There have been several improper reports about me and why I (Bob Thiel) left the Living Church of God (LCG) and felt compelled to begin the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) on the internet from some who claim that they are part of the Church of God. Perhaps several of the real reasons were not clear enough to many. Part of this would be probably because I decided to not go through personal details about the likely motivations, etc. of those who made it so that staying with LCG was morally impossible for me.
The simple reason that I left was that I was convinced that LCG could no longer have the Philadelphia mantle (see Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle) because it did not sufficiently value the truth (cf. Jeremiah 48:10a). Therefore, for scriptural reasons, LCG could no longer be considered the group that would lead the final phase of the work.
Why did I conclude this?
There were many reasons and circumstances. But some background may help.
In the late Summer of 2005, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith (presiding evangelist of LCG) formally asked if I would be a volunteer advisor to the 'doctrinal committee' (basically meaning an advisor on these matters to the Charlotte-based evangelists) in the areas of doctrine and prophecy. I agreed.
But over time became clearer that LCG's top leaders would not fulfill various promises, even when repeatedly reminded. Those promises, which began no later than 2006, mainly had to do with correcting literature/doctrinal errors that one or more of them had agreed to handle (see October 2012 Emails Related to GCA Booklet and December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG's Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs), the final phase of the work, and restoring information on church history, doctrine, and prophecy. They would not correct errors and this indicated that they did not have sufficient love of the truth. In 2011, it was becoming clearer that various leaders also did not take Matthew 18 seriously enough personally, and this was completely confirmed (to me at least) when instead of making biblically-needed corrections himself, at least one of the top leaders violated Matthew 18 and published for wide distribution, improper statements about me in September 2012. In January-December 2012 various promises were also not kept and there were also new some doctrinal concerns that came out. The rejection of biblical authority showed me that LCG really did not fully understand biblical governance.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
19 ... "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19)
Character counts. The bottom line is that I left LCG because LCG had (and still has) integrity and priority issues in conflict with scripture and had insufficient love of the truth. Therefore, I concluded that it no longer held the Philadelphia mantle as it could not be the church with "the pillar and ground of the truth" (cf. 1 Timothy 3:15) and was not standing for the truth as Jesus would direct (Isaiah 61:8), nor did it have the ability to be able to complete the final phase of the work as Jeremiah 48:10 sadly applied to it:
10 Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully, (Jeremiah 48:10)
Furthermore, in many areas, LCG was not (and still is not) "rightly dividing the word of truth" (Timothy 2:15). Hence, it is not as effective as it should be.
Some Specific Details
Now, for some more details.
In May 2012, it appeared to me that a doctrinal change had possibly crept in--and it was one that the top leader of LCG had told me years earlier that he did not agree with, so at the time I thought that this change perhaps was simply the improper view of another LCG leader. But that doctrine became not only official, it was essentially declared as the defining doctrine for LCG. Here are some LCG statements on that:
Clarifying this issue and powerfully delivering this prophetic warning about a universal falling away from the fundamentals of biblical Christianity, led by a Beast, a Man of Sin and Miracles will clearly set the Living Church of God apart...
This will be an issue that will clearly set apart the Living Church of God from others who will be teaching something very different...This is also going to set the Living Church of God apart from false teachers that say it has already happened. (Winnail D. The Falling Away. Must-Play DVD DVE704, June 1, 2012)
Other statements that came out from sermons from an LCG evangelist were that if one did not accept this change, one had "spirit of error," was being "led by the error of the wicked," and "blinded to reality." In other words, those who held fast to the original teaching that the falling away has to do with those affiliated with the Church of God were being labeled as either not Christian or being influenced by Satan. My efforts to get LCG to not teach this condemnation were unsuccessful--and they condemned me for submitting inquiries about this.
This change by LCG to define itself by this false doctrine was illogical and in my opinion totally wrong. The Philadelphian mantle could not remain in such an organization.
On this particular doctrinal matter, an official statement from LCG improperly claimed:
“HWA did not apply “the” falling away to church members who know the truth and fall away.” (Winnail D. The Falling Away. Must-Play DVD DVE704, June 1, 2012)
Yet, HWA specifically also taught that the falling away of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 had to do with Christians and that the later verses like verse 7 had to do with the Simon Magus type of "Christianity" (see also Armstrong HW. The Incredible Human Potential. 1978, pp. 8, 161-162; coworker letter, February 21, 1974)--plus the church HWA ran did as well (see articles, Neff L. Why Some Fall Away. Good News, January 1961; Antion D. Will You Fall Away? Good News. May-June 1968).
Notice something that Herbert W. Armstrong publicly declared in a radio broadcast:
Men to turn away from the truth…Acts 20:29 and 30…Paul…wanted to meet with the leaders of the church… What church? The Church of God!... “For 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. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
See what the prophecy was? Falling away. Departing from the truth! (Armstrong HW. End Time Falling Away, HA103A.MP3)
More quotes are also in the article The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings).
Thus, the assertion that Herbert W. Armstrong did not teach that the falling away was from the truth and Church of God was not true.
And LCG would not correct this improper claim--actually it took it a step further and published the following:
Mistaken Assumptions
As many readers of this magazine know, the organization led by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong for more than 50 years underwent a terrible crisis in the early 1990s, as his successors abandoned long-held doctrines of God’s Church and tried to bring the organization into “mainstream Christianity.” Scores of thousands left the Worldwide Church of God as its doctrines were changed. That organization even changed its name, acknowledging openly that it no longer considers itself a “Church of God.”
So, could that have been the “falling away” prophesied by Scripture? No less an authority than Mr. Armstrong himself would disagree with that assertion. (Tomorrows World, July-August 2012)
But that was highly presumptuous and not really true. Twice after that was published I spoke to Aaron Dean (who served as a personal aide to Herbert Armstrong in his latter years and probably spent more time with him then than any currently in any of the COGs) about how Herbert W. Armstrong viewed the falling away in his latter years. Aaron Dean specifically told me that it was Herbert W. Armstrong's view that the falling away would come as the result of his death and that at least 50% would fall away from the old Worldwide Church of God. Well, that did happen as the result of the Tkach-apostasy.
Another doctrinal issue was that LCG also began to more publicly teach that a Jerusalem temple would be required when it previously told me (in writing) that it would not do that again. LCG also began to distance itself from biblical teachings such as "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8)--and this was something that I had tried to resolve internally with LCG before (one of its top leaders told me that that although the Bible teaches "All that dwell on the earth will worship" the Beast, that this was only a reference to those in the final revived Roman-Beast Empire and did not mean the world"--which also seems to conflict with LCG's current "great rebellion/falling away teaching').
Dr. Meredith and others also made statements to me directly and indirectly that they would NOT teach certain beliefs publicly as they felt that teaching about certain doctrinal subjects would get them kicked off of television stations, especially those that were or leaned toward Protestantism--although I tried to work with them on this, they would not budge. This was another reason, to me at least, that LCG could not be counted on to lead the final phase of the work. I have emails from one or more LCG evangelists where they objected to doing parts of the warning message themselves, as well as notes from a meeting where they told me, and one was Dr. Meredith, that they were afraid that I was/could become too bold and that they did not want to take bold proclamation steps that could trigger the persecution that they teach is biblically prophesied.
In August/September 2012, Dr. Meredith told me that LCG would not teach certain topics as he was afraid LCG could lose is 501(c)(3) status. And let me state that it was not just that, but he was worried that the IRS would possibly do that because of what a non-employee member was doing.
In addition it must be pointed out that , LCG would not correct other important literature errors that it had told me that it would--by it, I mean Dr. Meredith, Richard Ames, and Doug Winnail who all agreed.
Instead LCG informed me in writing on 10/18/2012 that it would knowingly send out tens of thousands of improper booklets that perpetuate certain Catholic myths (cf. Psalm 101:7). Furthermore, it did not correct the known errors in its Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, which it had known about for at least two years (and told me would be corrected publicly by January 2012; see also December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG's Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs) (some of these matters are also listed in the article What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God?). Around that time, I also learned that LCG actually spent money in an effort to prevent me from taking certain steps that could be involved in proclaiming the gospel.
Furthermore, although all the Charlotte-based LCG evangelists at one time or the other agreed with me privately about handling certain aspects of what I have termed the "final phase of the work," collectively they basically decided to not do what would be necessary for parts of this to be implemented (such as correcting known errors in literature that could cause "way of truth" to "be blasphemed," 2 Peter 2:2, and they also made statements indicating that they were not willing to boldly proclaim various truths). Instead, on 12/28/12, LCG sent out an improper letter against me that contained improper railing accusations and bore false witness (see Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel). Dr. Meredith has published, on at least two occasions, clearly false items about Bob Thiel, which he refused to discuss despite my repeated efforts--and this is remains something he has not repented of (my last reminder to directly to him was an email I sent him on 12/02/14 in response to something he improperly claimed about me--he failed to respond).
Matthew 18:15-17
By 2011, I was aware that there seemed to be problems with Matthew 18:15-17 with at least part of the top leadership with LCG. Here is what Jesus taught:
15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)
So, because there were integrity issues that I felt needed to be dealt with, in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17, I tried to work with LCG on this in 2011 and 2012, and instead they violated it so much in 2012, this was a factor in my departure (see also Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel).
Notice something I wrote in a letter to Dr. Meredith on June 9, 2011:
I should perhaps let you know that I was once told by of the Charlotte staff that "Matthew 18:15-17" does not apply around here" (meaning Charlotte). I asked, "Shouldn't it?" And this staff member responded, "Of course it should, it just doesn't."
The person who told me that Matthew 18:15-17 did not apply to Charlotte, specifically told me he was referring to the top leadership--the evangelists and some others there in LCG Charlotte. This employee gave up on Matthew 18 with them. Although I tried repeatedly, this matter was not addressed. And, instead of keeping promises or responding to my Matthew 18:15-17 comment, it was ignored. But I complied with Matthew 18:15-17 as no church leader is above scripture.
When I later brought up Matthew 18:15-17 with an LCG leader in December 2014, his response related to that an Dr. Merdith included the following:
Quoting this scripture as being applicable here goes to show your lack of understanding spiritually...Don’t delude yourself into thinking that anything you say or write would make him think he would necessitate a Matt. 18 (email to Cogwriter@aol.com December 8, 2014)
But the ministry must consider that it must tell the truth and that Matthew 18 certainly is applicable. The Bible teaches:
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)
The ministry teaches and is subject to a stricter judgment, not a lessor one. Leaders are to know justice:
1 Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? (Micah 3:1)
LCG has ignored Matthew 18:15-17 justice both ways.
The first is that certain leaders function like Matthew 18:15-17 does not apply to them if they have faults (like not keeping their promises), but also that they can violate it related to those who were affiliated with their organization.
Sadly, my own experience was that Dr. Meredith normally would not respond to my bringing up his lack of keeping his promises to me (he absolutely sinned against me), and then when I was with others to get him to do it, he still did not keep them--even when he agreed to do so, so I finally told "the church" in 2012 and 2013.
The attitude that the top Charlotte leadership conveyed to me related to Matthew 18 and some other matters, brought the following words of Jesus to the Pharisees to mind:
All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mark 7:9)
It is the failure to keep God's commands that is one of the reasons that LCG is ineffective in doing the work of God in truth. LCG's absurd tradition that the ministry is above Matthew 18 is unscriptural.
Furthermore and secondly, when Dr. Meredith sent out "to the church" letters against me, he never once 1) spoke to me about the issues per Matthew 18:15, 2) came to me with one or two others to discuss matter and 3) although I never refused correction (as no one told me about personal problems he raised), he "told it to the church." Furthermore, what he told "to the church" contained false information and improper accusations (see Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel). This is not proper governance. LCG is not what its members hope that it is.
Related to Matthew 18:15-20, notice something I posted in January 2013:
01/05/13 a.m. As expected, some associated with the LCG ministry have leaked the 12/28/13 letter to me to anti-COG sources on the internet. They can later try to explain this to God as obviously several with insufficient love of the truth or trust in the word of God would not actually want to first talk to me to find out if these things are so (Matthew 18:15-20). The reality is that that letter contains false accusations, improper statements, and a variety of false statements. The Bible warns against spreading such things, for "whoever spreads slander is a fool" (Proverbs 10:18).
01/04/13 a.m...Yet, on September 6, 2012, with possible disregard of Matthew 18:15-17 and matters of prophetic authority (1 Corinthians 12:28), Dr. Meredith publicly criticized Bob Thiel without previously discussing the related matters with him; nor did Dr. Winnail take certain steps related to promises related to doctrinal matters (Revelation 3:14-19).
Paying lip service to God's governance is not the same as truly accepting it. LCG has on several occasions I am aware of, violated Matthew 18:15-17 both ways.
The rationale?
Basically, it appears to be that since Herbert Armstrong ordained Dr. Meredith as an evangelist so long ago, if something is or is not fine with him, that is God's government at work. That is simply not true--as the same thing could have been said, and more, when Herbert Armstrong appointed Joe Tkach to lead the old WCG.
Here is something Dr. Meredith wrote me on December 28, 2012 as part of his rationale for dismissing things about me (bolding and italics his):
Therefore, as the one Christ Himself has put in the office of Presiding Evangelist...I want to tell you...recognize that authority for your own good.
I have never challenged that Dr. Meredith was ordained as an evangelist.
Yet, he (when he was alive) and others need to realize that Christ expected His leaders to actually follow His words better than Dr. Meredith did, especially in his past five or so years. Church leaders and others need to live by every word of God and not decide that they can overlook portions that are not convenient to their understanding of church governance.
To make sure this is clear, years ago I did attempt to tell Dr. Meredith certain of his faults per Matthew 18:15-17 privately, and also tried to get others to assist as Matthew 18 says to do when that did not work, then finally I have told "it to the church" (Matthew 18:17) as Jesus said to do.
But, LCG not only did not approach me first, nor bring in others to discuss the matters with me, instead they publicly "told it to the church" on two or more occasions and what they told contained false witness. Nor would LCG correct any of it when told. Those who feel that LCG has proper church governance need to re-examine that (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government).
Since my departure, various ones in leadership positions in LCG have made improper statements and posts about me as well (see also What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God?). Matthew 18:15-17 has still been ignored by many there.
Partially because of this, a family attempted to sue LCG for slander (see LCG leadership being sued for slander).
Interestingly, someone I do not know, posted the following several years after I left LCG:
I stood by and heard Mr. Ames himself say the Matt. 18 does not apply to the ministry ... I about fell on the floor! They really believe they are above the law and doing what God says ... but heaven help the sheep if they don't follow it. March 3, 2016 at 2:45 PM
Furthermore, consider that back in 2001, in the Living Church News, LCG published what I (Bob Thiel) wrote were various criteria for Philadelphians in the article What is a True Philadelphian?:
A Philadelphian holds fast to true doctrine, does not deny Christ’s authority, keeps His word, goes through those doors that Christ opens and perseveres to the end. Because the Book of Revelation teaches that there are seven Christian churches (1:11), that the work of the last one is not acceptable (3:14-16), one is protected from the hour of trial (3:10), and that a door was open to (Philadelphia (3:7-8), there must be some Philadelphians left to complete the work of the gospel proclamation in the end times.
Because LCG was NOT keeping His word, etc., it did not meet the Philadelphia criteria, and I had no real choice but to leave.
CCOG has the Fruits that LCG Calls for
On December 31, 2015, I sent out the following in the weekly Letter to the Brethren in the Continuing Church of God:
Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) officially declared its existence on December 28, 2012 because integrity and heretical problems within a different COG group convinced me that its leadership could not possibly hold the Philadelphia mantle.
Unlike many groups that started with a coalition of ministers who pre-planned to start a group to insure its fiscal viability, we started the CCOG without doing anything like that.
Instead, we stepped out on faith in order to work to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20. Hence, for that and other reasons, we carry the end-time Philadelphia mantle. We are a continuation of the Church of God that first began in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.
While we have had many scoffers and critics, we have been the fastest growing Church of God since our formation. From three members and three prospective members on December 28, 2012, we have grown to the point where over 1500 are claimed to be part of the Continuing Church of God.
Despite the fact that as most of our members live in the poorer parts of the world, we are now one of the ten largest groups who had leaders once in the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG).
This growth was not done with large amounts of money as we have the least income of the top ten largest groups with origins in the old WCG. Of course the Bible says:
6 This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
5 Look among the nations and watch —
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkuk 1:5)We are doing that work.
Jesus said:
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:16-20)
As far as fruits go, we have also greatly exceeded the 30% growth per year that the old Worldwide Church of God used to claim it had for decades. Many of those that we have with us did NOT have a WCG background as we reached people other groups have not.
We have reached people in over 220 nations and territories, and in multiple languages. We have reached millions over the internet, had over 500,000 views of our YouTube television channels, reached millions over radio, and printed and distributed thousands of pieces of printed literature (magazines, song books, and booklets).
But as we intend to one day reach billions, we still have a long way to go. But we must work and prepare for that time.
The Bible says:
28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth. (Romans 9:28)
Since God will finish the work, and it needs to be a witness to all nations, we need to prepare for what I have referred to as the short work (see Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).
We have spent the past three years doing so, and have plans to expand the pool of those that we can potentially reach.
A week later, LCG.org posted a 'Personal' from its then Presiding Evangelist Roderick C. Meredith. Here are a few quotes:
Personal - Pray for Our Financial Growth!
Roderick C. MeredithJanuary/February 2016One special prayer that I would ask all of you to join me in praying is this: let us all together beseech God to grant us in this Work at least half of the financial increase that He gave Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong for about 35 years! For, as Mr. Armstrong explained many times, God gave the Work under his direction about 30 percent increase year by year for about 35 years.
Near the end of his ministry, with personal problems and sins growing throughout the Church, those blessings were taken away or cut back. ...
God Almighty is still alive, He is working through us right now, and—as these terrible end-time events approach—we really need to shake the world with the knowledge of His Kingdom far more than we have ever done. Remember, brethren, we are only “beginning to fight.” We have not yet finished! So again, since Jesus told us: “ask and you shall receive,” we can with faith ask God to give us at least one-half of the financial increase He gave His Church all those years when Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were still alive and doing the Work. That would be a 15 percent financial increase of this Work year by year. I hope all of you will sincerely and zealously do your part. But I am not going to “press you” on that. For that is up to you and between you and God as you “walk with Him” in the fear of God. But I feel that God would want us to cry out and ask Him for the blessing that I have already indicated. Then, we could go on far more television stations, greatly increase our impact over the Internet—which is certainly the “wave of the future”—increase our personal appearance campaigns and “grow” the Work in every possible way.
When I first began this present Work back in 1992, I was a little embarrassed to ask for money. ...
Most of you realize this. If you go around your neighborhood you find virtually no one who has heard of the Living Church of God or any of the other groups that are trying to do God’s Work today. This needs to change! So I hope all of us can begin to fast and to pray fervently and ask God to help us stir ourselves to do our part far more zealously and begin to serve our Creator with zeal and to give of our physical substance sacrificially as we are able. Some of our brethren are already doing this. But I am fully aware that many of our brethren—often fine brethren who mean well and who are already giving a little bit of their substance—are nevertheless sitting on hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars worth of money, property and other resources they very rarely touch to help do the Work of the living God at the very end of this age.
Think of it! ...
God’s Word tells us: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:32–37). God does not ask us to “have all things in common” as did these first-century Christians, but we can still be moved and inspired today by their great zeal.
Is it too much to ask that all of us follow the pattern of the early Church and give of ourselves, our time, our energy and our possessions in the very service of Jesus Christ at the end of this age?
So, the late Dr. Meredith believed that sins cause COG groups to have less than 30% growth, so he was hoping for 15%. There are sins in LCG and it has not been getting the 30% growth or anything close to it.
With over 7700 congregants by mid-2022, the CCOG has been the fastest growing xWCG group in the 21st century.
That being said, Dr. Meredith often made comments that he needs more money in order for the work of God to be completed. While money is involved, that claim is simply is not the case. God does NOT need our money nor our assets, but He allows His people to participate in His work which helps us (see also Tithing Questions and Some Answers).
As I repeatedly told Dr. Meredith, over the years when I was part of LCG, even doubling the number of television stations its broadcast was on would NOT fulfill Matthew 24:14 as the reach (according to his own statistics) would still be inadequate. I explained to him that it looked like God would use media coverage just prior to the Great Tribulation to insure that Matthew 24:14 would be fulfilled. The non-Philadelphian groups seem not to realize how God's work will be accomplished and that it is a work of faith (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:11) not money.
Because, in opposition to what the Apostle Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 5:7), groups like LCG seem to wish to walk more more sight than by faith, hence they will not be able to be used to lead The Final Phase of the Work at this time.
We in the Continuing Church of God have been walking by faith and have had more than the 30% growth that WCG once had and the 15% growth that Dr. Meredith called for in early 2016. Dr. Meredith's supporters and others may wish to consider the ramifications of that in lieu of what he posted. We in the Continuing Church of God and have never asked for members to liquify assets or anything like that to have the fruits that Dr. Meredith indicated that faithful church would have. But we do have those fruits.
Perhaps it should be mentioned that in the early 20th century, CG7's A.N. Dugger claimed to have the succession mantle and possibly held it until he lost it in 1933, when it passed to Herbert W. Armstrong until his death in 1986. It was seemingly picked up by Roderick C. Meredith (if he ever had it) until he lost it no later than 2011, when Bob Thiel was anointed to receive a double portion of God's Spirit and was told by an LCG minister this was reminiscient of passing of the mantle and that seemed applicable (see also Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle).
Summary
In summary Bob Thiel left LCG because:
Bob Thiel left LCG because he concluded that its approach to the truth, the word of God, doctrine, literature, condemnation/insinuations against members, and not keeping its word were not consistent with a group that could hold the Philadelphia Mantle for the Church of God or finish the final phase of the work. He also had a couple of dreams that seemed to be being fulfilled (see Dreams, the Bible, and the Continuing Church of God).
Instead of speaking with me about several of these matters, as I was led to believe would happen in late December 2012, on 12/28/2012, I was shocked to receive a factually incorrect letter from Dr. Roderick C. Meredith where he attacked the messenger (me) instead of dealing with the issues raised. Based upon its tone, numerous inaccurate statements, accusations, and his unwillingness to address the real issues that I wanted to bring up, this letter is 100% proof (to me at least) that my view that the Living Church of God lost the Philadelphia mantle was correct. And the letter proved that further attempts at reconciliation would be futile (see also Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel). I was saddened by this development and had hoped to avoid having to make a variety decisions. But, God’s will is to be done (Matthew 6:10; 1 John 2:17). It may have been that it was the late Dibar Apartian who held the mantle until his death--I based this upon statements he made as well as the fact that he seemingly placed a higher priority on the truth than the three other evangelists then at Charlotte did--and on December 8, 2010, Dibar Apartian died (see also Dibar Apartian, me, and LCG; for more on the mantle, see Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle). However, because of a dream I had, it seems more like that Dr. Meredith held the mantle immediately before I did (see Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God).
And all of this, combined with the fact that I had been told by a minister in LCG who laid hands on me that my anointing by him on 12/15/11 for a "double-portion" of God's Spirit was the type of event that showed the passing of the mantle to me (on March 23, 2012, Gaylyn Bonjour again told me he felt that in the Bible the “double-portion of the Spirit” anointing was related to “the passing of the mantle” and that it mattered not what certain other leaders would say because it is God, and not an organization of men, that truly appoints prophets, etc. (1 Corinthians 12:28). This helped me conclude by 12/28/12 that it was necessary to leave LCG and form the Continuing Church of God.
The faithful work of God must be done (Matthew 24:14) and LCG demonstrated to me that it could not be the main group that God would use to lead or accomplish it. Perhaps I should mention that while some question my ordination, many also questioned the Apostle Paul's (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:5, 22-29)--others have also had concerns about God's anointing and ordinations (2 Kings 9:1-11; Jeremiah 43:2). God does not always do things the way humans think He does (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9).
Ordained LCG minister Gaylyn Bonjour told me on December 15, 2011 and March 23, 2012 that my anointing by him seemed to be related to the passing of the mantle, and considering that and the rejection of biblical truth by LCG's leadership, it was clear to me that the mantle could no longer abide with LCG's top leadership.
The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote/authorized:
Christ has demonstrated His ability to ... reject from the Church those unfit to wear the Christian mantle. (Armstrong HW. Doctrinal Outlines - Government in God's Church. Also in Prove All Things: Government in God's Church, Good News, May 1986)
I, like Christ, rejected the leadership of those unfit to wear the Philadelphia mantle (see also The Philadelphia Church Era).
Dr. Meredith himself wrote:
Herbert W. Armstrong kept himself "free" to obey God as set forth in the Scriptures! ... he would NEVER agree to being under a socalled "Government of God" which prevented him from preaching the full Truth of the Bible! (Meredith RC. When Should You Follow Church Government. Global Church of God booklet, 1995)
LCG lost the mantle as did CG7 under A.N. Dugger--and basically for the same reasons.
That said, while I never have questioned Dr. Meredith's ordination, it should be understood that the late Herbert W. Armstrong stated that Dr. Meredith "should never, ever be over the church."
Why mention that here? The core of the problem with LCG seemed to be pride--which is something that Herbert W. Armstrong claimed Dr. Meredith had too much of.
History has shown that matters (like succession) have not always preceded in the Church of God the way many of its leaders or members thought it should (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9).
As far as God's view on certain older leaders, notice also the following:
13 Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. (Ecclesiastes 4:13)
Dr. Meredith made me promise, over my objections, many years ago that I had to tell him when I felt he was 'pulling punches' (compromising in statements on doctrine and prophecy). He then bore improper witness against me for me keeping my word. Some may not feel that Ecclesiastes 4:13 applies here, but my experience says that it does. God replaced top religious leaders before (2 Kings 2:9-13; Isaiah 22:15-25), so it should be no surprise that He could do this again.
Jesus warned:
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
Yet, sadly, most in LCG do not REALLY seem to understand what Jesus meant here. People are not improper judgments based upon false and improper accusations, yet it seems that many in LCG seemingly have done so. All of God's commandments are righteousness (Psalm 119:172) and, thus, judgments need to be based on the Ten Commandments.
Additionally all should understand, that in the past, Dr. Meredith has specifically taught that LCG members were not to follow him in the event he commits some type of major apostasy. By accepting and promoting the falling away change, allowing LCG to be defined by that change, and by allowing the repeated condemnation of those that do not agree with that change, combined with repeatedly not keeping his word, being unwilling to accept the correction he asked for (from me personally and others), knowingly putting out incorrect literature, and not repenting of sending out improper accusations, encouraging a form of institutional idolatry that he used to condemn (Meredith RC. Second Commandment. Plain Truth, March 1960, p. 27), etc., I believe that this demonstrates that he had committed sufficiently major apostasy. But since it was in a lot pieces, many seem unwilling to realize the seriousness of all of this.
Hopefully, this will help some better understand why I did what I felt biblically had to be done.
Now, some liars have posted on the Internet that I was kicked out of LCG by Dr. Meredith. Not only was that not the case. On February 20, 2013, he sent me an email asking if I would come back. My response, which I sent on 2/21/13, included the following:
Dear Dr. Meredith:
Good morning. ...
On 12/28/12, after receiving your email to me, I telephoned Dr. Fall, discussed your email with him, and then told him that morally I could no longer have affiliation with the Living Church of God. I then sent you an email where I clearly stated to you that I was no longer with LCG. ...
As far as me and the Living Church of God, there would have to be major specific changes for me to be able to come back. At this stage, without changes, I do not believe that LCG can possibly be the group that God will use to complete the final phase of the work. I have totally committed myself to support the Philadelphian end time work of God, which is why, to a great degree because of steps you did and did not take, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) had to be formed.
You may be interested to know that I did not want to be in the position that I am now in. ...
My attempts in 2012 to prevent the current situation were not properly reciprocated by you. Anyway, I continue to pray for you, your wife, and others in LCG pretty much daily.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
No response to this was received.
It has been my experience that about a third of those in LCG (and probably a higher percentage of its employees) realize that LCG has significant integrity, hypocrisy, and/or doctrinal issues. Yet, most dismiss them as insufficiently important for many reasons--I believe that when they do so, they are denying the word of God (cf. Revelation 3:8). They rationalize that since LCG does have a major media presence, does have more congregations to attend than CCOG, Dr. Meredith was ordained by the late Herbert Armstrong, they do not personally have to believe the heretical teachings themselves (even though one of them, the falling away, has declared to be THE doctrine to separate LCG from others), and LCG has a ministry that they are comfortable with, that somehow God will work it out and they do not have to be that concerned themselves--this attitude is close to, if not truly, idolatrous and Laodicean (Revelation 3:14-19).
The Bible teaches:
40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 'Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.'" (Acts 13:40-41)
And most in LCG (and other COG groups) will not believe it, even though they were told and could see the truth if they were willing (see also Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?). People do not accept how God and His Spirit are to work in these days, and hence seemingly despise when God uses dreams, etc. (see also Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God). The Final Phase of the Work is not being led by LCG, but by CCOG.
Now this section below, I wrote on June 6, 2017:
It has come to my attention that many in LCG and outside of the Continuing Church of God believe the falsehood that I left LCG because it would not recognize me as a prophet. That is a false rumor that those who do not love the truth enough to check the facts have stated and/or repeated. Let me simply state here:
- On October 3, 2008, Dr. Meredith (Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God) called me and said to me, “God may consider you to be a prophet.” Notice that this came from a long-time evangelist and did not first come out from me. It was Dr. Meredith who first brought up the topic about Bob Thiel being a prophet. Dr. Meredith was the longest serving evangelist that Herbert W. Armstrong ordained and I believe it was God who led Dr. Meredith to say that.
- On October 14, 2008, at the Feast of Tabernacles in Evian, France in 2008, Dibar Apartian discussed the Dr. Meredith's comments about me possibly being a prophet. On October 16, 2008, evangelist Dibar Apartian specifically told me that he suspected that I "was the one," meaning the one to lead the work and possess the Philadelphian mantle in the end. Now, that came from Dibar Apartian, not me--he provided further confirmation of that in conversations in 2009 and 2010.
- Dr. Meredith must have brought the prophet matter up again shortly therafter as an email I sent him on November 16, 2008 stated, "Now, you have mentioned to me a couple of times that God may regard me as a prophet. And, of course, it was you and not I that first brought that subject up."
- In late January/early February 2009, Dr. Meredith told me over the telephone that if he (Dr. Meredith) was raised to the office of apostle, he was considering ordaining me (Bob Thiel) as a prophet. He seemed to be saying he wanted to be above me and that was more important than ordaining me. By the way, I never asked him or anyone in LCG to ever ordain me.
- On February 4, 2009, Dr. Meredith told me over the telephone, "You have an in-depth understanding of prophecy and details of church history. You could be a prophet--that may be what God will have you do." He also asked me to pray then that he would live another 7-15 years then--I prayed and he did (he died on May 18, 2017--just a little over 8 years later).
- In the Summer of 2009, Dibar Apartian told me, in quite a positive tone, that Dr. Meredith had been stating in top level meetings that Bob Thiel may be a prophet. Around this time, I believe I had a prophetic dream related to Dr. Meredith (see also Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God).
- Because of Dibar Apartian's statements, later that Summer or perhaps early Fall, I asked Dr. Douglas Winnail, if he was part of top LCG level discussions where it was stated that Bob Thiel may be a prophet. He said yes.
- Around this time I had an apparently prophetic dream (Numbers 12:6) perhaps reminiscent of Joseph's dreams (Genesis 37:5-11) and Isaiah's vision to be sent (Isaiah 6:1-8), that somewhat like Peter's vision (Acts 10:17) that I did not immediately understand, but like Peter (Acts 11:4-17), it seemingly became clearer once circumstances in the time since presented themselves and began to confirm it.
- In November and December 2011, I counseled with my pastor Dr. Jeff Fall, as well as LCG minister Gary Ehman, about these matters. I told both of them that I thought that I needed to have hands laid upon me again in order to validate the view that I might be some type of a prophet. They both told me that, in their view related to being a prophet, baptism was scripturally sufficient. While that sounded logical, the statement from the Apostle Paul to Timothy about getting hands laid upon him (1 Timothy 4:14) gave me personal pause. And that caution led to me pray more about it. Thus, instead of concluding that I had sufficient anointing, especially considering the relative enormity of some of the ramifications of this as a conclusion, I searched the scriptures and concluded that, perhaps like Gideon (Judges 6:36-40), that I would seek further outside confirmation. And prayed God would provide that (or instead essentially provide information to deny that) when I was to visit Charlotte, North Carolina in December 2011.
- On the morning of December 15, 2011, upon arriving at the Charlotte HQ of LCG, I asked to meet with Gary Ehman as I wanted to get anointed for some non-debilitating health matters as well as to ask him to pray that I be granted wisdom for my meetings with the HQ evangelists. But Gary Ehman was not in. So instead, I asked to meet with Gaylyn Bonjour (with whom I never had any discussions prior about me possibly being some type of prophet). I asked Gaylyn Bonjour if he would do the anointing and pray that God would grant me wisdom for the meetings. He agreed. But while laying hands upon me, Gaylyn Bonjour also happened (it was not planned nor did I say anything to encourage this) to ask God to grant me a “double-portion” of His Holy Spirit and anointed me with oil. I asked him if he had ever prayed for a a double-portion anointing before, he said he had not, and that the only 'double-portion' he knew of was when Elisha received the double-portion and the mantle was passed in 2 Kings 2. I then attended a meeting with the evangelists and did not then have time to discuss more of what this might mean with Gaylyn Bonjour.
- In a meeting with the Charlotte evangelists on December 15, 2011, Richard Ames commended me for an article I had posted earlier that morning defending various fasts that LCG had called (LCG Fast Comments and Complaints). We specifically discussed my view that "I personally received certain spiritual insights/gifts as the result of LCG fasts in 2009, 2010, and 2011" related to me and the matter of prophecy, spiritual gifts, and insight into how acquiring certain information on Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy was helpful.
- At another meeting with the evangelists on December 16, 2011, Richard Ames prayed, with “Amen” concurrence from Dr. Meredith and Dr. D. Winnail, that "Dr. Thiel" would continue to do the work that God has had given me to do, etc. He also specifically called my writings/work “an additional witness.” Hence, there was a concurrence with the evangelical and prophetic fruits of that work I was doing. This, also in my view, was unintended confirmation from all the Charlotte-based evangelists of LCG that I was authorized to speak out in an evangelical and prophetic role; like a "prophetic evangelist" or "evangelistic prophet."
- Also at that meeting, the Charlotte evangelists again promised to get to certain literature corrections that I had brought up repeatedly over the years.
- At this 12/16/11 meeting, other matters related to Bob Thiel and prophecy were discussed, including the fact that by then world events had already aligned with at least 20 predictions in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect. Additionally the fact that some of my speculative predictions about Karl Guttenberg and Julia Gillard that had come to pass since the October 2011 meeting with Dr. Winnail was also brought up. Since Dr. Winnail asked the most questions related to the prophetic fruits, he and I also met privately about it. My private comment to Dr. Winnail was that perhaps the evangelists should consider if those accurate speculative predictions are just coincidental or possibly the fruits of a prophet. Dr. Winnail seemed to discount that then, and later, despite the biblical admonition to not despise prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20).
- On Sunday 12/18/11 night at a family wedding reception, without discussing the matter, I stared at Gaylyn Bonjour for a few moments, without saying anything and then asked, “Do you have any idea of what you may have accidentally done?” Gaylyn Bonjour said, “Yes, I think so.”
- The following Monday morning was my first opportunity to speak with Gaylyn Bonjour privately for more details about the anointing. I asked him if it was his practice to pray that God grant a double-portion of His Spirit to people that he anoints, he said, no he had never done that for an individual before. I asked him if he had any idea of what he may have been inadvertently led by God to do, and he said yes. Gaylyn Bonjour also said that the only “double-portion” he recalled from the Bible was when Elisha became the replacement prophet and ecclesiastical leader for Elijah (2 Kings 2:9)—I told then him that this was my recollection as well. Notice it was Gaylyn Bonjour, and not me, who first stated this connection. He also was the first to bring up the subject of “the passing of the mantle.”
- On March 23, 2012, Gaylyn Bonjour told me he felt that in the Bible the “double-portion of the Spirit” anointing was related to “the passing of the mantle” and that it mattered not what certain other leaders would say because it is God, and not an organization of men, that truly appoints prophets, etc.
- On June 29, 2012, I conveyed to Gaylyn Bonjour, Dr. Winnail's written comment in a letter dated 6/28/12 suggesting that my conclusion as to what seemed to happen when I was anointed by Gaylyn Bonjour on 12/15/11 was “presumptuous.” Gaylyn Bonjour disagreed. Gaylyn Bonjour said that Dr. Winnail should not have indicated that I may have been presumptuous about this. Gaylyn Bonjour told me that he felt that I was exercising proper caution and that to ignore what happened would seem to be against the will, and possibly plan, of God. Gaylyn Bonjour also stated that it is God, and not men, who “appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
- On August 26, 2012 at my office then in Arroyo Grande, shortly after agreeing that a variety of errors that I brought up needed to be corrected, Dr. Winnail told Bob Thiel, “We all think that you might be a prophet.” In order in order to determine who “We all” was, on September 7, 2012, I telephoned him and asked if this was a reference to all three of the LCG Charlotte-based evangelists and Dr. Winnail concurred. Hence Dr. Winnail, Richard Ames, and Roderick Meredith all said they believed I might be a prophet.
- On January 7, 2013, Dr. Douglas Winnail sent me an email, which included the statement, "we made comments to you that “you may be a prophet.”" Although he tried to be dismissive about it in the email, the fact is that the Charlotte evangelists of the Living Church of God did over the years make statements to me that God may consider me a prophet, that God may be training me to have the role of a prophet, that I had the type of prophetic understanding that a prophet of God would have, and that I may actually be a prophet.
- On November 28, 2019, Gaylyn Bonjour stated that he believed that God answered his prayer regarding Him granting me a double-portion of His Spirit. Furthermore, on that same date, Gaylyn stated that he tells those who ask:
I have known Bob Thiel since 1986. He has always been honest, dedicated, and sincere.
And that includes what I have written about him and the prophet matter. My teaching about what happened is accurate and not false.
Of course, it is God who appoints prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28), but the reality is that the Charlotte-based evangelists supported telling me that God may consider me to be a prophet. Thus, those who suggest otherwise should ask themselves how many others in the history of the Radio/Worldwide/Global/Living Church of God have the top leaders told that God may consider them to be a prophet? I would suggest that the only one to be told this, at least multiple times over the course of years, was me, Bob Thiel. And that God led Gaylyn Bonjour to anoint and pray over me for a 'double-portion' of His Spirit as he did.
The fact is that I remained in LCG for years after Dr. Meredith brought up about me being a prophet (and he did it on multiple occasions; see also How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God ).
None of the LCG evangelists ever told me I was not a prophet or that they would not recognize me as such when I was in LCG. Nor did any send me anything later to that effect. Perhaps it should be noted that in the last personal email I received from Dr. Meredith (which was in March 2013), he still wanted me in LCG and did not write I was not a prophet.
I left LCG because of ITS lack of integrity, which proved to me that God could not use it to lead the final phase of the work.
Let me add that the Continuing Church of God has been the fastest growing xWorldwide Church of God group in the 21st century. Hopefully, some will see God's blessing in that.
The fact that the Continuing Church of God proved itself to be the most successful non-GTA group to leave WCG/GCG/LCG in its first 30 days of existence (see CCOG met COG proclamation goal) is overly discounted by many who cling to organizational hopes over love of the truth. Love of the truth is something I repeatedly tried to remind LCG it needed more of (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:10; John 8:32). The fact that as of August 2014, cogwriter.com is significantly more popular than any LCG website, despite the vastly more manpower and money LCG expends on its websites compared to what CCOG does.
Many who claim to be Philadelphian have compromised too much. LCG has repeatedly been relying on traditions of men instead of the Bible or proper biblical church governance to try to justify improper positions (the 'man of sin' doctrine is one such example)--it claims to practice proper church governance but is unwilling to really do so (see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government).
The Bible, of course, teaches, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). And I believe that God has worked it out--it is just that many do not realize that God does not always work things out the way humans, even in the COG, think that He will (the Tkach succession comes to immediate mind here).
Notice why Herbert W. Armstrong wrote he left CG7:
The only Church I had so far found which "kept the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ," and at the same time bore the NAME of the original true Church, was this almost unknown little Church of God with its small publishing house in Stanberry, Missouri" (Autobiography 1973 ed., page 312).
... So, as the first step in this test, I wrote up an exposition of some 16 typewritten pages proving clearly, plainly, and beyond contradiction that a certain minor point of doctrine proclaimed by this church, based on an erroneous interpretation of a certain verse of Scripture, was in error. This was mailed to the Stanberry, Missouri, headquarters to see whether their leaders would confess error and change. The answer came back from their head man, editor of their paper and president of their "General Conference." He was forced to admit, in plain words, that their teaching on this point was false and in error. But, he explained, he feared that if any attempt was made to correct this false doctrine and publicly confess the truth, many of their members, especially those of older standing and heavy tithe payers, would be unable to accept it. He feared they would lose confidence in the Church if they found it had been in error on any point. He said he feared many would withdraw their financial support, and it might divide the Church. And therefore he felt the Church could do nothing but continue to teach and preach this doctrine which he admitted in writing to be false. Naturally, this shook my confidence considerably. This church leader, if not the church itself, was looking to people as the SOURCE of belief, instead of to God! Yet, here was the only Church holding to the one greatest basic truth of the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, kept in the NAME of God, and in spite of this and a few other erroneous teachings, nevertheless being closer to the whole truth than any church I had found. If this was not the true Church of God, then where was it? (pages 315-316).
A.N. Dugger, who would not change because he feared a split, however, still ended up with a split church. Four years after he admitted that Herbert Armstrong was right in writing, CG7 divided into two parts in 1933. And that is the year that Herbert Armstrong felt that the Philadelphia era began and the mantle passed as well. LCG, like CG7 under A.N. Dugger, has admitted that it has errors but would not admit it to its membership. This is documented, as has been the willingness of LCG leaders to teach what is false and to make false statements is why I had to leave (that said I really do not believe Gerald Weston was ever told the truth about much of this).
Now, years later (2024) LCG still has not changed its literature to reflect what Roderick C. Meredith told me (in front of the other then two LCG evangelists) within a month, on December 16, 2011. I believe part of the reason why is that such changes will show that I was right and many in LCG fear that more than teaching the entire truth--at best the LCG position is Laodicean. I will also add that I am still willing to assist LCG on this matters, and actually since I left, I have helped LCG on less public doctrinal issues behind the scenes.
Further, consider that many also overlook the fact that the late Herbert W. Armstrong did not have the type of baptism that most in the COG require and that he left the old CG7 for similar reasons that I left LCG (A.N. Dugger, former CG7 leader, had problem in being unwilling to change incorrect doctrine, proclaim certain doctrines publicly that he agreed were right, boldly try to fulfill Matthew 24:14, etc. and he also had personal integrity issues). If you believe that you would have personally been willing to follow Herbert W. Armstrong and support the Radio Church of God then, you should be even more willing to support the Continuing Church of God now.
The Bible warns that various ones want to suppress the truth:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (Romans 1:18)
This started from LCG shortly before my departure, and more untruths were put out after my departure about me, as well as various doctrines.
Since my departure from LCG, instead of correcting prophetic errors that one or more of its leaders told me LCG would, LCG has embraced several of those errors and sometimes emphasized them even more. LCG's positions on the the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2, the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12, and the end-time King of the South sequence are clearly in biblical error. Related to teaching about how the USA is fulfilling Habakkuk 2:6-8, LCG has backed off teaching this because of what appears to be internal politics. The rising 'time bomb' of USA debt is something that needs to be pointed out and Habakkuk 2:2-8 points out the biblical threat that this poses. It should be proclaimed and we in CCOG are doing it. Many do not realize that Habakkuk 2:6-8 is related to the start of the Great Tribulation, and is one of the reasons for the upcoming attack against the USA. Partially, because of my publicizing some of these matters, LCG is hesitant to teach the truth.
Unless LCG changes certain of its prophetic positions, LCG WILL NOT POSSIBLY REALIZE WHEN THE GREAT TRIBULATION WILL BEGIN AND ITS SUPPORTERS WILL NOT FLEE TO BE PROTECTED IN A PLACE OF SAFETY IN THE WILDERNESS (Revelation 12:14-16). Therefore, it is also not qualified to get the final warning message out on various aspects of prophecy. Certain aspects of prophecy are areas where LCG is NOT "rightly dividing the word of truth" (Timothy 2:15).
Notice what the Bible teaches:
4 For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. (Psalms 33:4-5)
This was not what I saw in the 2012 LCG. It was willing to say it was doing the work of God, but not in truth. Plus, writings it put out about me showed that it did NOT love righteousness and justice (it has also had other issues since my departure, plus has tried to make it harder for those in LCG to understand the truth related to me).
(Now, in 2019, I ran across a 2014 article directed against me by a minister in LCG. He kept saying that Herbert W. Armstrong's statements about being a prophet should be the criteria for determining a prophet--and he also said that HWA's criteria did not apply to me [he describes me, says he spoke to and about me in the past, but did not include my name--yet in much of the article he clearly directed it against me]. Well, the Bible plainly teaches that God speaks to a prophet in a dream--and I had at least two that have been confirmed. Anyway, he tries to discount my dream by mentioning that Dibar Apartian told him that I had said something about being a prophet, hence my dreams were basically my hopes that manifested in a dream or two--yet he fails to mention that I had the dreams YEARS prior to my 'prophet' discussion with Dibar Apartian AND that my prophet discussion was that Roderick Meredith had told me that God might consider me a prophet and that is what Dibar Apartian and I spoke about--so I consider his veiled attack against me was misleading at best. Furthermore, the fact that seven people, and not just me, had dreams confirmed related to me and/or CCOG (see see Dreams, the Bible, and the Continuing Church of God) should show that this is not somehow my imagination. Additionally, since the CCOG has been the fastest growing xWCG in the 21st century, this should give him and others pause to consider that the fruits of a true prophet are there. If he and others are willing to believe the Bible and accept the truth, they could change. We will see.)
As far as LCG goes and my roles (all of which were unpaid and I refused a salary twice when Dr. Meredith offered one), notice also the following:
While in LCG, I was not disrespectful to the evangelists and never pushed the idea that they needed to listen to me because of a prophetic role, but only to accept the truth of the Bible and history and to correct errors that they generally acknowledged that LCG had. It was Dr. Meredith who appointed me in the late Summer of 2005 to be an advisor to them on doctrine and prophecy--I was also not self-appointed for that. I left LCG because the evangelists refused to do what they, particularly Dr. Meredith, repeatedly promised, and because LCG was willing to teach things it knew were in error.
Anyway, unless there were to be a massive positive change at LCG, I believe that it will not again have the Philadelphia mantle and hence is not the group that those who wish to be Philadelphian would chose to support. I believe that the fruits and the approach that the Continuing Church of God has already began to demonstrate can help those who wish to be Philadelphian realize that they should support the Continuing Church of God.
On July 10, 2014, Dr. Meredith put out a letter, read in LCG congregations on July 12, 2014, where he stated that LCG would print and distribute to all who attend its 2014 Feast of Tabernacles' sites a hard cover edition of a book on church history that he admitted had so many issues with 'technical details' that LCG had to state that it is not an official LCG publication, yet it would pay to produce and distribute it anyway. God's work is supposed to be done in truth per Psalm 33:4 and Isaiah 61:8, but LCG is seemingly content with distributing materials with historical and other errors. This is not good (cf. Jeremiah 48:10).
If you believe that you are Philadelphian (in whatever group, if any, you may be part of), but you suspect that LCG could possibly be more Philadelphian than the Continuing Church of God, then I have a mild challenge. Please watch the entire two part sermon The Falling Away Part 1: From the Bible and Church History and The Falling Away Part 2: Positions Presented by Others as well as study the article The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings. Also, study Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? and/or watch the video Who is the Man of Sin? and the article and Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? the article Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel and the article Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?
If after you watch/read those, you do not believe that the Continuing Church of God is biblically correct, then if you also will not accept what I have written related to its integrity issues, I would agree with you that LCG is a probably better choice for you. But if you study them and act like the more "fair-minded" Bereans, to search the scriptures (e.g. Psalm 106:7) and the other source materials I refer to in order to see if what I said is so (Acts 17:10-11) and you find it to be, then you need to ask yourself how a group like LCG that promotes such blatant error, and is sticking to those errors apparently for at least the sake of its organizational unity (which in the past Dr. Meredith called idolatry), can possibly still have the Philadelphia mantle?
Are you like the Bereans or are you sure that what I am saying is not so?
I have not bore false witness on these matters. Character counts. Anyone who believes that I have not been accurate about this has sadly chosen to believe a lie.
Some Christian people apparently did not like the Apostle Paul telling the truth:
16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16)
I have told the truth. But sometimes, even Christians do not wish to believe it.
Consider further that myself and another had dreams before I left LCG that were confirmed later. Plus 5 other people associated with the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) have had confirmation of prophetic dreams. Plus consider that Herbert Armstrong taught that Acts 2:17-18 was to have a dual fulfillment in the end times and that CCOG is the group that has the signs of Acts 2:17-18 (for details, check out Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? and/or the sermon 17 Last Days’ Signs of the Holy Spirit).
Do not wrongly conclude that Bob Thiel should not have left LCG for its integrity problems. Consider that God has shown to those who will look that He is working with CCOG.
Anyway, hopefully this article will help those still trying to sort this out. Do you really want to be Philadelphian and support the final phase of the work?
Despite all I have wrote about this by the Summer of 2013, someone in August 2013 totally misconstrued why I left, so here is another synopsis worded a different way: Because of false statements made by evangelists in the Living Church of God, repeated promises broken by evangelists in the Living Church of God, LCG evangelists acting as they were above the Bible and not applying Matthew 18, LCG evangelists knowingly distributing error-filled literature demonstrating insufficient love for the truth, having significant prophetic misunderstandings introduced by LCG evangelists, and a disregard for the final phase of the work by LCG evangelists, it was necessary for Bob Thiel to leave the Living Church of God. Hopefully, that is clear.
(Note: A brief list of LCG doctrinal concerns is included in the article What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God? and December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG's Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs.)
(Also, the following three posts should help demonstrate that the Continuing Church of God is serious, as well as effective, about working to fulfill Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20: CCOG met COG proclamation goal and CCOG announces Bible News Prophecy magazine and CCOG magazines and articles in the Spanish language. It may also be of interest to note that CCOG also had materials available online in the languages of Tagalog, Kiswahili, Mandarin Chinese, and more. We have also reached millions of people in at least 220 countries via the internet as well as millions over the radio (see also the post Continuing Church of God first year anniversary: What is being accomplished? and/or watch the sermon Continuing Church of God first year anniversary: What is being Accomplished?). We are on radio in Europe, Africa, and through guest appearances, North America. We have reached 100s of millions with as Google reports we have made over 300,000,000 computer impressions with at least parts of our message.
CCOG is getting the gospel out. God's will is to be accomplished--are you really willing to support His plan?
Thiel B. Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God. http://www.cogwriter.com/why-bob-thiel-left-the-living-church-of-god.htm 2013/2014/2015/2016/2017/ 2019 /2020/ 2021 /2022 /2024 1111