PCG Divorce and Remarriage Hypocrisy

From: "Former PCG Minister"
To: wturgeon

Subject: Thursday
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:02

Mr. Turgeon,

It has been a couple of months since the ‘marking’ of not just Nina and me, but all four of our children, I have to say, I’m still in disbelief.

In 43 years of attending the Church of God, I have never heard of children being marked. Marking is reserved for baptized ‘members’ of the Body of Christ. Children have never fallen into this category. How pathetic for such a basic scriptural concept to be twisted to hurt innocent children.

The Sabbath before the announcement, when you took our son to Mr. Flurry’s home for interrogation, there was no talk of suspension. Half an hour later, you counseled our underage daughter, alone in your vehicle, to leave our home before she is 18. As an intelligent adult, you should know this is a breach of law! We would have to report her as a runaway. We have reported this incident to Administrative and Governmental Offices for the State of Oklahoma. I know, for a fact, this is not the first time an underage child has been encouraged to leave the home of suspended parents.

That morning you assured both of our teens that they weren't suspended, that they just couldn't attend services until they left home. You encouraged them to get away from their parents, impugned the character and integrity of their parents, assured them you would be praying for them, then, just days later, you publicly marked them! They were totally blindsided and had done nothing to cause division and neither had their parents. I suspect that the marking was really to keep PCG members from asking Nina and I questions.

You also decreed that the other Church teens, who work with mine at Wal-Mart, had to quit their jobs. Only when I made it known to you that some of the Wal-Mart Management was upset with ‘PCG nonsense’ you changed your mind and they were allowed to keep their jobs. Interesting, how there was no need for ‘physical separation’ when the ‘world’ heard about your decision.

‘Marking’ is supposed to be reserved for the most ‘dangerous’ of offenders. I am not in that category. I have never sent out dissident literature, encouraged brethren to leave the PCG, or conspired with those outside of PCG. Even when you revealed your fears of me doing so, in Jan '08, I gave you no cause to worry about my church area. One year later, I have done nothing to cause division or trouble to the PCG. In spite of this, you have chosen to make a public example of Nina and me and have taken it further to include our children, including our 8 year old! Therefore, I feel compelled to respond to this breach of Ministerial Ethics.


Divorce & Remarriage (the reason for my suspension):

It has been brought to my attention that some at HQ in Edmond have been propagating the rumor that Mr. Robert Ardis is somehow behind my questions on Divorce & Remarriage.

If Mr. Flurry or others believe this, have discussed this with others, or are spreading this untruth: I’m stating, for the record, that this is a baseless lie, and Mr. Turgeon, you know it. I brought up my concerns on D&R to you within weeks of my ordination in the Spring of '03.

We both know that I was suspended because of my conclusion letter sent to you and Mr. Flurry in Sept ’08. This letter concerned the Divorce & Remarriage doctrinal issue that we’ve been discussing since my ordination in March 2003. My conclusion was that Mr. Flurry is going beyond the boundaries given in the scripture by encouraging separations when mates are pleased to dwell with their spouses. My closing comment was that Mr. Flurry would be bringing “The Curse” (a topic he preached about in Nov ’07 and May ’08) on the ministry by encouraging ministers to break up marriages. I wrote this to him, man to man - respectfully, but never preached this. This entire ordeal became publically known by your long, public announcements here in my local church area, after you removed me from my ministerial office.

What remains true, in scripture, is that baptized people, who marry and divorce inside the Church of God, are not permitted to remarry anyone else while the ex-mate is living. This is the simple, biblical understanding that I hoped would be heard and respectfully considered. No one in PCG leadership, would guide me scripturally on this subject. You would not open your bible once with me, to talk about this subject, over 6 long years of knowing about it. You did not step in and teach, in any of our conversations. You simply expressed your feelings and personal views. I still find it surprising that an Evangelist did not have biblical support.

Even though many mates are pleased to dwell with their PCG mates, currently, PCG ministers are encouraging, counseling and making D&R an option for members whose mates they consider ‘out of the Church’, ‘Outer Court’, ‘worthless’, ‘anti-Christ’, ‘tools of Satan’ or simply just not attending with the PCG – for any number of reasons.

What is not being addressed is:

- Do these non-attending mates still have the Holy Spirit? Are they still ‘begotten’? How does God the Father view them?

- Who is making this God-level judgment concerning someone’s conversion status once they are thrown out or choose to stop attending PCG corporate?

Sadly, the remaining PCG member is allowed to remarry – sometimes more than once - if their living mate no longer attends the corporation: ‘Philadelphia’ Church of God. Recently, a HQ person was allowed to annul their marriage with another baptized member at HQ, after years of marriage. Mr. Armstrong would not have done that.

I wrote personally to Mr. Flurry that the Church judgment – allowing remarriage, while a baptized ex-mate is alive and in the Temple of God - is tantamount to ‘Church sanctioned adultery’ by any reading of scripture. I was concerned about this and came to you privately, as a brother. Subsequently, you sat silent in Mr. Flurry’s home on Dec 8th, 2007 while Mr. Gerald Flurry raged at me for being “self-righteous”, “unconverted”, “a poor minister”, “a poor family leader”, and “possibly in need of re-baptism”; after which he put me out of the ministry. Probably the only reason I wasn't suspended that morning was because I remained calm and respectful during the tirade.

To be clear, my suspension from PCG, before Trumpets ’08, was the result of Mr. Flurry’s upset over my position paper on D&R and my comment about “The Curse” over the ministry. (You incorrectly announced here in NW Arkansas that I told him there was a curse on “the Church”.)

I mentioned this concern. I do not want “The Curse” upon me, nor do I want it you, on the ministry or members! The ministry's continued counseling of members to break up their families suggests that they don't believe Mr. Flurry’s own words from Nov. '07.

For The Record:

1. My D&R questions were never preached, shared or sent out to the membership. They were sent in confidence to your attention first, then to Mr. Flurry when you proved unable or unwilling to discuss them scripturally. I was not at liberty to seek other counsel.

2. Mr. Flurry put me out of the PCG ministry because I would not, in good conscience, give counsel to and remarry a person with a living mate within the Temple of God.

3. You personally told my former congregation ALL the details of my suspension, sparing nothing – to what end, I can only imagine. This was another breach of the Ministerial Code of Ethics and was a great disservice to the congregation who, until then, were unaware of the reasons for my demotion. After your detailed announcement about my demotion, I made efforts to comfort them. Because you chose to “tell all”, I am compelled to set the record straight.


4. Mr. Flurry said in his Nov ’07 Sermon that, “Malachi 4v6 is about God's own Church turning away from the Elijah Family message. They are in danger of the greatest curse there is. This is the core value of the church or the world. It's both. The core institution.

This is sobering to the PCG ministry as well as all of us, myself certainly included in that. ...a serious responsibility. First of all to the ministers and to the people who follow those ministers whether they be Laodiceans or Philadelphians.... the whole book is addressed specifically to the ministers and of course it will apply for the most part to those who follow those ministers.



5. I was suspended from the PCG, just before the Feast, because Mr. Flurry personally asked me to resubmit my concern about D&R to him with more length. Because Mr. Flurry did not like this information and felt my tone was wrong, he told me to not come back to services. No scriptural refuting. Nothing. It seems it is easier to just put ‘that person’ out. In this light I am including, at the end of this email, the information I sent to Mr. Flurry so that others can review it. If I am in scriptural error, I would still like to know; other than being told I was in error for simply disagreeing with Mr. Flurry.

My hope for you is that you will see the error of D&R and your hand in it within the Church of God. Mr. Flurry claims that he follows Mr. Armstrong's example in every way. He does not. Especially in the area of divorce and remarriage. Mr. Armstrong never insisted that people should leave a mate who was please to dwell to with them. Mr. Flurry does, thus is disrupting a God plane institution. I was in Pasadena the last six years, and know that Mr. Armstrong expected people to make the most of their marriages and especially not make trouble in them. He told members to make their marriages work and set good examples. Reread the segment of his Autobiography which the PCG published in the Nov/Dec '08 Royal Vision about how to dwell with an unconverted mate.

"Former PCG Minister"


D&R Letter to Mr. Flurry. I would appreciate any understanding on this important subject and thank you. Some information has been deleted to protect innocent parties.


11/07/08

Mr. Flurry,

My thoughts, on this matter, have not changed. Mr. Turgeon mentioned your 'disappointment' in the one page letter I sent to you before the Feast. His impression, to me, was that you found it not scholarly enough - short as it was. I worked for many days to make it brief and to the point.

The one question I have had and addressed to Mr. Turgeon is:

The congregation was told I must repent before I would be allowed back into the PCG. Again, I'm asking: “What am I to repent of?”

- I have not espoused my understanding of D&R (or the lack of it) - nor have I preached it as a minister. Therefore, that isn't what needs to be repented of. Mr. Turgeon though, under your direction, shared ALL the details of my suspension – including erroneous ‘facts’ - with the local congregation. To what end, I do not know.

- Since it is logical and balanced to expect members, including me, to have varying levels of understanding, on the many judgments/truths/understandings coming from the PCG, then that isn't what needs to be repented of.

- If my suspension is based upon upsetting you, by saying the ministry is under 'The Curse', as you defined it in detail in Nov '07, then that must be the offense you want me to repented of. The 'Curse', as you describe it, is biblically based and applies to all men and women in or out of the Church. Anytime anyone breaks covenant or causes others to break a covenant with God, then the Curse applies. I cannot repent of this truth.

If I upset you by stating this, I will point out it's not a good idea to suspend, disfellowship or mark people because you are personally upset. I do not know of any scripture that supports this. In the book of Acts, there were many ‘upsets’ between minister/members. I don’t read of suspension or the accusation of anyone being ‘anti-government’ for asking a question and seeking resolution.

The facts of my case.

1) I am surprised to have been so harshly accused and judged by you concerning my belief on Divorce & Remarriage (D&R). Your assertion that my belief contradicts Mr. Armstrong is not correct. What I do believe is solidly based upon the teachings of Mr. Armstrong and the biblical texts that support it.

2) This doctrine has been clearly outlined many times, over the years, both in older PGRs and during the 1979 Ministerial Conference which you no doubt attended. Although, I have not always had a clear understanding of all the relevancies on this subject, I have tried to keep an open mind - letting the bible interpret itself, as we were taught, and to come to understand God’s Apostle’s mind on this important subject.

3) Mr. Armstrong applied a two-pronged approach in regard to the allowance of D&R. The two prongs are satisfied by one being a) an ‘unbeliever’ and one not b) ‘being pleased to dwell’ with their mate.

First, some background on whom the Church would judge an ‘unbeliever’, when Mr. Armstrong was alive. An ‘unbeliever’ was defined as one who was no longer a part of the Church of God. The Worldwide Church of God was the lamp of Philadelphia and what we all believed to be the Philadelphia Era of God’s Church. A person leaving this group was considered an unbeliever.

Secondly, one who was ‘not pleased to dwell’ had to satisfy this by action. It required one to depart. The mate who remained in the Body had a mate who left them, abandoned them and physically removed him or herself from the home and ultimately their life. This was a firm cutting off. It was willful.

4) The PCG no longer uses Mr. Armstrong’s approach in determining these situations. The current PCG judgment includes encouraging and counseling members to leave mates when the PCG determines a ‘mate’ is unfit. Being unfit can be decided by where the former PCG member begins to attend if they leave or are put out of the PCG. If a former member is vocal against the Church, the teachings or the ministry, this is also seen as grounds for the dissolution of a marriage covenant.

Therefore, being Laodecian, alone, can now be grounds for divorce and subsequent remarriage. A Laodecian can now fulfill both prongs of the two-part test Mr. Armstrong applied to divorce and remarriage. The Laodecian is an ‘unbeliever’ and then judged by the PCG as ‘not pleased to dwell’ simply by ceasing membership by choice or being ‘put out’ of the PCG. This flies in the face of the D&R teaching under the leadership of Mr. Armstrong.

5) This is not the Philadelphian standard. The PCG judgment listed above begins to look like 1970s liberalism. Mr. Leap in his D&R article soundly condemned the D&R practices of the liberal era of God’ Church. To throw out God’s Apostle’s criteria for D&R and substitute it with a new condition (being Laodecian) is bold, careless and dangerous.

Our goal should be to uphold marriages and work to keep them alive. Not use the term Laodecian as a reason for taking marriages apart.

6) Therefore this PCG judgment on D&R stands in violation of Mr. Armstrong’s test: ‘unbeliever’ and ‘not pleased to dwell’.

Consider again the ‘unbeliever’. Today, there are now Philadelphians and Laodecians co-existing together in this end-time era. This is now a firm part of Church teaching in the PCG. Two groups, one Body. This is not in dispute. The assumption that someone who is a Laodecian is then in the category of ‘unbeliever’, does not agree with PCG teaching. Disfellowshipped/marked persons can be and many are part of the Church of God – converted – sons – members of the Body. 50% of the Laodecians we understand will succeed in repenting fully and are currently ‘sons of God’ - whether in or out of the PCG group. This includes the mates of many, current PCG members.

Allowing marriages for persons, in what the PCG terms the ‘Inner Court’ (when a former mate resides in the ‘Outer Court’) is allowing a marriage within the Body of Christ that is adultery.

The Church, remember, is not an organization. It is not a corporation. It is Spiritual, as taught to us by Mr. Armstrong.

During the Worldwide Church of God era, Mr. Armstrong did judge that a person disfellowshipped was considered an ‘unbeliever’, because there was no other ‘part of the Body’ for such persons to belong, at that time. We did not talk in terms of ‘Inner’ and ‘Outer Court’. They were seen as much an unbeliever as a Baptist or Buddhist. There was no distinction between these. There was no harsher judgment on this former member over another in the world as being an ‘unbeliever’. Mates disfellowshipped but pleased to dwell remained with their church-going mates. I witnessed this as a teen in the Church of God.

7) There are cases where the mate, put out, did not want to leave their PCG-attending mate and vise versa. The PCG, regardless, stepped in to separate these parties. This is in violation of the directive of God’s Apostle. Any resulting marriage is adulterous - the breaking of the 7th commandment.

Years ago, when I was a student at Pasadena. There were members with mates who were, at times, hostile to the personality of Mr. Armstrong and the Church. This was not grounds for divorce. As long as the mates were 'pleased to dwell', the marriage was left untouched by the Church. This is scriptural.

In the case I was involved in, (Redacted for privacy). The assertion, by my Pastor that, “God does not expect someone to remain alone” is simplistic in light of the seriousness of the marriage covenant.

I am sure the (Redacted for privacy) case is not the only case where brethren have been counseled and encouraged to separate from their mates, who have either left the PCG or have been put out. This invariably leads to divorce and when remarried, adultery.

Such actions place the ministry in the position of covenant breakers, along with the member, and that leads to being Cursed. Both member and minister will then fall under the Curse, as defined by you, Mr. Flurry, in your November 2007 sermon. I do not apologize for this stand and find you correct in this assertion.

Yes, there are reasons to separate from difficult mates. Sometimes divorce is necessary for other issues, but just having different beliefs is no grounds for separation or divorce. Once a married couple is sanctified in the Church, IF a mate has to separate or end a marriage because of difficult situations, remarriage is NOT an option while there is breath. They remain a eunuch for the kingdom's sake (Matt 19). That is what I believe and what you wrote below in the PN article, as quoted.

8) The Church’s own statements below weigh in on the current D&R judgment:


The PCG website is clear:

Church Doctrines: Each doctrine maintained by the Church is provable from the Holy Bible.

Statement of Beliefs: The Church teaches its members that the integrity of the family is critical to the health of the nation.

> The recent PN had this to say about marriage:

Phil.News Oct ’08, p.5:

"'The parents’ responsibility FIRST: Parents are to instruct and to train their children in the way of God. To insure education in the home, God made the marriage contract UNBREAKABLE except by death. That is an extremely important point. Look at all the divorce in our world today! That is devastating for our children. God made marriage unbreakable to help us recognize and fulfill our responsibility to our children!" (And, I might add, to reflect the seriousness of the baptism covenant).

====

Mr. Flurry, you wrote that marriage is UNBREAKABLE except by death. (Redacted for privacy).

I have brought my concern to YOU, not the membership. I have not caused division or trouble. This has been an ongoing situation since my surprise ordination and I have been open with this and have not hidden anything.

Your assertion that my conversion is suspect because I hold onto the marriage covenant per Jesus Christ’s example and God’s Apostle’s doctrinal judgment, is baseless and offensive.

I've just made you uncomfortable because of it. You've put me out of the church for that?

Please provide me a scriptural basis for what is happening.

"Former PCG Minister"

"A Household Word" (YouTube video by David Ben-Ariel)

A Household Word
The general public doesn't have a clue about the Gospel or the Ezekiel Warning Message! That woeful ignorance indicts the Church of God, since God says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." And that same God warns about our responsibility to sound the alarm so British-Israelites and Jews, and repentant Gentiles, can seek shelter in Him and avert the imminent nuclear Holocaust.

A little known blogger

PCG: Carrying on "Business as Usual"

Beyond Babylon drops the bomb!
A German-led Europe will strike nuclear terror against US! National destruction, defeat and deportation are on the way! The American, British and Jewish peoples are marked for death!

Will Germany Launch a Nuclear Attack on America?

Like father, like son: Gerald and Stephen Flurry are HYPOCRITES!

Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God, and his son Stephen Flurry, vice-president of the Philadelphia Church of God, are HYPOCRITES! Their own words condemn them, that they use against FOX 25 (regarding their special report on the PCG), when they turn right around and engage in the same character assassination, strong innuendo, half-truths, and yellow journalism at it worst, against me, David Ben-Ariel, their public enemy #1!

Why have hypocrites Gerald and Stephen Flurry targeted me?

1) Because I wrote Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall without their approval and exposed how they contradicted their own teachings about being enamored with "men of stature" - by demanding I must be a minister to write Beyond Babylon and
2) because I blast the failure of the PCG to get out the warning message to the entire world and become a household word, instead of squandering precious tithe monies in their own backyard, their local neighborhood, of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Gerald and Stephen Flurry, hypocrites, are leaders of a professing Christian organization and yet have no fear of God or shame in being bald-faced LIARS. Don't they know that liars will not inherit the Kingdom of God? As professing Christian ministers, don't they know that one of the top ten commandments is against bearing false witness? It's that serious! It is one thing to be mistaken, but another to continue the deception, as they've done.

I call upon Gerald and Stephen Flurry to REPENT of their lies and hypocrisy and lack of good stewardship, and wholeheartedly hope and pray they come to recognize my God-given constructive criticism of the Philadelphia Church of God and leaders isn't to be scorned, hated or despised, but appreciated and respected (Proverbs 27:6). As Paul questioned, "Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16).

Fox 25 Special Report on Philadelphia Church of God
Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel
Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist?
The Temple Mount Faithful is not a terrorist organization!
Is Gerald Flurry a False Prophet?
Star Witness testifies against Gerald Flurry
Edward Abington, Jr.'s State Department letter

The Royal We

For the record: Some might misunderstand that just because I used the term "WE" in one of the FOX 25 segments on the Philadelphia Church of God (and I often employ it in articles about the Church of God), that somehow I am saying I'm a part of the PCG or whatever organization I'm writing or talking about at the time.

However, when I use the "Royal We," it is in reference to the collective Sabbath-keeping Church of God that agrees on the biblical basics, like the gospel of the Kingdom of God (the Kingdom of God-Beings to rule Earth from Jerusalem!), the seventh day Sabbath, the holy festivals and dietary laws, as well as gladly recognizing British-Israelites as Joseph.

Others might question how I can feel led by Christ against an organization they believe He also heads. I am led by Christ to expose error and encourage repentance: both in the Church and Nation. Didn't Christ head the Worldwide Church of God? Didn't He direct it? Does that mean the leaders must always follow His lead? Or in all things? If Christ truly led the PCG (and I believe He leads but Flurry doesn't always follow), they would agree what I say is biblical and stop wasting money in Edmond, Oklahoma. Tithes are not meant for a performing Arts Center! At least Mr. Armstrong had a special building fund that I used to gladly contribute to so we could pay off Ambassador Auditorium.

Didn't Yeshua say, "we Jews" when speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well? Did that mean He agreed with everything the Jews believed or the Pharisees taught? Didn't Yeshua rebuke their errors, even as He rebukes the errors of the Church of God in different eras? How does He do that but through men? Didn't He head those churches He inspired constructive criticism of?

Did John the Baptist or Jesus, or Peter, James and John, as well as Paul, oppose the religious authorities' position or their idolatrous traditions and hypocrisy, decrying their proud and stubborn refusal to repent, while still considering themselves strictly Jewish? They continued to identify with the Jewish people and religion: Paul continued to refer to himself as a Pharisee spiritually (Acts 23:6), and Peter made racial reference to the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers..." and called the Jews "brothers" and stressed how salvation was to begin with Jews first (Acts 3:12, 17, 26).

I do offer constructive criticism of the PCG, and others, and I believe God has inspired Beyond Babylon. The PCG never said it contradicts Scripture but wouldn't give it a proper hearing due to politics at play. Beyond Babylon's biblical truths are inspired and inspiring, although it's not a "thus saith the Lord" book, as there is no book on Earth other than the Bible that can honestly claim that. Unlike Gerald Flurry, I've never claimed an angel gave it to me, as he strangely claimed about Malachi's Message.

By the grace of God, I know who I am and what I am doing, and it is in accordance with the Word and Will of God. Whether within individual lives or the lives of leaders of organizations, just because God directs doesn't mean folks will always follow in every aspect. I believe Flurry follows in some ways and fails to in other ways. That's why God raises up individuals throughout history to take His Work to task - whether it's the priesthood, the religious authorities or the Church of God leadership today. Nothing new under the sun.

Is Gerald Flurry a False Prophet?

If only Gerald Flurry would apply Malachi's Message to himself, he wouldn't have the demonic audacity to anoint himself as "THAT PROPHET" (a title reserved for Jesus Christ), he would humbly hear the Sabbath-keeping Church of God members' legitimate questions and concerns about some of his teachings and dictatorial ministers (like Dennis Leap) rather than angrily "execute" them with excommunication.

Is Gerald Flurry a false prophet? Folks should beware that Gerald Flurry calls himself a prophet. He's taken to himself numerous spiritual titles like a modern day Nimrod, magnifying himself. His son Stephen Flurry sheepishly said on FOX 25 News the PCG considers Mr. Flurry speaks for God and is a prophet. I believe he does, based upon the biblical definitions of a prophet, to the extent it's solidly based upon the Bible and not his private interpretations, and that we should listen to him the same way Jesus Christ said to view the Pharisees - do as they say, but not as they do!

Gerald Flurry (through PCG tithes and offerings) bought and paid for Herbert W. Armstrong's books and booklets from the apostate Worldwide Church of God (rather than go to jail, if necessary, to continue using them without paying the devil for them at extortionate price), so at least he offers the plain truth of the Bible - on those subjects - to anybody who requests them, for free. But is that so he can fleece their soul? Is that to disarm them, to mislead them to imagine everything is kosher in his PCG kingdom, and then devour them? Is that his covering when inwardly he's a ravenous beast who has abused Church of God members' minds and attacks their critical thinking abilities as being "disloyal" to the "government of God?"

Is Gerald Flurry a wolf in sheep's clothing? It certainly appears that way, grieved to say, so I hope and pray Gerald Flurry repents of his arrogance, of his presumptuous religious titles, and remembers the truth, the excellent principles, he has written in Malachi's Message (some say it was plagiarized and it appears to have been), and bless God's people and do a great work that has substance and not just shell - vainly seeking to impress this world, becoming an enemy of God in the process - and boldly warn the world (like the watchmen are called to do) and preach the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of God that will save mankind from itself, rescue us from the brink of extinction, so help him God!

Otherwise, it appears this world's only hope to hear the plain truth of the Bible and history again (not that they will receive it), in a powerful way, from pure servants of God free of personal ambition and ulterior motivation, will be the brilliant testimony of the Two Witnesses soon to take an international stand in Jerusalem.

For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel

Author, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

The Temple Mount Faithful is not a terrorist organization!

[T]o support the slanderous and unsubstantiated accusations, Fox 25 primarily relied on testimony from... a man that the Israeli police suspects of being involved in terrorist activity.

Well, we tried to warn them. Last night I found out that a blogger by the name of David Ben-Ariel

a little-known blogger

Our church briefly communicated with David Ben-Ariel in the early 1990s. But we quickly cut off all contact after learning about his bizarre and even radical views. In 1996, while in Israel as an active member of the Temple Mount Faithful, Ben-Ariel -whose name used to be David Hoover - was detained by Israeli police and interrogated for six hours for allegedly plotting to blow up the Al-Asqa Mosque in order to clear the way for a third Jewish temple to be built.

Israeli authorities kept Ben-Ariel in prison for several weeks during the investigation. While in jail, according to the Jerusalem Post (Feb. 1, 1996), Ben-Ariel petitioned Israel's High Court of Justice for his release while Israeli authorities decided whether to prosecute the Christian-Zionist or deport him back to the States. Ben-Ariel's request for release was denied. Soon after, he was deported

That's the kind of potentially dangerous influence our church avoids associating with

that man's troubling background

may have been part of a terrorist plot in Jerusalem

Philadelphia Church of God ministers, Messrs. Gerald and Stephen Flurry, made passing references to the Temple Mount Faithful, Israeli police and Israeli investigations of David Ben-Ariel (little ol' me), and included inflammatory false accusations of "dangerous influence" and warning FOX 25 about me. Surely the PCG understands how the charge of an Israeli investigation would unfairly prejudice readers against me.

Dangerous Ideas?

Messrs. Gerald and Stephen Flurry simply hurled that fire bomb at me in their full page ad in The Oklahoman to damage my promotional work and undermine Beyond Babylon that contains our biblical beliefs, because they're not in control - they don't call the shots - and it exposes the work that they're not doing, as effectively as they could! The Catholic Church saw to it that "heretics" were burnt at the stake and Flurry and cultic company engage in smear campaigns, character assassination, against those who dare to disagree with them!

If I had been a federal agent or Israeli agent reading their slanderous report, it certainly would have raised concerns in my mind about David Ben-Ariel. Why would the Philadelphia Church of God attempt to frighten Oklahomans against David Ben-Ariel and the Temple Mount Faithful who are both Bible believers and law-abiding?

Gershon Salomon, chairman of the Temple Mount Faithful, regularly works with the Israeli authorities in preparation, coordinating efforts in Jerusalem, for his legal demonstrations to protest ongoing religious discrimination against Christians and Jews in Israel, and as a hero from Israel's Six Day War in 1967, having helped to liberate the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Mr. Salomon is known by every Israeli and completely above ground and level-headed.

I informed the Israeli police who conducted an investigation about me, due to a controversial article published in Jerusalem (Exposing the German-Vatican Plot to Occupy Jerusalem) that includes many of the same beliefs the PCG shares, that I respected it was their duty to investigate any legitimate concerns they might have, but that they condemn themselves if after they discover my innocence (which they did, "lacking sufficient evidence" to charge or convict me of anything of the sort), they continued to treat me like some common criminal! They informed The Jerusalem Post, as reported on the front page of The Jerusalem Post (Jan. 9, 1996), they "lacked sufficient evidence..." against me.

Did you get that? It bears repeating since apparently Gerald and Stephen Flurry failed to get it or wickedly ignored it: the Israeli police informed The Jerusalem Post, as reported on the front page of The Jerusalem Post, they "lacked sufficient evidence..." against me. So why would professing Christian church leaders fail to give me the benefit of the doubt, cast aspersions on my character, and play the charade of feeling the need to distance themselves from me? Especially when they're acting so self-righteously indignant over such tactics they feel have been used against them? Doesn't that appear as sheer gall and rank hypocrisy before both God and man?

Still at Large!

As for law enforcement officials in this country, I've reported on how the FBI investigated a false accusation against me, how I welcomed them and went over and beyond being helpful by providing them complete access to my computer's hard drive without a warrant to do so, and on another occasion appreciated their support when they tracked a death threat against me to East Jerusalem.

All things considered, as a practicing Christian Zionist (nothing to be ashamed of), I forgive Messrs. Gerald and Stephen Flurry for their misleading references to me, and thank our Great Creator God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, for offering me this opportunity to again clear my name of all these false charges some hope to keep alive, hateful opponents of the plain truth of the Bible and history that I dare to share. Perhaps the PCG can help to make amends with the maligned Temple Mount Faithful by writing an objective article about them in The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine and/or offering a generous donation to their biblical cause.

Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel

Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist?
From Toledo to Jerusalem


--
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Philadelphia Church of God minister's review of Beyond Babylon

Review of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall by a Philadelphia Church of God minister (before his "superiors" yanked his chain):

"Oh, how I admire those with both the ability to write as well as the courage to put down their ideas on paper! I felt that you have a very gripping style of writing that uses twists and slants of words or phrases to make your point. I looked up every scripture you referenced and it became clear that you have really spent a lot of time in your Bible. Being Jewish, I think, gives you an added perspective that I could never have... "

- Wayne Turgeon (son-in-law of Gerald Flurry, Pastor General of the Philadelphia Church of God)

Gerald Flurry can't handle criticism!

From The Cyber Soap Box Web Forums

Re: Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist?
Quote
"Flurry's ad referred to me as "a man that the Israeli police suspects of being involved in terrorist activity." Of course, he offers no proof of it, as they never did either - because there isn't a shred of evidence to even suggest such nonsense! What is clear is that some are terrorized by the truth! So, yes, in that sense, I am a terrorist!"

not so much 'the truth' as 'diehard truth' Dave, there's a lotta folks out there preaching what they feel is God's honest to goodness truth that amount to no more than theological wind socks

That's the plain truth. But how do we know? We go by the Word, the black and white of the Scriptures, and it either confirms or denies their validity. That being said, the apostle Paul said some actually preach the truth, or parts of it, but for all the wrong reasons, but that the Word is still getting preached. Halleluyah!

Do You Prefer TRADITION Over Truth?

Is the Plain Truth Too Strong?

Quote
to oppose that majority, especially under scrutiny, is terrorizing their politically correct universe....

Since others have exposed it, I've never gone after Gerald Flurry for acting cultic in some ways, for amassing a billion lofty religious titles to himself, magnifying himself, for anointing himself as "THAT PROPHET" foretold in Scripture (which Christians know and understand refer to Jesus Christ, not Gerald Flurry), but for going backwards rather than forward (a Herbert W. Armstrong wannabe), creating his own little kingdom in Edmond, Oklahoma, instead of getting the Word out to the world as strongly as possible, not piecemeal but powerfully, not a pip squeak but a trumpet blast that grabs everybody's attention to warn the world, and for permitting the fascist minister Dennis Leap to terrorize the flock (who I've since read had a nervous breakdown and is no longer part of the PCG organization) and lord it over the other ministers and disfellowship me for writing Beyond Babylon without being a "man of stature," a minister, playing politics, when the Bible demands no such criteria.

The fact that Flurry can't handle criticism, when those who voice honest opposition to this or that doctrine in the PCG (or even question it) are put out from the organization immediately, proves he is going papal and is surounded by sycophants who fear for their lives, as if Gerald Flurry can give salvation or assure protection from the gathering Storm. Sounds like Worldwide all over again. Some folks just never learn.

David Hoover/David Ben-Ariel

Stephen Flurry makes mention, in Gerald Flurry's hateful Oklahoman ad against me (it corrects some errors in Fox 25 Special Report on Philadelphia Church of God, but falters when it goes on to engage in the same character assassination against me they cry was done to them, based on half-truths and downright dirty innuendos that I am a terrorist, which is what folks will remember - not the corrections), that "Ben-Ariel -- whose name used to be Hoover -- was detained by Israeli police and interrogated for six hours for allegedly plotting to blow up the Al-Aqsa mosque" and was later deported.

Flurry failed to report that the Israeli authorities acknowledged to The Jerusalem Post that they "lacked sufficient evidence" to convict me - because there was no plot except the one they conspired against me, due to an article published in The Traveller magazine in Jerusalem, as revealed within: Exposing the German-Vatican Plot to Occupy Jerusalem and Still at Large!

My name was David Hoover, but I legally changed it in 1989 for religious reasons, as I testify in God-given Names and From Toledo to Jerusalem.

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

A little known blogger

Re: Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist?

"a little known blogger"
Quote:
Do terrorists get on their computers and link to their own advertiser driven blogs in every post?

I confess that I am a man of many blogs, "a little known blogger" (as Gerald Flurry's hostile ad describes me), but I am driven, I am energized, I am motivated - not by profits, but by the Law and the Prophets, and the Writings and the Gospel, Acts and by Revelation: my godly agenda is to dare to share the plain truth of the Bible and history, as an e-vangelist reaching the Internet world.

I'm sure my detractors, who hate my presence "all over the Internet," as they often bitterly complain, would strongly disagree that I am "a little known blogger." LOL. And, God knows, I've only just begun!

Apparently, Stephen Flurry has gotten too big for his britches and has foolishly forgotten the humble beginnings of the Philadelphia Church of God, when the leadership of the Worldwide Church of God mocked they wouldn't last 5 months and were "a peanut shell on a big ocean going nowhere," and refused to even acknowledge or read Gerald Flurry's book! (Peanut Shell) Much like the PCG has treated me and Beyond Babylon!

All this reminds me of an earlier encounter with Stephen Flurry's haughty attitude in 2001, unlike their hostile ad misled we allegedly only had some "communications" in the early 90s when I've had plenty of communications with many of their ministers over the years: Response by Stephen Flurry to Judean Voice ad

Those who read that blunt correspondence between Stephen Flurry and myself, will see that I have remained consistent and persistent in my constructive criticism of the Philadelphia Church of God, and in doing all that I can, with what I've been given.

This was written in 2005:

Now living in East Toledo, Ben-Ariel sends his views to the world via two web sites and numerous internet forums. Google his name and you’ll get 4,860 references. David’s been a very busy man. And now he’s written a book called Beyond Babylon; Europe’s Rise and Fall. He calls the book, “God’s final warning before the German blitzkrieg begins.”

East Toledoan calls his book, Beyond Babylon, God’s final warning
__________________

http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Sue Gerald and Stephen Flurry?

Re: Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel
Ever think of quitting while you are ahead? Assuming, of course, that you are.

What I should think about doing is SUING Gerald and Stephen Flurry, drama queens, for their "sleazy innuendo" that would paint me as a terrorist. And, in Oklahoma City to boot, of all places. Are they trying to get me killed to silence their most outspoken critic? (Even though I offer the PCG constructive criticism).

Is David Ben-Ariel A Terrorist?

Is David Ben-Ariel a Terrorist?

Apparently, the PCG would mislead you to believe that!

Why would the PCG portray David Ben-Ariel as a terrorist? Especially after complaining about character assassination of Gerald Flurry and the Philadelphia Church of God, of which he is the pastor general? Isn't that hypocrisy that stinks to High Heaven? Are they so hateful against all former members?

The Philadelphia Church of God, based in Edmond, Oklahoma, took out a full page ad in The Oklahoman. It was in livid response to FOX 25's Prime Time News at Nine Special Report on the PCG.

In The Oklahoman ad, Gerald Flurry charges that FOX 25 "built its case against us relying heavily on THAT MAN'S TESTIMONY, even featuring him prominently on their two part series," although the reports totalled nearly 10 minutes or so in duration and I was featured for roughly 40 seconds. Not even 15 minutes of fame there!

Within my very brief appearance (that thankfully flashed Beyond Babylon on the screen, my book, as well as my Philadelphia Church of God blog and photo), I made a total of four comments that were noted in my article: Fox 25 Special Report on Philadelphia Church of God -

Fox 25, Oklahoma City, Special Report:
Philadelphia Church of God: Part One

David Ben-Ariel: I was basically put out..

Reporter Nick Winkler: Former PCG member David Ben-Ariel says he was kicked out of the Church for writing a book [Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall] without the Church's approval and says all that money [15 million Art Center on their Edmond, Oklahoma site] could be better spent spreading God's Word differently...

David Ben-Ariel: Hopefully, they'll stop spending their money in Edmond, Oklahoma and use it to become a household word with our teachings and let that become known.

*****************
Fox 25, Oklahoma City, Special Report:
Philadelphia Church of God: Part Two

Nick Winkler: Before Jesus Christ returns...

David Ben-Ariel: Violence, WWIII...yes, there will be lots of violence.

Nick Winkler: Former PCG member David Ben-Ariel says he was kicked out of the Church but still defends its tithing practices...

David Ben-Ariel: Again, it's voluntary but it's understood if you're a Church of God member you will tithe and you'll want to.

*********************

Did you read anything in those four comments to justify Gerald Flurry's fury against me? He must of had a vein about to burst when he made steaming reference to me in his attack ad as "THAT MAN'S TESTIMONY" and "that man."

What was so terrible about my testimony? Doesn't the PCG believe any longer that the end of this world, as we know it, will occur with great violence? Is that why they've settled in their comfortable Edmond campus-kingdom and expensively adorn it with what will soon be spoils of war? It wasn't aired, but I had continued to share during the interview that it will get so bad that mankind will demand divine intervention to save us from ourselves, especially the targetted American, British and Jewish peoples.

"I was basically put out..." - did it disturb Flurry that this dubious practice should be made known? That I was disfellowshipped from the Philadelphia Church of God by Gerald Flurry's former wicked counsellor, Dennis Leap, for writing Beyond Babylon without being an ordained minister, and for publicly protesting his abuse of this lay member? I had written articles exposing him playing politics and shared them with brethren, which resulted in me being "marked" by the PCG. God knows my testimony is true, and it can be reviewed here:

Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)

So what is Gerald Flurry talking about? Did he see the same special report? What warranted his murderous hatred? His vile slander against me, leaving the strong and wrong impression that I am a terrorist? I even upheld their biblical practice of tithing but strongly disagreed with Flurry's misguided focus on Edmond rather than on Jerusalem and the world.

Herbert W. Armstrong always said we should focus on Jerusalem, and that involves far more than scratching the surface with archaeological digs that, at least, the PCG, is involved with in Israel. But it isn't enough, as I decry in: PCG: Carrying on "Business as Usual".

The Great Mideast Commission: Reaching the Cities of Judah

Flurry is floundering in Oklahoma, despite outward appearances. He has foundered his flock, excessively feeding themselves instead of others, feeling they're rich and fat and sassy and in need of nothing, but they're ready for slaughter - if they don't repent and do more!

The PCG does offer lots of literature, but it's nothing compared to what they could be doing with all that money squandered in Edmond. Besides, why does Flurry want to impress the world rather than warn them about a German-dominated Europe that will soon strike us with nuclear lightning?

The Watchmen are to sound the alarm and roar like a lion, not purr like a pussy cat! Once folks find out what the collective Body of Christ, the Sabbath-keeping Church of God really believes, all the various groups associated with the biblical teachings that Herbert W. Armstrong taught, not just the PCG, they'll hate us!

My unjust deportation from Israel, from the Jewish homeland that I love, was due to unwarranted hatred of the plain truth, by godless Israeli authorities who despise Torah-observant Jews and Christian Zionists who remind them of their Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities. They prefer to worship at the altar of humanism and act like Hellenists, wanting to become like the world rather than a light to all nations.

Flurry's ad referred to me as "a man that the Israeli police suspects of being involved in terrorist activity." Of course, he offers no proof of it, as they never did either - because there isn't a shred of evidence to even suggest such nonsense! What is clear is that some are terrorized by the truth! So, yes, in that sense, I am a terrorist!

Apparently, it terrorized the Germans and the Jesuits, and their treacherous Jewish puppets, when I had an article published in The Traveller - read throughout Israel - exposing the German-Vatican plot to occupy Jerusalem. It was shortly after its publication that I was visited where I lived and worked, the Palm Youth Hostel outside the Damascus Gate, and taken for six and a half hours of nighttime interrogation by six different men.

I was NEVER arrested, because I was never charged with any crime, because I was never guilty of any of the false accusations some wickedly indulge in spewing. I was detained and later unjustly deported. Those are the facts.

When I attempted to return the same year of my unjust deportation (1996) I was detained at the airport and refused entry. In 1997 I petitioned Senator Mike DeWine to inquire about a visa for me and he received an initial reply from Itzhak Oren, Minister for Congressional Affairs, March 7, 1997, that read, in part:

"It is our understanding that Mr. Ben-Ariel will not be granted a tourist visa at this time...The Ministry of the Interior...has made the decision not to grant the visa and does not offer any information behind their decision."

That was in regard to the requested visa, not to my former unjust deportation! Note the difference. Consequent correspondence informed Senator DeWine that I would not be "eligible for a tourist visa until 2005." They never said I couldn't return. In fact, in God's good time, I expect to return to Zion.

Regarding my unjust deportation, that political prostitute, former Consul General in Jerusalem, Edward Abington, Jr., wrote the Honorable Marcy Kaptur, my Congressional representative, June 28, 1996:

"On June 6, 1996 the Consulate General in Jerusalem received your letter of May 6, 1996 about the deportation of David Ben-Ariel.

On April 2, 1996, we responded to an earlier query of yours about Mr. Ben- Ariel. In that letter we noted that Mr. Ben-Ariel was held at the Jerusalem jail from January 4, 1996 until February 1, 1996, when he was deported by the Israeli government for overstaying his permission to stay in Israel...(emphasis mine).

Blow up the Mosques or an Expired Visa?

My strong response to his incompetence, to his pro-Nazi Muslim and anti-Jewish and anti-Christian stance, has been made very public, since my letter to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur is available for all to see and read: Why Edward Abington, Jr. Must Be Investigated!

The United States State Department, Senators DeWine and Voinovich, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and the Israeli authorities among many others, know I was never deported from Israel for anything other than "an expired visa." Which is just another lie, since it was not expired as I had that special piece of paper from the Ministry of the Interior, but they used that lame excuse to cover themselves since the plain truth was, as Gershon Salomon, honored to help liberate the Temple Mount during the miraculous Six Day War in 1967, chairman of the Temple Mount Faithful, stated: "This is a clear cut case of politico-religious discrimination."

It's an abomination that Gerald and Stephen Flurry would conspire as two false witnesses against me, useful idiots for the corrupt Israeli oligarchy, something we can expect from the unconverted world, from those who disagree with our religious beliefs, but it's a Judas-type betrayal for professing Christians to backstab a brother!

And when the pastor general of the PCG treats such vicious rumors as fact, which he hated when supposedly done to him, and speaks of them as "that man's troubling past" and "potentially dangerous influence," and refers to me as a "dangerous critic," he's proven how unsound his judgment is and how irrational he's become - especially when honest and objective folks can see all I correctly criticized was Dennis Leap playing politics about Beyond Babylon and Gerald Flurry wasting tithe money in his own backyard.

Dangerous Ideas?

David Ben-Ariel
Author, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Gerald Flurry's Outrageous Attack Against David Ben-Ariel

Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the PCG, is guilty of what he charges others. The disgruntled leader of the Edmond, Oklahoma-based Philadelphia Church of God has launched an outrageous attack against me due to his indignation over FOX 25's Primetime News at Nine special report on the PCG that aired two nights in a row. Flurry's fury was poured out in a full-page ad in The Oklahoman today.

Fox 25 Special Report on Philadelphia Church of God

Gerald Flurry has every right to offer his review of the special report on the PCG (and some of his ire is merited), but one wonders why he refused to be interviewed and set the record straight then, and even tape it himself to avoid being taken out of context?

Gerald Flurry hypocritically rants and raves against yellow journalism, scandalous unsubstantiated allegations, "telling part of the truth can make the truth out to be a lie," and then turns right around and engages in all those "dangerously demented tactics" against the Branch Davidians and against David Ben-Ariel - little ol' me!

Gerald Flurry (and son Stephen Flurry) feigns surprise that I knew about the special report allegedly before they did, but he fails to make honest mention that I sent out that information to both the PCG and many other of the Church of God branches, as many can testify. Considering how his former right-hand man and terrible sycophant (who was a cruel counsellor to many of the battered brethren), Dennis Leap, apparently withheld information from him about my book, Beyond Babylon, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't know what was going on. I tried.

Gerald Flurry should be ashamed that he would abuse me as his straw man against reporter Nick Winkler and Fox 25, especially when I made it very clear to Mr. Winkler that I did not want to be part of any hit piece after I reviewed some questions he graciously sent me, as these emails prove:

David wrote:
I'm curious if those questions are for everybody you'll talk to or do you plan to talk to present members of the PCG too for balance or not or what? Is it a hit piece or an honest and unbiased report?

Original Message
From: Nick Winkler
Sent: Oct 14, 2008 8:25 PM
To: David
Subject: Re: (no subject)

No. I plan on contacting Flurry and members who live nearby.
I understand they may even be having an open house for the public.
Those questions will be asked of Flurry as well.
Feel free to disagree with the nature of any of the questions.
Correct anything you think is not being asked fairly.
Some of the questions are derived from law enforcement who have
investigated the church in the past.
Feel free to ask me whatever you'd like..or to add to the questions I sent.

Nick

From: "David"
To: "Nick Winkler"
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 8:28 PM
Subject: Constructive criticism
I'm pleasantly surprised by your refreshing reply, Nick. Thank you. The questions simply seemed biased and hateful IF those are the only questions that bitter former members would revel in but someone like me wouldn't want to be party to since we have constructive criticism (even TOUGH LOVE) of the PCG and still maintain the same basic beliefs as they do: Sabbath, holy days, dietary laws, no pagan holidays or traditional heaven and hell BS from Rome.

You might have noted in several articles I took Mr. Flurry to task, saying IF he truly believes we're in the last of the last days, why is he spending a fortune in Edmond (on jewels, buildings, etc.) instead of getting the Word out and becoming a household name? It is inconsistent and a squandering of time and money.

If Mr. Flurry or current Church members speak with you, I'll be surprised, since Mr. Armstrong told us all years ago how he ONCE permitted himself to be interviewed and after they "edited" it and went with it he felt totally betrayed and misrepresented. A great and deserving mistrust exists among the brethren due to such negative experiences. I'm willing to be interviewed, because what have I got to lose? :-)

Cheers,
David

Gerald Flurry, and son Stephen Flurry, wrote in his full page ad:

"Our Church briefly communicated with David Ben-Ariel in the early 1990s.
But we quickly cut off all contact after learning about his bizarre and even radical views." And then he goes on to mention: 'Ben-Ariel -- whose name used to be Hoover -- was detained by Israeli police and interrogated for six hours for allegedly plotting to blow up the Al-Aqsa mosque' and was later deported."

Flurry failed to report that the Israeli authorities acknowledged to The Jerusalem Post that they "lacked sufficient evidence" to convict me - because there was no plot except the one they conspired against me, due to an article published in The Traveller magazine in Jerusalem, as revealed within: Exposing the German-Vatican Plot to Occupy Jerusalem and Still at Large!

Gerald Flurry and son failed to mention I was an official member of the Philadelphia Church of God in the early 1990s, and that I was put out of the PCG for daring to write a book, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, without being an ordained minister. Dennis Leap was infuriated when I told him that by his insistence that I must be a minister to write such a book, he was still looking to "men of stature" (which Flurry's book, Malachi's Message, condemns) and that he was unbiblical and playing politics by his dictates that I must "forget about Beyond Babylon" and act "like a regular lay member." I was disfellowshipped and later "marked" after exposing all this in various *articles (which is what reporter Nick Day found on the Internet and is why he contacted me).

Wayne Turgeon [Gerald Flurry's son-in-law] handed Flurry a print out of Beyond Babylon years ago and he returned it to him saying, "He's always sending us stuff." Mr. Flurry even responded to me several times on various issues including his confusion of Mount Carmel with Mount Hermon which I brought to his attention (having been blessed to live next to both of them), and my disagreement with him when he said the pope was the only religious leader to sit on a throne and I mentioned the Queen of England is also head of the Anglican Church (although agreeing with the point he was making against the Roman Catholic Cult)... Later I sent an autographed copy of a self-published BB (Beyond Babylon) [before Publish America published it] to Flurry's home for him and his wife who said to me (during the Feast of Tabernacles in Louisville) about my name, "What a strong Judah name!"

- excerpt from Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress

When Caesar Plays God: When the State Oversteps its Bounds

*Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)

Gerald Flurry and son failed to mention that the PCG believes in the same "bizarre and even radical views" that I do, whether it's about a German-EU, under the heavy influence of the Roman Catholic Church, that will brutally betray the American, British and Jewish peoples, igniting WWIII, and that professing Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter are nothing but baptized paganism, idolatry and immorality, that are fuel on the fires of God's judgment upon our White Israelite nations, leading to destruction, defeat and deportation!

The Intelligence Summit Misses the Mark: the German-Jesuit Threat to World Peace

Gerald Flurry's attack against me failed to address the two issues I raised:
1) How I was put out of the PCG for writing Beyond Babylon, and 2) how he's wasting tithes on a $15 million Art Center on their Edmond, Oklahoma site instead of properly getting out the Word of God, as I decry in PCG: Carrying on "Business as Usual".

Gerald Flurry has been given an opportunity to go public, taking out full page ads that I called upon him to do years ago, to share our beliefs, the plain truth of the Bible, to warn the world, now that FOX 25 has afforded him coverage. May God bless Gerald Flurry to repent and do just that.

David Ben-Ariel
Author, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall
http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Philadelphia Church of God (PCG)

Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his own sight or mind God used him and now, unfortunately, it appears to have gone to his head, all the new revelation (simply a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it (1 Cor. 4:7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he fails to see that he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warning God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief! He had better heed his own words...

Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)
"It's certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that he would have time to read your whole book."

Stephen Flurry and The Philadelphia Church of God
Stephen Flurry, son of Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God (based in Edmond, Oklahoma), has published a book that Amazon sells, Raising the Ruins: The Fight to Revive the Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.

The Work of God Must Go Forward!
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).

PCG: Carrying on Business as Usual
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!

The Church of God Must Warn the World!
We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).

Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress
Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.

Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?
Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study.

The Watchmen
"I have set Watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem"God has called us to do a Work! Anyone can and should do good works in private, but God has called us collectively to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and deliver His Message! We're to help save individuals and nations from the coming Holocaust!

Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress

Many Sabbath-keeping Church of God members (various groups and organizations associated to one degree or another with Herbert W. Armstrong) are sincerely opposed to offering any Church of God literature or religious material for sale, since Herbert Armstrong taught us to "buy the truth and sell it not."

However, such Church of God members should remember that Mr. Armstrong later permitted his books to be made available for sale in bookstores, informing the brethren and co-workers in a letter dated September 12, 1985:

"There is a very large audience which would never request this book [Mystery of the Ages] if offered free - who would never send their name and address to us - but would gladly buy a copy in the bookstore. By putting it in the bookstores we will reach a very great audience that we can reach in no other way. We will not sell the book ourselves, but it cannot be made available to this large audience of book buyers unless the bookstores do put a price on it." (Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Volume 2, page 638).

Some have been upset that Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall is sold. I remind them of Herbert Armstrong's words above and Paul's rhetorical response to some in his day over this principle that we're commanded to not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain and that a worker is worthy of his hire. Besides, Beyond Babylon is available to for FREE or read online for FREE. God knows I am certainly not in this for the money, but gladly share the plain truth of the Bible and history as I am able, knowing it is truly priceless information.

I am also an individual, not a Church organization receiving regular tithes and offerings who therefore have no need to sell anything, as they're equipped to offer it all, ideally, for free. I don't believe any Church of God organization should sell Church of God literature. However, those out in the field, not part of the administration or headquarters, have a God-given right to do as necessary.

Yeshua didn't condemn selling sacrificial animals but was righteously indignant that such commercial activities were taking place in the Temple courtyards and at exorbitant prices. Many were making a killing rather than offering a service.

A member of the Philadelphia Church of God recently corresponded with me on this and other Church of God issues.

Didn't you try and impose your book on God's ministers and church?

Not at all. Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.

Maybe you should have waited until the time came.

Don't you believe God goes first to His Church and then His Nation? It was time to bring Beyond Babylon before Flurry, whom I consider to be the leader of this Laodicean era of God's Church.

Do you think you are one of the 2 witnesses?

God knows, but what I do know is that we ought to at least prepare the way for them with Judah and NONE of the Church of God groups reach the cities of Judah.

That would be a honor to be one. I've often prayed about them and in my silliness wished I could be one of them.

It would be an honor and a grave responsibility and the most hated job in the world since rejection would be by many in the Church, initially, and nearly all in the world, with a bloody ending until the resurrection to physical life just before the return of the King, Yeshua the Messiah. No nice dinners or fancy invitations for the Two Witnesses but plenty of murderous misunderstanding and hateful grief.

But I'm just a lay member.....

No such thing as "just" a lay member. Everybody has their God-given place in the Church of God and are equally important for whatever God has called them to do.

Seems to me you focus too much on the physical Jews.

Not at all. Herbert Armstrong always told us to "WATCH JERUSALEM!" Who's in Jerusalem? JEWS! The gospel began and will return there. God's true church is not there now although "Elijah" went there. This must change.

Mr. Armstrong, near the time of his death, said on one of his sermons or Bible studies that they are not so important as he once thought since they don't even believe in Jesus Christ.

I don't believe that at all and don't believe he ever said it. I quote what we know for sure Herbert Armstrong said about the importance of reaching the cities of Judah. It's documented. Shamefully, it's something that hasn't been done yet but the foundation has been laid, even though the Work in Israel is temporarily suspended by government decree as it was in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Mr. Flurry never read your book right?

I don't know. Wayne Turgeon [Gerald Flurry's son-in-law] handed him a print out of it years ago and he returned it to him saying, "He's always sending us stuff." Mr. Flurry even responded to me several times on various issues including his confusion of Mount Carmel with Mount Hermon which I brought to his attention (having been blessed to live next to both of them), and my disagreement with him when he said the pope was the only religious leader to sit on a throne and I mentioned the Queen of England is also head of the Anglican Church (although agreeing with the point he was making against the Roman Catholic Cult).

I would love to find those letters, however during my many moves overseas to Israel I thought I kept them stored at my sister's home but she can't find them. Such letters also include correspondence from Dr. Herman Hoeh years ago about the Jews and their variations in color and why. I met Dr. Hoeh at the Toronto Singles' Weekend (Church of God singles from all over were in attendance) where he spoke and invited us to write him, which of course I did.

Later I sent an autographed copy of a self-published BB (Beyond Babylon) to Flurry's home for him and his wife who said to me (during the Feast of Tabernacles in Louisville) about my name, "What a strong Judah name!"

Dennis Leap said he read parts of it and that it wasn't necessary for him or Flurry to read it, unlike Mr. Armstrong wanting Sardis (Church of God, Seventh Day) to read his manuscript - The United States and Britain in Prophecy - which they DID.

Well, I hear you loud and clear. I do not agree with some of headquarter's decisions but they are just as human as we are and liable to make mistakes, including Mr. Flurry. Sometimes we just have to suffer the wrong and go on.

I readily accept and acknowledge that fact, but if it's a mistake or a sin we learn from it, acknowledge it and go forward all the wiser. Flurry has done none of those humble things. Regardless, I go on without him as he goes backwards trying to play HWA and God in the Temple, grieved to say.

David, I hope and pray for your return to PCG... Mr. Flurry has engaged in personal appearance campaigns and he plans to go to Joseph and Judah this coming year I think. The Key of David will no longer air on TV and we are now focusing on personal warnings.

Remember we are baptized into the Body of Jesus Christ - not into any sect or denomination of men. I remain a member of the spiritual Church of God that isn't bound by membership lists at the mercy of men. Remember Diotrephes? (3 John vs. 9-11).

What do you mean they've scrapped the TV programs (even though I always constructively criticized them - through Wayne Turgeon who used to write me very frequently - that nobody but a very limited religious audience would watch the programs at the hours they were shown). As Turgeon can testify, I also said they needed a toll free number (which years later they obtained); I said they needed a website with Church literature (which years later they have); they need to publish Beyond Babylon freely (which they still don't) and to take out major newspaper ads like HWA to reach EVERYBODY and get EVERYBODY talking about our God-given controversial message.

We do really need better advertisement.

Yes, because I've conducted my own tests and surveys on many internet forums to see that the general public doesn't have a clue who Flurry is, never heard of the PCG and doesn't know the warning message at all. All that money for what? A private club?

Too bad you only see what you think is bad but God has to get his family ready first to marry his Son before He can deal properly with the world.

And how does God do that? Have us stare at our Church navel - Church headquarters as the center of our attention? - or by the way of give, outflowing concern for the good and welfare of OTHERS - like the cities of Judah? Otherwise folks will never feel ready to reach out and will have proven themselves deceived by Satan who doesn't want the Work to GO FORWARD. As we reach out, so help us God, He will work in and through and for us at the same time.

I know everything that is good about the PCG and continue to direct folks to its literature and The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine despite their refusal to send it to me. They even know I've given them contacts in the Middle East, in Jerusalem, Jewish leaders, and that it was me whom God used to contact the mayor of Jerusalem to get the HWA monument repaired (in the Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem), and then I forwarded the information to Flurry (who didn't even say thank you and wasn't even aware of its woeful neglect that I knew about from being over there so many times). I'll bet you didn't know that, did you?

I had written an open letter to the mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolianski, that was published in The Jerusalem Post. His office contacted me to inquire about what groups or organizations I was referring to that would be interested in undertaking the financial responsibility for the monument's restoration and the rest is history.

PCG: Carrying on Business as Usual

Philadelphia Church of God:
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!

You've proven you've lost the zeal you once expressed, now exposing your dangerous attitude of "my Lord delays His coming" and you find time to build vain structures and name them after men that will soon be left in ruins, abandoned, desolate like our British-Israelite countries who carry on business as usual when these are not normal times and our days are numbered!

Philadelphia Church of God:
You will be held accountable for all the time and money wasted, tithes that should have gone toward warning the nations that the German BEAST is about to devour, and the EU jackboot to stomp Jerusalem and occupy Israel and pollute the Temple.

God meant for you to raise up the Work of WARNING - to sound the alarm, to blow the trumpet - not to get fat and lazy and listen to music and fiddle while the world is about to burn! (Amos 6:1-8). This is the prophesied work of restoration: preserving and promoting the plain truth - not pretty buildings and outdated thinking! That era is over!

Gerald Flurry, Pastor General of the PCG:
You're the leader of Laodicea and you further prove it. You're looking backwards towards an administration GOD destroyed and a campus that GOD left in ruins. Is God impressed with your buildings? Is God impressed with your ratings when the average man on the street has never heard of you and remains oblivious to the warning message? His blood will be on your head!

If you were looking forward, if you had a frightening vision of tomorrow, you would launch an ad campaign in major newspapers to warn them about the fascist Europe, and warn them in such a way that each ad is sufficient warning if it's the only one they read. But they would read and debate and argue about it - a national debate and an international controversy - if you would seek God's glory and not a man's - whether your own or Herbert Armstrong's.

Jeremiah 45:4-5
4 The LORD said, "Say this to him: 'This is what the LORD says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the land. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD....' "

Zephaniah 1:14-18
14 The great day of the LORD is near;
It is near and hastens quickly.
The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter;
There the mighty men shall cry out.
15 That day is a day of wrath,
A day of trouble and distress,
A day of devastation and desolation,
A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of trumpet and alarm
Against the fortified cities
And against the high towers.
17 “I will bring distress upon men,
And they shall walk like blind men,
Because they have sinned against the LORD;
Their blood shall be poured out like dust,
And their flesh like refuse.”
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
Shall be able to deliver them
In the day of the LORD’s wrath;
But the whole land shall be devoured
By the fire of His jealousy,
For He will make speedy riddance
Of all those who dwell in the land.

For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel

The Work of God Must Go Forward!

What's next for the Church of God? Malachi's Message has served its purpose. (A book written by Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God). Those who have ears to hear have listened to what the Spirit of God has had to say to the Church of God. It's now time to move on.

The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2).

Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).

By Gerald Flurry's own admission, Malachi's Message has nothing to say about nations. That's proper, because it was basically his commission to focus in on the Church. Does Mystery of the Ages warn the world? (Herbert W. Armstrong's crown work). How can it when it doesn't even include the words Germany, Beast or Europe in its index? Mystery of the Ages is undoubtedly the most important book written since the Bible to preach the gospel around the world. But doesn't Gerald Flurry understand that's already been accomplished? BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

The Work of God must go forward, not backwards. It's true that we must always preach the gospel, but now it's time to emphasize a WARNING MESSAGE. The Church has been warned. The world hasn't. We must warn them like they've never been warned before!

There is only one book on earth today (other than the Bible) that clearly warns THE GERMANS ARE COMING! Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall is a hard-hitting book that details the events concerning the rise of the prophetic Beast in Europe, the fall of our Israelite countries, the Two Witnesses, and lets you know why it all has to happen. If you haven't already read it, check it out for yourself! It's available for free online.

The Philadelphia Church of God

Philadelphia Church of God Leads the Laodicean Era (Part 1)
When Gerald Flurry wasn't anything in his own sight or mind God used him and now, unfortunately, it appears to have gone to his head, all the new revelation (simply a deeper understanding of some things), and he forgets that all truth is from and belongs to GOD and that God can use a donkey to deliver it (1 Cor. 4:7). Gerald Flurry has become so swollen in his own imagination that he fails to see that he is the leader of LAODICEA! He knows what warning God is giving the Laodiceans, of which he is chief! He had better heed his own words...

Philadelphia Church of God Leads Laodicean Era (Conclusion)
"It's certainly not my place to determine if what you believe God has shown you is true or not, but would you mind presenting Mr. Flurry with an abbreviated version of what you feel is inspired... as I highly doubt that he would have time to read your whole book."

Stephen Flurry and The Philadelphia Church of God
Stephen Flurry, son of Gerald Flurry, pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God (based in Edmond, Oklahoma), has published a book that Amazon sells, Raising the Ruins: The Fight to Revive the Legacy of Herbert W. Armstrong.

The Work of God Must Go Forward!
The Work of God must go forward. The only work that's left to do now is focus on the NATIONAL LEVEL. We must get out God's ultimatum and fast! Europe is on the rise and Jerusalem is getting international attention (Zech. 14:2). Soon God's two witnesses will rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1-2). God's about to restore His lamp to the Middle East! (Rev. 11:3; 1 Kgs. 11:36; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:8).

PCG: Carrying on "Business as Usual"
If you truly saw what is coming on this Earth, and had a vision of tomorrow, you would know that the Gathering Storm darkens as you sip champagne and boast that you're rich and in need of nothing, woefully ignorant that the Two Witnesses will soon be wearing sackcloth and fasting, not wining and dining at black tie dinners!

The Church of God Must Warn the World!
We know that certain prophecies were not to be fulfilled until these "last days." Therefore their sealed messages weren't to break their silence until the appointed time (Dan. 12:9). With the advent of the nuclear age, we've been living, for the first time in history, with the weapons of mass destruction that can erase all life from off planet Earth! (Matt. 24:21-22).

Politics in the Church of God Hinders Progress
Gerald Flurry refused to go forward with Beyond Babylon and fell backwards, treading old ground and is now going in circles, business as usual, as Europe rises and Judah and Israel have yet to be warned.

Worldwide Church Of God All Over Again?
Let’s see to it that Philadelphia Church of God (Judah) doesn’t go the way of the Worldwide Church of God (Israel). These biblical principles still apply: don’t put undue trust in men; work out your own salvation, it’s not a group affair; beware the scholarly approach that demands you rely on men - not God’s Spirit or personal Bible study.

The Watchmen
"I have set Watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem"
God has called us to do a Work! Anyone can and should do good works in private, but God has called us collectively to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and deliver His Message! We're to help save individuals and nations from the coming Holocaust!