I AM INDEBTED TO DAVID CLARK FOR PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER. MOST OF IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, BUT I WILL COMMENT HERE AND THERE _ Keith Hunt
Herbert W. Armstrong in His Own Words
Mr. Armstrong's critics have labeled him as being a "false prophet". His supporters argue that he only speculated about future events, never claimed to be a prophet, and never said, "thus says the Lord" before making a prediction about the future. His detractors have said that Mr. Armstrong was greedy for money and made false claims about various financial crises in "the work of God" in order to extract even more money from his followers. His supporters argue that he was not motivated by greed but was dedicated to serving God and just wanted to get the gospel to as many people as he could. Mr. Armstrong's critics claim that he did not preach the gospel to world leaders but merely used this claim in order to justify owning a fancy airplane, fly around the world, live in luxury, and be seen as someone 'important'. Mr. Armstrong's supporters argue that he was appointed by God to warn other nations through their leaders and that he fulfilled this role. In essence, his critics label Mr. Armstrong as a "con man" while his supporters consider him an apostle.
How does one reach a sound, informed conclusion regarding such questions? By reading material written by Mr. Armstrong's most fervent supporters (e.g. Mr. Flurry, David Pack, etc.)? By reading material written by his most vocal critics (David Robinson, Ambassador Reports, etc.)? Or, perhaps, by reading both sides?
How about by evaluating Mr. Armstrong by examining his own words...
This document focuses primarily on materials written by Mr. Armstrong and those materials that he was responsible for publishing. This seemed a fair way to help reach an honest, unbiased decision regarding his overall sincerity independent of the potential bias of both his supporters and his supporters.
Although many topics could be examined in this way, this discussion will be restricted to three primary questions:
[Note: All the following quotes can be verified. Most Plaint Truth magazine, co-worker letter, booklet, etc. are available at "HWA Library" on the internet. The following list is not exhaustive. Almost all of HWA's articles and letters included gross exaggerations and predictions that failed to come to pass. The question is not whether he said these things but what it implies.]
WAS HWA HONEST ABOUT HIS ROLE AND UNDERSTANDING OF PROPHECY?
This question will be addressed in three parts, by examining his:
Co-worker letter Dec. 23, 1942 – “If the SMALLEST radio audiences today are the "religious audiences", the BIGGEST radio audiences today are held by the newscasters and the news analysts. Before being converted and called into the ministry, I had devoted twenty years to writing for newspapers and magazines. The news today rapidly fulfills Bible prophecy. No news analyst can rightly UNDERSTAND or interpret world events today, without the background of sound understanding of the Bible and its prophecies. Likewise no minister could take advantage of this fact in broadcasting, without a practical newspaper background. I began to realize God had so guided my life that I had BOTH.
Beside proclaiming the true GOSPEL---the Good News of the KINGDOM OF GOD---the Eternal has commissioned us who are Co-Workers together in this work to WARN THIS NATION---including Canada, and other English-speaking nations if that becomes possible---that GOD HIMSELF is sending this war upon us as a JUDGMENT---that we are HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL---that to win in this war this nation MUST REPENT AND TURN TO GOD AND PUT ITS TRUST IN HIM.”
NO YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A JOURNALIST OR HAVE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN THE NEWSPAPER WORLD, TO UNDERSTAND BIBLE PROPHECY; THIS IDEA OF HWA WAS HIS MIND-SET ONLY AND NOT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT - Keith Hunt
Co-worker letter February 16, 1943 - “ALMOST daily letters are received from interested radio listeners saying "I should like to know more about your work." This, then, is an explanation.
This work, we believe, has been raised up of Almighty God to sound a definite WARNING to our people, and to proclaim in these closing days that which has not been proclaimed, the TRUE Gospel--- the Good News of the KINGDOM OF GOD.
My wife had a most unusual dream---perhaps more of a vision than a dream ---in which she "saw" the second coming of Christ, as it first appeared, or a warning vision of it, as it then turned out. In this remarkable dream, she saw Christ descend; and she feared greatly for me, knowing I was not converted. But Jesus descended immediately in front of us, and placed His arms around us both, then revealing this was not His second coming----but that it would be soon, and He was calling me to a special mission.”
DREAMS AND VISIONS, REMINDS ME OF ELLEN G. WHITE AND THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. NEARLY ALL THE TIME IT IS A FANCIFUL MIND THAT BRINGS ON THE VISION OR DREAM. WE SHALL SEE HWA BECAME JUST ONE MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF GOD 7TH DAY, NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN OTHER AROUND HIM, AND CERTAINLY HAD STRANGE AND WRONG IDEAS ON BIBLE PROPHECY COMING TO FULFILMENT. THE IDEA THAT THE GOSPEL HAD NOT BEEN PROCLAIMED UNTIL HE CAME TO PREACH IT, WAS ALSO PLAIN TRUTH VANITY AND EGO AND SELF DECEPTION ON HIS PART, AND UTTERLY NO - Keith Hunt
"1975 in Prophecy", 1956, pages 10, 12, 20, HWA: "Indications of prophecy are that this drought ... will strike sooner than 1975 -- probably between 1965 and 1972! ... At the outset of this article I stated that the KEYS that had kept prophetic doors locked and closed from human understanding have now been found -- or, more properly, been given to us by God ...”
PT December 1956, p. 3 (author anonymous) . “This is how you can know who is preaching the truth today—when what he says comes to pass…. But who today understands what the prophets foretold? Why, only the ministers today whose word comes to pass!—those who are appointed and guided by God to preach the truth! Those whose utterances do not come to pass have not spoken the prophecies truly… But what we have been warning you about is happening!—precisely as we have stated… This is how you can know that our work is not of men but of God!”
1950’s radio program...........you can hear HWA in his own words implying to his listeners that his prophecies were coming from God, not just a man.
...Alright, I stuck my neck out right there. You just wait 20 more years and see whether I told you the truth. God says, if a man tells you what's going to happen, wait and see. If it does not happen, he was not speaking the word of God; he was speaking out of his own mind. You watch and see whether these things happen. You'll see who's speaking to you, my friends." -Herbert Armstrong
SO DID IT COME TO PASS AS PREDICTED? WE SHALL SEE MORE LATER. BUT FOR NOW I CAN SAY NO IT DID NOT - Keith Hunt
PT August, 1957 (Roderick C. Meredith). “WHERE ARE God’s true prophets today?… Listen! This work has been warning America of definite and tremendous events to come for many years! The popular, denominationally supported evangelists often… use the words ‘may,’ ‘could,’ or ‘might.’ They are afraid to be definite and specific! The truth of the matter is that they DARE NOT be specific about the future because they just DO NOT KNOW what the Bible says is going to happen! But on the World Tomorrow broadcast and in this magazine we have dared to unlock the Bible prophecies and apply them to specific nations and events that are NOW being affected.”
Member Letter 3March 29, 1957 . I call upon all of you in the name of Jesus Christ, as God's Apostle, and your Minister...”
Good News magazine June-July 1958 (Herman Hoeh) . “... How plain it is that GOD rules our Church. The congregations are ruled by the elders, who are ruled by the evangelists, and they are ruled by the apostle who is ruled by Christ who is ruled by God! All offices are appointive, by a superior office. It is government from GOD down to each individual member in the Church.”
EVEN THEN THERE WAS THE LEANING TOWARDS A ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH GOVERNMENT, WITH ONE MAN AT THE TOP..."THE APOSTLE"... IT SHOULD REMIND YOU OF THE POPE - Keith Hunt
Member Letter November 27, 1958 I'm going to give you the frank and straightforward answer. You have the right to know all about this great work of God-- and about me. First, let me say - - this may sound incredible, but it's true - - JESUS CHRIST FORETOLD THIS VERY WORK - - IT IS, ITSELF, THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PROPHECY (Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10).
NONSENSE AND VAIN EGO, AND SELF DECEPTION - THE FULFILLING OF THIS PROPHECY WILL BE BY AN ANGEL - REVELATION 14 - Keith Hunt
1962 Booklet "Just What Do You Mean… KINGDOM OF GOD?" (HWA)
"If the deceived religionists who think the CHURCH is the Kingdom of God were right, and there is not going to be any supernatural and all-powerful WORLD GOVERNMENT which is the Kingdom of God, then humanity is utterly without HOPE—there will not remain a living human in 20 more years!… It’s about time you come to know who are the false prophets, and WHO is speaking the true word of God faithfully." [Note: 4.6 billion people remained alive in 1982]
1963 "The Inside Story of The World Tomorrow Broadcast" booklet, p. 12. “Mr. R. C. Meredith said that Dr. C. Paul Meredith had "always been a student, and he took careful notes on Mr. Armstrong's prophetic sermons. As time went on, he compared these notes to the events that were taking place -- and to what other preachers had said -- and soon came to realize that Mr. (H.W.) Armstrong was the only one who actually knew what was going to happen BEFORE it happened!"
"This is the ONLY Work on earth that really understands ... the specific meaning of present-day world events, and the exact time schedule of prophecy!" (IBID, p. 17)
NOPE.....THE TIME SCHEDULE HWA THOUGHT WAS COMPLETELY WRONG, AND SECOND, MORE IMPORTANT, NO ONE KNOWS THE TIME SCHEDULE OF GOD THE FATHER, IT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE MENTIONED. GOD CAN SHORTEN OR LENGTHEN PROPHECY AS HE WILLS; WE LOOK FOR THE SIGNS, NOT FOR SOME "EXACT TIME SCHEDULE" - Keith Hunt
1963 "The Inside Story of The World Tomorrow Broadcast" booklet, p. 54. “But Who Is Behind All This? Just as Noah, a "preacher of righteousness" (II Pet. 2:5), stood ALONE in warning the world of his day of its impending destruction; just as Abraham, with his family, stood ALONE in obeying God in his day; just as Moses, "whom they refused" (Acts 7: 35) , stood ALONE when God first began dealing with ancient Israel and bringing them out of slavery in Egypt; just as Elijah warned ancient Israel and cried out: ‘I am left ALONE, and they seek my' life" (Rom. 11:3); just as John the Baptist stood ALONE, not affiliated with the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes or any of the other religious groups of his day-warning Israel of his day "like a voice in the wilderness";so Mr. Armstrong and this prophetic Work stand ALONE as God's instrument in warning the modern descendants of ancient Israel…of their coming national punishment, and heralding the second coming of Jesus Christ IN PERSON as King of kings and Lord of lords!
Just as Elijah trained the "sons of the prophets" to aid him in ancient Israel (II Kings 2: 3-5); just as John the Baptist had his disciples and assistants; just as Jesus Christ Himself trained young men as disciples to assist Him in the ministry as He stood ALONE against religionists of His day; so Mr. Armstrong has founded the Ambassador Colleges… and standing ALONE as God's "watchman" (Ezek. 33 :2) to warn modern Israel of exact and SPECIFIC punishments from God!
These prophesied punishments on our people are right NOW beginning to have a great effect on the lives of every one of you who is reading this booklet.”
MORE VAIN EGO AND SELF-DECEPTIONS. GOD HAS ALWAYS USED MORE THAN ONE PERSON SINCE JOHN THE BAPTIST, TO PROCLAIM TO THE WORLD SALVATION, THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND THE DESTRUCTION TO COME ON THIS EARTH BEFORE JESUS RETURNS. THERE WERE OTHER MINISTERS IN THE DAYS OF HWA WHO WERE DOING SO, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE RADIO COVERAGE THAT THE THEN RADIO CHURCH OF GOD HAD - Keith Hunt
1963 "The Inside Story of The World Tomorrow Broadcast" booklet, p. 56. “Where True UNDERSTANDING Really Comes From? Why are The WORLD TOMORROW broadcasts and The PLAIN TRUTH articles always on top of the news?" many ask. It is primarily because we UNDERSTAND the purpose that Almighty God is working out here below among the nations of the world at this time. David was inspired to write: A good understanding have all they that DO his COMMANDments" (Ps. Ill: 10) . God has made us willing to quit arguing and reasoning and to truly OBEY His commandments and instructions in the Bible literally. Then He has literally given us a 'good understanding" so we can KNOW the meaning of present day world events and what WILL HAPPEN in the near future. Other groups play talk in vague generalities about the coming world cataclysm or Tribulation or "the Lord's return some day," but no other religious Work on earth understands SPECIFICALLY what is happening!...
But the UNDERSTANDING of this news and its application to YOUR life comes only from God. And God has said: "Surely the Lord God will do NOTHING, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). You have just been introduced to some of the leading ministers and servants of the Most High God on earth today! You can easily PROVE that this is so any time you wish to with art open mind and an open heart. This is the prophesied Work of God for this end time. It is the last generation of whom Jesus said: "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come'' (Matt. 10 :23). “
WHILE THERE IS SOME TRUTH HERE, IT IS OVERLAID WITH EGOTISM AND VANITY. THEN NOTE THE WORDS "IT IS THE LAST GENERATION......" PROVED NOW TO BE TOTALLY IN-CORRECT; WE ARE FAR FROM 1963 - OVER 50 YEARS, AND WE STILL WAIT FOR MAJOR FULFILMENT SIGNS TO COME TO PASS BEFORE JESUS CAN RETURN. SEE MY WHOLE SECTION ON PROPHECY ON THIS WEBSITE - Keith Hunt
February, 1967 Plain Truth, p. 47 “The ‘Day of the Eternal’—a time foretold in more than thirty prophecies—is going to strike between 5 and 10 years from now! You will know, then, how REAL it is. You will wish, then, you had heeded. I am not writing foolishly, but very soberly, ON AUTHORITY of the living Christ.”
WELL AS YOU CAN READ IN THE BIBLE, IF A PROPHET SPEAKS AND IT DOES NOT COME TO PASS, THE LORD SAYS HE DID NOT SPEAK FROM THE LORD BUT FROM HIMSELF, AND YOU SHALL NOT FEAR HIM. OH THE SILLY MIND OF MEN WHO THINK THEY SPEAK FOR GOD WHEN GOD HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THEM - Keith Hunt
Tomorrow’s World, 1972 "I, too, received Christ's Gospel NOT from MAN. I, too, certify that the Gospel I have taught and proclaimed is NOT AFTER MAN. I entered no theological seminary, where I would have received a particular denominational teaching and set of doctrines and practices. I was not taught by MAN. But I was taught, as was Paul, by the revelation of Jesus Christ — Paul from the living Christ IN PERSON — who is the Word of God in PERSON — but I from the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD — which is the SAME revelation, now set in print."
THIS IS OFF THE WALL AND FROM PLANET PLUTO; HWA WAS A MINISTER IN THE CHURCH OF GOD SEVENTH DAY; MOST OF HIS TEACHING WAS FROM THEM; OTHER MINISTERS TAUGHT THE SAME THINGS AS HWA; HE DECEIVED HIMSELF WITH BLATANT LIES - Keith Hunt
Coworker Letter 3/18/74: “ Even as Moses, the Apostle Paul and others, in early life, had been specially prepared for the special Mission to which God finally called them, so was I.”
ALL SELF DECEPTION AND VANITY - Keith Hunt
Sermon, July 24, 1976 - "The gospel had not been preached until God raised me up to preach it.... That gospel you never heard from any preacher except one from this church. “
NONSENSE, AND SELF DECEPTION; THE CHURCH OF GOD SEVENTH DAY WAS PREACHING THE SAME SALVATION AND KINGDOM GOSPEL HWA PREACHED - Keith Hunt
Coworker Letter 6/22/78 "Brethren, I have said many times that all you who have God's Holy Spirit are directly or indirectly my spiritual children in the Lord. Jesus Christ, the living HEAD of God's Church, started and built the present era of the Church. HE DID IT!
But He used me as His human instrument and ONLY APOSTLE OF OUR TIME in this powerful WORLDWIDE Work." We are in the very LAST DAYS of this present evil world of Satan's. Satan knows he now has but a SHORT TIME.
It is desperately important that we know that too! Christ, through me—with you BACK OF ME 100% (as so many of you have written me)—is now proclaiming IN POWER and IN ALL THE WORLD the fact that Christ and the KINGDOM OF GOD—and the abolishment of Satan—is SOON to happen—IN OUR PRESENT LIVING GENERATION!”
SELF EGO VANITY; OTHERS WERE TEACHING THE SAME SALVATION, KINGDOM, SABBATH, FEASTS OF THE LORD, IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE RADIO AND MAGAZINE POWER OF THE WCG. AND THE GENERATION OF 1978 HAS NOT SEEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME TO EARTH - Keith Hunt
HWA 1978 - "Jesus Christ has chosen and used only one apostle in our time. Let me say to you emphatically that the Living CHRIST has taken over as the HEAD of God's Church, and established me in FIRM CONTROL, under Him."
GOD, SINCE JOHN THE BAPTIST, HAS NEVER USED JUST ONE MAN, TO PROCLAIM HIS TRUTHS TO THE WORLD - Keith Hunt
From the above quotes, it is clear that, at a minimum, Mr. Armstrong and the WCG wanted people to believe that he was a prophet speaking the words of God, not the words of just a man. Many bold claims were made to that effect. Based on his special knowledge and understanding, Herbert W. Armstrong interpreted Biblical prophecy, watched world events, and made specific predictions for the future of the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
PT February 1934, page 3. "… we may be absolutely certain that we are in, and for about three years have been passing through, this great world-wide tribulation…. We have seen that the "day of His wrath" is the "Day of the Lord," which is a day of DESTRUCTION. WHO will be able to stand it? Will YOU, brother, sister? You can’t escape it. It is just as CERTAIN as are all these other events which have happened right on schedule."
HERE HWA WAS CLAIMING THE END OF THE AGE HAD AND WAS COMING TO PASS. IT WAS THE "DIRTY THIRTIES" AND HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF BIBLE PROPHECY WAS LAUGHABLE IF IT WAS NOT SO SERIOUS A MATTER - Keith Hunt
PT June/July 1934. HWA published a hand-drawn chart of the "End Times," correlating certain dates and events with the "Seven Seals" of Revelation 6. Included were the first four seals ("false prophets," wars, famines, and pestilences), which he showed culminating in the period between 1914 and 1928. The "Tribulation" referred to in Mat. 24:21, Rev. 6:9-11, and Dan. 12:1 he pinpoints as the time period between 1928 and 1936.
[Note: He clearly marked 1936 as the "END OF THE AGE," to be immediately followed by the heavenly signs and then the "Day of the Lord." When "the Day of the Lord" didn't come in 1936, he did not apologize but continued to offer, often dogmatically, ever-changing scenarios and time frames for the events of the Last Days.]
PT March 1938, p.6: “France and Germany will soon form a new alliance to guarantee peace in Europe .” Page 8 "Mussolini and the Pope will hatch up an idea between [them] of setting up a world headquarters at Jerusalem—and so Mussolini’s armies will enter Palestine (Dan. 11:41), and eventually will capture just half of the city of Jerusalem! (Zech 14:2)"
PT January 1939, p. 4: “Mussolini will emerge as the # 1 leader over Hilter… Mussolini will fight Christ!"
[Note: Over the years HWA had chosen a number of individuals as most likely to become his "Beast of Revelation": Mussolini, Hitler, Tito, F. J. Strauss, Otto von Hapsburg, etc.]
PT February 1939: "By way of brief review of previous articles, and radio messages, notice, first, that this war will involve ALL nations. It will be the first real world war. Secondly, it will center around Jerusalem....And thirdly, this war will END with the Second Coming of Christ."
PT August 1939, p.6 " War leading to Christ's return may start in six weeks… Once war is resumed, it must continue on thru the great Tribulation, the heavenly signs, the plagues of the Day of the Lord, and to the second coming of Christ, at the last battle, at Armageddon!… But this you may know! This war will be ended by Christ’s return! And war may start within six weeks! We are just that near Christ’s coming!"
Plaint Truth Nov./Dec. 1940, p.7 " The U.S. and Britain will soon be invaded and conquered”
Co-Worker Letter Feb. 14, 1941 "TIME IS SHORT! We are near the END! Soon the Gospel will be BARRED from the air.”
Co-Worker Letter May 14, 1941 "Satan now speeds up his activity to horrible fury, working through Hitler and others. He KNOWS that he has but a short time! ...OUR time is equally short! OUR work must be finished before Christ comes! We must throw ourselves to the task with even GREATER inspiration than the Nazi army!…No sacrifice is too great. Soon our money, our property will be worth NOTHING to us. We cannot keep it much longer, anyway… "
PT May/June 1941 "Since the last issue ... many things have occurred, everyone in accordance with prophecy! ... War events thunder on, rapidly approaching the prophesied climax! Hitler now emerges as the "BEAST" of Revelation!"
PT September/October 1941 page 7: "What does Hitler's invasion of Russia mean? What does BIBLE PROPHECY say about it? As usual, there are many ideas. So FEW, it seems, have a right understanding of the Bible and its prophecies. Plain Truth readers know world events, before they occur. ... Hitler MUST BE THE VICTOR in his present Russian invasion!
Our God is now about to punish… if our stiff-necked and rebellious people go on defying… trusting only in material and military defense… We shall be invaded, CONQUERED, uprooted from our homes and transplanted to other lands across the seas—ruled over as slaves. "
CO-WORKERS BULLETIN, December 24th, 1941: “W A R ! What it Means in P R O P H E C Y… Well, it has come. American soil has been invaded, the U.S. Navy seriously crippled. Enemy submarines are torpedoing ships 20 miles off our Pacific Coast. Enemy planes have been flying over San Francisco. We know what black-outs are. Prophesied events SWEEP ON! Bible prophecy is CERTAIN! Far more horrible events now loom immediately ahead. This, now, is only "the BEGINNING of sorrows.” Do we believe it? Are we at last AWAKE?”
…Bible prophecy shows Hitler is far from through… He will take Gibalter… He will take SUEZ. He will enter and take PALESTINE – eventually set up his headquarters there!”
…Remember this war is PROPHESIED! It is the LAST war! It is for a PURPOSE! God's JUDGMENTS are about to fall!
Co-Worker Letter August 24th 1942: “This war, for us, is a judgment sent from God. God has blessed us with vast material wealth---more than two-thirds of all earth's economic resources! And we have forgotten Him, forsaken Him and His ways, made gods of the very material things with which He has blessed us, and our land is steeped in sin, and now plunging hell-bent into fast-INCREASING sin! THE DAY OF RECKONING IS HERE.
Friends, and Co-workers, WE KNOW THESE SOLEMN TRUTHS! If we fail to WARN this nation, God says He will require the blood of the people at our hands. (Ezek. 33:1-6) Our job is to WARN the people before it is too late---to admonish them with POWER, over more and more radio stations until the whole nation hears the warning---to turn back to the God we have forsaken. Because HE ALONE CAN SAVE THIS NATION NOW. This is not idle talk. It is not more alarmist language. IT IS THE STARK, BARE, SOLEMN TRUTH! And in this RACE AGAINST TIME, we, dear co-workers, have OUR race against time! It is, now, "five minutes till midnight". Then it will be too late.
That's why I am speeding now back to Des Moines. There is NO TIME TO LOSE!”
Co-Worker letter November 1942: “God Almighty says in His prophecies we cannot win in this war UNLESS OUR PEOPLE REPENT AND TURN TO HIM. He says Armies do not determine the outcome of wars---but the ETERNAL rescues them that put their trust in HIM. (Psalms 33)
Co-workers, OUR contribution to the war-effort---OUR patriotic DUTY, if we would back up the boys in uniform and have their lives spared---is to SACRIFICE EVERYTHING and GET BEHIND THIS VITAL MESSAGE that it may go out with rapidly-multiplied POWER until this nation is AWAKENED, and TURNS TO GOD, and is SPARED! This war is a JUDGMENT SENT FROM GOD! Help me to warn this nation, that defeat need not come to our shores!”
December 23,1942: “Beside proclaiming the true GOSPEL---the Good News of the KINGDOM OF GOD---the Eternal has commissioned us who are Co-Workers together in this work to WARN THIS NATION---including Canada, and other English-speaking nations if that becomes possible---that GOD HIMSELF is sending this war upon us as a JUDGMENT---that we are HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL---that to win in this war this nation MUST REPENT AND TURN TO GOD AND PUT ITS TRUST IN HIM!”
Feb. 16, 1943 – “In the Bible---God's revelation and special message to man---are whole chapters and books of prophecy whose meaning has been sealed until this present time of the END. Whole Books of the Bible had no meaning to those of a generation or two ago. Like Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 12:8-10) these vital prophecies were sealed ---closed to human understanding until NOW. They pertain to world events, NOW. A very large portion of all the prophecies of the Bible pertain to THIS very generation in which we live.
…We came to see God's great WARNING to America and to Britain that we shall LOSE this war UNLESS OUR PEOPLE REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD!
God helping us, we know of no one else proclaiming this solemn warning to our nation! And yet, unless it is proclaimed, WHOLE BOOKS of the Bible, such as Ezekiel, Amos, Hosea, Joel, are left almost wholly without meaning. They are a warning for our people in OUR TIME! Yes, even much of Jeremiah and Isaiah---much of Revelation, Daniel, and other important prophecies. To proclaim this life-and-death warning for our nation IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS IN THIS WORLD TODAY.
It is more than just preaching the Gospel. THIS NATION MUST BE WARNED! The sure Word of prophecy says definitely the only way we can win this war is to REPENT as a nation, turn to
God, seek Him and FIND Him, and put our trust in HIM! God has SENT this war upon us, as a JUDGMENT! The day of reckoning, for this nation, is HERE. This is of GOD! HE SAYS SO! “
January 23, 1945 co-worker letter "Where are we, now, in the prophetic unfolding of God's PLAN? We are already IN the very crisis at the close of this age, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. We are in that period portrayed by the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—of the Book of Revelation. Jesus explained these in His Olivet prophecy (Mat. 24). The false prophets representing a false, counterfeit Christ, have appeared. We are now in the midst of the final age-end WORLD-WAR—nation against nation; kingdom against kingdom! We are in the beginning of the famine and pestilence to follow in the wake of world-war! "
Coworker Letter December 1947 " Greetings in Jesus' name: TIME is running out! This world is moving swiftly to its destruction! Yet there is still time---and just barely enough time---to finish the work of God for this present age. THERE IS NO TIME TO LOSE."
"YOU, dear Co-Worker, are not going to be permitted to enjoy your home, your freedom, your present privileges and pursuits, many more years. Just a few more years—perhaps six or seven—perhaps twelve or fifteen—and a re-united Fascist-Nazi Europe will STRIKE—America's great cities will be blown out of existence in one night without warning... I tell you, ON THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST, IT IS COMING! "
PT, May, 1950, page 5, Herbert W. Armstrong: "Most certainly it is easily possible the thing (U.S. of Europe) will be fully developed and ready to strike in seven years! Yes, time is running out on us ... One third of our people will die from starvation ... and in the next FEW YEARS!"
PT August, 1952, p.1 [Headline to article by HWA]:
"Hitler Did Not Die! Adolph Hitler's fake suicide in his Berlin bunker now is exposed as history's greatest hoax! Positive evidence comes to light Hitler did not die--Here's new evidence that Hitler is alive, directing Nazi Underground today!"
PT, Aug., 1952, page 10, HWA: "Thus it has been proved conclusively and beyond doubt, that Hitler did not die -- his body was not there -- HE HAD ESCAPED! ... The next Pope will be a professed miracle worker, as supposed proof that God is using him to order and pacify the world!"
PT January 1955 p. 1, 15 (Hoeh) "The assistant Chief of the U.S. Weather Bureau, I.R. Tannehill painted a gloomy future for America... The last few years of drought and floods are just a foretaste of famines soon to occur! "Real trouble," he states, "is just around the corner." By the 1970s, he continues, "our water demands may make the supply critical even in good rain years. WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1975 settles down upon us? That’s your question." Yes, that is the question!—and prophecy proves it will happen—before 1975!"
PT, April, 1956, H.L. Hoeh: "PLAGUES are coming -- and, according to this prophetic warning, in about two years from now. …Rabid foxes, squirrels, muskrats will attack our children... For seven long and frightful years we are going to suffer as never before -- until we are left 'few in number'! We have about reached our population peak, despite the guesses of our political and industrial planners ... In another ten years... it won't be safe to live in Asia or in Africa! ... This most important Work will in all probability be completed in 1972! ... The coming Fascist-religious revival of Europe will conquer us within a prophetically indicated 17 years!"
"1975 in Prophecy", 1956 edition, pages 10, 12, 20, HWA: "Indications of prophecy are that this drought ... will strike sooner than 1975 -- probably between 1965 and 1972! ... At the outset of this article I stated that the KEYS that had kept prophetic doors locked and closed from human understanding have now been found -- or, more properly, been given to us by God ...
Yes, millions of lukewarm inactive professing Christians will suffer MARTYRDOM -- and that before the anticipated push-button leisure-year of 1975 dawns upon us!"
November, 1956, p. 3 (Hoeh): "… millions of Christians in the United States and Britain will be MARTYRED—and that within the next 16 years!"
PT, August, 1957, page 5, R.C.Meredith: "We will soon find that hoof-and-mouth disease will spread COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL! These things are not far off. They are here and NOW! DISEASE EPIDEMICS are prophesied to begin soon! America, WAKE UP! After 1965, we are destined to run into increased trouble with the Gentile nations. America and Britain will begin to suffer from trade embargoes ... We will begin to experience the pangs of starvation..."
January 10, 1958 : "Here we are, in 1958! Time is running out on us.... But brethren in God's Church today, here is the IMPORTANT thing to shake us out of our lethargy and WAKE US UP! If it is true that God has allotted to us, as He did to the church 19 centuries ago, just TWO 19-year time cycles to complete His work, FIVE OF OUR LAST 19 YEARS HAVE ALREADY SPED BY! Only 14 more short years remain!
Coworker Letter 2/13/59 : "Today we are in the SEVENTH YEAR of our SECOND 19-year TIME-CYCLE which God has allotted for this MASS-PROCLAIMING of THIS MESSAGE FROM GOD! If God does not cut the time short, we may have another 12 years to complete this GREAT COMMISSION.
BUT—speaking of this terrible world-chaos now INTENSIFYING rapidly, Jesus said man would develop to the place where he would WIPE ALL LIFE FROM THE EARTH, U N L E S S God Almighty intervenes with supernatural power to CUT SHORT these days. And, said Jesus (Matt 24:22), "For the ELECT'S SAKE, those days SHALL BE CUT SHORT!"
Does that mean we have far LESS than the remaining 12 years of our allotted two 19-year time cycles? lT MAY! LET ME TELL YOU, IT IS LATER THAN WE THINK!"
"A True History of the True Church", 1959, page 27, Hoeh: "God has given His Church -- THIS CHURCH -- just two nineteen year cycles ... The first cycle passed. Then God suddenly opened the door for the second cycle in January, 1953."
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TO BE CONTINUED
IT SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR AND VERY OBVIOUS NOW TO REALIZE HERBERT ARMSTRONG IN THE 1930s and 1940s HAD A TERRIBLE UNDERSTANDING OF PUTTING BIBLE PROPHECY TOGETHER CORRECTLY, THINKING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, HITLER ETC. WAS THE END TIME WAR TO BRING JESUS BACK. AND HE CONTINUED INTO THE 1950s TO SET TIME DATES; AND OTHER RIGHT HAND MEN DREAMED UP OTHER IDEAS TO BACK THE DATE SETTING OF END TIME EVENTS. IT IS CLEAR HWA AND OTHERS WITH HIM, WERE NO DIFFERENT THAN ONES GONE BEFORE IN THE SABBATH ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE MIDDLE 19TH CENTURY, IN DATE SETTING, FOR THE END OF THE AGE AND JESUS' RETURN. NO DIFFERENT THAN MANY "FUNDAMENTAL" PROTESTANT PROPHETS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, WHO DID THE SAME KIND OF DATE SETTING FOR JESUS' RETURN. IN THE 1980s THERE WAS A BLAST OF SAYING JESUS WOULD RETURN BY 1988, 40 YEARS AFTER THE JEWS BECAME A NATION, A "GENERATION" IN THEIR EYES. THE PROTESTANT PROPHETS HAVE CONTINUED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, TO GO BACK TO DATE SETTING AGAIN. SOME PEOPLE IN THE 7TH DAY SABBATH CHURCHES DID THE SAME THING IN THE 1990s AND INTO THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY. SOME PROTESTANT PROPHETS AND SOME 7TH DAY SABBATH PEOPLE, ARE STILL SETTING DATES FOR THE END TIME GREAT TRIBULATION AND/OR THE COMING OF CHRIST.
WE HAVE SEEN HERBERT ARMSTRONG WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN DOZENS OF MEN GONE BEFORE HIM, AND AFTER HIM, WHO HAVE SET DATES, ON PROPHECIES OF THE BIBLE.
THEY HAVE ALL BEEN WRONG AND FOUND WANTING; THEY HAVE EGG ALL OVER THEIR FACES; THEY HAVE BEEN PROVED TO BE FALSE PROPHETS, SPEAKING OUT OF THEIR OWN MIND, AND NOT FROM THE MIND OF GOD.
THE SIGNS TO WATCH FOR, THAT MUST COME, TO BRING IN THE END OF THIS AGE, TO LEAD UP TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION, TO THE LAST 3 AND 1/2 YEARS, OR 42 MONTHS, 1260 DAYS [IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION] OF THIS AGE, ARE GIVEN TO US IN THE PAGES OF THE BIBLE. I HAVE EXPOUNDED THOSE SIGNS FOR YOU IN DETAIL UNDER "PROPHECY" ON THIS WEBSITE. UNTIL YOU SEE THOSE EVENTS COME TO PASS, THIS AGE WILL NOT COME TO AN END, AND JESUS WILL NOT RETURN. IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE. NEVER, NEVER, GET INTO DATE SETTING, OR TIME FRAMES, IT IS FOLLY TO DO SO, AND YOU WILL END UP BEING ONE OF THE FALSE PROPHETS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU.
HE THAT HAS AN EAR TO HEAR WITH SHOULD HEAR!!
Keith Hunt