Church of God News

Dr. Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God has publicly named a new successor:

One of the main reasons I wanted to write all of you members directly is that I want all of you to be fully aware and “on board” about the coming transfer of Mr. Gerald Weston here to Headquarters to become President and COO of this Work. I will remain as the Presiding Evangelist and human “head” of the Church as long as God gives me strength. But Mr. Weston will be in charge of running the physical day to day operations.

This is something I have mentioned as a possibility a couple of times at the News of those once affiliated with the Global Church of God page.

This is the third successor that I am aware of that Dr. Meredith has officially appointed.

The first was the late John Owgyn who died June 14, 2005. Around the time he first announced John Ogwyn (about a dozen years ago), Dr. Meredith discussed this with me personally.  I asked him about Richard Ames and Dr. Meredith explained to me why he did not feel that Richard Ames could ever be the president of LCG.  While  I got along well with John Ogwyn, I told Dr. Meredith that I did not believe that John Ogwyn would be his successor, and obviously I was right about that.

Sometime after John Ogwyn’s death, Dr. Meredith discussed with me his decision to appoint Richard Ames as successor.  I reminded Dr. Meredith about his previous concerns about Richard Ames, and we discussed other possible candidates. Gerald Weston was not one of them–and we discussed this on more than one occasion.  Dr. Meredith stuck with his Richard Ames’ choice, basically because he considered Richard Ames to be very loyal to him personally.  One LCG minister told me a couple of times, “Richard Ames is loyal to a FAULT” (the “fault” emphasis came from the LCG minister–but I will not now list those faults nor his other limitations here).

Of course, because of integrity problems at LCG, I began to disassociate myself from it online in July 2012. And after additional false witness from LCG on December 28, 2012, I felt that I had no choice but to distance myself from that group completely then and form the Continuing Church of God. Earlier, in mid-late December 2012, I had hoped that Gerald Weston might stand up for integrity, but that did not happen.  However, since I had not spoken to him for some time, I also felt that him doing so was only a remote possibility.

As far as Gerald Weston goes, he is married and never had children–and this seems to have impacted his views on various subjects. Gerald Weston once lived in the city of Lompoc.  A small city that I later lived in twice decades ago.

He and I met a couple of times at GCG/LCG teen camp in northern Michigan. I also spoke with him once or twice on the telephone. My direct encounters with him were positive.

And while in GCG/LCG I would watch the sermons he did that were sent to the video groups.

I would describe him as a man with zeal, but with some issues like Apollos (Acts 18:25-26). In certain respects, he reminds me of David Pack.

Perhaps it should be mentioned that I once stopped LCG from putting something out that Gerald Weston did that had offensive doctrinal content (no longer recall the topic, and I mainly felt Gerald Weston had gone too far overboard in something he said).  My efforts to stop LCG from spreading his error then was successful.

Gerald Weston has had a history of making some offensive/extreme statements (which is why he sometimes evokes images of David Pack), but as he has aged he has seemingly been more reserved. Plus since he has handled LCG’s broadcast in Hong Kong and Canada–two places which have certain content restrictions–Gerald Weston has had to have pulled back for the telecasts to some degree.

There was another LCG doctrinal issue possibly associated with him. While still in LCG, I was told that Gerald Weston and/or Wallace Smith were behind the move to stop teaching that the prophecies in Habakkuk 2 were for the end times. But I was not able to directly confirm this with Gerald Weston (though I think I did discuss this with Wallace Smith).

In December 2011, during one of my last meetings with the then three LCG Charlotte-based evangelists, I asked that the Habakkuk 2 matter be resolved as LCG had some materials that taught it correctly, while the trend with some LCG materials then was to teach it incorrectly. At that time, Dr. Douglas Winnail shared my view, and Dr. Meredith seemed to accept that, but it was not clear, to me at least, where Richard Ames stood.

This was one of the subjects I was led to believe by Dr. Meredith that he would get addressed the next month, but it was not. In time, the view that Habakkuk 2 was not for the end times and just had ancient fulfillment seemed to have won out in LCG.

The scriptures, however, teach differently:

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

4 “Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.

5 “Indeed, because he transgresses by wine,
He is a proud man,
And he does not stay at home.
Because he enlarges his desire as hell,
And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied,
He gathers to himself all nations
And heaps up for himself all peoples.

6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him,
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his — how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it. (Habakkuk 2:2-8)

Notice that this biblical prophecy clearly states that it is for “the appointed time” and that it will speak “at the end.” Daniel 8:19, 11:27,29,35 use same the Hebrew term for “appointed time” as Habakkuk 2:3, while Daniel 10, though using a different term, ties the latter days to the time in Daniel 8:19. Habakkuk 2:2-8 was not fulfilled in its entirety anciently as I was told Gerald Weston believes (but again, not from him personally). (For more information on Habakkuk, see the post Do you take seriously the warnings of the prophet Habakkuk?)

Hopefully, if Gerald Weston was behind the move to teach against the future fulfillment of Habakkuk 2:2-8, or even if he wasn’t, he will change LCG to teach what the Bible does about it.

Within six weeks after forming the Continuing Church of God, the first edition of the CCOG Bible News Prophecy magazine was put out. One of its main articles was titled Habakkuk’s Warning is for Us Today (see CCOG announces Bible News Prophecy magazine). A little earlier, a similar article was posted online within three weeks of the formation titled Habakkuk: His message is for us now.

Irrespective of what LCG does or does not do related to its prophetic misunderstandings of Habakkuk 2 and other aspects of biblical prophecy (like on the Man of Sin, the Daniel 11 sequence related to the King of the South, and the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12), there will be changes at LCG.

Hopefully, Gerald Weston will realize that LCG has issues and truly heed Jesus’ admonitions to change (Revelation 3:14-22). If he does not make the correct changes, there is no way that LCG will know when the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late, plus it will have other issues (cf. Revelation 3:15-19).

Gerald Weston and those with him are in my prayers.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God? This article explains some information and doctrines of the Living Church of God as led by Roderick C. Meredith and some concerns about them. (En el idioma español: ¿Qué hay acerca de la Iglesia de Dios Viviente? ¿Hay diferencias doctrinales con la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios?)
Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God Several have speculated reasons, but here is the truth. (En el idioma español: ¿Por qué Bob Thiel dejó la Iglesia del Dios Viviente?)
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
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 version in Mandarin: 主编： 谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
Journal Report on Continuing Church of God Leader Bob Thiel Bob Thiel was interviewed by The Journal News of the Churches of God related to him being a prophet, the proclamation goals of the Continuing Church of God, and why he left LCG.
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?
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? Here is a link in Spanish: Sueños, la Biblia, la Iglesia de Dios de la Radio, y la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
Response to a Letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith Dated December 28, 2012 In violation of Matthew 18, Dr. Meredith publicly sent out a letter that forced Dr. Thiel to conclude that the Continuing Church of God must be formed. Here is that letter and some of Bob Thiel’s comments about it. Here is a version in the Spanish language Respuesta a una carta del Dr. Roderick C. Meredith fechada el 28 de diciembre, 2012.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.