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COGwriter

PCG posted the following from its leader Gerald Flurry:

The Malachi’s Message Warning

November 8, 2015

The “little book” mentioned in the book of Revelation introduces the lukewarm Laodicean era of God’s Church. While the world catapults into self-annihilation, the little book discusses a deadly spiritual falling away. God gave His people a message to deliver, but they quit prophesying.

However, God won’t be stopped by a few rebels; He raised up the ruins through a loyal remnant. The little book explains this miracle in great detail.

Once the little book is revealed, the Great Tribulation and the work of the two witnesses are imminent. Beyond that, the little book points to the soon-to-come return of Jesus Christ. Readers of the truth inside the little book will understand this powerful King will end mankind’s disastrous rule and set up a perfect eternal government.  …

The late Herbert W. Armstrong delivered the mystery message, largely through his greatest work, Mystery of the Ages. …study Mystery of the Ages to build a spiritual foundation before you read the little book. …

“And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter” (Revelation 10:8-10).

God wants us to eat up the little book! We must devour and digest this bittersweet message.

Here is more of what the improperly-named Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) teaches about the ‘little book’:

The stormy wind comes in the form of the little book of Rev. 10. THAT LITTLE BOOK IS MALACHI’S MESSAGE. That little book is the vanguard of the STORMY WIND. (Flurry, Gerald. The Little Book. Philadelphia Trumpet. Sept-Oct 1992).

We also firmly believe that Malachi’s Message is the little book of Revelation 10. (Leap Dennis. As quoted in Philadelphia Official Responds. The Journal. June 30, 1998. p.8).

The little book and our message is to measure the Church to prove that they are Laodiceans (Flurry, Gerald. Lamentations and the End-Time Laodiceans. Booklet. 1993. p.6.).

God has commissioned the PCG to prophesy again. God has given us the LITTLE BOOK–Malachi’s Message–because we are the only Church which knows how to ‘PROPHESY AGAIN’ (Flurry, Gerald. From the Beginning. Booklet. 1996. p.34).

We now ‘prophesy AGAIN,’ after God’s message was stopped by His own people (Rev. 10:11). Revelation 10:11 actually says, “And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings’ ” (Flurry, G. The Solution to Israel’s Problems. Philadelphia Trumpet, Dec 2002, p. 26).

PCG claims extra-human inspiration for its Malachi’s Message booklet:

The PCG does believe that Malachi’s Message is more than a human work (Leap Dennis. As quoted in Philadelphia Official Responds. The Journal. June 30, 1998. p.8).

Malachi’s Message was delivered to me and the PCG in 1989. A MIGHTY ANGEL DIRECTLY FROM GOD REVEALED IT! (Flurry, Gerald. The Little Book. Philadelphia Trumpet. Sept-Oct 1992).

Yet they changed it:

The PCG’s main publication, Malachi’s Message, was drastically improved in 1991. Much of that summer was spent on adding sections, editing, and giving it a new format like most other small books. The improvements are astounding (Flurry, Stephen. 1991: A Year to Remember. Philadelphia Trumpet. February 1992).

There have been many changes from the original booklet in 1990 (which I read) and the newest 1995 version (which I also read) which makes me wonder the same thing about revising Malachi’s Message that a former Philadelphia pastor asked:

“Why would anyone dare to change a revelation from God? (Schaeffer, Randy. In Former PCG Elders Say Church in Crisis, Moving Away from Its Founding Principles. The Journal. June 30, 1999. p.9)

Yet PCG claims the booklet was prophesied:

Malachi’s Message Prophesied!…’And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts’ (Mal. 2:4). This is a specific prophecy about Malachi’s Message. GOD SAID ‘I SENT’ THIS MESSAGE TO YOU, AND ‘YOU SHALL KNOW’ THAT GOD SENT IT! They will know before or during the Great Tribulation that Malachi’s Message is from God (Flurry, Gerald. Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today. Booklet. 1995. p.30).

These prophesies in Malachi could occur only after Mr. Armstrong was dead (Flurry, Gerald. Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today. Booklet. 1995. p.143.).

Today, people often ask, ‘Where does Mr. Flurry get his authority? Where does Mr. Flurry and the PCG get authority to rebuild the temple?’ Zerubbabel’s experience typifies the PCG today. In a similar vein, we get our authority from some original signed documents. Our are not civil, legal documents. The documents authorizing the PCG and our work are the writings of Herbert W. Armstrong. The PCG is the only Church that holds onto ALL of what Christ established through Mr. Armstrong (Flurry, Gerald and Leap, Dennis. Ezra and Nehemiah: Building God’s Temple. Booklet. 1997. p.29).

Even a casual reading of this document should reveal to any with eyes to see that PCG admits that it does not hold onto ALL of what Christ established through Herbert W. Armstrong.

Similar to some others, PCG oddly claims:

The PCG is the only Church that holds onto ALL of what Christ established through Mr. Armstrong (Flurry, Gerald and Leap, Dennis. Ezra and Nehemiah: Building God’s Temple. Booklet. 1997. p.29).

Herbert Armstrong had a completely different view of Revelation 10 and many other PCG claims:

Now notice this tenth chapter–an inset chapter, not necessarily at all occurring at the TIME sequence of the end of the ninth chapter. The actual recording of EVENTS, TIME-WISE, is not continued until chapter 11, verse 15.

This chapter 10 has been virtually OVERLOOKED. I did not comment on it in the earlier days, or expound it when I wrote the OUTLINE of the book of Revelation, or the full booklet on the revelation. There was NO WAY it could have been understood then–until after subsequent events–just as we could not have understood how Satan sways the entire WORLD, as explained in Eph. 2.1-2, until we had radio and television.

A MIGHTY ANGEL comes down from heaven, his face as the SUN, his feet as pillars of fire. His voice was as the roar of a lion. He set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth.

He had a LITTLE BOOK open.

This mighty angel in the second half of this inset prophecy, beginning verse 6, swears by the Eternal GOD there shall be “time no longer” (A.V.–marginal translation—”no more delay”. But the angel continues, “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, (7th trumpet–which shall be the 7 last plagues–and which also is the PRECISE TIME of Christ’s coming as KING over the earth)–when He shall begin to sound the mystery of God should be finished…” (verse 6-7).

I italicized “when He shall” referring to the sounding of the last and FINAL trumpet, to show that the time setting of this brief two-part inset prophecy is NOT AT OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER the 6th trumpet of chapter 9) –but SOME TIME PRIOR TO IT! Therefore, in time setting, this is a flashback. Now continue:

The Apostle John in his vision is told to take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel, and eat it up.

HOW LIKE EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY!

It was sweet as honey in his mouth but BITTER in his stomach.

The message of that little book seems to be what the angel next said, “Thou must prophesy [proclaim–preach—foretell] again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues and KINGS!”

Now WHEN?

The message of the little book written on both sides of a rol1, to be eaten and swallowed, takes us directly back to Ezekiel’s prophecy. Ezekiel himself, as I have shown. NEVER WENT TO ISRAEL, NEVER DELIVERED THAT MESSAGE. It was not a prophecy for the Israel of his day–but for OUR DAY, NOW. Ezekiel’s prophecy was NOT a message to MANY NATIONS, speaking different languages, and to their KINGS. It was to the REBELLIOUS PEOPLE of the House of Israel and it was emphasized to Ezekiel they were NOT of strange speech–NOT foreign Gentile nations.

This WORK OF GOD did carry that message to those same people in OUR DAY, prior to January, 1972.

I felt I had reason to believe it was POSSIBLE that OUR WORK would be FINISHED by January, 1972, I wrote and printed that many times. But I also said I WAS NOT SETTING DATES–it was not CERTAIN!

It was a possibility. But being HUMAN, many of those supporting me in this Work did take it as a definite date. Up until then they sacrificed to send in tithes and offerings for God’s WORK, when the Work did NOT end in January, 1972, some FOOLISHLY said, “Now I’m through going without things I like to have–my Lord delayeth His coming!” Read what God says of those who say and do that (Matt. 24:48-51).

Now WHEN is the TIME of this prophecy in Revelation?

Read right on. Chapter 11 is merely a chapter division written by MEN. But John’s book of Revelation continues right on. The apostle, in his vision, is told now by this same angel to rise and MEASURE THE TEMPLE. But LEAVE OUT the court which is for the Gentiles, for they shall tread down the Holy City for 3 1/2 years.

So the TIME of our prophecy is at least 3 1/2 YEARS before Christ’s coming–before THE GREAT TRIBULATION before the beginning of the DAY OF THE LORD and before the seventh angel blows the last trumpet!

Then it continues on into the message of the TWO WITNESSES–also referred to and perhaps identified in Haggai and Zechariah.

And THEY SHALL PREACH A LAST WARNING TO THE WHOLE WORLD FOR 3 1/2 YEARS! And it is not until after ALL THIS, that the time element picks back up with the sounding of the 7th trumpet in chapter 11:15.

Therefore, MY CONCLUSION?

Could it be possible, after proclaiming the Gospel of THE KINGDOM OF GOD, as well as Ezekiel’s warning to the people of Israel, that, beginning January, 1972, when my PRESENT CAMPAIGN of walking through the doors God said He would open (Rev. 3:8) to KINGS, and many NATIONS of DIFFERENT LANGUAGES commenced, that it is the FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY OF REVELATION 10?

To me it comes as a STARTLING, AMAZING EYE-OPENING NEW LIGHT DIRECT FROM GOD!

THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PHASE OF GOD’S WORK TODAY!

And THE JOB IS GETTING DONE! (Armstrong, Herbert W. Co-worker letter, November 19, 1976).

Thus, for PCG to state that it has the same teachings as HWA is again shown as incorrect. HWA gave his views, which PCG claims to accept.

Wrong Teaching on the ‘Man of Sin’

In his book, Malachi’s Message (1995 edition), in the chapter titled “Man of Sin,” Gerald Flurry wrote:

God’s Church has applied 2 Thessalonians 2:4 to the world for the most part. But it doesn’t apply to the world…

“Even him [the “son of perdition”], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The word “signs” is rendered “pretended signs” by the Revised Standard Version. This “son of perdition” is heavily influenced by Satan…In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul discusses signs and lying wonders of a false leader or lying apostle (Revelation 2:2)…

Mr. Tkach was an innermost disciple—more so than other Church leaders—in those last seven years of Mr. Armstrong’s life. The leadership discussed in 2 Thessalonians 2 must be in Pasadena today. (pp. 79,88,89,99)

But this false leader is not J. Tkach Sr. who Gerald Flurry originally identified in Malachi’s Message  nor anyone who was part of the Tkach Administration in Pasadena in 1995. Furthermore, the type of signs and lying wonders that the Apostle Paul referred to have been not accompanied any in the Tkach Administration.

Furthermore, while Gerald Flurry tries to ‘spiritualize’ that away, the reality is that the rest of the verses in 2 Thessalonians 2 did not happen:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

The emergence of the Tkach Administration did not come with ALL POWER, SIGNS, AND LYING WONDERS. Nor did it result in the world believing a strong delusion–they believed the usual delusions that they have always believed.

Also notice verse 8 in 2 Thessalonians 2:

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Joseph Tkach, Sr. died in 1995 and Jesus has not come. Nor do I believe that any around in Pasadena/Glendale in the Tkach Administration are possibly the subject of 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Gerald Flurry is in error.  Demons give false messages and Gerald Flurry’s claim that his source was angelic indicates that it was a demonic source–it is that or his own imagination.  Either way, his message contains falsehoods and errors.

To learn the truth about the identity of the ‘man of sin,’ please rely on what the Bible, not tradition or Gerald Flurry’s writings differ from. An article to assist with this would be Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?; here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?

Gerald Flurry is not God’s prophet. Those interested in learning the truth about Christian prophets should study the article How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God; here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God.

As far as Malachi goes, his four chapter book contains God’s message.  It is not the message that an apparent demon gave Gerald Flurry.

Information about some or what Malachi taught is in the articles The Elijah Heresies and Tithing Questions and Some Answers.

COGwriter

In his booklet, The Seven Laws of Success, the late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote the following related to the third law of success:

The Basic Third Law

The all-important law coming next in time order is GOOD HEALTH.

We are physical beings. The mind and the body form the most wonderful physical mechanism we know. But man is made of matter. He is basically 16 elements of organic, chemically functioning existence.

He lives by the breath of air—which is the breath of LIFE itself. If the bellows we call lungs do not keep inhaling and exhaling the oxygen-containing air, man won’t live to achieve any goal. You are only one heartbeat away from death! As the lungs pump air in and out, so the heart pumps blood through and intricate system of veins and arteries. These must be supported by food and water.

And so man IS just what he eats. Some of the most famous physicians and surgeons have said that 90% to 95% of all sickness and disease comes from faulty diet!

Most people are in utter ignorance of the fact that it does make a difference what we eat! Most people, and the customs of society, have followed a regimen of eating whatever tastes good to the palate.

Adults are babies grown up. Observe a nine-month-old baby. Everything that comes into his hands goes to his mouth!

My youngest brother may not like to read this in print, but I remember when he was about nine months old, and had managed to creep into the basement coal bin. We found him trying to eat little chunks of coal—his mouth and face well blackened!

You may laugh at babies trying to eat silver cups and chunks of coal. Or at people who dip small mice into a sauce, and, holding them by their tails, drop them as a delicious delicacy into their mouths.

If you do, they will laugh back at you. They will tell you that mice eat clean grain and clean foods, while you dip slimy, slithery oysters and other scavenger seafoods into cocktail sauces, and consider them a delicacy!

You think adults have actually LEARNED any better than nine-month-olds babies? Go to your fancy grocer’s and you’ll find on his shelves canned eel and canned rattlesnake.

WHY? As I said, humans know nothing at birth! We have to learn! But most of us do not know that! And, again, what we don’t know, we don’t know that we don’t know! And somehow, ever since babyhood, most humans seem to have grown up putting everything into the mouth. Most have grown up eating just whatever seemed to taste good—and whatever they saw others eating. There has been little education or even study about WHAT we ought—or ought NOT—to eat.

Most degenerative diseases are modern diseases—penalties for eating foods that have been demineralized in food factories—usually an excess of starch, sugar (the carbohydrates) and fats. Others are caused by a type of malnutrition—lack of needed minerals and vitamins in foods. Then people try to put the “vitamins” back into their systems by buying pills at the drugstore!

A famous director of a “Physical Fitness” program, lecturing at Ambassador College, reminded us that the medical profession has made great strides toward eliminating communicable diseases, yet is having little success coping with the increase of the non-communicable diseases,–such as cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases. These latter are affected by faulty diet.

Of course there are other laws of health—sufficient sleep, exercise, plenty of fresh air, cleanliness and proper elimination, right thinking, clean living.

Right now “jogging” has become the physical fitness fad. Even men in their late forties read a book by a self-professing “expert,” and suddenly are straining their hearts running two miles every day. “More and more exercise!” cry the faddists.

Why do humans tend to go to extremes? Exercise is good—it profits a little—but like most things, it can be carried past the law of diminishing returns. You can get an overdose that can cause harm. We are prone to forget the admonition of TEMPERANCE in all things.

What is the value of this excessive exertion in running two miles a day? It induces blood circulation. It gets circulation even to the extremities. And that is good. Stimulating blood circulation is good. Stimulating blood circulation is important. But we can also DESTROY HEALTH by going to unwise extremes. There is as much danger in overdoing exercise as in neglecting it.

Circulation can be induced without over-exertion or danger. I have never forgotten a lecture I heard as a young man in the days of the Chautauqua. The lecturer had been physical trainer to President Howard Taft. Immediately following the close of the Taft administration, this physical trainer managed to secure a list of all—or nearly all—of the centenarians in the United States. He personally visited every one. He asked to what they attributed their long life. One never used tobacco, and gave that as the reason. But another used tobacco all his life and still lived past a hundred years. One “tee-totaled”—but another drank beer and brandy all his life. And so it went. When he had interviewed them all, he analyzed his notes and was surprised to learn that ONLY ONE THING was common to them all. Yet not one gave it credit for his long life. Every one had taken a vigorous daily rub-down. Some with a bath towel, following a daily bath. Some with a brush But in one way or another, each had stimulated blood circulation even to the extremities of toes and fingers by daily rubbing or massaging.

Many ask how I (now in my nineties) keep up the energy, vigor and drive. I’m sure there is more than one reason—but I do not “jog” or go in for fads. I WALK—the best exercise for one of my age. But ever since I heard that lecture, perhaps 60 or more years ago, I have taken a daily RUB-DOWN. Method? A generous-size bath towel, following a daily shower. I try to get enough sleep. I watch elimination (very important). I try to be careful about my diet. And I have a tremendous INCENTIVE—a driving PURPOSE in life, because I have learned what is life’s PURPOSE. That spurs to action! I have a mission to accomplish that is more important than my life. There’s not much time left—and it MUST and WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED! Besides all this I draw on a greater and higher Power. I think that gives the answer.

The average person has never stopped to realize that it is not natural to be sick. Sickness and disease come only from violation of nature’s laws of body and mine—the physical LAWS of health. Most people have not learned that there are any such laws! They suppose that occasional illness or disease is natural in the course of life. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Sickness should not be taken for granted. Some authorities go so far as to say that we do not catch a cold—we eat our colds and fevers! They explain that a cold or fever is merely the unnatural and rapid elimination of toxins and poisons stored up in the glands, resulting from improper diet.

Now what about the great and the near-great of the world? They usually do not know all there is to know about the laws of good, vigorous health with clear, alert minds. But, compared to the average of the population, they know a great deal. They have, as a rule, enjoyed, shall we say, comparatively good health!

As an example, the President of the United States always has a White House physician who is constantly watchful over the President’s physical condition. A President is virtually required to get in certain exercise. President Eisenhower played golf frequently. President Kennedy took a daily swim. President Taft had a physical trainer who watched the overweight President daily.

Yet, there are many things that even these important people do not know about the causes of sickness, disease, debility.

One factor I think has worked universally in favor of such men. Mental attitude does have considerable influence on physical condition. Most “successful” men—as the world evaluates success—do think constructively, positively, in a mental attitude of confidence. They do not allow themselves to think negatively or assume an attitude of fear, worry, or discouragement. They do not allow themselves to get into uncontrolled moods of griping, complaining. They enforce on themselves emotional balance. And, mindful of the responsibilities on their shoulders, they probably put more restraint on dissipation than most people.

Without health one is direly handicapped, if not totally cut off from achievement. The fourth Law of Success is largely dependent on good health.

Many factors, including genetics and environment, affect health. But so do choices. (BTW, the fourth Law of Success in The Seven Laws of Success is “drive”).

Over a decade ago, I wrote a book related to natural health (which is still available) titled Combining Old and New : Naturopathy for the 21st Century. In addition to going over various views of health, causes of illness, and naturopathic modalities, it includes basically two chapters written by the late Herbert W. Armstrong (which were public domain and hence usable in a commercial book) on aspects of health.

People can influence and improve their health by making better choices.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Does God Heal Today? This historical article is by Herbert Armstrong and provides his views on healing circa 1952, which he seemed to later modify, at least to some degree.
Faith for those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the ‘faith chapter’? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Here is a link to a pdf. booklet titled Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido.Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese 一篇关于信仰的小文章
Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
Should Christians Smoke Tobacco or Marijuana? Is smoking a sin? What does the Bible teach? What have COG leaders written? Can smokers change? What about marijuana?
Marijuana: Should a Christian Get High? There is increasing acceptance of the use of marijuana. How should Christians view this? Here is a related video titled How Should a Christian View Marijuana?
Alcohol: Blessing or Curse? This is an article from the old Good News magazine that attempts to answer this question.
Binge Drinking, Health, and the Bible Many college students and others overindulge in alcohol. Are there health risks? What does the Bible teach?
Obesity, processed foods, health risks, and the Bible Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous? Is gluttony condemned? What diseases are associated with eating too much refined foods? A related video would be Eating Right, Eating Too Much, and Prophecy.
Ten Simple Rules that Lead to Health Herbert Armstrong gives his opinions on this.
The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous? There is also a sermon-length video on this: Christians and Unclean Meats.
Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains who he was and how he should be viewed today.
The Seven Laws of Success Information that can help people become successful.
Combining Old and New : Naturopathy for the 21st Century. A book written by Dr. Thiel on natural health principles and modalities.

COGwriter

Greg Albrecht, for a number of years, has controlled something called Plain Truth Ministries (PTM).  PTM does not put out a 10-times per year magazine called the Plain Truth, however, like the old Worldwide Church of God used to do.  Instead it puts out a quarterly magazine called Christianity Without Religion, also known as CWR.

Of course, Christianity is supposed to be a religion.  The title that Greg Albrecht has chosen seems odd at best.

Anyway, I flipped through two editions of the magazine today, and will add that other than articles by Greg Albrecht, I saw an article by Monte Wolverton, son of the late Basil Wolverton.

Essentially, the magazine in not the plain truth, but a type of Protestant publication.

In his newsletter this month, which is separate from the magazine, Greg Albrecht wrote:

CWR/PTM is a small ministry … We here at CWR/PTM are a team and we are a club.

Sadly, many treat their religion as a type of social club.  And in PTM’s case, they are essentially admitting it, though I do not believe that is the way they want it to be considered.  Many people are what I term ‘religious hobbyists.’  They claim to be believers, but have their own set of standards which differ from the Bible, though they will not normally admit that.

Many who read about religion are mainly interested in supporting their own views and are unwilling to make the changes that God wants them to in order to support His end time work.  And I am not just referring to Protestants, but to the non-Philadelphians who consider themselves part of the Church of God.

Some items of related interest may include:

COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware! [Português: Esperança do salvação: Como a igreja do deus difere da maioria de protestantes]
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
4. The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots.  They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy.

COGwriter

The Churches of God normally have over one hundred Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites in various places around the world every year. The Continuing Church of God has official sites in different countries in Africa and North America, as well as in New Zealand and the Philippines.

As many who are readers of this page at this time are not at the Feast of Tabernacles now, I thought a series on the sites we attended might be of interest.

I first began to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in 1977. My first feast was at Squaw Valley, California, with an attendance of around 10,000 (all attendance figures will be from my memory of estimated attendance), and this was when I saw Garner Ted Armstrong in person. In 1978, I went to Fresno, California, with an attendance of around 7,000. In 1979, I went to Tucson, Arizona for the feast, with an attendance of nearly 12,000 and this is when I saw Herbert W. Armstrong in person and met Stan Radar. In 1980, I attended the feast in Big Sandy, Texas and slept in a small tent–it rained a lot and this was quite wet–about 7,000 may have attended there that year.

In 1981, this was the first feast I did not drive to, it was Lihue, Hawaii, It had about 1,500 in attendance–this was the first time my wife and I were married and attended the same Feast site. In 1982, we went to Anchorage, Alaska with about 500 in attendance.

1983 was the first feast for either of us outside of the USA, as well as the first feast that we began to take slide pictures. We went to Hoogeveen, Netherlands (all of my wife’s grandparents came to the USA from the Netherlands). About 500 attended there that year. We wrote a list of things that were different there compared to the USA. Here are two photos from that feast:

Windmill and canal near Hoogeveen, Netherlands, 1983

In 1984, we went to Sri Lanka for the feast. About 100 or so attended. Sri Lanka was so different from the USA that we thought that perhaps we should write a list of what was the same as in the USA as that would have been a fairly short list. Here are two photos taken at that feast:

Below is the Riverina hotel where church services for the Feast of Tabernacles in 1984 was held:

In 1985, we went to Durban, South Africa. About 1,000 were there. Below is a South African village and a picture of the building services met at in Durban:

In 1986, we went to Pasadena, California for the Feast. We did not take slides, but should we find the photos taken, perhaps they will be added. One thing that puzzled me in 1986, was the fact that I learned that J. Tkach (Sr.) generally did not go anywhere for the Feast of Tabernacles. Later, of course, he and his administration minimized the necessity to observe God’s festivals.

In 1987, we went to Rotorua, New Zealand for the Feast. About 1200 of so attended there that year. We stayed at the Geyserland Hotel where we saw geysers and boiling mud everyday. The city has a sulfur smell, which when you are there a while, you get used to. Below is the view from our hotel room as well as a countryside photo taken:

In 1989, we went to the south Pacific nation of Fiji. About 200 or so attended that year:

In the 1980s, there were over 100 feast sites pretty much every year, and thus we tended to have a lot of choices about where to attend. Even now there are probably over 100 sites in total, though many are quite small. Back in the 1980s, upwards of 150,000 WCG people reportedly kept the Feast of Tabernacles. In the 21st century, it appears that less than 50,000 attend each year.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? The ‘Fall’ Holy Days come every year in September and/or October on the Roman calendar. Some call them Jewish holidays, but they were kept by Jesus, the apostles, and their early faithful followers. Should you keep them? What does the Bible teach? What do records of church history teach? What does the Bible teach about the Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day? Here is a link to a related sermon: Should you keep the Fall Holy Days?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time to Learn the Law The Bible teaches that every seven years that the law should be read at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is what I did at the first Feast site where I gave an actual sermon (as opposed to a sermonette) in 2006 and that is also what I did in 2014.
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days. (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Calendario Anual de Adoración –Una crítica basada en la Biblia y en la Historia: ¿Hay un Calendario Anual de Adoración en la Biblia?
Pagan Holidays or God’s Holy Days Which? Herbert W. Armstrong explains what the days the Bible endorses.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.

COGwriter

The ‘theatrical release of another movie about the late chess champion Bobby Fischer is scheduled for September 18, 2015

He once had a connection, for a time, with the old Worldwide Church of God.  Here is some of what Wikipedia reported about his religion:

Religious affiliation

Although Fischer’s mother was Jewish, Fischer disavowed having Jewish roots.In an interview in the January 1962 issue of Harper’s, Fischer was quoted as saying, “I read a book lately by Nietzsche and he says religion is just to dull the senses of the people. I agree”.

Fischer joined the Worldwide Church of God in the mid-1960s. The church prescribed Saturday Sabbath, and forbade work (and competitive chess) on Sabbath.  During the mid 1970s Fischer contributed significant money to the Worldwide Church of God.  In 1972 one journalist stated that “Fischer is almost as serious about religion as he is about chess”, and the champion credited his faith with greatly improving his chess.. …Fischer eventually left the church in 1977 (Bobby Fischer, accessed 09/14/15)

Here is some of what The Journal reported in its print date December 20, 2011 edition related to Bobby Fischer:

ARCADIA, Calif.—Harry Sneider, former WCG and AC employee and personal trainer to actor and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and many other notables, is featured in a new movie about the late chess champion Bobby Fischer. The film, Bobby Fischer Against the World, appeared in January 2011 on HBO television and in movie theaters. Mr. Fischer moved to Pasadena, Calif., in 1972 to be near the college and church headquarters after his triumph over Boris Spassky in the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland. “He was a coworker with the Church of God, and Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong wanted to help Bobby in any way he could,” Mr. Sneider remembers.

Bobby Fischer and a 2011 HBO movie about him were also mentioned in that article. While Bobby Fischer has been mentioned here from time to time (e.g. see Bobby Fischer Died and Bobby Fischer Problems in the Philippines Post Mortum), his movie was not.

FWIW, I do not believe that Bobby Fischer was ever a truly converted member of the Church of God, but God will make the actual judgment of course.  It also was never clear to me if Bobby Fischer was truly actually a member of the Church of God or not (a long time member told me that she was fairly sure that he never was, though she was not 100% positive)–his interest seemed to ebb and flow.  In 1975/6/7 he went completely off on his own and disassociated himself from the Worldwide Church of God and did not come back.

Jesus explained a parable:

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.  20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:18-23)

Which group Bobby Fischer may be in above,  God will judge.  But hopefully, you will chose to be among those that bear fruit.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

What is the Unpardonable Sin? What is it? Can you repent of it? Do you know what it is and how to avoid it? Here is a link to a related sermon video The Unpardonable Sin and the Prodigal Son.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account? Related sermon videos include Universal Offer of Salvation I: God is love and Universal Offer of Salvation II: The Age to Come and the ‘Little Flock’ and Universal Offer of Salvation III: All Are to Know Jesus, But When? and Universal Offer of Salvation IV: Will the Guilty be Pardoned? and Universal Offer of Salvation V: All Israel Will be Saved? A version of the main article was also translated in the Spanish language: Oferta universal de salvación: Hay cientos de versículos en la Biblia que apoyan la verdadera doctrina de la Apocatastasis.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Parable of the Talents: Are there Prophetic Ramifications? In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the servants given talents. What are/were talents? How valuable were they? What do Christians have that are of great value? Do many who are Christian that hide their talents? Was the one who buried his talent cowardly? Does any of this have to do with the Kingdom of God? Is the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19 related? Do Jesus give more to the one who was productive or the one who had the least?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? A related sermon is available titled Priority of the Philadelphia Work.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here is a related YouTube video titled The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
Leading the Final Phase of the Work Matthew 24:14 teaches “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come ” will be fulfilled and RCG is not the group doing this. Who is leading the final phase of the work? What did Herbert Armstrong and the old WCG teach about that and about prophets? Does Bob Thiel meet the criteria that the Bible and the old WCG set? What is the proof? What has the Continuing Church of God been doing?  This is a sermonette length video.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.

“Elijah in the wilderness“

COGwriter

COGwriter

The latest issue (says #175, print date July 31, 2015) of The Journal was sent out electronically and received today.

Items covered included the ‘W’ in the name Herbert W. Armstrong, old WCG buildings, Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015, and the Pope.

Here is something on the middle initial from The Journal also :

James Phillip Arnold: “Mr. Armstrong, I have read your autobiography in The Plain Truth and do not see what the W in your name stands for. You know, that W between the Herbert and the Armstrong. Just what do you mean by the W in Herbert W. Armstrong? Mr. Armstrong, what does the W in your name stand for?”

Herbert Armstrong: “Nothing. It stands for nothing. I added it years ago.”

This is not particularly news.  I have long had the following in my article 15 Accusations and Truthful Responses About Herbert W. Armstrong, a version of which was published years ago in The Journal:

No middle name

Accusation No. 1: Herbert W. Armstrong was named Herbert Armstrong at birth and did not have W as his given middle initial.

This is true according to Roderick Meredith of Charlotte, North Carolina, and from one of Herbert W. Armstrong’s relatives who lives near Tyler, Texas.

In all U.S. States I am aware of, anybody can take just about any name he wants, including middle initials, as long as he has no intent to defraud anyone.

There were apparently so many Herbert Armstrongs that Herbert W. Armstrong decided the sheer number of them caused confusion. One of them even lived across the street from the Pasadena, Calif., campus of Ambassador College (the school Herbert W. Armstrong founded) in the early days, causing problems with mail deliveries.

Someone else who claimed to ask him about it reported the following:

I let loose the quizment somewhat as follows: “Mr. Armstrong, I have read your autobiography in The Plain Truth and do not see what the Win your name stands for. You know, that W between the Herbert and the Armstrong. Just what do you mean by the W in Herbert W. Armstrong? Mr. Armstrong, what does the W in your name stand for?”

The slight jerk of the head, the eyes now near slits, a metathought could well be arising in his brain that the young man standing before him might be one of those deviant students who came to question, to distort, to wreck.

But then the double take and doubt lifted like a misbegotten mist, and his face softened, like his hand, and he matter-of-factly replied: “Nothing. It stands for nothing.

I added it years ago.” I believe he said something about needing to add an identifying letter for postal purposes and that he wanted a letter that worked well with his name (Arnold JP. What’s the plain truth about the W? The Journal, print date September 29, 2009, p. 3).

Why Herbert W. Armstrong chose W is not clear, but by adding it he made his name more distinctive.

In Herbert W. Armstrong’s early years it was not unusual for people to have middle initials that did not stand for anything. An example is Harry S. Truman. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, President Truman’s initial did not represent a middle name.

Here is the piece on old WCG buildings:

Two relics of the glory days of the Worldwide Church of God are available: one for sale and the other for controlled demolition for a movie scene, One is part of the old Summer Educational Program (SEP) grounds in Minnesota. The other is the former Hall of Administration on the erstwhile Ambassador College campus in Pasadena, Calif. Near Orr, Minn., a gymnasium and office space on seven acres are avail- able that include “nice views of Pelican Lake,” according to a real-estate broker’s brochure. “The building housing the gymnasium is approximately 110 by 130 [feet]. The adjoining office building is ap- proximately 70 by 80. “The property was once part of a youth Bible camp that disbanded in the late 1990s. The mostly level grounds offer panoramic views of Ambassador Point and Pelican Lake.” For more information contact Cold- well Banker Properties North at (218) 749-8222(218) 749-8222. Ask for listing agent Tim Lillquist. Halfway across the continent, as part of a planned redevelopment of the former AC campus in Pasadena, the former Hall of Administration is scheduled for “controlled demolition” between now and September 2015. The offer for the administration hall is not for you to buy it. It’s so you can use it as a “unique SFX [special effects] filming opportunity.” “This is a unique opportunity for production companies to film scenes which might require such scripted elements as explosive pyrotechnics, con- trolled burns, interior simulated gun- fire, vehicle crashes, demolition and/or other types of SFX and stunt sequences.” So if you’re working on a movie and need to blow up a building for an exciting scene or two, maybe the Hall of Ad is just the ticket. For more information contact the City of Pasadena Film Office at (626) 744-3964(626) 744-3964

I reported about the status of the former Hall of Administration earlier (see Ambassador Hall of Administration is to be demolished).

One article in The Journal asked if Pope Francis could be the last pope.  More on that can be found in the video Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist?

I also wrote a book about that (see The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book).

The Journal also had a listing Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015. Those interested in learning more about the Feast of Tabernacles may wish to study the article The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians?

The Journal also had the usual letters to the editor and other advertisements, various comments, and opinion articles.

The Journal itself is available by paid subscription (though Dixon Cartwright says some subscriptions are free to those who cannot afford it). It tends to have a non-Philadelphian approach to many matters.

COGwriter

The old Ambassador Hall of Administration of the Pasadena Campus of the old Ambassador College is about to be destroyed:

DATE: July 22, 2015

Unique SFX Filming Opportunity – Ambassador Campus Pasadena, CA (July – September, 2015)

 As part of a planned multi-year redevelopment of the former Ambassador College campus, the Hall of Administration is scheduled for controlled demolition between July and September, 2015.  During preparation and throughout the demolition process, requests to film at this 4-story office building will be entertained on a case-by-case basis.  This is a unique opportunity for production companies to film scenes which might require such scripted elements as: explosive pyrotechnics, controlled burns, interior simulated gunfire, vehicle crashes, demolition and/or other types of sfx and stunt sequences.

Hall of Administration / Ambassador West Campus

300 W. Green St. – Pasadena, CA 91105

• Built in 1967 by Herbert Armstrong.
• Late Modern steel and concrete design with dark glass accents (Peter J. Holdstock, architect).
• 4 stories with an open atrium style lobby.
• Basement loading area with separate driveway access, that may be used as construction mill space for set building.
• Large, flat rooftop with stairwell access.
• 2 elevators + 4 interior stairwells
• The property can equally well play as a municipal government building, foreign embassy, university, or commercial office space.

For more information, please contact: City of Pasadena Film Office  626.744.3964  http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs129/1103829990183/archive/1121719325536.html

I was in the building personally decades ago, a couple of times.

COGwriter

The latest issue (says #174, print date June 30, 2015) of The Journal was sent out electronically and received today.

Items covered included an upcoming 2017 reunion for ex-students of the old Ambassador College from the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG), leadership changes at Church of God International (CGI), women, and Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015.

The Journal also continued its series related to  the apostasy/falling away in the old WCG and someone called the ‘Bible Answer Man.’ Here is some of the information in the current edition of The Journal:

By Dixon Cartwright

Two leaders of the Worldwide Church of God, including the pastor general, took to the air Feb. 7 and 10, 1997, to answer calls from listeners to an international radio talk show.

Pastor General Joseph Tkach Jr. and Plain Truth magazine editor Greg Albrecht appeared on The Bible Answer Man with the answer man himself, Hank Hanegraaff, who also directs the Christian Research Institute in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Mr. Tkach, who took over the pastor generalship after his father, Joseph Tkach Sr., died in September 1995, answered questions along with Mr. Albrecht on heaven and hell, church leaders’ sincerity throughout the WCG’s massive doctrinal changes, their view of the WCG’s founder, the late Herbert W. Armstrong, pagan holidays, unclean meats and their “journey through the valley of the shadow of death,” as Mr. Albrecht characterized their coming out of the “cultic” teachings of the old WCG and entering the “pale of orthodoxy.”

They also spoke of British-Israelism, Mr. Armstrong’s track record as a foreteller of the future (if not a prophet), the splinter groups spawned by the Worldwide Church of God and the church’s stand on abortion. The same two leaders appeared on The Bible Answer Man several times…

The Worldwide Church of God, after Mr. Armstrong’s death, in 1986, was led by the senior Mr. Tkach until his death, in 1995.

He, beginning in 1993 and 1994, began going public with sweeping fundamental changes in the official doctrines of the Worldwide Church of God, including basic teachings such as the law of God, the Old and New Covenant and the nature of God, resulting in tens of thousands of WCG members leaving the fellowship to regather with others in several break- away groups—or, in many cases, to quit attending church altogether or join traditional Protestant denominations. At the beginning of the radio pro- gram Joseph Tkach Jr. wondered out loud why God chose him to lead the WCG out of the kingdom of the cults. “I wonder why did He put His finger on me to be the one in this position at this time,” he mused. “But that’s not for me to question.” Concerning the people who have held onto the traditional doctrines of the Worldwide Church of God, Mr. Tkach said their blindness is more than just a veil. “It’s more like a welder’s mask,” he explained to Mr. Hanegraaff. …

Mr. Tkach attributed his methods— which critics characterize as imposing new doctrines on a church body unilaterally and by fiat, rather than involving the general membership and ministry in the process—to Mr. Arm- strong, whom he quoted as saying, “Don’t believe me. Believe the Bible.” “If the Bible teaches something and we need to correct what we’re doing, then that’s what we’re going to do.

Well, if you tell a lie often enough, you often tend to believe it.  The reality is that when the Tkach Administration changed doctrine, it was not because of the Bible, but to fit in with traditional Protestant teachings–teachings that did not come from the Bible nor early Christianity.

Here are links to some documented articles which demonstrate doctrinal truths that the Tkach Administration changed to be like some of the world’s Protestant churches:

The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings. A related sermon is titled: Christians and the Ten Commandments.

Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it? Here is an old, by somewhat related, article in the Spanish language LA DOCTRINA DE LA TRINIDAD.

Did Early Christians Teach They Were Going to Heaven? What do the Bible and scholars teach? What about ‘near-death experiences’? Here is a link to a related sermon: Heaven and Christianity.

Are The Wicked Tormented Forever or Burned Up? How does one explain Revelation 14:11 in light of Malachi 4:3? What happens to the incorrigibly wicked?

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days. (Here is a related link in Spanish/español: Calendario Anual de Adoración –Una crítica basada en la Biblia y en la Historia: ¿Hay un Calendario Anual de Adoración en la Biblia?

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god? Here is a link to a related sermon: What do Catholic and other scholars teach about Christmas?

The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous? There is also a sermon-length video on this: Christians and Unclean Meats.

Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?

Is the Genuine Church of God a Cult? There are misleading statements on the internet that this article tries to address.

I remember some of the false information that WCG leaders were giving at the time and some from the falsely named ‘Bible Answer Man.’ WCG leaders kept telling the membership that the changes were not planned, but more information points to a plot to introduce heretical doctrines–that was a lie at the time (here is a link to a post that has some information on that Cartwright’s Journal Out: ‘Bible Answer Man,’ Walter Martin, & the ‘Council of Venice’). WCG is now named Grace Communion International and is basically just another Protestant sect. Real Church of God groups, like the Continuing Church of God are NOT Protestant, as our histories and doctrines greatly differ (see details, for two examples, in the booklets Where is the True Christian Church Today? and Continuing History of the Church of God).

Here is information on a planned reunion for those who once attended one of the three campuses of the old Ambassador College:

Bob Gerringer and other organizers plan a reunion of former Ambassador College students for 2017 in Las V egas, Nev. Unlike several reunions in recent years, this one will target all three AC campuses, which operated in California, Texas and Britain. …

Students from all three campuses— Pasadena, Bricket Wood and Big Sandy—who attended AC during its first 30 years, 1947 to 1977, are “warmly and enthusiastically invited to attend the 2017 reunion. …

Bricket Wood, England, former students are asked to E-mail Jean Ehlert Updegraff (jean@acpasadenareunion. com) so she can add them as “guests” on the Pasadena website (acpasadena reunion.com). The organizers thought about settling on Pasadena as the 2017 site but chose Las Vegas for several reasons including economic. For example, the hotel rooms in the Nevada city are 60 percent less expensive than the rates at Hilton Pasadena Hotel. The reunion will run from Sunday, March 12, to Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Orleans Hotel and Casino on Tropicana Boulevard. Sign

Despite false statements from some on the internet, I personally did not attend nor graduate from the old Ambassador Collage.  That being said, my wife and I were married on the Pasadena Campus of Ambassador College and were frequents WATS line volunteers there for the old Worldwide Church of God.

Here is some of what was reported about Church of God International (CGI):

TYLER, Texas–The Church of God International, based in Tyler, announced June 29, 2015, a change in top-level employees prompted by the impending retire- ment of Charles Groce, chief execu- tive officer and chairman of the board. Mr. Groce, 67, who has served as CEO of the church since 1998, plans to retire from his salaried duties Sept. 1. Succeeding him will be two men: Vance Stinson, 63, as CEO and chairman, and Jeff Reed, 45, as pastor of the headquarters congregation. …

CGI history

Four people, including Garner Ted Armstrong, founded the CGI in 1979 after his falling out with his father, Herbert Armstrong, pastor general of the Worldwide Church of God, in 1978. The three other CGI founders were Shirley Armstrong, Guy Carnes and Benny Sharp. All were former WCG members. All founders except Mr. Sharp have died.

Mr. Groce replaced Mr. Armstrong as the chief executive of the CGI on Jan. 9, 1998, when the board asked Mr. Armstrong to accept a paid retirement. He refused, he said, because the retirement provisions would prevent him from preaching or otherwise communicating with CGI members. At the time of Mr. Armstrong’s taking leave of the CGI, a board member, Bronson James, told THE JOURNAL that the board’s request for Mr. Armstrong to retire was based on concerns about his “ministerial qualifications.”

The Church of God International continued with Mr. Groce at the helm. Mr. Armstrong and other Church of God International members who supported Mr. Armstrong founded the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association, currently headed up by Garner Ted Armstrong’s son Mark Armstrong.

Garner Ted Armstrong was asked to retire basically because of sexual impropriety.  He then founded the Intercontinental Church of God and remained there until he died in 2003.

The Journal also had a listing Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015.  Those interested in learning more about the Feast of Tabernacles may wish to study the article The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians?

The Journal also had the usual letters to the editor and other advertisements, various comments, and opinion articles.  One of the articles had to do with women, and I would suggest those interested in the subject of women and the New Testament study the article Women and the New Testament Church.

The Journal itself is available by paid subscription (though Dixon Cartwright says some subscriptions are free to those who cannot afford it).  It tends to have a non-Philadelphian approach to many matters.

COGwriter

By Lynn Torrance (from The Good News, August 1961):

Is it wrong to pray for oneself? about how to make “ends meet”? about how to overcome? Just what should one pray about?

MANY do not know what to pray about. We are often asked, “What can I pray about?” Some say, “I ask God to forgive, to guide and direct me. I ask God to bless the work, the ministers, and the Church. What else is there to pray about?”

Acknowledge God

The Bible makes plain that the FIRST STEP in learning what to pray about is to realize WHOM we are praying to.

Did you take time today to get down on your knees and become acquainted, in prayer, with God? Or are you waiting for the right “feeling”? the right mood? Are you, day after day, “putting off” praying until tomorrow because you do not think of anything to pray about? — because you just don’t feel comfortable praying to God?

Notice what Jesus instructed His disciples to pray about when they asked him to teach them to pray. Jesus said — as quoted in archaic English in the King James Version, “When ye pray, say, OUR FATHER which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Luke 11:1-2).

We must first acknowledge the greatness of our HEAVENLY Father. Our faith increases when we realize that what He has promised He can and will perform! He is the God of Heaven — the Ruler of the whole universe.

Abraham strengthened his faith by giving glory to God. “He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Rom. 4:20-21, R.S.V.).

David was a praying man. David constantly gave glory and praise to God. His last public prayer is given in the Bible and is an excellent example of how to give God Glory and Honor — of what to pray about, “BLESSED are thou, LORD God of Israel our FATHER, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD is the GREATNESS, and the POWER, and the GLORY, and the VICTORY, and the MAJESTY; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the KINGDOM, O LORD, and thou art EXALTED as HEAD ABOVE ALL. Both RICHES and HONOR come from thee, and thou RULEST over all … In thy hand it is to make GREAT and to GIVE STRENGTH to all. And now therefore, our God, we THANK THEE, and PRAISE thy glorious name” (I Chron. 29:10-13).

Do you glorify the majesty, the power, and the wisdom of God in prayer?

After you have praised and honored God and hallowed His Holy name then you pray —

“Thy Will Be Done”

Notice carefully that Christ next set us the example to pray: “Thy Kingdom come, THY WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mat. 6:10).

What IS God’s Will for this earth? We can know! God makes it clear in His Word what His Will is.

In Mat. 24:14 we read: “This gospel of the Kingdom SHALL be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” This one verse teaches a great deal about HIS WILL.

HOW is this work of preaching and publishing the Gospel to all the world being done? It is through the “World Tomorrow” broadcast, the PLAIN TRUTH, the GOOD NEWS, the CORRESPONDENCE COURSE, the BOOKLETS, the advertising in READER’S DIGEST, the Letter Answering Department, the evangelistic campaigns, the baptizing tours, the local visiting teams, even through the Ambassador College ENVOY — and especially through EACH and EVERY minister of God.

Are you praying for the success and effectiveness of ALL THESE THINGS? It is GOD’S WILL that you do!

Pray for the “World Tomorrow” broadcast. Pray that each time it goes out over the air new people will be caused to listen to it. Pray that doors to reach each section of the world, not now being reached at this time, will be opened.

Pray that God will train and send out laborers to reap the harvest of interested listeners of the “World Tomorrow” broadcast (Mat. 9:38). Pray that God will send the right students to Ambassador College, men and women who have the ability and talents and the submissiveness that He can use in His Work. Don’t forget to pray that the students who are already in Ambassador College may bear more fruit.

Pray for the co-worker letters, that God will lay it on the hearts of the readers to support this WORK with their prayers, their tithes and their offerings.

And how long do you think it would take you to pray for each and every minister, carefully, diligently? Ask God to give them the power of His Holy Spirit, His knowledge, His wisdom, that He might use them as instruments through whom He nourishes the flock He has chosen. Ask God to use them to preach from the scripture the words that are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16).

Don’t pray these exact words. Jesus didn’t say: “Pray this.” He said “Pray thus!” Build upon and expand these suggestions. You can think of many other things to pray about when interceding for God’s ministers.

These are but a few examples, a small beginning of things to pray for. You can think of many others.

Praying for each phase of the work is important. In fact, the very existence of the work of God depends upon your prayers.

For example: When we pray that God lay it on the hearts of the people of this country to send tithes and offerings to support the cost of preaching and publishing this Gospel message to the entire world, it is His WILL to honor that prayer. He goes into action. He directly intervenes in the very lives of the people of this country and MAKES them send in more money than they would have otherwise. Thus, through daily prayer you add to the list in heaven of those you are helping to lead down the path that leads to eternal life. Your reward is certain.

PRAYER is YOUR ministry. Lack of prayer will keep you out of the Kingdom of God! God expects you to do your part. That is His will.

“Give Us Our Daily Bread”

Did you know your DAILY BREAD is dual?

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). Come to God through daily prayer and Bible study and He will supply your DAILY spiritual needs. You have more daily need of spiritual food than even of physical food — but God here promises you both, if you will only ask Him.

Why is it that some who know God wants to supply us daily with all our needs immediately begin to ask God for things that satisfy the lust of the flesh. Their prayers are usually very short and filled with I’s, me’s and mine’s. It’s “God give me this” and “God give me that.” “Ye ask,” retorts James, “and receive NOT, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:2).

“Forgive Us”

Jesus also said to ask God to “forgive us our trespasses [or debts], as we forgive our trespassers [or debtors]” (Mat. 6:12).

Have you asked God to forgive your every sin, your every shortcoming, your every weakness, your every stumbling — and those of others? Do we ALSO forgive our debtors — those who offend us?

We MUST forgive everyone who has stepped on our toes, everyone who has offended us, everyone who has wronged us in any way whatsoever. God forgives us only as we forgive others! Remember that forgiving means forgetting. Yet we know that in some local churches there are people who CANNOT BE FORGIVEN by God because they still REFUSE to forgive their brethren. Brethren, this must not continue!

And finally He said, “Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

God tempts no man. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13-14). Watch and pray that you be not drawn away by lusts and enter into temptation (Mat. 26:41). Watch, keep awake. When wrong thoughts begin to come into your mind, FLEE QUICKLY to God in prayer. Put your trust in Him. Or else God will allow you to stumble in temptation till you learn to put your whole life in God’s hands.

We are not to pray this sample prayer that Jesus gave — word for word. We are to use it as an outline for our daily prayers. Few realize that Jesus also gave innumerable OTHER DETAILS to pray about in His Word. These all MAGNIFY the main principles mentioned in His outline of prayer. They should all be fitted into the pattern Jesus gave the disciples. We are instructed to pray for those in authority (I Tim. 2:1-3), for our enemies, for those who persecute us (Mat. 5:44); for the brethren (Eph. 6:18); that we may escape the things to come (Luke 21:36); for the sick and afflicted (James 5:14-16); for your own requests (Phil. 4:6); for the ministry (II Thess. 3:1); and for the churches (Eph. 1:16; Col. 1:3; Philemon 4; I Thess. 1:2).

Pray for Ourselves?

Of course! But not for ourselves only. If your prayers include others and theirs include you, think how many prayers are said ON YOUR BEHALF! But if you are selfish and pray only for yourself — and everyone else did the same — then ONLY YOU would be praying for yourself.

A student at Ambassador College discovered quite by accident the amazing principle that the Law of Love is a Living Law. He had tried to overcome a certain weakness but had failed again and again. He felt miserable and dejected.

A friend revealed that he too was having trouble overcoming the very same temptation. This student felt so miserable himself that he hastened to go and pray EARNESTLY for his friend. He said, “Oh, God, don’t let my friend be as weak and rotten as I am. Strengthen him, take this temptation from him.”

This student was amazed to discover that after having prayed for his friend, his own overpowering weakness left him! It was suddenly as if this temptation no longer existed.

This student learned that when one has some sin he is unable to overcome, if he will pray for all others who have, or even might have the same weakness, the God of Love rewards him for praying for His OTHER children.

Try it. Pray for all the men and women in the Church who have, or who even might have — the same overpowering temptation you have and see for yourself that God will reward you for showing Love to His OTHER children by strengthening you. He can and will remove your temptation from you.

Remember, if you pray for others, and all the others pray for you and others, think how much more help you have than if you alone prayed for just your problem.

Therefore pray that God will imbue us all with His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Ask God for the gift of repentance so all can overcome sin. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5), power, understanding, and knowledge.

Pray that God will implant in His people the DESIRE to study and pray until all are filled with the Spirit of God, with understanding and a true sense of values.

When you read the Bible and don’t understand a verse — that is something to pray about. If you are falling short of obeying His instruction — that is something to pray about. For some of you there are almost as many things to pray about as there are verses in the Bible!

Don’t just limit the things you pray about to the points mentioned in this article. Ask God to show you what else HE wants YOU to pray for. HE will show you IN HIS WORD many other things to pray about.

Whatever you do don’t let your prayer become a mere ritual, a vain repetition. Be diligent. Be persistent. Prayer and Bible Study must be first in your life, or you are putting something else before God. We receive what we ask of God “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3:22).

Prayer has to become heartfelt — full of thanksgiving, praise and joy. It should be a spontaneous and natural talking to God. The more you pray, the more you will understand how to pray.

God KNOWS that many of you faithful brethren are praying. He also KNOWS that others have not prayed as they should.

God’s ministers have said, “YOU ARE CONVERTED TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU PRAY FOR GOD’S WORK!”

If you have been PUTTING OFF prayer until tomorrow DO something now. Force yourself to begin to study and pray. Don’t put off your own salvation!

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
Faith for those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the ‘faith chapter’? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese 一篇关于信仰的小文章
What Should I Pray About? An old article by Lynn Torrance on prayer.
Importance of Fasting An old article by Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject.
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Just What Do You Mean Conversion? Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.