News of Those Once Affiliated with the Global Church of God
Since the November 1998 takeover of the old GCG by the board in the
U.S., those once with GCG went to many places. Most of the members
and ministers ultimately went with the Living
Church of God (LCG),
8-15% went with the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship (CGCF) and
smaller percentages ended up with David Pack's Restored Church of God (RCG), Harold Smith's
Church of God Fellowship, Northwest (CGFnw), the Continuing Church of God (CCOG), and other groups (at least
one which is outside the U.S. uses the term Global Church of God). On
July 1, 2001, eight ministers resigned from CGCF and formed the Church
of the Eternal God (CEG), similar in name, but not related, to the
Eternal Church of God (ECG--founded by a minister removed from the
original GCG ministry for impropriety). About a month later CGCF (USA)
dissolved and most then with it ended up in the United Church of God (UCG).
One former GCG minister (Ronald Laughland) became pastor of the
Wholeworld Church of God. In 2004, Raymond McNair, having been in GCG,
CGCF, LCG, then went on his own and formed Church of God, 21st Century
(COG21); later he died and that group disbanded. Don Haney, once in GCG/LCG,
formed the Church of God In Peace and Truth, renamed Congregation of God in Peach and Truth--which looks to be legally inactive. In 2005, Ben Faulkner, who
was in GCG/LCG, formed the Church of the Sovereign God (CotSG). In
2006, Charles Bryce who was in GCG/LCG left, and formed the Enduring
Church of God (En COG). In 2010, several of the main leaders who went
to UCG from CGCF left it and went to a group called COGWA. A couple of people, like Norman Edwards (Servants' News/Shepherd's Voice),
left GCG well before the 1998 takeover (he has 'Nashville Christian Media'). In 2013, Rod Reynolds left LCG and formed COG Messenger. On
12/15/11, a minister in good-standing with LCG anointed Bob Thiel with
oil and prayed that God would grant him a double-portion of His Spirit
(see also How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God):
and things have not been the same since (Bob Thiel still, of course,
supports the goals and biblical beliefs of Philadelphia era of the
Church of God). Website links for most of those who were once part of
GCG and that have websites can be found at the COGlinks
page. In 2012, certain heresies were officially introduced,
accepted, and/or promoted by LCG. After concluding that insufficient value was placed on
the truth (and keeing their word) by certain leaders of LCG and that
they no longer held to biblical church governance and could not as is be
used to lead the final phase of the work (see also Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God), on 12/28/12 Bob Thiel was led to form, and then announced, the beginning of the Continuing Church of God (CCOG). In August 2020, Sheldon Monson left LCG and was 'marked' by LCG on 8/19/20 and then on 9/05/20 he announced Church of God Assembly (CGA). The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) is the second largest group, in terms of members, of those groups whose leaders were once part of GCG (LCG is largest). This page reports on those groups that somehow once had ties to the old GCG.
05/28/23 p.m. Former RCG (Restored Church of God) employee Marc Cebrian posted the following of his comments and excerpts at the anti-COG Banned by HWA website related to another of David Pack's wrong predictions (David Pack's statements begin with "I mean):
Pentecost 2023 has fully come, and nobody was awakened by the Elijahn bedroom voice of David C. Pack ...
The Pastor General of The Restored Church of God proved his methodology is more “error and error," leaving the trial element for those who still attend his flat-growth operation.
Part 445 – May 24, 2023
@ 1:15:23 I mean, if it’s not Pentecost, it’s gonna take a better person than I to ever be able to explain it. It’s just above my pay grade.
Prophecy Update – Friday, May 26, 2023
A final note came to be helpful. As you can imagine, with each passing day more is learned. I can scarcely tell you how much more we have learned in the 48 hours since the last part. In fact, there is powerful evidence the acceptable year actually ends on a Pentecost (so much more could be said here, but you actually know some of it). Pentecosts are never exactly one year apart, and God says the first period is a year. And realize that in no case is a year ever 390 days. I closed on Wednesday saying, “God either plans Pentecost or near it. But does the Bible permit near,”—then adding a few seconds later, “How long will I wait? Forever.” The case for a delay beyond Pentecost is there, but it cannot be long. I so wish we could know what God means in Hab. 2:3
regarding the moad referenced—“though it tarry, wait for it.” It is impossible for Pentecost itself to tarry. But waiting a period beyond it gives the verse some sense. Remember, we’re waiting for a “thief” event. One viable instance has us waiting exactly one more day, and another one two more days. Both cannot be right. To list more possible just near-term scenarios (there are plenty) when we don’t know which (if any) is right is a waste of time. If more should be said, I will. Otherwise, let’s wait it out!
In Christ’s service,
David C. Pack
David Pack has never understood Habakkuk 2 and, since I consider him apostate, almost all matters related to predictions are "above" his "pay grade."
05/27/23 p.m. Pentecost is tomorrow (which begins after sunset tonight). Here is a link to a sermon I did today: Let's Talk About Pentecost.
05/18/23 a.m. LCG reported the following:
This has been an exciting and enlightening week for those of us on the Council of Elders. Nineteen of the 20 members were able to meet in person, and Mr. Robert Tyler participated online from Australia, despite the significant time difference. ... Our experiences down through the years have been different and our gifts from God are different, just as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 12. A highlight of the meetings was the ordination to evangelist of Messrs. Peter Nathan, Jonathan McNair, Rod McNair, and Wallace Smith. Another highlight was presenting to Peter and Karen Nathan a crystal eagle in recognition of their fifty years of service in the ministry. We pray all will return home safely and energized to pass along news of the Work.—Gerald Weston
Council of Elders: Mr. Gerald Weston, Mr. Richard Ames, Mr. Steven Elliott, Dr. Jeffrey Fall, Mr. Lambert Greer, Mr. Daniel Hall, Mr. Mario Hernandez, Mr. Jonathan McNair, Mr. Rod McNair, Mr. Rand Millich, Mr. Peter Nathan, Mr. Paul Shumway, Mr. Wallace Smith, Mr. Rick Stafford, Mr. John Strain, Mr. Rob Tyler, Mr. Stuart Wachowicz, Mr. Dexter Wakefield, Mr. Adam West, Dr. Douglas Winnail
So, several in LCG have been elevated.
Gerald Weston pointed to 1 Corinthians 12 which teaches:
7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the benefit of all. 8. For to one, a word of wisdom is given by the Spirit; and to another, a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9. And to a different one, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10. And to another, the working of miracles; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; and to a different one, various languages; and to another, the interpretation of languages. 11. But the one and the same Spirit is operating in all these things, dividing separately to each one as God Himself desires. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, A Faithful Version)
LCG does not accept that God has given the gift of prophecy as it does not accept prophets--see What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God?, despite its founder who said that God might consider Bob Thiel to be a prophet (see also Church of God Leaders on Prophets). As far as gifts prophesied to exist now, check out the article: Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?
05/05/23 p.m. In its newsletter today, CEG had the following:
The Challenge of the BRICS Countries
Deutsche Welle wrote on April 10:
“… the BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa — are setting themselves up as an alternative to existing international financial and political forums… South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has said worldwide interest in the BRICS group was ‘huge.’ [She said] she had 12 letters from interested countries on her desk. ‘Saudi Arabia is one,’ she said. ‘United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, and Argentina,’ as well as Mexico and Nigeria… [Subsequently, it was reported that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Algeria have formally requested to join the BRICS alliance; and that Iran has also shown interest in joining].
“Since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, the BRICS countries have only distanced themselves further from the so-called West. Neither India, Brazil, South Africa or China are taking part in sanctions against Russia. This has become increasingly clear with near-historic levels of trade between India and Russia, or in Brazil’s dependence on Russian fertilizer.”
Watcher Guru added on April 28 that the BRICS countries are moving “to replace the US dollar with a new currency of global stage to settle international trade”; and that they are a challenge to the G7 countries (the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Japan).
Yes, the BRICS nations want to replace the US dollar and more and more nations have asked to join the BRICS alliance (see ‘Brazil’s Lula supports trading currency for BRICS countries’ & ‘Nineteen countries expressed an interest in joining the BRICS’).
For more on these nations in prophecies, see also our free online book: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands?
04/28/23 p.m. Some who once were part of the old WCG and then other groups (including LCG and CCOG) have oddly been trying to tell people that witch doctors can cast spells to deceive Christians. This is in biblical error--see Can Christians Actually be Cursed By Witches or Witch Doctors? You can also watch a related video: Can Witch Doctors Cast Spells on Christians?
04/06/23 a.m. Former RCG (Restored Church of God) employee Marc Cebrian posted the following comments and excerpts at the anti-COG Banned by HWA website related to another of David Pack's wrong predictions:
"The Greatest Unending Story! (Part 432)," Dave was adamant he knew the day and hour for the arrival of the Kingdom of Dave.
Part 432 – April 1, 2023
@ 29:39 What an amazing thing that all mankind will awaken into the Night To Be Much Observed [April 5].
@ 35:46 …we expect Christ sometime before sundown Jerusalem time on Wednesday. Because He can’t come to us at the start of the Night To Be Much Observed, which is (literally) 12:01 our time here…Just think, right at noon is seven o’clock sundown in Jerusalem. Noon here. Just here…He has to come to us before that. He says He does. So, sometime before noon Wednesday…is the time this has to happen.
All that repetition sounds very specific and sure. ...
Prophecy Update
April 4, 2023
We still cannot discern the precise hour. Don’t be discouraged. Wait for it!
There is a near infinite array of when and how this one week exactly sits. It will not come and go as it does in the life of every Christian. ...
The important thing is that we take the Passover symbols with the solemnity it commands, “showing the Lord’s death till He come” some time afterwards. Also, on a round earth, some of you will undoubtedly keep the Night to be Much Observed, and others will not get to it.
David C. Pack
Well, we observed the Night to Be Observed last evening in Grover Beach, California, which is one of the later places on the planet it could be observed because of its far western location. Jesus did not go to Wadsworth, Ohio last evening as David Pack taught. David Pack has repeatedly proven to be false. Relatively soon, his church will implode.
03/28/23 p.m. Various ones have been posting videos and other anti-CCOG materials online. Recently, I dealt with the related matters in the sermon: Hierarchical Governance and Corruption.
Beyond that, here is something from the Apostle Paul to consider:
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. (Titus 1:15-16)
There are many false witnesses (cf. Matthew 26:60) and there are lot of people who seem to prefer gossip to accepting facts (cf. Proverbs 26:16,22).
03/19/23 a.m. In 1979, a number of disgruntled Worldwide Church of God members filed complaints with the State of California alleging financial corruption in the WCG. They persuaded the State of California to impose a receivership governance on the WCG until Herbert W. Armstrong got the California Second Court of Appeals to overturn this in 1980.
Although, as he admitted, in his earliest writings he was confused about the subject of proper church governance, over time, Herbert W. Armstrong believed that proper church governance was one of the 18 truths that God restored to the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God through him. He considered this a fundamental, trunk of the tree, doctrine--actually his sermon actually titled The Trunk of the Tree covered a lot about government.
Here is some of what Herbert W. Armstrong taught:
Jesus came to start God's world, and He came to start it by starting the Church. The Church was started with one Man. ... Now He came to restore the government of God on this earth. ... It's a matter of government. It's a matter that makes sense all the way through. There had to be a Church Age to have time to train people that God is calling out of the world. ... Now restitution means restoring to a former state or condition, or restoring something that had been taken away and lost. Jesus is coming to restore the GOVERNMENT of God. He's coming to knock Satan off of that throne over the world, and Christ will sit on the throne and rule over all nations. ... And then, finally, we are going to go out to the other planets all over the vast universe. ... In other words, I'm giving you THE TRUNK OF THE TREE—the roots, and the trunk, and the major branches. And the others fill in with the smaller branches, and its smaller branches than that; then the little twigs. And all those are important too. They are all part of the same tree. (Armstrong HW. The Trunk of the Tree. Sermon, October 16, 1983)
The government of God has been restored to the Church, and the government of God has been placed in the Church. You read that in Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians 12. Christ is the head of the Church and under Christ in the administration of the government are an apostle or apostles, then evangelists, then pastors, then all are called elders, all ministers all the way up clear down to the lowest. So then there are teachers and elders both speaking elders and preaching elders, deacons and deaconesses. And the Church is restored in that form of government. The Sardis Church even didn't have the right form of government (Sermon. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era by Herbert W. Armstrong given on December 17, 1983).
God has always, in dealing with humans, worked through ONE MAN at a time — one who believed God! Some in ancient Israel challenged this one-man leadership. Some, like-wise, have challenged it today! First, Moses' own brother and sister challenged his one-man leadership. Miriam and Aaron said, "Hath the Eternal indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?" (Numbers 12:2). And the Eternal heard it... . And the Eternal came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth ... My servant Moses is not so" (as the others), "who is faithful in all mine house ... Wherefore then were ye NOT AFRAID to speak against my servant Moses?" (verses 5-8). "And the anger of the Eternal was kindled against them" (verse 9). And Miriam was inflicted with leprosy for a while. Yet, though our members and ministers all know this, some are NOT AFRAID to speak contemptuously, in hostility or defamingly against Christ's apostle today! They need not fear ME! For I will not turn on them or strike them.
Why, then, do they not fear GOD? ... In founding God's Church, Jesus worked primarily through one man, Peter, even though He originally chose His 12 disciples. Few have ever noticed how Peter was the real leader. Jesus had told His disciples to go NOT to the gentiles, but to the "lost sheep of the House of Israel." ... Notice now PETER'S preeminence. Few have ever put all these scriptures together as I shall now do. This shows PETER was leader. ... And, though there were other apostles, God worked primarily through ONE man –PETER! Has God changed? Or is He the SAME still today? ... The Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) showed that PETER was predominant over even Paul, although Paul was the ONE MAN God worked through primarily in the ministry to gentiles. The CHURCH is GOD'S Church. (Armstrong, Herbert W. And NOW Christ Sets Church Back On Track Doctrinally. Good News, April 1979).
God has always worked primarily through ONE MAN at a time -- as Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, then Joseph -- later Moses, then Joshua, later Samuel, then David -- and, in the New Testament Church, PETER. (Armstrong HW. How Christ Gives The Church Its Beliefs. Good News, November 20. 1978)
The government of God is of necessity government from the top down. It cannot be 'government by the consent of the governed' ...
The Presbyterian Church is organized with the presbyters or ministers in control. The Congregational Church delegates top authority to the congregation--"government by the consent of the governed."
And so it goes. The churches of this world of Satan are organized according to humanly devised patterns. But the Bible gives explicit directions in regard to Church government. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. God's form of government is, indeed, hierarchical. God the Father is head over Christ--the sole Lawgiver and supreme authority...
To administer these many operations, God--not a vote of the members--"hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers." Or, as stated in more detail in Ephesians 4:11 (RSV): "And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers."
An apostle is "one sent forth" with Christ's gospel message, including the supervision of proclaiming that message to the world by means and persons other than himself. Also an apostle was given supervision over all the local congregations or churches (I Cor. 16:1). The apostle Paul had oversight over the churches of the Gentile world (II Cor. 11:28).
The prophets set in the foundation of the Church ...
Evangelists were leading ministers, proclaiming the gospel to the public, even raising up local churches and having supervision over some churches under the apostle. Therefore an evangelist may hold executive functions under the apostle in the Church headquarters or work today. An evangelist is not necessarily stationary. Pastors are stationary pastors over a local church or contingent group of local churches...
Old Testament Israel, the Church of the Old Testament, was also a nation in the world--though not OF the world as God organized it. Its GOVERNMENT was HIERARCHICAL. It was theocratic government--government from the top down--the very opposite of "democracy."
The CHURCH is organized under theocratic government, hierarchical in form. The members do not set officials in the Church. God sets EVEN THE LAY MEMBERS in the Church (I Cor. 12:18).
Jesus said explicitly, "No MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). The world, except for the specially called, is CUT OFF from God!
We have just covered the truth that GOD set officials to serve on the human level under Christ, in the Church. Members do not elect them. Yet in the churches of this world some believe in government by the entire congregation--"democracy"--and call themselves "Congregational." Others have organized themselves into government by ministers or presbytery and call themselves "Presbyterian." " (Mystery of the Ages, Dodd & Mead, 1985, pp.49, 242, 244, 246-247).
The 'loner'-the individual Christian' who wants to climb up into the kingdom some other way than by Christ and His way through His Church-is not being trained in Christ's manner of training, to rule and reign with Christ in his kingdom!… The person who says, 'I will get my salvation alone, outside of the Church' is totally deceived.
"Individual Christians"--Ex-Members
Now what about the "private," or "individual Christian," who says, "I don't want to be a part of the Church--I want to seek my salvation direct and alone with Christ." ...
The Church is ORGANIZED on GOD'S pattern of mutual teamwork and cooperation to function perfectly together. They shall become the GOD FAMILY as it shall exist at the time of Christ's Second Coming. Remember God IS that divine FAMILY! (Mystery of the Ages, pp. 270-271).
God has always, in dealing with humans, worked through ONE MAN at a time — one who believed God! Some in ancient Israel challenged this one-man leadership. Some, like-wise, have challenged it today! First, Moses' own brother and sister challenged his one-man leadership. ... That is the case of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On.
"And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes ... famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses ... Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Eternal is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Eternal?" (Numbers 16:1-3).
They accused Moses of appointing himself — though there had been ample evidence by the fruits of Moses' leadership and even miracles God did through him, that they were without excuse, just as many are today. What happened to them?
"And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up ... They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation" (verses 32-33). ...
God has always worked through one man, primarily, at a time. God chose David and worked through him. Two of his sons, at different times, conspired to wrest his throne from him. But God protected David, and those sons were destroyed! ...
In founding God's Church, Jesus worked primarily through one man, Peter, even though He originally chose His 12 disciples. Few have ever noticed that Peter was the real leader... "Simeon [PETER] hath declared ..." — And James merely CONFIRMED Peter's decision, making it official. That ought to make clear this crucial 15th chapter of Acts — the one classic example of settling any disputed doctrine in the Church. And, though there were other apostles, God worked primarily through ONE man –PETER! Has God changed? Or is He the SAME still today? ...
The Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) showed that PETER was predominant over even Paul, although Paul was the ONE MAN God worked through primarily in the ministry to gentiles. ... Acts 15. This crucial crux chapter has been misinterpreted, twisted and distorted. I have tried to take space to MAKE IT CLEAR in this article. The other apostles and ministers were all in confusion, arguing and disputing. But CHRIST silenced them by speaking through His CHOSEN chief apostle, PETER! (Armstrong HW, And NOW Christ Sets Church Back On Track Doctrinally. Good News, April 1979).
"The PURPOSE for which Christ built the Church exemplifies its WORK...1) To ANNOUNCE to the world for its witness the coming Kingdom of God...2) To prepare the people to whom God adds to the Church...God has always worked with humans. He has worked with O N E M A N at a time...The WORK consists of proclaiming the Gospel, by radio, by television, in print" (Armstrong HW. JUST WHAT IS THE WORK? PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT - VOL.3, NO.6 February 6, 1981).
God only deals through one man at a time. GOD DOES NOT WORK THROUGH COMMITTEES. God works through ONE MAN AT A TIME. I want you to notice it as we go along now. Let's understand the way of God. The world has not understood it. So God worked through one judge at a time. (Armstrong H. Building The Temple. Sermon, February 14, 1981)
Now HOW HAS GOD WORKED THROUGH HUMANS? He has always worked through one man at a time as a leader. He gave the promises on which all salvation depends to ONE MAN, Abraham. He repromised them to ONE man, Isaac, and again to Jacob. Four hundred thirty years after Abraham, God raised up ONE MAN as leader—Moses. Moses was specially trained from childhood. He didn't let Moses die until his commission of leading the chosen people to the promised land was COMPLETED, when Moses was 120 years old.
God used ONE MAN to lead the Israelites across the Jordan river into that promised land. After Joshua, at first there was no leader. Every man did what was right in his own eyes. The Israelites disobeyed God and soon became a conquered vassal nation. God raised up ONE MAN—a "judge"—to deliver them into freedom again. Again and again the nation sinned and became a vassal nation. Again each time God raised up ONE MAN to deliver them — see book of Judges.
Then God raised up ONE MAN, Samuel, specially prepared from childhood, by which GOD ruled the nation (1 Sam. 8:7). The people wanted a KING like other nations (verse 6). God allowed them to have Saul as king. Then God chose ONE MAN, David, to lead His people. (Armstrong HW. CO-worker Letter, March 19, 1981)
God ... He has always worked through ONE MAN at a time. He worked through Abraham. He worked through Moses, through Joshua, through one "judge" at a time, through Samuel, through David, through Solomon. He worked through Peter and when Peter had left the Middle East, through Paul. These men had, in greater or lesser number, staff assistants under them, but God's WORK was through the ONE MAN AT A TIME! THIS IS THE "WORK OF GOD" -- and not a humanly organized institution, operation or organization on the worldly corporate type of organization, function and procedure. (Armstrong H. Just What Is 'The WORK'? Good News, April 1981)
God never works through committees. God works only through one man at a time, and always did. All through the Bible you will find that God had to work through one man at a time. (Armstrong H. Another Civilization. Sermon, October 2, 1982)
To administer these many operations, God--not a vote of the members--"hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers." Or, as stated in more detail in Ephesians 4:11 (RSV): "And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers." ...
Evangelists were leading ministers, proclaiming the gospel to the public, even raising up local churches and having supervision over some churches ... an evangelist may hold executive functions under the apostle in the Church headquarters or work today. An evangelist is not necessarily stationary. Pastors are stationary pastors over a local church or contingent group of local churches. (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages, Chapter 6)
Now what kind of a building do you have if part of the facade, one or two stones, or one or two pieces of the wood of it is over one place and some of it is over in another State, and a part of it is in another nation, and another part of it is somewhere else? Would you call it a building? And yet there are those that say; "Well I'm a loner, I'm an individual Christian. I don't want to be a part of any church organization." And then there's those who say; "I don't want to follow a man." And yet that's what they do do, they follow a man usually. And they go off into many little cliques, each one of them following one man.
Now God has always worked through one man as leader. But that man is only a leader, and always it has been God. For example, when Samuel was a prophet leading the people of God, they didn't want Samuel anymore, they wanted a human king like the other nations. God said; "It isn't you they have rejected Samuel, you weren't the real ruler, I was. They have rejected me that I should not rule over them." (I Samuel 8:7 paraphrased). This is eighth chapter of I Samuel. And, you see it was God ruling them, not Samuel.
And so it is really Christ leading the Church today, it is not I. I am only an instrument. (Armstrong H. Ephesians 3 & 4 Bible Study, January 2, 1981)
So, ask yourself, who is that one man today? Could God somehow have put him in his office and somehow confirmed it?
Anyone who had been in the old Worldwide Church of God in the 1980s, while Herbert W. Armstrong was alive, should have heard him repeatedly emphasize the importance of proper Church governance and one man hierarchical rule.
But most later (after his death in 1986) DID NOT accept this teaching, and many of those who thought they did had issues truly understanding and abiding by it--they became cold or lukewarm (see also Laodicean Church).
Now, the Laodicean churches are different than other church eras. The letter to them begins with:
14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write (Revelation 3:14)
All but one of the other letters in Revelation are addressed to a church using the singular--the Laodicean letter is addressed to the plural. These churches do not accept the ONE MAN at a time that God uses to lead the most faithful church.
The Laodiceans do NOT accept how God works and DO NOT accept any true prophet of God.
But does not an apostle have to designate a prophet or his successor?
No!
Consider that the person that Herbert W. Armstrong designated as his human successor (Joseph Tkach, Sr.) was not faithful--which shows God does not always choose leaders the way that humans do.
If you wish to be Philadelphian faithful, you need to know who the O N E M A N at this time leading the final phase of the work is (watch also Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God).
If there is some type of a crisis, what should members do?
Support that ONE MAN unless he is clearly an apostate.
Notice:
25 Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on the Lord's side — come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. (Exodus 32:25-27)
The Levites then were given the priesthood. They did not sit on the sidelines to see what would happen.
We, too, are to be priests:
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
Many of the lukewarm will not make it (cf. Revelation 3:14-22).
Consider that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
So God set HIS GOVERNMENT in His Church. And God's government is authority from the TOP down. God the Father is in supreme authority over all. Next in authority under Him is Jesus Christ, living Head of the Church. On the human and earthly level, next in authority under Christ is His chosen apostle ... (Armstrong HW. Seven Proofs Of The True Church - Proof No. 5-6. Good News, December 4, 1978)
The Apostle Paul wrote:
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets ... (1 Corinthians 12:28)
In absence of a clear apostle, a prophet, particularly an evangelistic one, would be expected to lead the most faithful in the Church of God.
Herbert Armstrong's writings agree with that.
Consider that in the Ephesus era, the one man was first the Apostle Peter and then the Apostle John--both were also prophetic writers. People, who claimed to be Christian leaders, turned against John (3 John 9-10).
Herbert Armstrong wrote:
It is significant that after his release John trained Polycarp elder of Smyrna, a city near Ephesus in the province of Asia. ... At neighboring Smyrna, Polycarp presided over the Church of God for half a century after John's death. Polycarp stood up boldly for the truth while many fell away ... (Armstrong HW. The Church They Couldn't Destroy. Good News, December 1981)
Polycarp, himself, essentially was a prophetic evangelist:
16:2 In the number of these was this man, the glorious martyr Polycarp, who was found an apostolic and prophetic teacher in our own time, a bishop of the holy Church which is in Smyrna. For every word which he uttered from his mouth was accomplished and will be accomplished. (The Martyrdom of Polycarp. In: Holmes M. The Apostolic Fathers--Greek Text and English Translations, 3rd printing 2004, pp 222-249)
One who succeeded Polycarp was Melito of Sardis.
Melito... was esteemed a prophet by many of the faithful. (Melito. The Catholic Encyclopedia)
Herbert Armstrong wrote Bishop/Overseer and Melito was a "true Christian" (Armstrong HW. The Plain Truth About Easter. WCG booklet, 1973).
The old WCG basically pointed to prophets in all the church eras that preceded it (see Church of God Leaders on Prophets).
God has tended to use one man at a time, with many other people--male and female--assisting--but true biblical governance is top down and hierarchical.
Herbert Armstrong taught:
God is not the author of confusion. In His Body there must be UNITY -- absolute accord -- teamwork -- all working together AS CHRIST DIRECTS AND LEADS. And so God has placed GOVERNMENT in His Church. It is the government of GOD. It is government from the top down. God the Father is at the top. Christ does nothing of Himself -- but He acts as the Father commands Him. And Christ, in turn RULES His Church. He rules it, first, thru His own chosen apostles, then next under them in rank thru evangelists, then pastors, then other elders. ...
Brethren, it is because we did not as yet ourselves fully comprehend this working of GOD'S GOVERNMENT in His Church, and because no such authority was exercised in the parent church at Eugene, Oregon, that a division came about which did split the Church there. Several whom we loved and had served in love for years turned bitterly against us and left the Church. (Armstrong HW. Christ Did Put Authority and RULE in His Church! Good News, January 1957)
Later, I heard him say refusal to accept hierarchical church governance was the main reason people left the Worldwide Church of God.
In 1979, when the State of California was interfering with the old Worldwide Church of God, notice what Herbert Armstrong wrote:
What are these freedoms that the Church is trying so hard to protect, and how do the State's actions imperil them? ... The right to maintain the Church as a hierarchical entity. The State, in essence, has sought to make the Church congregational in governance. (Armstrong HW. The Worldwide Church Of God Has Nothing To Hide - But Much To Protect! Worldwide News, April 9, 1979)
Consider all the COGs in the 21st century. Many independents are basically congregational. Also eliminate as Philadelphian, those groups that do not believe in hierarchical governance as they rejected one of the truths that many of their leaders once claimed was from God. Now, eliminate those groups that do not believe that they need to keep the priority of fulfilling Matthew 24:14 their top priority as well as those who have not had any significant reach into the world.
Let's look at seven claimed COG groups: PCG, LCG, RCG, COGaIC, ICG, COGPFK, and CCOG. The first six of which have major problems in their prophetic understandings as well as certain doctrinal problems (and three of those six are led by people who probably are not truly converted: PCG, RCG, and COGPFK).
Many forget that a two-part dream preceded the start of the Philadelphia era of the Church of God (for details see Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God). And there is no indication from any of the first six that God gave their leaders and/or potential dreams before their respective groups were formed and that those dreams were confirmed. Only one, the CCOG has had God's confirmation of dreams, like the old Radio Church of God had, plus without the doctrinal and prophetic problems the other groups clearly have (and those are documented in the articles linked to their initials PCG, LCG, RCG, COGaIC, ICG, COGPFK). If you eliminate false leaders like in RCG, COGPFK, and PCG, and eliminate groups that do not believe in ONE MAN rule like UCG, as well as those who seem to doubt it like COGWA and ICG, that only leaves CCOG or LCG--and LCG denies prophets, etc. (see also LCG: What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God?)--plus its leader, though seemingly an able administrator, has not been restoring truths--and that is something the Philadelphian leader should be invoved with (cf. Matthew 17:11; Malachi 4:5-6; see also Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things).
Now sometime in 1980, Herbert W. Armstrong had a dream he reported about:
I had a vivid example of this a couple of mornings ago, awakening from a dream. In the dream it seemed to be several years ago when the Church was smaller. There was a young man across the street who looked like a possible one of our leaders. He was about age 30, with outstanding personality and appearance, and an articulate extrovert. Then two other young men of about 30, well dressed, of somewhat impressive appearance and manner, were seen walking over and talking to him. They took pains to avoid me, and I seemed to know they were opposed to me personally.
In the dream I determined to speak immediately with the man they were trying to influence adversely. I told him I knew they were "lobbying" against the Church and against me.
"Yes," he replied, "but I have to tell you, Mr. Armstrong, I think these men have something worth listening to. They say you arrogate to yourself too much power. You make yourself the leader of the Church. They say the people ought to have all the 'say so.' The people ought to vote on who they want to be their leader and on what they want to believe and accept as Church doctrine. That sounds like a good idea to me. I think we need more DEMOCRACY."
I awoke at that point, thinking about the dream, which had stuck in my mind. But before awakening, I remember I had said to this man in the dream, "Well, the REAL QUESTION is whether this is GOD'S Church or the PEOPLE'S Church! If it is GOD'S Church, then GOD is running it, and revealing what we shall believe and teach. GOD has the 'say so'. God runs it through Jesus Christ, who is the HEAD of the Church. And Jesus Christ runs it through His chosen apostle, whom HE, not men, chose, prepared and now guides and leads. Those men are getting your eyes off of GOD — you are leaving GOD out of the picture — out of the Church. You are looking only at people! (Armstrong HW. Shall We All Leave THE CHURCH OF GOD and Join 'THE CHURCH OF PEOPLE'? Good News, September 1980)
Christians should accept biblical governance and look to the proofs and signs God provides as opposing to look to the approval of humans, which most tend to do (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).
The old WCG, including Herbert Armstrong said dreams, prophets, and Acts 2:17-18 had future fulfillment. First from HWA:
All right, now there’s another prophecy for the people …
Joel 2:28-29 And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (29) And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
So there is a time coming when God will start pouring out His spirit on human beings. … Day of Pentecost, 3000 were baptized. Peter preached a sermon. They were pricked in their hearts. God began to draw them. God was now… Remember He said, “I will pour out of my spirit on all flesh.” All right, there’s a duality of that. (Armstrong HW. Building The Temple. Sermon, February 14, 1981)
The Bible reveals that in times past servants of God were given visions and dreams for specific reasons and/or to convey special messages. ...God has used this means of communication in the past and will do so again (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28) (L052 Worldwide Church of God, 1989)
As the WCG did not publicly acknowledge any such dreams after that letter was sent, the interpretation must be that God would later use dreams (it should be mentioned that the original date of L052 was prior to 1986--hence it was not a change by the Tkach Administration).
Yet, the Laodiceans do not accept that. Jesus said the following to religious Sadducees in His day:
29 ... Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29, KJV)
Those who will not accept that God uses dreams are in the same category as those Sadducees.
One of the reasons for posting this is that Satan's minions at the anti-COG Banned by HWA website are elated+ that the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) lost about ten people this year. Eight were from Serbia. All of them rejected biblical governance for various reasons. The fact that we gained over 250 this month in Lodwar is not something they were interested in mentioning.
Anyway, at least one of the ill-informed at Banned posted things to the effect that the CCOG lost 1/2 of its Caucasian members as that poster apparently thought we had more people in Serbia than we had. Another commented that the CCOG would lose most of its African members, because we would be losing the financial support of the Serbians. That, of course is absurd. The Serbian group has been subsidized for years by the CCOG--they have never supplied the CCOG offices in the USA or Africa with money. Furthermore, the financial support given by the CCOG to Africa was one of the reason that they gave for leaving. Anyway, some at the Banned by HWA site are falsely predicting a CCOG collapse--that is simply wrong. While we do not like to lose members, and will ubdoubtedly sometimes lose more because of a new group that formed, to the best of my knowledge (not counting those we put out last year for financial corruption) we lost about ten and gained over 250 congregants this month--the CCOG remains the fastest growing x-WCGgroup in the 21st century. The assertion that entire countries (there were the 8 in Serbia--but even there one who left earlier contacted me, so we still may have 1 or 2 there) have left the CCOG is not true--which other countries? Certainly not Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda, DRC, South Sudan, Mozambique, or Ethiopia in Africa--plus leaders in other countries like the USA, Australia, India, New Zealand, the Philippines, UK, etc. have also provided communications that they are still with the CCOG. Nor are we facing any financial crisis.
Many of the ignorant and inaccurate comments at the Banned site bring the following scripture to mind:
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)
Irrespective of facts provided many at Banned prefer their own faulty judgments and accusations.
Speaking of the Banned site, someone who left us a while back, sent me something on Friday that he tried to get posted at the Banned site--but it does not look like it ever was posted. It included the following statements:
I wish nothing but the best for Dr. Thiel. I don't agree with what is happening in Africa and I feel that Dr. Thiel should handle the situation differently but I am not him. Saying that I am not against Dr. Thiel and still consider him a friend and have the utmost respect for him. ... He does have many gifts and I wish him the best. Like Paul and Barnabas they went separate ways that is how I feel about CCOG and Bob Thiel. Saying that I am not an Elder in the Church nor will I ever be one. I am just a believer and if God allows me to use my skills to help the work I will. Aleksandar Veljic is a personal friend of mine someone I have the highest respect for, and even he is not attacking Bob Thiel after leaving CCOG and has told people publicly that they should not do so. So not sure what people at banned are trying to accomplish. Bob Thiel is a great person and I honestly believe his heart is in the right place ...
Sadly, many have succumbed to gossip and innuendo. To assist those interested in the biblical truth about governance as well as to deal with various allegations of corruption, we put out the following sermon yesterday:
Here is a link to the sermon: Hierarchical Governance and Corruption.
03/10\1/23 a.m. The Bible News Prophecy program is about to go on commercial radio stations in the USA. It is now scheduled to air once per week beginning March 18, 2023 on the following twelve AM/FM stations on the Wilkins Radio Network (WRN):
KKIM AM 1000 Albuquerque – Saturday 9:15 AM
KGMS AM 940 Tucson – Saturday 1:15 AM
KCNW AM 1380 & FM 96.1 Kansas City – Saturday 2:30 PM
KERI AM 1410 Bakersfield – Saturday 11:45 AM
WWNL AM 1080 & FM 103.9 Pittsburg – Saturday 11:30 AM
WSKY AM 1230 Asheville – Saturday 7:45 PM
WELP AM 1360 & FM 104.3 Greenville – Saturday 7:00 PM
WNVY AM 1070 & FM 104.5 Pensacola – Saturday 7:15 PM
Note: WWNL in Pittsburg is a 50,000 watt station, which is the most powerful that the USA FCC allows.
Radio is a proclamation door that we use to reach those we otherwise would not reach. It also assists us we work to toward doing our part to fulfill Romans 11:25 about the full number of Gentiles coming in (see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?).
In addition to being on those WRN stations, the Bible News Prophecy program is on EGR (AM and Shortwave) and WRMI (Shortwave), plus we are on the air in the Philippines on one station (FM) and Africa on four stations (AM and FM). The Bible News Prophecy program is also available online.
For more details, check out the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.
03/09/23 a.m. Former RCG (Restored Church of God) employee Marc Cebrian posted the following comments and excerpts at the anti-COG Banned by HWA website related to another of David Pack's wrong predictions:
David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God realized on Sunday that Esther’s Purim Fast was so vile in God’s sight, He would never establish any kingdom during that time. ...
“The Greatest Unending Story! (Part 427)” on March 7 was only 46 minutes long, but it was jam-packed with more expressions of mental illness and biblical buffoonery.
Part 427 – March 7, 2023
@ 08:05 God would never come on Purim.
Dave walks this back in such a pathetic manner even teenagers would roll their eyes.
@ 46:22 There is no visible path beyond this Sabbath.
The Kingdom to Israel begins at sunset on Friday, March 10, 2023. Not on Purim 2019 2023
Dave vaguely calculates this as sunset Jerusalem, 10:43 AM ET.
David Pack continues to spew out false dates. RCG is getting closer to the time it will implode.
03/03/23 p.m. Went to the Current Events page of Church of the Sovereign God page this afternoon seeing if there was news to report--but did not find anything actually new. The most recent one had to do with desolation and it was posted at:
Current Events on January 23, 2014 by BenFaulkner.
So, that was not particularly current.
One reason that there is little reporting here about many of the groups whose leaders were once part of GCG is that many of them are not active when it comes to doing much related to growth or public proclamation.
02/24/23 a.m. In its newsletter today, CEG had the following (with its comments in italics):
Europe on Edge
Politico wrote on February 18: ... [at this year’s Munich Security Conference] ...
“The only people smiling at this year’s security conference are the defense contractors. Arms sales are booming by all accounts. Even Germany, which in recent years perfected the art of explaining away its failure to meet its NATO defense spending commitment, promised to reverse course. Indeed, German officials appeared to be trying to outdo one another to prove just how hawkish they’ve become.
“Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to ‘permanently’ meet NATO’s defense spending goal for individual members of two percent of GDP. Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, a Social Democrat like Scholz, called for even more, saying that ‘it will not be possible to fulfill the tasks that lie ahead of us with barely two percent.’
“Keep in mind that at the beginning of last year, leading Social Democrats were still calling on the U.S. to remove all of its nuclear warheads from German soil. In other words, if even the Germans have woken up to the perils of the world’s current geopolitical state, this could well be the moment to really start worrying.” ...
Germany’s new-found militaristic approach is indeed VERY worrisome, even though Scholz’s words, on the face of it, are as dubious as the ones by Kamala Harris, but Germany’s declared position is now totally in line with biblical prophecy.
CEG is correct that Germany is taking militaristic steps that are "totally in line with biblical prophecy."
Here are links to posts at the COGwriter Church of God News page related to this 2023 Munich Security Conference:
More on Germany in prophecy can be found in the article: Germany in Biblical and Roman Catholic Prophecy.
02/15/23 a.m. Former RCG (Restored Church of God) employee Marc Cebrian posted the following excerpts at the anti-COG Banned by HWA website of another of David Pack's wrong predictions:
Part 418 – February 9, 2023
@ 18:02 The flight [from Jerusalem to the Place of Safety] takes place at sundown on a Sunday night, ten days from the Day of the Lord. So, we would say March 12th before the Day of the Lord on the 22nd. If you wanna, just keep it real with a calendar.
David Pack continues to spue out false dates.
02/10/23 a.m. Shirley Gestro, of the Continuing Church of God, sent the following report from New Zealand today:
Bible News Prophecy Flipboard Page
Statistics:
As of 9 February 2023.
Followers: 4,400
Magazines: 23
Articles: 18,387
Views: 34,649
Page flips: 388,560
Bible News Prophecy Radio
Radio streaming server statistics for Feb 7, 2022 to Feb 6, 2023
Total Listeners: 60,704
Average listening time: 34 minutes
Top 5 countries: USA, UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa
Analytics for this streaming server does not provide total countries, this is something they are working on.
Previous streaming server, prior to transitioning to the current radio streaming platform, statistics for June 2018 total countries: 185.
BNP radio website
Feb 1, 2022 to Feb 9, 2023
Pages views: 40,000
Some Top items of interest are:
- 2022-2023 Shemitahs Destruction/Reset – 6,430 views
- 5 Red Heifers and the Year 5783 – 2,450 views
BNP radio on Tune In App – 1,400 people added it to favourites.
BNP Radio Pinterest Page
These are COGwriter news articles, radio content, CCOG literature, sermons, sermonettes. We have several boards some are titled Daily Bible News Updates, Bible Q & A, and Sermons, Christian Living. An article or item will be added to a board, these are called Pins.
Statistics for Nov 11, 2022 – Feb 9, 2023
Impressions: 37,190 (how often people see your pins, like views)
Engagements: 1,490 (includes clicks and saves)
Followers: 663
Top board: Bible Q & A, and Sermons – 16,150 impressions.
Top Pins:
- John 13-15: Footwashing and the Words of Jesus – 8,246 impressions
- Pope Francis ecumenical exorcism conference a Sign of the End? – 5,411 impressions
BNP Radio Tumblr Page
Articles: 2070
Followers: 177
Top item of interest, re-blogged (shared) or liked, a digital poster was created for this:
- Cashlessness and 1984, by Dr. Thiel and Mr. Steve Dupuie
BNP Radio MeWe Page
Nov 11, 2022 – Feb 9, 2023
It is a social media site, similar to facebook, but without the censorship, ads, or news feed manipulation. Content from the radio site, are added to this page, including any new literature.
Followers: 310
Posts: 84
BNP Radio Ello Page
Ello is the Creators Network. According to Ello.co:
Ello is a community to discover, discuss, publish, share and promote the things you are passionate about.
I only add items on this page when I create digital posters, or for posting CCOG magazines and book covers.
Views: 74,200
Posts: 261
Top viewed items are:
- CCOG on European Gospel Radio – 8,600 views
- The Three Angel’s Messages – 4,800 views
- Is The European Beast Growing Horns? – 4,500 views
- Russian, Ukraine, Food & the Ride of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – 1,500 views
- These Signs of the Four Horsemen Have Begun – 1,200 views
- Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? – 701 views
Shirley is also the person behind the basic design of the Bible News Prophecy banner that we use as a backdrop for recording our weekly sermonettes now.
As far radio goes, in addition to the online radio, we are on commercial radio in Europe and Africa, and shortwave radio covering Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, North America, and the Far East of Asia. For more details, check out the CCOG Multimedia page.
As far as Shirley Gestro herself goes, she and/or her supportive role for the Continuing Church of God was in dreams that three of our members have had–for those details, check out Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God.
01/16/23 a.m. Former RCG (Restored Church of God) employee Marc Cebrian posted the following excerpts at the anti-COG Banned by HWA website of David Pack's sermon this past Sabbath (January 14, 2023):
@ 1:07:49 So then, what did the Bible just directly tell you is the Day of the Lord? Abib [Nisan] 1. It’s impossible to argue with that. ...
@ 1:10:24 So, Abib 1 is March 22. One day, by the way, after winter is over. Meaning flight would be in winter…So, God is gonna start years almost dead-on within a day of spring? Well, if He does it this year, He would. Next year, it’s different. ...
@ 1:34:37 …before Christ comes, somebody is told, Make the vision, the whole forty days, make it plain on tables...and people blew it off. And it caused a lot of trouble on the planet…Which would explain why people are told, the sweet sheep of God in this room, would be told starting now, Don’t fear anything because there's gonna be plenty to fear between now and February 10th. ...
@ 1:39:30 These dates are set, and I will say before God they can only change if the Bible can change. You cannot argue with “midst of the years.” You cannot argue with the Day of the Lord. And you cannot argue with the sheer massive proof I’m gonna lay on you next time that Elijah rises before February 10th. Enjoy your evening.
While the Bible is not wrong, David Pack will again be proven wrong on the timing of both the Day of the Lord and Elijah--as 2023 is not a possible option for either based upon various statements from Jesus. David Pack does not properly understand many biblically prophecies and is again making false predictions.
For over a decade, I have written that the following was applicable to RCG:
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)
Yes, I consider that RCG's leader, David Pack, is a false teacher who causes the way of truth will be blasphemed. His destruction, in my view, has been going on for years as RCG has shrank in size as CCOG has grown.
I still expect RCG to one day basically totally implode.
01/14/23 a.m. Received the following in two emails from James Martenet related to dreams:
About month after FoT 2020 ... would be the first ... I was in a field of wheat that stretched to all horizons. It was a sunny day during harvest, and the wheat was golden, beautifully golden. There was a master of the harvest on a wagon, and there were reapers, the man on the wagon had a very black beard, was fit and had perfect teeth, and smiled broadly.
The reapers were also similar to him, and they all sang a song in the dream I understood, it was so beautiful. The reapers and the master of the harvest seemed superhuman, they were perfect of form. There were other normal folks, many whom I recognize from CCOG, and all of us had bags to carry the wheat the reapers were cutting, to the wagon. Some had large bags, others small, and some had holes in their bags. Some had bags that were empty, and they were not helping, just being busybodies, getting in the way of the ones who were working, but they could not stop the workers who were working from accomplishing the work of carrying the bags, even if they tried to…those working just kept right on being productive.
Bob Thiel had a tremendous load, it was ridiculous in size, so large that I wondered, how could he really get anything done with that tremendous load. But he was. Meanwhile some others also had large burdens, Shirley Gestro was one of them. The Master of the harvest asked why are not all the workers working? Why do some have empty bags? And he kept reminding us of the time.
He was asking me. I said I do not know what they are doing. He asked why are not more helping ... Bob Thiel..., then directly, why am I not helping more? I had a bag with a hole in it, I asked what can I do, and he told me to use my talents, and to get to work, while there is still daylight. Then my bag was fixed and full, and it kept getting fuller as those of us who had full bags placed them on the wagon, where the master of the harvest smiled at us and said “good job”. The Sun was in the afternoon, it was before sunset, but it was definably setting. The Man said, “work while you still can”, and I woke up. ...
The last time {I had the harvest dream} was in the spring of this year {2022}. Each of the dreams was slightly different: the sun was moving closer to sunset. In the last one the sun had moved closer to sunset, and in ... them {both} there was a sense of urgency.
Basically, James Martenet took that repeated dream to mean that he should support what God is doing in the CCOG. He has been assisting in video and radio spots since 2022. And yes, we are getting closer to the end.
Jesus said:
2 The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2)
Do your part to support the work and also pray for more laborers for the harvest.
More on dreams can be found in the article:Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God.
01/13/23 a.m. In a video done on January 4, 2023 by David Pack of the Restored Church of God (RCG) stated the following related to the Hebrew month of Tevet, 2023, and the Great Tribulation:
The Day of the Lord is perfectly, perfectly, Christ’s day–the day He became our Saviour … the 21st of this month {Tevet}, which is next Sabbath, ten days away, not quite ten, the 21st begins the Great Tribulation.
As far as Tevet and the Roman calendar date in January goes, notice the following:
https://www.webcal.guru/en-GH/event_list?calendar_id=system_hebrew accessed 6 January 2023
In other words, David Pack is falsely asserting that the Great Tribulation begins between sunset tonight and ends sunset tomorrow, January 14, 2023.
He is so wrong and should pay more attention to the Bible.
The fifth seal of Revelation 6 is not about to be opened in the next day or so as the fourth seal of Revelation 6:7-8 has not been opened, nor is the Beast of Revelation 13 about to gain power as prophesied in Revelation 17:12-13.
Notice something that Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
... the Great Tribulation will probably start with a nuclear attack on London and Britain–and possibly the same day or immediately after, on the United States and Canadian cities. The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall fully then realize, is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble,” spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. (Armstrong, Herbert W. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, Page 2).
No, the USA and UK are not going to get nuked by the Beast this weekend.
David Pack is, once again, about to be proven wrong.
01/07/23 a.m. A reader tipped me off to the following which was reported by CEG's Norbert Link in CEG's newsletter yesterday:
As some of you will recall, I was certain that Donald Trump would be reelected and occupy the White House in 2020, and I said so publicly. I should not have done that ...
I am glad that Norbert Link apologized for that. Many in the world, and some associated with the COGs, were overly focused on Donald Trump and were "certain" of things that they were wrong about.
That said, in his posted newsletter yesterday, Norbert Link later seemed to take a swipe against my article 23 items to prophetically watch in 2023 (which why it seems that the reader tipped me off to Norbert Link's article). Unlike his wrong Donald Trump statement, my statements were correct and reliable as they also were in previous similar articles. Here is a link to a related sermon: 23 things to prophetically watch in 2023.
That said, as pointed out in a sermon, Laodiceans have many prophetic errors --watch 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors.
Click here for the previous news of those once affiliated with GCG
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