Search Results

Copyright Disclaimer Our aim is to promote and share quality material. We always attempt to properly attribute all of the material on this site. We do not claim the copyright over any material, unless specifically stated. If you are the copyright owner of anything on this site which has not been properly attributed, please contact us and we are more than happy to properly recognize the legal copyright. If you are the copyright owner of anything on this site and you do not want your material to be linked, shared or promoted in this way, please contact us and we will remove it immediately. All material is believed to be in the public domain. If not, it will be properly cited or removed upon request by its author.

Prospective Member’s Guide Vigilant Church of God herewith welcomes you as a prospective member. Whether you are new to the Church of God or whether you have been attending for many decades, please study this guide thoroughly and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Contact details are at the end of this guide. Laodicean Era vs. Philadelphian Era While it is vital to understand the difference between the two Church Eras, if you do not understand Church Eras as it appears in the Book of Revelation, do not be overly concerned, as you will learn what they are by the end of this study (1 Tim 2:15). The first and arguably the most important to understand is that the Philadelphia Era ENDED in 1986 with the death of Mr. Armstrong, the last Apostle and also the type of Elijah (Mal 4:5). The commission of the Philadelphia Era was to take the Gospel to the whole world (Matt 24:14). Mr. Armstrong accomplished this and with his death that phase of the Work was finished. Many C.O.G leaders teach that this is still the Philadelphia Era OR at least that their organization is a “remnant of Philadelphia”. THIS IS FALSE! The Bible does not teach this, but false leaders use this statement to continue taking tithes and drawing a salary, making merchandise of the brethren (2Pet 2:3) with feigned (fictitious) words. The very truth is that we are now, since the death of Mr. Armstrong, deeply into the Laodicean Era where both leaders and brethren are lukewarm and indifferent (Rev 3:16-17), not believing the Gospel has been preached and that Matthew 24:14 has been fulfilled. So, if this is true, what is the Work of God now, and what are the brethren of God supposed to do, since the Work of preaching the Gospel is complete? Well, here starts you exciting journey with Vigilant Church of God! The Work of the Church of The Laodiceans Notice precisely how your Bible address the final Era of God’s Church in Rev 3:14: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;” (plural) Yes, instead of Christ, the Leader of this Work, addressing the Laodicean Era as a whole, He address each believer individually, knocking on each one’s door (Rev 3:20), asking them to invite Him into their lives once again by “buying gold tried in the fire” (returning to the truth) and anointing their eyes (repenting from a lukewarm attitude) so they may once again believe as before, when Mr. Armstrong restored all things. Read or listen to his own words here . Please take time to study the following required materials on VCG website: Read “About US” and listen to “The Knock”: https://www.vigilantcog.com/about-us Read or re-read “Mystery of the Ages” or listen to the audio book: https://www.vigilantcog.com/from-mr-armstrong Read the booklet “Tithing”: https://www.vigilantcog.com/_files/ugd/7e4368_d67f1f94721d44e89e6ce34c57e1a4b7.pdf Review VCG video “Save Yourself Brethren”: https://youtu.be/akOi0Vo_zjQ Review VCG video “The Greatest DOCTRINE – restored”: https://youtu.be/gDuXMitpUH0 Review VCG video “The Greatest Doctrine part 2”: https://youtu.be/f0JzgVO8s3M While the above material is required to understand the Work we are doing, there are many more items available on the website, so we urge you to review all you can in the time you have available. While a prospective member, you will be assigned an experienced preaching elder to help guide you through this path to full membership with Vigilant Church of God. Contacts: (Phone or Whatsapp) Gerhard Coetzer +27 64 248 5710

Audio Books For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard (Act 4:20). A World Help Captive by Herbert W. Armstrong A World Held Captive - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 You live in world of awesome progress, but paradoxically of appalling evils. WHY? All About Water Baptism by Herbert W. Armstrong All About Water Baptism - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 Is WATER baptism essential to salvation? What about the "thief on the cross"? Was he saved without it? Are We Living in the Last Days? by Herbert W. Armstrong Are We Living in the Last Days? - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 How can you know whether we are near "the end of the world"? Can we prove it? Did God Creat a Devil? by Herbert W. Armstrong Did God Creat a Devil? - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Bible pictures the whole world under the sway of an invisible devil. Where did he come from? Did God create a devil to tempt us and lead us astray? Does God Exist? by Herbert W. Armstrong Does God Exist? - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 Can the existence of God be scientifically proved? Where did the first LIFE come from? Can we know whether God possesses MIND power? Ending All Your Financial Worries by Herbert W. Armstrong Ending Your Financial Worries - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 What concerns the average person most? War? The Space Race? Or making ends meet? The Incredible Human Potential by Herbert W. Armstrong The Incredible Human Potential - 1A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential - 1B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential answers mankind's most unanswerable question: Why were you born? The Incredible Human Potential - 2A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential - 2B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential - 3A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential - 3B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential - 4A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 The Incredible Human Potential - 4B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 Mr. Armstrong's audio book, MYSTERY OF THE AGES is available here. More books to follow. Please return soon...

APOSTLES AND TRUTH By Ellery Burgess Why did God create the office of apostle? What does that office have to do, with truth in the true Church of God? What does that have to do, with you personally? The answer to these questions concerns your eternal salvation. Until Jesus Christ came and paid the ransom price for humanity and until the birth of the New Testament Church of God on Pentecost in 31 AD, the office of apostle did not exist. When God brought the spirit begotten Church of God into existence, He created the office of apostle in it, but why? Exactly what is the office of apostle, in the Church and within the government of God? Does this office have anything to do, with the truth that is placed in God’s own Church? THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH Apostles are foundational. They, along with the prophets, form the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:19-21). The prophets mentioned here are the prophets of the Old Testament. The one who became Jesus Christ, revealed the word to the prophets through the Holy Spirit and they delivered those words to the people. In like manner, Jesus Christ reveals His word to the apostles of the New testament Church and they reveal them to the people today. Together they, both the prophets of the Old Testament Church in the wilderness (Act 7:38) and the apostles of the now spirit begotten Church of the New Testament, form the foundation of the Church, with Jesus Christ being the Chief Corner Stone. WHAT DOES “APOSTLE” MEAN? The word apostle comes from the Greek word apostelos. Vines Greek-English Dictionary says “Apostelos = apostle, one sent with a special message (truth) or commission”. Apostles are sent to reveal the truth FOR THE FIRST TIME, to those whom God chooses to call. Many may hear the apostle’s message, but only those whom God chooses to open their eyes (mind), can see the truth when they hear it. It is like a person being in a dark room and God turns on the light switch. Suddenly they can see, they could not see before, but now they can see. Read Rom. 15:21, then read verses 18 through 20, then read verse 21 again. The apostle Paul was sent to bring the truth, to those who had not heard it before. He understood, that he was not supposed to go in and lay a foundation where another apostle had already laid the foundation. Apostles (sent), are given the commission from Jesus Christ, to reveal God’s own words, to those whom God the Father chooses. He does not bring his own words, but reveals the words that God has revealed to him. Jesus Christ gave the commission to the apostles, to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God and also “all things”, that He had given them (Matt. 28: 16-20). This was before the New Testament Church of God even came into existence. The commission was given to apostles. If Christ had wanted to give the commission to the entire Church, He would have given it ten days later, when the spirit begotten Church was born. Instead, He gave the commission to those that He sent (apostelos) with the message. Does the whole Church have a part in the spreading of this great commission? Yes, it surely does , the part of the Church is to back up and support the apostle (one sent) in doing this job. Not to take the job of God’s chosen apostle upon themselves, but to stand behind and in full support of him, as he does the job that God assigned to him. If the leaders of the various groups that are calling themselves the Church of God, would only understand this one paragraph, it would go a long way in helping to remove much of the confusion that we see today. HOW DOES GOD REMOVE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS? There is an account in the 9th chapter of John, that has been mostly overlooked. Let’s look at it in some detail. Christ and His disciples saw a man who was blind from birth (v.1). The disciples asked Christ, whose sin caused the man to be born blind, his or his parents (v.2)? In answer to their question, Jesus makes an amazing statement. “Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (v.3). Now, get this, Jesus said that this man was born blind, for the express purpose, of revealing (made manifest) how God works. “I must work the works of Him that sent (apostelos) me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (vs. 4 – 5). As long as he, Jesus Christ , was in the world, he personally, brought light to those that the Father chooses to call. But now, in the remainder of this account, he reveals (makes manifest) how the light would be brought, once He was no longer physically in the world. Here, Jesus explains how God brings light (reveals truth), once Jesus Christ returns to heaven to be with the Father. Now, according to Jesus’ own account, here is how He does it. Remember, this man was born blind; he had always been blind, even as all humans are born blind to the spiritual things of God. In verse 6, Jesus spat on the ground and made clay and put it on the man’s eyes. Jesus did not go to a source of water to make the clay, He was the source that made the clay. Now the blind man’s eyes were covered with the physical mud, that he was composed of, even as our eyes were blinded before being called, by the physical matter, mud , that we are all composed of. Now in verse 7, Jesus reveals the whole matter of, why this man was born blind and what its significance is to us today. “ And he ( Jesus ) said unto him, go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, sent ) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing”. The word “sent”, is from the Greek word apostelos, meaning apostle! So what Jesus Christ told the blind man, was for him to go to apostle to receive his sight. Remember, Jesus said this man was born blind, to reveal how God would work after Jesus was no longer on this earth in the flesh. This whole account was to show that after Jesus returned to heaven, He would reveal truth to His apostles and they would give that revealed word, to those whom the Father calls to Christ. If one will read John 9: 1 – 7 , that is clearly what Christ is saying there. The blind man had to go exactly to where Christ told him to go. Not to just any pool that he might select, but only to Siloam (or apostle). The message is unmistakable; we must go to God’s apostle, to remove our blindness so we can see God’s truth. APOSTLES LAY FOUNDATIONS II Cor. 10: 13 – 16 in the NKJV says, that Paul understood, that he was not to try to lay foundations where others had already laid them. Connect that with Acts 16: 6 – 12. Here we see, that Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit, from going into part of Asia and Bithynia. That area was where many of the “lost tribes” were and Andrew, the brother of Peter, was already working there ( Where did the 12 Apostles Go ? H.L. Hoeh – Plain Truth- May, 1964). This clearly shows, that Christ does not have an apostle go in and lay a foundation, where another apostle has already laid the foundation. A building only needs one foundation, it cannot have two. Read I Cor. 4:14–16. Here, the apostle Paul is telling the converts at Corinth, that they were begotten (converted), by the gospel (truth) brought through him. They were not converted by him, but through his preaching. They were called by God and received their understanding of the truth from Jesus Christ. It came through Paul, but not from him. He faithfully taught them as he had been taught by Christ. Paul told them to be followers of him, “ Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: The seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord”. (I Cor. 9:1-2 ). The very fact that Paul had been the one whom Christ used, to lay the foundation (reveal the truth for the first time) to this Church at Corinth, was the proof of his apostleship to them. Paul was their apostle, through whom they first heard the word of truth. Herbert W. Armstrong was the apostle, through whom all of us, either directly or indirectly, first heard the truth. God opened our minds to the very truths, that He had revealed to and restored through his end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. He is our apostle. The very fact that we are in the body of Christ, is the proof of his apostleship. The very same thing, that was the proof of Paul’s apostleship. If I Cor 9:1-2 is the proof for Paul, it is also the proof for Mr. Armstrong. We may have many teachers, but Mr. Armstrong is our father in the gospel, just as Paul was to the Church at Corinth. Any who try to lay another foundation where the true foundation has already been laid, is off track. The fact that Mr. Armstrong is dead, has no bearing on the foundation and government of God, that Christ set through him. In II Peter 1:13–15, Peter tells us what we are to do after an apostle dies. Peter said, “to have these things always in remembrance”. But, it seems today, that almost everyone has forgotten! THE WORK IN THE 1ST AND 20TH CENTURY We know, that Christ sent the original apostles to the lost sheep, of the house of Israel ((Matthew 10: 5 – 6). Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. The only way they had to travel was by horseback, boat, or walking. These apostles were limited on how much territory they could reach. That is why it took so many of them to do the job, that Christ had given them. They were each assigned a certain area and they faithfully went to their assigned area and preached the gospel in that area. They then fed those whom God called and brought to conversion. In the 20th century, God raised up just one apostle, to go to his assigned area. His job was to “restore” the same foundation, that had been laid by the original apostles. Over the course of 18 centuries, after years of persecution, the true Church of God had lost most of the great truths, that made up the foundation of the Church. Some truths remained, but much had been lost. This lone apostle was used by Christ, to restore all of the foundation on which God’s Church is founded. Just like all of the apostles before him, he faithfully performed the job given to him. This apostle faithfully went to his assigned area. But, as Christ had to use many apostles in the 1st century to do the job, now in the 20th century, Christ could get the job done, by using just one apostle. That apostle was Herbert W. Armstrong and his assigned area, was the whole world ! Mr. Armstrong had many things available to him, that those before him did not have. He had the printing press, radio, television, computers, automobiles, trains and airplanes, with which he was able to reach the whole world. And he did reach the whole world, regardless of what some might say. For a period of two 19 year time cycles, he preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, to Manasseh and Ephraim and the rest of the “lost tribes” of Israel. Then Christ sent him personally to the gentile countries of the world. Jesus Christ opened doors and gave him special favor with Rulers, Kings, Emperors, Princes, Prime Ministers around the whole world. That was an unprecedented act, that was never done before and many who are reading this article now, saw it happening right before their eyes. I wonder how many can remember what they did see? Mr. Armstrong clearly understood what his job was . I will include here, just one quote by Mr. Armstrong, but there are many more, “God has called me to do a job, to do a commission. I think when God lets me die, the thing He has called me for, will have been completed, preparing the way for the second coming of Christ, carrying the gospel of the Kingdom of God, to the world for a witness to all nations and if I have been someone in the power and spirit of Elijah, remember, there is no prophecy that God will have an Elisha following Elijah. But the job that God has called me to do is a prophesied job”. That from The Worldwide News, March 6, 1981. Mr. Armstrong, as Christ’s apostle, was the one who was to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, to lift away the blindness and restore the “all things”, that had been lost. He faithfully did the job set before him. He understood that he had fulfilled the prophecy of Matt. 24:14. With the use of the printing press, radio, television, computers, modern transportation and the open door to take the gospel to the gentile world, he was able to reach the whole world. He carried the gospel around the whole world and there was a time that the entire Church understood that fact. In Mystery of the Ages, chapter titled, “Mystery of the Church”, page 291 hardback, he wrote, “These prophecies (Matt. 24:14 and others) HAVE NOW DEFINITELY BEEN FULFILLED. The true gospel has been restored and has now gone in power into every nation on the face of the earth” (emphasis mine). Now, consider, Jesus Christ uses apostles, to lay the foundation of the truth, for the first time to those in the specific area where He sends that apostle. Because of distance and means of travel, Christ used many apostles, to reach the areas where He wanted it done in the first century. But in this end time, because of the modern means of communication and travel, specifically air travel, the specific area that He sent this end time apostle to, was the whole world. Jesus Christ used Mr. Armstrong to restore the foundation of the Church of God and to preach the true gospel to the whole world, fulfilling Matt.24:14, at which time we completed entering the time of the end. Then Christ let that apostle die, but the foundation that Christ had laid through him, still exists today. We still have all of it with us. His audio sermons, videos, all of his books, booklets, articles and magazines are available today. And the gospel has been preached into all of the world. All of the leaders today, who have taken it to their own selves to complete that commission, are sorely mistaken! They are trying to set in the seat of an apostle, if they have claimed that title or not. That is an office and commission that Christ has not given to them. Jesus Christ has already done that job and He did it through His apostle, just as Jesus said he would. The people of God, are now in the time described in Rev.3: 20 – 22 and Rev. 11:1 – 2. , measured in “holding fast”, to what was restored through that end time apostle and practicing and living by it. The end can and will come, when Jesus Christ completes getting His people ready, to meet Him and meet Him, we will! The ministry of the churches of God, have become delinquent in their duty toward God's heritage. Their responsibility as instructed by Christ, to never LORD it over God's heritage, His Church. Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD (Jer 23:1) .

Who Feeds The Flock? ... Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep (John 21:17). In this age of the Laodicean Church of God, many lay-members have taken it upon themselves to enter the Temple of God to perform the work of a priest. Why this lack of understanding of who works at the Altar, who lights the Lamps and who makes the Shew bread? How serious does Jesus Christ, the Head of His Church take these infringements in His Temple? Jesus warned His disciple Peter, that Satan the devil wanted to sift him like wheat, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). This same Peter–an Apostle–once he was converted, did go on to strengthen his brethren. Prior to this warning by Jesus, there was contention among the disciples (Luke 22:22-26), we can be sure with a certainty, the irritated feelings which that contention caused, prepared the way for the testing and sifting of Peter. Satan desired to try Peter; to place trials and temptations before him; “to agitate him” like agitating wheat in a sieve to see whether he had faith and if it would remain. Satan used the same tactic with Job in chapters 1 and 2, therefore like Job, God allows Satan to test our faith as well. Strengthen Thy Brethren Notice how John described what took place the same evening that Luke spoke about in Luke 22, ... “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17). The responsibility to feed the flock of God was place squarely on the shoulders of an Apostle. Once converted, Peter took that responsibility very seriously. In his epistle of I Peter ch. 5, this faithful Apostle encourages the ministry of Jesus Christ to do the same... “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet 5:1-4). The ministry were to be types of the Great Shepherd. They stood in place of Jesus Christ, feeding the flock as He inspired them. Another apostle, one “born out of due time” Paul, also encouraging the ministry to feed the flock... “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Act 20:28). Paul went on to warn these ministers... “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). And “grievous wolves [did] enter in among the church, not sparing the flock” as we have witnessed soon after an apostasy in the church of God! That apostasy in the twentieth century, ushered in the Laodicean era, an era wherein the people decide, Judge and want to rule. It was during this time–of the Laodiceans–that men who were once deemed faithful, men who love the truth, began to scatter the flock of God, bringing about in many members the attitude of “every man and every woman will do what was right in their own eyes.” This evil attitude of self-indulgence, espoused by the devil, gave birth to the rejection of the government of God, which Jesus inspired and revealed to the “last” apostle Herbert W. Armstrong in the 20th century. Feed the Flock in the 20th Century During the twentieth century Jesus Christ raised up the Philadelphia era of His church to do the final work of preaching the true gospel to the world (Matt 24:14; Rev 3:7-8). Like Paul, a great and effectual door was opened to to Mr. Armstrong (1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12; Col 4:3). Once that apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong, took the gospel to all the world, and completed his prophetic assignment, the door to preaching the gospel as an organized work was closed and darkness once again covered the earth. Please read the Worldwide News, March 6, 1981 for in it, Mr. Armstrong wrote on page 12... “I think that when God lets me die, the thing He's called me for will have been completed, preparing the way for the Second Coming of Christ carrying that Gospel of the Kingdom to the world for a witness to all nations.” This same apostle was inspired to distinctly teach the membership of Worldwide Church of God the reason Jesus Christ was building His church. Notice what he wrote in Mystery of the Ages page 228... “The Church may be called God’s teachers’ college to prepare rulers and teachers for the kingdom of God when God does offer redemption and eternal life to the world as a whole. The CHURCH was planned to be God’s instrumentality for calling predestinated human beings out of this world to be trained for positions of leadership in the world tomorrow, when they shall teach and train others. That is why in the New Testament, the Church is called the firstfruits of God’s salvation. All this necessitated certain vital steps-one at a time-in the procedure of God’s supreme master plan!” Mr. Armstrong continued to explain the church on page 230... "So, once again, WHAT and WHY is the CHURCH? The Church is the called out (from this world) begotten children of God. It is the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:23). It is the spiritual organism that shall be the “Bride of Christ”– after its resurrection to immortality. Then it shall be married to Christ! It is the spiritual TEMPLE to which Christ shall come at his second appearing” (Eph. 2:21). The Church is the Spiritual Temple (1 Cor 3:16-17; 2 Cor 6:16) and Paul tells us, it is only the ministry who are typed, as temple priests and it is only the priests who live off the temple, serve at the altar, and who are partakers thereof (1 Cor 9:13). Mr. Armstrong wrote in a Worldwide News June 24, 1985 under the title: “Recent History of the Philadelphia Era of the Worldwide Church of God”.... “Little groups, splintering off, centered in Washington, D.C.; Eugene, Ore.; Tyler, Tex.; Monterey, Calif.; and other places with groups too small to mention. They are not bearing fruit for the Kingdom. They are not pleasing God or being blessed by Him. Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them." They usually claim to be "branches" of the Church of God. But Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). He did not say denominations, sects, cults, branches or a church divided against itself. Rather He said a house divided against itself cannot stand. There is one true Church and one only. The apostle Paul pictured humanly self-appointed "branches" when he said to the elders of the local church at Ephesus that some of their own selves would depart to draw a following after themselves. …. “The Church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Corner stone; in Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord" (Eph 2:20-21). Note, the Church is organized and fitly framed together, not organized with competing and differing branches.” And I may add, this includes lay-members who left the Body of Christ in rebellion against God's government and now try to teach and write articles to the church on websites or blogs on the internet! It would also include deacons and local elders doing their own thing, such as building websites and leading church groups; taking tithes and offerings with absolutely no authority from Christ to do so. Paul admonished the ministry and wrote... “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Why? Why be so determined to preach the word by telling members their faults (rebuke), why encourage them (exhort), and why persevere in doctrine? Because in verses 3-4 Paul wrote “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their–members–ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim 4:2-4). Yes an unfaithful ministry has caused this confusion in the Church of God by turning away from the truth which was inspired and revealed by Christ to Mr. Armstrong. The word fable is the Greek word: muthos and it means a fiction, an invention and a falsehood. And today, the fable that has deluded many lay-members is the fact that they think they have the authority to teach and preach in the temple, outside of the Government of God. The actual fact is their rebellion against God's Government has placed them outside of the body of Christ and in serious danger of hearing Jesus Christ say to them... Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen (Mat 22:13-14). These despicable people need to realize that God changes not (Mal 3:6) and He is the same today as He was yesterday (Heb 13:8)! Do you think, oh man or woman, who despise God's servants, those who represent His government, that He will treat you any different than he did Miriam, Aaron (Numbers 12) and to Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their families (Numbers 16)? All these men and woman, despised God's servants! Be careful that you don't. Shrouded In Darkness Its amazing, the one central point, that caused the death of thousands of Israelites in Numbers 16:3 was this attitude... “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” This same despicable attitude, has infected the church of the Laodiceans, today they say... “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” (Rev 3:17). Their self-aggrandizement, their self-sufficiency and self centered attitude, toward Christ and his rule over them, causes them to say, “we do not need anyone to tell us what to do, we can rule and teach ourselves”. They do not hear Christ saying to them, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (verse 18). The eye salve they need to open their eyes, is to be washed by the Holy Spirit and get back to the understanding that Christ sent an apostle with a message about the restoration of the GOVERNMENT of God – the Gospel... more later. How often have we heard it said by lay-members, deacons and local church elders in this age! “Who are you to tell me, that I'm wrong, I have the Spirit of God!” If YOU have that attitude, you would do well to HEAR what Jude has to say... “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, (through the spirit in man) as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core (Korah). These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear (of God): clouds they are without water (no Holy Spirit), carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 1:10-13). Influenced by the prince of darkness, they have allowed their minds to become darkened and are so deceived, they cannot see the light of the glorious gospel. As soon as the last apostle died, Jesus Christ closed the door to the work of the Philadelphia era, this action–the end of an era–resulted in dramatic changes in the THINKING of both the membership of the Church of God–The Worldwide Church of God–and the world at large, the world took upon itself the life-style of Sodom and Gomorrah and the attitude of violence, that prevailed during Noah's time, and the church took rulership to itself. End of the Philadelphia Era The end of the Philadelphia era resulted in the earth once again being shrouded in darkness (Gen 1:2), because that which had brought light to a darkened world, the message of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, was fulfilled! As an organized work, Philadelphia was over, there was no group of people being led by a true apostle of Jesus Christ, doing a worldwide work. Soon after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, the Church of God became confused and the leaders in the church at that time, did not explicitly comprehend the gospel message. BLINDNESS began to cover their minds and soon afterward, they led the Church of God astray through a scattering. And Jesus said... “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). It is only the true gospel that brings light, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor 4:4). These scriptures and many more, give vociferous testimony to the fact that Satan has deceived not only the entire world, but the entire Church of God... “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5-7). When you reject the authority of the Government of God over you, YOU become blind once more! And if you say, “I see”, while rejecting God, “your sin remains” (John 9:41). All the Laodiceans can see, are themselves and the physical things, that surround them. They have forgotten that they were once purged of their sins by Christ and enlightened by the one sent by Christ in the 20th century–the last apostle. Jesus, through a graphic healing of a man blind from birth, reveals how the spiritually blind can once again be enlightened. Jesus...“When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (John 9:6-7). Jesus illustrated rather clearly, that mankind's eyes have been blinded, to their selfishness and their vanity, since the creation of Adam–the clay–and to remove the blindness, it took the washing of their eyes by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10), which is symbolized by water (John 7:38), to enlighten them. This blind man, was told to go wash his eyes in the pool Siloam–which means sent! Only an apostle filled with the Holy Spirit, and sent by Christ, can reveal the true gospel and thereby once again enlighten those in the Church of God, who have become blind to the real meaning of the gospel. Miriam, Aaron, Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their families, were all blinded to the understanding of the Government of God, therefore, it was natural for them to despise Moses' leadership. You see, the central message of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, is the GOVERMENT of God. Even though God miraculously intervened in Num 16:6... “And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.”... the people still rebelled by blaming Moses verse 41... “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured–they were obstinate–against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.” As a minister, I have witnessed the very same rebellion, time after time in the Church of God. When a member rebels against the ministry, and then when that member of his own accord leaves the Church, in a vitriolic state, there are some members who agree with the rebel and follow him out, yet in their deceived minds they still think they are a part of the Body of Christ! God Does Not Change Notice what God said to Moses in verse 45... “Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.” The rebels in the Church of God have forgotten... “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Mal 3:6). With that said let us also notice something else, which GOD INSTRUCTED after this terrible incident of rebellion, verses 37-40: "Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.” The Almighty God takes rebellion toward Him in a very serious light, ONLY those duly called and ordained may serve at God's Altar and represent His people! Let me remind you, the reader, of what Mr. Armstrong wrote on pages 48-49 of the book, Mystery of the Ages, about God's Government … “The very fact of law presupposes GOVERNMENT. Government is the administration and enforcement of law by one in authority. This necessitates authoritative leadership-one in command. When the only conscious Life-Beings existed, God was leader-in authoritative command. Thus, even when the only conscious Life-Beings were God and the Word, there was GOVERNMENT with God in supreme command. The government of God is of necessity government from the top down. It cannot be “government by the consent of the governed.” Its laws originate and are handed down from God-never legislated by the people-never dictated by the governed how the government over them shall rule them. Since they created other conscious, thinking life-beings, this very fact of necessity put the GOVERNMENT of God over all creation, with God supreme Ruler.” And you may say, “yes that is right, I agree and I serve Christ”. Well, if you say that, you are assuming to yourself the prerogative of governing yourself apart from God and this is exactly what caused rebellion in Numbers 16, and was causing contention among those in the Corinthian congregation. Furthermore, the same attitude is causing rebellion, division and contention in the Churches of God today... “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ (1 Cor 10-12). Example of King Uzziah I said the following above... “The Almighty God takes rebellion toward Him in a very serious light, ONLY those duly called and ordained may serve at God's Altar and represent His people!" The following biblical example from 2 Chr 26:14-21, will show just how serious God takes it, if a "king", nevermind a lay-person or deacon, assumes the responsibility, to serve at the altar: “And Uzziah [a king] prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land". And those who make excuses, about their claims to be, "preaching deacons", or those who create websites as a “Watering Hole” or as a “Research Center” for the flock of God, I am here to tell YOU, “God is not mocked by your rebellion toward His name nor to His elected servants”. "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy" (2 Chr 36:16). These people have deluded themselves into believing they are still serving God! So...Who FEEDS the Flock of God? So who has the authority to preach and teach the flock of God? According to Paul... “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. "(Rom 10:9-17). BUT! Are these few verses and examples enough for those who have hardened their heart to God's Government? Some will use the following scriptures to condone their actions... "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women"... verse 14 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit " (Acts 8:5-17). Philip, like most brethren would have discussed the truth with these people. Philip did not preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, but his message had elements of that gospel in it (Acts 8:5) and Jesus Christ certainly is the center of the gospel, being the King that will establish the kingdom of God at His return. The word "concerning" in verse 12 is the Greek word peri which means "around or respect to". Philip understood an apostle was given the responsibility of preaching the gospel (Acts 6:6; Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:18), nevertheless moved by what was occurring through the persecution by Saul, he did preach a message, with certain miracles, resulting in the conversion of some which of which the scripture does not tell us these people believed his message. And though, as a deacon (Acts 6:5), Philip baptised some, they could not receive the Holy Spirit as he was not sanctioned to lay hands upon them. Later after Peter and John preached the gospel to Samaria (Acts8:25) in verse 26, Philip gets a message to go to Gaza which resulted in the baptism of an Ethiopian eunuch. After the baptism, Philip leaves the eunuch and goes to Caesarea. It seems obvious that Peter and John saw the work Philip did in Samaria, and ordained him and Evangelist... "And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven (Acts 6:5); and abode with him" (Acts 21:8). TO BE CONTINUED...