Christianity, Cults and Culture

• This will be the last daily posting on the Revelation series. I am going to pause to weave the prior posts together in a readable format. I will also continue to work with my coworkers, producing video content for the remaining Revelation Series. I think it is important for people to see how bankrupt the COGR’s teaching is. I will endeavor to post other articles daily and I encourage you to use the opportunity to post regarding your own interests. Topics should have something to do with Christianity, Culture, or Cults and should present opportunities for discussion. Christian content like devotionals and encouragement are welcome. I will not post advertisements for specific religious groups or links without comments or questions.   

COGR – Ray Is The Angel And One Of The 24 Elders

February 26, 2024

Good day! I am writing a series of short reviews of abbreviated COGR video clips. I am looking for input and comments. If it makes it easier, I will gladly supply a Word document so comments can be put in the document, and we can communicate directly. My email address is lattema@icloud.com. I hope you find these reviews helpful.

Transcript:

“I fell at his feet to worship him. And then John fell at the feet of this angel of our time. I said the other night, me, fell at his feet to worship him—read. John was no idolater. The apostle John was no idolater. The apostle John was no man worshipper. But there was something that he received, and there was such a relief that he fell at the feet of the angel, and he began to worship—read. And he said unto me, ‘See, thou don’t do this.’ John, I am thy fellow servant. I am thy fellow servant, I’m an Apostle like you are. I’m one of the elders on the 24 seat like you are, I’m a fellow servant.”

Commentary:

⁹ Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.” NIV (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Re 19:9–10.

In the third sentence, Ray says, “I said the other night, me, fell at his feet to worship him… So Ray unequivocally represents himself as the angel of our time. The very angel that John is beginning to worship. In the passage, Ray represents himself as:

• The Angel of 19:10 (in other places the Mighty Angel of Revelation 10:1 et al.)
• The fellow servant of the Apostle John (whom John was beginning to worship)
• An apostle like the Apostle John
• One of the 24 elders that sit on thrones before God

These claims are manufactured out of thin air. Ray paints himself as the greatest person to exist since Jesus yet there is not the slightest bit of exegetical evidence that these claims are true. One cannot read the Scripture with integrity and come away with any opinion other than that the claims are completely subjective.   

I would suggest four possible mechanisms for the development of the claims Ray is making.

1. The mythology of the COGR has been developing since 1980. A closed group shaped the mythology, but input has been limited to that small group. They are essentially trapped in a bubble of their own making. The presence of gross theological and Biblical errors testifies that there has been little or no correction or guidance from outside sources. The mythology has been laid over the Scriptures twisting the intent of Scripture, yet they are unable to see or understand their own errors because they are consistently reinforced.
2. It is possible that there are significant mental health issues in the leadership team, and their power and political acumen have created a synergistic environment, giving birth to evident delusions.
3. The leadership is aware that their understanding of Scripture is in error and is cynically misleading the congregation while exerting control over the lives of others and separating them from their money, property, and businesses.
4. The leadership does not share a modern or premodern view of the world but has a post-modern understanding of reality. They could understand that no one view of Scripture is true everywhere. They have their truth, and we have our truth. Neither is truer or less true than the other. Truth is what they believe it is.