PCG misunderstands Habakkuk and oddly claims that a stone and a copyright suppression settlement are ‘wonders’ from God
Philadelphia Trumpet, April 2019
A reader sent me a link today to the following from PCG’s Gerald Flurry which is in the April 2019 issue of the Philadelphia Trumpet:
A Sealed Book
The context of Isaiah 29:14 is about the great majority of God’s people going astray. “Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink” (verse 9). This is about God’s people, who were spiritually sober but have become “drunk” on false doctrines. They are in a terrible spiritual condition in these latter days. …
The copyright battle we fought for Mystery of the Ages was specifically prophesied in the book of Habakkuk, one of the minor prophets. This book is not just history—it is for our day! As it says in Habakkuk 2:3, “… at the end it shall speak.”
Habakkuk 2 most certainly is not related to the copyright battle that PCG had. PCG, without asking to buy/license certain materials of the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG), printed various materials. Now it has long been my view that PCG should have tried to work this out with WCG first (that could have saved it time and money).
Anyway, since PCG apparently had not asked before printing, WCG claimed copyright ownership and sued.
However, PCG pointed out that it felt its church needed those materials and that it believed that WCG was suppressing copyrights. In the USA, if you hold a copyright, that gives you the right to copy, sell, or license the work. Generally, it does not give you the right to suppress the work. Basically, if the copyright holder will not make the copyrighted materials reasonably available, then (depending on the circumstances) they can be considered to have lost or abandoned their copyright.
In the case of the WCG vs. PCG lawsuit, it is my understanding that WCG realized that it had some legal exposure here and instead of waiting to be told it could have lost its copyrights and gotten nothing, it decided to sell the copyrights of certain books and booklets to PCG.
That most certainly is not a ‘wonder.’
Since that time, WCG (who changed its name to Grace Communion International) has not reprinted nor made available much of the old publications that it originally had copyrights to. This is basically one reason why several groups and individuals have put them up online. It is my understanding that because of the length of time such materials have been out in the public realm, this could indicate an abandonment of copyright.
Now as far as Habakkuk 2:3 goes, let’s look at it and the verse that precedes it:
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. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)
The context is clearly not got anything to do with a court battle related to copyrights. Furthermore, this battle did not make people run. Instead, various ones began to put more old WCG materials online (like COGwriter did with a few articles in the late 2012 after Grace Communion International told me in writing that they would not sell nor license certain old WCG materials when I asked them).
Anyway, this WCG vs. PCG battle was not a wonder from God.
Yet, in the article Gerald Flurry also wrote:
Habakkuk wrote, “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity [lawlessness], and cause me to behold grievance [injustice]? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife [or, a lawsuit] and contention [a personal or legal contest]” (Habakkuk 1:1-3). The language in this passage is that of a legal battle—a lawsuit.For six years, we had to strive at the law with the organization that owned the copyrights to Mr. Armstrong’s works. Righteous men were being encompassed by unrighteous men, led by an evil man within God’s own Church (verse 4). That was a contentious battle! And for six years, justice was perverted just as Habakkuk prophesied.
Yet in the midst of that contention, God’s little flock, led by a man who was following God, did amazing wonders! The very next verse reads, “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you” (verse 5). This verse is an important and inspiring verse. And remember, it is within the context of the legal battle over God’s truth.
No, Gerald Flurry the work discussed in Habakkuk 1:5 was not a court battle over copyright violation/suppression.
In the same article Gerald Flurry also wrote:
The Two Wonders, Explained
Another scripture expands on these wonders and helps you understand them more deeply. “For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it” (Habakkuk 2:11). …
The story of how we received the copyright to that book is truly a wonder! (You can read about it in our free book Raising the Ruins.) In fact, that copyright victory is the second of the “double wonder” of Habakkuk 1:5.
The first part of that double wonder relates back to the “stone” of Habakkuk 2:11. Right at the end of our six-year court case we received a physical stone—a rock that Mr. Armstrong had used as a “prayer rock” at the beginning of the Philadelphia era of God’s Church. As I explain in my book The New Throne of David, that stone is a symbol of Jesus Christ. It is closely associated with the throne on which Christ will sit as King of kings, called “the throne of David” (Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:32). That stone, and the vision it symbolizes, is truly a wonder!
… The new stone is a symbol of the very throne of David.
No, making a copyright settlement is not a wonder from Habakkuk 1:5. Nor is getting a stone/prayer rock related to Herbert W. Armstrong a wonder that fulfills Habakkuk 2:11 nor actually a symbol of the very throne of David.
I denounced Gerald Flurry’s new “stone of destiny” doctrine here last July (see PCG’s Gerald Flurry says he is the new king and the prayer rock replaces the ‘stone of destiny’).
Furthermore, we put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Stone of Destiny and Jesus’ Return
Do you realize that when Jesus returns, He will take up the throne of David? Could there be a throne, or part of that throne, on the earth today? What about the ‘Stone of Scone,’ also called the ‘Stone of Destiny’? What does the Bible teach about the throne of David? Where was it after 586 A.D.? Scripture cannot be broken.Does the Bible tell us anything about Jeremiah and the ‘kings daughters’? Are there ancient writings that give us clues? Were British kings anointed with oil like the ancient kings of Judah? Was a stone present for these coronations? What did the last King of England write? Will Jesus return as King of Kings to the throne of David? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues to provide comfort related to Jesus’ return.
Here is a link to our video: Stone of Destiny and Jesus’ Return.
PCG does not have the right priorities or the right work–nor are these two claimed ‘wonders’ scripturally wonders from God that fulfill prophecies in Habakkuk.
Its focus on physical objects (with the prayer rock only one of several) and misunderstanding of Habakkuk and other other scriptures demonstrates that PCG is NOT representing the remnant of the Philadelphia era of the Church of God.
Some items 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.
Independent Members of the COG: Herbert W. Armstrong Comments, Plus Questions and Answers What did Herbert W. Armstrong teach about being independent of the organized Church? Should independents who claim to accept Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings support the end time Philadelphian work? Watch also Zephaniah’s ‘Gather Together’ Prophecy.
The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings Who is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 referring to? Are there multiple falling aways? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: La Apostasía: Enseñanzas de la Biblia y de la WCG. There are also two YouTube videos on the subject that you can watch The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others.
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: 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’.
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? Two related sermons are available The Work per HWA and the Bible and 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.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.
Congregations of the Continuing Church of God This is a listing of congregations and groups of the Continuing Church of God around the world.
Why is the Continuing Church of God a corporation sole? What is a ‘corporation sole’ and why is this a better organizational choice?
501(c)(3)? Why the Continuing Church of God chose a better option Churches in the USA do NOT have to register as 501(c)(3). Why would they? Why is what CCOG did better? A sermon of related interest is titled: CCOG, a corporation sole, not a 501(c)(3).
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.
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