PCG Failing to Predict Covid-19's Impact on America: Overview of the April 2020 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

Around the end of February 2020 PCG released the April 2020 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Even though PCG and other Armstrongites insist that they know the future this issue reveals that they were just as surprised and blindsided by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as everyone else.

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

This issue had a circulation of 246,354 issues.

Gerald Flurry has an article discusses the latest settlement the Trump Administration was trying to impose upon the State of Israel and the Palestinians even though the Palestinians made it clear they would not accept it. The article is accompanied with a picture of Palestinian protesters, both with faces covered and one with a sling and a skull face covering. Odds are those persons protesting against Israeli soldiers armed with guns. The Palestinians in the West Bank has always have been clear that they did not want to ruled by the State of Israel. Israeli rule was imposed upon the West Bank in 1967 without their invitation.

Richard Palmer has an article insisting that Germany in 2020 (before the coronavirus) is behaving awfully like Germany shortly before the Nazis gained power in yet another article scare mongering about Germany. Little did the PCG leadership know that catastrophe was about hit America.

Gerald Flurry also has an article denouncing the "dangerous left-wing media" once again showing with his actions that PCG leans very much to the right in regards to political stances. I do not condemn PCG for choosing to be right wing but it is worth mentioning that they are since sometimes they like to pretend they are not right wing even though they clearly are. 

Gerald Flurry also has an article insisting that the Covid-19 epidemic in China (that is how the situation was viewed back in late February 2020) is predicted in PCG's interpretations of Bible prophecy. He fearfully states that other plagues are in PCG's interpretation of Bible prophecy as well. The article contains illustrations of Chinese people dealing with the epidemic. The PCG leadership clearly had no idea that the Covid-19 was just a few weeks away from doing so much damage to the United States. Back in late February 2020 they still thought of it as a problem in China.

Jeremiah Jacques has a side article speculating that the Covid-19 epidemic in China will make Russia more powerful than China. Little did the PCG leadership just a few months later the people of Wuhan, the city where Covid-19 gained attention, would hold a massive water pool party after reopening their economy safely. This is yet another false prophecy of PCG.

Jeremiah Jacques also has an article retelling the making of the Hubble Space Telescope in order to promote PCG's heretical doctrine that PCG destined to become God beings ruling over the entire universe. 

The Infographic is about what the Hubble Space Telescope has revealed.

Richard Palmer has an article insisting that Brexit, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, was prophesied in (PCG's interpretation of) Bible prophecy.

Jeremiah Jacques also has an article about various failed predictions that certain political pundits have made over the years. And yet PCG members are still expected to take the PCG leadership's predictions seriously despite their many failed prophecies.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering about certain leftists and calling them Communists even though the actual Communist Party USA is now utterly insignificant. This is red baiting. Müller cites a surreptitious recording produced by Project Veritas which was made without the interview subject's knowledge. So if that happens to the PCG leadership he has no right to complain about that without looking like a hypocrite. We need to be careful about how we treat other people. Also this article proves once again that the PCG leadership is right wing.

WorldWatch discusses India's military build up; scare mongers about Iran's research into nuclear weaponry before Supreme Leader Khamenei's fatwa against nuclear weapons in 2003; Putin's changes to the Russian Constitution which would let him be president longer which were later passed; China becoming second largest exporter of armaments; swarms of locusts in Kenya and Ethiopia; increased military spending in Europe which is credited to PCG's adored President Trump; more spending by the US federal government (before the coronavirus); right wing extremists in the German army; European attempts to influence events in the Middle East; and the launch of the European Maritime Surveillance Mission in the Persian Gulf.

SocietyWatch discusses the impeachment of President Trump which according to PCG's writers had "deeply damaged America" even though impeachment is allowed within the Constitution; a claim that British police were ignoring sexual abuse among ethnic Pakistanis in Britain; and Time Magazine naming environmental activist Greta Thunberg as person of the year.    

Stephen Flurry has an article calling upon people to study history like Winston Churchill did. PCG adores Winston Churchill not least because he was right wing while America had a left wing president back in those troubled days.

Joel Hilliker has an article moaning about Speaker Pelosi ripping up her copy of President Trump's state of the union address in public. It is strange to see the PCG leadership responding to a superficial act that changes no laws.

And so we see the PCG leadership had made yet another issue of their recruitment magazine seeking more tithes paying converts. It is also strange to see how unprepared they were to imagine that this coronavirus would have such a terrible effect in America and throughout the world.

PCG's Flurry Says UK Will Lose Military Bases in Cyprus: Overview of November-December 2019 Philadelphia Trumpet

Back in late September 2019 PCG released the November-December 2019 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Let's see what they have to say.

This issue had a circulation of 246,123 issues.

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

Gerald Flurry had an article discussing Cyprus. He proclaims that Britain will lose its military bases in Cyprus because of its departure from the European Union.

Justified as it might be, Brexit puts the future of those bases on Cyprus in doubt. I FORECAST THAT BRITAIN IS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THOSE BASES. (p. 2.)

He also absurdly lambasted German Chancellor Angela Merkel as "a very weak leader." Would he talk like that about a man?

Today Germany has a very weak leader in Chancellor Angela Merkel—yet the Holy Roman Empire is rising even under her rulership! How rapidly will these terrifying events occur when a strong German leader comes to power? (p. 3.)

James Brady had an article about the German army.

Andrew Müller had an article predicting economic disaster for the United States for spending too much money. But then he complains that the US just cannot cut back spending on military bases and they just cannot increase taxes on the rich. Of course it is difficult to decide what should be done when one believes the United States will be destroyed by a German led European Empire in the near future.

Jeremiah Jacques had an article about some East Germans who fled to West Germany by using a hot air balloon at great peril in 1979.

Jorg Mardian had an article about aching bones.

Brian Davis and Andrew Müller had an article denouncing Charles Darwin as irrational. Armstrongites often denounce evolution because it contradicts their interpretation of the Old Testament.

Gerald Flurry had a side article denouncing scientists for not believing in God.

Gerald Flurry had an article insisting that HWA's God Family doctrine is true.

Jeremiah Jacques had an article sbout North Korea's tests of ballistic missiles.

Josué Michels had an article saying that some Europeans are cultured but they will still emerge as a military power fated to conquer the United States.

Stephen Flurry had an article encouraging people to turn to God to deal with addiction. However it is taught in PCG that they alone are the one true church consequently this is essentially an attempt to gain converts.

Stephen Flurry also had an article scare mongering that The New York Times is plotting to talk about racism to make Republicans lose power. He ignores the fact that back in the civil rights era the Republican Party chose to side with those who opposed the civil rights movement in a move that is often called the Southern Strategy. That is how the south began to support the Republican Party. The Republican Party continues to benefit from this gambit to this day.

So this was what PCG's leaders were talking about in their recruitment magazine to potential members before the coronavirus epidemic occurred.

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.

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.

Overview of the July 2018 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG's 1% have released the July 2018 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Let us see what they have to say this time.

The editors for 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 264,040 issues. This is a slight increase compared with the previous May-June issue which had a circulation of 262,750 issues. The April 2018 issue had a circulation of 247,749 issues. Strangely the March 2018 issue has exactly the same circulation figure of 247,749 issues. February 2018's circulation was 248,247 issues. January 2018's circulation was 247,255 issues. November-December 2017's circulation was 246,769.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article insisting that America has somehow forgotten God. He approvingly cites George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as men who were had the wisdom and foresight to seek to placate God. It so happens that Flurry conveniently ignores the fact that both Washington and Lincoln held religious views very different from that taught by PCG and the COGs in general.

Stephen Flurry has an article scare mongering that some sort of "deep state" cabal is plotting to overthrow his preferred president. Of course if President Trump was removed from office he would simply be replaced by Vice President Pence.

Brad Macdonald has an article promoting an exhibit in PCG's headquarters of some of the artifacts discovered in the archaeological dig partly sponsored by PCG. Regardless of what they may happen to find digging in the Holy Land PCG's reputation among the COGs and those formerly associated with them will remain as abysmal as ever.

Richard Palmer has an article discussing cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering that the "deep state" cabal is plotting to launch some sort of coup d'etat against his preferred president. Presumably this "deep state" cabal is devoting so many people and so much strenuous effort towards an alleged plot which will result in making Pence the President of the United States.

The Infographic condemns various government agencies as somehow constituting an unconstitutional fourth branch of power. It should be noted that PCG's 1% tend to be very sympathetic towards the Republican Party.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article encouraging readers to enjoy the outdoors. PCG members' payment of three tithes to PCG's 1% would make it harder for many PCG members to enjoy such things.

Joel Hilliker has an article discussing the power of Turkish President Erdoğan. It also mentions that a Turkish journalist had an interview with PCG's recruitment magazine.

Joel Hilliker also has an article advising readers how to pray to PCG's God.

Joel Hilliker also has an article advising the elder generation to teach the young.

Stephen Flurry has an article calling upon the recruitment magazine's readers to do what PCG's 1% want them to do and get more involved with PCG by funding them and/or even joining their organization.

Note how retaining information presented in PCG's recruitment magazine is equated with receiving knowledge from PCG's God.

Are you willing to go all the way for God? Are you truly supporting God’s work, or do you just think you are? Are you doing something with the knowledge God is giving you through the Trumpet, or are you content to read and listen while doing nothing about it? Are you waiting it out, hanging on and doing your own thing until Jesus Christ returns? (p. 35.)

May Stephen Flurry's plea for more tithes paying members and co-workers fail miserably.

WorldWatch discusses tensions between Iran and Israel in Syria; Israel's leaking of information regarding various nuclear activities pursued by some Iranians until 2003; the violent suppression of Palestinian protesters in blockaded Gaza by the Israeli military with over 100 Palestinians being killed by Israeli military personnel between March 30 and May 15, 2018; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization holding a meeting in Beijing on April 24; Japan's establishment of an Amphibious Deployment Brigade on April 7; the assassination of over eighty politicians in Mexico by drug cartels; scare mongering that India and China are getting closer together; religious issues in Europe; Poland's purchase of a Patriot missile defense system from the United States; and the establishment of a NATO naval command in Rostock, Germany.

Even though the Israeli military knew that protests would be held on May 15, 2018 as early as late March it still happened that Israeli military personnel killed about fifty-nine Palestinians on that day of despair. Many of those Palestinians were shot to death. One Palestinian infant suffocated to death because of tear gas. But in the strictly partisan worldview of PCG's 1% it is who Palestinians bear responsibility and blame, not the well equipped military personnel who pulled the triggers or those managing them. This attitude within PCG's 1% may be seen in the following passage.

During their demonstrations, Palestinian rioters flung stones, rolled burning tires and flew kites with incendiary attachments and tried to cross the border into Israeli territory. Israeli security forces killed more than 100 protesters and injured 7,000 others. Most of these protesters were not defenseless or innocent; they were terrorists or Hamas operatives and Palestinians who agreed with the goals of Hamas or were coerced by Hamas to the front lines of the riots. (p. 28.)

PCG often discuss events concerning the State of Israel since they assume that events concerning that nation state will herald Christ's return. They have reduced the State of Israel into a weatherman of their superstitions. Most Israeli Jews will profoundly disagree with such views.

SocietyWatch scare mongers about an attempt to be more accepting of transgender persons in Canada; implies that high divorce rates correlates with the opioid problems; the situation regarding Alfie Evans; and scare mongering that young people are not aware of the Holocaust.

There are letters. Here's a letter from Ontario from a person who seems to be convinced that the United States will collapse.

You are right in the article “Saving America from the Radical Left—Temporarily.” America wants communism. Get used to “grass soup,” as Venezuela is doing now. America is full of resources but has squandered its opportunity for advancement with the nation’s reckless spending spree—on someone else’s dime! I expect America to collapse, and that will do unknown damage to other countries.

Here's a letter from India.

It is very hard for me to express my feelings regarding the Philadelphia Trumpet magazine. It is the best possible thing to receive if you’re studying about Christianity and learning the teachings from the Holy Bible. It gives a deep knowledge about world politics, and the way you relate every prophecy to world events is such a great thing that only blessed people can do.

Here's a letter from Pennsylvania which accuses "news on TV" as seeking to mislead people.

I would like to thank you for sending me the Trumpet magazine. It is very educational. The news on TV today is designed to mislead people with information. I am in search of the truth, and that is why I read my Bible, because the truth is God.

And so we see that PCG's 1% have produced an issue of their recruitment magazine designed to gain new converts and to keep believers convinced that PCG's 1% are worthy of their loyalty, tithes and offerings. PCG's leader, Gerald Flurry, once boasted of PCG having an income of "around $19.5 million annually as of 2012" and this recruitment magazine seeks to keep that income intact.

Overview of the May-June 2018 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG's 1% released their May-June 2018 issue of their recruitment magazine. Let us see what they have to say this time.

The editors for 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 262,750 issues. This is an increase from the April issue which had a circulation of 247,749 issues. Suspiciously the March 2018 issue has exactly the same circulation figure of 247,749 issues. February 2018's circulation was 248,247 issues. January 2018's circulation was 247,255 issues. November-December 2017's circulation was 246,769. October 2017's circulation was 245,780.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article insisting that if President Trump is somehow removed from office that this would be utterly horrible. Even though Pence would become President if Trump were to be removed from office the possibilities of such an eventuality are casually ignored.

Dennis Leap has a little article insisting that George Orwell's novel, 1984, is actually an exposure of left wing politicians even though Orwell himself was actually a leftist. Orwell was so left wing he even left the Labour Party because he felt they did not go far enough. Orwell's left wing politics are casually ignored by Leap.

Joel Hilliker has an article insisting that the massacre at Parkland should not be used as a call for reforms regarding gun control.

Stephen Flurry has an article bemoaning that there are not enough manly men in American society today. Is he talking about men among the laity within PCG? Perhaps if PCG's 1% were not so controlling towards the lay members they would be surprised with what PCG's lay members are really capable of without being under the control of PCG's 1%.

Jorg Mardian has a little article talking about breastfeeding.

Richard Palmer has an article scare mongering that America is about to enter some sort of trade war with China. While that is entirely likely with recent decisions made by the Trump Administration it must be noted that this article fits in with a pattern of scare mongering that some sort of economic cataclysm will soon strike the United States.

The Infographic scare mongers that some sort of "trade war" will soon arise with the United States, Canada and Britain on one side shaded blue while Brazil, South Africa, India, Japan, China, Russia and various European nations are menacingly shaded red and labelled as being part of a "mart of nations" which will allegedly conspire to impose some sort of economic blockade upon the alleged Israelite nations. PCG incorrectly teaches that the white people of Britain, the United States and certain other places are descendants of the so-called "ten lost tribes of Israel." This idea, a form of British Israelism, is not true.

Jeremiah Jacques scare mongers about Xi Jinping's power within China.

Jeremiah Jacques also has an article scare mongering about Vladimir Putin after he gained another six year term to remain in office.

Richard Palmer also has an article discussing the Italian elections on March 4, 2018.

Joel Hilliker has a little article encouraging people to be more loving to their spouses.

Andrew Müller has a little article which condemn calls to restrict access to deadly guns in the hope of preventing massacres such as the one in Parkland, Florida.

We all sympathize with the survivors of the Parkland mass murder. Their grief is real. Their lives are precious. We should work to prevent more school shootings. But should children be the ones to forge policy? Should a grieving child who falsely proclaims it is easier to buy a gun than make weekend plans be able to attack the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution? Is it morally right for high school students to scream “murderer” at a woman who had nothing to do with the Parkland massacre just because she works for an organization that defends the right of law-abiding citizens to own a firearm? (p. 35.)

When Müller rhetorically asks "should children be the ones to forge policy?" it seems to escape Müller's notice that student protesters are not able to make laws. Legislators do that.

Those protesting against the power of the National Rifle Association are slurred as having a "spirit of lawlessness" and a "spirit of rebellion" thus signifying the disapproval of PCG's 1% toward this protest movement.

While some of the problems these teens protest are legitimate, the same spirit of lawlessness that has overtaken the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements has also engulfed this movement. This spirit of rebellion threatens to unleash more chaos than it solves. Yet adults across the nation are getting in line behind their children. (p. 35.)

The fact that gun massacres occur far more often in the United States than in any other developed nation is casually ignored.

WorldWatch discusses the coalition negotiations after the indecisive elections in Germany; the Protestant spouses of Catholics in Germany being allowed to take communion; the creation of new command centers for NATO; the tragic war in Syria; the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela; tensions in Ethiopia; and the legalization of the confiscation of farmland without compensation in South Africa.

SocietyWatch scare mongers that San Francisco is filthy; condemning a case before the Supreme Court concerning discrimination against members of the LGBT community; condemning the increase of fathers staying at home to raise their children; and scare mongering about some rich persons buying bunkers to prepare for a possible doomsday like event.

There are letters. Even though PCG's recruitment magazine is mainly intended for an American audience they are quite happy to get attention from anyone they can. Here is a letter from a man in Panama.

Please, don’t underestimate the importance this publication has for me. I’m always on the lookout for the arrival of your much-valued publication. I find your magazine very informative in religious as well as political matters. I would like to request Nuclear Armageddon Is ‘At the Door.’ [A recruitment booklet by Gerald Flurry.] I have, as a child, gone through World War II in occupied Holland and that experience was bad enough in itself. World War III is indeed at the door and inescapable and will surpass World War II in destructive power! Man’s entire history is one of war with peace at intervals in between. Whatever man has invented in weapons of war has sooner or later been put to use. May God bless the important educational work you are doing.

It is awful that PCG's scare mongering about some future World War III have distressed this man who went through World War II as a child.

Here is an email from a person who used to subscribe to The Plain Truth recruitment magazine.

I have been receiving the Trumpet magazine for approximately two decades. I found it in my chiropractor’s office in 1996. I used to read the Plain Truth but stopped after becoming alarmed and bewildered by the changes in the late 1980s. I wasn’t aware Mr. Armstrong had died till finding the Trumpet.

I would advise this person to ignore their writings and, most importantly, do not give them any money.

Here's a letter from Nigeria.

I was watching some videos on YouTube and stumbled on the Isaiah seal archaeological discovery. Having studied history and international studies, it caught my interest, so I decided to watch the other suggested videos. “Why So Much Hatred for Israel” was very insightful and educational. He read from Romans 2:29 to enlighten us on who a Jew is in our current dispensation. Toward the tail end, he introduced me to the organization’s website. He also counseled on the need to subscribe. I would like to receive a copy of that publication. Keep up the good work! I pray for God’s grace and wisdom to guide you and your organization as you serve humanity.

(The writer seems to be referring to a video hosted by Stephen Flurry entitled “Why So Much Hatred for Jews?” which was released on July 24, 2014 during the war in the Gaza Strip that was occurring at that time.)

Regardless of what they dig up in the Holy Land or how pious they make themselves sound when talking about the problem of anti-Semitism PCG's reputation among those formerly associated with the COGs and the other COG groups will remain as abysmal as ever.

And so we see that PCG's 1% has produced yet another issue of their recruitment magazine to gain more converts and reinforce loyalty and awe among those who believe what PCG's 1% say to them. PCG's leader, Gerald Flurry, once boasted of PCG having an income of "around $19.5 million annually as of 2012" and this recruitment magazine seeks to keep that income intact.

Overview of the April 2018 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG released the April 2018 issue of their recruitment magazine. Let us see what they have to say this time.

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

This issue has a circulation of 247,749 issues. This happens to be the exact same number used in the previous March 2018 issue.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article boasting about a seal that seems to bear the name of Isaiah.

Brad Macdonald has a article discussing this latest seal. It does not matter how many artifacts PCG helps to uncover. PCG's reputation among those formerly associated with the COGs and the other COG groups will remain as abysmal as ever.

Stephen Flurry has an article scare mongering about the federal debt.

Richard Palmer has an article discussing surveillance technology in an alarmist manner.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article discussing China's attempt to claim the South China Sea using fishing boats.

Gerald Flurry has an article discussing the Nunes memo which is presented as evidence that the left is engaged in some sort of massive plot to work against his preferred president.

The Infographic presents a timeline of the events leading up to the release of the Nunes memo.

Stephen Flurry has an article encouraging readers to study history.

Dennis Leap has an article complaining about alleged "political correctness" supposedly silencing essential opinions.

Jack Wood has an article scare mongering about European states arming themselves to prepare for any possible complication concern Russia. Jack Wood might be related to Callum Wood.

WorldWatch mentions German arms being sold to various countries; Turkey's recent military offensive against Syrian Kurds in Afrin; Germany being friendly with Turkey; the suppression of protests in Iran; scare mongering that Iran and its allies may expand into the Mediterreanean; the Doomsday Clock being moved to 11:58 p.m.; scare mongering that Russia and China are planning to make weapons against US satellites; and tensions regarding the South China Sea and Taiwan.

SocietyWatch scare mongers about the expenditure for welfare in California; an announcement by the US Treasury of burrowing $955 billion for 2018; scare mongering that teenagers are delaying maturity; and accusing the Confucius Institute of "infiltrating American colleges with Communist propaganda" (p. 31).

Joel Hilliker has a little article encouraging his readers to be generous.

Joel Hilliker has an article bemoaning the supposed loss of morality among Americans citing those who would steal from a self checkout. The COGs have constantly and continuously moaned about Americans supposedly failing to live up to their standards since the 1930s. They will never be satisfied.

There are letters. PCG's recruitment magazine is mainly written for an American audience but they will accept attention from anyone willing to give them undue attention. Here's one letter from Eritrea.

I follow you via the magazine that I got from a friend, the Internet and downloads from your pages. Thanks for all the news events you give us, which are sometimes also correlated with biblical prophecies. Sometimes I get shocked or surprised. I really loved the January 2017 issue (that's when I first heard of you), especially the foundation of leadership; it is indeed a personal lesson and has helped me a lot about developing self-control. I enjoy your infographic illustrations too.

Here's a letter from California praising PCG for their scare mongering about the medieval Holy Roman Empire and the inflammatory allegation that Simon Magus started the Roman Catholic Church. That allegation is used by the COGs to discredit, not only the Catholic Church, but also the Protestant churches in general as creations of Satan. This idea is promoted in order to gain converts for PCG.

I received the booklet The Holy Roman Empire in Prophecy written by Brad Macdonald, and I am grateful for you showing me the truths about how Simon Sorcerer Magus was able to corrupt and transform the Roman Catholic Church into a universal counterfeit church using the name of Jesus Christ to advance his evil motives. Macdonald's arguments, supported by biblical teachings, were very convincing and replete with proofs from historical sources and comments from prestigious historians. 

And so we see that PCG's 1% has produced another issue of their recruitment magazine seeking to gain more tithes paying converts and to keep believers convinced that PCG's leaders are worthy of loyalty and of receiving their tithes. PCG's leader, Gerald Flurry, once boasted of PCG having an income of "around $19.5 million annually as of 2012" and this recruitment magazine seeks to keep that income intact.

Overview of the March 2018 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG has released the March 2018 issue of their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet. Gerald Flurry once boasted of PCG having an income of "around $19.5 million annually as of 2012" and this recruitment magazine is made to try and convince more people to send money to the organization. Let us see what they had to say this time.

The editors for 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 247,749 issues.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article saying sex symbolizes the future expansion of the God Family to include PCG members. PCG denies the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and instead teaches that God is a family of God beings currently composed of two individuals, namely the Father and the Son, with saved humans being destined to become God beings as fully God as God is God though of a lower rank. It is implied that if people viewed sex as part of the extension of the God Family then recent publicized incidents of sexual harassment would not have occurred.

Joel Hilliker has an article denouncing the "new American morality," which seems to be used as a catch all term denouncing political opinions and laws contrary to PCG's dogmas. To frighten its intended audience the article is illustrated with photos of Nancy Pelosi and Al Sharpton. The cover also includes photos of Oprah Winfrey and various protesters.

Dennis Leap has an article complaining about step-families.

Josué Michaels and Richard Palmer have an article scare mongering about Europe's arms build up within the current tense relations with Russia following the events in Ukraine from 2014 onward.

Jorg Mardian has an article about diabetes.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article scare mongering about various nuclear weapons that had gone missing during the Cold War era. PCG's 1% so love to talk about nuclear weapons.

Andrew Müller has an article about evolution. PCG, like most COG groups, teach that there no evolution. They teach that there was a first creation of Earth which was destroyed during Lucifer's rebellion against (PCG's) God in an era before the creation of Adam and Eve. It is also that the Earth was destroyed again in Noah's flood.

The Infographic seeks to assure readers that evolution is not true.

Callum Wood has an article discussing features of the Universe beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Anthony Chibarirwe has an article which mentions President Erdoğan's denunciation of President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel even though the eastern part of which has been generally viewed by the international community as occupied territory since 1967 and therefore not legally belonging to the State of Israel. This statement by Erdoğan is mentioned to promote the Armstrongite teaching that Turkey is fated to be annihilated by (HWA's) God for betraying America and the State of Israel in a future event during the Great Tribulation just before Christ's return. HWA and many of the COGs teach that the Turks are the continuation of the ancient Edomites and are therefore fated to be exterminated by HWA's God. They cite the Book of Obadiah to support this idea. This is an absurd and disgusting teaching. The Turks are not Edomites. It will not happen.

There is also an article scare mongering that Erdoğan and the Turkish nation are growing more powerful.

The issue contains an article discussing what types of friendships to pursue. That article is used to promote a mail order study course designed to teach people to view the Bible in the way that PCG's 1% claims should be interpreted.

Joel Hilliker also has a little article calling for people to have dinner together in the evening.

Joel Hilliker also has a little article extolling a breakfast with dads event in Dallas last December.

WorldWatch discusses the German Foreign Minister supposedly calling for a more assertive foreign policy by the German government; scare mongering that Pope Francis calls for a two state solution in the Holy Land; the election of a right wing government in Austria; scare mongering about a German firm gaining a contract to construct a railway line in Bolivia; scare mongering that PCG's God is inflicting weather disasters instead of admitting that climate change is happening; scare mongering about Iran again; Russia preparing to upgrade their naval base in Tartus, Syria; the Afghan government getting China to build a military base for Afghan forces; and a speech by the Chinese Foreign Minister about economic matters.

SocietyWatch discusses California legalizing recreational cannabis; British schools preparing to provide children's books about families containing transgender persons; the British government preparing to provide divorces online to save money; and subprime loans for automobiles in America.

There are letters. Here's one from Ohio from a person who the issue of climate change. PCG insists that climate change is not happening contrary to numerous scientific studies.

I believe in climate change as much as I believe in humanity change.... However, the people on this planet are the cause of humanity change, due to free will that God has given us. God has ultimate control of the elements; He is the Creator.

And so we see that PCG has produced yet another issue of their recruitment magazine to keep their members convinced that they are supporting something worthy of their loyalty and to attempt to attract more three tithe paying members for their organization.

Overview of the November-December 2017 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG has released another issue of their recruitment magazine to try and gain more tithes paying converts. (November-December 2017.) Let's take a look at what they have to say this time.

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

This issue's circulation is 246,769. October's circulation was 245,780. September's circulation was 245,925 issues. August's circulation was 255,897 issues. July's circulation was 267,569. May-June's circulation was 263,551. April's circulation was 267,569 (which happens to be the same as July's figure).

Gerald Flurry insists that Satan is the problem and the cause of the massacre in Las Vegas, not the easy accessibility of assault rifles.

Gerald Flurry has an article insisting that God has abandoned America and is no longer listening to the prayers of the people citing the recent hurricanes to support his dire prediction.

Tyrel Schlote has a side article accompanying this article insisting that in times past prayers were heard but that this is no longer the case. Schlote seems to say that recent prayers did not talk about repentance thus somehow causing PCG's God to not protect the United States from more hurricanes.

(The problem of climate change caused by the excess emission of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases are conveniently ignored. With more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means hotter water which means more numerous and stronger hurricanes. If they admitted that climate change is real then they could not claim that hurricanes and other such things are caused by their twisted parody of the Christian God being angry at America.)

Gerald Flurry also has reprinted a passage from his 2001 booklet, Repentance Toward God. That booklet was discussed in a previous post.

Dennis Leap has an article condemning the acceptance of the gender identity of transgender people. He scare mongers that children are being tricked into thinking that they are transgender. It has the sickeningly inflammatory title: "Encouraging Gender Fluidity is Child Abuse." He decries various therapists seeking to help people with gender dysphoria even though Leap himself was trained to be a librarian and, as far as can be determined at present, has no specialized training in this topic.

Brad Macdonald has an article scare mongering about the recent elections in Germany and the rise of the far right Alternative for Germany party.

Richard Palmer has an article insisting that Europe only needs to a strong leader to transform into the military superpower of Armstrongism's nightmares.

Richard Palmer also has an article scare mongering that continental Europe is becoming increasingly fanatical about their religious identity as Christians and using this identity to marginalize Muslims and elect politicians who play to these tropes.

The Infographic scare mongers about the military forces of the various nation states of the European Union conveniently ignoring the vast military superiority of the United States. The map also leaves Britain shaded as though it is not a part of the European Union when in fact it is still a member of it while the negotiations for its departure from the EU are underway.

Andrew Müller has an article scare mongering that problems in Latin America are negatively affecting the United States and scare mongers that such issues will get much worse later on.

Jorg Mardian has an article about avoiding chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article scare mongering about various nations no longer using the US dollar to buy oil.

Joel Hilliker has an article calling upon parents to make their children civilized.

Joel Hilliker also has an article discussing the revelations about the sexual harassment allegations concerning Harvey Weinstein and uses that topic to complain about what is shown in movies and TV shows today.

WorldWatch discusses European attempts to deal with the migrant crisis in Libya; the establishment of processing centers for migration to EU nations inside Africa; the rightward shift in Austria following its recent elections; wildfires in California; President Trump's announcement of sending more US troops to Afghanistan; a new type of battleship being made for Britain's navy which is claimed to be less effective; the State of Israel's airstrike against a chemical weapons site in Syria on September 7; scare mongering that South Korea will turn against America to make war with North Korea less likely; scare mongering that the North Korea problem is making Japan more militaristic; and recent UN sanctions against North Korea for its recent nuclear weapons tests which are condemned by PCG's recruitment magazine as weak.

SocietyWatch talks about how some US states are contemplating legalizing euthanasia; defends a "No to Marxism" rally in California to continue their vilification of Antifa; a wave of riots in St. Louis on September 15-17, 2017 following the acquittal of a police officer who had fatally shot an African American man; and condemning the Burning Man festival.

The bacchanalia was marked by depravity and debauchery, including wild raves fueled by hallucinogenic drugs. “Burners” wore outlandish and provocative costumes or went nude, many engaging in sexual promiscuity and perversion. (p. 31.)

There are letters. Here's one letter from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin which denounces the Catholic Church as a cult and mentions that PCG's recruitment magazine is available at a public library.

We have the Trumpet in our local library, and I am happy to see that so people can pick it up. You have one of the most informative magazines. I used to be in the Roman Catholic Church, but I left it; that is one of the biggest cults in the world. I really wish the Trumpet came out every week like Time magazine. You are covering everything so well.

Here's a letter from Karachi, Pakistan.

I like to read your world events. I would like to know more about how world events combine with the Bible, with some related Islamic events, if it is possible.

My advice to this person is: Run. Don't walk. Run.

And so we see that PCG's 1% has produced yet another issue of their recruitment magazine to gain more tithes paying converts and to keep their followers in awe of them as being able to see the future. However since its founding in 1989 PCG has made at least 52 failed predictions. But despite such a poor record of predictions their talk of doom and gloom has gone well for PCG's leadership. Back in 2012 PCG had an income of about $19.5 million according to a booklet by their leader, Gerald Flurry. Even as early as 1996 PCG claimed to have more than $5 million in annual income. Recently PCG has even bought its own plane. But PCG's many failed predictions clearly reveal that PCG's leaders are but false prophets. There is no need to fear their dire proclamations. PCG's leaders are but false prophets.

PCG on Roy Moore

According to a recent report by The Washington Post has recently reported that the Republican Party's senatorial candidate for Alabama, Roy Moore, initiated a sexual encounter with a 14 year old girl named Leigh Corfman back in 1979. It was also reported that around this time Moore dated three teenagers even though he was in his thirties at the time. One former work colleague, Teresa Jones, has since stated to CNN that it "was common knowledge that [he] dated high school girls, everyone we knew thought it was weird."

In times past he had gained attention after getting into contention with federal judges regarding his placement of the Ten Commandments in Alabama's court house. His contention with federal judges was mentioned twice by PCG's Dennis Leap.

In late August [2003], many news outlets ran a story about the controversy surrounding a 5,300-pound granite monument of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama state judicial building. The monument, which had been placed there by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore two years earlier, included excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and other historic documents, as well as quotations from James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other leaders. It featured our national motto: In God We Trust. 

The storm over the monument began when three attorneys, backed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, filed a lawsuit against Judge Moore for unlawfully crossing a constitutional line separating church and state by imposing his own brand of Christianity on the state of Alabama. When Moore placed the monument in the judicial building, he said it depicted “the moral foundations of law” and reflected the “sovereignty of God over the affairs of men.” Moore has been battling to keep it in place since U.S. District Court Judge Myron Thompson ordered it removed in November 2002. Justice Moore has lost that battle. The monument was moved. ... 

Judge Moore appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and his case was flatly refused—meaning Judge Thompson’s ruling stands. The Supreme Court obviously agrees that our nation cannot acknowledge God! This same Supreme Court said in June of this year that sodomy is a constitutional right. Think about this. For refusing to comply with the court’s order to remove the monument, Judge Moore has been suspended as a judge because of his so-called criminal activities—and yet, sodomy is now a right? What is going on? (Dennis Leap, America’s Judicial Blackout, November 2003.)

*** 

In the latter half of 2003, a lot of publicity was devoted to the furor over Judge Roy Moore’s placement of a huge chunk of granite displaying the Ten Commandments in the Alabama state courthouse. Opposing him were judges, lawyers and leaders of atheist groups. Supporting him were well-known heads of Christian groups. There were marches to get the granite rock out of the state house. There were prayer meetings and candlelight vigils to keep it in public view. The setting was very revealing about how our Western world views the Ten Commandments and God. 

Christopher Hitchens, Oxford graduate and prolific political journalist, wrote this in an article titled “Moore’s Law: The Immorality of the Ten Commandments”: “Judge Roy Moore is clearly, as well as a fool and a publicity hound, a man who identifies the Mount Sinai orders to Moses with a certain interpretation of Protestantism. ...” The article continues in such a similar reproachful manner for all the commandments. It is not our intention to fingerpoint here, but the author obviously holds a hatred of God and established religion. (Dennis Leap, Keys to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, February 2004.)

(The passage above was later included in Dennis Leap's booklet, The Ten Commandments, which was first published in 2005.)

Recently PCG has mentioned Moore in twice in their writings. Once after he gained the Republican nomination to run for a seat in the Senate.

Stephen Flurry discusses the repercussions of the German elections and the coalition that German Chancellor Angela Merkel may not be able to form. Also on today’s program: Israel’s worry over the rise of the far right in Germany, Roy Moore’s Senate victory in Alabama, and what inequality and injustice looks like from a global perspective. (September 27, 2017.)

He is mentioned again in a brief mention of the frightening allegations.

Today’s sexual harassment revelations and accusations have been aimed at ... Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore, who allegedly pursued relationships with teenage girls when he was in his 30s, nearly four decades ago. (Joel Hilliker, Sex Scandals: A Glaring Lesson People Are Missing, November 10, 2017.)

He who wishes to a senator for Alabama portrayed himself as being so devoted to God and yet he is said to have behaved in a sexual manner with an underage, 14 year old girl.

Overview of the March 1998 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG has been publishing their recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet, since 1990 seeking to gain more tithes paying converts. The earliest issue of The Philadelphia Trumpet that can be read on their website, thetrumpet.com, is the March-April 1998 issue which was published during the time of President Clinton's impeachment.

Let's take a look.

This issue had a circulation of 70,000 issues.

The publisher and editor-in-chief was Gerald Flurry. The senior editors were Dennis Leap, the late J. Tim Thompson and the late Vyron Wilkins. The managing editor was Stephen Flurry. The assistant managing editor was Joel Hilliker.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article discussing the Titanic disaster in 1912 to insist that people should take his warning of cataclysm seriously even though the COGs have been making such dire statements since the 1930s.

Gerald Flurry has an article denouncing those who supported President Clinton during the impeachment crisis.

Stephen Flurry has an article praising the ideals of the Founding Fathers in order to denigrate President Clinton and his supporters.

(Gerald Flurry and Stephen Flurry's articles were later edited into a booklet entitled Character in Crisis which was discussed in a previous post.)

Dennis Leap has an article denouncing the high divorce rate.

J. Tim Thompson had an article bewailing that the United States is economically too reliant on Japan.

Ron Fraser had an article crudely scare mongering as only he could that the Catholic Church would introduce a "third way" in contrast to Western capitalism and Soviet Communism. PCG teaches that the United States is fated to be conquered by a future European Empire that will be supported by the final Pope, who is taught within the COGs as fated to be a sinister person able to perform miracles, such as summoning fire from the sky, with the power of Satan.

World News Watch mentions that El Niño was causing all kinds of weather problems; scare mongering about debt held by Americans; anti-war protesters disrupting a meeting held by President Clinton's cabinet to rally support for continuing to enforce the severe sanctions against Iraq; and German air force pilots training in New Mexico.

Nineteen years later PCG still preaches of doom and gloom generating millions of dollars in income for the organization. Even as early as 1996 PCG claimed to have more than $5 million in annual income. But since its founding in 1989 PCG has made at least 52 failed predictions. These failed predictions make it clear that PCG's 1% are unable to foresee the future. They are but false prophets. There is no need to give any heed to their dire proclamations.

Misleading Recruitment

One practice of toxic religious groups is that they will present a few doctrines to potential recruits while carefully hiding their more esoteric doctrine until the member is conditioned to stay in the group. In one recent article PCG's Dennis Leap projects this practice onto God in an interpretation of the Book of Exodus that does not necessarily support his interpretation. 

While Moses was preparing to leave Midian with Zipporah and his sons Gershom and Eliezer, God appeared to him and said, “Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. … When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn” (verses 19, 21-23). These are fascinating verses for several reasons. 

First, it was not until Moses was fully committed to leaving for Egypt that God revealed to him that all those in Egypt who wanted to murder him were dead. Another interesting point is that God didn’t spell out so clearly to Moses at the burning bush that Pharaoh would not be an easy man to convince. With Moses now on the move, God gave him information that may have discouraged him before this moment. Moses, Aaron and the Israelites would have a tough fight, but God gave Moses a dire prophecy for Pharaoh: God would slay his firstborn son if he refused to let Israel go. (Dennis Leap, Zipporah: Moses' Wife, February 2017.)

However the COGs often practice this selective presentation of doctrines to new recruits. For instance doctrines such as second and third tithe tend to be rarely mentioned in writings for the public. Doctrines contrary to what is taught in most churches such as their denunciation of the Trinity or second and third tithe are often not readily apparent in writings or television broadcasts produced by the various COGs. How many would have joined any of the COGs if they knew from the start about the COGs' unorthodox positions regarding various Christian doctrines?

PCG's Dennis Leap Talks About the Benghazi Attack of 2012

Since March PCG's Dennis Leap has hosted a radio program entitled Just the Best Literature. It could be described as PCG's book club. Since then they have discussed The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and the works of William Shakespeare.

And what did Leap discuss after those? 13 Hours by Mitchell Zukoff, a book about the terrorist attacks in Benghazi in which four Americans were murdered. This book is discussed in the following episodes.

Episode 36, November 14.

Episode 37, November 21,

Episode 38, November 28.

Episode 39, December 5.

Episode 40, December 12.

Episode 41, December 19.

Why would Leap talk about this particular act of terrorism?

Unfortunately the terrorist attack in Benghazi was turned into a political talking point used to vilify Obama and Clinton. Even though unfortunately there had been numerous terrorist attacks against American embassies and consulates over the years there had been a bipartisan consensus to not use these terrorist attacks in a partisan manner against the political opponents. Below is a list of terrorist attacks during the Bush Administration which were not politicized as the terrorist attack in Benghazi.

June 14, 2002, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide bomber kills 12 and injures 51.
February 20, 2003, international diplomatic compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Truck bomb kills 17.
February 28, 2003, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Gunmen on motorcycles killed two consulate guards.
July 30, 2004, U.S. embassy in Taskkent [sic], Uzbekistan
Suicide bomber kills two.
December 6, 2004, U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Militants stormed and occupied perimeter wall. Five killed, 10 wounded.
March 2, 2006, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide car bomber killed four, including a U.S. diplomate [sic] directly targeted by the assailants.
September 12, 2006, U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria
Gunmen attacked embassy with grenades, automatic weapons, and a car bomb (though second truck bomb failed to detonate). One killed and 13 wounded.
January 12, 2007, U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece
A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the embassy building. No one was injured.
July 9, 2008, U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Armed men attacked consulate with pistols and shotguns. Three policemen killed.
March 18, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen
Mortar attack misses embassy, hits nearby girls' school instead.
September 17, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen
Militants dressed as policemen attacked the embassy with RPGs, rifles, grenades and car bombs. Six Yemeni soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Sixteen more were injured. (Daily Kos.)

Here is another list of terrorist attacks against US embassies and consulates during the Reagan Administration. Again these attacks were not politicized as was done with the terrorist attack in Benghazi. (Please note the following quote is presented as it was written.)

April 18 1983 Beirut Islamic Jihad car bomb destroys Embassy 63 killed
December 12 1983 Kuwait City al-Dawa truck bomb outside embassy 6 killed.
September 20 1984 Beirut Hezbollah truck bomb outside embassy 24 killed
November 1984 Bogotá Car bomb outside Embassy planted by drug cartel 1 killed
February 1986 Lisbon Popular Forces of 25 April car bomb outside Embassy
May 14 1986 Jakarta Japanese Red Army mortar barrage none
June 9 1987 Rome Japanese Red Army mortar barrage
That's 94 dead. (Source.)

That bipartisan convention of not politicizing terrorist attacks against US embassies and consulates was ignored by Mitt Romney during the presidential campaign who used the terrorist attack against President Obama. Others followed his lead. Various minor officials were reprimanded for failures leading up the terrorist attack but nothing of a criminal nature was found against Obama or Clinton.

Leap's decision to use his radio program to discuss the terrorist attack in Benghazi, a terrorist attack which unfortunately became politicized in an attempt to weaken Obama and Clinton, is yet further indication of how politically partisan PCG's leaders tend to be.

Overview of the October 2016 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

The latest issue of PCG's recruitment magazine, The Philadelphia Trumpet, is now out.

Let us see what they have to say.

The editors are listed as Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad MacDonald, Richard Palmer, Robert Morley, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap and Phillip Nice.

This issue's circulation is reported as 280,116.

The contents page features a menacing photo of Iranian soldiers on parade. It is menacingly entitled, "marching toward war". This conveniently ignores the fact that the recent agreement was made to make war with Iran less likely.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article once again denouncing the agreement with Iran and portraying developments concerning Iran in the worst possible light. Back in 1994 Gerald Flurry proclaimed that Iran would be the King of the South. If there should ever be peace with Iran this would discredit his claim to see the future. So he has a strong motive to demonize Iran to his readers.

Richard Palmer has an article scare mongering about China's economic activities in other parts of the Asian continent.

Anthony Chibarirwe has an article discussing the terrorists and murderers of ISIL. It ends with advertising for a booklet which says, "[ISIL] is not the REAL terrorism problem," but rather Iran (p. 36). PCG's 1% is squirming that so much attention is directed at the murderers and terrorists of ISIL and not Iran thus contradicting Gerald Flurry's 1994 proclamation that Iran would be the King of the South.

Dennis Leap has an article denouncing parents supposedly letting their children rule over them.

Andrew Müller has an article bizarrely comparing various left wing attempts to use the power of the government to help families with Engels' speculations of what a society without families would be produced and maintained. Müller has taken theoretical writings and inaccurately assumed that those theoretical writings can explain the left today. Yet more red baiting vilification of the left from PCG's resident McCarthyite.

The Infographic condemns welfare programs stemming from President Johnson's war on poverty as failures. PCG leans far to the right so this gives PCG an incentive to discourage people from looking for solutions to social problems, such as poverty, from left wing sources.

Phillip Nice has an article describe the kind of family idealized by PCG's 1%.

Jeremiah Jacques has an article which exploits the memory of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who courageously helped hundreds of Jews fleeing Nazi tyranny. It is terrible that the name of this courageous and heroic man is being exploited to try and recruit more tithes paying members for PCG. The article includes comments from an interview with one of those who was saved by the Japanese diplomat. It is terrible and shameful that he has been used to prop up PCG's recruitment magazine. If only that man knew just what sort of organization PCG was. Furthermore PCG's writers have a long and shameful history of demonizing Japan.

Joel Hilliker has a little article encouraging people to criticize each other.

Richard Palmer also has a little article which exploits the biodiversity of the oceans for this recruitment magazine. That does not prove that PCG is worthy of being followed.

WorldWatch discusses discontent among some hard liner Catholics concerning Pope Francis; that the terrorists and murderers of ISIL are using children in their propaganda more often; scare mongering that Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei is not satisfied with the agreement; diplomatic relations between Arab nations and the State of Israel; the recent tragic round of violence in Indian administered Kashmir; China's disagreement with the International Court of Justice favoring the Philippines in a border dispute in the South China Sea; Russia sending a massive battleship to Syria as part of their attempts to prop up the Assad regime; and the rise of Theresa May as Prime Minister of Britain.

SocietyWatch discusses the release of the platform authored by the Movement For Black Lives in a most absurdly alarmist manner; and the heroin use crisis.

There are letters.

Here's one letter insisting that PCG's prophecy that Europe will soon launch an attack on Iran and conquer it. But PCG's 1% are but false prophets. This prediction will never come to pass.

This great article describes how the Daniel 11:21 man will come to power through flatteries and promises and will make Europe secure from Islamic terrorism.... The king of the south is pushing, but the king of the north will not just sit and watch! This article does a great job describing the push of the king of the south and how the people in the territory of the king of the north feel. The people of Europe do not want to live with terrorism and lose their loved ones in this barbaric manner.

Here's one letter from North Carolina from a reader panicked by PCG's denunciations of the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

Thanks for the informative article.... America needs to take heed. I recently viewed a video of Louis Farrakhan crying out for 10,000 men to sacrifice their lives for this very cause. It’s about to become a very dangerous world, and you are trumpeting the Word of God for all who will listen.

What bizarre, alarmist claptrap. This plays toward PCG's false prophecy of "race war." What is this person implying might happen? Some sort of insurgency? That is extremely unlikely. America is great and powerful. It is very unlikely.

Here's one letter from Canada expressing happiness that racial issues will be resolved after the Second Coming instead of trying to manage such problems today.

This is exactly what is needed to change from racial, sinful behavior: God’s government and law! I long for the day when Jesus Christ returns!

Here's one letter that seems surprisingly different from PCG's views of international affairs.

America will reap what it has sown. The years of overthrowing governments, building a society on stealing, lying, slavery, etc., has returned upon it.

Here's one letter from the Bahamas commenting on an article which suggested that the legislators of the United States are an accurate reflection of the American people.

A very interesting and thought-provoking article on what breeds the discontent among the citizenry. We can only choose the best from what is understood to be good and bad. And with the shameful moral decline of this world, could it be that the loathing of our leaders is actually a loathing of ourselves—our leaders being the mirror in which we, though unconsciously, truly see ourselves as we are?

And so we see that PCG's 1% has made yet another magazine issue designed to bedazzle its readers into thinking that PCG's 1% can see the future. PCG's 52 failed prophecies prove that they cannot see the future. There is no need to fear or give any respect to their dire predictions. The are but false prophets.

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22.)

PCG Leans Far to the Right

PCG tends to lean to the right. Further evidence of this may be seen in Dennis Leap's tweets concerning the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention. With the RNC he complains that the media act like snobbish bullies quick to find any fault. Then when discussing the DNC he implies that the media are trying to "control our thinking" seemingly by broadcasting it.

The news casters covering the RNC convention remind me of snobbish elementary school yard bullies finding fault with anybody over everything

— Dennis Leap (@DennisLeap) July 21, 2016

Gearing up for another media "control our thinking" week--the broadcast of the DNC!

— Dennis Leap (@DennisLeap) July 23, 2016

PCG's leaders live in an information bubble which happens to be quite strongly right wing.

I do not condemn PCG for being right wing but it is important to note that they are right wing since this explains so much of the political stances they choose to make.

PCG's Dennis Leap Remembers the Court Case with WCG

Dennis Leap has recently released an article (Whose Faith Follows, June 21, 2016,) discussing the court case that PCG lost concerning their pirated publication and distribution of some of HWA's writings. It was only during the negotiations after the trial that PCG bought the copyrights from WCG for $3 million. 

Leap insinuates that losing the court case would cause PCG the dire consequences for them.

Mr. Flurry was not just talking poetically here. The leaders of the WCG were hell-bent on grinding the PCG into the ground, never to rise again. The court case was a real fight for the survival to do God’s Work of keeping His message alive and active on Earth. ...

This case was the WCG’s final attempt to bury all of Mr. Armstrong’s writings—revealed truth from Christ—with him forever!

Of course that is largely hyperbole. WCG was not seeking to destroy PCG or render it inoperative. WCG was seeking to restrict PCG's printing and distribution of works copyrighted to WCG. The other COGs that generally never distributed HWA's writings consequently they for the most part never got sued by WCG. Even if the case ended promptly with PCG unable to publish HWA's writings PCG would still have been able to operate and maintain their organization. Also HWA's writings were also distributed on the Internet and they have been left alone.

The second week in February, Mr. Flurry called me into his office. He showed me a letter that Ralph Helge had written to him concerning our printing of Mystery of the Ages. Of course, the WCG did not like what we had done, and they demanded an explanation. The WCG filed a complaint against us in the Los Angeles federal court on February 10. The PCG was not informed about the court filing until February 11. This not unexpected, yet unwanted, development was a major concern to all of us at headquarters. The fight was on!

Mr. Flurry assigned me to work on our case and, well, the rest is history. The court case dominated many of my days for the next six years. There was one vital lesson that carried me through the glum days and the nail-biters. It is a lesson we all must learn and keep at the forefront of our thinking—especially because we are moving ever closer to the sure-to-come tough times ahead.

It is no surprise that WCG should have decided to exercise their right as the copyright holder to stop PCG from distributing HWA's writings. PCG's leaders have no one but themselves to blame for getting themselves dragged into that court case.

PCG's leaders have constantly insisted that catastrophe will soon occur ever since 1989. And before that HWA and his imitators said similar things since the 1930s. Here is the same, old dire proclamation that simply never comes to pass. They are but false prophets.

Leap mentions that few within the WCG ministry where he lived were upset at Mystery of the Ages being taken out of circulation by Tkach's WCG.

Many members in God’s Church [WCG] were upset and disturbed when Pasadena took Mystery of the Ages out of circulation. I was living near Buffalo, New York, at that time. Not one minister or minister’s wife I knew in that area expressed any distress over its removal. However, one ministerial trainee’s wife told me that she was very sad people would not be able to read the book. She said that the book had led her into God’s Church.

It is not possible for me to verify this claim. But even if this account is true it is worth bearing in mind that as a leader of PCG he has an incentive to discredit the WCG ministers who stayed in WCG or joined other COG groups.

Leap states that he had little awareness of how the law worked before this court case.

The only thing I knew about the law and legal matters came from the Ten Commandments and the first five books of the Bible. I had zero understanding of court cases, court filings, court lingo, court procedures, judges and the good or bad of lawyers except for what I had seen on television and in movies. A few speeding tickets had given me a look inside a courtroom. At those few times, all I had to know was the balance in my checkbook. Yet once the court case started, I was plunged into the world of all things legal: lawyers, judges and mountain-high stacks of paper.

Leap says he learned to always trust the minister over him, namely Gerald Flurry.

The one vital spiritual lesson I learned, which I plan to carry with me into eternity, concerns the critical importance of the faith of the leaders above us. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,” wrote the Apostle Paul .... I reflected on this scripture often during the court case. It became my anchoring verse to help me weather the tough tests and trials wrought by WCG v. PCG. Study this verse carefully.

When our faith flags, we must learn to follow the faith of the ministers God has set over us. As Paul said, we must remember the men “which have the rule over you.” That means to remember their examples of faith.

It is easy to imagine PCG members reading this and interpreting this to mean that they must obey the minister over them.

Leap ends this article telling his followers to remain loyal to those who are over them.

What a blessing it is for us when we learn to follow the faith of the man [Gerald Flurry] whom God has given to rule over us. Let’s all be sure to read, study and apply Hebrews 13:7. We will need it desperately in the coming days.

This sounds a lot like papal infallibility.

Despite all of PCG's efforts and faith they actually lost the court case but in the negotiations after the court case WCG decided to essentially sell the copyrights to some of HWA's writings to PCG for about $3 million. Sending $3 million to Tkach's WCG allowed PCG to brag that they had the copyrights to some of HWA's writings in order to bolster their claim to be the sole, legitimate continuation of HWA's WCG.

(Later PCG bought another copyright from WCG, namely that of The Bible Story by Basil Wolverton. This later acquisition appears to have occurred no later than 2008.)

Very few WCG ministers joined PCG so PCG's leaders had an incentive to distinguish themselves from the competition, namely the other COG groups. Meredith's Global COG and his later Living COG and UCG which was formed as the Tkach changes reached its completion in 1995 all had more members and more WCG ministers with them. The fact that so many WCG members chose to join these other organizations challenged PCG's claim to be the sole legitimate successor to HWA's WCG. If PCG was so, then why did so many WCG members simply not bother to join PCG? Publishing HWA's writings and then buying the copyrights was one way PCG tried to make themselves seem to be worthy of one's allegiance compared with the other COGs.

But despite having these writings in their possession they still are losing members at the moment. One report asserts PCG has lost about 20% in annual income and yet they are still building some dance hall in Edmond. A recent letter on Exit and Support Network suggests PCG have reserved accommodation for only about 4000 people for the Armstrongite Feast of Tabernacles. HWA's writings did not open any sort of cornucopia of plenty for PCG.