HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG PASTOR GENERAL
October 25, 1985
Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ:
You and I are committed, as Co-Workers together with the living Christ,
to the greatest and most important activity on earth today!
This Work of God was originally started by ONE man--Jesus Christ.
But on the day of Pentecost, A.D. 31, the same Holy Spirit that had
carried on God's Work through his individual body entered into and
empowered his apostles, and the entire COLLECTIVE BODY, which on and
from that day constituted God's Church. The Church of God, of
which Jesus Christ was, and is, the living HEAD, was commissioned to
carry on the Work of God in an organized manner--starting out with the
TWELVE apostles.
What is
the Work of God? First of all, it is the great commission--to proclaim
the MESSAGE Christ brought for mankind from heaven and taught his
disciples. Secondly, to minister to, and feed with the spiritual
food of God's Word, those whom GOD converts and adds to his Church.
But, after proclaiming that gospel MESSAGE to the world of that
day--after the Church had grown and multiplied in number and power, the
headquarters Church at Jerusalem fled in the face of advancing Roman
armies shortly before A.D. 70, became scattered, and under
persecution--and because of discouragement because Christ had not yet
returned in power and glory--the Church WENT TO SLEEP ON THE JOB of
proclaiming Christ's true gospel message!
Satan then filled the world with his COUNTERFEIT "gospel." The world
accepted it as the genuine. You'll read, in the parable of the l0
virgins, Matthew 25, how, while Christ tarried in heaven and did not
return to earth as soon as they espected, THEY ALL SLUMBERED AND SLEPT
on the job of carrying on God's Work.
But now the "midnight hour" spoken of in this parable has struck.
Christ's return is drawing near. He has raised up YOU, and all
our Co-Worker family, to give to the world the cry, "The Bridegroom is
COMING." The KINGDOM OF GOD is at hand. The WORLD TOMORROW
is about to dawn!
Christ's
true gospel message is THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Jesus taught and
proclaimed no other gospel. It sounds incredible--almost
unbelievable, I know--but it's TRUE! THAT gospel had not been
preached to the world for 18« centuries! Many have, as Jesus
foretold, come in his name, claiming to represent him, SAYING that
Jesus is the Christ (Matt. 24:5)--even proclaiming his shed blood
--preaching about GRACE (but turning it into license)--and have
DECEIVED THE MANY! God's true Church has continued to exist,
through every generation, until now, as a small and persecuted
Church. Yet it had not proclaimed Christ's true gospel, in
organized manner to the world, until A.D. 1934.
But, Matthew 24:14, Jesus also said that, just before his coming and
the END of this world, his own very GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD would
be proclaimed (and published--Mark 13:10) in ALL THE WORLD as a witness
to all nations.
That is
what Jesus Christ has called YOU and me, as Co-Workers together with
HIM, to be doing NOW! This is the VERY WORK OF GOD! That's
why this is the MOST IMPORTANT Work on earth!
WE
are in a spiritual WAR--on the firing line with CHRIST as our
general--firing spiritual bombs of GOD'S TRUTH--the message of Christ's
own GOSPEL--to make this whole world CONSCIOUS of the GOOD NEWS of
Christ's soon coming and his KINGDOM, to rule the happy, peaceful WORLD
TOMORROW! There can be no letting down--no slacking --no quitting
in this war!
What would happen in a war if an army, by a sudden burst of effort,
surged forward to win a single battle, then laid down their arms and
decided to take it easy or go on furlough? They would then LOSE
THE WAR! Christ said it is only he who endures to the end who
shall be saved! LET US CARRY ON, more determined than ever--more
dedicated and devoted to Christ's great mission than ever! We
must not win a partial battle, and then lose our war. LET US NOW PLUNGE
ON HARDER THAN EVER TO FINAL VICTORY!
We have to REALIZE these are the most trying and crucial days in
earth's history and for this great closing WORK OF GOD since it began!
The newspapers, newscasters and government authorities are telling us
bluntly that the U.S. and the entire world face a grave economic future
from the burden of mounting debts. WHAT WILL THIS MEAN TO US,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND TO THE WORK?
Humans cannot foretell the future! God can! This much I know! For the
sake of HIS VERY WORK, God Almighty will make it possible for his
Co-Workers to continue in such financial condition that THE NEEDS OF
GOD'S WORK shall be continually supplied. In all probability
conditions will improve through this year and into the next year, even
though the methods used to stimulate the improvement may hasten the
world's ultimate economic downfall.
What about us, individually? What about YOU?
REMEMBER! If you are FAITHFUL--if your heart is in GOD'S WORK--HE
PROMISES TO TAKE CARE OF YOU--to supply your needs! In some cases
it may not appear, for a time, that God is answering and keeping that
promise. But if you do your part--put forth extra effort to find
employment if you are unemployed--keep praying and TRUSTING God--keep
faithful in tithes and offerings for his Work, God will never fail
you! He may allow a TEST OF FAITH. But if you don't fail
him, he won't fail you!
Those in this world have no such assurance for the future--NO SUCH
SECURITY! How grateful we should be for it! No matter what
the national or world conditions--GOD ALMIGHTY WILL KEEP HIS WORK GOING
FORWARD, and growing and multiplying in power and scope!
REMEMBER! You and I are servants of GOD! We are HIS
INSTRUMENTS! He is using us in preparing for Christ's coming and
HIS KINGDOM! The living Jesus Christ is the Head of this Work--he
directs it! If we are willing to give our SELVES to him, willing
to sacrifice for him, he will see that we are prospered and financially
able--and spiritually able--to keep up OUR PART until HIS TREMENDOUS
MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED!
With great love, in Jesus' name.
Herbert W. Armstrong
