Notes from Plain Truth Issues (1961-2)

Continuing from a previous post let us continue taking a look at HWA's recruitment magazine, The Plain Truth. In this post issues from 1961 and 1962 are discussed.

February 1961

Even back in 1961 HWA's organization was complaining about the US debt and stirring up hostility among their readers against other nations.

Today, thanks to altruistic and naive "give-away" programs, the most stable economies of the world are the former bitter enemies of two decades ago. Germany, Japan, and Italy have the largest surplus of GOLD and DOLLARS of any countries in the world INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES! The devastated axis powers of fifteen years ago have embarrassing surpluses in their treasuries while the Rich Uncle who GAVE THEM their strong economy has the greatest deficit in governmental history and a GREATER DEBT than all the REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED! (David Jon Hill, What the US Gold Crisis Means to You, p. 9.)

Actually per capita the US debt was larger back in the 1940s due to World War II when compared with the size the nation's economy but Hill seems to be utterly unaware of that fact.

March 1961

Here we see the Armstrongite madness towards the corporeal punishment of little children begins to take hold.

"No!" Brings Results  

"When I say 'no' to my year-old daughter she really knows what it means. She is very well behaved and is a very happy girl. I am proud of her wherever I am. Other children are sassy, have no respect for anyone, disobey, and don't seem to know what the world 'no' means. Thanks to you I don't have this problem. I didn't know when to start to discipline my baby. Well, I read an article in The PLAIN TRUTH that said to start in their early months say a sharp 'no' and then to follow it up with a slap on the bottom. This is exactly what I have done."  

Woman from Kittery, Maine

This woman in all likelihood had little idea that the people behind this recruitment magazine were not professionally qualified to give advice about parenting. This attitude towards raising up children would cause much misery for children raised up by within or otherwise influenced by HWA's Radio Church of God.

The main purpose of this publication is to attract new tithes paying members so no wonder it should fail so dreadfully at accomplishing other goals such as giving parenting advice.

April 1961

Herman Hoeh's article, "The Astounding Truth About Easter," (pp. 16-19) features passages that were later plagiarized into HWA's 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter. It is a reprint of an article published in the April 1955 issue of The Plain Truth (pp. 3-6, 16).

On page 30 it is stated that in the early days of The Plain Truth it once had a circulation of 108 copies.

The last page features a frightful letter from a person who had run out of money and still seeks mental health attention and this person asks the Radio Church of God for help.

For years I have gone to a psychiatrist, but have received no help. Besides this, my money is almost gone. To whom can I go for help?

It is to be hoped that this person sought and found help elsewhere.

May 1961

In the world of Armstrongism the blind leads the blind.

"Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

Today I met a girl from Germany who will go back next August. She told me that Frankfurt was 90% destroyed, bur that Germany today is very modern. I asked her which country she liked best, America or Germany. She replied America was nice, but that she liked Germany much better."  

Man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin  

Editor's Comment: Many Germans remain loyal to Germany even when they move to other nations. Germans are often strongly nationalistic.

Well of course she liked Germany better. She grew up there. She probably had to learn English as a second language but in Germany she could speak her first language freely. She would have had citizenship in Germany and not in America. She would not feel like a foreigner over there.

Also one reason West Germany advanced so well was that the United States supplied a lot of military spending that West Germany otherwise would have had to pay. Also much of the debt incurred by Germany during World War II was written off to avoid the problems of what happened after World War I. Both the letter and the response are crassly chauvinistic and narrow minded.

Here's another letter once again stirring up resentment toward West Germany.

Germany Will Rise Again  

"A school teacher who had recently returned from Germany told his West End Club exactly what you said in your magazine about the bustle and prosperity of Germany. Said that country was coming ahead with leaps and bounds, and building underground. There are some neighbors in back of us who claim that Germany will rise again, that in the eyes of the German youth Hitler is not dead. His teachings still remain. These neighbors back of us are German immigrants and they want to go back to Germany."  

Woman, Regina, Sask, Canada

It is just awful that immigrants dreaming of returning to the land of their nativity is viewed as a sign that these Germans are going to conquer the United States in a military invasion. Fifty-eight years later Germany remains firmly aligned with the United States. When will anyone within the Armstrongite organizations apologize for promoting bitterness and hostility to people who have proven to be such loyal allies to America for all those years?

Garner Ted Armstrong writes,

Why is childbearing considered such a painful, torturous ordeal by many women? Shouldn't it be the moment of supreme JOY for a young mother? 

And why does a man presume to lecture about childbirth in this manner?

Herman Hoeh also has an article condemning the New English Bible. He insists that the translators relied on unreliable manuscripts. He insists that the translators made errors because they disagree with dogmas taught by HWA's organization. He even complains that certain passages disagree with HWA's teaching of a Wednesday crucifixion.

June 1961

In this issue HWA asserts that Yuri Gagarin was not the first man into space. It is claimed that one Colonel Ilyushin was sent into space a few days earlier but something went wrong and he returned a few days days driven insane. He cites a "correspondent" of his in Britain named William Pee. Whatever you say, Herb.

Garner Ted Armstrong encourages his female readers to give birth at home.

HWA has this ridiculous article insisting that you can determine how you would have reacted to Jesus Christ if you had encountered Jesus while teaching. HWA says that if you believe in what the Radio Church of (HWA's) God teaches then you would have had sided with Jesus if you had lived back in those ancient days. What narcissistic nonsense.

This issue contains pictures of HWA, Herman Hoeh, Roderick Meredith, Garner Ted Armstrong, Basil Wolverton, Albert Portune, C. Paul Meredith and others.

July 1961

HWA pontificates on when is the best age to marry.

This issue's installment of Basil Wolverton's The Bible Story discusses clean and unclean meats, teachings that HWA took from Judaism. HWA failed to understand that Christian leaders in the apostolic era taught that Gentile converts to Christianity were under no obligation to become a Jew by undergoing circumcision and observing Jewish religious rules and regulations in order to believe in Jesus Christ. Historically speaking if they had not made it easier for non-Jews to embrace Christianity in this way then Christianity would never had become the world religion it is today.

This letter claims many employees of the Ford Motor Company listened to HWA's recruitment radio broadcast.

Motor Company Employees Listen  

"Many of my fellow employees are listening to The WORLD TOMORROW. I work at Ford Motor Company which employs around 2,000 men on the day shift. The WORLD TOMORROW precedes the UAW-CIO program which comes on at 5:30 a.m. One of the head union committeemen, whose job it is to wander around the plant and keep a check on the men and talk to them, stopped to ask me if that was my church's program. I replied, 'Yes.' He told me that I would be surprised to know how many of the men in the plant were listening to it. Some of the comments about the program from men are: 'Mr. Armstrong is really sharp.' 'Mr. Armstrong has some good points, but I don't agree with everything he says.' 'Mr. Armstrong uses very good English and has a good speaking voice.' Another head union man says he would not miss the program."  

Man from Kansas City

How would they have reacted once they learned how anti-union HWA was?

August 1961

HWA wrote his preface article in Copenhagen, Denmark. Even before he started meeting with world leaders HWA was already going overseas using the tithes and offerings his followers sent to his organization.

HWA has an article fearfully asking, could you be brainwashed?

Charles Dorothy has an article stated that he and Herman Hoeh visited "the annual convention of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis held in New York" and were utterly shocked at what these Protestant leaders were teaching.

In this issue's installment of HWA's Autobiography he demeaningly compared Palestinian Arabs who had, according to him, superficially converted to a certain missionary, to guinea pigs. He relates that around 1936 he cooperated and financially supported a preacher of a formerly Jewish background to go to Palestine and make Christian converts out of the Jewish people living there. This preacher went there and, at first, told HWA he was gaining many converts. A year later he went back to HWA and reported that most of the converts were Palestinian Arabs and most of them had not really been converted at all. While discussing all this HWA compared these alleged Palestinian Arab converts as being as converted as "a guinea pig."

The "converts" being made in Palestine, he reported, were not Jews at all, but Arabs-who were no more converted than a guinea pig. (p. 22.)

This passage did not make HWA look good so it was quietly sanitized in later printings. Also Palestine was replaced with "the Holy Land" in later printings. Here is the sentence as presented in the 1973 version of HWA's Autobiography.

The "converts" being made in the Holy Land, he reported, were not Jews at all, but Arabs -- who were not really converted. (HWA's Autobiography, 1973 version, Chapter 38, p. 527.)

Here is the sentence as presented in the 1986-7 version.

The "converts" being made in the Holy Land, he reported, were not Jews at all, but Arabs -- who were not really converted. (HWA's Autobiography, Chapter 38.)

This issue features the following letter which elicits a response which bizarrely implies that Americans were not being told about West Germany's economic growth by media outlets.

Poorly Informed??? 

"You apparently cannot see beyond your nose. Referring to Berlin, you are either poorly informed, or choose to purposely omit the truth. For your information, the United States has pumped $26 billion (?) into Germany just to build up West Berlin and create a 'false front.' Let's keep religion out of world politics. Your place is in the spiritual." 

Man from Vancouver, Canada. 

(Editor's Comment: West Berlin is only part of the West Germany that has been built up. The West German Treasury is now the richest in the world! We have published many pictures from different parts of West Germany showing her absolute resurgence -- her victories in the TRADE WAR! These pictures were taken by leading reporters and correspondents. WHY HASN'T THIS MAN SEEN THESE PICTURES AND REPORTS IN OTHER NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES?)

Here's another letter on the same topic.

Germany Growing 

"Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

"While I was stationed in the States I had many times read The PLAIN TRUTH or heard you speak over the radio concerning the rising of Germany as a major power in economics. Since I didn't know the news too well at the rime, I have since been reading all the news magazines I can get my hands on. I wasn't taking your word for it. The Air Force transferred me to Germany and there I saw that your preaching was true. Germany is a major power and growing each day. The unemployment in the States is extremely high, while the Germans have to import foreign help to fill the empty gaps. The military newspaper 'Stars and Stripes' stated recently that there were approximately 100,000 vacancies begging for filling." 

Man, USAF, Germany.

A lot of that "foreign help" mentioned above were workers from Turkey.

Here's a letter from Nigeria.

PLAIN TRUTH Helps College Students in Africa 

"We thank you very much for all the help we have been getting from your organization. Your PLAIN TRUTH is generally admired with great interest by all students of the Commercial College. We have been getting and stocking The PLAIN TRUTH in our college library since we started getting it many years ago. It is now an indispensable journal to our college library. We are greatly thankful for this." 

From the Principal, Commonwealth College of Commerce, Nigeria.

September 1961

This issue features a letter which reveals that most Americans viewed West Germany's prosperity positively and considering that Germany has remained a strong ally of the United States these fifty-eight years since this letter was written they were correct and those taught to be fearful of West Germany by HWA were and are wrong.

Professor Unaware of World Affairs 

"Dear Mr. Armstrong: 

"Ever since I have been listening to The WORLD TOMORROW and reading your literature, my interest in world developments has been alerted. I am a student at the University. . . . 

"Last semester I enrolled in a non-credit evening course on Communism and Democracy. During one of these discussion sessions, the rising economic power of the European Common Market was brought up. Literally everyone, with the exception of myself, was completely in favor of this alarming threat to America. I brought out several points (which I had read in The PLAIN TRUTH) showing that the ECM was already underselling us and producing higher quality merchandise. The instructor, a brilliant political scientist, promptly stated that this competition from Western Europe was a wonderful thing for the free world. He also said this was necessary and would stimulate the U.S. to increase production, lower the prices on our goods, and produce higher quality products. 

"Apparently he is not very well aware of the danger ahead. I am thankful I have come to some understanding of world developments." 

Man from Eunice, Louisiana

October 1961

HWA discusses the Bay of Pigs invasion and the fact that America then had a President who was Catholic.

Charles Dorothy has an article scare mongering that many Protestant ministers are liberal in regards to the Christian religion.

Here's a letter from a person wanting information from HWA's recruitment magazine to be used while in discussion with parliamentary representatives of the people of Britain.

Parliament Warned 

"In your May issue of The PLAIN TRUTH I was most interested to read the article 'Behind the Congo Crisis.' I am a student of prophecy and thoroughly agree with the writer. I am most intrigued by the Madrid Circular as quoted, and would like more derails on this document so that I may use its contents in Parliamentary circles with some authority." 

Commander from England.

Here's a letter revealing a young, female fan of Garner Ted Armstrong admiring his handsome appearance. If only the mother knew about his womanizing ways. That issue did not become public knowledge until his brief suspension in 1972.

TV Loses Out 

"I received a packet from you today containing the May, June and July copies of The PLAIN TRUTH. My 17- year-old daughter nearly 'flipped' when I showed her the picture of Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong. She was absolutely overwhelmed with his handsomeness. This is what she said: 'Well, I just never think of Christians looking like that!' Television lost out tonight to The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast via KRLD." 

Woman from Commerce, Texas.

November 1961

Garner Ted Armstrong has an article entitled "War with Russia This Year?" Even though HWA and Co. taught that it would be a German led European Empire which would be fated to conquer the United States they were perfectly content to attract readers by making them scared of other nations going to war with the United States even though HWA and Co. insisted such a thing would not occur except at the hands of a unified Europe led by Germany.

This issue feature the following letter praising HWA's autobiography.

Autobiography Reassures Faith 

"Mr. Armstrong's autobiography has confirmed my faith in Ambassador and The WORLD TOMORROW. The way he has had to fight, it is a sure thing he did not do it alone. God had to be with him for him to stay on cop and for things to turn out as they have. His life story surely has given me a lift," 

Man from Bloomington, Indiana.

This issue also features a letter from what was then named Northern Rhodesia, namely modern day Zambia.

Wants Lifetime Subscription 

"I am very thankful for the continual supply of The PLAIN TRUTH to me during the past year. It is the only magazine which, as long as it remains in publication, I would wish to read. I am beginning to understand the Bible, which did not seem to be an interesting book at all before. I was suffering from lack of understanding." 

Man from Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, Africa.

Whoever the editor was for the letters section in this issue petulantly criticized in print one woman who wanted to no longer receive HWA's recruitment magazine, even comparing  her to an ostrich.

Ostrich!! 

"I am not well, and have not been for over a year and what was in your magazine seemed to upset me terribly. I never read more than a page or two, in a month. The news makes me very nervous. I feel it's about all I can endure. I have my own small world to reckon with, and am unable to do anything toward world situations. Just hearing how dreadful the conditions are over the whole earth makes me lose much of what small energy I have. Being just a woman with home and husband to do for takes my strength. Recently I have had a heart attack which puts more strain on my nerves. So please take my name off your list of subscribers." 

Woman from Kansas. 

Note the pathetic, self serving response from the editor below. There is no sympathy for this woman's distress. The purpose of this magazine is to get readers recruited as co-worker or members of HWA's organization who will pay tithes and offerings to it. But this woman did not fulfill the organization's intention. The editor spitefully lashed out against her.

Editor's comment: Running from reality never has helped anyone. God commands you to be conversant with world affairs and trust Him for deliverance. God help you not to follow this onetime subscriber's example.

Here's one letter asking why HWA thinks Christ will return in ten to fifteen years.

Agnostic Wonders 

"Last Sunday evening on WOW I heard you discuss prophecies made nearly 2700 years ago by men who were supposedly inspired by some supreme Being. For over 20 years I have been an agnostic. I must confess I was stunned at the impact of your program. The realization that these prophecies also embraced our era left me questioning my own established beliefs. For this reason I am writing to ask you upon which sections of the Bible do you base your theory that within 10 or 15 years we will witness the Lamb's conquest of His enemies. I do not ask this idly. I am deeply interested." 

Man from Carter Lake, Iowa.

The booklet he would have needed to read to answer that question is Herman Hoeh's 1959 booklet, A True History of the True Church, which insisted that HWA's organization had been given two 19 year time cycles (1934-72) to preach their teachings before the Great Tribulation would begin. He insisted the first 19 year time cycle began on January 7, 1934 when HWA first began to regularly broadcast on the radio and the second 19 year time cycle began with their first broadcast over Radio Luxembourg in 1953. Therefore it was taught that the Great Tribulation would begin in 1972. However that false prophecy failed miserably.

Here's a letter from Sierra Leone.

Finds His Purpose in Life 

"At this time last year I was wondering what was the purpose of life. Despite my attendance at church services, I felt hollow; but today life is different. Our Heavenly Father has revealed to me the purpose of life, and the great plan He has for mankind is being unfolded before my eyes through the Correspondence Course." 

Man from Sierra Leone, West Africa.

In this issue's installment of HWA's Autobiography HWA bizarrely pontificates that a boy of about eleven years of age is the happiest a person ever is.

Meanwhile, our four children were growing up. ... The boys ten and eleven-Dick about twelve. For the boys, this, I believe, is the happiest age ever enjoyed by any person. Surely nothing to compare is experienced by girls. ... At eleven and twelve a boy has few responsibilities--devotes himself primarily to "fun"--and yet, he does nor altogether take a vacation from disappointments, humiliation and painful suffering. His problems are far more serious to him than they are to Dad or Mom or other grown-ups. (pp. 20, 22.)

Even back when I believed in Armstrongism this statement struck me as odd. What a strange thing to say. What a way to devalue life after being twelve years of age. HWA also bizarrely demeaned every women's childhood as being less enjoyable than the childhood of boys.

And as if that is not odd enough he states in this section of his autobiography that his nine year old sister, Mabel Armstrong, died of spinal meningitis when he was eleven. A picture of her is even included on page 25. The more one thinks about this passage the more strange it seems.

December 1961

This issue features Roderick C. Meredith's infamous article, "The Shocking Truth About Queer Men!" Even compared with the other purveyors of Armstrongism Meredith was especially bitter towards LGBT individuals and constantly condemned them and stirred up hostile feelings against LGBT communities among his followers.

Ernest Martin has an article dating Jesus' birth to about September, 4 BC. Information like this is often used by Armstrongites to insist that one must not celebrate Christmas. However HWA's ban against Christmas was plagiarized from the Jehovah's Witnesses. However Armstrongites as a rule will not mention that fact when trying to convince other people to stop celebrating Christmas. We deserve to know the truth about this matter.

January 1962

In this issue three letters written in response to Meredith's condemnation of gay men are published. The first letter praises Meredith's screed and complains of the LGBT people living alongside him in Los Angeles.

Long Overdue Article 

"Congratulations on the December issue which was received today contain the article 'The Shocking Truth About Queer Men.' Articles such as this have long been overdue in the press. In my opinion this is the most outstanding and moving article to appear on this subject. I live in the Hollywood area and am disgusted daily about the existing homosexuality. These 'its' come out at night) frequent the many 'gay' bars in the area and rove the streets in packs. I have seen grown 'men' crossing the street wearing high heel shoes. As the article mentions, something must be done to reverse the trend. The suggestions mentioned are excellent," 

Man from Los Angeles, California.

The second letter condemns Meredith's screed. The editor replies with a snarky comment.

From a Critic, Too 

"The article by R. C. Meredith really stirred up my ire! Let's assume all he said seems to be true. What about it? Has he really shown how to remedy it? To me he is like a teacher scolding a group of students for not working a problem in mathematics correctly! He scolds and scolds and points out all the mistakes but does not point out the right or rather the underlying principle of the problem!" 

Woman from Hermosa Beach, California. 

Editor's comment: Apparently some people don't understand the answer even when they read it. 

The third letter praises Meredith's screed.

Timely and Virile 

"I think the article by Roderick C. Meredith 'The Shocking Truth About Queer Men' in the December PLAIN TRUTH is one of the most timely and virile articles I have read. I give thanks to God for it, for it paints in clear colors the picture of a righteous way of life both for man and womankind, and that picture is pure, noble and Godly. On the other hand, it makes very clear the fruit of a filthy way of life, so that no man can deny the Truth. More and more I see how really wicked are the ways of the flesh, and in what danger we are in because of them. More and more I lose respect for nominal churches and their so-called 'pastors' who really know little or nothing of the God they profess to preach about!" 

Woman, Kingsville, Missouri.

Meredith would continue to preach hostility and bitterness toward LGBT individuals and communities until he died in 2017. He is still revered among LCG members and presumably a sizable portion of other Armstrongites. His words continue to have the power to negatively influence people.

February 1962

This issue features a letter from New Zealand by a family that decided to stop eating meats deemed unclean according to HWA's teachings, an idea he incorporated into his syncretic teachings from his superficial knowledge of Judaism.

Bible Story Stirs to Action 

"I must tell you what happened after we had read the first chapter of The Bible Story char we received. It was the one dealing with unclean foods. The children started looking around to see if we had any foods that were unclean, and we found that we were eating bacon and ham. Now those two items are off our menu." 

Family from New Zealand

And with that testimony of just how quickly people can be influenced by an organization like HWA's this post ends.

Herman Hoeh's Muddled Quoting of Irenaeus (1955)

In his article, "The Astounding Truth About Easter," (Plain Truth, April 1955, pp. 3-6, 16) Herman Hoeh twice quoted the second Century church leader, Irenaeus, but misleadingly implied that his two quotations were taken from the same piece of writing when, in fact, he was quoting from two different sources, the first of which is not given any citation.

This fact may be seen below (pp. 6, 16).

Irenaeus wrote even more regarding the observance of Easter at Rome and elsewhere as follows: “But Polycarp also was not only instructed by the apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church of Smyrna . . . He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus”- bishop of Rome around 154 A.D.- “caused many to turn away from the . . . heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles . . . ” While at Rome, Polycarp discussed the matter of Easter with the Roman bishop.  

Irenaeus continued: “For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it”--the passover--“because he had always observed it with John the disciple of our Lord, and the rest of the apostles, with whom he associated; and neither did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, who said that he was bound to follow the customs of the presbyters before him” (Quoted from Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, book V, chap. 24, in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 ).  

The highlighted quote is from Irenaeus' polemic, Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter 3, Section 4. Irenaeus wrote this book around AD 184 in order to combat Gnosticism.

In the second paragraph, right after he wrote "Irenaeus continues", Hoeh then switches to quoting Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Book V, Chapter 24. That quote is from a book written over a hundred years after Irenaeus' life. That passage quotes a now lost letter written by Irenaeus.

Hoeh does not disclose the source of the first quote. He misleadingly implies both quotations were from the same piece of writing when says "Irenaeus continues" after the first quote.

Hoeh's statement that "Irenaeus continued" is quite galling. What possible explanation is there for Hoeh to mislead his readers in this way? Hoeh speaks so confidently in this article of various sensationalist assertions he makes about Easter and yet he strangely presents quotations from two different books as though he himself saw them placed together.

Was this was a malicious lie? Of course since Hoeh died in 2004 he is not able to explain or defend himself. It is not possible to make definitive conclusions about why he muddled his quotations here.

If it was a malicious lie it is hard to determine why he misleadingly implied that a quote from Irenaeus' Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter 3, Section 4 was from Eusebius' work or why he failed to note the source of the first quotation.

But we should take that these quotes are from two different books, written by different authors, one of which was written over a century after Irenaeus' life. When Hoeh encountered these passages he likely would have seen them in different books or maybe even different parts of the same volume. It is hard to imagine him seeing these passages together.

And yet right after he finishes quoting from Against Heresies he writes, "Irenaeus continued", but then quotes from a book written a century after Irenaeus' death. Hoeh even cites Eusebius' book but never mentions Irenaeus' Against Heresies.

Later in 1973 HWA's organization began to publish a booklet entitled "The Plain Truth About Easter." The author was listed as Herbert W. Armstrong. However a long section of the booklet was plagiarized from Herman Hoeh's 1955 article, "The Astounding Truth About Easter." This section contained the muddled quotes discussed above. There the error remained uncorrected.

So many thousands of people had put their trust in Herman Hoeh's writings, many of whom did not know he could muddle quotations like this. People need to know about problems like this in the writings of HWA's organization.

HWA Plagiarized Herman Hoeh's 1955 Article on Easter

In Herbert W. Armstrong's 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter, the following passage may be found. There are a few differences. Some differences are stylistic. Some sections are removed. But for the most part this lengthy section of the 1973 booklet was largely plagiarized from Herman Hoeh's article, "The Astounding Truth About Easter" (Plain Truth, April 1955, pp. 3-6, 16).

Many sensational claims are made in this passage in order to make readers disillusioned with mainstream Christian churches which celebrate Easter in order to make such readers more susceptible into joining HWA's organization, the Worldwide Church of God. (Until January 1968 HWA's organization called itself the Radio Church of God.)

However neither HWA nor Herman Hoeh received professional teaching regarding the history of the Christian religion. It is well known that HWA plagiarized many of "his" ideas from other sources such as the Seventh Day Adventists and their various offshoots, the Jehovah's Witnesses and Alexander Hyslop's 1850s screed against Catholicism, The Two Babylons. And Hoeh was taught what he knew about religion by HWA in an unaccredited "college" led by HWA.

Furthermore HWA and Hoeh made made many false predictions that failed. From 1953 onward they taught that Christ would return in 1975 after the Great Tribulation would supposedly begin in 1972. There are many other failed predictions. These failed prophesies prove that God does not speak through them.

Therefore there is no need to listen to HWA and Hoeh self serving denunciation of mainstream Christian churches. It was an attempt to expand their own organization at the expense of mainstream Christian churches.

Below is the relevant section from the 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter, which listed HWA as the booklet's author without giving any credit to Herman Hoeh or making any mention of Hoeh's 1955 article.

The First Historical Records 

The early Church of God in New Testament times was taught that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights -- that He arose at the close of the third day after the crucifixion. The crucifixion occurred upon a Wednesday, April 25, A.D. 31. 

The Passover was observed annually, on the eve of Christ's death, on Nisan 14 of God's Sacred Calendar. This New Testament practice was followed in the West universally until shortly after the death of the Apostle John. In the Eastern Roman Empire the true practice continued even longer. 

Here is what happened in the East! 

A calendar change occured during the middle of the second century A.D., after which new ideas began to be introduced into the professing Christian world. The true Christians who fled Jerusalem, "continued to use the Jewish cycle [God's method of reckoning the Passover in the Sacred Calendar] till the bishops of Jerusalem who were of the circumcision were succeeded by others who were not of the circumcision [unconverted Gentiles -- and]...they began to invent other cycles" (Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, p. 1152). 

This same author continues: "We see, at this time [middle of second century] the Jewish calculation [determined by God's Calendar which the Jews had accurately preserved] was generally rejected by the...church, and yet no certain one agreed upon in its room [stead]...." 

This is how the Passover -- sometimes called Lord's Supper or Eucharist -- was gradually rejected. 

The Lord's Supper on Saturday! 

Remember that up to this point the Churches of God universally understood that Jesus rose after three days -- on Saturday evening shortly before sunset. 

With the rejection of God's Sacred Calendar by many in the professing Christian world, the many now began to do what seemed right to them. Not only did they begin to miscalculate the annual occurrence of the Passover, but in the East they began to observe the Passover weekly on Saturday, the Sabbath, believe it or not! Here is the proof: 

For over 200 years this custom was a universal practice of the Eastern churches. The church historian Socrates wrote in his Ecclesiastical History, book V, chapter 22: "While therefore some in Asia Minor observed the day above-mentioned [he means that some continued to observe the Passover on the 14th of Nisan as the apostles did] others in the East kept this feast on the Sabbath indeed...." By "Sabbath" all early writers meant Saturday! 

So universal was the custom of observing the "Lord's Supper" on Saturday that he continued to write: "For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this." 

Did you catch the real significance of this quotation? 

The Passover was transformed from an annual memorial in memory of the death of Christ into a weekly memorial in honor of His resurrection, which occurred on Saturday. These weekly "Passovers" were called the "sacred mysteries." A part of those ancient mysteries was later the festival of Easter. 

But Easter did not enter suddenly. It entered slowly, under the pretext of being a Christian custom. 

Many faithful were still observing the practices of the original true Church. Others began to hold the "sacred mysteries" every Saturday to honor, as they thought, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But how were the false teachers going to alter the knowledge that Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb? 

"Good Friday-Easter Sunday" Tradition 

Let's notice! From the Syriac Didascalia, composed shortly before the time of Constantine, we have a record of what happened in those early days. False teachers began to interpret the three days and three nights in the following clever fashion: 

They claimed Jesus suffered on the cross, supposedly on Friday, for about six hours. The daylight hours from nine in the morning to noon they counted as one day. The hours from noon to three o'clock -- when the land was darkened -- they reckoned as the first night. Then the time from three o'clock to sunset was reckoned as the second day. Friday night to Saturday morning became the second night; the daylight of Saturday, the third day; and Saturday night to Sunday morning, the third night. 

A very clever argument -- and it deceived a great many people! Those false ministers twisted the truth that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights. 

For the first time the idea of a Sunday resurrection was injected into the churches. Now observe what happened. 

Easter Sunday Begins Earlier at Rome 

In commenting on those who did not observe the Passover in accordance with the practice of the apostles, Irenaeus, who lived toward the close of the second century, wrote to Bishop Victor of Rome, "We mean Anicetus, and Pius, and Hyginus, and Telesphorus, and Xystus. They neither observed it [the true Passover on the 14th of Nisan] nor did they permit those after them to do so"(Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Vol. I, p. 243). 

Who were these men? -- bishops of the church at Rome! Here is the first record, by a Catholic, of the fact that the Roman bishops no longer observed the Passover at the correct God given time, but on a Sunday! 

It was Bishop Xystus (his name is also spelled Sixtus) who was the first recorded individual to prevent the proper observance of the Passover, and to celebrate the sacred mysteries annually on a Sunday. Irenaeus speaks further of him, declaring that his doctrine was in direct "opposition" to the practice of the remainder of the churches. Bishop Sixtus was living at the beginning of the second century, just after the Apostle John died. 

Notice, too, that Easter Sunday did not begin with Peter or Paul in the 60's A.D., but with Sixtus in the second century! 

Here you have the astounding origin of Easter Sunday in the Western churches. Together with this practice, the "sacred mysteries" were also observed every Sunday! 

The Romans Divided 

The introduction of this custom naturally divided the Christians at Rome. The Catholic historian Abbe Duchesne wrote: "There were many Christians of Asia in Rome at that time [remember that the Church of God at Rome was founded by those who came from Asia Minor where Paul preached] and the very early Popes, Xystus and Telesphorus, saw them every year keep their Pasch [the true Passover] the same day as did the Jews. They maintained that was correct. It was allowed to pass...though the rest of Rome observed a different use" (The Early History of the Church, Vol. I, p. 210). 

These are startling facts, but they are true! It is time we knew about them! 

Irenaeus wrote even more regarding the observance of Easter at Rome and elsewhere as follows: "But Polycarp also was not only instructed by the apostles, and acquainted with many that had seen Christ, but was also appointed by apostles in Asia, bishop of the Church of Smyrna.... He also was in Rome in the time of Anicetus [bishop of Rome, A.D. 155-166] and caused many to turn away from the...heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received from the apostles this one and sole truth..." While at Rome, Polycarp discussed the matter of Easter with the Roman bishop. 

Irenaeus continued: "For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it [the Passover] because he had always observed it with John the disciple of our Lord, and the rest of the apostles, with whom he associated; and neither did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, who said that he was bound to follow the customs of the presbyters before him" (Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, book V, chapter 24, quoted in Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, p. 244). 

Counterfeit Vision 

Shortly after Polycarp left, there appeared an amazing letter -- said by many scholars to have been a deliberate forgery. This letter states: "Pope Pius, who lived about 147, had made a decree, That the annual solemnity of the Pasch [Pasch is the Greek word for Passover] should be kept on the Lord's day [Sunday] and in confirmation of this he pretended, that Hermes [Hermas], his brother, who was then an eminent teacher among them, had received instruction from an angel, who commanded that all men should keep the Pasch on the Lord's day" (Joseph Bingham, Antiquities of the Christian Church, pp. 1148-1149). 

Of this same hoax, we read in Apostolical Fathers, by James Donaldson, page 324: "One of the letters forged in the name of Pius, where one Hermas [Hermes] is mentioned as the author; and it is stated that in his book a commandment was given through an angel to observe the Passover on a Sunday." 

If this letter was a deliberate forgery, it was invented after Polycarp's time in an effort to lend weight to the custom of Anicetus, bishop of Rome, who maintained the Sunday observance of the Eucharist or Passover. If it was not a forgery, then Pius himself was the author of this deceptive letter. (Pius died just prior to the visit of Polycarp to Rome.) 

Constantine -- the Man of Power 

Constantine then convoked the first general council of the Christian professing world. The Council of Nicaea decided, under his authority, that Easter must be celebrated on Sunday and that the Passover must be forbidden! 

Without regard to these decisions, many continued faithful. For this reason Constantine issued an edict declaring: "We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies...public or private" (Life of Constantine, book III). 

Easter Still Observed on Different Sundays 

Though everyone was now forced to observe Easter or flee the urban areas of the Roman Empire, the churches were still divided over the exact Sunday for Easter. Here is how confusing matters became: 

"But notwithstanding any endeavors that could be used then, or afterwards, there remained great differences in the church about it for many ages. For the churches of Great Britain and Ireland did not accord with the Roman church in keeping Easter on the same Sunday, till about the year 800. Nor was the Roman way fully received in France, till it was settled there by the authority of Charles the Great..." (Bingham's Antiquities of the Christian Church, p. 1151). 

These are startling facts -- but they ought to make you wake up to the truth! It is high time we learned exactly what has happened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the practices of the New Testament Church of God these past 1900 years!

For comparison here is the relevant section from Herman Hoeh's 1955 article (pp. 3-6, 16). The highlighted passages indicate that which HWA plagiarized into "his" 1973 booklet, The Plain Truth About Easter. He gave no acknowledgement that these words were authored by Herman Hoeh but HWA deceptively presented these passages as though he had written them. Herbert Armstrong stole the credit for these words that belonged to Herman Hoeh.

The First Historical Records

The early Church of God in New Testament times was taught that Jesus was in the grave three days and three nights--that He arose at the close of the third day after the crucifixion. The crucifixion occurred upon a Wednesday, April 25, 31 A.D. This historical date of the passover is demonstrated by seven irrefutable proofs which we published in The PLAIN TRUTH two years ago. Thursday, in 31 A.D., was an annual sabbath. This is demonstrated from the Bible in Mr. Armstrong’s FREE booklet on the “Resurrection,” already mentioned.  

The practice of the New Testament Church of God was to observe an annual memorial of the death of Jesus Christ. This memorial was called the passover--commonly misnamed the “Lord’s Supper.” There is not sufficient space in this article to mention the many scriptures which clarify this little-understood practice of the apostles (I Cor. 5: 7-8). 

If you want the proof, write for the FREE booklet “How often should we partake of the LORD’S SUPPER?” which explains the New Testament practice in entirety.  

The Passover was observed annually, on the eve of Christ’s death, on Nisan 14 of God’s Sacred Calendar. You can find this information in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, or even in the “World Almanac” in your town Library. This New Testament practice was followed universally until shortly after the death of the apostle John.  

Here is what happened!

A calendar change occurred in 104 A.D., after which new ideas began to be introduced into the Church. The Christians who fled Jerusalem in 69 A.D. “continued to use the Jewish cycle”-- God's method of reckoning the passover in the sacred calendar--”till the bishops of Jerusalem who were of the circumcision were succeeded by others who were not of the circumcision”-unconverted Gentiles-and ‘‘ . . . they began to invent other cycles” (p. 1152 of Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christ& Church).

Yes, Easter began as the invention of men--who exchanged the God-given paschal festival for the pagan Easter Sunday.  

This same author continues: “We see, at this time the Jewish calculation”--God’s inspired method of determining the passover which the Jews had accurately preserved--“was generally rejected by the . . . church, and yet no certain one agreed upon in its room. . .”  

This is how the passover--incorrectly called Lord’s Supper or Eucharist--was gradually rejected.

The Lord’s Supper on Saturday!

Remember that up to this point the churches of God universally understood that Jesus rose after three days--on Saturday evening shortly before sunset. Many now began to do what seemed right to them. Not only did many begin to miscalculate the annual occurrence of the Passover, but they began to observe the passover weekly on Saturday, the Sabbath, believe it or not! Here is the proof:

For over 200 years this custom was a universal practice of the apostatizing churches! The Catholic church historian, Socrates, wrote: “While therefore some in Asia Minor observed the day abovementioned”--he means that some faithfully observed the passover on the 14th of Nisan as the apostles did--“others in the East kept THIS FEAST ON THE SABBATH INDEED . . . ” By “sabbath” all early writers meant Saturday!

So universal was the custorn of observing the “Lord’s Supper” on Saturday that he continued to write: “For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this.” You may find this amazing testimony in Vol. 2 of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, pp. 131-132, from the Ecclesiastical History of Socrates, book V, chapter 22.

Did you catch the real significance of this quotation?

The passover was transformed by false teachers from an annual memorial in memory of the death of Christ into a weekly memorial in honor of His resurrection, which occurred on Saturday. These weekly “passovers” were called the “sacred mysteries”! What did Paul say about the sacred mysteries?  

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come”-- the day of Christ’s return--“except there come a falling away first”--an apostasy, a falling into error. “For the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY doth already work” (I1 Thess. 2:3, 7). The practices of the pagan sacred mysteries were already creeping into the local congregations of the Church of God in Paul’s day. A part of those ancient mysteries was the festival of Easter!
But Easter did not enter suddenly. It entered slowly, under the pretext of being a Christian custom. 

Though many faithful were still observing the practices of the original, true church, many congregations began to hold the “sacred mysteries” every Saturday to honor, as they thought, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But how were the false teachers going to alter the knowledge that Jesus was three days and three nights in the tomb?

“Good Friday-Easter Sunday” Tradition

Let’s notice! From the Syriac Didascalia, composed shortly before the time of. Constantine, we have a record of what happened in those early days. False teachers began to interpret the three days and three nights in the following clever fashion:

They claimed Jesus suffered on the cross, supposedly on Friday, for about six hours. The daylight hours from nine in the morning to noon they counted as one day. The hours from noon to three o’clock--when the land was darkened--they reckoned as the first night. Then the time from three o’clock to sunset was reckoned as the second day. Friday night to Saturday morning became the second night; the daylight of Saturday, the third day; and Saturday night to Sunday morning, the third night!  

A very clever argument--and it deceived a great many people! Those false ministers twisted the truth that Jesus was IN THE GRAVE three days and three nights.

For the first time the idea of a Sunday resurrection was injected into the churches. Now observe what happened.

Easter Sunday Begins at Rome

In commenting on those who did not observe the passover in accordance with the practice of the apostles, Irenaeus, a Catholic living toward the close of the second century wrote to bishop Victor of Rome, ”We mean Anicetus, and Pius,and Hyginus, and Telesphorus, and Xystus. They neither observed it”--the true passover on the 14th of Nisan”-- “nor did they permit those after them to do so.”

Who were these men?--bishops of the church at Rome! Here is the first record, by a Catholic, of the fact that the Roman bishops no longer observed the passover on the correct God-given time, but on a Sunday!

It was bishop Xystus (his name is also spelled Sixtus) who was the first recorded individual to prevent the proper observance of the passover, and to celebrate the sacred mysteries annually on a Sunday. Irenaeus speaks further of him, declaring that his doctrine was in direct “opposition” to the practice of the remainder of the churches. Bishop Sixtus was living at the beginning of the second century, just after the apostle John died.

Here you have the astounding origin of Easter Sunday in the churches. Together with this practice, the “sacred mysteries” were also observed every Sunday!

The Romans Divided

The introduction of this custom naturally divided the Christians at Rome. The Catholic historian, Abbé Duchesne, wrote: “There were many Christians of Asia in Rome at that time”--remember that the Church of God at Rome was founded by those who came from Asia Minor where Paul preached-“and the very early Popes, Xystus and Telesphorus, saw them every year keep their Pasch”-the true passover--“the same day as did the Jews. They maintained that was correct. It was allowed to pass . . . though the rest of Rome observed a different use” (Vol. I, p. 210, of The Early History of the Church).  

I know these are startling facts, but they are true! It is time we knew about them!

Irenaeus wrote even more regarding the observance of Easter at Rome and elsewhere as follows: “But Polycarp also was not only instructed by the apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church of Smyrna . . . He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus”- bishop of Rome around 154 A.D.- “caused many to turn away from the . . . heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles . . . ” While at Rome, Polycarp discussed the matter of Easter with the Roman bishop.

Irenaeus continued: “For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it”--the passover--“because he had always observed it with John the disciple of our Lord, and the rest of the apostles, with whom he associated; and neither did Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it, who said that he was bound to follow the customs of the presbyters before him” (Quoted from Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, book V, chap. 24, in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 ).  

Notice that bishop Anicetus had no scriptural grounds--he determined to follow the “customs” of men!--Easter Sunday!  

A Fake Vision from God  

Shortly after Polycarp left, there appeared an amazing letter--said by many scholars to have been a deliberate forgery. This letter states: “Pope Pius, who lived about 147, had made a decree, That the annual solemnity of the Pasch [Pasch is the Greek word for Parsouer] should be kept only on the Lord’s day”--Sunday--“and in confirmation of this he pretended, that Hermes, his brother, who was then an eminent teacher among them, had received instruction from an angel, who commanded that all men should keep the Pasch on the Lord’s day.” (From pp. 1148-1149 of Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church.)  

Of this same hoax we read in Apostolical Fathers, by Donaldson, p. 324, “One of the letters forged in the name of Pius, where one Hermas is mentioned as the author; and it is stated that in his book a commandment was given through an angel to observe the Passover on a Sunday.”

If this letter was a deliberate forgery, it was invented after Polycarp’s time in an effort to lend weight to the custom of Anicetus, bishop of Rome, who maintained the Sunday observance of the eucharist or passover. If it were nor a forgery, then Pius himself was the author of this deceptive letter. (Pius died just prior to the visit of Polycarp to Rome. )
But the Easter controversy did not end here!  

Within 35 years it broke out vehemently between Polycrates of Asia Minor and Victor of Rome, who attempted to “cut off whole churches of God, who observed the tradition of an ancient custom”--the true passover. 

Here is a part of the forthright answer given by Polycrates to Victor, vindicating the uuth of God.  

“As for us, then, we scrupulously observe the exact day, neither adding nor taking away. For in Asia great luminaries have gone to their rest, who shall rise again in the day of the coming of the Lord . . . I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles . . . John, moreover, who reclined on the Lord’s bosom . . . Then there is Polycarp . . . THESE ALL KEPT THE PASSOVER ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOSPEL, WITHOUT EVER DEVIATING FROM IT, BUT KEEPING TO THE RULE OF FAITH.”  

This remarkable letter is preserved in Vol. 8 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, pp. 773-774. 

Polycrates came from that area in which Paul spent most of his time--in Asia Minor, near Ephesus. This is also where John spent his last days. Here we have many Christians still remaining true to the faith!  

Here is proof that both the apostles to the circumcision and Paul, the special apostle to the Gentiles, taught the observance of the passover on the 14th of the first month of God’s sacred calendar. Chrysostom, who wrote several centuries after the apostles admitted that “formerly it [the passover] prevailed also at Antioch” from where Paul began many of his apostolic journeys.  

Now, what happened to stamp out the true observance of the passover from the popular churches? 

Constantine--the Man of Power

Constantine then convoked the first general council of the Christian-professing world. The Council of Nicaea decided, under his authority, that Easter must be celebrated on Sunday and that the passover must be forbidden!

Without regard to these decisions, many continued faithful. For this reason Constantine issued an edict declaring: “We have directed, accordingly, that you be deprived of all houses in which you are accustomed to hold your assemblies . . . public or private.” (From the Life of Constantine, book 111.)

Easter Still Observed on Different Sundays

Though everyone was now forced to observe Easter or flee the confines of the Roman Empire, the churches were still divided over the exact Sunday for Easter. Here is how confusing matters became:

“But notwithstanding any endeavours that could be used then, or afterwards, there remained great differences in the church about it for many ages. For the churches of Great Britain and Ireland did not accord with the Roman church in keeping Easter on the same Sunday, till about the year 800. Nor was the Roman way fully received in France, till it was settled there by the authority of Charles the Great . . . ” (p. 1151).

I know these are startling facts--but they ought to make you wake up to the TRUTH! It is high rime we learned exactly what has happened to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to the practices of the New Testament Church of God these past 1900 years!

And that ends Herman Hoeh's 1955 article.

What a fraud Herbert Armstrong was. He presented these words authored by Herman Hoeh as though they were written by himself. This makes Herbert Armstrong a thief.

There is no need to listen to a thief like Herbert Armstrong.

52 False Prophecies by PCG

Since PCG is now claiming that the Brexit was some sort of fulfilled prophecy it is worth remembering the many times they have produced false prophecies. Below is a list of 52 false prophecies made by PCG since their founding in 1989.

The following (with one small rewrite and a different title) is a repost of a previous post originally posted on September 26, 2015.

Note: Some quotes refer to earlier editions of various PCG booklets and those may differ from current versions.

*******

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

Gerald Flurry and his Philadelphia Church of God claim to be able to know what will happen in the future because (they say) God only reveals the true meaning of the Bible to PCG alone. In 1999 Gerald Flurry even proclaimed himself to be "That Prophet."

But the Bible reveals that if a man presuming to speak for God should make a prediction and it does not happen then such a man has spoken presumptuously and the God of the Bible commands people not to be afraid of such a man. To make false predictions disqualifies one from being a prophet of God.

Have Gerald Flurry and those with him in PCG made false predictions that did not come to pass?

1. Tkach's WCG may greatly expand in membership because of the changes. (Gerald Flurry, Malachi's Message.)

The Laodicean Church [Tkach's WCG] may be growing in membership until Christ returns, but does that always mean it is doing God’s will? No! We can’t use that criterion to judge. Other churches have millions of members and are not God’s churches. Actually, the Work of God could be declining in numbers and still do a wonderful job for God. So we have to look deeper than a growing membership. (Gerald Flurry, Malachi's Message, 1990, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2008, Chapter 3, p. 36.)

2. Tkach is the Man of Sin of II Thessalonians 2. (Gerald Flurry, Malachi's Message.)

Herbert W. Armstrong taught that the man of sin mentioned in II Thessalonians 2 was the final Pope. HWA taught that the final Pope would be granted by Satan the power to perform miracles such as calling fire from the sky. But Gerald Flurry changed this doctrine to say that II Thessalonians 2 was talking about the Tkach changes and that the man of sin was Tkach. Of course this doctrine is nonsense.

3. Tkach's WCG will conspire with American authorities to suppress PCG.

Will there be another direct confrontation between the Laodicean and Philadelphian churches in the near future? Here is why that could easily happen. The leaders in the United States and Britain will know that the Philadelphia Church of God came out of the Worldwide Church of God. The leaders of the nations could enlist the WCG in an attempt to stop the PCG’s message. Amos says “the land is not able to bear all his words”! This is a prophecy about the impact our message will have on modern Israel and the Laodicean Church! (Gerald Flurry, The Lion Has Roared, 1991, 1992, 2006, 2011, Chapter 4, p. 38.)

4. Ambassador Auditorium might be destroyed by an earthquake as a sign of (PCG's) God's anger at the Tkach changes.

Am I saying that what used to be God’s physical house [Ambassador Auditorium] in Pasadena is going to be destroyed? No, I am not. God only knows. But can we rule out that possibility in view of Amos 9:1 and other verses? I don’t think so. A shaking of God’s former physical house could also shake the spiritual temple, or Laodicean Church.
The city of Laodicea in the first century was repeatedly struck by earthquakes. So God’s Laodicean saints had that problem to cope with then. And the first-century Laodicean Church was only a type of the end-time Laodiceans. Only God knows the details of what is to occur. But this much we do know: Total destruction is coming upon the Laodicean Church! God’s Philadelphia Church must warn the Laodiceans and pray that they will repent! (Gerald Flurry, The Lion Has Roared, 1991, 1992, 2006, 2011, Chapter 4, p. 31.)

5. PCG's warning to America will "be a very short work." (1992).

HWA thought the end of Israel would occur in his lifetime. He was EXACTLY right about the prophecies, but his timing was off a few years. (Gerald Flurry, The Ezekiel Watchman, 1992, Chapter 1, p. 2.)

This warning to all Israel by the Philadelphians is probably going to be a very short work. Israel is collapsing very fast and their enemies are rising equally fast. (Gerald Flurry, The Ezekiel Watchman, 1992, Chapter 1, p. 3.)

6. PCG's Gerald Flurry mocking WCG ministers for saying the second coming could be within 30-40 years as "tragically wrong!"

They [WCG members] are being told it will be 30-40 years [2023-2033] before these prophecies will be fulfilled. And they are tragically wrong! The book of Ezekiel will illustrate that truth as we go along. (Gerald Flurry, The Ezekiel Watchman, 1992, p. 23.)

It is now twenty-seven years since these words were published. This is also a false prophecy in itself.

7. PCG saying that "[t]here is very little time left" in 1993.

There is very little time left. We are getting close to the time of the two witnesses (v. 3). (Gerald Flurry, Lamentations and the End-Time Laodiceans, 1993, p. 6.)

8. Reading and believing Malachi's Message will save you from the Great Tribulation.

Jesus Christ inspired the writing of Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today! ... Anyone who reads Malachi’s Message and heeds its warnings will be spared from the events of the Great Tribulation. If YOU reject it now—you will have to accept it in the Tribulation or lose YOUR SALVATION! IT IS THAT SERIOUS! All of God’s people will have to recognize that Malachi’s Message came from God (Mal. 2:4). There is still time to repent before the Tribulation. (Gerald Flurry, Lamentations and the End-Time Laodiceans, 1993, p. 35.)

Malachi's Message is a false book. It cannot save anyone. Gerald Flurry cannot save anyone. Gerald Flurry cannot see into the future.

It is widely known that many of the ideas within his booklet Malachi's Message, which is so often cited by PCG to justify following Gerald Flurry instead of the many other COG splinter groups, 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. On September 26, 1990 Jules Dervaes even sent a letter to Gerald Flurry in which he denounces Malachi's Message as "a direct and clear plagiarism" of his work.  

9. There is "little or nothing ... in the northern heavens" because of Lucifer's pre-Adamite rebellion.

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! (Gerald Flurry, God's Family Government, 1993, p. 26.)

How can anyone just listen to such nonsense and just accept it and refuse to point out that there is nonsense?

10. PCG is "intensely" persecuted by Satan.

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. (Gerald Flurry, Isaiah's End-Time Vision, 2013 version, p. 41.)

11. PCG saying the US economy is about to collapse in 1993.

Bank consultant Ed Furash said, "Everything is going to be up in the air until after the inauguration [of President Clinton]." Then he said, "We're going to have a lot of dead banks that need to be taken over!" The U.S. ECONOMY is in serious trouble and that means trouble for for the whole western world! (Gerald Flurry, Jeremiah: Prophet of Doom--or Hope?, 1993, p. 3.)

12. PCG saying Germany and Japan will soon get nuclear weapons in 1993.

Tactical nuclear weapons have been stolen form the Soviet arsenal and sold to nations in the Middle East. Soon Germany and Japan will also have nuclear weapons. (Gerald Flurry, Jeremiah: Prophet of Doom--or Hope?, 1993, p. 31.) 

13. PCG saying Algeria would soon fall to Islamists in 1994.

In the December 1994 Trumpet, Mr. Flurry explained the significance of verse 42 thus: “Egypt is conquered by the king of the north probably because of an alliance with the king of the south.” The king of the south, Mr. Flurry believed, would be radical Islam, headed by Iran. This Iranian-led Islamic movement, he wrote, was already “very strong in Egypt and Algeria.” He went on to state: “This religion will probably take control of both countries very soon.”  (Prophecy Comes Alive in Egypt!, The Philadelphia Trumpet, April 2011.)

Actually the military led government of Algeria was able to eventually render the rebels powerless and re-establish control over Algeria. Gerald Flurry was wrong. 

14. PCG saying Turkey will soon be annihilated forever.

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. (Gerald Flurry, Obadiah, p. 10. Page 11 in the current version.)

Turkey is not Edom. The Turkish language is a Turkic language totally unrelated to Hebrew or Arabic. Other related Turkic languages include Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kazakh, Uyghur, Turkmen, Tatar and Kyrgyz. Are those related peoples all Edomites? If the Turks are really related to Israel as common descendants of Isaac why do they speak a completely unrelated language?

Also the word Ottoman is not derived from "O Teman." It refers to Osman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. And that name itself is derived from the Arabic name Uthman.

15. PCG's prophesied of doom and gloom in 1995.

Natural disasters have intensified mightily since Mr. Armstrong died. There have been earthquakes, floods, droughts and fires. There have also been an alarming increase in family break-down, race problems and out-of-control crime. One journalist said 1993 was the "SCARIEST YEAR IN AMERICAN HISTORY" (because of the floods, fire, etc.) That is also true of the British people. Already South Africa has lost control of its country. That catastrophe and a lot more going to happen to America and Britain, if we don't heed God's Word. (Gerald Flurry, The Little Book, 1995 edition, p. 6.)

Why does God mention the times of the Gentiles and not the Tribulation? It’s probably because it helps us to see the shortness of time better. The Gentiles are rising inside and outside the nations of Israel—very fast! That is easy for us to see. Israel is collapsing from within and is about to be attacked from without. (Gerald Flurry, The Little Book, 1995 edition, p. 10.)

16. PCG saying now is "the gun lap today."

When God gives us the full revelation from Joel, it is near “at hand.” We are being plunged into the preliminaries of the book of Joel now! We are in the gun lap today. World conditions are going to get vastly worse—quickly! (Gerald Flurry, The Prophet Joel, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2006, p. 8.)

17. PCG saying "there is only going to be a single, brief space of time" between HWA's death (1986) and Christ's return.

What is God telling us here? He is showing that after Mr. Armstrong passes from the scene and just before Jesus Christ returns, THERE IS ONLY GOING TO BE A SINGLE, BRIEF SPACE OF TIME. Then God is going to shake the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the dry land. In other words, the PCG only has a very brief space of time to complete its work. There is only a brief span of time for God to determine who is Philadelphian and who is Laodicean. There is only a little time to determine who will be in Ezekiel’s temple in the World Tomorrow. Then God says He is going to fill “this house” with glory. (Gerald Flurry, Haggai, 1995, 2004, pp. 29-30.)

So when we saw the gospel being preached around the world, we should have known it was the end time. But when that work ceased, we were in the very end of the end time!  (Gerald Flurry, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 1995, 2001, 2005, p. 6.)

When the gospel stops going around the world, we can begin to watch for specific signs—like God’s Church being attacked by armies of demons, the rapid collapse of Israel, the rise of the abomination of desolation, nuclear power out of control and other serious signs we’ll mention later. (Gerald Flurry, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, 1995, 2001, 2005, Chapter 1, p. 7.)

We have to deeply understand the urgency of the times we live in! There has never been a time like this! Events are moving along with lightning speed. It seems as though major prophecies are fulfilled virtually every week. God says that time is quickly running out. World crisis is dangerously close and speeding very quickly! Are we heeding this warning? (Gerald Flurry, Zephaniah's Day of the Lord, p. 13.)

For God’s faithful people, this prophecy should help us realize what a critical time this is for God’s Work. God’s people must take advantage of this little window of opportunity. We have to perform great works now, before it’s too late. When I study the book of Zephaniah deeply, I realize that I’m not as urgent as the spirit of this message! I believe that none of God’s people are! We must realize and keep in our minds where we are in prophecy and how urgent these times are. We must make sure to do all we can before, before, before, before the Day of the Lord or the time of tribulation begins for Israel. (Gerald Flurry, Zephaniah's Day of the Lord, 1995, 2000, p. 16.)

18. PCG saying the peace process between the State of Israel and the Palestinians is the deadly wound which will cause the State of Israel to be conquered by the future European Empire.

Is the 1993 peace pact with the Arabs the Israeli wound that God refers to in Hosea 5:13? There would have been no peace pact if Judah would have trusted God instead of men. (Gerald Flurry, Hosea and God's Adulterous Church, 1996, p. 26.)

19. PCG saying Britain is to endure the Great Tribulation for trusting in industrial expertise.

Ephraim’s great fault is its idolatry. The word “workman” means artisan or craftsman. It is well known that England excels in technical ability. One of their greatest achievements has been the development of nuclear energy for domestic and military purposes. Could this be Britain’s calf? Could Britain think their nuclear power will get them through another war? ...

England relies on its “craftsmen” for protection rather than God. They worship their technical ability—they “kiss the calves.” ...

Britain will soon become ashamed of its “craftsman” or experts. Do you really want to rely upon the experts? No human being or idol can ever deliver what a human being wants. Do we have some idol that sits between us and God? If we do, God wants us to get rid of it now. (Gerald Flurry, Hosea and God's Adulterous Church, 1996, pp. 39-40.)

20. PCG saying Algeria will soon transform into a radical Islamic state like Iran.

Today I believe that much of the king of the south’s land area will be south of Jerusalem, but not all. For example, Sudan is already in the radical Islamic camp. Algeria may be there very soon. But all of the king of the south’s land area is south of the end-time king of the north. (Gerald Flurry, The King of the South, 1996, 2001, 2003, p. 3.)

21. PCG insinuating that Khomeini was behind Anwar Sadat's assassination.

In 1981, Mike Wallace of the television program 60 Minutes interviewed Ayatollah Khomeini (who had come to power only two years before). He told the ayatollah that Sadat had called him a “lunatic.”
Almost immediately afterward, within just days, President Sadat was assassinated!
That is the kind of power the leader of radical Islam has! (The King of the South, 1996, 2001, 2003, p. 7.)

22. PCG saying war is about to explode in the Middle East.

Middle East peace treaties dominate the news—as all kinds of peace treaties did just before World War II began! It is just another major sign that WAR IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE IN THE MIDDLE EAST! And it will lead to World War III. (Gerald Flurry, The King of the South, 1996, 2001, 2003, p. 14.)

23. PCG saying Christ to return by 2018 at the latest.

Here we see a small group of people with a God-sized message. The whole world should heed today. But most people won’t become converted until Christ returns—which is probably within 10 to 15 years or less. (The King of the South, 1996, 2001, 2003, p. 43.)

24. PCG saying Christ is almost certain to return by 2023.

This statement shows that this is an end-time prophecy. Satan was cast down just a “short time” before Jesus Christ returns to this Earth and kicks Satan off his throne! ... That is the spectacular, joyfully good news. Christ is about to return to this Earth and stop all of the hatred, racism, violence and war that is caused by Satan’s influence. Everything is set for a new government to be in place on Earth very shortly—almost certainly in less than a decade. (Gerald Flurry, America Under Attack, 2013, p. 6.)

25. Gerald Flurry saying "America is bankrupt" in 1997.

“What will it take to awaken our people? America is bankrupt. Our people just don’t know it yet.”—Co-Worker Letter, July 22, 1997 (As quoted in the May 30, 2009 issue of The Trumpet Weekly, p. 5.)

(Flurry was wrong then and is wrong now. See #34 below.)

26. There will be a peace treaty between Germany and Russia which will allow Germany to conquer America and Britain without fear of Russian interference.

“The presence of a deal between [Germany and Russia] is not a sign of peace. Like the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact … it is a sign of exactly the opposite. Both of these nations are looking to secure their shared border—so they can pursue their imperialistic aims elsewhere! It is a precursor to war! That is the way they operate! And the U.S. has no clue.”
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet, October 1998 (Quoted in Trumpet Weekly, October 9, 2010, p. 6.)

“The way it’s looking, don’t be surprised if America arrives in Lisbon to learn that Germany, France and Russia have hatched a plan to redefine NATO into a distinctly European, pro-Russian organization!”
—theTrumpet.com, October 21 (Quoted in The Trumpet Weekly, October 30, 2010, p 6.)

Instead Putin waded into a war in eastern Ukraine in 2014 that has led to Europe imposing sanctions on Russia just when the price of oil went down.

27. Post-apartheid South Africa will impose an economic blockade on the West as severe as OPEC's oil embargo of 1973-4.

A well-orchestrated campaign of disinformation, propaganda and scurrilous slander has been waged against the South African nation by the combined forces of government officials (both within and without South Africa), the liberal press, leftist church authorities and the United Nations. The catch phrase of all has been apartheid—the policy of separate development pursued by the South African government since 1948. What escapes most commentators’ attention is the reality that the whole world has been hoodwinked by this disinformation campaign. Most have expressed a great, global, emotive, self-righteous outcry against the imputed unfairness of the apartheid system. Many people are gullibly being led by the nose to endorse a power transfer that PORTENDS A FUTURE MINERAL AND METALS BLACKMAIL AGAINST THE COMBINED WESTERN ECONOMIES at least equivalent to that imposed by the OPEC oil cartel in a previous decade! (Ron Fraser, South Africa in Prophecy, 1997, p. 4.) 

Eighteen years later nothing of the sort has occurred.

28. PCG predicting that Shimon Peres will return to power in Israel to create an self defeating agreement with the Palestinians that will lead to the State of Israel's conquest by Europe.

Peres is also slurred as being a traitor and a "foxy old socialist" who "is set to worm his way back into" a position of prominence to make such an agreement with the Palestinians (which PCG insists will somehow lead to the State of Israel to be conquered by Europe).

Sources within both the U.S. and Israeli administrations claim that America is intent on seeing Netanyahu removed from office so that he might be the scapegoat for the failed peace process. Meanwhile, the man whom Arafat has called his friend, Shimon Peres, waits in the wings, biding his time. (Israeli Pullback Continues, May 1998.)  

But most significantly, it was Shimon Peres who in 1993 brokered the deal with Pope John Paul II to hand over sovereignty of Jerusalem’s Old City to the Vatican. Although we have observed enough snippets of intelligence here and there to build the picture, author Barry Chamish’s research has done much to expose this traitorous act. ...
Ariel Sharon may be the elected leader of Israel, but watch for one foxy old socialist to slide into the picture as the power behind the throne in a unity government between Likud and Labor. Once again Shimon Peres is set to worm his way back into prime focus as the mediator between Israel, the PLO, the EU and the Vatican. (Ron Fraser, Muscling into the Mideast, March-April 2001.)

It would appear that the PCG leadership loathes Peres. Ron Fraser even dehumanizes him by comparing him to a worm. But nevertheless in all this time Peres has not returned to power as prime minister in the State of Israel. 

29. Sexual behavior disapproved by PCG is responsible for "giving birth" to HIV/AIDS.

The current generation of foreign policy formulators and administrators in the West, particularly in the present British and American administrations, is the product of a left-wing, socialist-engineered education system that had its genesis in the 1960s (though its true origins may be traced to the Marxist-Leninist thought engendered by the fathers of socialism in the early 1900s). Socialist philosophy has always had particular appeal to the intelligentsia. Often described as the “baby-boom generation,” the post-World War II generation, which had their minds bent by German rationalist thought, tends to predicate all analyses, judgments and conclusions on godless evolutionary theory, based on the overall assumption that there are no absolutes.
In general terms, to this generation all of the values, mores, honorable traditions—even documented history of past events—are held up to question. This approach to subjective analysis is fundamentally sourced at a basic and false assumption—that the theory of relativity applies not just in the arena of physical sciences. By extension it is assumed that it generally may be applied to human behavior—religion, moral standards, ethics and human values. Thus we have the concept of “moral relativity,” which spawned the “new morality” of the 1960s, giving birth to a new and uncontrollable communicable disease—AIDS. (Ron Fraser, What's Behind the Crisis in Foreign Relations?, The Philadelphia Trumpet, May 1999, p. 3.)

Of course this is nonsense. No human gave birth to HIV/AIDS. It is an offshoot of another virus, SIV, which infects one species of ape, namely the Central Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes). The first cross species infection appears to have been with a cut hunter somewhere in rural central Africa, possibly in the Congo, around 1921 (1908-1933).

Bizarrely enough the mass murdering terrorist Osama bin Laden also tried to falsely blame other human beings for producing HIV/AIDS. In his case he decided to blame Americans.

And because of all this, you [Americans] have been described in history as a nation that spreads diseases that were unknown to man in the past. Go ahead and boast to the nations of man, that you brought them AIDS as a Satanic American Invention. (Osama bin Laden, To the Americans, October 7, 2002, as quoted in Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden, 2005, p. 168.)

Imagine that. PCG saying something Osama bin Laden would say.

30. PCG saying the United States is becoming isolationist. (They said this just before 9/11.)

We can’t afford the pacifist attitude we had before World War-II [sic] and survive nationally. Yet our pacifist attitude today is far worse than it was then. (Gerald Flurry, Winston S. Churchill: The Watchman, 1999, 2002, p. 2.)

Our people in Britain and America lack the will to even sacrifice a few soldiers’ lives to fight a ground war. Our generals know that we lack the will to win any hard-fought battle—even if it directly relates to our own freedom. For example, we had to be bombed into World War II. Even one of the most diabolical leaders in history, Adolf Hitler, could not rouse us to fight until we were bombed by Japan. And we are much more isolationist today. We are not prepared to die to defend our security, as we were in our past. This is the supreme sign that our will has been broken—and that our republic cannot stand.We must make very radical changes to save our country. (Gerald Flurry, No Freedom Without Law, 2001, p. 24.)

A few voices within the United States have been raised in concern over this apparent new American isolationism. (Ron Fraser, Is America Becoming Isolationist?, The Philadelphia Trumpet, September-October 2001.)

31. PCG predicting Serbia will be fast tracked into EU membership.

Watch for Yugoslavia to be pushed now, by events controlled from Brussels, into the fast lane to EU membership. (Ron Fraser, Yugoslavia Comes in From the Cold, The Philadelphia Trumpet, December 2000.) 

In 2000 Yugoslavia referred to what are now Serbia and Montenegro. Today Serbia is still not in the European Union.

32. PCG predicting Macedonia would be partitioned by the EU (2001).

Cleverly, the EU has let NATO do all the grunt work in Macedonia, with the result that if things go wrong, the egg will be, once again, as in Kosovo, all over NATO’s face, and a classic opening will ensue, at the right moment, for the new EU rapid reaction force to deploy and to “enforce” the “peace” in that ethnically and politically divided country. ...

By dividing Macedonia into separate Albanian and Macedonian enclaves, as U.S. think tank Stratfor points out, NATO will have been the unwitting accomplice in achieving the Albanian rebels’ goal. (Ron Fraser, The Final Piece Fall Into Place, Philadelphia Trumpet, August 2001.)

Macedonia has not been partitioned. Once again PCG is wrong.

33. Gerald Flurry saying America and Britain have reached the point of no return in 2008.

If you study the biblical prophets, there came a point when their warnings no longer spoke about repentance. They were simply bold statements of fact—spoken as a witness against those peoples who had rejected God. I strongly believe our nations today—particularly the United States and Britain, modern descendants of the biblical nation of Israel—have passed the point of no return. The hope of their turning to God during this age has been eclipsed by the magnitude of their rebellion!
This indicates that time is indeed very short before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The increase in catastrophic events shows God strengthening His correction. Thus, I believe God simultaneously wants to strengthen and intensify the prophetic warning—in the hopes of reaching those individuals who exhibit a teachable attitude and a willingness to accept His guidance. (Gerald Flurry, How This Magazine is About to Change, The Philadelphia Trumpet, September 2008.)

34. PCG saying the US "dollar is doomed" in 2008 and afterwards.

People are so afraid of the current Wall Street meltdown that they are willing to purchase federal bonds that pay interest rates far less than the rate of inflation. In other words, these people know that they will technically lose money by purchasing treasuries, but are willing to take the loss in order to avoid the possibility of an even greater loss in other investments like U.S. businesses, stocks, and the real-estate market.
Unfortunately, this time the bond market will not prove to be a safe haven. The structural problems in the U.S. economy and America’s massive debt load mean that the dollar is doomed too. (Robert Morley, Trumpet Weekly, December 6, 2008 issue, p. 10.)

But it won’t end there. The whole nation—head to toe—is sickened with debt. Federal, state, municipal, corporate, personal debt; America is maxed out. Trillions upon trillions. That debt is coming due! (Robert Morley, "How America Killed Itself", Trumpet Weekly, December 20, 2008 issue, p. 10.)

The government is broke. It was running massive deficits before the crisis ever struck. And now it is planning the biggest borrowing binge ever to bail out the irresponsible, inefficient and incompetent. The nation’s finances have been pushed beyond the point of recovery. (Robert Morley, Trumpet Weekly, March 7, 2009 issue, p. 10.)

The United States is beyond broke. It is borrowing and printing hundreds of billions of dollars in a mad scramble to escape economic quicksand.
Why, then, is it offering $300 million to reconstruct the Gaza Strip? And another $600 million to help the Palestinian Authority pay its bills? That’s $900 million of other people’s money—for a cause that is profoundly flawed. (Joel Hilliker, Trumpet Weekly, March 14, 2009 issue, p. 1.)

 "Will Social Security go bankrupt by 2010?" (Trumpet Weekly, April 18, 2009 issue, pp. 7-8.)

Never mind what some “experts” say. Bankruptcy is inevitable. The handwriting is all over the wall. (Stephen Flurry, "The Recession is Over?" Trumpet Weekly, August 8, 2009 issue, p. 3.)

The problem is that America has passed the financial point of no return. This country has reached debt-saturation. Borrowing and spending more money to fix a problem caused by too much borrowing and spending won’t fix anything. If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting.
The end of the recession is almost here. Next comes the depression. (Robert Morley, Trumpet Weekly, June 19, 2010 issue, p. 10.)

The world is heading toward another Lehman moment. Epoch-changing events are in motion—especially in Europe. (Second Collapse Coming Soon, Trumpet Weekly, July 23, 2011 issue, p. 9.)

After several wild stock market swings and S&P’s downgrading of America’s credit rating, anxiety about America’s financial future is understandable. Some analysts correctly recognize the S & P downgrade as another mile marker on the road to economic Armageddon.  (Joel Hilliker, We'll Always Be a Triple-A Country, Trumpet Weekly, August 13, 2011 issue, p. 10.)

The Dow Jones set a new record on Tuesday. Market commentators say this new record high is a big sign the economy is on the mend. But is it possible that it signals something much more ominous? (Robert Morley, Dow Jones Sets New Record: Now What?, Trumpet Weekly, March 9, 2013 issue, p. 10.)

In Americans’ view, we have done our part. We are weary of intervention. We’re broke. We’re weary of fighting. We’re sick of not seeing the benefits from all the effort and expenditure. (Joel Hilliker, The Age of American Intervention is Over, Trumpet Weekly, October 25, 2013 issue, p. 12.)

The United States is not going to go bankrupt. Per capita the United States was in fact more indebted back in the 1940s because of World War II but this fact is often overlooked partly because of inflation.

Also it is not possible for the United States to go bankrupt because its debt is denominated in its own currency. Other countries have gone bankrupt in recent years but that is because they did not control their own currencies. The United States does not face that particular problem.

This matter is a red herring. The United States is in no danger of going bankrupt. PCG was wrong on this matter in 1997 (see #25 above), in 2008, and today.

(This topic was discussed before here.)

35. PCG saying the U.S. economy is already destroyed.

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! (Gerald Flurry, Isaiah's End-Time Vision, 2013 version, p. 39.)

36. PCG saying American economy may collapse in 2013.

"America's Crash of 2013?" (Robert Morley, Trumpet Weekly, June 30, 2012 issue, p. 8.)

37. PCG insinuating that America might be destroyed by 2017.

Are you concerned about where the current administration is leading this country? Whether the nation can survive the next four years? It's worst then you think, and there is only one solution to this gigantic problem. (Trumpet Weekly, April 20, 2013 issue, p 11.)

38. PCG saying high oil prices will not come down.

Since coming to office, Mr. Obama has been confronted with an uncomfortable truth.
It is the fact that, going forward, it is going to become dramatically more difficult for America to obtain and secure the energy it needs—and sooner than most people realize. It is a truth that policy makers and politicians are afraid to publicly admit because the implications of an oil-constrained world affect everything from stock markets and food production to the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency. ...
So where is the oil going to come from? Not America. ...
Over the past week crude oil surged to a new 17-month highs—$86 per barrel. Better get used to it, sky-high oil prices may soon be here to stay. (Robert Morley, Trumpet Weekly, April 10, 2010 issue, pp. 8-9.)

You are paying 20 cents a gallon more for gas today than you were a week ago. And $1.70 per gallon more than you were just 26 months ago.
Better get used to it. Of the 89.1 million barrels of oil the world uses every day, about 35 percent come from North Africa and the Middle East. Instability there has put oil supplies in serious jeopardy. As a result, the first two months of this year saw the price of oil leap about $20 a barrel. That translates into 50 cents more per gallon. (Joel Hilliker, Oil Shock Is Coming, Trumpet Weekly, March 5, 2011 issue, p. 4.)

What if America discovered it had a Saudi Arabia worth of oil under its own soil? Guess what? We found that oil—rather, the Canadians did. It just needs a way to get to market. But strangely, America doesn’t know if it wants it or not. (Robert Morley, Plugging Our Own Economy, Trumpet Weekly, November 26, 2011 issue, p. 8.)

[Here Hilliker discusses President Obama's re-election:] America re-elected the president after ... four years of rising inflation, gas prices, grocery bills and so on. (Joel Hilliker, Thoughts On Four More Years, Trumpet Weekly, November 10, 2012 issue, p. 7.)

Little did PCG know that the price of oil would later indeed go down.

39. Watching Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg.

Consider German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. Guttenberg, as Time observed this week, “is virtually the only German minister to emerge from the revelations untainted” (emphasis mine throughout). That’s telling. (Brad MacDonald, "Look Who Survived WikiLeaks," Trumpet Weekly, December 4, 2010 issue, p. 5.)

40. Watching the "three Bavarians of the moment".

So there it is. Yet once again we draw attention to three Bavarians of the moment—Joseph Ratzinger, Baron Guttenberg and Edmund Stoiber. (Ron Fraser, Germany--Watch This Space, Trumpet Weekly, June 5, 2010 issue, p. 4.)

What is it about these three Bavarians—Ratzinger, Stoiber and Guttenberg? ...
There is a reason why we watch these three Bavarians—Ratzinger, Stoiber and Guttenberg. They all share a common vision. It is the vision propounded by Stoiber’s mentor, Franz Josef Strauss, which matched that of the recently deceased Otto von Habsburg. It’s a Holy Roman imperial vision—a vision that has Rome as the spiritual glue that will hold together a revival, a literal resurrection, of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. (Ron Fraser, Three Men to Watch, Trumpet Weekly, October 8, 2011 issue, p. 5.)

Little did PCG know that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg would soon be forced to resign as defense minister. This is also a false prophecy.

41. The release of postage stamps in Germany honoring their own army cited as a sign that Germany will soon conquer America and Britain.

Following hard on the consolidation of Berlin as the national capital of Germany came the bringing out of storage and restoration for display of many of the statues of German military heroes dating back to its earliest imperial days. Then, recently, out of the blue, the German government released a postage stamp honoring the Bundeswehr’s expanding role in international missions. Perhaps this would be looked upon favorably by the world had not Germany possessed such a consistent history of abusing its military power over such a long period of time. (Ron Fraser, Germany--Return of National Pride, Trumpet Weekly, June 29, 2013 issue, p. 4.)

 42. Not foreseeing the Arab Spring.

Note that: The developed world—not some backwoods sub-Saharan dictatorship—is on the verge of exploding. (Brad MacDonald, A Chilling 'Age of Rage', Trumpet Weekly, June 12, 2010 issue, p. 4.)

This was written just before the Arab Spring began in Tunisia in December 2010 and spread throughout the Arab world.

43. Iran, the Taliban and a radicalized Pakistan could get nuclear weapons (2009).

 “Mankind is on a toboggan-slide toward nuclear oblivion! It looks like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could have nuclear weapons in a matter of months. It also looks like the Taliban can conquer Pakistan in a very short amount of time. WE COULD HAVE THREE MADMEN IN THIS WORLD WITH NUCLEAR BOMBS!”
—Gerald Flurry, Co-Worker Letter, July 3, 2009 (As quoted in Trumpet Weekly, August 14, 2010 issue, p. 3.)

Six years later Iran has no nuclear weapons. The Taliban has not conquered Pakistan. Pakistan has not become radicalized. Once again PCG is wrong.

44. After withdrawing from Iraq America will never fight another war.

 “After World War II , Mr. Armstrong said the U.S. would never win another war. I believe that after we retreat from Iraq, America will never FIGHT another war!”
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet, January 2007 (Quoted in The Trumpet Weekly, September 4, 2010 issue, p. 9.)

This was written just before the intervention in Libya which aided the Libyan people to overthrow the Gaddafi regime.

45. PCG's prophecies are to be fulfilled in the very near future most dramatically (2009).

Read and study our booklet.... If ever there was a book written for our time today, it is this book. You need to at least be acquainted with its message, even if you do not agree with it at this moment. For the chances are, you will recall and agree with its message when the prophecies that it contains are fulfilled, most dramatically, in the very near future!  (Ron Fraser, America The Corrupt, Trumpet Weekly, August 29, 2009 issue, p. 10.)

46. PCG speculating that the Berlin Club will become a streamlined EU composed of ten members which will soon conquer America and Britain.

The Trumpet has continued Mr. Armstrong’s forecast and explained repeatedly that a closely integrated group of 10 nations, or groups of nations, would emerge out of the 27-member EU behemoth that exists today. We don’t know for certain if the Berlin Club constitutes this group, but it’s possible. (Brad MacDonald, Germany Hasn't Given Up On a United States of Europe, Trumpet Weekly, March 24, 2012 issue, p. 5.)

47. PCG speculating that the State of Israel may fall by 2013.

Netanyahu sees that right now vast tracts of the Middle East, territorially, politically and strategically, belong to Iran and radical Islam. Soon now, this Iran-led radical Islamic mob will descend on Israel with overwhelming numbers and force. Like its embassy in Cairo last week, the Jewish state has a defensive wall, a top-notch military, crack intelligence and state-of-the-art anti-missile defense systems. That wall might hold for a while longer. But with each passing month, its ability to protect and defend will diminish, one missile, one terrorist attack at a time.
Soon, perhaps in a few months or maybe next year [2012] or the year after [2013], the weight of the Islamic mob will cause the wall to crumble and collapse. What will happen then?  (Brad MacDonald, Israel Enters Nightmare Scenario, The Trumpet Weekly, September 17, 2011, p. 10.)

For radical Islam, and especially the Palestinians, the speech was confirmation that they are on course for victory over Israel, and that all they need to do is hold fast to their current strategy. That strategy is simple: It involves bringing about the genocide of Israel by waging SIMULTANEOUS campaigns of aggression and of feigned peace, designed to force concessions and buy time. (Brad MacDonald, Hitler, the Palestinians and the West, Trumpet Weekly, May 21, 2011 issue, p. 1.)

48. PCG predicting that the Assad regime would fall to be replaced by a pro-EU government.

Syrian and Iranian interests and loyalties have been wed together for decades. But all of that is about to change—particularly now that we are witnessing the last days of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship. As early as 1994, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry expounded on a prophecy in Psalm 83 that reveals that Syria would ally itself with Germany. This is why we have long known about the forthcoming divorce between Syria and Iran. It’s not a matter of if— only when. (Iran To Let Go Of Syria, Trumpet Weekly, July 28, 2012 issue, p. 3.)

The latest U.S. policy shift to send direct aid to Syria is yet another game changer that will ultimately help topple Assad’s government and most likely trigger the switch in Syria’s allegiance from Iran to another alliance comprised of “moderate” Arab states and Germany. (Syria: the inevitability of collapse, Trumpet Weekly, March 9, 2013 issue, p. 3.)

49. PCG predicting that Ethiopia would fall to "radical Islam."

This verse states that Libya and Ethiopia are also going to be closely allied with Iran ! ... So you need to watch Libya and Ethiopia . They are about to fall under the heavy influence or control of Iran, the king of the south . That is why they are subdued in the king of the north victory. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 6.)

Whoever heavily influences or controls Ethiopia will undoubtedly also control the small areas of Eritrea and Djibouti on the Red Sea coastline. These areas only recently became independent of Ethiopia. Also, I believe the Bible view is that these small areas are included as a part of Ethiopia. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 6.)

As al-Shabaab terrorists clash with Ethiopian troops in Somalia and as Muslims across western Ethiopia burn churches, what is now basically a Somali civil war could soon escalate into an inter-state war between an Islamist-controlled Somalia and its western enemy. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 9.)

Ethiopia’s decision last week to attack Eritrea’s terrorist training posts shows that, despite UN sanctions, the radical Islamist problem in Eritrea is growing. Expect the pressure on Ethiopia to intensify until the nation falls under the influence or control of radical Islam.(Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 10.)

In Ethiopia, religious tension is growing too, and has surprised many. Ethiopia is predominantly Christian. Christians outnumber Muslims two to one. Yet even here, they were under attack earlier this year. Rioting Muslims burned 69 churches in addition to Christian homes and other buildings in a week-long uprising in March. Now in a backlash, the government is cracking down on Islamists. More than 570 Islamists have been rounded up and sentenced to jail terms of up to 18 years. An additional 107 are charged with terrorism for their roles in attacking Christians. Ethiopia is sending a message that radical Islam will not be tolerated. However, as happened in Egypt, and more recently in Syria, the government crack - down may actually empower those being targeted. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 13.)

Egypt is not going to escape the king of the north because it is allied with Iran. The same applies to Libya and Ethiopia (which will probably be the next Middle East explosion, which Iran is going to exploit). (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 16.)

Earlier this year, Mr. Flurry outlined how Daniel 11 also foretells that Libya and Ethiopia will realign to join an Iranian-led, radical Islamist camp. Watch for these far-reaching changes. Egypt and Libya are already in the midst of their transition and Ethiopia is set to be next. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 17.)

At the time, many readers rejected this warning as absurd. This is a “most bizarre article,” retorted one Trumpet reader from Ethiopia. My country is “one of the oldest and [most] devout Orthodox Christian nations on the planet (since third century) and a staunch ally of the United States. On behalf of U. S., Ethiopia invaded Somalia in late 2006 and kicked out ruling Islamic Courts Union .... [that] doesn’t sound like a nation doing Iran’s bidding.” He’s right too, at least in his facts. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 22.)

 Clearly PCG should have listened to this Ethiopian reader.

Continue watching Ethiopia. Recent events appear to be setting the stage for an Islamic takeover. (Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy, 2012, p. 25.)

Three years later Ethiopia has not turned Islamist and is unlikely to ever do so.

50. PCG predicting that the Muslim Brotherhood would radicalize Egypt just like Iran and join forces with Iran. 

What a dramatic and shocking transformation we have witnessed! A radical Islamist now presides over the biggest and most powerful state in the Arab world. Of course, Mohammed Morsi’s election represents a tremendous victory for democracy—so say the fantasists. But these fantasies will soon be exposed by a brutal reality. ... In other words, Egypt is now lost. Whether these radical steps are taken quickly and overtly or slowly and subtly, the outcome is inevitable.(Stephen Flurry, Egypt Is Lost, Trumpet Weekly, June 30, 2012 issue, p. 2.)

America pushed Mubarak out of office. Now an Islamist leader is setting himself up as a dictator in Mubarak’s place, and the U.S. is doing nothing. (Egypt's President Grants Himself Extraordinary Power, Trumpet Weekly, November 24, 2012 issue, p. 2.)

Little did PCG know that just one year later the Muslim Brotherhood would be ousted from power in a military coup and suppressed with much violence and bloodshed. At least 638 people were killed in this coup. PCG was wrong.

51. PCG insinuating that President Obama's re-election in 2012 would work in the interests of America's rivals.

Vladimir Putin took a “very positive view” of Mr. Obama’s victory. I should think so, considering President Obama’s pledge that he would have “more flexibility” to work with Russia after this election. Other happy leaders: Ahmadinejad, Chavez, the Muslim Brotherhood. Not so happy: Netanyahu. (Joel Hilliker, Thoughts On Four More Years, Trumpet Weekly, November 10, 2012 issue, p. 7.)

Putin ended up wading into a nasty war in eastern Ukraine that led to his nation getting sanctioned by many countries just when the price of oil went down. Ahmadinejad has since been replaced by Rouhani. Ahmadinejad's preferred candidate failed to gain power. Chavez died and his successor had to deal with long running protests and a toilet paper shortage. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt was overthrown and suppressed with much violence and bloodshed and driven underground. Meanwhile Netanyahu gets about 20% of his nation's military budget funded by the United States.

52. African Americans will soon launch a wave of riots against the white majority all over the United States. PCG has taught this vicious and racist idea continuously since 1992, if not earlier.

*******

And after all these miserable failures to predict the future PCG leaders still wonder why PCG just is not as popular as the PCG leadership seem to think they should be.

We’ve been trumpeting these prophecies for over two decades, following in the footsteps of Herbert W. Armstrong, who prophesied before us for more than 50 years. And now that many of these very prophecies are being fulfilled, one would think our mail bins would be buried under piles of requests; that our phone lines would light up like Las Vegas; that our Web traffic would crash the servers. 

Instead, it’s more like a steady trickle of interest—one from a city, two from a family, as the Prophet Jeremiah said. God’s work is still getting done. His warning message of LOVE is still going out to this world.

But the support for that worldwide work is coming from such a tiny group of dedicated families.
Most do not make time for Christ or His good news message of the soon-coming Kingdom of God. They are too busy attending to the cares of this world. As the Apostle Paul said about the perilous times of these “last days,” men would love themselves and pleasure-seeking MORE THAN GOD (2 Timothy 3:1-4). This doesn’t apply to every single individual, of course—but it certainly describes our society in general. ...

Can’t we put some time-consuming, energetic devotion into our love and service to God and His great work? (Stephen Flurry, It's High Time to Wake Up!, Trumpet Weekly, April 2, 2011 issue, p. 10.)

A major reason why PCG is not taken seriously is because of these many false predictions the PCG leadership have made over the years.

The evidence is clear. Gerald Flurry and those with him in the Philadelphia Church of God are false prophets. There is no need for anyone to fear that their dire words will come to pass. The Bible commands us not to be afraid of their words. They are false prophets.