Archive for the ‘WCG News’ Category

Kaye Wolverton, Wife of Monte Wolverton, Died–Memorial Service July 29

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

COGwriter

Reginald Killingley sent the following:

In Memory of Kayte Wolverton

After a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer Kayte (Youngblood) Wolverton, 64, passed peacefully on Saturday morning, July 21, in Vancouver, Washington. Almost two years ago Kayte and her husband Monte, board member of Plain Truth Ministries and Associate Editor of The Plain Truth magazine, relocated from southern California to the peaceful and serene countryside just outside of Vancouver. Anticipating Monte’s semi-retirement, and wishing to live near their daughter Monika, their son-in-law Simon and granddaughter Annika, Kayte and Monte planned and built their retirement home in a beautiful valley on the banks of the Lewis River.

Following a Wolverton family tradition, Kayte served for several years as a full time employee of Plain Truth Ministries and later as a part-time proofreader. Monte’s father Basil started the Wolverton history with The Plain Truth in the 1950s as he wrote and illustrated the serialized “Bible Story.” In later decades of the 20th century Monte continued the Wolverton Plain Truth legacy with his writing and art, and then in the 1990s with the transformation of the message and mission of Plain Truth Ministries, Monte, Kayte and their daughter Monika continued to grace the pages of the new Plain Truth with their editing and creative contributions.

Kayte is survived by her husband Monte, her mother Esther, stepfather John Livingston, her daughter Monika Spykerman, son-in-law Simon, granddaughter Annika, foster daughter Gadiela Gallant, her husband Daniel, their children Kate and Matthew and by her two beloved Rat Terriers, Meg and Kirby.

Memorial services for Kayte will take place at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington, 98684, on Sunday, July 29, at 12:30…

Cards may be sent to:

Monte Wolverton

18907 NE Cole Witter Road

Battle Ground, WA 98604

I did not know Kayte.  Like most in the old WCG, I was familiar with the artwork of Basil Wolverton, Monte’s father (and some of Monte’s).

HWA: Second Law of Success: Education or Preparation

Monday, May 14th, 2012

COGwriter

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

The Vital Second Law

And so, if you are to arrive at SUCCESS in LIFE, you must first set the right goal, and then comes the PREPARATION to achieve that goal.

So, the SECOND law of success in time sequence, is EDUCATION, or PREPARATION.

How can one expect to accomplish his purpose unless he acquires the know-how?

One thing we need to know about life—and many do not—is that humans do not come equipped with instinct.

To this extent, the dumb animals have a certain advantage over us. They do not have to learn. They never need weary their brains with book learning.

The new born calf does not have to be taught how to walk. It starts immediately to get up on its somewhat infirm and uncertain legs. It may fall down on the first or second attempt, but in a matter of a few moments it stands, even if a little unsteady at first. It does not require a year or two—not even an hour or two—the little calf starts walking in a few minutes! It does not need to reason out any goals. It requires no textbooks, nor teaching. It instinctively knows its goal—dinner! And it knows, also instinctively, the way. On its own four legs it proceeds immediately to the first meal!

I have repeated so many times: birds build nests—by instinct. No one teaches them how. Five generations of weaver birds, isolated from nests or nest-building materials, never saw a nest. When nest-building materials were made accessible, the sixth generation, without any instruction, proceeded to build nests! They were not crows’ nests or eagles’ nests. They were the same kind of nests weaver birds have built since creation. They had no minds to think out, imagine, design, and construct a different kind of nest.

Of course dogs, horses, elephants, dolphins, and some other animals can be taught and trained to do certain tricks. But they cannot reason, imagine, think, plan, design and construct new and different things. They do not acquire knowledge, perceive truth from error, make decisions, and employ WILL to exercise self-discipline according to their own reasoned wisdom and decisions. THEY CANNOT DEVELOP MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CHARACTER.

But humans have it not quite so easy. Humans have to learn, or be taught. Humans have to learn to walk, to talk, to eat or drink.

We don’t come to these basic accomplishments instinctively and immediately like the dumb animals. It may take a little more time. It may come a little harder. But we can go on to learn reading, writing, and “rithmetic”!

Then we can go further, and learn to appreciate literature, music, art. We can learn to think and reason, to conceive a new idea, to plan, design, construct.

We can investigate, experiment, invent telescopes and learn something about outer space and far-off planets, stars, and galaxies. We invent microscopes and learn about infinitesimal particles of matter.

We learn about electricity, laws of physics and chemistry. We learn to use the wheel, construct highways, and roll over ground faster than any animal. We learn to fly higher, farther and faster than any bird. We learn how to take nature apart and make it work for us. We discover and utilize nuclear energy.

But we have to LEARN—to STUDY—to be EDUCATED—to be PREPARED for what we propose to do.

One if the first things we need to learn is –that we need to learn!

Once you have learned enough to CHOOSE A GOAL, the second step toward successfully accomplishing that goal is to LEARN THE WAY—to acquire the additional education, training, experience, to give you the know-how to achieve your goal.

Most people fail to set any definite goals. Having no specific aims, they neglect the specialized EDUCATION to make possible the attainment of their purpose.

Now all these men whose case histories I have recounted had goals. They had the overall purpose of acquiring possessions, attaining status, and enjoying the passing moments. As a means to this objective, they had the specialized goals of succeeding in banking, industry, politics, acting, writing, or whatever. They all EDUCATED THEMSELVES for their particular profession or calling.

They were broad enough to realize that education included not only book learning, but personality development, leadership, experience, knowledge form contacts and associations, and from observation.

Yet these “successful” people were not really successful. They not only chose an overall goal that led them in the way of false values, they also failed to equip themselves with the RIGHT education to make possible that REAL LASTING success—fulfilling the PURPOSE of life.

There is, then, a right and a false education.

These successful people were not lastingly successful. Their education failed to teach them the TRUE VALUES. They chose goals that led them in the way of false values that didn’t last.

The entire system of education in this world neglects to recapture the true values. Even the scholarly educators themselves too often devote themselves to arduous years of research into non-essential and useless channels.

The basic and most essential knowledge—the true values, the meaning and purpose of life, the WAY to peace, to happiness and abundant well-being—these basics are never taught. Because I was given to see this decadence in modern education—to recognize this tragic knowledge gap—I was led to found a college that fills this need.

Right education must teach that all things are a matter of cause and effect—that for every result, whether good or evil, there is a cause. True education will teach the CAUSE of this world’s evils—of personal or collective troubles—so that they may be avoided. Also it much instruct in the CAUSE of this world’s evils—of personal or collective troubles—so that they may be avoided. Also it must instruct in the CAUSE of the GOOD results, that we may know how to win them instead of the troubles. Right education must not stop at teaching TO LIVE! It must know, and teach, the PURPOSE of human life, and how to fulfill it.

Decadent education has spawned student revolt, which has, on occasion, plunged many colleges and universities into states of violence and chaos!

It’s another significant tragedy of our time!

This world is dissemination false education that has come down to us from the thinking, philosophizing, yet misguided pagans who lacked a knowledge of the true values and purposes of life! The true history of education is an eye-opening story in itself!

Despite media reports in the last year or so questioning the monetary value of education (and some of it should be questioned), becoming educated or otherwise prepared is important.  Not only can the right education “open doors,” it helps many people become more productive.  It helps people live up to more of their potential.

With so many world events happening that are aligning with end time prophecy, isn’t this the time to be sure that you have the right goal and understand the meaning of life so that your education can support that?

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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?
Deification: Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? What does the Bible teach? Is deification only a weird or cultic idea?
Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge.
The Seven Laws of Success Booklet by Herbert W. Armstrong that can help people become successful.

James Tabor’s ‘Jonah’ Findings

Saturday, April 21st, 2012


1181 A.D. Depiction of Jonah Being Tossed Overboard

COGwriter

A Jonah-related tomb inscription has been somewhat verified:

Ancient ‘bone box’ called oldest Christian artifact

By Jennifer Welsh

Published April 20, 2012

Long-unrecognized lettering confirms that first-century artifacts found within an ancient Jerusalem tomb are the earliest representations of Christianity ever found, researchers say.

Two Hebrew scholars who examined photographs showing the inside of the tomb agree that markings on an ossuary — a box made to hold human remains — are stylized letters that spell out the name of Jonah, the researchers said Thursday (April 19). Jonah was the Old Testament prophet whose story of being swallowed by a great fish was embraced by the early followers of Jesus…

Researchers led by James Tabor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte did not enter the tomb themselves but instead used a remote camera to explore it…The Hebrew scholars’ translation of the stylized letters on the ossuary have yet to be published.  http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/20/ancient-bone-box-called-oldest-christian-artifact/#ixzz1sd1ZDheZ

The tomb itself, though not likely to be that of Jonah (it seems to be much too recent, though sometimes bones were moved and sometimes dating is off), does give information that certainly seems to be related to Jonah.

James Tabor once taught Greek and Hebrew part-time at Ambassador College, which was part of the old Worldwide Church of God. While I do not know Dr. Tabor well, we have spoken in the past as well as have communicated via email. More will probably be learned and clarified about this Jonah-related find in time.

The Bible, of course, has an entire short book related to Jonah, and here is some of what it says:

15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging…17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:15, 17)

10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2:10)

Jesus also referred to this incident involving Jonah:

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Matthew 12:40-41)

Jesus’ referral to Jonah indicates, to many, that the story was literally true and not simply an allegory (it also indicates that Jesus would be in the grave for a full three days and three nights–hence blasting the Good Friday to Easter hypothesis).

Dr. Tabor’s findings may stir more interest in that subject.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
Biblical Archaeology This is a website that has more information on biblical archeological as is sometimes known as the Bib Arch site.
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? How does Jonah fit into this? Was Palm Sunday on a Saturday? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?

Fire Damage in Big Sandy

Saturday, April 21st, 2012


PCG’s Gerald Flurry with a Statue Once at Big Sandy

COGwriter

There was a fire in Big Sandy that caused some damage:

21 April 2012
Fire Damages Convention Building In Big Sandy
By EMILY GUEVARA
Staff WriterFaulty electrical wiring was believed to be the cause of a fire at the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy on Friday, an academy official said.The ALERT Academy crew along with the Big Sandy and Gilmer fire departments responded to the fire, which started before 5 p.m…Tanner said the fire and much of the damage it caused was contained to the area just above the bathroom, which is about 2,000 square feet.   http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120429973

Big Sandy used to be the site of one of three campuses for Ambassador College of the old Worldwide Church of God.  FWIW, I visited it in 1980 to attend the Feast of Tabernacles there.
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It was sold a long time ago and a trinitarian group called International ALERT Academy now has the property.
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Gerald Flurry’s  PCG has for a long time, focused (in my opinion) on mainly how to physically appear to be like the old WCG which is why I believe it bought the statue shown above a while back.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach?
The Feast of Tabernacles: Today and in the 1980s Information on COGwriter attended sites in the 1980s.
Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which claims to be faithful.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?

James Tabor Seems to Have Found Old Jonah-Related Tomb

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012


1181 A.D. Depiction of Jonah Being Tossed Overboard

COGwriter

A Jonah-related tomb has apparently been found:

Finder of ‘Lost Tomb of Jesus’ details ancient evidence of Jonah

Published February 28, 2012…

“If anyone had claimed to find either a statement about resurrection or a Jonah image in a Jewish tomb of this period I would have said impossible — until now,” said James D. Tabor, professor and chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “Our team was in a kind of ecstatic disbelief, but the evidence was clearly before our eyes, causing us to revise our prior assumptions.”…The new findings will be detailed online at www.bibleinterp.com

The tomb containing the new discoveries is a modest sized, carefully carved rock cut cave tomb typical of Jerusalem in the period from 20 BCE until 70 CE…

“This Jonah ossuary is most fascinating,” Tabor remarked. “It seems to represent a pictorial story with the fish diving under the water on one end, the bars or gates of death, the bones inside, and the image of the great fish spitting out a man representing, based on the words of Jesus, the ‘sign of Jonah’ – the ‘sign’ that he would escape the bonds of death.”  http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/28/tomb-jonah-discovered-finder-lost-tomb-jesus-claims/#ixzz1nhNjkQ29

The tomb itself, though not likely to be that of Jonah (it seems to be much too recent, though sometimes bones were moved and sometimes dating is off), does give information that certainly seems to be related to Jonah.

James Tabor once taught Greek and Hebrew part-time at Ambassador College, which was part of the old Worldwide Church of God.  While I do not know Dr. Tabor well, we have spoken in the past as well as have communicated via email.  More will probably be learned and clarified about this Jonah-related find in time.

The Bible, of course, has an entire short book related to Jonah, and here is some of what it says:

15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging…17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.  (Jonah 1:15, 17)

10 So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2:10)

As Dr. Tabor stated, Jesus also referred to this incident involving Jonah:

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Matthew 12:40-41)

Jesus’ referral to Jonah indicates, to many, that the story was literally true and not simply an allegory (it also indicates that Jesus would be in the grave for a full three days and three nights–hence blasting the Good Friday to Easter hypothesis).

And while some have had trouble with the literal veracity of the Jonah and the great fish incident, there have been humans swallowed by large marine creatures that have survived when the creature was later captured.  And, more importantly, Jesus verified the story of Jonah–hence we know it happened.

But here are some comments that some might find of interest:

To the “progressive” thinkers, Bryan and other people who seriously believed the Jonah story were a bunch of morons. After all, everyone knows a man can’t survive inside a whale. Well, the truth is, a man can, and it has been proven…

James Bartley.  In February 1891 he was a crew member on the whaling ship Star of the East…When the whale ‘s stomach was hoisted to the deck, the crew noticed it was moving slightly.  The ship’s doctor cut the stomach open, and inside was James Bartley–curled up and unconscious, but still alive.  He had been inside the whale for fifteen hours.  (Lang JS.  Talking Donkeys and Wheels of Fire: Bible Stories That Are Truly Bizarre!  2003 by J. Stephen Lang)

So, survival after being swallowed by a sea creature is possible.

Yet, whether God allowed him to survive naturally or somehow brought him out alive (I suspect more of the latter), the Jonah incident happened.  And something related to that seems to have been recently found according to Dr. Tabor.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
Biblical Archaeology This is a website that has more information on biblical archeological as is sometimes known as the Bib Arch site.
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights?  How does Jonah fit into this? Was Palm Sunday on a Saturday? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?

GCI (WCG) Reports About Large Hadron Collider

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Supercollider

COGwriter

The current edition of Grace Communion International’s Christian Odyssey has the following about the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC):

An interview with Dr. Keith Baker, professor at Yale University and an experimental particle and nuclear physicist. He is a member of the experimental team working at the CERN Collider in Geneva, Switzerland.

Christian Odyssey: Would it be true to say that you are on the leading edge when it comes to experiments in this field?

Keith Baker: Yes. The most likely venue for new discoveries in all of science is at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. And that’s where I am. I’ve been working at the LHC for just over 15 years.

CO: What does the Hadron Collider do?

KB: The Large Hadron Collider is a proton-proton collider, that is, it collides hadrons. Briefly, hadrons are particles that have internal structure whereas the other class of particles—leptons—are structureless. For example, protons, neutrons, mesons are all examples of hadrons; they are made of quarks and gluons. Quarks and gluons are subject to the strong force and come together to form these hadrons. On the other hand, electrons, positrons, taus, and muons are examples of leptons.

Grace Communion International (GCI) is the name of the group that ended up in control of the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG).

Notice that Dr. Baker believes that Europe’s LHC is the “most likely venue for new discoveries in all of science.”

And of course, despite his involvement, it is a European, not American, project.

Large physics projects tend to produce military weaponry. Now if the Large Hadron Collider does have military potential, which I have long indicated that it does, all should understand that it is likely that the Europeans and not the Americans will benefit from it:

Collider Sets Record, and Europe Takes U.S.’s Lead…

Those spinoffs now will invigorate the careers and labs of Europe, not the United States, pointed out Steven Weinberg, a physicist at the University of Texas in Austin, who won the Nobel Prize for work that will be tested in the new collider. Americans will work at CERN, but not as leaders, he said in an e-mail interview.“There is also a depressing symbolism,” he added, “in the fact that the hottest new results in fundamental physics will for decades not be coming from our country.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/science/10collide.html

So, whatever technologies are spun-off from this highly important science project are expected to primarily benefit the Europeans and not the Americans.

My book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect points out that the Large Hadron Collider may be used to give the future European military power that the entire world will marvel at:

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect

Bob Thiel
…the Large Hadron Collider…is apt to provide the Europeans with unique military capabilities in several years…The Bible is clear that the final “Beast power” (which will be primarily European) will have such unique military capabilities that the entire world will marvel (Revelation 13:3-4). (2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect. Nazarene Books, 2009, p. 85)

My book also discusses the destruction of the USA and certain others by the Europeans sometime after 2012.

The Large Hadron Collider is discussed as one of the items that may provide the Europeans with the ability to overcome the USA’s military might. And while many think that this would be impossible, as the Europeans continue to uncover “impossible” and previously unknown aspects of physics, it is getting more and more technology that could be developed in that direction.

The understanding of the Living Church of God that the Europeans will be able to attack and takeover the United States and its Anglo-descended allies (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11; Daniel 11:39) is correct and will come to pass. And it still appears, to me at least, possible that the past and likely future successes of the CERN LHC may assist in the fulfillment of those prophecies.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Large Hadron Collider may result in military applications
The Europeans have the largest physics project on the planet. Some scoff, but might it result in military applications? May the Large Hadron Collider help fulfill Revelation 13:4?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 20 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass.  Those who purchase the book at the www.thesecretsect.com website receive a lengthy bonus report documenting world events that aligned with the book.
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect (English Kindle edition).  This is the 2nd edition of the book, released in January 2012, and includes a summary of the 20 predictions that world events have aligned with since the book originally came out in September 2009.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache. 2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Kindle Edition)
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel em português. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 20 já começaram a acontecer.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Brazilian Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel.  Edição em português do Brasil. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 20 já começaram a acontecer.

CG-PKG’s Ronald Weinland in the News

Monday, January 16th, 2012

VS.

COGwriter

CGPFK/CGPKG’s Ronald Weinland was somewhat in the news:

Former Worldwide Church of God preacher says Jesus Christ is returning on May 27, 2012 and that today marks the end of time and beginning of “half time”
Jan 8, 2012 excerpt…

Ronald Weinland, who considers himself a prophet of God, continues to warn that Jesus Christ is returning on May 27, 2012.For those who do not believe him and mock his message, Weinland claims that they will die from cancer.

His website, Church of God – PKG, claims that various end times events were triggered by the scattering of the Worldwide Church of God after the death of its founder, Herbert W. Armstrong. With Armstrong no longer at the helm, Weinland claims he “is the pastor of God’s Church on earth, has also been appointed by the God of Abraham to be His end-time prophet and one of the two end-time witnesses (and spokesman of both), preceding the return of Jesus Christ on May 27, 2012.”…

Weinland is also predicting that “the United States will collapse” and that there will be a nuclear war before May 27 this year. “The truth is ridiculed, ignored, slandered and mocked,” he warns.

http://www.goddiscussion.com/88544/former-worldwide-church-of-god-preacher-says-jesus-christ-is-returning-on-may-27-2012-and-that-today-marks-the-end-of-time-and-beginning-of-half-time/

(I was traveling when this came out just saw it today.)

After leaving the old Worldwide Church of God, Ronald Weinland was a minister in the United Church of God for a while.  Since then, he has been on his own.

Ron Weinland wrote in his 2008 God’s Final Witness book that various leaders in the Living Church of God, United Church of God, and Philadelphia Church of God would die towards the beginning of his Great Tribulation. None have, and since according to his own statements, the Great Tribulation is mostly over, his published declarations were false.

Ron Weinland falsely claimed that a little after April 2008, the US dollar would be worthless–yet it still has significant value (though eventually it will be worthless, but not because of Ronald Weinland’s predictions). Ronald Weinland also specifically falsely claimed that if the USA was not nuked by June 2008, he would resign, admit he was false, and never preach again. The USA was not nuked, he did not resign, he continues to preach, and has not publicly admitted that he was false.

He falsely claimed that the USA would not get a new president to take office in January 2009. Yet, on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became USA’s 44th president.

On December 19, 2009 he falsely declared himself to be the final Elijah. Yet that 1) contracts his own writing {Weinland R. The Prophesied END-TIME. 2004, pp. 73, 75, 85, 89, 106, 108} and 2) that simply is not true.

Ronald Weinland still, in 2012, continues to preach and teach false information about the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ–which he now claims will be May 27, 2012. This is not possible as certain biblically-required events have not occurred (see, for example, Matthew 24).

The Bible teaches:

20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’– 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:19-22).

Ronald Weinland will also, no later that May 28, 2012 be proven wrong that Jesus, according to him, is supposed to return on May, 27, 2012.

Jesus will NOT return in 2012. But for Ronald Weinland, it looks like he may again be in the news for being wrong.

A few articles of possible interest related to prophecy may include:

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up, that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008, and that Jesus will return on May 27, 2012. Why does the Bible show that Ron Weinland is a false prophet? Why do Ronald Weinland’s own statements prove that he is a false prophet? Additionally, he has other views which show he is not truly part of the Church of God.?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?

Herbert Armstrong Died 26 Years Ago

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Order of the Sacred Treasure

COGwriter

Hebert W. Armstrong died on January 16, 1986, at age 93 1/2. Many never heard of him, but millions did.  His death seemed to mark the end of the predominance of the Philadelphia era of the Church of God and the predominance of the Laodicean era instead.

Herbert Armstrong’s successor in the old Worldwide Church of God did not remain faithful to the teachings that many of us believe God inspired him to restore to the church.   Here are Some Quotes from Herbert W. Armstrong on Laodicea and Holding Fast to Doctrine.

Many people have misunderstandings about Herbert W. Armstrong and the gospel.

Let’s look at the following from Herbert Armstrong’s What is the True Gospel? booklet:

Which Gospel Did Jesus Preach?

Notice, Jesus said, “Believe THE GOSPEL!”

WHAT Gospel? the one He was proclaiming—”the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.”

But, one may ask, don’t we need to believe on Jesus? Of course. Other scriptures teach that. but at this particular time Jesus said we must believe Him –believe what He said—believe the Gospel of the Kingdom of God!

Some believed on Jesus, but did not believe Jesus –did not believe what He SAID (John 7:31; 8:30, 31, 46).

What About the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

But if the one and only TRUE Gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, what about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Is that a false gospel?

Not at all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel He brought as God’s Messenger—the Gospel He proclaimed is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ IS NOT man’s gospel ABOUT THE PERSON of Christ. It is CHRIST’S Gospel—the Gospel Jesus PREACHED—the Gospel GOD SENT by Him, and therefore it is also called, in Scripture, the Gospel of God. The Gospel of God is God’s GOSPEL—His Message—His Good News which He sent by Jesus.

Also the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Christ’s Gospel—the Gospel Christ brought from God—the Gospel He proclaimed.

We hear a great deal today of the gospel of MEN about the PERSON of Jesus Christ—confining the message solely to the things ABOUT Jesus. As a result, millions believe on Christ, who do not BELIEVE CHRIST! But Jesus’ Gospel IS HIS MESSAGE!…

Conditions of Entering

Now, HOW do we enter into that glorious KINGDOM? Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, “REPENT,” and “BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.”

Just TWO things we do—REPENT, and BELIEVE. We must BELIEVE the Gospel, and that means also believing on JESUS CHRIST, the KING of the Kingdom of God, and coming KING of kings over all the families of the earth. It means believing in Him as personal SAVIOUR, as High Priest now, and as coming KING.

But to repent is to completely CHANGE THE MIND in respect to SIN, and “sin is the transgression of the LAW” (I John 3:4)—the law of God by which God RULES the Kingdom.

It means a total, complete CHANGE OF MIND AND OF LIFE. It means we REPENT of transgressing the rule, the will, the laws, of GOD. What did Jesus say to the young man who asked Him HOW to inherit eternal life? He said, “IF thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS” (Matthew 19:17) (Armstrong HW. What is the True Gospel? WCG booklet, 1972, p.6).

The kingdom of God is what Herbert Armstrong also taught as the wonderful world tomorrow (and actually he wrote a book on it titled The Wonderful World Tomorrow: What Will it be Like?).

Here is some of what he learned about the gospel as written in The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong:

My shocking, disappointing, eye-opening discovery, upon looking into the Bible for myself, had revealed in stark plainness that the teachings of traditional Christianity were, in most basic points, the very opposite of the teachings of Christ, of Paul, and of the original true Church!

Could the original and only true Church have disintegrated and disappeared? Could it have ceased to exist? No, for I read where Jesus said the gates of the grave would never prevail against it. Also He had said to His disciples who formed His Church, “Lo, I am with you always.”

Then I saw that the very PURPOSE of the Church was to preach Christ’s GOSPEL! It is HIS BODY — His instrument by which HE carries on GOD’S WORK!

I looked carefully at that Gospel as Christ Himself preached it, and taught it to His first ministers. It is recorded in the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At almost every point of teaching that Jesus enunciated, the teachings of traditional Christian bodies today are just the opposite.

THEY WERE NOT PREACHING THE SAME GOSPEL AT ALL, BUT A TOTALLY OPPOSITE MESSAGE! This was shocking — incredible — unbelievable! Yet I was compelled to see it was true!

Jesus began the work of preaching the very Gospel which GOD the Father had sent to mankind through Him. He commissioned His disciples — His Church — to carry this same Gospel to all the world. And He had said He would never drop the Work He had begun! But WHERE was it going on today?

I knew now that when I found the one and only true Church, I would find a Church obedient to God — keeping His commandments — having the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the TRUTH of the Scriptures.

I had been much impressed by a description of the true Church, as it is to be found in our time — just before the second coming of Christ. It is found in Revelation 12…

My intensive study had revealed one thing plainly: “the commandments of God” mean “Sabbath keeping” to most traditional denominations. They say, “The commandments are done away!” They reject “the commandments of God.”

That automatically ruled out all churches observing Sunday. So far as I could learn, it reduced the search to three small groups — the Seventh-Day Adventists, the Seventh-Day Baptists, and a little, almost unheard-of church called the Church of God, which maintained a small publishing-house headquarters at Stanberry, Missouri…

It seems necessary to add here that I have never been a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination…Next, I looked into the teaching of the Seventh-Day Baptists. I found it to be virtually identical, except for observing a different day of the week, with other Protestant denominations — especially the Baptists.

But of these three churches to which the search had been narrowed, only one had the right NAME for the true Church. This was the small, little-heard-of Church of God whose headquarters were at Stanberry, Missouri.

Two articles of related interest may include The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church and Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work?

Part of Herbert W. Armstrong’s legacy is that he took the Bible to be the word of God and taught:

…the Bible tells us to PROVE all things (Armstrong HW. The RESURRECTION was NOT on Sunday. 1952).

Which of course, it does as the Apostle Paul wrote:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV).

Sadly many have falsely maligned Herbert W. Armstrong (please see the article 15 Accusations and Truthful Responses About Herbert W. Armstrong), while others have exalted him beyond appropriateness (please see the article The Elijah Heresies ). Since his death, only relatively few seemed to really understand his work and what he felt Christ expected of the church.

Those truly interested in learning more about Herbert W. Armstrong, should read the article Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today?.

And everyone should try to live by the following teaching of Herbert W. Armstrong:

Don’t believe me BELIEVE YOUR BIBLE BELIEVE GOD! I always say…check up! Listen without prejudice, with open mind, then check up–go to your BIBLE, and BELIEVE what you read there.”  (Herbert W. Armstrong, Plain Truth magazine, Sept. 1963, Personal pg.1)

Several articles of possibly related interest include:

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 how he is and should be viewed today.
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 evangelists?
Here are Some Quotes from Herbert W. Armstrong on Laodicea and Holding to Doctrine.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

WCG/GCI Promoting Christmas, But What Really is the Reason for the Season?

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

Worldwide Church of God Transformed from Truth to Fairy Tales

COGwriter

Got an email from GCI (Grace Communion International, the group that temporarily ran the new WCG) that stated the following:

Warm Christmas greetings to you from Grace Communion International. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season!…Nathan Smith…

Speaking of Life, with Dr. Joseph Tkach

Christmas for Sinners

The story of Christmas can remind us that whatever trials we might face, whatever our lot in life, Jesus is with us and right there beside us.

Since Christmas is not a biblically-enjoined holiday, what is the history of Christmas and what is the reason for the season?

In his commentary today, Wyatt Ciesielka of the Living Church of God has the following:

By Wyatt Ciesielka | Saturday, December 24, 2011
Many people realize that Jesus Christ was not born anywhere near December 25 and that Christmas is rooted in ancient paganism, but will still proclaim that Jesus is “the reason for the season.” Is this true? Who is really being celebrated on December 25? Why the evergreen tree? And most importantly, is Jesus Christ really pleased?

Luke 2:1-8 tells us that Jesus was born during the time of the Roman census when the shepherds were still abiding in the fields at night. But, the shepherds were not out at night in the fields anywhere close to December 25th! In ancient Palestine, because of heavy winter rainstorms, the shepherds always brought their flocks in from the countryside by no later than mid October. As Ezra 10:9-13 makes clear, by December ancient Palestine was bitter cold and rainy! So, why is Jesus’ birth celebrated on December 25?

The fact is that winter solstice celebrations preceded Jesus’ birth by more than 2,000 years; all the way back to ancient Babylon and the Babylonish “mystery religion” devoted to worshiping Baal. To honor Nimrod, reborn as the infant Tammuz, Semiramis (Nimrod’s widow) claimed that a beautiful evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump! The ancient Babylonians then began to utilize the evergreen tree during the winter-solstice to celebrate Nimrod reborn as the sun-god! This tradition lived through the centuries, manifesting in ancient Egyptian winter solstice festivals, Roman Saturnalia celebrations and Persian Mithras worship! And ancient Israel adopted this pagan custom thousands of years ago (Isaiah 57:5)!…

The vast majority of those who celebrate Christmas are friendly, sincere, but deceived people. But, it is no secret that Christmas is of pagan origin and was not celebrated by the early post-Apostolic church. The Catholic Encyclopedia admits these very facts! “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church … the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.”

Does it really matter? Yes it does! Jesus is not “the reason for the season” – Baal is. True Christians are forbidden from adopting pagan customs to honor God (Deuteronomy 12:29-32, Jeremiah 10:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15) and are commanded to “come out of” this Babylonish system (Revelation 18:4)! God the Father and Jesus Christ are of the same mind (John 10:30), and in Their eyes these pagan celebrations are “abominations” (Jeremiah 10:3-4; Ezekiel 8:13-14)!

To learn about the Holy Days that Jesus Christ wants you to celebrate, please request The Holy Days—God’s Master Plan. And to better understand why celebrating Christmas does not please Jesus, please read the Tomorrow’s World article, “Christmas: Harmful to Children?

The original “yearly Christian festivals” included Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day (see Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible?).

Notice a few scriptures that seem relevant right now:

2 You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. 4 You shall not worship the Lord your God with such things. (Deuteronomy 12:2-4)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.  (John 4:24)

The truth is that pagan holidays were not part of the earliest traditions of the church.  Christmas reminds us that people are often unwilling to worship God as He intended, but instead often prefer pagan substitutes that they rationalize as somehow acceptable if they pretend the holiday is about Jesus.

Those who truly believe Jesus’ words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) will not celebrate a compromised pagan holiday such as Christmas because it contains practices warned against in the Bible and was never enjoined upon true believers to practice.

Sadly, the real reason for the season is rebellion against the teachings of the Bible.

Some articles of related interest may include:

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?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Was Jesus Born in the Grotto of the Nativity? Was Jesus born in a below ground cave? Was Jesus born below the “Church of the Nativity”? Were the wise men there?
Is Keeping Christmas a Sin? Is keeping Christmas acceptable for true Christians? What are some scriptures to consider?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
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.
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

WCG/GCI Meaning of Christmas

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

Worldwide Church of God Transformed from Truth to Fairy Tales

COGwriter

Saw an email today from GCI (Grace Communion International, the group that temporarily ran the new WCG) that stated the following:

Speaking of Life, with Dr. Joseph Tkach
The Meaning of Christmas

May this Christmas season be a wonderful time of joy in which we remember and celebrate what the birth of Jesus Christ means for all the world.

What is the  meaning of Christmas?

GCI’s website, in at least one article, correctly teaches that:

  1. The date of Jesus’ birth is not mentioned in the Bible.
  2. No early Christian celebrated Christmas.
  3. Scholars recognize that December 25th was chosen to compromise with pagan sun god worshippers.

Of course, it is not just GCI who knows this.  Even The Catholic Encyclopedia admits that December 25 was Mithras’ birthday and that pagan sun worship practices are tied into a reason for the December 25th date.

GCI itself would not have adopted the December 25th date based upon the Bible, but only because others, like the Church of Rome were observing it.

So, what is the MEANING OF CHRISTMAS?

Christmas was MEANT to be a compromise with pagan sun-god worshippers.  Pagans liked the mid-winter partying, and those under that influence of sun-god worshippers picked the date so that they could claim that the celebration was transformed from a pagan holiday to supposedly being a Christian one.  People often accept it now as a compromise with the world.

Furthermore, not only did early Christians not celebrate Christmas, they also did not celebrate birthdays. The observance of birthdays, too, was a compromise with a pagan emperor who was a worshipper of the sun god Mithras–the one whose birthday was December 25th.

Satan apparently influenced all of this and it appears that his meaning of Christmas was to water down biblical truth, compromise biblical truth, and incorporate enough paganism into the belief system of most who profess Christ so that they would not bother to properly observe the festivals that the original Christians kept.

The original “yearly Christian festivals” included Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day (see Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible?).

Most of which most who profess Christianity today either have never heard or know little about.  Sadly, the real “meaning of Christmas” is part of the reason.

Some articles of related interest may include:

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?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
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.
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?