Herbert W Armstrong

Armstrong, his Worldwide Church of God, and the many offshoots that exist today insist on a Wednesday crucifixion. The view often imagines a kind of conspiracy by those who hold to a Friday crucifixion, as though the traditional understanding were not only mistaken but deliberately deceptive. A Wednesday crucifixion is also held by some outside Armstrongism. It is not a commonly accepted view, but it is worth examining. Personally, I do not regard it as a matter of special importance; however, because the claim is made so forcefully - and because it accuses the Friday view of intentional error - it deserves careful comment. Central to the Wednesday theory is the counting method derived from Matthew 12:40, where Jesus refers to Jonah being “ three days and three nights in the whale’s belly .” Advocates insist this must mean a literal seventy‑two hours from crucifixion to resurrection. Matthew 12:40 is therefore the pivotal text for the Wednesday position, and in this study I will examin...

Herbert Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God promoted the idea that the cross is pagan.  I note that the Jehovah Witnesses have the same belief - they insist Jesus dies on a stake rather than a cross, and allege the cross is of pagan origin.   I would not at all be surprised if Armstrong took his idea from the Witnesses, he was after all a great copyist. Perhaps many in the Millerite movement held such belief.  The purpose of this pagan theory is, I believe, to denigrate and unsettle believers whilst promoting other pagan theories such as those concerning Christmas, Easter and Sunday worship.  I investigate whether these claims are true, and conclude they have no substance.  Please follow the link to my post in Quora.  See here.

I compare Armstrong’s teachings with Scripture and with mainstream Christianity in key areas such as the gospel, the new birth, and the Kingdom of God. Within this document you’ll find a number of links for further reading. See my post in Quora that sets out all the details.