Honestly? I think it's just a lie to string the base along that the jobs and money are coming back. They "love-bombed" their cult in the first term, now they're doing the withdraw/manipulate part so that people start fighting for approval. Classic coercive control/abuse tactic. It's all bad faith.
When you're in an abusive relationship, an abuser often starts out as the picture of charm and safety. When they're sure you're invested, they start to withdraw, and mix hurting you with little scraps of affection to try to make you beg for their approval. They they gaslight you if you question.