PCG Alters Another HWA Document

Gerald Flurry of the Philadelphia Church of God
Gerald Flurry

As part of a lawsuit settlement with WCG years ago, Gerald Flurry’s so-called Philadelphia Church of God acquired rights to reproduce certain documents written by the late Herbert W. Armstrong.

For years, I have reported that PCG had altered some parts of at least one (specifically The Mystery of the Ages). This morning, the Living Armstrongism site pointed out another altered document Who or What is the Prophetic Beast? :

This is how the paragraph in question was written in the original version. Note the bolding:

This coming great martyrdom is THE GREAT TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:9, 21-22). This tribulation is not the wrath of God — the last plagues. It is the wrath of Satan (Rev. 12:12), inflicted at the behest of HIS apostate church by the coming “United States of EUROPE” and against the true people of GOD! It is a persecution — a torturing — a martyring of the saints of God — the very elect who cannot be deceived (Matt. 24:24). Except those days of Great Tribulation be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But, for THE SAKE OF GOD’S PERSECUTED SAINTS those days shall be shortened.

This is the same section in PCG’s version:

This coming great martyrdom is THE GREAT TRIBULATION (Matt. 24:9, 21-22). This tribulation is not the wrath of God—the last plagues. It is the wrath of Satan (Rev. 12:12), inflicted at the behest of HIS apostate church by the coming “United States of EUROPE” and against the people of GOD! It is a persecution—a torturing—a martyring of the saints of God who have become lukewarm and lost God’s protection. Except those days of Great Tribulation be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But, for THE SAKE OF GOD’S PERSECUTED SAINTS, those days shall be shortened.

I checked the links and verified that this is another change.

Now some with PCG will conclude that the change is accurate and so that this is not a big deal.

They, however, would be wrong for at least two reasons.

The first is that this is another proof that PCG is NOT faithful to what it claims that it is:

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).

And secondly, because the change is NOT completely accurate. While it is true that the lukewarm Laodiceans will not receive protection that is promised to the Philadelphians (the real ones, not the false ones like PCG who claim the name, cf. Revelation 3:9), the truth is that many people will be converted through the preaching of the two witnesses and apparently the third angel’s message during the time of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

These converts are NOT likely to be “lukewarm”. They will likely help the two witnesses and many of these converts will be martyred during the time of the Beast and the Antichrist.

PCG has repeatedly adjusted (in a negative manner in most cases) the biblical truths that the late Herbert W. Armstrong taught.

The change to Who or What is the Prophetic Beast? is just the latest. Hopefully, those associated with PCG will wake up and realize that it is NOT the faithful remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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.
What is a True Philadelphian? Many claim to be part of the Philadelphia era of the Church, but is claiming enough? This article has biblical and historical evidence about who really are the Philadelphians.
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.
Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
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 essentially the Living Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?