“Elijah in the wilderness“
COGwriter
Gary Leonard, the webmaster of the anti-COG Banned by HWA site continues to libel me and make false assertions about me.
For example, a couple of days ago he posted:
Meredith publicly rebuked Thiel from the pulpit and kicked him out of the church (Leonard G. Why do COG members still feel the need that they still have to go to the ministers for answers? June 19, 2020)
This is about the third time in so many weeks he has had some version of that lie at his website.
Of course, all the top leadership of the Living Church of God knows full well I was not kicked out. I left because the leadership had serious integrity problems and refused to keep promises that they repeatedly made to me.
Gary Leonard cannot get over the fact that it was I who “kicked out” LCG, not the other way around. If he and others at his libelous site would stop repeating the lie I was kicked out of LCG, I would not feel the desire to some time comment about it.
Perhaps it should be mentioned that right after I left, even Jim Meredith (son of Dr. Meredith) emailed me and asked me to reconsider and come back. I declined.
Furthermore, some may be interested to know that on February 20, 2013, less then two months after CCOG was declared, Dr. Meredith sent me an email asking if I would come back. My response, which I sent on 2/21/13, included the following:
Dear Dr. Meredith:
Good morning. …
On 12/28/12, after receiving your email to me, I telephoned Dr. Fall, discussed your email with him, and then told him that morally I could no longer have affiliation with the Living Church of God. I then sent you an email where I clearly stated to you that I was no longer with LCG. …
As far as me and the Living Church of God, there would have to be major specific changes for me to be able to come back. At this stage, without changes, I do not believe that LCG can possibly be the group that God will use to complete the final phase of the work. I have totally committed myself to support the Philadelphian end time work of God, which is why, to a great degree because of steps you did and did not take, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) had to be formed.
You may be interested to know that I did not want to be in the position that I am now in. …
My attempts in 2012 to prevent the current situation were not properly reciprocated by you. Anyway, I continue to pray for you, your wife, and others in LCG pretty much daily.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
He did not respond to my response to him. The changes needed were not made, so there was no point in going back. (Because of promises I made to two LCG leaders, I have not posted Dr. Meredith’s 2/20/13 email.)
Anyway, no, LCG is not leading the final phase of the work. I do not consider that it is Philadelphian (though LCG, like other COGs, likely has some Philadelphians in its midst) nor could it hold the Philadelphia mantle (see Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle).
Those who wish to believe I was kicked out of LCG should consider that Jesus warned:
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:15)
Believing I was kicked out of LCG is believing a lie. I left LCG because its leaders lied to me–they repeatedly promised to fix errors they acknowledged, then decided that they did not have to keep their word. Those interested in the truth can read most details in the article: Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God.
Notice something Gary Leonard posted yesterday:
When has the church ever had a modern-day prophet in its midst? Every single self-appointed prophet has been proven to be a certified liar. Not one thing they have said has ever come true, and this includes Bob Thiel. (Ron Weinland: “I am the last apostle for the Church of God in this final age of mankind” June 20, 2020)
While Gary Leonard tries to lump me in with people like CGPKG’s Ron Weinland, PCG’s Gerald Flurry, and until his death, James Malm. All of whom were self-appointed in the prophetic realm and all of whom clearly made false prophecies. The reality is that I am not self-appointed, nor a certified liar, plus predictions I have had have certainly come to pass. I have not been false–this fact (plus the fact I do not take a salary from CCOG) goes against the paradigms that people like Gary Leonard have. And in his case, result in him repeatedly posting falsehoods that the uninformed (as well as those who prefer to believe a lie) accept.
Satan has long improperly used ‘guilt by association’ as a means to get people to not pay sufficient attention to the truth. Jesus, for example was “was numbered with the transgressors” (Luke 22:37), plus He taught that His opponents said He was “a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Luke 7:34). Sadly, most professing Christians today are lukewarm and falsely feel it is ‘safer’ to not accept anyone could be a prophet, which is contrary to end time and other scriptures (see also Church of God Leaders on Prophets and How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God).
Perhaps it should be pointed out that Gary Leonard calls me a liar, not because I have ever posted a lie, but because he cannot accept testimony about what happened with me on the prophet matter to be acceptable to him. Nor does he accept that God used dreams like the Bible prophesies. That is his loss, but that does not make me a liar.
I am NOT self-appointed. Nor did I ask for anything like being anointed for a double-portion of God’s spirit.
Here is a short version for what happened: In November 2011, both LCG minister Dr. Jeff Fall and LCG minister Gary Ehman told me that I did NOT need to have hands laid upon me in order to be a true prophet of God. Yet, I told them that something like that needed to happen for me to accept it. And in November/December 2011, I prayed that if I truly had a prophetic role from God that He would have something happen during a planned mid-December 2011 trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to confirm it or deny it if that were His will. As it turned out, on 12/15/2011 hands were laid upon me in Charlotte by LCG minister Gaylyn Bonjour, who I had not even intended to see then (I had asked to see Gary Ehman, but as it turned out, he was not in the Charlotte office due to an unexpected illness). After seeing Gaylyn Bonjour mentioning some health issues and wisdom, he laid hands on me, and specifically prayed that I would be granted a “double-portion” of God’s Holy Spirit, and he anointed me with oil. Afterwards, Gaylyn told me that he had not ever requested a “double portion’ of God’s Spirit before on anyone, but he felt that it was reminiscent of the time that the prophetic and ecclesiastical leadership mantle passed from the Prophet Elijah to Elisha (2 Kings 2:9-13). Gaylyn Bonjour had been unaware that I had prayed that God would have me anointed or somehow identified for a prophetic role on that mid-December 2011 trip if that were His plan for me and I had never discussed my possible prophetic role with him prior to this anointing. On 12/18/12, I asked Gaylyn Bonjour if he knew what he may have unintentionally done and he said yes. This 12/15/11 anointing appears to be the first biblically-appropriate prophetic anointing in the Church of God in many decades, if not many, many multiple centuries. And the legitimacy of this anointing has been proven by subsequent events–though many do not seem to understand how God works at times (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).
As it also turned out, I tried to meet with Dr. Meredith on December 19, 2011 to tell him that it seemed God was telling me that his wife was about to be struck with something serious. A few weeks later (per Dr. Meredith’s letter dated 1/12/12), Dr. Meredith reported that his wife (who was much younger than he) was stricken with stage four cancer (she later died on November 29, 2013). That prediction was not the result of analytical skills on my behalf, but I believe were insights from God’s Spirit.
In my view, the unexpected ‘double-portion anointing’, Gaylyn Bonjour’s comments about the mantle passing, and my feeling of something about to hit Sheryl Meredith, were the result of God answering my prayers in November/December 2011 that the prophet matter would be confirmed or denied in Charlotte with my December 2011 trip. Essentially, this was THREE confirmations.
Let this be clear, I was absolutely anointed, had hands laid over me, and the LCG minister who did so prayed that I would receive a ‘double-portion’ of God’s Holy Spirit, and afterwards that same minister (Gaylyn Bonjour) stated that this was reminiscent of the mantle passing from Elijah to Elisha (Gaylyn Bonjour also brought up the passing of the mantle related to this when we spoke on March 23, 2012). The fact that he did not originally intend to pray that I receive a ‘double-portion’ of God’s Holy Spirit is of no consequence, as the Bible shows that although Isaac had not intended to provide certain blessings to Jacob, once Isaac laid hands upon Jacob and gave the prayer, the anointed blessing would remain according to the Bible (Genesis 27)–and unlike Jacob, I did not employ any deceit in the anointing.
Furthermore, understand that I believe that I do have the appropriate prophetic fruits that Jesus discussed (Matthew 7:15-20) and that those truly interested in the truth can see this if they truly wish to prayerfully look into this. Perhaps it should be mentioned that while some question my ordination, others have also had concerns about God’s anointing and ordinations (2 Kings 9:1-11; Jeremiah 43:2; Genesis 27:26-37). God does not always do things the way humans think He does (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9).
Gary Leonard does not want to accept that I have the fruits of a prophet and meet the biblical (see How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God) and COG criteria for that (Church of God Leaders on Prophets; see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).
Consider the following:
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:8-11)
For those which use eyes to see and ears to hear and are not rebellious (Ezekiel 12:2), facts, links, and scriptures are in this article to assist by shining against the darkness.
As far as LCG goes and my roles, notice also the following (also understand that I refused to accept a salary when twice offered one by Dr. Meredith–I do not recall the dates of that other than once was in January 2008):
- From late November 1998 until early 1999, the COGwriter.com website served as the de facto website for the newly formed Living Church of God (which happened after a move by the GCG board).
- From the start of LCG until my departure, I also served as a video group host and gave sermonettes pretty much each week and conducted Passover services as authorized by the ministry. I often spoke at the Feast of Tabernacles and gave sermons at the Feast site in La Antigua, Guatemala in 2006, where I went over the book of the law as required by Deuteronomy 31:10-13 (see also The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law).
- In May of 1999, the late LCG evangelist Carl McNair told me never to stop COGwriter.com, but to continue to post materials. The COGwriter website originally was started years earlier at the insistence of my then GCG minister Art Braidic–I did not want to do it, but he insisted that I do so.
- Sometime in late 1999 (it could have been another year), Dr. Meredith made me promise, over my objections as I did not want to make that promise, that I had to tell him when I thought he was ‘pulling punches’ doctrinally. And I kept that promise until he made it clear on December 28, 2012 that he did not want to hear what he had originally insisted upon.
- In the late Summer of 2005, LCG’s then Presiding Evangelist, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith telephoned me and appointed me as an advisor to the evangelists on doctrine and prophecy. It was his idea, not mine.
- On October 3, 2008, Dr. Meredith stated that God may consider me to be a prophet. We discussed the matter for probably at least 20 minutes.
- On October 16, 2008, LCG evangelist Dibar Apartian told me that I was “the one or the biggest threat to the church.”
- Dr. Meredith brought it up again as an email I sent him on November 16, 2008 stated, “Now, you have mentioned to me a couple of times that God may regard me as a prophet. And, of course, it was you and not I that first brought that subject up.”
- In late January/early February 2009, Dr. Meredith told me over the telephone that if he (Dr. Meredith) was raised to the office of apostle, he was considering ordaining me (Bob Thiel) as a prophet.
- On February 4, 2009, Dr. Meredith told me over the telephone, “You have an in-depth understanding of prophecy and details of church history. You could be a prophet–that may be what God will have you do.” He also asked me to pray then that he would live another 7-15 years then–I prayed and he did (he died on May 18, 2017–just a little over 8 years later).
- During the Summer of 2009, Dibar Apartian expressed that I was not a threat to the church, but that God had an important role for me. He said in 2010 he intended to discuss that further with Dr. Meredith–but he and Dr. Meredith became estranged that year.
- In 2010, I was asked to submit an application to teach at Living University (LU). Because of that degree, my written articles, etc., Dr. Mike Germano said that LU wanted to appoint me as an “Adjunct Assistant Professor for Theology.” He wanted me to teach church history and other aspects of theology.
- In November and December 2011, I counseled with my pastor Dr. Fall, as well as LCG minister Gary Ehman, about the prophet matters. I told both of them that I thought that I needed to have hands laid upon me again in order to validate the view that I might be some type of a prophet. They both told me that, in their view related to being a prophet, baptism was scripturally sufficient. While that sounded logical, the statement from the Apostle Paul to Timothy about getting hands laid upon him (1 Timothy 4:14) gave me personal pause. And that caution led to me pray more about it. Thus, instead of concluding that I had sufficient anointing, especially considering the relative enormity of some of the ramifications of this as a conclusion, I searched the scriptures and concluded that, perhaps like Gideon (Judges 6:36-40), that I would seek further outside confirmation. And prayed God would provide that (or instead essentially provide information to deny that) when I was to visit Charlotte, North Carolina in December 2011.
- On December 15, 2011, LCG minister Gaylyn Bonjour, while laying hands on me, was moved by the Holy Spirit to pray that God would grant me a “double portion” of His spirit, which he said was reminiscent of the passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha as recorded in 2 Kings 2:9-13.
- At meeting with the LCG evangelists on December 16, 2011, Richard Ames prayed, with “Amen” concurrence from Dr. Meredith and Dr. D. Winnail, that “Dr. Thiel” would continue to do the work that God has had given me to do, etc. He also specifically called my writings/work “an additional witness.”
- On Sunday 12/18/11 night at a family wedding reception, without discussing the matter, I stared at Gaylyn Bonjour for a few moments, without saying anything and then asked, “Do you have any idea of what you may have accidently done?” Gaylyn Bonjour said, “Yes, I think so.”
- The following Monday (12/19/11) morning was my first opportunity to speak with Gaylyn Bonjour privately for more details about the anointing. I asked him if it was his practice to pray that God grant a double-portion of His Spirit to people that he anoints, he said, no he had never done that for an individual before. I asked him if he had any idea of what he may have been inadvertently led by God to do, and he said yes. Gaylyn Bonjour also said that the only “double-portion” he recalled from the Bible was when Elisha became the replacement prophet and ecclesiastical leader for Elijah (2 Kings 2:9)—I told then him that this was my recollection as well. Notice it was Gaylyn Bonjour, and not me, who first stated this connection. He also was the first to bring up the subject of “the passing of the mantle.”
- On December 19, 2011, during my last visit to LCG’s Charlotte headquarters, I also made several hours of lectures that were videoed taped for Living University.
- On March 23, 2012, Gaylyn Bonjour again told me he felt that in the Bible the “double-portion of the Spirit” anointing was related to “the passing of the mantle” and that it mattered not what certain other leaders would say because it is God, and not an organization of men, that truly appoints prophets, etc. (1 Corinthians 12:28). And that what he did was consistent with that, and I assert that God’s Spirit moved him to do that since Dr. Meredith hesitated too long. (Plus, I had the dreams consistent with Numbers 12:6; see also Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God).
- On August 26, 2012, LCG evangelist Dr. D. Winnail told Bob Thiel, “We all think that you might be a prophet.”
- In order in order to determine who “We all” was, on September 7, 2012, I asked if this was a reference to all three of the LCG Charlotte-based evangelists and Dr. Winnail concurred.
- I had met with Richard Ames on the Last Great Day in 2012 (October 8, 2012) and asked if it would be okay to again bring up errors related to one LCG booklet, my thoughts on the Falling Away matter, as well as the final phase of the work. He concurred, so I committed to doing so.
- Therefore in October 2012, I began again to work with William Bowmer (Executive Editor for LCG). He agreed that certain errors and questionable assertions needed to be dealt with, but also stated in an email on October 18, 2012 that LCG would continue to distribute over 20,000 error-filled booklets (see October 2012 Emails Related to GCA Booklet). This was disturbing and did not appear to be a proper Christian standard. This was the second or third time I learned something like this, and had been told before that LCG would stop this, but obviously that promise was also not kept.
- On October 23, 2012, I also sent a version of my falling away paper to Richard Ames, who did not respond to it. And finally, in December 2012, I sent my paper on the final phase of the work to Richard Ames and thus fulfilled my last promised commitment to him. (The main content of both papers has since been posted and updated, see: The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings and The Final Phase of the Work.)
- During this time, an LCG minister said to send the chronology related to prophet matters to some on the Council of Elders who did not have it, so I did (a version of which is shown as part of the 12/28/12 p.m. update at http://www.cogwriter.com/11gnews.htm).
- On December 28, 2012, Dr. Meredith sent a false and accusatory email, which he also made public, in violation of Matthew 18:15-17 (see also Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012). On that day, after reading that letter, I telephoned Dr. Jeff Fall and told him that working with LCG was futile and that I felt I had no choice but to leave. I then emailed Dr. Meredith and told him I left. The Continuing Church of God was formally declared hours later.
- On January 7, 2013, which is AFTER I left LCG, Dr. Douglas Winnail sent me an email, which included the statement, “we made comments to you that “you may be a prophet.””
While in LCG, I was not disrespectful to the evangelists and never pushed the idea that they needed to listen to me because of a prophetic role, but only to accept the truth of the Bible and history and to correct errors that they had acknowledged that LCG had. It was Dr. Meredith who appointed me, in the late Summer of 2005, to be an advisor to the evangelists on doctrine and prophecy–I was also not self-appointed for that. I left LCG because the evangelists refused to do what they, and particularly Dr. Meredith, repeatedly promised, and because LCG was willing to teach things it knew were in error.
As far as Gaylyn Bojour goes, I spent time with him last November.
Gaylyn said that he tells those who ask:
I have known Bob Thiel since 1986. He has always been honest, dedicated, and sincere.
And that includes what I have written about him and the prophet matter.
Gaylyn Bonjour believes that he prayed and laid hands on me, anointed me with oil, unintentionally by him with guidance from the Holy Spirit, prayed that I would be granted a double-portion of God’s Holy Spirit reminiscent of the passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha, and, as he told me last November, he believes God answered his anointing prayer for me.
Jesus wrote:
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
People like Gary Leonard say all kinds of evil against me falsely–this is one way they persecute.
Sadly, Gary Leonard and many other opponents do not care about the truth and think that they are getting away with their lies and falsehoods.
Yet scripture says, “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
The Book of Proverbs teaches:
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5)
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. (Proverbs 26:16, KJV)
Because of Proverbs 26:4, I do not respond to most of the lies and false accusations at the Banned By HWA site, but because of Proverbs 26:5, I sometimes will.
The reality is that when a lie is repeated a lot, people often tend to believe it. Believing I am self-appointed is a lie.
Many also know that there were various dreams involved (see Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God). Such was prophesied in Acts 2:17-18 for the end times (see Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?), but Laodiceans as well as people like Gary Leonard do not accept how God works that way.
Now the motivation for this post was Gary Leonard’s false assertion that not one thing I “have said has ever come true.”
He is wrong.
Would you be interested in seeing a list?
Coincidences or Divine Intervention?
| Category |
Event |
Fulfillment |
| Prediction |
During late August 2008, Bob Thiel told LCG minister Davy Crocket that unless evangelists would implement certain matters that God was about to strike a top LCG leader with something. |
LCG’s top evangelist, Roderick C. Meredith, suffered a ministroke on September 19, 2008. |
| Prayer |
On February 4, 2009, Dr. Meredith asked Bob Thiel to pray that he would live another 7 – 15 years, so Bob Thiel did. |
Dr. Meredith died on May 18, 2017–a little over 8 years after that prayer. |
| Predictions |
In July 2009, Bob Thiel’s book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect went to press. |
By December 22, 2012, 32 predictions in that book were at least partially fulfilled. For details, go to https://www.cogwriter.com/Confirmed2012BookEvents.htm |
Speculative
Prediction |
On June 24, 2010, Bob Thiel warned that “Certain biblical, Chinese, and other prophecies…discuss that how Australia itself may become taken over. By virtue of her timing, Julia Gillard may inadvertently pursue policies that will lead to the fulfillment of various end time prophecies.” |
On November 10, 2011, because an agreement with Julia Gillard, US troops were stationed in Darwin, Australia, and by November 18, 2011 China pointed to this as a reason to consider military action against Australia. |
Speculative
Predictions |
From 2010 to 2015, Bob Thiel made and/or posted speculative predictions related to Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. |
By late 2017, 7-11 predictions (depending on how they are included) related to Herr Guttenberg were at least partially fulfilled. For details, go to https://www.cogwriter.com/karl-theodor-zu-guttenberg-king-of-the-north.htm |
| Prayer |
Although told by two LCG ministers (Dr. Jeff Fall and Gary Ehman) in the late Fall of 2011 that he did not need to have hands laid on him to be a prophet, Bob Thiel prayed that something would happen related to his ‘prophet’ situation in a planned December 2011 trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. |
On December 15, 2011, Gaylyn Bonjour anointed Bob Thiel and prayed that he be granted a double-portion of God’s Spirit. Gaylyn Bonjour said this was reminiscent of the passing of the mantle, that he realized what he may have unintentionally did, and that what he did could not be undone. This answered Bob Thiel’s prayer. Gaylyn Bonjour also confirmed on November 28, 2019 his belief that his prayer was answered. |
| Prayer |
On December 16, 2011, Richard Ames prayed that Bob Thiel would continue his evangelical/prophetic efforts and LCG evangelists Dr. Meredith and Dr. D. Winnail gave Amen concurrence–as did Bob Thiel. |
Bob Thiel has continued evangelical/prophetic efforts and has been the human leader of the fastest growing COG group in the 21st century, known as the Continuing Church of God. These show the fruits of a true prophet, consistent with Jesus’ criteria in John 7:15-20. |
| Prediction |
On December 19, 2011, Bob Thiel tried to meet with Dr. Meredith to tell him that it seemed God was telling him that his wife Sheryl was about to be struck with something serious. |
In Dr. Meredith’s letter dated 1/12/12, he reported that his wife Sheryl (who was much younger than he) was stricken with stage four cancer. She later died on November 29, 2013. |
| Predictions |
In a book published on January 19, 2017, Bob Thiel listed many predictions related to the upcoming Donald Trump presidency. Plus he published others at cogwriter.com |
By 2020, events aligned with at least 19 predictions related to the Trump Administration. For details go to https://www.cogwriter.com/donald-trump-prophecy.htm |
Clearly the above are not all coincidental nor the only result of analytical news skills and biblical knowledge, particularly on those that were related to the health of Dr. and Sheryl Meredith.
And the reality is that, yes, things I have said would happen have come true. And there are numerous additional items posted at COGwriter.com that have also come to pass.
Jesus said that fruits were the criteria to determine true vs. false prophets (John 7:15-20). The Continuing Church of God has the true fruits.
If only two of the confirmed dreams and/or prophetic fulfillments were the result of something from God (cf. Matthew 18:16), then this is Divine validation of Bob Thiel’s prophetic status.
Consider that since no other COG has God’s confirmation of a prophetic leader like this, this is something that any claiming to be true Church of God Christians should pay attention to. And, of course, anyone who accepts and truly understands biblical church governance realizes that prophets are only considered second to apostles (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11)–so if there are no accepted apostles today, those outside of CCOG should consider that they need to properly respond to Philadelphian biblical church governance (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government and Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle).
Notice something that Jesus said:
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)
And many, like Gary Leonard (and people who do not want others to know the truth about me and LCG) have reviled me and said all kinds of evil against me falsely (to see some additional false accusations and responses, check out the article Banned by HWA and Ambassador Watch).
Notice the following about Jesus:
12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people. (John 7:12)
Notice that THERE WAS MUCH COMPLAINING about Jesus. Jesus never lied, yet people slandered Him.
Would you have believed that Jesus was a deceiver like many claimed?
Hopefully, not. But most of the religious in His day accepted the slander against Him.
Hopefully, you will not believe the lies against and about me.
Jesus also said to religious people:
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. (John 8:43-47)
Believe the truth!
Notice some of what the Apostle Peter wrote in the New Testament:
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-7)
But being subject to ridicule and scoffing is not the only issue, persecution is as well. But Jesus also made it clear that there were rewards associated with receiving His prophets:
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. (Matthew 10:31-41, KJV)
If the prophet does not claim to be a prophet (and also provide evidence) how else can anyone know if the person is a prophet? Hence, it is needful for a prophet to ‘defend’ and sometime explain, the prophet status.
Are you willing to receive that God could have at least one prophet today, despite him being subject to ridicule?
The Apostle Peter warned that scoffers would rise up in the last days who discount Bible prophecy (2 Peter 3:3-7) and quite a few scoffers seem to like to improperly scoff about me in these end times. God will judge (1 Samuel 2:25; Romans 2:16), and those who have the “love of the truth” (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:10) should be willing and able to discern it (Malachi 3:18; Hebrews 5:14).
If you personally feel that you should negatively judge me, please base that judgment upon what I actually do, say, and/or write, and do not rely on inaccurate scoffers who misrepresent me and what I try to stand for. The Bible does not look favorably towards those who wish to believe lies (Revelation 22:15). Consider also the following:
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16)
Perhaps it should be mentioned that Moses, Jeremiah, Amos, and the Apostle Paul also had to repeatedly ‘defend themselves’ from a variety of critics and unbelievers as well as assert the positions that God put them in.
Even Jesus did so (cf. John 8:43-47).
Do not be of Satan the devil, the father of lies, and believe falsehoods.
Instead, be like the Bereans of old and search “the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11), “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:2-3), and do what God, above what any human, would want you to do (Acts 5:29).
The Continuing Church of God is the only COG organization with so many of the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18.
Would not that be expected of the most faithful continuation of the Philadelphian (cf. Hebrews 13:1, literal) era in the last days? Part of Philadelphia was to “continue” (Hebrews 13:1, NKJV), “remain” (Hebrews 13:1, YLT).
Can you accept the last days signs and prophetic criteria that God established in the Bible? Or will you rely on false accusers and scoffers?
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one?
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? Here is a link in Spanish: Sueños, la Biblia, la Iglesia de Dios de la Radio, y la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
Elijah: Past and Prophesied Information about the original Elijah and some information about the Elijah-related prophecies.
The Elijah Heresies Does the Bible teach that there will be a future Elijah? Must it be Herbert W. Armstrong? Two related sermons are available Elijah: Prophecies and Heresies and Elijah, Herbert W. Armstrong, and CCOG.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets, yet many overlook what the Bible teaches about how to recognize a true one. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? This article contains a scripture-based checklist to assist with this determination.
How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God This is a sermon on YouTube addressing a subject that most in the Church of God do not seem to have looked into very much. It discusses scriptures and dispels some improper assertions that some associated with the COG have made about prophets in this time.
The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: La Apostasía: Enseñanzas de la Biblia y de la WCG. There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others.
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œf/’Y’jNº’ÿ Here is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of relaled interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God. To see how CCOG has done so far, here is a sermon Continuing Church of God (CCOG) first year anniversary: What has been accomplished? Here is a written link to a version of that sermon in the Spanish language: Aniversario del primer año de la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios: ¿Qué se ha cumplido?
