A sermon tape, "Listening to the Dragon," was played to members of Philadelphia Church of God on April 16, 2005. After listening to this lengthy sermon, members were sure to come away with nerves frayed and emotions distraught, especially after listening to the numerous times he engaged in shouting. Flurry sounds quite nice on the Key of David program, but if one were to listen to his sermon tapes, they would see quite a difference in his voice and words. The only good thing that can come out of Flurry's ban on removing tapes from PCG libraries is to spare members from hearing him twice. Some of Flurry's remarks from this tape are quoted below and have been categorized into fear-based, ridiculous, incriminating, and prophecy statements. It was evident in listening to the tape that certain parts had been edited. There's nothing encouraging in the message, nor anything uplifting.

(SIDE A, 90 minutes):

FEAR STATEMENT:

"If we don’t get in step with God, we’re all going to be a bloody victim of this great whore." [the Roman Catholic Church]  

FEAR STATEMENT:

"God says, 'If you want to qualify for the Kingdom of God, you’re gonna have to tell the Vatican this and you’re gonna have to tell the world this is the way it is...'"  

[Comment by ESN: Where in the Bible does it say that we "qualify" for the Kingdom of God by telling the Vatican PCG's message? God doesn't ask anyone to "qualify" for eternal life (or the Kingdom of God). It is a free gift (Romans 5:15).

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

[speaking of the Vatican and the world]: "They're terribly deceived, mainly because they want to be deceived.")

[Comment by ESN: How can someone "want" to be deceived?] 

FEAR STATEMENT:

"If you’re here in this church and you’re not keeping the Law, you won’t be here long. I can assure you, you won’t be here long. God is cleaning house and especially this time of the year" [referring to Passover season]

[Comment by ESN: No one in PCG (including GF) can claim that they keep the Law perfectly? Therefore, it won't be long before everyone is gone.]

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"Israel is mesmerized by this funeral [of the Pope]). … They’re actually excited about their own funeral…"

[Comment by ESN: How can someone be "excited" about their own funeral?]  

FEAR / PROPHECY STATEMENT:

"The death of Israel, America and Britain, and the Jews in the Middle East, are all going to be destroyed together by this power."

INCRIMINATING STATEMENT:

"If you lie, you know who your father is."

[Comment by ESN: Has Gerald Flurry ever lied to his members? If so, wouldn't this statement incriminate him?]

PROPHECY STATEMENT:

"This funeral [of the Pope] is just one big trap. It's a flood of evil. It is going to introduce the worst Pope this world has ever known--or even heard about!"

PROPHECY / FEAR STATEMENTS:

"Well, he's going to be a murderer; he's going to be a liar; he's going to try to kill you." [speaking of the new Pope]

"God says we have one more round. One more round of people that are going to be slaughtered and slaughtered and slaughtered. God's own people!"

"They are really going to be swept along now. Everybody, it seems, is going to swept along. So will a few of God's people, even in this church--if history is any indication. Strong warning. It's coming so fast. It's going to make you and me afraid--unless we have God's perspective. We're going to have fear like the rest of the world."

[Comment by ESN: What is "God's perspective"? According to Flurry, it's that which causes one to fear not to be in Flurry's "only true church" and doing what he says.]

PROPHECY STATEMENT:

"...we're just getting ready for the final preparation to put Satan away for good--and the Catholic Church. Take a good look--study it carefully--scrutinize all that is going on, because this [Pope] is the last one you'll ever see on this earth ever! You can go to the bank with that statement."

RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS:

[Quotes Rev. 12-1: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:" "Here's number one. Not the Catholic Church; it's not the Holy Roman Empire. It's God's little flock. Clothed with the sun and the moon at her feet! ... First, God honors you. First, He lets everybody know where the most important institution is."

[Comment by ESN: This church in Rev. 12 is a symbol for the nation Israel, as it was Israel who gave birth to Jesus ("the child"). The identifying signs for Israel are seen in Joseph's dream (See Gen. 37:9-10). Many religious cults have used this verse to refer to themselves (as Flurry obviously does here).] As far as "everybody" knowing where "the most important institution is," how many people in the world have ever heard of Philadelphia Church of God? Very few.]

FEAR STATEMENT:

"[Satan] can give them things on this earth that seem to so dazzle carnal minded men. So you and I are going to have to look beyond the physical--or we won't survive, brethren, we won't survive, if we don't get beyond the physical."

[Comment by ESN: Was Gerald Flurry himself dazzled with all those "things" he bought for over $100,000 at Worldwide Church of God's auction last year? Does he look "beyond the physical," or is it only his members who have given up so much?

FEAR STATEMENTS:

[Referring to certain verses in Hebrews 11] "Fleeing over the earth. Would we have the faith to do that, brethren? Would we have the faith to just stand up and say, 'Well this is what I believe; I'm doing this, you do what you have to do.' If somebody was standing there about to saw you in two, would you still say that?"

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"But who reads the Bible today? Catholics put tradition above the Bible, of course."

[Comment by ESN: Flurry ties in reading the Bible with Catholics, as if there were only two classes: Catholics and PCG members. There is no mention of all the many other genuine Christians in the world who do read their Bible?]

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

[Reading Rev. 12:2] "Here is Christ which was born into this church. ... This is the same church that Jesus Christ was born into. What an honor it is to be here and to know, really know our Head, and to know that He was really born into this church, so much that we'd stake our lives on that."

[Comment by ESN: How could Christ be "born into this church"? (Flurry is referring to PCG which traces their roots back to Pentecost.) The Christian church didn't even exist until the day of Pentecost in the N.T., which was after Christ was resurrected! The "woman" mentioned in Rev. 12 is referring to Israel, not the church.]

FEAR STATEMENT:

[SHOUTS]: "These are really evil people!! [referring to those who will worship the dragon] I'm telling you, brethren, they're really evil people when they get influenced heavily by a murderer from the beginning!"

RIDICULOUS / INCRIMINATING STATEMENT:

"And you think lying bothers them? They've done it all their lives!"

[Comment by ESN: Has Flurry lied to his members? Did Herbert Armstrong (whom Flurry elevates and almost worships) lie?

FEAR / PROPHECY STATEMENT:

"It's all coming to a cataclysmic end! Thank God!"

[Comment by ESN: How many times in sermons and dear brethren and Co-Worker letters did HWA tell his followers that it was "all coming to an end"? It's now been 19 years since HWA died.]

FEAR STATEMENTS:

[Referring to Christ in Rev. 12:4]: "His parents had to get Him up and take Him out, because all the little children two years and under were [SHOUTS:] slaughtered by the dragon! He's a murderer! Murders babies, anybody! No mercy. ... God will turn him [Satan] loose until we get enough, and hopefully turn to God."

[Comment by ESN: Where in the Bible does it say that "God" will "turn him loose until we get enough"? Flurry is making God out to be revengeful and vindictive.]

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"God is going to get their attention--if they're ever going to be in His family. They're gonna have to get rid of the illusions. They're gonna have to come to see what they're following!"

[Comment by ESN: Won't Flurry's followers have to come see what they're following--a mere man and a false teacher? (as was Herbert Armstrong) Isn't Flurry giving his members "illusions"?]

FEAR STATEMENTS:

"And quit treating religion like it's a little social club just to make you look good--when you're evil in your heart! And you're unlawful and you're rebelling against God--and they know it!"

[Flurry refers to Rev. 13:11]: "It looks like a lamb--it looks like Christ's church. But it speaks like a dragon. Now you don't want to say that; it'll get you killed--could get you killed. Be careful now how you say that. You could be sawn asunder, or chased into a cave like a wounded animal! But still it's the truth! God says don't worry about them. You worry about me. Concern yourself with me."

[Comment by ESN: Members can't win. Either the false church might kill them, or God (who is portrayed as vindictive and harsh) might punish them!]

FEAR STATEMENT:

"If you are not taking this seriously, you better get in another church. You'd be better off. But even that is not going to protect you for very long."

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"If we were to make even a little mistake, the press jumps on us and pounds us from now on. They never stop."

FEAR STATEMENT:

"Now what's going to happen if you're not protected by God? You don't have to have a lot of imagination to figure that out, do you? ... If we don't get passionate about God's Work, then I think that's not a good sign at all!"

[Comment by ESN: Flurry ties in "getting passionate about God's Work" (i.e., PCG's work) with protection. We are to be loyal to Jesus Christ, not an organization.]

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"Nobody is going to tell them the way it really is, except the very elect of God--the most honored people on the planet!"

[Comment by ESN: This shows PCG's elitism where they believe they are the "only true Christians in the world." All religious cults feel the same way about their group.]

FEAR STATEMENT:

"I'll tell you, there are some dangerously twisted minds. You never want to trust human nature, and that includes your own."

[Comment by ESN: GF is saying that members must not trust their own feelings and thoughts, so they should abandon their critical thinking skills and listen to him.]

(SIDE B, 35 minutes):

NOTE: At this point Flurry proceeds to quote from a book that details atrocities which the Vatican committed in Croatia in WWII to help Hitler's regime. Flurry says, "Let me read you just a little. I won't read too much of this, because you couldn't take too much." Yet, he goes on to read ghastly and brutal killings, which is certain to make PCG members fear that these same things will happen to them if they aren't loyal to Flurry! Flurry's purpose seems to also make members hate and fear the Vatican.

FEAR STATEMENT:

"Does that sound like Hebrews 11?" (after reading from the book mentioned above)

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"We are the only ones on this earth that will stand up and tell them!" [about what Flurry says is the Vatican problem]"

FEAR STATEMENT:

"This is history of what is coming. I tell you, brethren, this is what is coming! Don't be surprised; don't be shocked, because it's all laid out there and it is going to be many times worse--I would say at least a hundred fold worse in the next round. God's people must wake up."

[Comment by ESN: Wake up to what? Staying in PCG and giving their money to Flurry? "God's people" (according to Flurry) refers to PCG members, yet the Bible uses no such terminology. God refers to us as His sheep:  "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."  (John 10:27-28)

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"He [Christ] has already qualified for that throne."

[Comment by ESN: Christ never had to "qualify" for anything. He was the Eternal Son of God and God in the flesh. He could never fail or fall. He said that He had "overcome the world" (John 16:33) and when we identify ourselves with Him in his burial and resurrection, we also are overcomers. (I John 2:13-14; 4:4]

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"That [war] [mentioned in Rev.12:7-9 when Michael and his angels fought against Satan and his angels] was fought right around the time of Mr. Armstrong's death."

[Comment by ESN: Where is GF's evidence for his claim that this battle was "fought right around the time of HWA's death?"]

"We're the only people that shouldn't fear. Because we know exactly what is going to happen."

[Comment by ESN: Gerald Flurry has done nothing but caused members to fear by this sermon and by telling them "exactly what is going to happen"--especially what is going to happen to them physically if they don't do as he (Flurry) commands.]

FEAR STATEMENTS:

"So if you're having evil thoughts and you're doing evil things, well, you ought to figure out pretty quickly what the problem is! Because you're the number one target [by Satan]. And if you're breaking God's Law, you're giving in to him [Satan]."

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"A great multitude is going to repent in the Tribulation because of our Work."

[Comment by ESN: If people repent in the Tribulation, it will be because of the work of the Holy Spirit, not the "work" of PCG.]

FEAR STATEMENT:

"Here is what is going to separate the men from the boys. They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of Christ! We either accept that blood, repent of our sins, trust God, and overcome these problems and conquer the Devil, or we're going to lose! You won't win this battle any other way! [SHOUTS]: It's only through the blood of Jesus Christ that that Father [mentions a cardinal in the RCC] needs right now! He's needs the blood of Christ to see his own evil! It's so easy for us to look around at the other people and see their evil, but what about our own? What about your evil...and getting the sin out of our lives? We're self-righteous!! You don't see yourself! How can you conquer the dragon when you keep defending yourself, instead of defending Jesus Christ."

[Comment by ESN: Does Flurry even understand the Blood of Jesus Christ, let alone know how to convey it to his listeners through all his shouting and blaming remarks? The way to Christ is through faith. It is all of grace. But Flurry adds to salvation.

FEAR STATEMENTS:

"So he [Satan] can have one final slaughter like no slaughter ever! These demons and Satan kill for the entertainment!"

"Wouldn't you say it is a rather dangerous time? And if we [SHOUTS]: ever, ever, ever cried out for the blood of Christ to cover our sins, it's now! We don't have much time left! And if you don't like those words, that's tough! You better learn to like them! Because they're God's words. And if we can't get ourselves into a repentant state of mind at Passover, when will we ever repent?"

[Comment by ESN: The Blood of Christ doesn't "cover" our sins; it removes them, washes them away; purges them. (See Hebrew 1:3; 9:14; Eph. 2:13-16) It reconciles us to God the Father. This happens the moment we come to Christ and place our faith and trust in Him alone as personal Savior. He completed everything for us in a finished and perfect atonement for all our sins. Flurry's tirade only creates more fear, guilt and uncertainty.]

INCRIMINATING STATEMENTS:

"Here we got a man [the Pope] over there making decisions--life and death decisions--who says he is infallible in all these doctrinal matters!"

"Does it make any sense, brethren, that you take a carnal minded, evil human being and call himself infallible? That's right out of the mind of the dragon! Men of God don't think that way."

[Comment by ESN: Isn't Flurry setting himself up as "infallible" as HWA also did? No one can criticize him.]

FEAR STATEMENTS:

[Flurry talks about all the illicit sex that he says  has destroyed the Royal family; then he tells about how some PCG youth have been involved in sexual immorality.] "You know how God is going to reach them [the youth in PCG]--if they can ever be reached? If he doesn't get through to them in words, he's going to reach them by--well, if they like wild sex parties, he's going to give them wild sex parties. You know, the Nazis love parading people around naked before they gas them, or making them strip off their clothes and do their medical, science research... They are wild when they get into their parties. And that's exactly what some of our young people are going to face if they don't wake up. And I mean soon--and some other people [i.e., PCG members] as well."

[Comment by ESN: At this point Flurry begins shouting loudly more threats to the young people about "filthy, wretched, illicit sex." How unbelievable that Flurry would resort to such fear tactics! No wonder most child survivors of these apocalyptic groups can relate nightmares that have tormented them for years.]

FEAR STATEMENT:

"Well, you can listen to my words, or you can listen to the Nazis."

[Comment by ESN: As if there were only two choices.]

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"Did you ever see anything more beautiful, more wonderful, than a family in God's church, a marriage in God's church?"

[Comment by ESN: Whom is Flurry kidding? Families in PCG (as happened under Herbert Armstrong) are being abused and destroyed; people are under tremendous burdens and pressures to measure up and to "qualify."]

PROPHECY STATEMENT?

"Cardinal Ratzinger, the German, has already taken the Easter sermon that the Pope usually gives, and I certainly feel like he will be the Pope--but I don't know. I don't know."

"I'll tell you, he [Ratzinger] sure sounds to me like he could be used by the Devil."

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

"He [Herbert Armstrong] wrote this in 1980 in Tucson, after he had to flee there. Remember that? Had to flee Headquarters in Pasadena. That's typical in this world."

[Comment by ESN: Flee? The truth is Worldwide Church of God was misappropriating church funds and HWA had made a quick move to his hideaway in Tucson, Arizona where he had a sprawling, ranch-style home1, telling members in a January 14, 1979 Dear Brethren letter to send their offerings and tithes to him there instead of Headquarters.

PROPHECY STATEMENT:

"The Anglicans and the Catholics are right now working on a document to accept the Pope's gift of authority. .... This Archbishop of Canterbury had 70 million Anglicans to read the document, urging them to accept the Pope's authority given to him by God. ... That document was issued from Westminster Abby where the throne of David is, where the real hope of the world is. And it's a symbol of God's authority and the hope of God. And that kind of shame emanates from David's throne today. .... [He refers to Jer. 22:19] Those people that do that are going to have the burial of an ass! [SHOUTS:] God is fed up!

[Comment by ESN: This prophecy in Jer. 22:19 is referring to Jehoiakim. It already has come to pass. Jehoiakim died in late 598 B.C. as Nebuchadnezzar's armies were advancing on Jerusalem.]

INCRIMINATING STATEMENT:

[SHOUTS]: "They want to go and run to the Pope and say, 'Oh, he's been given a gift by God'! What kind of blasphemy is that?"

[Comment by ESN: What kind of blasphemy is it for Gerald Flurry to set himself up as "that Prophet" (which applies to Jesus Christ)? Flurry has not only appropriated to himself many Biblical titles, but he made the following astounding statement: "God's ministers must understand this concept deeply and lead God's people to magnify my office--which is really God's office." (The Royal Vision, July-Aug. 2000, p. 30)]

PROPHECY / FEAR STATEMENT:

"And they're turning--look at Isaiah 47:1--they're turning to that throne of Satan that's going to unify all these churches--and either starve people that won't take the mark of the Beast, or kill them."

RIDICULOUS STATEMENT:

[Jer. 1:11-15]: And I gave a sermon recently where this rod of an almond tree is really God's gift of government. Korah and his friends had to learn that by being swallowed up in an earthquake. We have the gift of God's government! The Pope doesn't have it, the Archbishop doesn't have it--and they're so eager to bow down to Satan the Devil!"

[Comment by ESN: The words, "government of God" (or "gift of government") are not mentioned in Scripture. In fact, there is no military model of government even found in the New Testament. See Q&A: Why does PCG emphasize the government of God?]

PROPHECY STATEMENT:

"God says there in Jeremiah 1:16 that I'm going to utter my judgments and whose going to do that for God?" [reads verse 16]: "...that's talking about the Laodiceans."

[Comment by ESN: Flurry went on to SHOUT out loudly verses 17-19 (especially verse 19). Then the sermon suddenly ends. (Whether the ending was edited, we do not know.) This ancient prophecy in Jer. 1:16 referred to the nation of Judah and how she would fall to Babylon as a result of idolatry. In verse 19 where God says, "And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee," He was referring to Jeremiah, not the PCG.]

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
June 9, 2005

Footnote:

1 "Honey, I Shrunk the Church" (New Times Los Angeles, December 4, 1997)

NOTE: If any former members of PCG read this article and find it very disturbing and triggering, please understand that fear is always the backbone of all religious cults and its sole purpose is to keep members from leaving in order that they will continue paying money to the leader. These fears are lies. The Word of God tells us that there is no fear in perfect love and that God is love. The truth will set you free. Also, read the following:

The Love of God

My Position in Christ (accepted and secure forever)

What Were the Lies and What is the Truth?

I Was Thinking of Becoming a PCG Member (words of warning from one who almost joined PCG)

I Questioned Who Gerald Flurry Was (by Mike)

Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong (was he who he said he was?) (many articles)

Identifying Marks of an Exploitive, Abusive Group