Ron Weinland: Setting Up House in Europe?

A bit of interesting information; I received an e-mail from a reader who had noticed that Ron's Domain Name Server's had changed.
I went and checked it out, and sure enough, his four websites are no longer US based. Was any one else aware of this? Is this old news?

Here's what I found:

1) cog-pkg.org - The church website DNS is based in Switzerland.
2) the-end.com - The Book website DNS is also based in Switzerland.
3) ronaldweinland.com - Ron's Blog DNS is based in the UK.
4) biblical-truth.com - The HWA website is also based in the UK.
Check it out for yourself: SELF SEO

So, the big question: why has Ron moved the websites? Did he say anything about this in any announcements? If he did, I missed it. But then, I did stop listening to him.

He told everyone there was no safe place to go during the final Great Tribulation, to stay where we are. So, again, I ask; why has he moved the websites to Europe? What's going on in his head? Why two in the UK, and two in Switzerland? That's a bit odd. Is he covering his bases "just in case"? When did he make the switch? Perhaps around the time the web design changed? I don't know if there's a way to find out how long the sites have been in Europe or not, but it would be interesting to know when he made the change.

Perhaps this is all part of the exit plan... cut ties with the US... you know; just in case he was wrong? Perhaps "W" is correct, and the Weinlands had no intention of giving back any money... any more that he intended to step down when his prophesies failed. Although, personally, even with the plan "B", I can't help but wonder if he intends to maintain power behind the scenes. Despite what the plan may be, Ron doesn't seem like one to easily give up control - over the people - over the money...and Switzerland... nice set up there for people who want to hide money. Didn't one of the blogs speculate on 'Swiss bank accounts' a while back?

Crazy or Not, Here I Come

“There are crazies out there listening to me right now” Ron Weinland said, diverging momentarily from his regular pre-sermon patter. I was thinking, I guess I’m included in this indictment. I could just imagine the heads nodding in agreement right on cue, the people feeling a little ting of anger against the persecutors.

In church, years ago, the scene would have been powerful; an aura of sobriety; all eyes fixated on our leader. We knew that, for us, he was the mouth piece of God. When we were together, we knew we were among the only people for miles around, who perceived reality correctly. And all the people who knew this true reality were doing the same thing we were.

Yes indeed, the people of the world were insane, and we knew Jesus had predicted this very thing would happen. He said deceivers would come and deceive the many. Herbert Armstrong made this more clear. We knew it actually says, “The many,” or virtually everyone. So we understood why the world couldn’t see the true reality we saw. It’s because the god of this world had blinded them, and they were all his pawns.

Wherever I walked amongst people, as they were going to classes, gathering for an event or shopping at the mall, I knew that I was the only one present who was not under the spell of the great deceiver. My Granddad could see it. The eternal law of God commanded that we must keep the Sabbath on the seventh day, and we should keep holy days too. Without these, the key to turning off Satan’s broadcast, we could not know truth.

The Sabbath is the key. This we learned from Mr. Armstrong, the latter day Elijah. When the great man himself spoke, we were all children. “You just don’t get it,” he’d say in a mournful voice, shaking his head. The lessons of those two trees in the Garden of Eden had meaning beyond our comprehension; but our great leader saw deeper than we ever could. Afterword, people spoke softly, having been in the presence of one second only to God himself. People asked; “where would we be without Mr. Armstrong?”

I’d ask myself that question frequently. I think about everything I learned from HWA; and the things I didn’t. I learned, from Herbert, that the covenant from Sinai was to last forever. He’d virtually yell this, his finger stabbing at his open bible. “Why can’t people understand, it clearly says forever?”

What I didn’t learn, from Herbert, was that the word translated “forever”, doesn’t mean forever, or Jonah would still be in the belly of the fish. Jonah 2:6, the word more correctly means ‘ages’, which is what it probably felt like. Herbert didn’t tell anyone about this; most likely, he didn’t know. His ‘law’ orientation probably wouldn’t have allowed him to accept the truth.

Truth, his favorite word; Too bad he didn’t have it; but how well he could make himself sound like he knew so many things he didn’t. Because most everyone was disconnected from this “truth” that Herbert had revealed to me; and like he always said, “It’s so plainly evident, right there in black and white;” It only followed, in my young mind, that I could trust no one. Everything was corrupt. No institution of man was anything more than a tool of Satan. I turned my back on anyone who disagreed with Herbert, and that included my Dad. Somehow, “Honor your Father, “was overruled by the need to disassociate with the enemies of God.

It seems I was more radical in my beliefs than most. The fortunate ones, who didn’t care what God thought, were much less damaged. What an Irony. I cared enough about what God thought, that I accepted the Idea that my fate was “to be brought before magistrates and be martyred for Jesus’ sake, by the forces of the beast power after they destroyed our country.”

Some have asked me why I became so paranoid about the government. We were taught to be law abiding, but Herbert’s minions referred to our form of government as “demonocracy,” a government in league with the great whore, and shortly to be destroyed by the wrath of God; by the rod of Assyria. No minister told me to treat my Dad like I did. So now they’d say, “don’t blame me.” What I thought and did only followed the input. Since our government is demonocracy and protestant churches are daughters of the great whore, and my Dad believes in both, then he’s the enemy of God.

How can people, who preach such extremism, duck responsibility for the conclusions an impressionable kid comes to. Nothing matters anymore but the kingdom. I took this seriously. Frankly, I can relate to the Muslim suicide bombers. If I were asked to do something like this for God during my teenage years, I would have considered it to be an honor.

The years of seeing everyone as “the walking dead” only succeeded in creating a callous over my heart. In later years, I seriously considered myself to be a sociopath. If I asked myself, could I kill someone? I would have answered, “Without a doubt.” All that would have stopped me is, God said, “thou shall not.” I don’t think I felt anything the way most people do. I truly had to fake the emotions I thought I was supposed to be feeling I could only see irresolvable evil in myself, and eventually, trying to stick to the rules seemed to be pointless. “If I’m beyond salvaging, what does it matter what sin I add to the pile?” I found myself thinking such things, but couldn’t completely buy into it, fortunately. As it was, I adopted situation ethics, and what I did was bad enough, motivated mostly by the pain in my brain. But if I had totally let go, I could have been one of those sicko’s that kill a bunch of people, and then myself. The Old Covenant kept me guilty. The New Covenant gave me a solution for the sin within that I couldn’t overcome. Guilt lead to more guilt and it’s a slippery slope into insanity.

The guilt made me crazy, but freedom from guilt returned my sanity. What can I say Ron? I’m not crazy, but I used to be.

Response To: Galatians; Holy Days or Pagan Days?

This comment, regarding the 5/12/08 post, was left early this morning, and because this is such an important issue, I'm posting their comment along with my response (Seeker Of Truth also left a response in the comments section of the original post):

Anonymous said...

Its all fine to go pointing to other parts of the book to say that Gal 4:9 is not talking about Pagan days, but you only have to look at the preceding verse to see otherwise...8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.Sorry, but I'm afraid it is talking about going back to observing pagan gods.As for living only under faith, how do we show our faith?James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

May 13, 2008 2:50 AM

My Response:

Gal 4:8 "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you."

(Quote; Jeremy Weaver doxoblogy.com)
Galatians 4:3, 9 “The elements refer both to pagan gods and their worship and the law. Paul compares the two in order to show the Galatians that when they had not formerly known the true God they were involved in a religion of works. Through faith, they had now come to know the true God and sought Him by grace. But now they were returning to a basic system of works salvation by allowing the Judaizers to turn them to the law.

Paul is talking about keeping days and season’s period, as if it will please God. Pagans kept days for their gods, and for a time Israel had the same requirement. God commanded Israel to do many things similar to the pagans; armies, kings, gave them rules for slavery, and detailed laws to cover everything. Legalism is a human invention, god gave man his own version of legalistic law to make a point, and to bring man to the only truly godly law which is Christ in you.

The entire context of Galatians is the law that; 1) had served its purpose, Gal 3:24 “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ,” and

2) is no longer needed, 3:25 “we are no longer under the supervision of the law,” because Co l2:16…… a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” And this is certainly not referring to pagan days which could hardly have pertained to Jesus.

It’s clear that the Galatians are both familiar with the law, and are being pressured to keep it. Why would they be so familiar with a law they never kept? All one has to do is note the places Paul spoke at, and of who his audience consisted of, to gain a clue as to the likely background of the church in Galacia. Acts18:44 “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” The Greeks could only be converts to Judaism, or they wouldn’t have been there. The Jews were scattered, and more lived elsewhere than in Palestine. They kept their traditions and drew in local converts. In Acts Paul spoke at the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch 13:14-16; the synagogue in Iconium 13:42; the synagogue in Thessalonica 17:1-2; the synagogue in Berea 17:10-11; the synagogue in Athens 17:17 (which states God fearing Greeks were there along with the Jews); the synagogue in Corinth 18:1-4 (again, both Jews and Greeks in attendance).

The Jews were clearly living in every Greek city, and they and their local converts to Judaism were Paul’s usual soil in which to plant a new church. The Greeks would have been converted twice; from pagan beliefs they learned of the writings of the Old Testament that became a foundation for belief in He for whom they testified.

Acts3:23 “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.” This is speaking to both Jew and Greek. Some had once kept pagan days, others had not. And for both, keeping of a legalistic set of rules to try to please God, or a false god are equally an exercise in futility.

Faith by works

James 2:14 “ What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” People see what this verse says and immediately;

1) get the cart before the horse. Eph2:10 ”For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”The question is; what comes first, good works or faith;

2) Default to the old covenant rules to define what those works should be. The New Covenant, like any contract spells out what is required.

The first step is; 1John 4:15 “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” The second step: Rom 8:9 “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” The third step is Gal5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

God does the work through you. He provides the faith, no less than he provides the mind by which you reason. God provides the natural affection by which any good is done without faith, but he provides what is so much greater in the fruits of his spirit which transcend the natural, which he originally provided. And the good works God does by his spirit through you is the proof of the faith God gives, he makes you a vessel of good works that brings glory to God. This is the reason you were born.

Galatians; Holy Days Or Pagan Days?

I’m sure we’re all familiar with the Armstongian view, (still taught by those like Ron Weinland), of Galatians 4:9 being that Paul is asking them why they have returned to pagan days:

[NIV throughout] Ga.4:9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?

I’m going to offer you a reasonable, valid argument that this is NOT the case.

My preferences for anyone in search of God’s truth: I’d appreciate it if you’d get your Bible out for this. If you have looked at the information in the top side panel you know that I encourage you to look further into ANY information you gather on ANY Biblical subject regardless of WHO the information comes from, hence; the title of this blog. See the scripture in my blog description at the top of the page? Never rely solely on your source; it’s your responsibility to validate information. And, as stated in the side panel, I strongly suggest the use of Greek/Hebrew Interlinear and a Greek/Hebrew dictionary.

I’m going list only the parts I am using to make my argument. You can follow along in your Bible for the full text. The underlined verses tell us Paul was not asking them why they’ve gone back to keeping pagan days in chapter 4:2, but asking them why they’ve gone back to the Old Covenant. He uses Hagar & Sarah in 4:21 to tell them they can’t inherit under the O.C. & in chapter 5 tells them Christ has set them free & that they are trying to be justified by the law:

Galatians 3

Faith or Observance of the Law

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?

2 …Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
[How would anyone think they can receive the Spirit by observing a pagan law? They don’t. They’ve returned to observing the O.C.]

3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? [Obtaining their goal by observing a pagan law? No.]

5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? [Again, pagan law doesn’t make sense, does it?]

6 Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."

9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10 All who rely on observing the law, are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

[The curse is; if you choose to keep the O.C. rather than the New, you must keep it in its entirety, flawlessly, to be found righteous, and since that’s impossible; you are doomed to the pit, hence; the curse. Which is why--->]

11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." [Who doesn’t understand this? (Not a rhetorical question.)]

12 The law is not based on faith… [Which law isn’t based on faith? The one that is based on ‘going through the motions, regardless of what is in the heart; the O.C.]

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us …"

14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

[What does all that mean in v. 14? Do we think God blundered His way through all that has occurred & worked it out as it came along? Of course not, the whole thing was pre-planned. We are stubborn, & argumentative. He had to provide us with proof that we could NEVER be found righteous on our own, with no room for rebuttal on our part. So He;

1) gave us free will

2) provided the Mt. Sinai law to the obstinate Israelites as evidence that we are incapable of keeping it flawlessly

3) sent Jesus to thus, pay the penalty for the sins of His creation and extend the offer of salvation beyond the Israelites thus, all believers become the adopted children of Abraham and thus the children of God. We, by accepting the offer from Jesus to pay our debt, gain His righteousness in us, that being; the Holy Spirit which is a deposit, a guarantee;

(Eph.1:13-14 Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.) There are two paths; Abraham’s path of faith or Moses’ path of works, one leads to salvation the other does not. OK, back to the subject at hand.]

The Law and the Promise

15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside, or add, to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.

[How would that have anything to do with a pagan anything?] [This is also a good spot to point out that the O.C. was not ‘amplified,’ adjusted, altered, in any way, (as we were taught.)Paul tell us clearly, that this cannot be done! We have been given a NEW contract/covenant!]

16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed…who is Christ.

17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, [430 years after Abraham] does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; [this is not talking about a pagan law. It IS however telling us that inheriting the kingdom is not dependant on keeping the law, rather, faith.] but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions, [whose transgressions? The Israelites’.] until the Seed [Christ] to whom the promise referred had come…

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Galatians 4

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

EDITED: [What does this mean? Honestly, I'm not sure. It is probably referencing a previous pagan involvement, in which they were slaves to - by rules and regulations, - before conversion to Christianity, and asking why they would return to the O.C. law which also is a law of slavery;
Gal. 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

And Gal. 4:21-31 "Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.

25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, [Gentiles] who bears no children; [of God] break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." [Israelites/Christ]

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."

31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.)

What IS CLEAR however, is the many passages leading up to, and following, make it clear that Paul is referring to the Old Covenant, and NOT to pagan days or laws.]

9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

19 My dear children; for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

[‘until Christ is formed in you.’ I believe this is talking about the character of Jesus being formed in them because, we see in Ch.3:2 that they had received the Holy Spirit.]

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

[Here, again, we see this has nothing to do with pagan days or laws. Paul is using Hagar & Sarah as an analogy of the O.C. and the N.C., not a pagan law and God’s law.]

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.

25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

[This tell you loud and clear that Paul is talking about the O.C. and not pagan days.]

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother…

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."

31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Galatians 5

Freedom in Christ

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, [nothing to do with pagan laws] Christ will be of no value to you at all.

3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

[They’re trying to be justified by law, nothing to do with anything pagan.]

5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?

8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."

10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

[Nothing to do with pagan stuff. This is what Paul thinks of those misleading others into thinking they are still to observe O.C. things. And recall that if you choose the O.C., you must keep it in its entirety, flawlessly…Impossible.]

[Clearly nothing here has anything to do with anything pagan. Paul is NOT asking them why they have returned to pagan days/laws, but why they have returned to the O.C. by the misleading of those who think we are still to observe it.]

We Have Been Given A New Covenant/Contract!

"J" (Shadows Of WCG) fights fire with fire, in his post; "A Lasting Ordinance, For the Generations to come", leaving no room to deny; we are NOT commanded by God to observe Holy Days.

I hope you are beginning to understand that there is no "amplified" covenant, but there IS a NEW covenant/contract.

The US & Britain;InProphesy? Pt. 2 of 2

Once Herbert had established in the minds of his follower the Idea that the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and others, are Israel, he could begin to introduce alleged prophesies of destruction as, pertaining to the present, and to these countries.

Deut 28 is called the blessings and curses chapter. And if you read it you might note that once the curses part starts, there is nothing about a mid punishment reprieve. As a matter of fact the text repeats that the curses continue until Israel is destroyed. Example; Deut 28:48 “therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty; you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.”

I recall hearing this next verse in church as a kid; it and others created a profound dread of the future, and a sense of utter hopelessness. Deut 28:64 “Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. 66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.” I was taught that these things would be in my future; that the USA was going to go into national captivity.

Elevating ones speculation to the level of dogma seems to be a legacy of Herbert, now being carried on by his disciples, such as; Ron Weinland, Rod Meredith, Gerald Flurry, etc.

Israel went into captivity, and according to Herbert they were blessed again 2500 years later in a whole new land, only to sin and be cursed all over again. Ho.11:8 disagrees, 8 “My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man— the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. 10 They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. 11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD.” After the captivity God has compassion, and does what? Bless them on the North American continent? No, he settles them in their home. Again notice Jer30:3 “The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the LORD.”

Herbert used every prophecy sent to Israel and applied them to the USA and Britain, admitting that they had been fulfilled in what historically happened to Israel (both the Northern Kingdom and Judah). He continually hammered on the biblical principle of duality, which is entirely extra-biblical, so there are no references to refute. Yes, there are two comings of Jesus; there’s the physical house of Israel and the church. But a principle that prophecy is fulfilled twice, that’s unsupported supposition.

After reading “Every Prophecy of the Bible,” by John F. Walvoord, I came away unequivocally aware that; prophecy is usually very straight forward; its symbolism, when used, is explained; or when not explained, metaphoric material is essentially clearly evident.

Clarity doesn’t provide a basis for a cult to draw a following where gnosis does. Inserting arcane meanings into everything, cultivating suspense, makes for a better story. Herbert was a conspiracy theorist. Herbert spun such a captivating tale, always nurturing a sense of mystery that appeals to the suspicion and cynicism lurking in peoples’ minds.

The pushing forward of prophecy claiming 90 percent of it applies to the end time is based on shallow arguments like; “The prophets prophesied after Israel went into captivity, so the prophecies couldn’t have been for them in their day.” Josephus the Jewish historian said in the first century, “Yet the Ten Tribes who are beyond the Euphrates till now, are an immense multitude, whose numbers cannot be estimated." (Antiquities 11:5:2:133)

I’m confident Ezekiel knew where Israel was, and could deliver the message he wrote, when God told him to; Ez2:3 “He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me.” It’s pure conjecture to presume the prophets message was waiting for the “end times, but to Herbert, it was fact.

It’s almost amusing how the ones who read Ezekiel 5 claiming it’s referring to the USA don’t mention that God is no longer addressing Israel (Northern Kingdom) .By their theory, The USA is Israel, but this is addressed to Jerusalem. They say the USA is first in punishment, but this says it’s Jerusalem, and Israel thereafter. Ez5:11 "Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair. 2 When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair with fire inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword. 3 But take a few strands of hair and tuck them away in the folds of your garment. 4 Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to the whole house of Israel.” God is speaking to the people of Jerusalem. Just read Josephus’ horror story of the fall of the city (Wars of the Jews – Books 5 & 6); these things have already occurred. The only way one could apply this to a latter day Israel is via the so called “principle of duality,” which again is a fabrication. There is one punishment. Ez5:8 “I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. 9 Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.”

The preceding verse was addressed to Judah, but earlier I quoted Ho 11:8-11 which addresses Israel, and the following addresses both; Ez34:11 “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains (This is referring to geography not governments, note; ravines and grazing) of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” The bible has set a precedence of being straight forward, but Herbert’s disciples create confusion by claiming such verses to be entirely metaphoric, thus “spiritualizing” clear meaning into the netherworld of ambiguity.

These doom and gloom promulgators rarely dwell long on the verses showing that the next appearance of God is to save. There is one punishment and then God saves; Micah5:3 “Therefore Israel will be abandoned (no recess) until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be their peace.” Again, I repeat, nowhere is there any verse that speaks of a reprieve in the middle of the punishment. It lasts until Jesus comes.

I have vivid memories of the silent sober audience hearing from the pulpit about the death that shall befall us, quoting Isa6:10 “Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.” (‘See how true this is’, says Armstrong’s disciples, ‘very few hear our true gospel.’) “Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn” (turn to disciples of Herbert, according to them) “and be healed." 11 Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?" And he answered: "Until the (“US?”) cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land (What we call Palestine), it will again be laid waste, (the ‘again’ is still in this time frame, not in the distant future). But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

The land is Israel (Palestine), and nothing says the stump grows back into a tree just to be cut back down again. After a tenth is all that remains in Palestine, they’re whittled down again until they become a stump. The word “again” doesn’t mean 2600+ years later, but until there is nothing left but a stump. History records this all to have occurred. Also the calloused state of mind remains until their punishment is complete. But today’s prophets of Armstrong are still crying out; “God’s word says the USA and Britain will be destroyed leaving only a tenth alive.” How many more kids have to grow up like I did, living in fear or terror of shadows, because their parents buy into this kind of claptrap.

What makes seeing God as the angry avenger, easier than seeing him as the loving Sheppard? Why not dwell on the post punishment mode of God, and nurture a healthy mind? Isa40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” But this doesn’t keep people in fear, and people without fear can’t be controlled.

From my earliest years I heard, “the great tribulation is coming; Israel will be destroyed, and Israel is us.” Whether the purpose of the preachers of this darkness is to create terror or not; the indiscriminate spreading of their errors has that effect.

After believing their misconceptions most of my life, only detailed study could free my mind from the prison of terror. Nothing is as I was taught.

Even the “tribulation” is something other than what was always presented. It has more to do with the following; Zech12:9 “On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.” The fact is that even God’s wrath is an act of salvation, but this is a whole other study.

Take a peek at pictures we grew up with; Armstrongism: Beware Of False Prophets

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