Has anyone heard of this man, Ronald Weinland?
Google Search - Ronald Weinland
He "claims" to be one of God's final witnesses and that at least five seals have been opened.
I do not know, but I am skeptical of him.
Full Version: Ronald Weinland
Correction:
In April, he claims:
"We are at the very end-time for man’s self-rule on earth. The Seventh Seal has been opened and now the First Trumpet has been blown."
Link to his site
In April, he claims:
"We are at the very end-time for man’s self-rule on earth. The Seventh Seal has been opened and now the First Trumpet has been blown."
Link to his site
I have studied this man's rant and he is a false teacher and prophet. He took over the lead of Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God in the recent past. He is definitely a preacher of falsehood. You can research his background and behavior on the internet. His claim that you mention is false. The time of the end has not begun yet and the Lord has not removed the seals of the scroll. If this were true, the world would be in the vortex of His unmitigated wrath without a doubt. RW is a sensationalist and he has ulterior motivations for sure.
I agree Stephen. I think he is a false prophet. I just wanted to bring this to attention.
I have not heard of this man until recently.
I have not heard of this man until recently.
This article is lengthly, but believers need to know how false prophets operate in these last days and this is a very significant example. If you are associated with the organization(s) mentioned or spin offs of the same you need to investigate what you are being taught and led to believe.
Concerns About Ronald Weinland's Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God
Opinions by COGwriter
This article will discuss a few matters related to Ronald Weinland of Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CG-PKG). Like most of my Church of God (COG) group articles, this one will focus on how CG-PKG has teachings that differ from the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG).
Who is Ronald Weinland (sometimes misspelled as Ronald Wienland)? Ronald Weinland was a minister in the WCG, then a minister in the United Church of God (UCG), but a number of years ago declared himself a prophet--he did that many years after the Philadelphia Church of God's Gerald Flurry did the same. If he has much of an actual following, I simply have not encountered it (PCG is many times CG-PKG's size). (Perhaps I should mention that we in the Living Church of God do not believe that Gerald Flurry or Ronald Weinland are God's prophets.)
Although he does have a certain calm demeanor and a fair amount of biblical truth (he was actually part of the Church of God for a while before he branched out and declared himself a prophet), I personally do not consider that Ron Weinland is faithful to God. In 2006, Ronald Weinland publicly declared he was one of the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation--and I disagreed about that then and now (to learn more about them, please see the article Who Are The Two Witnesses?).
Ronald Weinland now leads the Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CG-PKG), a group he formed.
The About page of his website states:
The organization of the Church of God-PKG was established to serve those scattered brethren of the Church of God who desired to hold fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. For the past several years, the church has been serving scattered brethren on every continent by sending published material and/or taped weekly sermons to those who have requested such service.
In the past few years the church has also been serving those scattered brethren who want to have fellowship with the Church of God-PKG by providing a teleconferencing system whereby people have been able to phone in to hear Sabbath services from any point in the U.S. or Canada.
The pastor of the church, Ron Weinland, has been helping scattered brethren come to understand how the recent, turbulent history of the Church agrees with those things that God gave testimony concerning His Church at the end-time, just before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (http://cog-pkg.org/about/ 011406).
As this article will document, I do not believe that CG-PKG is meeting its purpose for being established as I do not believe that it properly "holds fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong" as it claims.
Note: There are daily news, doctrinal, and prophecy updates at the Church of God News page for those interested in how world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy.
Ronald Weinland's First Book The Prophesied END-TIME
Ron Weinland wrote a book titled The Prophesied END-TIME, which he published in 2004, and which I have read in its entirety. The book cover states, “Ronald Weinland was ordained a minister in God's Church in 1981. Then, in 1997, he was called to be a prophet for this end-time. A prophet, in this context, is 'one given inspired interpretation of recorded prophesies' ” (Weinland R. The Prophesied END-TIME. 2004).
As far as I can tell, the main work of CG-PKG is to promote that book, as well as a second book which was released in the Fall of 2006. It has little other regular literature as far as I can tell.
CG-PKG's main website page states:
God's Church observes the 7th day Sabbath and the seven annual Holy Days as given in Leviticus 23. Our purpose is to support, educate, and warn the scattered Church that was formerly united in the Worldwide Church of God. More than ever, now is the time to be preparing for the return of Jesus Christ. The prophesied events we have been experiencing, over the past few years, are the very events that announce His coming.The end-time has come. Hundreds of millions will die in the worst time of tribulation the world has ever known. You need to be informed so you can know how to respond .
The Prophesied End-Time will challenge readers as they consider catastrophic end-time events that are prophesied to begin very soon. Although many will not take seriously what is written here, they will gradually experience disbelief as the events covered in this book begin to unfold (http://cog-pkg.org/ 011406).
While everyone in any Church of God realizes that at least hundreds of millions will die in the great tribulation, his book makes certain prophetic/doctrinal points that disagree with what Herbert W. Armstrong taught.
Specifically, Ron Weinland claims in his book that the Philadelphia era ended in January 1986 (the month Herbert W. Armstrong died), the open door to proclaiming the Gospel was closed then (The Prophesied END-TIME, p. 109), and that there cannot be two eras at once/simultaneously. In addition, he states that Living Church of God (LCG) and UCG claim to be Philadelphia, which his book claims neither can be.
Regarding the work, he and any who think CG-PKG may be faithful need to read the article Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? This article documents, mainly from quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong why the open door was not closed when Herbert W. Armstrong died.
Regarding two simultaneous Church eras, his teaching is not consistent with what Herbert W. Armstrong taught. He forgets that Herbert W. Armstrong said that some in Sardis were still around during the Philadelphia era, which by extrapolation would indicate that some in Philadelphia could be around during the era of Laodicea--and this is the Living Church of God's position (and appears to be confirmed by Revelation 3:10-11).
FWIW, I should note that UCG does not claim to be Philadelphia, nor does it officially teach the concept of Church eras as Herbert W. Armstrong did. Ron Weinland’s book (The Prophesied END-TIME, pp. 177-178) is simply inaccurate about how LCG and UCG officially portray themselves regarding Church eras (for details, please see the article on Differences Between LCG and UCG).
He, like others, makes many errors regarding being faithful to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, and like others has changed the Gospel message. For example, in the section of his book on The End Time Elijah (p.89) he states,
“The end-time Elijah had a commission to restore truth, but only to the Church”
Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that the message of the truth was only to the Church (also, more information on Elijah can be found in the article The Elijah Heresies).
Is Ron Weinland One of the Two Witnesses?
Although I had heard reports that Ronald Weinland claimed to be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation, I at first questioned it as I had seen nothing at his website suggesting he was claiming this years ago.
Actually, originally, his website seemed to deny this as he wrote (apparently before claiming to be one of the two witnesses):
The job of witnessing has been set aside for "two" to accomplish by the power of God. No church organization is going to do it, and no individual is going to be able to set himself up as God's apostle to do it. It is for the "two" who are yet to be sent by God.
So today we find that the witness some organizations believe they are doing is actually a witness that God already did during Philadelphia. According to prophecy, the only great witness that remains is the one God will do through His two witnesses at the very end (Weinland Ronald. Time is Running Out. Copyright © the CHURCH OF GOD-PKG. 2005).
So, I emailed him and asked:
Dear Ronald Weinland:
It has come to my attention that several over the internet are reporting that you now claim to be one of the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation. While I know you claim to be a prophet, I have seen nothing in your literature that suggests to me that you make that claim.
Do you now claim to be one of the two witnesses?
On 1/20/06, I received this reply:
Yes I do make the claim. I am one of the witnesses. The subject is already covered in sermons on our website and will be covered far more thoroughly in a new book that will be out before next Feast of Tabernacles.
Ron Weinland
Ronald Weinland earlier wrote that the Church's correct work should be “addressing what was actually confronting Laodicea” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p. 177), but that is not (according Revelation 11) the emphasis of the two witnesses (though perhaps they may some role in that).
Apparently Ron Weinland is also into a bit of allegory regarding the two witnesses (and although I may have misunderstood him, he apparently does not intend to wear any type of sackcloth or send forth fire) as he wrote:
Notice: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). The symbolism of “sackcloth” is given because these two will be filled with humility (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, pp.21-22).
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. They have power to shut heaven so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:5-6)...
The fire proceeding out of their mouth is symbolic of the power to pronounce exacting judgments upon anyone who would do them harm (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 89).
While it is remotely possible that the two witnesses will not wear actual physical sackcloth, Revelation 11:13 is not speaking of just humility, but specifically that the clothing of the two witnesses will not be fancy--probably in contrast to the beast, who is likely to be flashy/wealthy in appearance. And in particular, I also suspect that the two witnesses actually will sometimes wear some literal sackcloth, at least at times. And that they will wear at least some black while they are publicly warning the world. I also believe that they will actually perform miracles, such as fire from them devouring their enemies--I do not believe that the fire mentioned in the Bible is only symbolic.
Those truly interested in the two witnesses, should read the article Who Are the Two Witnesses?
Ronald Weinland's Second Book 2008 - God's Final Witness
In January 2006 , Ron Weinland told me that he was also producing another book, which he called God's Final Witness, which he planned to promote in late 2006 and beyond. Well, the title was slightly modified and is now called 2008 - God's Final Witness.
The book is 244 pages long and explains what Ron Weinland believes he understands from God and the Bible. And although I do not agree with his timing or many of his comments, he (like nearly all others in the COGs) does at least understand that the United States will be destroyed (though we have differences on the specifics).
Here is what his other website states about more Ronald Weinland prophecy:
From now until the latter part of 2008, many prophecies are going to begin to be fulfilled, especially the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John saw but was restricted from recording. Those thunders are revealed in this book, as well as detailed accounts of the final three and one-half years of man's self-rule on earth, which are recorded in the account of the Seventh Seal of Revelation.
Some of these prophecies concern the demise of the United States over the next two years, which will be followed by man's final world war. This last war will be the result of clashing religions and the governments they sway. Billions will die! This time will far exceed even the very worst times in all human history.
As these events unfold, the world will increasingly become aware of the authenticity of the words in this book and realize that Ronald Weinland has been sent by God as His end-time prophet.
This book is primarily directed to the people of the three major religions of the world (Islam, Judaism and Christianity), whose roots are in the God of Abraham. Ronald Weinland has been sent to all three. (http://www.the-end.com/ 11/26/06).
While I believe that Ron Weinland is sincere, I do not believe God has sent him to be one of the two witnesses. Nor do I believe his understanding of the seven thunders is correct--nor his prophesied timing of them--nor that the United States demise will occur by 2008.
Anyway, one of the points the book makes early on is:
The truth is, that eventually, in the United States alone, over 250 million will die. (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.7).
The above is probably correct. I say only probably because while the Bible indicates that over 90% of Jacob will ultimately perish, the United States has so many Hispanics and other non-Israelites, that it is not biblically certain that over 250 million must die in the United States as the USA does not have 250 million Israelites--but over 200 million would seem to be biblically expected to die.
The book also states:
The False Teaching
For Judaism, the real basis of the problem and great false teaching is this: Judaism claims to truly follow the God of Abraham, but doesn’t observe Passover as God instructed in Leviticus 23, “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even (Heb. “between the evenings”–ben ha arbayim) is the Lord’s Passover” (Lev. 23:4). Instead, Judaism observes Passover after the fourteenth day, on the beginning of the fifteenth, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread—a High Day—an annual Sabbath. But God clearly says it is to be observed in the fourteenth day (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 40).
While I agree that the Jews observe the Passover on the wrong day (please see the article on the Passover), I do not believe that that is the real basis for the inaccuracies of Judaism. The Jews rejected Jesus (biggest problem), most Jews do not even try to observe the Laws of God, and none of them are observing the sacrifices required by the Hebrew scriptures, but instead are relying on traditions of men to reason around all of those. The reliance on traditions of men is the real basis for why the Jewish religion is in error and why it misunderstands Passover, not mainly because of Passover's date as Ronald Weinland's writings suggest.
The book also states (bolding his):
Today, without exception, every theologian and scholar of the Bible is fully blind to the truths of God (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 68).
By every, I presume he means everyone in every COG other than his as well.
Furthermore, the book states this "prophecy":
The most notable deaths early on, which are yet to come to pass, will be the two remaining television presenters in the Living Church of God.
The sound of this thunder will be intensified by the early deaths of the leaders of the Philadelphia Church of God, the Restored Church of God and the Church of the Great God. Then, those in the largest scattered group, who think they have escaped, will be lifted up to believe that God is with them because they are so filled with pride. But, when that happens, the deaths of many in the United Church of God will begin (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 107-108).
Apparently he considers that since LCG is the most effective in getting its message out, it must go first, followed by those who are next in effectiveness. I hope none of his followers will help fulfill the above horrible prophecy.
The RonaldWeinland.com page claims:
Unlike The Da Vinci Code which is fiction, 2008—God’s Final Witness is true and reveals hidden secrets that man has not been able to uncover for thousands of years. No one in the three major religions of the world (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) has ever known the prophecies that are revealed in this book, which are beginning to unfold even now.
2008—God’s Final Witness reveals the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John was not allowed to record! It also gives more specific end-time prophecies that will sharply increase during the next year and one-half when the final tribulation of this world strikes (Quote online 6/13/07).
While it is true that the Da Vinci Code contains much error, it does have some truth (please see the article The Da Vinci Code: Some Good, Most Bad). Similarly, while 2008—God’s Final Witness is mostly error, it sometimes has some truth. But unlike the Da Vinci Code which is a novel, 2008—God’s Final Witness, is being claimed as truth.
In his second book, Ronald Weinland declared:
I am to announce, through God’s direct revelation, that I am one of those two witnesses. The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation—within the final three and one-half years of man’s era (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.16).
Although, it is most likely that the two witnesses are alive right now, and maybe we in the COGs will know who they are prior to the final 3 1/2 years, I do not believe that he is one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11 (I believe his writings on governance, the work, Jesus, and prophecy have pretty much ruled him out).
At his "personal website", Ronald Weinland posted:
This new site for 2007 is timely since this year will prove to be exceedingly important concerning end-time prophetic events...
Recent advertising in RTIR Magazine has helped stir interest in subjects like, 1) God’s plan to end this age of mankind and bring His Kingdom to this world with Jesus Christ as King of kings - a new world ruler over every nation on earth 2) false teachings in traditional Christianity, 3) prophecy relating to the demise of the United States beginning in 2008, 4) Ronald Weinland being one of the two end-time witnesses, 5) Ronald Weinland being a prophet of God for this end-time, 6) the prophecies in the Book of Revelation, especially those pertaining to current events that match prophecy (Weinland R. Welcome. January 16, 2007. http://www.ronaldweinland.com/ viewed 01/15/08).
This year of 2007 is nearly over. Looking back, it has proven to be prophetically eventful. This year has been marking a conclusion to mankind being allowed to freely follow the path of his own choosing. We are about to enter the period when God begins to bring a full end to man’s self-rule. The fulfillment to end-time prophetic events is about to be thrust upon the whole world, and man’s way, as well as Satan’s, is about to begin to be shut down!
The world economy is shaking/quaking worse each day and is coming more and more to the forefront of news commentary. Next year will see the Dollar collapse and the Euro become the new strength for the world’s economy. The thunders of Revelation are now going to begin to increase in intensity and frequency. Beginning in February, those thunders will increase dramatically, and by April this world will begin to be shaken to its foundations.
Everything I am doing, and everything the Church of God - PKG is doing is geared towards these realities. There is no wavering and there is no hesitation!...
February will be here soon! Don’t squander the time that is in front of you. Use it wisely! (Weinland R. YEAR NEARLY OVER. November 24, 2007. http://www.ronaldweinland.com/ viewed 01/15/08).
Hence Ron Weinland seems convinced that the end will begin in 2008. I am not sure what he part of the thunders he expects to occur in February 2008--but none actually happened.
Furthermore, notice the following from pages 23 and 116 of his book, 2008 God's Final Witness:
Yes, I do know the timing of events as the Seals of
Revelation are opening. I do know we are in the end-time and
that six Seals have already been opened. I know the exact day
the First Seal was opened. As will be covered in another
chapter, I know the exact day the Sixth Seal was opened, and
the world will be shocked and in horror on the day that the
Seventh Seal is opened...
Once the Seventh Seal is opened, the first of Seven Trumpets
will be blown. Each Trumpet will announce a specific phase of
great tribulation on the earth. The first four trumpets will
proclaim the demise of the United States and her closest allies.
The world was not in shock and horror on April 17, 2008, when Ronald Weinland claimed that the first trumpet was supposed to have blown. Nor was it a month earlier (March 18, 2008) when Ronald Weinland claimed that the 1290 days of Daniel 12:11 began and the seventh seal was opened (see also Ronald Weinland: Nothing Happened March 18th Because What Happened Was Spiritual?).
Thus events simply HAVE NOT gone the way the book 2008 God's Final Witness said they would. The time to stop following Ronald Weinland is clearly here IF his supporters will simply face the facts.
The End (Meaning the Great Tribulation) Will Not Begin in 2008
Contrary to the claims of Ron Weinland (and some others), the great tribulation will not begin in 2008 nor will the seven thunders be fulfilled nor will the United States demise occur by then (as various writings from him state)--several prophetically required events are simply not in place for those events to occur yet.
In addition to teaching that the Great Tribulation begins in April 2008, motive what else Ronald Weinland claims on the last page of one of his books:
By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 244).
And while the United States will eventually fall, it will still be a world power at the end of 2008.
Having had three European trips in past three-four years, I will state that the Europeans are simply not ready to fulfill their role as the supporters of the King of the North-the Final Beast Military Power yet. The Europeans do not consider that they are united, they have not accepted any type of universal religion (and while Pope Benedict XVI is working on that--this still is not ready), have not completed their Galileo project (a "GPS" system that will allow them to work independently of the US military's system), have not finished their systems for "international prosperity", have not acknowledged ten kings which need to be determined (Revelation 17:12), have not strengthened/unified their military enough, etc. The Europeans are NOT ready to destroy the United States this year.
And while "Galileo" itself is not a biblical requirement, the idea of Europe having its own powerful military clearly is (see Revelation 13:4). There are also events in Daniel 11, Matthew 24, and other prophecies that I do not believe have been fulfilled to the degree necessary for the actual final 3 1/2 year great tribulation to possibly begin in 2008 (though it will start in the future, and actually could begin several years from now). The King of the North simply will NOT attack the English-speakers unless he is certain that he will win.
Interestingly, even Roman Catholic prophecies indicate a great ruler to arise in Europe who will eventually destroy the English (for specific documentation, see the article Who is the King of the North?). But there simply is not such a person who could be ready for this by 2008.
And even though events in Iraq and Iran may help lead to the ascension of a strong Muslim leader, the Arab League is still not united enough to be the prophesied King of the South. And while I do agree that there are tensions in the Middle East, the infrastructure for a power there to challenge the European Union still is not there, even though it seems to be in the early forming stages (more information is in the article The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy).
2008 is not going to be the beginning of the great tribulation (and those interested in seeing more reasons why may wish to read a related news item titled At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008). Those who follow any who state that the great tribulation will being in 2008 are allowing themselves to be deceived.
Is David Pack One of the Two Witnesses?
There was a rumor going around, which I never posted at my news page, that Ronald Weinland claimed that David Pack is the other of the two witnesses. That rumor was not true.
When I asked him about it, I received the following response:
No I haven't said such a thing about Dave. We are not going in the same direction.
Ron Weinland
I did post the above response so that those interested in the truth would realize that the rumor was false. I do have a concern that now that this rumor is out and now that Ronald Weinland claims to be one of the two witnesses, that it would not surprise me if one who has taken false titles to himself (Gerald Flurry comes to mind) may decide they need to claim to be one of the two witnesses.
The two witnesses prophesy (Revelation 11). Gerald Flurry has claimed to be a prophesying for years. David Pack claims that the Holy Spirit must work through him so powerfully, that he must be an apostle and suggests he will be the one to train the two witnesses (my best recollection is that David Pack has taught that as an apostle he is above the two witnesses, who are prophets). (An article of possibly related interest may be Why Not the Restored Church of God?)
Thus one of them, or someone less known, may (like Ronald Weinland has) make that claim to be one of the two witnesses (or to train them, in David Pack's case).
Comments on Differences
CG-PFK on its FAQ page makes the following statements:
As it was stated, there are over 500 splinter groups that have emerged from the scattering that took place during and after the apostasy of the organization of the Worldwide Church of God. Each organization claims to be doing the work of God. Doctrinally, this is impossible!
No individual has the time, resources, or intellectual ability to examine every organization to try to discern who, if any, is doing God’s work at this time...
But we are to be Laodiceans who have listened to God and followed the instruction Jesus Christ gave us to be zealous and to repent.
Candidly, the largest scattered group, which is the United Church of God, is one that Ronald Weinland joined from its beginning and continued for nearly two years. But after exposing the misappropriation of $4.5 million by its leadership, the political practices of much of the leadership, and doctrinal laxity, he chose to resign. It was through this stand on true principles of Godly leadership that God led him to begin this present work. Besides these matters, the United Church of God is guilty of tolerating large numbers in its ministry who hold to the false doctrine of a 14th/15th Passover, which is covered in the first book. Such matters reflect whether or not the spirit of God is working in those who claim to be faithful stewards of God’s word.
Actually, I have articles at the www.cogwriter.com home page that discuss details on around two dozen groups which essentially represent 98% of those 500 "groups" (as most of those "500 groups" are not really groups, but a couple of families who meet together, which I classify as "independents", hence I contend that it certainly is possible to be able to discern which group is the most faithful).
Yet it should be clear to any willing to look into the facts that CG-PKG simply does not hold fast to the truths and priorities of what Herbert W. Armstrong taught were what made the Philadelphia era different.
Specifically CG-PKG:
1) Does not teach the restored truth on governance as Herbert W. Armstrong did,
2) Fails to mention that Herbert W. Armstrong taught that the Gospel of the Kingdom was to be preached until going to a place of safety, and
3) CG-PKG like several other groups, has changed the work from being a primarily a warning message to the world to a feed the flock message.
4) CG-PFK like several groups, teaches that it is to be composed of repentant Laodiceans--Herbert Armstrong taught that until the Great Tribulation it would be the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God, and NOT the Laodiceans, who would get the warning message out.
Why?
Because according to CG-PKG,
the end has come…Indeed the end-time has come upon the world, and the six prophetic seals of revelation have been opened. The end-time did come, once the gospel was preached into all the world as a witness (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.95).
The correct work according to CG-PKG should be “addressing what was actually confronting Laodicea”, and not “rebuilding ‘the work’ of Philadelphia” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.177).
Like PCG’s original version of Malachi’s Message, CG-PKG teaches,
“Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. was the man of sin and son of perdition” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.178).
Like RCG's David Pack, Ron Weinland seems to think he has been appointed the messenger to Laodicea.
CG-PKG’s leader has apparently taught against government like Herbert W. Armstrong said God used him to restore to the Church of God. Two examples can be found in his letters to UCG,
I am resigning because I can no longer conscientiously support the current practices of this organization. The organization is slowly slipping back into that from which we were jolted loose (Weinland, R. Letter 5/26/97)
What I as a pastor am concerned about at this time, is not doctrine…We are blessed with having a constitution and bylaws that give incredible strength to sound, basic doctrines we hold dear… Too many people have been deeply hurt because of an intolerance to different ideas, programs, and plans of local congregations. There is the distinct feeling from many in the church that H.O. is pushing and pulling for more control over everything (Weinland R. Letter, 12/27/96).
By arguing against UCG's governance the way he did, Ronald Weinland is basically saying he is against what Herbert W. Armstrong stated was the restored truth about governance (please see the article You May Have Been Deceived About Herbert Armstrong's List of Restored Truths and WCG's Earliest Changes!).
It should be noted that UCG had made many doctrinal changes from what Herbert W. Armstrong taught, including governance when Ron Weinland was writing positive things about UCG’s doctrines (further documented proof can be found in the old article, Differences Between UCG and GCG). So, for CG-PKG to claim its was established to hold fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, does not make any sense to me.
Furthermore, in his latest book he stated (any bolding his):
The 144,000 will return with Christ on this same day after the seven last plagues are poured out upon the earth. It is at the beginning of this same day that the return of Jesus Christ becomes visible to the whole world (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 23).
The countdown for the end-time has already begun, and it began when Jesus Christ started to open the seals of Revelation, the first of which was opened on December 17, 1994 (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 24).
There will be only one great resurrection on the very day that Jesus Christ returns, and this will be the 144,000 (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 74).
#1: The First Thunder is the beginning terror of war for the end-time... The success of al-Qaeda’s terrorist attack on 9/11 was the beginning of the First Thunder. This was the very day the Sixth Seal of the Book of Revelation was opened (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92).
This first phase of this Fifth Thunder has already begun in a very small way upon the Church of God that was scattered, after the prophesied apostasy (2 Thes. 2)...Instead, these will stubbornly cling to their own ideas of how they believe God should teach them through their own organizations. This phase of the Fifth Thunder is one of my own choosing, which God has granted me as part of His own will and purpose for the Church (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92).
While I will not comment on the potential accuracy of the above statements, I will say that they are different than what Herbert W. Armstrong taught on those subjects (including that Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that it would take over 12 years to open the seals of Revelation, or that the First began this many years before the end, that a man will determine a phase of the Fifth Thunder, etc.). And speaking of Herbert W. Armstrong, here is what he wrote regarding the identity of the 144,000:
WHO Are the 144,000?
You have probably heard many interpretations. They are all in error. Men are unable to interpret this prophecy. The first thing to notice is that the TIME of the sealing of this 144,000 is yet in the future--it is after the Great Tribulation and the heavenly SIGNS, and just before the plagues of God's Judgments! It has not happened yet!
Second, this prophecy is plain, and means just what it says-- 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel--12,000 of each tribe. Where are they today? Where are the lost ten tribes?
But these 144,000 are not all! "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands... And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 13-14) (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at last!. WCG, 1972, p. 35).
I should also state here that it was Jesus Himself who told the Philadelphians to:
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (Revelation 3:11).
Hence, those who truly wish to follow Jesus should cling to the ideas, work, and practices that the Philadelphia church had, and not accept insults/threats from others to get them to change where they should not change.
Comments on Doctrinal Similarities
I have received emails from individuals without a Church of God background who are intrigued with some of the teachings that Ron Weinland has that are held by others in the COGs.
However, I caution those who are so intrigued to realize that there are other COG groups with much more of the truth than CG-PFK has.
Several articles of related interest may be:
Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church?
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther's writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Did you know that the doctrine of the offer of universal salvation is biblical?
Did The Early Church Millenarianism? Was a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium taught by the early Christians?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs, as well as to learn what the COGs are all about.
The 1335 Days Did Not Begin on February 2, 2008
On February 7, 2008, Ronald Weinland announced the following in a posted letter:
We are now feverishly trying to simply plan for the burst of activity that is coming our way over the next couple of months. We are there! As it was mentioned in this past Sabbath’s sermon, the final countdown has begun, as the 1335 days before the actual day Jesus Christ returns began on February 2, 2008…
Just over the last couple of months, the numbers of those God has brought to the Church has more than doubled our size. All indications are that over the next few weeks it will double again. Yet this is not about numbers, but it is about what God is doing at this end-time, and in a few months such numbers will be minor in comparison to those who God begins to call on a far greater scale worldwide…
Wayne Matthews is the presiding evangelist for Australia and New Zealand. Johnny Harrell is the presiding evangelist over the United States and Canada.
(Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Johnny Harrell above was also once part of the Worldwide Church of God then the United Church of God--he should not be confused with the 1970's militia leader with the same name.)
The seven year agreement with Israel referred to in Daniel 9:27 has not occurred yet--and since the 1290 days of Daniel 12:10 does not begin until the middle of this seven year agreement, it is not possible that the 1335 days could have began on February 2, 2008. The daily sacrifices (see Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:10) have not even started yet, hence it is not possible for the 1290 days of Daniel 12:10 to begin March 18, 2008 which is basically what Ronald Weinland is teaching.
If Jesus is to return in the Fall of some year (which is what Ronald Weinland teaches--and he is probably correct on that point--though he has the wrong year--he specifically teaches that the return will be September 29, 2011--and one of those times was his 3/15/08 sermon where he said. "September 29, 2011, Jesus Christ returns"), since the seven year agreement has not yet been made, the great tribulation basically cannot begin before 2012 (more on this is included in the article End of Mayan Calendar 2012--Might 2012 Mean Something?). Thus, Ronald Weinland's opinions of prophecy are again in conflict with scripture.
Although Ron Weinland claims to be faithful to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, he fails to realize what Herbert W. Armstrong taught about the beginning of the 1335 days:
And the abomination that maketh desolate set up." What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15...From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ's coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days." Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us--GOD"S CHURCH--who wait and endure until the 1335 days--approximately 1335 days prior to Christ's coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear--the revival of the medieval "Holy Roman Empire." (Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).
The organized work of proclamation has not stopped (even Ronald Weinland is not teaching that it has)--thus he has once again deviated from the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong on prophetic matters. Furthermore, the Bible supports Herbert W. Armstrong's position (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details).
Based upon February 2, 2008 allegedly beginning the 1335 days, this would mean that the 1290 days would begin on March 18, 2008 and the 1260 days on April 17, 2008. The abomination spoken of in Daniel 11:31 would need to be set up on March 18, 2008 as that begins the 1290 days and the Great Tribulation would need to begin on April 17, 2008 to begin the 1260 days. These two events were not (and are not) yet ready to occur (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details of that and other events that need to occur prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation).
Jesus specifically taught:
15 "...Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-16).
The above event did not occur on February 2, 2008, nor March 18, 2008, nor did it occur on April 17, 2008.
Those following Ronald Weinland are being misled and need to open their eyes right now! They need to ignore his smooth talking and check out what the Bible really teaches happens on those days (check out the article Who is the King of the North? for more details of that and other events that need to occur prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation).
The 1335 Days Will Not Begin on September 30, 2008
On August 21, 2008, Ronald Weinland posted the following:
THUNDERS GROW STRONGER
August 21, 2008
First, before going into the purpose and content of this posting, I would like to announce that the 50th Truth has now been added to The 50 Truths of God that is in the “Publications” section of the Church website.
Postings to this site have been minimal since April…
There have been no interviews and the advertising being done on the Internet has been reduced dramatically…
Since things did not happen in the original time frame that was given because God had not given this 50th Truth, those who were responding solely out of fear and desire for self-preservation are no longer seeking God’s help. Those who are skeptics, critics and mockers have only grown bolder in their deceived and misguided confidence…
The reality is that all that has been given in the past will still come to pass, but simply a few months later than previously understood. As covered in the 50th Truth that has just been posted, on Trumpets of this year the final countdown for the return of Jesus Christ will have begun, but the world will not begin to respond to God until the Trumpets of the Seventh Seal begin to sound, and most will not begin to be earnest in their response until after the Fifth Trumpet has sounded…
One of the most astonishing events and loudest thunders since 9-11 is the conflict between Georgia and Russia…
The minds of peoples and leaders in ten European nations are now being molded so that one day soon they will agree to unite as the United States of Europe and it will be at that time that they determine to set their own course and control of the future—through immediate aggression in war. It will be this European union that plunges the whole world into war, and not Russia or the United States.
This is not a time to draw back, become slack, or let down from being spiritually on guard. Everything is rapidly moving forward, and on Trumpets of this year we will have entered the final 1335 days before the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the government of God over all the earth.
Actually, it is Ronald Weinland who has misguided confidence. He claimed that he and his wife were the two witnesses; that the 1335 days began on February 2, 2008; that the Great Tribulation would begin on April 17, 2008; that the USA would be nuked by June 8th (then changed to mid-July); and now he claims that the 1335 days will start on Trumpets (which is September 30, 2008).
The Bible did not support the start of the 1335 days on February 2, 2008 as I posted back then, nor does it support the 1335 days beginning on September 30, 2008 (which is what James Malm seems to be teaching–I denounced both Ronald Weinland and James Malm’s positions in 2007 see At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008, as well as throughout the year 2008).
Perhaps I should mention that Ronald Weinland never prophesied the Russia-Georgia situation as part of the coming thunders. He claimed that with the increasing thunders first COG leaders would die (none did); then the USA dollar would be worthless a little past April 2008 (it is worth perhaps more now than then); then his critics would be stricken and apparently die (none have as far as I can tell); then the nuclear attacks would affect the USA (this did not happen); then other countries would be involved.
Does Ron Weinland Teach Unitarianism?
Notice that in his booklet titled Time Has Run Out, Ronald Weinland wrote:
This restoration of truth, which occurred during the leadership of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong and the period of time we know as Philadelphia, should be an easy thing to acknowledge. Yes, God revealed foundational truth to His Church once again. This era kept His word and did not deny His name. Sardis was known for just the opposite- letting the word of God die out as they themselves were dying spiritually- denying the life of God to live in and through them.
Our history is a testimony to the truth that God used Mr. Armstrong to restore truth to His Church. Doors were opened by God that made this task possible- doors that no one could shut...
To deny that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was the Elijah to come before the end-time is either ignorant or willing denial of what is true concerning our history and what God did through him. It is God who restored necessary truth to the Church so that a people would be ready for the second-coming of Jesus Christ.
One of the foundation truths that Herbert W. Armstrong taught was that God is a family and that both the Father and the Son are God. Yet Ron Weinland denies the deity of Jesus. Ron Weinland teaches a form of Unitarianism and that Jesus did not pre-exist:
Although Mr. Armstrong understood that the Trinity was a lie, God did not give him full understanding of what was true concerning Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ. God did not fully lead him out from the pollution of the false Trinity doctrine. Mr. Armstrong still believed that Jesus Christ had eternally existed...
But there is only one eternally-existing member of Elohim and that is the ETERNAL ONE (Yahweh). Mr. Armstrong was never able to come to understand this about God. (2008 - God's Final Witness, pp. 204, 206).
Jesus Christ has not eternally existed (Weinland R. The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 2. Sermon, February 23, 2008--near 56 minute point).
Jesus Christ cannot be the Eternal One--ever! (Weinland R. The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4. Sermon, March 15, 2008--before the middle point).
And while Ron Weinland is not mentioned, an article that comes to a different, and biblically supported opposite conclusion, is Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church?.
We in the Living Church of God do believe that the Word existed from eternity, that Jesus came in the flesh, and that Jesus is God.
Ronald Weinland Interview on The Edge Radio on December 15, 2007
Here is some of what Ron Weinland stated from my notes:
The proof is coming...
If it doesn't come to pass...starting in April, then I'm nothing but a false prophet...
Beginning in April, its important that people believe it...
What we're talking about happening in this country and around the world is a horrendous thing, it really is...
Things do start in 2008....It will be done by 2011...
There's already been six seals opened up...and the world is ignorant of it...The seventh seal they will know though...
The destruction of the United States, we are the first to suffer...I wouldn't want to be in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York...
By the fall of 2011, that's when Jesus Christ returns...
A little after April...a dollar bill won't be worth anything...We're going to be brought down the tubes, very quickly, starting in April...What happens when a nuclear weapon goes off in New York and Chicago?...
If we come to the point in time where what I've said doesn't come to pass, the reality is that I'm just a false prophet. That's the bottom line...
The reality is if it doesn't happen, then you're just false...I'll acknowledge my error, my wrong, if I'm wrong...
The primary things...for the world...actually begin after April 2008...
The abomination of desolation has already happened...
By January 2009, we (the United States) will be down the tubes...
Ronald Weinland basically he also said that he would not follow Ellen White (SDA/LCG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 ) or others and recalculate an excuse or a different date, but that if it does not happen he when and how he says it, he will admit that he is a false prophet. (In his The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4. Sermon, March 15, 2008 he stated that the seventh seal would be opened on March 18, 2008).
Comparing world events to what Jesus and Daniel taught that the "abomination of desolation" has NOT already happened:
Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matt 24:15-16).
And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11).
In his 2/23/08 sermon, Ronald Weinland stated that we were "getting close to the 1290" days (referring to 3/18/08), hence he since he teaches that the "abomination of desolation has already already happened" this is one more area that he is into allegory over the plain teachings of the Bible. Thus, he and his followers do NOT understand what they read even though Jesus told His followers to understand this.
The interviewer for The Edge also asked Ron Weinland about Wormwood hitting the earth and Ron Weinland actually said:
There's not going to be any planet that will hit the earth.
The Bible teaches otherwise:
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter (Revelation 8:10-11).
Ronald Weinland, in that interview, as well as many of his other writings "spiritualizes" away many literal teachings of the Bible, specifically including statements in the Book of Revelation (more on Wormwood can be found in the news item Comet Coming: Is One Prophesied to Hit the Earth?).
The interviewer also asked who the second of the two witnesses is. And Ronald Weinland stated:
I can't tell until April 2008.
On page 16 of his book, 2008 - God's Final Witness, here is another Ron Weinland prophecy:
The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation...
Thus, he is falsely claiming that the Great Tribulation will begin in April 2008--and that is not so (please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).
The interviewer asked Ron Weinland what made him different than the prophecy books in bookstores and his two word reply was "April 2008".
While my notes do not have precise quotes of everything stated, Ron Weinland indicated that he does not believe in a place of safety, that the nuclear attack on the USA might happen in mid-April 2008, and that no place of earth will be safe for long. He basically said that the only thing that people can do is study and repent--and while I do believe that people should study and repent, the Bible does show that some will be protected (please see the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
He also indicated that although he believes Europe and the Pope will be involved in the attack against the USA, that he does not believe in a final Antichrist. Ronald Weinland stated that he will not go to Jerusalem in 2008 and that some reject him as one of the witnesses because of that.
Although I believe that David Pack of the Restored Church of God is busily fulfilling the following, it also, in my opinion, specifically applies to Ronald Weinland who denies the pre-existence of Jesus:
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Sadly, false prophets, false apostles, and other false teachers continue to arise and make it so people simply will blaspheme the way of truth that we in the Living Church of God teach. Unlike those of us in the Living Church of God who believe Jesus is God, Ronald Weinland is also "unitarian"--hence he truly does deny the truth about the Lord.
While it certainly is possible that nuclear devices may be detonated in the USA in the Spring of 2008, even if they are, the end will NOT come in 2008 and Jesus will NOT return in 2011. The external signs are just not in place for these occurrences that soon (for some specific reasons, please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).
Ron Weinland is in error in many points, including his assertion that the abomination of desolation has already recently been fulfilled (details of Daniel 11 prophecies, including the "abomination of the desolation" are included in the article Who is the King of the North?).
In towards the end of the 12/15/07 interview, Ronald Weinland was asked:
What do you see as a requirement for salvation? Be clear and to the point, please.
Ronald Weinland's answer began with:
Obey God. Ahh, it starts with the Sabbath day.
After explaining a little bit of the difficulties associated with keeping Saturday as opposed to Sunday, Ronald Weinland's answer ended with:
You obey God or you obey man.
Of course, one should obey God. But what about accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. Peter taught:
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:38-39).
Ronald Weinland's lack of mentioning Jesus in a direct question about salvation above was disturbing:
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Instead Ronald Weinland basically stated that Sabbath-keeping was THE salvation issue--and while people should keep the Sabbath (please see the article The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad)--it appears that Ronald Weinland's focus is off regarding salvation. I feel that his answer reflected poorly upon faithful Sabbath-keepers as we certainly do believe that Jesus Christ is central to salvation.
(In his The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4 sermon of March 15, 2008, he essentially claimed that Sabbath-keeping and tithing were the two signs his ministers look at to determine if someone wanting to be baptized should be--his focus will sadly cause "the way of truth will be blasphemed" as 2 Peter 2:2 fortells.)
When the interviewer asked Ronald Weinland how God spoke to him to let him know that he was a prophet and/or one of the two witnesses, Ronald Weinland basically stated because of special insight through the Spirit while he studied the Bible.
Notice, however, what the Bible teaches:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream (Numbers 12:6).
Yet Ronald Weinland made no such claim. Although elsewhere he has claimed to have direct revelation from God, he has not (as far as I have seen) claimed a specific vision or a dream from God--nor did he do that when asked in the interview--thus this is even further evidence that Ronald Weinland is NOT one of the two witnesses, nor God's prophet.
The Thunders That Ronald Weinland Claims Were Opened
In the interview 12/15/07, Ronald Weinland essentially stated that no religious person predicted the 9/11 attack or the Sumatra-Andamon earthquake and related tsunami of December 26, 2004, yet they act like these were acts of God, but that somehow Ron Weinland is different as he has specific predictions in his books in advance--and some others only claimed that they were God's punishment after they occurred.
There are two problems with that. The first is that he claims that the seven thunders were revealed to him, that 9/11 was the first, and that earthquakes (and he specifically mentions the Sumatra-Andamon earthquake) were the second.
Yet, he did not predict them in advance--even though in his book he wrote:
The Seven Thunders have much to do with how God will reveal His two witnesses (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 91).
And what about his statement indicating that no other religious leader told of them before they occurred?
But what about his statement indicating that no other religious leader told of them before they occurred?
In his 8/04/01 sermon (five weeks before the World Trade Center attack and around 8 weeks before anthrax was detected), Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God warned that terrorists may bomb the World Trade Center and that biological weapons, specifically including anthrax, could be released in the U.S. at any time (Prophetic Prophecies on the Edge, San Diego, August 4, 2001).
R.C. Meredith wrote in his Personal for the Jan-Feb 2005 issue of Tomorrow's World magazine (which he wrote and had printed before the December 26, 2004 tsunami), bolding mine,
Events prophesied in your Bible are now beginning to occur with increasing frequency. In this Work of the living God, we are able to warn you about what is going to happen soon. We are not talking about decades in the future. We are talking about Bible prophecies that will intensify within the next five to 15 years of your life! Please understand. We are not "scaremongers." We love our fellow man. So it is our responsibility to warn our peoples—ahead of time—to prepare for the future. Most of our advice is spiritual in nature. However, in this editorial I want to give you some common sense advice involving your physical survival and your financial well-being...So we must each examine our own situation to determine what action we should take. Are we living in a low-lying coastal area where we may be in danger at a time of increasing hurricanes, tsunamis or similar natural disasters?
And a the largest tsunami in recent history occurred. The fact is that Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God warned of terrorist strikes less than two months of 9/11/01 and wrote warning about a tsunami in late 2004--hence it would seem that the Living Church of God, and not Ronald Weinland should have more credibility here. (I should perhaps emphasize the fact that R.C. Meredith does not claim to be a prophet--he simply wrote that these things would occur according to his understanding of the Bible and its prophecies.)
Thus if Ronald Weinland's statement about the thunders is to be believed, it would seem that he is inadvertently teaching that the Living Church of God will be the group that will be able to identify the two witnesses as it, and not he, actually taught about terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center towers and a possible tsunami before those events occurred.
I believe that Ronald Weinland is a False Prophet
While Ron Weinland apparently believes what he says, I consider him to be a false prophet. After thinking about what Ron Weinland wrote in his latest book, I noticed that he seems to be praying for the deaths of the leadership of LCG, PCG, RCG, CGG, and UCG to show that he is one of the two witnesses. Notice the string of quotes (any bolding his) of Ronald Weinland prophecies:
This first phase of this Fifth Thunder has already begun in a very small way upon the Church of God that was scattered,
after the prophesied apostasy (2 Thes. 2)...Instead, these will stubbornly cling to their own ideas of how they believe God should teach them through their own organizations. This phase of the Fifth Thunder is one of my own choosing, which God has granted me as part of His own will and purpose for the Church (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92)...
#5 The F
Concerns About Ronald Weinland's Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God
Opinions by COGwriter
This article will discuss a few matters related to Ronald Weinland of Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CG-PKG). Like most of my Church of God (COG) group articles, this one will focus on how CG-PKG has teachings that differ from the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG).
Who is Ronald Weinland (sometimes misspelled as Ronald Wienland)? Ronald Weinland was a minister in the WCG, then a minister in the United Church of God (UCG), but a number of years ago declared himself a prophet--he did that many years after the Philadelphia Church of God's Gerald Flurry did the same. If he has much of an actual following, I simply have not encountered it (PCG is many times CG-PKG's size). (Perhaps I should mention that we in the Living Church of God do not believe that Gerald Flurry or Ronald Weinland are God's prophets.)
Although he does have a certain calm demeanor and a fair amount of biblical truth (he was actually part of the Church of God for a while before he branched out and declared himself a prophet), I personally do not consider that Ron Weinland is faithful to God. In 2006, Ronald Weinland publicly declared he was one of the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation--and I disagreed about that then and now (to learn more about them, please see the article Who Are The Two Witnesses?).
Ronald Weinland now leads the Church of God, Preparing for the Kingdom of God (CG-PKG), a group he formed.
The About page of his website states:
The organization of the Church of God-PKG was established to serve those scattered brethren of the Church of God who desired to hold fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. For the past several years, the church has been serving scattered brethren on every continent by sending published material and/or taped weekly sermons to those who have requested such service.
In the past few years the church has also been serving those scattered brethren who want to have fellowship with the Church of God-PKG by providing a teleconferencing system whereby people have been able to phone in to hear Sabbath services from any point in the U.S. or Canada.
The pastor of the church, Ron Weinland, has been helping scattered brethren come to understand how the recent, turbulent history of the Church agrees with those things that God gave testimony concerning His Church at the end-time, just before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (http://cog-pkg.org/about/ 011406).
As this article will document, I do not believe that CG-PKG is meeting its purpose for being established as I do not believe that it properly "holds fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong" as it claims.
Note: There are daily news, doctrinal, and prophecy updates at the Church of God News page for those interested in how world events are fulfilling Bible prophecy.
Ronald Weinland's First Book The Prophesied END-TIME
Ron Weinland wrote a book titled The Prophesied END-TIME, which he published in 2004, and which I have read in its entirety. The book cover states, “Ronald Weinland was ordained a minister in God's Church in 1981. Then, in 1997, he was called to be a prophet for this end-time. A prophet, in this context, is 'one given inspired interpretation of recorded prophesies' ” (Weinland R. The Prophesied END-TIME. 2004).
As far as I can tell, the main work of CG-PKG is to promote that book, as well as a second book which was released in the Fall of 2006. It has little other regular literature as far as I can tell.
CG-PKG's main website page states:
God's Church observes the 7th day Sabbath and the seven annual Holy Days as given in Leviticus 23. Our purpose is to support, educate, and warn the scattered Church that was formerly united in the Worldwide Church of God. More than ever, now is the time to be preparing for the return of Jesus Christ. The prophesied events we have been experiencing, over the past few years, are the very events that announce His coming.The end-time has come. Hundreds of millions will die in the worst time of tribulation the world has ever known. You need to be informed so you can know how to respond .
The Prophesied End-Time will challenge readers as they consider catastrophic end-time events that are prophesied to begin very soon. Although many will not take seriously what is written here, they will gradually experience disbelief as the events covered in this book begin to unfold (http://cog-pkg.org/ 011406).
While everyone in any Church of God realizes that at least hundreds of millions will die in the great tribulation, his book makes certain prophetic/doctrinal points that disagree with what Herbert W. Armstrong taught.
Specifically, Ron Weinland claims in his book that the Philadelphia era ended in January 1986 (the month Herbert W. Armstrong died), the open door to proclaiming the Gospel was closed then (The Prophesied END-TIME, p. 109), and that there cannot be two eras at once/simultaneously. In addition, he states that Living Church of God (LCG) and UCG claim to be Philadelphia, which his book claims neither can be.
Regarding the work, he and any who think CG-PKG may be faithful need to read the article Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? This article documents, mainly from quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong why the open door was not closed when Herbert W. Armstrong died.
Regarding two simultaneous Church eras, his teaching is not consistent with what Herbert W. Armstrong taught. He forgets that Herbert W. Armstrong said that some in Sardis were still around during the Philadelphia era, which by extrapolation would indicate that some in Philadelphia could be around during the era of Laodicea--and this is the Living Church of God's position (and appears to be confirmed by Revelation 3:10-11).
FWIW, I should note that UCG does not claim to be Philadelphia, nor does it officially teach the concept of Church eras as Herbert W. Armstrong did. Ron Weinland’s book (The Prophesied END-TIME, pp. 177-178) is simply inaccurate about how LCG and UCG officially portray themselves regarding Church eras (for details, please see the article on Differences Between LCG and UCG).
He, like others, makes many errors regarding being faithful to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, and like others has changed the Gospel message. For example, in the section of his book on The End Time Elijah (p.89) he states,
“The end-time Elijah had a commission to restore truth, but only to the Church”
Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that the message of the truth was only to the Church (also, more information on Elijah can be found in the article The Elijah Heresies).
Is Ron Weinland One of the Two Witnesses?
Although I had heard reports that Ronald Weinland claimed to be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation, I at first questioned it as I had seen nothing at his website suggesting he was claiming this years ago.
Actually, originally, his website seemed to deny this as he wrote (apparently before claiming to be one of the two witnesses):
The job of witnessing has been set aside for "two" to accomplish by the power of God. No church organization is going to do it, and no individual is going to be able to set himself up as God's apostle to do it. It is for the "two" who are yet to be sent by God.
So today we find that the witness some organizations believe they are doing is actually a witness that God already did during Philadelphia. According to prophecy, the only great witness that remains is the one God will do through His two witnesses at the very end (Weinland Ronald. Time is Running Out. Copyright © the CHURCH OF GOD-PKG. 2005).
So, I emailed him and asked:
Dear Ronald Weinland:
It has come to my attention that several over the internet are reporting that you now claim to be one of the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation. While I know you claim to be a prophet, I have seen nothing in your literature that suggests to me that you make that claim.
Do you now claim to be one of the two witnesses?
On 1/20/06, I received this reply:
Yes I do make the claim. I am one of the witnesses. The subject is already covered in sermons on our website and will be covered far more thoroughly in a new book that will be out before next Feast of Tabernacles.
Ron Weinland
Ronald Weinland earlier wrote that the Church's correct work should be “addressing what was actually confronting Laodicea” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p. 177), but that is not (according Revelation 11) the emphasis of the two witnesses (though perhaps they may some role in that).
Apparently Ron Weinland is also into a bit of allegory regarding the two witnesses (and although I may have misunderstood him, he apparently does not intend to wear any type of sackcloth or send forth fire) as he wrote:
Notice: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). The symbolism of “sackcloth” is given because these two will be filled with humility (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, pp.21-22).
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. They have power to shut heaven so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:5-6)...
The fire proceeding out of their mouth is symbolic of the power to pronounce exacting judgments upon anyone who would do them harm (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 89).
While it is remotely possible that the two witnesses will not wear actual physical sackcloth, Revelation 11:13 is not speaking of just humility, but specifically that the clothing of the two witnesses will not be fancy--probably in contrast to the beast, who is likely to be flashy/wealthy in appearance. And in particular, I also suspect that the two witnesses actually will sometimes wear some literal sackcloth, at least at times. And that they will wear at least some black while they are publicly warning the world. I also believe that they will actually perform miracles, such as fire from them devouring their enemies--I do not believe that the fire mentioned in the Bible is only symbolic.
Those truly interested in the two witnesses, should read the article Who Are the Two Witnesses?
Ronald Weinland's Second Book 2008 - God's Final Witness
In January 2006 , Ron Weinland told me that he was also producing another book, which he called God's Final Witness, which he planned to promote in late 2006 and beyond. Well, the title was slightly modified and is now called 2008 - God's Final Witness.
The book is 244 pages long and explains what Ron Weinland believes he understands from God and the Bible. And although I do not agree with his timing or many of his comments, he (like nearly all others in the COGs) does at least understand that the United States will be destroyed (though we have differences on the specifics).
Here is what his other website states about more Ronald Weinland prophecy:
From now until the latter part of 2008, many prophecies are going to begin to be fulfilled, especially the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John saw but was restricted from recording. Those thunders are revealed in this book, as well as detailed accounts of the final three and one-half years of man's self-rule on earth, which are recorded in the account of the Seventh Seal of Revelation.
Some of these prophecies concern the demise of the United States over the next two years, which will be followed by man's final world war. This last war will be the result of clashing religions and the governments they sway. Billions will die! This time will far exceed even the very worst times in all human history.
As these events unfold, the world will increasingly become aware of the authenticity of the words in this book and realize that Ronald Weinland has been sent by God as His end-time prophet.
This book is primarily directed to the people of the three major religions of the world (Islam, Judaism and Christianity), whose roots are in the God of Abraham. Ronald Weinland has been sent to all three. (http://www.the-end.com/ 11/26/06).
While I believe that Ron Weinland is sincere, I do not believe God has sent him to be one of the two witnesses. Nor do I believe his understanding of the seven thunders is correct--nor his prophesied timing of them--nor that the United States demise will occur by 2008.
Anyway, one of the points the book makes early on is:
The truth is, that eventually, in the United States alone, over 250 million will die. (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.7).
The above is probably correct. I say only probably because while the Bible indicates that over 90% of Jacob will ultimately perish, the United States has so many Hispanics and other non-Israelites, that it is not biblically certain that over 250 million must die in the United States as the USA does not have 250 million Israelites--but over 200 million would seem to be biblically expected to die.
The book also states:
The False Teaching
For Judaism, the real basis of the problem and great false teaching is this: Judaism claims to truly follow the God of Abraham, but doesn’t observe Passover as God instructed in Leviticus 23, “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even (Heb. “between the evenings”–ben ha arbayim) is the Lord’s Passover” (Lev. 23:4). Instead, Judaism observes Passover after the fourteenth day, on the beginning of the fifteenth, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread—a High Day—an annual Sabbath. But God clearly says it is to be observed in the fourteenth day (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 40).
While I agree that the Jews observe the Passover on the wrong day (please see the article on the Passover), I do not believe that that is the real basis for the inaccuracies of Judaism. The Jews rejected Jesus (biggest problem), most Jews do not even try to observe the Laws of God, and none of them are observing the sacrifices required by the Hebrew scriptures, but instead are relying on traditions of men to reason around all of those. The reliance on traditions of men is the real basis for why the Jewish religion is in error and why it misunderstands Passover, not mainly because of Passover's date as Ronald Weinland's writings suggest.
The book also states (bolding his):
Today, without exception, every theologian and scholar of the Bible is fully blind to the truths of God (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 68).
By every, I presume he means everyone in every COG other than his as well.
Furthermore, the book states this "prophecy":
The most notable deaths early on, which are yet to come to pass, will be the two remaining television presenters in the Living Church of God.
The sound of this thunder will be intensified by the early deaths of the leaders of the Philadelphia Church of God, the Restored Church of God and the Church of the Great God. Then, those in the largest scattered group, who think they have escaped, will be lifted up to believe that God is with them because they are so filled with pride. But, when that happens, the deaths of many in the United Church of God will begin (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 107-108).
Apparently he considers that since LCG is the most effective in getting its message out, it must go first, followed by those who are next in effectiveness. I hope none of his followers will help fulfill the above horrible prophecy.
The RonaldWeinland.com page claims:
Unlike The Da Vinci Code which is fiction, 2008—God’s Final Witness is true and reveals hidden secrets that man has not been able to uncover for thousands of years. No one in the three major religions of the world (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) has ever known the prophecies that are revealed in this book, which are beginning to unfold even now.
2008—God’s Final Witness reveals the Seven Thunders of the Book of Revelation, which the apostle John was not allowed to record! It also gives more specific end-time prophecies that will sharply increase during the next year and one-half when the final tribulation of this world strikes (Quote online 6/13/07).
While it is true that the Da Vinci Code contains much error, it does have some truth (please see the article The Da Vinci Code: Some Good, Most Bad). Similarly, while 2008—God’s Final Witness is mostly error, it sometimes has some truth. But unlike the Da Vinci Code which is a novel, 2008—God’s Final Witness, is being claimed as truth.
In his second book, Ronald Weinland declared:
I am to announce, through God’s direct revelation, that I am one of those two witnesses. The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation—within the final three and one-half years of man’s era (Weinland, Ronald. 2008 - God's Final Witness. Copyright © 2006 by the-end.com, inc., Cincinnati. Published October, 2006, p.16).
Although, it is most likely that the two witnesses are alive right now, and maybe we in the COGs will know who they are prior to the final 3 1/2 years, I do not believe that he is one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11 (I believe his writings on governance, the work, Jesus, and prophecy have pretty much ruled him out).
At his "personal website", Ronald Weinland posted:
This new site for 2007 is timely since this year will prove to be exceedingly important concerning end-time prophetic events...
Recent advertising in RTIR Magazine has helped stir interest in subjects like, 1) God’s plan to end this age of mankind and bring His Kingdom to this world with Jesus Christ as King of kings - a new world ruler over every nation on earth 2) false teachings in traditional Christianity, 3) prophecy relating to the demise of the United States beginning in 2008, 4) Ronald Weinland being one of the two end-time witnesses, 5) Ronald Weinland being a prophet of God for this end-time, 6) the prophecies in the Book of Revelation, especially those pertaining to current events that match prophecy (Weinland R. Welcome. January 16, 2007. http://www.ronaldweinland.com/ viewed 01/15/08).
This year of 2007 is nearly over. Looking back, it has proven to be prophetically eventful. This year has been marking a conclusion to mankind being allowed to freely follow the path of his own choosing. We are about to enter the period when God begins to bring a full end to man’s self-rule. The fulfillment to end-time prophetic events is about to be thrust upon the whole world, and man’s way, as well as Satan’s, is about to begin to be shut down!
The world economy is shaking/quaking worse each day and is coming more and more to the forefront of news commentary. Next year will see the Dollar collapse and the Euro become the new strength for the world’s economy. The thunders of Revelation are now going to begin to increase in intensity and frequency. Beginning in February, those thunders will increase dramatically, and by April this world will begin to be shaken to its foundations.
Everything I am doing, and everything the Church of God - PKG is doing is geared towards these realities. There is no wavering and there is no hesitation!...
February will be here soon! Don’t squander the time that is in front of you. Use it wisely! (Weinland R. YEAR NEARLY OVER. November 24, 2007. http://www.ronaldweinland.com/ viewed 01/15/08).
Hence Ron Weinland seems convinced that the end will begin in 2008. I am not sure what he part of the thunders he expects to occur in February 2008--but none actually happened.
Furthermore, notice the following from pages 23 and 116 of his book, 2008 God's Final Witness:
Yes, I do know the timing of events as the Seals of
Revelation are opening. I do know we are in the end-time and
that six Seals have already been opened. I know the exact day
the First Seal was opened. As will be covered in another
chapter, I know the exact day the Sixth Seal was opened, and
the world will be shocked and in horror on the day that the
Seventh Seal is opened...
Once the Seventh Seal is opened, the first of Seven Trumpets
will be blown. Each Trumpet will announce a specific phase of
great tribulation on the earth. The first four trumpets will
proclaim the demise of the United States and her closest allies.
The world was not in shock and horror on April 17, 2008, when Ronald Weinland claimed that the first trumpet was supposed to have blown. Nor was it a month earlier (March 18, 2008) when Ronald Weinland claimed that the 1290 days of Daniel 12:11 began and the seventh seal was opened (see also Ronald Weinland: Nothing Happened March 18th Because What Happened Was Spiritual?).
Thus events simply HAVE NOT gone the way the book 2008 God's Final Witness said they would. The time to stop following Ronald Weinland is clearly here IF his supporters will simply face the facts.
The End (Meaning the Great Tribulation) Will Not Begin in 2008
Contrary to the claims of Ron Weinland (and some others), the great tribulation will not begin in 2008 nor will the seven thunders be fulfilled nor will the United States demise occur by then (as various writings from him state)--several prophetically required events are simply not in place for those events to occur yet.
In addition to teaching that the Great Tribulation begins in April 2008, motive what else Ronald Weinland claims on the last page of one of his books:
By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 244).
And while the United States will eventually fall, it will still be a world power at the end of 2008.
Having had three European trips in past three-four years, I will state that the Europeans are simply not ready to fulfill their role as the supporters of the King of the North-the Final Beast Military Power yet. The Europeans do not consider that they are united, they have not accepted any type of universal religion (and while Pope Benedict XVI is working on that--this still is not ready), have not completed their Galileo project (a "GPS" system that will allow them to work independently of the US military's system), have not finished their systems for "international prosperity", have not acknowledged ten kings which need to be determined (Revelation 17:12), have not strengthened/unified their military enough, etc. The Europeans are NOT ready to destroy the United States this year.
And while "Galileo" itself is not a biblical requirement, the idea of Europe having its own powerful military clearly is (see Revelation 13:4). There are also events in Daniel 11, Matthew 24, and other prophecies that I do not believe have been fulfilled to the degree necessary for the actual final 3 1/2 year great tribulation to possibly begin in 2008 (though it will start in the future, and actually could begin several years from now). The King of the North simply will NOT attack the English-speakers unless he is certain that he will win.
Interestingly, even Roman Catholic prophecies indicate a great ruler to arise in Europe who will eventually destroy the English (for specific documentation, see the article Who is the King of the North?). But there simply is not such a person who could be ready for this by 2008.
And even though events in Iraq and Iran may help lead to the ascension of a strong Muslim leader, the Arab League is still not united enough to be the prophesied King of the South. And while I do agree that there are tensions in the Middle East, the infrastructure for a power there to challenge the European Union still is not there, even though it seems to be in the early forming stages (more information is in the article The Bible and the Arab World In History and Prophecy).
2008 is not going to be the beginning of the great tribulation (and those interested in seeing more reasons why may wish to read a related news item titled At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008). Those who follow any who state that the great tribulation will being in 2008 are allowing themselves to be deceived.
Is David Pack One of the Two Witnesses?
There was a rumor going around, which I never posted at my news page, that Ronald Weinland claimed that David Pack is the other of the two witnesses. That rumor was not true.
When I asked him about it, I received the following response:
No I haven't said such a thing about Dave. We are not going in the same direction.
Ron Weinland
I did post the above response so that those interested in the truth would realize that the rumor was false. I do have a concern that now that this rumor is out and now that Ronald Weinland claims to be one of the two witnesses, that it would not surprise me if one who has taken false titles to himself (Gerald Flurry comes to mind) may decide they need to claim to be one of the two witnesses.
The two witnesses prophesy (Revelation 11). Gerald Flurry has claimed to be a prophesying for years. David Pack claims that the Holy Spirit must work through him so powerfully, that he must be an apostle and suggests he will be the one to train the two witnesses (my best recollection is that David Pack has taught that as an apostle he is above the two witnesses, who are prophets). (An article of possibly related interest may be Why Not the Restored Church of God?)
Thus one of them, or someone less known, may (like Ronald Weinland has) make that claim to be one of the two witnesses (or to train them, in David Pack's case).
Comments on Differences
CG-PFK on its FAQ page makes the following statements:
As it was stated, there are over 500 splinter groups that have emerged from the scattering that took place during and after the apostasy of the organization of the Worldwide Church of God. Each organization claims to be doing the work of God. Doctrinally, this is impossible!
No individual has the time, resources, or intellectual ability to examine every organization to try to discern who, if any, is doing God’s work at this time...
But we are to be Laodiceans who have listened to God and followed the instruction Jesus Christ gave us to be zealous and to repent.
Candidly, the largest scattered group, which is the United Church of God, is one that Ronald Weinland joined from its beginning and continued for nearly two years. But after exposing the misappropriation of $4.5 million by its leadership, the political practices of much of the leadership, and doctrinal laxity, he chose to resign. It was through this stand on true principles of Godly leadership that God led him to begin this present work. Besides these matters, the United Church of God is guilty of tolerating large numbers in its ministry who hold to the false doctrine of a 14th/15th Passover, which is covered in the first book. Such matters reflect whether or not the spirit of God is working in those who claim to be faithful stewards of God’s word.
Actually, I have articles at the www.cogwriter.com home page that discuss details on around two dozen groups which essentially represent 98% of those 500 "groups" (as most of those "500 groups" are not really groups, but a couple of families who meet together, which I classify as "independents", hence I contend that it certainly is possible to be able to discern which group is the most faithful).
Yet it should be clear to any willing to look into the facts that CG-PKG simply does not hold fast to the truths and priorities of what Herbert W. Armstrong taught were what made the Philadelphia era different.
Specifically CG-PKG:
1) Does not teach the restored truth on governance as Herbert W. Armstrong did,
2) Fails to mention that Herbert W. Armstrong taught that the Gospel of the Kingdom was to be preached until going to a place of safety, and
3) CG-PKG like several other groups, has changed the work from being a primarily a warning message to the world to a feed the flock message.
4) CG-PFK like several groups, teaches that it is to be composed of repentant Laodiceans--Herbert Armstrong taught that until the Great Tribulation it would be the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God, and NOT the Laodiceans, who would get the warning message out.
Why?
Because according to CG-PKG,
the end has come…Indeed the end-time has come upon the world, and the six prophetic seals of revelation have been opened. The end-time did come, once the gospel was preached into all the world as a witness (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.95).
The correct work according to CG-PKG should be “addressing what was actually confronting Laodicea”, and not “rebuilding ‘the work’ of Philadelphia” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.177).
Like PCG’s original version of Malachi’s Message, CG-PKG teaches,
“Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. was the man of sin and son of perdition” (The Prophesied END-TIME, p.178).
Like RCG's David Pack, Ron Weinland seems to think he has been appointed the messenger to Laodicea.
CG-PKG’s leader has apparently taught against government like Herbert W. Armstrong said God used him to restore to the Church of God. Two examples can be found in his letters to UCG,
I am resigning because I can no longer conscientiously support the current practices of this organization. The organization is slowly slipping back into that from which we were jolted loose (Weinland, R. Letter 5/26/97)
What I as a pastor am concerned about at this time, is not doctrine…We are blessed with having a constitution and bylaws that give incredible strength to sound, basic doctrines we hold dear… Too many people have been deeply hurt because of an intolerance to different ideas, programs, and plans of local congregations. There is the distinct feeling from many in the church that H.O. is pushing and pulling for more control over everything (Weinland R. Letter, 12/27/96).
By arguing against UCG's governance the way he did, Ronald Weinland is basically saying he is against what Herbert W. Armstrong stated was the restored truth about governance (please see the article You May Have Been Deceived About Herbert Armstrong's List of Restored Truths and WCG's Earliest Changes!).
It should be noted that UCG had made many doctrinal changes from what Herbert W. Armstrong taught, including governance when Ron Weinland was writing positive things about UCG’s doctrines (further documented proof can be found in the old article, Differences Between UCG and GCG). So, for CG-PKG to claim its was established to hold fast to those truths restored to the Philadelphian era and revealed through God's end-time apostle, does not make any sense to me.
Furthermore, in his latest book he stated (any bolding his):
The 144,000 will return with Christ on this same day after the seven last plagues are poured out upon the earth. It is at the beginning of this same day that the return of Jesus Christ becomes visible to the whole world (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 23).
The countdown for the end-time has already begun, and it began when Jesus Christ started to open the seals of Revelation, the first of which was opened on December 17, 1994 (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 24).
There will be only one great resurrection on the very day that Jesus Christ returns, and this will be the 144,000 (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 74).
#1: The First Thunder is the beginning terror of war for the end-time... The success of al-Qaeda’s terrorist attack on 9/11 was the beginning of the First Thunder. This was the very day the Sixth Seal of the Book of Revelation was opened (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92).
This first phase of this Fifth Thunder has already begun in a very small way upon the Church of God that was scattered, after the prophesied apostasy (2 Thes. 2)...Instead, these will stubbornly cling to their own ideas of how they believe God should teach them through their own organizations. This phase of the Fifth Thunder is one of my own choosing, which God has granted me as part of His own will and purpose for the Church (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92).
While I will not comment on the potential accuracy of the above statements, I will say that they are different than what Herbert W. Armstrong taught on those subjects (including that Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that it would take over 12 years to open the seals of Revelation, or that the First began this many years before the end, that a man will determine a phase of the Fifth Thunder, etc.). And speaking of Herbert W. Armstrong, here is what he wrote regarding the identity of the 144,000:
WHO Are the 144,000?
You have probably heard many interpretations. They are all in error. Men are unable to interpret this prophecy. The first thing to notice is that the TIME of the sealing of this 144,000 is yet in the future--it is after the Great Tribulation and the heavenly SIGNS, and just before the plagues of God's Judgments! It has not happened yet!
Second, this prophecy is plain, and means just what it says-- 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel--12,000 of each tribe. Where are they today? Where are the lost ten tribes?
But these 144,000 are not all! "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands... And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 13-14) (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at last!. WCG, 1972, p. 35).
I should also state here that it was Jesus Himself who told the Philadelphians to:
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown (Revelation 3:11).
Hence, those who truly wish to follow Jesus should cling to the ideas, work, and practices that the Philadelphia church had, and not accept insults/threats from others to get them to change where they should not change.
Comments on Doctrinal Similarities
I have received emails from individuals without a Church of God background who are intrigued with some of the teachings that Ron Weinland has that are held by others in the COGs.
However, I caution those who are so intrigued to realize that there are other COG groups with much more of the truth than CG-PFK has.
Several articles of related interest may be:
Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church?
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther's writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Did you know that the doctrine of the offer of universal salvation is biblical?
Did The Early Church Millenarianism? Was a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium taught by the early Christians?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs, as well as to learn what the COGs are all about.
The 1335 Days Did Not Begin on February 2, 2008
On February 7, 2008, Ronald Weinland announced the following in a posted letter:
We are now feverishly trying to simply plan for the burst of activity that is coming our way over the next couple of months. We are there! As it was mentioned in this past Sabbath’s sermon, the final countdown has begun, as the 1335 days before the actual day Jesus Christ returns began on February 2, 2008…
Just over the last couple of months, the numbers of those God has brought to the Church has more than doubled our size. All indications are that over the next few weeks it will double again. Yet this is not about numbers, but it is about what God is doing at this end-time, and in a few months such numbers will be minor in comparison to those who God begins to call on a far greater scale worldwide…
Wayne Matthews is the presiding evangelist for Australia and New Zealand. Johnny Harrell is the presiding evangelist over the United States and Canada.
(Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Johnny Harrell above was also once part of the Worldwide Church of God then the United Church of God--he should not be confused with the 1970's militia leader with the same name.)
The seven year agreement with Israel referred to in Daniel 9:27 has not occurred yet--and since the 1290 days of Daniel 12:10 does not begin until the middle of this seven year agreement, it is not possible that the 1335 days could have began on February 2, 2008. The daily sacrifices (see Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:10) have not even started yet, hence it is not possible for the 1290 days of Daniel 12:10 to begin March 18, 2008 which is basically what Ronald Weinland is teaching.
If Jesus is to return in the Fall of some year (which is what Ronald Weinland teaches--and he is probably correct on that point--though he has the wrong year--he specifically teaches that the return will be September 29, 2011--and one of those times was his 3/15/08 sermon where he said. "September 29, 2011, Jesus Christ returns"), since the seven year agreement has not yet been made, the great tribulation basically cannot begin before 2012 (more on this is included in the article End of Mayan Calendar 2012--Might 2012 Mean Something?). Thus, Ronald Weinland's opinions of prophecy are again in conflict with scripture.
Although Ron Weinland claims to be faithful to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, he fails to realize what Herbert W. Armstrong taught about the beginning of the 1335 days:
And the abomination that maketh desolate set up." What is this abomination? This refers to Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15...From this time (Daniel 12:11) to Christ's coming will be 1290 days. Now, verse 12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to the 1335 days." Never before have we understood these periods of 1260, 1290. and 1335 days. But it seems evident, now, a blessing is pronounced on us--GOD"S CHURCH--who wait and endure until the 1335 days--approximately 1335 days prior to Christ's coming. But since no one can know the day or hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED Europe shall appear--the revival of the medieval "Holy Roman Empire." (Armstrong HW. Personal. Good News magazine January 1980).
The organized work of proclamation has not stopped (even Ronald Weinland is not teaching that it has)--thus he has once again deviated from the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong on prophetic matters. Furthermore, the Bible supports Herbert W. Armstrong's position (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details).
Based upon February 2, 2008 allegedly beginning the 1335 days, this would mean that the 1290 days would begin on March 18, 2008 and the 1260 days on April 17, 2008. The abomination spoken of in Daniel 11:31 would need to be set up on March 18, 2008 as that begins the 1290 days and the Great Tribulation would need to begin on April 17, 2008 to begin the 1260 days. These two events were not (and are not) yet ready to occur (please see the article Who is the King of the North? for more details of that and other events that need to occur prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation).
Jesus specifically taught:
15 "...Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-16).
The above event did not occur on February 2, 2008, nor March 18, 2008, nor did it occur on April 17, 2008.
Those following Ronald Weinland are being misled and need to open their eyes right now! They need to ignore his smooth talking and check out what the Bible really teaches happens on those days (check out the article Who is the King of the North? for more details of that and other events that need to occur prior to the beginning of the Great Tribulation).
The 1335 Days Will Not Begin on September 30, 2008
On August 21, 2008, Ronald Weinland posted the following:
THUNDERS GROW STRONGER
August 21, 2008
First, before going into the purpose and content of this posting, I would like to announce that the 50th Truth has now been added to The 50 Truths of God that is in the “Publications” section of the Church website.
Postings to this site have been minimal since April…
There have been no interviews and the advertising being done on the Internet has been reduced dramatically…
Since things did not happen in the original time frame that was given because God had not given this 50th Truth, those who were responding solely out of fear and desire for self-preservation are no longer seeking God’s help. Those who are skeptics, critics and mockers have only grown bolder in their deceived and misguided confidence…
The reality is that all that has been given in the past will still come to pass, but simply a few months later than previously understood. As covered in the 50th Truth that has just been posted, on Trumpets of this year the final countdown for the return of Jesus Christ will have begun, but the world will not begin to respond to God until the Trumpets of the Seventh Seal begin to sound, and most will not begin to be earnest in their response until after the Fifth Trumpet has sounded…
One of the most astonishing events and loudest thunders since 9-11 is the conflict between Georgia and Russia…
The minds of peoples and leaders in ten European nations are now being molded so that one day soon they will agree to unite as the United States of Europe and it will be at that time that they determine to set their own course and control of the future—through immediate aggression in war. It will be this European union that plunges the whole world into war, and not Russia or the United States.
This is not a time to draw back, become slack, or let down from being spiritually on guard. Everything is rapidly moving forward, and on Trumpets of this year we will have entered the final 1335 days before the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the government of God over all the earth.
Actually, it is Ronald Weinland who has misguided confidence. He claimed that he and his wife were the two witnesses; that the 1335 days began on February 2, 2008; that the Great Tribulation would begin on April 17, 2008; that the USA would be nuked by June 8th (then changed to mid-July); and now he claims that the 1335 days will start on Trumpets (which is September 30, 2008).
The Bible did not support the start of the 1335 days on February 2, 2008 as I posted back then, nor does it support the 1335 days beginning on September 30, 2008 (which is what James Malm seems to be teaching–I denounced both Ronald Weinland and James Malm’s positions in 2007 see At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008, as well as throughout the year 2008).
Perhaps I should mention that Ronald Weinland never prophesied the Russia-Georgia situation as part of the coming thunders. He claimed that with the increasing thunders first COG leaders would die (none did); then the USA dollar would be worthless a little past April 2008 (it is worth perhaps more now than then); then his critics would be stricken and apparently die (none have as far as I can tell); then the nuclear attacks would affect the USA (this did not happen); then other countries would be involved.
Does Ron Weinland Teach Unitarianism?
Notice that in his booklet titled Time Has Run Out, Ronald Weinland wrote:
This restoration of truth, which occurred during the leadership of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong and the period of time we know as Philadelphia, should be an easy thing to acknowledge. Yes, God revealed foundational truth to His Church once again. This era kept His word and did not deny His name. Sardis was known for just the opposite- letting the word of God die out as they themselves were dying spiritually- denying the life of God to live in and through them.
Our history is a testimony to the truth that God used Mr. Armstrong to restore truth to His Church. Doors were opened by God that made this task possible- doors that no one could shut...
To deny that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was the Elijah to come before the end-time is either ignorant or willing denial of what is true concerning our history and what God did through him. It is God who restored necessary truth to the Church so that a people would be ready for the second-coming of Jesus Christ.
One of the foundation truths that Herbert W. Armstrong taught was that God is a family and that both the Father and the Son are God. Yet Ron Weinland denies the deity of Jesus. Ron Weinland teaches a form of Unitarianism and that Jesus did not pre-exist:
Although Mr. Armstrong understood that the Trinity was a lie, God did not give him full understanding of what was true concerning Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ. God did not fully lead him out from the pollution of the false Trinity doctrine. Mr. Armstrong still believed that Jesus Christ had eternally existed...
But there is only one eternally-existing member of Elohim and that is the ETERNAL ONE (Yahweh). Mr. Armstrong was never able to come to understand this about God. (2008 - God's Final Witness, pp. 204, 206).
Jesus Christ has not eternally existed (Weinland R. The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 2. Sermon, February 23, 2008--near 56 minute point).
Jesus Christ cannot be the Eternal One--ever! (Weinland R. The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4. Sermon, March 15, 2008--before the middle point).
And while Ron Weinland is not mentioned, an article that comes to a different, and biblically supported opposite conclusion, is Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church?.
We in the Living Church of God do believe that the Word existed from eternity, that Jesus came in the flesh, and that Jesus is God.
Ronald Weinland Interview on The Edge Radio on December 15, 2007
Here is some of what Ron Weinland stated from my notes:
The proof is coming...
If it doesn't come to pass...starting in April, then I'm nothing but a false prophet...
Beginning in April, its important that people believe it...
What we're talking about happening in this country and around the world is a horrendous thing, it really is...
Things do start in 2008....It will be done by 2011...
There's already been six seals opened up...and the world is ignorant of it...The seventh seal they will know though...
The destruction of the United States, we are the first to suffer...I wouldn't want to be in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York...
By the fall of 2011, that's when Jesus Christ returns...
A little after April...a dollar bill won't be worth anything...We're going to be brought down the tubes, very quickly, starting in April...What happens when a nuclear weapon goes off in New York and Chicago?...
If we come to the point in time where what I've said doesn't come to pass, the reality is that I'm just a false prophet. That's the bottom line...
The reality is if it doesn't happen, then you're just false...I'll acknowledge my error, my wrong, if I'm wrong...
The primary things...for the world...actually begin after April 2008...
The abomination of desolation has already happened...
By January 2009, we (the United States) will be down the tubes...
Ronald Weinland basically he also said that he would not follow Ellen White (SDA/LCG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 ) or others and recalculate an excuse or a different date, but that if it does not happen he when and how he says it, he will admit that he is a false prophet. (In his The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4. Sermon, March 15, 2008 he stated that the seventh seal would be opened on March 18, 2008).
Comparing world events to what Jesus and Daniel taught that the "abomination of desolation" has NOT already happened:
Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matt 24:15-16).
And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11).
In his 2/23/08 sermon, Ronald Weinland stated that we were "getting close to the 1290" days (referring to 3/18/08), hence he since he teaches that the "abomination of desolation has already already happened" this is one more area that he is into allegory over the plain teachings of the Bible. Thus, he and his followers do NOT understand what they read even though Jesus told His followers to understand this.
The interviewer for The Edge also asked Ron Weinland about Wormwood hitting the earth and Ron Weinland actually said:
There's not going to be any planet that will hit the earth.
The Bible teaches otherwise:
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter (Revelation 8:10-11).
Ronald Weinland, in that interview, as well as many of his other writings "spiritualizes" away many literal teachings of the Bible, specifically including statements in the Book of Revelation (more on Wormwood can be found in the news item Comet Coming: Is One Prophesied to Hit the Earth?).
The interviewer also asked who the second of the two witnesses is. And Ronald Weinland stated:
I can't tell until April 2008.
On page 16 of his book, 2008 - God's Final Witness, here is another Ron Weinland prophecy:
The other witness will be revealed to the world during the time of the great tribulation...
Thus, he is falsely claiming that the Great Tribulation will begin in April 2008--and that is not so (please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).
The interviewer asked Ron Weinland what made him different than the prophecy books in bookstores and his two word reply was "April 2008".
While my notes do not have precise quotes of everything stated, Ron Weinland indicated that he does not believe in a place of safety, that the nuclear attack on the USA might happen in mid-April 2008, and that no place of earth will be safe for long. He basically said that the only thing that people can do is study and repent--and while I do believe that people should study and repent, the Bible does show that some will be protected (please see the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).
He also indicated that although he believes Europe and the Pope will be involved in the attack against the USA, that he does not believe in a final Antichrist. Ronald Weinland stated that he will not go to Jerusalem in 2008 and that some reject him as one of the witnesses because of that.
Although I believe that David Pack of the Restored Church of God is busily fulfilling the following, it also, in my opinion, specifically applies to Ronald Weinland who denies the pre-existence of Jesus:
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Sadly, false prophets, false apostles, and other false teachers continue to arise and make it so people simply will blaspheme the way of truth that we in the Living Church of God teach. Unlike those of us in the Living Church of God who believe Jesus is God, Ronald Weinland is also "unitarian"--hence he truly does deny the truth about the Lord.
While it certainly is possible that nuclear devices may be detonated in the USA in the Spring of 2008, even if they are, the end will NOT come in 2008 and Jesus will NOT return in 2011. The external signs are just not in place for these occurrences that soon (for some specific reasons, please see the article At Least Two Wrongly Claim Great Tribulation Will Begin in 2008).
Ron Weinland is in error in many points, including his assertion that the abomination of desolation has already recently been fulfilled (details of Daniel 11 prophecies, including the "abomination of the desolation" are included in the article Who is the King of the North?).
In towards the end of the 12/15/07 interview, Ronald Weinland was asked:
What do you see as a requirement for salvation? Be clear and to the point, please.
Ronald Weinland's answer began with:
Obey God. Ahh, it starts with the Sabbath day.
After explaining a little bit of the difficulties associated with keeping Saturday as opposed to Sunday, Ronald Weinland's answer ended with:
You obey God or you obey man.
Of course, one should obey God. But what about accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. Peter taught:
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:38-39).
Ronald Weinland's lack of mentioning Jesus in a direct question about salvation above was disturbing:
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Instead Ronald Weinland basically stated that Sabbath-keeping was THE salvation issue--and while people should keep the Sabbath (please see the article The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad)--it appears that Ronald Weinland's focus is off regarding salvation. I feel that his answer reflected poorly upon faithful Sabbath-keepers as we certainly do believe that Jesus Christ is central to salvation.
(In his The Mystery of God Revealed, Pt. 4 sermon of March 15, 2008, he essentially claimed that Sabbath-keeping and tithing were the two signs his ministers look at to determine if someone wanting to be baptized should be--his focus will sadly cause "the way of truth will be blasphemed" as 2 Peter 2:2 fortells.)
When the interviewer asked Ronald Weinland how God spoke to him to let him know that he was a prophet and/or one of the two witnesses, Ronald Weinland basically stated because of special insight through the Spirit while he studied the Bible.
Notice, however, what the Bible teaches:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream (Numbers 12:6).
Yet Ronald Weinland made no such claim. Although elsewhere he has claimed to have direct revelation from God, he has not (as far as I have seen) claimed a specific vision or a dream from God--nor did he do that when asked in the interview--thus this is even further evidence that Ronald Weinland is NOT one of the two witnesses, nor God's prophet.
The Thunders That Ronald Weinland Claims Were Opened
In the interview 12/15/07, Ronald Weinland essentially stated that no religious person predicted the 9/11 attack or the Sumatra-Andamon earthquake and related tsunami of December 26, 2004, yet they act like these were acts of God, but that somehow Ron Weinland is different as he has specific predictions in his books in advance--and some others only claimed that they were God's punishment after they occurred.
There are two problems with that. The first is that he claims that the seven thunders were revealed to him, that 9/11 was the first, and that earthquakes (and he specifically mentions the Sumatra-Andamon earthquake) were the second.
Yet, he did not predict them in advance--even though in his book he wrote:
The Seven Thunders have much to do with how God will reveal His two witnesses (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 91).
And what about his statement indicating that no other religious leader told of them before they occurred?
But what about his statement indicating that no other religious leader told of them before they occurred?
In his 8/04/01 sermon (five weeks before the World Trade Center attack and around 8 weeks before anthrax was detected), Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God warned that terrorists may bomb the World Trade Center and that biological weapons, specifically including anthrax, could be released in the U.S. at any time (Prophetic Prophecies on the Edge, San Diego, August 4, 2001).
R.C. Meredith wrote in his Personal for the Jan-Feb 2005 issue of Tomorrow's World magazine (which he wrote and had printed before the December 26, 2004 tsunami), bolding mine,
Events prophesied in your Bible are now beginning to occur with increasing frequency. In this Work of the living God, we are able to warn you about what is going to happen soon. We are not talking about decades in the future. We are talking about Bible prophecies that will intensify within the next five to 15 years of your life! Please understand. We are not "scaremongers." We love our fellow man. So it is our responsibility to warn our peoples—ahead of time—to prepare for the future. Most of our advice is spiritual in nature. However, in this editorial I want to give you some common sense advice involving your physical survival and your financial well-being...So we must each examine our own situation to determine what action we should take. Are we living in a low-lying coastal area where we may be in danger at a time of increasing hurricanes, tsunamis or similar natural disasters?
And a the largest tsunami in recent history occurred. The fact is that Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God warned of terrorist strikes less than two months of 9/11/01 and wrote warning about a tsunami in late 2004--hence it would seem that the Living Church of God, and not Ronald Weinland should have more credibility here. (I should perhaps emphasize the fact that R.C. Meredith does not claim to be a prophet--he simply wrote that these things would occur according to his understanding of the Bible and its prophecies.)
Thus if Ronald Weinland's statement about the thunders is to be believed, it would seem that he is inadvertently teaching that the Living Church of God will be the group that will be able to identify the two witnesses as it, and not he, actually taught about terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center towers and a possible tsunami before those events occurred.
I believe that Ronald Weinland is a False Prophet
While Ron Weinland apparently believes what he says, I consider him to be a false prophet. After thinking about what Ron Weinland wrote in his latest book, I noticed that he seems to be praying for the deaths of the leadership of LCG, PCG, RCG, CGG, and UCG to show that he is one of the two witnesses. Notice the string of quotes (any bolding his) of Ronald Weinland prophecies:
This first phase of this Fifth Thunder has already begun in a very small way upon the Church of God that was scattered,
after the prophesied apostasy (2 Thes. 2)...Instead, these will stubbornly cling to their own ideas of how they believe God should teach them through their own organizations. This phase of the Fifth Thunder is one of my own choosing, which God has granted me as part of His own will and purpose for the Church (2008 - God's Final Witness, p. 92)...
#5 The F
Worldwide Church of God - Christian or Cult*?
I just read about this church, all I can say is "man!" to the beliefs! Wrong......wrong.......
If the site above (link above) is accurate on this Church, then it is not a place I would want to be.
These people need to be called out.
I just read about this church, all I can say is "man!" to the beliefs! Wrong......wrong.......
If the site above (link above) is accurate on this Church, then it is not a place I would want to be.
These people need to be called out.
I once wrote to him asking when he would go to Jerusalem to be martyred as per scripture, and he never answered back...
Many false prophets have gone out in the past and today including RW and I would even question the author of the above article regarding an apparent affiliation with one or more of the "sabbath" keeping organizations of the same strain. The believer today must seek and understand the Lord's Word directly and must absorb as much of it as possible for themselves. The right frame of mind and motive will bring the Lord's understanding to those who will do this. There is far more deception and false teaching as a percentage of the total corporate professing Church than most think. There is very little of the real truth presented as we approach the time of the end. Do not follow false prophets and false teachers. It may seem harmless to do this, but it has the potential of up ending your own personal salvation.
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