Is “That Prophet” Alive Today?

The Rise of False Prophets

Section I – Is “That Prophet” Alive Today?

BY DAVID C. PACK

Among numerous other titles, the leader of the first splinter to emerge from the WCG declares himself to be “That Prophet” of Deuteronomy 18:15. Is this true? If you attend this organization, should this concern you? What does the Bible teach about this prophet? What did Mr. Armstrong teach about him? Much more is at stake than most even begin to recognize. Here is the truth about “That Prophet” made plain!

Chapter One –

Prophets—True and False

In the wake of the apostasy—the falling away—each splinter developed its own set of false doctrines. Some groups recognize them and others do not. Naturally, people are the same. Some care, and will anoint their eyes and wake up, and others will not. This is human nature.

The Bible states that there are prophets, and that all of them fall into one of two categories—either true or false. All prophets—past, present or future—are one or the other. They cannot be both, and they cannot be in-between.

Understand that this book must be studied in its entirety to see the grave danger that false prophets pose! You cannot skip around, reading only selected parts, or you will miss the full picture. This subject is much more important than most have realized!

What does God say about prophets? Since He states that there are true and false prophets, He must explain how to distinguish between them. But in this longer section, we will primarily study what the Bible and Mr. Armstrong say about “That Prophet” of Deuteronomy 18:15—and the importance of distinguishing true prophets from false.

Ephesians 2:20 states that the New Testament Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.” The context of that passage shows that Christ’s role is to build the Church—the Body of Christ—“fitly framed together growing unto a holy temple in the Lord.”

Make no mistake! These two high offices merge with Christ’s role in building His Church. So, there must be no misunderstanding the role and identity of a true prophet when Christ sends one. Since Christ builds His Church partly on prophets (those of the Old Testament), He knows the true from the false. He expects us to know the difference as well. Therefore, He would never leave His people in the dark, unable to identify false prophets, and thus vulnerable to their devices and their deceit. You will learn that He does and that the difference is not hard to see for those who look closely.

The apostle Paul said that in the “last days” many “would not endure sound doctrine” and be turned to “fables” (II Tim. 3:1; 4:3-4). Understand! The calling, role and function of prophets have always been matters of doctrine—of correct teaching—within God’s Church. The Bible and Mr. Armstrong make this plain. I intend to leave you with a clear picture of “sound doctrine” regarding true and false prophets, and their roles.

Always False Prophets

False prophets have always been associated with the Church of God “landscape.” On the surface, they rarely appear to be what they are. Just as Paul warned of “false apostles who come as angels of light” (II Cor. 11:13-15), false prophets can also appear to be “angels of light.” The New Testament account describes false prophets confusing God’s people. Therefore, God must show exactly how to distinguish true prophets from counterfeits—impostors—with one’s crown at stake. There could be no room for doubt or confusion. Paul also warned that certain deceivers have an amazing ability to “transform” themselves into something that they are not. Herein lies the danger. History shows that when false leaders or false prophets appear, the majority of people—in the Church or the world-at-large—are perfectly willing to let them get away with their actions!

False prophets were foretold to appear at the end (Matt. 24:3, 11). There will be many before the Great Tribulation arrives. There will almost certainly also be false “Elijahs.” Since many brethren no longer believe Mr. Armstrong was the final Elijah, they have set themselves up to be victims of men who may take this title. The final, great “false prophet” of Revelation will almost certainly claim it. (Our thorough book I Will Send Elijah to Restore All Things explains more about this.)

As you read, do not be paralyzed by the fear of men! Paul also wrote, “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7). People of sound mind are much better able to hold fast to “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1; II Tim. 4:3). God’s mind in yours will always reject unsound doctrine—if you are willing to examine all the facts, and fully “anoint your eyes.” This book addresses the subject of prophets head-on and contains the facts. It explains God’s warning to His people.

The all-powerful living Christ will give you the power to act on the facts, if you ask Him for it. You may soon face a crucial decision, profoundly more important than you now know!

One Splinter Leader

A great many present and former brethren have contacted RCG from the organization where thousands have been told by their leader that he is “That Prophet” of Deuteronomy 18:15! Is this claim true or false? Can it be proven? Must we guess at the answer with salvation at stake? Do you care about the answer? When shown God’s truth, will you act on it?

The reader should note that the term “That Prophet” is used throughout. It is derived from John 1:20-21, where certain priests and Levites were questioning John the Baptist. (You may wish to read this passage before proceeding.) These leaders were referring to Deuteronomy 18:15, which speaks of “a Prophet” whom God would send “like unto me [Moses].” Of course, Moses recorded this prophecy. While we will revisit John 1 momentarily, the reader should know why the use of the term “That Prophet” instead of “a Prophet.” These terms have always been interchangeable.

No Desire to Attack a Man

True ministers of God strive to never attack other human beings. They are for the truth rather than against people—and there is a big difference. Therefore, I have determined to actively resist and teach against any false doctrines that are deceiving people among the splinters. However, the subject of That Prophet presents a unique problem with this policy, requiring some explanation.

When a leader teaches a false concept or doctrine, it rarely has anything to do with himself. Generally, the heresy can be clearly singled out and countered without having to necessarily address the man who teaches it. For instance, if someone teaches that Christians are “born again” in this life or “the Sabbath is done away,” it is easy to counter such claims with the truth, without addressing the particular man or men teaching these errors. But consider! What if the wrong teaching is inseparable from who and what a leader says that he is?

What if the matter is also at the core of who a Christian worships?

Does a true minister say, “I cannot dispel this kind of false teaching because if I do I would also attack its author”? The reasoning might continue, “I know that this man is deceiving thousands of God’s people, but I cannot address his error, or try to help those he is deceiving, because I would also be attacking him, not just his error.” The problem could go further. If a man claimed to be Moses, Elijah or one of the Two Witnesses, must we give him a “free pass” because, in dispelling such an outrageous heresy, we would also appear to be attacking the man making the claim? What if someone stated that God had revealed to him that he was an apostle? Can we not question—prove!—him, asking for facts, evidence and fruit? What if he asserted himself to be Christ? The question looms even larger.

When Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal, was he attacking them? No! God inspired Isaiah to “Cry aloud and spare not!…Show My people their sins!” (58:1). This volume does that—and it will soon be evident that one of the greatest sins a Christian can commit lies at the heart of the subject we are addressing.

I was under no illusion. It was obvious that what is written here would evoke a ferocious attack against me personally. It did. However, a faithful minister always strives to “lay down his life for the sheep.” Believe me, I am not a masochist, and I do not enjoy persecution any more than you. But my job is to help God’s people make it into His kingdom. If I can help even one, but at some personal expense, it is worth it!

Do not be duped into believing that if a minister fights for sheep (John 10:11-13) who are being deluded by a leader elevating himself into extraordinary offices that he does not hold, the minister has attacked, slandered or name-called the man. I hope you can understand that somebody had to write this book, even at the risk of being called an accuser. There is no way to separate the doctrine of “That Prophet” from the man who claims to hold that office! It is my hope that you understand what is at stake.

But we must first learn what a prophet is.

Chapter Two –

The Role of a Prophet

Most people naturally associate prophets with the Old Testament. Since this part of the Bible was written first, it is where we are introduced to prophets—true and false. However, prophet is also a New Testament office, and is so identified twice.

Let’s briefly examine these two scriptures. Ephesians 4:11-13 states this: “And He [Christ] gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

This passage reveals that true prophets can be part of the New Testament ministry and play a role in “perfecting” and “edifying” the Church. At times, the Head of the Church, Christ, does “give” some to be prophets. This much is plain. However, these verses do not explain how prophets interact with the other ranks of the ministry. (In the near future, Jesus Christ will give two men—the Two Witnesses—the office of prophet. God’s people must be able to distinguish these men from impostors. A later chapter in Section I will very carefully prepare you to do this.)

I Corinthians 12, about the Body of Christ, has also often been called the “spiritual gifts” chapter. Here is another plain reference to New Testament prophets. Verse 28 states, “And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings…Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?”

The string of questions at the end of the passage is obviously rhetorical! The reason no answers are given is because each is such an obvious “NO!” More specifically, since all are not prophets, any more than all have any other of these gifts, then we must know exactly how to understand when one is a prophet!

Mr. Armstrong’s Teaching

The above passage reveals that Christ certainly does “give” some to be prophets. As with all the other “gifts of the Spirit” (vs. 4-10), this one comes for a specific purpose. God’s prophets play a specific role with this appointment. As mentioned, some or most may feel that Mr. Armstrong never addressed or explained the role of prophets, but he did, including what prophets are given to do! For those who value what Christ’s apostle taught, the following statements are sufficient to answer whether any man today is either a true prophet, a false prophet or “That Prophet.”

For those who do value what Mr. Armstrong taught, the first statement could resolve the matter and end the book! Notice:

“Emphatically I am NOT a prophet, in the sense of one to whom God speaks specially and directly, revealing personally a future event to happen or new truth, or new and special instruction direct from God—separate from, and apart from what is contained in the Bible. And I never have claimed to be.

“There is no such human prophet living today!

“The Bible is the written Word of God—and, for our time now, it is COMPLETE! Never have I believed or claimed that God reveals to me new truths not contained in the Bible—in addition to, or apart from the Bible…

“Let’s take a look at the Church of God of the first century, as we find it revealed in the Book of Acts, beginning from the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D. The Bible was not fully written—only the Old Testament—in 31 A.D. God then was still communicating new truth, instruction and knowledge directly and personally to prophets. As the Church progressed, it was the function of a prophet to communicate TO THE APOSTLES special messages which God had personally revealed to them. Others were inspired in the writing of the books of the New Testament.

“So we read, in Acts 11:28 and 21:10-11, of the prophet Agabus. But today we have the COMPLETE Word of God, for our time, in the Bible. There are no such prophets—EXCEPT FALSE ONES.”

Personal, Tomorrow’s World, Feb. 1972

This powerful statement bears examination! First, Mr. Armstrong makes absolutely clear that there are no prophets alive today. He said this almost thirty-five years ago! Only the most technical mind would suggest there may now be a prophet alive born after February 1972, the date of Mr. Armstrong’s article. Obviously, no serious person would try to cite such a loophole!

Second, Mr. Armstrong states that the function of prophets in the New Testament is to inform apostles of new revelations from God. Put another way, without a living apostle, there can be no true prophets! This was also made absolutely clear. Do you believe Mr. Armstrong correctly understood this? Would one holding the highest office in the Church (apostle) be confused about the role of those holding the next most important lower office with which apostles interact? The idea is absurd.

Third, Mr. Armstrong is blunt about the fact that anyone claiming to be a prophet today must be false! (We will understand later how the Two Witnesses fit with Mr. Armstrong’s statement, including their interaction with an apostle.)

These three points are crystal clear to all who believe that God used Mr. Armstrong to “restore all things” to the Church. Remember that he knew he was an apostle. And he often quoted Ephesians 2:20. Would God leave His servant blind in regard to the role of the only other office that Christ said formed the foundation of the Church, when that office was subordinate to him? Of course not!

Only With Apostles

Only now can one see why Mr. Armstrong gave the understanding that he did in this quote. Prophets work with apostles. God has always used this pattern to place truth into His Church. Let’s put this another way. You can have an apostle without a prophet, but you cannot have a true prophet without an apostle! Do you see this? Then, we should not only understand this is true, but why. I would never have understood a prophet’s role (any more than any other truth) unless an apostle had taught it to me. That happened—and I am determined to remember it! Are you?

Here is a statement from MYSTERY OF THE AGES, which Mr. Armstrong called his most important book. While it strengthens the above quote, it also demonstrates that he never moved from his previous understanding:

“There was no such doctrinal committee in the Headquarters Church at Jerusalem. All teaching came from Christ through the apostles and a few times Christ communicated to apostles via the prophets (of which there are none in God’s Church today since the Bible for our time is complete). God’s Church today, as in the first century, receives its teachings from the living Christ, through an apostle, just as in A.D. 31.”

p. 350

This statement is consistent with what we read previously. Note at this point that anyone professing to be a prophet bringing “new truth” (purported to be understanding “on top of Mr. Armstrong’s foundation”) cannot possibly be bringing truth. It may be new, but it cannot be true—all loud assertions by self-appointed prophets notwithstanding! Remember, Philadelphians are told, “hold fast what you have” (Rev. 3:11), not “hold most of it fast and let some of it go” or “hold that fast which you have and add ridiculous prophetic nonsense (“revelations”) on top of it.” (I do not suggest that God’s Church cannot grow to see existing truths more clearly and, because truth only enters the Church through apostles, Christ could use this office to add more to the existing framework.) It is no accident that Christ ties “let no man take your crown” with “hold fast what you have.” Honestly examine this verse for what it says!

Mr. Armstrong long understood both his apostolic role and that of a prophet. Before continuing, realize that anyone who believes that there are true prophets alive today disagrees with Mr. Armstrong. Recognizing that your crown is at stake, are you prepared to do this? Should you not at least be open-minded to considering the remaining information in this book?

The book The Government of God has one entire chapter and parts of several others devoted to explaining the nature and function of prophets in the New Testament. What is written in that book forms the reader’s foundation of understanding, and cannot be separated from the contents of this book. It also covers the role of apostles in detail, including how Christ teaches His Church through this office, as well as how it interacts with prophets.

Sleight of Hand

Most people have witnessed a magic show. They have experienced magicians who have everyone present wondering, “What happened?” or “How did he do that?” Often the most amazing tricks involve sleight of hand. We need to see how this man ignored fundamental understanding of what Mr. Armstrong taught and the Bible teaches, and got away with it.

Let’s look closely at his effective use of sleight of hand to pull this off, and how most were so fooled that they did not know to call him on it.

What the Splinter Leader Claiming To Be “That Prophet” Did!

In this light, let’s examine another statement from Mr. Armstrong in MYSTERY OF THE AGES before moving on. For our purposes here, it is all-important. Mr. Armstrong included a vital section of the book (actually several) wherein he explained the various responsibilities of all the offices that Christ had established within His Church, including prophets.

The Philadelphia Church of God now owns the copyright to, and has reproduced, MYSTERY OF THE AGES. Remember again that this organization professes to be holding fast to all that Mr. Armstrong taught. Take a moment to read the next statement from Mr. Armstrong, recognizing that the portion in bold has been deleted by its leader from the new version that PCG offers:

“The prophets set in the foundation of the Church are those of the Old Testament, whose writings were used to form a considerable part of New Testament and gospel teaching and functioning. No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church.

“Evangelists were leading ministers, proclaiming the gospel to the public, even raising up local churches and having supervision over some churches under the apostle. Therefore an evangelist may hold executive functions under the apostle in the Church headquarters or work today.”

pp. 244-245

The deletion of the portion in bold is its own stunning revelation about this organization. Sadly, most who are members there seem to still have no idea that their leader has deleted this crucial portion of Mr. Armstrong’s text. Nevertheless, the statement is plain. Prophets never hold “administrative, executive or preaching functions” in God’s Church. This deceived leader’s assertions notwithstanding, there are no exceptions to this rule! And we will learn that this even applies to the Two Witnesses.

But there are other, different reasons this man could not be That Prophet.

Chapter Three –

Identifying “That Prophet”

Let’s establish a premise regarding That Prophet. If we begin our examination of this figure with the conclusion that the splinter leader declaring himself to be its fulfillment is wrong in his claim, then who is or who will be That Prophet? Can we know?

Yes, and the answer is not difficult.

The Prophecy

The reader needs a picture of Moses’ prophecy for later reference. We will refer to it often. Read Deuteronomy 18:15-22 carefully:

“The Lord your God will raise up unto you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brethren, like unto me; unto him you shall hearken; According to all that you desire of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto you, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: you shall not be afraid of him.”

We saw that Mr. Armstrong taught about prophets in a general way. Let’s now learn what he taught specifically about “That Prophet.” Then we will examine why he taught this as he did. Let’s remove all “mystery” cloaking this subject.

Mr. Armstrong was never in doubt about who That Prophet is. For many years, the Church understood the correct answer as a basic article of belief among God’s true doctrines. I was first taught it in the late 60s as a student at Ambassador College—and I still have my sophomore “Deuteronomy” notes written directly into my margin in 1968 from Old Testament Survey Bible class!

Now carefully read this statement from Mr. Armstrong:

“The time is just before the RESURRECTION of the just, at Christ’s coming. As Moses delivered the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery, so CHRIST is coming to deliver modern Britain and America from the now-impending Babylonish slavery. (See Deut. 18:15; Acts 7:37; Jer. 23:5-8.)”

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY, p. 173

This statement is also found in the August 1979 issue of The Plain Truth, when Mr. Armstrong was reprinting this large book serially. The emphasis is his. It explains, with two other verses included, who Mr. Armstrong knew would fulfill the role of this great Prophet, and leaves no doubt that Jesus Christ is That Prophet!

We have asked whether God would have left Mr. Armstrong in the dark on the role of prophets in the Church. Now we must ask a much bigger question. Could Mr. Armstrong be so confused that he did not know who would fulfill Deuteronomy 18:15-22? Could he have somehow been deceived about a prophecy as important as the Coming of Christ and His bringing God’s government to earth? Is it “no big deal” that many today wrongly believe that this great Prophet is really some obscure local Church pastor?

At best, we might theorize that a local pastor professing himself to be “That Prophet” could have temporarily been a real prophet had God used him to reveal truth to Mr. Armstrong during his lifetime. Of course, had this happened, Mr. Armstrong would have recognized this man as a true prophet of God and identified him as such to the Church, and we would all have become familiar with him. (Remember, however, that this would still not qualify such a man to be THAT Prophet.) He would have been “number two” in the Church, outranking all other ministers! So, to quote Paul, “I speak as a fool!”

Obviously, none of this happened!

Commonly Understood Truth

Before leaving what the Church taught, we must include two quotes from other early WCG publications. Note the original, 58-Lesson Bible Correspondence Course. In the early years, the entire membership of the WCG was urged to diligently study these lessons, and of course, most of the “old-timers”—some of you—did this. It was written in great detail and contained much valuable information. While Mr. Armstrong did later shorten it to 32 Lessons, because of minor errors that he had grown out of, and partly because of expense, it is clear from his above statements that he never left or altered his understanding of who That Prophet would be.

The next statement is very direct:

“Is Moses therefore referred to as a type of Christ? Acts 7:37. The word ‘prophet’ refers to Christ. Note the words, ‘Like unto me.’ Also see Acts 3:20-22. What did God send Jesus Christ to deliver us from? Rom. 3:24-25.

“comment: Moses, sent by God to deliver Israel from physical bondage, was a type pointing to Christ whom God sent to deliver repentant believers from spiritual bondage!”

Lesson 25, 1960, 1969

The prophecy is written in a way that Moses is identified as a type of Christ, not an end-time, self-appointed “That Prophet” local church pastor that thousands now follow!

The Cause of Stephen’s Death

Note Mr. Armstrong’s reference to Acts 7:37, and that Stephen speaks there directly from Deuteronomy 18:15: “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me: Him shall you hear.” Just moments later, Stephen was stoned by his audience, in part for what he said here. The reason he quoted Deuteronomy 18 is because of an antecedent in Acts 6:14. Stephen was being accused of “blasphemy and speaking against Moses” (vs. 11). Verse 14 contains the specific charge—and identifies who is That Prophet. Notice: “For we have heard him [Stephen] say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”

Stephen’s purpose in quoting Deuteronomy 18:15 was to show his accusers that “this Jesus of Nazareth” was the very one who would fulfill Moses’ prophecy! In context, the account reveals that he was trying to explain that he was not “against” Moses, but that he understood Moses! Stephen recognized that Moses was obviously talking about Christ as the fulfillment of That Prophet! What could be plainer? The Jews simply did not comprehend what Stephen understood about this Prophet’s identity—because they had rejected Jesus as the Christ. They were furious with what he said.

This is the problem with some today who, like the Jews, never had clear knowledge of who would be That Prophet!

Now grasp this. Do not miss the fact that these same Jews killed Stephen when he tried to explain this truth to them! Remember their perspective on this verse when we study John 1:20-21! The subject of Christ, and this includes all of His roles, is one that can make people extremely angry.

I have taken the time to explain this because the Correspondence Course made this plain well over forty-five years ago. The entire Church believed it—in fact, no one ever questioned it. It was basic doctrine understood by all. Not until the mid-90s did anyone doubt Christ’s future fulfillment of That Prophet!

Who will you believe?

Another statement should be examined at this point:

“‘For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ’ (John 1:17). Was Moses ever acquainted with grace and truth? Did Jesus ignore the law? Did these two prophets—one the founder of Israel and mediator of the Old Covenant, the other the Son of God and Mediator of the New Covenant—have anything in common?…

“Jesus descended from Judah. Moses came from Levi. Both were sons of Abraham. Jesus was a ‘babe in a manger.’ Moses was a babe in a boat. Moses was born a slave. Jesus was the single object of intense persecution by a king whom Satan inspired to exterminate Him while He was yet a child. Moses was adopted into Pharaoh’s family and became a prince of Egypt. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. Moses was a general of the armies of Egypt. Jesus was Captain of the Host. Moses fled for his life into exile in Sinai, away from Egypt. Jesus was taken, to save His life, in exile into Egypt by His parents…

“Moses was the main prototype of the great Prophet to come—Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews also compared the two prophets. ‘Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession [profession, KJV]. He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God’s house. Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house…Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later’ (Heb. 3:1-3,5).

“Both Jesus and Moses were faithful to their tasks and their callings. They accomplished the work of God in their respective ages. Yet Moses was a figure and a type of the Prophet to come—Jesus the Messiah or Anointed of God.”

A Tale of Two Prophets, 1977-78

It is obvious that the author parallels the life of Moses with the life of Christ. A Tale of Two Prophets was a long booklet, including much additional information. In it, the author also parallels the role of Moses with the role of Christ. This was the entire point of this very extensive booklet. Remember, Moses was inspired by Christ Himself (as the God of the Old Testament) to say that this prophet would be “like unto me.” This is very important and identifies the only possible candidate to be a type of Moses!

Jesus Christ alone lived certain events in His own physical life that either did fulfill or will fulfill roles in a way that closely patterned Moses’ life!

Moses ruled physical Israel. Christ rules spiritual Israel. Moses judged Israel and appointed others to help him. Christ will judge the world with the help of the saints. Moses led physical Israel from physical Egypt. Christ leads spiritual Israelites out of spiritual Egypt. Moses was a man “mighty in word and deed” (Acts 7:22) in Egypt. As the God who designed and created the universe, this is obviously true of Christ. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant and Jesus is the New Testament mediator. Moses and Christ each brought the law from the Lawgiver—the Father—to the Church, of the Old and New Testaments. Both were threatened and persecuted. And…Moses and Christ were both prophets!

Moses was—by far—the greatest type of Christ, and vice versa, that the Bible identifies. There is more to be said later about this from the New Testament about exactly why Christ was not only the greatest, but also the ultimate Prophet. We will learn that Revelation states that even Laodiceans understand these basic verses.

Prepare to be surprised!

Two Key Scriptures

We have seen what Mr. Armstrong and others wrote about That Prophet. There are other passages that speak directly about this topic.

Mr. Armstrong regularly repeated three things. First, “Don’t believe me, believe your Bible” (often citing Paul: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good”). Second, “Let the Bible interpret the Bible.” Third, “Always start with the most basic scriptures and build from that point.” (The second and third are among the once, but now less familiar, Twelve Rules of Bible Study).

We must employ all three principles with this subject.

Acts 3:20-23

Let’s now absolutely prove who is That Prophet, allowing the Bible to interpret itself: “And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from the people” (Acts 3:20-23).

The apostle Peter plainly—absolutely unmistakably!—equates Jesus Christ with the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15! This is why Mr. Armstrong taught this truth as he did! There is no other possible way to read this passage—at least not for the honest mind.

Surely there has never been, or ever could be, any human prophet whose every word could be heard by all people, and we could add, who have ever lived. Certainly, no human being could ever achieve this. Moses told his audience long ago that they would “hear” this Prophet. How would this be possible if this figure came beyond their lifetime? When Stephen quoted Moses, in Acts 7, he told his audience that they also would hear this Prophet. I repeat: How would this be possible if this person were to come beyond their lifetime?

The only Prophet that all people from all previous ages could hear is Jesus Christ! He is the only possible “candidate” who could be heard “In all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.” Of course, literally, beginning in the near future, everyone will hear everything that Christ speaks!

So, there is only one conceivable way that any person alive today could claim to be “That Prophet”—he would eventually have to claim that his writings and “revelations” are to become part of Scripture! How so? This is the only way that all human beings—from Creation through the Great White Throne Judgment—could ever be exposed to such a man’s prophecies.

Do you see—do you clearly understand—this point? Remember, the words of true prophets form part of the foundation of truth on which the Church is built. And Mr. Armstrong explained that the Bible for our time is complete!

Peter also mentions how “all [God’s] holy prophets since the world began” have talked about the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15. I have given entire sermons showing that every single prophet (along with all other servants of God), beginning with Abel, have pointed to the Coming of Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom. It can be easily proven that when Peter said this, he knew exactly what he was saying. Of course, God was inspiring him, and that should be enough to believe it! (Our book The Work of God – Its Final Chapter! covers this understanding in detail.)

Jeremiah 23:5-8

Recall that in THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN PROPHECY, Mr. Armstrong paralleled Deuteronomy 18:15 with both Acts 7:37 and Jeremiah 23:5-8! Why? Because Jeremiah’s words form the core of an important millennial prophecy describing Christ’s Return. That prophecy refers to “raising unto David a Righteous Branch” and “a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” It also states that “in His days Judah shall be saved.” This obviously parallels Deuteronomy 18.

Carefully study all of Jeremiah 23. Most of it is about false prophets! But verses 5-8 are referring to Christ, and are central to the chapter. God inspires Jeremiah to include this section because the ultimate great Prophet—who stands above all of the false prophets plaguing both ancient and modern national Israel, and the Church—is Jesus Christ! No description of false prophets is complete without contrasting them to the greatest Prophet of all time! This is the point of Jeremiah 23:5-8, and it does this!

Two pivotal passages explain this chapter’s time setting—that it is a warning for our time! Notice: “In the latter days you shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.”

This is a stunning statement—and powerful warning—from God (vs. 20-21) for those who will receive it!

All false prophets claim that they are sent and inspired by God. He declared that this is what happens. God wanted His people at the end of the age to be warned about their deception and, by now, you recognize that I am doing this. Notice further that these prophets are known to “lie” (vs. 25). The biggest way that they do this is by claiming, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!” Then they presumptuously present these dreams—usually supposed revelations from God—“in [God’s] name.” This should strike deep fear into you, because all should greatly fear to follow one of these false prophets.

If someone claims to be not only a prophet but also to be “That Prophet,” he is both a liar and a blasphemer! (He makes himself God!) He may be “running,” but God has certainly not sent him! If he claims titles belonging to the all-powerful living Jesus Christ, then he is no less than a blaspheming idol, seeking to replace Christ with himself. This is serious—but I told you that this book would be blunt!

There is much more to consider.

Chapter Four –

Christ’s Great Warning

The parallel chapters of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are generally referred to as the Olivet Prophecy. We will see that there are several powerful warnings in Matthew’s account, all referencing either deception or false prophets, or both.

Three times, in Matthew 24, Christ warns of those who would come and “deceive many.” Notice verse 5: “For many shall come in My name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Surely none will doubt that this has happened—both in the world and in the Church. Many have, in fact, come “in [Christ’s] name,” which means by His authority, and many—actually vast millions—have been deceived. But this is also true of God’s Church. About 80 percent of the WCG have left the truth. Certainly “many” were deceived there!

But verse 11 is more specific. While it also warns of “many” being deceived, the difference here is that the deception is at the hands of “false prophets.” This unquestionably is a warning to the Church!

How do we know?

Verses 12-13 speak directly to the Church. It is only in the Church where people may not endure to the end. It is only in the Church where iniquity (lawlessness) could abound in such a way as to cause godly love to grow cold (normal brotherly love will certainly disappear in the world). These are conditions in the Church!

Do not miss this crucial point. False prophets are foretold to deceive THE CHURCH at the end!

Most Ignore Warnings

Keep this fundamental truth in mind: there has never been an important warning that christ has given to his church that has not been largely ignored!

Ponder this! Will you ignore the stunning warning of the next four-verse passage? Remember, Christ is warning the Church about deception at the end.

The world has always been deceived (Rev. 12:9)! So, only with the above starting point in mind can we properly address the specific nature of Matthew’s warning. It speaks of conditions in the world and in the Church just before Christ’s Return: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ or there; believe it not, For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not” (24:23-26).

Several elements stand out here, and each requires consideration. First, Jesus warns His disciples that they could be deceived. Notice the repeated use of the word “you.” But think. Since the disciples did not live in the end time, but we do, the warning was not for them but rather for us. See Matthew 24:3!

Is There a “Very” Elect?

The splinter leader who claims to be That Prophet has been telling his followers that “God’s very elect can never be deceived.” Because Christ uses the phrase “if possible” (vs. 24), this man cites this phrase as proof that deception, for the very elect, is impossible. He tries to make a distinction between the “elect” and the “very elect,” when the Bible makes no such distinction! So many have asked me about this passage that it must be clarified and understood. The idea that it is not possible to deceive the elect is absolutely ludicrous. But we need to understand why it is so preposterous—and why it is such a dangerous trap!

Consider! What is the point of Christ warning His disciples—or the “very” elect—about false prophets and false Christs if they cannot possibly be deceived? Think hard about this. Jesus also reminds them that “Behold, I have told you before” (vs. 25). This means He had previously warned them about this same danger. What is the point of multiple warnings, if there is no danger? It insults God to suggest that free moral agents cannot be deceived (particularly when the god of this world has not yet been bound). This is because it makes His warnings pointless. This faulty reasoning parallels classic, long-time Protestant thinking of “once-saved-always-saved.” Just substitute this with “once enlightened, can’t be deceived.”

Those accepting this man’s line of reasoning simply have not understood their Bible. Such people are already desperately deceived! Realize that it also serves a false prophet’s purpose to tell you that if you follow him, you cannot be deceived. If someone follows a false prophet or a false Christ, he is already terribly deceived. Understand what has happened.

This extremely clever deception proves in itself the truth of Jesus’ words. His reference to potential deception (“if possible”) is not a hollow warning—it is not Bible “filler material.” Actually, Christ’s instruction in Matthew is one of the greatest warnings in the New Testament!

False Christs

Deception at the end is apparently so great that the potential exists for God’s people to follow not only false prophets, but also false christs! Jesus is saying that the subtlety and sheer deception necessary for such a false prophet or false messiah to succeed must be staggering! To brush off this greatest of all warnings as not a warning at all (because it cannot happen to the “very elect”) is one of the greatest deceptions i have ever heard!

If you have bought into this—WAKE UP!

Understand. A false prophet, let alone a false messiah, is already a deceiver. He is not slowly becoming one. He is already a proven, cunning deceiver! It is in his interest to convince you that following him eliminates all danger of deception. Do you understand this? Will you consider it? I repeat, if this means you, WAKE UP! All who follow this man are in grave jeopardy—NOW!

It has been my experience that people always start by assuming that other people are either deceived or in danger of it. Like the old saying “accidents only happen to others,” most seem to unconsciously suppose that this is true of deception. This becomes its own enormous deception!

In summary, if one claims to be not only a true prophet, but also That Prophet, then you are in the presence of a false prophet and a false christ! I cannot state powerfully enough the serious peril that you are in! It is hoped that by now you have been sobered by Mr. Armstrong’s words and the words of your Bible. They are absolutely compatible! If you are part of the organization following That Prophet, you are in the presence of a false, blasphemous human idol who seeks to “steal your crown” through directing your worship to himself. If this man tells you that he is trying to help you, then remember Satan told Eve that if she would do what he said, “Thou shalt not surely die.”

I tell you, do not believe either your false leader, or me alone, believe your Bible and Mr. Armstrong!

When faced with those saying that Christ is “here or there,” Jesus warns, “believe it not” (Matt. 24:26). Yet, today, many former brethren now follow another, different false prophet who purports this very thing. Will you believe false prophets and false Christs, or the true Jesus Christ, who states that deception will get much worse (vs. 24) and that some false prophets and false Christs will perform miracles, deceiving many, including many brethren—some of whom now believe that it is impossible for this to happen to themselves?

Does this concern you? It should. The Head of the Church foretold that this would happen and that many people—some of your brethren—would be duped when it does. None could have believed that 120,000 people (80%) would walk away from the truth, and yet they did! But perhaps the most astonishing fact is that they did this much more easily than most could have ever dreamed.

Will you believe that Jesus Christ meant what He said?

Chapter Five –

Seducers Grow Worse!

Paul warned that “in the last days…evil men and seducers shall wax [grow] worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them” (II Tim. 3:1, 13-14).

I learned the truth from God through Herbert W. Armstrong. Do you still feel this way about your calling?

Classic Example

Now consider the following classic example of how a deceiver mangles and twists the Bible.

Thousands have been taught in PCG that John 1:19-21 validates the idea that there is a difference between “That Prophet” and “the Christ.” Before continuing, remember that we learned from Stephen’s martyrdom that the Jews were deceived about this. Their confusion was so mixed with hate that they killed the man who tried to straighten them out. Be careful that this same murderous spirit does not claim you as I try to help you straighten out this same matter.

Recognize again that this book takes Stephen’s position.

Now notice the account that is tripping up so many: “And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias [Elijah]? And he said, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No.”

The explanation offered for why this passage supposedly teaches that Christ is not That Prophet is truly pitiful. But, since it is deceiving thousands, it needs clarification.

The rationale goes like this: Since John’s questioners thought that Christ and That Prophet were two different people, then they must be! This reasoning continues with “the Jews kept the ‘oracles of God’” (Rom. 3:1-2) and then with, “They are the authority who would know this matter.” That’s it—that’s the explanation offered! But this is utterly ridiculous.

Here is why.

The Jews Were Unconverted

The Jews were carnal-minded—meaning unconverted! This will become more important to understand in a moment. They did not even recognize Christ as the Messiah when He came (soon after this conversation with John)! Ask yourself, how could those who did not even have God’s Spirit be an authority on any supposed difference between That Prophet and the Messiah—particularly since they did not even recognize the Messiah when they saw Him? This alone makes them very poor “authorities” on this subject—or virtually any important subject. Yes, God used the Jews to preserve the Old Testament Scriptures and His Sacred Calendar. They are “custodians” of these. But their rejection of Christ has always been its own towering proof that they do not understand what they preserve! Remember, the Jews have kept the Passover a day late for millennia. This is but one proof that they do not comprehend what God used them to physically preserve. Space prevents listing the many additional errors in classic Jewish theology, among them the fundamentals of even who and what is God.

Consider further that John the Baptist was asked whether he was “Elijah.” Obviously, the Jews had Malachi 4:5-6 in mind when they asked this question. I now ask the reader: Did John the Baptist fulfill the Elijah role?

Let’s look at this more closely, and see its connection to more of what the Jews could not see. Matthew 17:12-13 reveals that John the Baptist was the Elijah who preceded Christ’s First Coming. (Mr. Armstrong was the second Elijah [Matt. 17:11], preceding Christ’s Second Coming—and our book on this subject conclusively proves it.) However, notice how John answered. He simply said, “I am not.” He almost certainly meant that he was not a reincarnation of the real Elijah. Yet, we know that he was the first prophesied Elijah! Similarly, Mr. Armstrong, also not a literal reincarnation of Elijah, would answer that he was not Elijah when asked if he was. Also, however, it is also true that he did not fully realize his fulfillment of this role until late in his life!

Here is the point! Christ called John as great a human being as had ever lived (Matt. 11:11). Therefore, he was a deeply converted man! If he could be such a great man (as well as converted)—and yet not be certain that he was the Elijah—then the carnal-minded Jews who rejected and crucified Christ could not possibly be authorities on the identity of That Prophet. How could they have known, one way or the other, whether That Prophet was Christ? The answer is, they could not.

But the point goes further. The Jews also could not discern John the Baptist for who he was! In fact, the Jews missed the latter-day Elijah for the same reason: They simply cannot tell who is who in Bible prophecy!

Do not let a deceiver twist basic scriptures into a tangled ball, making them appear to say what they do not!

“The Testimony of Jesus Christ”

Christ described those of Laodicea as “poor, wretched, miserable, blind and naked.” He also said they would lack zeal, be lukewarm and have a smug “rich-and-increased-with-goods-and-have-need-of-nothing” attitude. These are very, very strong words. They mean that this era is in a terrible spiritual condition. However, there is a critical element of prophecy that even the Laodiceans grasp!

Let’s learn it! Revelation 12:17 describes those who are not taken to the Place of Safety. These described there as the “remnant of her seed” are Laodicea, and the Church has always recognized this. Notice the two signs identifying these people:

They (1) “keep the commandments of God, and (2) have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

None question what are the commandments of God. But what is “the testimony of Jesus Christ”? Again, let the Bible interpret itself. Notice: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). Note this scripture well, because even Laodiceans understand the basic “spirit of prophecy.”

Remember, Christ is the greatest Prophet of all time, and the only prophet ever compared to Him is Moses. Jesus understands the essence—the core—the “spirit”—behind the third of the Bible that is prophecy. Certainly this includes knowledge of all the prophecies about His Second Coming. After all, most Bible prophecies are embodied in His Return, when He sets up His kingdom. This has always been the central focus or “spirit of [all] prophecy”! It is the very centerpiece of the gospel!

Here is the point. Even Laodiceans understand that Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, as That Prophet, is the very embodiment of the “spirit of prophecy”—the “testimony of Jesus Christ.”

We are now ready to ask a central—and most crucial—question. If the Laodiceans understand this much about Christ’s role when He returns—and they are called “blind” by Christ (Rev. 3:17)—then could the leader of the Philadelphian era have somehow remained ignorant—blind—for 52 years about who That Prophet was? It is utterly absurd to suggest that Mr. Armstrong did not understand this point. Imagine him erroneously teaching, for over half a century, that That Prophet was Christ, and then coming up in the Resurrection and learning that an obscure local Church pastor that he barely—or never—knew was really That Prophet!

The living Christ led His apostle from 1934 to 1986. Could anyone seriously believe that the living Christ was not competent enough or would neglect to reveal to Mr. Armstrong His (Christ’s own) role as That Prophet? Would Christ forget something so monumentally important?—or do we suppose that Mr. Armstrong was too dense to recognize such a vital doctrine? Did Mr. Armstrong forget or did he somehow neglect to properly restore something so enormous, when he was prophesied to “restore all things”?

Ridiculous!

Chapter Six –

Fear, Flattery, Filthy Lucre and False Prophets

Take a moment to review Deuteronomy 18:22. Christ inspired Moses to warn God’s people to “not be afraid of” false prophets. This is because they do engender fear in their followers! Actually, this is their central goal. Fear is generally how they motivate followers.

Any false prophet “worth his salt” knows he must make his followers fear to leave him. One way he does this is to promise them things if they stay with him. Also, if people leave, he knows that he loses financial support. No mystery here!

Titus warns of “gainsayers…vain talkers and deceivers…whose mouths must be stopped” because they “teach things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake” (1:9-11). In the end, false teachers always have a money angle hidden in their “new teachings.” II Peter 2:1-3 explains that the false prophets of the Old Testament (of which Peter was speaking) functioned like false teachers in the New Testament. Verse 3 shows that it is through “covetousness which they with feigned words make merchandise of you.” Another way of stating this is false prophets try to deceive you so that they can take God’s money from you!

Do you believe these plain warnings?

A Warning Long Ago

Here is another more extensive statement from the Correspondence Course about the psychology that false prophets use on their followers. Notice the “fear angle” and the “money angle.” Carefully follow the logic and teaching. It may help unlock your mind from the fear preventing you from leaving one employing these tactics:

“But just HOW would you KNOW whether a man is a ‘false prophet?’

“Would YOU know, for sure, how to recognize a false prophet?

“There is one absolutely SURE WAY to know.

“Here it is: When you search the Bible from beginning to end, you’ll find the false prophets have had ONE THING IN COMMON. They have always put the emphasis on a promised desirable RESULT, while ignoring, rejecting, or opposing GOD’S WAY to that result. They always treat the EFFECT, not the CAUSE. But the TRUE prophets of God have always put emphasis on the right CAUSE—on God’s WAY to the desired blessings…

“But the false prophets ignore or oppose God’s Law. They encourage people in continuing their WRONG WAY. They ignore or tacitly approve this WRONG WAY. They work for PEACE, for prosperity, for desired GOOD THINGS, while encouraging people to travel the OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM those desired ends!…[Author’s Note: They may even tell you that they are continuing God’s Work.]

“King Ahab gathered together these false prophets before him, and asked: ‘Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?’ And they answered, ‘Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king’ (I Kings 22:6). These false prophets advised the king to go a WRONG WAY, and promised a GOOD RESULT.

“…‘Thus saith the ETERNAL of Hosts, Hearken NOT unto the words of the prophets that preach unto you: they make you vain:’ that is, they flatter, approve, encourage vanity—‘they speak a vision of their own heart, and NOT out of the mouth of the ETERNAL. They say unto them that despise me, The Eternal hath said, Ye shall have peace;’—they promise a GOOD RESULT, while approving a WRONG WAY. Or, to quote from the Revised Standard Version: ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets (preachers) who prophesy (preach) to you, filling you with VAIN HOPES; they speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the ETERNAL. They say continually to those who despise the Word of the ETERNAL, “It shall be well with you”; and to every one who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, “No evil shall come upon you.”’”

“That is, go THE WRONG WAY, and there will be no penalty—no evil RESULT. They promise a good result for a wrong cause.

“This 23rd chapter of Jeremiah is a prophecy about conditions in OUR TIME, NOW shortly before Christ’s return as KING of kings to rule the whole earth. Notice, in verse 20: ‘… in the LATTER DAYS, ye shall consider it perfectly.’”

Test 6, Lessons 21-24, 1960, 1968

Promising Something

Notice that this quote spoke of false prophets “promising you a good result.” Now ask: “Am I being repeatedly told that if I follow my leader, he is my ticket to the Place of Safety?” No one wants to go through the Tribulation. I don’t! I doubt you do. It certainly “plays well in Peoria” to promise protection through this horrendous period, unlike all others. To be “protected,” all that one must do is succumb, give his mind to the prophet, and his “new revelations” and “new truths,” and the Place of Safety is secured! The flip side of this is that this man relentlessly threatens his followers with the Tribulation—or the lake of fire—if they leave him!

Be careful of declaring, “Well, our leader is not speaking against the Law!” Yes, he is—and plainly so! Moses wrote the five “Books of the Law,” including Deuteronomy 18:15. If someone tries to convince you that That Prophet is someone other than Christ, he is speaking directly contrary to “the Law,” which has always been far more than the Ten Commandments.

Do you see this?

King Ahab thought he could trust a false prophet, and it cost him his life! Recall that Jeremiah’s prophecy is for those in the “latter days.” He wrote, under inspiration of God, that we today should “consider it perfectly.”

Will you?

Do not let your leader control your mind through fear of missing out on the Place of Safety. He knows that if you leave him, he misses out on God’s tithes (and he will also miss out on the Place of Safety, anyway—and the kingdom of God—if he does not repent). Keep this simple. Peter and Paul knew carnal-minded false prophets could figure out this angle. Certainly then, you and I can. As Christ warned, referencing the abomination of desolation in Daniel, “he who reads, let him understand”—and this includes understanding the many great dangers present at the end of the age. Incidentally, Christ said this in Matthew 24:15, just eight verses before warning of false prophets and false Christs. Review this passage, asking if you are one that Daniel described as the “wise that understand” (12:10).

The Flattery Tool

Jeremiah 23 is a truly remarkable prophecy. Notice that it warns how false prophets “make you vain”—that is, they flatter, approve and encourage vanity. (Remember, the Correspondence Course quoted extensively from it.) The “wise that understand” is also addressed in Daniel 11!

The following passage should inspire and motivate the strong among God’s people! Carefully note: “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed” (vs. 32-35).

This prophecy pictures the trials, tests, difficulties and determination of “strong” people of “understanding” in God’s Church at the end of the age, stating that there will be a people “with understanding…[who] shall instruct many…even to the time of the end.” Mr. Armstrong related that he asked God for understanding more than any other single gift. Obviously, God answered him—and he taught God’s ministry and people to pursue understanding.

This passage proves flatterers get into the Church—and that flattery plays a role in the strategy employed by false prophets.

This is the end time. Will you let a false prophet “cleave to YOU with flattery”? Will you let him “make you vain” by continually telling you how special you are? How you are automatically Philadelphian if you follow him? How you cannot be deceived if you follow him? How you will be protected if you follow him? How you will receive more new and special understanding, if you follow him? These are compelling inducements designed to control you through a combination of fear and flattery. Will you allow clever psychology to CONTROL you?

Force yourself to objectively answer these questions!

Isaiah 8:20 teaches that if leaders (including wizards, false prophets, people with “familiar spirits,” etc.) do not speak according “to the law and to the testimony,” and “if they speak not according to this word [Deuteronomy 18:15-22 is part of God’s word and the law], it is because there is no light in them.” We will see that SOMETHING ELSE is often in them. And this verse is God’s warning about it.

Chapter Seven –

More Characteristics

There are additional elements of character and conduct common to false prophets that need to be examined and understood. The first is introduced with one of the Bible’s most tragic examples.

King Saul’s Demise

King Saul’s love/hate relationship with David is well-known. Most are familiar with this sad but instructive story, where Saul slowly yielded himself to a demon. This account proves that people can start out “little in their own eyes” and yet fall so far from God that they can actually become demon-possessed. In I Corinthians 10:11, Paul was inspired to record that “all these things [the many Old Testament accounts] happened unto them for examples [margin: types]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

What can be learned from Saul’s tragic end?

It would take much time to show how Saul left serving God. Suffice to say that he ignored Samuel’s instruction and slowly came to fear David, once a dear friend, and came to see him as an adversary—a competitor—and twice sought to kill him with a javelin.

In I Samuel 19, an amazing account culminates in verse 24. A demon spirit was said to be “upon Saul” (vs. 9), making him completely crazy (vs. 23-24). The account states that he stripped himself naked and “prophesied” all night. The Hebrew word prophesied is better translated “raged,” and Saul literally did this all night. Incredibly, the result was that people began to say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

This is a curious statement. While at first glance it does not seem to fit the context, it actually does. How? And what is the message for us? Remember, these accounts are written for “our admonition upon whom the ends of the world have come” (I Cor. 10:11)!

Here is the point! False prophets do often rage, sometimes in great anger, and conduct themselves in a bizarre fashion. Strangely, this account reveals that it can be this very conduct that causes people to think themselves in the presence of a prophet of God! Religious people (particularly in a “spiritual” or “church” setting) often reach this wrong conclusion—and this Old Testament example explains why.

What was really occurring was simply a demon controlling a human vessel!

Saul was vexed, and often outright possessed, by a demon. The unwitting and fearful (which was apparently almost everybody in Israel at the time) continued to follow him anyway simply because he was “the king”—and this led them to eventually conclude that he was “among the prophets.” Fear gripped the majority—while only a few hundred people chose to follow David until Saul died! The lesson is that despite the fact that Saul had become a crazy demoniac, most of his subjects continued with him anyway!

This account should truly sober you! It is a characteristic of false prophets and demoniacs to bellow, rage, belittle and attack other people—sometimes relentlessly—to elevate themselves. Apparently, Saul also had a particularly murderous spirit, which repeatedly tried to kill David, or have him killed. Saul became abusive. Yet, few had the courage to stand against him, because he was “the king.” Over time, Saul became a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” One moment, he could be warm, friendly, charming, and David’s best friend, and seconds later a raging murderer seeking to kill David!

Be careful if what is being described is a pattern visible in your leader. It is not of God.

The “Accuser of the Brethren”

Another scripture directly relates to what we have just discussed. Revelation 12:10 calls Satan the “accuser of the brethren.” He attacks, accuses and slanders God’s people “day and night” before God—never letting up. Constant accusation is a common characteristic of those in Satan’s grip!

Let’s consider. As weak and pitiful as is the condition of Laodicea, those of the final era are still God’s people. While very different from Philadelphians, they are still brethren. Never lose sight of this.

Tragically, the PCG leader has, because he has instructed his followers that they can speak to worldly unbelievers, but not to converted Laodiceans.

Reflect a moment! Above all of the qualities that Philadelphians are known for, God named those of the sixth era for brotherly love. While they “hold fast what they have” doctrinally, and have “kept [His] Word,” among others, God actually names them for brotherly love. No true Philadelphian (or Christian, for that matter) continually attacks, slanders, maligns and accuses all the “evil Laodiceans”! Those of the seventh era do keep God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus! Again, they are God’s people! Sadly, it is true that only half will make it into the kingdom of God, and they will have to lose their lives in the Tribulation to get there (Rev. 20:4). But no one with God’s Spirit would ever forbid all contact with them.

It should be a great warning to you if your leader continually attacks and accuses the “evil Laodiceans”! The devil is always the one behind the raging, slandering and relentless attacking of those who need help—from God and their brethren—to awaken!

Recall that Daniel said, “They that understand…shall instruct many.” How does this fit with blasting, lambasting, attacking, slandering and accusing anyone—never mind brethren—through endless name-calling. This will not help awaken God’s people—it will drive them away, and possibly into the lake of fire! No one who loves his fellow man can ignore the seriousness of helping precipitate such a terrible end for those whom GOD calls brethren. The Christ of the Bible would never have His servant declare “civil war” between eras by stating, “We are at war with the Laodiceans.”

If this is your leader, he is wrong and his actions are absolutely ungodly! But they are consistent with the conduct of a raging false prophet!

Failed Prophecies

Another characteristic of false prophets is that few or none of their prophecies ever really come to pass. For instance, if a “prophet” openly identifies (predicts) the man of sin, and states that Christ will destroy this man “with the brightness of His Coming,” and the man subsequently dies of natural causes long before Christ comes—the case with Mr. Armstrong’s successor—this is a failed prophecy, disproving the prophet’s authority!

If a man predicts (in 1995) that the O.J. Simpson trial would “produce a guilty verdict” and that race riots would ensue as a result, and the verdict comes back not guilty—and there are, of course, no race riots—this is a failed prophecy, disproving the prophet’s authority!

If a man predicts an earthquake (in 1994), or any other major event for a specific date, and it occurs even a few hours into the next day—and this happened with the one claiming to be That Prophet—this is a failed prophecy, disproving the prophet’s authority! Close is not good enough. Actually, the chilling truth is that being close means that the man is connected to evil elements in the spirit world!

Do you grasp this?

Demons are also aware of events that God is controlling. In the end, being close to correct is actually worse than if the prophet were far from correct. At least this way he might then have only been speaking presumptuously (Deut. 18:22), without contact from either God or evil spirits.

Carefully reflect on what God declares in Ezekiel 14: “And if the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel” (vs. 9).

If this passage does not sober a false prophet, probably nothing will. But, more important, will it sober you? God reveals that the real source of the false prophet’s delusion is actually HIM—GOD! When a prophet speaks falsely, it is because he has already departed from God, and thus become the recipient of God’s own form of “deception.” As with King Ahab of Israel, for instance, the Bible reveals that God sometimes sends “lying spirits” to carry out His purpose, in that case to deceive Ahab to go to battle where he would die.

This passage in Ezekiel reveals that within the understanding that demons are actually the ones inspiring a false prophet, it is God who has sent one or more of these spirits to fulfill His purpose, which can also be to present a test to God’s people regarding whether or not they will follow those He has not sent.

If a prophet is sent by God, every one of his prophecies will always be perfectly accurate—no exceptions! He would not merely be close to the timing and truth of events “foretold.” He would always be completely correct, if God was sending a warning through him. Never forget this, because God is always right!

But there is an important, related aspect about false prophets.

We Must Ask

The last section described a prediction from the one claiming to be That Prophet about Mr. Armstrong’s successor being the man of sin, and how this man was scheduled for destruction by the “brightness” of Christ at His Return. Besides the fact that this was a failed prophecy, there is another even greater problem with this prognostication. (First, realize that this false prophet simply shifted his “prophecy” about this deceased man to his son—now believing that the son of Mr. Armstrong’s successor would, in fact, be the man of sin. It was sort of, “Oops, I had the wrong WCG leader in mind. Not to worry, it’s the son, not dad.” Incredibly, most of his church seemed to give him a free pass on this.) 

Now let’s understand the much greater problem than having in mind the wrong generation of the same family!

To those with the Spirit of God, the Bible is plain about the identity of the man of sin. Mr. Armstrong taught, and the Church long understood, that the man of sin is the final “false prophet” who will usher in the “beast” (a political/military superdictator), foretold to be given power over a ten-nation combine, often referred to in the Church as the United States of Europe. Virtually no one had any doubts about who the man of sin would be. There were never discussions speculating on where this religious ” might come from. (There were many discussions, however, about when this man might appear.) No one in the Church doubted that he would arise out of the great “woman” church, described variously in Revelation 17:5 as “Babylon,” a “whore” and the “mother of harlots.” The entire Church once understood that this figure would almost certainly be possessed of the devil and would be given special supernatural power by him to perform lying signs and wonders for the purpose of bringing the whole world to worship the beast (II Thes. 2:9). In fact, verses 10 and 11 in the same chapter warn that those who do not “love the truth” would be sent “strong delusion” to believe lies from (and about) the man of sin.

Everyone knew they had better keep this understanding straight!

Any number of books and booklets made this man’s identity most clear. So did many sermons. The most important among them was Who or What Is the Prophetic Beast? The very newest members of the Church understood these things—plainly! Yet, the one claiming to be, in effect, the greatest prophet of all time—That Prophet—no longer understands what 150,000 brethren knew as surely as they knew Christmas and Easter are pagan, Saturday is the Sabbath and God is not a trinity!

You must ask yourself: Is it even remotely within the realm of possibility that a true prophet of God could become confused about the identity of the man of sin, when even widow Jones in Paducah was never confused about this?

Actually, the question grows: Could a true prophet of God (never mind That Prophet) become mixed up about such a fundamental and major centerpiece about how the entire plan of God and prophetic sequence of events at the end of the age would play out? Of course not!

The problem was that this false leader fell into superimposing the truth that the Church is God’s temple with the fact that the man of sin was also foretold in II Thessalonians 2 to “sit in the temple,” claiming to be God. (I can tell you that Mr. Armstrong told me personally, in the middle of a wide-ranging discussion [in about 1980] about prophecy, that these temples could not possibly be one and the same.) This “temple-error” thinking has led this man into a host of other temple-related ideas that could only be described as ridiculous—absolutely absurd! Some of these will be seen in the list of his errors found in a later section of the book.

This list will take the reader deep into other kinds of horribly botched, butchered and mangled understanding of prophecy that this man has fallen into. Consider this. You will learn that he no longer even has a basic understanding of what is the Church’s prophesied commission—the Great Commission of Matthew 24:14 and 28:19-20—which is to announce the kingdom of God to the world and to warn the modern nations of Israel. Having forgotten this, this blind leader openly declared in late 2005 that the Church’s commission is to “expose Satan and his evil everywhere we find him.”

What? Where could he—how could he—come up with such an idea? Certainly not from Mr. Armstrong!—and certainly not from God!

Obsession with obtaining the copyrights to some of Mr. Armstrong’s books and booklets has contributed to the now opaque darkness that has replaced the light of truth once in his thinking. Anger and hatred at those who took the Worldwide Church of God into apostasy has caused so many to lose their sense of proportion—their basic soundness of mind (II Tim. 1:7) toward Scripture—and this is what is propelling the one claiming to be “That Prophet.”

Such leaders—such “prophets”—are no longer (or possibly never were) God’s servants, let alone true prophets. How could even one person believe he was following Christ by following such men? Yet, thousands seem to have no problem.

The real source of this leader’s problem presents itself in the next section.

Prolific Revelations

A less familiar characteristic of false prophets, and this is related to the last two sections, is that they are often extremely prolific in claiming new revelations from God. True prophets always speak plain, simple truth, delivered without frills!

Typically, false prophets claim that they are getting “more and more insight.” They often work late at night (recall that Saul raged all night), while they produce things that are increasingly bizarre, odd and strange. They also claim, and I have seen this several times in my 30-plus-year ministry, that the new understanding they are receiving is coming “faster than they can record it.” This makes no sense if such understanding or supposed new insight were coming from God. If God wants to send a message, why would He give it faster than the prophet could receive it? As a man yields himself to the demon manipulating him, in fact, he does become consumed with his messages and the need to deliver them. The God of peace would never rev His servants to fever pitch. The Bible does not record such a pattern.

I have dealt with any number of demon-possessed people. It is these spirits who create a frenetic, rushed, frantic mindset in those they are vexing or controlling. Remember—God’s Spirit reflects “power, love and a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7). When what is being said, and/or a person’s actions, are continually unsound, it is not coming from God! “Revelations” often occur late at night because spirits know that the mind of a sleep-deprived person grows weaker and more open to outside influence! I have seen this pattern far too often!

Taking More Titles

No description of false prophets is complete without explaining one final characteristic. These deceivers always seem to find new ways to elevate themselves to greater offices and roles! Declaring oneself to hold the second-highest New Testament office—prophet—is, in itself, a huge self-elevation. But it rarely stops there.

This never-ending acquisition of more titles better secures the false prophet’s followers under his spell. The man declaring himself That Prophet also claims he is The Lawgiver, The Voice, King, Father, The Messenger, Teacher of Righteousness, The Nail, among many others! Of course, there will be more in the future. Such is the working of a cult leader.

But these divine and religious titles have all given him a tremendously powerful grip on those whose worship he seeks!

God the Father is the only Lawgiver in the Bible. Jesus Christ will bring and administer the Father’s Law to the whole world at His Return, and Moses is the only human who was ever a type of Christ in this way. It should be clear that anyone claiming to be “The Lawgiver” is taking another role of both God the Father and, in an indirect sense, Christ. This is a second reason that the one claiming to be That Prophet is also a false Christ! Further, Mr. Armstrong and John the Baptist were both Elijahs who filled the roles of “a voice” and “a messenger.” No one else in the New Testament is prophesied to be a similar voice or messenger. But anyone elevating himself into these roles is fully consistent with a false prophet!

It is important to recognize that only Jesus Christ is both an Apostle and a Prophet. Hebrews 3:1 states that He is an Apostle, and we have already proven that He is That Prophet. Christ’s roles are consistent with what Mr. Armstrong taught. Recall that he explained there cannot be a true prophet without a living apostle! This becomes proof that Christ inspired Mr. Armstrong to teach as he did.

Consider! Christ Himself could not have been a true Prophet unless he was also an Apostle. Remember, you can have an apostle without a prophet, but never vice-versa. This explains why God assigned both offices to Christ!

A final warning to all who follow the false prophet described in this book: Should anyone challenge this man about his error regarding That Prophet, he may then feel the need to also declare himself to be an apostle! This could be the means by which he validates his assertion that he is a true prophet. Since there is no living apostle for him to report his “truth” to, he may simply declare himself to hold both offices, even though there is no biblical pattern or example of such! But do not rule this out, particularly since this deceiver claims to be delivering new revelations from God. Remember, the Bible teaches and Mr. Armstrong taught that truth only enters the Church through apostles.

But has this man’s habit of taking titles gone further than any have realized?

Chapter Eight –

A False Christ

The introduction briefly referenced that Christ places leaders into the different New Testament offices that He has designed to administer to and feed His Church, and to do His Work.

Christ Gives Offices—Men Cannot Take Them

It is crucial to understand that Christ gives offices to certain men in His Church. This was briefly explained early in the book. You must comprehend that there is a BIG difference between a man presumptuously taking an office and responsibilities to himself, and a man receiving an office that was given to him by Christ, because he has been chosen for one or more duties or responsibilities. It is absolutely vital to recognize the all-important difference here. Mr. Armstrong knew that Christ had given him certain offices because he could look back, in each case, and see the fruit demonstrated that he held a certain position, office, role or duty—such as the Elijah, rank of Apostle, Watchman to modern Israel and Messenger to the sixth era (the latter of which he explained in MYSTERY OF THE AGES).

In each case, Mr. Armstrong learned through fruit shown over sufficient time that Christ had indeed given him each of these responsibilities. Never did Mr. Armstrong covet an office, then look ahead at how he might fulfill it, follow this by then taking the office on his own authority, with this, in turn, followed by setting out to convince others that he now had the office. This is never the way God’s servants do it! Men truly chosen of God are always able to LOOK BACK over the years to see how God has used them. They do not need to invent reasons why they WILL hold a particular office, and then take it to themselves.

The reader must see the tremendous difference between one who is truly given an office by Jesus Christ, and a man who is a presumptuous, self-promoting impostor who sees one or more offices and titles that he desires, declares himself to have these offices and roles, and then sets out to prove to others that he does.

The critical element that separates those to whom Christ gives an office is humility. The man would have never thought of himself as holding a high office until long after he was already doing the job. The one who takes offices on his own authority is driven by vanity, which eventually always turns into extreme arrogance and worse. The latter, is a person who was seeking to exalt himself. This is either because he is not, or was never, humble. Christ cannot ever use such a person, and “resists” such (Jms. 4:6; I Pet. 5:5). He gives offices to those who want to serve, never to those whose goal is to be served for purposes of self-exaltation!

The fruits proving that a man is chosen of God become readily evident because the man’s humility allows Christ to freely work through him.

Caution

A special caution is in order here: Those who have been “burned” by a false leader, or worse—as with so many of God’s people today—a series of false leaders, have difficulty ever trusting any leaders again. But it can be done. This takes faith in God, but, I repeat, it can be done! The problem grows worse, however, for those who have been “burned” by a false prophet, and more particularly by any man who has taken to himself a whole variety of high offices and titles. Of course, this has been the case with the one claiming to be That Prophet. Former followers of such self-exalted “leaders” have an even greater difficulty ever again believing that Christ has truly given one of His servants one or more high offices or duties. Such is the jading that can come to those who have had this painful experience. In effect, Satan has such people exactly where he wants them—against all manner of government and authority, and completely unable to ever again trust Christ’s ability to lead His Church.

Ironically, many today were once willing to follow a false leader who had never demonstrated fruit, but then later, tragically, have allowed themselves to be unwilling to follow one who is a true leader—one who really does have a high office—who has demonstrated by fruit that Christ did, in fact, select him for his position.

Be careful that this does not describe you!

Think very hard about all that has been explained in the last two subheads until it becomes crystal clear in your thinking. (Our book The Government of God covers in detail each office or rank, including the duty and function of each in the New Testament Church. It offers thorough explanation about how to know for certain when one has been given any of these responsibilities. Read this truly vital book very carefully in your study of the Splinter Explanation Packet.)

Truly a False Christ!

Jesus Christ will fulfill many offices and titles when He returns! Of course, He already holds several. God’s Word refers to Him as King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Savior, High Priest, That Prophet, The Great Shepherd, Apostle, The Mighty God, and others. Certainly the reader is familiar with these terms.

Let’s “reason together” about this. Do you think for a moment that a man who takes roles designated solely for Christ will respectfully acknowledge that this makes him a false Christ? Obviously not. So, expect clever, cunning, serpentine counter-claims attempting to explain away all that you have learned here. False Christs crave the worship of their followers and must fight to retain their adoration!

Let’s ask some straightforward questions about Christ’s titles. For instance, would anyone doubt that one claiming to be our savior, while saying he did not intend to be a false Christ, would be any less one—merely because he asserts that he is not? Would anyone doubt that if one claimed to be our high priest, while saying he did not intend to be a false Christ, he would be any less one—merely because he asserts that he is not? Would anyone doubt that one claiming to be the wonderful counselor, while saying he did not intend to be a false Christ, would be any less one—merely because he asserts that he is not? The same could be said for prince of peace or king of kings, etc. You see the point.

If someone claims to be That Prophet, but disconnects this office from Christ, this person is still a false Christ. Of course, he is deluded in his reasoning. But then so is anyone who makes claims equivalent to elevating himself into any of Christ’s roles! And he cannot claim “innocence by reason of insanity” before God. Even in the world, “ignorance of the law” is never permitted as a valid defense. It has been my experience that only very, very rarely will—or can—one return to a sound mind after going even remotely this far. Only God can heal a mind gone so far wrong—but even then only if the man truly yields himself and submits to God as clay to the Potter!

A final aspect of the demon world must be noted before continuing! Demons want to be considered the saviors of the world. Demons want to rule the earth as king of kings. Demons want to be the wonderful counselors that people seek through psychics, wizards, witches, mediums, “channelers,” etc. Demons (specifically Satan) want to be considered the mighty god (“of this world” – II Cor. 4:4). Similarly, demons are generally aware of prophecy. They have long used chosen agents to foretell the future—Jeane Dixon, Nostradamus, Edgar Casey, and many others.

Understand therefore! A demon spirit would love to be considered That Prophet—and would love to influence a human vessel to this end. Appropriating that title to itself, through a human agent, is very attractive to a demon—especially if it could gain control of many of God’s people in the process! Very carefully reflect on this reality of the spirit world!

In fact, this is the very reason that demons have inspired this man to ban his followers from contact with any of the brethren in other organizations. From a demon’s perspective, the worst possible thing that these followers can be exposed to is the Spirit of God within those outside his group who are able to see how wrong-headed is the thinking of the leader they are using.

This is also another way that fear is being used in the ever more dangerous cult environment that such false prophets create. They want their followers to be afraid to talk to “outsiders.” These false leaders know that knowledge dispensed outside their control is a threat to their ability to retain control. Hence, the implementation of what could only be called the tragic policy of forbidding followers all contact with members of other “Church of God”organizations. This blanket disfellowship, a product of a horribly misguided rendering of what Mr. Armstrong taught on this matter, has also been extended to immediate family members who are not in his group. 

But the Bible does reveal that two, final very special prophets will yet appear before the end of the age.

Chapter Nine –

The Final Prophets

Could there be any more fascinating topic to speculate upon than the coming work of the final prophets during the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord? Hardly!

But at the same time, there is hardly a subject related to prophecy that is more badly mangled and misunderstood than that of the Two Witnesses.

Let’s clear this up, once and for all.

What About the Two Witnesses?

Various questions arise about the Two Witnesses, including how are they able to report to a living apostle. Let’s understand. In Revelation 11:10, Christ does refer to these two servants as “these two prophets.” The Greek word there is prophetes (pronounced pro-fay-tace), and it plainly means prophets. Hence, the question, “Where is the apostle to whom the Two Witnesses report?”

This question did not arise prior to 1986, because the entire Church had thought for many years that Mr. Armstrong would be alive when the Two Witnesses appeared. Since he is gone, and there seems to be no other apostle to whom the Two Witnesses can report, this question arises: “How can these men correctly carry out their duties?”

Much of the rest of the chapter will serve as a kind of inset to the rest of the book. When discussing the subject of the Two Witnesses, certain basic questions arise collectively. It is not really possible to address even the most basic ones without some background—some additional, helpful information. This allows us to answer several questions at the same time.

Offices in the Body of Christ

The subject of the Two Witnesses is one of seemingly endless speculation. Let’s state again. Almost everyone enjoys talking about these two final servants, but few seem to understand exactly how they will appear, let alone how and where they will receive their office. This should not be.

Let’s understand—exactly!

First some basic review from earlier: Recall that the office of prophet is the second highest New Testament office—in the body of christ! It must be understood that Christ’s Body is not divided. If this is not firmly in place within the reader’s mind, the Bible’s picture cannot come clear. This Body is still found today as one, unified, organized, uncompromising Church. And again, if this is not understood, the reader will never be able to understand the identity and function of the Two Witnesses. What follows will elude your comprehension.

Many seem to have the idea that the Two Witnesses will suddenly appear “out of nowhere.” It is as though they will explode on the scene one day having grown up like mushrooms “overnight”—or they will fly in like astronauts from outer space—or they will have been hiding in a cave waiting to be revealed—or they will be Bible figures from the past suddenly reincarnated! Obviously, no one articulates their arrival in exactly these ways, but references carry this net effect. But then, no one believes that they will come from among today’s modern Protestant or Evangelical television evangelists. The result is much unnecessary mystery about a subject that should be understood as clearly as it was when Mr. Armstrong was alive.

From One (or Two) of the Splinters?

This said, because God’s people are now scattered into many organizations, there is the question of whether the Two Witnesses will come from one (or possibly two) of the splinters—in other words, from Laodicea.

If the reader is not yet convicted about the identity of Laodicea, and that it is the splinters collectively, it will not be possible to understand what follows. Reading “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People will eliminate all confusion regarding the identity of Laodicea. The Two Witnesses coming from an organization within the now dominant Laodicea is absolutely impossible for two central reasons.

Let’s learn them:

(1) Christ describes Laodicea as “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked,” and “lukewarm,” without zeal and puffed up with too many “goods” and “riches.” He would NEVER put two men in the second highest office in His Church who were in this kind of deplorable spiritual condition! He would also NEVER select people who were doctrinally unsound to be given such enormous miraculous power and authority as the Two Witnesses will have. Remember, Laodicea is the place where the “people rule, judge and decide,” because they have rejected Christ’s government. This has put them outside the Body of Christ.

(2) The Two Witnesses must arise from within the Body of Christ. They will have been men who understood where Christ was the “Head” (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18)—where He is leading, meaning where His government is present. They will be men who have submitted to that government, and who will have been doing this for some considerable time! In other words, the Two Witnesses will be men that Christ has been ruling. These men will have to be doctrinally sound in all points long before they can begin their commission. Also, such high offices would never be given to men who are untrained or inexperienced. God never works this way, particularly with the highest offices in the Church. The Two Witnesses will, no doubt, have been faithfully serving in God’s Church for some time before they are ready to be given the very high office of prophet. They will be tried and proven, and made ready for difficulty probably beyond imagination.

(You are probably aware by now of the importance of the two-part sermon in our Splinter Explanation Packet titled “The Body of Christ: Why Most Are No Longer In It—But Assume They Are!” If you have not yet heard this message, you will be unable to really grasp the magnitude of this point. Take the time to listen to it as soon as possible after reading this section.)

No More Mystery

Let’s bring this question to conclusion. The “mystique” shrouding the identity of these two final servants need not be. Let’s strip it away! Let’s speak plainly.

Christ is not divided—and The Restored Church of God IS the one, unified, organized, uncompromising true Church and Body of Christ on earth today! This Church is the only place Christ’s government can be found. This means that the Two Witnesses will be given (Eph. 4:11) their office by Christ from within this church! He simply would not do it any other way, and to do so would work against the entirety of I Corinthians 12, among many other scriptures.

Let me repeat for emphasis: I state without apology that both of the Two Witnesses will be members of The Restored Church of God. (The popular theory that one will be Philadelphian and one will be Laodicean is silly at best, ludicrous at worst.) No one knows whether these men are here yet, but if not, they will have to come here, and do so well before the Tribulation, and well before they know their final identity. I Corinthians 12:27-28 makes absolutely clear that they will not—actually cannot, according to Scripture!—be given their offices when they are outside the Body of Christ.

Think for a moment. During the period when the Worldwide Church of God was on track, none ever doubted that the Two Witnesses would come from inside. No one thought for a second that they would come from any other place outside where Christ was leading. No one ever speculated that they would come from Sardis, an era outside Philadelphia, let alone come from any of the WCG’s many little earlier offshoots that had developed over time.

Only With an Apostle

Yet, as we have seen, these two final prophets must report to an apostle to be consistent with what Mr. Armstrong understood. This means that there must be another apostle at the end of the age, and that he must be in The Restored Church of God.

This is now the case!

This is a very bold statement. Is it true? Understand. It is for the reader to examine and determine the truth of this statement—to see whether Christ has given me the office of apostle, based on the fruits, or I have taken this office and authority to myself. What are the facts, the evidence, the proofs of such an appointment?

(The reader is again encouraged to carefully examine the extensive sermon in this packet titled “21st-Century Apostle” as well as the almost equally extensive sermon explaining both the Watchman and Messenger roles of today. Too much is at stake to take my word or anyone else’s on this matter.)

A final thought may be helpful here: Circumstances have forced me to research and come to more fully understand the office of prophet than anyone else today—and there is no doubt of this. The result has been that this long process has allowed me to teach you the truth of that office—from what Mr. Armstrong taught and from what God’s Word teaches. The result has also been the book I Will Send Elijah to Restore All Things as well as the one you are now reading. All of this has helped prepare me to understand how my office will someday interact with the two final prophets whom Christ will select and train in this Church.

The reader has some careful studying to do after reading this chapter.

Work With Christ in a Unique Way

We may ask: Who do the Two Witnesses work with once the Tribulation begins, and the Philadelphian remnant is at the Place of Safety? Remember, the Great Tribulation is when these men receive extraordinary power in order to represent God, visiting, addressing and warning nations around the world. Who do these men report to during the Tribulation? In all likelihood, although we cannot know for sure, the Two Witnesses will probably not interact much, if at all, with the human apostle during the Tribulation. Let’s examine this to see why.

We must recognize that John 9:4 describes the end of the Work of Philadelphia—the “night…when no man can work.” Conditions in the secular world will become so bad that the Work of God simply cannot continue, and the Church will have to be taken to a place of safety for its own survival and protection at that point. The “baton” of the Work, so to speak, must then be handed to the Two Witnesses, to men who must be given extraordinary supernatural power to enable them to carry out their task unharmed.

A related question arises. What about Old Testament prophets? Who was the apostle to whom they reported?

Again, Mr. Armstrong taught that all true prophets report to an apostle. Possibly the two greatest prophets ever would hardly be exceptions. We have also seen why he taught this. How does this teaching harmonize with these questions? There is a simple answer!

Face-to-Face

Consider! How did God always work with prophets (and all of His greatest servants) throughout the Old Testament? The God of the Old Testament (long understood to be Jesus Christ of the New Testament) generally spoke face-to-face—communicated directly!—with those He was using. With few exceptions, there is a pattern throughout the Major and Minor Prophets. Each of these books starts with a phrase to the effect of “The Word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel…” or “The words of Jeremiah…To whom the Word of the Lord came…” or “The Word of the Lord that came to Micah…,” etc. You may wish to turn and read several of them.

The One who became Christ worked directly with all of these prophets. Sometimes He also appeared as Melchizedek when He spoke to the Patriarchs, and others, face-to-face. Most of us would have at least in the past been somewhat familiar with how Christ dealt directly with His greatest Old Testament servants.

Recall that Hebrews 3:1 states, “Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” We know that God’s Old Testament servants looked forward to Christ’s sacrifice as their Savior. They also looked forward to Him as their High Priest—as well as their Wonderful Counselor, King of Kings and Prince of Peace, among other offices (Isa. 9:6). The Church has long recognized this. Would these prophets have not also looked forward to Christ as God’s New Testament Apostle? He has probably always been God’s Apostle, since the Father had been “sending Him” (the meaning of apostle is “one sent” or “messenger”) to earth with messages for thousands of years prior to the New Testament period.

Whether Christ has always been an Apostle or became one at the birth of the New Testament Church may not be absolutely clear, but we do know that Christ “is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8) and that He “changes not” (Mal. 3:6). Here is the point! Old Testament prophets reported directly to an Apostle—Jesus Christ—who would one day be just as much their Savior, High Priest, Apostle, etc., as He is ours. And this is fully consistent with what Mr. Armstrong taught.

Now we can ask again: To whom do the Two Witnesses report all through the Tribulation? In Revelation, Christ calls these prophets “MY two witnesses” (11:3). Combine this with Zechariah 4:14. This chapter refers to the Two Witnesses several times and culminates with verse 14: “These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Revelation 11:4 confirms of whom Zechariah 4:14 speaks.)

Unique Among Prophets

This verse reveals that these two servants have a special, direct relationship and proximity to Christ. All three “stand” together. It is obvious that the Two Witnesses report directly to Christ in carrying out their duty. If you consider the role that they play, it should be even clearer why they have to report to Him in fulfilling it. Their circumstances are unique in all history. Consider: Fire comes out of their mouths to devour their adversaries. The power that Christ gives them is so great that they cannot be killed by anyone or anything for 3½ years. This alone makes them unique. But consider further.

Their role also differs from all previous prophets in several additional ways. No other prophets lay unburied for 3½ days. No other prophets were resurrected, or were perceived by the entire world to “torment them.” These points alone demonstrate that these are not ordinary prophets, where the usual “rules” governing prophets apply. Still, they do work directly—face-to-face—with a living Apostle—CHRIST! And they may still, in some way, report to the human apostle at the Place of Safety. This is something as yet unknown.

Witness(es) Also Apostle(s)?

I recognize some people believe that one of the Two Witnesses may be an apostle. The idea is that this would solve the problem of who the other one can report to. When Mr. Armstrong was alive, we thought that this was a possibility because we could not imagine that he would not be one of them. I certainly once thought this would be the case, and did so for a long time. But I confess to not really having thought through what it meant if he, carrying the office of apostle, would have been one of the two final prophets.

Again, an apostle is “one sent” or “a messenger.” I felt that men God would call “MY Two Witnesses” are certainly HIS “messengers”—and they certainly are directly sent by God. This was a reason that it did not seem to be a stretch to believe that at least one witness could be an apostle. But, Jeremiah, in his commission “to the nations,” and Ezekiel, in his commission to “the house of Israel” were both specifically described as “sent” by God. Of course, they were both prophets. Therefore, it is correct to say that all prophets were directly sent by God. However, they were never sent to the world as a whole with the gospel of the kingdom of God, nor were they permitted to hold administrative office in the New Testament, as were apostles.

This becomes another reason why I do not believe that the Two Witnesses could be apostles. If they were, why would the Bible specifically reference them with use of what would be their lower office of “prophet”? If they held the higher office of apostle, it seems obvious that God would reference it, and leave any supposed lower office out of the picture.

Our book The Government of God has an entire chapter of some size covering additional points about the Two Witnesses. As mentioned, it also has an extensive chapter about prophets in general, and the serious reader will encounter this material.

We have now come to the point where any who are following either a “prophet” or “That Prophet” must take action. But what should they do?

Chapter Ten –

Taking Action

At some point, every journey comes to an unexpected crossroads—a moment of decision. That time has arrived.

Dealing With False Prophets

We can now return to the subject of this section.

The Deuteronomy 18 description of That Prophet concludes with a sobering warning. Preceding and following this description is an equally great warning about what to do with false prophets, once they are discovered. When one takes the title of That Prophet, he has even exceeded the evil that Moses warned against! Let’s read.

In verse 20, God commands that prophets who speak in the name of other gods should be put to death! This certainly includes those appropriating titles of Christ—who is God! It is no accident that the end of verse 22 (which concludes the warning) cautions, “you shall not be afraid of him.” We have seen that most would be afraid of a false prophet and would, therefore, not put him to death. Of course, none can carry this out today—but no one should ever “hearken to him” again, and he should be marked for what he is (Rom. 16:17).

God promises to deal with these blaspheming idols later—and soon!

Let me make something clear about identifying false prophets. Mr. Armstrong and Christ have told us exactly how to know either a false prophet or a false That Prophet. Will you believe a true apostle or a false prophet? Will you believe the true jesus christ or one who is a false Christ?

The reader is left to answer these questions!

Attacking His Flock

Anyone claiming to be That Prophet, The Lawgiver, “Father,” etc., has literally attacked his flock with blasphemy and rank idolatry. Like any cult leader, his only possible objective is to seek ever greater adoration and worship—and that may currently include you!

Such a one is an outright antichrist! This cannot be viewed any other way. The Bible is plain that there have always been “many,” and this is still true today (I John 2:18).

Christ determines who is a Philadelphian and who, therefore, goes to the Place of Safety. (Yes, as we have seen, there is one true Church—one Body of Christ—where brethren meet in Philadelphian doctrinal unity, and these will be protected.) But it is blasphemous and abominable for any man to tell you that he has your “ticket to the Place of Safety,” and that his ministers will decide who goes there. This is the classic fear hysteria that David Koresh, Jim Jones and Marshal Applewaite (San Diego Heaven’s Gate cult) used to elevate themselves and lead people to their death!

Such claims are very serious business!

Idolatry and I Corinthians 10:6-15

We discussed I Corinthians 10:11 in the context of Saul’s descent into the conduct of a raging lunatic. There is an even more important and directly applicable principle in that chapter. Speaking of Old Testament events, examples and types, recall that verse 11 states, “Now all these things happened unto them for examples [types]: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Let’s now examine the above longer passage more carefully, recognizing the entire context describes idolatry. Look up the examples in verse 7 (notice “idolaters”), and verses 8 to 10. Each account involves idolatry.

Then, verse 12 states, “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Again, the subject here is idolatry. Verse 13 is also part of most people’s “scriptural vocabulary.” It speaks of “common temptations” and God’s faithfulness in not allowing trials greater than we can endure. Then, God promises to always make “a way of escape”—for those who will seek it, and recognize it when it appears. This is absolute proof that the entire context is about what His people are to do when confronted with idolatry. God promises a way of escape in such circumstances, but they—you!—must take it! Remember, Revelation 21:8 declares that “idolaters” will end in the lake of fire!

While you should not ever fear your false leader, you certainly should fear this!

Flee!

I Corinthians 10:14 is short, powerful and conclusive, making Paul’s point clear: “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry,” and then is followed by “I speak as to wise men; judge you what I say.” Will you judge what Paul said? If you are standing in front of a false prophet, let alone a false That Prophet, then you are before an idol who seeks to replace your worship of Christ with himself!

I will also be bold. “Judge you what I say”! Will you flee idolatry, or stand frozen in fear, unable to flee the false Christ who holds you?

At the book’s outset, I said you would face an inescapable choice! Your crown—your eternal life—is at risk if you ignore the words of God, Christ, Paul, Mr. Armstrong and now me! I have attempted to make the truth plain. If hundreds or thousands around you will not act, will you let that affect your decision?

Moses warned, in Exodus 23:2, “You shall not follow a multitude to do evil.” Consider! With the parallel exception of Sabbath-breaking, God punished Israel worse for falling into idolatry than for any other sin. This is the message from physical Israel’s rollercoaster ride through history. (But these warnings are even more for those of spiritual Israel, for whom so much more is at stake.)

Idolatry and Sabbath-breaking are the two biggest reasons God sent Israel into captivity—causing them to become the “lost sheep of the House of Israel.” When either the Sabbath, which is a sign between God and His people forever (Ex. 31; Ezek. 20), is forgotten, or idolatry occurs, the true God has already been pushed aside. Every time ancient Israel committed these sins, they had become blind—and only captivity awakened them! This is another clear message from their history—and it is a very strong warning for those facing the prospect of the Great Tribulation.

Will this punishment be necessary for you?

If the majority around you (the “multitude”) continues to do the “evil” (Ex. 23:2) of following a false Christ, will you do the same because you fear to be in the minority?

(Our sermon “God’s Way: Small, Little, Few” explains the typical actions of the majority and the minority, and how they relate to you.)

Let’s now summarize two previously established points—and then draw a conclusion: Idolatry is commandment-breaking, not commandment-keeping! The Second Commandment forbids idolatry. Even the Laodiceans “keep the Commandments of God.” Also, to even be considered Laodicean by Christ, one must understand the “spirit of prophecy.” Remember, these two points are the only “positives” that Christ acknowledges concerning Laodiceans’ conduct and understanding. They are commandment-keepers (Rev. 12:17) and they have the “spirit of prophecy” (19:10)! Christ established these as minimum standards to even be Laodicean. Let’s assume you are holding to many other correct doctrines. If you ignore or violate such basic standards, even for Laodiceans—let alone Philadelphians!—all zeal becomes worthless!

Do you understand the overall point here? If what has been written here describes you, do you see the need to WAKE UP?

Do not misunderstand what is at stake for every Christian in this age! Even lukewarm Christians are never idolaters (Rev. 21:8)—and they do not lose sight of Jesus Christ as That Prophet. They understand the “testimony of Jesus Christ”—the “spirit of prophecy.” Violating either of these two key points takes oneself completely off the “true Christian radar screen”—as much as the professing Christians of this world.

YOU CANNOT FOLLOW A FALSE PROPHET OR A FALSE CHRIST AND REMAIN A TRUE CHRISTIAN!

Remember: Many religions have certain elements of truth within their theology. This does not make them Christian! Everyone knows this. Do not forget it.

Mr. Armstrong did not fear to “Cry aloud! Spare not! Lift up [his] voice like a trumpet and show My people their sins!” (Isa. 58:1). I also cannot. Paul wrote, “Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrines; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you” (I Tim. 4:16).

Mr. Armstrong quoted Isaiah 58 and Ezekiel 33 often. Take time to review them. This book fulfills both the Revelation 3:14 “messenger” and Ezekiel 33:7-9 “watchman” responsibilities. I have tried to replace the fear of your false leader with an absolute fear of God. If you have “eyes to see and ears to hear,” it could save your eternal life!

Chapter Eleven –

Source of Persecution?

I have become convinced that some of the final greatest persecution, prophesied to come on God’s people at the end, will be driven by the cult-leader mentality of certain splinter leaders. Of course, true Christians will always suffer some persecution for the truth. But it may be that the bizarre, absurd, odd and strange actions of many brethren, and certain particularly unsound and unbalanced leaders, claiming to follow the truth, will be one reason that Christ’s true disciples will eventually be “hated of all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9)—and will be pursued by an army described in Revelation 12:17! Surely, it is false Christs and false prophets who exhibit the very worst of strange, cult-like behavior!

Will you follow the plain truth or a man? Mr. Armstrong continually told God’s people to believe their Bibles, and I never found him in disagreement with it. So I follow the truth that God taught me through him, because it can still be proven. You should never follow a man unless he is absolutely following Christ (I Cor. 11:1). Obviously then, you should never follow a man who seeks to take offices of Jesus Christ to himself!

The Restored Church of God does not bend on or compromise any of God’s doctrines. But I have seen every conceivable compromise imaginable throughout the sister groups that collectively form the seventh era. Yet, RCG is absolutely determined to retain exactly what the whole Church once had!

Are you?—Will you?

Zealous People

In recent years, I have known many who left the impostor who calls himself That Prophet. Sadly, some of these have been virtually ruined by their time in his organization. They were so violated and abused, and witnessed so much attack, slander and accusation of others from their leaders that, in many cases, they now seem no longer able to remember how a Christian is to conduct himself, even in the most basic matters. It has been painful and truly heart-rending to hear of so many who were torn to pieces over their dilemma before leaving. While some did escape his organization, they seemed to collapse twenty feet outside his door, unable to continue. Others left but seem unable to shake his form of thinking and behavior, going on to join a small offshoot “sliver” or “moon” of similar thinking, thus remaining trapped in the gravitational attraction of this false prophet’s “planet.” All of these small groups ultimately bear no real fruit, and this eventually becomes the case of all those within them.

Section V of the book covers a great deal of information that will be particularly helpful to those of God’s people who have been able to leave this man, but who may not have recognized that they are struggling with certain attitudes or, if they have identified some of these, they have not understood what to do about them. The reader must be sure to read all sections of this book. It will help you understand why so many ex-PCGers seem never to break away from their PCG roots, tending to find agreement, support and comfort only in its (PCG’s) various tiny offshoots—where their thinking is never challenged, but rather welcomed and reinforced.

On the other hand, it has been heartwarming and inspiring to see that many who left the apostasy very early have been some of the most zealous people I have ever met. Many have had to repent of attitudes they developed (I had some) toward so many former brethren that they never knew, merely because they never separated them from the thinking of their leader.

Think for a moment. Any leader who claims to have written the “little book” of Revelation 10 has literally “added” to the words of Revelation. We must believe God, and conclude that He will “add to that person the plagues written in that book.” God help this man to repent before it is too late—for either himself or those blindly following him, and the words he has added! Pray for this man and for others like him. They are in infinitely more trouble than they know.

“That Prophet” Is Alive Today!

The book has come full circle back to its title. On the cover, it asked, “Is ‘THAT PROPHET’ Alive Today?” By now, you know that the answer is a resounding “Yes!”—and he is sitting in heaven at the right hand of the father as the head of his church! The living Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament. He declares that He is a “jealous God,” which means that He wants you to worship Him, not the false Christs or false prophets that He warned 2,000 years ago would plague the Church and confuse and seduce so many from the truth at the end of the age!

Understand. You are the captain of your own ship. You must determine where you will steer it. You must point it toward God, His full restored truth, His government and His true Church and true Work. Be willing to help your friends do the same. Take a moment to read James 5:19-20, Galatians 6:1-2, Proverbs 24:11-12 and Jude 21-23. They will encourage and inspire you to help others save themselves from the deadly trap described in what you have just learned. Focus on these and other scriptures given here, and on all that Mr. Armstrong taught, as you help yourself and strive to help those you care about!

I have tried as hard as possible, with God’s help, to firmly but lovingly warn you about false prophets and false Christs, and to teach the truth about “That Prophet.” Correction hurts, and this section certainly contains some. And it means that you may have to make some painful decisions.

First, before this can happen, carefully read all the other sections of the book. As you read, continue to prepare yourself to face the question—the decision—of what action you will take on all that you have learned.

Continue to: Section II – MATTHEW 24—THE RISE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 David C. Pack
All Rights Reserved

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