Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Was Herbert Armstrong The Elijah Of The Endtimes?



 

From an LCG source:

The topic has come up recently about whether HWA viewed himself as Elijah. Below are some excerpts from WCG literature and correspondence, which hopefully will clear it up. Members of the Church seemed to believe he was Elijah, and there is no indication that HWA attempted to correct this. The fact that the Church chose to publish, rather than squash, such comments indicates approval of and agreement with the comments, and the intent to influence the readers to favor that view.

Comments From Monthly Church Reports, PGR May 15, 1981.  

MIAMI, FL--AL KERSHA: Mr. Herbert Armstrong's sermon (delivered via the movie screen) was as strong and motivating as I have ever heard him in the 15 years I have been in the Church. The message was clear, earnest and powerful. Certainly an excellent message in preparation for the Passover and days of Unleavened Bread. In physical appearance Mr. Armstrong looked about 70; in spirit and power he sounded like a 35-40 year old man. The spirit and power that was in Elijah is obviously moving him. 

 

Weekly Letter Comments, PGR June 5, 1981. 

Yesterday we were blessed to hear from Mr. Gerald Waterhouse! I don't believe anyone left not having learned something new, or realizing even more the importance of God's Work and you (Mr. Armstrong) being the Elijah of this end time. He was, as always, very interesting and quite humorous! We are thankful for him and his helping all of us to speak the same thing. T.B. (Fincastle, VA) 

 

H.W.A. Diary by Robert E. Fahey, PGR Aug. 7, 1981. 

When Mr. Armstrong began I was all prepared to hear about the two trees once more. But I was in for a surprise. The beauty and blessings that we had seen seemed to inspire Mr. Armstrong to the sobering awareness that the national sins of the House of Joseph would cause God to remove the peace and prosperity from our peoples. "Britain and the United States are going down! And OUT!!" he thundered. "Like Elijah, I say to you, if God be God, GET OVER ON HIS SIDE! If this is God's Church, GET OVER ON HIS SIDE!" Then he went on to show that as Zerubbabel had prepared a physical temple among physical Israel for the physical Jesus to come to, so he was called to prepare a spiritual temple (the Church) of spiritual Israelites for the resurrected SPIRITUAL CHRIST to come to and make His own. 

 

Comments from Monthly Church reports, PGR Oct. 21, 1983.  

ROANOKE, VA--ROBERT PERSKY: All of the brethren who attended the Feast thought it was the best Feast ever. They all wished Mr. Armstrong had spoken longer on the Last Great Day. They always look forward with great anticipation to hearing him speak. They know he is God's end-time apostle and the "Elijah" of Malachi 4. 

 

Members' Reflections About the Church, PGR Nov 4, 1983.  

What a wonderful privilege it is to help hold up Elijah's hands and to have a small part in preparing the way for Christ to return, which shall end mankind's suffering. A.D. (Somerset, KY) 

 

From Ministerial Services, PGR June 7, 1985.  

Jesus Christ told His disciples, "Elijah truly is coming first and will restore all things" (Matt. 17:ll). The many truths of God's plan and supreme purpose for His Church and eventually all mankind have been restored in God's Church through His end-time Apostle. Yet, as Paul warns, we can, through neglect, let these things slip away from us! Mr. Armstrong has brought into sharp focus these "mysteries," now restored to God's Church, in his book MYSTERY OF THE AGES. As he has mentioned in the Refreshing Program, this is a book that should be reread as soon as we finish it the first time, in order to really soak up what God is teaching us. Learning is indeed a lifelong process. We must continue to study and review God's Word all our lives. 

 

Booklet: Inside Story of The World Tomorrow Broadcast 

But Who Is Behind All This ? 

Just as Noah, a "preacher of righteousness" (II Pet. 2 : 5 ) , stood ALONE in warning the world of his day of its impending destruction ; just as Abraham, with his family, stood ALONE in obeying God in his day; just as Moses, "whom they refused" ( Acts 7 : 35 ) , stood ALONE when God first began dealing with ancient Israel and bringing them out of slavery in Egypt; just as Elijah warned ancient Israel and cried out : "I am left ALONE, and they seek my life" ( Rom. 1 1 : 3 ); just as John the Baptist stood ALONE, not affiliated with the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes or any of the other religious groups of his day warning Israel of his day "like a voice in the wilderness" ; so Mr. Armstrong and this prophetic Work stand ALONE as God's instrument in warning the modern descendants of ancient Israel America and the British Commonwealth of Nations-of their coming national punishment, and heralding the second coming of Jesus Christ JN PERSON as King of kings and Lord of lords !  

 

Just as Elijah trained the "sons of the prophets" to aid him in ancient Israel 

( II Kings 2 : 35); just as John the Baptist had his disciples and assist ants ; just as Jesus Christ Himself trained young men as disciples to assist Him in the ministry as He stood ALONE against religionists of His day; so Mr. Armstrong has founded the Ambassador Colleges to train dedicated servants of God who bring forth the "fruits" showing that Goo has called them to aid in this ministry of preaching the true Message of God's soon coming, world ruling Government, and standing ALONE as God's "watchman" (Ezek. 33:2) to warn modern Israel of exact and SPECIFIC punishments from God! These prophesied punishments on our people are right NOW beginning to have a great effect on the lives of every one of you who is 1'eading this booklet.' As I have already shown you, the men in this Work of God are alert, intelligent, successful and balanced men. But we DARE to preach a Message that is definitely DIFFERENT from the hackneyed, sentimental ideas going about today under the name of "religion." 

 

Mystery of the Ages, pp. 290-291 

This era of the Church was to produce fruit. To this era-or to its human leader-God had set before it an open door. It is recorded in I1 Corinthians 2:12 and also Acts 14:27 how Christ opened the door for Paul to go into other countries to preach the gospel. This Church and/or its leader had but little strength. Neither were of great and powerful stature in Satan’s world but those of this era were faithful to the Word of God. Though much of the original gospel truth, imparted to the original apostles by Jesus in person, had been lost, it was restored through the Bible to this era of God’s Church who were faithful in keeping it. It is revealed in Malachi 3:l-5 and 4:5-6 that God would raise up one in the power and spirit of Elijah, shortly prior to the Second Coming of Christ. In Matthew 17:11 Jesus said, even after John the Baptist had completed his mission, that this prophesied Elijah “truly shall first come, and restore all things.” Although it is plainly revealed that John the Baptist had come in the power and spirit of Elijah, he did not restore anything. The human leader to be raised up somewhat shortly prior to Christ’s Second Coming was to prepare the way-prepare the Church-for Christ’s coming, and restore the truth that had been lost through the preceding eras of the Church. Also a door was to be opened for this leader and/or the Philadelphia era of the Church to fulfill Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” It was to be at a time when, for the first time in the history of mankind, the weapons of mass destruction were produced that could erase all humanity from the earth (Matt. 24:21-22). This also was to occur just before the Second Coming of Christ (verses 29-30). These prophecies have now definitely been fulfilled. The true gospel has been restored and has now gone in power into every nation on the face of the earth.

30 comments:

  1. Naturally the COGS say things without saying them. Instead of the usual no he isn’t/yes he is fruitless discussions I would love for someone to answer how many years we have to wait from HWA’s death until he couldn’t have been an end time Elijah?

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  2. Now this is one of the most interesting commentaries on this subject. I know there are so many more that could be posted. I remember Al Kersha in Miami ..... not much about him because I guess he was not all that memorable Spent 16 months there. His comments in May about Passover and DUB must have been taken from an earlier time. All this "gospel" about warning 'our people' totally missed the target, but it did bring in a bunch of money. We gave what we could --- were excited about it. BUT, like Rush used to say ..... anytime they say it is not about the money --- it's about the money!

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  3. No.

    Two Witnesses— of what?
    Old Covenant Witness
    New Covenant Witness

    Two with no Scripture of dying?

    Elijah
    John Rev. 10:11, Rev. 11

    To die in Jerusalem after witnessing.

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  4. At first, HWA claimed he was not the Elijah to come and told some to stop saying it. That however did not stop the uberlegalists in the church from claiming he was. The more they shouted it the more people fell for it. The LCG source is right in that the church facilitated this erroneous belief. They never officially tried to stop it.

    Then, HWA had to go and die. That did not work for the Elijah plan. Almost overnight the rumor mills started saying that HWA was going to be resurrected to come back and rescue the church and preach the Elijah warning. Then, low and behold, HWA never came back so all of the crazy splinter leaders stepped up to assume that role. That is why we have Thiel and others lying today that they are the end-time Elijah.

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  5. Matt 11:11,13-14
    ‘ None greater than John, all prophets and law prophesied until John,
    he is the Elijah to come,if you are willing to believe…..’
    No Armstrong was no the ‘Elijah to come’ John the Baptist was, this is the message of the Bible.
    Luke 16:16……tells us the same.
    The words of Jesus Christ.
    Verses that are ‘problematic’ for those who say otherwise.
    Sorry Bob, Dave, Gerry and co………………………………..
    Happy Shabbos everyone.

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  6. Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ said: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear." --Matthew 11:7-15, NIV

    If Herbert Armstrong was the Elijah prophesied to come, then Jesus Christ was a liar! And I don't believe that, do you?

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  7. So I’m confused…was never in the WCg, just a splinter, for many years. Are you saying that HWA never actually claimed that he was the end time Elijah? What about apostle?

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  8. Judging from Mystery of the Ages, it wasn't simply that HWA failed to correct people who considered him the Elijah, he clearly believed so himself:

    "The human leader to be raised up somewhat shortly prior to Christ’s Second Coming was to prepare the way-prepare the Church-for Christ’s coming, and restore the truth that had been lost through the preceding eras of the Church. .(blahdeeblahblah).. These prophecies have now definitely been fulfilled. The true gospel has been restored and has now gone in power into every nation on the face of the earth."

    No, here HWA is clearly conveying that he is the end-time Elijah, just without using the exact words. (Granted, MotA was almost certainly ghost-written, but he still let his name be attached as the author.)

    Also, those of us who remember his sermons in the 80's will recall many many times where he stated as much, though without actually using the words "I am the end-time Elijah".

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  9. HWA was NOT a modest person and very prone to bestowing upon himself titles and making grandiose claims that simply were not true. His foreign trips were worthless and the only reason he was tolerated was because of the money, plain and simple. The donations to the Royal Opera House was to simply buy his way for a introduction to Prince Charles. I don't remember reading where Elijah of Old Testament times bought his audience with Ahab.

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  10. Mt 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore [apokathistaneis, (600)] all things [panta, (3956)].

    Ac 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again [apokathistaneis, (600)] the kingdom to Israel?

    Ac 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration [apokatastaseos, (605)] of all things [panton, (3956)], which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

    John the Baptist was “Elijah” from an ‘inaugurated’ eschatological perspective; a future Elijah will the fulfilment of “Elijah” from a ‘realised’ eschatological position.

    Christ’s prophetic week is a telescopic week. The first half was fulfilled some 2,000 or so years ago. The second half week will be fulfilled in the future (perhaps in the 2030s).

    John the Baptist was the Elijah to appear before first half of Christ’s prophetic week; a future person will precede Christ’s second half week.

    The future Elijah doesn’t restore all things, or else he would be the Messiah (cp. Acts 3:21); Elijah gets the ball-rolling.

    (The Antichrist’s prophetic week is a continuous week).

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  11. Just like he might huff and puff that he never claimed to be a prophet his followers believed him to be a prophet. And by the mere fact he predicted this or that would happen in the future and used God’s name to back his prophecies when just one failed to happen conclusively proved to all he was nothing more than a false prophet (Ez 14:9).

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  12. HWA spoke in the spirit of Elijah but he was not the Elijah spoken of in the Book of Malachi, for that Elijah was to appear just before the Day of Yahweh, not the Great Tribulation as spoken by the COGs.

    Mal 4:5 Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YAHWEH.

    So who was HWA? Was he just an everyday preacher or was he of more importance?

    In the Book of Zechariah we find him by understanding the descriptions given by Yahweh as to this man.

    Point one: He is a man without wisdom. HWA used to say that he was never good at discerning the character of a man, and he clearly demonstrated this by choosing Trach to lead the church after his death.

    Zec 11:15 And YAHWEH said to me, Again take to yourself the tools of a foolish shepherd.

    Point two: HWA and his ministers did not seek those that had been disfellowshiped. He did not attempt to restore them to Yahweh's truth.

    Zec 11:16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land; he shall not visit those who are cut off, nor will he seek the young, nor will he heal that which is broken...

    Point three: HWA did not continue to grow spiritually. He failed to correct his Passover and Pentecost errors by keeping them on the wrong day. Instead he concentrated on his teaching of the two trees. thus the flock was not being sustained by truth that will increase their spiritual growth.

    Zec 11:16 ... nor will he sustain that which stands.

    Point four: HWA focused on the material. His focus dwelt on money to which he provided a guilt trip by writing letters urging members to give even more than they could afford. He lived the good life accomplished off the backs of most of the members who barely made a living wage.

    Zec 11:16 ...But he shall eat the flesh of the fat,...

    Point five: HWA by demanding more and more money, made it extremely difficult for the flock financially. Thus they had little to stand on.

    Zec 11:16 and tear off their hoofs.

    Point six: HWA abandoned the flock by flying around the world giving talks about a strong hand from some place. He demonstrated that he had no real concerns for the flock and his focus became one that concentrated on himself. He became a worthless Shepherd not bearing the fruits of caring for the sheep.

    Zec 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! The sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye...

    Point seven: HWA right hand man (GTA) became spiritually withred due to his sexual sins.

    Zec 11:17 ... His arm shall be completely withered...

    Point eight: HWA vision both physically and spiritually, became darkened. His spiritual focus had drifted towards only himself and in addition, he became physically blind in his right eye.

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  13. Once in graduate club in the 1980s, someone said that many of HWAs writings will be added to the bible on Christs return. Many nodded in approval, with the rest having an aura of approval. So any claim the Herb wasn't viewed as an apostle is baloney.

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  14. I fail to understand why anyone still gives thought to HWA. It was all wrong doctrine. The whole teaching was false! The splinters are just as bad. WAKE UP!

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  15. Like Miller Jones has pointed out, Elijah came and went. Jesus states it clearly. Why then give credence apocalyptic Millerite machinations that attempt to accept Jesus but at the same time deny what Jesus says?

    Armstrongists, as the leading group of apocalyptic Millerites of our day, painted themselves into a corner. The self-entrapment looks like this:

    1) It is the End Time without a doubt (a dubious presumption)
    2) Type/Anti-type is a valid hermeneutic for everything prophecy (also dubious)
    3) The events of the End Time must therefore be happening now
    4) Elijah was prophesied to prepare the way for the Messiah
    5) Therefore Elijah must be here now
    6) Who could it be?

    Well, it couldn't be GTA. In fact, it couldn't be anyone but HWA himself. HWA would permit no alternative. HWA would never let a minion steal the spotlight.

    We know little about John the Baptist's activities. But we know HWA's activities. We know for instance, Elijah was supposed to do this:

    "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers..."

    Does that sound like HWA? I do not recall any effort towards inter-generational reconciliation that HWA had anything to do with. I do recall that he made a gesture. He said he was going to take the chapters from his autobiography dealing with his childhood and teen years and put them in a separate book for the young people in the WCG. I don't know if this ever happened. There was no conspicuous theme in his career that would correspond to the prophecy about Elijah. The only thing of substance I know of that might fit into this picture is GTA's child rearing booklet.

    The Millerites in the circa 1843 published a magazine call The Voice of Elijah. So this has been a Millerite groove for some time.

    ******* Click on my icon for Disclaimer

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  16. The heaven receives Jesus Christ until the times of the restitution of all things - Acts 3:21, meaning the restitution begins after Jesus returns to this earth. And guess who will help in that restitution? The resurrected John the Baptist.

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  17. HWA wasn't just the Elijah to come he was the Malachi he was a great man of God and he was an end-time apostle.

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    Replies
    1. TC
      Do you follow Dave's command of common? Have you given all your property to Dave? Or no salvation for you. Plus God won't listen to your prayers.

      Delete
  18. Did HWA ever raise someone from the dead, like Elijah did? NEVER.

    The Elijah stigma was so great for HWA , that even Tkach was started to be referred to as Elijah's successor , ELISHA!

    Additionally, Tkach also had himself raised to the office of Apostle , mimicking his predecessor.

    All of this is so public, and out there and common knowledge at the time, that Im surprised that anyone is denying its reality.

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  19. Anon 7:24 AM there is nothing for us to wake up from but you will wake up when God the father calls and he will call you in his own time and way.

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  20. All the doctrines in the Worldwide Church of God had come through the apostle Herbert W. Armstrong, so near the end of his life HWA started to teach that he was the one who was prophesied to come in the spirit and power of Elijah to “restore all things.” HWA died on January 16, 1986.

    At its greatest size the Worldwide Church of God had about 150,000 men, women, and children attending its Feast of Tabernacles.

    Then, the apostate Tkaches destroyed the Worldwide Church of God with their Great Apostasy of January 1995, leading to an explosion of splinter groups.

    Currently, NOT EVEN ONE of the splinter groups is even ONE-TENTH of the size of the WCG at its peak, though, interestingly, they all seem to think that they are “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.”

    There is one thing that I am pretty sure about: NONE of the leaders of ANY of the splinter groups is the Elijah.

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    Replies
    1. 10.43 AM
      Giving the apostasy a January 1995 date is debatable. It's like so called "turning points" in wars that historians haggle over.
      In my congregation, the minister straight away dropped the pretence of keeping the ten commandments on Herbs death. The wicked had a right to sin and be above the law, and any problems lay with those who fought back.
      January 1995 might be significant in that head quarters took off their masks.
      Btw, a similar phenomenon seems to be happening in secular society.

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  21. His death doesn't fit the timeline of the two witnesses death. The year nor the location fits. Gotta get the context.

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  22. ANON AT 10:43 SAID - All the doctrines in the Worldwide Church of God had come through the apostle Herbert W. Armstrong,

    MY COMMENT:
    Usually dismissed by the Armstrongist churches, is the fact that virtually ALL of the doctrines of the WCG can be traced to the Church of God 7th Day and is the source for his understanding on many topics.

    HWA did not come up with Holy Days either, as there were many who were aware of such in 1927, including leading elder John Kiez and others. There are a number of COG 7 groups who voluntarily observe the annual sabbaths too.

    The COG 7th Day rejected Armstrong's BI Theory and rightfully so. Frankly , the COG 7th Day, is virtually 98% correlated to the WCG, without the cultish top down government concepts, and other fringe and offbeat WCG cultural baggage.

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    Replies
    1. Tonto
      BI isn't "Armstrong's BI Theory." BI was an official doctrine of the Anglican church before HWA was even born.

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    2. However, HWA's version has a different purpose. Compare the literature of the time.

      Delete

  23. Anonymous at 12:57 PM said...“Giving the apostasy a January 1995 date is debatable. It's like so called 'turning points' in wars that historians haggle over.”


    The apostates had been working up to it over the previous years, while denying that they were, but January 1995 was when the apostates openly wrote in the WCG's Worldwide News newspaper that they were tossing out virtually everything. Some people would not have believed it if they had not read it for themselves in print.

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  24. Tonto at 12:30 PM,

    HWA taught that the COG(7D) was a true era (the Sardis era) of the true church that did the work of God for a while but that was pretty wiped out by the time that HWA came on the scene to start the next era of the church (the Philadelphia era).

    HWA determined what doctrines were taught by the WCG. HWA taught things like the US & Britain in prophecy and the annual Sabbaths, which the COG(7D) had rejected.

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  25. Anonymous at 11:33 AM said...“His death doesn't fit the timeline of the two witnesses death. The year nor the location fits. Gotta get the context.”


    If you are referring to HWA, he claimed to be an apostle and suggested that he was the Elijah who had “restored all things.”

    However, HWA never claimed or even suggested that he was one of the two witnesses in the biblical book of Revelation.

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  26. Herbert W. Armstrong founded Ambassador College with three campuses in:

    1. Pasadena, California, USA

    2. Big Sandy, Texas, USA

    3. Bricket Wood, England


    There is another thing that I am pretty sure about: I have zero interest, or less, in attending ANY of the little so-called “schools” or “colleges” or “universities” of ANY of the splinter groups.

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