Overview of the March 2019 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG's 1% have released the March 2019 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Let us see what they have to say this time.

The editors of this issue are Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad Macdonald, Richard Palmer, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap and Phillip Nice.

This issue has a circulation of 270,483 issues.

Gerald Flurry has an article scare mongering that the European Union and various Latin American nations will economically blockade the United States. PCG has constantly made similar predictions of dire catastrophe and yet such things have just never occurred.

Richard Palmer has an article bemoaning the Brexit process in Britain. Even though PCG is primarily based in the United States, a nation founded by waging war to liberate themselves from British rule, PCG's leaders still let Richard Palmer claim that the British Empire was the best empire ever.

A nation that has stared down Napoleon and Hitler, that remained unstained by the bloodletting of events like the French Revolution, that led the greatest and best empire in world history, that still leads a commonwealth of nations, is now coming undone, trying to quit a glorified free trade agreement. Why? (p. 2.)

If the British Empire truly was "the greatest and best empire in world history" then why did the founder decided it was necessary to go to war against the British Empire to liberate themselves from British rule? Why was it that about a million and half people in Ireland starved to death in the famine of the 1840s? Why was it necessary for the British Empire to constantly wage war to expand its territory and suppress numerous uprisings by people who tired of living under the rule of foreigners? Most of the vast territories placed under British rule were acquired by military force.

Brent Nagtegaal has an article condemning President Trump's decision to withdrew US military personnel from Syria. Even when the President is from their preferred political party if he takes any step to lessen the military power of the United States the PCG leadership instinctively condemn any such move. PCG's militarist attitude is exposed with such a statement.

Tyrel Schlote has an article insisting that economic cataclysm will soon afflict the United States.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article discussing a man in India helping to revitalize a river. Very likely that man and those people have had nothing to do with the organization that produces this recruitment magazine.

Andrew Müller and Jeremiah Jacques have an article scare mongering that China is positioning itself to be able to economically blockade the United States by gaining influence in the Caribbean nations.

Gerald Flurry also has an article condemning the vast majority of Christian churches for worshiping on Sunday. It should be noted that PCG's practice of worshiping during the Jewish Sabbath is not unique to PCG or the Armstrongite organizations. Sabbatarianism does not prove that one should follow PCG.

Jorg Mardian has an article encouraging people to improve their sitting posture.

Christopher Eames has an article insisting that Joshua's long day happened and condemning a proposal from some academics at the University of Cambridge suggesting that Joshua's long day is to identified with an eclipse that occurred in the region back on October 30, 1207 BC. Eames insists that the Israelites moved into Canaan just before 1400 BC.

Eames cites the Amarna letters as corroborating evidence of the Israelite conquest of Canaan as described in the Book of Joshua. The Amarna letters mentions a people called the Habiru and Eames identifies this people with the Israelites. But back in the 1960s, before HWA's organization began to experience schisms within its midst, Herman Hoeh, a major leader of what was then called the Radio Church of God, stated in his Compendium of World History, that the Amarna letters were to be dated to the ninth century BC, about six hundred years later than Eames' assertion, and he insisted that the Habiru were not Israelites. Why is it that PCG's leaders now believe that Herman Hoeh was wrong?

Joel Hilliker has an article denouncing transgender peoples while condemning the appearance of such such person on Good Morning America. He makes no mention of the numerous difficulties that transgender people face.

Richard Palmer also has an article discussing NASA's observation of Ultima Thule. It should be noted that NASA was able to make such an astounding feat without any help from PCG.

There are letters. Here is one letter praising Gerald Flurry's denunciation of President Macron.

So now Macron is paying the price for his arrogance. Look at the riots in France.

Here's a letter from an individual in France expressing skepticism about PCG's fear mongering about Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg.

I regularly receive the Trumpet magazine, and I can see the positive evolution of its content and layout as well. I thank you for presenting a new aspect of political games. Although I do not share your point of view concerning Russia and your belief that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg should become the new leader in Europe, I share a lot of points of view you present (such as, Germany building its new reich). Guttenberg is a dead political figure. But he may act in the background. He is rich.

PCG's leaders respond with this simple statement.

Keep watching Guttenberg. –Ed.

Since 2009 PCG's leadership have constantly insinuated in their writings that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg may be destined to be the dictator fated to lead Europe into conquering the United States and Britain and taking those peoples as slaves in Europe. They continue to do so even after he was removed from the German cabinet following a plagiarism scandal.

Here's a letter from a person who had been listening to HWA and his imitators since about 1969.

I had read The United States and Britain in Prophecy when Mr. Armstrong was still with us. My dad, when he was alive, and I were subscribers and viewers of The World Tomorrow. I have read most of his books and am now 60 years of age. I listened to the radio broadcast back 50 years ago, when I was 10. It was good to learn from Mr. Armstrong. He sure knew what was up.

For thirty years PCG's leaders have constantly promoted fear inducing prophecies of woe and catastrophe but many of their dire predictions have failed miserably.

PCG's Article on Islamophobic Terror Attack in New Zealand

PCG has released an article discussing the Islamophobic terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand in which fifty Muslim worshipers were murdered on March 15, 2019. PCG's author, Christopher Eames, originates from New Zealand. Let's see what they have to say. (Christopher Eames, Day of Tragedy: 50 Dead in New Zealand Mosque Attacks, March 15, 2019.)

Eames describes some of the basics facts about this atrocity.

One of New Zealand’s worst-ever massacres shook the city of Christchurch today. At least 50 individuals were killed during attacks on two mosques; another died later in the hospital. A further 48 were wounded. The attacks were carried out by a heavily armed white supremacist....

While seeking to note incidents of mass murder to compare with this massacre Eames makes a culturally insensitive statement about the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. Here Eames disparagingly refers to certain warriors of indigenous tribes of the pre-colonial era as "Maori cannibals."

Today’s death toll ties the 1943 prisoner-of-war riots for the deadliest massacre in New Zealand in 210 years, and the deadliest in its history as an independent nation. The casualty total is only surpassed by incidents in 1809 and 1772—before New Zealand was established as a nation in 1840—which were warlike attacks between colonialists and Maori cannibals. [Links added.]

An Australian Senator caused much outrage by saying that the presence of too many immigrants was a "problem."

Australian Sen. Fraser Anning sparked controversy with this statement: 

Whilst this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand, of the increasing Muslim presence. 

As always, left-wing politicians and the media will rush to claim that the causes of today’s shootings lie with gun laws or those who hold nationalist views, but this is all clichéd nonsense.

The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place. 

And Eames can only bring himself to say that it was "poorly timed" refusing to say such statements are morally wrong.

The senator’s statements were poorly timed, but his views do represent the fears of a significant percentage of Australians, who voted him into the Australian Parliament.

He then appears to complain that multiculturalism is not a strength.

Despite the noblest of platitudes from leaders and officials, multiculturalism is never “our greatest strength.” There is no “strength in diversity.” And there is no place for bloodthirsty radicals like [name omitted], whether they are Muslim extremists or Islamophobes.

He states that multiculturalism has failed.

Attacks like this point to serious problems in our societies: failures in family that can lead to monsters like [name omitted], the failure of multiculturalism, the spread of terrorism around the world. We can expect to see politicians put forward many simple solutions to these problems, such as more gun control in New Zealand, crackdowns on criticism of Islam, and more policing of what you can post on Facebook. But none of these solutions address the real cause of our problems.

And what is the "real cause of our problems"? That we are cursed. And why are we cursed? Because don't view things the way PCG's leaders do. And we are obsessed with multiculturalism.

As we point out continually at the Trumpet, Britain and its Commonwealth of nations, including New Zealand and Australia, are cursed. The Bible precisely describes the state of our nations, down to our weather problems, our obsession with multiculturalism and our internal division. It describes our “sick” nations as being like “a cake not turned” (Hosea 7:8)—fragile and divided. Our own sins and moral failings are causing us many problems. In addition, God is sending curses on our societies for our rebellion against Him....

Tragedies like the New Zealand mosque attacks should stir us more than ever to pray, “Thy Kingdom come.” The good news is that it is coming—very soon.

PCG has been waiting nearly thirty years for the Second Coming to occur. PCG have made at least 52 failed predictions. PCG's leaders are clearly unable to see the future. Relying on PCG's predictions will not succeed.

Alas, PCG has a long history of stirring up fear towards Muslims. This attitude may be seen in the following quote from PCG's recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet, in which it is asserted that believing "most Muslims are peaceful folks" is a "lie." This is but one example of PCG's Islamophobia.

Americans, in their extreme penchant for even-handedness, have been selling themselves the lie that most Muslims are peaceful folks. If this be the case, why is it that America’s own media continue to throw up perpetual video images of hundreds, even thousands, in Iraq and Pakistan, demonstrating against the U.S. and baying for the blood of American men, women and children? (Ron Fraser, The Battle Lines Broaden, November 2001. As cited in a previous post.)

Here are some other articles from this blog discussing PCG's demonization of Muslims:

PCG and the Islamophobia Network

PCG's Demonization of Muslims Part 1: Before 9/11
 
PCG's Demonization of Muslims Part 2: Conceiving Hate (2001-3) 

PCG's Demonization of Muslims Part 3: Hatred Blooms (2003)

PCG Continuing to Vilify Muslims

Is PCG a Part of "the Shari'ah Conspiracy Theory Industry"?

PCG's Demonization of Iran

PCG and Bigotry Against Muslims (Islamophobia)

PCG's Ron Fraser Mistakes Wahhabism's Age by 1100 Years

PCG's Ron Fraser's Demonization of Muslims After 9/11 (2001) 

PCG's Stephen Flurry Obliquely Quoted in Book About Islamophobia: PCG's Small Impact Upon Society Exposed

PCG's Richard Palmer Moans About the Non-Islamophobic World

PCG Condemns "Pro-Muslim Demonstrators" in New York

Mosque Vandalized in PCG's Hometown, Edmond, Last Month [April 2015]

PCG's Kiall Lorenz Falsely Accuse President Obama of Meeting with Muslim Brotherhood Leaders: PCG Slander Exposed

PCG's Positive Reaction to Anti-Muslim Film, Fitna (2008)

PCG Scare Mongering Against Leftists and Muslims

PCG Spreading Islamophobia After Terrorism in Brussels

Joel Hilliker Ignoring the Muslim Condemnations of the 2005 London Bombings

PCG's Ron Fraser on Obama's Rise to Power

Joel Hilliker's Fear Mongering of British Muslims (2006)

PCG Quoting Daniel Pipes

PCG's Fear Ad

Mark Armstrong Uses Ethnic Slur and Moans About Gun Control After Anti-Muslim Massacre in New Zealand

Mark Armstrong, son of Garner Ted Armstrong, grandson of Herbert Armstrong, leader of the Intercontinental Church of God, has another weekly update posted (March 15, 2019). He constantly bad mouths immigrants and Muslims so let us see what he has to say this time after the Islamophobic terrorist massacre in New Zealand in which 49 people, Muslims worshipers at their mosques, were murdered.

First Mark Armstrong talks about Brexit.

Greetings from Tyler, They're still wrangling, unsuccessfully, with so-called Brexit. Some have said they'd sign the (EU crafted) deal if Prime Minister Theresa May would resign. The complications are such that most of us wouldn't want to know the technicalities of all that is in play. The short version is that everything is delayed, again. Apparently a three month delay is in the offing, but that would take Britain into the EU elections as an active member. The fallout from that possibility is impossible to fathom. Obviously, Britain got itself into a royal mess by hooking up with the EU in the first place. It's been a roiling disaster, and it's not over yet. It may never be over. 

Mark Armstrong constantly speaks harshly about immigrants, Muslims and the political left in general. He now mentions the recent anti-Muslim massacre in New Zealand but in this paragraph he seems to be more concerned that it may lead to stricter rules about the possession of guns.

Our news is brimming with reports of the New Zealand massacre of Muslims in their mosques, with 49 dead. The shooter memorialized and live-streamed his gruesome actions on social media, though thankfully it's not being beamed into our living rooms. But yes, New Zealand has strict gun laws. Citizens have to be licensed by Police to possess a firearm, and records are kept along with driver's license data. But the record shows that New Zealand, like Australia and Britain have used the national horror in the wake of mass shootings to confiscate and outlaw firearms. We'll see if it happens again. 

Lives have been shattered in the massacre. Even little children were murdered. But Mark Armstrong makes no attempt to think about the pain and suffering of the victims and their loved ones. Instead he moans that this anti-Muslim massacre will make his preferred president look bad and makes his followers fearful that some sort of violence might happen to them.

It was all too predictable that President Trump would be blamed, as he was by the shooter himself and in at least one prominent British publication. The Iranians said it was because of our Constitutionally guaranteed free speech. The media darling who would destroy all of western civilization with her squeaky genius and flailing arms blamed the NRA. Undoubtedly we'll be treated to plenty more idiotic explanations and half-cocked solutions in the days ahead. Presumably, those who deserve the blame will pay dearly, as they should. There's simply no excuse for the cold-blooded murder of unsuspecting human beings, no matter what. But ISIS wants revenge, as if they've not committed similar atrocities and worse. 

(The "media darling" mentioned above refers to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.)

Mark Armstrong then discusses recent tensions between the State of Israel and Gaza. The COGs tend to think that events concerning the State of Israel will be a sign that the Second Coming will soon occur hence why they often focus on matters concerning that nation state. While discussing this matter he uses a disgusting ethnic slur so soon after 49 Muslims were murdered in their places of worship in New Zealand.

Hamas made the mistake of firing rockets into Israel, one targeting the modern city of Tel Aviv. Unbelievably, the launches took place while Hamas representatives were meeting with an Egyptian delegation of mediators. The Egyptians were flabbergasted, and said so. Hamas claimed it had no idea about the rockets and would investigate. Israel suggested the Egyptian delegation depart Gaza, then proceeded to pound one hundred targets with air strikes. Apparently, the Israeli military believes the explanation that the rocket launches were in fact not planned but set off accidentally by rookie ragheads. Had Israel believed the rocket attacks to have been approved by Hamas, they'd have retaliated with five times the air strikes. Just another day in paradise. 

Mark Armstrong then moans about the widespread concern about climate change, as he often does.

It seems everyone's having another global warming meltdown. Maybe the temperature will rise by a degree or two in the next several generations. If it does, it will have little if anything to do with American energy policies. All but the true fanatics know that China and India are the world's premier polluters, but these wild-eyed arm flappers are determined to rule over us by government mandate. That'll be the day. 

Mark Armstrong then mentions attending a funeral. He cites an article by the Armstrongite Bob Theil while discussing this funeral.

We attended the funeral of Mr. Les McCullough yesterday. He was a close friend of my Dad's and we have a lot of fond memories, from Big Sandy to the hunting camps of Colorado. There was quite a turn out for his funeral held yesterday in the town of Gladewater, and our sympathies go out to Mrs. McCullough, Kim, Lynne, Michael and extended family. Have a good Sabbath,  

Mark

It is unsurprising that Mark Armstrong continues to show the world what sort of character he possesses. The tithes paying followers of Mark Armstrong enable him to spread his disturbing views and must bear a certain share of responsibility in empowering him.

The Horror of Islamophobia: 49 Murdered in New Zealand

Stirring up hatred against entire peoples is shameful and horrible. At present in Christchurch, New Zealand there has been a massacre in which 49 people have been murdered in two mosques.

CNN reports on this terrorist attack.

Overview of the February 2019 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG released the February 2019 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Let us see what they have to say this time.

The editors for this issue were Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad Macdonald, Richard Palmer, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap and Phillip Nice.

This issue has a circulation of 269,516 issues.

Gerald Flurry has an article fuming at President Macron for criticizing nationalism in front of Flurry's beloved president. How dare he. Flurry proclaims on page 1 that "soon the French will come to realize that they are making the greatest mistake in their nation’s history" by not keeping themselves as closely aligned with the Trump Administration as Flurry wishes.

Phillip Nice has an article discussing PCG's personal appearance campaigns in the United States and Britain.

Brent Nagtegaal has an article scare mongering about rumors that Hezbollah are constructing tunnels from Lebanon into Israeli land. The fact that the State of Israel possesses a far greater military force than Hezbollah, even, it is widely supposed, possessing nuclear weapons, is left unstated. It is hard to scare the intended audience when stating such things.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering that the United States may find itself unable to pay for its military. He makes the emotive claim that disbanding some US military bases overseas will leave the United States vulnerable to economic blockade.

Once America loses the ability to protect and control the world’s most strategic trade routes and maritime choke points, foreign powers will seize these powerful prizes. America’s homeland will be vulnerable to economic siege by hostile enemies. (p. 11.)

Christopher Eames has an article insisting that scientists are utterly foolish in trying to explain how languages arose instead of just agreeing with PCG's creationist interpretation of the Bible.

Stephen Flurry has an article restating HWA's dogma that there will soon be a "seventh revival" of the Roman Empire. In this interpretation it is insisted that Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany were merely the "feeble sixth head" of the reviving Roman Empire. Is this not a belittling of those many people who suffered so much from the cruel actions of those regimes that they are referred to a feeble sixth head?

Gerald Flurry has an article insisting that people will only be born again once Jesus Christ returns and transforms PCG members into God beings as fully God as God is God though of a lower rank.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article scare mongering about China's economic activities.

Andrew Müller also has an article scare mongering that President Putin is imitating a Russian neo-fascist in conducting foreign policy.

Joel Hilliker has a little article calling upon people to work all their lives disparaging the dream of retirement.

Joel Hilliker also has a little article telling his readers to remember their recruitment magazine and insisting that once World War III actually occurs then most readers will start paying attention to PCG's recruitment magazine. Indicating that PCG's version of God is somehow incapable of preventing the alleged coming catastrophe. But somehow PCG's dire predictions just never occur. There is no need to fear their dire predictions.

There are letters. Even though PCG's mainly tries to target English speaking nations they still promote their doctrines among any peoples they can. This letter is from Nigeria.

Appreciation! I am deeply indebted to your ministry for the tons of life-enriching, Bible-based literature I receive regularly in the post. I am moved by your generosity and brand of gospel outreach. My perspective and worldview have changed for the better. I am building a better relationship with my Creator, my family, my career, my neighborhood and my ministry. I sincerely appreciate your love and support. May the good Lord continue to reward your ministry efforts in Jesus’s name.

They also include a letter from a person complaining about the PCG's recruitment magazine constant use of an English translation of the Bible made back in the 1760s. (That which is called the King James Version today is actually a revision made in the 1760s. The original King James Version released in 1611 is even more archaic by today's standards of English.)

I love the newsletter and articles and have really enjoyed reading them the past several years. I have one comment/request. The Bible quotes in King James make it harder to read than it should be. I’m 38, and I have no experience with the KJV wording, and I have to sit and really think through the “thy’s” and “thees,” etc. That wording is from a time when people spoke that way, and we do not speak that way anymore, so it adds a barrier to our understanding. The NIV would be much better for comprehension for everyone. But of course I’ll keep reading no matter what.

PCG's editors respond:

Thank you for reading, and for your input. We use the King James Version because it is the most accurate Bible translation. The New International and other more modern translations tend to introduce errors because of license taken by translators. But we will endeavor to use other accurate translations when it will clarify the meaning.

How can PCG's leaders possibly judge whether one translation is better than another? Can any of PCG's leaders read Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic? It is worth noting that HWA mainly used the 1760s King James Version when he cobbled together his syncretist religion. It is the translation most familiar to the leaders of the Armstrongite WCG and its offshoot organizations. It is more plausible to conclude that this is why PCG's leaders mainly use the 1760s King James Version in their writings. It is their habit. How can PCG's leaders possibly judge which translation is better than others unless they happened to be very familiar or even fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek?

Since 1989 PCG's 1% have made many predictions that have failed miserably. There is no need to give heed to their dire predictions.

A Familiar Picture

Back in January 2009 Evangelical Press in Britain published a book that provides brief biographies of notable Christian leaders, Stars in God's Sky: Short Biographies of Extraordinary Ordinary Christians by Faith Cook.

The cover happens to be similar to the cover of the July-August 2000 issue of LCG's recruitment magazine, Tomorrow's World.

LCG's dire predictions of disaster have always failed. There is no need to live in fear.