THE INEVITABLE DECLINE OF A FALSE CHURCH

 

Because of all the false prophecies made by cult leader Gerald Flurry members of the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) are leaving in increasing numbers. Church income is rapidly declining. Ex members speculate as to how much longer the church headquartered in Edmond Ok can last.

WHY THE DECLINE

• Gerald Flurry's prophetic credibility continues to erode,
• Membership declines accelerate,
• Younger members do not replace departing older members,
• Tithing income falls significantly year after year,
• The church struggles to maintain its large Edmond campus, college, auditorium, media operations, and international activities,

There have already been layoffs, and cut backs in many areas.

The key question becomes whether expenses can be reduced as fast as income declines.

And there is the PJ, The Flurry families Private Jet. A luxury that consumes massive amounts of money.

PCG's Edmond headquarters includes administrative offices, college facilities, the Armstrong Auditorium, media operations, maintenance staff, housing, and extensive grounds. Maintaining such a campus requires a substantial and continuing revenue stream. Which has been drying up faster than Lake Mead

Under the decline:

• A 25%+ annual decline would put intense pressure on maintaining large facilities and media operations unless significant reserves existed.

Inevitable Outcome:

	Most organizations do not immediately collapse. Instead they typically: Reduce staff. Consolidate departments. Cut media spending. Sell assets or property. Scale back building maintenance. Eventually operate with a much smaller headquarters footprint. We can expect the Edmond campus to shrink before it disappears entirely. As the income is highly dependent on a shrinking core membership, the decline will become visible much more quickly.

Binding and Loosing

 

I was in a personality cult “church” for a while.

When “church rules” were changed we were told that the “apostle”, the “prophet”, the “king” had the authority to “bind and loose” things as he saw fit. That is to make changes and that god had to honor it. 

Thankfully Yahweh delivered me from that cult. He granted me repentance and gave me understanding. 

I will explain from scriptures that when the bible says someone can bind and loose it does not mean they can change Yahweh's laws or words. I will show from the Bible what it means and the correct translation.

The doctrine that "binding and loosing" gives church leaders authority to change Yahweh's laws, abolish commandments, or create new doctrines is not supported by Scripture. The biblical meaning is quite different.

Where Does "Binding and Loosing" Appear?

Yeshua said:

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And again:

"Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)

Many assume this means men can change Yahweh's laws. Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches the opposite.

Yahweh's Law Cannot Be Changed By Men

Yahweh said:

"You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it." (Deuteronomy 4:2)

"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deuteronomy 12:32)

Yeshua said:

"Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law." (Matthew 5:18)

And:

"In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Mark 7:7)

If binding and loosing meant changing Yahweh's commandments, these scriptures would contradict one another.

What Did "Bind and Loose" Mean?

In first-century Judaism, "bind" and "loose" were common legal terms.

Bind = forbid, prohibit, declare something not permitted.

Loose = permit, allow, release from an obligation already defined by the Law.

The rabbis used these expressions when applying Torah to specific situations. They were not creating new laws; they were making judgments about how existing law applied.

For example:

• Is this activity lawful on the Sabbath?
• Is this vow still binding?
• How should this commandment be applied in a particular case?

These were matters of interpretation and judgment, not changing Yahweh's commands.

The Greek Grammar Is Important

A more literal rendering of Matthew 16:19 is:

"Whatever you bind on earth shall have already been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have already been loosed in heaven."

The idea is not that heaven follows man's decision.

The idea is that disciples must determine and uphold what heaven has already decided.

Heaven leads; earth follows.

Evidence From Acts 15

A good example is the council in Jerusalem.

The apostles did not invent new laws.

Instead, they examined Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to determine how Gentile believers should begin their walk.

They concluded:

"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us..." (Acts 15:28)

Their authority was to discern Yahweh's will, not replace it.

The Context of Matthew 18

In Matthew 18, Yeshua is discussing resolving disputes among believers.

Immediately before speaking of binding and loosing He describes:

1. Confronting a brother who sins.
2. Bringing witnesses.
3. Bringing the matter before the assembly.

The subject is judgment and discipline within the congregation.

Thus binding and loosing refers to making righteous judgments according to Yahweh's standards.

Peter Did Not Receive Authority To Change Torah

The "keys of the kingdom" given to Peter did not authorize him to alter Yahweh's law.

Peter himself later said:

"We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

And years after Yeshua's resurrection Peter still lived according to biblical food laws (Acts 10:14), showing he did not believe he had authority to abolish Yahweh's commandments.

Summary

The biblical evidence shows that:

• "Bind" means to prohibit, restrict, or hold accountable according to Yahweh's law.
• "Loose" means to permit, release, or free according to Yahweh's law.
• The phrases were common Jewish legal terms.
• The Greek wording indicates heaven's decision comes first.
• Neither Peter nor the apostles were given authority to change Yahweh's commandments.
• Men are forbidden to add to or take away from Yahweh's words.
• Binding and loosing concerns applying, enforcing, and judging according to Yahweh's law—not rewriting it.

The authority Yeshua gave His disciples was the authority to teach, judge, and apply the truth already established in heaven, not the authority to alter the laws of Yahweh.

BINDING & LOOSING

DOES NOT MEAN
CHANGING YAHWEH'S LAW

✓ HEAVEN DECIDES FIRST
✓ EARTH FOLLOWS

"Whatever you bind on earth
shall have already been bound
in heaven."

"Whatever you loose on earth
shall have already been loosed
in heaven."

— Matthew 16:19 (literal sense)

BIND = FORBID OR ENFORCE
WHAT YAHWEH HAS COMMANDED

LOOSE = PERMIT OR RELEASE
AS YAHWEH HAS ALREADY ALLOWED

MEN CANNOT:
✗ Add to Yahweh's Word
✗ Take Away from Yahweh's Word
✗ Change Yahweh's Law

"Do not add to it nor take away from it."
— Deuteronomy 12:32

Yeshua gave authority to APPLY
Yahweh's Law, not CHANGE it.

Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord

Paul understood what death was. He was conflicted, die and sleep till the resurrection or stay alive for the sake of the people.

The Bible shows that death is sleep in the grave until the resurrection. 

The dead don’t even know they are dead. To them their next conscious moment they will be alive again, unaware of all the years spent in the grave

The phrase "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord" and Paul's statement that he had a desire "to depart and be with Christ" are often connected. Looking at both passages together helps explain Paul's conflict.

1. Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord

In Revelation 14:13, John wrote:

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on... that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

The emphasis is that those who die faithfully are:

• Blessed
• At rest from their suffering and labor
• Awaiting the resurrection
• Remembered by Yahweh for their faithful works

The verse does not describe them actively working or suffering. It emphasizes rest and future reward.

2. Paul's Conflict: Depart or Remain?

Paul explained his struggle in Philippians 1:21-24:

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain... I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."

Paul saw two possibilities:

Option 1: Remain Alive

If he remained alive:

• He could continue teaching.
• He could strengthen the congregations.
• He could help believers grow spiritually.

This was better for the brethren.

Option 2: Die Faithfully

If he died in the Lord:

• His struggles would end.
• He would rest from his labors.
• His next conscious moment would be the resurrection and being with Messiah.

This was better for Paul personally.

3. Paul Expected the Resurrection

Paul repeatedly pointed believers to the resurrection:

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52:

"The dead will be raised incorruptible."

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:

"The dead in Christ will rise first."

Paul's hope was not in death itself, but in the resurrection at Messiah's return.

Putting It Together

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord because:

• Their trials are over.
• They rest from their labor.
• They are secure in Yahweh's care.
• They await the resurrection and the Kingdom.

Paul's conflict was simple:

• Staying alive meant helping the brethren.
• Dying meant his work and suffering would end, and his next awareness would be being raised to meet Messiah.

That is why Paul could say both:

• "To remain in the flesh is more needful for you."
• "To die is gain."

His concern was for the people, but his personal hope was the resurrection and being with the returning Messiah.

————

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord... that they may rest from their labors."

— Revelation 14:13

The dead in the Lord are blessed because their struggle is over. They rest in death, secure in Yahweh's care, awaiting the resurrection when Yeshua returns and calls them from the grave. The next thing they will know is hearing His voice and rising to eternal life. (Compare John 5:28-29 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.)