Comments Regarding Teachings Affiliated with Ron Wallen/Kenneth W./GRUMPS/Jesse Arellano, and others who have professed they were faithful, for supporting the changed WCG.

By COGwriter

Quite a few years ago, I learned that some who were still in the Worldwide Church God (WCG) were receiving cassette tapes from Ron Wallen of Jackson, Miss. I hadn't thought much about him again until I heard that at least one WCG family about 100 miles from my house was probably going to be put out of WCG for attending a Feast site affiliated with Mr. Wallen (Mr. Wallen has since died). I later received the October 31, 2000 issue of The Journal which discussed Mr. Wallen's Feast site in Foley, Alabama. The article had comments from some who attended as well as many from Philip Neal who was a speaker at that site. It also gave a website address (http://208.53.62.162).

The article and website make various statements about some people who still believe that WCG is the true church and why everyone who does not believe this is wrong. Were those affiliated with Ron Wallen or other such leaders correct? This article will quote from The Journal article, as well as from this "non-group's" website, and then discuss whether the points raised are correct.

There are other leaders since Ron Wallen's death who hold similar positions (I received emails from another in October 2004 which will also be addressed in this article), and not all will be discussed in this article. Most in WCG claim they are faithful call themselves GRUMPs, which stands for God's Remnant Under Much Persecution (and have various leaders, though most claim they are not part of a separate group).

The Old Wallen Group?

At its old website, under the link Who Are We? it states, Naturally, you’re wondering, "What group is this?" The answer may be a bit surprising! We are not a splinter group, a church, or an organization—in fact, we’re not really a "group" at all.

Thus it sounds like this body of people believes it is not a group. The article in The Journal states, Yet, Mr. Neal explained, even though they were not a "church group," they were a "group," because there was no getting around that a gathering of 500-plus people to keep the Feast of Tabernacles is a group. "But, we're not a splinter group; we're not a group in that sense. Yet in the most literal, practical sense, we are a group, are we not? We are here together. We're organized. There's nothing wrong with that. That has to be that way." Thus it seems this non-group realizes it is some type of group, but wishes to consider itself different from those it considers to be splinter groups. It should also be noted that under Who Are We? no author is listed, nor is an author listed for the booklet later cited in this article at that website.

How Else are they Different?

The website stated, Likewise, all of the WCG splinter groups RESULTED FROM REBELLION—from certain “leaders” doing what was right in their own eyes! Yet, The Journal reports that Ron Wallen was disfellowshipped from the WCG and apparently by his own authority set up a Feast site.

I will not speak for the other Churches of God, but will state that long-time evangelist Roderick Meredith was disfellowshipped from WCG too. And why? Because he would not go along with the changes and would not accept a 'retirement bribe' to prevent him from preaching. Just like the Apostle Paul, should not all evangelists believe, "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel" (I Cor 9:16-18)? It is necessary that those who are supposed to preach, do preach, even if the predominant church tells them not to (Acts 5:29).

How Important is the Work of those who Attended the Foley Feast Site?

In what seems to be its most bizzare belief, The Journal reports A small, God-called group of the brethren is serving as the standard of their splintered brethren. It is the group that met for the Feast in Foley, Ala. said Mr. Neal...Mr. Neal defined "the work" for the brethren: "This is our work: to hold fast, to honor the authority that God has established. That is the work we're doing"...If the Foley group fails, said Mr. Neal, then the measuring of the temple will fail, then the bride will not be made ready, and Christ will not return, and there will be no world tomorrow.

The return of Jesus Christ is not biblically predicated on whatever the Foley group does (Acts 1:11), nor is the establishment of His Kingdom (Revelation 11:15). Jesus said, "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" (Matthew 24:14). This is the work that is necessary for the end to come, not being affiliated with WCG and Ron Wallen simultaneously. Those affiliated with Ron Wallen and Philip Neal may wish to remember what Herbert Armstrong said was the number one priority of the Church, "'Go ye into all the world' and proclaim the good news--announcement--of the coming kingdom of God (Mystery of the Ages, p. 265). In the years since this Foley group has formed, it has accomplished nothing that I am aware of.

I should add that, I received an unsolicted email from someone claiming that the 'splinter groups' have no right to proclaim the gospel through television/radio and that he was part of some group holding God's 'standard'. I have also submitted an article to The Journal which is also available at my website titled, Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel of Did Herbert Armstrong Change that Priority? which addresses several of the arguments he raised.

In a related quote the website states, Any group can have a “work” if they have a little money—that does not mean they are being blessed by God. It then goes on to downplay the role of television in proclaiming the gospel.

While it is true that any group with money can try to get the gospel out, does that mean it is wrong to do? Are those of the Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God doing what God and Herbert Armstong wanted? Look at what Herbert Armstrong wrote in his last letter, "It may be that the Work that God has given me to do is complete, but not the Work of God's Church, which will be faithfully doing God's Work till Christ, the True Head of this Church, returns...Remember brethren, this is not the work of Herbert W. Armstrong...The greatest work lies ahead...Never before in the history of the Church has it been possible to reap so great a harvest. It has only been made possible through modern technology, beginning with the printing press, radio, television...Each of you must commit yourself to support God's Work...God's work must push ahead as never before. God is opening up new doors in television" (Letter, 1/10/86). And to be sure that this portion of the work would continue after he died, Herbert Armstrong insured that there were other men designated to continue to make television programs after his death. One of those men was evangelist Richard Ames, who remains faithful to this mission to this day, as he is still making television programs to proclaim the Gospel! Another evangelist who was preaching the gospel in the French language while Mr. Armstrong was alive, Dibar Apartian, continued to preach it until he died in late 2010--Mr. Armstrong told him to do this, he never told him to stop.

Philip Neal

Before going further, on March 16, 2012, I recieved an email from Philip Neal which stated:

Hi cog writer...

My name is Philip Neal. You wrote of me back in the late 1990s.

See http://www.cogwriter.com/wallen.htm

A friend recently informed me that this write-up is still on your
site. I checked: in fact, when I Google my name, it's the first thing
that comes up.

The fact is, several years ago -- around 2000-2001 -- I came to see
how seriously in error we were in our approach to the overthrow of the
WCG. I made some terrible mistakes in my thinking and beliefs. I am no
longer a member of that group; today I meet in small home-based
fellowships with those who stick to the trunk-of-the-tree basics. I
have fully renounced the errors associated with my brief teaching
position in that group, sometimes known as the "Wallen group."
Unfortunately, the group remains, under new leadership, promoting the
same misguided ideas. Most of the members are aware that I have
repented of our/my past error; sadly, no one seemed to care.

In an effort to "repair" my reputation, I am asking you to 1) remove
this material or, at least, 2) add a disclaimer to the effect that it
no longer represents what I believe and stand for.

Surely, this is not too much to ask -- brother to brother -- since
love should cover a multitude of sin (and erroneous teaching).

Thank you for your time.

Philip Neal

So, obviously he does not agree with much of what he claimed to stand for in the past. However, since some people have used his type of logic (at least parts of which he now renounces), I have kept this article up. But with his somewhat requested disclaimer.

I should add that I do not agree that small, independent, home churches like what he now seems to be in are truly sticking to the trunk of the tree. See also:

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?

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?

False Teachings and God's Authority

The website Who Are We? article also stated, We are simply active members (or, in some cases, former members) of the Worldwide Church of God who are holding fast to the faith once delivered through Herbert W. Armstrong...Most assuredly, we do not agree with the false teachings today coming out of Pasadena. But we also feel that leaving the WCG—that starting another church organization—is not the answer to this trial on God’s people...And, we believe that God’s one church is still the WCG. As corrupt as it has become, it is still the only place where God himself has established authority.

Thus it appears this non-group believes that WCG still has God's authority. Two statements, one from Jesus and the other from Peter, seem to suggest another belief, "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, Saying: 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do' " (Matthew 23:1-3). "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men' " (Acts 5:29). Did Peter disobey Jesus, by ignoring the authority of the high priest? No. Why? Because the priesthood was changed (Hebrews 7:12). Although most who became Christians accepted the authority of the Pharisees prior to conversion, the 'baton' was passed whether they accepted it or not. Many in the non-group are still members of the WCG, yet Paul wrote, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?" (II Cor 6:14). Do they disagree with Paul?

This non-group claims some type of allegiance to Herbert Armstrong. Perhaps, it should look at why Herbert Armstrong no longer affiliated with Church of God, 7th Day (CG7). In his autobiography, Mr. Armstrong himself wrote that he left because CG7 would not teach the Holy Days, the identity of modern Israel, and CG7 would not get the gospel out as a witness. The current WCG has renounced everything that Herbert Armstrong taught on these subjects. More than that, WCG (which is now called GCI) has fully renounced 17 of the 18 truths that Mr. Armstrong claimed to have restored to the Church of God (as well as many other Church of God doctrines).

What About Governance?

This non-group believed they are those which alone are faithful to governance--this is apparently their largest claim to uniqueness. The Journal article states, The "splinters" from the Worldwide Church of God have no goal in sight, maintained Mr. Neal. They are, in the main, keepers of God's commandments, His law. But they have either knowingly or unknowingly rebelled against God's government, which to this day is fixed firmly in the Worldwide Church of God.

Although governance is the one 'restored truth' that WCG has not fully renounced, it is not true that God's government is fixed firmly in the Worldwide Church of God. And why is that? Because WCG has changed portions of that governance. How? By allowing congregations to vote on whether to meet on the Holy Days as well as whether or not to meet on Saturday. This, at least according to Herbert Armstrong, is not how God's government operates, "Yet in the churches of this world some believe in government by the entire congregation" (Mystery of the Ages, p. 247). Additionally, on several occasions, Joseph Tkach, Jr. has indicated that he may change governance further to be more like the churches of the world--thus God's governance is clearly not firmly fixed in WCG.

But more than that, this governance is not firmly fixed within this non-group. As mentioned in some of the previous quotes, this non-group is made up of current and former members of WCG. Some of the former members, including Ron Wallen, have been disfellowshipped. It is a violation of the type of governance Herbert Armstrong established in WCG to fellowship with those that have been disfellowshipped, thus this non-group has clearly rejected the government of God it claims still exists within WCG. Interestingly, a similar situation existed with a group known as Church of God, Restored (CGR)--which felt it was part of WCG, but was then disavowed by WCG. Both the non-group and CGR seemed to have sought to be a third way, a combination of 'good and evil' which simply is not a biblically sanctioned option (II Cor 6:14).

For more information on governance, please see the article Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government.

Where is God's True Church Today?

The non-group's website has a booklet titled, Where is God’s true Church Today? This booklet states, The one place where God has “set his name”—where the “seat of Moses” continues to reside—is still the WCG...Those who have left the WCG have left the ekklesia—the assembly of God. But—now notice this carefully—they are STILL CONVERTED, still have God’s spirit dwelling in them. Thus, they are still members of the body of Christ— but, they are NO LONGER ATTACHED to that body!

In 1973, when I first came in contact with the Worldwide Church of God, it also had a booklet (written by Brian Knowles) titled Where is God's True Church Today? Let us review the standards in this booklet for determining where God's true Church is. The booklet states, "The true Church upholds God's law...must preach the correct gospel...understands His plan of salvation...must bear the fruits of God's spirit...the true Church keeps God's sabbath". The current Worldwide Church of God meets none of these criteria. Also according to the old booklet, even though God's Church would have the name Church of God, simply having the name Church of God does not make a church God's Church.

Also a further comment regarding "Moses seat", remember that Jesus said to "do as they say" (Matthew 23:3). According to at least one report I heard, WCG said not to go to the Wallen Feast site. WCG says not to fellowship with the disfellowshipped. WCG teaches that it is better to celebrate Christmas and Easter than the biblical holy days. WCG now teaches many things that those who believed the teachings that existed at the time of Herbert Armstrong's death, simply cannot do. Herbert Armstrong specifically taught to be separate.

A free online booklet that should be helpful is Where is the True Christian Church Today?

Kenneth W. and other GRUMPs - New Leader, similar positions

Here is something from a webpage for some GRUMPs in Decatur, MS,

"Naturally, you’re wondering, “What group is this?” The answer may be a bit surprising! We are not a splinter group, a church, or an organization—in fact, we’re not really a “group” at all. We are simply active members (or, in some cases, former members) of the Worldwide Church of God who are holding fast to the faith once delivered through Herbert W. Armstrong. Most assuredly, we do not agree with the false teachings today coming out of Pasadena. But we also feel that leaving the WCG—that starting another church organization—is not the answer to this trial on God’s people. There is a better way—one that truly reflects the mind of Christ. We take the unique position that God has only one church—that scripturally there can be no mother church with many daughter churches. And, we believe that God’s one church is still the WCG. As corrupt as it has become, it is still the only place where God himself has established authority. In no way do we judge or condemn those deceived by the leadership in Pasadena—or those who have chosen to leave the WCG. They are all our brethren, part of today’s broken, scattered body of Christ...Meanwhile, what do we do? We patiently wait for the living Christ—offering the biblical hope that he will soon intervene in the lives of his people—that he will soon deliver, as only he can, his flock from this time of great trouble. We strive to set a Christ-like example in everything. And, we follow a principle found in John 21—that if we love Christ and his way, we will “feed his sheep” " (W. Kenneth. Who Are We? http://www.climbthewall.com/htm/whoarewe.htm 9/18/04).

Most of the above statements are inconsistent with the Bible and other facts. Let's deal with seven of them.

1) According to any dictionary, these people are a group.

2) These people are not "holding fast to the faith once delivered through Herbert W. Armstrong".

I will address just three areas here to disprove their "holding fast" position:

a. The 17th and 18th truths that HWA stated he restored to the Philadelphia era of God's Church were,

"And the fact that Satan, the devil, has deceived the whole world. Brethren, Satan is the one who is guilty. Those people in the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches have been deceived. And I think they really believe. God just hasn't opened any more truth to them...Today they couldn't understand it, even if they're willing. I don’t think they're willing, either, as far as that goes. And how in Revelation 18:4 that God has called us out from among them, to be separate. Well, brethren, all those things have been restored and there is a mission for this Church that never applied, and has never been done by any other Church" (Armstrong HW. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era. Sermon, December 17, 1983).

The Worldwide Church of God has been a Protestant church for some time and HWA said that we needed to be separate from the Protestants. HWA separated himself from CG7 for only three issues: Lack of priority on proclaiming the Gospel, failing to teach about the prophetic identity of the English descendants of Israel, and failing to teach about the Holy Days. WCG has made those changes and many, many more. HWA himself would have left WCG long ago, and those that hold fast to his example would as well.

b. They are failing to hold fast to the mission of the Philadelphia Church as WCG is not proclaiming the true Gospel (as even they admit WCG has many false teachings. Herbert W. Armstrong in his third to last letter wrote,

"I thank God that he has organized this present work of his so thoroughly that regardless of the outcome of my present illness, the work will continue right on to the Second Coming of Christ" (Letter dated 12/23/85).

Adn from his last letter,

"It may be that the Work that God has given me to do is complete, but not the Work of God's Church, which will be faithfully doing God's Work till Christ, the True Head of this Church, returns...Remember brethren, this is not the work of Herbert W. Armstrong...The greatest work lies ahead...Never before in the history of the Church has it been possible to reap so great a harvest. It has only been made possible through modern technology, beginning with the printing press, radio, television...Each of you must commit yourself to support God's Work...God's work must push ahead as never before. God is opening up new doors in television" (Letter, 1/10/86).

Notice what the old Radio Church of God taught:

"Philadelphia has little strength to do this great work that God has given it to do. God has opened the door, and yet look how insignificant, how weak, how little strength we as a Church have to do that work...Revelation 3:7-13: "And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that OPENETH, and no man SHUTTETH; and SHUTTETH and no man openeth." The great door that God has opened to this work is the facility to go into all the world and preach the gospel; the door of radio, the door of the printing press, plus many other such doors. God has set before us an open door and no MAN can shut it. God can shut it, and He will when the work is finished and the Philadelphia Church goes to a place of safety. ...The Laodicean Church is not going to he worthy to escape to a place of safety. When it is too late, they will find that the Church of Philadelphia has gone to safety. "(What Is the "LAODICEAN CHURCH"? Good News, August 1959 Vol. VIII, Number 8).

Since none have gone to a place of safety, the true remnant of the Philadelphia era should still be proclaiming the true Gospel. Those affiliated with WCG are not doing this, thus are not holding fast to what HWA taught.

c. It would not appear to be biblically correct to state that there is "the faith once delivered through Herbert W. Armstrong." HWA never claimed to have done that. While Jesus taught that the Philadelphians were to 'hold fast' (Revelation 3), the message to the Philadelphians had to do with going through the open door (3:8) of proclaiming the Gospel.

HWA himself taught that God used him to restore certain truths that the Ephesus era had,

"I want to speak on the mission of the Philadelphia Era of the Church, this Church today in comparison to the first era of the Church, the Ephesus Era of the Church. It's been seeming more and more to me, as the years go by, that the Bible was written primarily for the Philadelphia Era of the Church...Today's mission of the Church you will find in Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom…that is the same gospel that Jesus preached…shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Armstrong HW. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era. Sermon, December 17, 1983) and "At least 18 basic and essential truths have been restored to the True Church since" the year 1933 (Mystery of the Ages, Dodd & Mead, 1985, p. 251).

3) Their statement "scripturally there can be no mother church with many daughter churches" is biblically inaccurate. Even HWA states this in the 16th restored truth,

"Then the great deception, the counterfeit of Revelation 17:5, Babylon, the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, her daughter churches and who they are...Those people in the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches have been deceived" (Armstrong HW. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era. Sermon, December 17, 1983).

Now of course, this group will probably then argue that they are referring to the true Church. Presuming that is the case, let's see what Revelation 12:14,17 teaches, "But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent...And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ".

Those verses show a woman (who according to verses 4-5 is a mother) who goes to a place (of safety), yet her offspring (which would include daughters) does not go.

4) Their statement that WCG "is still the only place where God himself has established authority", ignores the teachings of the New Testament, as well as HWA's own actions when he left CG7. As HWA has been addressed prior, let's look at the New Testament.

While Paul did teach, "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account" (Hebrews 13:17) and " Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same" (Romans 13:1-3), he also taught a few other things.

Paul also taught, "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!" (2 Corinthians 11:4). And, Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them" (Romans 16:17).

So how do you decide about accepting authority between Paul's possibly confusing answers? Peter gave the clear answer, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29; see also 4:19). And who did he give the answer to? He gave the answer to the high priest (vs. 24), the one that apparently was legitimately appointed to run the religion that had been God's religion.

But the Bible gives us even more reason to NOT accept the legitimacy of being loyal to the Tkach administration. While it is true that HWA did appoint J. Tkach to take control over WCG, it is also true that J. Tkach told HWA that he believed the teachings of the old WCG so much, that HWA said that one of the reasons that he appointed J. Tkach was "because he would not change doctrine".

Yet after HWA's death, J. Tkach on various occasions stated that he for many years prior to HWA's death did not agree with various WCG doctrines. What does this show? This shows that he gained his position through deceit or intrigue. The Bible shows that the King of the North will gain his position by intrigue (Daniel 11:21). But the Bible also shows that any that support that Beast (Revelation 13:1) will not have their names written in the Book of Life (13:8; 17:8). Thus, it is clear that one should not provide one's support to an organization that is ruled by those who attained it through intrigue! Furthermore, since WCG teaches against the teachings of HWA and the Bible, WCG itself is a type of anti-christ, for the Bible shows there will be many.

Does not the following passage apply also to WCG? "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us" (I John 2:18-19).

Now some still in WCG might say that they are those ones continuing, but this is not true. Not only does the preceding verse state, "he who does the will of the God abides forever" (vs. 17), but 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 states, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord."

WCG is led by unbelievers and filled with unbelievers, most in it are NOT our brethren. The Lord says to come out from them and be separate! Furthermore, Jesus taught, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Matthew 12:30).

Jude warned about leaders who would turn the grace of God into license, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness" (Jude 3-4). WCG did just that! Notice that Jude does not teach people to just stay there, "others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh" (vs. 23). In other words, those that are faithful will not encourage people to stay part of the false church, but will plead and do what it takes to help pull them out! That is the opposite of what the so-called faithful within WCG teach.

Furthermore, the WCG leadership are similar to one that John wrote about, "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God" (3 John 9-11).If someone in WCG publicly teaches the truth, the parts that the so-called faithful in WCG cling to, will WCG tolerate it? Will they not put true brethren out? Is WCG doing good or evil? And if it is doing evil, should it be supported?

5) They say they "in no way judge". They are failing to heed Paul's writings on that subject, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?" (1 Corinthians 6:2-5). "Judge among yourselves" (1 Corinthians 11:13).

Paul condemned the Corinthians for putting up with physical fornication (1 Corinthians 5:1). He himself judged that from a distance (vs. 3). He told the Corinthians to put the fornicator out (vs. 5). In Revelation 17:1-2 it makes it clear that the kings of the earth commit fornication with the false church. Paul said to "flee fornication" (1 Corinthians 6:18, KJV). Those in part of the Philadelphia portion of the COG will have done so before it is too late.

6) Although they state, "we follow a principle found in John 21—that if we love Christ and his way, we will “feed his sheep”", they are not following Christ's example. Though it in John 21, it is true that Jesus told Peter to "Feed my sheep", it is also true, that Peter understood that he was to proclaim the gospel publicly, even if the religious leaders were opposed to it.

Furthermore, like PCG/CGG/SCG/GCW and others, this group has essentially rejected HWA's 1st restored truth about the gospel. While they will make up excuses, so have those other groups. HWA warned that the message, not the messenger was the key point of the gospel, "Christ's gospel of the kingdom" (as HWA put it). Those who claim to be faithful to HWA's teachings, while remaining part of WCG, have essentially decided that the work is not to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom to the world as a witness, but a work of personally-enduring--focusing on themselves and not others! HWA never stood for that, nor could any who are really followers of what he actually taught.

Paul taught, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9).

The "gospel message" that those who claim to be faithful, who are part of WCG, is a different gospel. It is not the gospel that the Philadelphia portion of the Church received or preached.

7) Laodicea is made up of two words which mean "the people decide". This group, like many other non-Philadelphians, claim they have something "unique". Something so important that it does not matter that their tithes do not support proclaiming the true Gospel of the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14), in violation of HWA's and the Bible's clear teachings on this matter.

While this group claims to not 'condemn' others in other groups, it is Jesus' (and as also shown, HWA's) words that condemn them, "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:14-17).

People in WCG are not hot. They feel they are in need of nothing and all they need to do for their works is wait within what they admit is the corrupt WCG.

Since HWA taught that the true Church would be proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world as a witness right up until the time to go to a place of safety, and WCG has not done that since at least 1994, it is clear that supporting WCG is in violation of what HWA taught. Those in WCG who are PERSONALLY not sinning through commission (i.e., they do not abide in personal sin) are supporting those that do sin, and by the omission of paying God's tithes to the remnant of the Philadelphia church, they are not obeying through omission.

Jesse Arellano and a Remnant of the Philadelphian era of God’s Church

In October 2004, Jesse Arellano, who is with a group that believes that WCG is still the one and only true COG, sent me an email titled, Some Questions that Need Scriptural Answers. I asked him if he would change his positions based upon the answers I would send, but he after all this time still has not responded, so on 12/07/04 I decided to send him my answers anyway as follows:

Dear Jesse Arellano:

On October 24, 2004, you asked me twenty questions, but the way you worded several of them really should have been changed. Although I have waited seven weeks, you never answered my questions. Certainly that was enough time for you to answer the question on whether or not you would believe my answers if they were biblically correct? In spite of your lack of response, I have attempted to address your questions. Your questions will be in italics.

1. Do you believe in the teaching of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) that the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) is the ONLY true Church of God on earth?

HWA is dead and the question misconstrues reality. HWA cannot teach that WCG is the ONLY true Church of God, though he did teach that while he was alive it was the Philadelphia Era of the COG (he always taught that there were some in Sardis, as well as other places that were part of the true COG).

HWA out out a booklet titled Where is God's True Church Today? That booklet states, "The true Church upholds God's law...must preach the correct gospel...understands His plan of salvation...must bear the fruits of God's spirit...the true Church keeps God's sabbath". The current Worldwide Church of God meets none of these criteria.

Since the Bible is to be the source of doctrine (II Tim 3:16), it is from the Bible that information to help deciding where one should fellowship can be found. Perhaps the most fundamental biblical teaching is "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?" (II Cor 6:14). Jesus similarly taught that, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' " (Matt 7:22-23). Thus, one should not be part of a group that practice (or teaches lawlessness)--WCG teaches lawlessness, thus is not a true COG.

The true Church of God is made of, "those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12)--WCG does not teach this--it now has an extreme "Thyatiran problem". More information can be found in my article In Search for Thyatira.

2. That ONLY the APOSTLE OF GOD has the authority to re-establish God’s Church and doctrines?

Actually, HWA taught that only an Apostle or Prophet could establish doctrine. But what did he actually mean? The term doctrine in the Greek simply means teaching, and the Bible states that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Tim 3:16). The Bible also teaches that one does not have to be an Apostle to teach (e.g. Acts 8:29-35).

What HWA actually taught was that only an Apostle or Prophet could establish fundamental doctrines--which he often referred to as "the trunk of the tree." Those truly part of the Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God have not changed any of those fundamental doctrines--we keep all the basic doctrines and teach all the 18 restored truths. But YOUR group has changed doctrine, and you have no Apostle nor Prophet that I am aware of or recognize as such.

In the article you sent me, you stated, "This is the REAL WORK done by the Remnant of ancient Israel after they have return from Babylon—to BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD. This is also the same WORK being done by the present Remnant of the Philadelphian era of God’s Church after some of them have returned from the Babylonish confusion foisted by the WCG leadership that caused God’s Church—the spiritual Temple—to be laid in ruin for sometime."

There are many problems in what you sent, three of which I will mention here. First, you have changed what the work of the Philadelphia era of the COG is. Remember, Jesus said to the Philadelphia Church, "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it...Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown" (Rev 3:8,11).

Second, it is the Laodiceans who have that type of work, and Jesus condemns their work. though acknowledges its necessity (Rev 3:15-19).

Third, HWA taught that the Philadelphia portion of the COG would continue to proclaim the Gospel to the world as a witness until it was time to flee to a place of safety. "I thank God that he has organized this present work of his so thoroughly that regardless of the outcome of my present illness, the work will continue right on to the Second Coming of Christ" (HWA Letter dated 12/23/85). "The great door that God has opened to this work is the facility to go into all the world and preach the gospel; the door of radio, the door of the printing press, plus many other such doors. God has set before us an open door and no MAN can shut it. God can shut it, and He will when the work is finished and the Philadelphia Church goes to a place of safety. ...The Laodicean Church is not going to he worthy to escape to a place of safety. When it is too late, they will find that the Church of Philadelphia has gone to safety. "(What Is the "LAODICEAN CHURCH"? Good News August 1959 Vol. VIII, Number 8). I can provide more proof on this point, but this should be enough for the sincere to accept.

3. Do you believe that the Church, WCG, established by God thru HWA is the spiritual Israel of God? And that there is only ONE spiritual NATION OF GOD on earth today?

WCG is most definitely not the spiritual Israel of God for reasons given in question 1. And yes, I believe there is one spiritual Church.

Look at what the old booklet The True History of the True Church taught, "The true Church is not some POLITICALLY ORGANIZED DENOMINATION which one joins or becomes a member of in order to be "saved." Jesus did not die for some one religious ORGANIZATION called a church...The true Christians, who alone comprised the true Church, WERE BEING PUT OUT OF THE VISIBLE, ORGANIZED CONGREGATION. They were the SCATTERED ones of whom John said: "Therefore the world knoweth us not" (I John 3:1)...But just as there was a false teacher, Jezebel, in the local church at Thyatira so now there were many FALSE teachers and FALSE brethren among these people. Some rose up among the Waldenses teaching that it was right to have Catholics, and later, Protestants, baptize their children and to attend IDOLATROUS mass once in a while. Others committed spiritual fornication by meddling in politics in the hope of avoiding persecution...Just as the remnants of the Sardis era of the Church exist side by side with the Philadelphia era, SO WE WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK to the very "end time" ".

Hence in HWA's time it was WCG's position that you were not to fellowship with a group that got taken over by non-COG teachers, nor even attend false services even once in a while. And that Thyatira was, to some degree, such a group. Is that not now what you and those like you are doing by supporting the apostate WCG?

4. And that “spiritual nation of God”, which is the WCG, has been divided and scattered just as prophesied before Christ coming?

WCG is not the spiritual nation of God. But I do believe that the Church has been scattered as prophesied (though more scattering may also be in prophecy).

5. Do you agree that just like with the ancient physical Israel during her idolatrous period, God has reserved for Himself a “very small remnant” in His present spiritual Israel that do not “ bow and accept” the apostate doctrine, let alone leave the spiritual Israel?

Yes, but perhaps not the way I think you intend it. As some in Philadelphia will be around at the end (Rev 3:10) and the last era, which is the Laodiceans (Rev 3:14), would be the majority, the Philadelphians would be a small remnant compared to them.

6. That David despite the persecution made against him by King Saul never rebelled against, let alone renounced and left the nation Israel?

Yes, but David had to separate himself from Saul (I Sam 19:10). I should add that HWA never renounced the COG, but did leave CG7 and taught that separation from apostates was one of the 18 restored truths.

Furthermore, you seem to not understand what the New Testament teaches about this type of apostacy occuring.

The Apostle Paul also appeared to have hade some type of Thyatiran problem to deal with or he probably would not have needed to write, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty"" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Paul similarly, in Ephesians 5:8-11 wrote, " For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Paul furthermore wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?"

Paul appears to be saying that although idols are not really anything, and unless you want to provoke the Lord, do not participate in the worship services of pagans as they are not serving the true God! It is of note that God promised to destroy the physical descendants of the original Jezebel (I Kings 21:21-24), as well as the children of the New Testament Jezebel (Revelation 2:23).

Please re-read the message to the Thyatiran COG in Revelation 2.

7. Do you think that the end-time name of the Church, which God has re-established thru HWA, is not anymore essential today?

HWA never claimed to re-establish the name WCG. Nor is that specific name mentioned in scripture, nor in any biblical way considered essential. The correct name, according to HWA and the Bible, is the Church of God.

Twelve places in the New Testament reveal the correct name. The correct name is "the Church of God." Descriptions can be attached, but the basic name is always the same—the Church of God. In a couple of places it is called the "Church of Christ," but, since Christ is God, the name the Church of God tells it all. Some Scriptures include the specific location of a Church of God, but the basic name—Church of God—is always found. See Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:13, 1 Timothy 3:5. What is important is that God's ways are taught there. HWA adopted the name Worldwide Church of God in 1969. Prior to that time it was known as the Radio Church of God. Now, the Philadelphia portion of the COG is known as the Living, Church of God.

8. Do you believe that God gives the WORK of actual preaching the Gospel to the public ONLY to His Apostle?

No, and neither should you if you believe HWA or the Bible. First, from the Bible it is clear that Jesus sent non-apostles out to heal the sick and preach about the Kingdom of God (Luke 10:1-12), and they even cast out demons (Luke 10:17). God used a deacon (Stephen), one who was only supposed to serve tables, to get His message out and even get a vision from God (Acts 6-7). "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:3-4), those everywhere preaching were not just apostles. Interestingly, Paul started preaching (Acts 9:19-20) BEFORE he was made an apostle (Acts 13:2). Timothy was an evangelist (II Tim 4:5) and not an apostle (II Cor 2:1), yet Paul wrote, "Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do" (I Cor 16:10). There simply is no biblical restriction that preaching the Gospel must be limited to apostles.

Second let us read what Mr. Armstrong actually wrote about non-apostles preaching the Gospel, "evangelists were used in carrying forth the message. Other leaders--ordained ministers--were stationary, yet even the local pastor of a church may hold evangelistic services in his area--not the 'soul-saving crusade' type, but lectures announcing and proclaiming as a witness the coming kingdom of God (the true gospel)! This entire great commission--proclaiming the good news of the coming kingdom, and 'feeding the sheep'--is a combined administration and function of the Church...it is done also by radio and television and in print" (Mystery of the Ages, pp.265-266). HWA personally appointed two evangelists, Richard Ames (for television) and Dibar Apartian (French radio) to publicly proclaim the Gospel. He appointed Richard Ames shortly before he died and also wrote, "I thank God that he has organized this present work of his so thoroughly that regardless of the outcome of my present illness, the work will continue right on to the Second Coming of Christ" (Letter dated 12/23/85).

9. That anyone cannot preach the Gospel with power, such as sign and wonder, unless he is a messenger or Apostle of God?

What do you mean by messenger? I do not recall HWA using that term in that context (HWA at least once used it in the context of John the Baptist). The Apostle Paul stated about Timothy the evangelist "he does the work of the Lord, as I also do" (I Cor 16:10). The Book of Acts made it clear that Stephen, a deacon, did the work of God with power.

HWA approved making Roderick Meredith, Dibar Apartian, and Richard Ames evangelists. I am unaware that he personally approved any in your group.

10. That the powerful preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God has long ceased after the death of HWA?

No. For further information, please read my detailed article titled, Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert Armstrong Change that Priority? The article is simply to long to reproduce in this email.

You simply do not seem to recall what HWA taught on this subject.

11. Do you believe that we are now in the Laodicean era of God’s Church?

Yes, and many groups are part of it, Sardis, or Thyatira (even if they do have a few 'Philadelphians' scattered in their midst).

12. That even we combined the so-called “WORK” of preaching the Gospel of various splintered groups at this time, it didn’t reach even a bit of power that we have had during the Philadelphian era?

No, this is false. A remnant is expected to be smaller than the original.

13. That the final “re-gathering” of God’ Church will be done by God’s TWO WITNESSES?

Could you be more specific? Zephaniah 2:1-3 teaches, "Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD's anger comes upon you! Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD's anger".

Since the two witnesses are given power about the time the decree is issued, it is unclear that they actually are doing the gathering. Otherwise Zeph. 2 would not say gather before the decree is issued.

14. That after God’s Church is “made whole” she will be brought to her safe place of refuge?

Not if I understand your question correctly. The Bible states quite the opposite as two separate groups are definitely mentioned in Revelation 12, "But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent...And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (vss. 14,17).

15. Do you believe that the symbolic “WOMAN” in Revelation 12: 14 (cf. ALT version) is the end-time God’s Church? And who is this “Church”?

The woman here is the true Philadelphia COG, which is a near restoration of the original Ephesus Church, that God opened doors for.

16. That the “rest of her seed” on verse l7 refers to those splinter groups—now more than 700 groups worldwide—that refuse to get back to the symbolic “woman”—the “MOTHER CHURCH”?

Not exactly. But it is that those that hold fast to the Philadelphia work are promised protection, while those that promote a Laodicean, Sardis, or Thyatiran work are not, and hence are the rest of her seed.

17. That their keeping of God’s commandment and having the “testimony of Christ” is not enough to spare them from the coming great tribulation?

Absolutely as I quoted Revelation 12:17 in my response to question 14. They do not have the Philadelphia era work.

18. That after God’s Church is gathered and taken to her safe place of refuge, the FINAL preaching of the Gospel with awesome power, which some self-proclaimed leaders now vehemently desired, will be actually done by the TWO WITNESSES OF GOD?

Yes, though I am not aware of which particular self-professed leaders you are referring to.

From question 20, it seems that your group hopes you may be.

19. That the appearance of the said TWO WITNESSES would precede the appearance of the “man of sin” and the “wicked one”?

That is not particularly clear from Revelation 11:3, "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth" and Daniel Daniel 12:11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days". So perhaps you would elaborate?

20. THAT SEVERAL MONTHS FROM NOW THE TWO WITNESSES OF GOD WILL APPEAR IN THE WORLD SCENE?

No. Do you really believe that? If so, time will disprove your position shortly as you asked me that question on October 24, 2004.

Once time does disprove this, will you change?

Specifically HWA stated, "This afternoon I want to speak on the mission of the Philadelphia Era of the Church, this Church today in comparison to the first era of the Church, the Ephesus Era of the Church. It's been seeming more and more to me, as the years go by, that the Bible was written primarily for the Philadelphia Era of the Church...Today's mission of the Church you will find in Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom…that is the same gospel that Jesus preached…shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come..."Well, brethren, all those things have been restored and there is a mission for this Church that never applied, and has never been done by any other Church."

The "Well brethren" comment was made after he listed the 18 truths that God used him to restore to the Philadelphian Era of the COG.

You call yourself part of a Remnant of the Philadelphian era of God’s Church yet as far as I can tell, you do not hold to the mission of the Philadelphia era of the COG, nor have you kept all the 18 restored truths (such as to be separate).

Pray about it. If you are truly part of the scattered Philadelphia remnant, then I believe God will lead you to fully support the real version of it.

Best regards,

Bob Thiel

P.S. I was told that Jesse A. died about a year after this, and no the two witnesses had not appeared as he suggested they would. Also, I edited the above in 2012.

What Herbert W. Armstrong Taught

Many who still attend the WCG, who also claim to be faithful to the teachings of WCG under HWA's leadership have failed to recall what HWA himself taught about this in the May 1960 Good News article titled Should We Listen to Others?:

"HOW does God say we must worship Him?  You see signs and slogans in the world to this effect:  “Let every man worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.”  But that is contrary to God’s instruction.

To a woman of the world, Jesus said: “Ye worship ye know not what.”  Then He said:  “God is a SPIRIT:  and they that worship Him must worship Him in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.”  (John 4:22,24).  God will not accept worship “according to the dictates of man’s conscience.”  To be acceptable to Him you MUST worship Him in SPIRIT—that is, you must have within you His Holy Spirit, which He gives only to them that OBEY Him (Acts 5:32) and you must worship Him IN TRUTH.  What is TRUTH?  Jesus said “Thy Word is truth.”  You must worship Him according to the BIBLE!

With whom are we to have FELLOWSHIP?

The Apostle John, in his first letter, declared God’s TRUTH in order “that ye also may have fellowship with us…” showing we can have fellowship ONLY with those who know and obey the TRUTH…

YOU are to have fellowship only with those who know and obey the TRUTH!...

Our fellowship is, first of all, WITH God the Father, and WITH Jesus Christ!  If I have fellowship with Christ, and YOU have fellowship with Christ, then He joins you and me together in fellowship.  You can not have true Christian fellowship with any, except those who also have fellowship with God the Father and with Christ.

But WHO does have fellowship with God? Just anybody?  Members of worldly churches?  LISTEN!  “If we say that we have fellowship with HIM, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the TRUTH: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light (truth), we have fellowship one with another.”  (Verses 6-7).

Brethren, that narrows fellowship—assembling together for worship—down to ONLY those who are in God’s TRUTH—the true LIGHT—and who OBEY it.  And that means ONLY those whom God has, by His Holy Spirit, put into HIS TRUE CHURCH.  We are barred from fellowship or worship with any others…

We must have fellowship only with Jesus Christ, and those who are joined together in the TRUTH—all speaking the same TRUTH.

Now suppose you try to find fellowship with members of a Seventh Day Adventist church.  They may worship on the right day, but they do not keep God’s annual Sabbaths and Festivals; they do not proclaim the true Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD which is to rule THE EARTH for the millennium; they do not believe we are to be actually born into the divine, glorified FAMILY or Kingdom of God; and they do break the second Commandment with their many idolatrous pictures of a long-haired man they falsely call “Christ”; they do believe lies and errors, such as their “Sanctuary Question,”  “Investigative Judgment,” Mrs. White’s inspiration as God’s “Prophet”; going to heaven, etc., etc.

Suppose you try to find fellowship with Baptists, Church of Christ, Methodists.  They believe in the immortality of the soul—if they have not gone “Modernist”—they do not OBEY God’s Law and therefore cannot have His Holy Spirit.  There is no basis whatsoever for fellowship with them.  They are deceived and carnal.  They are of the UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS!

God commands you:  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship have righteousness (keeping of God’s Commandments) with unrighteousness? And what communion have LIGHT (TRUTH) with darkness?...WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD.”  (II Cor. 6:14-17)…

We are not to have social or religious FELLOWSHIP—close friendship—with any except those who know and OBEY the TRUTH.  We must not try to WORSHIP with them—attend their churches…

Again God instructs through Paul:  “Have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness.” (Eph. 5:11)…

Now LISTEN TO GOD’S TEACHING!

The Apostle Paul, speaking his farewell to the elders of the large Church of God at Ephesus, said:

“I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”  (Acts 20:29-30).

THAT DID HAPPEN IN THAT CHURCH!

The greatest danger of all is when one who is among us, supposed to be one of us, approaches you with some doctrine or interpretation CONTRARY to that of God’s Church, and of God’s ministers.

Whether it be a so-called “Jehovah Witness” or even one supposedly a member of God’s own Church, remember THIS COMMAND:

“If there Come ANY unto you”—it does not say member of another church—it says if ANY come unto you—“and bring not this doctrine, RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE…”—DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!"

The Seventh Day Adventists

The preceding quote for HWA is quite interesting, especially since he mentioned the Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs).

Why?

Because the SDA Church was initially primarily made up of individuals who had been in the true COG. Like the Tkachs, Mr. and Mrs. White gained control and authority in the COG in what appeared to be the proper way.

(The reason I say 'appeared' was that, for example, in the case of WCG, Joseph Tkach Sr. assured HWA that he would not change doctrine, and HWA would have never appointed him if he thought that Joseph Tkach would have done what he ended up doing--Joseph Tkach gained his position by 'intrigue', which is something that both the Bible {Daniel 11:34} and HWA's COG taught against {Beware of False Brethren. Good News. January 1961}. In the case of the Whites, they appeared to sincerely hold COG doctrinal positions, but they too made a variety of changes, though slower than the Tkachs).

Thus, HWA specifically taught that just because some group was once part of the COG (as the SDAs had been), that had an apparent proper transfer in leadership (like the SDAs did), and even continued to have services on the Sabbath (which the SDAs do to this day), that according to HWA, "God commands you:  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship have righteousness (keeping of God’s Commandments) with unrighteousness? And what communion have LIGHT (TRUTH) with darkness?...WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD.”  (II Cor. 6:14-17)".

And why?

HWA wrote about the SDAs, "they do not proclaim the true Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD which is to rule THE EARTH for the millennium; they do not believe we are to be actually born into the divine, glorified FAMILY or Kingdom of God; and they do break the second Commandment with their many idolatrous pictures of a long-haired man they falsely call “Christ”; they do believe lies and errors, such as their “Sanctuary Question,”  “Investigative Judgment,” Mrs. White’s inspiration as God’s “Prophet”; going to heaven".

The current WCG is guilty of all but three of the last four of those things, and, unlike the SDAs, actually advocates lawlessness (the SDAs at least officially teach that Christians are to keep the ten commandments, something that WCG no longer teaches).

HWA Also Taught

Herbert Armstrong claimed God used him to restore 18 truths to the Philadelhia era of the COG (Mystery of the Ages, Dodd & Mead, 1985, p. 251). In a sermon where he listed them he stated, "Then the great deception, the counterfeit of Revelation 17:5, Babylon, the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth, her daughter churches and who they are...And the fact that Satan, the devil, has deceived the whole world. Brethren, Satan is the one who is guilty. Those people in the Catholic Church and the Protestant churches have been deceived. And I think they really believe. God just hasn't opened any more truth to them. We don't sit in judgment of them. We're not judging them YET. We're going to do it and when WE judge them, then all truth will be opened and God will take away the blindness from their eyes so they can understand if they're willing. Today they couldn't understand it, even if they're willing. I don’t think they're willing, either, as far as that goes.And how in Revelation 18:4 that God has called us out from among them, to be separate. Well, brethren, all those things have been restored and there is a mission for this Church that never applied, and has never been done by any other Church" (Armstrong HW. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era. Sermon, December 17, 1983).

It may be of interest to note that the Tkach administration left those truths (Satan deceives the whole world; that the Catholic Church represents Babylon the Great, with the Protestants as its daughters; and that true Christians are to be separate) out of ITS list of the 18 restored truths (as shown in its article, God restored these 18 truths: How thankful are you for them? Worldwide News, August 25, 1986).

All with ears to hear should realize that when WCG joined the Evangelical Association years ago, it declared that is was not separate, did not believe the professing Christian world was deceived, and declared itself Protestant--a clear repudiation of the last three truths that Herbert Armstrong said he restored. Herbert Armstrong separated himself from the Church of God, Seventh Day (CG7) because one of their leaders stated that HWA was correct on parts of two of the restored truths (listed as numbers 3 and 13 above), but that CG7 would not teach them--he was not put out of CG7 until about a decade AFTER he left them (Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, 1973 ed.). There is no way that HWA would have tolerated the repudiation of all these restored truths by J. Tkach, Jr. and remain part of WCG. How can one send tithes and offerings to or even attend such a group? Those who claim to be faithful to the teachings of Herbert Armstrong and who are still affiliated with WCG need to carefully (and prayerfully) study those last three restored truths and separate themselves. To do otherwise, is a clear contradiction--YOU CANNOT HONESTLY BE FAITHFUL TO THE TEACHINGS OF HERBERT ARMSTRONG AND POSSIBLY REMAIN IN WCG! TO DO SO WOULD BE TO IGNORE THREE OF THE TRUTHS HERBERT ARMSTRONG CLAIMED TO HAVE RESTORED TO THE CHURCH.

Concluding Thoughts

The last three decades have been confusing for many of us once affiliated with the WCG. Many groups have formed. Like the "Wallenites," several claim that the other groups, other than themselves, are splinter groups. Many groups failed.

It seems clear that some of those affiliated with Ron Wallen, Jesse Arellano, and Kenneth W. appeared to hold some positions inconsistent with the facts (such as whether or not they are a group), have a work different than that historically held by the Church (or the Bible for that matter), have an understanding of governance that others do not have (which seems contradictory), and perhaps most importantly, since they claim that WCG is the true Church they do not meet the criteria that the old WCG set for being part of the true Church. Perhaps, some who are not aware of these positions will now understand them for what they are, and then affiliate with whichever group they believe bests "contends for the faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).

Furthermore, those still in WCG seem to have a lot in common with those prophesied to be the God's remnant of Thyatira (more information can be found in the article In Search of Thyatira).

This article will be hard for those in WCG who have not accepted the changes to accept, but the truth is that it is not possible to fully accept WCG's authority as "God's Church" and to not accept any of the heretical changes at WCG (staying there means the acceptance of heresy, at minimum because of the failure to heed the scriptural admonitions about being separate). All who once were affiliated with WCG need to ask themselves why they are where they are, get on their knees, and ask God where He wants them to be.

Those interested in learning more about the true and faithful church should study the following:

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?

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 c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.

B. Thiel, 2000/2004/2006 /2012/2015 0103

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