www.cg: The Prophecy Scoreboard

THE PROPHECY SCOREBOARD

officiated by Richard Burkard

"If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptiously. Do not be afraid of him." - Deut. 18:22

Has your church Pastor or Elder made a prophetic statement during a service, or in writing? Now thanks to the Internet, you can keep track of whether his/her prophecy is accurate! We'll post the prophecy on our scoreboard - and when the outcome is determined, mark it accordingly. We want to settle who has the "gift of prophecy" once and for all!

(Real prophecies only, please! If they're online for us to verify, so much the better.)

Report a prophetic pronouncement! E-mail wwwcg

Are these really prophecies? What if the people saying them deny they're prophets? Read our explanatory Bible study.

APRIL 2023 UPDATE! THE CHURCH OF GOD

> In 2013, David Pack of the Restored Church of God predicted three leaders of other Church of God groups would die on the last Friday in August. He indicated they would be Gerald Flurry, Victor Kubik and Roderick Meredith - with the result being a mass rush of members to RCG on the next day, 8/31/13. - WRONG!

Roderick Meredith did not die until May 2017. Gerald Flurry and Victor Kubik still were alive in early 2023.

> In a 6/11/1988 sermon marking the 25^th anniversary of the Worldwide Church of God in Atlanta, then-Pastor Ken Martin gave seven points on "What Will the Next 25 Years Bring?" Point 6 was: "The Work of God Strengthens." - WRONG!

After 25 years, as of 2013 WCG certainly had not strengthened; it turned into the much smaller Grace Communion International with far fewer members. Perhaps the "Work of God" is defined now by several different groups doing outreach ministries - but they're much smaller, and the total membership is far below the 100,000-plus in WCG's prime. (In fact, Pastor Martin moved on to UCG.)

> "Right before I arrived in Pasadena in 1975 there was an Ambassador student that made the following outlandish prediction.... He predicted that the end time was here, and that the egret sculpture in front of the Auditorium would miraculously come alive. Four egrets would fly up to each of the four corners of the building and the fifth bird would fly in front as they lifted the Auditorium up (with God's help, of course) to fly the Auditorium to Petra, where it could be used by the church and God in the place of safety." - submitted by e-mail - PENDING

APRIL 2023 UPDATE! THE END-TIME

> David Pack of the Restored Church of God declared at the start of the 2020 Feast in Wadsworth, Ohio that Jesus would return within a few days. "Some of you will not be going home from this Feast!" he declared. - WRONG!

Jesus Christ did not return by even the end of 2020. Mr. Pack has adjusted his prophetic understanding about the return date many times since then, but all of them have been in error.

> Jeff Pippenger of the Seventh-Day Adventist breakaway group "Future for America" predicted radical Islam would make a nuclear strike against Nashville July 18, 2020 - even buying a full page in the Sunday Tennesseean newspaper to explain his reasoning. He also said Donald Trump would be "the last U.S. President." - WRONG!

No nuclear explosion happened there on that date. A loaded recreational vehicle exploded near downtown Nashville 12/25/20, but that was traced to Anthony Quinn Warner, who apparently was not Muslim. The Tennessean fired its advertising manager for permitting the full-page ad to appear.

> Arizona UCG Pastor Jim Tuck wrote, "Mark your calendar for this date: Dec. 17, 2017," in his Prophetic Times newsletter 12/9/17. "Why, you ask? That is when I predict North Korea will once again test its new long-range missile, the Hwasong-15, to commemorate the death of North Korea dictator Kim Jong Il on Dec. 17, 2011".... possibly putting the U.S. and North Korea "on a path toward war." - WRONG!

No such test occurred on that date.

> Georgia UCG Pastor Ken Martin believes "the next ten years will tell the story" -- as something "awesome" will happen affecting the end of the age, bringing what he calls "critical mass." - Columbus, GA UCG, 7/03; repeated in November 2006 - WRONG!

If that "awesome" event happened, it had not been declared by the UCG's top leaders as of the end of 2016.

> UCG Evangelist (later President) Dennis Luker said in a 2001-02 sermon sent by videotape to all congregations: "I truly feel the end will come in my lifetime." He added of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11: "I would say they're alive today, somewhere...." - PARTLY WRONG!

President Luker died 3/14/13, without "the end" coming (as in the return of Jesus Christ) or the two witnesses making themselves clear.

> Ronald Weinland of COG-PKG (Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God) computed the return of Jesus to occur when "Pentecost 2012" began in Jerusalem, at 7:36pm Jerusalem time 5/26/12 (1636 UTC) - WRONG!

Mr. Weinland warned many Biblical end-time events would occur almost simultaneously, in a cataclysmic rush which Jesus's second coming would stop. But none of those events (earthquakes, nuclear war, etc.) happened before the set time. At midday 5/26/12, he posted a blog entry holding out hope Jesus might return before the start of Pentecost somewhere on Earth. But Jesus did not -- and a sermon posted by Mr. Weinland 5/27/12 suggested the return would occur at some future Pentecost (perhaps 2013?!).

> Dr. Robert Thiel of "COG Writer" fame wrote in June 2011 "some report of famine, food shortages, and/or food inflation" will occur "probably this October (near the time of the Feast of Tabernacles)...." - SOMEWHAT ACCURATE!

A famine in Somalia was declared by the United Nations in July. But instead of accepting that as confirmation, Dr. Thiel modified his statement in August to add: "I suspect that we may start to see an increase in famine as well as food prices starting in October 2011...." Yet in Somalia, the U.N. downgraded the threat in three areas in November thanks to timely rainfall and relief deliveries.

> Catholic "true prophet of Almighty God" William Tapley, the self-proclaimed "Third Eagle of the Apocalypse," said in an online message World War III began 11/23/10 with North Korea's assault on a South Korean border island. - SELF-CONTRADICTING!

Tapley issued another video in early October saying World War III would begin 10/13/10! He explained later the start was postponed by an explosion at an Iranian missile base 10/12/10 -- yet he's also claimed World War III would start by U.S. President Obama provoking an attack by Russia. That didn't happen during the Obama administration, either; Russia seized Crimea, but did NOT attack the U.S.

(It's not clear why an explosion in Iran would calm down Russia, while passing the "baton" for starting world war to North Korea. Suffice to say there is much in Mr. Tapley's changing dates and explanations that is unclear, and he hasn't really apologized for setting incorrect dates.)

> New Zealand pastor Brian Tamaki told Destiny Church worshipers in 2003, "In the next five years... that we will be ruling the nation." - WRONG!

Jesus did not return by the end of 2008, and New Zealand has yet to become "the first nation in the world to come under the governance of God."

> Philadelphia Church of God founder Gerald Flurry wrote: "The school we have founded, Imperial College, is tied directly into the return of Jesus Christ - which will be here in, I believe, 10 years on the outside.... If you count one more 19-year time cycle in the Elijah work, that will end on January 16, 2010.... and I believe something dramatic will occur. Will the Tribulation begin? Will Christ return?" - Royal Vision, 7-8/03 - WRONG!

The March 2010 issue of The Trumpet attempted to argue the dramatic event of January 16 involved the U.S. government beginning a relief effort, after an earthquake in Haiti. But the article admits the disastrous earthquake happened four days earlier -- and this was far short of what Mr. Flurry "believed" would happen!

> Messianic preacher Michael Ruud says the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7) began 1/1/01, based in parts on documents he found at a Masonic convention in Florida. Some Orthodox rabbis say it began 3/22/01, at the start of the sacred year - SEEMINGLY WRONG!

This claim is wide-open for all kinds of interpretations. Is this time the same as the era of "great tribulation?" If so, seven years (the standard used by mainline denominations) passed in March 2008, without the return of Jesus. Others might contend the events in Israel since early 2001 have been less stressful than what happened in 1956, 1967 and 1973 -- since there's been no all-out regional war.

> Philadelphia Church of God founder Gerald Flurry declared on The Key of David telecast 2/3/08: "Iran will start World War III, but it will not win it." - PENDING.

> Family Radio President Harold Camping estimated in the book Time Has an End that Jesus will return in May 2011. BUT Camping made a similar claim of a return in the fall of 1994; he then explained the "church era" ended at this time, with God leaving organized churches - WRONG, at least on the return part!

Camping became an international laughingstock when his "great earthquake" circling the globe to mark "Judgment Day" never occurred 21 May. Then Family Radio stuck to Camping's warning that the world would end 21 October. But God didn't bring that, either -- and Camping finally admitted on the air he was wrong, accepting it as "God's plan." After his death, Family Radio removed all of Camping's programs from its network in October 2018.

> Then-WCG Evangelist Gerald Waterhouse claimed in sermons in the late 1980's that Pastor-General Joseph Tkach Sr. would be "one of the two witnesses" of Revelation 11. He also claimed this in prior years about Herbert Armstrong - APPARENTLY WRONG!

Mr. Armstrong died in 1986, and Mr. Tkach died in 1995. God would have to resurrect both, for them to be the two witnesses. While that's possible, there's been no evidence of it. Perhaps this explains why Mr. Waterhouse was assigned to other assignments in WCG in his later years, before he moved to UCG.

JANUARY 2021 UPDATE! U.S. GOVERNMENT

> Gerald Flurry of the Philadelphia Church of God wrote in a January 2021 Trumpet cover story: "By most appearances, Joe Biden will be America’s next president. But I absolutely do not believe that at all. Mr. Trump will weather this storm too. Regardless of what the media says or how things look right now, I am confident Donald Trump will remain president..." - WRONG!

Mr. Biden took the oath of office 1/20/21, even though Donald Trump insisted practically to the end that Democrats "stole" the election (a claim PCG believes, but all courts rejected).

> Alton (Don) Billingsley of the Church of God-Faithful Flock forecast in his April-June 2020 Philadelphia Remnant magazine: "Whatever the causes of the vacating of the presidential offices - then the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi - would become the President. However, before assuming that office, she will go before Congress with the recommendation that Hillary Clinton would be accepted as the new president instead of her. And this would be approved...." - WRONG!

Again, Joseph Biden took the oath of office 1/20/21. Billingsley also predicted in the same article that a woman would succeed Donald Trump, but Kamala Harris took office as Vice President ("might as well be" doesn't count).

> The late Bill Glover of Living God Ministries wrote in a November 2012 e-mail to supporters: "I am rather certain we will not last AS A NATION for the next four years of Obama's present term." - WRONG!

Barack Obama left the U.S. White House 1/20/17, and the country was still in existence.

> E.W. King of "Church of God, Speaking to the Remnant" claims 2013 will bring "police departments [seeking] more authority in power" and "strong government control over the Internet." - WRONG!

No clear event occurred to indicate police were seeking more authority; in fact, some would say the trend in July 2016 is moving in the opposite direction due to the "Black Lives Matter" movement and others. And the government has not shut down Mr. King's latest church blog. (To be fair, he declares there he is NOT a prophet.)

> Pat Robertson declared on The 700 Club 1/3/05: "President Bush is in for triumph, and will get Social Security reform AND tax reform passed. Overall, he is in for a 'time of triumph.'" - WRONG!

Neither reform occurred -- and poll ratings for the President hit record lows, only to bounce back a bit at year's end.

JANUARY 2017 UPDATE! BEAST-WATCH

> The late James Malm of Vancouver posted on his COG-centered blog The Shining Light Pope Benedict XVI is "most likely" to die in "late Aug[ust]" 2012 IF the Great Tribulation begins in 2012 (and he calls that "highly likely") - WRONG!.

September dawned with the Pope still alive. But Malm posted a revision in late August, saying Benedict would either die before a scheduled mid-September trip to Lebanon, or go there to set up the "abomination of desolation." (OR, he added, it was possible nothing would happen. This is a "more sure word of prophecy"?)

Malm also updated his prediction in May 2012, to declare the chances of the Great Tribulation beginning in 2012 are "70 percent." - APPARENTLY WRONG.

COG's tend to believe in a three-and-a-half-year "tribulation," before the return of Jesus. This update in early 2017 comes four full years after the Malm update, and there's no clear sign the tribulation has begun. But to be fair, Malm left himself a "30-percent" way out.

> Bill Glover of Living God Ministries said during a telephone Bible discussion 3/12/13 he thinks the next Pope (Francis I) will be "the last Pope - unless he dies in office." - PENDING.

> PCG founder Gerald Flurry reportedly said in a sermon 4/16/05: "Take a good look -- study it carefully -- scrutinize all that is going on, because this [Pope Benedict XVI] is the last one you'll ever see on this earth ever! You can go to the bank with that statement." - WRONG, IF ACCURATE!

Pope Benedict announced his resignation 2/11/13. Roman Catholic cardinals selected Pope Francis I as his successor 3/13/13.

> During a personal appearance in Toronto shown on The Key of David 11/30/08, PCG founder Gerald Flurry declared the "great Church-state combine" is "going to shock the world (probably within a year or two or three)." - WRONG!.

As of November 2011, there was no sign of a union between European leaders and the Roman Catholic Church -- only meetings between them. (Spelling from the program transcript, posted online)

> Georgia UCG Pastor Ken Martin warned his congregation in 2000 to watch Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. His actions concerning OPEC and Cuba showed signs that he could be a future leader of the "King of the south" challenging Israel. - WRONG!

Hugo Chavez resigned under pressure after a military rebellion; currently in defense detention. (4/12/02; AP/NPR) But a counter-revolution occurred over the following weekend, putting him back in power 4/14/02. He died in early 2013. NOTE: In August 2009 Mr. Martin denied ever comparing President Chavez to the King of the South; while we recall it, we could not find it in a review of our notes.

JUNE 2013 UPDATE! AMERICA'S DOWNFALL

The U.S. government operates a "drought portal" website. A check 6/29/13 found at least a dozen U.S. states had no drought conditions at all.

> "America has waged its last war" - title of a Philadelphia Trumpet article written by Joel Hilliker, 1/07 (Note: not WON it as Herbert Armstrong and his lieutenants often claimed during his life, but WAGED it) - WRONG!

Libyan Col. Muammar Ghadafi called it "war" when the U.S. and coalition forces launched aerial attacks in March 2011; they backed up a "no-fly zone" in support of a rebel/resistance movement. By June, some members of the U.S. Congress (including Republicans usually backed by PCG) accused President Obama of violating the War Powers Act -- although White House officials insisted it was not war.

> Church of God minister Ronald Weinland declared on his web site called "The End" in August 2007 that "the demise of the United States" will occur "over the next two years, which will be followed by man's final world war." This supposedly will prove Weinland "has been sent by God as His end-time prophet." - WRONG!

Mr. Weinland openly pushed back the timeline in the spring of 2008, after indicating U.S. coastal cities would be hit by nuclear explosions between 6/1/08 and 7/15/08. No such explosions happened.

> The U.S. will be hit "heavy and hard, for a short time...." - Pat Robertson, The 700 Club, 2/02 - SEEMINGLY WRONG!

If he means hit by terror, nothing substantial occurred in the months after the September 11, 2001 attacks. But if he means "hit" by other means, a two-year run of devastating hurricanes may be "a short time" in God's eyes, but may not feel that way to survivors of Katrina scattered across the U.S.

> "Back in the 1960's the minister.... claimed that when the German army overran this country, that when they got to Pasadena and saw the campus that they would be in such awe that they would be afraid to tear it down or damage any of the buildings. They would instead use the campus as their military headquarters for the destruction of the U.S." - Dayton, OH WCG, 1960's, submitted by e-mail - WRONG!

As of 2013, new ownership was destroying many familiar Ambassador College buildings - with no sign of godly intervention to stop it. This is documented by the anti-Armstrongism blog Banned by HWA.

ECONOMY

> Pat Robertson declared on The 700 Club 1/3/05 that "the stock market will jump, and the U.S. will prosper" in 2005 - PARTLY WRONG!

The Dow Jones Industrial average finished 2005 slightly lower, while the NASDAQ Composite was up slightly. U.S. GDP actually was up for the fourth year in a row -- but naysayers like Robert Reich noted median income was down for the fourth year in a row.

> UCG Pastor Ken Martin declared in an April 2005 church service: "I'm almost positive by Memorial Day, the price of gasoline will be at $2.50 a gallon" - WRONG!

In Columbus, Georgia where this was declared, the price of regular unleaded actually went down during May - and was as low as $1.90 on May 30, 2005.

> UCG writer Jerold Aust posted on his web site about gas prices: "By the time Labor Day weekend comes, we will be over $2 per gallon all over the country." -- 8/26/03 - WRONG!

In my home city of Columbus, I saw no price above $1.80 in late August or September 1 - not even for premium unleaded. The $2 line was not crossed until early 2005. (Posted 9/2/03)

ISRAEL

> UCG Evangelist (later President) Dennis Luker said in a sermon sent by videotape to all congregations the abolition of the "daily sacrifice" described in Dan. 12:11 means "the daily sacrifice, to be restored in Jerusalem...." - PENDING (Posted 3/2/02)

WEATHER

> Noting buds were starting to come out in late January, Pastor Ken Martin said: "I fear a cold wave is going to come - say, around March, Passover, Easter, and nip all those buds." - Columbus, GA UCG, 1/26/02 - CONFIRMED!

A cold wave came in the last week of February with temperatures as low as 20 F. (-7 C.), eliminating flowering buds from some trees. (3/2/02)

Report a prophetic pronouncement! E-mail wwwcg