{"id":60365,"date":"2020-02-29T08:45:34","date_gmt":"2020-02-29T16:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=60365"},"modified":"2020-02-29T07:40:13","modified_gmt":"2020-02-29T15:40:13","slug":"pcg-why-the-great-falling-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/doctrine\/pcg-why-the-great-falling-away\/","title":{"rendered":"PCG: Why the Great Falling Away"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-60366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Why-the-Great-Falling-Away.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Why-the-Great-Falling-Away.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Why-the-Great-Falling-Away-300x167.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px\" \/><br \/>\n<em>PCG video thumbnail<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/cogwriter.htm\">COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gerald Flurry of the improperly named <a href=\"\/pcg.htm\">Philadelphia Church of God<\/a> (PCG) wrote the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Why the Great Falling Away<\/h2>\n<div class=\"article-quip\"><strong>God\u2019s Church was spiritually wrecked three decades ago. There is one specific reason why.<\/strong><\/div>\n<p>By Gerald Flurry<\/p>\n<p>Nearly all of God\u2019s people have turned away from Him in this end time. The Apostle Paul prophesied that this great falling away would be a sign of the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ! People in the world and in God\u2019s Church have witnessed the rebellion. As a result, all who know the Bible can prove their Savior\u2019s return is near. You don\u2019t have to <em>guess<\/em> and <em>hope;<\/em> you can <em>prove<\/em> and <em>know.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Consider this question: <em>Why<\/em> the great falling away?<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not you have personal history with this rebellion, understanding why it happened is still extremely relevant. &#8230;<\/p>\n<h4>The Man of Sin<\/h4>\n<p>Remember, the great falling away was prophesied: \u201cNow we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God\u201d (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).<\/p>\n<p>The Church-wide rebellion was a disturbing, terrifying event! There was so much deception and wickedness. The Moffatt translation says Christ won\u2019t come until the rebellion takes place, revealing the lawless one. During the great falling away, the \u201cson of perdition\u201d\u2014a <span class=\"smallcaps\">man of sin<\/span>\u2014is exposed for leading God\u2019s Church off track. <em>Perdition<\/em> refers to destruction, damnation, perishing, waste and utter ruin. This man placed himself above God and taught God\u2019s people the opposite of what God teaches!<\/p>\n<p>The man of sin is a specific human being. You can know and see him because the great falling away revealed his identity. Paul wrote about him because the Church during his day was confused about the time frame of Christ\u2019s return. I can prove <em>irrefutably<\/em> who the man of sin is.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Before going further, no, Gerald Flurry cannot &#8220;prove <em>irrefutably<\/em> who the man of sin is&#8221; as he got that wrong. Here is some of what he wrote about the &#8220;man of sin&#8221; in 2014:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Revealing Satan<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>By Gerald Flurry<\/p>\n<p>2 Thessalonians 2 records a spectacular end-time event in God\u2019s Church. There is nothing like it in all the previous history of the Church!<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd now ye know what [restrains] that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now [restrains] will [restrain], until he be taken out of the way\u201d (verses 6-7).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>God has given the Philadelphia Church of God amazing understanding about this verse. On Jan. 16, 1986, a man was taken out of the way. From time to time, God reminds us how important the anniversary of that day is. We can read these scriptures and point out the specific individuals they refer to. What other church can do this?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming\u201d (verse 8). Verses 3-4 say the man of sin will be revealed, but verse 8 specifically says this Wicked (Satan) will be revealed as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders\u201d (verse 9). There are signs, lying wonders and power coming from the devil&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>The court battle we fought against the Worldwide Church of God to gain the copyrights to Herbert Armstrong\u2019s writings has been a gold mine of information about the devil&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>In our court proceedings, Joe Tkach Jr. gave two depositions&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Tkach: \u201cWhen someone tells you that they\u2019re being used by God in a way that no other human being who has ever lived is being used, I would consider that to be a bit on the heresy side, to say that he received a message from God and then won\u2019t share it with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>None of this happened. Mr. Tkach Jr. knew he was lying! &#8230; He tried to picture me as a weird prophet you see in Hollywood movies&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>When I sat listening to those words during the deposition, I didn\u2019t understand what those lies were all about. But God later revealed to me what it all meant. God always has to reveal these truths to us.<\/p>\n<p>2\u2009Thessalonians 2:4 says this man of sin \u201cOpposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.\u201d&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t think Joe Tkach Jr. really understood what he was saying or from whom he got these lies. It was Satan talking to us&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor the mystery of [lawlessness] doth already work: only he who now [restrains] will [restrain], until he be taken out of the way\u201d (verse 7). That \u201cmystery of lawlessness\u201d was there before the man of sin came on the scene. Revelation 3:7-9 call it the synagogue of Satan. The devil was plotting and planning even while Mr. Armstrong was alive. He inspired and directed a group of people to get ready to take over the Church of God. And he succeeded!<\/p>\n<p>The icc says, \u201c[A]s the indwelling Christ works in Paul, so Satan operates in the [man of sin] with the result that his advent is attended by all power to work wonders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>2 Thessalonians 2:8 shows that the work of Satan will be destroyed, but verse 9 reveals that, first, the man of sin will have \u201call power and signs and lying wonders.\u201d This is what Joe Tkach Jr. said about <em>me!<\/em> What a lying wonder! It came right out of 2\u2009Thessalonians 2.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Like false prophet <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/cgpfk.htm\">Ronald Weinland<\/a>, Gerald Flurry is much too much into allegory when he should not be. Whether or not Joe Tkach, Jr. lied, this does not qualify as the &#8220;signs and lying wonders&#8221; that the Apostle Paul was warning about.<\/p>\n<p>In his book, <em>Malachi&#8217;s Message<\/em> (1995 edition), in the chapter titled &#8220;Man of Sin,&#8221; Gerald Flurry wrote:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>God\u2019s Church has applied 2 Thessalonians 2:4 to the world for the most part. But it doesn\u2019t apply to the world&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven him [the \u201cson of perdition\u201d], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders\u201d (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The word \u201csigns\u201d is rendered \u201cpretended signs\u201d by the Revised Standard Version. This \u201cson of perdition\u201d is heavily influenced by Satan&#8230;In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul discusses <em>signs<\/em> and <em>lying wonders<\/em> of a false leader or lying apostle (Revelation 2:2)&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Tkach was an <em>innermost disciple<\/em>\u2014more so than other Church leaders\u2014in those last seven years of Mr. Armstrong\u2019s life. The leadership discussed in 2 Thessalonians 2 <em>must<\/em> be in Pasadena today. (pp. 79,88,89,99)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Mr. Tkach mentioned by Gerald Flurry in <em>Malachi&#8217;s Message<\/em> was J. Tkach Sr., not his son. Joe Jr. was never anything close to the &#8216;innermost disciple&#8217; to HWA. Gerald Flurry&#8217;s &#8216;inspiration&#8221; for both his conclusions about Sr. and then Jr. being the prophesied &#8220;man of sin&#8221; are false.<\/p>\n<p>While we may suspect who the &#8216;man of sin&#8217; is, his identification has not yet been accompanied with signs and lying wonders. Since lying is very common, the Apostle Paul was not simply referring to someone who lied about something&#8211;signs and lying wonders are more unique than than.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, many COGs (if not nearly all) do not understand who the &#8216;man of sin&#8217; in 2 Thessalonians 2 is (and because of this they will not understand certain end time prophecies; see also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/man-of-sin.htm\">Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?<\/a>). However, Gerald Flurry may have the most absurd explanation of his alleged identity (though <a href=\"\/rcg.htm\">RCG&#8217;s David Pack<\/a> is real close, if not more absurd).<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\"><em>Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> put out the following sermon on its <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/continuingcog\">ContinuingCOG <\/a>channel related to the &#8216;man of sin&#8217;:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"copy-paste-block\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope ytd-shelf-renderer\">\n<div id=\"scroll-container\" class=\"style-scope yt-horizontal-list-renderer\">\n<div id=\"items\" class=\"style-scope yt-horizontal-list-renderer\">\n<div id=\"dismissable\" class=\"style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\">\n<p><a class=\"yt-simple-endpoint inline-block style-scope ytd-thumbnail\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XK3cgmMvb7s\" rel=\"null\" aria-hidden=\"true\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"img\" class=\"style-scope yt-img-shadow\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XK3cgmMvb7s\/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEjCPYBEIoBSFryq4qpAxUIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJDeAE=&amp;rs=AOn4CLBawpBKYmAGU0y0otRuxAJX-dYFRg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"overlays\" class=\"style-scope ytd-thumbnail\"><span class=\"style-scope ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer\" aria-label=\"1 hour, 18 minutes\"> 1:18:15 <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"meta\" class=\"style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\">\n<h3 class=\"style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\"><a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\" title=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XK3cgmMvb7s\" aria-label=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot; by ContinuingCoG 8 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes No views\">The Man of Sin will deceive most \u2018Christians\u2019<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 2 Thessalonians 2, the Apostle Paul writes about one called the man of sin, the son of perdition, the lawless one. Is this person the beast of the sea or the beast of the earth of Revelation 13? Is he the King of the North or the False Prophet? Is he the Antichrist or the papacy? Is he someone in the Church of God? What are various Catholic, Protestant, and Church of God views? Are those views based upon tradition or scripture? Are some views at least partially right? Are the radical preterists right? What about Millenialists and Hal Lindsey? What about ties to the Great Monarch of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prophecies? What types of signs and lying wonders might accompanying him? Will he advocate the breaking of all ten of the commandments? Why will most who profess Christianity be deceived? Will most non-Philadelphians be misled? What are the biblical facts about the man of sin? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more by covering numerous scriptures and other writings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Here is a link to the sermon: <a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\" title=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XK3cgmMvb7s\" aria-label=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot; by ContinuingCoG 8 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes No views\">The Man of Sin will deceive most \u2018Christians\u2019<\/a>. Most Christians do not know the proper identity of the man of sin (for some details, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/man-of-sin.htm\">Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Those who do not know who the &#8216;man of sin&#8217; is will not realize that certain end time prophecies are being fulfilled when they are. Because they will not recognize him, they will not be able to properly warn their people nor the world what is happening until it is basically too late. Those who do not know the identity of the man of sin are most likely not going to be protected from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world (cf. Revelation 3:10; 12:14-17).<\/p>\n<p>Now back to Gerald Flurry&#8217;s article, he also stated:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Here\u2019s why almost every member of the Worldwide Church of God rebelled after Herbert W. Armstrong died in 1986: \u201cAnd with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie\u201d (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11). The Philips translation says, \u201cThey have refused to love the truth.\u201d God\u2019s own people just <span class=\"smallcaps\">refuse<\/span>! They will not <span class=\"smallcaps\">obey<\/span>! God allowed Satan to wreck the Church because the people stopped loving the truth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold\u201d (Matthew 24:12). (Flurry G. Why the Great Falling Away. February 28, 2020)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Now, that is partially correct. Many who were with the old Worldwide Church of God simply did not have a sufficient love of the truth. One of the reasons, however, I said &#8220;partially&#8221; is that 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 is for the future and is not only for those who claim to be COG, but for all who are not.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the falling away, here are some scriptures to consider:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for <em>that Day will not come<\/em> unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>7 &#8220;Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,<br \/>\nAgainst the Man who is My Companion,&#8221;<br \/>\nSays the Lord of hosts.<br \/>\n&#8220;Strike the Shepherd,<br \/>\nAnd the sheep will be scattered;<br \/>\nThen I will turn My hand against the little ones.<br \/>\n8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,&#8221;<br \/>\nSays the Lord,<br \/>\n&#8220;That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,<br \/>\nBut one-third shall be left in it:<br \/>\n9 I will bring the one-third through the fire,<br \/>\nWill refine them as silver is refined,<br \/>\nAnd test them as gold is tested.<br \/>\nThey will call on My name,<br \/>\nAnd I will answer them.<br \/>\nI will say, &#8216;This is My people&#8217;;<br \/>\nAnd each one will say, &#8216;The Lord is my God.'&#8221; (Zechariah 13:7-9)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While Zechariah 13 seems to have other applications, the fact is that two-thirds of those in the old WCG accepted total apostasy after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, and about one-third did not, makes the possible application of the Tkach apostasy seem to fit&#8211;but NOT the identity of either of the Tkachs as the &#8220;man of sin&#8221; (for more details, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/man-of-sin.htm\">Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?<\/a> and\/or watch <a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\" title=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XK3cgmMvb7s\" aria-label=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot; by ContinuingCoG 8 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes No views\">The Man of Sin will deceive most \u2018Christians\u2019<\/a>). The Bible also says that the Laodiceans need to be refined as gold (Revelation 3:14-18) and that what seems to be the Philadelphians and others will need to be refined and purified (Daniel 11:35), with fire involvement (Daniel 11:33), are other reasons to consider that the Tkach apostasy could be the main falling away that was warned about.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, some of those who have changed from the historical position on the falling away have contended that the expression \u201cfor that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed\u201d means that the falling away must happen at (or very near) the time that the man of sin is revealed.\u00a0 Thus, some have improperly concluded that the falling away and falling towards the son of perdition is required by 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and could not apply to the Tkack-related falling away.<\/p>\n<p>However, the overall time-frame of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 spans a very long time.<\/p>\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n<p>Because these passages mention that before Jesus returns, there will be a falling away, the man of sin will be revealed, and that Jesus will destroy this man of sin.\u00a0 Since a man of sin persecutes the saints for at least 3 \u00bd years (Daniel 7:25), and is probably revealed some time prior to that (like around 3 \u00bd years or so, per Daniel 9:26-27, though it may take longer to know for certain), verse 3 seems to span no less than seven years.\u00a0 Also, verse 3 shows the falling away happens \u201cfirst,\u201d before the final son of perdition is revealed.\u00a0 Furthermore, since verses 6 &amp; 7 show that something had begun by Paul\u2019s time, nearly 2000 years are covered, in a sense, in these ten verses.\u00a0 Over time \u201cevil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived\u201d (2 Timothy 3:13).<\/p>\n<p>Since the Greek does not clearly give the timeframe between each of the in 2 Thessalonians 2 events, I am not convinced that a particular length (long, short, or none) of a gap between the falling away and the revealing of the man of sin is required.<\/p>\n<p>The fact is that there will be some type of future falling away by believers in Daniel 11:29-36.\u00a0 Herbert Armstrong, when citing Daniel 11:33-35, stated:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>These are the people of God\u00a0 (Armstrong HW. Falling away, part 2.\u00a0 World Tomorrow radio broadcast, HA5406.rm).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If one or more of the COGs does balloon up in membership right before the\u00a0 Great Tribulation (as some have thought, and which <em>may<\/em> be consistent with certain Catholic prophecies as well as how John Ogwyn seemed to interpret Romans 9:28), then it is possible that a larger falling away from the Church of God will appear right around the time that the man of sin is revealed. And if those two events are supposed to be concurrent, then this may better fit 2 Thessalonians 2:3 than the Tkach-apostasy.<\/p>\n<p>What about the love of many waxing cold? Well, that is a warning from Jesus to Christians, and not just those who completely fell away from the truth. Notice the words of Jesus:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>14 &#8220;And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 &#8220;I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, &#8216;I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing&#8217; \u2014 and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked \u2014 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:14-20)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Clearly, according to Jesus, the bulk of end time Christians are NOT right with God and need to change.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus only promised to protect the true <a href=\"\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">Philadelphian Christians<\/a> from the coming &#8220;hour of trial&#8221; (Revelation 3:7-10). Philadelphians have proper &#8220;love of the brethren&#8221; as the term means &#8220;brotherly love.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And it is not those who simply call themselves that who are truly <a href=\"\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">Philadelphian Christians<\/a> (cf. Revelation 3:9). Since most Christians in the end are not truly part of the <a href=\"\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God<\/a>, they will not be protected&#8211;but end up being subject to Satan&#8217;s wrath per Revelation 12:17.<\/p>\n<p>Although Gerald Flurry seems to be mainly relying on his own influenced imagination, most others are relying on improper tradition as opposed to what the Bible teaches when it comes to the man of sin.<\/p>\n<p>Those who wish to understand what the Bible teaches on this, should study the article <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/man-of-sin.htm\">Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We also have two sermons (watch <a title=\"The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=z32jLDMqkQ0\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=EFFvUeyNCdeVhgG7ooHoCA&amp;feature=plcp\">The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History<\/a> and <a title=\"The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6FIYnIz8a_Y\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=EFFvUeyNCdeVhgG7ooHoCA&amp;feature=plcp\">The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others<\/a>) and an article about the falling away (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/falling-away.htm\">The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><em>Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/man-of-sin.htm\">Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?<\/a> 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\/espa\u00f1ol: <a title=\"Permanent Link to \u00bfQui\u00e9n es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\/quien-es-el-hombre-de-pecado-de-2-tesalonicenses-2\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\u00bfQui\u00e9n es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2?<\/a> Here is a version in Mandarin: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/mandarin-man-of-sin.htm\">N;\u0016\u00ff\u001a \u0152\u0001f\/\u2019Y\u2019jN\u00ba\u2019\u00ff\u001f<\/a> . Here is a link to a related sermon: <a id=\"video-title\" class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope ytd-grid-video-renderer\" title=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XK3cgmMvb7s\" aria-label=\"The Man of Sin will deceive most &quot;Christians&quot; by ContinuingCoG 8 minutes ago 1 hour, 18 minutes No views\">The Man of Sin will deceive most \u2018Christians\u2019<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/pcg.htm\">Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God<\/a> Simply calling oneself &#8216;Philadelphia&#8217; does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself &#8220;that prophet&#8221; or a variety of other titles make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/falling-away.htm\">The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings<\/a> Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? <span style=\"color: teal;\"><span style=\"color: black;\">Here is a related link in Spanish\/<span id=\"result_box6\" lang=\"es\">espa\u00f1ol<\/span>: <a title=\"La Apostas\u00eda: Ense\u00f1anzas de la Biblia y de la WCG\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/la-apostasia-ensenanzas-de-la-biblia-y-de-la-wcg\/\">La Apostas\u00eda: Ense\u00f1anzas de la Biblia y de la WCG<\/a>. <\/span><\/span>There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch <a title=\"The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=z32jLDMqkQ0\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=EFFvUeyNCdeVhgG7ooHoCA&amp;feature=plcp\">The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History<\/a> and <a title=\"The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6FIYnIz8a_Y\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=EFFvUeyNCdeVhgG7ooHoCA&amp;feature=plcp\">The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others<\/a><em>.<br \/>\n<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/when-will-the-great-tribulation-begin.htm\">When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2020, 2021, or 2022?<\/a> Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the &#8220;beginning of sorrows&#8221;? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdlidd.es\/puede-la-gran-tribulacion-comenzar-en-el-2020-o-2021-es-el-tiempo-de-los-gentiles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00bfPuede la Gran Tribulaci\u00f3n comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? \u00bfEs el Tiempo de los Gentiles?<\/a> You can also see the English language sermon videos: <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Cd-2nwJGpuQ&amp;list=UUOuL5Q2Xi9HZqU6GivhxveQ\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=gxwrU4PFJ86X-gO-soKQCQ&amp;ved=CCQQvxs&amp;feature=c4-overview-u\">The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives<\/a> and <a title=\"Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IpLRv6wXpLE\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=HFN4V73UMJHg-QP80Kz4Cg&amp;feature=c4-overview&amp;ved=CDsQ0h4YACITCL3SyJH81c0CFRFwfgodfCgLryibHA\">Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020?<\/a> A shorter and newer video is: <a id=\"video-title18\" title=\"Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OsVAVeGG2ik\" aria-label=\"Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020? by BibleNewsProphecy 4 hours ago 14 minutes 58 views\">Could the Great Tribulation Begin in 2020?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/place.htm\">There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra<\/a> This article discusses a biblical &#8216;place of safety&#8217; and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject&#8211;thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/rapture.htm\"> rapture<\/a> theory. There is also a video on the subject: <a title=\"Might Petra be the Place of Safety?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bkC895lBBNk\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=plcp&amp;ei=oaAeUYaiCceXhgHItoCIDg\">Might Petra be the Place of Safety?<\/a> Here is something related in the Spanish language: <a title=\"Permanent Link to Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. \u00bfPuede ser Petra?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\/hay-un-lugar-de-seguridad-para-los-filadelfinos-puede-ser-petra\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. \u00bfPuede ser Petra?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/phil.htm\">What is a True Philadelphian?<\/a> Many claim to be part of the Philadelphia era of the Church, but is claiming enough? This article has biblical and historical evidence about who really are the Philadelphians.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/philadelphiachurch.htm\">The Philadelphia Church Era<\/a> was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\">Continuing<\/a><\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ccog.org\"> Church of God<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/laodiceachurch.htm\">The Laodicean Church Era <\/a>has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/when-will-the-great-tribulation-begin.htm\">Great Tribulation<\/a> if they do not repent. One video of related interest is <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DbQvPsFMVYo\" data-sessionlink=\"ei=sdMFVqb-BIrGqgX_j6eoBA&amp;feature=c4-feed-u&amp;ved=CDkQvxs\">17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/sad.htm\">Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees?<\/a> Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/WhereistheTrueChristianChurchToday.pdf\">Where is the True Christian Church Today?<\/a> 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: <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"Where is the True Christian Church?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=adMl1PWrg_Q&amp;list=UUOuL5Q2Xi9HZqU6GivhxveQ\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=c4-overview-u&amp;ei=7KwLVLmCKtOp-AP--oDwCw&amp;ved=CBoQvxs\">Where is the True Christian Church? <\/a>Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: <a title=\"\u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdlidd.es\/donde-esta-la-verdadera-iglesia-cristiana-de-hoy\/\">\u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?<\/a> Here is a link in the German language: <a title=\"WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE?\" href=\"http:\/\/ccog.eu\/wo-ist-die-wahre-christliche-kirche-heute\/\">WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/falseleaders.htm\">Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders?<\/a> There have been many false leaders&#8211;here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language <a title=\"Permanent Link to \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 estar preocupado acerca de falsos y her\u00e9ticos l\u00edderes?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/por-que-estar-preocupado-acerca-de-falsos-y-hereticos-lideres\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\u00bfPor qu\u00e9 estar preocupado acerca de falsos y her\u00e9ticos l\u00edderes?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/does-the-ccog-have-the-confirmed-signs-of-acts-217-18\/\">Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?<\/a> Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdlidd.es\/tiene-la-ccog-confirmadas-las-senales-de-hechos-2-17-18\/\">\u00bfTiene la CCOG confirmadas las se\u00f1ales de Hechos 2: 17-18?<\/a> Here is a link in the French language: <a href=\"https:\/\/ccog.eu\/est-ce-que-leglise-continue-de-dieu-confirme-les-signes-dactes-217-18\/\">Est-ce que l\u2019\u00c9glise Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d\u2019Actes 2:17-18?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/cog-leaders-prophets.htm\">Church of God Leaders on Prophets<\/a> 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: <a id=\"video-title134\" title=\"Church of God Leaders on Prophets\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ag40EXQTAwM\" aria-label=\"Church of God Leaders on Prophets by ContinuingCoG 50 seconds ago 1 hour, 21 minutes No views\">Church of God Leaders on Prophets<\/a>.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/true-prophet.htm\">How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God<\/a> There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled <a title=\"How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Bk8UifSxKRg\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=plcp&amp;ei=07hyUdioEtuQhgGLkID4DQ\">How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God<\/a>. Here is a related link in Spanish\/espa\u00f1ol: <a title=\"\u00bfC\u00f3mo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ccog.org\/como-determinar-si-alguien-es-un-verdadero-profeta-de-dios\/\">\u00bfC\u00f3mo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/short-work.htm\">Preparing for the &#8216;Short Work&#8217; and The Famine of the Word<\/a> What is the &#8216;short work&#8217; of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: <a dir=\"ltr\" title=\"The Short Work\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=M2KLJjzuISg\" data-sessionlink=\"ved=CBYQvxs&amp;feature=c4-overview-u&amp;ei=I55qVZSuEYuw-APzqoPgBw\">The Short Work<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PCG video thumbnail COGwriter Gerald Flurry of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) wrote the following: Why the Great Falling Away God\u2019s Church was spiritually wrecked three decades ago. There is one specific reason why. By Gerald Flurry Nearly all of God\u2019s people have turned away from Him in this end time. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cog-news","category-doctrine"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60365"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60374,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60365\/revisions\/60374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}