Basic HTML Version
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
President and Pastor
March 18, 1974
Dear Brethren of God's Church:
It was the second day after returning from Manila that I
awakened out of a pleasant dream I could not remember. Suddenly,
still more asleep than awake, the stark, hideous REALITY crashed
through in my mind.
"NO!" I almost shouted, "It CAN'T BE! This can't be
REAL!"
God's CHURCH! Oasis of PEACE and HAPPINESS, and JOY in
this unhappy, dark and violent world! The only place on earth
where GOD'S GOVERNMENT produced these fruits! Now actually INVADED
BY SATAN!
"Oh Eternal GOD!" Now I was literally shouting beside my
bed with upstretched arms. "Wake me out of this hideous NIGHTMARE!
FATHER in heaven, in JESUS' name, let this be only a nightmare!
Wake me out of it!"
By now I was completely awake. It was no bad dream. Satan
was ATTACKING GOD'S WORK, pulling out all stops as never before, to
DESTROY IT, and to destroy many ministers and brethren with it!
I knew we were not having to wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against "the wiles of the devil," and against POWERS,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against powerful
and wicked SPIRITS in high places!
It now quickly flashed to my consciousness the letters
Garner Ted and I had rushed out to you Brethren and to the
ministers -- and the reports telephoned to Headquarters that the
overwhelming majority of the Brethren, even in the affected areas,
were remaining faithful, staunch and loyal with THE WORK OF GOD.
I knew I had to LEAP to the job, seeking Christ's guidance, to
SAVE THE FLOCK from this vicious attack by Satan.
Quickly I threw on some clothes and ran downstairs and out
to the sidewalk for the morning paper, to see what next attacking
defectors had gotten to the press against God's Church.
On page 4, of section 2, was this 2-column headline:
"15 in Strife-torn Sect
Fired, Minister Says"
This statement was false! But how like this world --
Satan's world!