Herbert W Armstrong

  I have read through the Autobiography . Although the Autobiography offers a generally coherent narrative of Armstrong’s early life, its unusual omissions - together with several demonstrably inaccurate claims - reveal a consistent pattern of selective self‑presentation.   These omissions later resulted in faulty secondary genealogies being used to fill in the gaps incorrectly. That is why one encounters conflicting or inaccurate information online. The inaccuracies include his portrayal of his early beginnings , his account of the six‑month library study in Portland, and his later claim to have independently “discovered” radio . In the case of the library study, the only contradictory evidence comes from Armstrong’s own later version of the Autobiography , where his description differs markedly from the earlier account.  All of these matters are documented and further detailed in the post referenced below. (See the first Addendum for the specific evidence of thes...

Some groups - especially those influenced by Herbert W. Armstrong -claim that Colossians 2:16–17 actually commands Christians to keep the Sabbath and festivals. Most believers simply read the passage as written and see the opposite: Paul warns against being judged over these things because they were shadows pointing to Christ. To reach the Armstrong conclusion, the text must be turned 180 degrees - and that is exactly what happens. This is an illuminating example of the danger that arises when doctrine begins to drive exegesis rather than the other way around. Once a system feels free to reshape the meaning of Scripture to protect its teachings, the authority of the text is lost. In the full analysis I’ve written elsewhere, I set out the issue in detail and show why the Armstrong interpretation lacks any textual, historical, or grammatical support. What follows here is a concise summary of that argument. For those who want the full analysis, I’ve set out the complete argument in a det...

  There are some - including Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God and its many offshoots - that make the claim their observation of such days, and of the ten commandments including sabbath, are important identifiers of their system being special. So special one also reads claims it is the one true church. There are booklets where they link themselves all the way back to the first century wherein the observation of such days be an important part of the aforementioned claim. There are others such as groups in the Jewish Messianic movements and various other who also argue festivals be required. In t his link to a Post in Quora I examine whether Armstrong's claims are supported in scriptures.  

 Zechariah chapter 14 is seen by certain groups as evidence that feast days are to be observed in the Millennium.  Indeed, I once thought so myself : 16  Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. 17 And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. 19 This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This Post in Quor a examines the issue - seeking to decide whether such idea has any biblical merit. The link takes you to a re-direct page, being the Quora post i r...

  Revelation chapter 22 verse 14 reads: [ Rev 22:14 KJV] 14 Blessed [are] they that  do his commandments , that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. I have observed how certain denominations particularly those who demand sabbath observance -as this they say is the sign of a true believer - choose to interpret the verse in question.   Indeed, one reads in their literature statements such as :  ‘ I t is only those who are willing to DO the Ten Commandments who shall enter in thru the gates into the City ’. Revelation 22:14 thereby becomes one of the most mis‑used verses by groups that teach salvation-by-law, especially Sabbatarian groups. The boast be made this identifies the one true church. In this Post in Quora I examine just what commandments/commands be the subject of this verse in Revelation 22. 

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...

Some interesting similarities are worthy of note.  Armstrong claimed he was an ‘ apostle ’ and special messenger - appointed to warn so called ‘Israel’ (USA/UK/other Anglo countries) and the world of end times and disasters - that his Radio/Worldwide Church of God was the ‘one true church’. He said only he taught the true gospel (only to be expected given the claim to be the only one true church) - whilst all others were said to be deceived by Satan and teaching false gospels. Armstrong said he ran things by God’s way of Government - which he said was God the Father, then Jesus, then Armstrong himself in number three.. Rutherford did not use a title of ‘’apostle”’ but it was effectively the same because he taught that Christ had inspected all religions in 1918, chose the Watch Tower Society in 1919, and that the President of the Society was the one through whom Christ directed the ‘work’.  In this sense Rutherford was like Armstrong concerning teachings on God's government. Wh...

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. 

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.

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...

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...

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.  

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...

 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 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.