Herbert W Armstrong

Some interesting similarities between Herbert W. Armstrong and Joseph F. Rutherford are worthy of note. Armstrong claimed he was an apostle and special messenger appointed to warn “Israel” (USA/UK/other Anglo nations) and the world of end‑time disasters, insisting that his Radio/Worldwide Church of God was the one true church . He taught that only he proclaimed the true gospel, while all other churches were deceived by Satan. Armstrong also said he governed the church by “God’s Government”: God the Father, then Jesus Christ, then Armstrong himself. Rutherford did not use the title “apostle,” but the effect was the same. He taught that Christ inspected all religions in 1918, chose the Watch Tower Society in 1919, and directed the “work” through its President. In this sense Rutherford mirrored Armstrong’s claims about divine authority and God’s government. What we see, therefore, are two contemporaries - living in the USA, at times only 200 km apart - each demanding recognition as God’s...

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. I cover similar issues in a related Post concerning UCG.

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 essentially follow the Armstrong doctrines, and like Armstrong also claim 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....

  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...