Herbert W Armstrong

This book is one of the greatest ever written. All I can hope is bring out, in this post, teachings that stand out to me. It helps to express them in writing so as to come back to it now and again to re-evaluate. Please click here to go to my Post in Quora wherein I seek to understand its purpose and how it informs of the Gospel messag e.  I also seek to understand particular verses that some use to almost undo the very purpose of the book itself.   Edit: Why do I make the label Herbert Armstrong apply in this Post. My answer is that he was one of those who select certain verses from Romans and use them to undo the very message it contains. I explain these verses in some detail in context of the whole book of Romans. 

Armstrong, his Worldwide Church of God, and the many offshoots in existence today, insist on a Wednesday crucifixion. The view seems to imagine a big conspiracy as being afoot by those who think Jesus was crucified on a Friday.  A Wednesday crucifixion idea is also held by others. It does not appear to be a commonly held belief, nevertheless it’s worthy of study. It is important to address the counting method associated with this Wednesday theory which requires there be a third night, based on Matthew chapter 12 verse 40 regarding Jonah being ‘’.. three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’’. This is worked out to be 72 hours precisely from the crucifixion to the resurrection. The verse 40 in Matthew 12 is pivotal to this Wednesday view , and I will examine whether its counting method is supported by the scriptures, and by custom.  All of the other verses concerning the timing of the cruci...

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.

 What scriptures suggest an intermediate state after death? There are some scriptures in both Old and New Testaments which suggest an intermediate state beyond death, by a plain reading of them. By that I mean a state whereby the spirit extends beyond death - and prior to the resurrection of the body which the bible teaches. My purpose is simply to list those scriptures. This may be of interest to some few readers - there may well be other scriptures I am unaware of and I will add edit notes if I find more. (Armstrong churches and others such as the Jehovah Witnesses teach that the spirit does not live on - there is nothing - described as 'soul sleep' by some. These organizations equate the living on of the soul with paganism, as they do with many other matters such as birthdays - Christmas, Easter, the cross, and so forth). Please see my commentary here in Quora.

The United Church of God is one of the branches of the Worldwide Church of God, founded by a Herbert W Armstrong in the 1930’s, in the USA.  UCG is the biggest offshoot.   Their full name is  "The United Church of God,  an International Association ". It was established in 1995 when certain Ministers of the Worldwide Church of God didn't like changes to the doctrines of Herbert Armstrong.  Each of the offshoots claim to be loyal to Armstrong doctrines, and to be the one true church - meaning of course there is now a big number of one true churches.  They have been described by another responder as:  '' 7th Day Sabbatarians, reject Christian holidays in favor of the seven Levitical Feasts and require legalistic observance of the Law of Moses as they interpret it ’.   I generally concur with that description.  They teach British Israelism, being a belief USA and UK are two of the ten tribes of ancient Israel.  They believe being ‘born...

  Do certain verses in Ecclesiastes support a view held by some that nothing happens after death? That it is all a big blank? I have observed how certain descendant organizations of the Millerite movement in the USA like to use verses extracted from Ecclesiastes in a desire to bolster their teaching it is all a big blank after death. Armstrong being one of that number.  They seem to vehemently oppose any other possibility. So desirous of the blank theory I've noted their embellishments by addition of a gigantic pagan conspiracy were one to suggest otherwise. I cite these verses below: 3: 21: " Who knoweth the spirit of man whether it goeth upward and the spirit of the beast whether it goeth downward to the earth?" [Ecc 9:5, 10 ESV] 5  For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. ... 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge ...

Herbert W Armstrong - Gospel preached. Armstrong claimed with much fan fare that only he preached the true gospel. Armstrong set out his gospel doctrine in many publications - booklets such as “ What is the true gospel ”; magazine articles; and radio and television broadcasts. This is all publicly available and the message was the same throughout his 52 year preaching career.   For example the  Plain Truth magazine  1979; and chapter 6 of a book titled ‘ A Voice Cries Out Amongst Religious Confusion’  - shown in this link;  ‘What & Why the Gospel’ ; In a publication titled: ‘ A true history of the true church’  Armstrong   said  his Radio - then later Worldwide Church of God  was the “ one true church” linked all the way back to the original apostles.  (The identifying sign for such claim said to be 'sabbath keeping', along with an alleged obedience of the rest of the ten  commandments).  He claimed, on many occasions,...

Matthew chapter 5 in verse 19 we read of Jesus's words.  19 “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” In context of this verse, Jesus states in verse 20 : 20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven Pharisees were extremely strict in their interpretation and keeping of the law, enforced and extending to all kinds of rules - concerning Sabbath and other laws; food matters; wearing religious phylacteries and the like. Jesus says our righteousness must  exceed  that of the Pharisees. Was Jesus referring to a need to strictly abide by rules as did Pharisees? Is he demanding believers must keep the ten commandments of Exodus ch 20, the annual festivals o...

Does Matthew chapter 12 concerning Jesus’s resurrection and the “sign” of Jonah have to mean exactly 72 hours? Please note in a separate Post I have addressed the Wednesday crucifixion theory. This Armstrong doctrine is used to criticize the 'world's churches' for celebrating the Friday crucifixion.  I found there are no strong grounds for Wednesday and set out the reasons.  This particular blog focusses on Matthew 12,   ‘’ For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” These words are the basis of a theory which holds that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, and resurrected exactly 72 hours later on the sabbath towards sunset. Whether it was a historical fact that Jonah did spend exactly seventy two hours inside a large fish we of course do not know. Jesus referred to this event, but He does not state explicitly that His citation affirms the historical c...

Nicodemus, like many Jews, had been looking for the kingdom of God to be set up there and then. Presumably he was hoping to learn more from this ‘teacher come from God," who can tell him more about the Messiah and his kingdom. Being a Pharisee he likely held opinions as to his right of citizenship in this kingdom. Regarding it as a continuation of entitlements stemming from King David - he was born a Jew, of the seed of Abraham, of the same race with the great king David. It was in this context we read of Jesus’s reply. His first words were: Verse 3: KJV: ‘’  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God .’’ Some, such as Armstrong offshoots, and the Jehovah Witnesses, say it occurs only at the end of things. Please see this link to Quora wherein I discuss the issue.  

  What message comes to us from the Millerite movement in the USA in the mid 1800’s onwards? In this commentary I show how we learn important lessons from the Millerite movement.  I propose to explain the experience of notable actors of that time, and draw conclusions. I discuss the behaviors of Miller; those who followed such as E G White and other Adventists who adopted and amended his theories, Nelson Barbour who was an Adventist having an influence on C T Russell who founded the Watchtower.  I include Herbert W Armstrong because - although he came later than these others - there was a connection and he deserves mention for reason of the fact he surpassed the others in the making of a never ending stream of false prophecies during his fifty plus years of preaching things religious. The message , as I will show - given their teachings and behavior - are the dangers a believer faces when allowing such forecasters/prophets/interpreters of prophecy to have an influence in ...

The Jewish Encyclopedias shows there were three kinds of tithes: (1) that given to the Levites as stated in Num. xviii. 21  et seq  and termed "the first tithe" ("ma'aser rishon"); (2) the tithe which was to be taken to Jerusalem and there consumed by the landowner and his family, and which was termed "the second tithe" ("ma'aser sheni"), it being taken from what remained after the first tithe had been appropriated; and (3) that given to the poor ("ma'aser 'ani"). Therefore two tithes were to be taken every year except in the seventh year: Nos. 1 and 2 in the first, second, fourth, and fifth years; Nos. 1 and 3 in the third and sixth years.’’ The scriptures are in Leviticus 27: 31-33, Numbers 18:21-32 and Deuteronomy 14:22–27 and 26:12, I note Wikipedia “ Tithes in Judaism ” has a detailed commentary on tithing and it conforms with the extract from the Jewish Encyclopedia. I make some comment on this system: Money became...

I compare his teachings to the scriptures. And mainstream Christianity in areas such as the Gospel, born again, the Kingdom of God , to mention a few.   There are links   within this document for your further reading and interest.  It takes you to a post I have made in Quora. 

The apostles taught of this kingdom of God as we read in many places.  For example in Acts 28 verse 31 regarding Paul : ‘’ He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance !’’ Matthew is the only Gospel writer to use ‘ kingdom of heaven ’. Mark, Luke, and John use the term ‘ kingdom of God ’. I discuss this briefly in the link here which takes you to my article in Quora.

  Hebrews 4 The Promise of Rest I will seek to understand the meaning of ‘’rest’’ in this chapter of Hebrews in two ways. Firstly, by looking at the meaning of the verses themselves; Secondly, by seeking to understand the ‘’sabbath rest’’ by looking at the context of ch 4 to the letter to the Hebrews. Please read here . 

Armstrong, his Worldwide Church of God, and the many offshoots in existence today, insist on a Wednesday crucifixion. A Wednesday crucifixion idea is also held by other churches, not only Armstrong organizations.  Armstrong uses it to criticize the more commonly held belief of Friday.  It is important to address the counting method associated with this theory which requires there be a third night, based on Matthew chapter 12 (Jonah). This verse is emphasized  by the proponents of the Wednesday crucifixion, and it is critical to consider whether their counting method is supported by the scriptures/custom generally. All of the other verses concerning the timing of the crucifixion need to be considered.   I examine the theory  in this link . It takes you to a Post I have made on Quora.  There is another commentary within my Blog site wherein I examine Matthew chapter 12 in some more detail.  

  Herbert W Armstrong founded the Radio Church of God in 1934 - later to become Worldwide Church of God. He made prophetic statements in the first year of operation and they were a regular part of  The Plain Truth  magazine. Prophecy was to be a big part of his plans. A clever technique was developed by Armstrong to explain away the many prophetic failures that came to exist. Also adopted by offshoots like Restored Church of God, United Church of God , Philadelphia church of God and others who still operate today. The propaganda tool I inform you about had limited use in other churches, but developed into an artform by these worldwide churches because of the big number of Armstrong’s failed prophecies. Thus, a most interesting analysis is possible of the method Armstrong’s church responded to his many prophetic failures. We gain valuable insights into their behavior and, most importantly, their credibility and moral standing. Please read here . 

  I examined authoritative sources - encyclopedias, museums, reputable journals, authors and experts of good standing, history books, DNA studies, and most importantly the scriptures - to determine whether the Anglo/Israel doctrine makes sense. A theory has been around for a couple of hundred years that the USA and Britain are identifiable in the bible. The claim is they are descended from the tribes of Manasseh (for USA) and Ephraim (for Britain) - two of the ‘lost ten tribes” of Old Testament times. They are said to be modern day “Israel’, or “Jacob”, and wherever these names appear in a biblical prophecy they substitute USA and Britain. Applying prophecies regarding “Israel’ to our times, Armstrong predicted that the USA and Britain (and others Anglo nations in north Europe, Canada, Australia, and Ireland) will be destroyed by the prophetic ‘beast’ of the book of Revelation and Daniel. Associated churches such as Restored and Philadelphia continue this doctrine. My purpose is to...