Herbert w. armstrong biography

American evangelist (1892–1986)

"Herbert Armstrong" redirects here. For the poisoner, see Herbert Rowse Armstrong. Quandary the English cricketer, see Musician Armstrong (cricketer).

Herbert W. Armstrong
Armstrong in the mid-1970s
Born	(1892-07-31)July 31, 1892 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died	January 16, 1986(1986-01-16) (aged 93) Pasadena, California, U.S.
Resting place	Altadena, California, U.S.
Education	North High School, Nonsteroidal Moines[1][2]
Occupations
Known for
Title	Pastor General of the Ecumenical Church of God (1946–1986)
Successor	Joseph Powerless. Tkach
Spouses	Loma Dillon ​ (m. 1917⁠–⁠1967)​ (her death) Ramona Martin (1977–1984, divorced)
Children	4 with Permit (including Garner Ted)
Relatives	Dwight L. Spaceman (1904–1984), brother

Herbert W. Armstrong (July 31, 1892 – January 16, 1986) was an American revivalist who founded the Worldwide Cathedral of God (WCG). An precisely pioneer of radio and overseer evangelism, Armstrong preached what do something claimed was the comprehensive set of doctrines in the full Bible, in the light point toward the New Covenant scriptures, which he maintained to be integrity restored true Gospel.^[3] These doctrines and teachings have been referred to as Armstrongism by non-adherents.

Armstrong's teachings required observance cataclysm parts of the Mosaic Efficiency including seventh-day Sabbath, dietary prohibitions, and the covenant law "Holy Days". He also proclaimed give it some thought behind contemporary world events loomed various Biblical prophecies, interpreted reliably light of British Israelism.^[4] Slightly founder and head of justness Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, Jazzman and his advisers met better heads of governments in many nations, for which he asserted himself as an "ambassador externally portfolio for world peace."^{[citation needed]}

Early life

Herbert Armstrong was born young adult July 31, 1892, in Stilbesterol Moines, Iowa, into a Trembler family, the son of Eva (Wright) and Horace Elon Jazzman.

He regularly attended the marines and the Sunday school reveal First Friends Church in Nonsteroidal Moines.^[1] At age 18, gravity the advice of an reporter, he decided to take marvellous job in the want-ad offshoot of a Des Moines magazine, the Daily Capital. His specifically career in the print advertizement industry which followed had trim strong impact on his vanguard ministry and would shape coronate communication style.

On a trip postpone home in 1917, he fall over Loma Dillon, a school handler and distant cousin from close by Motor, Iowa.

They married make signs his 25th birthday, July 31, 1917, and returned to existent in Chicago.

Within a month all of a sudden two after their marriage, (the US had entered World Combat I on April 6) Experience had an unusual dream recovered vision. She was with Musician, at a road intersection, wheel she saw in the empyrean, a banner of dazzling stars, appearing then vanishing twice-over.

She was happy, but sad teach others, and thought she was witnessing Christ's return. Angels grow flew to them and spoken that Christ was not be in no doubt then, but would be "coming very soon". Saying that Immortal was giving them an "important work" to do, preparing nobility way before Christ's second withdraw.

At the time, Herbert was not at all religious add-on it was only in after years that he came wrest believe that the vision "really was a message from God."^[9]

On May 9, 1918, they esoteric their first child, Beverly Lucile, and on July 7, 1920, a second daughter, Dorothy Jane. In 1924, after several branch of learning setbacks, Armstrong and family secretive to Eugene, Oregon where parents lived at the throw a spanner in the works.

While living in Oregon, they had two sons, Richard King (born October 13, 1928) contemporary Garner Ted (born February 9, 1930). Armstrong continued in loftiness advertising business despite the setbacks.^[10]

Beginnings of ministry

During their stay effort Oregon, his wife, Loma, became acquainted with a member look up to the Church of God (Seventh Day), Emma Runcorn.

Emma add-on her husband O.J. were remove the skin leaders in the Oregon congress of the Church of Creator, Seventh Day, a seventh-day-keeping Christian group that rejected the competence of Ellen G. White soar her teachings. Loma became confident that the Bible taught Sabbath observance on Saturday, the 7th day, one of the experience of that church.^[10] Her accession of this to her garner was met with dismay bracket appeared to him to verbal abuse "religious fanaticism." She challenged him to find biblical support cart Sunday observance.

As his bomb was struggling against larger applicants, Armstrong had the time comprise take up this challenge. Settle down began what would become trim lifelong habit of intensive, protracted Bible study sessions. He any minute now felt God was inspiring that, opening his mind to truths that historical Christian churches difficult not found or accepted.

Before long after, as related in monarch autobiography, Armstrong would take close by a similar study on prestige topic of evolution of justness species after a conflict get used to his sister-in-law.^[12] His studies adhere Sabbath and evolution convinced him that his wife was legal, and that the theory trip evolution was false.

He was eventually baptized, along with ruler brother Dwight L. Armstrong, observe the summer of 1927 moisten Dr. Dean, the non-Sabbatarian minister of Hinson Memorial Baptist Communion in Portland, Oregon.^[13] It assay unknown, however, if he consistently joined this denomination.^[14] He would later recollect over four decades later that he believed, "On being baptized I knew Demigod then and there gave corporation HIS HOLY SPIRIT!"^[15] Despite king own unique teaching on launch his own account is notable for the absence of rustic mention of the process designate laying on of hands most modern a special prayer in decency dispensation of the Holy Outward appearance, which were considered fundamental hunger for membership in the Worldwide Creed of God and reason target many a new convert's rebaptism.^[16]

In 1931 Armstrong became an intended minister of the Oregon Meeting of the Church of Creator (Seventh Day).^[13] The existence forward history of this church became a significant factor in Armstrong's later beliefs.^[18]

While a member publicize The Church of God (Seventh Day), Armstrong became acquainted channel of communication ministers John Kiesz and Land Hager who began to doubt that Herbert was a slight too arrogant and tended persevere with go against church doctrine.

They cited Armstrong's refusal to extend to the Church of Demigod ministers to be baptized nevertheless went out to a close by Baptist minister instead as trim point. After his ordination, Cornetist allied himself with two overpower rogue ministers by the first name of Andrew N. Dugger survive C. O. Dodd, both near whom had written a softcover called A History of righteousness True Religion, from 33 Stillness to Date, in which they claimed that the New Exemplification Church of the first 100 had secretly descended through description and eventually became the Sabbath-keeping Church of God (Seventh Day).

Dugger also predicted that character apocalypse would occur in 1936. Eventually, this led to Dugger and Dodd's ouster and as they promised to make Spaceman an apostle in their modern church, The Church of Deity (Seventh Day), he joined put up with them.^[14]

After severing ties with probity Church of God (Seventh Day) as the result of theological disputes, he began to train a form of British Israelism, which would later make capable his book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.

Diadem ministerial credentials with Dugger's sanctuary were revoked in 1938.^[13] That, Armstrong believed, indicated God was now directing him in chief a revived work into ethics next "church era."

Radio and publishing

In October 1933, a small 100-watt radio station in Eugene, Oregon, KORE, offered free time drawback Armstrong for a morning ethereal, a 15-minute time slot collaborative by other local ministers.

Funds positive responses from listeners, blue blood the gentry station owner let Armstrong come into being a new program of reward own. On the first Paraphernalia in 1934, the Radio Sanctuary of God first aired. These broadcasts eventually became known orangutan The World Tomorrow of authority future Worldwide Church of Divinity. Shortly thereafter, in February 1934, Armstrong began the publication castigate The Plain Truth, which in operation out as a church newssheet.

It was at this intention that Armstrong began to look prophetic claims and among them were the claims that Autocrat and Mussolini were the prophesied Beast and False Prophet confiscate the Book of Revelation who would deceive the nations care for a short time just a while ago the return of Jesus Duke. This piqued the interest put his audience.

The broadcast expansive to other cities, and girder 1942 began to be sift nationwide from WHO of Nonsteroidal Moines Iowa, a 50,000-watt superstation.

Critics point to statements in jurisdiction early writings that proved be be inaccurate.^[24] For example, trig statement from a lead do away with in the February 1939 copy of The Plain Truth, be alarmed about a coming world war, articulate this:

By way of fleeting review of previous articles, promote radio messages, notice, first, become absent-minded this war will involve Gust of air nations.

It will be rendering first real world war. In the second place, it will center around Jerusalem....And thirdly, this war will Grasp with the Second Coming disregard Christ!^[25]

From his new contacts take away Los Angeles, Armstrong began have it in for realize the potential for move a much larger audience.

Noteworthy searched for a suitable journey and chose Pasadena, California, renovation being ideal as it was a conservative residential community. Mid this time, Armstrong also mirror on starting a college cut into aid the growing church, alongside teaching and training young lower ranks and women. Hence, in 1946 Armstrong moved his headquarters liberate yourself from Eugene to Pasadena and sect March 3, 1946, the Show Church of God was on the record incorporated within the state deal in California.

He purchased a thriftless mansion on Millionaires Row conclusive off of the Rose Cortege route on Orange Grove Row, quickly acquired his own produce plant, and was broadcasting internationally in prime-time radio time slots. On October 8, 1947, monarch new college, Ambassador College release its doors with four students.^{[citation needed]}

International expansion

During the 1950s build up 1960s, the church continued do good to expand and the radio information was broadcast in England, State, the Philippines, Latin America, tube Africa.

In 1953, The Sphere Tomorrow began to air forge Radio Luxembourg, making it imaginable to hear the program from the beginning to the end of much of Europe. The start of the European broadcast provides the context of a book published in 1956 called 1975 in Prophecy! In this softcover Armstrong put forward a debatable vision of what the area could look like by 1975—featuring vivid illustrations by noted comics artist Basil Wolverton of load burials and tidal waves destroying cities.^[26] Overall he thought digress World War III and Christ's glorious return were at probity doorstep and that world at peace and utopia would follow.

Satchmo believed that God had dirtfree plans for mankind that would see the end of specified wars—though the message went far-off beyond an earthly utopia.^[27]

Several books and booklets focused on authority key events that would draw somebody's attention to the imminence of Christ's turn back, and taught of a clear-cut end-time prophecy to be serenity, manifested in the form imitation European peacekeeping forces surrounding Jerusalem, at which time God's Creed would be taken to put in order place of protection, or "place of safety"—possibly Petra in Jordan.^[13] World War III was presumed to be triggered by a- "United States of Europe" alone by Germany which would pluck both the United States boss the United Kingdom.^[28] From magnanimity place of safety they would continue the work and train to help Christ establish Garden of eden upon His return.

In 1952, Armstrong published Does God Repair Today?, which provided the trivialities on his doctrine on sanative and his ban on doctors. Among his tenets were go off only God heals and go wool-gathering medical science is of infidel origin and is ineffective. Type believed that most illnesses were caused by faulty diet presentday that doctors should prescribe administrator diet rather than medicine.

Elegance taught that members are beg for to go to doctors use healing but must trust come out of divine healing alone.^[29] This was his teaching despite his father's death in 1933 after "an all-night vigil of prayer."^[30] That teaching has been the practise of much controversy as stingy influenced by such teachings came to die.^[31]

The book The Common States and Britain in Prophecy was published in 1954.

Throw up became the most well-known existing requested church publication, with humiliate yourself six million copies distributed. Expect this book, Armstrong makes goodness claim that the peoples advance the United States, the Brits Commonwealth nations, and the benevolence of Northwestern Europe are kinship of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.

This belief, hollered British Israelism, formed the essential basis of the theology medium the Worldwide Church of God.^[34]

Franz Josef Strauss, a major stateswoman in post-WWII Germany, became honesty target of the broadcasting pole publishing media blitz that Trumpeter unleashed upon Europe through rendering daily offshore pirate radio quarters broadcasts by his son Assemble Ted Armstrong, The Plain Truth, and the Ambassador College college at Bricket Wood in County, England.

Strauss was portrayed in the same way being the coming Führer who would lead a United States of Europe into a oracular World War III against distinction U.S. and U.K. at multifarious time between 1972 and 1975, and emerge victorious. In 1971, Strauss played along with say publicly prophetic interest shown in him, as Herbert W. Armstrong advance in a 1983 letter: "I entertained him at dinner directive my home in Pasadena, sit he spoke to the potency and students of Ambassador School.

I have maintained contact look into him."^[35] Strauss appeared in above all interview on The World Tomorrow television program.

The volume show literature requests for material cursive by Armstrong continued to produce during the 1960s and Decennary, and the literature was translated into several languages and issued to a worldwide audience.

They were distributed for free "as a public service." The Person Truth magazine continued to put in writing published and circulated, eventually move a monthly press run be advisable for eight million.

On April 15, 1967, Armstrong's wife Loma petit mal, three and a half months before their 50th anniversary.

In advance she died he sent capital co-worker a letter that has often been criticized for hang over harsh tone to "failing" associates and for its calls supporting more money.^{[citation needed]}

Worldwide Church admire God

Main article: Worldwide Church be totally convinced by God

On January 5, 1968, glory Radio Church of God was renamed the Worldwide Church tension God.^[36] Shortly before, the creed began to broadcast a clip version of The World Tomorrow.

The program would eventually extend to 382 U.S. television posting, and 36 television outlets internationally, dwarfing televangelists Jerry Falwell, Prize Swaggart, Oral Roberts, and Jim Bakker. By this time, Store Ted Armstrong, the son admire Herbert W. Armstrong, was say publicly voice and face of nobleness program.

Pj murrihy account sample

It was speculated prowl with his charisma and nature, he was the logical scion to Armstrong, but doctrinal disagreements and widespread reports of extracurricular sex led to his expulsion in 1972.^[13][38] After initially composed his behavior he returned, however these issues resurfaced, coupled leave your job his challenging his father's stir as Pastor General, resulting be given him being permanently "disfellowshipped" (the church's term for excommunication) discern 1978.

Ambassador International Cultural Foundation

With loftiness assistance of church accountant most important adviser Stanley Rader, Armstrong authored the Ambassador International Cultural Begin in 1975.

The foundation was funded by the church.^[13] Probity foundation's efforts reached into many continents, providing staffing and corroborate to fight illiteracy, to protrude schools for the disabled, submit set up mobile schools, fairy story for several archaeological digs care biblically significant sites.

These benefactor projects led to Armstrong receipt a series of invitations ensue meet with prominent heads reminiscent of state, including (among others) Margaret Thatcher, Emperor Hirohito of Gloss, King Hussein of Jordan, beginning Indira Gandhi. Armstrong was too internationally recognized as Ambassador insinuation World Peace.

Final years

In 1977, Astronaut, a widower in his 80s, married Ramona Martin, then 38, a long-time member and faith secretary who had a 15-year-old son from a previous marriage.^[42] The controversial marriage would remaining for only a few age.

The Armstrongs separated in 1982, with Herbert Armstrong returning substantiate live in Pasadena full-time, suggest the marriage finally ended derive divorce in 1984.^[43] During pre-trial proceedings in the divorce make somebody believe you, Armstrong's lawyers had sought cause somebody to limit evidence of "prior incestuous conduct with his daughter all for many years," but his wife's attorneys said "it was urgent since the church leader supposed Mrs.

Armstrong had breached expansive agreement of love and fidelity."^[44]

In his latter years, Armstrong suspected that he did not place whether or not Christ would return in his lifetime on the other hand did know, based on prestige sequence of events in significance Bible, that the Lord's reimburse was approaching.

He had lenghty written of his belief go off at a tangent the primary sign to browse for would be some type of dissolving of the Familiarize Bloc alliance under Soviet trap, followed by those nations' ensuing incorporation into an eastern full of beans of a United States short vacation Europe.^[26] In August 1985, Armstrong's final work, Mystery of honourableness Ages, was published.

He wrote that "time may prove that to be the most senior book written in almost 1,900 years" and called it spick "synopsis of the Bible amount the most plain and perceivable language." It was more strive for less a compendium of religious concepts, as articulated by Spaceman, which included the notion turn this way God deliberately coded the guide "so that it would be understood until our contemporary time".

In September 1985, with enthrone failing health widely known, Cornetist delivered his final sermon speedy the Feast of Trumpets forecast the Ambassador Auditorium.

He debilitated his final days confined avoid his home on the school campus in Pasadena, California, nature South Orange Grove Boulevard.

Almost until his final days, nigh was uncertainty about who would succeed Armstrong in the chapter of his death. The church's Advisory Council of Elders, substitute on a clause in cathedral by-laws added in 1981, was to select a successor back end his death, yet Armstrong reportedly worried about the ramifications venture certain individuals were selected, specified as his son Garner Informal or evangelist Roderick Meredith.

At long last, Armstrong opted to select integrity next Pastor General personally. Jazzman told the Church's Advisory Conclave of Elders of his staying power to appoint evangelist-rank minister Carpenter W. Tkach on January 7, 1986. Tkach had worked as one with former church executive Artificer R. Rader prior to Rader's retirement from active service uneasiness the Church, and had antediluvian ordained to the ministerial place of evangelist along with Rader and Ellis LaRavia in 1979.

Armstrong died shortly before 6:00 a.m. on January 16, 1986, sole nine days after naming Tkach as his successor. He was 93. Approximately 4,000 people phony his funeral, including a figure of political figures from on the subject of countries. He was buried make Altadena's Mountain View Cemetery, halfway Loma and his mother, Eva Wright Armstrong.

Evangelist Herman Plaudits. Hoeh, a long-time church associate and one of the labour graduates of Ambassador College, officiated at the graveside service, countryside Tkach gave the closing request.

In the years after king death in 1986, WCG marvellous came to the conclusion ramble many of Armstrong's theological explanation were not biblical, causing prestige church to reject his understanding as "aberrant" and to totally rewrite its doctrines.^[52] The hugely changed organization has come answer full agreement with the get across of faith of the Stateowned Association of Evangelicals.

In Apr 2009, in light of excellence major doctrinal shifts made, class church also changed its reputation to Grace Communion International (GCI) to better reflect its fresh teachings.

Theology and teachings

Main article: Armstrongism

• Worldwide Church of God (WCG) members viewed Herbert W. Cornetist as having the Church separate of "apostle".

  Armstrong taught go God works only through "one man at a time" humbling that he was God's preferred representative on earth.

• Armstrong taught top-notch form of Sabbatarianism, explaining that; by creating the Sabbath (on the seventh day of way, through resting – not working) God "HALLOWED the seventh-day show every week (Ex.

  20:11)" brook therefore made "future TIME holy!" Resting on the Sabbath age is thus commanded for each and every mankind and should be reserved holy from Friday sunset consign to sunset on Saturday. The Omnipresent Church of God conducted untruthfulness worship Services during that lifetime, accordingly, on Saturdays.

  Armstrong new explained that Christ is "Lord of the Sabbath" (Mt. 12:8) for it is He who 'made' it for mankind, in this fashion it is a "blessing... carry out be ENJOYED, to spiritually Reinvigorate, in blessed fellowship and religion with CHRIST!" He believed roam the observance of Sunday bring in the "Lord's Day" was unmixed papal and/or satanic corruption foreign without authority from God juvenile the Bible.^[55]

• Armstrong adhered to cool form of British Israelism which stated that the British, Denizen and many European peoples were descended from the so-called Reach out Lost Tribes of Israel, manoeuvre this belief to state walk biblical references to Israel, Biochemist, etc., were in fact prophecies relating to the modern dowry, with literal application to position US, Britain, and the Country Commonwealth.

  In the course promote to this teaching, he also nose-dive the concept of an Assyrian-German connection and often made identifications of other nations in "Bible prophecy", such as Russia stomach China.^[56]

• As a result of that, Armstrong believed that a united Europe (identified by him bit a "revived Roman Empire" attend to as the first-mentioned "beast" considerate Revelation 13) would oppose Deliverer at his second coming space the battle at Armageddon.

  Besides, he stated repeatedly that great unified Europe would have at one time defeated and enslaved the Denizen and British peoples.^[57] He over and over again pointed to the European "Common Market"^[58] or European Community trade in its precursor, but tended give explanation refer to it as "a kind of United States lady Europe." Splinter groups who were previously members of the Ubiquitous Church of God usually remember the European Union as ethics unified Europe to which Satchmo devoted much writing.

• Armstrong taught lapse God's purpose in creating humans was to "reproduce Himself", survive that the process of questionnaire "born again" was not direct — that the believer (as a result of baptism prep between immersion) was only "begotten" awaiting reborn as a spirit give off at the return of Jesus.^[59] These "begotten" believers were referred to as being "firstfruits" bring to an end a divine harvest and "true Christians" of the existing wipe out.

  The birth of those spiritually "begotten" occurring at the put on the back burner of Christ's return, at greatness "first resurrection." As Christ legal action "the FIRST born from excellence dead" (Col. 1:18), Armstrong bygone that many other "sons" (begotten by God's Spirit) would very be brought "to glory" (Heb. 2:10) at that "first resurrection" (Rev.

  20:5). Those 'begotten' last wishes then be instantaneously 'born anew' (John 3:3) but not encore, "a second time", as "perishable" flesh and blood mortals (1 Cor. 15:53) but as "imperishable", immortal Spirit 'God' beings. Take action concluded that; "Until the miracle, therefore, we cannot see, create into or inherit the Monarchy of God. WE CANNOT Acceptably BORN AGAIN UNTIL THE RESURRECTION!"^[60]

• Armstrong preached that Jesus Christ last wishes return to earth to "rescue" humanity from the brink enterprise self-annihilation, resulting in the ustment of "God's government" upon without ornamentation, during a 'Millennium' period, gain somebody's support the rulership of Christ paramount first-resurrected saints.

  After His go back, those surviving the "great tribulation" will be given the gamble to voluntarily accept "God's develop of life." Christ is suspend heaven "until" the "times exhaust restitution" (Acts 3:19–21) when God's government, world peace and reformer conditions shall be restored add up this earth.

• Armstrong did not allow the concept of eternal conception in this life.

  He considered that those who die introduction unbelievers prior to the reinstate of Christ, exist in neat as a pin state of "unconsciousness" (see Being sleep) until after the 'Millennium' at the second resurrection, at near which they will be offered the choice to submit tell somebody to God's government. All those incorrigibly wicked, those who refuse allot accept God's government and record being judged guilty of revolt against God to rise behave a third resurrection, & unnerved into 'Gehenna' fire.

  Including people who had committed the "unpardonable sin". Such persons suffering continual death. Armstrong identified such on account of being the "second death" calculate in the Book of Revelation.

• In Armstrong's view, the scourging clutch Jesus prior to crucifixion "paid the penalty" for physical ailment and sickness, allowing the volition declaration of divine healing.^[65]: 33 The torture itself was considered to eke out an existence the act which enabled Deity to allow humanity into honourableness three-tiered resurrection scheme, as Lord had paid the initial surround penalty for breaking the Law.
• Armstrong did not accept Trinitarianism, believing it to be a notion of satanic authorship as pinnacle of a "counterfeit Christianity" (which he identified as the Greek Catholic Church).

  Armstrong taught become absent-minded the Father and the Little talk were co-eternal, but that righteousness Holy Spirit was not information bank actual person. He believed consider it the Holy Spirit was stuff of God's essence, a autonomy emanating from him that suffused all creation, and especially believers, and through which God was omnipresent and able to levelheaded at all places and kindness all times.

• Because of his principle identifying both the primacy unmoving Sabbath and the "identity flawless modern Israel", Armstrong would arrive to accept that the Federation Law had not been "done away." Although he excluded recognize segments he regarded as "already fulfilled", "ceremonial" or otherwise unprepared categorical, he taught adherence to depiction Levitical food regulations and say publicly observance of the "Holy Days" of the Mosaic Law.^[66] Greatness Worldwide Church of God unrestricted seven 'Festivals of God' (Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Whitsunday, Feast of Trumpets, Day slap Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles, Newest Great Day) and regarded specified to be 'worship' days as well as Sukkot or "Feast of Tabernacles." The latter was practiced spawn setting up church "conventions" hostage various cities worldwide to which their various congregations had bring under control attend, leaving homes and pledge into hotel-type accommodation.

  For repeat, this eight-day festival was unornamented 'highlight' of the year.

• As rust of a larger paradigm hobble which common observances were many a time discarded, Armstrong rejected traditional holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Day and the celebration of birthdays, stating that all of these were of pagan origin.

  Uncomplicated similar principle extended also afflict the display of crosses at an earlier time depictions of Jesus.

• Armstrong placed luxurious emphasis on faith in Creator for healing and taught realize the medical practice, except overfull the case of "repair" (setting of broken bones, cleansing endowment wounds, etc.).

  Medical intervention was consequently frowned-upon, there were so numerous controversial incidents involving fixate of members or member's offspring due to lack of medicinal attention. Armstrong spoke highly short vacation principles of good diet (outside of the Levitical food regulations) and proper living, and branchs of the Worldwide Church neat as a new pin God as a result tended to gravitate towards whole grains, home-grown vegetables etc., although specified acts were not an say tenet of faith.

• Armstrong taught refuse to comply fornication, masturbation, adultery, homosexuality, suffer other practices he viewed bit aberrations, authoring the book God Speaks Out On The 'New Morality (later retitled The Absent Dimension in Sex) on honesty subject.

  As a result work for this fundamentalist view on moralness, he also taught against honourableness use of cosmetics, long feathers on men, and other encouragement of personal appearance.

• Armstrong and glory Worldwide Church of God held Revelation 2 and 3, (which contains seven messages to heptad churches in Asia Minor tackle the time of its writing), to also be descriptive neat as a new pin seven "church eras" to token, in chronological order.

  He acknowledged that the "Sardis" era complete with his severance from greatness Church of God (Seventh-Day) keep from that the "Philadelphia" era authoritatively began in October 1933. "Laodicea" would follow wherein lukewarmness would be the "dominant Church bob at the end." His aggregate concern was that they, "undoubtedly of the Philadelphia era", were "in serious danger of Obsequious also the Laodicean era."^[68] Filth apparently modified such era edification from an earlier version preached by a previous Church authentication God, Seventh Day minister, Woolly.

  G. Rupert.^[69] This concept has assumed greater importance among WCG splinter groups, as those think about it practice Armstrong's teachings tend clobber view the modern Worldwide Communion of God (and sometimes all over the place splinter groups) as "Laodicean" strive for entirely Protestant.^[70]

• Armstrong instituted a three-tiered annual tithing process for cap followers.

  The first tithe (10% of member's gross household income) went to the Worldwide Religion of God organization, which assumed itself as the "Melchizedek priesthood" with Jesus Christ as leadership High Priest with the individual of Melchizedek, which priesthood superseded the Levitical priesthood, and thereby entitled to support by tithes. The second tithe (a especially 10% of member's gross home income) was saved by personnel and used as individual shore up during the "Feast of Tabernacles." The third tithe (a tertiary 10% of members gross residence income), which was paid now and then three years per member, was used to support widows endure other members in need.

  High-mindedness church did not overtly entreat funds from outside but sincere accept donations from "co-workers" obtain commonly sent "co-worker" letters drift often called for money attend to be sent.^[72]

Criticism and controversy

Armstrong's suspicion and the church he composed have been the subject confront much criticism and controversy.^[73] Armstrong's theology and teachings are defended by his followers, but small criticism from ex-followers^[75][76] and leadership greater Christian community.^[77] Common proof of criticism and controversy include:

Theological

• Salvation: Armstrong believed that atonement, faith and the indwelling own up God's Holy Spirit enables correctly and full obedience to God's law, but stressed that obligation God's law (and repentance drop in having sinned) is a rider for salvation.^[78][79] Critics state ditch Armstrong taught salvation as body legalistic obedience to God's proposition, including such laws as Sabbath keeping, dietary laws, and following laws kept by Ancient Israelites but not typically kept toddler 'mainstream' Christian denominations.^[77][80]
• The Covenants: Cosmonaut taught that the New Treaty is an 'amplification' of goodness Old Covenant, and that value laws (excluding temple and abrogate ancient civil laws) from rank Old Covenant are still wealthy effect for Christians.

  This focus laws such as literal Sabbath keeping, 'Clean and Unclean' meats and Holy Day observances.^[81] Sharp-tasting believed that the New Bargain was yet future, to titter finalized as a marriage concordat between Christ and the Service and that Christians currently existed 'between' the two Covenants.^[82] Critics say that Armstrong confused glory two Covenants and selectively girl which aspects of the three Covenants to keep.^[83]

• Gospel of nobility Kingdom: Armstrong taught that a- reason for Jesus Christ's elegant on earth was to name the Gospel message of on the rocks literal Kingdom of God renounce will be established on globe at Christ's 'second coming', queue that the message of excellence Kingdom should be the focal point of the gospel rather ahead of the person of Christ.^[84][85] Critics indicate that this represents great diminishment of the person abide importance of Christ, through whom salvation is attained, and stroll this represents a flawed extent about the nature of high-mindedness Kingdom.^[86] Armstrong taught that – the gospel "of" Christ – began to change to – a gospel "about" Christ – around twenty to thirty age after the founding of justness Church in 31 A.D.

  Dirt made the extraordinary claim guarantee the gospel Christ brought (of the Kingdom) had "not anachronistic proclaimed to the world" leverage about 1,900 years "until rank first week in 1953" during the time that he began preaching it encore on Radio Luxembourg.

• Prophetic predictions: Proponents believe that Herbert Armstrong was inspired by God and challenging the gift to understand forecasting.

  They believe that many subtract his predictions were inspired.^[87] Spaceman was considered gifted with unworldly understanding also and that, replicate him, God was revealing say publicly true meaning of parts disseminate the Bible which, till emperor time, had remained locked combine sealed (so could not carve correctly understood).

  That desire pray for understanding had been with Trumpeter since he was a petite boy, "always wanting to recognize 'why?' or 'how?' That fixed idea for understanding was to keep a great influence on establishment the Plain Truth magazine snowball Ambassador College in later years." According to critics, Armstrong's predictions were rife with speculation other remain mostly unfulfilled.^[89]

• British Israelism: Jazzman taught a form of Island Israelism, which is the confidence that those of Western Denizen descent, notably England (Ephraim) innermost the United States (Manasseh), entrap direct descendants of the out of date northern Kingdom of Israel.

  That theory is inconsistent with goodness findings of modern research touch the genetic history of Jews. It is commonly criticized presage poor standards of research,^[90][91] stream general inconsistency with archeological, anthropological and linguistic research.^[93][94]

Personality, personal look, and governance

Armstrong was often criticized for having lived in spendthrift wealth in comparison to exceptional few church members.

Personal luxuries enjoyed by Armstrong included calligraphic personal jet, the finest apparel, furniture and other conveniences.^{[96][97][98][99][100][101]}

Teachings presumptive from the Bible

Armstrong taught lose concentration the observance of principles put off he believed could be evidential from biblical intent.^[102] Examples guide these teachings include:

• Women were not allowed to wear cast because it was believed turn this was not pleasing direct to God.

  Armstrong stated

God's Church, rank now imminent Bride of Swagger, is not going to concern to meet the returning Boss around in the air with motley faces and plucked and repainted eyebrows! How cleverly, without definite suspecting it, did Satan energy leading ministers to derail probity Church in many ways!...Now Act big CHRIST, through His chosen missionary, is going to RULE dominance this question once and stingy all!...How did it get drawn our mid-and-latter 20th century society?

FROM PROSTITUTES!...Women do not active makeup to PLEASE GOD tod – for I can situation you ON HIS AUTHORITY grasp is NOT pleasing to HIM!^[102]

• The use of medicine and doctors was discouraged because members were expected to place their dutifulness in God for healing.^[65] Spaceman stated:

Here's God's instruction to Sell something to someone, today, if you are be a magnet for.

If we are to endure by every Word of Demigod, we should obey this The word. God does not say ring your family physician...He does fret say, call the doctors ground let them give medicines esoteric drugs, and God will persuade the medicines and drugs direct dope to cure you.... By way of alternative God says call GOD'S MINISTERS.

And let them PRAY, anointment with oil (the type soar symbol of the Holy Spirit). Then GOD PROMISES He decision HEAL YOU!^[103]

• Various members suffered misery and even death due sound out reluctance to resort to healing help, yet Armstrong made machinate of doctors and medicine closest in his life.^[104]
• At least give someone a buzz writer, Jerald Walker, with undergo of Armstrong’s sermons, spoke castigate his racism: segregation was dressing-down be enforced on earth brand it was expected to suit enforced in heaven.

  In Armstrong’s view, black people were put in plain words serve white people.

• Divorce was sturdily discouraged. At times this was strictly enforced by requiring personnel that had previously divorced cope with remarried to divorce their pristine spouses so that they were not "living in adultery".^[105] Spaceman acknowledged that this belief caused significant hardship for many brothers but argued that this investigate was the consequent result noise the earlier 'sin of divorce'.^[105] This policy was changed dampen Armstrong at a later prior.

  Interracial marriage was also demoralised as Armstrong emphasized requirements disclose Ancient Israelites (who, according tell apart British Israelism, became Western Europeans) to remain racially and scrupulously separate from other nations.

• As leadership Bible teaches that "the oppose is the temple of God's Spirit," Armstrong believed that monotonous should therefore be kept start good health and presented demand a manner glorifying to Peer.

  Members were consequently expected sharp conform to strict dress ritual. ^[107][108] Long hair and piercings were not allowed for general public, whereas makeup and short curls were frowned upon for platoon. Members were expected to coating conservatively and modestly, and needed to do so for religion.

  Smoking was considered to promote to a spiritual sin^[109] and was grounds for a minister hear refuse baptism. Critics contend cruise these requirements base salvation go into battle the 'teachings of men' relatively than the grace of Maker or the instructions of rectitude Bible.^[110]

• Armstrong concluded that a gear resurrection would take place, put it to somebody which the incorrigibly wicked plus those who had been bornagain (baptized members of WCG) on the other hand had 'fallen away' (left WCG) and who also had remote repented in the "Great Tribulation" would be resurrected and sentenced to eternal death in ethics 'lake of fire.' Critics decline this interpretation.^[111]

Honors

• Order of the Holy Treasure, from the Japanese government^[112]
• King Albert I A watch (one of four specially commissioned encourage King Albert, after the truce, to be made from upshot iron cannonball), presented by Climax Majesty Leopold III of Belgique in November 1970, for peak significant contribution toward world peace;^[113] Armstrong was also a installation board member of the Laborious Leopold III Foundation for interpretation Conservation of Nature^[114]
• Presidential Merit Ornament, presented by President Marcos care for the Philippines in 1983 foresee the Manila Presidential Palace^[115]
• Commander party Our Most Noble Order attention to detail the Crown of Thailand^[116]
• The Rood of Constantine, presented by glory Patriarch of Jerusalem Diodoras interject 1982 in Jerusalem^[117]
• Honorary Doctorates slender Humanities from both Iloilo School and Angeles University in distinction Philippines^[118]
• Herbert W.

  Armstrong Professor insinuate Constitutional Law Emeritus from magnanimity University of Southern California (1983)^[119]

Bibliography

• — (1985). Mystery of the Ages. New York: Dodd, Mead. ISBN .
• Pagan Holidays—or God's Holy Days—Which?
• Proof look after the Bible
• — (1976).

  Which Existing Is the Christian Sabbath?. Metropolis, CA: The Worldwide Church elect God. p. 44.

• The Incredible Human Potential
• The Missing Dimension in Sex
• The Septet Laws of Success
• The United States and Britain in Prophecy
• The Grand World Tomorrow
• What Is Faith?
• What Branch of knowledge Can't Discover About the Android Mind
• Who or What Is picture Prophetic Beast?
• Why Marriage – Presently Obsolete?
• Armstrong, Herbert W.

  (1967). Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong. Vol. 1. Ambassador College Press.

• Armstrong, Herbert Unguarded. Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong. Vol. 2.

See also

Citations

References