I have prayerfully proven to myself that the Philadelphia Church of God is the most unique of all groups that have distanced themselves from the devious doctrinal changes of the Worldwide Church of God. Only Malachi’s Message He clearly speaks with AUTHORITY and not “like the scribes” (Matt. 7:29). I listened carefully to THE Voice of the Shepherd, I listened to what the Spirit says to the Church of God today, I checked everything with the Bible and what Mr. Armstrong taught us faithfully (John 10: 3; Revelation 3:22; 2 Thess. 2:15).
Of course, there are those say to follow the traditions in which we have been brought up, yet they have refused to humble themselves and submit to the fact that JESUS CHRIST had already moved HIS LAMP when they finally saw the light. All they had to do was go where Christ had already gone and support HIS WORK of tearing down the errors in the Worldwide Church of God, while holding on to God’s truth alive! Either we get it, or we lose it! (Revelation 3:11).
Instead of working with Christ, some have chosen to do their own thing, contributing to the Church’s state of confusion, rather than helping to RESTORE ORDER (1 Cor. 14:33). Why duplicate efforts, wasting precious time and money? Why not join the ranks of the PCG so that we can present a UNITED FRONT to an increasingly divided world? This would allow us to effectively share with others the message that GOD wants them to hear (John 12:49). We must unite, in Christ, especially as we have all been repeatedly taught: “There is only one Church. It is not one mother church and many little daughter churches that have separated in disagreement. The divisions that are split ARE NOT YET IN THE CHURCH “(Mystery of the Ages, P. 243).
Like it or not, God, in His infinite wisdom, chose Gerald Flurry to to reveal to the Church of God what was happening and thus allows us to show our true colors by the way we responded to Malachi’s message. (That does not mean that Mr. Flurry is infallible or that he does not need to continually apply the principles of Malachi’s Message himself and the organization, as we all do, as explained in my article “Everyone again?”).
Restored to Zion!
If I am so convinced that Christ is only with the PCG, and that others are stubborn, for the most part, resisting God’s leadership, why don’t I attend their services? (Matthew 7:21; 1 Sam. 15:23). And how can I believe that God is actively working through me in the Middle East? Because I have been unjustly expelled (2 Thess. 3: 2), but I remain loyal to the truth of God that they teach!
It’s disconcerting to see an organization that seemingly started out so good, strong, and just degenerate into a CULT of personality that rules through intimidation and fear and borders on emperor worship! Yet they have more truth in many respects than the others, just as Herbert W. Armstrong saw that Sardis (Church of God, Seventh Day) had, however powerless. Strange but true! Perhaps it is as if Saul was still the anointed one until he was punished with death for his sins and then David reigned …
When Gerald Flurry was nothing in his own sight or mind, God used him and now, unfortunately, it seems like it went to his head, all the new revelation (just a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it! (1 Corinthians 4: 7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he doesn’t realize he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows the warning that God is giving to the Laodiceans, of whom he is the foremost! You better pay attention to your own words!
Under Herbert Armstrong Pasadena, California was the headquarters of the Philadelphia-era Church of God; now Edmond, Oklahoma is the seat of the Laodicean era, and God’s next plan is the restoration of His seat in Jerusalem.
God knows my attitude and actions I still support the work God has given you to do, but I really believe what Gerald Flurry teaches: his work is almost done! It will overlap slightly with the beginning of GOD’S FINAL WORK as described in my book, Beyond Babylon: the rise and fall of Europe (John 3:30). Minister Dennis Leap wickedly expelled me for believing that GOD has ORDERED that I should promote his timely truth (Isa. 61: 1), although I do not belong to the “school of the prophets” (Ambassador College), nor do I. in the “conventional” way (1 Sam. 17:39).
I have come to understand better that God has already begun transition process to RESTORE His Menorah – His candlestick to JERUSALEM! (1 Kings 11:36; Amos 9:11). As prophesied, a NATIONAL MESSENGER will be on active duty in Jerusalem, preparing the way for the imminent return of the Messiah (Zech. 12: 8). God reveals Hey I would send this outspoken individual to deliver a BROAD MESSAGE and ABUSIVE CONDEMNATION to the NATIONS – just before it RAINS NUCLEAR FIRE AND SULFUR on those who have rejected THE LAST OF GOD! (Isaiah 41:27; 30:27; Micah 3: 8).
It is from Jerusalem that we must warn that another HOLOCAUST is coming! That is the sensitive place where God will provoke a NATIONAL DEBATE and ignite an INTERNATIONAL CONTROVERSY! (Micah 6: 1-2). It will shock the Jews and enrage the Germans! It will undoubtedly offend many Holocaust survivors now living in Israel, but they should understand and lend their voices of experience to ours, having personally witnessed the BRUTE FORCE OF GERMANY, to assist in our efforts to ensure “Never Again!”
Regardless, we can expect a maelstrom of protests and a bitter backlash, but such persecution will only fan the flames of this BURNING BUSINESS! (Isaiah 54: 15-16). Both Germany and Israel (for their own reasons) will want to immediately stop such “incitement” – calling it terrorist and racist – but they will fail and God’s Word will prevail (Jer. 1:19).
God has to grant “political immunity” to His Two Witnesses, so that they may be free to say and do boldly all that He commands, even if the world regards them as public enemy number one! (Psalms 105: 15; Revelation 11:10). Undeterred, they will carry out God’s Work and serve as official spokesmen for His government, even in the face of fierce opposition (Jer. 1: 8). But I’m getting ahead of myself. All this is related to Beyond Babylon But let’s go back to the beginning, of the true Philadelphia era …
Mr. Armstrong’s experiences
In the words of Mr. Armstrong, referring to his dealings with certain Sardis ministers, “I will not hide the FACTS!” (HWA Autobiography, Flight. 1, p. 366). However, lest I be misunderstood, I had been very hesitant to say or write anything about my experiences with certain professing ministers in Philadelphia, but GOD forces me to tell the truth, not fearing the reactions of men, but trusting the PURPOSE! of God!
Mr. Armstrong recounts how he had presented a “dual test” to the Church of God, Seventh Day, to help him determine if it really was the Church of God or not. His first test consisted in mailing a “16-PAGE TYPEWRITTEN exposition that proved clearly, plainly, and beyond contradiction that a certain minor point of doctrine … was in error … to see if his leaders they would confess the mistake and change. ” Their leader admitted that what Mr. Armstrong pointed out was true, but he feared it could upset many of the members and even threaten to divide the Church! “Naturally, this shook my confidence considerably.” (HWA Autobiography, Flight. 1, pp. 360-361, emphasis mine).
I also detected “a certain minor point of doctrine” taught by Dennis Leap (on the 144,000), he was wrong. I didn’t want to move the ship, and it wasn’t something I would lose sleep over, so I just wanted to ignore or overlook the matter, but God wouldn’t let me! Surprisingly, a dear friend asked me about the 144,000 out of nowhere, and then somehow it occurred to someone else; so God managed to get my attention to write Dennis Leap about it. I sent him my PAGE AND 1/2 LETTER, reproduced here, and heard nothing.
Finally, around my third try (I don’t give up easily!), Dennis Leap discussed it with me on the phone. When I mentioned that the Scriptures clearly state that once you have broken your “seal” you have lost your salvation, and to claim that we can somehow be “resealed” amounts to crucifying Christ twice, Dennis Leap stammered, unable to justify his position. but I was still determined to keep it, much to my regret. Like Herbert W. Armstrong’s experience, “naturally, this shook my confidence considerably.”
The Church rejects the new truth
God used an evangelist in Florida to challenge Mr. Armstrong. He had written to Mr. Armstrong and told him that he did not know if he did not know where we are mentioned in the Bible. After collecting the surprising amount of information on the subject in the library, Mr. Armstrong DEMONSTRATED that the so-called “Lost Ten Tribes” are, in fact, the American, British and Northwest European peoples. He then sent the “extensive manuscript of about 300 TYPED PAGES” that he had written to support this truth to the editor and leader of the Church. “This Church accepted and proclaimed this vital new truth … But this Church then refused to accept it or preach it or publish it even though its leader frankly confessed that it was TRUTH and a revelation from GOD! Yet here was the Church that seemed to have more truth and less error than any other … Truly this was disconcerting! “(p. 362) …
The Philadelphia Church of God leads the Laodicean era (Conclusion)
