Is Heaven the Goal?

Protestant ministers, Roman Catholic priests, and Pope Francis have all claimed that heaven is the goal for Christians. But is that what early Christians believed according to scholars? What does the Bible teach? What is the plain truth about what Christians, heirs to the promises to Abraham, are to inherit? Did Egyptian, Greek, and Gnostic pagans teach that heaven was the reward of the saved? What was the goal of Mithraism? Could Emperor Constantine's sun-god religion have affected the Greco-Roman Catholics and later the Protestants? …

Christians say No to Christmas

Was Jesus born on the 25th of December? Can you be certain He was not? If He was not, should Christians celebrate December 25 as His birth date? Was December 25th really celebrated by pagans as the birthday of the sun-god Mithras/Natalis Invicti? Did early Christians celebrate Jesus' birth? Are many of the traditions associated with Christmas actually pagan as associated with the Saturnalia of Roman and the Druid practices of the winter solstice? What about evergreen trees, ivy, holly, exchange of gifts, and mistletoe? Do Buddhists and Hindus uses 'Christmas lights' today? Was 'Saint Nicholas' …

The Philadelphia Remnant

If the Philadelphia era of the Church of God (COG) ended the last century, would there be a remnant in the 21st century? Can parts of two different eras of the COG exist at that same time? Are all COGs the same as far as God is concerned? Did Herbert W. Armstrong and the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God point to Philadelphians being around until fleeing to the wilderness before the Great Tribulation? What are scriptural reasons why there must be a Philadelphia remnant? What did dreams have to do with the …

Philadelphia Church Era: History & Teachings

This sermon mentions a little bit about the ancient city of Philadelphia, but its focus is on 20th century church issues. The late Herbert W. Armstrong claimed that God used him to raise up the Philadelphia era of the Church of God. He believed that there was a transition from the Sardis to Philadelphia era that happened in 1933. He said he left the Church of God, Seventh Day because it rejected truth and was instead knowingly willing to teach falsehoods and errors. This sermon touches on the history of the Philadelphia era from its going on radio to its becoming known as the Radio …

What happens after death?

There are many views about what happens after death, but only one true authority, the Holy Bible. What is death? Do scientists struggle with that? Does the Bible teach 'soul sleep' or the immortality of the soul? What did early Christians believe? Did anyone ever return from the dead? What about 'near death experiences'? Can you communicate with your dead loved ones? What will happen to the dead? What, if anything, are the dead up to now?

Zerubbabel and Joshua for 21st Century?

A 6th century BC governor of Judea/Jerusalem was named Zerubbabel. He is mentioned in books by Ezra, Nehemiah, and Haggai. All had opposition doing the work of God. Zerubbabel is sometimes mentioned with one named Jeshua/Joshua. Could prophecies associated with Zerubbabel apply to Jesus or Herbert W. Armstrong? Do prophecies tie this Joshua in with Garner Ted Armstrong? Might Zerubbabel and Joshua be a type of the two olive trees, the two witnesses? What did the old Worldwide and Radio Church of God teach about Zerubbabel and Joshua? Since Zerubbabel seemingly saw the first temple …

2 Thessalonians, Falling Away, & Man of Sin

In this sermon, Dr. Thiel went through each and every verse of the Apostle Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians. The term "churches of God" is mentioned, as well as persecutions, and persecutions that may soon affect Philadelphian Christians--plus that God will avenge His persecuted. He discusses prophecies related to the "falling away," as well as some writings from the late Herbert W. Armstrong on that topic. The timing of the falling away prior to Jesus' second coming is mentioned as well as the potential applicability of Zechariah 13:7-9 with the Tkach apostasy. Fallings away that impacted the …