Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Part 1)

I have proven to myself, most prayerfully, thatHe would send this outspoken individual to deliver
the Philadelphia Church of God is the most uniquea BLISTERING MESSAGE and a SCORCHING
of all the groups who've distanced themselvesCONDEMNATION to the NATIONS - just before
from the Worldwide Church of God's deviousNUCLEAR FIRE AND BRIMSTONE RAINS DOWN
doctrinal changes. Only Malachi's Message clearlyupon those who've rejected GOD'S ULTIMATUM!
speaks with AUTHORITY and not "like the(Isa. 41:27; 30:27; Micah 3:8).
scribes" (Matt. 7:29). I've listened carefully for THEIt's from Jerusalem that we must warn another
Voice of the Shepherd, hearing what the SpiritHOLOCAUST is coming! That's the sensitive
says to God's Church today, checking outlocation where God will spark a NATIONAL
everything with the Bible and what Mr. ArmstrongDEBATE and ignite an INTERNATIONAL
faithfully taught us (John 10:3; Rev. 3:22; 2 Thess.CONTROVERSY! (Micah 6:1-2). It'll shock the Jews
2:15).and anger the Germans! It'll undoubtedly offend
Of course, there are those who claim to followmany holocaust survivors who now live in Israel,
the traditions we've been schooled in, yet they'vebut they ought to understand and lend their
refused to humble themselves and submit to thevoices of experience to ours, having personally
fact that JESUS CHRIST had already moved HISwitnesses GERMANY'S BRUTE FORCE, to help
LAMPSTAND by the time they finally saw theour efforts to ensure "Never Again!"
light! All that was necessary for them to do wasRegardless, we can expect a maelstrom of
to go where Christ had already gone, and supportprotest and a bitter backlash -- but such
HIS WORK of knocking the errors in thepersecution will only fan the flames of this
Worldwide Church of God, while holding on forBURNING ISSUE! (Isa. 54:15-16). Both Germany
dear life to God's truth! We either GET A GRIP -and Israel (for their own reasons), will want to
or we lose it! (Rev. 3:11).immediately stop such "incitement" -- calling it
Instead of working with Christ, some havefear-mongering and racist -- but they'll fail and
chosen to do their own thing, contributing to theGod's Word will prevail (Jer. 1:19).
Church's state of confusion, rather than helping toGod must grant "political immunity" to His Two
RESTORE ORDER (1 Cor. 14:33). Why duplicateWitnesses, so they can be free to boldly say and
efforts, wasting precious time and money? Whydo all that He commands, even though the world
not join ranks with the PCG so we can present awill regard them as public enemy number one! (Ps.
UNITED FRONT to an increasingly divided world?105:15; Rev. 11:10). Undeterred, they'll carry on
This would enable us to effectively share withGod's Work and serve as His official government
others the message GOD would have them tospokesmen, even in the hostile face of fierce
hear (John 12:49). We ought to come together, inopposition (Jer. 1:8). But I'm getting ahead of
Christ, especially since we've all been taughtmyself. This is all related in Beyond Babylon, but
repeatedly: "There is only one Church. Not alet's go back to the beginning - of the true
parent church and many little daughter churchesPhiladelphian era....
that have split off in disagreement. DivisionsExperiences of Mr. Armstrong
splintering off are NOT STILL IN THE CHURCH"In the words of Mr. Armstrong, referring to his
(Mystery of the Ages, pg. 243).dealings with certain Sardis ministers, "I Shall Not
Whether we like it or not, God, in His infiniteHide the FACTS!" (Autobiography of HWA, Vol. 1,
wisdom, chose Gerald Flurry to reveal to God'spg. 366). However, lest I be misunderstood, I'd
Church what was going on - and thereby allow usbeen most hesitant to say or write anything
to show our true colors by how we responded toabout my experiences with certain professing
Malachi's Message. (That doesn't mean Mr. Flurry isPhiladelphian ministers, but I feel compelled by
infallible or that he doesn't need to continuallyGOD to state the truth, without fearing men's
apply the principles of Malachi's Message to himselfreactions, but trusting in God's PURPOSE!
and organization, as we all do as explained in myMr. Armstrong relates how he had presented a
article "Worldwide All Over Again?")."dual test" to the Church of God, Seventh Day,
Restored to Zion!to help him determine whether or not it truly was
If I'm so convinced that Christ is only with thethe Church of God. His first test involved mailing
PCG, and that the others are self-willed, for thean "exposition of 16 TYPEWRITTEN PAGES
most part, resisting God's lead, why don't I attendproving clearly, plainly, and beyond contradiction
their services? (Matt. 7:21; 1 Sam. 15:23). And howthat a certain minor point of doctrine... was in
can I believe that God is actively working througherror... to see whether their leaders would confess
me in the Middle East? Because I've unjustly beenerror and change." Their leader admitted what Mr.
disfellowshipped (2 Thess. 3:2), yet I remain loyalArmstrong pointed out was true, but feared it
to God's truth they teach!might upset many of the members and even
It's BEWILDERING to see an organization thatthreaten to divide the Church! "Naturally, this
apparently started out so good and strong andshook my confidence considerably."
righteous degenerate into a personality CULT that(Autobiography of HWA, Vol. 1, pgs. 360-361,
rules through intimidation and fear and bordersemphasis mine).
emperor worship! Yet they have more truth inI, too, detected "a certain minor point of doctrine"
many regards than the others, just like Herberttaught by Dennis Leap (on the 144,000), was in
W. Armstrong saw Sardis (Church of God, 7therror. I didn't want to rock the boat, and it wasn't
Day) did, however impotent. Strange but true!something I'd lose sleep over, so I wanted to just
Perhaps it's like Saul was still the anointed until heignore or overlook the matter, but God wouldn't
was punished by death for his sins and then Davidlet me! Amazingly, a dear friend asked me about
reigned.....the 144,000 out of the blue, and then somehow it
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his owncame up again with someone else; so God
sight or mind God used him and now,succeeded in getting my attention to write Dennis
unfortunately, it appears to have gone to hisLeap about it. I sent him my PAGE AND 1/2
head, all the new revelation (simply a deeperLETTER, reproduced here -- and didn't hear
understanding of some things), and he forgetsanything.
that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and thatFinally, around my third try (I don't give up easily!),
God can use a donkey to deliver it! (1 Cor. 4:7).Dennis Leap discussed it with me on the phone.
Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his ownWhen I mentioned that the Scriptures clearly
imagination that he fails to see that he is thestate that once you've broken your "seal" you've
leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warninglost your salvation, and to claim we can somehow
God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief!be "resealed" amounts to crucifying Christ twice,
He had better heed his own words!Dennis Leap stammered around, unable to justify
Under Herbert Armstrong Pasadena, Californiahis position, but remained determined to stick with
was the headquarters of the Philadelphia era ofit -- to my sorrow. Like Herbert W. Armstrong's
God's Church; now Edmond, Oklahoma is theexperience, "Naturally, this shook my confidence
headquarters of the Laodicean era, and next inconsiderably."
God's plan is the restoration of His headquartersChurch Rejects New Truth
to Jerusalem!God used an evangelist in Florida to challenge Mr.
God knows my attitude and actions still supportArmstrong. He had written Mr. Armstrong and
the work God's given them to do, but I trulytold him he was ignorant if he didn't know where
believe what Gerald Flurry teaches: their work'swe are mentioned in the Bible. After gleaning
almost finished! It'll just slightly overlap thethrough the surprising amount of information on
beginning of GOD'S FINAL WORK as outlined inthe subject in the library, Mr. Armstrong PROVED
my book, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fallthat the so-called "Lost 10 Tribes" are, in fact, the
(John 3:30). Minister Dennis Leap wickedlyAmerican, British and Northwest European peoples.
disfellowshipped me for believing that GOD hasHe then sent the "lengthy manuscript of close to
ORDAINED that I should promote its timely truth300 TYPED PAGES" that he had written to
(Isa. 61:1), even though I'm not from the "schoolsupport this truth to the editor and leader of the
of the prophets" (Ambassador College), or goingChurch. "Did this Church accept and proclaim this
about it in the "conventional" way (1 Sam. 17:39).vital new truth... But this Church refused then to
I've come to better understand that God hasaccept it or preach it or publish it though their
already begun the transitional process ofleader frankly confessed it was TRUTH and a
RESTORING His Menorah - His Lampstand torevelation from GOD! Yet here was the Church
JERUSALEM! (1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11). Aswhich appeared to have more truth, and less
prophesied, a NATIONAL MESSENGER will be onerror than any other... Truly this was bewildering!"
active duty in Jerusalem, preparing the way for(Pg. 362)...
Messiah's imminent return(Zech. 12:8). God reveals