| HERESY | HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG |
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| HERESY | HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG |
| American Minister, Educator, Radio and Television Evangelist |
| World Wide Church of God |
| BIRTH - DEATH | b. 1892 Des Moines, Iowa d. January 1986 |
| EDUCATION | Not available. |
| MINISTRIES |
World Wide Church Of God, Pasadena, California. The Radio Church Of God. The Plain Truth magazine. Ambassador College, Pasadena, California. The World Tomorrow, television ministry. |
| MAJOR WORKS |
Mystery Of The Ages The Incredible Human Potential The United States And Britain In Prophecy The Wonderful World Tomorrow Numerous booklets, articles, radio and television scripts |
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NOTE This article will reference the Worldwide Church Of God, which was originally founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. Since his death, the Worldwide Church Of God has been reorganized and has discarded many of the doctrines taught by Herbert W. Armstrong. The Worldwide Church Of God has attempted to identify itself more closely with traditional Christian doctrine. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND "Herbert W. Armstrong was born in 1892 in Des Moines, Iowa, into a Quaker family. In 1917, Armstrong was married to Loma Dillon. In 1927 Loma Armstrong became acquainted with the teachings of the Church of God-7th Day while they were living in Oregon. This was Armstrong's introduction to the Sabbatarian movement. The Church of God-7th Day split in 1933 and Armstrong was ordained a minister in the Church of God-7th Day which set up headquarters in Salem, West Virginia. BELIEFS The Trinity God is more than a single person. He is not limited to a Triune God, but is a family and consist of many. The belief is that the Godhead is not a closed system in which all others are prevented from taking part. The purpose of man is for God to reproduce Himself in human beings so that they can eventually become gods themselves. God "The Word, then, is a Personage who was made flesh - begotten by God, who through this later begettal became his Father. So here we find revealed originally two Personages. One is God. But these two Personages were spirit, which is invisible to human eyes unless supernaturally manifested. Yet at the time described in verse one Jesus was not the Son of God and God was not his Father." Copyright © Herbert W. Armstrong Jesus Christ "Jesus was born to rule and reign as king over all nations of the earth. Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus qualified to become this world's ruler by conquering Satan the evil one." "His human birth was the arrival of the `second Adam.' He had come to qualify, where the first Adam failed. And he came to be resurrected from the dead by God, making possible ETERNAL GOD-LIFE for the people of God." Copyright © Herbert W. Armstrong The Holy Spirit "The truth is - and it would shock millions to know - that the Holy Spirit is not a person. Rather, it is the agency by which God the Father works. The Holy Spirit is an agency, a force, a power that is used by the Highest - God the Father - to achieve his purpose. The Holy Spirit, we repeat, is not a person." Copyright © Herbert W. Armstrong Man "God wants everyone of us to eventually become like Him." "Why should it seem strange that you will someday be the spirit-composed child of your heavenly Father? You will be what He is - God." "God's PURPOSE in having created humanity - in having caused YOU to be born - is to reproduce Himself." Copyright © Herbert W. Armstrong Salvation "God will ultimately save most of mankind after Christ's return - not now." "Every human who ever lived will have an opportunity to receive salvation For most people that time will come after they have lived their entire lives, died and are brought back to life in a future resurrection." Copyright © Herbert W. Armstrong The Bible "The revelation of these mysteries was lost, even to the Church of God, although the revelation of them has been preserved in the writings of the Bible. Why, then, has the world not clearly understood? Because the Bible was a coded book, not intended to be understood until our day in this later half of the twentieth century." Copyright © Herbert W. Armstrong MAJOR ISSUES THE GODHEAD Herbert W. Armstrong's dismantling of the Godhead, in direct opposition to the teaching found in the Bible, indicates the magnitude of his arrogance. He believed that he was above the God taught in the Bible and could create religious doctrine by personal fiat. His definition of God as a "family" would be rejected by any reputable Bible scholar whether they be liberal or conservative. Herbert W. Armstrong claimed that he, and only he, out of everyone else, had the correct view. In rejecting Trinitarian doctrine, Herbert W. Armstrong substituted "family" doctrine, which was nothing more than polytheism. Herbert W. Armstrong believed in many gods, even to the point that man was created to be a reproduction of God. It is apparent that Herbert W. Armstrong believed that the Godhead was open ended, therefore, he aspired to take a place in whatever vacancy might occur. He couldn't aspire to be one of the Trinity, but he could aspire to be one of the "family". His doctrine was strikingly similar to the Mormon belief in their eternal progression to godhood; of their quest to become actual gods themselves. There is nothing new in Herbert W. Armstrong's approach. It is the same that is used by all heretical teachers and false prophets. They all start with an altered and false belief and teaching in regards to Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit. It is necessary for them to be able to mold God into their own image, so that they might believe they can escape the judgment of the real God of the universe in relation to their own sinful, self-absorbed lives. Herbert W. Armstrong rejected the Biblical teaching regarding God, because he did not wish to admit to the reality of the authority that God held over his life. He rejected the Biblical teaching regarding Jesus Christ because he did not wish to admit to his inability to be like Jesus Christ and confess the sin of rebellion against God that he revealed in all of his teachings. His claim that Jesus Christ had to qualify or requalify to be the world's ruler is blasphemy. Jesus Christ was worthy because of his place as God the Creator. He needed no other credentials. He rejected the Biblical teaching regarding the Holy Spirit because he did not wish to be affected by the conviction of sin in his life that the Holy Spirit caused. MAN Herbert W. Armstrong rejected the Biblical teaching regarding the origin and purpose of man in order to deify himself in the face of the true God, just as does the Mormon church. If man can be a god, then what authority could God have over him? SIN & SALVATION Herbert W. Armstrong rejected the Biblical teaching regarding sin and salvation, because he did not wish to admit to the awful reality of what it is, and instead, attempted to minimize it by reducing the consequences. If man did not receive salvation in this life, then Herbert W. Armstrong taught that man would have a second chance after the resurrection. If man rejected the second offer of salvation, then he would be cast into the lake of fire, not as a judgment of eternal punishment, but to be annihilated and sent into oblivion. There are many who would gladly accept that punishment for the sin they wish to commit in this life. But the Bible says that the lake of fire is everlasting punishment. Once a person is annihilated, there is no more punishment, so Herbert W. Armstrong claimed the Bible stated a lie, but that he had the truth. The Bible will not allow for Herbert W. Armstrong's aberrant teachings. There is no second chance for salvation as some would hope to believe: And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain- for He says "At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the "acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation" ... And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.THE BIBLE Herbert W. Armstrong's claim that the Bible was a secret code that could not be understood until the last half of the 20th century is ludicrous at its very best. By what criteria is that statement made? The statement was made because he could say it, had the resources to print it and had a following of people who did not question its validity. The Bible says just the opposite to the claim by Herbert W. Armstrong, thus he claims that the Bible lies. There is no restriction to the latter half of the 20th century in the understanding of Scripture: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."Herbert W. Armstrong's heretical teachings reveal him to be a false teacher and a false prophet. He has condemned himself, and will stand before the very Jesus Christ whose gospel and work he changed and denied: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. PROPHECIES A prophecy about Mussolini: "Undoubtedly, then, the "Beast" who will capture half the city of Jerusalem, fighting at Armageddon against Christ at his Second Coming, is MUSSOLINI, with ten European Dictators, and their armies! It is coming in This Generation!" Herbert W. Armstrong, The Plain Truth, January 1939, p. 4 A prophecy about Hitler: "And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against - against whom? Not Britain and America! Not Israel - against Him that sat on the horse and His army (Rev. 19:19.) It is Christ and the Angels that Hitler will fight." Herbert W. Armstrong, The Plain Truth, March/April 1943, p. 6 A prophecy about the second coming of Christ and the destruction of the United States: "Jeremiah's prophecy is more specific. It is the beginning of the national trouble to come on America, the British nations, and the democracies of north-western Europe! And, as both Jeremiah and Jesus were inspired to record - and also the prophet Daniel - it will be the most catastrophic time of national trouble that has ever struck any nation or ever will! Here is exactly how catastrophic it will be: one third of our entire population will die in the famine and disease epidemic!" Herbert W. Armstrong, 1975 In Prophecy, p. 11 "But all these things, as Jesus explained, are to be only the beginning of our time of national trouble. "Once we are weakened by starvation, disease and the resulting calamitous economic depression, the Ten-Nation European Colossus will suddenly strike with hydrogen bombs that shall destroy our cities and our centers of industrial and military production!" Herbert W. Armstrong, 1975 In Prophecy, p. 13 Not content to admit that he had made a false prophecy regarding Mussolini, Herbert W. Armstrong changed his position and proclaimed that Hitler would literally fight against Christ. The saddest aspect of these prophecies is that, when NONE of them came true, his followers did not demand his resignation and refuse to support him any longer. The ability to discern truth from error by the followers of Herbert W. Armstrong was non-existent. No one could claim to have been deceived by him, because his false prophecies were so obvious that no one could overlook the consequences, unless they did so by direct choice. But his ministry would continue, growing by leaps and bounds until his death, 47 years after his Mussolini prophecy. The false prophecies regarding Great Britain and the United States were the result of trying to force the prophecies in the Bible, directed to Israel, to apply to people who were not Israel. Great Britain and the United States were not and are not Israel. Herbert W. Armstrong taught the doctrine of British-Israelism which is an unmitigated lie. He prophesied falsely, making himself a false prophet and condemned himself to the judgment of God. Those who believed and followed his doctrines condemned themselves to the same judgment, as do those who believe and follow his doctrines today. No person will ever be able to stand before Jesus Christ in judgment and claim as a defense for their actions that they were deceived by another. This is the excuse that was used by Eve in the Garden of Eden: Then the lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."Here excuse was rejected by God and her judgment pronounced. The same will be done to those who believed in Herbert W. Armstrong and those who continue to hold on to his doctrines. Jesus Christ came and spoke the truth that is recorded in the Scripture and what He said is rejected in the doctrines of Herbert W. Armstrong: "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their Sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also." MAJOR DISCLOSURES Herbert W. Armstrong: BOOZE "Yet conspicuous consumption of alcohol was a definite feature of the WCG's Feast of Tabernacles celebration. Those who preferred not to imbibe were regarded as "weak in faith". The sad reality was, however, that many of the WCG's leading ministers had alcohol problems. Herbert W. Armstrong was no exception." Herbert W. Armstrong Trading on his wife's illness to beg for money. The Prophecy Game "Is God speaking through Worldwide Church of God (WCG) ministers and its founder Herbert Armstrong? Do they understand Bible prophecy and what will occur in the future? The fairest way to find the answers to these questions is to examine some of their most significant predictions over the last 40 years. First, let's look at some of Herbert's earliest predictions." No false prophet can be successful unless he has a following, and followers are culpable when they make no attempt to verify the truthfulness of their leader against the truth of the Scripture and, as a consequence, they deceive themselves. by Gary A. Hand On Doctrine |
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