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WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
WORLD HEADQUARTERS
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91123
HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
President and Pastor
December 24, 1976
Dear Brethren and Co-workers in Christ,
VERY FEW MEN in this world know personally as many heads of
governments as I. Yet I am absolutely AMAZED at how short a period
of time most of them last. Many have a tenure in office--if they
stay healthy--of only four to six years. Many die in office. Some
are assassinated--others shot down in a military coup or violent
overthrow of government. Some are forced to resign.
I think over, in my mind, about many I have known, some closely
and intimately--now GONE! One was Prime Minister Eisaku Sato of
Japan. He and I had a personal agreement we would throw away a year
annually--become one year younger each year. And also, as he said
to me, "One of us must live into the 21st century, so to have lived
into THREE CENTURIES--and that must be you, Mr. Armstrong, because
I was born in this century."
Before he died last year, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
There was Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, taken prisoner
in a military coup which overthrew his long-established government.
He died in military custody.
There was President Allende of Chile, machine-gunned in the
back in the very room where I had the private conference.
There was President Rahman of Bangladesh, assassinated in an
overthrow of his poverty-stricken, illiteracy-cursed country.
There was the King of Afghanistan, whom I was invited to visit,
but who was overthrown and driven to European exile before my visit
could be arranged.
There have been others, affectionate friends of mine, whose
terms of office have expired, such as V.V. Giri, ex-President of
India.
Prime Minister Thanin Kraivichien of Thailand has been driven
from office in a military coup, again overthrowing the Thai
government. He is being held in "protective custody." Three weeks
before this military coup, I had a private meeting with him in his
office in Bangkok, and that night he sat next to me at a banquet.
I see these heads of state personally. I see them IN TROUBLE.
And, very often I soon get news that THEY ARE DEAD! Men I KNOW!
Men with whom I have had private talks!