Michael Maynard sent this to me the other day. Is this another book that influenced HWA during the 1930's? Did HWA copy part of the title of this book for his own version of Mystery of the Ages. More things to consider. More things to disturb the Armstrongites.
Is there ANYTHING original in Armstrongism that has not been plagiarized from another person?????
Is there ANYTHING original in Armstrongism that has not been plagiarized from another person?????
THE MYSTERY OF THE AGES REVEALED, 1919 - ANOTHER ONE? AFRAID SO.
I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS OUT OF PRINT GEM while doing research for my upcoming book which discusses many sources of the doctrines that false prophet Herbert W. Armstrong taught in the World Wide Church of God that do not agree with new covenant theology.
Many of the sources that are well known in x-WCG circles and have been written about by others I have reviewed. But this one I had never heard of. If this book influenced his teachings it is difficult to know for certain. If he read it, it may have influenced him in his British Israelite theories to some degree in an obtuse and unusual way. Larsen claims the western United States was actually the promised land and was inhabited by ancient Israel after the exodus. This book with a familiar title was possibly in the public libraries in the 1930's when Herbert was doing his research on religion.
The authors middle initial was incorrect on this cover, it is "B" not "A." On his photo it is correct. Very little is known about this author. The preface to the book written by Larsen himself is dated April 1919 in Portland, Oregon. Some of his books can be purchased on line but none that I could find had the same title. It seems like Larsen may have been Mormon, or heavily influenced by their teachings. While I did not see where he actually says so in the book he makes reference to many Mormon teachings and the book of Moroni, the last of the books of Mormon.
This book may explain why HWA ended up in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and later Los Angeles. Larsen claimed Los Angeles would the the heart of missionary work in America in the 1920's and that the tribe of Judah would inhabit the southern California area.
Larsen's book is full of failed prophecies and absurdities. But GOOD NEWS, the invasion of America by Germany will not occur until the year 4000 so he claims on page 154. So Larsen has not failed on that one...yet. Herbert's failed in 1972, then 1975....thankfully I add.
Did HWA read Ludwig B. Larsen's book written in 1919before writing his own Mystery of the Ages in 1985?
Maybe.
Let me get this straight: People just make up stuff and then write about it as if it's true without one shred of proof?
ReplyDeleteAnd everybody is supposed to trust the source?
Without a full MRI of the brain?
I need a link please. Email me.
ReplyDeleteSince it was published in 1919 or sometime prior it is out of copyright. Since it is in the public domain anyone who has a copy can scan the pages and post the images or text (using OCR technology) to the internet. In that way everyone can access it.
ReplyDeleteMy Mystery of the Ages is why I ever allowed myself to become part with those who thought they knew the Mystery of the Ages.
ReplyDelete"My Mystery of the Ages is why I ever allowed myself to become part with those who thought they knew the Mystery of the Ages."
ReplyDeleteYou have to admit it really made us feel superior to think we had some secret revelations that no one else had...all a twitter with arrogance, presumption, self righteousness. Fun while it lasted then we woke up.
Remember HWA spent tons of time in libraries in early years.Altho little is his own, He did bring to one's attention many of the doctrines he read.
ReplyDeleteAn even bigger mystery is why Larsen thought Germany would become allies with France - an alleged tribe of Israel - and divide America up in year 4000.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least Larsen didn't cash in by using "the end of the world - time is short" proclamations to become one of the "profits of God". Did he?
Richard
"Well, at least Larsen didn't cash in by using "the end of the world - time is short" proclamations to become one of the "profits of God". Did he?"
ReplyDeleteNot on that, Richard, but he did sell the book, and who knows how much he made. He wrote several other books that are similar. There are some really absurd things in there, reminicent of J.J. Ruperts writings in some ways.
Michael
Now, isn't that interesting.
ReplyDelete" Drama of the Ages " by William Henry Branson copyright 1950, 1953.
ReplyDelete( Branson would of been better with the title Mystery of the Ages, and "Drama of the Ages" assigned to the drama of the worldwide church of god and all it's offshoots)