama became President of the United States on January 20, 2009 should be clear proof on that point. And the fact that USA cities were not nuked in 2008 should be proof enough for the others.

People need to check out what he says and compare that to the Bible and actual world events.  Including things that biblically should have happened if Ronald Weinland was correct that simply did not.

The fact is that Ronald Weinland is already a false prophet. (For a detailed discussion of Daniel 11, showing events that need to come to pass, but have not yet happened, please study the article Who is the King of the North?)

James Whale Interview April 10th, 2008

Ronald Weinland made a few other bold, but false, claims in an interview on April 10th, 2008.

Here are some excerpts (they are reasonably accurate and came from my notes) from an interview with talkSPORT Radio in London:

James Whale (JW): You are actually saying, Ronald, within the next uhm 50 to 60 days, is that right?

Ronald Weinland (RW): In that time frame.

JW: There will be a nuclear device detonated on this planet?

RW: In the United States.

JW: In the United States?

RW: Yes…The first thing that will happen will be in the port cities…

{Insert–Ronald Weinland then basically stated that nuclear attack would be the “second trumpet” and affect port cities like Houston and this would be 45-90 days from now, as opposed to 50-60 days.  He said that land nuclear attacks would occur with the third trumpet.}

JW: Starting next Thursday…next Thursday, we will see something in the news?

RW: Yes…and it’s going to be quite strong.

I watched news events on and for April 17th did not see what was biblically supposed to happen at the beginning of the 1260 days (which Ronald Weinland stated starts April 17th, 2008) happen then. 

I have been looking forward to Ronald Weinland’s false prophet admissions since he brought up that subject in an interview in December 2007.  However, he seems to keep delaying the date, and therefore he seems to have delayed when he might make that type of admission.  But the above statement seems to really box him in.

The talkSPORT interview continued and JW then asked something about the Pope to which Ron Weinland replied:

RW: Starting April 17th, he will not be happy…Everything I’m going to say is going to be about the Pope and the Catholic Church and what they have done to this world and traditional Christianity…

JW: Let’s suppose that none of this…nothing has happened…

RW: If things do not by mid-June very clearly so, I will make it clear that I was a false prophet and I will never preach again…

JW…Antichrist…

RW…people confuse Antichrist...he is not a single individual, like the Pope or something...

the great false prophet...that has to do with the Catholic Church…He is going to be saying…He is going to be given special powers beginning April 17th when he is in Washington. D.C.

(Ronald Weinland is incorrect about the Antichrist, but he is correct that the great false prophet will be a religious leader--and probably will be what one could call an "antipope" as the false prophet will most likely endorse a more ecumenical view of Greco-Roman Catholicism--for more information, please see the articles Some Doctrines of Antichrist and Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).

So, Ronald Weinland claimed that he would admit he is a false prophet by mid-June 2008--I personally doubted that he would, and so posted that in this article previously. And of course, he once again failed to keep his word.

But even if with his many delays, time is running out for Ronald Weinland. And I believe that the lack of his prior prophecies coming to pass in accordance with what the Bible teaches demonstrates to those willing to see, that he is already a false prophet.

Ronald Weinland Declared His Wife the Second Witness

For a long while, Ronald Weinland would not state who his second witness was. But this changed.

Notice what Ronald Weinland posted on 4/18/08:

The Seventh Seal has been opened and now the First Trumpet has been blown…

Having said that, more will be said in the months to come, but now is the time to publicly reveal the name of the second end-time witness. It is my wife Laura. We are a family through whom God will be working to bring an end to this age and setting the stage (and much more) for the age to follow. Many will mock and ridicule, but as we go forward, this time God will place fear in those who mock Him and His servants. Power has been given to make this so.

The glory and the honor is to God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ. And His Kingdom is almost here.

I had suspected that Ronald Weinland would name his wife as the second witness.  It may be of interest to note that in his latest letter, Ronald Weinland never mentioned any actual outside event that showed that the Great Tribulation has began. And of course, the Great Tribulation DID NOT begin yet.

At most, we are close to what Jesus referred to as "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8), which preceded the "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:21). The Great Tribulation will be much worse than current news events.

Ronald Weinland Again Spiritualized Away Events With His 4/19/08 Sermon

Strangely, Ronald Weinland’s pre-recorded 4/19/08 church service begins with the hymn titled “In thy loving kindness Lord”. He titled his sermon It Has Begun–the 1260 Days Have Begun.

The reason that this is so strange, is that instead of loving kindness, basically Ronald Weinland calls for the death of those who point out why he is wrong.

Here are some statements from it from my notes:

We are in Jerusalem…it has been very, very, nice hear….the Harrells are with us…

Everyone has done quite well here…This sermon is filled with power and strength, if you have ears to hear…

All of this is from God…

For those of you who want to mock, I do forewarn you, you are going to cease or you will die…You see, I have a unique job and you don’t understand what that job is…You don’t understand…

You don’t understand the power of God and what He has given me to do…

And my first exercise in use of power, that God has granted me in Revelation 11, is to you, you mockers…Truly.

It begins with you, first and foremost.

You will be the first to experience…You don’t have to wait long.

For those who mock, again, from this day forward, by what you say against God’s people, by what you say against God’s truth, by what you say against God’s truths, by what you say against God’s prophets, you will suffer from sickness that will eat you from the inside out. And you will die. Your death will not be quick…

So now according to Ronald Weinland, those who point out why he is wrong do not understand and thus he calls for their deaths.

As shown earlier in this paper, Ronald Weinland has a history of calling for death. And apparently those he is calling “mockers” are now to die first, before the others whose deaths he called for 2 years ago.

I, however, am NOT a mocker. I am asking people to compare Ronald Weinland’s claims with the Bible, world events, and even his prior claims.

If anyone will honestly do that, they will conclude that Ronald Weinland is a false prophet.

Nothing happened in Jerusalem on April 17th that began the 1260 days. Nothing happened anywhere in the world that fulfilled the 1335 days nor 1290 days (which were supposed to be February 22, 2008 and March 18, 2008, respectively, according to Ronald Weinland’s earlier pronouncements).

Since nothing happened, notice what else Ronald Weinland also claimed later in that same sermon:

April 17th, 2008…

You haven’t understood what was written in my book…

God began to give me what the 17th was all about…I received strength, confidence, boldness…an absolute knowing…I know my job and I’m doing it, because it started on the 17th…

So on the day of the 17th, I knew what would happen on the world scene that most people are looking for. Nothing, nothing and that is the whole point. The world doesn’t know what to look at, what to to look for, so they must be told…

My job as an end-time witness, began on the 17th…

Having said that, more will be said in the months to come, but now is the time to publicly reveal the name of the second end-time witness. It is my wife Laura. We are a family through whom God will be working to bring an end to this age and setting the stage (and much more) for the age to follow. Many will mock and ridicule, but as we go forward, this time God will place fear in those who mock Him and His servants. Power has been given to make this so…

The second book–GOD gave me what to write as I wrote…It is about the will of God…

It has begun…

The trumpet is two-fold. It is physical and it is spiritual…

Two great events happened on the 17th…But the world doesn’t grasp…The scattered church doesn’t see it yet it.

What are those two great events?…

The revelation of both of God’s two end-time witnesses…that’s a great event that began on the 17th…

And the 17th marked the identifying and the beginning of Satan’s direct power and influence of a great false prophet, the Pope of the Roman Catholic church.

So basically, Ronald Weinland seems to be saying that because he believes he is one of the two witnesses, that he received confidence on April 17, 2008. And that this is the event that marks the beginning of the 1260 days, per Revelation 11.  He also said basically what I said he would about Pope Benedict (see news item April 17th is Not the Start of the Tribulation).  (I should perhaps also add that I do not believe that Pope Benedict XVI is the great false prophet that the Book of Revelation warns against–nor do I believe that Satan’s influence over the Pope increased on April 17th.)

But what about all the other events? What about people fleeing Jerusalem before the start of the 1260 days of the great tribulation per Jesus statements in Matthew 24? Of the saints given into the hand of the pompous one per Daniel 7:25-27?

Instead, Ronald Weinland is claiming that the Bible simply should not be looked to, but that people who do not understand how Ronald Weinland is trying to explain HIS book are those with the problem.

How sad.

Ronald Weinland continues to "spiritualize away" physical events and apparently now claims that the only physical event to occur on April 17th, 2008 was that he and his wife Laura received the confidence and power to be the two witnesses.

Ronald Weinland is sadly still fulfilling 2 Peter 2:

2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Ronald Weinland is causing the way of truth to be blasphemed.

People who listen to Ronald Weinland need to stop being misled by one who primarily calls for death and ignoring the Bible, as world events have not gone as the Bible shows they must.

Ronald Weinland Claimed in His 5/03/08 Sermon that He is NOT a Future Teller

One of the anti-COG sites reported that Ronald Weinland actually stated the following in his 5/03/08 Sermon:

Much of what we’re going through at this time is not easy for the church, I know, because it hasn’t been real easy for me, so I know it has to be some times that it hasn’t been easy for all of you as well…

Today’s sermon is simply entitled, “April 17th”. April 17th. It’s good we go back and revisit some of that and think about some of those things.

Brethren, whether we understand it or not, that will prove to be a most important day in history. It truly is…

So as we go forward, again, I can only give to you what God gives to me. I am not a fortune teller, and I’m not a future teller.

Well, in all due respect, Ronald Weinland has for the past couple of years portrayed himself as the one God has chosen (along lately with his wife) to specify what would happen in the future.  And April 17th will mainly be an important day to Ronald Weinland because its stigma will remain with him the rest of his life–April 17th was NOT the start of the 1260 days like Ronald Weinland still falsely teaches.

The scriptural passage that I would like to mention here would be the following:

21 “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’– 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

As I have been writing for years, Ronald Weinland is a false prophet and is NOT one of God’s two witnesses.

May 24th Sermon - CGPFK Will Continue Even If Ronald Weinland's Predictions Do Not Come To Pass

Interestingly, CGPFK's Ronald Weinland gave a sermon in Cincinnati that was titled the Final 3/12 Years. It is amazing because he still then kept teaching that the final 3 1/2 years began on April 17, 2008.

Instead of the Bible, his sermon is focused on chapter 5 of his book 2008: God's Final Witness. He said that "we obviously did not understand all of this" before. He meant that when he wrote the 2008 book that he said would prove that God appointed him a prophet and one of the two witnesses was not quite accurate.

He claimed that the 30 minutes silence in heaven (presumably he was referring to Revelation 8:1) "took us up to April 17th and the beginning of the 1260 days".

He stated that the first trumpet was blown on April 17th. And essentially he said that God's plan is to have had little happen. But that April 17th was the day that Satan's influence began over the Pope. He indicated that "this period has not been enjoyable for the church"--by this I believe he means that nothing really has happened.

Instead he stated that the stage has been set for the end. He then, in yesterday's sermon, said:

"It's hard to understand...

It will come exactly the way God intends...and you will learn more from the process...I am in awe how prideful and haughty human beings are...

Amazing, amazing, amazing...

Many will not listen to the truth. Many will not act upon the truth...

The bottom-line is that mankind does not want the truth...but they do want signs...

Those who want to see a sign are evil and adulterous...it's a matter of the truth...

You want a sign? You have already had a sign."

His focus should have been the Bible. Because it is clear what should have happened by now. Specific signs that simply have not happened.

At the beginning of his sermon May 24th, Ronald Weinland mentioned that 6 were baptized into his church within the past week. He later stated in that sermon:

"The tree is known by the fruit...People don't like to remember these things."

Well, this is the same Ronald Weinland whose church posted the following in mid-March 2008:

Questions and Answers

As God continues to open the minds of increasing numbers of people, we have come to a time when we are no longer able to handle the growing volume of e-mail and letters. We do not have the resources or manpower to continue answering all questions, therefore, we are compelled to respond by sending “Form Letters.” Those who are genuine about their calling will follow the instruction that is given and will receive the kind of help necessary to properly respond to God.

Over the weeks and few months that follow, God will begin drawing millions to His truth and to repentance. As God does this, it is not His will that people question what He is giving, but that people search out what He has so mercifully made available to them.

His "fruits" are not consistent with fulfilling his own prediction. 6 baptized in one week, two months after his church posted that there would be millions in the next weeks and few months is not much. Actually, to a large degree, he and his wife are self-appointed witnesses that are witnessing to relatively few--even at this stage.

If you attend with his church, are there multiple tens or hundreds of thousands actually with him?

He did state that when he was interviewed by James Whale and said that the nuclear attacks would begin in 45 to 90 days that,

"the 45 days ends on June 1st, the 90 days ends on Jul 16th...No matter what happens then, CGPFK will continue...Johnny and ... will be very busy then".

Ronald Weinland Admitted That What He Taught Did Not Happen, But that He and His Group Will Continue

On June 18, 2008, Ronald Weinland, in writing, admitted that what he had been telling people was not happening (it was posted on June 19, 2008). Notice:

Some have asked why there have not been any recent postings on this site. The answer is, I have had nothing pertinent to report. I have been doing what others are doing: “waiting.”

I do not believe that Ronald Weinland is following God. I believe that he is delusional and that he badly wants to have a following still.

In a sermon on June 21, 2008 titled "Following God", Ronald Weinland said that nothing would happen between now and July 16th--meaning that he no longer believes what he once insisted upon. He admitted that he was wrong and presumptuous, but then still repeatedly claimed to be God's prophet.

Ronald Weinland also stated that on September 30, 2008 he would have more information to share (apparently on prophetic matters) and that the purpose and plan will become more exciting. He said “wait, for it will all come together on that day…things that will dumbfound you–dumbfounded me”.

Hopefully, people will open up their eyes. NO one should keep following this obviously false prophet.

Under Criminal Investigation by the I.R.S. in 2008

One website had the following about Ronald Weinland:

Ronald Weinland is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Internal Revenue Service. They are looking into his taxes beginning with tax year 2004 and including all of years since. An investigation by the IRS CID should not be confused with a more common taxpayer audit.

The IRS CID is described:
“The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is the IRS police department. With the help of the court system, CID puts people in jail. They don’t wear uniforms like police, but they carry gold badges and guns like police. If somebody says they are from CID of the IRS, you or somebody you know is under criminal investigation and may go to jail.”

I contacted website that posted the above, and its webmaster sent me many documents that certainly look real–and I do appreciate his cooperation on this matter (Ronald Weinland did eventually seem to admit this was true).

Having seen those documents, it seems that the IRS is conducting some type of a criminal investigation of Ronald Weinland. He, in his 12/6/08 sermon, indicated that he had put money in Euros in a Swiss bank to protect it so he could do some work in Europe. But now that this was not needed, he would bring it back to advertising for the internet.

Of course, just being audited by the IRS, including the criminal portion may or may not be significant as (from what I read in other sources) the IRS is deciding to use their criminal arm more and more even when it is uncalled for–especially for Americans who tend to go overseas somewhat frequently–which Ronald Weinland does (and that of itself is not criminal nor should it be discouraged).

But this audit does suggest another possible problem for Ronald Weinland.

But even if he has no real problem with the I.R.S. (and presuming he will be cleared, he would not), the fact is that Ronald Weinland is not God’s prophet and is a false leader that should not be listened to. My concerns about him have always been primarily theological.

Ronald Weinland's "The 50 Truths of God"

Instead of coming clean and admitting he is a false prophet like he promised he would, instead Ronald Weinland has been coming up with a variety of delusional doctrines.

He calls these false doctrines truths. He announced the finalization of his list on August 21, 2008.

Here is number 46:

The Church of God- PKG is the only physical organization God is working with in this end-time. God has always worked through a hierarchical method of government, especially at this end-time. There was one end-time apostle during the era of Philadelphia, and this apostle led the only physical organization that God worked through for His Church. Likewise, there is one prophet who leads God's Church today...

I do not believe that the only physical organization that God could be working through would have a proven false prophet lead it.

Here are parts of number 50:

3) God is also going to reveal the perverted attitude and spirit of all who mock Him, His Church, and His servants. Those who scoff, criticize, ridicule, and mock God’s Church have used the occasion of this revelation to find fault with God’s Church for changing doctrine (as they see it) and timing in order to better suit their own false needs. Such critics foolishly and unwittingly put themselves in a position of judging God. The very thing they mock is the very thing that will end up being used to mock them. God is revealing the kind of hatred that has existed in the hearts of men and women toward Him and His people for nearly 6,000 years now.

4) As part of a direct relationship to the previous point, this very thing that scoffers and mockers try to use to discredit God’s end-time prophet and two witnesses is one of the very things that God will use (in a far greater way) to prove who it is through whom He is working. In reality, the fulfillment of the 50th Truth will be great evidence of God’s true servants and the events that reveal the fulfilling of this truth will put mockers and scoffers to shame.

I also do not believe that pointing out why he is false possibly mocks God. Does Ronald Weinland not realize that the Bible teaches:

20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' 21 "And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'-- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:19-22).

According to God's word, Ronald Weinland is a false prophet and we should be looking to see that what he claimed did not come to pass. He needs to repent or God may strike him down.

Furthermore, perhaps I should add that Ronald Weinland's so-called "50 Truths of God" list is supposed to include the 18 truths that Herbert W. Armstrong stated that God lead him to restore to the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God. However, instead of using the actual list from Herbert W. Armstrong, instead Ronald Weinland used the list that Joseph Tkach put together!

And not only was that the WRONG list, Ronald Weinland himself claims that one of his own "50 Truths of God" specifically condemns Joseph Tkach. Here is Ronald Weinland's "truth" number 23:

The Man of Sin has been revealed to be Joseph Tkach, Sr., who initiated the end-time apostasy. Mr. Tkach tried to change the law of God, and his actions led to great destruction within the Church. By changing the law of God, he exalted himself above God.

Joseph Tkach specifically also changed the list of restored truths, but apparently Ronald Weinland has not accepted that he could possibly be using the wrong, the Tkach, list.

The TRUTH is that if Ronald Weinland would like to know the actual list of restored truths, and not use the J. Tkach list, he (and others interested in this) should read the article The 18 Restored Truths: Do You Know What the First Changes the Tkach Administration Made?.

But one would think that if Ronald Weinland was a true prophet of God that he would have known this prior to his August 21, 2008 announcement of his "50 Truths of God" list. And there have been no indications, yet, that he learned it after August 21, 2008.

Perhaps, instead of condemning those that point out his errors, Ronald Weinland should repent, study his Bible, and stop deceiving his followers. That is what a true servant of God would do.

Ronald Weinland's December 6, 2008 "Transition" Sermon

On December 6, 2008, Ron Weinland gave a sermon he titled A Transition in Eras in the Netherlands.  In it he presented a few more unique (and false) doctrines.  Here is come of what he said from my notes (hence it is not always precisely verbatim--but an accurate account):

On November 14th we left the Laodicean era...that era is behind us...

Much of what the Bible teaches about the Great Tribulation for the church, not the world...it was spiritual...

We are to enter...a millennial era, so different than the other eras...We are in the transition time from one era to another...another age...the transition lasts exactly 1260 days...

So many read this {the Book of Daniel} physically...Antiochus...that's stupid...It wouldn't be something standing in the Holy place physically...Jerusalem...is a sick place...God spewed the whole church out of His mouth...

December 14th begins the 1260 days...This is the group that has riled people up...

Now it goes to physical tribulation...Not immediately...The whole world will be able to see what happens...the resurrection of the 144,000...the end of the 1260 days...then Jesus returns and seven trumpets {begin}...and then the world will see...It begins with Manasseh...

Crazy things are happening...We are not living in normal times...

It will take four of them {trumpet blasts} against the United States...then Europe will rise up...

The focus was right eight months ago...but it has been tweaked...but we know some much more now...We put more into advertising again...

Some of our "fans" twist some things...they think they understand what they do not...

I'm going to bring back all that {money in the Swiss bank} to the USA...for advertising...on the internet...

In that sermon, Ron Weinland also stated that the apostles were not asking about His second coming in Matthew 24.  He said that the first six of the seven seals in Revelation were not about physical events to affect the world, but that they were essentially fulfilled in his mind in what has been happening to the church.  He indicated that the "abomination" of Daniel 11 took place on December 17, 1994 (apparently a reference to a sermon by J. Tkach, Sr.).  He seems to be teaching that it may be years before the physical tribulation will be clear--and then Manasseh (the USA) will be experiencing the first four-five trumpets of Revelation.

Although we are not living in normal times, Ronald Weinland was wrong in many ways.

The Laodicean era has not ended.   The abomination of Daniel 11:31 still has a future fulfillment.  The seven seals do affect the world.  The entire church is not to be spewed out of God's mouth--that is only to happen to the Laodicean portion (cf. Revelation 3:16), And while the millennium will begin after the 1290 days, he is wrong that this started on November 14, 2008.

He is also wrong that the 1260 days begins on December 14, 2008.  He is also wrong that the seven trumpets start with Christ's return and the first resurrection--this happens at the last trumpet:

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Thus, the first resurrection happens at the last trumpet, not the first of the seven as Ronald Weinland taught yesterday.  He and his followers really need to check out what he says and compare them to the Bible--and people need to believe the Bible over Ronald Weinland.

Of course, Ronald Weinland is correct that he has riled some up.  But he has done it through his repeated false prophecies and his inclusion of a variety of false doctrines (like unitarianism, Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church?).  He also is apparently setting everything up so that he can claim this time he will not be wrong when the biblically required do not happen, that he has preempted it with a "spiritual" interpretation.

But he was correct that we know so much more now.

And what do we know?

We know that Ronald Weinland was wrong two years ago, a year ago, eight months ago, five months ago, last month, and now.  That his physical predictions did not come to pass.  We know that Ronald Weinland broke his promises to at least two radio shows to come back and apologize if he was wrong.

While I have been stating for many years that Ronald Weinland was not God's prophet, all who look at the facts should clearly be able to see that I was right about Ronald Weinland and that he was wrong.

Ronald Weinland needs to repent and those following him need to check out what the Bible warns against false and heretical leaders like him.

Final 3 1/2 Years Post on March 6, 2009: Another Contradiction

Despite the fact that no biblically required events have occurred, on his ronaldweinland.com website, Ronald Weinland posted the followinge:

“IN” THE FINAL THREE & ONE-HALF YEARS:

March 6, 2009

As regular readers/listeners are aware, on December 14, 2008, the world entered the final 3 1/2 years spoken of throughout prophecy as the end-time of man’s rule on earth. On Pentecost of 2012, the world will experience a final transition from mankind ruling himself to that of God’s government ruling over all nations.

Much of the world of traditional Christianity, and even God’s Church, have long believed that this final time would begin with great destructive events that would immediately lead to the death of tens of thousands of people and then continue to escalate throughout the final 3 1/2 years. This period of time has often been referred to as “the great tribulation,” although the Bible makes no such statement regarding this final 3 1/2 years.

The reality is that the Seventh Seal of Revelation was opened on November 14, 2008, and then 30 days later the First Trumpet sounded. This trumpet is prophetic in nature, yet it will also prove to be very physical in its complete fulfillment. It is prophetic in that it reveals the kind of literal, physical destructiveness that will follow in the fulfillment of the six trumpets that are yet to sound.

We now find ourselves three months into that final 3 1/2 year period of time, but thank God that these massive powers of end-time destruction have not yet been unleashed. The kind of suffering that will finally come to pass is horrific beyond comprehension. God is being merciful by temporarily holding back the day when the Second Trumpet sounds and massive physical destruction begins. As always, it needs to be understood that God is not bringing that destruction upon mankind, but mankind is bringing it upon himself (it will be caused by man). God is now holding back that time of massive physical destruction by not allowing man to start this process for a few more months.

This “holding back” is in large part due to the result of God answering the prayers of His people who set aside a time of fasting, similar to that of Esther, whose results are remembered to this day in what is called the Feast of Purim.

On January 31, the Church of God entered a prolonged fast (a fast that lasts beyond the normal one day), and God’s people petitioned God, humbling themselves in the process, seeking that God would humble more people, and thereby deliver many more than He initially revealed would be saved. This is all the result of God’s will and His purpose that is being worked out for this world, and although God has granted to offer mercy to more people in this end-time by bringing more to humility, the choice of repentance is still in the hands of those whom God humbles and grants mercy. It is sad that there will be many who will still refuse God’s mercy and His offer to save them physically through this final end-time.

The petitions that went up before God were not for the purpose that the destructive power be lessened (as this cannot be changed), but that the period of time of the actual physical suffering from it will be lessened, and that through this very process more people will potentially be able to be saved (who can indeed live on into the millennial period that is rapidly approaching). This not only includes the possibility of many more people of different nations being saved, but it also includes an offer of saving many more who were part of the scattering in the Church after the apostasy in 1994 (who otherwise would not have been given such opportunity and blessing).

Mocking continues:
Sadly, the world, and even the Church that was scattered, is unaware that God’s Church fasted for them and has been praying for them. God is answering those prayers by extending the time before the Second Trumpet sounds and actual massive physical destruction begins in the United States. With this change of timing for the Second Trumpet and with the change of timing that occurred in the revelation of the “50 Truth” to God’s people, all others who are without this knowledge or that are unbelieving of such matters often turn to mocking that which they do not see.

We understand the inability of people to “see” what God is doing during the timing of this First Trumpet, so we recognize the need to endure more ridicule and skepticism for a longer period of time. It really doesn’t matter that people don’t yet accept what is true, but what is important is that more of them can be saved through what is coming. Those who are saved through all this will one day be very thankful to God and to His Church for what they did on their behalf.

Foolishly there are those who are quick to find fault by saying we are wrong or that I am a false prophet since physical destruction did not come at a time I had previously stated. It is easy to see, that without the understanding of “why” some matters of timing have changed, that some would doubt or ridicule what is true. Yet the time for the final 3 1/2 years has not changed at all. We are in it! We are in the countdown before the actual day Jesus Christ returns to this earth as King of kings. There are those who unwittingly and ignorantly seem to wish that destruction was already occurring and that great suffering was already here. But that will come soon enough!

Many do not “get it” concerning the title of the last book that was published. It is 2008 – God’s Final Witness. That was the final and the last year for a witness to be given to mankind at the end of 6,000 years of man’s self-rule. At the end of 2008, the final 3 1/2 years commenced. Mankind has already received his last warning and it was God’s final witness.

Before the Second Trumpet is blown, God is giving more time for people to be humbled before actual physical destruction begins on a massive scale (whereby more can be saved). Rather than physical destruction beginning immediately, more people can actually be brought to humility through the prolonged process we are now experiencing, which will then be followed by massive physical destruction.

It is Ronald Weinland and his followers that don’t get it.  They remain delusional.  Their fasting did not lessen physical effects of the Great Tribulation, for it had not began on December 14, 2008 as Ronald Weinland claimed.

Furthermore, notice the backpedalling that Ronald Weinland is now engaging in.  He is implying that the Bible does not refer to this final 3 1/2 year time period as “the great tribulation”, yet notice that this is exactly what one of his other website’s calls it:

1260 Days: The blowing of the first Trumpet will occur/occurred on the 14th of December, 2008. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation and 3 1/2 years until the return of Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost. The beginning of the fall of the USA and other Israelite countries begins from the start of the 1260 days (FAQ–Timeline Questions Answered.  viewed 2/25/09).

Even in his sermon two weeks ago,  Ronald Weinland claims it is the great tribulation:

We’re not calling it the great tribulation, it is the great tribulation, but it is not great, yet…We do set dates (Weinland R. Our Commission, Pt. 3. Sermon, February 21, 2009).

Also his book stated:

Therefore, on this last day of the three and one-half years of great tribulation, God will intervene in the affairs of all mankind, thus, saving mankind from destroying himself (Weinland R. 2008: God's Final Witness, p. 129).

Cannot Ronald Weinland’s followers see the obvious contradictions here?

Ronald Weinland clearly claimed that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008, now is trying to teach that the Great Tribulation has not yet began, but that “the final 3 1/2 years” started last year.   He and his followers are ignoring reality and apparently overlooking these blatant contradictions.  Perhaps I should point out that the Bible does not use his newly adopted expression “the final 3 1/2 years”, though it does use the term “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).

While we could be at the time that Jesus referred to as “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8, for more details see also Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011?), the persecution that is to occur between that (vs. 9) and the Great Tribulation (vs. 21) in Matthew 24 did not happen (see also Persecutions by Church and State). Thus, it is NOT possible that the 1260 days which starts with the Great Tribulation began when Ronald Weinland claimed that it did–despite the fact that he wants to indicate that it is not “great” yet.

While Ronald Weinland wishes to call his critics “mockers”, I remain committed to telling people to compare his false claims with the Bible.  I have been doing this for over three years now, and in every case have been correct and he has been wrong.  What kind of “prophet and witness” does that make him (cf. Deuteronomy 18:21-22)?

Contrary to his “more time for repentance” angle, the Jesus was clear that massive physical signs are supposed to be occurring during the Great Tribulation:

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:20-21).

17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days (Mark 13:17-20).

23…For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:23-24).

This is simply NOT the case now.  The world economic crisis is still not as bad as during the Great Depression.  Nor have many other outwardly required signs become evident.  Furthermore, Jerusalem is specifically to be trampled by Gentiles for 1260 days (42 months, Revelation 11:2), and this has not happened.

Notice also what is supposed to have happened to Christians during this 3 1/2 years (which is a time, times, and half a time) according to the Bible:

23…’The fourth beast shall be
A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.  24 The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.  25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:23-25).

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:13-17).

Christians have not fled (to learn possibly where, please see There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra), nor have the rest of the saints been given into the hand of the Beast power under Satan.  The beast power in Daniel 7:23-25 has not yet even arisen up yet, hence this is NOT the Great Tribulation.

The Great Tribulation has not began.  Ronald Weinland and his followers remain delusional.  Hopefully they will open their eyes and compare what Ronald Weinland claims against what the Bible really teaches–sooner than later.

There seems to be another twist and change in Ronald Weinland’s latest letter, so here is more from it:

Today’s predominating and sustaining financial system that the global economy has been woven from originated in the United States and it is now coming unraveled! There is no mending that will save it. It is doomed to complete destruction. That is prophetic and the truth of it is from God. Such a system cannot stand because it is against the laws of God. Yet the world has established itself upon this false Babylonish System, whether they know it or not. Initially, some nations believed they were immune from what has been happening in the collapsing global economy originating out of the United States, but they are quickly learning that they are very deeply tied into it. They are now finding just how attached they really are. Through time, they have become part of the same Babylonish System.

We are witnessing the collapse of the United States, followed by the complete collapse of all governments of mankind. It has already begun. Nothing can change the course of what is happening. The merchants of the earth are beginning to mourn for what they see collapsing before them.

In the past, Ronald Weinland (correctly on this one point) seemed to teach that the revived European power was to be Babylon (Weinland R. 2008: God's Final Witness, p. 137).  Now (presumably because there is no European beast power yet), he is indicating that the financial system of the United States is Babylon (Revelation 18:2-19).  This is yet another, not to subtle, change that he is trying to foist upon his followers so that they will feel that he may be right.

He is not.

While Ronald Weinland has not yet claimed that Barack Obama is the Beast, this could possibly be coming next as if the USA is Babylon than its leader would seem to have to fulfill that role.  And while some feel that Barack Obama is, that simply is not the case (see also Prophecies of Barack Obama?).

Followers of Ronald Weinland need to ask themselves if the USA is the prophesied Babylon (Revelation 18:4), who do they claim that the Beast now is as the Beast must exist for the entire final 3 1/2 years (Daniel 7:23-25)?

The Great Tribulation is coming, and the United States will be destroyed–probably next decade.  However, people should not believe any who claim that the final 3 1/2 years and the Great Tribulation have already began.

Getting Respect and No Respect in ideaCity, June 2009

Ronald Weinland posted the following:

ideaCity:
A little over a week ago (on Thursday morning) I had interviews with two stations in Toronto, as presenters for ideaCity are being interviewed in the city’s anticipation of this special tenth anniversary event. This is the beginning of a new phase of recognition of God’s two witnesses (although it is only very slight at this time). It is indeed a unique and welcomed experience. Rather than being treated with attitudes that can be challenging, confrontational, disbelieving, irreverent, and at times condescending, there indeed seems to be a shift beginning to take place in which the message (and messenger) are beginning to be treated with greater respect. Of course the other attitudes will always exist, but as God begins to work with larger numbers of people, through a process of drawing them closer to the truth, His message (and messengers) will begin to be treated with greater sobriety and genuine respect. (Weinland R. Letter of June 20, 2009).

I later told my family that any respect that Ronald Weinland was paid by journalists was probably simply because he was a speaker at ideaCity and that the journalists probably were unaware of Ronald Weinland’s track record of false and failed prophecies.

But I wondered why Ronald Weinland did not say anything in that post about what happened at ideaCity.

Well apparently he did later that day in his sermon.  As I did not take the time to listen to it, I will quote what Dill Weed said about it:

Ron was laughed at Idea City. He was laughed at by ‘prideful, haughty people.’ Yeah, right.

While Ronald Weinland does not deserve the respect that a true prophet should receive, he still apparently fails to realize that his false predictions and comments cast a negative shadow to many concerning the Bible, prophecies, and the true Church of God–all of which I feel that he has problems with.

08/08/09 Sermon Says that 2008 WAS God's Final Witness

In Richmond, Virginia, Ronald Weinland commented that he was asked about the title of his book, 2008 God's Final Witness:

Isn't that kind of outdated or whatever?

He said that he would not because he stated:

2008…It’s important to understand that WAS God’s final witness…And when the book came out, we couldn’t make uh really fit to day is WAS God’s final witness because of the timing it came out. (Weinland R. Faith, Pt. 3 Sermon, August 8, 2009)

Now this is disingenuous.  In 2007 and early 2008, Ronald Weinland claimed that 2008 was it.  That he would rise up in April 2008, that the USA would be nuked by mid-June 2008, that the USA dollar would be worthless around then, that the USA would likely not have a presidential election in 2008, but that if it was able to do so that a new president would not take office in January 2009.

He did NOT go around teaching that the main issue in 2008 would be that he gave a final witness.  After all, he still claims that he is one of God’s two witnesses and his wife is the other one and that he is doing the witness (though he is still unknown other than his internet impact and relatively few followers).

More Changing of Teaching Was Expected in October 2009

Ronald Weinland appears to be setting his followers up for future changes in teachings. In his 6/20/09 letter titled TIME, TIMES, AND HALF A TIME he wrote:

That destruction is coming, and it will be coming all too soon. It doesn’t need to be rushed! Because of the time that has now been lengthened for the humbling process of the scattered nations of Israel, which will result in more people being saved, many are going to experience increasingly difficult financial trials as companies continue to let go of larger numbers of employees, cut back on salaries and benefits, and reduce the hours people are allowed to work. Although such trials will prove to be difficult, they are meager and nothing compared to the conditions we would now be living through if great destruction had already come by now. We can be ever so thankful that the Second Trumpet has not yet sounded and that it may now be withheld even longer.

For the final sermon on the Last Great Day of the Feast, it is planned that a sermon will be given on the subject of “time, times, and half a time.” God is beginning to give a clearer understanding of what He is doing concerning a “new” significance this expression has for this end-time. Due to the special fast held by God’s Church in January this year, some prophetic events have been shifted within the framework of the fulfillment of “time, times, and half a time.”

The Bible does NOT allow for the delays that Ronald Weinland has experienced in the fulfillment of his predictions. As mentioned previously, the Bible teaches that "the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time" (Daniel 7:25). Thus, this should have happened beginning December 14, 2008 (as well as his original April 17, 2008 date).

No matter what Ronald Weinland says or how he will try to spiritualize events away, Daniel 7:25 has NOT been fulfilled as would have to be in the time, times, and half a time actually began in 2008.

Ronald Weinland Declares Himself to be an Apostle on November 14, 2009

Ronald Weinland stated in a sermon in Bowling Green, Kentucky:

In addition to…being God’s witness at this time…He also gave me another job…I have always believed that Herbert W. Armstrong was the final apostle for the last time…I too am both a prophet and an apostle…I am an apostle. And if people don’t like it, they don’t like it. (Weinland R. Our Journey of Faith, part 3. Sermon, Bowling Green, KY, November 14, 2009).

He then read from some of his 2008: God’s Final Witness book which he somehow feels shows that he is a prophet and apostle, and that what he “says is true”. He plans to write about this declaration as well as he plans on doing a 2 1/2 hour radio show to discuss his writings with him. He does not have the fruits of a true apostle--Ronald Weinland is not God's apostle.

Concluding Thoughts on Ronald Weinland's Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom

The CG-PKG differs in many ways from what those of us once in WCG all used to consider to be "the faith that was once for all delivered for the saints" (Jude 3). CG-PKG is just another small group, with its own unique reason to be separate.

I have seen no attendance figures, but suspect those that actually consider themselves part of CG-PKG and no other group are less than 100 or 200 --but this is only my personal guess. The reason, however, that I report about such as small group is that it does pour a lot of its resources into the internet and many at least look at some of what Ronald Weinland claims--and I want people to realize that the true Church of God is not the way that Ronald Weinland attempts to portray it.

Ronald Weinland is too into allegory and simply does not understand much of what the Book of Revelation teaches on many matters, including the two witnesses. He also seems to misunderstand salvation and other issues. He has been repeatedly proven wrong about his claims about the Great Tribulation. What he has claimed would happen as "God's prophet" simply has NOT come to pass!

I also really have major doubts about those who have abandoned Binitarianism for Unitarianism. Nor have I ever read anything from Ronald Weinland that suggests to me that he is a true prophet or one of God's appointed two witnesses. Although the great tribulation will eventually begin, 2008 was not the beginning of that and the final 3 1/2 years according to a variety of biblical prophecies. I also have concerns that he and those that follow him may act even more irrationally when more of his prophecies do not naturally come to pass.

Because events have continually proven him wrong, Ronald Weinland, instead of publicly admitting it as he once claimed, now changed his dates and interpretations. He is proven to be a false prophet and should not be listened to.

Although some have said that the doctrinal differences among the Churches of God are insignificant, this author does not believe that one can examine the teachings of groups, such as CG-PKG, and come to that conclusion (nor apparently would Herbert W. Armstrong, for proof please check out some quotes from Herbert W. Armstrong on holding fast to doctrine).

People need to realize that the Bible warns about self-appointed prophets who speak presumptuously:

21 "And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'-- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

I believe that Ronald Weinland claiming to be one of the two witnesses, while he has changed many things, seems not only unique, but wrong. Ronald Weinland is a false prophet and the world will soon learn that my warnings about him for years have been correct.

An article of related interest may be Who Are the Two Witnesses?

There are daily news, doctrinal, and prophecy updates at the Church of God News page for those interested in how world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy (and frequent updates about Ronald Weinland).

If you have read this far you are probably a current or former member of one of the Churches of God, or perhaps may have some interest in learning more about the Church of God. Two articles that may be of help are History of Early Christianity and There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God?.

You also might be interested in reading this Laodicean Warning for God's People article which was also published in The Journal:News of the Churches of God.

Several additional articles of prophetic interest may include:

Anglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied "son of Kenya", based up an early 20th century writing.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Prophecy Obama: Prophecies of Barack Obama? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies about Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? This is the longest and most detailed of the articles here related to prophecy and Barack Obama.
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final "Anti-Christ" be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11?
The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Asians?
SDA/COG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The COG is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White.
Church of God News: Emphasizing News of Interest to those once affiliated with the Worldwide Church of God Daily news and information updates about various groups claiming to be part of the Church of God.
End of Mayan Calendar 2012 There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. Does this Mayan prophecy have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Can the tribulation begin before 2012?

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Thiel B. Concerns About Ronald Weinland's Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God. www.cogwriter.com (c) 2006/2007/2008/2009 1115