Pator's Comments December 24, 2011

“And to the angel (messenger) of the Church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the KEY of David, He who Opens and no one shuts”:

“I know your works. See I have set before YOU an OPEN DOOR, and NO ONE can shut it; for you have a LITTLE strength, have KEPT MY WORD, and have NOT DENIED MY NAME. Indeed I will make those of the Synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews (true Christians) and are NOT, but LIE—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have LOVED you. Because YOU HAVE KEPT MY COMMAND TO PERSEVERE, I also will KEEP YOU from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world, to TEST those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! HOLD FAST what you have, that NO ONE take your crown. He who OVERCOMES, I will make him A PILLAR in the Temple of My God, and he shall go out NO MORE. I will write on him the NAME of My God and the NAME of the City of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My New Name. He who has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says to the Churches.”’

The Philadelphia Church Era began in 1933 with 19 members. The baton had been passed at that point in time from the near death of the Sardis Church Era to the beginning of the new vigorous Philadelphia Era of God’s true Church.

From the loss of love for Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and His true doctrinal teachings, that had its beginning with the Ephesian Church of God Era and traveled through the following three Church Eras, ended with the virtual death of the 5^th Era, Sardis! Revelation 3:1-6.

The LOVE for Jesus Christ and His true teachings began being restored within the 6^th Church Era, that of Philadelphia; the Church of brotherly love.

This was the time when the MIDNIGHT CRY began going out to the Church of God and Israel (Matthew 25:6)

This was also the time that Israel and the world began sinking into the lowest level of abominable sins (See Chapter 5). Sins that would come to be so great over the following years that a death threat from God was impending to strike the earth with total destruction!

God shows no favoritism with nations or individuals when it comes to sin. Approximately 4, 000 years ago, God destroyed the pre-flood world of Noah because of their wickedness:

Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air; for I am sorry I have made them. . . . The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was very corrupt for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

It has been estimated that the population of that world was from two to twelve billions of people.

Genesis 19:13, 24-25 Then the men (angels) said to Lot, “. . . we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it. . . . Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So the LORD overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

Each time all those many people were destroyed by God because of their grievous sins! The lone exceptions were Noah and Lot; and because of their righteous relationship with the LORD, their immediate families were also spared.

Those two civilizations mirror this country and the nations of this world for the same grave sins are to be found in them.

And just as death and total destruction befell those civilizations the death threat is also hanging perilously close over the House of Israel and all of civilization of this end-time! Ezekiel 5:1-17; 6:6-7. Scripture makes known the whole world is evil (Galatians 1:4).

With this as background in mind it can be seen that end-time prophecies began coming to pass in the 20^th Century; the same time Jesus Christ began using Mr. Armstrong to begin his mission of preaching repentance lest death and destruction come upon Israel and the world. And he moved forward with it until the day of his death.

Since that time evil has come to be progressively worse, and because of it, Jesus Christ permitted a tragic event to take place that would cost the lives of almost 3,000 people. This would also mark the turning point in this nation.

That one major event signaled the end was close at hand for the United States. It took place on September 11, 2001:

Terrorists seized control of four passenger planes and used them as flying bombs.

Two of them made direct hits into the Twin Towers in New York City. Another one made a direct hit on the Pentagon in Washington D. C. The terrorists were taken over by the passengers on the fourth one and it crashed in Pennsylvania. Its apparent objective was the White House in Washington D. C.

Since that time the fury of nature in the form of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, drought, floods, heavy snow storms, etc., have been coming closer together—each one a warning sign from God!

Ezekiel 7:1-4, 7, 26 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “And you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel. ‘An end has come upon the four corners of the land. Now the end has come upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations. My eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity; but I will repay your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst; then you shall know that I am the LORD! . . . The end has come; it has DAWNED for you; behold, it has come! Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land . . . Disaster will come upon disaster . . .’”

From end-time prophecy, and what is now being witnessed by the many problems in the land, it is apparent the numbering of days by Jesus Christ is rapidly coming to a close before the end; just as were ancient civilizations that were destroyed.

Belshazzar of ancient Babylon is such an example: At the height of his glory he gave a great feast with lots of wine for a thousand of his lords. While they were drinking from the golden vessels taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, Belshazzar was stunned to see the impossible taking place:

Daniel 5:5-6 In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand APPEARED and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.

Then the king cried aloud for someone to interpret the writing. The Prophet Daniel came and made known the interpretation of the writing (Daniel 7-25).

Daniel 5:26-27, 30-31 “. . . God has NUMBERED your kingdom and finished it. . . . Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” . . . That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom.

As it also was when Jonah was sent by God to warn Nineveh it would be destroyed in 40 days (Jonah 3:1-4)! They heard and repented. As the result, God did not carry out the death threat to that very large city.

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh . . . And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out, “Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

As the result of their humbling themselves, and repenting, the LORD God spared them. So it would be with this nation and other nations of Israel if they were to do the same.

In a similar manner God began using Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong to cry out to Israel and the world of the impending threat to bring to an end all human life with very little time left unless there would be repentance.

Sin is the transgression of God’s holy and righteous laws and the penalty is death! I John 3:4; Romans 6:23. To circumvent death, there has to be repentance from having transgressed His laws and turning away from the wrong sinful way of life!

Man is able to read the signs of weather, good or bad. He is also able for the most part to make known advance warnings of the fury of nature, such as: tornadoes, hurricanes, volcano eruptions, etc.

This enables people to take the needed precautions while seeking shelter; but, as Jesus Christ said, man blinds his eyes to the signs of the times:

Matthew 16:1-3 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them A SIGN from heaven (as proof that He was the Messiah). He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you CANNOT discern the Signs of the Times.”

Because of His awesome and caring love, Jesus Christ has FOREWARNED His Church through end-time prophecies of the major problems confronting it and mankind (Matthew 24; Mark 13: Luke 21, Plus). He then uses the Leadership in it to WARN His people Israel, and mankind, before they take place:

Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, UNLESS He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared (threatening danger)! Who will NOT fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?”

God has forewarned His people of past calamities and continues to warn of them now through His faithful servants:

Isaiah 42:9 “Behold the former things have come to pass (prophecies of the past), and new things I declare; BEFORE they spring forth I tell you of them.”

True to His promise, Jesus Christ did send a man to warn all of mankind the need for repentance before this world is consumed with Fire, similar to the FIRE that burned up Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-25):

Malachi 4:1, 3 “For behold, the day is coming, BURNING like an oven, and all the PROUD, yes, all do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall BURN them up,” says the LORD of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch. . . . You (the righteous, verse 2) shall TRAMPLE the wicked, for they shall be ASHES under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this.”

II Peter3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a GREAT NOISE, and THE ELEMENTS will MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT; both the earth and the works that are in it will be BURNED UP.”

For all of the repentant, there will be the blessing of both seeing and having part in a new creation:

II Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which RIGHTEUSNESS DWELLS.”

It was for this very reason that Jesus Christ fulfilled an ancient prophecy to begin using a special man for the end-time. During the preparatory process of using him, Jesus Christ saw to it that he would have the needed schooling and vocation that would prepare him for his mission.

And when the right time came, Jesus Christ began using him to cry out the message of the Gospel and the need for repentance.

And for over 50 years, 1934 to 1986, Jesus Christ used Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong to cry out the need of repentance for the deplorable sins of mankind lest they perish:

Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud, spare not; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

The loving and caring God that He is does not want to see the death of anyone, but rather their repentance for the sin of turning their backs on Him and His holy righteous laws (Ezekiel 33:11).

Mr. Armstrong was called and chosen to begin following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in His beginning ministry:

Mark 1:1-3, 14-15 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets (Malachi 3:1): “Behold, I send My messenger (John the Baptizer then, Mr. Armstrong in the 20^th Century) BEFORE Your Face, who will PREPARE Your Way before You. The VOICE of one crying in the wilderness (people spiritually destitute): ‘Prepare the Way of the LORD; make His Paths Straight.’”

During His mission on earth Jesus Christ did cry out the need for repentance and the making of an about face from sin. He also used John the Baptizer to preach repentance while PREPARING the way before Him as the Messiah (Luke 3:1-18). He also used Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong during his lifetime mission to preach the need for repentance while PREPARING the way for His second coming!

Though only the very few believe it, Jesus Christ is still using him, though dead, via of his lifetime Recorded Works through the use of modern technology of satellites and websites. In this manner he continues the preparation for Jesus Christ to come back to this earth.

To circumvent the threat of possible death to the nation of Israel, and all of civilization, the Elijah’s cry has continued to be to remember God’s holy and righteous laws of long ago and obey them; nothing has changed:

Malachi 4:4 “REMEMBER the Law of Moses My servant (bring back to remembrance at a time of total rejection of God and His laws, Exodus 20:1-17; 21. 22. 23.) which I commanded him in Horeb (part of the mountain range of Mount Sinai) for all Israel with the Statutes and Judgments.”

It is ironic that in the highest court in America, one can see the Ten Commandments are inscribed inside of it. They are in sight of everyone who enters inside the court, but no one really pays any attention to them.

Jesus Christ looks on them as hypocrites as He did on the scribes and the Pharisees (Matthew 23).

As
you walk up the steps to the building which

houses the U.S. Supreme

Court you can

see near the top of the building a row of the

world's law givers and each one is facing one in

the middle who is facing forward with a full

frontal view ... It is Moses and he is holding

the Ten

Commandments!

DID

YOU KNOW?
As

you enter the Supreme

Court courtroom,

the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments

engraved on each lower portion of each

door.

DID

YOU KNOW?
As you sit inside

the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above

where the Supreme Court

Judges sit, a

display of the Ten

Commandments!

DID

YOU KNOW?

There

are Bible verses etched

in stone all over the Federal Buildings and

Monuments in Washington ,

D.C.

DID
YOU KNOW?

James

Madison,

the fourth president, known as

'The

Father of

Our Constitution'

made the
Following
statement:

'We

have staked the whole of all our political

Institutions upon the capacity of mankind
for Self-government,

upon the capacity of each and all of us to

govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to

sustain ourselves according to The Ten

Commandments of

God.'

Every

session of Congress begins with a prayer by a
paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the

taxpayer since 1777.

DID

YOU KNOW?

Fifty-two

of the 55 founders of the Constitution were

members of the established Orthodox churches in

the colonies..

DID

YOU KNOW?

Thomas Jefferson

worried

that the Courts would overstep their authority

and instead of Interpreting the law would begin

making law an oligarchy the rule of few over

many.

How

then, have we gotten to the point that

everything we have done for 220 years in this

Country is now suddenly wrong and

Unconstitutional?

To give Israel and mankind an opportunity to HEAR the laws of God that would bring to LIGHT their deplorable sins, with the hope of instilling enough reverent fear in them to REPENT and change from their wicked ways, Christ Jesus then fulfilled His promise to send the promised Elijah to Israel and mankind before He comes and strikes the earth with total destruction.

Malachi 4:5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet BEFORE the coming of the GREAT and DREADFUL DAY of the LORD (1:1, 3; Matthew 24:21-22). And he will TURN the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, LEST I COME AND STRIKE THE EARTH WITH A CURSE (Hebrew, total destruction).”

1) To made known the identity of the true God and Jesus Christ, as did Elijah, I Kings 18:39-40

2) To restore the laws of God, as did the first and second Elijahs, I Kings 18:36-40, Luke 3:2-17

3) To prepared the way before the coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth by preaching the need for repentance while preaching the Gospel, as did John the Baptizer, the second Elijah, Luke 3:2-17

4) To sound the Ezekiel warning message as God’s Watchman of the end-time, Ezekiel 3:17-21; 33:1-2.

There is no question but that Jesus Christ used Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong to do all these things during his life-time mission of 52 years; and no one else!

Jesus Christ confirmed His promise He had made in Malachi to His disciples during His ministry that He would send the Elijah before returning to this earth.

Matthew 16:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here (disciples, verse 24) who shall not taste death TILL they see the Son of Man coming in His glory.”

Six days later three of Christ’s disciples did see the VISION of Jesus Christ having returned to this earth alongside Moses and Elijah, all talking together (Matthew 17:1-9).

Upon seeing Elijah in this vision with Jesus Christ and Moses, the question was then asked by His disciples about Elijah:

Matthew 17:10-11 And the disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah MUST come first (before Christ’s return)?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming FIRST and will RESTORE all things.”

This was a firm promise that He would send Elijah and use him to RESTORE all of the true teachings that had been lost in the previous Church Eras; teachings that had been lost due to the loss of love for Jesus Christ and His Work that traveled from the Ephesus Era through the following three Church Eras and ended with the virtual death of the Sardis Church Era (Revelation 2:4; 3:1-6).

Jude, an apostle, and brother of James and Jesus Christ, was so concerned about learning of the false teachers and their erroneous teachings that were affecting adversely the membership of the Apostolic Church Era, he wrote the following to the membership:

Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you EXHORTING you to CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Even with the many letters and preaching of the apostles, many of the members of the early time continued to be deceived by the false teachers and left the Church (II Timothy 1:15).

Due to the heavy persecution then and continued through the centuries, the Gospel for the most part was not preached by the Churches, after about 50 A. D.; and the members went to sleep (Matthew 25:5).

Jesus Christ had promised His disciples His Church would never fail (Matthew 16:18)! And to prevent its total death, through His use of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong to preach and teach the Gospel; new life and vigor was infused within the beginning membership of the new Philadelphia Church of God Era by God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

First it was necessary for God to call Mr. Armstrong and begin teaching him all of the true teachings that had been lost by the previous Church Eras.

MYSTERY OF THE AGES, Page IX, Author’s Statement, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong Page 15, ‘The Unrecognized Call’ (at age 25)

“In a matter of days after our marriage, while living in Chicago, my wife had a dream so vivid and impressive it overwhelmed and shook her tremendously. It was so realistic it seemed more like a vision. . . . In her dream she and I were crossing the wide intersection, only a block or two from our apartment . . . Suddenly there appeared an awesome sight in the sky above. It was a dazzling spectacle—the sky filled with gigantic solid mass of brilliant stars, shaped like a huge banner. The stars began to quiver and separate, finally vanishing. In her dream, she called my attention to the vanishing stars, when another huge grouping of flashing stars appeared, then quivering, separating and vanishing like the first.

As she and I, in her dream, looked upward at the vanishing stars, three large white birds suddenly appeared in the sky between us and the vanishing stars. These great white birds flew directly toward us. As they descended nearer, she perceived that they were angels.

“Then,” my wife wrote a day or two after the dream, in a letter to my mother that I have just run across among old family pictures, “It dawned on me that Christ was coming, and I was so happy I was just crying for joy. . . . Then it seemed in her dream that “Christ descended from among them and stood directly in front of me. . . . But as we went up tom Him, He put His arms around both of us, and we were so happy. . . . Then it seemed He changed into an angel. I was terribly disappointed at first, until he told me, Christ was really coming in a very short time.

At that time, we had been going quite regularly to motion picture theaters. She asked the angel if this was wrong. He replied, Christ had important work for us to do, preparing for His coming—

But if this was a vision from God, like Jonah, I tried to run away. But subsequent to this, in God’s due time, God dealt with me in no uncertain terms, even as He had dealt with Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Andrew, Peter and the Apostle Paul.”

Shortly after their marriage and move to Eugene, Oregon, Mrs. Armstrong visited with a neighbor lady. Their conversation turned to the Bible and the Sabbath Day. The lady had Mr. Armstrong read certain passages of the Scriptures about the Sabbath.

God opened her mind to see the truth of it being on the 7^th Day. Upon returning home she happily made this known to Mr. Armstrong. It made him furious! And it almost cost them their marriage.

Beginnings of ministry of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong

During their stay in Oregon, his wife, Loma, became acquainted with a member of the Church of God (Seventh Day), Emma Runcorn. Emma and her husband O.J. were lay leaders in the Oregon conference of the Church of God, Seventh Day, a seventh-day-keeping Adventist [formerly] of the Adventists group that had rejected the authority of Ellen White and her teachings. Loma became persuaded that the Bible taught Sabbath observance on Saturday, the seventh day, one of the beliefs of that church.^[11] Her assertion of this to her husband was met with dismay and appeared to him to be "religious fanaticism."^[12] She challenged him to find biblical support for Sunday observance. As his business was struggling against larger competitors, Armstrong had the time to take up this challenge. He began what would become a life-long habit of intensive, lengthy Bible study sessions. He soon felt God was inspiring this, opening his mind to truths that historical Christian churches had not found or accepted. Shortly after, as related in his autobiography, Armstrong would take up a similar study on the topic of evolution of the species after a conflict with his sister-in-law.^[13] His studies on Sabbath and evolution convinced him that his wife was right, and that the theory of evolution was false. He was eventually baptized by the non-Sabbatarian pastor of Hinson Memorial Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon,^[14] though it is not known that he ever joined the denomination [he didn’t] ^[15] He would later recollect over four decades later that he believed, "On being baptized I knew God then and there gave me HIS HOLY SPIRIT!"^[16] Despite his own unique teaching on baptism his own account is noteworthy for the absence of any mention of the process of laying on of hands or a special prayer in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit [it is not believed this ever took place due to his belief that God had already given it to him upon being baptized], which were considered fundamental for membership in the Worldwide Church of God.^[17]

In 1931 Armstrong become an ordained minister [ordained an apostle, Autobiography of Mr. Armstrong, Volume 1, Page 505] of the Oregon Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day).^[14][18] The existence and history of this church became a significant factor in Armstrong's later beliefs.^[19][20] He ultimately severed ties with them as the result of a doctrinal dispute when he began to teach a form of British Israelism, which would later make up his book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.^[21] His ministerial credentials with the church were revoked in 1938.^[14] This, Armstrong believed, indicated God was now directing him in leading a revived work into the next "church era."^[20]

In his beginning studies of trying to prove his wife wrong about the Sabbath, Mr. Armstrong entered into them with the firm conviction the Churches of this world were not wrong!

It took him three and one/half years of intensive Bible study with related theological helps in the library in Eugene, Oregon, to discover the truths of the Bible while disproving the erroneous teachings of the Babylonian Mysteries.

"It was humiliating to have to admit my wife had been right, and I had been wrong, in the most serious argument that ever came between us.”

“But to my utter disappointed astonishment, I found that much of the popular church teachings and practices were not based on the Bible. They had originated, as research in history had revealed, in paganism. . . .”

MYSTERY OF THE AGES, Page IX, Author’s Statement, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, “The beginning of opening my mind to the truth covered in this book began in the summer of 1926.”

Autobiography Volume 1, Pages 319-321 “Begotten of God” Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, Excerpts taken from these three pages.

“Finally the study of the subject of baptism was completed. There was no longer doubt. Peter had said, ‘REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). . . . It was a command. . . . And so I was baptized forthwith and without delay.

Immediately upon coming out of the water, I definitely experienced a change in attitude and in mind generally. I had already repented and surrendered to God’s rule over my life. The natural carnal hostility to God and His Law already had gone. Yet, now, for the first time, I felt CLEAN! I knew, now, that the terribly heavy load of sin had been taken off of my shoulders. Christ had paid the penalty for me. All past sins were now blotted out by His blood. My conscience was clean and clear.

For the first time in my life I experienced real inner PEACE of mind! . . . There was no excitable physical sensations or exhilarating FEELINGS running up and down the spine. Nothing of the nervous system. That is physical—not spiritual. . . . but there was a KNOWING! There was an unmistakable renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).

But now from this point of baptism on, a strange, wonderful, delightful new thing took place. I could read the Bible and UNDERSTAND what I read. Of course I could not understand the WHOLE Bible in five or ten minutes, I had to study it a doctrine at a time. But it was UNDERSTANDABLE. It MADE SENSE! Even though it took time, I was now getting some place. But I was comprehending and learning so much faster than during that initial six months study!

It was like a miracle! And indeed, it WAS a MIRACLE! The very Holy Spirit of God had come into and renewed my mind. I had been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the true body of Christ, the Church of God— . . .”

After God had added Mr. Armstrong to His Church, he discovered a remnant of God’s true Church near their home in Oregon and began attending services with them. Later, he was ordained an apostle by them (Autobiography, Mr. Armstrong, Volume 1, Page 505).

Mr. Armstrong discovered there was no vitality in the leadership. He also found there was no real relationship with Jesus Christ due to the loss of love for Him and for His true teachings; tragically, the Sardis Church Era was virtually on its deathbed.

They only had about three of the original doctrinal teachings left in it. Mr. Armstrong also discovered they did not want any new truth for fear of it upsetting members and causing them to leave them

He came to realize this after having presented at least two manuscripts of discovered truth. The leader, and apostle, Mr. Andrew Dugger admitted they were true, but refused to accept them for the above reasons.

Mr. Armstrong tried working with some of their ministers, but to his disappointment he found one or more of their ministers were imbedded in the beliefs of Pentecostalism – speaking in tongues, etc. (Autobiography, Mr. Armstrong, Volume 1, Pages 494-498).

Sometime after Mr. Armstrong died the speaking in tongues took place in the Worldwide Church of God. This was told to me by one of the headquarters Evangelists. He further said the apostate pastor-general did not know what to do about it (his words).

This warm and loving relationship with God began a new vigorous life of love and faith within the beginning of the Philadelphia Church Era.

The truly converted Spirit-filled members would provide the backbone of this Church Era and would persevere through all of the difficult and trying times even after his death due to their abiding relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

A wonderful relationship from their conversion that had been infused within them by the love of God being shed abroad in their hearts by His Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5); this love filled them with zeal for the Work of Jesus Christ.

Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was blinded to his use of the office of Elijah until almost the end of his life’s ministry. Looking back over those many years he came to see that Jesus Christ from the very beginning had used him in that office until the day he died (MYSTERY OF THE AGES, Mr. Armstrong, ‘The Elijah to Come’, Pages 9-10). He also made this plain in his last few sermons.

Revelation 3:7 “And to the angel (messenger)of the Church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the KEY of David, He who Opens and no one shuts”:

During those early years Jesus Christ graced Mr. Armstrong with the KEY OF DAVID to OPEN his mind to begin understanding the doctrinal teachings one at a time over some few years to come; doctrinal teachings that had been lost in the previous Church Eras.

Isaiah 22:20 Then it will be in that day (not literal, but during that space of time) of the judgment of Shebna, who is over the house – (conceivably thought to be the successor to Queen Elizabeth), that I will call My servant Eliakin (also to faithful steward, in type Jesus Christ and on human level Mr. Armstrong) . . . I will clothe him with your robe (meaning office – Eliakim occupied a high position in King Hezekiah’s Court) and strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

The KEY of the house of Judah I will lay on his shoulder (responsibility); so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut and no one shall open.”

International Bible Encylopedia— “The name of Eliakim has the meaning of: God sets up or God will Establish.”

Clarke Commentary: “These Scriptures make known that having the KEY of David is the regal right or authority of David. He could open or shut the Kingdom of Israel to whomever he pleased.”

The KEY of David is an emblem of authority and knowledge. It not only opens up to understanding the writings of King David but the complete holy Bible as well.

In type, Jesus Christ clothed Mr. Armstrong with the robe or office of both Elijah and His Apostle. He gave him the regal right and responsibility of the use of the KEY of David to UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR to the understanding of His true doctrinal teachings.

This led to the beginning of using the media of Radio, the Printing Press, and later television, to begin preaching the Gospel, sounding the Ezekiel Watchman Warning to repent, while preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth.

During the last few years of his ministry Mr. Armstrong met with many of the world’s leaders and witnessed to them as well.

Jesus Christ through the Apostle Paul makes known there are about 7,000 members of the Philadelphia Church Era existing in our time; members who were scattered shortly before and after 1995.

While writing about the people of Israel being blinded to the real truth and understanding of the Scriptures, and killing the prophets of God, he referred to the faithful and chosen remnant people of God:

Romans 11:2, 4 God has NOT cast away His people (not entirely) whom He foreknew (Physical Israel, and Spiritual Israel, His Church). Or do you not known what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ‘LORD they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I ALONE AM LEFT, and they seek my life”? But what does the Divine response say to him? I have RESERVED for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN who have NOT bowed the knee to Baal (and every mouth that has not kissed him, I Kings 19:18 – meaning an intimate relationship with Baal).

“Even so THEN (as it was then—so it is today with God’s Elect Church), AT THIS PRESENT TIME there is A REMNANT according to the ELECTION OF GRACE (God’s Church). . . .

What then? Israel has NOT obtained what it seeks (by law – 9:30-33 ), BUT the ELECT have obtained it, and the REST were blinded.”

Where are these approximate seven thousand chosen members of God’s true Church today? Prophecy speaks of their being scattered (Daniel 12:7; Ezekiel 34:1-12; Jeremiah 23:1-4), but as to where they are scattered is not fully known; only Jesus Christ does.

At the same time, they are clinging to their relationship with God our Father and Jesus Christ and the true teachings without compromise.

It would appear that for the most part they will remain scattered until it comes time for all to come together to flee for the place Jesus Christ will have provided to escape the coming horrors of the worst of the famine, pestilence, and worst of all, the Great Tribulation (Revelation 12:14-16).

Without true and faithful leadership the true and faithful members undoubtedly are bewildered, not knowing fully what they should do. Some of them do not go anywhere; they remain at home meeting at times with others of like mind clinging to the true faith without having a true pastor for the most part to be there for them.

As Scripture reveals these are the times of testing and proving the enduring faithfulness of the Elect and chosen people of God; but the WISE will understand (Daniel 12:10).

Though there may possibly be small flocks here and there, to the best of our knowledge, there is only this one remaining Congregation of the Philadelphia era of God’s Church who is being used by Jesus Christ to carry forth the Gospel and the Ezekiel Watchman Warning message to the world by means of our 14 websites (Matthew 24:14).

This is being done by Jesus Christ using a very few members of this Congregation as His instrument to make available the Recorded Works of Mr. Armstrong.

It is in this manner that he yet lives and continues doing the work though he is completely

unaware of his continued use due to the sleep of death he entered into 26 years ago.

With the growth in each Church Era there were also the false ministers who came in among God’s Church as wolves dressed in sheep clothing (Revelation 2 and 3). Over some little time they worked their way into high offices within the Church.

Once this was accomplished they began to undermine the true and faithful ministers and membership by subtly introducing liberalism and erroneous teachings.

It was no different with the Philadelphia Church Era. Beginning somewhere around the mid-1960s, and the early 1970s, there came to be a very liberal element in the Church. A few managed to become a part of the doctrinal committee.

They began making the effort of trying to change the doctrinal teachings of the Church with the presentation of a beautifully leather-bound copy of the Systematic Theology Project (STP) in 1978 to the full ministry during a ministerial conference.

There were erroneous changes found in this book in which they vainly tried to liberalize and change the doctrinal teachings God had used Mr. Armstrong to restore within His Church! As ministers, we were told we had to preach them!

This took place right after Mr. Armstrong was airborne on another trip around the world (I know because I was there at the time). Once he came to be fully aware of what was written in this book he put a stop to it and ordered all of the STPs to be returned to Pasadena.

Though Mr. Armstrong had put some of the liberal leaders out of the Church, there yet remained the seed they had sown with others that did not surface until after his death. They went underground and waited for him to die.

Mr. Armstrong came to realize their strategy in part and wrote about it shortly before his death in 1986; however he was blinded to the fact the real problem would take place from the men he trusted who were within the Church:

"A final personal word. In a few days I will be 93 years of age. For some years now, there have been some, like vultures, waiting for me to die. They would like to come back and take over the leadership of the Church in my stead.”

He wrote in the same article that any of those ministers who had gone out to draw away the members into their own camp, with erroneous teachings and liberalism, would not be of Jesus Christ. They would not be part of God’s Church.

MYSTERY OF THE AGES, Mr. Armstrong, ‘Is the Church Organized? if So, How?’, Page 243

I Corinthians 12:1, 4-6, 11-13 “. . . For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, ARE ONE BODY; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we [in the Church] be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free. . . .”

MYSTERY OF THE AGES, Mr. Armstrong, ‘One Church with One Government’ Pages 243

“Notice especially, there is only the ONE CHURCH. Not MANY Churches. The CHURCH is not divided. There is only one Church. Not a parent Church and many little daughters that have split off in disagreement. Divisions splintering off are NOT STILL IN THE CHURCH. It is the CHURCH that is to marry Christ in the resurrection at His coming—not disagreeing churches—not groups who have broken off! Not a parent Church and apostate daughters (Revelation 2:20-23).

At this present time there are approximately 700 Corporate Churches of God that have split off of the former parent Church, the Worldwide Church of God, shortly before and after 1995.

Though Mr. Armstrong was blinded by God to see what would really happen after his death, his words were prophetic and came to pass! And in retrospect, we can see that indeed God had blinded him to what would actually take place after he died.

Even without the full understanding of what would happen after his death, he did perceive there would be great danger to the Church! He expressed this danger to his personal aide that 50 percent of the Church would fall away; and that many did fall away, and more!

There are the definite parallels between the time of the ancient Elijah and our time today. This can be understood when we seriously and prayerfully study the writings of the 7 Church eras and parallel them with the problems of our present time.

The Two Eras that connects with the problems of today are the Ephesian and Thyatira eras. Having them in mind we are able to see more clearly what God’s people are struggling with today!

Problems then—and the same problems exist today! It cannot be emphasized too strongly that it is important that we come to know that Satan’s deceptive teachings are yet within the Corporate Churches of God— and know, they are the doctrinal teachings of demons (I Timothy 4:1).

Satan knows very well those who are God’s true people! He knows each member and is stalking each one individually (I Peter 5:8)! And he will use anyone to try and destroy God’s true people!

The only way any member can continue to be faithful is to remain vigilant and strong in the faith once delivered to the saints—clinging to the true doctrinal teachings that were restored in our time by Christ through His end-time apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.

In view of the many warnings from Christ and His apostles, all of us as God’s people must never relax nor ever place the trust of our salvation into the hands of anyone! No one!—but God only!

Good News, August 1979, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, "How Satan Injects False Doctrines,"

"Brethren, do we think we are so superior to those of the first, second and third centuries that Satan could not have tried to pervert God's TRUTH today?" "God has restored original TRUTH! HOW PRECIOUS IS IT TO YOU? -- or do you trample it underfoot as swine would trample into the mud the most precious diamonds, rubies and precious stones, and go for the slop? "Yes, Satan has tried to WATER DOWN true doctrine -- to turn God's Church to false truths. Apparently it is unhappily true that some willingly fall by the wayside and shall not...enter...the KINGDOM OF GOD!"

"But, the BAD NEWS, as it appears today, my dear brethren, is that we, undoubtedly of the Philadelphian era...are in serious danger of BECOMING also the Laodicean era. I am personally much concerned about that. If YOU are NOT concerned, then indeed we are in mortal DANGER." --"Personal from Herbert W. Armstrong," Good News, August 1979

Due to seeing evidence of more ‘liberalism’ entering into the Church, gave him great cause for concern as can be seen in the following quotes:

"This is because society has more pull than God's word. “Those in the true Body of Christ shall be protected until this tribulation will be over (Rev. 3:10-11)--applying to those faithful in God's Work now going to the world. Rev 12:14; Isaiah 26:20. But YOU must make your own decision -- and to neglect doing so is to have made the wrong decision! God isn't kidding! This is for real!...The decision in now yours!" --Armstrong, Herbert W. The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy, 1975; p:60 ---

"...the final generation of the Church shall be LUKEWARM – not less emotional, but more 'liberal,' more secular and less spiritual less strictly biblical – Revelation 3:8, 10,"says...because we [of the Philadelphian Era] have kept God's Word faithfully, not liberalizing nor watering down, God will keep us from the 'hour of temptation, which shall come upon all them that dwell on the earth' to try and test them." "Personal from Herbert W. Armstrong," Plain Truth, August 1980.

Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was emphasizing that it will be the Philadelphia ERA membership who has been promised protection, and not those of the Sardis, nor the Laodicean Church Eras, because of the following Scriptural reasons:

Revelation 3:8 “I know your works. See I have set before YOU an OPEN DOOR, and NO ONE can shut it; for you have a LITTLE strength, have KEPT MY WORD, and have NOT DENIED MY NAME.”

Jesus Christ makes known four major points in this Scripture why the promise is made the Elect:

1) I know your works— actively involved in going through the open door to preach the Gospel

Habakkuk 1:5 “Look among the nations and watch— be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would NOT believe, though it were told you.”

The Scriptures in this little Book make known this was written for our time today!

Since America is presently the only Super Power Nation of Israel, Jesus Christ is using it to represent all of the nations of Israel in this little book. Though it may have applied in part in an earlier application, it becomes easy to see that God, knowing the end from the beginning, had this present time in mind when He led the prophet to write it.

The timing of it fits perfectly with what is written in this book for the witness of it is laid bare through the New Media and seen everywhere.

3) Strife and contention – a spirit of rebellion in society and in the leadership

4) The law is powerless – no teeth in it to deal with murder, crime, violence

6) The wicked surround the righteous – honest people locked up in their homes

7) Perverse judgment – is paramount and continues downhill in all the social areas

This is the tragic picture of what this nation had come to in part at the time of the death of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.

Throughout the 52 years of his lifetime Work that Jesus Christ had given him to do, he faithfully lifted up his voice like a trumpet, making known the sins and transgressions of Israel, and the terrible price they would pay; unless, they would repent (Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 3. 33.5.).

Though sin has accelerated dramatically after his death to where it has now reached almost the bottom of the Cesspool, Jesus Christ has not brought about the total disaster. However the terrible penalty for the abominable sins of Israel are destined to be paid within the next very few years in the same way it befell Israel some years after the death of the ancient Elijah (II Kings 17:5-23).

Twenty-six years from the time of his death in 1986, we are now seeing what Habakkuk wrote in fullness. This nation is now in its death throes!

Habakkuk is representative of the faithful and enduring Church of God in this time today. His name has the meaning of “Cling”—one who embraces and clings firmly to God and Jesus Christ when all others either have derailed themselves in doctrinal teachings or they are sleeping.

Habakkuk 1:5 “. . . For I will work a work in your days which you would NOT believe . . .”

Habakkuk 2:2 Then the LORD answered me and said, “Write the vision (of what he has seen coming on Israel) and make it PLAIN on tablets (Plain Truth, Good News, etc. then; The Philadelphia Remnant Today), that he may run who reads it. For the VISION is yet for the appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, WAIT for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

In the interim, God says His true people are to continue living their lives in faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold (witness) the proud, his soul is NOT upright in him (Laodiceans and Corporate Churches); but the just shall live by his faith (faithfulness).” Isaiah 33:6.

After learning of the terrible times to come upon God’s people (the Church and Israel), Habakkuk pleaded with God in prayer:

Habakkuk 3:1-2 “O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid. O LORD, REVIVE YOUR WORK (from the lifetime of the Elijah) in the MIDST of the years! In the MIDST of the years MAKE IT KNOWN; in WRATH remember mercy.

The evolving transition of the faithful few members began after our departure from the parent Church that had now become totally corrupted by the apostate leadership (Daniel 12:7).

It took about 14 years before circumstances directed by Jesus Christ brought about the Church of God Faithful Flock into a place whereby He could use this small handful of members to once again open the door to His Gospel and the Ezekiel warning message to go forth to this world that Christ had closed at the time of the death of Mr. Armstrong.

$Description: Description: C:\Users\Don\AppData\Local\Temp\clip_image0022.jpg$ The simple fact is Jesus Christ was not going to use an apostate pastor general to continue with His Work so He closed the door (Revelation 3:7).

It should be understood that Jesus Christ would only use a leader of a corporate Church of God who would over time prove to be faithful to Him in fullness of truth and in name.

This required time to see if any evangelist would stand up for the fullness of the doctrinal teachings and rulings Jesus Christ used His late apostle to restore within His Church regardless of the deceptive pressure brought about by Satan the devil through his human instruments (Revelation 2:21).

Up until almost that time in 1994, I had remained as pastor of the local Churches in Stockton/Modesto, California without being dealt with by the leadership at headquarters of the Worldwide Church of God; though I had not preached any of the changes.

Just before the Passover in 2006, I was called by two webmasters and asked about their downloading all of the Recorded Works of Mr. Armstrong on our website, www.cog-ff.com. I asked whether it would be legal to do it. They replied that it would be legal. Without hesitation I told them to do it.

Prior to this time, I did not know whether there was to be an end-time work. I even said so. However it was my desire to see it begin again.

In the beginning of the formation of the United Church of God in 1995, I had said to a leading evangelist, Mr. Dennis Luker, this would be the golden time to pick back up where Mr. Armstrong had left off with the work. He did not reply to me in the affirmative.

I made further efforts with the leadership—but no attention was made to my suggestions. And it never happened! Neither did it happen with Mr. David Hulme; nor did it happen with any of the other evangelists heading Corporate Churches, in part, but not fully. Viewing the largest Corporate Churches, I find no respect for the memory of God’s use of this man.

At the beginning of the last Day of Unleavened Bread in 2006, I received a phone call from a webmaster offering me, voluntarily, and freely, 14 websites on which would be the Recorded Works of Mr. Armstrong. I accepted them.

Though the smallest of all the corporate churches, Jesus Christ began using this little handful of members as His instrument in resuming His Work; while using the very same man, the Promised Elijah, though dead, by the use of his Recorded Works, Radio Broadcasts, Telecasts, Sermons, Bible Studies, the Plain Truth Magazine, Good News, his books, Correspondence Course, and other writings, to RESUME His Work during the final death throes of this nation and nations of Israel.

It would appear the Work Jesus Christ is doing while using us as His instrument is almost over. While viewing the ongoing news that makes known this country is going from bad to worse, it saddens me to realize the last-ditch warning to the Church and Israel may soon be closed rather soon now.

The News Media has revealed laws have been passed, and others are in the process of being passed, that could hinder or stop us. In addition, another very real factor to consider is the troubled economy that could crash most any time (Revelation 3:7).

Habakkuk 1:6, makes known as the result of the continuing evil being practiced in this nation and other nations of Israel, God is in the final stages of fully revealing now the Revival of the Roman Empire which is in type the former Chaldeans, Babylonians!

Habakkuk 1:6-10 “For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter (due to having lost the last two wars) and hasty nation (blitzkrieg warfare) which marches through the breadth of the earth (conquering nations), to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses (missiles, war planes) are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves (nuclear warfare). Their chargers charge ahead; their cavalry (follow up) comes from afar; they FLY AS THE EAGLE that hastens to eat. They all come for violence; their faces (minds reflected on their faces) are SET like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. They scoff at kings, and princes are scorned by them.”

Unlike the Third Reich of Germany in WWII, that was cruel, terrible and dreadful to the Jews, the Fourth Reich of Germany will undoubtedly dominate the other nine nations and will even be more cruel, terrible and dreadful to all of the peoples of Israel; after the nations of Israel have been conquered by them with nuclear bombs. This coming time will be unequaled in human history (Matthew 24:21-22).

Germany will not have forgotten the humiliation and bitterness they experienced after having been defeated by American and Britain in the last two wars; and they will be very vengeful! Isaiah 10:5-14.

The survivors of the house of Joseph will be gathered up like sand, millions of them, and removed to Europe and possibly elsewhere (Habakkuk 1:9). Those they do not torture and murder will be sold into slavery to all the nations who will buy them (Deuteronomy 28:63-68).

It should be realized there is much more to being protected by Jesus Christ from this coming holocaust, and being accepted by Him at His coming, than just understanding the true teachings for there are a few others who proclaim themselves as being fully on track but have no real relationship with God due to paramount reasons.

1) There has to be a real knowing relationship with our God and Father and His beloved Son Jesus Christ with a real reverent fear for Him in our lives so as not to ever move away from Him in any manner!

2) There is the need of humility knowing not one of us can do anything that would be constructive and beneficial to God’s people unless He sees fit to use us regardless of talent and ability (John 15:2, 4).

3) Obedience to the government of Jesus Christ within God’s true Church with a God-ordained and faithful leadership

With all of this in mind there is cause for all of us to have great concern for ourselves as well as others and know all of us have great need to be trying harder to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ and maintain it for it is only those who endure faithfully to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13).

And know—even with all of our efforts that have to be in place, we should realize they will not be enough! We have to rely on God’s grace and mercy for each of us to be accepted by Christ’s upon His return to this earth (Ephesians 2:8). It cannot be of works alone, though works is definitely required (James 2:17, 20). And the same is true with all others.

Because YOU HAVE KEPT MY COMMAND TO PERSEVERE, I also will KEEP YOU from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world, to TEST those who dwell on the earth.

Behold, I am coming quickly! HOLD FAST what you have, that NO ONE take your crown. He who OVERCOMES, I will make him A PILLAR in the Temple of My God, and he shall go out NO MORE. I will write on him the NAME of My God and the NAME of the City of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My New Name. He who has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says to the Churches.”

Consider the awesome blessings of what it will mean to be ‘BORN AGAIN’—this time into the very Divine Family of God our Father (John 3:3-8), and the Bride of Jesus Christ. Our surname will then be God (John 10:34; Psalm 82:6-7).

Then each one will be given A NEW First Name that will reflect the meaning of who were in human life, combined with the godly character developed in each of us through the overcoming of the hard and trying experiences of trials and tests in our Christian lives.

I John 3:1 3 “Behold what manner of LOVE the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God . . . Beloved, NOW are we children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but WE KNOW when He is revealed, we shall be LIKE Him, for we shall SEE Him as He is. And everyone who has this HOPE in him PURIFIES himself, just as He is pure.”

This is the final chapter of these writings— with only the epilogue to follow.

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