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.

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 ...

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...