false_prophet

Detecting the true end-time prophets
A study by: Timothy M. Youngblood
Copyright © The Master's Table

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There are so many men coming in the name of Jesus stating that they are the end time prophet, or one of the two witnesses. It is hard for some to understand how to know if what these men are preaching is from God or just men seeking fame, power, and your money. We believe two end time witnesses will come in the time of the end just before God sets up His kingdom on this earth because the bible states this to be true. The question is how can we know for sure when these two end time witnesses will be here and how will we know who they are? The main key is found in scripture but needs to be used with wisdom and knowledge. The bible teaches that if a man comes prophesying and his prophecy does not come to pass that God has not sent him. Let's read it for ourselves in Deut 18:21and 22. "And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'-- "when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." That is from God; not me!

There is a new book out titled "2008, God's final witness" by Ronald Weinland who states that he and his wife is the two witnesses written about in the book of revelation and that God has sent him and his wife to proclaim the end to this world. Now I'm not going to state that what he teaches is a lie because God has not sent an angel to tell me if this person is truly sent to do what he claims or not. All I can do at this point is look at the fruits of the statements he makes. One point I have a big problem with is that Ronald Weinland states he knows what the seven thunders uttered in Revelation chapter 10 vs. 1-4 when the statement in verse 4 clearly states; "Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."

Some have stated that they know what these seven thunders uttered. I have personally talked with several men that have stated they "believe" they know. One man I spoke with, (Gerald Waterhouse) a number of years ago told me that the book H. W. Armstrong wrote titled "The Mystery of the Ages" had seven chapters and that each chapter was what the thunders uttered. I would like to go on record to say that I believe that when John heard the seven thunders utter he (John) was the only man ever to know what they stated as the angel told him NOT to write them down. I believe if God wanted us to know what they stated then the voice from heaven would not have stated for John to NOT write them down! I know of no scripture stating that they will be revealed to anyone at anytime. Anyone that states they know what the seven thunders uttered without an angel or Jesus revealing it to them should themselves take to heart the admonition in Rev. 22:18-19!

Ronald Weinland also states that the tribulation will start in the year 2008 thus the title of his book. He stated in an article on the web February 7, 2008; "We are there! As it was mentioned in this past Sabbath’s sermon, the final countdown has begun, as the 1335 days before the actual day Jesus Christ returns began on February 2, 2008." He also stated at this time that the establishment of God’s Government over all the earth will be in the fall of 2011. He also states that the demise of the United States will begin in 2008. He also stated in an article on the web April 18, 2008 that "We are at the very end-time for man’s self-rule on earth. The Seventh Seal has been opened and now the First Trumpet has been blown! The most bold statement is..."I'm just going to make this real clear to everyone. If by Pentecost (June 2008) it is not powerfully and abundantly clear that there has been a great deal of destruction that will clearly encompass a third of all plant life in the US and at least the clear results of this mingled with blood the death of very much animal life and the beginning of large numbers of human life then I will stop preaching. Just so all the critics and everyone out there will understand. I am true to my word in these things. OK? And for all the critics if by the end of July and for most likely around Pentecost if nothing has clearly caused great destruction and death I will make it very clear that I was a false prophet. I will do exactly what I said I would do on aaaaall those interviews that I have held. To do less. Well. Would be quite insane."

These are very bold statements and we will just have to wait until June of 2008 to see if he is a false prophet according to the scripture in Deut 18:21-22, I quoted above. There's other things we can do however to determine if it's possible that he is a false prophet by looking at some of the things he puts forth as his foundation. Also if he is one of the two witnesses he will be able to cause plagues on command as we find in scripture concerning the two witnesses. Let's read it for ourselves. "These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire." Rev 11:6 Question is...can anyone who claims to be of the two witnesses do this?

One of the greatest points Weinland makes is that he is tied directly to Herbert W. Armstrong whom Weinland believes was an Apostle and the end time Elijah. Weinland refers to Herbert W. Armstrong as an apostle in the twentieth century in chapter Two Page 25. Also on page 204 of his book he makes the claim that Herbert W. Armstrong was also the end-time Elijah. It was in fact taught in the WWcG that Herbert W. Armstrong was also "Elijah" the prophet that was to come just before the return of Christ. It is an interesting note that from the death of Herbert W. Armstrong to now over 22 years have passed and Jesus has not returned. Because Ronald Weinland has connected himself to the World wide Church and Herbert W. Armstrong he has inadvertently attached himself to the fact that God showed the world and the World wide church congregation that Herbert W. Armstrong was a false prophet many, many times over 50 years. I don't make that claim out of hate, or distain, but more as a fact of record. See HWA's prophecies below. If we are to use the scriptures as the word of God then we must go by them even when they correct us.

Another important point is that we find in Revelation chapter 13 vs. 15 - 18 that a time will come when ALL mankind will not be able to buy or sell unless they worship the beast and receive his mark of 666 on their forehead or right hand. I have watched this system being put in place starting around 1972 which is about 35 years now and it is close to completition, but today as of 2008 we can still work, receive cash and spend it as we desire without the system knowing what we made for our labor, or what we bought with it. If we are to believe the scripture in the book of revelation this system as described must be put in place around the world before the destruction of the system by the returning Messiah. There can't be a destruction of a system that does not yet exist! This means that if Weinland is who he claims and if his prophecy is correct the system would have to be in place in just a few months. Do you truly see this coming about around the world in a few months?

Note:
This statement is written June 25th, 2008. I'm adding this because Weinland's prophecy have not come to pass. If you would like a copy of his prophecy statement and answer as to why it has not come to pass please e-mail us and we will send the information to you. Regards Timothy M. Youngblood

Below you can first read a letter in part dated December 8, 1947 and please notice the very strong admonitions as well as the very strong bold statements about the world at that time (1947) being in the end times. Also at the end of this letter you will find a list of Herbert W. Armstrong's Prophecies or some that was approved to be published by those he appointed to write to the church with the date and the magazine, or book they are located. As you read these prophecies dating from the 30's all the way till Herbert's death in January, 1986 you can decide for yourself if he was a false prophet and thus should, or should not be taken seriously.

"The WORLD TOMORROW"
A NATIONWIDE BROADCAST

GREETINGS! in Jesus' name: TIME is running out! This world is moving swiftly to its destruction! Yet there is still time -- and just barely enough time -- to finish the work of God for this present age. THERE IS NO TIME TO LOSE. But the work of God is progressing on schedule -- amid handicaps, thru obstacles and trials that try our souls, our patience, and our faith to the limit -- under the divine direction of God, and as a result of MIRACLES performed by him in our behalf.

The "Big Four" diplomats are locked in an uncompromisable duel between East and West -- between Russia and the United States -- between Communism and Democracy -- between Atheism and professed Christianity. At the London conference, the nations merely lock horns and fight, and quarrel, and deadlock, in their efforts to restore the peace of Europe and the world. The United States announces the invention and production of horrible, terrifying new atomic weapons -- without giving the public any hint as to the nature of those weapons. The Russians give out hints that they, too, either HAVE the atomic bomb, or have its secret and are now preparing to actually produce it.

The United Nations recommend the partitioning of Palestine, and actual setting up, at last, of a new Jewish NATION in the holy land. This sets off the Palestine powder-keg. The Moslem nations, 300 million strong and solidly ORGANIZED these past three years, have announced they will never permit it -- they spring to action -- fighting and violence is intensified in the holy land, and terror reigns. Europe faces its hardest winter, and the United States, with diminishing food supplies, sets out to try to feed the world to save it from chaos and communism and starvation. Yes, this world is being hurled rapidly TOWARD UTTER DESTRUCTION -- we approach the END OF THE WORLD! -- which means the end of this AGE!

The WORLD TOMORROW will soon dawn, bringing peace, prosperity, happiness and joy at last; -- and in the short time that remains our calling and sole important mission in life is to SHOUT THIS GOOD NEWS (the true Gospel of Jesus Christ) TO THE WORLD! It must go, not only to America and Canada, as it is now going, it must go to ALL NATIONS, in ALL LANGUAGES! To this end, AMBASSADOR COLLEGE is now operating in sober earnest -- instructing consecrated, eager young men and women in the true Message, training them in speaking foreign languages. THE OUTLOOK, at the moment, is for six or seven more years of PROSPERITY here in America -- (even tho it is an artificial, unsound and inflated "prosperity") -- while meantime the world moves relentlessly toward WORLD WAR III and final DESTRUCTION!

YOU, dear Co-Worker, are not going to be permitted to enjoy your home, your freedom, your present privileges and pursuits, many more years. Just a few more years -- perhaps six or seven -- perhaps twelve or fifteen -- and a re-united Fascist-Nazi Europe will STRIKE -- America's great cities will be blown out of existence in one night without warning -- we shall see such tremendous atomic destruction as the world has never even dreamed -- more than 40 MILLION Americans will perish in the horrifying blasts! At the same time drought and famine will strike dead another THIRD of our entire population -- men, women, and children -- thru starvation and disease! And our second great commission -- our divine calling from Almighty God -- is to WARN our beloved nation, and other Israelitish nations, before it is too late! Every individual who HEEDS this warning, turns to God, is WATCHING and PRAYING ALWAYS, being filled with God's Spirit, living by every Word of God, with a life consecrated to Him, will be given special divine protection -- taken beforehand to a place of SAFETY -- preserved thru the final horrifying tribulation, time of plagues and human anguish soon to visit this earth! But if we to whom God has revealed this terrible future thru His divine prophecies fail to heed it -- if we fail to each play his or her full part in WARNING this nation and the world, now, while we may -- then God says we shall not escape, but He will require the blood of this entire people at our hands!

God Almighty is causing a "prosperity" -- if only a temporary, stimulated, prosperity -- to shine brightly upon our LAND. Listen! Do you know WHY? TO ENABLE US WHO UNDERSTAND TO HAVE ENOUGH FINANCIAL MEANS TO CARRY OUT GOD'S PURPOSE -- to WARN our nations of the soon-coming prophesied destruction -- to WARN the entire world of the fast-approaching "TRIBULATION" and true Gospel of Jesus Christ -- the Gospel Christ brought and preached, and commissioned every true minister of His to proclaim to the world throughout this age -- THE GOOD NEWS OF THE COMING WORLD-RULING KINGDOM OF GOD! The denominations, preachers, and evangelists are not proclaiming THIS true Gospel!

The destruction of the United States of America is foretold in YOUR BIBLE. It is foretold by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Micah, and others. It was foretold by Jesus Christ Himself! But the worldly churches and their ministers, all divided into sects and denominations, bound by sectarian creeds and blinded by world-wide spiritual deception, deceived, by a devil who poses as GOD and has deceived the WHOLE WORLD -- they do not under- stand the Bible, and do not perceive what is so clearly prophesied! Yet this catastrophe is sweeping on toward an unsuspecting America with increasing momentum -- and in a few years it will STRIKE -- suddenly, unexpectedly! "AS A SNARE," said Jesus, will this SUDDEN DESTRUCTION come. Then it will be too late!

Listen, dear Co-Worker! To set your heart, your mind and interest now in the pursuits of THIS WORLD, or THIS LIFE, -- to ignore this appeal, and this PRIVILEGE, to HELP TO YOUR VERY UTMOST in the closing work of God -- to figure that you can't afford to spare anything now for God's cause because of OTHER worldly interests -- is to enjoy a fool's paradise, and find yourself suddenly, when least expected, in just a few years, caught in the snare of this on-coming DESTRUCTION!

I tell you, ON THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST, IT IS COMING! Many of you NOW, are in financial condition to DO A LOT MORE than you are doing for GOD'S CAUSE -- to help me get out this Message over the air, and in print -- to help me train and prepare talented, able, consecrated young men and women for THEIR part in soon carrying this vital message to THE ENTIRE WORLD -- into EVERY NATION!

One consecrated co-worker and his wife are mortgaging their home in order to place a few more thousand dollars in this mighty work that more millions may be warned! At first I shrank from accepting money under such conditions -- but when we remember that in a few years NONE OF US will be living in our present homes -- EVERYTHING material we possess now will be swept away from us, and we shall then be either in that haven of safety under God's divine protection, or else dead or in slavery worse than death -- and when we consider further that this brother and his wife are not deprived of their home, but merely PUTTING IT TO WORK FOR GOD'S GREAT CAUSE, while they enjoy it and live in it, too -- then it appeared in a different light, and we could do nothing but accept it, to use it for God's honor and glory. WHO KNOWS? perhaps this one sacrifice on the part of this one man and wife may be the means to bringing MANY precious souls not only under God's divine protection in the TIME OF TROUBLE TO COME, but also into ETERNAL LIFE in God's Kingdom FOREVER!

TIME IS SHORT! It is fast running out! Soon we shall come to the time of the prophesied FAMINE OF HEARING THE WORD OF THE ETERNAL -- the time when world forces will no longer PERMIT the preaching of God's Truth!

No man can know exactly how long. This much we DO KNOW -- it is now NEAR, even at the very doors, according to prophecy -- it will strike DURING THIS PRESENT GENERATION -- it cannot now be more than A FEW YEARS; -- yet, on the other hand, we may KNOW that God will not permit this time of national disaster and world destruction to fall UNTIL our nations HAVE BEEN WARNED (and no other voice is warning them), and UNTIL "this Gospel of the KINGDOM shall be preached in ALL THE WORLD for a witness UNTO ALL NATIONS, and then shall the END COME!" BE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH TIME, if we set ourselves full pressure to the task, and do our very utmost, at any sacrifice. But there is no more than enough -- not one single day to waste. I know that TIME IS SO SHORT, there was not enough time to delay the opening of AMBASSADOR COLLEGE even one more year. That is why God moved with MIRACLES to make the IMPOSSIBLE happen for us, so we could start, as we did, this fall!

I want to tell you of its progress -- of the state of this work. BUT DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT WE HAVE BEEN PLUNGED INTO A GREAT CRISIS IN THIS WORK, WHICH WE HAVE NOT YET PASSED, ALTHOUGH GOD HAS MERCIFULLY KEPT THE WORK ALIVE AND PROGRESSING WITH INCREASING MOMENTUM AND POWER. This work needs your greatest sacrifice -- it needs all you and every other co-worker can give. It need MORE than you can give -- it still needs the LOANS from many who are in position to put money they may need later INTO GOD'S WORK where it can be WORKING FOR GOD until needed, when we can pay it back. Especially do we need more LONG-TERM, and LARGE loans--- that is, of from one to ten thousand dollars -- even more, over a long period, not to be paid back for two, three, five years or more. A few loans for a period of only a few months have helped greatly. More of these will help -- but the greater need is for larger, and longer-term loans from those who are able."

I would like to note here that there are many statements by Armstrong that did not come to pass concerning the relationships of Nations that I will not add here because the relationships of Nations are very fluid and does change allies as one ruler dies and another takes over. Just look at some old maps over the last 100 years.

To just read these statements below after knowing the facts after so much time has passed (2008) makes one realize that these men were just guessing as to what could happen and hoping they were right.

PT June 1934: Herbert drew a chronological chart of End-Time events. He labeled the year 1936 as the end of the time of tribulation and "the End of the Age."

1939 PT: "Franco will give his power to Mussolini" - note: stayed in power for 30 years after Mussolini died.

1939 PT: "Ethiopia & Libya will join USSR in WW2" - Note: they were conquered from Italy by Britain within 2 years.

1939-40 PT: "Mussolini will conquer Egypt & Palestine" - note: Dec 1940 30K British troops capture 250K Italian troops.

Before June 1944 HWA appears to have predicted on radio the D-Day landings would fail.

July 1945: although Germany is destroyed Japan will develop atomic bomb to destroy America; note - US atomic bomb already tested in Los Alamos, key components manufactured in Washington state north of HWA in Oregon; August 1945 2 US a-bombs dropped on Japan to end war.

Plain Truth Dec 1940: Britain will be conquered by Nazis, and Turkey will turn traitor to Britain; it stayed neutral.

1942 PT: Rommel will conquer Jerusalem & Egypt with help of German army coming through Caucasus and southern Russia; note - more than 1 million German/axis troops destroyed in Stalingrad, August 1942 - Feb 1943; British eighth army destroys Rommel's army at Alamein Nov 1942 & then advances 1000 miles across Africa.

1948/49 PT: Germany will become nuclear superpower within five years; note - instead Soviet Union does in 1949 A-Bomb, 1953 H-Bomb.

From 1950s onwards, predicted that France would never win another war. Instead, French paratroops smashed the Libyan army in Chad in 1986-87.

1950 PT: US will never win another war; Note - 1982 Grenada; 1989 Panama; 1991 Iraq, then rated 4th largest army in the world, defeated in 40 days and 10 years later after 9-11 was completely destroyed.

March 1950 PT: "One third of our people will die from starvation in the next FEW YEARS!" Just what is a few years? This is 2008 so it has been Is 48 years just "a FEW YEARS!"?

August 1950 PT - "The next Pope will be a miracle worker, a supposed proof that God is using him to order and pacify the world!" 1958-62 - The next pope was Pope John XXIII. He never claimed to be a miracle worker and never tried to organize or pacify the world.

January 1955 PT: Hoeh: "We face a national catastrophe by 1975. We will be totally consumed and carried away captive to other nations as slaves within twenty years." (2008 minus 1957 = 51 years, not 20 years.)

1956-1980 PT: Franz Josef Strauss will be the beast and the man of strife in the book of Hosea; Note - Strauss never became leader of Germany, defeated by Helmut Schmidt in 1982, died 1988, great ally of US & Israel all his life.

1957 PT: predicts the Treaty of Rome creating European Common Market will lead to Catholic/Nazi dictatorship by 1962.

1960's PT repeatedly claimed 1972 would be the year of Christ's coming however after 1969: HWA claimed it would be 1975 however first half of 1950's PT: Christ would return in 1957. Don't forget that WHA stated in his 1934 PT: "Christ will return in 1936"

Warned in 1960 that if John F Kennedy was elected president, the Pope would have a crucial foothold to seize power in America.

1962 PT "There is no boom in sight" - note: US was at beginning of biggest boom in history of the world.

Nov 30, 1963, coworkers letter: "we have only eight years to finish the Work"; Nov 22, 1963, coworkers letter: "in eight years all of our ministers will be silenced" - religious persecution on WWCG.

March 1963 by Hogberg in first article in PT: worst weather in a decade means start of famine cycle.

PT August 1963 Ron Kelly, "The prophet Jeremiah looked down into our time today - at what will take place in America and Britain within the next 10 to 15 years."

151) PT August 1963. Meredith proclaims Jerusalem will remain a divided city between Israeli and Arab states until it is taken into captivity. (How many times have Jerusalem been taken over by other Nations in the last 1,900 years?)

PT, October 1963: "ALL HUMAN LIFE will be blasted out of existence by nuclear warfare and other means of mass destruction - perhaps not more than twelve or fifteen years from now!

PT, January 1964: Herbert prophesied very explicitly that the coming year "shall increase drought and upheavals in the WEATHER pattern...the trend in general will continue until - probably by 1971 or 1972 - it will become an acute disaster, especially to the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia." In fact for each of those countries, 1964 was one of the most economically prosperous in their entire histories till then. (What would HWA say about events today?

PT, July 1964: Herman hoeh "In less than fifteen years all nations are going to live in a Utopia! They will be forced to learn the ways of peace and prosperity!"

1965 PT: east Jerusalem would remain in Gentile hands until Christ's coming; note: less than 2 years later Israelis conquered it.

1965 PT: By 1969 Britain will be helpless & impoverished seeking help from Germany.

Dec. 1965, HWA in co-workers letter: "We are in the grand smash climax - only 6 years left."

1966 sermon by Meredith: within three years by 1969 society will have collapses in America; millions will flee into cities.

1966 PT by Dale Schurter: prepare for famine in US within 3-5 years; note - hundreds of WWCG farmer members bankrupted following his teaching that fertilizer was sinful.

1966 sermon by Meredith: within three years by 1969 society will have collapses in America; millions will flee into cities

PT: January 1967: Hogberg - "There WILL be an end to strife and struggle among men and nations. And in less than 10 years!" (2008 minus 1967 = 41 years, not 10 years.)

July 5, 1967, coworkers letter by HWA: "the Jews will demolish the Dome on the Rock."

1967 Passover speaking at Bricket Wood, England: within the year Jordan would conquer west Jerusalem from Israel; note: within six weeks Israel conquered West Jerusalem from Jordan.

Through 1960's/70's until 1978 in coworkers letters: he & Garner T. Armstrong (HWA's son.) will be two witnesses Zerubbabel and Joshua, note that they are now dead. Herbert Armstrong died in January, 1986 and GTA died September 15, 2003.

1974 PT: US will prove unwilling & unable to go to war to protect world oil supplies from Persian Gulf; note 1991 Gulf War as well as the war in Iraq after Sep. 11 2001 proved him wrong.

April/May 1978 Worldwide News: HWA teaches you can only come to Christ through him through government structure: cut yourself off from Christ if you disobey HWA.

1978 co-worker letter. HWA predicted that the next pope (who turned out to be John Paul II) would very rapidly united Europe. He didn't and died April 2, 2005.

1982 coworkers letter: expect Argentina to sink Britain's royal navy in Falkland war; note - total victory for Britain in less than 2 months, Argentine airforce destroyed, Argentine dictator falls.

A few months before Herbert's death I and many others heard him state that "If this church is God's only true church on earth today the gates of hell can not prevail against it!" The facts are now history brethren and we need to take God at His word when we are being told that a person is sent from God.

As stated in the beginning of this paper, I don't know if Ronald Weinland is God's end time prophet or one of the two witnesses, but if he is false I urge him to repent!