A New Home for My Blog

I have moved my blogging activity to a new location, and I'm still blogging about False Prophet Ronald Weinland.
Click the link for an easy transfer.

This Blogspot remains as an archive covering the period of April, 2008 through early July, 2009.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The True Prophet, Ronnie: "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"


Here's the True Ronnie Prophet to entertain us demons with a little Buddy Holly tune while we wait for the False Prophet Ronnie or maybe even the Silent Witness to actually start their jobs and come up with a more exciting prophecy than we heard last Saturday. Or maybe a new curse on his mockers.

I thought the title of the song appropriate since it doesn't matter anymore, as the Seven Silent Thunders have already proven Weinland false.

Ronnie Prophet is a country and gospel singer from Canada, and lately Branson MO. Ronnie Prophet and the False Prophet Ronnie do have something in common: Walkin' in Jerusalem. Which in the case of the True Ronnie is the name of a song he's performed and in the case of the False Prophet all we have to go on is his word that he did it, and what's that worth? Answer: about the same as the grave markers for Rod Meredith, Gerald Flurry, David Pack, and two others whose deaths were predicted to precede the opening of the Seventh Seal on March 18th.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."*

* Words of wisdom from Yogi Berra.


WeinlandWatch and Shadows Of WCG have some excellent posts about the latest contradictions that False Prophet Ronald Weinland has put out. After a week of silence, he reappeared to give his normal sermon yesterday (albeit 5 minutes late) from Detroit.

WeinlandWatch and Shadows have more complete transcripts of the announcements Weinland gave yesterday on their blogs (thanks to one J for the recording and a second J for the transcription, and to WeinlandWatch for making it available for download). Please read it at their blogs. But I am repeating a few sentences below for my comments.

And I made comments in times past wouldn’t it be a wonderful blessing if we didn’t start out that way. (Referring to massive destruction.)… The longer it is until the fifth trumpet blows, which as everyone understands is when the ten nations come together in Europe, the more that’s postponed, the longer it is, in our thinking anyway, those things have already been mapped out long ago, it’s just that we don’t know what they are specifically, that the longer that is, the better it is.

WeinlandWatch has a post on his blog discussing a possible Plan B. This statement from the false prophet suggest to me that wRonG Weinland is setting his flock up for another delay. Together with his mention about the possibility that some will be able to observe the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall, somehow he’s trying to shift emphasis from the First and Second Trumpets past the Third and Fourth all the way to the Fifth Trumpet. I think he's going to spin this as long as he can, and that there is no Plan B.

WeinlandWatch and Shadows did not cover some interesting material from letters that Weinland read. Beginning around 19 minutes into the recording, reading from a letter from one of his new victims: “Every time people try to debate with me, it feels like my faith only becomes stronger. … as I watch the news, I wonder why people just can’t see it. …. I had to admit on Thursday I was waiting for something physical to happen as I watched the news, but what I didn’t realize until a little later on that day was that something was happening in a very powerful way It seems like people are worshipping the pope more than they are god.” (Ron: “Very insightful”) “… but I know the mocking will surely come to an end. ..ironic that the Catholic Church have warned people of the beast … and the number 666 on the forehead and the hands …

Expanding on my previous post about Weinland’s Sponsored Link campaign, “666” and “mark of the beast” are search terms for which Google will serve up a sponsored link. This is an indication of the demographic that Weinland is pursuing. And this letter demonstrates that’s the type he’s getting. The reason there are spammers is that there are enough idiots with email accounts who think the male enhancements promoted will really work, and Weinland is similarly successful because there are enough doomers on the Internet predisposed to accept his wacky message that he can catch a few fish even with a leaky net. He announced 40 recent baptisms.

From the letter “…. I love god’s plan and it’s so vivid and clear in my mind … I know people hate god because if I tell them about his plans, they will reject it… I just wanted to know if god has revealed to both witnesses the timing of the events that will occur regarding the death of 1/3 of all plant life, animals and tens of thousands of people in the first trumpet?

wRonG Weinland stops reading the letter and says (sneeringly) “ Nooo. (pauses) I don’t like this position a whole lot either, but it’s one we’ll all have to live with and deal with as we go through this first trumpet. The second one’s going to be very obvious …

From the letter: “Will the two witnesses make a television appearance at some point?

WRonG’s answer: “Don’t know when. Obviously will be later on.

On page 109 of “2008 God’s Final Witness” he had written: “Radio and television interviews will become more the norm as curiosity, news, controversy, and fear increase in proportion to the growing intensity of these thunders.” This was to have occurred in the context of the “Sixth Thunder of the Sixth Seal” prior to the opening of the Seventh Seal on March 18. Google searches do not turn up any mention of any television interviews. No copies of any appear on YouTube. If the “two witnesses” ever appear on television, it will be perhaps a 10 second mention in a program covering various kooks and crazies.

At about 28 minutes into the recording, the First Witness took time to address his critics:
I know there are some people out there today who are listening to me today that would like me to say some other things concerning last sabbath. I hate to disappoint you because some people are just looking for the wrong reasons, listening to the wrong reasons, I hope you enjoy this sermon today and you’ll enjoy the one next sabbath as well. (chuckles) Stay tuned. It’s amazing how people are stirred up out there…. It’s like vultures that come together … it’s like they want to come there to pick at … Why would they care? I’m not going out there and looking at different sites, and I don’t have one care or concern about what anybody out there says in any group. … some of the things I said specifically about those who are mockers and what was going to happen to them.
He goes on to imply that “other groups” are trying to get together and discuss things, and rejects them outright. Although one of the competing groups seems to be monitoring the situation, I am not personally aware that they are preaching sermons or otherwise campaigning, other than Bob Thiel who regularly blogs criticisms of Weinland but takes care to avoid mocking him. If he could be referring to someone besides those of us in the blogosphere, I'd like to hear about it.

So after a week with no prophesies from First Witness Weinland (or the Second Witness either), his only new revelation is that neither the First Trumpet nor the Second Trumpet will prevent getting together for Pentecost on June 8. He’s going to spin this as long he can. And who knows, maybe the donkey will learn to talk.

My prediction is that Weinland will, according to his words of March 29, show himself to be insane by not declaring himself to be a false prophet. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Do You Yahoo?? No Salvation for You!!!

As I mentioned in my last post, I've noticed the sponsored links from Google searches for Weinland's website. In the screen capture below, the hit for "Endtime Ministries" and the Wikipedia entry are normal search results, and all the others are sponsored links. Google has been paid to place these sponsored links based on the particular word or words being searched. I believe that Google collects even more money if the link is followed. And I imagine the "headline" treatment with the sponsored link highlighted in yellow above the normal search results costs Weinland even more.

I tried out a few different search terms to see what would generate a sponsored link for the-end.com. Here are a few search terms that did: "herbert armstrong", "two witnesses" (headlined), "end time" (headlined), "revelation", "pope", "prophet", "prophecy", "armageddon", "bible", "jesus", "jesus christ", "christ", "god", "2008", "antichrist', "anti-christ", "mark of the beast", "great tribulation".

Some search terms that did not generate a sponsored link were
"sabbath", "tithe", "satan", "agape", "biblical truth".

IIRC, in the past "Ronald Weinland" would generate a sponsored link. I remember for sure that a search on the Jerusalem Post site would generate a sponsored link for the-end.com. Perhaps they've removed those words from the sponsored link campaign because he's discredited among those searching for him by name.

It's clear from these results what the False Prophet's target demographic: Armstrongites predisposed to this stuff, and those interested in Revelation and armageddon. And even if you do, if you use another search engine like Yahoo you won't be led to the truth (gag), because wRonG doesn't advertise there.

Can you think of any search terms I didn't try. Try them yourself, and please pass along the results. For now I leave you with this totally appropriate result.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Could "W" Have Something There?

Ronald Weinland fortune cookieNormally when performing Google searches over the past several weeks, I've noticed that depending on the search terms a sponsored link for Weinland's book would show up. During wRonG's Jerusalem trip I would search the Jerusalem Post site to see if they took note of him, and no, nothing would show up except for a sponsored link for the False Prophet's book.

But now these actions do not show any sponsored links. Did wRonG forget to renew the contract? Or did he cancel an existing contract as soon as he returned to the 'States? Or was it planned all along? Does this somehow relate to "W"'s revelations?

Or could it be merely a symptom just for me as I start dying my slow painful death from the inside out? Stay tuned as we see what is revealed. After all, "It's a process".

Update: Must have been a temporary glitch, because I'm starting to see the sponsored links again. Guess the game isn't over yet.

And We Were Given A "W"

A poster by the economical handle of "W" made a post on the IronWolf forum about an email from Weinland and/or Harrell, the essence of which is that if nothing happens by late July Weinland will step down. WeinlandWatch has the details on his blog, so I won't repeat them here. Could it be a hoax? Possibly, but reading between and through the lines I believe "W" to be genuine.

WeinlandWatch proposes a possible coup. Personally I doubt that nor do I think that would necessarily work. Rod Meredith overcame a coup in Global around 10 years ago by simply leaving to form the Living Church of Rod, taking with him the majority of the membership and leaving the debts behind for the Global corporate body.

"W" made some additional posts which reveal some of his mindset. While obviously a "liberal" member willing to "entertain demons" on the Internet and acknowledging the first part of the Fifth Thunder was not fulfilled, he's still willing to give Weinland additional time to show that he is one of the Two Witnesses and Spokesman for Both.

Alternatively WeinlandWatch proposes that this is part of Ronnie's master plan. Personally I don't think wRonG Weinland has a master plan, he's playing it by ear.

I don't think that COG-PKG will implode in the next couple of weeks. Nor do I think a coup is imminent. Quite possibly Harrell and our Spokesman of the Two Witnesses have had an earnest conversation during the course of the trip and wRonG has persuaded Johnny to give him some more time.

I'm reminded of the story of a criminal sentenced to death by the king. He persuaded the king to give him a year to teach a donkey to talk. When the criminal was asked why he proposed something so preposterous he answered: " In a year the king might die, I might die. Or who knows, maybe the donkey will learn to talk!"

So wRonG is hoping for the donkey to learn to talk. That is something could happen between now and the end of July. Al Qaeda has said they're planning something, so if we have a repeat of 9-11 then wRonG Weinland is saved. In the meantime, there may be a few members who haven't yet maxed out their credit cards or cleaned out their 401(k)s.

We'll just have to see how this plays out. I just hope it ends soon before even more damage is done to the sheep.

Give Me a "G" -- Now Let me Have a "W"

After examining Ronald Weinland's book describing his Seven Silent Thunders, it's abundantly clear that his nickname is misspelled. It's not "RON", it's "wRONg".

wRonG Weinland, false prophet.

Monday, April 21, 2008

"I Never Wrote Most of the Things I Wrote"

... with apologies to Yogi Berra.

In the COG-PKG FAQ page is this little tidbit:
"Some have questioned selected statements in the book "2008 God's Final Witness", believing they have found a contradiction. Most misunderstandings come when people have “read into” what was written. It is easy to read our own thoughts/ideas into what we believe we “see” when we are reading. It would be good to listen to the sermon entitled, “Three More Weeks” (March 29, 2008), as it addresses this subject matter."

I downloaded the March 29 sermon from their website. At about 8 minutes into the file was this gem (Weinland speaking):
"Our running down the hill is spiritual. Some critics find fault because they look at something physical, they can't help what they see. It's amazing, what people see.

"I've talked about January and February at different stages when speaking of Gideon's army. So critics look for physical events during these times, and yet clearly talked about what 1,335 was, clearly talked about what 1,290 was. But there're certain things people think you're saying, they come to certain conclusions. I thing the biggest one that people are looking for is the death of ministers Sad. It's gonna happen. (snorts derisively) It's going to take place. (scornfully) Especially those who have been full-time. Not all elders, but all ministers. The reality is during 3-and-a-half years they're all going to die. The judgement's already been passed by god."

OK, let's see what he wrote in "2008 God's Final Witness", pages 107-108:

"I have also made a petition to the ETERNAL God of Abraham. My petition is that this first phase of the Fifth Thunder be fulfilled exactly as it is written here. This request is so that scattered brethren who are asleep might be awakened and know that God has granted them the opportunity to repent and return to Him at this time. Also, it is so that they may know that I am His end-time prophet, His spokesman for the two end-time witnesses.

"It will be revealed in a very short time whether I am God’s prophet or not, as well as whether scattered Church leaders are God’s ministers any longer or not. As stated in a previous chapter, either one of these is true or neither is true.

"To make it absolutely clear, my petition covers more in regard to the scattered ministers. The most notable among them will be those who die toward the beginning. However, every minister who was scattered, who fails to repent early on and return to God (with me, as God’s minister, teaching them) will die during the final three and one-half years of great tribulation. They will not be in the first resurrection, and they will not see the millennial reign of God’s Kingdom on earth.

"The most notable deaths early on, which are yet to come to pass, will be the two remaining television presenters in the Living Church of God. The sound of this thunder will be intensified by the early deaths of the leaders of the Philadelphia Church of God, the Restored Church of God and the Church of the Great God. Then, those in the largest scattered group, who think they have escaped, will be lifted up to believe that God is with them because they are so filled with pride. But, when that happens, the deaths of many in the United Church of God will begin.

"How much more specific can one be to show that he is either of God, and indeed His prophet, or someone who has clearly stepped over the line to be dealt with by God in a speedy manner. Time will tell! And, you don’t have long to wait!

While he does say that most of the ministry will die during the final 3 1/2 years, there were certain exceptions who were to die during the "Sixth Seal" which ended on March 18. Read his book where he talks about the 3 phases of death which comprise the Fifth Thunder -- and the quoted part was the first of those 3 phases. So let's see if these specific leaders died.

Living Church of God. I believe that Rod Meredith is one of the two presenters our false prophet referred to. If you go to the Living CoG website, there are not one but two sermons presented by Rod after March 18th. Not sure who is the other presenter Ronnie was talking about, but I'd bet that he's still collecting tithe money.

Philadelphia Church of God. On their Key of David website, Gerald Flurry has recorded several programs since March 18th.

Church of the Great God. On their website, John Ritenbaugh gave a sermon just yesterday.

Restored Church of God. Website lists a sermons, with the title "March 2008 Update ..." as being presented by David Pack.

Back to 2008 GFW pages 115-116
"During the Sixth Seal, all Seven Thunders will be getting progressively louder. Before the Seventh (and final) Seal is opened, the Seven Thunders will become so pronounced that the validity of everything written about them in the previous chapter should roar loudly in the ears of anyone who is willing to admit the truth. But even then, many still will prefer to believe a lie! They still will prefer to be falsely soothed by denying reality and the truth. Also, by this moment in time, there will be a strong, rapidly growing recognition within the United States that I am who I say I am—one of God’s end-time witnesses and His prophet."

Weinland's book was published in 2006. Based on his prophecy, these individuals should have ALL died early in 2007, yet all of them are still alive. In any case, according to your prophecies they would have died before March 18th when according to you the Seventh Seal was opened.

It's worth repeating a sentence from Weinland's book
How much more specific can one be to show that he is either of God, and indeed His prophet, or someone who has clearly stepped over the line to be dealt with by God in a speedy manner.

Ron, you are convicted by your own words of being a false prophet. And what is the penalty for this? From Revelation chapter 22 and verse 18: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." The fourth chapter of "2008 - GFW" was an addition to Revelation 10:4.

If there is a god and if the Bible is his word, then you, Ronald Weinland, not me, you will be the one to suffer a slow painful death from all the plagues of Revelation. And no, it won't be "spiritual".

Sunday, April 20, 2008

More Thoughts on False Prophet Ronald Weinland's April 19 Sermon

Bob Thiel has a post on his blog with some selected quotes from Rotten Ronnie's sermon yesterday. He has a take on them, I have my own.

False Prophet Ronald Weinland said : "We are in Jerusalem…it has been very, very, nice here….the Harrells are with us…"
Shadows of WCG has a post on the issue of why it is that we've only heard from Weinland during his trip. Shadows describes Weinland as a control freak who is very jealous of his pulpit time. What struck me from his passover sermon and yesterday's sermon is that we heard nothing at all from the others. In the passover sermon, why didn't the others join in with Ron singing at the end? In yesterday's sermon, why didn't he ask Johnny Harrell to give either the opening or closing prayer? I didn't even hear any background noises to suggest that someone else was in the room with him. So far all we have are his statements that he was in Jerusalem and that the others were with him. Could Johnny have split with Ronnie because Laura got to be the second witness instead of him? Possibly it was just Ronnie recording his nonsense with the only other person in the room being Second Witness Laura Weinland silently and adoringly gazing at her First Witness and Spokesman for Both going about his job. UPDATE: In Ronnie's sermon of 4-20-08 he gives an explanation as to why we didn't hear the prayer given by Johnny: He's in the room by himself (yes) because it's such a small room and he would be distracted by having a small group. OOOOOHHHH-KAAAY. If you SAY SO.

FPRW: "For those of you who want to mock, I do forewarn you, you are going to cease or you will die…You see, I have a unique job and you just don’t understand what that job is…You just don’t understand…"
We do understand. Your job is to deceive others. What we don't understand is what motivates you to do your "job". More on that later.

FPRW: "... and my first exercise in use of power that God has granted me in Revelation 11 is to you, you mockers .... it begins with you, first and foremost, you will be the first to experience some of the things that begin to take place, you don't have to wait long. For those who mock, again, from this day forward, by what you say against God’s people, by what you say against the truths of God, by what you say against God’s prophets, you will suffer from sickness that will eat you from the inside out. And you will die. Your death will not be quick…"
Bob Thiel pointed out that he wasn't mocking Weinland, and I doubt that assertion was based on a fear of a Weinland-induced slow and painful death.

Ronald Weinland, I have no fear of death from any of your pronouncements and I will mock you. But let's decide how you think it's going to be. In your sermon of March 29, you said: "So what are you going to do, some of you who are skeptics and critics, and you see these things come to pass? I will tell you what you will do as a whole, you will lie, you will twist, you will distort and you will die – speedily."

So am I going to die speedily or slowly? Which is it?

Ronnie, if you are a con man you are an incompetent con man. Armstrong at least was somewhat vague about his end-time predictions and used surrogates so that when they didn't come true he could claim that he didn't set dates.

Ronnie, if you're not a con man then you are in serious need of professional help. You are drinking your own Flavor-aid. Check yourself into the Kfar Shaul Mental Hospital while in Jerusalem. They are experienced with the kooks of your sort. Sick, sick, sick!!!!

Ronnie, you belong in a gated community. Just not sure if it's one like this:
Kfar Shaul
Or one like this.
Gated Community
Ronnie, just in case you didn't get the point -- I'm mocking you. I'm unfearfully waiting for a manifestation of your god-given powers to kill me.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

"It's Like Deja Vu All Over Again"*

False Prophet Ronald Weinland uploaded a Saturday sermon, and ended up naming the MP3 file the same as the Passover sermon and overwriting it. However a copy of the passover sermon is available on Weinland Watch's blog. Several of us demons gathered virtually to analyze (mock) Ronnie's latest antics in his Saturday sermon, also available for download courtesy of Weinland Watch (in case it disappears from the COG-PKG website or is edited).

It seems that his mockers do not have to worry about fire from heaven -- instead we will die from the inside out, a slow painful death.

He spent some time reviewing the James Whale interview to lead to his main points. The major events on the 17th were: the beginning of the Two Witnesses' jobs, and Satan influencing the pope. But it's a gradual process. No mention of the significant event that day that would be more than a minor irritation. The pope will destroy a third of the vegetation and also put the beast together for the 5th trumpet. So if you see a bunch of Catholics buying up Roundup and heading for the countryside, you'll know that Weinland is not a false prophet after all.

So Weinland continues his game, baffling his followers and distracting them from the truth. Deja Vu all over again.

* Title to this post is another quote from that great philospher Yogi Berra.

Weinland Watch's take on Ronnie's BS of the Day

Friday, April 18, 2008

"I Never Said Most of the Things I Said"*

Our newly minted Witness and Spokesman for the Two Witnesses has posted the sermon for passover tonight, available as a download . I've just sampled pieces of it and came across the following at 1:20:30 (or 80:30) into the file. I've transcribed what Ronnie said mixed with what he really meant:

... so often things don't happen the way we think or read into a particular matter ....... We hear to a certain level --
Y
ou didn't understand what I said before.
...reminds me of the sermon we're going to have this sabbath, that people hear to a certain level and people tend to read into it . .
I'll fix you tomorrow.
.. they just didn't understand, and that's the way it is even if we've been around the church for a long time, sometimes, and we continue on through faith and the confidence and boldness we have through faith ... sometimes when people are younger that battles a little harder, and a little more difficult ...
It doesn't matter whether or not you've been in the church a long time
....it's easy sometimes to read into things that people think they've heard and they don't understand ... god'll show and god will give in his full timing ... as he leads and guides and directs us ...
I'm about to revise prophecy.
.. if we keep focused as god's people and we remain close to god ... and we seek help to understand ... how god reveals and gives things to us, we'll have peace of mind ...
Don't upset yourself by trying to analyze things.
... even when others are around who mock and make fun of, even as they did Jesus Christ .... mocking him over and over again -
Jesus was mocked and so am I ... I'm just like Jesus !!!!
- they didn't know what they were doing, they didn't grasp it.


Oh yes we do. We know exactly what we're doing. You're not going to be able to play the shell game with us as you do with your gullible flock. And we'll continue to help you feel Jesus-like. Hasta Manana.

* (The title to the post is an appropriate quote from the great philosopher Yogi Berra.)

If anyone else cares to listen to the rest of it, please let me know if there's anything else along this line that I missed.

See my next post for some comments on Rotten Ronnies Saturday sermon with more of his antics.

What Was That???

Update 12:50 PM Weinland has posted his passover sermon on the church web site. From the samples I've heard it could have been recorded in advance. Perhaps a complete listen through will show some better indication that it really was recorded in Jerusalem.

I once read a story about a lighthouse-keeper. Every night before retiring he would load a cannon and adjust the timer for a mechanism that would fire the cannon at midnight for the benefit of passing ships who could adjust their clocks. One night the mechanism failed to set off the cannon. The light-house keeper awoke with a start and exclaimed "What was that????!!!"

And in our case, that was the sound of the First Trumpet. But we really didn't expect it to go off. By now April 17th has gone away, even in the eastern Pacific near the international date-line. A quick check of the news shows the pope did not do anything unpopelike yesterday except apologize to those sexually abused by his priests. (Could you imagine Herbert Armstrong doing anything like that? Apologizing for anything a Mister would do to a member?)

With no word from Weinland on THE DAY, the speculation started. Has the First Witness and Spokesman absconded yet with all of his follower's tithes and offerings up of their 401k plans? Did he and his crew end up in the Kfar Shaul Hospital? Will he post a sermon for Passover tonight and his regular Saturday sermon tomorrow? And even if he does post a sermon for this weekend, will he really return next week or will we decide they were fakes to allow him more time to make his escape? Did he really go to Jerusalem at all?

After these questions arose, we see that Weinland has posted on his site that Surprise: his wife is the Second Witness. So we did hear from him. Somehow his powers as one of the two witnesses and spokesman for both allow him to stop the rain and blast his enemies with fire but don't extend to putting a post on a blog. Ohhhh! as one of the demons mocking him, I'm frightened now!!! Shadows of WCG has a cool cartoon expanding on this theme.

My expectation is that Ronnie will be back to fleece his flock some more, unless something keeps him away such as having been to obvious with his antics in Jerusalem. He's already set up the thinking for a delay, whether until Pentecost, or 45 -90 days. He could continue his operation into July, and then have another story. After all, he's already been able to explain away the lack of thunders to them.

What will be the event in yesterday's news that Ronnie will point to as the "more than a minor irritation" we would see? My bet is on the earthquake in Illinois which happened in the early hours of this morning. Just like Weinland's blog post. No matter -- it was still the 17th in Hawaii when they happened.

The soap opera continues.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Today is the Big Day

Update April 17, 8:55 PM Jerusalem time: Still no word from the two witlesses in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Shadows of WCG has a post about this morning's event with the pope -- no indication that Satan is working through the pope or otherwise influencing him. In fact J has an interesting comparison between Weinland and the pope. We return you now to your previously posted post.

Just woke up and looked over the web to see if anything "significant" happened. Shadows of WCG already has a post up -- nothing so far. The only thing I have to add is this article in the Jerusalem Post that shows a picture of the Temple Mount with police patrolling nearby. Just hope they'll be on the lookout for the Two Witnesses one of which is the Spokesman for Both, in addition to the expected Palestinian terrorists.

While Ron hasn't stated a schedule for the day, the pope has. So when will he be influenced powerfully? Will it be during the mass at National's Park between 9:30 AM and noon? Or will it be during the evening at the CUA or adjacent pope John Paul II Cultural Center? Will he be the one given special powers? Will those powers allow him to fly faster than a speeding bullet, leap tall buildings with a single bound, or exert more power than a locomotive?

And will Ronnie demonstrate his new powers, or will he just lie low at a hotel with an Internet connection until Saturday's sermon to his sheep?

The day isn't over yet -- there are about 3 1/2 hours to sundown in Jerusalem and even longer in the US. So let's keep our eyes open and try to see if we can guess what news item Ronnie will try to spin in to being the start of the first trumpet.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Witless Eve

According to the cool clock over on Shadows' blog it is now after 1 AM Jerusalem time on THE DAY and still nothing new at Google news. Haven't seen any flaming bolts headed my way. I imagine that Ron and his co-witness are in bed getting their beauty sleep for a full day of witnessing and prophesying. I wonder though -- are they wearing sackcloth PJs?

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Ronald Weinland's Failed Prophecies: The Sixth Thunder

If Ronald Weinland does turn out to be one of the Two Witness and Spokesman for Both no less, then this may be my last post if he assumes his role and the associated powers at sundown Jerusalem time as I discussed in my previous post and takes the time to bring his wrath down on his demonic critics.

On page 109 of Ronald Weinland's book "2008—GOD’S FINAL WITNESS"
#6 The Sixth Thunder is the growing revelation of God’s end-time witnesses. That revelation is that I am the spokesman of God’s two end-time prophets—the spokesman of His two end-time witnesses. This thunder will grow louder as the events described in the previous thunders continue to unfold with ever increasing intensity, proving the validity of what has been written and that what I am saying is true. Radio and television interviews will become more the norm as curiosity, news, controversy, and fear increase in proportion to the growing intensity of these thunders.

This is quite false as evidenced on Weinland's own site which lists a number of radio interviews that Weinland has given, including a number that he gave in 2007 and one in 2008. Looking through the list shows these to be on different talk shows including some small christian radio stations. I've listened to a couple of recent interviews. The hosts did not exhibit any fear or discuss any knowledge of "thunders". It would be somewhat generous to characterize their attitude as curious. My impression was that they had Weinland on for the entertainment value, and that the "thunders" did not "roar loudly in the ears" of the host.

As far as television interview -- not a one. I'd think that if he had there'd be a copy on Youtube. A search of Youtube videos did turn up this recently submitted video discussion of Weinland.
Similarly a search of Google news turns up only one hit, and that doesn't look like an exhaustive and fearful interview with "Rev. Ronald Weinland".

Rumor has it that Weinland made it into Israel. My guess is that he'll rent a conference room at a Jerusalem hotel and send out a press release inviting the media to his press conference announcing the start of his job as one of the Two Witnesses and Spokesman for Both. Unless he's a bit more mysterious about the topic of his press conference none of the media will show. Except perhaps from the Kfar Shaul Newspaper. So then what will he do? Will he doff his sackcloth of humility, don actual sackcloth garments and head for the temple mount?

Ronny, there is one reporter who would like to ask you a few questions. Contact him here.

Update: April 16, 8:55 PM Jerusalem time. Well after sundown in Jerusalem, and back in the US I'm still alive, and there's still no word on Google news or CNN about any activity regarding Weinland. We'll just have to be patient and wait awhile longer.

So Exactly What Time Does the End Begin?

Assuming the Israelis didn't figure out that yet another candidate for the Kfar Shaul Mental Hospital was coming and Ronald Weinland was allowed off the airplane in Israel, then he will start his job as one of the two witnesses and spokesman for both on Jerusalem time on the 17th.

But exactly what part of the day is that? Does the "17th" for Ronny begin on sunset the evening before, on the 16th? If so, sunset in Jerusalem is about 7:08 PM local time. Jerusalem is on daylight savings time or GMT +3 hours. Here in the US, we're also on DST. Eastern standard time is GMT -4 hours or 7 hours behind Jerusalem.

So the end could begin here in the US as soon as tomorrow afternoon, Wed the 16th at 12:08 PM EDT, 9:08 AM PDT. We demons who have been fulfilling prophecy by mocking him could start our fiery ends at that time. Unless Ronnie's powers don't work long distance or it actually has to be after sunset at our location.

But if Ronnie meant sundown on the 17th, we'll have another day. Perhaps by 11:59:59 PM on the 17th in Jerusalem (5 PM EDT / 2 PM PDT) we can breathe a bit easier.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Ronald Weinland's Failed Prophecies: The Second Thunder

In Ronald Weinland's book "2008 God's Final Witness", he describes the "Thunders" of the "Sixth Seal". On page 95 he states: "The Second Thunder is the increasing destruction generated by earthquakes."

He continues to say on page 96:
The greatest destruction and loss of life from earthquakes is the direct result of collapsing buildings or the power unleashed in the form of a tsunami. Volcanoes are also associated with earthquakes. All these things will continue to wreak havoc on man and nature in an ever increasing magnitude as we approach the very end of this age. All Seven Thunders will increase in power and recognition over the next two years (from the date of the first printing of this book) [book printed in 2006] and on into the final three and one-half years of great tribulation. The Seven Thunders will serve as a powerful witness that the words of this book are true, and that they are from the God of Abraham, the Father of Jesus Christ.

On Pages 115-116 he states:
During the Sixth Seal, all Seven Thunders will be getting progressively louder. Before the Seventh (and final) Seal is opened, the Seven Thunders will become so pronounced that the validity of everything written about them in the previous chapter should roar loudly in the ears of anyone who is willing to admit the truth.

I am not aware of any increasing earthquake activity since 2006 when his book was published, and prior to March 18, 2008 when according to Weinland the Seventh Seal was opened. If this "thunder" is "getting progressively louder", I should know the validity of this prophecy off the top of my head, because I do follow the news. Could it be that I'm not "willing to admit the truth". So I investigated further.

The US Geological Survey has a website from which you can download earthquake history. This process is described in some detail in this teacher's aid (PDF). I followed the process and created a graph shown below of Global Earthquakes by Magnitude Vs. Date. I included the period beginning 1999 through this month so we could get a comparison.

(Click anywhere in the graph to get a larger version)
In this chart, each earthquake is represented by a dot. I excluded earthquakes below magnitude 6 because they cause no damage except to poorly constructed buildings. No one besides one of Weinland's deluded followers could find a pattern of increasing frequency or magnitude of earthquake's.

In case you have difficulty reading the thumbnail view provided by Blogspot, there is a JPG of the graph and the Excel spreadsheet that generated the graph down-loadable by clicking the links.

A failed prophesy of Ronald Weinland. Yet we are to believe the rest of the product of his fevered imagination? That he is one of the Two Witnesses, and the spokesman for both no less?

Don't Drink the .... What??

The term "Don't drink the kool-aid" is used to caution someone to not blindly believe whatever they're told. The term originated when Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple used Flavor Aid mixed with cyanide in the murder-suicide of himself and his followers. Since Flavor Aid is similar to Kool-Aid the latter entered the lexicon.

My father entered the Radio Church of God, later renamed the Worldwide Church of God which was headed by Herbert Armstrong. Herbert Armstrong and his surrogates put out the message that the "great tribulation" was to start in 1972 leading to the return of Jesus in 1975. Even before 1970 while still a teen I rejected that as too fantastic to believe. Later on when the prophecy was shown to be false Armstrong claimed that he never said that and "we don't set dates", managing to keep most of his followers who paid 10% and more of their income to him.

Religion is not the only area where people turn over their thinking to others. In politics we have ditto-heads who believe everything Rush Limbaugh says. Either you do the same, or you're one of the straw-man liberals that Rush props up only to knock down.

Recently, Ronald Weinland who was formerly one of Armstrong's preachers has claimed to be one of the Two Witnesses prophesied in Revelation 11:3-12. He also has set very specific dates, including April 17, 2008 when he is to begin his job as one of the two witnesses and spokeman for both.

I do believe that Ronald Weinland is helping to fulfill biblical prophecy -- the one in Matthew 24:11. One the other hand, the prophecies which he foretold in his book "2008 God's Final Witness" concerning the "thunders" have not occurred. The "thunders" were predictions of events to take place between the publishing of the book in 2006 and the "Opening of the 7th seal" which he says took place March 18, 2008. One prophecy he made was concerning the deaths of the leaders of other splinters from the Worldwide Church of God which broke up after the death of Armstrong in 1986. None of them have died.

So we'll look at the progression of Ronald's train wreck as his prophecies fail to materialise. Will his followers come to their senses, or will there be a Jim-Jones-style massacre? My expectation is that neither will happen. Rather, Weinland will be able to spin the facts and maintain a grip on a sufficient number of his tithe-paying followers to fund his senior years.