An Open Letter  

To Former Friends And New Ones

Do you have a desire to once again, fully embrace the former doctrinal teachings of God’s late apostle?  If so, then this open letter has been written to inform you, that there are others like you.

Having lived and served many of you brethren in the Big Sandy, Texas area from 1969-1974, as well as serving others of you in various Church areas in other states over the years, and with the desire of wanting to continue serving God’s people in whatever way possible, I am extending an invitation for you to take a look at our website: www.cog-ff.com

Like some of you, I have been disappointed, disillusioned, and deeply hurt, to find that virtually no Church will go back to all of the doctrinal teachings that God led His late apostle to restore to His Church! For those who have, there is too often a problem with the leadership. 

While viewing the button on our website “Restored Doctrines” you will find that we fully embrace and teach those same teachings and this can be verified by comparing them with the Mystery of the Ages.

My Background

For those of you who do not know me, my wife and I were baptized in 1952. I was employed by A/C in Pasadena from 1953-1958. My employment continued without interruption by the Church after I was ordained a local elder by Mr. Armstrong on June 7, 1958.  In 1974 I was made a Church pastor. I was named a senior pastor in the Fresno, California area in 1976.

I presently pastor a small group of people in Modesto, California. We have phone lines available for those who want to listen in to our Church services.  Also we have an Internet link for those who prefer to listen via the computer. The information for both can be obtained from our website.

For those of you who do not have a computer can call or write me: (209) 772-0737.

To write: P. O. Box 8819, Modesto, California 95357.

Please be advised that this invitation is only for those who want to accept fully all of those same teachings that God’s apostle taught up to the time of his death. 

Did Mr. Armstrong Change Teachings Before He Died?

I feel it necessary to add that there are the leaders who will tell you that Mr. Armstrong changed his mind before he died regarding healing and other areas of teaching. 

This can easily be disproved by comparing two of his closing letters in his Autobiography, volume II, pages 640-641, with what he wrote in “The Mystery of the Ages.”

 In the last written comment he made in that letter about this book, which was written November 25, 1985, 52 days before his death, he wrote, “With the writing of the new book Mystery of the Ages, God has helped me this year to do the best work of my ninety-three years of life!

In the previous letter to this one, he wrote (September 12, 1985, 126 days before his death), “This new book Mystery of the Ages unveils all those mysteries.  It puts the many different parts of the “Jigsaw Puzzle” together.  It is, in fact, a synopsis of the entire Bible.  It is my prayer that you will read it along with your Bible --- that it will make your Bible come alive and understandable.  And with God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within you, I feel sure that it will.  I am now in my 94^th year and I feel that this book is the most valuable gift I could possibly give to you.  This book is a partial expression of my thanks and gratitude to you for being a co-laborer with me and with Jesus Christ. With all my heart, I do appreciate and thank God for your part with me in the wonderful work these closing days.”

 Only Apostles Can Change or Add Doctrinal Teachings

 Please realize Scripture makes known that no one has the authority from God to change or add any doctrinal teaching except an apostle.  There has been none since the death of Mr. Armstrong nor does Scripture indicate there will be another chief shepherd in these days of the scattered sheep (Daniel 12:7; II Thessalonians 2:1-3).

 By placing this OPEN LETTER in the Journal is only with the desire of helping God’s true scattered people to find a place where they can once again embrace fully all of the doctrinal teachings we once proved to ourselves and still love it so much we will remain faithful to it to our death or change, whichever comes first.

 Please realize that Christ will have opened the door of protection and salvation only to those who truly love His truth and will remain faithful to it (Matthew 25:10-13; II Thessalonians 2:11-12; Revelation 3:8, 10).  Presently Christ is knocking on the door to all of us (Revelation 3:20).  Hopefully and prayerfully we are responding.

 A brother and servant in Christ,

 Don Billingsley