PCG’s Gerald Flurry seems to forget what he earlier wrote about COG history as he posts a major error

(From thetrumpet.com)

PCG’s Gerald Flurry posted the following.

No End to the Third Epistle of John

January 27, 2023 …

During the “lost century” from a.d. 70–170, Church history was blotted out of secular history. The only Church records from this time are in the Apostle John’s epistles.

God’s Church went into the lost century preaching the gospel message of Jesus Christ. A very different church emerged from the lost century … https://www.thetrumpet.com/26896-no-end-to-the-third-epistle-of-john

Gerald Flurry’s statement about the only Church records from 70-170 A.D. being the Apostle John’s epistles is wrong on two levels.

First, the Book of Revelation was penned by John during that time, so there was more than just his epistles (the epistles being 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John). John’s gospel account seemed also to be penned during that time.

Second, Gerald Flurry’s assertion has clearly overlooked writings from Church of God leaders such as Polycarp, Ignatius, and Melito, as well as fragments of from other Church of God leaders.

Let me also add that while there were those who falsely claimed Christianity in the first and second centuries, it was not until the third century that they seemed to have gained dominance.

Anyway, no, the time from 70-170 A.D. was NOT a “lost century” where there were no Church of God records.

As far as Polycarp goes, notice that the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

It is significant that after his release John trained Polycarp elder of Smyrna, a city near Ephesus in the province of Asia. … At neighboring Smyrna, Polycarp presided over the Church of God for half a century after John’s death. Polycarp stood up boldly for the truth while many fell away and began having fellowship with the Catholic bishops of Rome. History relates that following the example of Peter, Paul and John, Polycarp wrote many letters to congregations and individuals, though all these have perished, save one in an edited version. (Armstrong HW. The Church They Couldn’t Destroy. Good News, December 1981)

Gerald Flurry also wrote something similar himself:

John’s death around a.d. 100 symbolized the death of the Ephesus era.

Polycarp, who was serving as a minister in Smyrna, took John’s place as physical head of the Church under Christ. Polycarp presided over God’s Church for about half a century after John’s death. His apostleship, based out of Smyrna, represented the early years of the Smyrna era, though there were other small congregations of God’s true Church scattered throughout Asia Minor, Syria and Judea.

Under Polycarp’s direction, God’s Church in the east strove to faithfully follow the commandments and traditions as taught by Jesus Christ. They kept the seventh-day Sabbath, the holy days, and the Passover on Nisan 14. (Flurry G. Chapter 5 Fighting to Save the Truth From the booklet The True History of God’s True Church, (c) 2020. https://www.thetrumpet.com/literature/read/12589-the-true-history-of-gods-true-church/1576 accessed 01/28/23)

So, since Gerald Flurry is clearly teaching that Polycarp was a faithful Church of God leader, do we have any writings from him?

Yes.

Here are links to one that is certain and another that he may have written:

Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians Did Polycarp refer to all the books of the New Testament in the early 2nd century? This is Roberts and Donaldson’s translation, corrected by me in one place, where they made a small error in translating Latin by omitting one word.

Polycarp, Fragments from Victor of Capua This may have been written by Polycarp or “pseudo-Polycarp”.

Furthermore, after Polycarp was killed, the following was sent out:

The Martyrdom of Polycarp This was written shortly after Polycarp died; likely involving Papirius. A mistranslation is corrected in this version.

All three documents were prior to 170 A.D.

Let me also add that in Polycarp’s Letter to the Philippians, Polycarp endorsed the writings of Ignatius of Antioch–those were written between 105-140 A.D. according to nearly all scholars.

PCG’s Gerald Flurry also wrote:

Tradition tells us that Polycarp was more than 80 years old when he confronted Anicetus. He returned to Smyrna, where he endured continued persecution from the Roman government. He suffered continual isolation from the churches in Rome, but he would not change doctrine. Though he was an old man, he fought vigorously against doctrinal heresy. Polycarp was arrested shortly after this confrontation and burned alive for failing to worship Caesar. (Eusebius described the miracles surrounding this event in great detail.)

After Polycarp’s death, the apostolic mantle—and the work of protecting the truth—fell to his disciple, Polycrates. (Flurry G. Chapter 5 Fighting to Save the Truth From the booklet The True History of God’s True Church, (c) 2020. https://www.thetrumpet.com/literature/read/12589-the-true-history-of-gods-true-church/1576 accessed 01/28/23)

Related to the above, it should be noted that Polycarp lived 104 years according to ancient records–for details, check out the article: Polycarp of Smyrna: The Heretic Fighter.

It should also be pointed about that while Polycrates did hold the apostolic mantle, there were other leaders between Polycarp and him.

We in the Continuing Church of God consider that the following had laying-on-of-hands apostolic succession in Asia Minor:

Peter/Paul/James through death circa 64-68 (mainly oversaw churches from Asia Minor and Jerusalem, though Paul was imprisoned in Rome)
John through death circa 95-100 (oversaw churches from Ephesus of Asia Minor)
Polycarp through death circa 155-156 (oversaw churches from Smyrna of Asia Minor)
Thraseas through death circa 160 (oversaw the churches from Eumenia, but died in Smyrna)
Sagaris through death circa 166-167 (died in Laodicea of Asia Minor)
Papirius through death circa 170 (oversaw churches from Smyrna of Asia Minor)
Melito through death circa 170-180 (oversaw churches from Sardis of Asia Minor)
Polycrates through death circa 200 (oversaw churches from Ephesus of Asia Minor)

The historian Tertullian reported that those of the Church of God in Smyrna said that they had apostolic succession and had a list of leaders from Polycarp through Polycrates (Tertullian seemingly wrote that during the time of Polycrates).

Meaning?

Gerald Flurry is in error as those of the Church of God in Smyrna did not claim the mantle went directly from Polycarp to Polycrates.

As far as Polycrates himself goes, he (around 192 A.D.) listed those leaders as faithful.

Furthermore, we have writings and fragments of writings from a couple of those prior men to 170 A.D.

Why does any of this matter?

While I have often pointed out prophetic and doctrinal errors from Gerald Flurry, his post yesterday shows that either he is forgetting a lot and/or that he no longer understands much about early Church of God history

Knowledge of proper Church of God history will be demonstrated by the true Philadelphian Christians in the 21st century, consistent with prophecies in Daniel 11:29-36 as well as prophecies by Jesus as recorded in places such as Luke 21:12-15.

Those who have enough of “the love of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10) should clearly be able to see that Gerald Flurry is NOT God’s prophet nor a teacher who truly understands early Church of God history.

Some items of possibly related interest may include the following:

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 and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, French: L Histoire Continue de l Église de Dieu and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
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? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.
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 are two related YouTube videos titled Final Phase of the Work: Need and Background and The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra.
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. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18? Here is a link in the French language: Est-ce que l’Église Continue de Dieu confirme les signes d’Actes 2:17-18? A related sermon in the English language is also available: 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit.
Church of God Leaders on Prophets Have there been prophets throughout the church age? Are any supposed to be around in the last days? What have COG leaders stated or written about prophets? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Leaders on Prophets.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled 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?
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
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. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2?; here is a link to a video in Spanish: ¿Quién es el ‘hombre de pecado’? Here is a version in Mandarin: N;ÿ Œf/’Y’jNº’ÿ Here is a link to a related English sermon video titled: The Man of Sin will deceive most ‘Christians’.
PCG: 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 tries to look faithful.