Philadephia Church of God leads Laodicean era (conclusion)
continued...
What's BEWILDERING to me is the different responses I've
received from several of God's ministers who have read Beyond
Babylon - towards it and me - before and after Dennis Leap's
PARTIAL review! (Malachi 2:9).
When I faithfully sent a computer disk with my book on it to
minister Wayne Turgeon, he graciously read all of it and
responded:
"Of, how I admire those with both the ability to write as well
as the courage to put down their ideas on paper! I felt that you
have a very gripping style of writing that uses twists and
slants of words or phrases to make your point. I looked up every
Scripture you referenced and it became clear that you have
really spent a lot of time in your Bible. Being Jewish, I think,
gives you an added perspective that I could never have... Much
of what you have written is not 'new revelation' as I'm sure
that you'd readily agree... It's certainly not my place to
determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not,
but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated
version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that
he would have time to read your whole book."
What does he mean it's not his place to determine if what I
wrote is true or not? God holds every INDIVIDUAL responsible to
prayerfully determine whether something is of God or not! How
did we prove Malachi's Message was biblical? Did we rely
solely on our minister's evaluation? Worldwide all over again?
Mind you, unlike Mr. Armstrong's lengthy manuscript of close to
300 typed pages, Beyond Babylon is only 1/2 that size,
literally! I suggested Gerald Flurry read the first and last
chapters. Mr. Turgeon told me Flurry returned it to him, saying
something like, "He's always sending us stuff."
I have written short letters to the point, like correcting him
about Mount Hermon and Mount Carmel after he continued to
confuse the two in several articles. I'm familiar with them
because I've been blessed to have lived next to both of them.
Mr. Turgeon also wrote that I was a little "too radical" for Mr.
Flurry and wondered what I'd said or done that had given him
that impression. I explained it's because I took exception to
his careless condemnation of those religious Jews who want the
Temple built as "extremists." I wrote that it's extremist for
secular, humanist Jews to oppose converting the Promised Land
into a Holy Land!
Flurry was surprised and had also written against the STRONG
EMOTIONS some feel over Jerusalem and Israel. How could God use
someone so distant over there?! Some of us have a GOD-GIVEN LOVE
for Jerusalem and a genuine passion for Judah that's most
personal; we're not a stranger in OUR Homeland! (Psalms 102:14;
Ps. 137; Isaiah 62). That's not "radical," it's BIBLICAL!
Minister Carl Craven also read Beyond Babylon and
acknowledged it as biblical. He said he hadn't looked up every
Scripture, but was sure if he had they'd also be used correctly.
I commented that I know it's biblical, but that I was just
waiting for headquarters to prove that to themselves as well. He
expressed an understanding of how it's difficult to be patient
meanwhile. When Dennis Leap did call, it was to instruct me to
STAY HOME FROM SABBATH SERVICES while he looked at the book! I
didn't recall such an unusual request being made of Mr.
Armstrong, and recognized it went against "innocent until proven
guilty," but obliged with the hope of returning soon (John 7:51).
"Prophesy Not!"
After some time, I called Mr. Leap. He said he'd read PARTS of
the book, and that it wasn't important whether Mr. Flurry had
read it or not (even though I'd been led to believe he'd pass it
on to him). He stated, "You use some pretty strong language in
there," to which I replied, "But it's biblical, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, but...". He also noted, like Mr. Turgeon, that most
of it is what we already teach. I agreed and said that that
should serve as a GOOD SIGN, but that the NEW REVELATION about
the Two Witnesses and Europe is firmly built upon that
foundation.
Dennis Leap found it difficult to accept that a LAY MEMBER would
write such a book. He admitted Flurry had received bits of
revelation from lay members, but NEVER a whole book! I didn't
want to be judged by precedent, but by whether or not what I'd
written is biblical. If I was in error, then it was his duty to
clearly show me where FROM THE BIBLE, like Aquilla and Priscilla
helped improve Apollos' understanding (Acts 18:26).
I was informed if I wanted to return to services, I would have
to forget Beyond Babylon, act like a "regular lay member," and
basically deny that it was from God! Like Mr. Armstrong, I had
PROVEN what I'd written to be TRUE. Actually, Leap didn't say
that it wasn't or attempt to refute it!
I told Mr. Leap I didn't want to play politics. By his
insistence that I must be a MINISTER to write such a book, he
was still looking to MEN OF STATURE! And since I'm not one, he
was demanding that I "PROPHESY NOT!" (Amos 2:12).
He got very angry when I mentioned this and said he was severing
all ties between the PCG and myself, and that I wasn't to claim
any association with the PCG. He said I was now free to go and
do whatever I felt God would have me to do with BB and not worry
whether or not he or Mr. Flurry had read it! When I expressed
the hope of reconciliation, he retorted we could when I
repented. Of what? OBEYING GOD RATHER THAN MAN? Is that
"rebellion?"
Mr. Armstrong WASN'T an ordained minister either when he wrote
what he felt GOD would have him to share! The Identity Doctrine
also wasn't so much new truth, as a new way of presenting it.
I'm sure glad he didn't let those two points stop him! Aren't
you? So I was UNJUSTLY DISFELLOWSHIPPED for believing God used
me to write a book, and MARKED for exposing the facts about Mr.
Leap's folly!
Will Dennis Leap stop being jealous of what God would have me to
offer (1 Sam. 2:29)? Will Gerald Flurry HONOR GOD more than a
man, and recognize Beyond Babylon belongs to God and HIS
Church? (II Sam. 19:5-7; Ga. 2:9). Will Flurry again uphold
God's Word or try and prop up Leap and fall with him? (Isa.
22:19). Did God remove Mr. Amos so Dennis Leap could be used to
try us all?(Nahum 1:11). WHY'S THE BIBLE OUT OF THE PICTURE? (In
The Philadelphia Trumpet's photo of Mr. Flurry). Does Mr. Flurry
feel he's now got it made? (1 Cor. 10:12). A picture's worth a
thousand words!
No Cowards in the Kingdom!
May God give COURAGE to His people! If they're AFRAID to
question Dennis Leap's serious actions, how can God expect them
to stand up to the world (Jer. 12:5; Rev. 21:8)? God's sick of
sycophants and tired of the timid! We're to be bold as lions
(Dan. 11:32)! We're supposed to be ready to die for one another,
not betray and desert each other! Yet too often the
household of faith has lost its warn and loving environment for
an intimidating atmosphere of fear and oppression (Jer. 12:6).
It's pretty bad when you can't trust your own family (Jer. 9:4).
Brethren turning in brethren to the "authorities" for wrong
reasons and maliciously reporting on others (1 Cor. 5:8). How
COLD-HEARTED (Matt. 10:32-40).
God pronounces WOE to those who support wrong judgments (Isa.
5:32) and CONDEMNS IT as an ABOMINATION (Prov. 17:15). He speaks
against selling out someone to gain an advantage (Ex.
23:8). Those who've become accomplices to CHARACTER
ASSASSINATION haven't just abandoned a Church member, they're
guilty of BETRAYING CHRIST! (Ex. 20:16; Matt. 10:33). It's
actually God's law they've thrown out and His Word they've
despised (Isa. 5:24). You can't treat someone so hatefully and
fool God that you love Him (1 John 4:20). You might turn your
back on a brother, but you're going to FACE GOD (Mark 9:42)!
Whether you've sold out to curry favor with a minister, or to
stay put in an organization or position - that "blood money"
will COST YOU YOUR LIFE! God will JUDGE SUCH PEOPLE (if they
don't repent) and throw them down from their high and mighty
imaginations and lofty positions (Isa. 22:15-19; Deut. 32:36).
For those bent on JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS blindly, acting like
GOOD NAZIS, God's going to give them over to Europe! If that's
what you want, that's what you'll get!
FATHER Knows Best!
Too many are still looking to men to save them! Is
it up to Gerald Flurry to decide who'll enter God's Kingdom? Of
course not, and he'd readily agree, but brethren it's just as
BLASPHEMOUS to believe it's up to him or any other MAN to decide
who can go to Petra! Which minister was crucified for you? (1
Cor. 1:12- 13; 3:3-9). Into what surname were you baptized? If
GOD put you into HIS Church, can any man put you out? If God
gave you His Holy Spirit, can any minister take it away? If God
finds you worthy to escape, can any man prevent it? (Luke
21:36). WHOSE APPROVAL ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? (John 9:22;
13:42-43).
Aren't you willing to be like Jesus, who was forsaken by all?
Aren't you willing to follow Jesus outside the camp, bearing His
reproach and suffering His shame? (Heb. 13:12-13; 2 Tim. 1:8).
Those who put an IDOLATROUS TRUST in ministers or politicians
are going to discover they can't deliver! (Deut. 32:36-39; Hosea
13:10). Mortals can't save you or protect you. Besides, if
you're only trying to save your skin, you'll lose your hide!
Only Jesus Christ can offer salvation, and only those whom the
FATHER finds worthy will escape. It's not up to any pastor
general or minister. Many of them will get slaughtered with
THEIR sheep! (1 Cor. 9:27; Isa. 46:2).
If God could provide the "travel arrangements" for Enoch, Elijah
and Philip - INDIVIDUALS - can't He take care of you? (Acts
8:39; Rev. 12:6; Jer. 3:14). God won't forget you or leave you
behind (Heb. 6:10; Isa. 49:15). He knows the scattered condition
of His saints and the reasons why, and promises us: "I will seek
that which is lost, and bring that which was driven away, and
will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that
which was sick..." (Ezek. 34:16). The Good Sheherd doesn't
forsake His flock!
God's Two
Witnesses are SOON to take the stand! They'll testify before
a WORLD COURT, and to many it will sound familiar - having read
about it in Beyond Babylon! It's only biblical that just
as surely as Europe's on the rise, so too are God's star
witnesses (Isa. 60:1). But when have proud and stubborn
RELIGIOUS LEADERS ever accepted God's change of guard or venue
(Rev. 11:8)? Sardis didn't. Joseph Tkach didn't. Will Gerald
Flurry graciously PASS THE BATON to the Two Witnesses? Or will
history repeat itself? We'll see!