Reading PCG's Booklet, Obadiah

Let us now look through Gerald Flurry's booklet, Obadiah. This booklet was first published in 1996. He later revised it in 2006 as Obadiah: The Most Terrifying Message in the Bible. This reading is from the original 1996 printing, not the current version. (The current version has an original copyright date of 1995, but the older copy says 1996. I will go with 1996.) However they are very similar. You can read the current 2006 version at their website.

Here Flurry teaches that the Laodiceans will be divided into a repentant half (called Jacobite Laodiceans) and an unrepentant half (called Edomite Laodiceans). He says the unrepentant half of the Laodiceans will collaborate with the European Beast Power to murder the repentant Laodiceans.

Elsewhere in his writings Gerald Flurry teaches that half of the Laodiceans will repent of their Laodicean condition (convert to PCG) and be killed in the Great Tribulation. Flurry insists this is the true meaning of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. But the unrepentant other half will be damned in the lake of fire. In this booklet the unrepentant Laodiceans are labelled Edomite Laodiceans. The repentant Laodiceans are labelled Jacobite Laodiceans

Now when Flurry calls the repentant Laodiceans Jacobite this is not really a compliment but rather seems to insinuate that these people are unconverted until they repent in the Great Tribulation.

When Jacob was converted, His name was changed to Israel. So Jacob represents an unconverted attitude in God’s own Church today. But Esau represents an even worse attitude. God has “INDIGNATION FOR EVER” against him! He was incorrigible. And many of God’s people are becoming that way today! Whatever these Edomite Laodiceans try to build, God says He will tear down. (p. 2.)

So being a Jacobite Laodicean is little to be happy about according to Flurry.

It was prophesied that GOD WOULD SEND A MESSAGE IN THIS END TIME ABOUT EDOM. Where is it?

Turkey is the modern-day nation of Edom. This prophecy may well apply to betrayals of Jacob or Israel by Turkey, but the primary meaning is directed to a spiritual Esau. (p. 3. Pages 3-4 in the current version.)

Where did this idea that Turkey is the modern day continuation of Edom come from? HWA taught this, but where did he get this idea? This is discussed in a previous post.

Ever wondered why HWA identified Turkey as Edom? Among British-Israelites Edom was identified with the Turks. M. M. Eshelman, for example, identified the Turks as Edom in a book published in 1887 ([Michael Barkun, Religion and the Racist Right: The Origin of Christian Identity,] p. 128-9). HWA simply copied this earlier idea.

So we see that the idea that Turkey is Edom was simply just another idea being tossed about within the British Israel movement of the Victorian era that HWA somehow latched onto and used himself.

Also it should be pointed out that the Turks speak a Turkic language totally unrelated to Hebrew or Arabic. Other Turkic languages include Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kazakh, Uyghur, Turkmen, Tatar and Kyrgyz. Are they all Edomites? If the Turks are really related to Israel as common descendents of Isaac why do they speak a completely unrelated language?

Flurry speculates that Petra could be the place of safety.

Edom “dwelled in the CLEFTS of the rock.” The Gesenius Lexicon defines clefts this way (emphasis mine): “PLACES OF REFUGE IN THE ROCKS (perhaps dwellings CARVED IN THE ROCKS).” If you have ever visited Petra, as I have, you know this is a perfect description of its estimated 10,000 caves.

Mr. Armstrong believed the Bible indicates Petra could be the place God uses to protect His Church during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 12:12, 14). But he never stated that dogmatically. (p. 5.)

He says he is unsure that Petra will be the place of safety, but here he speaks as though it will be the place of safety.

We must trust in God, not in a physical place. However, just going to such a desolate place as Petra would take strong faith. And we need to be building faith for such a journey. After all, it is prophesied. That time is very near, so God wants us to think about it in the context of faith. (p. 6.)

How unclear and unconcise this is.So is Petra the place of safety or not? Why can he not give a simple answer?

Flurry also condemns the Tkachite WCG's embrace of the doctrine of the Trinity.

ESAU FELL APART, just as the Edomite Laodiceans are collapsing today. And God tells us why. We must look at these verses spiritually today. Why don’t these verses discuss wives and children instead of orphans or “FATHERLESS CHILDREN” and “WIDOWS”? Today these Laodiceans have REJECTED GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST THEIR HUSBAND! They have no spiritual Father or Husband. Spiritually, they are ORPHANS AND WIDOWS! They have accepted the pagan trinity doctrine which destroys God’s Family relationship (write for our free booklet, God is a Family).

If you have understood God’s Family relationship and then turn and accept the satanic trinity doctrine, it is tantamount to blasphemy! (p. 9. Page 10 in the current version.)

Flurry also fear mongers that some of the leaders of rival COG groups are already, when Flurry wrote this booklet in 1996, damned and fated to die in the lake of fire.

Why does God say “let thy widows trust in me”? This is Christ, their Husband, talking today. These Laodicean widows (several groups have left the WCG) trust in men, not their Husband (Rev. 19:7). They have been unfaithful to their only Husband! Now they have no Husband.

Only one group has remained faithful to what Christ taught through Mr. Armstrong. [Flurry means his PCG.] ...

God tells the leaders to “leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive.” Those leaders who are filling the false father role are asked to leave the orphans so God might be able to “preserve them alive.” This means that many of these leaders HAVE MOVED BEYOND BEING SAVED SPIRITUALLY! God makes no appeal to them! They are already lost. There is no hope for them! The only hope any of them have is heeding this message. (pp. 9-10.)

What is to done with people caught in such a spiritual state? 

“Your terribleness has deceived you” (v. 16). These people don’t see how horrendously terrible they have been toward God and their brethren. And most of them refuse to hear God’s warning. We can only warn them and pray that they respond. (p. 10.)

But how can any Laodicean be warned if, as has been the case since at least 2000, PCG members are now forbidden to have contact with these Laodiceans? 

Teman was the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:1-11). Obadiah refers to him as “O Teman.” This is how the Turks got the name Ottoman. The Ottoman Turks ruled the Middle East for about 400 years. That rule ended just before World War II.

It is very likely that the name of Esau, or Turkey, is going to be cut off forever because of their treachery to the nations of Jacob. (p. 10. Page 11 in the current version.)

Flurry is in error here. That is not how the Turks were called Ottoman. Actually it is derived from the name of Sultan Osman (1258-1326) who established the Ottoman state in 1299.

Also the Ottoman Turks lost their domination of the Middle East during World War I, not "just before World War II" as Flurry inaccurately states here. This was largely due to the Arab revolt which was encouraged by the British during World War I.

Later on in this booklet Flurry states that the unrepentant Laodiceans will murder the repentant Laodiceans in collaboration with the European Beast Power. 

It appears that their greatest shame is going to be what they do in the future to their brother Laodiceans (Jacob). ... This is discussing a time when the nations of Israel become enslaved by the Holy Roman Empire. These Edomite Laodiceans join forces with them and probably reveal who their fellow Laodiceans are—those who are repentant.

We know God’s repentant Laodiceans reject the mark of the BEAST. They are killed for doing so (Rev. 12:11, 17).

The Edomite Laodiceans accept the mark of the BEAST. This is the day that they “stood on the other side.” They were “as one of them”—the beast power. They went from God’s side to Satan’s side! These treacherous Laodiceans are in the grip of Satan. ...

The [unrepentant] Edomite Laodiceans “entered into the gate of MY people”—God’s Church! They “stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his [Family] that did escape.” The Edomite Laodiceans kept their own spiritual Family from escaping physical death. They help the BEAST power capture God’s repentant Laodiceans and kill them physically.

The vicious cycle is then completed. The people who once loved God, now hate Him and His people. (pp. 10-11.)

Then Flurry states those who murdered the repentant Laodiceans will be punished by being cast into the lake of fire and utterly destroyed. They become as they they had never been. He teaches PCG members to be encouraged that these murderers in the future will be punished.

God is sending saviours. This is the good news. If God’s Laodiceans and the world heed our message, it will save them physically and spiritually! (pp. 12-13.)

Of course the only way to heed this message, according to Flurry, is to join PCG and pay three tithes and extra offerings. How convenient for him.

Flurry ends with these words.

Strife on this earth is about to end forever! Jesus Christ is about to rule this earth. We must not overlook the greatest Saviour of all pictured in this book. “The kingdom shall be the Lord’s”—FOREVER! (p. 13.)

And so we end this reading there.

We can see that Flurry tries very hard to make not paying tithes and offerings to him sound very unattractive. This booklet is simply a crude attempt to intimidate WCG members and members of other COG groups (the hated Laodiceans) into joining PCG and paying him tithes and offerings and submitting to the many rules and regulations of PCG's leaders.

Also Flurry yet again reinterprets a book of the Bible to make it all about the Tkach changes, the rise of PCG in opposition to this, the PCG members go to the place of safety and the other Armstrongites are cursed to endure the Great Tribulation. Flurry simply recycles Malachi's Message, this time imposing his ideas onto the Book of Obadiah.

It is widely known that many of the ideas within Malachi's Message were plagiarized from The Letter to Laodicea by Jules Dervaes, written December 1986-January 1988. It was sent to 237 WCG ministers including Gerald Flurry and John Amos. In fact on September 26, 1990 Jules Dervaes sent a letter to Gerald Flurry in which he denounces Malachi's Message as "a direct and clear plagiarism" of his work.

Flurry is simply trying to manipulate people into submitting to his power.

Reading PCG's Booklet, The Prophecy of Habakkuk (1995)

Let us now read Gerald Flurry's booklet, The Prophecy of Habakkuk, first published in 1995. Since its first publication Flurry has reinterpreted Habakkuk to claim that it predicted PCG to win at the court case. (In fact PCG did not win the court case.) At the time this booklet was first written Flurry had no idea that he would have a court case against WCG or that Habakkuk had anything to do with it. You can read the 1995 booklet for yourself here.

Chapter 1

Flurry claims to have received new revelation regarding the Book of Habakkuk. His new revelation is that Habbakkuk is all about the Tkach Changes, the rise of PCG in opposition to that, and that unless WCG members join PCG they shall die in the Great Tribulation. Essentially Flurry simply recycles the ideas of Malachi's Message and then applies the same interpretation upon Habakkuk. He ended up doing that a lot.

It is widely known that many of the ideas within Malachi's Message were plagiarized from The Letter to Laodicea by Jules Dervaes, written December 1986-January 1988. It was sent to 237 WCG ministers including Gerald Flurry and John Amos. In fact on September 26, 1990 Jules Dervaes sent a letter to Gerald Flurry in which he denounces Malachi's Message as "a direct and clear plagiarism" of his work.

***

Also Flurry condemns Meredith's Global Church of God for introducing collegial government and he cites this as proof that they are "Laodicean". He also mentions another booklet that was looked at in a previous post (p. 5.).

This booklet it seems to have been made before UCG was established as he does not mention them.

***

Intriguingly on page 6 he states that PCG made its first radio broadcast on June 30, 1991, and then made their first television broadcast in January 1993. He then boasts that by the end of 1994 PCG was on 50 TV stations.

Chapter 2

In this chapter, for once, Flurry makes it (somewhat) clear what he wants his readers to do.

If a member of any Laodicean Church is willing to go to God and repent--THEY WILL COME TO THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCH OF GOD! (p. 12.)

Of course even this blatant demand to convert does not capture just how destructive and costly, mentally, socially and financially, membership in PCG is to so many members.

***

If you are to avoid the Tribulation, YOU WILL HAVE TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM LAODICEA! God does not want us to ... follow a sinning church! (p. 13.)

Now we know from other sources that at the time this booklet was published (1995) there did not appear to be any stigma to associating oneself with members of other COG groups. But still one can see how this heated rhetoric, demonizing Laodiceans would later make it that much easier for Flurry to give the order for PCG members to shun Laodiceans, any Armstrongite who did not join PCG.

Also it should be noted that it now 19 years since this booklet was published. No one who chose to not join PCG has suffered the Great Tribulation. Indeed many of these Laodiceans have now died and so Flurry's threats that they would be cast into the Great Tribulation meant absolutely nothing to them. Flurry's punishment is meaningless to them.

***

Unless they repent soon, the Laodicean ministry and members will have to face Satan's wrath! (p. 20.)

It is now 19 years later. Satan's wrath (the Great Tribulation) has not manifested itself towards anyone, PCG member or certainly not the "Laodiceans". Would many early PCG converts have joined if they anticipated the world to simply continue its way for these 19 years. Clearly this Great Tribulation is just an induced phobia that Gerald Flurry and Co. rely on to exploit tithes paying PCG members.

***

Chapter 3

This chapter is filled with fear mongering about the supposed future Great Tribulation. Some parts of this chapter also appears in his booklet that uses Amos.

***

Flurry says Habakkuk saw the effects of nuclear war and that it was so terrifying for him that he nearly dissolved into goo. I am not making this up.

Habakkuk almost became like a shapeless blob! (p. 22.)

That passage is quite bizarre.

***

Fear monger that there will be a 99 percent fatality rate during the Great Tribulation. This will due to the use of nuclear weapons. (p. 23.)

And at the end Flurry, after scaring his readers, then assures us that we should be very happy that Christ is coming soon. We should be so happy that we should jump for joy.

***

So the purpose of this booklet was to call upon WCG members to leave and join PCG. It also encouraged PCG members to warn WCG members that they needed to join PCG as well to avoid the Great Tribulation. (Although now that Flurry banned PCG from contacting Armstrongites who have not joined PCG, "the Laodiceans", it is hard to see how PCG members can do that except by sending in unsolicited mail.)

Overview of the May-June 2014 Living Church News

Continuing on from the overview of the May-June 2014 issue of Tommorrow's World it is now time to look at the May-June 2014 issue of LCG's magazine for members, Living Church News. Let us see what they have to say.

Roderick C. Meredith has an opening article calling upon LCG members to have a godly "fear" of God and in which he condemns various "flaws" among LCG members.

Some of our brethren in God’s Church do not have the genuine “fear” of God. Yes, they claim to be “Christian”—to be followers of Christ. But they seem not to really understand Christ’s warning to “would be” Christians or “part-time” Christians. ...

These kind of “part-time” Christians are those who often “skip out” on attending Sabbath services or other Church activities on a regular basis. They often have some wonderful “excuses” as to why they are often not there when a sermon is given which they may need in a special way! Some of these people come to church to “get,” to show off, to argue or to just develop a social fellowship. They are not primarily coming to “seek God” and humbly worship their Creator on His commanded Sabbath day. They are not there through a desire to love, to serve and to help their fellow Christians by their presence, their encouragement, etc. These are the peoples whose “hearts” are not truly given to God in His Work. They are not going “all out” to help proclaim His message going to the entire world and honestly do all they can to support the Gospel in every possible way. As Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong put it over and over, “The depth of one’s conversion is often best measured by the degree to which a person’s whole heart is in helping and supporting the very Work of the living God”! ...

A deeply converted person will have a sense of fulfillment and joy in giving to his God! And he will sincerely want to dedicate his talents, his time and his energy to do everything he can as part of the very Work in which we are all involved! (pp. 1-2.)

Why can't Meredith just admit that he will never be satisfied? Unless you are close friends with him LCG members will never be good enough for him. LCG members are already required to pay three tithes and somehow Meredith still thinks this is not enough.

Roderick C. Meredith's editorial falsely claims that HWA did prophecy events simply due to his connection with God. He claims HWA predicted the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. He uses this apparent fact to call upon LCG members to increase their faith. Meredith conveniently forgets that HWA did not predict the fall of the Soviet Union. He taught it would survive until several years after the return of Christ, only to be destroyed in fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. Also HWA taught that Christ will have returned by 2005 in his last book, Mystery of the Ages. (PCG has since deleted these embarrassing words in their copies.) HWA was a false prophet. He could not have been used by God.

Dexter B. Wakefield has an article calling upon LCG members to embrace their new life as baptized true Christians.

The LCG editorial Staff have an article calling upon LCG members to obey the law of God and comparing how their version of the New Testament covenant has now superseded the Old Covenant.

Douglas Winnail has an article meditating on the meaning of Pentecost, reciting HWA's teaching that it symbolizes the church and her relationship with God to learn to be the rulers during Christ's millennial reign.

Don White has an article praising the unity LCG members experience by singing together every Saturday and extolling the health benefits of singing together.

Sheldon Monson has a little article about Living Youth Camp in which he quotes a testimony written by woman who has attended Living Youth Camp fifteen times, first as a student then as a staff member. (The article has a few pictures on page 17.)

Faye League has a little article praising women of courage and fortitude, reciting the Biblical examples of Ruth and Esther.

Rod McNair has a little commentary remembering the Pentecost of Acts 2.

Also there are births and deaths mentioned. Also three ordinations are reported, those of Mike Alamilla, Dwayne Wilks and William Long.

Jim Meredith, the would be successor, is conspicuous by his absence. He is not even in the credits on page 2.

And so there we have it. That is what LCG's leaders have to say to LCG members in this magazine.

Overview of May-June 2014 Tomorrow's World Magazine

The May-June 2014 issue of LCG's recruitment magazine Tomorrow's World is now out. Let us see what LCG's leader have to say this time.

Roderick C. Meredith has a personal claiming that he learned that mainstream Christianity is false. He mentions how he saw a friend of his die while wrestling and this caused him to search for answers. No doubt this must have been very hard for him to deal with. Of course he will recommend that the reader should join his LCG and pay three tithes to it.

Roderick C. Meredith has an article condemning the rapture theory and instead insisting that worthy LCG members will be sent by God to a place of safety to escape the Great Tribulation. He even has a little picture of Petra on page 26.

Wyatt Ciesielka has an article comparing the Islamic Qur'an with Christianity. Considering he belongs to a religion which claims to be Christian it will be no surprise that he will say that LCG's brand of Armstrongism is true. 

Richard Ames has an article claiming that reader can understand prophecy. Of course Ames then merely promotes LCG's version of Armstrongite prophecy, which has been ultimately inherited from the Millerite movement of the 1830s-1840s.

James Ginn has a little article bemoaning various personal scandals among the powerful and famous within Canada and saying this is a sign the Great Tribulation shall soon occur.

John Meakin has a little article recalling D-Day and saying certain events that occurred then were miraculous. In the world of Armstrongism such nostalgic article are often used to claim that the US and Britain and now moral wastelands compared to those days and that such happy events are now quite impossible because of our sins. These Armstrongites conveniently forget that HWA was preaching that Hitler would triumph in the war at the time of the D-day landings.

The Question and Answer explain away the thief's request to Jesus in Luke 23:43 as just a miss placed comma to insist that the doctrine of soul sleep is the truth. This doctrine was inherited from the Seventh Day Adventists.

Douglas Winnail has a fear inducing article claiming that Germany is on the rise and will soon conquer the United States and Britain and make slaves of the peoples.

Scott D. Winnail has a little article telling LCG members that they should stay away from movies which portray violence. This is simply an attempt to socially isolate LCG members from society and make it harder for LCG members to relate to non-LCG members in order to control and exploit them more effectively.

Jonathan McNair has a little article calling for people to respect your elders.

J. Davy Crockett (he who said obelisks are evil, pagan sex symbols) in his little article calls upon LCG members to pay attention to be righteous in even little things.

Page 30 contains a page length explanation for the purpose of their recruitment magazine. The magazine is praised for being free. Of course LCG members pay for this by paying three tithes. 

So we see that once again LCG has produced yet another magazine designed to make LCG members believe that they are specially blessed to be in LCG and to continue paying three tithes and extra offerings to LCG.

Reading PCG's Booklet, Isaiah's End-Time Vision

In this post I shall read Gerald Flurry's booklet, Isaiah's End-Time Vision. It was first printed in 1994. Then since it has been revised in 1999, 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2013. It is one of Gerald Flurry's larger booklets, hence the length of this post. We shall go through the current 2013 version here. This booklet may be read at their website. 

Chapter 1

First Flurry glorifies the beginning of Isaiah, even calling it a little Bible, saying that the essence of the Bible is compressed entirely in it. He then uses this to mock a statement a WCG minister stating that Isaiah 6 is the introduction to insist that even then WCG was turning "Laodicean".

Isaiah was sent to do God’s Work (Isaiah 6). One of the Worldwide Church of God ministers wrote: “This is where the introduction of the book [of Isaiah] begins.” That was written about a year before Mr. Armstrong died. However, Mr. Armstrong was not aware of such a statement or he would have rejected it. The Laodiceans were already getting control of God’s Church. Herbert W. Armstrong was 92 years of age. They were even then losing Isaiah’s vision. That minister made a dangerous statement. It shows that the church Mr. Armstrong founded was becoming Laodicean by losing the God Family vision of Isaiah chapter 1—where the inspiring instruction begins. (pp. 5-6.)

Or maybe this WCG minister was just saying that Isaiah's  account of how he became a prophet just happens to be in Isaiah 6.

It seems awfully easy to be a Laodicean for Flurry. Actually there is just one simple way to be a Laodicean, be an Armstrongite who is not a member of PCG and does not pay tithes to Flurry and Co. That is a Laodicean in Flurry's eyes.

***

I wonder if someone had problems in his or her marriage and that person had the opportunity to ask That Prophet Gerald Flurry for advice on this marriage I wonder what he would say to such a person?

Perhaps the best way to illustrate this point is through the example of marriage. When there are marital problems, generally both parties are to blame. The biggest problem the wives have is submitting to their husbands.

I have been in the ministry nearly 40 years. In many marriage counseling sessions, I have noticed that the wives are zealous and excel in numerous marital responsibilities. But many wives cause some serious problems in their marriages. The root cause with the women is usually their not submitting to their husbands as God commands. Their problem is with God’s marital government and the law on which it is based. (p. 7.)

So he says women need to submit to their husbands. Well, that would be very good for the husband's masculine ego. Not so sure the wife would buy that explanation though.

***

Flurry says all of the Laodiceans reject HWA as the end time Elijah.

The control is in your hands. If you submit to God’s government, you will hear what God’s end-time Elijah taught about God’s government and you will accept Mr. Armstrong as fulfilling the Elijah role. You will also hear what God reveals to the PCG . It depends on your own submission! (p. 11.)

Many other COG groups, who are labelled Laodiceans by Flurry, also believe that HWA is the end time Elijah. Why does Flurry say untrue things?  

***

Chapter 2

In this chapter Flurry main talks about Isaiah 66.

Here Flurry speculates that there will be seven prominent Laodicean splinter groups.

Today, God’s own Laodicean people think they can choose the Laodicean church of their choice. There probably will be seven different Laodicean churches (Isaiah 4:1). At this point, you can only see three significant ones. Request our booklet on Hosea for a full explanation. (p. 14.)

***

When Laodiceans repent and come into the Philadelphia Church today, they always say they were starving spiritually. (p. 16.)

Flurry says the same thing in other writings of his.

***

Flurry is embarrassed that no high ranking minister from WCG joined PCG so he accuses people who note this and choose not to follow PCG because of this of depending on men and not trusting on God. (How convenient for you, Flurry.)

The PCG has the distinct honor to speak for God! We are warning the Laodiceans, but they refuse to hear (Jeremiah 6:16-17). For that reason, they must go into the Great Tribulation—unless they repent. (p. 18.)

***

Flurry also condemns WCG's leaders as racist for denying British Israelism.

***

Flurry also talks about how a nation will be born at once, he means the glorification of the saints to become the firstfruits of the God Family.

***

Chapter 3

In this chapter he fear mongers that Christ's return is about to come any moment now. (Implying the only way to save yourself from this problem is to join PCG.)

The term “last days” always refers to the time period leading up to and including the return of Christ. (p. 23.)

All the time? Really?

***

In the World Tomorrow PCG members will be the rulers of a glorious and reborn world.

What else will we teach in the Millennium other than God’s law? Much will revolve around the truth Herbert W. Armstrong restored to God’s Church (Matthew 17:10-11). We must deeply learn what God taught us through him. We are God’s spiritual college today, and we shall establish God’s colleges all over this Earth very soon. Today, God’s true Church is a college to train teachers for the World Tomorrow. We have a message of hope for the world! That is easy-to-prove truth! (p. 24.)

***

On pages 28-9 he obliquely condemns makeup. But it is said in such a way that, unless you knew PCG banned makeup, you might easily miss this. He does not directly say this but to those who know the facts it is he is condemning makeup.

***

Here is Flurry speculating that there will be seven main rival splinter groups.

If we look at this spiritually, we know God teaches that a man should have one wife (1 Timothy 3:1-2). A woman is used to represent a church in the Bible. Since the context of Isaiah 3 and 4 is about Zion, or God’s Church, I don’t see how these seven women could refer to anybody but seven rebellious Laodicean churches in this end time. These ladies want to be called by this man’s name. Christ is represented by the man. God has removed His lamp from the Laodicean Church. It no longer does God’s Work or has His name. This must be talking about Christ and the rebellious Laodiceans today. (p. 30.)

He also accuses the Laodiceans of failing to follow Christ. If they did there would only be one work he says. Of course he is really just crudely ordering people to join PCG. He wants more tithes.

***

Chapter 4

Here Flurry dwells on the God Family doctrine and insists that after the Millenium and Great White Throne Judgment that the God Family shall expand upon the entire Universe, beautifying it.

But will there be a God Family? Actually the idea of the God Family has no scriptural support whatsoever.

Isaiah 42:8: "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."

Isaiah 43:10: "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."

Isaiah 44:6: "Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God..."

Isaiah 44:8: "Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." (From Mike of Mike's Enlightenment Page.)

***

Then on page 36 Flurry swiftly changes tack and says, The Germans are coming.

Conditions will get so bad that people will eat their own arms—or their own families! One third of Israel will die because of internal problems before the Germans strike with nuclear bombs (see Ezekiel 5). It didn’t get this bad anciently. This is mainly for today. (p. 37.)

***

On pages 38-9 Flurry fear mongers that Germany is already a great power. As evidence he cites the Yugoslav Wars and accuses Germany of starting those wars by recognizing Slovenia and Croatia as independent states in 1991. He ignores the agency of the peoples of the former Yugoslavia in pursuing their own interests and pretends only Germany caused it. In fact Gerald Flurry merely exploits the Yugoslav War in order to demonize Germany.

***

Flurry also insists that the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 was predicted by HWA.

Mr. Armstrong thought that crisis would be the collapse of the Western world’s monetary system! America’s banking system collapsed in September 2008. The American economy is already destroyed, we just don’t know it yet! (p. 39.)

Flurry conveniently forgets that HWA taught that Christ would return by 2005 in his book, Mystery of the Ages, the book that Flurry so often praise to the heavens. 

And, secondly, to reveal--preserved in writing for us TODAY--what is to happen "in the latter days"--actually within the next two decades-- THIS LAST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY! (HWA, Mystery of the Ages, 1985, Chapter 7, p. 298. Under the heading, "Daniel Knew!")

"within the next two decades" from 1985, when Mystery of the Ages was first printed, brings us to 2005. So here HWA predicted that Christ would return by 2005. Flurry does not mention this part of Mystery of the Ages.

Do not bother looking for this statement in any PCG copy of Mystery of the Ages. PCG, as the current copyright holder, deleted this embarrassing passage.

***

Chapter 5

In this chapter Flurry discusses Satan being cast out of Heaven onto Earth. He teaches that this occurred upon HWA's death.

We publish booklets on all the major prophets. Two of the booklets—Isaiah and Ezekiel—discuss Satan being cast down (see Ezekiel 28). We discuss Satan in detail. Only the Philadelphia Church of God understands Satan today. Only we reveal Satan to the Laodiceans and the world. (p. 41.)

Actually many churches, not just the Armstrongites, focus a lot on Satan. So these words of Flurry's are quite deceptive and untrue. Many other Armstrongites and Christians share the same idea.

***

Some in the world try to label the PCG a cult. Actually, we are the only church doing God’s Work on this Earth! That can easily be proven from the Bible. ...  Only we understand what Satan is planning and doing. That is why Satan hates us most of all and persecutes us so intensely. (p. 41.)

Nobody's persecuted PCG. Have PCG members been arrested? Subjected to physical violence because of their religion? I have heard of no such thing. Calling PCG a cult is not persecution.

Considering how so many Christians, labelled as false Christians by Flurry and Co., in the rest of the world suffer it is sad to see Flurry pretending that PCG is being persecuted when no such thing is going on.

***

This Earth has never experienced the full wrath of Satan until this end time! He has already conquered the Laodicean Church. It happened in only months after Mr. Armstrong died! How can you explain that without Satan being cast down and confined to this Earth? ...

This world has changed dramatically since Herbert W. Armstrong died. Everything indicates that Satan was cast down around that time. And now this world is on a downhill plunge to destruction! (p. 42.)

I remember when I started reading PCG's writings and watching their TV show. I was struck by their insistence that Satan had already been cast down to the Earth. LCG said this was an as yet future event.

But all this assumes that HWA actually was called by God. If HWA was called by God why was he wrong when he taught from 1953 onwards that Jesus Christ would return in 1975? Also what about HWA's personal conduct? Is it likely God would use a man like that, and after he converted? His own niece and his own grandson have recently stated in public interviews that this happened.

***

Chapter 6

He fear mongers that many "Laodiceans" (Armstrongites who did not join PCG) will be cast into the lake of fire. He even says many are already destined to go to the lake of fire. (p. 45.)

Here Flurry tries to make PCG members anguished that not everyone joined PCG as they "should," according to Flurry. What is his answer to this problem? What does he tell his readers to do?

When Isaiah saw this vision, he was plunged into a state of deep sorrow and shame. He couldn’t even be comforted because he saw the unparalleled suffering and eternal death to come upon God’s Church. ...

Do we go to God in deep concern and tears because of what is going to happen to God’s Family—our Family? We must also have God’s love for the nations of Israel—and the whole world. Nobody with God’s love could want to see the Tribulation come upon our people, unless they saw the happy ending.

Isaiah’s example here should severely correct every single one of us. This loving emotion that Isaiah had has rarely been experienced by any one of us, if at all! How deeply do we love God’s lukewarm people, the nations of Israel and the world?
There is only one way to really measure our love for them: Our dedication to God’s Work shows how much we love them!

How much are you and I willing to sacrifice in getting God’s Work finished? (pp. 46-7.)

Send me your money, now! If you can't throw your money away to me as though it was nothing then you are a terrible monster.

***

From page 48 onwards he begins to introduce his new understanding of Isaiah 22.

Revelation 11:1-2 discuss an inner court and an outer court. That prophecy was fulfilled quickly after John Amos and I were fired from the wcg. The inner court is where God dwells. God established His Church. And where He dwells, you will find one-man government, an exciting work and dedicated people. These people will have new revelation from Isaiah and all the other major and minor prophets. It will be given through Eliakim. (p. 52.)

Often when various COG leaders talk about "God's government", "government doctrine", or claim that some other rival among the COGs have deviated from "God's government", etc., they do not really say what form of government they are actually talking about. Here Gerald Flurry finally talks plainly and admits what "God's government" really means, "one-man government".

I feel it is very confusing to refer to one-man government as God's government as some other such euphemism. Hence I often refer to "God's government" as what it really is, one man rule.

Note that Flurry boasts that PCG has one-man government. Well, as a matter of fact, Meredith's LCG also has "one-man government". But you will not see Flurry admit that. And if you do he will just find some other pretext to claim he is not legitimate and that one must follow Flurry or suffer severely.

***

This is a lot of misleading double talk in these words.

Understanding Eliakim [Gerald Flurry] does not mean following a man. It means following what “God establishes”! We dare not follow a man. But you know that if I really let God rule me and make the decisions Christ wants me to make, there will be a few decisions that you don’t agree with. Even I probably won’t like all of them, initially. But if we ever fail at this test, like Shebna [Here Flurry means Tkach Jr.] we will only be carving out for ourselves an eternal tomb!

This is also a strong message for me. When God says He has given His government, that means I had better use it! God forbid that I should ever abuse His Family. But things will only work if we use this government. Can we prove which man on Earth is truly using God’s government—the government that will one day rule the world and the universe? (p. 54.)

***

I believe we will not lose the court case.

[Footnote.] This was written before we won the court case. Request our free booklet on Habakkuk for a full explanation. (p. 54.)

Not true. In fact PCG lost the court case. But luckily for them WCG decided to cut their losses by selling the copyrights to PCG for $3 million.

***

Isaiah 22:22 says that when Eliakim [Gerald Flurry] opens a door, none can shut it. We must have faith in that.

He just said, Isaiah 22:22 says that when I open a door, none can shut it. We must have faith in that, he says. He appeals to his own understanding and explanation.

***

Think about it: How much do you love your children, just as a physical parent or grandparent? I feel I love children more and more as I grow older. How could a father not love his children? They bring such joy into your life. (p. 56.)

Why do you impose the no contact rule on these supposedly evil Laodiceans then for not paying you three tithes?

***

[Footnote 2] We won the copyrights to all those works in the court case. (p. 58.)

Not true. In fact PCG lost the court case. But luckily for them WCG decided to cut their losses by selling the copyrights to PCG for $3 million.

***

This quote shows how Flurry readily interprets things to claim that any given scripture is talking about the Tkach changes and PCG rising up to oppose them.

What are the “vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons”? Anciently, these were items used in the temple service. What do we use today in the temple service? These must refer to all of our books and booklets. All the glory hangs on Eliakim—all the revelation from Mr. Armstrong, plus all the new revelation God has given to me. That is quite a lot of glory! We have it all! (p. 58.)

Odd. I thought it was the Laodiceans who say, we have need of nothing.

***

How could God’s people talk about the evils of one-man rule? That is out of the mind of the devil! (p. 58.)

So if anyone complains about conditions in PCG and points out Flurry had a role in it, Flurry can just say that thought "is out of the mind of the devil".

***

Here Flurry speculates that Tkach Jr. will later try to somehow silence PCG.

I firmly believe that in the future we will face an even more significant battle with this end-time Shebna [Tkach Jr.]. Amos 7:10-11 show a priest of God going to a leader of the land and trying to get God’s Work shut down. In verses 12-13, he speaks directly to God’s prophet telling him to prophesy not. (p. 60.)

***

Chapter 7

Here Flurry once again focuses upon the supposed dire future that awaits the world before Christ's return and speculates upon what supposedly will happen, particularly the rise of Germany and the Roman Catholic Church.

The good news is this is all leading these nations to their final war! Why final? Because it is against Almighty God!

And guess who wins. In the Valley of Jehosophat, blood is up to the horses’ bridles for 200 miles!

What a bloody ending! (p. 63.)

***

Flurry insinuates that in the future Germany will steal the possession of nuclear weapons stationed on their land from the United States for themselves.

the Germans have many U.S. nuclear bombs stored in their country, which the Germans could (and Mr. Armstrong believed they will) take and use as their own. (p. 63.)

***

Here Japan is identified with Tarshish. (He disregards the fact that Tarshish is the old name of what is now known as Spain.)

The “daughter of Tarshish” (verse 10) is Japan today. The word daughter shows how these prophecies are dual.

Or maybe Isaiah just personified that nation as a woman, as Biblical writers and often did.

I will also note that, outside of PCG, I have not read any Armstrongite claiming the expression "daughter of such and such" symbolized that it is an end time prophecy.

Flurry also speculates that Latin America will be reduced to vassal states under Europe's domination and the European Empire will use Latin America to besiege America before her fall.

***

On page 66 there is an error. Flurry uses "concordant" when he should have said "concordat".

***

Interlude

Here Flurry insists that Chittim which is also Kittim is to be identified with China. (It is actually an ancient name for what is now called Cyprus.) Flurry cites Herman Hoeh's ridiculous Compendium of World History and he cites also research by Ernest Martin. The non-COG reader would have no idea that Ernest Martin played an instrumental role in persuading HWA to abolish HWA's draconian divorce and remarriage rules and to adopt a Sunday Pentecost insist of Monday which was observed before 1974. But soon afterwards he was cast out of WCG during the mass defection of 1974, not least because he argued that tithing is not a New Testament requirement for Christians and therefore Christians are under no obligation to pay tithes.

***

Chapter 8

Here Flurry talks about people getting the right education, meaning one must be indoctrinated into obeying PCG in order to be truly educated.

To be right with God you must follow one man (he means himself, Gerald Flurry). Although there are so many ministers it is necessary to follow that one man.

God inspires all of His ministers. But He reveals new truth for the Church to only one man—the man He sent to do His Work. The whole Church must get behind that one man and do God’s Work.

God does not reveal new truth to a woman, or to the Church in general. He gives new revelation for the Church to one man. Then God holds that one man accountable.

This is exactly how it is done in the Philadelphia Church of God today. (p. 73.)

So if you start getting ideas contrary to what is taught, be quiet. You are not not properly indoctrinated.

***

When God reveals a lot of new truth to a man, He must also give that man His government to proclaim that truth. The Laodiceans’ rebellion revolves around government—they refuse to submit to God’s one-man rule! (p. 75.)

So we see that when Flurry talks of "God's government" he really means "one-man rule".

But what if someone ends up not sufficiently submitting to this supposedly enlightened one man rule?

The Laodiceans talk about the “evils of one-man rule,” and there are such evils. But they never talk about the righteous blessings of one-man rule, which we received under Mr. Armstrong.

“The evils of one-man rule” is usually a negative statement inspired by the devil. He rules this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). His downfall revolved around rejecting God’s government. That is why this world is so hostile to government—especially God’s government.

We must learn to love God’s government, or we have no future! (p. 75.)

So if one does not perfectly love and adore this enlightened one man rule then that person is "inspired by the devil" and has "no future" unless that person loves that one man rule called "God's government".

Here Flurry has threatened the eternal lives of his followers if they do not "love" "one-man rule".

***

So we see that a chapter that promised to address what is true education actually was a call for PCG members and converts to submit to "one-man rule" or else be vilified as being "inspired by the devil" and of being a Laodicean, who are shunned by PCG members.

***

Chapter 9

This chapter states that natural disasters are the result of God's anger. But actually Flurry uses this chapter as an opportunity to claim that there is a special significance to January 16 as the anniversary of HWA's death in 1986. He then claims the start of the Gulf War in 1991 and the Northridge earthquake of 1994 are signs that God will strike on that date.

Why would HWA's God have any regard for our modern calendar? Did not HWA teach that the current Gregorian calendar we use was a vicious, pagan, papal, Satanic perversion of true time as measured by what HWA called God's sacred calendar? Look at these words of HWA's in his booklet, Pagan Holidays--or God's Holydays--Which?, Chapter 1. 

This same power [the Roman Catholic Church] is mentioned again in the 17th chapter of Revelation, here pictured as ruling over the kings and kingdoms of the earth, persecuting the true saints.

In every possible manner, this power has changed TIME!

God begins the days at sunset, but "the little horn" [the Papacy] has changed it so the world now begins the day in the middle of the night by a man-made watch.

God begins the week with the ending of the true Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, but the world begins the working week in the middle of the night, the second day of the week.

God begins the months with the new moons, but this "little horn" has induced the world to begin the months according to a clumsy man-made calendar of heathen origin.

God begins the year in the early spring, when new life is budding in nature everywhere, but ancient heathen Rome caused the world to begin the year in the middle of dead winter.

God gave His children a true rest day, designed to keep them continually in the knowledge and true worship of the true God a memorial of God's Creation the seventh day of the week. But the "little horn" has fastened upon a deluded world the observance of the days on which the pagans worshipped the Sun, the first day of the week, called SUNday. (HWA, Pagan Holidays--or God's Holydays--Which?, Chapter 1.)

Why would the God HWA speaks of here use this abominable, Satanic, papal calendar to determine his actions? Surely he would use "God's sacred calendar" instead, should he not?

So the day HWA died was Shebat 6, according to "God's sacred calendar". In the period 1987-2010 it only falls on January 16 once in 2005. Did anything happen then? (Source.) I can also confirm that Shebat 6 has not fallen on January 16 since then as well. Not in 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014. So why does Flurry take any notice of January 16?

Also Flurry disregards the fact that the Gulf War started one day later and that the Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17. He just waves his hands and claims it is only a generality. He even claimed that January 17 is the first day of the Laodicean era so something will happen then.

This January 16 doctrine is nonsense that discards "God's sacred calendar" that HWA taught WCG to use.

Also I made a previous post detailing how one novel in 1988 seemingly predicted the 1991 August coup in the Soviet Union that tried and failed to overthrow Gorbachёv.

***

Chapter 10

Here Flurry claims to offer advice on how to recognize the one and only true church.

***

He uses Isaiah 29 to claim it is a prophecy predicting the Tkach changes.

When Mr. Armstrong died, God stopped revealing the Bible to the Worldwide Church of God. God also is not revealing His truth to any of those churches that left the WCG , except the Philadelphia Church of God. And that includes those churches that still teach quite a lot of what Mr. Armstrong taught. Look at any of the Laodicean churches and compare them with the PCG . You can absolutely prove what I am writing. (p. 84.)

It is true that Flurry has made a lot of changes to church doctrine. That does not prove he gets these many changes from God. More likely he is speaking out of his own mind. The only difference between Flurry and Tkach is that Flurry's numerous changes have retained an Armstrongite flavor.

***

Here Flurry once again insist that if one does not join PCG and pay his followers three tithes and extra offerings (a large portion of which will be used to pay for Armstrong Auditorium) then one is doomed to suffer the Great Tribulation.

The difference between any Laodicean church and the PCG is the difference between God’s Work and a man’s work!

And whoever is a part of a man’s work—regardless of what he teaches—is headed for the frightening and Great Tribulation! No man can prevent that. (p. 85.)

Flurry then cites the account of Urijah in Jeremiah 26 to say that one must follow God's man (Flurry) or else suffer God's curses. (Odd. I thought this booklet was about Isaiah.)

Again Flurry says, be a member of PCG and pay the three tithes or else you will suffer the Great Tribulation.

***

Chapter 11

Flurry then continues to accuse the Laodiceans of losing access to God's revelation unless individuals within those groups repent by joining PCG and paying the three tithes.

If a church doesn’t understand God’s revelations and His prophecies, God is not with it! One former evangelist of the Worldwide Church of God stated: “In the past, we … have mistakenly assumed that Christ directly guides His Church ….”

Of course that is another put-down of Mr. Armstrong. We all must see clearly that God did “directly” guide His Church under Mr. Armstrong. And God “directly” guides the PCG today, as long as we submit to His government. (pp. 88-9.)

The evangelist cited is Roderick C. Meredith which is seen when comparing this passage with Flurry's other booklet, God's Family Government.

***

Here are more phobia inducing statements.

All of the Laodiceans are failing to do their Father’s business. The WCG has refused to do God’s Work. So have the other groups that left the WCG . Only the Philadelphia Church of God has a clear commission of what it is to do. That is because only the PCG is doing God’s Work. We spurn our sonship when we refuse to do our Father’s business! That is sin of the greatest magnitude!

Armstrongites not in PCG are committing "sin of the greatest magnitude!" according to Flurry who wants their tithes.

Why do PCG members shun Laodiceans even if they are close family members? It is partly because Flurry describe the Laodiceans like this.

There is a strong reason why the Laodiceans can’t see where God is working today. They love “deceits.” They refuse to face the difficult prophecies of the Bible and warn the world. They are blind because they choose to be blind. (p. 92.)

Therefore Flurry tells PCG members that this tragic situation is the Laodiceans' fault, even though it was the PCG leadership that ordered PCG members to shun members of other COG groups.

After all these fear inducing writings Flurry then briefly describes the glory to come during Christ's millennial reign.

***

Chapter 12

In this chapter Flurry discusses Isaiah's relations with King Hezekiah and use it to say that one must join PCG or be sent into exile to modern Babylon, the future European Empire he teaches will later arise.

At first Hezekiah is portrayed as a good and faithful man. But then Flurry talks about when Hezekiah received visitors from Babylon and showed them all he possessed.  

In his vanity, he showed the king’s messengers all of his treasures—a fatal mistake.

Isaiah was more suspicious and wise about the king of Babylon’s message. Isaiah came to Hezekiah and asked him some hard questions. But Hezekiah did not respond to all of Isaiah’s questions. “Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them” (verses 3-4). Notice here that Hezekiah does not answer Isaiah’s first question (“What said these men?”)—he completely ignores it! He does answer Isaiah’s second question. Why did Hezekiah not answer the first question? Could it be that at this point he was beginning to turn away from God?

Remember, God did add 15 years to his life. This proved to be tragic for this great king. Hezekiah fell away from God during these additional years allotted to him. By the end of the story, it looks as though Hezekiah had lost it all spiritually. Could it be that Hezekiah did not answer the first question because he was cozying up to Babylon? The fruits of Hezekiah’s life prove this to be so! (pp. 95-6.)

Incidentally Flurry never mentions what these Babylonian messengers said.

Flurry then uses this account to claim that the Laodiceans (Armstrongites who had not joined PCG) are like Hezekiah. He is implying that unless they join PCG they shall also be like Hezekiah who, Flurry implies, "lost it all spiritually", partly because "he was cozying up to Babylon".

Sometimes God, through His ministers, has to ask us some very hard questions. Do we evade the questions or do we face them? What is the main problem with the Laodiceans today? They do not want to face the really hard questions like why all of these doctrinal changes? They don’t want to face the really hard question: Was Herbert W. Armstrong God’s end-time Elijah? Why not? Because they want to be a part of Babylon. They want to rely on their own treasure and Babylon. God’s Laodicean Church isn’t much different than the people of the United States and Great Britain. They are all trusting in Babylon. And they are all going to be enslaved by Babylon—modern Germany and the European Union. (p. 97.)

Actually quite a few of these "Laodiceans" in fact beleive that HWA was the end time Elijah. Why does Flurry say untrue things?

***

Chapter 13

In this chapter at first Flurry glorifies the activities of HWA and claims that the Laodicenas (Armstrongite who have not joined PCG) are blind to what sort of man he really was.

All of the Laodiceans reject Mr. Armstrong as fulfilling this end-time Elijah role! (p. 102.)

All of them, Flurry? As mentioned numerous times many of these "Laodiceans" in fact believe HWA was the end time Elijah. Why does Flurry say untrue things?

John the Baptist was a type of Elijah and “they knew him not.” That is a prophecy that the end-time John or Elijah (both types of Mr. Armstrong’s work) would not be recognized except by Christ’s true disciples. (p. 103.)

This one reason why so many become Armstrongites or PCG members. They think joining PCG or believing what they say proves they are "Christ's true disciplines." When they see their family or friends not believing these things the Armstrongites are filled with a sense of being apart from the rest of society, which can be a form of elitism, that they are one of the chosen few.

***

Christ is the Head of His Church, but He also uses a man to be the physical head. He has done that throughout the ages. ... It is through the man that Christ implements His government. Satan, the god of this world, and rebels hate that government and always work to demonize that man. This is not about following a man—it’s about following God’s man. (p. 103.)

What nonsense. Following Flurry is following a man. How is calling Flurry "God's man" not idolatrous?

***

In the last two pages of this chapter Flurry somewhat changes topic. On pages 106-7 Flurry uses Isaiah 47 to fear monger that the Roman Catholic Church will go on a blood thirsty rampage very soon.

This is the same old Babylonian religious system, and it will direct the killing of God’s saints in the Tribulation! ... The 10-nation European combine is led by Germany (ancient Assyria), but guided by a great church (verse 7). ... This church has lost its Protestant, or protesting, children. However, it has a master plan to force them back into the fold! Most Protestants are about to be plunged into the worst “inquisition” ever! Thankfully, it only lasts for a short time. ... Suddenly, that great church will be destroyed forever! All of this will happen in the very near future. (pp. 106-7.)

Although he never names the Roman Catholic Church in this section it is clear that is what he means.

Armstrongism teaches that the Roman Catholic Church is a revival of the ancient religion of the Babylonians. This is an idea HWA took from Alexander Hyslop's book, The Two Babylons, which was first published in the 1850s. Unfortunately for Flurry Alexander Hislop's The Two Babylons is not reliable. Let me quote from xHWA's blog.

[Ralph] Woodrow quotes an article from ‘The Saturday Review’ printed September 17th, 1859. This article speaks about Hislop’s book. I found it so compelling, I would like to quote it here.

“In the first place, his whole superstructure is raised upon nothing. Our earliest authority for the history of Semiramis wrote about the commencement of the Christian era, and the historian from whom he drew his information lived from fifteen hundred to two thousand years after the date Which Mr. Hislop assigns to the great Assyrian Queen. The most lying legend which the Vatican has ever endorsed stands on better authority than the history which is now the ground of a charge against it.

”Secondly, the whole argument proceeds upon the assumption that all heathenism has a common origin. Accidental resemblances in mythological details are taken as evidence of this, and nothing is allowed for the natural working of the human mind.

“Thirdly, Mr. Hislop’s method of reasoning would make anything of anything. By the aid of obscure passages in third-rate historians [sic], groundless assumptions of identity, and etymological torturing of roots, all that we know, and all that we believe, may be converted…into something totally different.

“Fourthly, Mr. Hislop’s argument proves too much. He finds not only the corruptions of Popery, but the fundamental articles of the Christian Faith, in his hypothetical Babylonian system…

“We take leave of Mr. Hislop and his work with the remark that we never before quite knew the folly of which ignorant or half-learned bigotry is capable.” (Source.)

 If Flurry really is God's man as he claims then why should God's man rely on proven nonsense?

***

Chapter 14

It is the Laodiceans who have forgotten. If they remembered the God Family relationship, they would know that their loving Father and Christ could never, never forget or forsake them! But they have lost much of the God Family concept revealed to Mr. Armstrong. The Laodiceans are the ones guilty of forsaking and forgetting—not God! (p. 109.)

Actually many Laodiceans still teach the God Family doctrine exactly as HWA taught it.

***

Are you afraid of living? Of men? Of losing your job or family? Human fear shapes most men’s lives! But the love of God is that we keep His commandments, or His law (1 John 5:3)—and perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

This is the towering issue in God’s Church today. Many of God’s people are turning away from God because the law is not in their hearts!

Ultimately, this is how you must control your godly life. How we eat, dress, gain pleasure, date, marry, work and play all depends upon how deeply God’s law is etched in our hearts. How we conduct our lives reveals how much we love God! (p. 111.)

Or, in other words, PCG ministers can interfere in PCG members' lives in all these things.

***

The Philadelphia Church of God is not attacking the Laodiceans. We are warning them and trying to rekindle their “good tidings.” (pp. 112-3.)

How can Flurry say such things after ordering PCG members to shun the Laodiceans (Armstrongites who had not joined PCG)? To order people to shun one another in order to coerce the shunned into paying three tithes and extra offerings for Flurry's benefit is just astonishingly cruel and depraved.

***

On pages 114-5 Flurry discusses the sacrifice of Christ when talking about Isaiah 53. He also mentions passover in this passage.

***

Here Flurry teaches that PCG members children are being raised to rule the world.

These verses refer to our children and how they are being trained for tremendous opportunities in the World Tomorrow.

Parents have the critical responsibility of preparing those children. Then the Church assists through ministerial counseling, Imperial School (kindergarten through high school), Philadelphia youth camps, classes at Church services, and Herbert W. Armstrong College. (pp. 115-6.)

I wonder what these schools' attitude to corporal punishment is. (Not HWA College of course. I mean the others.)

***

Isaiah wept for this world, and so should we! When is the last time you or I cried for this world? (p. 121.)

Here is Flurry once again trying to make the reader feel guilty and make the reader more susceptible to suggestions from those higher up within PCG.

***

Flurry ends this booklet with these words.

But there is great news for this world. ... Soon a spiritual nation will be born, comprised of God’s firstfruits! They will be used by God to teach the whole world. ... What a glorious vision for those saints who understand the outcome of God’s master plan! (p. 123.)

***

So in this booklet Flurry uses Isaiah to mainly condemn Laodicenas for not paying three tithes and offerings to his PCG and to make PCG feel good about themselves by promising they will receive a most glorious future.

He uses HWA's God Family doctrine to claim that PCG members will have a most glorious future and then claim all those others who were in WCG but did not join PCG have lost God's blessing and will die in the Great Tribulation for not paying tithes to his PCG.

Flurry states, as I have several times stated elsewhere, that "God's government" actually means "one-man rule" under him, Gerald Flurry. Anyone who complains about this way of ruling has the mind of the devil, he says.

Flurry also speculates that Tkach Jr. will later attempt to somehow silence PCG.

Flurry also confuses Spain (Tarshish) for Japan, and Cyprus (Chittim, Kittim) for China.

And even though he has ordered PCG members to shun "Laodiceans" tearing apart quite likely thousands of families he wishes to inform us that he and PCG are not attacking Laodiceans, he's just trying to warn them. (Chapter 14, pp. 123-4.)

So the message here, as in most other PCG booklets, is join PCG and pay tithes or die in the Great Tribulation. Pay PCG or pay with your life.

Over a Third of PCG Feast Sites Disbanded Since 2011?

While looking at the topic of PCG's declining income I came upon this post by the unordained, self appointed false prophet Bob Theil from October 2011. It seems to cite a PCG source reporting that in 2011 PCG had 18 feast sites.

Shane Granger, marketing director for the Philadelphia Church of God…said Edmond is one of 18 sites around the world that will be attended by 4,700 members of the Philadelphia Church of God, which has 200 congregations spread over 65 countries.

But recently Exit and Support Network revealed that this year there will only be 12 PCG feast sites. That is down from 18 feast sites in 2011. So PCG has cut out six feast sites since 2011.

This seems to be part of a trend. The letter to ESN states...

PCG FOT sites have been going down. In 2012 they had 13 sites; in 2013 they had 11 sites; in 2014 they have 11 sites.

Now I will say that I am somewhat perplexed by the fact that, if Thiel's information is correct, why the letter does not also mention that PCG had 18 feast sites in 2011.

I am at present inclined to favor ESN's information because it is so specific. But because of my uncertainty I have added a question mark to this post's title. I would love to be more sure of matters one way or the other but PCG's secretiveness hinders this.

PCG's Income in Decline. For 2010: $20.6 Million. In 2012 $19.5 Million

Recently I reported that PCG's income for 2012 was $ 19.5 million, as Gerald Flurry reported in one of his booklets.

Well, there is more to this. I since looked back at my posts and found one post in which I commented on a column by Stephen Flurry in which he boasts that PCG's income for 2010 was $20.6 million.

Our total worldwide income in 2010 amounted to $20.6 million—a solid 5 percent increase over 2009.

The reason Stephen Flurry was boasting of PCG’s income was that he was mocking UCG for "only" taking in $23.9 million that year.

The UCG had about 20,000 people attend its fall festival in September [2010]—roughly four times the amount we had at our sites. Yet its overall income for 2010 was only 16 percent more than the PCG’s—$23.9 million.

So yes. PCG seems to be squeezing a lot out of its members. Certainly much more than UCG. The leaders, like Stephen Flurry, even boast about it.

Also of interest is this post by the unordained, self appointed false prophet Bob Theil from October 2011 which cites a PCG source saying PCG only has 4,700 members. It also states that PCG had 18 feast sites in 2011.

Also recently Exit and Support Network revealed that this year there will only be 12 feast sites. That is down from 18 feast sites in 2011. So PCG has cut out six feast sites since 2011.

The signs are not good for PCG, it appears.

So we now see that from 2010 to 2012 PCG's income has actually been in decline.

PCG's income:

2010: $20.6 million.

2012: $19.5 million.

And with this sort of income PCG's leaders decided to splurge $25 million on Armstrong Auditorium?

What madness.

Reading PCG's Booklet, God's Family Government

Let us now read Gerald Flurry's booklet, God's Family Government.  This is one of the earlier booklets that PCG produced. This booklet was first published in 1993 and was later revised in 2001. Let us see what Gerald Flurry has to say. You can read this booklet on their website.

This booklet is actually a polemic condemning Meredith's Global Church of God, which was established in late 1992. This booklet was published soon after that in 1993. Flurry specifically criticizes Meredith's decision to adopt a collegial government for GCG, a move away from HWA's one man rule. Meredith and Co. did this to prevent anything like the Tkach changes from occurring again.

Flurry must have been furious that despite all his works many WCG members (more then PCG's membership) chose to go with Meredith and not him. All these potential tithes payers sided with a far more prestigious rival. Meredith was one of the first men ordained as an Evangelist by HWA in 1952 and well known among WCG members. Even today, despite the GCG split in 1998, LCG is larger than PCG.

This booklet is born out of Flurry's anger and disappointment that so many WCG members chose Meredith instead of him.

***

Chapter 1 

God’s government SERVES those who obey God (and the world, through God’s work). God’s family government doesn’t go around looking for people’s faults and sins. God’s leaders search for ways to serve the people! That is God’s law of love.(p. 1.)

A lot of people would say PCG ministers do not behave that way.

***

God is a family. He is inviting us to be a part of it. If we accept, we must obey God’s loving family government.

The door to my office is always open if someone thinks our ministers are implementing harsh and dictatorial government. That is not God’s kind of government. God’s leaders are here to serve God’s people—not be served. (p. 2.)

Well, that is how it is advertized. But it must be said many would say that PCG does not operate like this.

***

This passage is representative of Gerald Flurry's strong tendency to claim that Biblical events are merely foreshadows of the Tkach changes and the rise of PCG in response.

So we see that Amos 3:1 is primarily discussing God’s SPIRITUAL FAMILY. Today, that family is divided. God’s family should be deeply united. THE BOOK OF AMOS IS MAINLY FOCUSING ON GOD’S CHURCH! And its prophecies are being fulfilled this very moment. These prophecies are only for the world secondarily. (p. 2.)

***

It is a rare and glorious honor to know the great God spiritually. But many of God’s people now have a ho-hum attitude and have grown lukewarm. (p. 3.)

Maybe this is because over the years they saw the various abuses that occurred within WCG under HWA's watch and understand that there is a double standard in how members and those with power in WCG are treated.

***

On page 5 there is a picture of HWA. On the side of page 4 you can make out the attribution for the picture. It is just one word: "TRUMPET". I find that very curious considering how The Philadelphia Trumpet was not founded until 1990, four years after his death.

***

God will put the whole universe under our governmental control. This is promised ONLY to God’s people. ONLY God’s true Church understands this now. How blessed God’s people are! (p. 7.)

Actually many non-WCG Laodiceans understand this as well. I know this because Meredith taught me this God Family doctrine when I read his booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny. Why does Gerald Flurry say untrue things?

***

Gerald Flurry expects true Christians to yearn to be corrected or else you are not a true Christian (Flurry teaches only PCG members are true Christians).

God chastens and scourges every SON. The word scourges can mean VERY HARD CORRECTION—if that is what it takes to bring a son back to his Father. ...

God is always dealing with us as sons. If we refuse correction, then we are spiritual bastards! That means God doesn’t correct us any more.

OUR GREATEST CURSE IS WHEN OUR FATHER NO LONGER CORRECTS US. THEN WE ARE NO LONGER A PART OF HIS FAMILY! GOD CEASES TO BE OUR FATHER.

OUR GREATEST BLESSING IS BEING CORRECTED BY OUR FATHER! That means we’re not spiritual bastards.

God’s correction is always just and produces fabulous fruits (vv. 9-11). His correction heals and encourages us (vv. 12-13). (p. 8.)

***

Chapter 2

Here Flurry insists that "the Laodiceans" (any Armstrongite not in PCG) are that way because they do not submit to God's government. He accusses all other COG groups of not following this doctrine.

The most important doctrine in God’s Church is GOD’S GOVERNMENT—or holding the Head of the spiritual body, Jesus Christ. If you lose a doctrine equal to the hand or foot, you can continue living. But if you lose the doctrine of government—the Head—the body dies unless God can somehow awaken you before it is too late! As Herbert Armstrong often said, “GOVERNMENT IS EVERYTHING!” YOU CAN COMPARE IT TO NO OTHER DOCTRINE. No doctrine is even close to being as important! (pp. 10-11.)

But in fact most COG groups operate their groups in exactly the way HWA operated within WCG: one man rule. That is what Meredith does within LCG, Pack within RCG, Weinland within COG-PKG (at least until he got thrown into jail for tax evasion).

Now it needs to be said that when this booklet was first released in 1993 Meredith's group, the Global Church of God, chose to use a collegial form of government. They decided not to have one man rule in order to avoid the possibility of one man changing major doctrines at will. They were trying to prevent a repeat of Tkach's changes within GCG. However Meredith could not accept correction from others and in 1998 decided to leave GCG to set up a COG group in which he could enjoy uncontested power. LCG was created to perpetuate the one man rule of Meredith.

But when PCG revised this booklet in 2001 it continues to insist that the other splinter groups do not practice government as HWA's WCG. This is a bold faced lie and rank deception. Why does Gerald Flurry say untrue things?

***

The Worldwide Church of God (WCG) has been disintegrating spiritually since Mr. Armstrong died. They are deeply divided. And other groups that have left also are divided and will become more divided. Why? Because none of them, except the PCG, HAS THE GOVERNMENT GOD TAUGHT TO MR. ARMSTRONG! That is the only way to be knit together. God’s government is based on God’s LAW. Our Head leads us based on God’s law of love (I John 5:3). The whole process of LEADERSHIP can be gigantic and complicated. But leadership is simplified by LOOKING TO OUR HEAD—JESUS CHRIST. He directs the body through His government based on God’s law. Then God feeds us spiritual manna, or revelation. And then the place where Christ is becomes obvious to any discerning person. That is how we all become one. We all have the lawful mind of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:5). (pp. 12-3.)

As stated before most COG splinter groups in fact operate according to one man rule as HWA's WCG operated. Why does Gerald Flurry say untrue things?

This paragraph is also notable in that Flurry insists that PCG is the true successor to WCG by citing his supposed new revelations as proof God is working through him and none of the other COG splinter groups. ("God feeds us spiritual manna, or revelation. And then the place where Christ is becomes obvious to any discerning person.")

Of course it is left unstated that much of Gerald Flurry's new revelations are plagiarized from the writings of Jules Dervaes, specifically The Letter to Laodicea. In fact on September 26, 1990 Jules Dervaes sent a letter to Gerald Flurry in which he denounces Malachi's Message as "a direct and clear plagiarism" of his work.

***

All of the Laodiceans who reject Mr. Armstrong’s Elijah role ALSO REJECT GOD’S GOVERNMENT! (p. 13.)

Actually Meredith reverted one man rule within LCG when he set it up in 1999. It does appear that he does not teach that HWA was the end time Elijah but in fact he practices "God's Government" (COG jargon for one man rule). Also it must be stated that this version of Flurry's booklet was written in 2001 after the restoration of one man rule in LCG so Flurry is badly misinforming his readers here. Why does Flurry say untrue things?

***

Also, God has given us some prophetic understanding Mr. Armstrong did not have. (p. 17.)

In other words, Gerald Flurry changed and altered doctrines and teachings for his convenience.

***

Only through strong government, based on God’s law, can we see God’s lamp! The more intensely we keep God’s law, the brighter God’s lamp will be! (p. 18.)

In other words: Only by listening to Gerald Flurry and his subordinates really closely can we persuade ourselves that he is God's man and that what he says makes sense.

***

Soon people will remember how the WCG once preached a strong prophecy message. People will go to them in the future, asking for an understanding of terrifying events in their land. But the WCG can give them little or no prophetic understanding.

Then these people will go to other Laodiceans seeking the answer to their nation’s problems. Still, they will receive very little prophetic understanding. There have been several dissenting groups from the WCG, but ONLY the PCG will give them a “vision,” or new revelation. That is because only we have held on to God’s government based on God’s law— which was taught by Mr. Armstrong! And only we are doing God’s prophesied work! (p. 20.)

This statement is yet another false slur against the non-WCG "Laodiceans". In fact the other COGs believe much of what PCG teaches regarding future events. If people went to them for guidance they will be told much the same of what PCG is teaching about (false) prophecies.

Also here Flurry boasts that God reveals new revelation to PCG. What this really means is that Flurry is willing to change doctrines and teachings for his convenience and then boasts that it is new. In fact many other COG splinter groups have changed various doctrines with wild abandon. Dankenbring teaches the US is the Beast, not a German-led European Empire. Weinland claimed to know the date the Great Tribulation would occur several times. Those men has just as much legitimacy to make these absurd predictions as Flurry does. (But it must be said they are all false prophets. God is not with any of them.)

***

After this Flurry then recapitulates HWA's doctrine that the Earth was created many years ago and placed under Lucifer's rule but then he rebelled and rose up against God. But Flurry adds an intriguing twist to this tale in order to once again mock GCG and UCG. (One cannot honestly say this criticism can be applied to LCG.)

Satan said, “I will be like the most High.” The Moffatt translation reads, “I will rival the Most High!” Lucifer wanted a COLLEGIAL type government. He wanted to be equal to God in power. Reader’s Digest, in its “Word Power” section, once defined COLLEGIAL this way: “Relating to a group of colleagues, each of whom has equal authority; as, Collegial deliberations can be lengthy, inconclusive and frustrating.” Even the world sees that this type of government can be “lengthy, inconclusive and frustrating”! Already, several of God’s Laodicean churches have experimented with this type of government.

Desiring such a government is just another way of rebelling against God’s government! God does not have a two-headed or multi-headed government. (p. 23.)

While I was an Armstrongite I never heard Satan's original rebellion related in this way. HWA quite unambiguously stated that Satan was plotting to overthrow God, not be his equal or rule with him. Lucifer was trying to replace God. He was trying to utterly defeat God, not rule with Him.

But this only shows how liberally Flurry treats the doctrines and dogmas of HWA. Just to make a rhetorical point against GCG and UCG he twists this teaching contrary to what HWA's WCG taught.

***

God’s government is so simple. He uses a man to lead His Church. Then God commands us to follow that man, as he follows Christ. If that man goes astray, don’t follow him. God will shortly replace him with a loyal leader or raise up another Church.

You don’t have to fear following God’s man. (p. 25.)

So we see that "God's Government" as taught by Flurry is simply one man rule.

***

Here Flurry once again accuses collegial government as being Satanic. Not only does this serve to discredit GCG and UCG in the eyes of PCG members

How did Satan deceive all those angels? The same way he deceives men today. He gets them to desire a collegial government, or some other perverted government of man; then Satan has them following him. Of course, people follow him in varying degrees. ...

Herbert Armstrong served God for 57 years—a long time. He ordained many evangelists who seemed loyal at the Church headquarters in Pasadena, California. All of those top men have rebelled against that government. NOT ONE OF THEM submits to the GOVERNMENT OF GOD taught through Mr. Armstrong! NOT ONE! Some of them will repent in the Tribulation—but others will never repent, and perhaps have already blasphemed against God’s Holy Spirit! (p. 25.)

Also Flurry fear mongers that some high ranking WCG ministers or ex-ministers may have committed the unpardonable sin in order to scare PCG members into remaining loyal to Flurry and his collaborators.

***

I will admit it, I have never heard of this before in the world of Armsrongism.

God intended Lucifer to go to other planets after His work was established on Earth. But Lucifer would not wait. The only place astronomers can find little or nothing is in the northern heavens. That is in the direction of God’s throne, and almost everything in that direction was destroyed WHEN SATAN FOUGHT WITH GOD OVER GOVERNMENT! There was a violent, destructive war. And SATAN IS STILL FIGHTING AGAINST GOD’S GOVERNMENT TODAY! (p. 26.)

Flurry is lying, or astoundingly ill informed.

Why does Flurry say untrue things?

What madness!

***

Today, God is warning those top men who were trained under Mr. Armstrong about the seriousness of their rebellion. They were trained by God’s end-time Elijah. That was the highest level of God’s government on Earth! Now they are being judged accordingly. (p. 26.)

Actually HWA was quite absent from WCG during long periods of time during his rule. The only ministers who really learned from him personally were those who went to Ambassador College in the early days of Armstrongism.

***

At the 1972 Feast of Tabernacles in Spokane, Washington, Mr. Armstrong said, “Government is the most important [issue] to God and in His mind. And it should be in ours!” Yet EVERY EVANGELIST and PASTOR-RANK MINISTER ALIVE TODAY that Mr. Armstrong trained has REJECTED THAT GOVERNMENT! Almost all the ministry and the Church he founded has rejected the government of God! After all those years, THEY STILL DIDN’T LEARN THE LESSON OF GOVERNMENT! That is always the big issue. (p. 28.)

This revision of this booklet was made in 2001 after Meredith reverted to one man rule in LCG. So Flurry is being very deceptive here. Flurry is inaccurately besmirching all the LCG ministers who held prominent roles within HWA's WCG, such as Roderick C. Meredith, Dibar Apartian, Carl McNair and others. Why does Flurry say untrue things? 

What they learned is that if all power is given to one man, such as HWA or Tkach, then that man can do whatever he wants, even change the group's doctrines into another religion. Tkach had absolute power and he used it. No one could stop him. It was to prevent that happening again that UCG and GCG decided to set up a collegial form of government.

Also there was no clear successor for dissatisfied WCG members to follow. HWA's true successor was Tkach. HWA appointed him as such. But since he lost many WCG members' loyalty by renouncing most of HWA's doctrines there was no obvious successor to replace Tkach in the hearts of dissatisfied WCG members.

Meredith was one possible choice. He commanded a sizable following out of WCG. But Roderick C. Meredith was quite unpopular among many WCG ministers for his authoritarian tendencies. Furthermore in 1970 he got "repair surgery" to fix (heal) one of his eyes while many WCG members were suffering by refusing to see doctors or take medicine. Roderick C. Meredith caused a long running libel lawsuit with Marion McNair that cost WCG $750,000 in damages. These things would not have helped his standing among WCG members. Consequently when the Tkach changes reached its consummation with Tkach's Christmas Eve sermon most departing WCG members joined UCG, not GCG.

Now among UCG there were numerous high ranking ministers. There was no dominant leader among them. No one could decisively claim the right to rule within UCG. So naturally they settled on a collegial form of government. They did this partly in order to prevent anything like the Tkach changes from occurring again.

So we see their move away from one man rule was not an evil rebellion against God. Rather they were trying to prevent anything like the Tkach changes from occurring again.

***

After that Flurry then claims all (yes, all) of his "booklets contain revelation from God!"

Satan caused Adam to be cut off from the tree of life. And he is cutting God’s Laodicean Church off from the tree of life. That is why only the PCG receives REVELATION from God today! For example, Malachi’s Message and all of my booklets contain revelation from God! There is new truth and deeper understanding in all of them. (p. 29.)

Actually numerous COG groups claim to receive some form of new revelation. But PCG pretends those COG groups are somehow different. When other COG groups change what was taught these changes are lebelled as proof they are "Laodicean" and are cursed by God. (But really it was Flurry who cursed them.) But when PCG changes doctrines and teachings ("new truth and deeper understanding" he calls them) Flurry claims this is proof that God is with PCG and no other.

What an absurd double standard!

What lies!

***

The Philadelphians—not the Laodiceans—are to be in God’s headquarters temple forever! (p. 29.)

But if you are God as God is God then why can't you just visit them? Look at how Flurry inject rank and privilege in order to divide "God's people" (Armstrongites) even in the afterlife as God beings. This preoccupation with rank and privilege is utterly disgusting.

***

Flurry was just another minister in HWA's WCG. So he tries to discredit all those who were powerful within HWA's WCG, including Meredith.

One evangelist, who was considered the third man in charge of the WCG for years, started his own church and formed a “COLLEGIAL GOVERNMENT.” THAT IS THE STRANGEST AND MOST ABOMINABLE DOCTRINE OF ALL! (p. 32.)

What Flurry really means is he wants you to pay three tithes to him and not Meredith.

Also this booklet was revised in 2001. Meredith abandoned collegial government when he left GCG in 1998 and reverted to one man rule so this statement is misleading and inaccurate at the time this booklet was published the second time in 2001.

***

If you lose God’s government doctrine, then many other doctrines will also become strange! How could it be any other way when you lose your Head? (p. 32.)

Many COG groups have not lost "God's government doctrine" (one man rule). Many in fact operate in this way.

***

Every Laodicean group has one ingredient in common—THEY REJECT GOD’S GOVERNMENT TAUGHT BY MR. ARMSTRONG! (p. 34.)

Nonsense. This is a lie! This booklet was revised and published after Meredith renounced collegial government and reverted to one man rule within LCG. Flurry's statement is a lie! Many other COG splinter groups have one man rule just like HWA's WCG.

***

Interlude

On pages 36-7 there is an intriguing little side article in which Flurry criticizes Meredith for adopting a collegial government for GCG.

(Some words are highlighted to show how vicious these words are.)

Mr. Meredith continued, “Let’s try to do it right this time, as shepherds with a loving approach….” It doesn’t take a genius to see that he is attacking Mr. Armstrong. He is saying that Mr. Armstrong didn’t do it right— his government lacked a “loving approach,” it was not “servant leadership”! I don’t know how his attack against Mr. Armstrong could be more heinous! Saying that the government Mr. Armstrong taught didn’t have a “loving approach” is a vicious attack! Of course, he is really attacking Jesus Christ and His government! ...

The only reason we correct the Laodiceans is because of their attack on Mr. Armstrong and what he taught. We wouldn’t criticize them at all if they would stop destroying what God restored through him! They are the cause of our warning. Only their repentance will ever correct the disunity. (p. 37.)

This version of this booklet was published in 2001, after Meredith reverted to using one man rule to control LCG so for PCG to criticize him for that in 2001 is quite misleading and deceptive. Meredith "repented" of collegial government yet PCG continued to publish these vituperative words long afterwards. This is still available on their website so PCG seems to think this is still truth today, fifteen years after Meredith reverted to one man rule.

***

Chapter 3

Here Flurry finally gets to the point: He is angry at Meredith for daring to start up his own COG splinter group (larger than PCG) without meekly submitting himself to Gerald Flurry like a little child. He lets Meredith have it here.

Under the heading "Destroying God's Government" Flurry unleashes his wrath at all the potential tithes payers slipping away from his grasp with Meredith's departure from WCG. Here is Flurry having a temper tantrum like a spoiled kid.

Rod Meredith, after being disfellowshiped from the WCG, also started his own church. ... Later in that booklet he [Meredith] wrote this: “If we look into the New Testament with an open mind, WE FIND A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT than what has developed in the Church” (p. 10; emphasis mine). He is referring to God’s government taught by Mr. Armstrong! In one simple paragraph ROD MEREDITH HAS SWEPT AWAY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LIVING GOD! The very government that God established, which DID THE GREATEST WORK EVER ON THIS EARTH SINCE JESUS CHRIST—IN TERMS OF NUMBERS! The fruits prove that! And that work could NEVER have been done without God’s government.

And yet, Mr. Meredith boasts that he sat at Mr. Armstrong’s feet, which I didn’t have the opportunity to do. If you closely examine what he and I teach, you’ll clearly see who sat at Mr. Armstrong’s feet—spiritually! The above statement is from a man who would dare to say he is “FAITHFULLY PREACHING THE TRUTHS PROCLAIMED BY HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG”! No, he is not! If you lose God’s government, ALL THE OTHER DOCTRINES WILL BE TAINTED! He says he is “faithfully preaching the truths PROCLAIMED BY HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG,” yet his first booklet destroyed the most important truth Mr. Armstrong ever restored—government! And that was only the beginning! (pp. 40-1.)

Flurry must have been really angry when he saw so many WCG members siding with Meredith. Even more members than his own following within PCG. Even today Meredith's LCG has more members than Flurry's PCG.

Also the fact that PCG is still printing this booklet shows that PCG does not care, even for simple accuracy's sake, to account for the fact that Meredith reverted to one man rule when he precipitated the GCG schism in 1998. The version I am reading is a second version printed in 2001, two years after Meredith reverted to one man rule.

***

Mr. Meredith must destroy God’s government to get people to follow him. (p. 42.)

What nonsense! Meredith was always far more well known, even, dare I say it, popular among WCG members, at least compared to Flurry. Meredith did not need to change anything to start up GCG or to make it bigger than PCG. His notoriety was enough.

Flurry, on the other hand, was just another minister. He was not particularly important as a WCG minister. Most WCG members probably never even heard of him until he got fired by Tkach's WCG in 1989. Flurry must have hated how this event reminded people of how undistinguished he was within HWA's WCG.

***

 Flurry also brings up the fact that Meredith was suspended in 1979.

Mr. Meredith was suspended from the WCG by Mr. Armstrong for about six months in 1979-80. Since Mr. Armstrong had to personally suspend him, it should cause anybody to be somewhat concerned. The fruits of his life now strongly indicate what his problem was. He was rebelling against God’s government even then! Now his government problem is out in the open, where the whole Church can see it! (p. 42.)

What is not mentioned is how Meredith apparently was suspended because Roderick C. Meredith was plotting to overthrow Stanley Rader (or at least Rader thought so). After Garner Ted Armstrong's expulsion from WCG in 1978 Stanley Rader emerged as the most powerful man within WCG, even though he was then unordained. During the receivership crisis of 1979 Roderick C. Meredith allied himself with Stanley Rader in order to purge those ministers who supported the State of California's forced receivership of WCG. But Roderick C. Meredith hoped to remove Stanley Rader as well so that he could be WCG's number 2 man under HWA. But Rader was too clever for him and easily got HWA to fire Meredith and send him to exile for six months in Hawai'i. HWA later sent a scathing letter to Meredith at this time. (In 1981 HWA deposed Rader but despite this HWA never trusted Meredith after this.)

***

Mr. Meredith failed to learn the lesson of government. And because of that, his work is destined to fail. (p. 47.)

Surely we must say this is a false prophecy. It is now twenty one years since Flurry first wrote this booklet and Meredith's group is still larger than Flurry's, and this is despite Meredith precipitating a schism in 1998. Also it must be stated that Meredith reverted to one man rule after that schism in 1998 and Flurry never acknowledges this fact. PCG continues to print this booklet to this day. PCG even reprinted this booklet in 2001 without even noting that Meredith had had a schism and reverted to one man rule.

***

Flurry claims that HWA was a good and saintly man.

I personally know that Mr. Armstrong would bend over backwards 100 times to avoid giving hard correction. Many people couldn’t understand why he wasn’t more authoritative at times. His mercy is a matter of record. But there were times that God’s government had to be implemented. He also had an advisory council of elders and he did seek a multitude of counsel. (p. 49.)

David Robinson said that HWA did not know how to make a friend and that he had no idea about friendship.

There are a lot of people who were disfellowshipped from WCG who would beg to differ. Even if was like this personally he set up a system of one man rule (often called "God's government" or some such phrase) that allowed those in power to be very cruel and to abuse power over WCG members.

***

On page 49 appears this statement.

He [Meredith] knows that Mr. Armstrong never made such a distinction! 

Is Flurry ignorant of HWA's 1939 article which condemned hierarchical government in the church?

This economizing of the truth that Flurry does so often simply shows up yet again. Even if we excused the HWA of 1939 that he was still learning the truth why does Flurry here misleadingly glosses over HWA's early opposition to hierarchical government. (Of course HWA was simply trying to protect his power over his own followers at that time.)

***

On pages 50-6 Flurry quotes at great length HWA's May 2, 1974 co-worker which was written in response to the mass defection of 1974.

David Robinson, in his book Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, revealed that apparently Stanley Rader, who was not even a WCG member at the time, greatly guided HWA in making this letter. At one time Rader even boasted to him that he, Stanley Rader, had really written the letter.

***

Flurry ends with these words.

Remember, GOD’S PEOPLE ARE IN TRAINING PRIMARILY TO HELP GOD RESTORE HIS GOVERNMENT. Satan is fiercely trying to destroy that government. Let’s make certain that no man beguiles us into rejecting God’s government. (p. 58.)

Maybe Flurry should start telling the truth to PCG members (for instance that Meredith has since reverted to one man rule) first instead of enjoying the privilege of one man rule over his ministers and his PCG members.

***

So we see that Flurry in this booklet uses Meredith different approach to church government to discredit Meredith. Curiously enough when this booklet was revised in 2001 the booklet is still written as though Meredith was still leading GCG and still promoting collegial government. PCG still publishes this booklet even though many events have changed since then. So this shows that PCG's leaders are not overly concerned with making sure they have their facts correct.

It must be said that this booklet failed to win over a large share of Meredith's followers into the fold of Gerald Flurry. This is clearly seen in the fact that PCG is still smaller than Meredith's LCG.