Philadelphia Church of God

The Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) is an international church based in Edmond, Oklahoma, USA. The PCG traces its roots to the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), founded by Herbert W. Armstrong (1892–1986). The PCG was founded by Gerald Flurry with the stated purpose of continuing Armstrong's teachings, which were re-evaluated and subsequently rejected by the WCG after Armstrong's death,[1] as it came to accept mainstream evangelical Christian teachings, such as the Trinity (the triune nature of God as one Being in three distinct Persons). Armstrong had rejected the Trinity doctrine in favor of the view that God is not one but two separate God-beings (i.e., the God Family or the Family of God) into which Family, according to Armstrong, humans, "upon true conversion and spiritual growth", may be born. [2][3]

For other uses, see Church of God (disambiguation).
Philadelphia Church of God
ClassificationChurch of God
LeaderGerald R. Flurry
RegionInternational
HeadquartersEdmond, Oklahoma
OriginDecember 7, 1989
Edmond, Oklahoma
Separated fromWorldwide Church of God

The PCG asserts that it is carrying on Armstrong's legacy after the doctrinal changes made by the new WCG leaders, namely Joseph W. Tkach and his son, Joseph Tkach Jr., and also teaches new revelation that Gerald Flurry claims has been shown by God from the Bible since Armstrong's death.

Founder

Gerald Flurry is Pastor General of the Philadelphia Church of God and Editor-in-Chief of 'The Trumpet' news magazine; which he began publishing in 1990. He is also founder and chairman of the 'Armstrong International Cultural Foundation' and founder and Chancellor of 'Herbert W. Armstrong College' in Edmond, Oklahoma, USA. He has been an ordained minister for over 35 years and formerly served as a pastor in the Worldwide Church of God, from which he was disfellowshipped (excommunicated) on December 7, 1989, "for resisting sweeping doctrinal changes." He had alerted the WCG ministry and members of those changes via his booklet 'Malachi’s Message,' after which he and his assistant, John Amos, were fired.[4] Gerald Flurry then immediately founded his own organization, the Philadelphia Church of God.

Failed prophecies

Gerald Flurry is a self-declared prophet (as written in his book Who Is That Prophet[5]). Over three decades, he has made several prophecies, many of which have failed, including Donald Trump remaining president,[6] the Supreme Court overturning the 2020 U.S. Election,[7] Barak Obama as the last president of the United States,[8] Pope Benedict XVI will resurrect the Holy Roman Empire,[9] the PCG would acquire the Bricketwood Estate in the UK,[10] an archaeological museum would be established in Jerusalem[11] and Jesus Christ would return by 2020.[12]

Gerald Flurry as That Prophet

In 1999, Gerald Flurry declared himself a prophet, specifically That Prophet from John 1:21.[13] In a 2004 sermon, he states "If you just study this book, you'll know who That Prophet is... It does set me apart from other ministers... Is God going to give us something like this that we cannot prove?.. [It is] revelation from God - from outer space - way beyond Mars... If it doesn't, I'm crazy"[14]. He claims to speak for God,[15] receiving new revelation from him[16] and even hearing his voice.[17]

Donald Trump as King Jeroboam

According to his Great Again booklet, Gerald Flurry claims that Donald Trump's victory in 2016 was prophesied in the Bible and designates him as King Jeroboam from the Bible.[18] He believed that God revealed to him that we are in the prophesied "Jeroboam" end[19] and there would be "unparalleled carnage and destruction on Earth like never in history!"[20] He also prophesied that Donald Trump would be "taken out by the sword!".[21] He also indicated that Joseph Tkach Jnr. would conspire[22] with Donald Trump to send the Philadelphia Church of God into exile.[23] This is why he appointed so many Catholic supreme court judges during his term.[24] He also predicted the Trump tide,[25] just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, would be time the Philadelphia Church of God would greatly expand their work in Jerusalem.[25] Since none of this happened during his first term, Gerald Flurry was confident that Joe Biden winning the 2020 U.S. election was against Bible prophecy[26] and that Donald Trump would remain president.[27] He also noted that Donald Trump's greatest sin was rejecting his throne.[28] For this reason, the United States would be "destroyed in the time of Jeroboam".[29]

Gerald Flurry sits on King David's Throne

In his book The New Throne of David, Gerald Flurry claims he "heard a strong voice... This voice said, "There is a new stone of destiny and a new throne of David.""[30] It has always been the belief of the Church that Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning monarch over David's Throne.[31] He now believes that "in January 2017 that all changed, that throne is no longer in Britain".[32] He claims this is the "most exciting new revelation God has given this Church...this is an explosive understanding that you can prove right from your Bible!"[33] that he sits on a new throne and stone. He also said in his book, on page 22 that "God has to have a king in this Church who is a descendant of David... God has given us a new stone... There is a NEW KING and a NEW STONE... Even now, the United Kingdom NO LONGER HAS THE THRONE OF DAVID. And Jacob's pillar stone is no longer relevant".[34]

Place of safety

He wrote in 2018 that the PCG must be "prepared to go to the cave of Adullum, the place of safety. Make this part of your thinking... We must get our minds conditioned to do that!" He explained that there, a "converted" man in the PCG (a descendant of King David), an "apostle", will sit as a king on a throne. "In the PCG, THERE IS A KING who is led and directed by God!"[35]

Media projects

PCG sponsors media projects (including television shows and regular publications) to preach its message and to continue the legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.

The Key of David

The Key of David is a weekly religious television program hosted by Gerald Flurry, in which he discusses world events and issues from his perspective of the Bible and its prophecies, covering topics such as the human mind, politics and war.

The program is aired in Africa, Australasia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Philippines, and the United States.

The Philadelphia Trumpet

The Philadelphia Trumpet is PCG's monthly news and prophecy magazine.

The Trumpet Daily

A program called The Trumpet Daily featuring Flurry's son Stephen premiered 9 May 2011.

Celtic Throne

Their latest dance production follows the millennia-long journey of King David's throne from Judah to the British Isles and eventually, the United States.[36] Created and produced by Herbert W. Armstrong College and Armstrong Dance, with original new music from Golden Globe nominated composer Brian Byrne.[37] In his sermon, Brad Macdonald (PCG minister) states that "Celtic Throne is the United States and Britain in Prophecy performed as a dance show. It's about the "new throne of David". It traces the throne of David on to America".[38] This dance routine is a celebration of Gerald Flurry and his new throne over the United States of America.

Activities and educational institutions

The PCG runs several foundations and educational institutions aimed at promoting Flurry's teachings to the world, as well as to its members and their children.

Herbert W. Armstrong College

The PCG runs a small unaccredited theology college, Herbert W. Armstrong College, in Edmond, Oklahoma.[39] The college was established in 2001 as "Imperial College of Edmond," but was renamed after objections by Imperial College London.[40] Armstrong College graduated its first class in 2006.[41]

Imperial Academy

In August 2008,Mr. Flurry founded Imperial Academy, a primary and secondary school for the children of church members patterned after the WCG's Imperial Schools.[42]

Philadelphia Youth Camp

PCG sponsors a yearly Philadelphia youth summer camp; held in Edmond Oklahoma, Edstone England, Australia and the Philippines. Campers participate in athletic activities, Bible studies and a wide variety of social and educational activities during the three-week camp.

Armstrong International Cultural Foundation

Armstrong International Cultural Foundation was established in 1996 as The Philadelphia Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian organization under the Philadelphia Church of God; with offices on the Herbert W. Armstrong College campus in Edmond, Oklahoma. The AICF sponsors a performing arts concert series and archaeological digs in Israel.

Armstrong Auditorium, located on the Herbert W. Armstrong College campus in Edmond, opened in September 2010. The auditorium architecture was designed with Ambassador Auditorium in mind. Armstrong Auditorium hosts the AICF's performing arts concert series and an archaeological exhibit from King David's palace, in Israel.

See also

References
  1. Martin, Tim (2000), "The Philadelphia Church of God", Profiles, Watchman Fellowship, 17 (2)
  2. How God Planned to Reproduce Himself!
  3. Cottrell, Jack "What the Bible Says About God the Redeemer" Wipf and Stock (2000) p. 139
  4. https://www.pcog.org/about/gerald-flurry
  5. "Who Is 'That Prophet'". TheTrumpet.
  6. Flurry, Gerald (January 2021). "Why Donald Trump Will Remain America's President". TheTrumpet.
  7. Flurry, Stephen (December 9, 2020). "The Communist Chinese Infiltration of America".
  8. "Gerald Flurry's False Prophecy About Trump and Jeroboam".
  9. Sell, Eric (February 12, 2013). "This Old Pope".
  10. "Bricket Wood, England Campus For Sale (Again)". October 12, 2012.
  11. Flurry, Gerald (December 5, 2019). "Members & Co-workers Letter". Philadelphia Church of God.
  12. "What Happened to the 3-Year Hebrews Prophecy". PCG Watch. December 8, 2020.
  13. "Who is That Prophet (Part 1)".
  14. "The Plain Truth About Malachi's Message and That Prophet".
  15. Flurry, Gerald (2001). Who is "THAT PROPHET"?. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. pp. 20–22.
  16. Flurry, Gerald (2007). Who Is "THAT PROPHET"?. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. pp. 64–66.
  17. Flurry, Gerald (2018). The New Throne of David. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 1.
  18. "Gerald Flurry's False Prophecy about Trump and Jeroboam".
  19. Flurry, Gerald (2018). The New Throne of David (PDF). USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 120.
  20. Flurry, Gerald (2018). 2018 (PDF). USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 124.
  21. Flurry, Gerald (2017). Great Again (PDF). USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 17.
  22. Flurry, Gerald (2017). Great Again (PDF). USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 5.
  23. Flurry, Gerald (2017). Great Again. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 10.
  24. Flurry, Gerald. "Is America's Supreme Court in Bible Prophecy?".
  25. Flurry, Gerald. "December 5, 2019". Co-worker Letter.
  26. Flurry, Gerald. "Donald Trump is Going to Win This Election".
  27. Flurry, Gerald. "Donald Trump Will Remain America's President".
  28. Flurry, Gerald (2018). The New Throne of David (PDF). USA: Philadelphia Church of God. pp. 73–74.
  29. Flurry, Gerald (2017). Great Again (PDF). USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 3.
  30. Flurry, Gerald (2018). The New Throne of David. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 1.
  31. Armstrong, Herbert (2009). The United States and Britain in PROPHECY. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 106.
  32. "The New Throne of David".
  33. "The New Throne of David".
  34. Flurry, Gerald (2018). The New Throne of David. USA: Philadelphia Church of God. p. 22.
  35. https://www.thetrumpet.com/literature/read/17248-the-new-throne-of-david/2003
  36. "About".
  37. "Music".
  38. "Gerald Flurry's Insanity With the New Throne of David".
  39. "Herbert W. Armstrong College | Academics". www.hwacollege.org. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  40. Imperial College of Edmond Changes Name Archived 2007-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, Herbert W. Armstrong College news, December 5, 2005
  41. "The Weekend Web - January 6, 2008". The Trumpet. Philadelphia Church of God. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  42. "Foundational Education". Imperial Academy. Philadelphia Church of God. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
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