Crackpot Prophet On Praying To The East

God's most favorite self-proclaimed prophet, the Great Bwana Bob Thiel, steeped in Mithraic and pseudo-Catholic beliefs, is once again railing against churches that pray facing east. As usual, his annual tirade is filled with Armstrongist myths and proof-texting, decrying the practice as rooted in Mithraism. He conveniently ignores that early Christians prayed facing east in anticipation of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, based on biblical passages like Matthew 24:27, which likens the Son of Man’s return to lightning from the east. This eastward orientation symbolized hope in Christ’s return. Furthermore, early Christian churches were often aligned toward Jerusalem—where Jesus lived, died, and resurrected—which, in many regions, was roughly eastward, reinforcing the tradition of praying toward the holy city.

Ironically, the Great Bwana Bob overlooks that Herbert W. Armstrong, a key figure in his mythology, had the Ambassador Auditorium built facing east. Church members prayed and worshiped facing eastward, while Herbert himself turned his back to the east—and, symbolically, to the risen Lord—while emphasizing legalism and adherence to the law.

The Ambassador Auditorium, often called the "House of God," is also rife with Masonic symbolism. A man who helped construct the building, during a tour I gave him after the church’s collapse when the auditorium stood empty, pointed out its symbolic features. He noted the building’s cubic shape (excluding the lobby), which aligns with Masonic and Qabalistic symbolism, where the cube represents the universe’s ordered structure and the pursuit of divine wisdom. 

The auditorium’s use of purple, a color Herbert W. Armstrong favored for its association with royalty (reflecting the belief that believers would become kings in the future), aligns with Masonic symbolism, where purple represents divine wisdom. Likewise, the extensive use of gold in the auditorium’s design echoes Masonry’s view of gold as a symbol of the perfected soul, illuminated by divine truth, complementing the cube-shaped building’s polished surfaces. Notably, gold leaf adorned the underside of the stairs from the lower level (symbolizing hell) and extended to the upper level, representing light and enlightenment. Additional features, such as the specific number of columns and a hidden room in the auditorium’s ceiling, further suggest intentional Masonic influences in the design.

The auditorium incidentally has 26 columns. 

In Masonry, it is a connection to YHWH. In Qabalistic tradition, which influences some Masonic symbolism, the number 26 is significant because it is the numerical value of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH, the Hebrew name of God) in Gematria: Y (Yod) = 10, H (Heh) = 5, W (Vav) = 6, H (Heh) = 5, totaling 10 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 26. This name represents divine essence, creation, and the ineffable nature of God, which aligns with Freemasonry’s focus on the Great Architect of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.).

The Tetragrammaton is referenced in certain Masonic degrees, particularly in the Royal Arch (York Rite), where the "Lost Word" and the divine name are central themes. The number 26, while not explicitly highlighted in rituals, could symbolize the divine presence or the sacred knowledge Masons seek, connecting to the spiritual perfection represented by the cube (Perfect Ashlar) as a symbol of the completed self aligned with divine order.

The cube, as the Perfect Ashlar, symbolizes the perfected universe or the Mason’s spiritual temple. In Qabalistic thought, the cube represents the "Cube of Space," a model of creation encompassing all directions and aspects of existence. The number 26, tied to YHWH, could be seen as underpinning the cube’s divine structure, reflecting the divine blueprint of creation within the lodge.

In numerology, 26 reduces to 8 (2 + 6 = 8). The number 8 is not as prominent in Freemasonry as numbers like 3, 5, or 7, but it can symbolize infinity, regeneration, or cosmic balance (due to the shape of the infinity symbol, ∞). In some esoteric traditions, 8 represents a new beginning or spiritual rebirth, which aligns with the Masonic journey of self-improvement and enlightenment.

Masonic Context: This interpretation could connect to the Mason’s transformation from the Rough Ashlar to the Perfect Ashlar, a process of spiritual renewal akin to the cube’s perfected form. While 26 itself is not ritualistically emphasized, its reduction to 8 supports themes of eternal growth and moral perfection. 

In biblical numerology, 26 is less prominent than numbers like 7 or 12, but its connection to the Tetragrammaton makes it significant in Judeo-Christian contexts. For example, the 26th chapter of Leviticus discusses covenant blessings and curses, emphasizing obedience to divine law, which resonates with Freemasonry’s moral teachings.

The number 26 in Freemasonry likely holds symbolic significance through its Qabalistic association with the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), representing divine presence, creation, and spiritual wisdom. It connects to the cube (Perfect Ashlar) as a symbol of the perfected self and the lodge as a divine temple, and to Masonic colors like blue and gold, which evoke divine truth and illumination. While not a primary number in Masonic ritual, 26’s esoteric ties to the divine name align with the lodge’s spiritual goals, paralleling the eastward orientation of churches seeking divine light.

The cube is a significant symbol in Masonic lodges due to its deep symbolic meanings, which connect to both philosophical and spiritual concepts central to Freemasonry. Here are the key reasons for its importance, based on its use as the "Perfect Ashlar" and other symbolic interpretations:

Symbol of Perfection and Completion: The cube, often referred to as the Perfect Ashlar in Freemasonry, represents a stone that has been shaped and polished to perfection, symbolizing the ideal state of a Mason’s moral and spiritual development. The Rough Ashlar, in contrast, represents the unrefined, natural state of a person before Masonic teachings. The transformation from Rough to Perfect Ashlar signifies the Mason’s journey toward self-improvement, virtue, and enlightenment through discipline and education.

Representation of Stability and Order: The cube’s geometric properties—equal sides and perfect symmetry—symbolize stability, balance, and order. In Masonic teachings, these qualities reflect the ideal character of a Mason, who strives to live a balanced, upright life. The cube’s ability to "fill space perfectly" mirrors the stability of the earth, as noted in Plato’s association of the cube with the element of earth in his Timaeus (c. 360 BCE).

Connection to Sacred Architecture: The cube is linked to sacred spaces in various traditions, such as the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple, which was a perfect cube, and the Kaaba in Islam, meaning "cube" in Arabic. In Freemasonry, the cube symbolizes the ideal temple—a spiritual edifice that Masons aim to build within themselves. The lodge itself, sometimes described as a double cube (with length twice its breadth and height), represents the universe or a perfected space for Masonic work.

Qabalistic and Esoteric Meanings: The cube is significant in Qabalistic thought, which influenced early Masonic rituals. It represents the physical world, with its six faces corresponding to the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West, Zenith, Nadir), symbolizing the totality of space and creation. The "Cube of Space" in Qabalah models the processes of creation, aligning with Freemasonry’s focus on building a moral and spiritual life.

Transformation into the Cross: In some Masonic interpretations, particularly in the York Rite, the cube is seen as transforming into a cross when unfolded, symbolizing a spiritual progression from the physical (cube) to the divine (cross). This reflects the Mason’s journey from earthly concerns to spiritual enlightenment, especially in Christian-oriented Masonic degrees.

Historical and Ritualistic Context: The cube appears in Masonic rituals and symbols, such as the Perfect Ashlar on the Junior and Senior Warden’s pedestals, representing the Mason’s progress. In some traditions, a pointed cubic stone (a cube with a pyramidal top) is used, symbolizing the "Opera Maestra" or masterpiece a Mason must achieve. The cube’s presence in lodge furnishings and rituals reinforces its role as a teaching tool for moral and intellectual development.

Connection to Churches Facing East: While the cube’s significance in Freemasonry is distinct, it shares symbolic parallels with the Christian tradition of churches facing east. Both draw on the idea of orientation toward divine light or truth—churches face east to symbolize Christ’s return, while the cube’s six faces, including the eastward direction, represent universal harmony and connection to the divine. Additionally, the cube’s association with Solomon’s Temple aligns with the eastward orientation of sacred spaces in both traditions, as the Temple’s Holy of Holies was a cubic space oriented toward spiritual significance.

The Great Bwana Bob needs to stop casting his hypocritical stones at everyone around him and look at his own mess he is entrenched in.

Historical Revisionism in Armstrongism

 

Historical Revisionism in Armstrongism 

One of the most significant criticisms leveled against Armstrongism is its reliance on historical revisionism, particularly through the doctrine of British-Israelism, which forms a cornerstone of Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings. British-Israelism posits that the Anglo-Saxon peoples of Britain and the United States are the direct descendants of the “lost ten tribes” of Israel, a claim Armstrong used to assert that these nations held a special role in biblical prophecy. This doctrine, while appealing to national pride and a sense of divine election, has been thoroughly debunked by historians, archaeologists, and biblical scholars, revealing it as a deceptive fabrication that misled followers and shaped the Worldwide Church of God’s (WCG) identity.

British-Israelism traces its roots to 19th-century pseudo-historical theories, notably those of John Wilson and Edward Hine, who speculated that the British were descended from the tribe of Ephraim and Americans from Manasseh. Armstrong adopted and popularized this idea, claiming it was divinely revealed to him during his study of the Bible. In his book The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Armstrong argued that biblical promises to Abraham’s descendants were fulfilled in the modern Anglo-Saxon nations, positioning them as God’s chosen people. This narrative was bolstered by selective historical claims, such as alleged connections between British royalty and the Davidic line, drawn from discredited sources like J.H. Allen’s Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright.

Critics, such as Roger R. Chambers in Plain Truth About Armstrongism, have demonstrated that British-Israelism lacks any credible historical or archaeological evidence. Modern scholarship confirms that the ten tribes of Israel, dispersed after the Assyrian conquest in 722 BCE, were likely assimilated into other cultures, with no traceable lineage to modern Western nations. Genetic studies further refute claims of a unique Israelite heritage among Anglo-Saxon peoples. Armstrong’s reliance on outdated and speculative works, such as those by Herman Hoeh, a WCG scholar who accessed rare books to craft elaborate but unverifiable histories, compounded the deception. Hoeh’s narratives, often presented as scholarly, were inaccessible to the average member, who lacked the resources or permission to question them. This created a closed system where fabricated histories were accepted as truth, exploiting the low-information environment of the mid-20th century.

The appeal of British-Israelism lay in its ability to give followers a sense of exclusivity and purpose, positioning them as God’s chosen remnant in a world facing apocalyptic judgment. This resonated particularly in the post-World War II era, when national pride and fears of global instability were high. However, the doctrine’s deceptive nature became apparent as information became more accessible. The internet, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, exposed the historical inaccuracies of British-Israelism, with websites like herbertwarmstrong.com providing detailed refutations. Former members, such as those contributing to Escaping Armstrongism, describe the disillusionment of discovering that the doctrine they had accepted as divine truth was based on fabrication.

Armstrong’s historical revisionism extended beyond British-Israelism to his broader narrative of church history. He claimed that the WCG was the sole inheritor of “true Christianity,” preserved through a hidden lineage of Sabbath-keeping groups, while mainstream Christianity had been corrupted by paganism. This narrative dismissed centuries of Christian scholarship and relied on selective proof-texting, ignoring the complexity of early church history. For example, Armstrong’s rejection of the Trinity and traditional holidays like Christmas as “pagan” oversimplified the syncretic development of Christian practices, presenting a black-and-white view that demonized other denominations. Critics argue that this approach not only distorted history but also fostered an “us vs. them” mentality, isolating members from broader Christian dialogue and reinforcing the WCG’s cult-like control.

The deceptive nature of Armstrong’s historical claims was exacerbated by the WCG’s strict control over information. Members were discouraged from reading outside sources or questioning leadership, under threat of disfellowshipping. This ensured that fabricated histories, such as those supporting British-Israelism, went unchallenged within the church. The reliance on pseudo-scholarship and the suppression of dissent created a system where deception thrived, as members were taught to trust Armstrong’s “divinely revealed” interpretations over verifiable evidence.

The historical revisionism of Armstrongism, particularly through British-Israelism and its narrative of church history, represents a core deception that misled followers by presenting fabricated claims as divine truth. The lack of empirical support, combined with the WCG’s authoritarian structure, prevented members from critically evaluating these teachings, perpetuating a cycle of misinformation that has since been exposed by modern scholarship and former members.

David D.

Aaron Dean: Do not forsake the wife of your youth in order to be organized with those who have been disobedient (UCG).

It's hard to believe Aaron Dean would be foolish enough to follow Samuel into the new Worldwide Church of God. But this is Armstrongism, where nothing is ever normal!

This was sent to Aaron Dean.

The following are quotes from Mr. Armstrong in an article he wrote in 1939.

“The true Christian must be willing at all times to be corrected and chastened — and must continually seek to GROW in knowledge as well as in grace!”-Herbert W Armstrong(Good News Magazine, February-April 1939)

“At Mt. Sinai, God set up AN ORGANIZATION. Make no mistake about that!

“In our quest to learn WHETHER God's people should join themselves together in an ORGANIZATION, having CHURCH GOVERNMENT, let us begin by recognizing that in the beginning, at Sinai, God Himself formed His people into an ORGANIZATION, having GOVERNMENT.”-Herbert W Armstrong(Good News Magazine February-April 1939)

“It is IMPOSSIBLE to have ORGANIZATION, or GOVERNMENT, without having a MAN as the actual and real head, even tho we SAY Christ in heaven is the Head, and continue to try to believe it that way.”- Herbert W Armstrong (Good News Magazine February-April 1939)

“When God first set up AN ORGANIZATION on earth, the people who formed this organization were MARRIED to the Lord. It was this MARRIAGE that bound Him and His people together.”- Herbert W Armstrong, (Good News Magazine February-April 1939)

“It was this marriage, then, that established ORGANIZATION and GOVERNMENT among God's people.”-Herbert W Armstrong (Good News Magazine February-April 1939)

“We want to repeat that. We want you to understand it — for it is of great importance — it is the KEY FACT upon which the real truth, so long hidden, really hinges. IT WAS THE MARRIAGE THAT FORMED GOD'S PEOPLE INTO AN ORGANIZATION HAVING CHURCH GOVERNMENT!

“That being so — and it IS so, and none can deny it — then it naturally follows that THE ORGANIZATION and the GOVERNMENT of God's people, at least as ordained and sanctioned by the Lord, EXISTED ONLY AS LONG AS THE MARRIAGE UNION WHICH ESTABLISHED IT!

“If the marriage was done away, the ORGANIZATION and the CHURCH GOVERNMENT was at the same time done away. For it was only this marriage relationship which established the organization — the kingdom — the government, both civil and ecclesiastical.

“When God first proposed the Old Covenant marriage, (Ex. 19:5- 6), He promised His people that IF — notice the IF — they would be obedient, as a wife should to her husband, they would become "a kingdom of PRIESTS, and an holy NATION." In other words, a GOVERNMENT of a religious character — a CHURCH GOVERNMENT!

“This is repeated in Leviticus 26. There the blessings to accrue for obedience are enumerated, together with the PUNISHMENT for DISOBEDIENCE. And what was that punishment to be?

“Notice it! — "they that hate you shall REIGN OVER YOU . . . SEVEN TIMES" — or 2520 years! (Verses 14-28).

“Look at it, in your own Bible. If Israel, the WIFE, married unto the Lord, proves disobedient, Israel is to LOSE her government. No longer to be AN ORGANIZATION! Enemy nations shall REIGN OVER — rule over — the Israelites. “Their own government no longer will rule them. No longer will they be an organization of their own.

“This God threatened to turn the GOVERNMENT — THE ORGANIZATION, if you please, over to the GENTILES for 2520 long years, TAKING ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT AWAY FROM HIS PEOPLE!”-Herbert W Armstrong (Good News Magazine February-April 1939)

Dear Mr. Dean,

“And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”(Malachi 2:13-16)

The marriage covenant we made at baptism, is the point in our lives where we told God “All that you say to do, we will do”!

We entered into a marriage covenant with Jesus Christ and we were added to the spiritual body of Christ.

This marriage covenant, organized the spiritual organism together into the Worldwide Church of God. The Church of God well organized.

In the Philadelphia era, it was through one man, like Moses, in which we have been organized!

Mr. Armstrong wrote in that same article quoted above, “But what of the separated individual believer, who tries to GET his salvation all by himself or by following some MAN or any of hundreds of professing Christian denominations of our day? He is CUT OFF from that TRUE teaching, which Christ reveals to and through His apostle!

What if one in the Church disagrees on some point of doctrine? Then he is out of harmony with God's Church. And GOD HAS ONLY THE ONE CHURCH.

And all in the Church are commanded to speak the same thing — and it must be what CHRIST, either in person or by written Word, has taught His apostle.

To the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote: "Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing". (1 Corinthians 1:10) Some of them wanted to follow Peter, some wanted to follow Apollos, some Paul. But PAUL was their apostle and Christ taught them by PAUL.

The separated individual believer will follow his own idea of God's truth. THAT IS NOT GOD'S WAY.

God in His almighty wisdom, has raised up the CHURCH, as HIS MEANS of teaching all the SAME TRUTH — all speaking the SAME THING! Not each individual his own thing!”(end quote)

When we recognize how we received the doctrines of Christ, we do give honor by acknowledging Mr Armstrong as the instrument and apostle whom Christ used to give us what we believe! Just as the children of Israel recognized that through Moses, God was leading them!

Christ taught us by Herbert W Armstrong! The only apostle in the Philadelphia era.

So when we were baptized, we entered into a marriage covenant with Jesus Christ and then were given ORGANIZATION, or God’s Government, which formed us into the Worldwide Church of God!

That is the wife of your youth, spoken about in Malachi 2.

Now when people tell me the Worldwide Church of God was destroyed, annihilated etc, I wonder if it isn’t a demon spirit behind them talking against the marriage covenant!

To the disobedient, they lost the Lordship and Government of God, and so the organization of the Worldwide Church of God was lost to them! They left the Church!

So we see the destruction of those in various high positions within the Church, as they lost the ORGANIZATION which is connected to the marriage covenant with Christ!

Some have left the Worldwide Church of God, with complaints, with criticism, and with the goal of rewriting the New Testament marriage covenant! They organize together under terms and conditions, they put together.

Now when compared to the ORGANIZATION of the Worldwide Church of God through the apostle, of which we have already been added to spiritually….there are some big differences, and even a small difference is wrong! Why is it wrong? Because when we made a covenant with Christ, we did not dictate to Christ the terms and conditions of that covenant!

These new organizations have attempted to humanly correct Jesus Christ, concerning problems they saw with the Worldwide Church of God! Thus they have presented their own covenant, and now expect God to accept them on their own terms!

They have ran to Babylon, to incorporate, to create their ORGANIZATION. That is fornication, as we are supposed to be waiting as a bride for Jesus Christ!

We have no right, to ORGANIZE like Korah did outside of Moses, or like Aaron and Miriam did when they say they too were Holy and that God spoke through them! That is following MEN.

Now of course Paul was a man. Mr Armstrong was a man. But they were the men whom God chose and used to organize all of us in the Body of Christ!

So these COG groups are like the individuals who have left the Church to try to gain the Kingdom and enter the Kingdom of God their own way, by their own terms and conditions.

When you enter into a covenant with them and their Jesus, you deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. The Worldwide Church of God!

You realize your ministerial authority, is with your covenant you made with Jesus Christ in the Worldwide Church of God?

How can you prepare the bride, if you are floundering with another woman? Because the organization of another church, is a daughter of Babylon, and certainly not of God! And enjoying her delicacies and charms and receiving a payroll from her, interferes with your job and function inside the ORGANIZATION of the Worldwide Church of God!

Isn’t that why we can hear how the Worldwide Church of God was “destroyed” or was “annihilated”.

Have you lost the ORGANIZATION or the Government which God put inside of the Worldwide Church of God?

Does this other ORGANIZATION give you more control over things? Like Pharisees under Rome?
What happens when Rome takes full authority? It happened to Israel and Babylon!
They tried it with the 1979 receivership!

I’m a member of the Worldwide Church of God because I have a marriage covenant with Jesus Christ, and He ORGANIZED me as my head into the Worldwide Church of God, through the apostle. And if I keep my eyes on Jesus Christ who brought me here, and acknowledge whom He used to reveal His truth to me, then I am not following after men nor my own ideas!

The creation of the 1993 regional structure, was an act of disobedience. The result was the loss of the Organization called the Worldwide Church of God.

Those inside are still inside, while those who lost it have lost it. They had to go to the governments of this world in order to organize themselves and create a new covenant that JESUS CHRIST WILL NOT ACCEPT! It is that serious!

That is something I do not want to strengthen people in. To help people commit fornication and forsake the marriage covenant? Aren’t you supposed to be preparing the Bride?!? Why sabotage the bride of Christ then, by leading them to another woman? That’s what you do when you attend these groups. That’s why I haven’t attended them!

Lift up the stumbling blocks! Prepare the way so the people may escape and be ready for marriage with Jesus Christ!!!

Responsibilities are hard. Our example can lead many astray.

But remember God is a merciful and loving God, quick to forgive. As long as we humble ourselves and repent wholly unto God!

You have already been duly appointed as an administrator of the Worldwide Church of God, its work, assets and its activities. That is your ministerial assignment. You already through your marriage covenant at baptism, are part of the ORGANIZATION of the Worldwide Church of God. 

Do not forsake the wife of your youth in order to be organized with those who have been disobedient.

It may have not appeared like the UCG was founded on disobedience at the time. Satan is clever, and everyone may have had good intentions but Satan does best what he does. 

We need to acknowledge where we have been wrong, that we are wrong, and repent and turn around fully into God!

That disobedience has separated the membership and ministry of the Worldwide Church of God, to make another covenant and organize themselves into a new group. This is not holding fast.

Your obedience has been noticed by God. Has it not? I don’t see why any of this would be brought to you otherwise. This is about the Bride of Christ! And getting ready! And preparing the bride!

Let us renew our vows to God! Stop sleeping around! Stop being indifferent and lukewarm! 

Let us not deal treacherously with the wife of our youth!

In Christ’s service, May God’s will be be done and may we be the thunder that follows,
Sam Kitchen