Jeremiah and the PCG

My article in the July-August 2015 Royal Vision proved that Jeremiah wrote Psalm 89, which is about David’s throne (e.g. verses 3-4, 28-37). Why do you suppose God revealed that to me and to His Church today and not to Herbert W. Armstrong? It might be because we have something in common with Jeremiah that Mr. Armstrong didn’t have. 

Consider Jeremiah’s commission. God told him, “… ‘Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant’” (Jeremiah 1:9-10; Revised Standard Version). 

Jeremiah was told to pull down, to destroy, to build and to plant. Maybe God’s Church today is going to do something like that, in a way. 

Jeremiah’s commission is tied directly to our commission. Jeremiah took David’s throne from the nation and kingdom of Judah to the nation and kingdom of Israel. Is it possible that God could use His Church today to make that last turn of David’s throne, taking it to Jerusalem for Jesus Christ Himself to rule on? Perhaps God revealed to me what He did in my booklet Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision in the Bible because we will play a role in an overturn, as Jeremiah did. Maybe we have a special role there. I think we will have some role; after all, we get to share that throne with Him (Luke 1:32; Revelation 3:21). 

In Psalm 89:1, Jeremiah wrote, “[W]ith my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” He wanted to make sure this world knew what God was like and how faithful He is. That is what this commission to build and to plant was all about.

Jeremiah 1:10 reveals that Jeremiah’s commission is the main subject of the whole book. It has to do with nations and kingdoms—royalty. It is about physical royalty and spiritual royalty. He was involved in royal rule—and everything we are involved in is about royal rule. 

Jeremiah also spoke about two covenants—one about the physical royalty, the other about the spiritual royalty.

Dennis Diehl was a Pastor for 26 years with the Worldwide Church of God under the late Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong. He pastored in 14 congregations in 5 states from 1972 until leaving the ministry in 1998 in the upheaval following the fracturing of the church during a time of reckless theological change. Difficult times brought him to admit to the many contradictions and myths associated with Old Testament Israel, the Gospel stories of Jesus and the enigma of the Apostle Paul as founder of Christianity and not any Jesus. Dennis also came to recognize the damage the failed first century prophecy called The Book of Revelation causes 2000 years later in the lives of those who think it still is for today.

Dennis has written extensively about abusive ministries, the dangers of personality cults, mental illness in ministry as well as Biblical errancy and origin issues. He was included in the Clergy Project, founded by Dan Barker, which is designed to help ministers, who have their crisis of faith, exit the ministry and face the problems such life changes bring to them and their families. 

Dennis is a student of the earth sciences, archaeology, paleontology, cosmology with a special interest in human evolution. While the Bible speaks of "science falsely so called," Dennis appreciates science well done. 

Dennis lives in Portland, Oregon and has a therapeutic massage practice in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

My first formal debate, July 23rd in Downtown Dallas

We spoke to the guy behind all those Pokémon Go internet hoaxes

Notice that the Elijah is to come just before the great and terrible day of the LORD, and if he did not come, utter destruction would occur. 

Herbert W. Armstrong died in January 16, 1986.

Since Don Billingsley said to look to the book the Mystery of the Ages, let’s see what Herbert W. Armstrong actually wrote about the timing of the final Elijah:

Also Malachi 4:5-6 pictures the Elijah to come at the very end of the Church age (Mystery of the Ages. 1985, p. 349).

When did Herbert W. Armstrong write that the Church age was over? Notice:

At the end of the Church age and 6,000 years from Adam, Christ would return to earth as King of kings and Lord of Lords, ruling all nations, with the saints, for one millennium. (Armstrong HW. What If Adam Had Taken of the Tree of Life? Plan Truth, March 1983)

The “very end” of the Church age was not over 30 years ago! The 6000 years has NOT yet been fulfilled. Since the “very end of the Church age” has not happened, and he died decades ago, his writings support that there must be another Elijah. And he was referring to an individual in the Mystery of the Ages.

This combined with what Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in The Mystery of the Ages and the length of time since his death demonstrates that Herbert W. Armstrong could not biblically be the final prophesied Elijah.

Presuming Jesus will return within the next couple of decades, then that ‘Elijah’ would need to be alive now. And he would be part of the church that places the highest priority on the truth.

Yet, most Christians seemingly refuse to accept that. 

Since the Bible does teach that there will be an ‘Elijah’ who is alive right before Jesus returns (Malachi 4:5-6), thus it is not possible that Herbert W. Armstrong was the prophesied final Elijah.

We in the Continuing Church of God are regularly restoring more truth about church history, doctrine, and prophecy. And we have done this more, by far, than any other group in the 21st century (COG or otherwise for that matter). 

Also consider that any who have already died are not relevant regarding all things to be restored just before the Day of the Lord–only one alive then (who would also be alive now) can possibly fulfill the Elijah role to increase knowledge and restore all things. It is not that others cannot add to knowledge, but what was to be restored in the end has to come from someone who is a real follower of God who is alive at the end. Growth of Christian knowledge did not end by January 16, 1986.

Consider also that the Bible indicates that it is likely that the ‘Elijah’ will be one of the two witnesses.

Now, as Jesus is likely to return within the next couple of decades, it is reasonable to consider that the witnesses, including the one who is the Elijah would be alive today.
The problem is that just as many would not hear Elijah’s nor John the Baptist’s messages, relatively few will pay much attention to the end time Elijah as well. 

 

Bill Nye does not see the possibility of an Ark as scientific. 

Yet his clinging to the idea that humans may have come from Mars is a desperate attempt to try explain how life got to Planet Earth as scientists generally realize that spontaneous generation of life and the initial development on the Earth is biologically-impossible (watch, for example, Quickly Disprove Evolution as the Origin of Life). 

I have written about Bill Nye before and do not consider him to be a real scientist (see Evolution and the supposed ‘Science Guy’).  And yes, neither is Ken Ham who has his own issues. 

However, as Ken Ham correctly pointed out, Bill Nye seems to have an agenda–one that does not allow him to consider facts that might contradict his false belief about God and the origin of humans. 

Even back in New Testament times, there were those who called error ‘science,’ which is what evolution as an explanation of the origin of life and the origin of the universe is. Notice: 

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20-21, KJV) 

If Bill Nye was truly a scientist, he would admit that Darwin had no explanation of the origin of life that could be tested to be proven true. Actually, all such attempts have failed to prove Darwin’s hypothesis. 

If Bill Nye would truly consider that matter cannot self-generate and that energy runs out over time, he would realize that there is no current explanation of a creation without a spiritual Creator that makes sense.

The old saying that "an apology goes a long way" means it's effective and yields a positive result. When a company apologizes for selling a defective product or failing to live up to promised service, it usually wins back customer trust. The apology may require rectifying the problem by fixing the defective product or by other kinds of restitution. When a friend or family member has spoken hurtful words or otherwise wronged us, a sincere apology usually wins our respect and forgiveness. 

Apologizing can be a hard thing to do. Our human nature fights against admitting we have done wrong. Emotions and pride can get in the way. Sometimes a person fears that apologizing shows weakness or will bring a consequence if wrongdoing is acknowledged. 

An apology should admit a mistake and express regret. It's an important remedy for healing a damaged relationship. It tells the wronged party that the relationship with them is important. An apology helps resolve disputes and conflicts.

An apology has a number of positive effects for both parties. It does not erase past actions or the harm done, but it can erase the negative effects of those actions. A sincere apology brings relief by releasing the emotions, anger, resentment and bitterness. The apology soothes the wound and begins to heal the hurt. It allows the mending of the relationship to begin. 

By apologizing, we humble ourselves and are able to unload the guilt for our wrong action and the hurt we have caused someone. It restores self-respect because we have taken responsibility for our actions. We regain the love, respect and intimacy we previously had with the person hurt by our previous actions, especially with our mate.

It is far better to simply say, "I'm sorry. I apologize."And, depending on the circumstance, we should offer appropriate restitution to repair any harm done. Restitution may mean fixing or replacing something that was broken or defective, or giving compensation that remedies the damages. 

If you need to apologize, you may want to ask God for help to have the right approach. 

is an independent community foundation dedicated to reviving the legacy of the late Herbert W. Armstrong in Jerusalem and in the whole world through an approach centered on remembering his teachings on God’s give way of life that will bring about peace among the peoples of different races, ethnicity or belief; and also to keep the covenant that God made with him.

The Millennium will all be about Jerusalem and none else. We ought not to compare Bricket Wood or Ireland to be the gauge or measuring stick to picture the Millennium. It should only be Jerusalem! Or else we are already committing SPIRITUAL ADULTERY! It is even comparable to marrying strange wives as the Jews did in 408 B.C.! (Nehemiah 13:23, 26, 27). The Ark of the Covenant will be found in Jerusalem and not in a SECRET PLACE in Tara Hill in Ireland as suggested by PCG Regional Director Brad Macdonald!

THE BATTLE FOR ETERNAL LIFE BEGINS

July 22, 2016 

My mate has former friends from PCG who have told of a brand new ruling sent down from King Flurry that was announced last Sabbath. Jerry Flurry, in his "omnipotent wisdom," has ruled that now all contact with unbaptized children who have left the PCG is to be terminated immediately. 

It has been the policy for years that parents were still allowed to talk to children who have left the PCG only If they were unbaptized. Now Pope flurry has even taken away that small mercy. 

The talk amongst the children now affected by this judgment is that this will push many PCG families over the edge and force them to leave or get put out. Others feel that this will put one more nail in the coffin of Flurryism. Flurry is looking more and more like "mad King George" as his actions are ruining the PCG. All of his egomaniacal pipe dreams have come to nothing. The dig in Jerusalem has failed. The PCG radio station broadcast from the Edmond compound has failed. Membership has plummeted since the late 90s and there is almost no growth. Some wonder that in the end all that will be left is a small "Jonestown faithful" secluded on the Edmond compound. --Former PCG member

The Two Pharisee Witnesses

As LCG and COGWA, either together or separately, prepare to launch their “Elijah” work soon after the Feast of Tabernacles; God will send his two servants, real literal genuine human beings in the spirit of Elijah and Moses [a post on Elijah is coming as we get to the Elijah portion of the Kings study],  with a final warning to the Ekklesia, and will provide the means for those willing to obey God to leave quickly for the place God has prepared.   

At that time those who seek to be faithful to God from UCG, will join with those leaving from the other groups.   

Those who refuse the warnings and remain behind will be caught up in the correction of great tribulation and many will then quickly repent becoming personal witnesses to others.

The daily studies provided by James and the Sabbath study by Constance are the most important work being done in this world at this time. This is God’s work. If you are reading this and have not received the Glorious Living Sabbath study, you are missing out on a true spiritual feast. The daily studies speak for themselves “to he that hath an ear “.Everything else Is milk for babies and/or deception.

This is the best set of web sites on the entire internet. As for the contributions from Constance; thank our great God for giving her the strength to continue alongside James in his most vitally important work. God Speed to both James and Constance... 

I wholeheartedly agree! God is using James and Constance as his help, and supporters comments, (‘iron sharpens iron’), as instruments to teach and inspire those who are hungry for the TRUTH, as well as for correction and spiritual healing…a cleansing of the mind that has been corrupted by some who presented themselves as agents of light, but are of the synagogue of the deceiver, (Rev. 2:9-11). I pray that those whose eyes are blinded and ears stopped, will be released from the spiritual yoke of bondage, and cleave to godly knowledge instead of that which is taught by those who claim to be God’s representatives.  

We are truly blessed having access to this Blog at a time when the ‘scarcity of the Word’ is being fulfilled, as a conduit for learning and growth in spiritual understanding.

Northeast Men’s Training Camp 2016—August 26-28​  We live in a time of crisis for men. The role, identity and the very purpose for being a man is being called into question. How do we fight the demise of men... as a man? Here’s one way. Come and be part of this unique program this summer. Our spiritual “boot camp,” August 26-28, is specifically designed to build and strengthen men through eye-opening and interactive learning. We’ll learn what it takes to build bonds of brotherhood, serving God, our family and our brethren. It’s time to stand in the gap and take action against the tide of cultural correctness sweeping over our nation.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016

July 21, 2016

By Douglas Winnail

Greetings from Charlotte, It is remarkable how ancient prophecies indicate that as Israelite nations turn away from God, God will remove the supports of their societies and their impulsive leaders will “cause” them to err even as women rule over them (Isaiah 3:1-4, 12). Today, in more and more nations, we see women reaching for power and leaders in religion and government openly ignoring God’s instructions. Recently, the United Methodist Church (USA) elected its first openly gay bishop and the Republican National Convention asked a Muslim to give the benediction at one of its sessions. We will see more of these anti-biblical actions in the days ahead as our nations move further away from God. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has written a co-worker letter that has been mailed to more than 13,000 people. Mr. Weston began his duties as Chief Operating Officer this week in Charlotte and spoke to the office staff on Thursday.  Mr. Ciesielka reports that in recent weeks, some of our Internet TV platforms are starting to perform better that our big TV stations. This weekend, Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in Houston, Texas for services and for a Tomorrow’s WorldPresentation in San Antonio on Sunday. My wife and I will be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for services this Sabbath and an Area Leadership Conference on Sunday. Last weekend, 26 visitors attended two TWPs in Canada. Another TWP is scheduled in Edmonton this weekend. Please pray that God will guide these efforts to reach this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.—DSW

7. For those few arriving early at camp: No one is allowed on campus until after 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening, July 29. You will need to eat before arriving as the Church-wide fast begins at sunset. On Saturday evening, dinner will be served after sunset. 

8. Guests are welcome to attend Sabbath Services at camp on the Sabbaths of August 7 and 14. Space is limited so come early. Overflow seating will be available in the dining hall. After services, coffee and snacks will be served in the dining hall for all guests.  Weekly Update

Paul says, “If by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). Praise the Lord, “Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

James Malm is just another rebel who did not pay attention in the WCG. James left the WCG in 1985 while HWA was still alive to try to think for himself. His wife got into that sacred names nonsense and divorced him for not going along with it too. James got into calendar confusion. Garbling the gospel probably brought yet another curse on him. James wants to mangle everything that HWA had taught, and then think that he himself must be someone great for messing up everything. 

Some other goofy little rebels who like to defend James Malm and his heresies do not necessarily want to go and actually submit to him in his group. They just like to do their little part to promote rebellion and heresy by claiming that one can learn the odd thing from James (emphasis on odd), but no way will they really trust him enough to actually go with the troublemaker. It seems like they want to do their own little part to help James cause confusion, division, and trouble without actually letting him cause too much trouble for themselves personally.

"Constance" (or whatever she is calling herself these days) is my mother. This along with provocations by Malm to head to Petra to prove that one is a true believer are so disconcerting. These cults are dangerous--not only for the potential Jim Jones ending or the destruction they create in families and personal finances. They create mental illness through emotional dis-regulation. After a number of years, it's like a shell of a person that repeats indoctrination a with no one home. This makes me sad and hopeless feeling. 

1. Too many decisions are made in the cloak of darkness. Only a select few members really know what’s going on. The attitude of those elitists is that the typical member doesn’t really need to know.
2. The pastor and/or staff are treated poorly. Decisions are made about them without a fair process. Complaints are often numerous and veiled. Many of these churches are known for firing pastors and/or staff with little apparent cause.
3. Power groups tenaciously hold on to their power. The power group may be a formal group such as a committee, elders, or deacons. But the group can also be informal—no official role but great informal authority. Power groups avoid and detest accountability, which leads to the next point.
4. There is lack of clear accountability for major decisions and/or expenditures. The church has no clear system in place to make certain that a few outlier members cannot accumulate great power and authority.
5. Leaders of the power groups have an acrimonious spirit. Though they may make first impressions of kindness and gentleness, the mean streak emerges if you try to cross them.
6. A number of the members see those outside of the church as “them” or “those people.” Thus the church is at odds with many in the community instead of embracing them with the love of Christ.
7. Many members have an inward focus; they view the church as a place to get their own preferences and wants fulfilled. They are the opposite of the description of church members in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul describes them as functioning members for the greater good of the body of Christ.
8. Many people in the community view these churches negatively. Those on the outside often refer to these churches as “fighting and firing churches.” The community members detect no love for them from these churches.
9. Most of the members are silent when power plays and bad decisions take place.They don’t want to stand up to the power group. They are afraid to ask questions. Their silence allows the power abuses to continue.

Brethren, I have now been full time in the Work of the ministry since my graduation from Ambassador College back on June 4, 1952. After all those decades of experience and “seeing” how God has worked and is working, I tell you urgently: we now are at a time when we need to seek God just as those servants of God did in the past. We are stricken with a kind of a “malaise” that makes us lukewarm and has no doubt kept God from pouring out His Spirit upon us with a power to heal the sick, discern spirits and cast out demons which we ought to have! We need to fully realize this!

Each of us needs to beg God—on our knees—to collectively clean us up and scrub us out, spiritually, so that we may be worthy of the gifts of His Spirit just as the early New Testament Church was. Brethren, we are not asking for something “unusual.” For it is exactly what God did do with the early Church to show His power and help the world understand where He was working, so they would respond and more people would be added to the Church. He worked with them in a powerful way so His Work could grow in power at that time.

Also, as many of us ought to carefully read and meditate on, even before the Spirit-led New Testament Church actually began, Jesus appointed “seventy others also” to go out across Israel and preach the Gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons. Nothing indicates these were converted men—since the Holy Spirit was not even given until the Day of Pentecost. Obviously, they were not the twelve apostles, as they were called “seventy others,” and no mention is given of the apostles. Jesus commanded these men to go out and preach the Truth, “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’” (Luke 10:9). Later, we find, “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven’” (vv. 17–20). So they were also able to “cast out demons” in the name of Jesus Christ.

As the original Church of God—under the apostles’ faithful leadership—began to do the Work, notice how God reacted after He was forced to strike down Ananias and Sapphira for their obvious cynicism and rebellion against His leadership: “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:11–14). Notice that it was after God began to intervene with “signs and wonders” that great numbers were added to the body of Christ, “multitudes of both men and women.”

Do you begin to realize the “signs of the times” in which we are living? Will you then join me in crying out to God so that we in this Work may be given the power of God’s Spirit as never before?

Brethren, I hope that all of you will. For, to the extent that you yield yourself to God and beseech God to send Jesus to live His life within you (Galatians 2:20), you will be part of the body that is going to do a powerful Work before the end of this age and you will be rewarded forever—as we all know—because you have been willing to “turn to God” at a critical time in human history.

Galatians 2:20-21The Message (MSG)

19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.