Gerald Flurry constantly puts Herbert W. Armstrong upon a high pedestal and lavishly praises him. His literature is filled with Herbert W. Armstrong's name. 

First, let's look at some examples from Flurry's booklet, "God's Family Government" showing his elevation of Armstrong: [emp. his)

"God used that man [Mr. Armstrong] ONLY TO TEACH US ABOUT THE TRUE FAMILY GOVERNMENT OF GOD IN THE END TIME!" --pg. 4

"We must submit to Christ's Work, established through Mr. Armstrong. That includes the 18 restored truths he taught..." --pg. 6

"The Laodiceans today are rebelling against God's end-time apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong. They reject the government God taught through him." --pg. 13

"The only Church to preach the Gospel around the world, since the first century, was the WCG under Mr. Armstrong!" --pg 37.

"Mr. Armstrong did an amazing work. One of the greatest in the New Testament." --pg. 44

"God has given the Philadelphia Church of God some prophetic understanding that Mr.. Armstrong didn't have. But all of our prophecy is based upon the prophetic foundation Mr. Armstrong established." --pg 52

"We have not changed, or even tampered with, even one of Mr. Armstrong's 18 restored truths." --pg. 52

The following was submitted by a former member who was impacted by Philadelphia Church of God. We are not able to say how much of Flurry's story from this booklet is totally accurate, as even HWA was known to falsify his autobiography, but it is evident that he wants members to regard Herbert W. Armstrong in an elevated way.

Does Gerald Flurry Deify Herbert W. Armstrong?

I don't usually read Gerald Flurry's literature because after reading his Bible "interpretations" for a while my head starts to spin. One brochure which I did make a copy of is the July/August 2001 edition of PCG's Royal Vision in which Flurry makes the ridiculous claim of himself being "That prophet" mentioned in John 1:21, 25. 

"That prophet" in this passage is referring back to Deut. 18:15: "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." Jesus Christ is the one being referred to here as "that Prophet" and He fulfilled the prophecy when He came.

In this Royal Vision Flurry gives some information about his background, which gives insight in how he deifies HWA. I will quote just a few statements:

"I had grown up in a family where my dad, who was an alcoholic ... many of my needs where unfulfilled."

"Soon I felt life was hopeless and empty." [after moving out on his own]

At this point he tells how his mother was "called into the truth" in 1957 and tried to convert him by turning up the radio volume so he could hear Herbert Armstrong. He says that he only persecuted her for what she was doing.

"..until my life had finally become so miserable and hopeless that I would do anything to change it, even if it meant getting interested in 'mom's religion.' "

He goes on to tell how he eventually came into "the Church" and:

"...began to think of Mr. Armstrong as a father. ... I saw that Mr. Armstrong was very stable. Following him helped me to stabilize my life and become stronger."

Flurry says he spent most of his adult life in the "Church of God" (PCG) and:

"I noticed how Mr. Armstrong was always there keeping the Church going--keeping the truth alive."

"He was the only person who gave me what it took to make my life meaningful and happy."

"He taught me how to love God, and I had never experienced anything like that before in my life."

"Mr. Armstrong was always there when problems needed to be solved." 

"I believed that as long as Mr. Armstrong was there, everything in God's Church would be wonderful and stable."

The quotes above bring out that following HWA "stabilized his life" (???), HWA was the person that gave him what it took to "make his life meaningful and happy." (HWA apparently was more important in his life than Jesus Christ.) Flurry pictures everything being "wonderful and stable" in the church as long as HWA was around. I come to two possibilities with all this: 1) Flurry really didn't know about the upheavals in the "church"; 2) Flurry is a liar who wants to mislead his followers about what happened. In my opinion I think the latter possibility is the right one.

Comment by ESN: Jesus told his disciples that when the Holy Spirit was sent into the world, He would take the things of Christ and show them unto us. Why do we then need to put a man in a high and lofty position, or cause others to do so? A true man of God will be known by his humility and will not think he has all the answers. We need to look to the Word of God and pray for discernment.

Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots (shows that HWA did not receive his teachings from God by revelation) 

How Do We Discern a False Prophet?

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

Back to Articles on Gerald Flurry

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