"Test Your Leaders" -- Gerald Flurry.

What Went WRONG with the

“Philadelphia Church of God”?

In January 1990 Gerald Flurry and John Amos broke away

from the Worldwide Church of God and began a new church

called "The Philadelphia Church of God." They have pointed

out many of the drastic changes Worldwide is going through,

and claims to want to return to the faith of Herbert Armstrong,

whom they look upon as "Elijah." They banish all cosmetics,

rule the flock with rigor, and emphasize "Church government"

as Worldwide also does. They claim the 144,000 of Revelation

are the "Laodicean" Church and will all be martyred. They

further claim Joseph Tkach is the "Joshua" of Zechariah 3.

They began with a flourish -- but where did they go wrong?

William F. Dankenbring

I received the following letter from an ex-member of the Worldwide Church of God in Ohio who later joined the Philadelphia Church of God, headed by Gerald Flurry in Edmond, Oklahoma. His letter was extremely interesting and revealing. I thought I should share it with the readers of Prophecy Flash, with the hope of protecting and guiding people who might be tempted to get involved with another Church patterned after many of the basic errors of the Worldwide Church of God. The writers states:

"Thank you for your excellent literature! My enthusiasm has never been higher.

I've been starving for such inspiring exhortations. Although my living was not

at stake, such as in your case, the treatment I've received from church 'leaders' is

about the same.

"After being too vocal in my questioning of the WCG's direction, I was 'disfellow-

shipped' in February of 1990. It was actually a relief since it was becoming more

and more difficult to even motivate myself to attend. The last three years were

rough."

The correspondent continues his personal, in-depth report based on his own findings:

"I then came to Fellowship with the 'Philadelphia Church of God' headed by Gerald

Flurry in Edmond, OK. He sounded pretty good at first but his ideas won't stand

up to his instructions to 'TEST YOUR LEADERS.' He claims remnant Philadelphia

Christians should back the PCG. 'Unfortunately' again, I have just been 'suspended'

by John Amos for asking about PASSOVER and the '144,000' doctrine. Mr. Amos

also claimed I was disrespectful to his office. He claimed that myself and others

here in Canton, Ohio, have been 'hounding' them about these doctrines. (We haven't

even gotten around to PENTECOST yet!)."

The letter writer continues:

"Mr. Amos was supposed to visit me to counsel me about my 'hang up' about

Passover but changed his mind and called me to cancel our 'golf date-counselling

session' and to tell me I have been suspended For not being in 'agreement' and

For being 'disrespectful' to a minister. All conveniently by telephone -- just For

asking questions. The old AT & T 'Reach out and disfellowship someone' plan.

"I probably do sound disrspectful in this letter. But I'd prefer to characterize it as

you would and say I and the others there were being bold to get to the TRUTH.

So far there are three -- possibly Four -- here in Canton who recognize the truth

that has been revealed to you by God. Yes, and now we're being called all sorts

of things in return."

What happened? Why was this sincere seeker for the truth of God abruptly thrown "out" of the new "Philadelphia Church of God," which claims to be the true "remnant" of the "Philadelphia Church" era founded by Herbert W. Armstrong in 1934? What went wrong? The letter writer continues his sad and pathetic story:

"Once the PCG organized itself and began teaching 'strong government' everything

died. The PCG seems like a new Sardis -- accepting the truths that Mr. Armstrong

taught (along with some errors), but Freezing everything at that point and refusing

new Truth.

"We were just 'made examples of' to the Columbus, Ohio congregation -- the largest

actual congregation in this part of the country -- (around 40-50 people). All of this

without talking first with any of us to our faces. Mr. Amos has Forsaken the strays

to 'save' the ninety-nine. It's BACKWARDS!

"Anyway, needless to say, your literature has sown to me that to continue to prove

all things and to Follow Christ -- not men with their own personal agendas -- thru

getting back to serious Bible study and prayer IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR US ALL.

It appears that Laodicean ministers can't magically change into Faithful shepherds,

just by calling the organization 'Philadelphian.' A worthless shepherd is a worthless

shepherd. I've only heard by the 'grapevine' that my status is now officially 'disfellow-

shipped.' No one has told me to my Face. It's shameful!

"I can't tell you how encouraged I am by your reprints. I've just written this letter a

fter having read your article 'Escape From Laodicea.' I hope to introduce others to

your study aids and other publications. It won't be easy though. Already I'm con-

sidered 'lost' by my own sister who still attends the PCG. She 'lovingly' refers to

your literature as 'POISON.' Hopefully she'll come around -- before it's too late.

"By the way, I'm no stranger to your articles. I'd received the 'Plain Truth' and

'Tomorrow's World' magazines in the early seventies. I'd attended the WCG since

1973. I have many issues from the sixties also. Please keep the 'presses' rolling and

thanks to you and all who are helping you to teach the truth so all who will be willing

to prove and accept it can do so. Thanks so much. Our prayers are with you."

The writers then adds the following postscript, a candid appraisal of the Flurry organization:

"P.S.S. Also if I can be of any help in regards to the 'PCG' please do not hesitate

to ask. Mr. Flurry's errors are very dangerous, I feel. Thanks."

End-Time Deceptions Abound

Just because a Church group comes out of the Worldwide Church of God, and possess quite a bit of truth, does not necessarily mean that they are "God's end-time Church," and the ONLY true Church of God on earth, today, as the Flurry organization claims for itself!

What about you reading this article? Do you know how to really IDENTIFY God's True Church -- His True Work on this earth, today?

Jesus Christ said, "You will know them by their fruits" (Matt.7:20). A Church's "fruits" involves both its TEACHINGS and DOCTRINES as well as its POLICIES and PRACTICES! Isaiah the prophet wrote, "To the law and to the testimony [the BIBLE]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is NO LIGHT IN THEM" (Isa.8:20).

Now, I have nothing "personal" against Gerald Flurry and his new organization. Howver, I have heard some things about them which cause me to grieve. They appear to have retreated into a form of "isolationism" and are not carefully "proving all things," as Paul commanded us to do (I Thess.5:21). They have retreated into the past, a time warp, where Herbert W. Armstrong -- despite his many faults, blemishes and errors -- is virtually "worshiped," put up on a pedestal, and glorified as the "Elijah" to come. Yet Herbert Armstrong himself admitted he was not a "prophet," and made many, many mistakes throughout his life. The prophecies concerning the coming "Elijah" say that he will restore the truth of God. Herbert Armstrong did restore some of God's truth -- but far from all of it -- and he was in error on some very important points.

Furthermore, the Elijah to come is prophesied to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers" (Mal.4:6) -- and the dropout rate of young people from the Worldwide Church of God was enormous when Herbert Armstrong was alive. They have failed to truly reconcile fathers and children. Family break-ups were at record levels. Husbands were divorcing wives and wives were leaving husbands. The situation in the Worldwide Church of God, during Herbert Armstrong's later years, was chaotic, with divorce and remarriage at all-time highs. Certainly these would not be the "fruits" of the ministry of the "Elijah" to come!

Gerald Flurry is right to compare the present-day leader of the Worldwide Church of God to "Judas Iscariot." The modern leadership of the Church is indeed betraying Jesus Christ and His truth!

The Great Errors of Gerald Flurry and

The "Philadelphia Church of God"

However, Flurry is totally wrong to use the prophecy in Zechariah concerning "Joshua the high priest" and to claim it refers to Joseph Tkach. According to Flurry in his book "Malachi's Message,"

"Joshua was Zerubbabel's chief assistant. They are both end-time types

of two men who work together just before Christ's return. Joshua rebelled

and 'despised the day of small things.' He turned away from the way

Zerubbabel built. That is how Satan got to him (Zech.3:1).

"The 'man of sin' rules in God's Temple (or Church) and rejects the past

instructions of 'he' who was 'taken out of the way' (II Thes.2). There is

to be a Judas-like betrayal today, just as there was with Joshua.

"And end-time Joshua and the 'man of sin' reign in God's Church just before

Christ's return (Zech.3:8; II Thes.2:1-3). Are the one and the same? Both

turn away from past instructions. Both have filthy garments. Failing to

submit to Christ's government is the major problem of both men" (p.61).

Sadly, this exegesis is all mixed up, spiritually. The "man of sin" of II Thessalonians refers most directly to the future "BEAST" or ruler of the end-time Babylonian Empire (Rev.17:10) who will literally sit in the Temple of God, soon to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Rev.11:-1-2). He will literally sit in the Temple and proclaim that he is God. Paul writes of him, "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God" (II Thess.2:4). Joseph Tkach does not literally claim that he is "God." This prophecy can only refer to him as a secondary type, since he does "exalt himself" and sits in the "Church" and acts with brazen impunity as he changes doctrines. But the primary meaning of this Scripture is obviously as a reference to the end-time Dictator

who, like Antiochus Epiphanes, will desolate God's Temple and install the abomination of desolation (see Dan.11:31-32; Matt.24:15-21) and who will persecute God's people (Rev.12:14-16).

Who is "Joshua" the High Priest?

Flurry also completely misunderstands the significance of "Joshua the high priest" in Zechariah 3, also. Let's notice this passage carefully. "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" (Zech.3:1-2).

Notice! This man is snatched FROM the "fire," a type of the Great Tribulation. That means he is SAVED! He is a chosens vessel of Almighty God! He is most defnitely NOT an "apostate" who starts out well but ends up going astray! Rather, the exact OPPOSITE is true! Let's continue the passage:

"Now Joshua was dressed in FILTHY CLOTHES as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have TAKEN AWAY YOUR SIN, and I will put rich garments on you.' Then I said, 'Put a clean turban on his head.' So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by" (Zech.3:3-8).

This scene shows a man who was filthy with sins, but who REPENTED -- and who was then used mightily by God! This describes the very opposite of a man plunging into APOSTASY -- it shows a man FORSAKING apostasy and REPENTING of a grievous, filthy, spiritual past!

In ancient times, Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor of Judah worked together, as a team, to rebuild the temple of God, which was accomplished from 520 to 516 B.C. They were a powerful team -- Joshua did not forsake the Work of God, as Gerald Flurry seems to claim, and plunge into apostasy -- not at all.

The TWO WITNESSES

Rather, he and Zerubbabel were TYPES of the end-time TWO WITNESSES of the Book of Revelation! Notice it! God shows Zechariah a vision of a gold lampstand with seven lights, and two olive trees beside it (Zech.4:1-3). God then says, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT,' says the LORD Almighty. What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of

"God bless it!' God bless it!"' Then the word of the LORD came to me: 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation; his hands will also COMPLETE IT. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you" (Zech.4:4-9).

Notice! This cannot refer to Herbert Armstrong, not even in type. Even if one suggests that God used him to begin His end-time work in 1934, he is now DEAD. He most certainly will NOT "complete" or "finish" the Work of the Church! Therefore, he was NOT an end-time "type" or fulfillment of "Zerubbabel"! That should be perfectly plain.

The Scripture goes on, however, "Who despises the day of small things? Men will REJOICE when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. . .' Then I asked the angel, 'What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?' Again I asked him, 'What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?' He replied, 'Do you not know what these are?' 'No, my lord' I said. So he said, 'These are the TWO WHO ARE ANOINTED TO SERVE THE LORD of all the earth'" (Zech.4:10-14).

What is this talking about? These two "anointed ones" were Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest! They were a type of the TWO WITNESSES of the End Time! They worked TOGETHER to finish and complete the WORK OF GOD on earth, prior to the return of Jesus Christ!

Therefore, in no way could this prophecy refer to Herbert Armstrong -- who is now DEAD -- and Joseph Tkach -- who has now turned ASIDE from the true paths of God!

Rather, as John writes in the book of Revelation, Almight God says:

"And I will give POWER TO MY TWO WITNESSES, and they

will prophecy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These ARE

the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the

Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from

their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how any one who

wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the

sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and

they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth

with every kind of plague as often as they want" (Rev.12:3-6).

How clear! Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel were two powerful servants of God who were types of the end-time Two Witnesses prophesied in the book of Revelation. In no way, therefore, is "Joshua" a type of that miserable dog and cur Joseph W. Tkach who has sold his soul to the devil and has departed from the faith and followed in the diabolical footsteps of Judas Iscariot, the supreme traitor of all time!

Flurry and the "Temple"

Flurry is also dead wrong when he claims,

"Even if a temple is built in Jerusalem, it will not be the

temple of God [his emphasis]. The Jews have not been

commissioned to build God's temple -- as Zerubbabel was.

If they build a temple, it would be the Jew's temple" (

"Malachi's Message," p.47).

This is utter nonsense. The prophet Daniel foretold of a Temple of God in Jerusalem during the last days (see Dan.8:9-14, 23-25) where sacrifices will be performed (Dan.9:26-27) and where the abomination of desolation will be literally placed (Dan.11:31-32). Jesus Christ also foretold of this same Temple or "holy place" (Matt.24:15; Mark 13:14). And John in Revelation connects this future Temple with the two witnesses, and was told specifically to "measure" it, but not to measure the "outer court" because "it has been given to the Gentiles" who will trample it down for three and one half months, during the "Great Tribulation !(Rev.12:1-2).

Furthermore, to claim that this Temple would not be God's Temple shows an astonishing lack of understanding. God plainly COMMANDS His people, the Jews, to rebuild His Temple. The prophecies of Haggai are all about this phenomenal End-Time coming event. God declares, "'Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and BUILD THE HOUSE, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,' says the LORD" (Haggai 1:8).

Talking about this end-time Temple, God says, "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more SHAKE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, the sea and the dry land. I will SHAKE ALL NATIONS, and the desired of all nations [Christ the Messiah!] will COME, and I will fill this house [the End-Time Temple!] with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. . .

'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty' (Hag.2:6-9).

Gerald Flurry says any Temple the Jews build will not be God's Temple? That is exceedingly strange. Malachi the prophet declares: "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will COME TO HIS TEMPLE; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will COME,' says the LORD Almighty" (Malachi 3:1). Christ will return TO HIS TEMPLE in Jerusalem! One of the final things remaining that must be accomplished before the

return of the Messiah is the rebuilding of His Temple! Read my articles on "Coming Soon -- A Temple In Jerusalem!", "Prepare the Way of the Lord!" and "Will a Temple Soon Be Built?"

For a man who claims to be God's sole remaining representative on the earth, leading the sole remnant of the "one true Church," Gerald Flurry shows an astonishing amount of ignorance and an equally astonishing degree of pride and vanity and cocksure pompous arrogance. A little more "humility" would be much more becoming. God says, "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and TREMBLES AT MY WORD" (Isaiah 66:2).

Enough said?

The Mystery of the 144,000 Garbled Again!

Flurry is also wrong in claiming that the Laodicean Church is the 144,000 and will all perish in the Great Tribulation, suffering martyrdom. He completely twists the Scriptures in Revelation 3 to suit his purpose, claiming that the promise in Revelation 3:21 is not given to the repentant Laodicean Christians at all but is part of the promise of the Philadelphia Church (whose own reward is actually mentioned in Rev.3:11-13). For Flurry to apply the promise Christ makes to repentant Laodiceans to the Philadelphia Church's reward is pure, unadulterated hogwash!

Flurry states that the 144,000 of Revelation are "sealed" after the Great Tribulation and before the Day of the Lord (Rev.6:9-16; 7:1-4). This of course is true. But then Flurry goes off the track, and claims that only the 144,000 are "sealed" after the Great Tribulation because, according to him:

"The Laodiceans will DIE and be sealed during the 2 1/2 year

Tribulation. Therefore, we can see that the 144,000 of God's people

receive their salvation through the Tribulation experience -- and

death" (p.29).

This is utterly false! He adds,

"Again, the Bible indicates that all the Laodiceans who enter

God's Kingdom must DIE for God (Rev.6:9-11; 12:11-12).

You should read every word. . . . The Laodiceans have to

prove themselves by dying for God" (p.30, his emphasis).

These Scriptures simply do not say what Gerald Flurry says they say. Rather, Rev.6:9-11 speaks of MANY true Christians dying during the Great Tribulation. But it does not say ALL will perish in martyrdom! Similarly, Revelation 12:11-12 merely states that the devil will come down to the earth with

great wrath and fury. Verses 14-16 show that some of God's people will be protected from Satan; but others will be persecuted. There is NO MENTION OF MARTYRDOM, although it will certainly happen to SOME! Persecution is NOT "martyrdom"! Many will be persecuted, thrown in prison, and treated horribly. Some will definitely be martyred -- but nowhere does God say all the Laodiceans will be martyred -- only that they will suffer the "fire" of the Great Tribulation (Rev.3:18). In the process, many of them will finally REPENT, and learn their lesson.

Who then are the real 144,000 of Revelation? Let's understand! The apostle John sees them after the Great Tribulation (Rev.6:11-17), during a pause before the Day of the Lord begins, when God Himself sends plagues upon the earth (Rev.7:1-2). John says quite clearly that they are 12,000 from EACH of the 12 tribes of Israel (Rev.7:3-8) who are also "servants of our God" (v.3). Being servants of God, these people already have God's Holy Spirit. Therefore, these must be SURVIVING CHRISTIANS from all the remnant Churches of God who have come THROUGH the Great Tribulation, and are still alive! At this time they will be "sealed" in their foreheads (v.3).

What is this "sealing"? It cannot be receiving of God's Spirit -- they already have that, being "servants of God." To claim that is is "death," as Flurry does, makes no sense whatsoever. These people are SURVIVORS, still alive at the end of the Great Tribulation! What, then, is it? Notice!